List of The Apothecary Diaries episodes

[18] Lakan is challenged by his daughter Maomao to a game of Chinese chess, with her living with him should he win, much to Jinshi's shock; but him buying out an aging courtesan from the Rokushoukan should he lose.

A stipulation that the winner takes one of the cups of hard liquor spiked with a drug that turns into poison after three sips and lets the loser drink its contents is added, with abandonment being considered as a defeat.

Maomao lost twice in a row, meaning she could have drunk two of the three poisoned cups; but won on the third, which Jinshi thinks was Lakan losing on purpose.

Jinshi, thinking he has been poisoned, hears from Maomao that Lakan abstains from alcohol, "the king of medicines", thus making him easily drunk.

The palace prepares for the arrival of a diplomatic delegation, part of a trading caravan, and Gyokuyou is expecting three new ladies-in-waiting to assist during her pregnancy and counterbalance Loulan's, as well as the others', excessive staff.

On the caravan's last day, when discounts abound, Maomao shops with Xiaolan and encounters Shisui, the servant girl who caught her cat.

Over tea at Guen's clinic, Shisui mentions a strange smell from the north, possibly a clogged waterway, and shares her fascination with insects, intriguing Maomao.

As Jinshi investigates the cause of Concubine Jin's death, Maomao hears from Guen about Tao, a palace woman who vanished before her retirement and wedding.

Later, Jinshi consulted Maomao on the proposal for a penmanship school for servants, which, to his and Gaoshun's surprise, is met with smiling approval from the often-scowling apothecary, with a few recommendations.

Maomao later learns more about Concubine Jin from Hongniang, about her being a difficult person to deal with, sowing discord and violence on those of lower status or rank, and though she does not directly harass the higher-ranked consorts, she is suspected of a poisoning attempt on Gyokuyou when she was pregnant with Princess Lingli.

At Jin's funeral, Maomao deduces that Jinshi suspected she was the culprit, wanting to gauge her reaction to the mushroom investigation request outside Gyokuyou's presence.

Showing a collected specimen of it to Jinshi with masks and gloves on, she finds out from him that, around two years ago, Son exhibited symptoms of a mysterious illness attributed to poisoning.

Jinshi considers the possibility that the special envoys were involved, as they had hoped to become concubines but were foiled when they were humiliated by the Moon Fairy act.