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star and moon (I’m staring right at yue) by theball4dofm0nalisa
Fandoms: 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Anime), 薬屋のひとりごと - 日向夏 | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries - Hyuuga Natsu, 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Manga)
15 Nov 2025
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Summary
What if Anshi and Ah duo still swapped baby’s, but Loumen didn’t get punished and the baby didn’t die because of honey. What would that world look like?
Bookmarked by MegaChive
16 Oct 2025
Bookmarker's Notes
In the imperial palace of Li, two women—Empress Anshi and her consort Ah Duo—give birth within weeks of each other. Both broken by the same man, they make a desperate, forbidden choice: they secretly exchange their newborns, binding their fates and silencing their truth. Years later, their sons—Crown Prince Chenxing (Yao) and Prince Zuigetsu (Yue)—and their companion Princess Maomao are inseparable, the palace’s infamous trio. But adulthood brings cracks in their carefree bond: duty, love, and hidden lineage begin to pull them apart. Chenxing, bright and kind yet lonely, longs to be seen beyond his title. When he meets Haoyu, a quiet palace gardener, an unspoken connection forms—one that hints at the secret of his birth. Zuigetsu, raised by his attendant Suiren and quietly mothered by Ah Duo, dreams of freedom he can never have, even as he falls hopelessly for Maomao. Maomao, clever and self-possessed, hides her heart behind elegance and wit, wary of the cost of love within palace walls. Haunted by their mothers’ choices and their own unspoken desires, the trio navigates a world of beauty and betrayal. Beneath the silk and ceremony, tulips bloom, secrets linger, and love—however forbidden—still dares to take root. AhDuo resents the emperor, and it seems that chenxing is falling for the gardener while Gyokuyou and Lihua may be a thing.
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Children of Sins by SenCicero
Fandoms: 薬屋のひとりごと - 日向夏 | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries - Hyuuga Natsu, 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Anime)
29 Jan 2026
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Summary
The Shi Clan stronghold assault went off without a hitch. However, Jinshi didn't find the one person he cared about the most. He is now forced to deal with all the emotions that he tried to suppress for months while working with unlikely allies to find Maomao.
a/n 9.18.25: Hello, I updated the tags thanks to some helpful advice from PaddleWaddle and MegaChive. I want to reiterate that plz don't stress about endgames too much. The tags are mostly to denote the amount of page space dedicated to exploration of different aspects. This work's primary objective is to write a story that includes characters that are underutilized in canon while not writing a story that is too similar to Natsu's progression. IMO the kind of Jinmao progression that we usually see is best left for Natsu to develop. I hope you can understand (bows deeply).
Next chapter will be released on 2/21
Bookmarked by MegaChive
12 Sep 2025
Bookmarker's Notes
Jinshi, tormented by fears of Maomao’s fate, discovers a hidden passage where he confronts Loulan, nearly strangling her in a fit of rage before being stopped by Suirei. Suirei admits she hid Maomao in a remote hot spring village and accompanies Jinshi’s small rescue party south, though suspicion lingers about her motives. During the journey, Jinshi struggles with exhaustion, responsibility, and trust, while Suirei reveals her conflicted loyalties and deep scars. At camp, she contemplates killing Jinshi but falters, caught between despair and attraction. The two share tense, vulnerable moments that blur hostility with connection. Meanwhile, Maomao endures captivity, treating patients under watch, uneasy about her circumstances.
In the mountains, a tunnel collapse separates Jinshi from his men, injures him, and leaves him stranded with Suirei. She rescues and tends to him, while their bond deepens through exchanges about guilt, survival, and Maomao. Jinshi resolves to keep searching despite his injuries, even entrusting Suirei with parts of his plan. Both characters wrestle with trauma and duty, caught between betrayal, fragile trust, and a growing, complicated understanding. -
The Bride of the Moon Prince by RoseDragonWitch
Fandoms: 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Anime), 薬屋のひとりごと - 日向夏 | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries - Hyuuga Natsu, 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Manga)
27 Jan 2026
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Summary
Years prior, the Emperor of Li and the Grand Commandant came to an arrangement. By promising the La Princess to the Moon Prince, they hoped that they could protect their children and secure their futures.
Maomao is against this from the start, understanding that if she became the Moon Prince’s consort, a man whose real name and face is a mystery to her, then her life would go from mixing herbs to dodging assassination attempts. Meanwhile, Jinshi does his best to avoid her… even going as far as to hide his true identity as her betrothed; believing that she will be no different from countless others who sought only to use him. But after she arrives at the rear palace, he becomes fascinated with the indifferent, freckled girl, who may be the only one able to see past the masks he wears.
AU where Jinshi is forced to take Maomao as his consort—and future bride—against their will. To survive, the two begin to low-key rebel against a court of vipers in silk robes that’s trying to crown them and crush them in equal measure. Because here, royalty feels more like a prison.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 204,718
- Chapters:
- 19/40
- Comments:
- 487
- Kudos:
- 1,571
- Bookmarks:
- 335
- Hits:
- 47,930
Bookmarked by MegaChive
11 Sep 2025
Bookmarker's Notes
LK meets with the sun prince ~12 year prior to start of canon. LK wants help protecting MM (in general and from his father who wants to wed her to the emperor). They come up with an agreement - protection in exchange for JS (emperor knows he is his son and also wants to protect him, was still switched) and MM marrying and LK ensuring rebellions are squashed and Yang ascends the throne successfully. Works out (LK is head of La clan, yang is emperor, and MM (raised by LM) is protected (more so then in canon). Also, JS still enters rear palace as a ‘eunuch’. 12 years later, ‘curse’ from canon causing yang’s babies to die, and court demanding JS take a consort, so yang decides it’s time MM comes to rear palace. JS is told a month ahead of time and is pissed (tries many times to get out of it and is resenting MM). There is really no info on MM bc she was hidden. MM is also told but only 2 days out (LK kept trying to find a way out, but was also held up by an attempt on his life by his dad) and she is also unhappy, though not resentful towards JS. MM makes it to the palace after spending the night a verdigris and saying bye to them. MM is greeted by GS and Suiren. At the banquet, JS comes in (emperor also comes a bit earlier) to witness a conversation with MM, LH, and LK, where MM steps on LHs toes. She explains that LH wants one of her kids (like canon request). When she realizes emp and JS are watching, she gets all meek. Food starts, and MM tries to pour her own drink (a big no) and doesn’t have a poison taster (tastes her own food - JS is like wtf, it could be poisoned and she is all sad it isn’t). JS is wondering if she has ever been to a formal function and who the hell did he just get as a consort (though he seems a bit intrigued/amused). Flashback of SR getting MM ready, SR amused and likes MM. After the banquet, SR and MM got to palace and SR and MM talk more and tour house. Later, JS visits (MM asleep) and SR tells JS to be nice. He looks at her and ends up losing his resentment (curled up ball MM, didn’t see face). Decides however that he is going to keep mask on and meet as Jinshi instead of Zuigetsu.
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Is it ever peaceful in Li by trespasserhky
Fandoms: 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Manga), 薬屋のひとりごと - 日向夏 | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries - Hyuuga Natsu, 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Anime)
11 Sep 2025
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Bookmarked by MegaChive
11 Sep 2025
Bookmarker's Notes
At the imperial palace, the Emperor and his confidant Lakan debate political maneuvers around succession. The Emperor has manipulated events so his son will accept the throne, but this risks exposing both his son and Maomao to danger from rival clans. Though Lakan is furious—having worked tirelessly to protect them—the Emperor insists he acted for the country’s good. The tension between loyalty, manipulation, and family safety sets the stage. At court, General Kan and his son Lahan attend the morning assembly. The Emperor seeks to fund a southern “express road,” and rival ministers suggest offering the Moon Prince (Jinshi) in marriage to a politically useful bride. Lahan boldly proposes his own sister, Maomao, as Jinshi’s wife—arguing it shields Jinshi from factional exploitation. The chamber is shocked, but Gyokuyou (the Empress) supports it so long as Maomao consents. Dr. Kan (Luomen) confirms Jinshi’s precarious political position, and the Emperor reluctantly agrees. Thus Maomao’s marriage becomes entwined with the empire’s political intrigues. Jinshi receives the marriage decree naming Maomao as his bride. Elated but wary, he suspects hidden strings. Almost immediately, bureaus flood his office with neglected cases, forcing him to resume overwhelming duties. Meanwhile, Kan Luomen and others confirm that Maomao’s consent was sought. Exhausted, Jinshi still clings to her presence. Their reunion reveals his desperation—he begs her not to leave him, while she struggles with his intensity. Soon, a larger mission emerges: food shortages in the south. Jinshi, Maomao, Basen, Miss Chue, and Lahan’s brother prepare to travel to investigate collapsing rice yields and a magistrate’s ailing son. At the medical office, Maomao joins a lecture on lung disease. The physicians highlight chronic smoking as a cause of lesions distinct from tuberculosis. Maomao realizes this may match the magistrate’s son’s illness. She spends days preparing medicines for the journey south. The group sets out—Jinshi in disguise, Lahan’s brother with sacks of potatoes, Miss Chue ever talkative. On the road they pass a prosperous river town that paradoxically flaunts abundant rice and sticky-rice liquor despite the capital’s reported shortages. At the magistrate’s estate, Maomao examines the son, who is skeletal, coughing blood, and addicted to tobacco. He mocks her, refuses to quit smoking, and throws her out, though his mother quietly accepts her medicines. Maomao sees both the arrogance of the heir and the compassion of the Madam, and resolves to keep trying. Back in the capital, Dr. Kan (Luomen) warns Jinshi that the southern rice shortages mask deeper corruption. He hands over scrolls from General Kan: Jinshi must investigate the south as both political test and proof of worthiness to marry Maomao. Lahan later arrives with tax reports showing rice yields mysteriously falling without natural disasters. Jinshi demands answers about his marriage but Lahan deflects. Eventually, Jinshi enlists Lahan’s brother—the pragmatic farmer—to help. When the group reaches the southern paddies, the fields look healthy, yet records show poor yields. Farmer Li reveals that all rice is funneled into a central granary, managed and recorded by a literate “overseer,” Han Junjie. Suspicion grows that the discrepancy lies in post-harvest storage or embezzlement. Meanwhile, in the village, Maomao and Miss Chue encounter locals barely able to afford rice despite working endless fields—a visible sign that grain is vanishing somewhere between farm and market.
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Moonflowers and Wood Sorrels by Arnyia
Fandoms: 薬屋のひとりごと - 日向夏 | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries - Hyuuga Natsu, 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Manga), 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Anime)
27 Oct 2025
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Summary
She is the hidden princess of the La Clan. He is the lost son of the emperor. Their fate was sealed long before either knew.
The emperor has ordered his son, the crown prince, to take a consort of the emperor's choosing. The consort in question happens to be none other than the secret daughter of the eccentric strategist. They must now navigate a life together inside the imperial palace, where mysteries are ever-abundant.
Bookmarked by MegaChive
10 Sep 2025
Bookmarker's Notes
Lakan confronts the emperor for rigging a Go match to maneuver Crown Prince Zuigetsu toward accepting the throne; the emperor calls in a debt, ordering Lakan’s twelve-year-old daughter, Maomao—the secretly hidden La Clan Princess—to begin consort training so she can become Zuigetsu’s consort at eighteen, while reinstating Lakan’s uncle as a palace physician. Maomao’s family reels as she’s moved home to train, and Zuigetsu, hoping to delay his public debut and keep playing “Jinshi” the eunuch, is granted a postponement only if he moves into the crown prince’s palace and takes a consort. When Maomao arrives at the palace, she meets the masked Zuigetsu, is settled into a pavilion decorated by her mother, and, amid looming clan hostilities, is placed under tight security. At dinner she barely eats; the next day it emerges she has a severe buckwheat allergy with cross-contamination risks, prompting Suiren and Gaoshun to purge the kitchens and consult Dr. Kan—Maomao’s great-uncle—who provides life-saving antidote packets. Zuigetsu, shaken, insists she report any danger immediately, arranges for her guard Lihaku to be briefed, and juggles protective measures with his hidden identity.
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like a scent I almost taste by ryo (reviiely)
Fandoms: 薬屋のひとりごと - 日向夏 | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries - Hyuuga Natsu
24 Aug 2025
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Summary
He had her number.
He knew her classroom number.
He knew her unfortunately real cousin.
And yet, Ka Ren Yue, Jinshi, the swishy purple-haired prefect of Class 2-A, was still loitering at her flower shop every day after school, without fail.
Series
- Part 2 of aftereffects
Bookmarked by MegaChive
07 Sep 2025
Bookmarker's Notes
Despite having Maomao’s number (and knowing her class and cousin), Jinshi keeps lingering outside her flower shop after school without texting her, disrupting her routine. Annoyed and confused, Maomao ducks shifts at the shop and hides at her sisters’ café, debating whether to confront him or keep avoiding him.
Over tea, her sisters suggest she either text him or set boundaries. Maomao admits he’s respectful and oddly comforting but worries his attention is fleeting. Her inner monologue reveals chronic loneliness and a habit of bracing for abandonment. After a week of avoidance, Jinshi (tipped off by Shisui) finds her at the café. He apologizes for coming on strong; she admits she’d been adjusting. They agree to be friends, and she asks him to actually use her number. He’s earnest but awkward; she teases him to keep him grounded.
A playful texting thread (grammar jokes, emoticons vs. no caps) turns into a 3.5-hour late-night call about school, family, and everyday life. It feels natural to both, surprising Maomao and stirring her fear of getting attached.
At the café, Jinshi meets Meimei, Pairin, and Joka. When asked his intentions, he simply says he wants to make Maomao happy as a friend. Flustered, she drags him out before more teasing.
They carry a huge package to her apartment—an ornate apothecary chest gifted by her father. The domestic teamwork, quiet walk, and gentle banter feel comfortable and familiar, deepening their bond without declaring romance.
At her building, she asks him to text when he gets home. He does, with a selfie. She saves it—aware she may be collecting memories in case he eventually leaves—capturing the story’s ongoing tension between burgeoning connection and her fear of being left alone. -
and I swore I'd seen you before by ryo (reviiely)
Fandoms: 薬屋のひとりごと - 日向夏 | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries - Hyuuga Natsu
11 Aug 2025
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Summary
Maybe it was the shock, or maybe because she was already numb to it, but her hands were steady as she brushed the last stroke of the last word she’d ever write, and stamped her and Jinshi’s insignia at the bottom. She looked back at him, her husband, who had lost… so much, in the past few days.
He looked tired.
Series
- Part 1 of aftereffects
Bookmarked by MegaChive
07 Sep 2025
Bookmarker's Notes
Maomao and her husband Jinshi, facing execution after the fall of their empire, choose to take poison together. In a tender final night, they share broth laced with poison, hold each other close, and speak of alternate lives where they might have grown old together in peace. Jinshi drifts off first, reassured by Maomao’s presence, and she follows him into unconsciousness—only to awaken later in her modern life, plagued by nightmares of their deaths. She takes Tylenol, dismissing it as just another recurring dream.
The story then shifts fully to Maomao’s present-day routine: strict schedules, school life, and interactions with friends Xiaolan and Shisui. Her cousin Lahan pesters her into volunteering at a festival in exchange for information about a mysterious student, “Jinshi-sama.” Curious despite herself, Maomao encounters him outside her workplace, a flower shop. Their awkward, tense first meeting reveals his real name—Ka Renyue—but also his persistence. What begins as him buying flowers for his grandmother quickly turns into a flustered but genuine attempt to ask for her phone number. -
The Red Thread (Jinshi and Maomao) by Msjoke07
Fandoms: 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Anime), 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Manga), 薬屋のひとりごと - 日向夏 | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries - Hyuuga Natsu
31 Jan 2026
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Summary
In an empire where wolf’s blood dictates everything, alphas rule with strength, betas serve, and omegas survive under their power. Bloodline is law and breaking it could cost your life.
Maomao has been kidnapped and sold to the palace, where everyone believes she is just a common beta. But she hides an impossible secret: she is half wolf, half kitsune. Her lineage allows her to conceal her ears and tail, though her emotions sometimes betray her, revealing what she has worked so hard to keep hidden.
Jinshi, a pure-blooded alpha and the empire’s future leader, recognizes her instantly as the owner of his red thread. From that moment, he cannot help but fall for her. But Maomao, with her instincts numbed by years of hunger and misery, feels only a strange tingling in her heart an attraction she mistakes for simple admiration of his beauty.
Amid secrets, poisons, laughter, and dangers lurking around every corner, two destined souls meet in a game of power and desire. Will the red thread unite them, even when their worlds seem irreconcilable?
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 125,062
- Chapters:
- 26/?
- Comments:
- 227
- Kudos:
- 787
- Bookmarks:
- 141
- Hits:
- 26,742
Bookmarked by MegaChive
04 Sep 2025
Bookmarker's Notes
In an empire ruled by wolf-blood hierarchy—alphas at the top, betas in the middle, and omegas at the bottom—Maomao is kidnapped and sold to the palace as a “beta” servant. In reality, she is half wolf and half kitsune, able to conceal her ears and tail. To survive, she feigns ignorance, freckles, and weakness so no one discovers her rare bloodline. Rumors spread that two imperial children and their mothers (Concubines Lihua and Gyokuyou) are mysteriously sick. Maomao suspects poison, not a curse, and discreetly leaves a warning. While in the palace, her scent (sorrel) collides with that of Jinshi, the heir disguised as a eunuch. He immediately recognizes her as his fated mate, the one tied to him by the red thread, though she only feels an odd flutter. Jinshi starts singling her out, drawing attention to her despite her efforts to stay hidden. His instincts overwhelm him, so he secretly drinks a suppressant tea to control his reactions. Gaoshun warns him it’s dangerous. The mere suggestion of “cutting the red thread” enrages Jinshi, showing how possessive he has already become. Jinshi sends Maomao with Basen to investigate an official’s suspicious death misdiagnosed as tuberculosis. In the man’s spotless office, Maomao finds fox-tail herb—a plant whose bristles can wound the mouth and throat, mimicking TB symptoms. The dead man’s son violently confronts them, using suffocating pheromones to assert dominance, but Basen shields Maomao with his own scent (cinnamon), protecting her. Maomao recovers a blood-stained fox-tail bristle as key evidence. Ordered directly by the emperor, Maomao is assigned to care for Concubine Lihua. The maids resist her, but she proves Lihua’s decline was due to poisoned face powder. Once it’s removed, Lihua begins to recover. Returning scented with Basen’s shield, Maomao accidentally triggers palace whispers. Jinshi, jealous, corners her, floods the room with pheromones, and declares no one else may protect or touch her. Maomao resists, disgusted by his intensity, and Gyokuyou interrupts before things escalate further. Later, Gyokuyou’s ladies scrub away Maomao’s fake freckles, revealing her true face and beauty. This shocks everyone present and threatens to unravel her carefully maintained disguise. Garden party happens much like the original, only difference is that after MM purges, her tail and ears come out and JS sees them and asks what she is.
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Herbs and Moonlight by Nekoyue
Fandoms: 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Anime), 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Manga), 薬屋のひとりごと - 日向夏 | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries - Hyuuga Natsu
28 Dec 2025
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Summary
The snow melted, but Shisui’s body was never found. Xiaolan’s letters gather dust. And Maomao - well, she brews tea, collects bitter herbs, and pretends she doesn’t notice how the moonlight lingers on Jinshi’s scar when he visits her shack at odd hours.
Bookmarked by MegaChive
31 Aug 2025
Bookmarker's Notes
At sunset, Maomao gathers herbs while reflecting on Xiaolan’s bittersweet letters and Shisui’s disappearance. Memories of the Rear Palace linger before she returns to her shack, where Chou-u is sketching.
Later that night, she wakes to find Jinshi outside in the moonlight. Instead of questioning his late visit, she invites him in for tea. Their quiet conversation touches on herbs, memories of the palace, and small teases, with Jinshi savoring the peace of simply listening to her.
As drowsiness settles, Maomao falls asleep on Jinshi’s shoulder, and he tenderly takes her hand, allowing himself rare vulnerability. At dawn, Chou-u mischievously sketches their unguarded, slightly ridiculous sleeping pose, planning to save it for later. -
Bookmarked by MegaChive
31 Aug 2025
Bookmarker's Notes
Maomao, a college student, oversleeps yet again, forcing her brothers Lahan and Junjie to wake her despite knowing she’ll lash out. Realizing she’s late for an important assignment, she rushes out in disarray, misses the train, and runs into Jinshi, a polished, teasing former classmate. Though she finds him irritating, Jinshi quietly supports her, even messaging their professor Gaoshun to excuse her tardiness. This saves her from trouble. Meanwhile, Maomao reconnects with Rikuson, a calm childhood friend tied to Lahan, who helps her get a sought-after plant and later delivers her forgotten lunch. Jinshi grows subtly jealous of their closeness.
Throughout the day, Maomao wrestles with old traumas: her institutionalized mother, a tragic accident that killed her friend Loulan, and the loss of others like Suirei and Xiaolan. Jinshi, usually aloof, proves perceptive and reassures her that the accident was not her fault. Lahan, too, reminds her that she has people who truly care about her. Eventually, she forces herself to visit her estranged mother, finding her reduced to a lifeless shell. Lahan accompanies her and emphasizes that she is not alone.
Later, during a family meal with Chue, Basen, and Jinshi, humor mixes with tension. Chue, ever meddling, arranges a group night out at a club. Despite her reluctance, Maomao is pushed into makeup and a green dress by Chue. At the club, Jinshi offers her his coat, blushing when she thanks him, a moment that doesn’t go unnoticed by others. Inside, Maomao sits alone until approached by Yaku, but things escalate when Xiaolan appears and accuses Maomao of being the driver in the fatal accident. Jinshi firmly intervenes, defending her and revealing the truth: Loulan had been driving. He pulls her away, his protectiveness reassuring.
Later, the two share drinks and drift into vulnerable conversation. Drunk but sincere, Jinshi reveals his real name (Zuigetsu/Yue), his escape from an abusive father with help from Gaoshun, and his struggles with hidden identity. Maomao admits her mother is not dead but institutionalized, and confesses her fear of becoming like her—empty and lifeless. For the first time, they connect deeply, Jinshi gently wiping away her tear.
The next morning, Maomao wakes in Jinshi’s home, still wrapped in his arms. Both awkwardly acknowledge that they revealed their biggest secrets to each other. Jinshi is surprised that even Rikuson doesn’t know about Maomao’s mother, and Maomao clarifies that Rikuson is dating Lahan, not her. Relieved, they share a laugh, choosing not to name the fragile but growing bond between them, only lingering in each other’s company. -
Subject #1: You by erenmikaeuteamo
Fandoms: 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Anime), 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Manga)
04 Sep 2025
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Summary
University!AU - Modern World!
Maomao is a psychology student driven by an insatiable curiosity about the human mind — why feelings so often overpower reason, and why people behave the way they do. The irony? She can barely make sense of her own emotions.
Jinshi, on the other hand, is a business student born into privilege, the heir of the Ka empire. Handsome, charismatic, and effortlessly popular, he has the entire campus wrapped around his finger — there’s no one he can’t charm.
Their paths cross when Maomao’s latest assignment takes an unexpected turn, and she suddenly finds herself partnering with Jinshi in a daring “love experiment.” For her, it’s research. For him… maybe something else.
*Fake dating, mature content.
Bookmarked by MegaChive
29 Aug 2025
Bookmarker's Notes
MM is given a project to study love. She notices JS surrounded by adoring fans later and thinks he would be a good subject for her project. Loulan tells JS something about it, and he confronts MM in the library and after awhile finally decides to hear him out. He proposed a fake relationship for the study, and though initially not sure about it, eventually MM gives in and accepts. JS is Loulan’s cousin.
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The Prince and the Courtesan by 024Drag0n
Fandoms: 薬屋のひとりごと - 日向夏 | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries - Hyuuga Natsu, 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Anime)
30 Jan 2026
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Summary
A what is scenario of The Apothecary Diaries.
What if?
Maomao had never been captured and sold to the rear palace and ended up working in the Verdigris House.
Ah-Duo and Anshi baby swap plan ended up failing and Jinshi was realized to be the crown prince.Spoilers for the apothecary diaries -Light novel up to volume 10.
Bookmarked by MegaChive
29 Aug 2025
Bookmarker's Notes
In this what-if scenario, Maomao never entered the rear palace and instead lives at the Verdigris House. One evening, the brothel receives a mysterious, high-paying client who specifically requests virgins, causing the madam to summon Maomao along with other girls. Though she dreads the inevitable, Meimei helps dress her carefully, hinting that this important guest might “buy her out.” Inside the prepared room, the women line up. Maomao, frail and smaller than the others, is placed first, surprising the others. The customer’s guard inspects the room, then a young nobleman enters. His striking beauty shocks the courtesans, though he himself finds such reactions tiresome. He methodically dismisses each woman in turn until he reaches Maomao. Unlike the others, she shows no fawning or sultry airs—only quiet intelligence in her vivid blue eyes. Intrigued by her calm presence, he finally addresses her directly with an unexpected question: “What is your favorite type of tea?” Introducing himself as Jinshi, he makes her a startling proposition: they share a meal, spend the night in the same room, but with no intimacy. He only wishes to rest, and in return, she can preserve her chastity a little longer—his patron’s payment will ensure no other man claims her for weeks. Though skeptical, Maomao complies, leaving to request a meal. She wrestles with doubt—was this a trick, or could he truly be uninterested in brothel services? In the kitchen, she orders grilled chicken, rice, and vegetables, while musing whether Jinshi simply doesn’t prefer women. Pairin intercepts her, teasingly proud that her “little sister” has finally taken a customer. Maomao, careful not to reveal the truth, listens as Pairin warns that she must decide what kind of courtesan she will become: resentful like Joka, pragmatic like Meimei, or indulgent like herself. Left unsettled by these words, Maomao carries the tray back toward Jinshi’s room, wondering what exactly awaits her on the other side of the door. Jinshi and Maomao share a meal that shifts into a personal conversation about his status and her past as an apothecary. Their talk reveals her passion for medicine and his respect for her intelligence. Seeking agency in her constrained life, Maomao asks what he would do if she chose to go to bed with him. Jinshi, valuing her consent, draws her close only after she agrees, marking the start of a fragile, genuine intimacy.
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little flower in bloom by Imnotgoingtotheairport
Fandoms: 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Anime), 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Manga)
30 Nov 2025
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Summary
Stolen. Again. How original and utterly predictable. Only this time, instead of being sold as a slave, Maomao's kidnappers earnt some pretty silver by delivering her to a brothel in need of new girls.
In an adult establishment on the wrong side of the city, where only those lurking in the moonlight venture, she must utilize the knowledge handed down to her by the three princesses of the Verdigris house if she wishes to survive. A hard ask for someone as strong-willed and cunning as Xiaomao.
All the while, a certain beautiful Palace official searches heaven and Earth to find her. Buying back the girl he hadn't realized had woven herself into the very fabric of his being would prove difficult, especially when the Madam of the brothel names a steep price. Stealing her away, no matter the rank, would only cause the Palace unwanted scrutiny.
Both Maomao and Jinshi dance on a thin wire neither of them wishes to fall from; one wanting nothing more than her freedom and the other wanting to keep her locked away and protected forever.Bookmarked by MegaChive
24 Aug 2025
Bookmarker's Notes
MM is kidnapped and bought by madam daiyu. She is initially a courtesan in training (new name Xiao Hua), just pouring drinks. Caihong shows her around. A drunk guy (Chao) grabs her and she “accidentally” falls in his lap and pours wine on him. She apologizes, and says it’s her first night, and essentially gets him to leave (change clothes), and hints that he will get to deflower her. One night, while pouring drinks for Chao again, there is a commotion (a dancer hurt her ankle, and there is no one else who can do a dance, and there is an important palace official). Madam makes MM dance (she knows dance from verdigris). JS is there (palace official). He requests a private meeting with her (where the madam expects her to perform, and Caihong tells MM that the madam will check - not good if she doesn’t). JS tells her he spent tons of resources searching for her (he’s upset, but realizes he shouldn’t take it out on her). She asks him to sleep with her (afraid of what will happen if she is still a virgin by the madam). Then she remembers that JS is a eunuch, and tells him to forget it, but he makes it clear that he will if she wants. A fire starts next door, and MM and JS are interrupted. MM devises a plan (wet and hang bedding to stop flames from crossing), which prevents the brothel from catching fire, but the madam just seeing is as destroying property and conspiring against her, and MM is attested.
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The Business Diaries by MomoMaomao
Fandoms: 薬屋のひとりごと - 日向夏 | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries - Hyuuga Natsu
26 Sep 2025
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Summary
Maomao is temporarily working as a food scientist at Ka Corporation, having been unable to find any better positions that let her experiment so freely. She only has one thing she truly loves: medicine.
Jinshi is the CEO of Ka Corporation, and is constantly being badgered by his father to settle down. He finally gives in and declares the next woman he is set up with will be his wife, no matter what.
What happens when Maomao, disguised as someone else, is the woman Jinshi meets on this blind date?
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 130,422
- Chapters:
- 22/?
- Comments:
- 668
- Kudos:
- 1,027
- Bookmarks:
- 187
- Hits:
- 34,987
Bookmarked by MegaChive
23 Aug 2025
Bookmarker's Notes
Maomao, a brilliant but reclusive apothecary-turned-researcher, is tricked by her flamboyant friend Loulan into going on a blind date. Disguised as the glamorous “Miaomiao,” she unexpectedly finds herself across from Ka Jinshi, the dazzling young CEO of Ka Corporation. Their first meeting is chaotic: Jinshi immediately proposes marriage, and Maomao, overwhelmed, flees — convinced she’ll never see him again. But Jinshi becomes captivated. Against Maomao’s will, Loulan ropes her into impersonating Miaomiao repeatedly, bribing her with rare medicinal ingredients. Their encounters deepen: Jinshi insists on marriage “to protect her,” then bargains for ten dates. Despite her resistance, Maomao can’t fully sever ties; Jinshi’s persistence and uncanny ability to catch glimpses of her true self unsettle her carefully controlled world. Meanwhile, Jinshi’s attraction carries a heavy shadow. Beautiful since childhood, he was objectified, kidnapped, and hurt — scars that left him distrustful of women. Maomao, aloof and sharp-tongued, is the first woman who doesn’t fawn over him, and this independence draws him in like nothing else. Yet his obsession intensifies into possessiveness: he openly declares her his future wife and jealously bristles at rivals like Rikuson, her childhood acquaintance. The charade unravels when Jinshi discovers Maomao’s work ID and realizes the truth: Miaomiao and Maomao are the same person. Feeling betrayed, he lashes out, forcing her to endlessly redo projects as revenge. But his cruelty quickly cracks when he sees her exhaustion and hidden scars from years of self-experimentation with poisons. Guilt replaces fury; he ends the contract with “Miaomiao,” but by then it’s too late — he’s hopelessly in love. He shifts from vengeance to pursuit, boldly declaring to Rikuson and others that Maomao will be his wife. Maomao, however, wants nothing more than to escape the spotlight. She loathes lies, fears losing her job, and mistrusts Jinshi’s overwhelming power. Yet she can’t deny the strange warmth she feels when he protects her or when his smile lingers too long. Their tension boils over at the company’s anniversary dinner, where drunk and poisoned by her own mushroom stash, Maomao blurts out everything: that she was Miaomiao, that she lied only for the truffles, and that he is the most “annoying part” of her life. In the haze of alcohol, she kisses him — a kiss Jinshi returns before pulling away, refusing to take advantage. For the first time, her walls truly crack. But greater dangers close in. Behind the scenes, En’en, a woman disguised as Jun (Rikuson’s girlfriend), has been stalking Maomao under orders from her mistress Yao’s uncle, who promised Yao’s freedom in exchange for Maomao’s abduction. Though devoted only to Yao, En’en becomes Maomao’s would-be kidnapper. At the same time, Jinshi’s powerful father, the Ka chairman, still believes Miaomiao is real — and is already planning a grand wedding. Events collide when Maomao meets the chairman for dinner, only to be ambushed outside by En’en at gunpoint. Jinshi arrives just in time. With sharp wit and courage, he distracts En’en long enough for Maomao to break free. He subdues the attacker, injuring his hand, but refuses to leave Maomao’s side. En’en is arrested, confessing that she was only following orders from Yao’s uncle and an unknown wealthy backer, and that she was told never to harm Maomao. The near-abduction forces buried family tensions into the open. Maomao’s adoptive father, Luomen, and her Verdigris relatives reveal fragments of her mother Fengxian’s tragic past, mental illness, and confinement abroad. But their evasions only deepen Maomao’s anger: why has her family been keeping so many secrets about threats tied to her identity? Now, Jinshi and Maomao stand at a precipice. Jinshi, battered but more determined than ever, knows he cannot let her slip away. Maomao, shaken yet furious, begins to question not just the lies around her — but the confusing emotions Jinshi stirs within her. Between obsession, deception, and looming conspiracies, their fates are bound tighter than ever.
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The Scratch That Stayed by Haiyisun
Fandoms: 薬屋のひとりごと - 日向夏 | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries - Hyuuga Natsu, 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Anime), 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Manga)
02 Sep 2025
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Summary
Maomao now has a changed life after becoming a cat goddess. She had a cat spirit living in her heart, guiding her.
A sign from spirit was something Maomao had to follow and listen to. It led her to her role as the cat goddess.
Then came a sign telling her to work in the palace. So, she did.
She thought the job would be peaceful. But an annoying eunuch kept hanging around her. Funny enough, she had actually known him in the past.
She had once lived by his side for a year as his cat. Yes, a cat—because she was trapped in that form due to a ritual and her role as the cat goddess. She was finally able to turn back into a human after helping ease his pain. Before leaving, she erased his memories.
Unexpectedly, they met again, and fate kept bringing her back to him, whose life had become even more complicated.
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Maybe a little strange and unfamiliar for those who have not read part 1. However, you can still follow this part 2 story directly as well.
Series
- Part 2 of The Cat Goddess
Bookmarked by MegaChive
22 Aug 2025
Bookmarker's Notes
Seven years after her first transformation and her year as the Moon Prince’s companion, MM still bears the mark of the Cat Goddess. She lives between Verdigris and her father Luomen’s pharmacy, keeping her mysterious powers secret. The ritual granted her healing, memory-erasure, shapeshifting into a cat, and—most troublesome of all—an uncontrollable charm aura that draws attention wherever she goes. While serving wine at a noble’s banquet, MM tries to remain invisible. Yet her beauty and charm catch notice. A drunk official corners her, but before things turn dark, she’s rescued by the handsome “eunuch” JS. Though polite, his too-perfect smile unsettles her. The Cat Spirit warns her: her destiny is changing again. The Goddess whispers that her path isn’t complete—her destiny lies once more within the imperial palace. After surviving an unsettling banquet and reconciling with her estranged father Lakan, MM moves into his household but soon insists on entering palace service. She deliberately fails the court lady exam to remain a lowly servant, alongside her loyal friend Xiaolan. Despite her efforts to stay unnoticed, her keen medical eye saves Princess Lingli from poisoning, exposing her identity and earning her a sudden promotion to lady-in-waiting and food taster for Consort Gyokuyou. This brings MM into the orbit of JS, the too-perfect, charming palace official. Unlike every other woman, she finds him irritating—calling him “annoying” and even looking at him with disgust. Strangely, this only intrigues him further. Behind his radiant façade, JS suffers from a mysterious recurring illness that no physician can treat. Only his old attendant Suiren knows how fragile he truly is. Alone in his chambers, JS privately mourns his missing white cat, Mao—the companion who once shielded him from loneliness and pain. He keeps her leather collar as a relic, whispering that he wants to see her again. Yet his longing shifts when he thinks of MM. Her rare blue eyes, her sharp freckled face, her blunt intelligence with poisons and medicine—everything about her reminds him of Mao. To GS, his loyal steward, Mao was only a pet. But JS knows better. “If Mao were human… she’d probably be just like that.” For now, he cannot bring this “new cat” home—because she is no pet, but a young woman who fascinates him more with every encounter. Even amid illness and the heavy burdens of palace duty, JS begins to find comfort in MM’s presence, realizing that she may be the one to lighten his cage of secrets. Starting canon stuff with aphrodisiac (JS steals one and kisses her neck) and poisoned soldiers. Next is the Fuyou incident.
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Can I go back? by Haiyisun
Fandoms: 薬屋のひとりごと - 日向夏 | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries - Hyuuga Natsu, 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Manga), 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Anime)
28 Jul 2025
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Summary
Maomao, met an old lady who wanted to buy headache medicine at her house. The customer didn't leave immediately and started chatting with Maomao about her belief in the Cat Goddess. But what surprised Maomao was the question that was put to her.
“Would you be willing,” she said, “to become the vessel of the Cat Goddess... and carry out her will?”
“What?!”
In the end, Maomao got involved with all the strange things and twists of fate that chose her. How does Maomao deal with it?
Series
- Part 1 of The Cat Goddess
Bookmarked by MegaChive
22 Aug 2025
Bookmarker's Notes
Maomao’s quiet life is shattered when she is abducted and used in a forbidden ritual. Bound by the Cat Spirit Goddess, she is transformed into a white cat and tasked with fulfilling a prophecy: to find and heal a suffering boy “living in a cage.” Only by performing a great act of kindness and receiving sincere thanks can she regain her human form.
At first, she hides with Zhang and Granny Li, who teach her the blessings and burdens of her new powers: healing, charm, memory-erasure, and the ability to shift forms—though at great risk if she fails. Granny’s divination soon reveals the boy’s location: within the palace itself. Determined to complete her duty, Maomao sneaks into Verdigris House, her childhood home, and from there slips into the palace in Lakan’s carriage.
Inside, she discovers two princes sparring: the proud Yuan Prince and the gentler, purple-haired Zui, known as the Moon Prince. Drawn to his quiet suffering, Maomao follows him and is taken in as a stray cat. Unlike others, Zui is kind and tender—bathing her, feeding her, and letting her sleep beside him. At night, she comforts him through recurring nightmares of betrayal, neglect, and abuse.
Over months, Maomao witnesses his life of loneliness. Separated from his mother, despised by the Emperor, overshadowed by his brother, and haunted by attempted poisoning and harassment, the Moon Prince lives in constant fear. Yet with Maomao at his side, his nightmares soften, and he finds solace for the first time. Slowly, he realizes his “pet” is no ordinary cat—her humanlike behavior, her healing touch, and her intelligence betray her secret. When she finally admits the truth, he accepts her fully, treasuring her as both companion and confidant.
Their bond deepens into an unspoken love. The Prince gifts her a collar engraved “Mao,” marking her as his own. For a year, they share an inseparable closeness—studying, training, laughing, and facing dangers together, including Maomao fiercely protecting him from another assault.
But palace life casts long shadows. During a visit to the Emperor, Zui is mistaken for a courtesan and assaulted by his own father. Traumatized, he collapses into despair, terrified of becoming like the man he hates. Maomao comforts him, stopping him from harming himself. Through tears, he thanks her—truly, deeply—for saving him, for protecting him, for simply existing by his side. In that moment, the Goddess’s condition is fulfilled, and Maomao transforms back into her human form before his eyes.
Shocked but overjoyed, the Prince learns that his beloved Mao has always been human. They share one last blissful day together—picnicking in orchards, speaking honestly of their lives, and cherishing what little time remains. Yet Maomao knows her final duty: she must erase his memories of her, freeing him from dependency and protecting him from the lingering scars of his trauma.
On their last night, the Prince begs her not to leave. He confesses his love, whispering that she is the only light in his caged world. They share a tender farewell kiss. But when he sleeps, Maomao makes her choice. With trembling hands, she wipes away his worst memories—and herself. Whispering “Forget it,” she erases their bond, even as her heart breaks.
By dawn, she is gone. The Prince wakes alone, perhaps remembering only a phantom warmth, an echo of a dream. Maomao, now free of the Cat Spirit’s burden, has fulfilled her destiny. She saved the boy in the cage—even if it meant he could never remember her.
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Luring Out the Snake by hunnyB
Fandoms: 薬屋のひとりごと - 日向夏 | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries - Hyuuga Natsu
30 Jan 2026
Tags
Summary
『 Sequel of "Dancing with our Hands Tied" 』
°*°
A year has passed since Jinshi’s narrow brush with death, and neither he nor Maomao has forgotten the encounter with that odorless, tasteless poison, nor the many misadventures they’ve faced so far. Just when they think it’s over, a familiar thread resurfaces, pulling them far from the Capital once again— straight to the Western Province, for the third time.
As they journey to Gyokuyou’s homeland, events begin to unfold around them and within their circle. But which happenings are mere coincidence, and which are inevitable?
They’ll have to find out the hard way.Series
- Part 10 of Death by Poison
Bookmarked by MegaChive
22 Aug 2025
Bookmarker's Notes
After marrying JS, MM becomes a constant target of assassination attempts, always guarded by Lihaku and Basen. The Mi Clan traces the poison’s origin to the West, prompting the Emperor to send JS, MM, and Gyokuen to investigate. Despite JS’s protests, MM insists on joining as both wife and apothecary.
The expedition includes physicians Tianyu, Li, and You, as well as Yao and En’en. Rikuson serves as envoy. During the journey, MM suffers from riding fatigue and illness, which she hides until collapsing with fever. JS’s care and the team’s vigilance prevent the illness from spreading. In a drought-stricken village, MM diagnoses the cause—an invasive plant draining the soil—earning the villagers’ gratitude.
On the ship to the Western capital, MM falls ill again but recovers with JS’s doting care. Upon arrival, Governor Gyokuen greets them warmly, publicly praising MM’s past heroism to strengthen their standing. Inside his mansion, political tension brews as nobles and women vie for JS’s attention. That night, JS and MM’s intimacy resumes, deepening their bond.
At Gyokuen’s grand ball, alliances form amid subtle rivalries. Merchant Liu Tao thanks JS for past aid, while the ambitious Madam Jin tries to marry off her daughter, earning JS’s cold rejection. Later, the young noblewoman Ying confides she loves a commoner but faces an arranged marriage. JS, MM, and Liu Tao quietly arrange a way for her to escape the match.
Days later, MM explores the secluded courtyard of their residence, fascinated by local flora. JS surprises her with a hidden clearing of rare medicinal herbs, leading to shared discovery and a tender, humorous exchange when she finds a potent abortifacient plant.
Back in their quarters, JS studies reports on the fugitive they’re pursuing—someone who may be baiting them deliberately. MM advises using Gyokuen’s influence to expose the culprit, and JS agrees. He reflects on the political tightrope between the Capital and the West, longing for a life free of intrigue.
While JS meets Western officials, MM visits the market with Chue, Xiaolan, Lihaku—and the overeager noble Hulan. At the council, JS faces hostility from merchant Zhou Lang but calmly reasserts his authority. Meanwhile, MM finds a stall selling foreign herbs at suspiciously low prices. The vendor’s husband, a dismissed port official, still imports rare goods despite losing his clients.
That night, MM tells JS she suspects the man is secretly supplying poisons or rare ingredients to their fugitive. Their discussion turns intimate until Chue delivers a sealed letter from the merchant’s guild—addressed to JS. Its timing confirms that someone is watching them closely. -
When Love tastes sourer than Poison by hunnyB
Fandoms: 薬屋のひとりごと - 日向夏 | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto - Hyuuga Natsu
16 May 2024
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Summary
『 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐍 𝐕𝐨𝐥. 𝟏𝟐 』
"The false-eunuch of nympth-like beauty never ceased to draw breathy sighs of entranced souls and haul genderless eyes to his form - not even a scar to his cheek had daunted them - but Maomao couldn’t help but repel the beauty and candor that have become his own condemnation."
or...
something goes wrong and Jinshi falls ill, and Maomao has a lot of time to do some introspection.
Series
- Part 1 of Death by Poison
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 28,433
- Chapters:
- 9/9
- Comments:
- 187
- Kudos:
- 1,288
- Bookmarks:
- 170
- Hits:
- 34,312
Bookmarked by MegaChive
22 Aug 2025
Bookmarker's Notes
At a grand spring banquet, JS collapses after being poisoned. MM, recalling her past role as GKY’s food taster, immediately rushes to his aid, forcing him to vomit and administering emergency treatments alongside her fellow court ladies. The chaos reveals that JS was the intended target, though his trusted food taster Suiren also ingested a milder dose. The palace is thrown into turmoil, and MM becomes central in both caring for JS and investigating the crime. As physicians debate JS’s condition, MM assumes primary responsibility for nursing him back to health, showing a fierce, almost instinctive loyalty. Her pragmatism clashes with her own emotions, as she wrestles with exhaustion, her rational disdain for “love,” and the growing weight of her bond with him. Still, she persists: feeding him, keeping him alive, and even risking her reputation by staying constantly at his side. MM begins piecing together the poisoning method: a slow-acting, tasteless toxin likely crafted by alchemists. She notices oddities, such as Suiren’s relative safety, which suggests she unknowingly consumed an antidote mixed into her wine. Pursuing this lead, MM exposes a palace servant who had poisoned JS out of revenge for the fall of the Shi Clan. His confession confirms MM’s deduction but deepens the tragedy of JS’s position—his kindness and beauty draw devotion and hatred alike, making him both adored and hunted. Determined to save JS, MM boldly ingests a sample of the poisoned food herself, gambling her life to study the effects and devise a cure. Exhausted but relentless, she experiments with herbs and concocts a potential antidote after days without rest. With Suiren, Gaoshun, and her friend Xiaolan watching anxiously, she administers it to JS and waits. On the brink of collapse herself, MM fights off sleep to monitor him. Just when her body gives out, JS awakens, cradling her as she finally allows herself to rest. His gentle words and touch affirm her success, though MM’s rational mind still struggles with the emotions rising between them—whether his vow to make her his wife was genuine promise or the delirium of poison. The Emperor himself, secretly JS’s father, rushes to his bedside upon hearing of his recovery. He finds JS awake at last, MM asleep on his lap after days of tireless care. The Emperor, relieved, also confronts JS about his vow to marry MM. Although worried that making her his wife will only endanger her further, JS admits he is more determined than ever. The Emperor—recognizing both MM’s noble lineage as a daughter of Grand Commandant Kan and her proven worth in the palace—promises to support their union, even preparing an imperial edict for the next banquet. Meanwhile, MM collapses from fever, the side effects of both overwork and her self-experimentation with poison. Dr. LM, her adoptive father, arrives to treat her, scolding her recklessness but confirming that JS’s life was saved by her medicine. In his heart, JS already yearns to ask LM for her hand, though the timing is not yet right. As JS regains strength, MM resumes her duties in the medical office. Yet, their private encounters reveal the tension between duty, affection, and propriety. In one intimate scene, JS—tired and still fragile—draws MM close, kissing her impulsively and confessing his desire to marry her. MM, flustered but not rejecting him outright, deflects that he must ask her father for consent. Their dynamic oscillates between playful teasing and genuine vulnerability: MM insists on distance with formal titles, while JS yearns for closeness beyond rank. At the same time, Xiaolan—MM’s childhood friend and fellow maid—confesses her fear of being discharged from the palace. Moved by her desperation, MM petitions JS to make Xiaolan her official lady-in-waiting, ensuring her friend’s security. JS happily agrees, further binding their lives together. Seasons pass, and whispers of JS and MM’s bond become open truth. Guards, servants, and court ladies refer to her as his “mistress,” awaiting the formal announcement. At last, during a grand summer banquet, the Emperor declares their betrothal by imperial edict: JS, praised for his diligence and loyalty to the empire. MM, lauded as the daughter of Grand Commandant Kan, with proven wit, courage, and devotion—an ideal consort. The edict orders them to set an auspicious wedding date. While courtiers grumble and rivals scowl behind crafted smiles, JS beams with boyish joy, and MM—though resigned to the political complications—accepts her fate with her usual sharp humor. Her ornate gown at the banquet, symbolically displaying the support of both Empress GKY and Consort Lihua. Despite her pragmatic reservations, she has accepted JS’s proposal. Their union promises challenges, but also the possibility of happiness, respect, and a rare kind of partnership in the perilous world of the Inner Palace
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Longing at the ship by Murasaki112
Fandoms: 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Anime), 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Manga), 薬屋のひとりごと - 日向夏 | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries - Hyuuga Natsu
22 Aug 2025
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Summary
This happens when they are on the way from the Other Kingdom to the Home Kingdom on a ship. They have already confessed their feelings, after which they have tried to get more touchy, like hugging, cuddling and kissing, but so far it has only been low intensity. The ship is about to be parked at a port city kingdom where jinshi will meet the ruler and make negotiation which he is annoyed about, he is slightly nervous about it all there is also an implied huge possibility of him requesting him to take his daughter with him as his wife if not his conqubine, jinshi is gonna deny it but he will have to stand his ground to deny making her his concubine or wife.
Bookmarked by MegaChive
22 Aug 2025
Bookmarker's Notes
They have confessed to each other, and JS continuously thinking about MM and what he wants to do with her. On the ship prior to departing to meet the foreign king, MM and a physician check JS over. MM is dressed very nicely. The physician determines that JS is dealing with some anxiety, and recommends MM give him some medicine. JS asks why only MM is dressed for the reception with the king, and he says it’s because it is only for eligible bachelors (or those looking for eligible bachelors - hence MM being dressed up). JS asks which ones, and the physician says him (JS), LH, and after a long pause, the kings younger son (JS not pleased about that). JS talks to MM, and they get close. He is convinced they are going to be married off to other peeps, she is convinced they are marrying each other. She and LH are there to make sure he doesn’t marry someone else, and that the trade agreement goes well. JS will not let anyone take her from him. They have a super heated make out session, and in the middle, a horn announces they are docking. MM blamed JS for her state and claiming she tried to stop him (later feeling guilty about it). They head off the ship. During the banquet, they seal the trade agreement and the king tries to get JS to marry the princess (will make the deal better). JS says he can only make her a concubine, and she is not ok with that. Then they try and get MM to marry the princess (14 yo in a wheel chair). They want her bc they think she can fix him and bc they want their grandchildren to look like her (and by extension, her famous mother). It is denied bc of the age difference, but JS agrees to take the boy with the to get healed by Louman.
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Another us by Fayna_Panyanocka
Fandoms: 薬屋のひとりごと - 日向夏 | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries - Hyuuga Natsu, 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Manga), 薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries (Anime)
31 Jan 2026
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Summary
A fictional marriage - it sounds quite safe. At least, that's what Maomao thought. It's all simple: sign the agreement, nod at official receptions, and don't succumb to the charm of the Moon Prince. Easy, right? Maomao views this union as just another strange experiment of fate, while Jinshi sees it as another annoying duty. But what happens when the line between a game and the truth blurs? And even more difficult - when the heart stubbornly refuses to follow any logic...
🐸 💖 🐈
This work does not contain spoilers for the events of the novels, but the story uses characters not yet introduced in the anime.
Bookmarked by MegaChive
22 Aug 2025
Bookmarker's Notes
The emperor and LK are good friends, and emperor is trying to stop GKY’s father from sending someone to marry JS (he’s upset GKY is not gonna be empress). Gyokuen is sending a granddaughter and LK suggests marrying her to his brother instead of JS. The two decide to marry JS and MM (farce of a marriage, neither want to marry, accepting this is a marriage in appearance only). JS is apparently perfect but emotionless and cold. Xiaolan is MM LiW. They get married and JS visits MM and they talk briefly (MM pretends to love embroidery, totes a lie). MM remembers that she had met JS long time ago, and he helped retrieve her bezoar that his uncle, Qian Xin, had thrown into a well (he accidentally cut his face, and MM brought him to LM). MM gets a withered flower and threat letter. JS gets pastries that contain an aphrodisiac, says they are from MM. he goes to her pavilion to share them with her (half have the aphrodisiac, half don’t - Suiren made replacement ones). MM eats them, JS eats the ones without the aphrodisiac. He questions why she ate them. They talk about the roses (apparently other consorts have also gotten them). JS sends Chue to be her maid. Chue is found by XL outside (XL freaked out, Chue making a mess with flowers), and Chue says she is MMs maid/poison taster. They go to have tea with empress down her and high consorts (GKY, Lihua, Lishu, and Loulan). GKY is looking at MM not nicely. When Chue reports back to JS later about it, she says “Your wife bravely endured the gazes of all the concubines, saved a person's life (Hongnian’s, had a reaction to oleander sap), solved the secret of the jade garden, and left the Empress Dowager smiling at her - softly, with affection, almost like a mother. Everything is as you said: Lady Maomao is simply incredible." JS also had a conversation with uncle about an upcoming hunt, how MM gave him aphrodisiacs (lying to him about it), and about his uncles soon to be bride (She is there already, didn’t attend tea bc emp dowager didn’t want girls to be compared already). JS is ignoring MM in the hunt. She follows Lishu to the stables, and she tells MM she should ride JSs mare for the hunt. Lishu’s LiW seemed to have had something in her sleeve. MM is upset with JS bc she is ignored and the other women are being birches. Rides the mare with Chue, and it gets spooked, and almost tramples MM, but JS saves her and gets hurt. She treats him, they are investigating why the mare spooked, and MM will not stay in JSs tent instead of her own.