Hmph... Pesh! "The Apothecary Diaries": Maomao's Adorable Little Resistance After Being Tricked by Jinshi

In the anime "The Apothecary Diaries," Maomao's (voiced by Aoi Yuuki) attitude towards Jinshi (voiced by Takeo Ootsuka) was salty from the start! In the first episode, Maomao showed a "cute resistance" to Jinshi, whom she had just met.

"The Apothecary Diaries" is an anime adaptation of the light novel by Natsu Hyuuga. It has also been serialized into manga in two monthly magazines, with the series having sold over 40 million copies in total. The TV anime aired consecutively for two seasons starting in October 2023. It gained significant popularity and attention for its mystery drama, involving Maomao working as a poison tester in the imperial court, and her comedic interactions with the beautiful eunuch Jinshi. The second season has been airing since January 2025.

In episode one of the first season, Maomao, who began working as a maid in the imperial court, overheard a rumor circulating within the court. It claimed that "the consecutive deaths of the Emperor's children were due to a 'curse'." Having deduced the true nature of the curse, Maomao attempted to convey the truth to the consorts. She wrote a message on a strip of cloth torn from her work skirt and placed it by the window of the consorts' quarters. Though she acted stealthily, Maomao and the other maids were summoned by Jinshi later.

Jinshi showed a piece of paper to the gathered maids that read, "That freckled girl over there, you stay behind." Among the maids who could not read, Maomao was the only one who understood and became anxious, wondering, "Did I make some mistake that caught his attention...?"