The Apothecary Diaries isn’t a run-of-the-mill anime where every development is out in the open. Instead, the series relies on subtle tactics to let the audience figure out the major mysteries of the story. The latest episode of the anime’s second season has one particular scene that used foreshadowing and subtle hints in a way that aroused my curiosity.
One of the biggest unsolved mysteries in the series is the identity of Jinshi, something that has been kept under wraps. But as the anime progresses, the curtains are finally being called, and in the subtlest manner.
The Apothecary Diaries is a firm believer in ‘show, don’t tell’
A particular scene from episode 31 of The Apothecary Diaries has stolen my attention. It’s nothing grand, just a simple scene consisting of merely a few seconds, but it shows the full extent of foreshadowing in the series. The scene in question is the one in which the old eunuch addresses the Emperor after passing the Shrine of Choosing.
It was Maomao’s intelligence that helped the Emperor pass the mysterious test. Thus, the old eunuch suggested adding Maomao to the bloodline (by taking her in as a concubine). However, he also warns against the addition of a new concubine since it could lead to political turmoil.
While saying it, the eunuch bows down, which reveals that Jinshi is present right beside the emperor. Suddenly, it is ambiguous whether the eunuch was referring to the Emperor or Jinshi with his advice. From the angle of the viewer, the eunuch could have been referring to any of them. The plot thickens when, in the exact next scene, it is Jinshi who answers to the eunuch, even though the old man had actually addressed the Emperor.
Scenes like these make me realize how The Apothecary Diaries has mastered the art of foreshadowing. How much does the eunuch know about Jinshi’s lineage? Who did he bow to? All of these questions are bound to swarm your head after watching the episode, just as they did mine.
Maomao mentally blocks herself from uncovering Jinshi’s identity
Normally, Maomao is quick on the uptake. She is an intelligent girl who has been unofficially assigned to solve the mysteries of the inner palace. But when it comes to Jinshi, she seems to conveniently keep her mind shut. She herself admits that the lesser she knows, the better it is for her.
But why does she think so when every other thing that arouses her curiosity never goes unexplored? Why is it that she turns a blind eye to everything that surrounds Jinshi? The fact that the Emperor trusted a mere eunuch enough to let him enter the Shrine of Choosing, plus Jinshi replying to the old man instead of the Emperor, are both extremely suspicious.
Yet, Maomao chose to turn away from evidence. Is it because she wants to stay out of trouble, or because her subconscious has realized that if Jinshi turns out to be someone far more important, she will never be his equal? She is slowly coming to terms with how she views Jinshi, and if he belongs to a higher social strata, Maomao can never surpass that border to be with him. Thus, Maomao might be denying the obvious just to keep her own feelings safe.
The Apothecary Diaries anime is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
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