GREAT GREAT ASSETS! The Apothecary Diaries Episode 4 Reaction 

I’d say a personality befitting a concubine means, well… what you’d expect from a woman who could well become the empress, and is currently (like Gyokuyou) the closest thing this country currently has to one. She’s dignified and regal, but not snobbish or spoiled. And yeah, Lihua gives a bad first impression in episode 1. But given that she was sick with nausea and headaches and, oh yeah, her baby was dying, I’m willing to cut her a little slack.

Maomao teaching pazuri in a world with limited exchange of knowledge make her invaluable. Great knowledge can she dispense for those whom need it...

5:00 The doctor is used becuase he's the best htey can get. Only eunuchs are allowed into the Rear Palace, and if you are a trained doctor, you can get a lot better pay and job without having to go through castration. The guy they ahve is pretty much someone wh's both a doctor and also low enough a tier of one to also be willing to go through that.

The scene with the Maid released from confinement, is a great showcase of the words being spoken and the words not being spoken, having an equal effect.

It was this episode (manga chapter) that made me fall in love with this series. Maomao is such an amazing main character!

Never attribute to malice what you can easier attribute to stupidity

Paws got in awe at the scene, she completely frozen up with goosebumps Lmao

The Lady in Waiting and the eunuch were lucky they were no executed.

One of the few series that makes sex jokes that are actually consistently funny.

Another commenter gave an explaination on another reactor channel. I copy it here for you. It answer some of your questions: @jakeDgirl - 2 months ago (edited) The Emperor ordered Maomao to cure Lady Lihua in front of Lady Gyokuyou as a political move. It's been mentioned a couple of times now that Lady Gyokuyou is the emperor's current favored concubine. Especially since Gyokuyou's child is the only baby alive. Lady Lihua is also very sick and unable to serve the emperor with nightly duties. So obviously the entire rear palace and all political factions can feel that Lady Gyokuyou has monopoly of the emperor's affections right now. By appearing that he cares for Lady Lihua right in front of Lady Gyokuyou, the emperor is subtly giving Lady Gyokuyou a message that she is still a mere concubine, and the emperor has not decided to make her empress yet. "So stay in line, don't let the current situation rush to your head." Using Maomao, Lady Gyokuyou's servant, is also another political move. For sure, the emperor has other imperial doctors, and yet he chose someone from Lady Gyokuyou's faction to save her political rival. If Maomao succeeds, Lady Gyokuyou might be rewarded, but not much. And the harem power will be balanced again. But if Maomao fails & Lady Lihua dies, the emperor won't allow Lady Gyokuyou to have all the power in the harem. It could be spun that Lady Gyokuyou ordered Maomao to let Lady Lihua die. Thus, Lady Gyokuyou will lose power in the harem, and her family and her homeland/vassal state's power would suffer consequences. The rivalry between Lady Gyokuyou and Lady Lihua makes it difficult for Maomao to tattle. Her direct superior is Lady Gyokuyou. If Maomao tattles to Lady Gyokuyou, then if Lady Gyokuyou takes Maomao's side and tattles to the emperor, Lady Gyokuyou will be viewed as meddling with her rival concubine's people. Maomao doesn't ask help from Jinshi because: 1) she's already distrustful towards him & she questions his motives for roping her inside the rear palace 2) Jinshi's power in the rear palace is weird. As a mere eunuch, he should be lower than a high rank concubine. But because he is directed by the emperor, the concubines can't just dismiss him. So there is also a weird power balance between Jinshi & the concubines. Jinshi isn't allowed to give benefits to 1 concubine over the other. So Maomao can't ask him to meddle in-between Lady Gyokuyou vs Lady Lihua factions. But if Jinshi offers help himself, that's another story. 3) In the previous episode, Maomao already deduced that Jinshi's official status is a eunuch tasked to be the harem manager, but is actually hiding his real status which might be close to the emperor. Asking help from Jinshi might open a can of worms & attention she can't anticipate. The Emperor may have ordered Maomao, but it's Maomao's responsibility in the end. That's what royalty means. The emperor will absolutely stand by and watch Maomao fail just to balance out the power in the harem.

Ladies in Waiting should be trusted and cherished by their concubine - Lihua was willing to forgive, since she was aware of the powder put on her in her grief and fear of losing the Emperor’s regard and love.

Since Gyokuyou tried to help Lihua with poison warning, I am not sure she saw competition, in fact, she might have encouraged the Emperor to use Maomao to save Lihua.

Pay attention to the difference in Lady Lihua's clevage between when she was given the advice by Maomao at the end of this episode and the next time she appears in episode 5, it shows she listened to Maomao.

Boing Boing sneak sneak

Given how effective and wide spread the use of the face powder might still be used. Beauty is absolute priority to keep the Emperor attention. Think of all things woman do today even if dangerous, high heel shoes, excessively tight clothing, smoking, crazy diets, ….

yayy

This chapter was really powerfull and needed to see her personality

They are jealous and suspicious of Gyokuyou Lady in Waiting as well as just arrogant and stupid.

A miserable rainy Wednesday made better by Paws and the apothecary diary

Maomao teaching Lihua about paizuri is great

She made medicine and warmers for Jade Palace, Jinshi, and Gaoshun. She showed how to Emperor’s seamstress and cook.

It was so sad her lost child partly due her error, I hope she gets another child.

First?