In an imperial court rife with secrets and deception, Maomao is an anomaly. Raised in the red-light district by a skilled physician, she possesses a sharp mind and a deep fascination with poisons and herbs. After being kidnapped and sold as a lowly maidservant in the rear palace, she plans to keep her head down and hide her skills to avoid trouble. However, her quiet life is interrupted when the Emperor's infant children begin to suffer from a mysterious wasting illness, rumored to be a curse.
Unable to ignore her medical instincts, Maomao secretly investigates the cause, leaving anonymous tips that save a life but expose her talents. Her deductive reasoning catches the attention of Jinshi, the devastatingly beautiful and influential head eunuch of the inner court. Instead of punishment, Maomao finds herself promoted to the position of lady-in-waiting and poison taster for the Emperor's favorite consort. Now thrust into the spotlight she tried so hard to avoid, Maomao must use her wits to survive the treacherous politics of the harem.
The Apothecary Diaries weaves a compelling tale of mystery, historical intrigue, and dry humor. Readers will fall in love with Maomao's refreshing pragmatism and her hilarious, often disdainful, dynamic with the sparkling Jinshi. As she solves medical cases ranging from food poisoning to complex conspiracies, Maomao proves that knowledge is the most dangerous weapon of all in the imperial garden.
