After breaking a "curse" on the imperial heirs, a palace servant with training in herbal medicine is promoted up the ranks to food taster...and right into the thick of palace intrigue in this lushly illustrated period mystery series!Maomao, a young woman trained in the art of herbal medicine, is forced to work as a lowly servant in the inner palace. Though she yearns for life outside its perfumed halls, she isn't long for a life of drudgery! Using her wits to break...

Discover The Apothecary Diaries from Xiaolan's perspective in novelist Natsu Hyuuga's official spin-off story!Though born into poverty, Xiaolan was content with her simple life caring for her siblings. But out of desperation, her family was forced to make a terrible decision... Sent to the imperial palace as a servant, Xiaolan now spends her days washing laundry and tending to the consorts' needs. She doesn't mind her new lot in life—after all, there's foo...

While pursuing the secret of the mysterious jade, Maomao and Jinshi found more than just the tablet’s owner—they’ve also discovered a forbidden book that has long lain hidden. As the book is gradually reconstructed, they discover that the knowledge and secrets within might be extremely important to someone very unexpected. Meanwhile, Maomao finds herself helping her father Luomen in what appears to be a large-scale drug trial...but what are they treating? And why?

No sooner is Maomao settled back in the royal capital than she’s dragged off to a meeting of the named clans, and despite the posh surroundings, intrigue is the order of the day. Old grudges come to the surface, new ones threaten to break out into fights, and...is that a hint of love in the air? Maomao will have to navigate the twisting politics and conflicting priorities of the different clans—including hers—if she wants to survive one of the liveliest meetings around!

Weeks have passed since the successful surgery on the Emperor, and winter is coming on. Now that the upper physicians have taken over postsurgical care, Maomao’s daily life is both getting back to normal and getting busier.One day, a letter arrives for Dr. Lao that makes Yo go pale. It reports a rise in patients with pustules... Maomao has a bad feeling about this, and as ever, it proves correct—there’s been a smallpox outbreak. Contagious and often deadly, survivors of smallpox ar...

The events in the western capital threaten to shake not only the political order, but Maomao’s personal relationships as well, and she departs the city uncertain what her future holds. A detour on the way home, however, gives her an unexpected insight into her own family. Meanwhile, Consort Lishu finds herself at the center of an ugly scandal. Might the truth of the matter help explain everything that’s happened recently?

Dismissed from the rear palace, Maomao returns to service in the outer court—as the personal serving woman to none other than Jinshi! That doesn’t necessarily make her popular with the other ladies, but a bit of jealousy might be the least of her problems. A mysterious warehouse fire, an official with a very bad case of food poisoning, and the mysterious last will and testament of a deceased craftsman all demand her attention—but are these cases really separate, or do they share a troublin...

In the East is a land ruled by an emperor, whose consorts and serving women live in a sprawling complex known as the hougong, the rear palace. Maomao, an unassuming girl raised in an unassuming town by her apothecary father, never imagined the rear palace would have anything to do with her—until she was kidnapped and sold into service there.Though she looks ordinary, Maomao has a quick wit, a sharp mind, and an extensive knowledge of medicine. That’s her secret, until she encounter...

The tumultuous political events of recent days have left I-sei Province looking for leadership, but there are obstacles everywhere they turn. Gyokuen’s sons refuse to rule, while Gyoku-ou’s oldest child is unpredictable and violent. Jinshi decides to tutor Gyoku-ou’s other sons in the ways of politics, but they’re going to discover that it’s an even more dangerous business than they ever anticipated. Maomao, as ever, just wants to live her life, but she might not be able to ignore the esca...

Though her main duty is still looking after Consort Gyokuyou, Maomao finds time to help her friends and acquaintances in the rear palace, including Xiaolan, who will need a job after her term of service ends, and Consort Lishu, who’s convinced she’s seen a ghost! When complications arise with Gyokuyou’s pregnancy, however, Maomao knows she’s not skilled enough to handle a situation that could threaten the life of both mother and child. She knows someone who is, but they haven’t been welcom...

Maomao must help keep Consort Gyokuyou safe during her pregnancy. An imperial consort being with child is supposed to be a matter of the utmost secrecy, but this is the rear palace, where maneuvering and backstabbing are as commonplace as banter and tea parties. Threats seem to lurk around every corner—but it’s not just the rear palace keeping busy. Jinshi finds himself struggling to entertain a most unusual request from a pair of visiting ambassadors. Later, he’s invited to an important g...

Maomao, Jinshi, and the others finally return to the royal capital to discover that life went on while they were away: Lahan is still working his abacus, Maamei is still pondering the future of both the Ma clan and her little brother Basen, and Yao and En’en are still pursuing their dreams (to become a doctor and to geek out over Yao, respectively). Maomao might have hoped that things would quiet down now that she no longer has to deal with locust swarms and succession crises, but it turns...