History Characters / TheApothecaryDiaries

Gyokuyo's head Lady in Waiting. Maomao's immediate superior during her time in the Jade Pavilion.

Guyokuyo's three regular Ladies-in-Waiting.

!!Consorts
!!!Upper Consorts

!!!Other Consorts
[[folder:Fuyou]]
!!Fuyou
A princess from one of the Empire's client nations. Introduced to the story as a middle consort of the fourth rank, renowned for her dancing. After messing up a dance in the Emperor's presence, she kept to herself until she left the Rear Palace to marry a military officer.

* ContrivedClumsiness: [[spoiler:The dancing incident was quite deliberate on her part. Fuyou wanted to save herself for her lover, and screwing up kept the Emperor from taking an interest in her.]]
* {{Sleepwalking}}: The chapters "The Unsettling Matter of the Spirit" (part one and two) were centered around Fuyou developing a case of this. She could be spotted dancing on the top of the East Wall while asleep at night.

!!Rear Palace Staff
[[folder:Xiaolan]]
!!Xiaolan
One of Maomao's roommates before she moves to the Jade Pavilion, and Maomao's first friend in the Rear Palace.

* GossipyHens: Xiaolan's main role in the story is as Maomao's primary source for palace gossip.
* SweetTooth: Maomao is regularly able to bribe Xiaolan with sweets. It helps that they are difficult for a maid to acquire under normal circumstances.

[[folder:Fenshen]]
Maomao's ailing mother.

* IWasQuiteALooker: Before Lakan came into her life, Fenshen was one of the top earners in her brothel, if not ''the'' top earner. Disease rotted away her looks until she became a senile shell of herself stuck in her bed.
* SparedByTheAdaptation: Fenshen died as a result of the gonorrhea she received from Lakan in the original web novel. The light novel and subsequent adaptations instead keep her alive, but barely clinging to life from syphilis complications. [[spoiler:At least for a while.]]

!!The Red Light District
[[folder:Luomen]]
!!Luomen
Maomao's father, an old apothecary (and eunuch) who plies his trade in the Red Light District.

* CourtPhysician: He held this position in the Rear Palace sometime prior to raising Maomao. He was fired for a reason that has been hinted at, but not yet explicitly confirmed.
* FamilyRelationshipSwitcheroo: Technically, he's Maomao's great uncle. But since he was the one who raised her, they regard each other as father and daughter.
* MentorArchetype: Maomao became a decent doctor (and a superb apothecary) by learning from Luomen.
* SuperDoc: His time in the Red Light District hasn't dulled his skills any. He's still Maomao's go-to choice when there is a medical issue in the Rear Palace that's beyond her own skills.

[[folder:Fenshen]]
Maomao's ailing mother.

* IWasQuiteALooker: Before Lakan came into her life, Fenshen was one of the top earners in her brothel, if not ''the'' top earner. Disease rotted away her looks until she became a senile shell of herself stuck in her bed.
* SparedByTheAdaptation: Fenshen died as a result of the gonorrhea she received from Lakan in the original web novel. The light novel and subsequent adaptations instead keep her alive, but barely clinging to life from syphilis complications. [[spoiler:At least for a while.]]

[[folder:Fenshen]]
Maomao's ailing mother.

* IWasQuiteALooker: Before Lakan came into her life, Fenshen was one of the top earners in her brothel, if not ''the'' top earner. Disease rotted away her looks until she became a senile shell of herself stuck in her bed.
* SparedByTheAdaptation: Fenshen died as a result of the gonorrhea she received from Lakan in the original web novel. The light novel and subsequent adaptations instead keep her alive, but barely clinging to life from syphilis complications. [[spoiler:At least for a while.]]

[[folder:Yinghua]]
!!Yinghua
One of Hongniang's subordinates.

* [[BigBrotherInstinct Big Sister Instinct]]: Yinghua displays this in her interactions with Maomao - supplying her with extra food and keeping her from being assigned extra work wherever possible, despite the short staff in the Jade Pavilion.

* PlotAllergy: She's allergic to seafood, but was forced to eat a dish containing mackerel at a banquet because her foodtaster swapped her plate with Gyokuyou's to bully her. She's left covered with hives, but the swap prevents a poisoning attempt against her and Maomao later calls her LadyInWaiting out by spelling how stupid it is to bully someone able to execute you for ruining their health. [[spoiler Much later, Maomao uses this fact to prove to her father who believes Lishu isn't his child that she is his biological daughter as he also has a seafood allergy.]]

[[folder:Riishu]]
!!Riishu

* BodyguardCrush: She becomes smitten with
* LikeASonToMe: She was quite close with Ahduo when younger, Maomao actually noting that the older consort looks very motherly when interacting with Riishu.

* PlotAllergy: She's allergic to seafood, but was forced to eat a dish containing mackerel at a banquet because her foodtaster swapped her plate with Gyokuyou's to bully her. She's left covered with hives, but the swap prevents a poisoning attempt against her and Maomao later calls her LadyInWaiting out by spelling how stupid it is to bully someone able to execute you for ruining their health. Much later, Maomao uses this fact to prove to her father who believes Riishu isn't his child that she is his biological daughter as he also has a seafood allergy.
* RoseHairedSweetie: Downplayed and manga only. While Riishu does have pink hair and has a sweet side, she isn't nice to everybody.

[[folder:Ahduo]]
!!Ahduo

* {{Bifauxnen}}: While Ahduo is evidently female, she does possess a masculine disposition which causes many of her maidservants to fawn over her.

* ParentalSubstitute: Riishu sees her somewhat as a mother figure, due to talking to her and playing with her when she was younger. When Riishu comes to see her off, Maomao notes that Ahduo looks "like a mother" when she greets the young girl.

[[caption-width-right:350:The Noble Consort]]

The Noble Consort. Gyokuyou is the Emperor's favourite consort and Maomao's mistress.

[[caption-width-right:350:The Able Consort]]

The Able Consort. Lihua is the Emperor's second favourite. Maomao revives her from the brink of death from poisoning and earns her favour.

!!Consorts
!!!Upper Consorts

[[folder:Lihua]]
!!Lihua
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/20180428202319_3.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The Able Consort]]

The Able Consort. Lihua is the Emperor's second favourite. Maomao revives her from the brink of death from poisoning and earns her favour.

* BuxomIsBetter: Feeling depressed that the Emperor will lose interest with her, Maomao gives her some tips to use her large breasts to "pleasure" the Emperor.
* HotConsort: Lihua is very attractive, possessing both beauty and body.
* HystericalWoman: When Lihua is first introduced, she is shown screaming at the top of her lungs and giving Gyokuyou a bitch slap. Justified, as her baby was dying and she herself was suffering from the same mercury poisoning.
* OutlivingOnesOffspring: Her infant son dies because of her lead makeup, and she briefly undergoes a DespairEventHorizon.
* RavenHairIvorySkin: Lihua has pale skin and stark hair, while being one of the most beautiful women in the setting.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Her name is written as 梨花 (Rika), but the furigana point out that her name is to be pronounced ''Rifa''. Since this is neither the [[AlternateCharacterReading on-yomi nor the kun-yomi reading]], the English translator guessed that the Mandarin pronunciation is likely the intention, which is why they use ''Lihua''.

[[folder:Riishu]]
!!Riishu
The Virtuous Consort.

* BodyguardCrush: She becomes smitten with
* LikeASonToMe: She was quite close with Ahduo when younger, Maomao actually noting that the older consort looks very motherly when interacting with Riishu.
* LonelyRichKid: Being shipped off to the royal harem at age eight does not create a convenient environment to make friends, especially since the other consorts are much older and the maids, being your maids, can never be your equal.
* OldManMarryingAChild: Became a consort to the previous Emperor when she was barely eight years old. Maomao feels pretty disgusted by the situation. Thankfully, the previous Emperor died before he laid a hand on her and the current Emperor doesn't have her fulfill her duties as a consort due to her age [[spoiler:and even considered marrying her off to the younger Jinshi instead]].
* PlotAllergy: She's allergic to seafood, but was forced to eat a dish containing mackerel at a banquet because her foodtaster swapped her plate with Gyokuyou's to bully her. She's left covered with hives, but the swap prevents a poisoning attempt against her and Maomao later calls her LadyInWaiting out by spelling how stupid it is to bully someone able to execute you for ruining their health. Much later, Maomao uses this fact to prove to her father who believes Riishu isn't his child that she is his biological daughter as he also has a seafood allergy.
* RoseHairedSweetie: Downplayed and manga only. While Riishu does have pink hair and has a sweet side, she isn't nice to everybody.
* SheCleansUpNicely: Subverted when she attends a banquet wearing a deep pink dress. As her ColorMotif is supposed to be white, it implies she's unable to follow the rules ''and'' it makes her look like a rival for [[LadyInRed Gyokuyou]]. Also, all her handmaidens were wearing white so the pink dress made her very isolated, although Maomao suspects her handmaidens tricked her into wearing the pink dress to shame her in public.
* VirginInAWhiteDress: She's rather naive, unaccustomed in being a consort and her ColorMotif is white.

[[folder:Ahduo]]
!!Ahduo
The Pure Consort and the current Emperor's first consort, who was his milk sibling.

* {{Bifauxnen}}: While Ahduo is evidently female, she does possess a masculine disposition which causes many of her maidservants to fawn over her.
* LikeParentLikeChild: [[spoiler:Her biological son Jinshi inherited her androgynous beauty.]]
* MamaBear: [[spoiler:Why she swapped Yue with the real imperial brother at birth was because of knowing the latter would get better care and have better odds to survive.]]
* ParentalSubstitute: Riishu sees her somewhat as a mother figure, due to talking to her and playing with her when she was younger. When Riishu comes to see her off, Maomao notes that Ahduo looks "like a mother" when she greets the young girl.
* StrongFamilyResemblance: [[spoiler:With Jinshi, her biological son. They look so much alike, Maomao remarked about how they look like the same person wearing different clothes long before knowing the truth.]]
* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: She's ultimately set aside by the Emperor for being unable to bear him more children after her first and only labor left her barren, although in this case, she is just made to leave the Inner Palace and she accepts this without issue.

!!!Other Consorts
[[folder:Fuyou]]
!!Fuyou
A princess from one of the Empire's client nations. Introduced to the story as a middle consort of the fourth rank, renowned for her dancing. After messing up a dance in the Emperor's presence, she kept to herself until she left the Rear Palace to marry a military officer.

* ContrivedClumsiness: [[spoiler:The dancing incident was quite deliberate on her part. Fuyou wanted to save herself for her lover, and screwing up kept the Emperor from taking an interest in her.]]
* {{Sleepwalking}}: The chapters "The Unsettling Matter of the Spirit" (part one and two) were centered around Fuyou developing a case of this. She could be spotted dancing on the top of the East Wall while asleep at night.

!!Rear Palace Staff
[[folder:Xiaolan]]
!!Xiaolan
One of Maomao's roommates before she moves to the Jade Pavillion, and Maomao's first friend in the Rear Palace.

* GossipyHens: Xiaolan's main role in the story is as Maomao's primary source for palace gossip.

!!Palace Staff/Officials
[[folder:Gaoshun]]
!!Gaoshun
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/c0346692_13371616.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:]]

Jinshi's loyal subordinate. A stoic yet kind man.

* ArrangedMarriage: Gaoshun was engaged to his wife at age sixteen.
* BeleagueredAssistant: Gaoshun is this to Jinshi, who tends to slack off to tease Maomao.
* FamilyMan: Gaoshun is noted to be a good and devoted father, feeling sad for [[spoiler: Lakan]] as Maomao said she didn't like him. 'No father wants to be hated by their own child', as he said.
* HenpeckedHusband: His wife is the one that rules the household.

[[folder:Lakan]]
!!Lakan
A brilliant but eccentric military tactician and head of the Ra clan.

* BunnyEarsLawyer: Lakan is as infamous for his eccentric nature as he is for his intelligence and keen insight. In fact, the Ra clan as a whole are known for having talented but eccentric members.
* DotingParent: [[spoiler:To Maomao. Who doesn't return the affections due to considering her ParentalSubstitute as her real father and because he's tried to take her away from Luomen in the past. He's actually aware she doesn't like him, though this doesn't deter him anyway.]] [[spoiler:Maomao exploits this at one point to get him to give initiative to uncover the Shi clan's plot by pretending to have been poisoned while food tasting for the Emperor's brother.]]
* EarnYourHappyEnding: Through Maomao's machinations and much tribulation, Lakan finally fulfills his life's dream and [[spoiler: redeems Fenshen]]. The celebration lasted for seven days and seven nights although it is implied that their time together may be [[spoiler: brief as Fenshen is dying due to complications from syphilis.]]
* MyGreatestFailure: [[spoiler:Being unable to redeem Fenshen and only finding out what happened to her too late. It's one reason he's attached to Maomao even if said daughter refuses to acknowledge him as her father.]]
* NotDistractedByTheSexy: One of the few people not charmed by Jinshi. Justified, due to his prosopagnosia and because he dislikes Jinshi because of his interest in Maomao.
* NoSocialSkills: Despite being from a prestigious noble family, he lacks etiquette.
* ParentalMarriageVeto: [[spoiler:When Jinshi announced his interest in marrying the Ra daughter (aka Maomao) while Maomao was away, Lakan ended up causing a fuss yelling about how he would never give away his daughter. Despite the fact said daughter doesn't acknowledge their relation.]]

!!The Red Light District
[[folder:Fenshen]]
Maomao's ailing mother.

* IWasQuiteALooker: Before Lakan came into her life, Fenshen was one of the top earners in her brothel, if not ''the'' top earner. Disease rotted away her looks until she became a senile shell of herself stuck in her bed.
* SparedByTheAdaptation: Fenshen died as a result of the gonorrhea she received from Lakan in the original web novel. The light novel and subsequent adaptations instead keep her alive, but barely clinging to life from syphilis complications. [[spoiler:At least for a while.]]

!!Palace Staff/Officials
[[folder:Gaoshun]]
!!Gaoshun
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/c0346692_13371616.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:]]

Jinshi's loyal subordinate. A stoic yet kind man.

* ArrangedMarriage: Gaoshun was engaged to his wife at age sixteen.
* BeleagueredAssistant: Gaoshun is this to Jinshi, who tends to slack off to tease Maomao.
* FamilyMan: Gaoshun is noted to be a good and devoted father, feeling sad for [[spoiler: Lakan]] as Maomao said she didn't like him. 'No father wants to be hated by their own child', as he said.
* HenpeckedHusband: His wife is the one that rules the household.

[[folder:Lakan]]
!!Lakan
A brilliant but eccentric military tactician and head of the Ra clan.

* BunnyEarsLawyer: Lakan is as infamous for his eccentric nature as he is for his intelligence and keen insight. In fact, the Ra clan as a whole are known for having talented but eccentric members.
* DotingParent: [[spoiler:To Maomao. Who doesn't return the affections due to considering her ParentalSubstitute as her real father and because he's tried to take her away from Luomen in the past. He's actually aware she doesn't like him, though this doesn't deter him anyway.]] [[spoiler:Maomao exploits this at one point to get him to give initiative to uncover the Shi clan's plot by pretending to have been poisoned while food tasting for the Emperor's brother.]]
* EarnYourHappyEnding: Through Maomao's machinations and much tribulation, Lakan finally fulfills his life's dream and [[spoiler: redeems Fenshen]]. The celebration lasted for seven days and seven nights although it is implied that their time together may be [[spoiler: brief as Fenshen is dying due to complications from syphilis.]]
* MyGreatestFailure: [[spoiler:Being unable to redeem Fenshen and only finding out what happened to her too late. It's one reason he's attached to Maomao even if said daughter refuses to acknowledge him as her father.]]
* NotDistractedByTheSexy: One of the few people not charmed by Jinshi. Justified, due to his prosopagnosia and because he dislikes Jinshi because of his interest in Maomao.
* NoSocialSkills: Despite being from a prestigious noble family, he lacks etiquette.
* ParentalMarriageVeto: [[spoiler:When Jinshi announced his interest in marrying the Ra daughter (aka Maomao) while Maomao was away, Lakan ended up causing a fuss yelling about how he would never give away his daughter. Despite the fact said daughter doesn't acknowledge their relation.]]

!!The Red Light District
[[folder:Fenshen]]
Maomao's ailing mother.

* IWasQuiteALooker: Before Lakan came into her life, Fenshen was one of the top earners in her brothel, if not ''the'' top earner. Disease rotted away her looks until she became a senile shell of herself stuck in her bed.
* SparedByTheAdaptation: Fenshen died as a result of the gonorrhea she received from Lakan in the original web novel. The light novel and subsequent adaptations instead keep her alive, but barely clinging to life from syphilis complications. [[spoiler:At least for a while.]]

* TheChessmaster: Maomao is good at manipulation, as seen when she beats Rakan in a match through intoxicating him. [[spoiler:[[LikeFatherLikeSon Like Father Like Daughter, eh?]]]]

* DaddysGirl: Ruomen is arguably the only person Maomao displays affection to.

* HappilyAdopted: [[spoiler:By Ruomen, her great-uncle.]]

* LikeFatherLikeSon: She's a pharmacist like her father. [[spoiler:And despite the fact she disregards Rakan, personality-wise, they're more alike than she would ever admit as they're both considered eccentric but talented.]]

* NeverGetsDrunk: Maomao in the present can drink copious amounts of alcohol without feeling drunk after she [[AcquiredPoisonImmunity grew resistant to poisons]]. This is in stark contrast to [[spoiler:her biological father, Rakan, who can't even handle one cup of liquor before getting drunk]].

* RagsToRoyalty: [[spoiler:When it is revealed that her father is Rakan of the prestigious Ra clan, making her nobility by blood. It is subverted, however, as Maomao knew of her heritage and doesn't want to improve her social status. When Jinshi proposes to her, she gains even more of a headache.]]

* SuddenlySuitableSuitor: Jinshi does eventually come to love her, but they can't be together on account of their different stations in life, not counting for her personal feelings on the matter. [[spoiler:It's a good thing for Jinshi she turns out to be Rakan's biological kid, making her eligible even if she refuses to acknowledge the latter being related to her.]]

* YoureNotMyFather: [[spoiler:She refuses to acknowledge Rakan as her father, as it was Ruomen who raised her.]]

* FamilyMan: Gaoshun is noted to be a good and devoted father, feeling sad for [[spoiler: Rakan]] as Maomao said she didn't like him. 'No father wants to be hated by their own child', as he said.

[[folder:Rakan]]
!!Rakan

* BunnyEarsLawyer: Rakan is as infamous for his eccentric nature as he is for his intelligence and keen insight. In fact, the Ra clan as a whole are known for having talented but eccentric members.
* DotingParent: [[spoiler:To Maomao. Who doesn't return the affections due to considering her ParentalSubstitute as her real father and because he's tried to take her away from Ruomen in the past. He's actually aware she doesn't like him, though this doesn't deter him anyway.]] [[spoiler:Maomao exploits this at one point to get him to give initiative to uncover the Shi clan's plot by pretending to have been poisoned while food tasting for the Emperor's brother.]]
* EarnYourHappyEnding: Through Maomao's machinations and much tribulation, Rakan finally fulfills his life's dream and [[spoiler: redeems Fenshen]]. The celebration lasted for seven days and seven nights although it is implied that their time together may be [[spoiler: brief as Fenshen is dying due to complications from syphilis.]]

* ParentalMarriageVeto: [[spoiler:When Jinshi announced his interest in marrying the Ra daughter (aka Maomao) while Maomao was away, Rakan ended up causing a fuss yelling about how he would never give away his daughter. Despite the fact said daughter doesn't acknowledge their relation.]]

* IWasQuiteALooker: Before Rakan came into her life, Fenshen was one of the top earners in her brothel, if not ''the'' top earner. Disease rotted away her looks until she became a senile shell of herself stuck in her bed.
* SparedByTheAdaptation: Fenshen died as a result of the gonorrhea she received from Rakan in the original web novel. The light novel and subsequent adaptations instead keep her alive, but barely clinging to life from syphilis complications. [[spoiler:At least for a while.]]

* OldManMarryingAChild: Became a consort to the previous Emperor when she was barely eight years old. Maomao feels pretty disgusted by the situation.
* PlotAllergy: She's forced to eat a dish containing mackerel at a banquet because her foodtaster swapped her plate with Gyokuyou's to bully her. She's left covered with hives, but the swap prevents a poisoning attempt against her and Maomao later calls her LadyInWaiting out by spelling how stupid it is to bully someone able to execute you for ruining their health.

* SheCleansUpNicely: Subverted when she attends a banquet wearing a deep pink dress. As her ColorMotif is supposed to be white, it implies she's unable to follow the rules ''and'' it makes her look like a rival for [[LadyInRed Gyokuyou]]. Also, all her handmaidens were wearing white so the pink dress made her very isolated.
* VirginInAWhiteDress: She's rather naive, unexperimented in being a consort and her ColorMotif is white.

The Pure Consort and the current Emperor's first consort.

* StrongFamilyResemblance: [[spoiler:With Jinshi, her biological son.]]
* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: She's ultimately set aside by the Emperor for being unable to bear him more children after her first and only labor left her barren.

* BunnyEarsLawyer: Rakan is as infamous for his eccentric nature as he is for his intelligence and keen insight.

* NotDistractedByTheSexy: One of the few people not charmed by Jinshi (in fact, he doesn't like him at all due to Maomao). Justified, due to his prosopagnosia.

* DotingParent: [[spoiler:To Maomao. Who doesn't return the affections due to considering her ParentalSubstitute as her real father and because he's tried to take her away from Ruomen in the past. This doesn't deter him though.]] [[spoiler:Maomao exploits this at one point to get him to give initiative to uncover the Shi clan's plot by pretending to have been poisoned while food tasting for the Emperor's brother.]]
* NotDistractedByTheSexy: One of the few people not charmed by Jinshi (in fact, he doesn't like him at all). Justified, due to his prosopagnosia.

* ParentalMarriageVeto: [[spoiler:When Jinshi announced his interest in marrying the Ra daughter (aka Maomao) while Maomao was away, Rakan ended up causing a fuss yelling about how he would never give away his daughter.]]

* SparedByTheAdaptation: Fenshen died as a result of the gonorrhea she received from Rakan in the original web novel. The light novel and subsequent adaptations instead keep her alive, but barely clinging to life. [[spoiler:At least for a while.]]

* DudeLooksLikeALady: Look at those [[LongHairedPrettyBoy luscious long locks]]. He is described as an apsara (also known as a celestial maiden, nymph or fairy), which is a beautiful supernatural female spirit. Justified, as he's a eunuch, who look feminine due to a lack of testosterone. [[spoiler:Or so you thought, as Jinshi isn't actually a eunuch. He's just been taking drugs to emphasize his feminine features. Still, justified.]]

* DudeLooksLikeALady: Look at those [[LongHairedPrettyBoy luscious long locks]]. Justified, as he's a eunuch, who look feminine due to a lack of testosterone. [[spoiler:Or so you thought, as Jinshi isn't actually a eunuch. He's just been taking drugs to emphasize his feminine features. Still, justified.]]

* IWasQuiteALooker: Before Rakan came into her life, Fenshun was one of the top earners in her brothel, if not ''the'' top earner. Disease rotted away her looks until she became a senile shell of herself stuck in her bed.
* SparedByTheAdaptation: Fenshen died as a result of the gonorrhea she received from Rakan in the original web novel. The light novel and subsequent adaptations instead keep her alive, but barely clinging to life.

[[foldercontrol]]

!Main Characters

[[folder:Maomao]]

[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mao_91.jpg]]

Maomao is a dry pharmacist who was kidnapped and sold into the imperial harem. When she deduced the cause for the imperial baby's death, she attempted to warn the consorts discreetly, only to be discovered by Jinshi. Now at his beck and call, Maomao is often consulted on mysterious deaths in the palace and various medicines. She gradually builds notoriety, despite her wish for anything but.

* ACupAngst: Downplayed. While Maomao doesn't angst over it per say, she is awfully aware of her lacking size and does notice those...with a more generous size. She considers Lihua's generous bosom a blessing.

* ConditionedToAcceptHorror: Due to her upbringing in the red-light district, Maomao is well-informed on the cruelties of the world, whether it be rape or murder. That's why when [[spoiler: Jinshi comes on to her, she surmises that she'll be raped and decides to submissive rather than fight back.]] He, of course, does not.

* LikeFatherLikeSon: She's a pharmacist like her father. [[spoiler:And despite the fact she disregards Rakan, personality-wise, they're more alike than she would ever admit as they're both considered eccentric but talented]].
* MadScientist: As a child, Maomao joyfully administered various poisons and relished in the sensations created.
* OnlySaneMan: A pure rationalist, Maomao is usually the sanest person in the room. When she is around poison, however, she does lose it a little.
* RagsToRoyalty: [[spoiler:When it is revealed that her father is Rakan of the prestigious Ra clan, making her nobility by blood. It is subverted, however, as Maomao knew of her heritage and doesn't want to improve her social status.When Jinshi proposes to her, she gains even more of a headache.]]
* SelectiveObliviousness: Despite Jinshi’s numerous passes and love confessions, Maomao turns a blind eye. Mainly because she can’t be bothered to deal with it.

* SproutingEars: Whenever she feels threatened, especially by Jinshi.

* SugarAndIcePersonality

* WeakButSkilled: Maomao can't fight to save to her life, but never underestimate her sharp perception or knowledge of medicine.

[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jinshi.jpg]]
The deuteragonist, Jinshi is a beautiful eunuch who presides over the imperial harem. He finds Maomao's antipathy of him refreshing and incredibly amusing. Later, his childish curiosity evolves into romantic affection.

* DudeLooksLikeALady: Look at those [[LongHairedPrettyBoy luscious long locks]]. Justified, as he's a eunuch, who look feminine due to a lack of testosterone. [[spoiler: Or so you thought, as Jinshi isn't actually a eunuch. He's just been taking drugs to emphasize his feminine features. Still, justified. ]]
* EvenTheGuysWantHim: Even more so since he's a eunuch. [[spoiler: Not.]]

* GivenNameReveal: His real name is [[spoiler: Yue.]]
* InformedAttractiveness: Every time he appears in the novel, there’s at least some reference to his ‘voice of honey’ and ‘smile of a celestial maiden’.
* KingIncognito: [[spoiler:Jinshi's SecretIdentity is in fact the imperial brother. He entered the harem due to a bet with the Emperor, though its exact nature is unknown.]]

* StrongerThanTheyLook: Maomao noted his musculature to be better than expected for a eunuch. [[spoiler: As she would find out, it’s because he’s not a eunuch.]]

* TheTease: Jinshi loves teasing Maomao. Remember the honey incident?

!Side Characters

A list of the characters in ''LightNovel/TheApothecaryDiaries''.

* DistractedByTheSexy: All those in the imperial harem are victim to Jinshi's looks, to his discontent. Maomao comments that's probably why he only has [[KindlyHousekeeper Suiren]], [[BeleagueredAssistant Gaoshun]] and [[spoiler:later her]] as his personal staff. [[spoiler:He also hires En'en for an extended period of time because she's only attracted to Yao.]]

[[folder: Maomao]]

Our protagonist, Maomao is a dry pharmacist who was kidnapped and sold into the imperial harem. When she deduced the cause for the imperial baby's death, she attempted to warn the consorts discreetly, only to be discovered by Jinshi. Now at his beck and call, Maomao is often consulted on mysterious deaths in the palace and various medicines. She gradually builds notoriety, despite her wish for anything but.

* ACupAngst: Downplayed. While Maomao doesn't angst over it per say, she is awfully aware of her lacking size and does notice those...with a more generous size. She considers Rifa's generous bosom a blessing.

* [[spoiler: HappilyAdopted:]] [[spoiler: By Ruomen, her great-uncle.]]
* IHaveNoSon: [[spoiler:Inverted. She refuses to acknowledge Rakan as her father, as it was Ruomen who raised her.]]
* [[LikeFatherLikeSon Like Father, Like Daughter]]: She's a pharmacist like her father. [[spoiler:And despite the fact she disregards Rakan, personality-wise, they're more alike than she would ever admit as they're both considered eccentric but talented]].

* [[spoiler: RagsToRoyalty]]: [[spoiler: When it is revealed that her father is Rakan of the prestigious Ra clan, making her nobility by blood. It is subverted, however, as Maomao knew of her heritage and doesn't want to improve her social status.When Jinshi proposes to her, she gains even more of a headache.]]

[[folder: Jinshi]]

* DistractedByTheSexy: All those in the imperial harem are victim to Jinshi's looks, to his discontent. Maomao comments that's probably why he only has [[KindlyHousekeeper Suiren]], [[BeleagueredAssistant Gaoshun]] and [[spoiler: later her]] as his personal staff. [[spoiler:He also hires En'en for an extended period of time because she's only attracted to Yao.]]

* [[spoiler: KingIncognito]]: [[spoiler: Jinshi's SecretIdentity is in fact the imperial brother. He entered the harem due to a bet with the Emperor, though its exact nature is unknown.]]

* [[spoiler: TwoAliasesOneCharacter]]: [[spoiler: Jinshi the Eunuch and Yue the Imperial Brother.]]

[[folder: Gyokuyou]]

[[caption-width-right:350: The Noble Consort]]

[[folder: Rifa]]
!!Rifa

[[caption-width-right:350: The Able Consort]]
The Able Consort. Rifa is the Emperor's second favourite. Maomao revives her from the brink of death from poisoning and earns her favour.

* HotConsort: Rifa is very attractive, possessing both beauty and body.
* HystericalWoman: When Rifa is first introduced, she is shown screaming at the top of her lungs and giving Gyokuyou a bitch slap. Justified, as her baby was dying and she herself was suffering from the same mercury poisoning.
* RavenHairIvorySkin: Rifa has pale skin and stark hair, while being one of the most beautiful women in the setting.

[[folder: Riishu]]

[[folder: Ahduo]]

* [[spoiler:MamaBear]]: [[spoiler:Why she swapped Yue with the real imperial brother at birth was because of knowing the latter would get better care and have better odds to survive.]]

* {{StrongFamilyResemblance}}: [[spoiler: With Jinshi, her biological son.]]

[[folder: Gaoshun]]

[[folder: Rakan]]

A brilliant but eccentric military tactician and head of the Ra clan. [[spoiler: Who is in fact Maomao's biological father.]]

!! The Red Light District

* SparedByTheAdaptation: Fenshen died as a result of the gonorrhea she received from Rakan in the original web novel. The Light Novel and subsequent adaptations instead keep her alive, but barely clinging to life.

* ParentMarriageVeto: [[spoiler:When Jinshi announced his interest in marrying the Ra daughter (aka Maomao) while Maomao was away, Rakan ended up causing a fuss yelling about how he would never give away his daughter.]]

* BreakTheHaughty: Maomao does this to one of Rifa's handmaids. Maomao at first ignores the servant for making rude remarks about her and calling her ugly but when Maomao learns that the handmaid still use the lead makeup on Rifa despite the palace banning it after learning it's poisonous, she gets pissed with the handmaid, slaps her and calls out on her for her stupidity for still using the same poison that killed Rifa's baby and slowly Rifa herself. The haughty handmaid can only weakly make excuses she wanted to make her mistress beautiful and is forced to quit.

A list of the characters in ''Kusuriya no Hitorigoto''.