The Apothecary Diaries has never shied away from depicting Maomao as a very eccentric character. She is a little genius who likes to spend her time with medicines and poisons more than with people.
Interestingly, Maomao is also pretty immune to beautiful individuals, especially Jinshi, who is famous for being one of the most stunning in the palace. But that does not mean she is not interested in him.
On the contrary, we see her being pretty invested in Jinshi’s face and talking about it most of the time. However, is this interest romantic, or does it stem from her affinity towards Poisons?
Maomao is a mad scientist with an analytical mind
It has been proven throughout the series that Maomao’s brain is way more analytical than emotional. This approach has also helped her solve mysteries and reach conclusions that, otherwise, would have been impossible for someone else. Thus, her approach to beauty is also on a scientific level, where she acknowledges it but sees it as just a feature rather than being enamored by it.
Maomao is not blind, and she is very much aware of the deadly looks that Jinshi has. It has also led to hilarious situations where she agrees that his face can cause wars or provoke huge fights, like in episode 17 of season 1. She, Gaoshun, and Suiren become visibly worried after applying lipstick for fun on Jinshi’s face.
The result is so deadly that Maomao quickly erases it so that no one else can see his heavenly beauty ever again.
Maomao actually worries about Jinshi’s face more often than not. According to her, it is such a waste that his immaculate genes will not be passed on to the next generation. In episode 6 of season 2, she even plans to create a regenerative drug from a lizard to regrow Jinshi’s missing part.
Needless to say, Maomao does not hold back on her thoughts, as she wishes to make a profit by selling eunuchs that drug if she ever manages to create it.
Is Jinshi a romantic interest to Maomao?
Rather than a romantic interest, Jinshi is more of a precious and unique specimen to Maomao. He is like all the poisons she has tested on herself to be immune to them.
It is not like she is not affected by the poisons, as we see some side effects left on her body from all the tests. But after receiving lethal doses on a regular basis, these poisons only intrigue her and do not infect her. Similarly, she has been around some of the greatest beauties all her life, being raised at a top brothel since she was young.
Jinshi’s beauty is meant to parallel Maomao’s resistance to poison
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Hence, after meeting Jinshi, she did not get obsessed with him, like many others in the court. He becomes a one-of-a-kind individual whose physical appearance is something she would like to experiment on if that were possible.
However, this is not at all a bad thing. Maomao’s emotional intelligence is so low that if anybody wants to attract her, this would be the way to go. Jinshi is far more likely to end up as her partner for being fascinating as a test subject rather than just beautiful.
Watch all the old and new episodes of The Apothecary Diaries on Crunchyroll.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Maomao so fixated on Jinshi’s appearance in The Apothecary Diaries?
The article argues her fixation is analytical, not romantic. As an obsessive poisons-and-medicine enthusiast with blunt emotional instincts, Maomao treats Jinshi’s renowned beauty the way she would a rare specimen or test subject, an extension of her habit of studying unusual things rather than a sign of attraction.
Does Maomao actually have romantic feelings for Jinshi in the anime?
Per this article’s reading, Maomao does not initially register Jinshi’s allure as romantic. She prizes him as a ‘precious and unique specimen’ and is more curious about his looks than smitten by them. How their dynamic develops later is a broader story question, so anything beyond what the anime has aired should be treated as spoilers.
Who makes The Apothecary Diaries anime and where can I watch it?
The Apothecary Diaries is based on Natsu Hyuuga’s original light novel series and is animated by TOHO animation STUDIO and OLM. The anime streams on Crunchyroll. The article draws on scenes from Season 1 and Season 2 to discuss how Maomao views Jinshi.
