This article contains spoilers for Season 2 of The Apothecary Diaries.
Episode Overview
- Lady Jin’s ominous murder mystery unfolds, entwining both a genuine and a counterfeit consort.
- Characters harbor suspicions that Jin orchestrated attempts on others’ lives, while the enigma of her own demise lingers.
- Jinshi was led astray for an entire year, believing he had been visiting the real Lady Jin, who was already deceased.
- The narrative delves into themes of jealousy, psychological torment, and unintended murder.
- To conceal the crime, the attendants concoct a scheme to masquerade one maid as the consort, hinting at sinister repercussions.
- Maomao’s insights help the audience navigate the intricacies of the unfolding events.
As Season 2 of The Apothecary Diaries progresses, fans are treated to tantalizing glimpses of key plot developments, particularly the anticipated scenes set to air soon on Crunchyroll. Yet, as is customary, individual episodes continue to weave their own perplexing mysteries.
Among the significant revelations this season is the murder mystery surrounding Lady Jin. Although she is a minor character, her untimely death has left a profound impression on the audience. Notably, Lady Jin’s introduction in the series is unconventional; she is introduced posthumously, with most characters assuming she succumbed to poisoning.
The Real Consort Jin
Within the narrative, two characters named Consort Jin emerge: the authentic consort and an imposter.
Lady Jin is depicted as a middle-ranking consort in the imperial court, leveraging her father’s stature for influence. Unfortunately, her arrogance has led others to suspect her plotting against rival consorts, especially those of higher rank.
For instance, attendants of Gyokuyou suspect that Jin may have attempted to poison the Precious Consort months prior to the events depicted in Season 2.
However, the narrative takes a turn when Jin unexpectedly falls ill and adopts a more reserved demeanor. This malady had been affecting her for a year before the current storyline, prompting Jinshi to make monthly visits to monitor her health.
The Fake Concubine Jin
Unbeknownst to him, Jinshi has been deceived for the better part of a year; he was actually tending to a maid who impersonated Lady Jin. In reality, the true Lady Jin was already dead.
Despite her ambition to ascend in rank, Jin never captured the Emperor’s admiration. However, one of her attendants, Tao, was being wooed by a high-ranking official, creating a striking resemblance between the two.
The fate of Jin remains shrouded in mystery, but the plot unfolds through Maomao’s conjectures regarding the events. Given the fictional nature of the story, audiences are invited to view Maomao’s theories as truth.
According to Maomao, jealousy may have driven Lady Jin to psychologically torment her attendant, culminating in a violent confrontation that unintentionally led to Jin’s death.
In an effort to hide this tragic incident, the attendants devised a scheme: Tao would masquerade as the consort, feigning an ailment attributed to poisonous mushrooms, thereby concealing her face with bandages.
This elaborate ruse allowed them to deceive the inner court for an entire year. Yet, as Tao’s romantic entanglements progressed, marriage plans loomed, threatening to expose the charade. In a desperate bid to maintain their cover, the other attendants resolved to eliminate the fake consort, bringing an end to this twisted tale.
The Apothecary Diaries is currently streaming on Crunchyroll with both subbed and dubbed options available in the US, and it can also be found on Netflix in select Asian regions.
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