The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 4

This is such a fantastic read.

The fourth volume of the Apothecary Diaries is the finale of an arc, following the tension that was so magnificently set by the previous volume. The set-up itself goes as far back as the first book, from the removal of Ah-Duo from the rear palace. All the things built up in the previous book reached a gripping climax in this one, and Maomao finds herself dragged right into the center of it. Literally. Because she gets kidnapped and then transported to the core of this whole conspiracy.

In any case, the book starts with Maomao being distraught over Jinshi's secret. Not only about her discovery of his decently sized frog, but what it says about his true identity. It doesn't help that Gyokuyou might be experiencing a breech birth, so Maomao's adoptive father, Luomen, is summoned back to the rear palace to give assistance. Maomao also learns that Xiaolan's terms of employment is ending, so she spends the first few chapters working in the bath with Xiaolan and Shisui in the hope of finding a new job for her friend.

...and then she learns a secret, and things immediately stops being peaceful.

This particular volume is probably my favorite so far, even if it has less mysteries to solve due to the sheer scale of the conspiracy. It's so well-written, and it gives depth to all of the characters involved. Maomao, who's usually so distant and detached, shows that she's also a human capable of emotions as she weeps over the loss of a friend by the end of the book. Most of the questions so far have been answered and resolved, except maybe the presence of the foreign envoys—which feels like it leads to a completely different issue anyway.

At the end of the book, Maomao finds herself back in the pleasure district. Jinshi can't keep her working under him anymore, due to a certain major action he had to take to save her. That can't possibly be the end of their involvement though, so I'm excited to see where the story will be heading next.