We were unfamiliar with his game

The "Everyone owes Lakan an apology" episode

Unfortunately, Lakan's condition, Prosopagnosia is a real disease and Brad Pitt has it too. Also, he does not know that Fengxian is alive, the madam of the brothel told him she is gone

just to clarify, he doesn't know that fengxiang is still alive, since the old lady told him that she is 'gone'.

In the manga and the light novel, he isn't even sent abroad to study, he is drafted to war as a strategist. The campaing was more difficult than predicted, and that is why it took 3 years. The guy REALLY couldn't come back from the front even if he knew about the pregnancy, it would be desertion, and that's probably why Fengxing never mentioned it directly in her letters, only left it implied.

For anyone that didn't notice, the small bit that fell out with Fengxian's severed finger is the tip of Maomao's baby finger. We've seen several scenes pointing out Maomao's pinky.

Nah this show is kinda goated for DISTINCTLY having storytelling that explicitly says to Maomao on multiple occasions "Don't guess the conclusion, get all the facts straight before making a judgement". While the viewers of the show get blindsided thinking the absolute worst about her father. Thought he was horrible but with all the facts he was just completely unlucky and tragic. Also, I think the major reason why Lakan kind of screwed up is that he didn't see the plan that Fengxian enacted on the night of their bang. He says "3 months till next visit" She thinks "OK here is how I get out of being sold" and sends Meimei away to get devalued by losing her virginity/purity so her deal will break, and her price will fall. Allowing her to be way cheaper so Lakan can buy her during the next visit in 3 months. Lakan gets sent to "Study" (actually War in the novel, guess they kinda wanted to lighten it up?) Lakan gets stuck for 3 years, and by that time it's already over. She had been basically treated like trash, became sick, and basically "died" while Lakan was away. Her plan was perfect, she was just unlucky that Lakan was circumstantially away for much longer. It's actually very similar to the story at the start of the season with the concubine who made herself look worse to the emperor so she would get sold to her childhood love, a war general. However, this is the opposite ending, how bad it can go when the plan doesn't go perfectly. The pieces of the Lakan's story are hinted at so many places it's kind of brilliant.

Fengxian and Lakan has such a tragic love story they could’ve had everything together but unfortunately fate wasn’t on their side. All the letters she sent him with no reply back, poor woman probably thought she got abandoned whilst being pregnant not knowing that he was forcefully sent away 😔

A detail I liked was that Lakan’s game is Chess and maomao’s mom’s game is Go. When she makes the bet with him he chooses Go knowing that she can beat him at it, thus the win would go to her, making whatever happened next her choice. So like, the thought to get her pregnant crossed his mind but the one who actually made the move was maomao’s mom. That’s so strategist-romantic.

Maomao has ended up so much like both of her parents despite being unable to rely on either of them. Her early life is so bittersweet.

6:30 There's an important detail here if you know Chinese The balsam's Chinese is 鳳仙, and its pronunciation is fengxian. (You can listen carefully.) The woodsorrel's nickname is cat's foot. Cat's Chinese is 貓, its pronunciation is mao. This is how FengXian name her daughter, and it is also the same reason they draw cat ear on MaoMao's head.

Even though the drink was bitter, Lakan couldn’t help but get so happy when he found out that Maomao was the one who made it for him xD

“Don’t make conclusions based on conjecture.” That line is the audience’s relationship with Lakan in a nutshell.

Just a note on Lakan not helping out Fengxian. When he got there the old lady was keeping him out. in the view of everyone there he just ruined one of the courtesan’s reputation and left without a trace. So I’m assuming that he just couldn’t.

Damn, I owe my guy an apology, he was just a victim of very unfortunate circumstances. That really sucked seeing that all go down like that. Crazy tho that Maomao's "father" is really her biological father's uncle, that came outta nowhere.

Just a heads up for those that don't know, Lakan being unable to see other people's faces is not out of malice or a lack of empathy. This is a real medical condition people can have called face blindness or prosopagnosia. Per the Cleveland Clinic: "Prosopagnosia is a condition where you struggle to recognize faces or can't interpret facial expressions and cues. It usually happens because of brain damage, but some people have it at birth. Treatment focuses on underlying causes or helping you adapt so you can recognize people in other ways." The treatment directed towards him because of this (and being unable to interpret other peoples facial expressions) probably made him more distant and cold towards others over time.

The Light novel is a bit clearer, that Lakan was told by the Old Brothel Lady that Fengxian was dead. He doesn't know she's still alive.

Bruh, I feel the need to write a formal apology to Lakan, I assumed this man was a fiend

It's funny because if you think about it, Maomao's life was completely turned because of Jinshi, whether either of them knew it. Her "dad" was kicked out because of the circumstances around his birth, whatever they end up being. And that's what caused her mother and Lakan to miss 3 whole years, which led to her mother being in the state that she's in now.

Jinshi is always like a worried boyfriend when it comes to Maomao 🥹

I knew it he wasn't evil, now i understand him why he was head over heels, her mom is fine she's so freaking beautiful my god , even a blind man can tell she's a beauty goddess

Lakan feels guilty because he was involuntarily deployed and indefinitely extended for three years rather than the three months he expected. The palace snafu got him yoked up along with Dr. Daddy. His father never forwarded any of Feng's mail to the war front. He was not able to write home from the war front. Granny in her anger continues to conceal what happened to Feng. Lakan is 1000% out of the loop that Feng is still alive.

Maomao taught us to never speak in conjecture.

This is why MaoMao, when she contemplates love, looks at her pinky. I don’t know if she’s said it in the anime, but according to her, fingers can recover if injured at a young age.

Fengxian is good at Go (black and white stones) board game and Chess (Shogi) but Go is her best. Iirc before in Jinshi's office, Lakan said he could win in chess but not Go, she won in Go. When Fengxian talked about the bet, he chose Go, as if to let her win...

You are forgetting that the old lady doesn’t let him get near the mom and she also hides her. So he wasn’t able to see her at all after he returned

Lakan seeing everybody as board pieces might be from a disorder called Prosopagnosia in which those afflicted with the condition have difficulty recognizing the faces of others and must come up with ways or other means to recognize others. The way Lakan was able to cope with it is by seeing others as Shogi pieces. Everybody deals with the condition differently and Maomao and her mother might be exceptions to Lakan.

A note about Lakan not helping Fengxian, everyone at the Brothel keeps telling him that she's dead.

Now I feel bad for Lakan. His and Fengxian's backstory is a sad and tragic love story😢

You guys realize the little finger is Maomao finger right!? It's one of the reason Maomao keep seeing hers

I think Lakan kept saying that getting a courtesan pregnant is the easiest way to lower her price is because he is blaming himself for what happened to Fengxian

Lakan does have a tragic backstory. That, in and of itself, doesn’t mean he’s infallible. We’ve heard the story from his perspective, at least in the anime. How reliable of a narrator is he? What about Fengxian’s point of view? Plus, Lakan experienced what it’s like to have tragedy strike, when there’s lack of information. Even knowing that, he wasn’t straightforward with Jinshi and Maomao about the danger to Jinshi’s life. What if Maomao hadn’t made it to the temple in time? What if the guard had completely knocked out Maomao? As a strategist, Lakan should be better at assessing risks. Sometimes, he’s too interested in playing games. He’s a great character, but some people are too eager to let his actions slide because he has deep sadness in his past. Anyway, I’m looking forward to more from him, Jinshi, Maomao, and the others because they’re so fascinating. LOL!

Correction. The one reason Fengxian became that was because she was pregnant, and if you recall, the best way to reduce a courtesan’s worth to zero is to get her pregnant. Fengxian had feelings with Lakan, and her being pregnant was what she wanted, to “force” Lakan into buying her out before someone else does. Ofc, Lakan had no idea she was pregnant, especially since he was sent out forcefully. He never received a single letter from her during those three years. Their relationship caused her worth, and the worth of the brothel to crumble rapidly, and while it was never Lakan’s intention to cause all that, it still falls on him.

I feel like this was why Maomao called her mom "Baka" idiot* in the earlier episodes, because Fengxian risked everything in the hopes of Lakan buying her out but such misfortune occured. :(

In 20 minutes bro when from machiavellian villain to tragic estranged father with a condition. Legendary.

Lakan just wants to reconnect with his daughter As what I mentioned a couple of episodes ago, their story is somewhat similar to that of the concubine who deliberately made herself unworthy for the emperor so that she can be with her true love. In Maomao's parents case, it didn't end up well tho...

For people that didnt understand very well. Fengxian, Maomao's mother, was going to be sold but she wanted to be with Lakan. She was too expensive for him to buy so she purposeful lowered her value by getting pregnant. Maomao explains this to Jinshi when he asks, prostitutes actually are very carefull with their cycle because getting pregnant is a death sentence to them. Fengxian got pregnant and that put her value to the floor, making her have to take any client, sick or not, because she was worthless in the eyes of their culture. The pinky finger, i believe there is a song on japanese that says who lies has to eat needles or have their pinky cut, I'm not sure. But sending a pinky is also a confession of love for a cortesan, as well as she did as a nab for " Remember that promise you made me ? I loved you and you broke it"

after watching this episode one cant help but to feel sorry for him too. Yes he could have had defied his dad , and that way avoided what happened to maomao and her mother but this society isnt as accepting as that. Hopefully this family still can be somehow saved

"I can't see your face unless I respect you." If that was the case, Lakan would know his uncle's face. He absolutely respected him.

So the old Lady is the villainess of the story, I guess. She let the mom take on sick clients and chased the dad away when he got back. He could have bought out his lover and raised MaoMao as a noble lady, but he got beaten every time he approached the girl and felt too guilty to impose himself.

To be clear Fengxiang did not curse Lagan, it's call Yubikiri the Japanese hardcore way to portray the love/promise to the other depend on which finger they send, in this case she sent ring finger meaning marriage and little finger from moa moa show that they also have a kid. They sure have Japanese influence a lot, despite Chinese setting. If someone know this tradition feel free to correct it if I am wrong.

Notice he chose Go, which she's good at. Instead of chess, so he wanted her to win.

Lakan feels guilty, that's why he portrays himself like he's the villain. Pretty sure it's survivor's guilt. If he hadn't slept with Fengxian that day, if he'd noticed what had happened, or if he'd been there when it got out that she was pregnant and her price dropped to the point that he could afford to buy her out, she wouldn't have suffered through all that and "died" (if you note everyone's words, you'll know he thinks she's dead). --Still recommending you watch Mo Dao Zu Shi--

lakan.. 😞 deserves a fucking W... we must protect this man at all time

the pregnant thingy was not by accident, fengxian want lakan baby that's why she choose Go on the second game, lakan choose Go on the first game because he know he will lose but lakan didn't realize what fengxian actually really want from him. and lakan didn't know fengxian still alive, the granny said fengxian is gone so lakan assume she's dead.

Lakan's character got misjudged so bad even tho he hasn't actually done anything bad, just cuz he looks shady. just like Zanac and Raeven from Overlord 😔

lakan tried to enter the brothel several times even after this incident but got beaten n shooed away by the granny , hence y memory of him by mao mao was a traumatic one cos he was covered in blood smiling trying to grab her. The granny is pissed at him because he brought the price of the brothel down n business was probably bad because of him, so they had to start from scratch again . Fengxian contracted syphilis so shes basically the same as dead, plus with the grannies resentment i think thats why she told lakan that fengxian was dead n never allowed him to see mao mao. Cant wait for the next episode tho ❤

not so fun fact: the 2 withered fingers Fengxian sent Lakan had two sorces, they focus on showing Fengxian's bandaged hands every time she shows up in the present and some episodes past Maomao had a dream that showed her mother holding a knife over her as a baby and whenever Maomao reflects about love she looks over her pinky finger

Bro couldn’t visit cause the granny would hit him with that broom and shoo him away every time

I love that Laken, after having an awful thought, picks the game he's weaker at.

So Lakan didn't force himself on Fengxian, like I thought. He just didn't realize the consequences until it was too late

This show is amazing! It would’ve been so easy to make Lakan’s character be evil/sinister, but he’s simply a weirdo with a tragic love story

Lakan being shady is normal for a war strategist from the palace. Also, him being nonchalant about the "do u know how to bring down the price of a courtesan" thing... He's a minister for the king. He can't have much weaknesses. The fact he dotes on maomao, albeit quite lowkey, is alredy big. He can't let people think he was that heartbroken over Fengxian's death (her supposed death, he doesn't know she's alive). It's also a way to protect MaoMao. Of his enemies know she's a way to hurt him, they will use her to do just that. Shady for shady, there isn't a single clean person in the palac. A minister, a war strategist at that, it's a very desired position. People would kll for that

Severing pinky finger is also known as ponky promise to the person you love.

Remember when the show was happy-go-lucky, and all we had to worry about is poisonings and dead babies?

Finally! I've been wanting on this episode about Lakan

It seems clear from this episode that the "old lady" told Lakan that Fengxian was "gone", so it feels like he never knew. And the only way he started to think Maomao might have been his daughter with the similar intellect that they shared. And learning through the episode that he was just so giddy to see the daughter that he thought he lost thriving so happily was so wholesome.

Everyone: Lakan Me: Unexpected ASMR

That's the reveal I was waiting for to be reveal 😁 Next and final(?) episode will be good too can't wait

Fengxian The people who Maomao cherishes, Loumen, old lady, Meimei, Juka, Pairin, perhaps her mother, Fengxian, need closure and this her way of perhaps not healing but closure so all of them can move forward. Lakan was self aware of his issues that his Uncle Loumen tried to help him. But in his arrogance he did not try to really understand those around him. His failure to connect either Fengxian or understand her communications with him. After THREE years he finally understood. He was not malicious just lazy and neglectful - abandoning Fengxian dooming her to her shameful state and disease. Maomao understands it was not all his fault so she does not hate him but also has no affection for him. His stupidity does not excuse him nor does she forgive him, but does not see him as malicious. He may even a grown more self aware ergo his clumsy attempts to connect with his daughter whose mother he abandoned for 3 critical years. Recall her comment she lost ability for love in Fengxian womb. Lakan’s obsession and joy in games he ignored and forgot about Fengxian even though she wrote so many letters. He was not evil but he has so much to atone for. 3 years 3 years 3 years 3 years and did nothing to maintain connection. Again in 1000 days he did not contact Fengxian.

It's not been reacted to until I've seen it here and your intro is sick.

lakan most probably thinks the mom is dead as the old lady said "shes gone now" instead of saying shes sick. he wouldnt abandon her even after the disease. i sure hope they let us see his reaction to the mom being alive cause by the looks of it the next episode will be based on maomao and jinshi mostly

Damn, didn't knew he was chill like that

And it makes sense that Maomao was sent to live with the Doctor... he's family after all.

Well, this was a paradigm shift of an episode.

I think it is also interesting that Lakan's intellect in shogi , go could not translate to him better understanding the situation which is another reason why yes there is the part where due to his condition and other things he is able to play shogi in real like in wars as he sees them only as chess / shogi pieces this is way although he is weak on his own can control his men bring home victory but it just didn't happen in this case he couldn't gauge out Fengxian's intentions and neither did her lack of communication help with her situation as will be mentioned in future episode i believe i don't who said but the line if only Fengxian was honest and clearly expressed her feelings.

Damn i wasnt expecting this

Maomao intended for Lakan to buy out Mei Mei because of their previous conversation together and Lakan would fit the "happy ending" for her end as a courtesan career she wanted. Also courtesans are pro and they know preventive measures to not get pregnant, she did not do them on purpose for reasons that are obvious.

Lakan most likely blames himself for everything that happened... because he's a control freak, he should have known. But he really is not to blame. Also... he probably doesn't even know about the mother.

The episode that makes everyone do a 180 on their opinions on Lakan.

❤fingers severed was a curse Fengxian laid upon him or at least a threat of a curse.

That 3 year that lakan was gone it wasn't just studies there was also a war that he needed to win to get home and reason why his rank got higher

Its not like he ambonded her after the incident. He is a regular customer a the brothel, remember the scene where Maumau hiding in her mothers room, when he was there.

The adoptive father of MaoMao is not the uncle of Lakan, he mention that his uncle was in the military strategist, and he teach Lakan, meanwhile the adoptive father of MaoMao was the Head Doctor at the palace. Different people. Besides by the time MaoMao was born, Lakan uncle should be dead of old age. And most important part, is that Lakan uncle has a very long beard, he cant see his face, but the beard is shown. And i had hope that Lakan wasnt a bad guy, just a weird one, but they showed us that he has tried to ammend in his creepy way. An important part that i noticed...it seems its the Old Lady of the Burdel that keeps him separated from MaoMao and MaoMao's mom, a little understandable since she thinks he did it on purpose. It was sadly a series of very unfortunate events and not anyone specific fault. MaoMao grow up with the hate towards him, but she seems to discover the actual truth, thats why she give him the chance to attone (buy her mama), notice how MinMin does not hate him, and she is hinting that the withered rose is her lover and still has value to him and a fun fact, the little girl that was MaoMao's mom assistant is now one the princess of the Burdel.

It is said that in ancient Japan, there was a custom for prostitutes to give a finger to their beloved as a token of love. (There was no actual finger cut, and it seems that imitation finger-shaped products were on the market.) In Japan, when making an appointment, people still intertwine their pinky fingers and say "Yubikiri genman." Yubi means finger in Japanese and Kiri means amputation.

Damn. I gonna miss this show

I want my hate and anger for Lakan back. How dare this show make me sympathize and cry for him so much....

The "we shouldn't have used conjecture" episode

They didn't mention it but lakan always lost at go and always won at chess. So when Feng Xian asked him to pick he picked go knowing he'd probably lose.

Maomao got her mom's beauty and her dad's intellect. So tragic that they could not be a happy family together

also... i got shit like lakhan but the opposite. everyone looks like "i know you from somewhere/from before"

Fengxian cut off her finger and Mao Mao finger to curse Lakan

Lakan thought Fengxian was dead the entire time because that's what Granny told him

I read this from someone else but to think that the honey episode would affect the whole story so much

Maomao: "I can't beat him in chess, but I can just beat him."

Im surprised no caught that the small finger was supposedly maomaos finger that her mother severed to curse lakan

So Maomao “father “is Lakan’s uncle are we in agreement with this? A doctor who suddenly lost his job in the rear palace and was disgraced.

The other part was Maomao's pinkie fingertip

dawg, do not let itadori see that finger bro

Man, Lakan was one lucky dude.

not seeing faces if I'm not mistaken is a kind of illness called : prosopagnosia

Trust me granny’s anger is more than justified 😞

Luoman is Lakan's uncle. This makes Luoman Maomao's great uncle. I think Luoman went to work for Verdigris house knowing that his great niece/nephew was going to be born.

Apothecary Diaries season 2 Confirmed

Fengxian and lakan love story gives us the story that “right person wrong time “❤😢.

Nice.

I was ready to hate Lakan 😂

lakan didnt help the mom cause he thinks she died since the old woman said "she is gone now". i dont think hes the type of dude to abandon his love. he wouldve still tried to meet her if the old lady didnt say it like she died

Did they get a new camera like y does it look so crisp

Maomao cutting onions to see how they affect all of us. 😭