When you realize that Lakan still sees Fengxian in her former beauty and not with the scars from her illness is just heart-wrenching.

I truly love the writing for The Apothecary Diaries. To take a character like Lakan who makes you so suspicious, only to incrementally reveal his past (some parts in ways that first make you think of him in a very negative light [how to lower the price on a courtesan]) and then just hit you with such an emotional punch with how he treats Feng Xian and his reaction to realising she's been alive all this time. Loved how emotional this final episode made you!

There are lots of clues recognized by Maomao that Jinshi is not a Eunuch, high ranked, Emperor’s son etc., but she want to deny it to be safe. She has become the master of denial with regard to Jinshi.

As Meimei knew Fengxian’s pride.would not allow her to unite with Lakan and demanded to others at the Brothel to hide everything. Meimei who love both people was so sad that Fengxian pride delayed their reconciliation until til almost too late.

This episode was so emotional and this arc took so many twist and turns but Tragic is really the only word to describe all this. An article explained that Fengxian being in the red dress in the end is a wedding dress implying that she and Lakan got married there on her deathbed which is just super wholesome. Im rooting for Lakan and hoping that even when she eventually dies he'll still be able to find happiness. But yeah it really is a matter of communication Fengxian assumed that Lakan would pick up on her plan and get her out but he didnt. Even if he was sent abroad he could have still arranged for her to be bought out and taken care of till he got back if he had noticed. Apparently the anime changed the reason he was gone he had actually gone off to war not just been sent abroad really not his fault. In the manga there is extra details of why Maomao dislikes Lakan she met him when she was a kid he noticed her missing finger and as Maomao said he tried to get her to acknowledge him and at the time his face was covered in blood from being beaten up by Granny and it spooked her. So while the jealousy she feels is a huge part of it there's also the fact that her first impression of him stuck. Its also implied that the conversation between her and Luomen that we didnt get to hear at the start of this cour is about Luomen. Her dance was so beautiful and her being very unaware of how many heart attacks she's given Jinshi will never not be funny.

Lakan was willing to play the villain as a penance because of feeling guilty for the all situation.

Season 2 is going to be so much fun, this season has been so good.

Maomao knew Miemie loved Lakan and hoped he choose her but also thought he might choose the wilted blue rose. She knew he chose Fengxian her mother and was ok. Perhaps in future Lakan will recognize Meimei’s love and she can dance again.

@04:30 yes the old lady told Lakan that Fengxian is "gone" implying that she died. And she hid her from Lakan. So Lakan did not know that Fengxain is still alive. So he tried to be at least with Maomao. Even when Meimei openend the door granny tried to stop her and close it. I don't know if Fengxian told her to keep Lakan away or if she does it on her own accord.

She send Maomaos fingertip to Lakan. If you cut off a fingertip it will regrow as long as you are still a baby. Thats why Maomao still has her fingertip even though she cut it off. Isnt the human body amazing? Maybe we really have lizard genes in us...? :)

I really like the show, but i think the manga did Lakan finding out that she's alive way better.