Lishu's poison tester after that whole event became someone who actually cares for Lishu cause she now understands that Lishu is not a brat and needs that pity and care cause the other servants are total jerks. That's why that scene where Maomao was looking at Lishu and the poison tester running towards Ah-Duo, Mao mao made a comparison about how its hard for a concubine to find a truly trustworthy servant that would support her for real in the palace, not like those other ignorant 3 girls who is there to basically sabotage Lishu, because Fengming was that kind of servant, someone who truly sacrifice herself to support her lady even going as far as murder and all of these things. I think the main reason why Fengming did everything wasn't to hide the fact that she killed the baby (aka the emperor swapped baby), but WHAT IF Ah-Duo knew the plot this whole time to swap her kid with the emperor's, and then Fengming killed the emperor's baby (on her own or someone else misled her) with the honey method and now no one would suspect Ah-duo baby is still alive and kept pursuing them, cause in their mind, Ah-duo's baby is dead, END OF STORY. Ah-duo and Jinshi knows they are mom and son, thats why he met with her to drink that night because they were saying goodbye, which explain why he was crying. 2nd of all, Jinshi might have told his mom about Maomao and basically Ah-duo was coming to the wall to drink and talk with maomao (sort of like your MOTHER IN LAW checking out the bride type of deal).... aka like meeting your waifu/husbando's parent for the first time.

Maomao was kidnapped by people related/associated to the Fengming family and on paper it seems like Maomao is part of Fengmings people/associates. The problem is that if Maomao comes out and says "oh I was kidnapped Im not with themn" to outsiders it would be suspicious and it would look like shes just trying to avoid the punishment now.

Jinshi didn't make up a story so she would stay with him , he was actually having a drink with adou but then she left and had a drink with mao mao and when she came back she kicked him out since she doesn't feel bad anymore and doesn't need to drink more .

It wasn’t Ah-Duo’s plan to swap the babies so Jinshi can have a better life. The purpose of the swap was because Jinshi wasn’t healthy as an infant, and we know that the Dowager’s son has more preference to be treated better than Ah-Duo’s son. To make her son live, Ah-Duo initiated the swap.

I remember vaguely hearing as a kid from one of my classmates that honey could kill babies. For some reason I always sort of dismissed it as an urban legend, crazy to think it really wasn't. Very interesting use of that fact in this show

Merry Christmas yall!

Nothing puts people in the Christmas spirit than talking about poisonings and dead babies

Minor clarification I haven't seen anyone else making (apologies if I missed it): Ah-Duo is often said to have masculine features, and this episode revealed why. Because of the complications with the birth of her son, she lost her uterus. It is also likely she lost her ovaries, meaning that she no longer has the expected hormone levels of women her age. Because of that, she has fewer feminine characteristics, leading to others finding her masculine in appearance. It's a similar thing with the eunuchs, since they don't have testicles, the drop in testosterone causes them to have fewer masculine characteristics, like less body hair, and lower muscle tone.

just want to clarify since you mentioned about them needing more doctors. the issue with that is, doctors in this place have to be a Eunuch. and there're very few people who were willing to go through that when they had spent all those efforts to become a doctor. hence why, for example, presently they only have one "quack" doctor.

Reducing two to one happened not only with the motives. It happened with the babies as well

Roshi and Sheera, do you realize that Maomao basically theorized Jinshi's circumstances, yet she actually didn't grasp that the baby who survive was actually JINSHI? She only thought about the swap because Jinshi and Ah Duo look alike, yet she didn't realize they look alike for a REASON. Why? Because Jinshi was said to be a 20-something y.o Euneuch and the babies were born 17-18 years ago.. That was why she didn't grasp that.. (although she did mention that Jinshi looked younger than his 'official' age of 20-something several times... YES! Because basically they are in similar age!)

You may be searching too complicated where it is simple. Ah Duo exchanged her son with the empress's son between the time of the birth and the time of the death. When the baby died, "people" discovered the swap (maybe because they saw some characteristics on the body, who knows). Fengming thinks she actually killed Ah Duo's son because she did not know about the swap. And Ah Duo must have been in despair not because her "son" dies (maybe she feels guilty though), but because now she cannot take anything back. As MaoMao said, she wasn't in her right mind when she swapped the babies, maybe she regretted it and wanted her son back. But when the kid "died" and the empress kept her "son" as her own, she understood that she just lost her son forever.

They know the babies were switched....that's why the "Emperor's brother" is in a precarious position. And obviously Jinishi knows.

Ah-Duo had her son with the current Emperor when he was still the prince, meaning Jinshi is technically (assuming he really is her son) the eldest prince and heir to the throne.

I love that when animes makes 20 minute episodes feel like they're less than ten. Every week it finishes and I'm like wait what already

One of the resons the doctor needed to be by the empress side during birth (besides being of higher rank) is because she was a KID having a baby (i think she was 10, the previous emperor WAS a horrible men). Super dangerours childbrith. The babies were switched after birth, but i doubt at that time the moms would have much contact with their babies after birth to actually noticed how they look like (mostly cared by servants while the mom is being treated) the empress, being a kid herself would probably be out for days after giving birth. But with the amount of people around both of them, there are probably a number of people who participated on the switch that we will meet later.

Merry Christmas everybody, hope it was a good day. Now on the episode, this episode was heavy af, with Fengming again having to come to terms with her having unintentionally killed Lady Ah-Duo’s son, her getting executed with the quickness and with barely a mention, the possible reveal of Jinshi being Lady Ah Duo’s actual son, and Jinshi holding onto Maomao while he cried. So much happened in these short 20 minutes, I love it.

Wonderful discussion! I'm glad you guys enjoyed this story arc 🐱 There's more good stuff coming, I'm glad it's a full 24 episodes. Cheers!

The babies were born around the same time and were related. I can see day old babies being swapped. They both had that “just got out of the womb look” babies get before they actually get cute.

hey roshi , sheera, and lupa , I just want to wish y'all merry Christmas! (And thank you for making all these reaction vids ! You guys are legendary!😁👍) and to everyone else as well!🥳🎄🎊⛄❄

At the end, Jinshi wasn't saying that Maomao was family with that head maid. Back then, when someone committed a big crime, their entire family and people connected to them might be punished. So when Gao Shun was talking about those connected with Fengming's family and Jinshi mentioned Maomao being kidnapped and sold, it can be inferred that either the kidnappers or buyers had something to do with Fengming's family/business. Maomao's name was also on that slip, so obviously she's on the list of people set to be dealt with. --Still recommending you watch Mo Dao Zu Shi--

If Fengming told Lady Ah-Duo the truth about her baby being poisoned by the honey, Ah-Duo would have been sad but understanding. None of them knew or suspected so there was no one at fault. Then again she was a grieving mother so I don’t know how she would have reacted emotionally.

With this show, it's hard to reveal things too much because some questions you have now may get answers slowly in future stories while the future stories bringing more new questions 😅 If you read manga or novel, be careful with what you reveal. The mystery is also one charm of the story. Merry Christmas 🫶

Definitely not crazy, I actually sat there and listening to that whole monologue. I was impressed, you guys normally finish the episode say follow socials and end the video. 10+ minutes of your thoughts was amazing. Plus I'm months maybe a year or so late. Glad to be a fan.

Jinshi looks exactly like the previous Emperor too so they didn't notice.

actually Jinshi also looks like previous emperor alot as well, so suspicion never rose about his physical appearance being similar to Ah Dou. Another W reaction!!

So Jinshi was raised as the current emperor’s brother, but he’s actually the current emperor’s son, no? So he should be the crown prince.

4:00 I NEED to find the ost for this. This moment when it pans to Fengming's face sounds so good. This scene was soo tense. The way it pans to a shot with her and a knife behind her. Oh man and the change in her facial expression

Sheera calling the Empress Dowager "L mom" sent me through the stratosphere 🤣

The Apothecary Dairies Cour 1 has ended with Episode 12 Cour 2 is scheduled to release on 06 January 2024.

Did no one point out that Maomao’s “theory” makes Jinshi the only son of the current emperor?

13:00 One of the possible reason why the swap wasn't noticed until much later is probably because the babies looked similar. Nobility has this thing of preserving bloodline, so there used to be many incestuous marriage to maintain their pure bloodline. Maybe the babies have similar face features because, even though they have different parents, they might have the same grandparents or grand-grandparents; or maybe the respective parent themselves were related. There is an actual reason why the swap is possible though, and we'll learn it in the Light Novel Vol 3/Manga Vol 11, but we prob won't be seeing it in the anime this season. Unless they'd make second season, that is... 11:49 The one connected to Fengming's family doesn't neccesarily mean a related family, in a sense. It could be merchants who affiliates with Fengming's family who's a beekepers. It's possible that the human traffickers who kidnapped Maomao was disguising themselves as a merchant, and they put Maomao as their daughter when they fill the registration paper to enter the palace. You'll learn more in the next ep though (but I'm sure you've watched it, seeing that you guys have the Patreon). Great reactions as usual! 🥰❤

i feel like it's probably not actually that complicated, but my peanut brain cannot get the plot/relationships straight lmao

I know I'm late to the party with this, but a thing to remember is that the babies would look very similar as they were closely related.

Fengming was executed for attempted murder of Lishu. We don't know whatever she'd be punished for killing Ah-Dou's baby or not, especially 17 years later, but she still committed a crime regardless and that's what she's mainly punished for.

I'd imagine the Empress' son died, and they swiped Jinshi from Ah Duo so the Empress still "has" a son.

Merry Christmas! Loved this series so muchhh ❤🎉

Merry Christmas! Thanks for this awesome episode

The full circle of the story 😢and the twist. ❤

Zom 100 is back btw

Did they not punish Maomao's dad for not noticing the baby swap? Does that mean they were aware but kept it that way

13:00 . . . . . . . . . . . previous emperor kinda looks like Jinshi when he's younger

Merry Christmas yall🎉🎉

You guys are correct but she did it to protect Jinshin. So Ah Duo knows that her son will be killed. Her family isn’t really powerful enough to support her, her husband has just been crowned as the emperor. And her baby as the eldest son will be killed by the other noble families. Many people will be after her son so to protect him, SHE SWAPPED the little brother of the emperor/her husband, the empress dowagers second son, which is Jinshin/the eunuch TO PROTECT his son. Not for a better life. THE real brother of the emperor/Jinshin’s uncle/empress dowager’s second son was accidentally killed and she didn’t deliberately do it. Funnily enough the Empress dowager knows about it but didn’t really care because she loves Jinshin as her own. NOW there’s an issue about the emperor having no son yet so imagine what would happen if they knew that Jinshin has actual rights to be the Crown Prince

Maomao was ready for smoke.

Thanks for the upload family ❤️🙏🏾🎄

watch blue eyed samurai!

the baby were swapped by ah duo so jinshi will be protected in the palace as she fears that someone might attempt to kill him however by accident fengming killed the swapped baby (dowager's child) by accident

Merry Christmas 🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾

Merry Christmas 🎄🎄🎄🔥

Merry Christmas to all

Babies all look same to me, I'm not surprised that those babies got swapped.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmaaaas

merry christmas

damn , she is wearing a kevlar to the meet up ? 😁

My theory is the babies looked very similar. Both their fathers are related (father and son) so it’s highly likely the babies looked alike. So….we did see the Empress , the emperor’s mother in the garden party. That’s the one who looked very young and is implied she had the current emperor at a disturbing young age. Let’s assume that’s Jinshi grandma. He actually looks a lot like her too. Maybe both babies had the same hair and eye color so they couldn’t tell.

I see that they kind of censored some stuff... The reason why Ah Duo was spending a lot of time with Li Shu was to protect her from the pedophile emperor (they did create a real mother-daughter bond, though). That's why Li Shu could marry the current emperor because she was "pure", as Ah Duo made it so the emperor did not put his hands on her. I wonder if they'll adapt the previous emperor and the empress's dowager story arc because it was meeeeeeessed up.

Listen.... the baby that died DID NOT DIE IN CHILDBIRTH. It died in Ah-Duo's care LATER because the lady in waiting was using honey without knowing it was dangerous. The SWAP was done to insure the weaker child (Jinshi) was put into better care (PRINCE CARE) and the real prince just got accidentally ganked later via honey when he was the stronger child and getting what should have been "good enough" care.

With this much of information sometimes reading the manga really helps. I see many ppl got the wrong impression about certain parts. Btw I don’t think AhDuo and Jinshi drinking time was ‘intimate’

Nice reaction guys. Sigh, I think this is by far the saddest episodes so far, especially Ah Duo telling her ladies in waiting with such a dead look in her eyes that it was the will of heaven that her son died. Although that part is confusing to me as if there really was a baby swap, she shouldn't feel so devastated if the baby who died wasn't actually her son. It could be Lady Fengming not telling the truth in her story exposition, but I think that part of the confession, which was to Maomao only and had no reason to lie, was true and that from her perspective, Ah Duo was completely devastated. Then again, she could have been devastated regardless even if the babies were swapped. Who kows? ARRGH!!!! layers within layers. NO SPOILERS PLEASE! For this anime, I'm glad that for the most part, the 4 concubines themselves don't seem to be the evil schemers, nor the eunuchs. It is the ladies in waiting that seem more dangerous, from LiHua's incompetent ones, Lishu's toxic ones (although one of them is reformed and may take her job seriously now thanks to Maomao's veiled threat) and of course, Ah Duo's main lady in waiting Fengming who discovered in horror that she caused the infanticide and was willing to commit murder to cover up, even killing a young woman like Lishu who was barely legal. I just hope we don't discover anything unsavoury about Lady Gyokyou, Hongniang, Guiyan, Yinghua and Ailan. They all seem so nice and straight up down to earth if a bit condecending, I really hope they don't do too much evil scheming. NO SPOILERS PLEASE!

Blue Samurai reaction?🙏

Im not good in english im learning in this channel 💪🏻

9:04 what meat? For some reason i thought bro was smooth

Sensational 🍊🍊🍊

If Ah-Duo did swap the babies, it would be to protect her son. Without a powerful maternal family, Ah-Duo's son, being the first son of the heir to the throne (the current emperor), would've been seen as an obstacle by more powerful families who want to marry their daughters to the current emperor. Being the second son to the emperor and a mother with powerful family backing would give Ah-Duo's son a much better chance to survive childhood. (I buy the theory, but Ah-Duo's line "my son left me", writer is leaving it up for interpretation)

Not many knows about the honey stuff

so the baby who the Ah-Duo accidentally killed was the baby of the former emperor and the now mother empress (which is the current emperor's little brother) and Jinshi is the son of Ah-Duo who was swapped with the he former emperor and the now mother empress baby to protect her son as she learn the hard way that because he is just the daughter of a wetness even as a concubine of a crown prince, she has no power to protect her son and she won't be the priority. in Chinese royalty, many tribal princesses or noble ladies are married to the emperor so that is how the emperor get influence and power through alliances. a mother's (consort) background/family influence can help give you some power in the Harem, especially the more influential they are. Ah-Duo has no great family clan that can help her son so she probably switched them. If let say the learned that Jinshi is the son of Ah-Duo and not the current Empress and the former emperor, that means they would be furious that the real son is dead and was switch with Ah-Duo's son who is lowly ranking and it would make sense why he might be doing this kind of work for a royalty (maybe who knows) He is known probably as the little brother of the emperor but is actually his first born son. Ah-Duo's reasoning for staying this long as a consort even is she doesn't like the title is probably because of Jinshi.

Ya'll notice she said her Dad was physically punished? Did they break his leg?

Yeah the rear palace does seem to have trouble getting doctors but there's actually a plausible reason for it. Overwhelming majority of men who work in the rear palace must become eunuchs, but a skilled doctor would have no problem earning money elsewhere so why would they volunteer to inflict that on themselves? That probably would explain why the current doctor isn't particularly skilled.

Still confused how the servant's suicide fits into this.

My main question is why Maomao’s father was punished and considered a quack doctor for what happened 17 years ago. But the current doctor probably made a lot of mistakes especially with the prince and princess from the first episode but did not look like he was punished at all! Are they really relying on this quack doctor the fate of all the emperor’s progeny? It seems so irresponsible and illogical. Well I guess for the plot they need him to be incompetent so they would need Maomao😜

So Jinshi is the son of the emperor not the brother? Then whos the brother? They said like few episodes back that the brother was weak and rarely came out to occasions.

I am still confused 🫠😵‍💫🤕

Sheera wasn't exactly right about birth process. 14:11. It's complicated. Mother can be exhausted, unconsciousness. There are different reasons to NOT show baby immediatly.

so is jinshi the current emperor son or brother?? someone please explain

Nice❤❤❤

lets go

its just that its unfortunate cause you can tell with the author that he is trying to prolong all the surprises in the latest chapters. he would always add like a filler plot about poisoning someone or disguising someone. im really invested as to how jinshi and maomao's story progress and not some detective connan shit where maomao is always needed but people doesnt seem to see her value and just always hinted at it. the emperor and empress dowager used maomao and she was able to live up to it. but there was no rewards for what she did... just a little acknowledgment. thats a bit of spoiler i guess but im just sharing my disappointment cause this show has really taken my heart especially maomao

one

w

According to the manga, Ah Duo looks so androgynous because she lost her uterus while giving birth. She was only like 10 at the time.

Merry Christmas