The Apothecary Diaries

**After breaking a “curse” on the imperial heirs, a palace servant with training in herbal medicine is promoted up the ranks to food taster…and right into the thick of palace intrigue!** Maomao, a young woman trained in the art of herbal medicine, is forced to work as a lowly servant in the inner palace. Though she yearns for life outside its perfumed halls, she isn’t long for a life of drudgery! Using her wits to break a “curse” afflicting the imperial heirs, Maomao attracts the attentions of the handsome eunuch Jinshi and is promoted to attendant food taster. But Jinshi has other plans for the erstwhile apothecary, and soon Maomao is back to brewing potions and…solving mysteries?! *Source: SQUARE ENIX USA, Vol. 1*

The size of a city, a legion of women, reserved solely for the Emperor—this is the Inner Palace. Into it is thrown Maomao, an apothecary who was kidnapped and sold into service. Now, she has to survive working as a maidservant… but all is not well in Paradise. The emperor’s children are dying one after the other under mysterious circumstances. Is it really a curse as the rumours say? A certain apothecary might just have the answer… but will they even take her seriously? *Source: Shogakukan Asia, Vol. 1*

Discover The Apothecary Diaries from Xiaolan's perspective in novelist Natsu Hyuuga's official spin-off story! Though born into poverty, Xiaolan was content with her simple life caring for her siblings. But out of desperation, her family was forced to make a terrible decision... Sent to the imperial palace as a servant, Xiaolan now spends her days washing laundry and tending to the consorts' needs. She doesn't mind her new lot in life—after all, there's food!—and soon makes friends with another servant, a strange girl named Maomao. Can the two help each other as they find their way in the scheming, status-seeking society of the rear palace? *Source: Square Enix Manga*