The Apothecary Diaries: What you need to know about Maomao's background

In the rich world of The Apothecary Diaries, there are very few characters who are as complex and engaging as Maomao. This series follows her story as a servant-turned-pharmaceutical detective within the inner palace. Maomao is intellectually smart, as she has vast knowledge of poisons and medicine, and the ability to untangle palace mysteries.

Yet the brilliance of her character goes beyond her charm. Because her past is just as complex and mysterious as the puzzles she solves. To truly understand Maomao, viewers must dig into her past and learn about her background.

Maomao in The Apothecary Diaries was raised not in a noble house, but in the colorful, dangerous, and deeply human world of a brothel. From the time she was an infant, she was brought up in the red light district. But fortunately, she had people who gave her maternal warmth and taught her complex life lessons.

This led her to be different from other girls her age. Maomao didn’t dream of romance or social climbing. Instead, she developed a love for science and inquiry, often performing her experiments or reading any medicinal material she could get her hands on.

The only people who played the role of a guardian were three courtesans in The Apothecary Diaries who took special care of her: Pairin, Meimei, and Xiaolan. These women were responsible for teaching Maomao the complexity of human relationships, the value of observation, and the intricacies of cause and effect. This made her a socially aware person, even though she is oblivious to Jinshi’s feelings towards her.

Her central part of upbringing was taken care of by her stepfather, Luomen, a talented apothecary with deep knowledge of medicine and poisons. Though he is a stepfather, Luomen treats her like his own and imparts with every piece of knowledge he has. What makes their bond unique is the respect-based, intellectually driven dynamic they share.

Notably, her genius and intuition are not solely inherited from Luomen. Her biological father in The Apothecary Diaries is a powerful figure within the Imperial Palace, most likely the influential and mysterious high official Lakan. Though she was unaware of this for some parts of the story, it is hinted at later on. This genetic and emotional duality makes her a brilliant and emotionally complex character.

One of the most prominent traits of Maomao is her love for medicine and poison. Her curiosity is often perceived as excessive, especially given her eagerness to experiment on herself and test poison tolerances. This dispassionate attitude toward potentially lethal substances is both what isolates her socially and makes her invaluable in the palace.

Why Maomao avoids meddling in others' affairs in The Apothecary Diaries

It is one of the most prominent traits of Maomao to force herself into others' problems and secrets. Despite her problem-solving genius, she often tries to keep to herself, preferring the stability of her current job and staying as far as possible from court politics. This aversion comes from her background.

As she was raised in an environment where people were often subjected to society’s judgment, Maomao in The Apothecary Diaries learnt early on that taking part in unnecessary drama could backfire badly. She values independence for herself and others and deeply respects personal choice.

Moreover, Maomao is well aware that knowing too much in a dangerous place would make her seem like a threat. Her unwillingness to meddle is a survival mechanism, and she would break this pattern only if someone needed help.

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In conclusion, Maomao is not your typical heroine. She is a woman born in the shadows, raised in ambiguity, and is succeeding in a world that doesn’t know what to make of her. As The Apothecary Diaries continues with its story, fans are hoping to know more about her character and see her come out of her stoic persona.

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