Jealousy, envy, and an endless spread of mushrooms abound in this episode.
The fourth episode of the Apothecary Diaries Season 2’s style is much different from the three before it. While the first three episodes hinted at a larger story, the fourth episode felt like a break from it all.
Episode 27, named Corpse Fungus, felt like a largely self-contained “mystery of the week” story, similar to how the first cour of Season 1 was like. However, it doesn’t hide any of Maomao’s brilliance and the complicated intricacies of life in the rear palace.
Because while the focus on of the threats are on the higher-ranking consorts so far, it seems even lower-ranking consorts and other women in the palace are threats to everyone around them, if they let jealousy fester.
Maomao complements Jinshi — nobody can tell me otherwise
Jinshi and Maomao’s dynamic once again is just — chef’s kiss. It’s not the fluff we’ve been wanting to see since the last few episodes of the first season, but in this episode, we can clearly see how they complement each other in many ways. Both characters have a sense of shrewdness in them, in different ways because of their upbringing.
Jinshi, a high-ranking official or eunuch in the rear palace, is great at finding opportunities for something he wants to work towards and seizing it. Maomao, exposed to the world outside and probably more immersed in the rear palace as a servant, is more street-smart. She is more observant of the needs of the girls, and her own opportunities to make money.
This was evident in how Jinshi distributed Maomao’s spicy novels to pique the interest of the other girls into learning how to read and write— and then taking the next step by planning classes to help them. While a novel idea, Maomao’s ideas for execution are more polished.
We also see how Jinshi and Maomao are able to read between the lines… but more like Maomao? Maomao doesn’t need Jinshi to tell her why he’s asking her to investigate something, or why they needed to move elsewhere — she eventually figures it out herself, making working together way easier. Now if only Maomao can read into what the hairpin meant…
Mushrooms
Once again, it’s interesting to see how the show more or less bases things on real life. Because it would be easy to draw a generic-looking mushroom, put ominous things like spots on it (or make it red), and claim it’s poisonous. Viewers wouldn’t see that as an issue at all. However, I appreciate how Natsu Hyuuga, and later on, the animators and illustrators, took the time to get it right.
The mushrooms Maomao picked around the area all depict mushrooms that typically grow in East Asia and usually grow on decomposing matter, such as animal carcasses or dead wood. These include the Destroying Angel, Hair Curtain Crust, and even the Candlesnuff Fungus. Drawing mushrooms that resemble all three and mixing them in with some regular, generic-looking mushrooms is a nice touch of detail that makes the story closer to history or reality.
Then there’s the mysterious red mushroom that stuck out like long fingers — it’s called the Fire Coral Mushroom — which is extremely toxic when ingested. The mushroom was found on a piece of wood and not growing directly over any other decomposing animal — which, again, is accurate. On top of that, the symptoms of ingesting the mushroom include skin irritation, hair loss, and, when consumed in large amounts, multiple organ failure. This once again aligns with how the symptoms of poisoning were described.
However, although the episode makes it look like even inhaling the mushroom is dangerous — the mushroom has no scent and has no effect when inhaled accidentally. Perhaps it’s just an artistic touch to add gravity to the situation and to emphasise how poisonous it was, but props to the illustrators and animators for doing their research.
The Rear Palace is a scary place to be
I initially thought the chaos of the rear palace only involved the higher-ranking consorts, but it’s clear now that no one is truly safe —whether you are the emperor’s favourite, the head lady-in-waiting, a low-ranking consort, or even a servant with the least influence. With nearly 2,000 women confined to one place, many of them from noble families and fiercely competitive, the environment becomes a breeding ground for rivalry and manipulation. Every move carries the potential to elevate or damage not just their own status but their family’s standing, creating constant tension and hostility.
There are plenty of deeper implications around this. We already saw how jealous the court ladies were of Maomao when they found out she was to directly serve the charming and handsome Jinshi — but the strife in the rear palace is worse, and usually more covert. It brings us back to the overarching conflict that’s been brewing behind the scenes. Who is the target of the perfumes and why are they being targeted? Or is it really a mere coincidence?
Then there’s Maomao. She, too, can be a target of a jealous, cruel consort or another of noble status, especially since it can eventually get obvious that the most handsome man in the rear palace favours — no, adores her even. And with his mysterious identity, likely directly connected to the imperial family — Maomao is not safe at all too. Anyone can be a target, and no one can be fully trusted. Because indeed, the rear palace is a scary place to be in.
Wondering about what went down in Sakamoto Days Episode 2? We broke down the episode in a review here. Want to be in the know about the latest palace intrigue in The Apothecary Diaries Season 2? We explored the story here. If you're looking into an analysis of Solo Leveling Season 2 Episode 3, we've got you covered here!
