Is there anyone more handsome or beautiful than Jinshi?
Apothecary Diaries’ Episode 29, The Moon Fairy, is one of the most highly anticipated moments of the manga’s adaptation this season—and for good reason. At last, we get to see Jinshi take the spotlight in his full Moon Fairy form! But beyond the breathtaking reveal, this episode unravels deeper layers of court politics.
Tying back to Episode 28, Mirrors, the story explores how power struggles extend far beyond the rear palace and the imperial court. In a world where people constantly scheme and tiptoe around danger, no one—not even Maomao—is truly safe.
The Envoys
Something felt off about the envoys and the caravan from the start, and their strange request to see the Moon Goddess seemed completely random. But their true goal was unexpected—they wanted to form political ties with the emperor and his brother through marriage.
Their portrayal was similar to how they are drawn in the manga, but since they take great pride in their looks, I was a little disappointed by their designs. They didn’t match the beauty of the four high-ranking consorts, though I’m not sure if this was a deliberate choice by the animators.
The mirrors weren’t just a way to gain the emperor’s favour—they were also meant to provoke the four consorts. The envoys were so confident in their own beauty that they believed the emperor would summon them at any moment.
But that confidence crumbled when they witnessed something breathtaking: the Moon Fairy, or the Goddess of the Moon.
The anime’s version of Jinshi as a Moon Fairy is unmatched
Maomao had already considered Jinshi as the best person to play the Moon Goddess in the previous episode, but seeing him fully dressed as one was a real treat.
The manga and other adaptations portrayed this moment beautifully, but in my opinion, the anime version of Jinshi as the Moon Fairy is the best.
I love how they made him look elegant and feminine without erasing his masculine features. It wasn’t exaggerated, like when Maomao gave him makeup for fun in Season 1. Instead, his sharp jawline remained, and his outfit had an androgynous beauty. It reminded me of K-pop actors and singers dressed for a performance—tasteful, stunning, and captivating.
Maomao’s creativity shone through here—who would have thought that using glowing moths could recreate the same scene the envoy’s grandfather saw 50 years ago? The use of black cloth was also a clever touch. While the setting was clear in the anime, it’s important to remember that back then, lighting was poor. So, when Maomao removed the black cloth and released the moths, the illusion was easy to pull off.
I also really liked their interaction in this part of the episode. Nothing too sweet, but enough to sate the moments fans and shippers are craving for: Jinshi holding Maomao's hand tight until the performance, and then his silly, grumpy, wet and cold self, demanding that Maomao take care of his wet hair after going lengths to pull off such a disguise and performance.
Speaking of which, doesn’t Jinshi look like a certain dismissed consort? Dressed like this, he strongly resembles Ah Duo—purple hair, sharp features, long lashes, and a delicate yet defined nose. If we recall Season 1, when Ah Duo was drinking on the rooftop, Maomao later encountered a drunken Jinshi, who had been invited for a drinking session by someone of high status. Are Jinshi and Ah Duo related by blood? And if so, in what way? This raises even more questions about Jinshi’s true identity.
The Clinic
The isolation rooms in the rear palace may be impressive, but one thing concerns me—I don’t like how that old lady looks at Maomao. There’s also something odd about how Jinshi interacted with Maomao in this scene. He was more cautious than usual.
For the first time, it felt like he didn’t want to reveal Maomao’s medical knowledge to others. Why is that? He had no issue introducing her to the doctor in the rear palace before.
It looks like Maomao is once again in danger. The rear palace is a treacherous place, and with the growing risks around her, will Jinshi be able to protect her?
Want an in-depth analysis of last week's Solo Leveling season 2 episode? You can find out through a review we did. If you want an explanation of Sakamoto Days’ latest episode, we got you covered. And if you want to explore just what went down in My Happy Marriage season 2's episode last week, we've got everything you need to know.
