Secrets are no surprise in the Imperial Palace, but as the past unravels, each painful layer brings us closer to discovering Jinshi’s true identity.
The latest episode of The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 is undoubtedly one of its most controversial so far, as it delves into deeply sensitive themes that remain relevant even in modern times.
At first glance, Episode 33, titled The Late Emperor, may seem to justify the actions of the emperor and certain other characters. However, it instead paints a stark picture of how no one becomes a villain overnight, how every action—or inaction—carries consequences, and how even if justice does not catch up to you, your conscience will. It also unravels more of the Imperial Family’s many secrets, and reveals how Jinshi might be at the centre of it all.
This is especially true of the Emperor Regnant, or the previous emperor. Following the events of last week’s episode, Lady Anshi asked Maomao to investigate the circumstances of the emperor’s death and why his body had not deteriorated. Now, the focus shifts to the man who was at the root of many of the imperial family’s misfortunes.
The next day, Maomao, accompanied by Lady Anshi, her attendant, Jinshi, and Gaoshun, visits the room where the emperor passed away to investigate the lingering scents and sensations she had detected. Here, she uncovers one of the emperor’s most deeply buried secrets, inadvertently reopening old wounds for Lady Anshi.
To better grasp the nuances and hidden meanings of this episode, let’s delve deeper into the details.
WARNING: Spoilers ahead. This review also discusses themes of sexual violence and abuse.
In this episode, Maomao receives permission to enter the room where the emperor died, allowing her to properly investigate the mystery surrounding his death. While waiting for approval, she stays at Jinshi’s residence, where she stumbles upon a box of his childhood toys. According to Suiren, these were hidden from him to prevent him from growing too attached.
Paintings from the Past
Among the objects, one toy catches Maomao’s attention—a curious yellow stone, which she identifies as orpiment, a poisonous mineral. Believing she is on the verge of solving the mystery behind the emperor’s preserved body, she confides in Suiren that she is close to uncovering the truth.
However, it is a painting of a girl dressed in yellow that truly piques her curiosity. Suiren explains that Lady Anshi once wanted to discard the painting, yet ultimately kept it for Jinshi.
The following morning, upon arriving at the emperor’s chambers, Maomao immediately notices a distinct scent. She summons the caretaker who remained by the Emperor Regnant’s side during his final years. Eventually, Maomao uncovers layers of wallpaper and reveals a hidden painting—one that depicts a woman in yellow surrounded by young girls, seemingly pre-adolescent.
Lady Anshi initially believes the woman in the painting to be the previous Empress, but as Jinshi talked about the “discarded” painting of her in yellow, she realises that it may actually be her younger self. She once adored wearing yellow, to the extent that the emperor painted her in that colour as a child, and this was the painting that Jinshi saw in his childhood.
It appears the late emperor may have cared for Lady Anshi at one point, yet was ultimately afraid of her—likely due to his inability to communicate with or handle women.
Maomao also deduces that the emperor’s prolonged exposure to orpiment was not only the cause of his slow demise, but also the reason his body remained preserved after death.
The Emperor Regnant’s past does not excuse his actions
From a storytelling perspective, the decision to explore the late emperor’s past, his trauma and upbringing, his secret passion for painting, and how he got there in the first place adds depth to his character.
Rather than reducing him to a one-dimensional villain, the narrative presents a complex figure shaped by his circumstances.
The late emperor was weak, and for reasons unknown to many, suffered from an intense phobia of adult women—at least, that is how the anime portrays him. His behaviour suggests severe distress, as if interactions with grown women triggered deep-seated trauma.
This specific form of gynophobia—an irrational fear of women—appears to stem from his mother’s control and manipulation. The extent of his abuse remains unclear, but it was enough to instil in him such extreme aversions. This explains why he was comfortable around Anshi as a child when she served as an attendant to a consort.
Yet, despite his traumatic past and phobia, it is impossible to sympathise with him. His suffering does not absolve him of responsibility for his actions. Each time the episode alludes to the previous emperor “favouring” a child consort, the reality of the victims’ trauma looms large—particularly that of Lady Anshi. Sexual abuse is sexual abuse, no matter the perpetrator’s past.
Though he became a recluse in his final years, it seems fitting that karma ultimately caught up with him for the countless young girls he victimised.
Lady Anshi’s trauma does not excuse her actions
Lady Anshi, or the Empress Dowager, also presents a morally complex case. Having nearly died due to pregnancy as a child, Anshi was among the rare few who survived and bore a son who would ascend to the throne. While she was aware of the previous emperor’s perversions from a young age and strategically pursued her ambitions, she likely did not fully grasp the suffering and trauma that awaited her. As she grew into adulthood, she endured feelings of abandonment, loneliness, and a fractured sense of self.
Some argue that she reclaimed power by forcing herself on the previous emperor, ultimately conceiving a child—who many viewers suspect is Jinshi, given his resemblance to the late emperor.
However, what Lady Anshi did was still rape—another form of sexual abuse. Rape is rape, and non-consensual acts, even between individuals with prior intimate relationships, constitute sexual assault. An unwanted intimate touch, a stolen kiss, or being forced into any form of physical intimacy without consent—no matter the circumstances—remains a violation. It does not matter if she once shared a bed with him or if she suffered in the past; her actions are inexcusable. Consent is not something that can be assumed, nor does prior intimacy grant ownership over another’s body.
While many praise her actions for preventing further harm to young girls like Lishu, who became the late emperor's concubine right before he became a recluse, they do not erase the crime she committed--to the point where her own conscience bugged her, and she thought she had brought a curse upon him.
Jinshi and his place in the Imperial Family
At this point, it is clear that Jinshi is a member of the Imperial Family. The real question is: where exactly does he stand? Episodes 31 and 32 confirmed that Jinshi and the Empress Dowager are related, with Jinshi addressing her as his mother. This would make him the current emperor’s brother.
However, in this episode, Anshi mentions that others have referred to Jinshi as an “illegitimate child” or a “child switched at birth.” While Jinshi bears a striking resemblance to the late emperor, his hair and eye colour differ from both the previous emperor and Lady Anshi. Additionally, he is considered one of the potential heirs to the throne. His true lineage is likely to be revealed in the coming episodes.
Does Jinshi share similarities with the Late Emperor?
Aside from the stark facial similarities, the comparisons end there. There have been discussions on Reddit and Facebook among fans—particularly those not familiar with the manga and light novel—claiming that Jinshi shares the late emperor’s disturbing “tastes,” given that Maomao is petite and child-like in appearance.
However, these assumptions overlook many things. Maomao is of age—and in the light novel, it was explicitly stated as 17 when she entered the rear palace (and 18 as the novel progressed), which was considered young adulthood at the time. Furthermore, Maomao has previously remarked that Jinshi seems younger than he appears, possibly indicating that their age gap is not significant. In fact, Gaoshun mentioned that Jinshi was actually 19 in Season 1, so the age gap significantly decreased to just 1 year.
Secondly, many forget that Jinshi’s fascination with her wasn’t due to her child-like appearance but rather because, beyond being clever and beautiful (if she stopped hiding behind her freckles), she remained unaffected by his charms—sometimes even repelled by them. This allowed him to be more himself around her, unlike with the women in the rear palace, where he always had to remain guarded.
Episode 33 offers an unsettling yet compelling look into the late emperor’s past, revealing the layers of trauma and power struggles that shaped the imperial court. However, as the narrative makes clear, trauma does not excuse harm inflicted upon others. Both the late emperor and Lady Anshi made their choices—choices that left lasting scars on their conscience and those around them.
As the season progresses, one of the biggest mysteries remains: where does Jinshi truly fit in this tangled web of imperial secrets? With each passing episode, the answers draw closer.
If you or anyone you know are a victim of child abuse or sexual abuse, please know that you are not alone and that you can find help. You can reach out to local organisations like the following:
Sexual Assault Care Centre (Singapore)
Women’s Aid Malaysia (Malaysia)
Philippine Commission on Women (Philippines)
Komnas Perempuan (Indonesia)
Child Help International (International)
If you want to revisit insights and theories from previous episodes, here's a compilation of every review so far for The Apothecary Diaries Season 2.
