Of course, the infamous frog was the MVP of the episode.
It’s probably one of the most anticipated episodes of Season 2 of The Apothecary Diaries anime. Episode 35, titled The Hunt—but more commonly known as the “frog episode”—finally picks up the pace regarding Jinshi’s identity and the slowest slow burn in all of anime history.
In this episode, Jinshi asked Lady Gyokuyou to “return” Maomao so she could accompany him on an official trip. Once he gained her permission, Maomao joined his entourage, where he took on the role of a mysterious masked man, and guest of honour for the hunt hosted by Shishou of the Shi Clan.
If most of the first cour of Season 2 felt like a drought when it came to the cute Jinshi-Maomao interactions we loved from Season 1, Episode 35 certainly made it rain. Of course, the infamous frog—well-known to light novel and manga readers, and now to anime fans—remained the MVP of the episode, though it would have been nice to see more details included.
Before getting to the best parts, let’s take a look at the episode’s events and what they might mean for Jinshi, Maomao, the imperial family, and more.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Shihoku and the Shi Clan
This is the first time viewers were introduced to the homeland of Pure Consort Loulan. Shishou, the Prime Minister and leader of the Shi Clan, hailed from the northern part of the Li country, known as the Shihoku region—a mountainous area with cooler temperatures compared to the rest of the country. It was once a summer retreat for the previous emperor.
Everything in Shihoku exuded opulence—the grand architecture, the bridges, and, most notably, the lavish accommodations where Jinshi, Maomao, Gaoshun, and Basen stayed. The extravagance was such that the rooms resembled those of the emperor’s high-ranking consorts, complete with a personal bathtub in Maomao’s quarters.
Little was known about the Shi Clan, aside from the fact that Shishou governed the Shihoku province. It was unclear why the current emperor or other members of the imperial family haven’t visited in years. However, given the episode’s unfolding events, the Shi Clan seemed shrouded in suspicion. From Jinshi isolating himself and his entourage in a sealed room, to the food served to him at meals, there was a sense of underlying tension. It doesn’t help that he was ambushed while in the region—but the real question is, who wanted him dead? And was this part of the Shi Clan’s schemes?
Why was Jinshi hiding his face during the hunt?
It was already established in Episode 31 that Jinshi is part of the imperial family and most likely the emperor’s brother—so there are plenty of reasons why he chooses to keep his face hidden whenever he assumes his true role or identity.
Revealing his face to everyone poses a security risk for both himself and those around him. Jinshi's status as an eunuch is up in the air—even Maomao has her suspicions—but there may be a reason why he continues to conceal himself as one. If he didn’t, it would jeopardise the relative freedom he enjoys as Jinshi, and it could also mean confronting the duties he has as a member of the imperial family.
Another reason Maomao suspects he hides his face is because of his beauty. Even with a mask, many people have attempted to seduce him—just like whoever might have prepared or sent the food he was supposed to eat on his first night. That’s likely why he refused to eat anything during the banquet.
Jinshi, Maomao… and the frog
The most intriguing part of this episode was how Jinshi’s approach to Maomao finally starts to shift. While it was obvious in Season 1 that he had a huge crush on her, and while he has openly admitted that he finds her useful in many ways across both seasons, he looks completely done with merely seeking excuses to speak with her or see her daily.
At the beginning of the episode, he reflected on what the keeper of the Shrine of Choosing said about “adding to the (imperial) bloodline” and what the Empress Dowager warned about “keeping his favourite things hidden”—otherwise, someone else might “hide” them from him.
Realising that bringing Maomao further into his life would endanger her, he told Gaoshun that he intended to reveal the truth about his identity during this trip—hence why he brought her along.
Maomao, on the other hand, remained oblivious to—or perhaps deliberately ignored—everything he was throwing her way. It’s clear she wasdrawing a line between their respective positions, being more aware of how high Jinshi’s status must be. For someone as sharp as her, it’s impossible that the events of Season 1’s ritual ambush and the Shrine of Choosing completely escaped her notice. But perhaps she chose not to dwell on them, which is why she never looked to confirm the truth.
Anyone paying close attention might have noticed Jinshi’s mood sour when he asked Maomao whether he could eat the food served to him in his room—food meant to boost stamina, or in plainer terms, his sex drive. And Maomao, ever unaware, simply answered that the meal had originally been intended for him.
When he followed up with, “Are you really okay with it?” his expression darkened, and his frustration became evident. It was as if he had hoped Maomao would show some jealousy over someone trying to seduce him. Only Gaoshun shaking his head stopped him from getting more annoyed.
Then came the aftermath of the failed ambush on Jinshi, when he carried Maomao and leapt off a 50-foot waterfall. The temperature may have dropped, but things between them definitely heated up from there!
It was as if the writers knew exactly how to make viewers scream in excitement—what looked like a kiss turned out to be Jinshi performing CPR. And then Maomao, possibly due to the way she was raised among courtesans, started removing her clothes without a second thought. Back in that era, this would have been considered incredibly bold. In the manga, her attire was even skimpier than in the anime, but the scene was tastefully adapted—going just far enough to make things feel a little awkward, but not thoroughly uncomfortable.
Jinshi, ever the opportunist, tried to turn on the charm again by offering Maomao the food she had given him earlier—much to her dismay.
And then, we finally got to the frog scene! The frog leapt on Maomao's face and she attempted to remove it by shaking her head. This caused them to lose balance and fall over. As they tumbled down together, Maomao landed right on top of Jinshi, their faces mere inches apart! Out of all his expressions throughout Seasons 1 and 2, this was the moment where Jinshi looked like a switch had been flipped inside of him. Yes, in the kind of way you probably were thinking, but also in a deeper sense—like he'd had a realisation that he truly wanted Maomao. Not as a toy, not as a chess piece, not as a fleeting crush, but as something much more. And so, he didn’t want to let go.
The way I wanted to flip the table when the credits rolled right after this scene! I wish there had been more—but luckily, there will be more to come in the next few episodes. And isn’t it a relief that after next week’s episode, we won’t have to wait long until the second cour of Season 2?
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.
