In The Apothecary Diaries, the lives of Maomao and Jinshi are entirely intertwined, not through mere coincidence but because of family histories. At first, it will look like they just bumped into each other by chance, but if you read a bit into their family histories, it’s clear their relationship was more or less fate-bound.
Jinshi, born as the crown prince, and Maomao, the daughter of the La clan, were already linked through the intricate web of palace politics and personal decisions that shaped their world. Lakan’s exile, his desperate attempts to redeem Fengxian, and the expulsion of Luomen for his perceived failures were all part of the process of how Maomao and Jinshi finally came to meet.
The intertwined fates of Jinshi and Maomao’s parents in The Apothecary Diaries
In The Apothecary Diaries, Jinshi and Maomao are affected by the actions of their adults, especially with all the political disturbances occurring with Lakan, Fengxian, and Luomen. Lakan, an influential figure, was forced to stay away from Fengxian, who was already with child.
This separation altered the course of their lives and deprived Maomao of a secure childhood. Had circumstances been different, Lakan’s position might have secured Maomao’s status within the nobility, and she could have been a better candidate for Jinshi from the beginning.
Luomen, Jinshi’s uncle, lost his position because of his alleged failure to assist with Ah-Duo’s childbirth. This impacted not just his reputation but also heavily on Maomao’s fate. If he had not been removed from his position as a palace doctor, Maomao would have been raised in a life of privilege, altering the trajectory of her life entirely.
In spite of the chaotic happenings of their parent generation, Maomao’s introduction to medicine and interest in pharmacology in The Apothecary Diaries was a direct consequence of these fate changes. Luomen contributed significantly to the development of Maomao’s medical skills.
Had he stayed in the palace, he would have kept working in a more formal environment, maybe restricting Maomao’s unconventional approach to medicine. His exile, however, forced him to bring up Maomao in an environment where she could develop her skills in an unorthodox and freer manner.
On the other hand, had Luomen not lost his position, Maomao would have been in a position to study medicine from books within the La clan compound and learn from him systematically. This would have turned her curiosity-driven research into a systematic study, perhaps altering the entire atmosphere of her fixation on medicine.
An alternate timeline: Maomao as Jinshi’s playmate and bride candidate
Had events unfolded differently, Maomao might have had a very different life, a life in which she would have been a high-born La clan noble and grown up in court with Jinshi. In this alternate world, Maomao and Jinshi would likely have been raised together. Instead of him encountering her as this lowly servant with exceptional intelligence, he might have known her as an old friend from childhood.
Their relationship might have been less about intrigue and more about camaraderie, evolving into a natural marriage prospect as they matured. Even in this reality, Jinshi’s fascination with Maomao’s intellect and personality would likely have remained.
Comment
byu/Life-Professor5088 from discussion
inKusuriyaNoHitorigoto
In the original timeline, they were more about curiosity and wondering what Maomao would do, but in this alternate scenario, it would probably be from knowing one another so intimately and having tons of respect because they spent their whole lives growing up together.
Comment
byu/Life-Professor5088 from discussion
inKusuriyaNoHitorigoto
However, there are those who believe that the author sort of intimated that perhaps all of this dynamic may not have worked so well. The dramatic contrasts between how Maomao developed her personality and her abilities would’ve resulted in a different Maomao: possibly one who isn’t as self-reliant, less inquisitive, or lacking in the same kind of rich experience that made her the person she is in The Apothecary Diaries.
Ultimately, no matter how chaotic history was or how structured their childhoods became, Jinshi and Maomao were absolutely destined to come together. Even if fate was more generous, the La clan’s daughter and the crown prince would have some way or another found their way to one another.
Sure, things might’ve been different, but their lives were always gonna end up the same, showing that, in the grand scheme of things, Maomao and Jinshi were just destined to be together.
The Apothecary Diaries is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
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