#knh!ask

[burnt-venus]

Big sister picking little sister up from school

[frostfires-blog]

"Why are you so quiet? What's on your mind?"

Me: Nothing other than JinMao looking absolutely stunning in every opening...

[resldue]

how tf did it take me this long to literally only just now realize that the reason that maomao gets all flustered and blushy at the "holding hands through the room divider" scene because thats emotional intimacy, which shes not accustomed to. whereas sexual intimacy is something shes well acquainted with (even though secondhandly) because she grew up in a brothel, raised by courtesans. it was her normal.

now jinshi forcing her to hold his hand thru the room divider whilst making her stay quiet during him talking to someone who didnt know she was there basically forces her to do a summarily wholesome thing for a while whilst doing it as though it is forbidden (it is, technically)? shes not prepared for that. forces her to be emotionally vulnerable, which evidently is something she doesnt know how to cope with well.

i love this series a normal amount i promise

[cfserkgk]

hello!! your modern au maomao is literally me

do you do requests,,, I think maomao with a p bass would be banger,,, feel free to ignore if no

much love !

p bass Maomao! Partially also because I've been obsessed with looking at music gear these days (you caught me at the right timing).

I play the guitar not the bass, but something about bass Maomao works so well. Also given that, I apologise if I've gotten any details wrong.

I've never thought about taking requests or not because it never registered as a thing in my mind (I'm technologically illiterate, I don't really know how tumblr works despite being on it for a year) - but I think if I have time it works out!

[dontheckinswear]

My designs for a Jinmao university AU!! I think about these two a normal amount.

[h0estar]

What are some traits/characteristics of Jinshi, that makes the relationship with him and maomao healthy— in a realistic sense?

where do i even begin :')

i'll try to make this solely about jinshi as much as i can (my interpretation of his character, at least), so here goes:

he puts others above himself. jinshi's #1 character trait is going above and beyond for people. it doesn't matter if they're doing him wrong or hate him; if he can find some way to help others, even at his own cost, he will. now, i know this isn't exactly healthy, but this guy is a people pleaser to his core </3

he listens. many times in the novels, we're shown how jinshi personally visits villages or people directly affected by taxes, laws, or whatever political movement the capital imposes, to gauge the people's reactions. he takes note and does what he can to help them.

he's wise and intelligent. takes one to know one. that's literally how he met maomao. to do his best work, he consults the opinions of those more knowledgeable than him (he's wise not to let something stupid like pride get in the way of his work). he takes their words to heart and takes them into consideration. oftentimes, he doesn't pursue a decision unless he's absolutely sure he's on the same page with trusted people.

he is kind and compassionate. he's been through shit since he was a child, but we don't see a vengeful streak once. this guy is so incredibly forgiving that he's willing to overlook any attempts made on his life (both sexual and murderous). this trait also drives him to help people without asking for anything in return. it's why he helped lady fuyou be reunited with her lover and why, despite his status, he wrote 200 letters begging regional leaders and political big-shots to help the western capital. and most especially, it's why shisui/loulan, suirei, and the shi clan children are still alive.

he is patient and resilient. again, people have been doing him wrong his entire life, but he still puts up with them (e.g., lakan & gyokou). he has a bad day almost every day and is stressed 24/7, but he tolerates it (despite complaining). still, he doesn't give up.

he has a strong work ethic. guy is a workaholic. if he's committed to doing something, he'll do it full-force, to the best of his abilities, and see it through till the end.

he is logical. he doesn't let his emotions dictate all his actions. if he could go about things his way, he would. instead, he uses critical thinking skills: he analyzes different perspectives, breaks elements down, and considers how his decisions will affect certain people. after all his thinking, he comes up with logical conclusions on which to base his decisions.

okay, so combine all these traits together, and we see how it makes his relationship with maomao healthy:

he prioritizes maomao above all else. everything he does, he takes her into consideration. when he makes decisions, he always has her safety in mind. he does this solely because he cares for her and doesn't want to put her in harm's way. he protects her, ensures her needs are met before his, and goes to great lengths to keep her from getting hurt, both physically and emotionally.

he listens and respects her boundaries. maomao is complicated. she has a skewed sense of value, self-worth, love, and all things emotional. she's also uncomfortable with grand gestures of affection, yet that doesn't stop him from pursuing her. and he does so in a way that is convenient for her, even if he has to take so much shit in the process.

he is supportive of her dreams and ambitions. though he views their status difference as an obstacle, he wields it for her benefit (he even created a new position just so maomao could practice medicine and opened up opportunities for her to become a surgeon.). he doesn't find her obsessions weird; instead, he sees value in their potential and actively encourages her to hone her skills. he also respects her expertise and doesn't command others to acknowledge it. he lets her competence speak for her as he stands from the sidelines, watching her shine.

he's incredibly patient with her. do i even need to expound? with all his princely authority, he could easily command maomao to reciprocate his feelings. but because he loves her so much, he doesn't. he sees her as someone he wants to be on equal footing with. however, because maomao is a different breed, he works for her affection and remains patient despite her constant avoidance. thus, the push-and-pull continues for 12 volumes. he's careful not to push her buttons too much and quickly observes how she reciprocates his advances.

he values her intelligence and trusts her. he never mansplains or acts like he knows more than her. he holds her words with heavy weight and consults her with things he finds difficult. even for stuff he's already figured out, he still seeks out her opinion because what she says and does matters to him.

he's loyal to her!!!! my guy is committed! he's thrown himself into this path ever since maomao said he'd always be jinshi to her, and he hasn't looked back or away since. he's determined to win her heart no matter how long it takes, and he will see it to the end.

i could go on and on and on about how self-sacrificial and beautiful jinshi's love for maomao is. the average guy would've given up on her, but he has the wits and intelligence to match her pace. he's likely noticed how maomao treats him differently from the rest and picked up on her kindness and compassion. he held on to that and kept faith, giving maomao the time needed to sort out her emotions and feelings, hoping his efforts would be rewarded someday.

now, i'm not saying jinshi is perfect. in fact, some of his character traits can be viewed as flaws. but when you really think about it, jinshi is a PRINCE living in a patriarchal society where women had little to no rights. yet he's doing all this FOR MAOMAO, a woman and a 'common apothecary.' despite his nobility, he's intentionally making his life difficult in his pursuit of her, yet he doesn't give a rat's ass. he wants her with every fiber of his being, and he wants her to want him too. but he's doing that on her terms.

however, jinshi's traits alone aren't what make their relationship healthy. jinshi loves maomao, but maomao values jinshi just as much. she cares for him, notices even the smallest things about him, observes him and his moods, supports him in any way she can, gets mad on his behalf, and gets worried and frustrated when he hurts himself for her or others, she feels comfortable when he's being his true self, and above all, she feels safe around him. there are so many more examples, and it's hidden in plain sight in the novels; you really just have to read between the lines.

maomao and jinshi are just humans, navigating feelings and personal relationships for the first time. it's an absolute delight to witness their growth and how far they've come, positively impacting each other despite their personalities. now that they're technically dating as of LN 12, they still have a long way to go, especially with communication and maneuvering this unfamiliar territory together. their love is so wholesome, strong, beautiful, and genuinely healthy. they truly bring out the best in each other, and you just can't help but root for these two freaks.

[jet-apologistmybadhomies]

okay can like someone explain natsu Hyuuga's Opinion is on jinshi? or Generally jinmao? because i know some things but theres so many ppl saying different things and tiktok is never Something i trust especially because i KNOW who is spreading all the news that ppl keep mentioning

because as far as i am aware she doesnt acutally hate jinshi and just thinks hes hard to write and mostly jokes but some are genuinily convinced she hates him? which i really see no reason like he is literally in every book why put him in SO much of the plot and dont say "pressured" even if hes popular its not like natsu is a pushover

[elitemaomaosequanimity]

Hello, I saw that You posted images from the Apothecary Diaries GX manga that depict the further chapters. I haven't been able to find translated manga chapters further than the 80th chapter (or around this number). Can I ask where do you have this translated version from? Or did you translate it yourself from the raws?

I found them on facebook tbh.

[superkooku]

If Maomao had the "assets" like other girls in the series, do you think she would weaponize her assets? Or find for a herb that could make her flat? XD

Very interesting question !

I do think that, considering her harsh upbringing, Maomao wouldn't like to "use her assets" herself. She'd maybe do it under extreme duress but other than that, if we suppose she keeps the same personality (it's likely, since she'd remain Luomen's girl), she'd prefer using her smarts instead.

She'd probably find even more techniques to make herself "uglier" like the freckles. Or try to make her body parts seem flatter.

The Emperor once said he'd like to take her as concubine if she was curvier but he very likely was joking to tease Jinshi. Since he's the one in love with Maomao, the Emperor would just leave her alone.

The big downside would be that the madam would probably have forced her to work in the brothel considering she'd be more desirable. Maomao being Maomao, she'd be even more disgusted.

(and Jinshi would probably still be in love with her considering it's her intellect and disgusted stares that made him have a crush 😂)

[randomositycat]

i hope you fuckers heard that apothecary diaries season two is January tenth i stg make some fucking NOOIISEEEEEEEE

Im so unwell im so unwell im gonna hit the gym and hook kick a punching bag throw a window

IM SO FUCKING HYPPPEEEE RAAAHHHHHHH

[burnt-venus]

Hi! Any JinMao FanFic recs? I'm parched 🥲

Hello Anon and of course! Here's some of the JinMao fanfics I've read so far, I'm willing to read more, so maybe this list can grow in the future.

Make sure to read the tags and author's notes for explicit content or light novel spoilers.

The Worth of a Life , In Another World by Julia_Crow

Hangover by SolomonBunny

Words of yesterday that pretend to be tomorrow by Jiruan

Tastes like denial doesn't it series by Anonymous

Jinka's Grand Getaway at the Merchant Mountain Retreat , Five Times the Cat Fled the Reveal, and the One Time She Didn't by aquietjune

Each Flower Has Its Bee , Inhibitions by ElenaChatNoir

Death by a thousand cuts , Leave your mark on me, golden tattoo by Ladykyriaa

All the time , Grind, grind, grind , Doctors Orders by rabbitholessk

The Path to Heaven (passes through a teapot) by auditoryeden

The Tree Whisperer , The Golden Means by CJ_R

One Blossom Now In Bloom by ktbl

More Than A Sample by Royal_Blue_Rue

Nobody's son, nobody's daughter by memoryandmoonstone

A Scheme to Remember by cozymodeonpoint

Happy reading!

[ladykyriaa]

On the topic of the LN, which volume is your favorite?

OH MY GOD

BOY DO I HAVE A LOT TO SAY

But im gonna refrain🧎‍♀️🤏

Im gonna have to say Ln 4-5 but most of all Ln5. I know there's a lot of discourse especially regarding the epilogue scene (which i will defend untill my last dying breath. Idc🗣🗣🗣) but the Jinmao scenes specifically in this volume is just so UGH.

You have maomao feeding him locust and him begrudgingly accepting just cause he doesnt wanna reject anything coming from her hands, the disguise wiping scenes (personal fave), Maomao betting on herself and jinshi being like "SHES WORTH EVERY PENNY", just jinmao genuinely having fun disregarding their differences of position UGH so good

Also rikuson. Just. Rikuson. <3

But then the epilogue happens and then you're FORCED to see as they skim around this awkward dance, all traces of familiarity gone. They're back to basically square 1, just with the added knowledge of each other's stance regarding the other's feelings. But its not long before we see them acting comfortably around each other again by the end of Ln6.

I just genuinely enjoy their development so so much. And Ln5 perfectly embodies that messy relationship that they have, threading between the lines, pushing and pulling- teasing each other.

I love how their development isn't one linear, where everything goes smooth sailing and they become close with added time, bcs they dont have the type of relationship where they could just have that. There's politics involved, jinmao's own set of issues, their dreams and wants regarding it etc.

I also love how Jinshi's forced to take a step back from his previously, I'd say, pushy actions. He's in no way a "red flag" (as people often say regarding characters with imperfections) just someone, much like maomao, with a lot of issue.

So yeah I love Ln5

(I'd like to add the volumes covering the western arcs are also my favourite -theyre so fun seriously. But that'd be too long and frankly I havent finished reading yet ☹️)

[noodlesoup1819]

HI. IT’S ME AGAIN. DOES THIS COUNT AS CHEATING?? IT SHOULD BE FINE, RIGHT? ANYWAYS, IM BACK TO BOTHER YOU. CONSORT TO THE MOON PRINCE PLEASE!!! also i ADORE the alliteration in most of your titles — such a cute touch!!! 💓💓💓💓

kshdfhshfksh ITS NOT CHEATING!! pls bother me whenever!!

And titles are probably my favorite part of the writing process!! I love coming up with something that sounds fun or interesting or pretty!!

This one is an Apothecary Diaries AU that I've yapped a lot about in this tumblr post. (yikes I didn't reread that for grammar issues at all before posting it 💀)

Maomao is raised by Lakan and Fengxian but gets curious about the deaths in the Rear Palace so asks to be sent there as a consort. Overprotective Lakan doesn't want to give his baby girl to the emperor, so instead, he sends her as a consort to the shut-in moon prince, that's currently pretending to be a eunuch in the rear palace so he can't reasonably visit her.

Chaos then ensues as Jinshi and Maomao both live double identities (Jinshi as 'Jinshi the eunuch' and 'Zuigetsu the Moon Prince' and Maomao as 'Kan La Mao the consort to the moon prince' and 'Maomao, La Mao's lady in waiting') During which, Jinshi is falling madly in love with the lady he explicitly promised their relationship would just be for show

snippet:

Jinshi watches as a woman draped in fine silk walks over the moat and through the gate into the rear palace. La Mao is beautiful. That much is clear from a distance. She is not the most endowed woman in this garden, nor is she the warmest or any of the other things the emperor tends to prefer in his flowers. No, La Mao’s beauty is much quieter. Her dark hair holds an almost emerald hue. Her face is carefully blank, as though it’s made of porcelain. She wears almost no makeup, just a hint of rouge around her eyes and lips. But her eyes— her cold, intelligent eyes. Jinshi thinks that they are probably the most captivating part of her. It’s a shame she won’t be visited, he thinks. Because she will not be visited. La Mao does not contain the things the emperor prefers in his flowers— because she isn’t his. She was given to Jinshi, or rather, to the moon prince. And Jinshi wants absolutely nothing to do with her.

Poor Jinshi has no clue what's going to hit him 🤭

This fic is absolutely fighting me every step of the way. I've rewritten the first part like four times and I'm struggling to figure out how I want to write Maomao's characterization since she's had a different upbringing in this AU. I have a pretty good handle on their canon characterizations and I like how I've handled their interactions in the past (fun fact, my most popular fic is from this fandom) but deciding where I want to take them in this world is giving me Problems™️

But I still love the concept, so we persevere.

Thank you so much for the ask!!! Much less TWO asks 🥹🫶💖

[cfserkgk]

More on the Maomao Lahan modern siblings AU. I know that Lahan's hair is probably closer to black/grey since Maomao got her greenish hair from her mother, but hey, they're siblings, so Lahan's hair can be greenish too.

[lastofthe20thcenturygirls]

[h0estar]

may i ask where it was stated that lahan likes milfs or older women? i keep hearing it in the fandom but never seen it in any pages

Ta daaa! This is Volume 11, Chapter 5, and Page 97 of The Apothecary Diaries Light Novel.

I can't remember if he explicitly stated that he prefers older women in a romantic sense but this is close to what you're asking, anon. i don't think he's into milfs though, that much i can confirm in a weird and crazy way.

anyway, to add a little context here: there's a young spoiled brat who has a crush on lahan and won't leave him alone, even after lahan told her to.

lahan likes beautiful things and i think he views "maturity" or "modesty" beautiful. so if a young and beautiful woman were to have these traits, he'd still chat her up and rizz her. this isn't limited to a romantic sense, though. i think lahan just wants to be around people who are mature and well-behaved.