Medical Diaries: Who is Shisui?

Summary

Apothecary Diaries Season 2 covers the third volume of the novel with hints at the main plot.
Shisui's new character is actually Loulan, a high-ranking consort in disguise and adds to the intrigue.
Shisui's ability to read and her hidden identity as Loulan bring depth to the story.

Apothecary Diaries Season 2 It started with a great reception from fans and has already introduced several new characters, including Cat Maomao and Shisui, one of the maids in the outer palace (or so it seems). The new season is streaming on Crunchyroll.

The season currently covers the events of the third volume of the original novel and will likely also adapt at least some of the events of the fourth volume, given that it has already been confirmed to run for 24 episodes (too lengthy to cover only one volume). Anyway, the third volume hints more about the “main plot” of the story by connecting some of the dots. Maomao soon realizes that there is more to Shisui than meets the eye, and as we saw in episode 2, He is already dying to know who Shisui really is.

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The next sections contain major spoilers for Apothecary Diaries Season 2 and maybe behind them. If you don't want any spoilers, we don't recommend going any further.

A girl who loves bugs working in the palace

One of the few maids who can read

Shisui first appears in the story in episode 25. He helps Maoma catch a kitten later named Maomao – the name Maomao and the kitten's name are stated to be slightly different in Chinese, but this distinction is not apparent in the episode. At that time, Maomao still knew nothing about her.

They meet on the last day of the caravan when they both want to buy Jasmine from the same shop. This is when Maomao finds out that Shisui and Xiaolan are friends. Shisui expressed her fascination with insects while drinking tea together.

Medical Diaries S2 E1 Maomao and Xiaolan

Illiteracy is a major issue in the second season as Jinshi works to increase the literacy rate among the servants, and Maomao will probably soon discover that Shisui is one of the few maids who can read.

This is actually a hint of Shisui's true identity. In episode 25 (the first of the second season), Xiaolan states that the maid reads a story from the book to the other servants, most likely referring to Shisui.

Shisui is actually high ranking

Like she's really high-ranking

Shisui is actually a Disguise for Loulan, The Pure Consortwhich debuted in Season 1. She is the daughter of Prime Minister Shishou, who forced her to take the former position of Ah-Duo and marry the Emperor. This means she is one of the four high consorts.

However, wouldn't it be difficult for a consort to pass as an ordinary maid? Generally yes. However, the others only see Loulan wearing heavy makeup that hides her true face. He also wears extravagant clothes from different places and changes his style often. This also helps her prevent other people from getting a detailed picture of what she normally looks like.

There is another indication that Shisui is a Loulan: the size of her breasts, a feature generally favored by the Emperor.

While her father's position allows her to influence the inner court, Loulan chooses to avoid politics (generally) and disguises herself as a maid to chat with others and collect bugs. Her fake name comes from her half-sister's name, Suirei (née Shisui).

Pharmaceutical diaries is available to stream on Crunchyroll.