The Apothecary Diaries (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto) is a popular Japanese light novel series written by Natsu Hyuuga and illustrated by Touko Shino, which has been adapted into both manga and a highly acclaimed anime series.

Set in a fictionalized version of Imperial China, the story follows MaoMao, an eccentric young woman raised by an apothecary in a pleasure district. After being kidnapped and sold into servitude at the Imperial Palace’s Inner Court (the Emperor’s harem), MaoMao plans to keep a low profile, serve out her contract, and avoid drama.

However, her plan quickly falls apart due to her obsessive passion for poisons, medicine, and herbs, combined with her sharp deductive skills. When rumors spread about the mysterious deaths and illnesses of the Emperor’s infant children, MaoMao secretly investigates and leaves an anonymous tip that saves one of the concubines’ babies.