Goodness me, what an avalanche of revelations that was. Once more the theme here is coincidence and conspiracy, and a detective’s (and that’s what Maomao is, let’s not kid ourselves) ability to spot the difference. Even by conspiracy standards there’s an awful lot of coincidence here, to the point where it does have a whiff of dramatic license to it. But it’s nevertheless quite artfully put together, and so many of those mysteries which seemed random are in fact part of this grand conspiracy.
Suirei is at the center of the conspiracy Xiaomao – convalescing in Jinshi’s bed, no less – pieces together. She’s got an eye covered and fifteen stitches in her leg, but once she regains consciousness her brain seems quite unaffected by any concussion. Among the huge mysteries teased out here Lakan’s role seems quite secondary, but it’s nevertheless important. How much did he know and when did he know it? I continue to be believe he was uninvolved in the conspiracy itself, but it seems he could have been aware of it and schemed to make Maomao a hero for solving it (calling attention to talented people, as it were). But that’s still speculation.
Assuming Maomao is right, Suirei was responsible for the various deaths and events which led to the attempt on Jinshi’s life. She may have been acting under orders – it’s implied that it’s the new Pure Consort Loulan (still silent) behind it but that’s also conjecture. Suirei apparently used mandrake – referred to as thorn apple in the subs and usually called Jimson weed in modern English – to fake her own death. Her co-conspirators collected her and replaced her with another corpse, and she’s disappeared into the woodwork somewhere. If Maomao is correct…
Maomao is kind of a scary person, but that’s not news. She’s close to amoral – her admiration for Suirei’s cleverness is further proof of that. We can probably assume that Suirei was responsible for the death of the woman in the coffin right in front of Maomao, and several others in the various schemes, but Maomao is rapt with admiration and gleeful at the scope of her cleverness. I continue to believe that she’s working harder and harder to stifle her instincts where Jinshi is concerned, and she has good reason to not want to know. But she senses the truth, I’m sure of it.
Just what is that truth? Well, I’ve known for a long time that Jinshi wasn’t a eunuch but that’s confirmed here. And that Gaoshun isn’t either, and that Basen is in fact his son – his youngest (19), and he has an older brother with a child. Based on what we’ve seen, Occam’s Razor suggests that Jinshi is most likely the son of Ah-Duo and the Emperor. But it’s been broadly suggested that Ah-Duo’s child was switched (under Luomen’s watch) with the son of the former emperor, so it’s not impossible that Jinshi is under the impression that he’s actually the current emperor’s brother. Cutting against that notion is the close relationship he seemingly has with Ah-Duo, but she may have fostered that under the guise of friendship.
Motive is, of course, a huge factor in all this. Why is Jinshi living this covert life, ingesting drugs to suppress his maleness which may eventually sterilize him? The answer may depend on whether he knows which lie he’s leading – who he believes his parents are. And what was the motive in this attempt on his life – another question hinging on what the conspirators believe Jinshi’s true identity is. If Loulan is behind it (though that may be too broadly foreshadowed to actually be true), perhaps she intends to eventually claim the throne through a child with the Emperor, and wants to eliminate all potential rivals first (and Jinshi could theoretically be one no matter which version of his parentage one believes to be true).
We can say this much – anyone playing that long game has a lot of work to do. There are already official heirs (though not male, that we know of) and multiple consorts (though the Emperor, to his credit, is leaving Lishu alone in rejection of his predecessor’s taste for young girls). Any one of those consorts could become pregnant and bear a son and heir, and Gyoukuyou indeed may be pregnant again. In light of this Jinshi has asked Xiaomao to return to the Rear Palace to care for her – though he may be motivated as well by his desire to get her away from Lakan. That should prove an interesting change of venue for Kusuriya, and I’m assuming we’ll be there until the end of the season (with a detour to Maomao’s old haunts in the mix).
Nellie
February 25, 2024 at 6:03 pmYeah, the fact that Gaoshun also had to drink that hormone-suppressing medication would indicate that he’s pretending to be a eunuch as well. I’d say he’s probably Jinshi’s bodyguard or something. Also, was Loulan’s seiyuu named?
We see Jinshi thinking- with a degree with annoyance- that the emperor needs a new male heir. If the emperor doesn’t, Jinshi- as the emperor’s younger brother (or that’s he believes himself to be)- would be next in line for the throne. Maybe he doesn’t want it for whatever reason. That bet he had with the emperor that was mentioned in the earlier episodes might figure into it somehow.
(If he really is the son of the current emperor and Ah-Duo, he’d still be first in line for the throne because he’s technically the firstborn prince. But this episode spelt out that he doesn’t know it if it is indeed the truth.)
Guardian Enzo
February 25, 2024 at 6:25 pmNo seiyuu named AFAIK.
animealex
February 25, 2024 at 6:14 pmI mean, what is the problem with Maomao finally realizing that Jinshi is the crown prince (whether he is the emperor’s younger brother or his son)? She thinks of herself as an expendable commoner mingling in matters of the state and the royal family, but she is a) a trusted member of Jinshi’s inner circle, b) has the trust and affection of some of the most important consort’s of the emperor and c) is the daughter of one of the highest ranked generals (even if she doesn’t like that fact).
She also seems to have a blind spot to Jinshi’s affection towards her and the fact, that the even the emperor trusts her enough to watch over his potential pregnant (favorite?) concubine , but that’s another matter.
So no, if she finally makes the realization “Hey, my employer wears all the regalia of a member of the royal family and is actual the number two in the state!” isn’t a death sentence for her to keep the secret. I would wager that Jinshi and co think, that Maomao knows the truth but see no reason to comment on it. But perhaps they overestimate her knowledge of court manners and what Jinshi’s clothing (back in season one and now) means.
Sidenote: I’ve read some pseudo-historical / fantasy novel-series set in ancient china, like Robert van Gulik’s “Judge Dee” and Barry Hughhart’s “Master Li and Number Ten the Ox”, so the heraldry of the specific dragon on Jinshi’s clothes is kinda “in your face” for me.
On another note: I really like the fact, that apparently Gaoshun was responsible for raising Jinshi and their resulting dynamic. I mean, I imagine the emperor kinda said: “Hey you have your own children, especially a son at the same age as my younger brother? Splendid! Please look after him too!” And Gaoshun was internally all: “Deep sigh. What have I done to deserve this??? Oh, well…”
Final note: If Maomao ever becomes bored with her life in the palace, her laugh and demeanor suggest, that she could have a great career as a villainess in her future…
If anybody read all this rambling, thank you!
Guardian Enzo
February 25, 2024 at 6:26 pmI really want to see Maomao and Lakan team up. I think the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree.
Simone
February 26, 2024 at 2:13 amMaomao is quite consistent in her characterization, and one trait she’s always had is that she seems to underestimate her importance. It may just be distaste for complications, but she consistently puts herself down and insists on keeping a low profile by reiterating that she’s “just a commoner” – no matter how much potential she would have to become powerful and influential. It’s not like she’s not even entirely a player in the game of the court – she keeps unveiling conspiracies left and right, she’s bound to draw some attention – but she just doesn’t seem to like to think of herself as more than just a servant.
SteelBlaidd
February 25, 2024 at 11:49 pm“I shall clasp my hands together and bow to the corners if the world.”
Did you ever read the Translation Van Gulik did of the Chinese Judge Dee novel? It’s… educational.
Based on Maomao’s thought’s about the secret her worry is that if she knows than the people trying to keep the secret might see her as a threat and try too reduce their vulnerability by eliminating her.
Due to her personal history and what she knows of her parentage she has a hypersensitivity to the risks of status and zero confidence in the benefits. Therefore she turns her eyes away from seeing that the Heir to the Emperor loves her because in her calculations that is 100% risk and 0% reward.
animealex
February 26, 2024 at 2:24 amI own all of his Dee novels, but I only read the translated novel once from a library as a teenager (which is quite a while ago, damn, I’m old). It was interesting, but not what I liked about the Dee novels. If I remember right, playing court of the underworld to get the female culprit to confess wasn’t what I was expecting. Also the torture etc. But yeah, it was something. Nice to meet someone, who also read those gems.
“…and there’s a slight flaw in my character.” Yeah ok, if it’s only one! Maomao could be Master Li’s great granddaughter.
Yeah, I get that she’s super sensitive to the dangers of getting the attention of the high and mighty, but like I said: She has a blind spot, that she is accepted in Jinshi’s circle of trust (and found family members, if I had to guess how he views those around him: Gaoshun is an uncle, Basen like a cousin and the old woman is kinda grandmotherly) I just hope, that she gets over this, before it becomes tiring.
KlingKlang
February 26, 2024 at 2:14 amAny theories on why the Emperor has only consorts and no Empress? If he did take a wife would her children have priority over those of the consorts?
Guardian Enzo
February 26, 2024 at 9:22 amInteresting question, and I have no idea.
Simone
February 26, 2024 at 2:15 amThis really felt like Maomao’s Sherlock has met her Moriarty – another genius woman who’s incredibly apt with herbs, but with her talents turned to evil. Sadly I don’t expect this thread to be explored much more this season, given how few episodes are left, but from what I understand the anime is quite successful, so hopefully we’ll get a continuation.
Nicc
February 27, 2024 at 7:49 amIt looks like it’s the end of this arc and I wonder how this season is going to end with 4 episodes left. In the meantime, there’s still a lot to wrap up regarding attempted murder of Jinshi. It sounds like Suirei really was the mastermind behind everything. The “how” and the “why” will have to wait considering how little we know about her. She also made an elaborate scheme to fake her death, including using a special formula that Maomao really wants to learn how she did it (The OP was full of future spoilers, eh?). It may be interesting to rewatch some of the older episodes as I remember seeing a young man communicating with those future victims. It’s possible that it’s Suirei in disguise. She is tall enough to pass off as a man. She’s going to want to lie low until the heat cools off.
That is, if Maomao is correct, as you said. Then there’s the question on how much Lakan knew and if he was trying to set Maomao up as a hero. And, there’s the possible involvement of Loulan too, which we learn later likes to be fashionable. Oh yeah, and there were lots of other revelations. Basen is Gaoshun’s son and Jinshi’s real age is nineteen. He’s just two years older than Maomao, then. He’s been taking some kind of medication to suppress his maleness (Frank Thomas would be aghast).
KlingKlang has a good question about the marriage and heirs deal. My guess is that the Emperor is going to elevate the concubine who bears him a son. Looking at Gyokuyou’s direction… if she is indeed pregnant and gives birth to a son (Who also lives, that’s a big deal), she may packing up for the main palace soon. Huh, does that mean that she’ll be bringing along Maomao too? Yeah, Maomao is back at the rear palace again and doing her usual work there (She must’ve really missed poising tasting. There’s probably a ton of gossip to catch up with Xiolan too). This indeed also lets her get away from Lakan. We’ve got a few more episodes left and it looks like one of the Three Princesses of the Verdigris House might be bought out? If it is Pairin, then Lihaku might be a bit too late.