We’re back in mystery territory again (and a callback one at that). But we’ve very much eased into it. If I chose one word to describe this series’ narrative style it would be “languid”. The plot rarely crashes like a wave; it flows like a river. It gets there when it gets there. That’s a strength, not a weakness – the observational stuff that happens on the way is among Kusuriya no Hitorigoto’s finest qualities. There are exceptions to that, like when it gets in its own way with moeblob pandering as it occasionally does (like this week). But they don’t don’t happen often enough to pose a truly significant problem.

The caravan is the MacGuffin in this arc, no way to dodge that. As Maomao (not the cat) notes, the Rear Palace is an odd place. Packed with people but with no shops. And little in the way of entertainment, for which she was spoiled for choice in the Pleasure Quarter. As such the caravan’s occasional arrival is a big deal, as it provides both. As a low-ranker Xiaomao can’t just zip off to the the stalls on day one and enjoy herself. But it does seem as if most of the ladies-in-waiting get an allowance and some time to shop for themselves – once the shopping for the concubine is taken care of, naturally.

On that note, Gyokuyou’s relative lack (five, as compared to several times more for the other concubines) of ladies-in-waiting is apparently drawing unwanted attention. And her shopping spree is modest, relatively speaking. But she’s known as the Emperor’s favorite, which obviously places a target on her back. All the more so as she has a child (albeit not a male heir) and is pregnant with another. Maomao notices that the gowns and such her attendants purchased for her all had belts high up under the bust, as opposed to at the waist, which would be more common. After being told that was mostly what was available, Maomao harbors a suspicion that knowledge about Gyokuyou’s condition may be more widely known than it should be.

When she finally gets her chance to shop on the final day (the caravan is staying longer this time because of some sort of important diplomat(s) travelling with it) Maomao accompanies Xiaolan. And we meet the tall girl who helped catch Maomao (the cat) last time, who Xiaolan introduces as Shisui. Shisui is tall, dark and genki. And a lover of bugs, which she can find aplenty on the north side of the Rear Palace which is quite a wild place (and currently is emitting a strange aroma which Maomao postulates could be sewage). Shisui and Xiamao hit it off over their non-girly geekery and the trio wind up back at the clink to have some of the jasmine flower tea she’s bought and play with Maomao (the cat, who I think I’ll refer to as “Meowmeow” to save time).

I used to sell jasmine pearls tea when I was in the coffee and tea business, and it is indeed a pretty dramatic sight when those things “bloom” in the hot water. But they do more than that, as Maomao knows well. Jasmine’s side effects are mostly benign (relaxation, even helping with labor), but it can also cause problems for pregnancies. As can the other scented oils which the caravan has made all the rage with the court ladies. Maomao – as in her way – starts to put things together and after a quick (and rude) visit to Lihua’s Crystal Palace, is convinced this is more than a coincidence.

Is this all connected to the poison face powder incident? That’s Xiaomao’s working theory (the presumed perp was never nicked). But right now all she has is suspicion, not evidence. There’s one more interesting element here, which is the visit by Jinshi to the kitchens. He asks for jasmine tea, Maomao refuses, saying she’s steeped her last pearl and it would be watery if she did so again. She makes white tea (which is delicious FWIW) instead, and makes a rather cutting joke about jasmine tea and male fertility. That would have been even more rude if Jinshi actually were a eunuch, but even so he clearly does not take well to Maomao’s attitude and storms our rather in a huff. It’s a good reminder that the relationship between the two of them is very complicated, and a work in progress.