The Apothecary Diaries Season 2, Episode 10: Unveiling Ghostly Tales at the Jade Palace
Released on March 14, 2025, Episode 10 of The Apothecary Diaries introduces new maids into the Jade Palace, setting the stage for an intriguing evening steeped in supernatural suspense. The protagonist, Maomao, finds herself reluctantly accompanying Yinghua to a gathering hosted by an elderly maid, where the atmosphere quickly takes a chilling turn as tales of horror unfold.
From the outset, Maomao’s skepticism about the gathering is palpable. As the maids share spine-tingling stories, Maomao begins to feel dizzy. It isn’t long before she senses the presence of Shisui among them. The climax arises when the hostess reveals a story that seems implausibly surreal, leaving the gathered ladies in a mix of fear and fascination.
Plot Summary: A Ghost Story Unfolds
Titled A Ghost Story, this episode begins with Lady Gyokuyou introducing the triplet maids from Yinghua’s hometown to Maomao, creating a sense of familiarity within the palace context during Lady Gyokuyou’s pregnancy. Although known for her exceptional memory, Maomao finds it challenging to tell the triplets apart, leading to comical moments that showcase her self-deprecating humor.
Initially, Maomao hesitates to engage socially, opting to retreat to her storeroom. However, she eventually makes amends with the other ladies-in-waiting, which leads to an invitation from Yinghua to join the evening gathering, setting off a chain of eerie events.
Once evening arrives, Maomao and Yinghua arrive at the chosen venue—a dimly lit room within the Jade Palace. The air is thick with apprehension as Maomao’s skepticism intensifies. An elderly maid warmly welcomes the pair and leads them into a dim room, where a circle of ladies-in-waiting shares the intense atmosphere, fueled by the faint glow of burning wood.
As the gathering unfolds with a request for horror stories, Maomao’s unease grows. She starts to feel lightheaded as the eerie ambiance closes in on her. Despite her discomfort, she struggles to maintain focus, even as Shisui takes a seat beside her, adding complexity to the narrative. Each story unfolds stories of fear and past traumas, leading to a moment where Maomao’s unease reaches a peak.
As the elderly maid begins her tale, she recounts dark events from the reign of a previous emperor, who was known for his disturbing obsessions. Maomao, overwhelmed by the combination of the stories and the toxic fumes from the burning wood, rushes to open a window for fresh air and inadvertently uncovers a life-saving revelation: the air is filled with poisonous gases.
Acting swiftly, Maomao manages to protect the ladies-in-waiting from harm. However, in a startling turn of events, the hostess inexplicably vanishes before their eyes. Upon returning from the gathering, Maomao learns from Lady Hongniang that the hostess had died years prior, leading her to speculate whether they encountered the ghost of a former maid—one who, tragically, sought to take others with her into the afterlife.
- Release Date: March 14, 2025
- Key Characters: Maomao, Yinghua, Shisui, Lady Gyokuyou
- Thematic Elements: Friendship, Ghost Stories, Supernatural
The unfolding of these chilling narratives serves not only to entertain but also reflects deeper themes of camaraderie and survival in the face of unknown fears.