The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 1

She must have been much admired for her beauty in those halcyon days before she had arrived at the palace, but when she got here, she discovered she had known as much about the outside world as a frog who had spent its life in a well.

“My sincere apologies,” Maomao said. “I couldn’t think of compensation that would be worthy of you, Master Jinshi.”
Would’ve been rude to give a eunuch an invitation to a brothel, right?

Maomao was a relatively objective thinker for a girl of seventeen, but she had a few qualities that continually dogged her. For one, curiosity; and for another, a hunger for knowledge. And then there was her budding sense of justice.

It was always possible he was the current emperor’s guardian, but considering Jinshi looked to be about twenty years old, it was hard to imagine. Maybe he was the son of the Emperor or something, but then why become a eunuch?

Damn, it’s catching... Maomao’s mouth formed a tight line, and her own cheeks were turning pink.

He pulled his hand back almost before she realized what had happened. Then, to her amazement, he touched the finger to his own lips.
That sneaky little...
When he pulled his fingers away from his mouth, a spot of scarlet was left on his finely-shaped mouth.

How much strife there had been when the young man lost a favorite toy. How Gaoshun had suffered to give him something newer, and more enticing still!

Maomao looked at Jinshi and realized the blood had drained from his face. His hand, clutching a teacup, was shaking.

It seemed his old habit of playing endlessly with his toys had never been cured. Troublesome, Gaoshun thought with a shake of his head.

re after women for the royal palace, and in a word, they offered the world’s most forceful and unpleasant marriage