The Apothecary Diaries is a Japanese anime and light novel series set in a fantasy country inspired by the Tang Dynasty of early medieval China. It follows Maomao, the daughter of an apothecary, who is kidnapped and sold into servitude in the emperor's palace. There, she uses her pharmaceutical knowledge to solve medical mysteries and uncover secrets. The story involves palace intrigue, including a curse believed to be affecting the emperor's heirs, which Maomao investigates and resolves by deducing the cause of illness related to lead-based face powder. Maomao's intelligence earns her a promotion to a lady-in-waiting, and she works alongside Jinshi, an attractive eunuch, to solve further cases within the imperial court.