Manga Chapter 2: The Mad Scientist

The Mad Scientist
Name
Japanese	狂科学者
Romaji	Maddo Saientisuto
Information
Format	Manga
Volume	Volume 1
Chapter No.	2
Pages	36
Adaptation
Light Novel	Volume 1 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 (partial)
Anime	Chilly Apothecary (season 1, episode 2)
Chronology
Previous	← Chapter 1
Next	Chapter 3 →

The Mad Scientist (狂科学者 (マッドサイエンティスト) , Maddo Saientisuto^?) is the second chapter of Nekokurage's The Apothecary Diaries first manga adaptation.

Summary

Maomao's assignment under Consort Gyokuyou is revealed to be Jinshi's suggestion. Aside from wanting to fill out Gyokuyou's staff (a mere four compared to over ten under Lihua), Jinshi wanted to keep a watchful eye over someone so knowledgeable about poisons and ensure that said knowledge wasn't used to hurt the country.

On Maomao's first day of working under Gyokuyou in the Jade Pavilion, she wonders what her work will be, but quickly finds out that she is to be a food taster for Gyokuyou. It is a job that nobody wants, because it runs the risk of eating poison and possibly suffering a painful death. To Maomao, however, it is a rather exciting and fun job, since she is an apothecary and is crazy about poisons.

On seeing Maomao express her anger toward her kidnappers, who will be getting a portion of her pay, Hongniang "accidentally" shatters a jug on the floor. She deducts the cost of the jug from the amount paid to the kidnappers, then adds a special allowance to Maomao's salary, given her dangerous occupation. The other ladies-in-waiting also show concern and pity for Maomao's supposed past, by plying her with more food.

Nonetheless, Maomao was tested in order for her employers to know the full extent of her capabilities. Having passed her first test of food tasting, Jinshi decides to test Maomao once more by presenting her with baozi he received from a military official. On first inspection, Maomao knew right away that the baozi was laced with an aphrodisiac. She quickly informs Jinshi to be careful for whomever gave him those baozi, for they might visit him later that night, to Gyokuyou's amusement.

Maomao then scowls at Jinshi, mocking him for offering her food knowing full well that it contained an aphrodisiac. Pleased with her reaction and talent, Jinshi decides to test her one last time by asking if she could make an aphrodisiac. Maomao initially questioned his behavior, but upon realizing that it would allow her to play with herbs, she abruptly replied that she could.

Characters

• Maomao
• Lady Gyokuyou
• Jinshi
• Hongniang
• Lady Lihua (in Maomao's recollection)
• Lingli
• Yinghua
• Ailan
• Guiyuan
• The Quack Doctor (in Maomao's recollection)
• Luomen (in Maomao's recollection)

Notes

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Series

Web Novel

Novel

Light Novel

Audio Drama

Manga

Anime