Manga Chapter 15: A Request for Maomao

A Request for Maomao
Name
Japanese	猫猫への依頼
Romaji	Maomao e no Irai
Information
Format	Manga
Volume	Volume 4
Chapter No.	15
Pages	29
Adaptation
Light Novel	Volume 1 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 (partial)
Anime	Suicide or Murder? (season 1, episode 9) Honey (season 1, episode 10)
Chronology
Previous	← Chapter 14
Next	Chapter 16 →

A Request for Maomao (猫猫への依頼, Maomao e no Irai^?) is the fifteenth chapter of Nekokurage's The Apothecary Diaries first manga adaptation.

Summary

Gaoshun speaks with Jinshi on his investigation of the garden party poisoning incident, which happened two months ago. His report found that Fengming, Consort Ah-Duo's head lady-in-waiting, was behind it.

Maomao and the quack doctor gather around the drowned corpse of a maidservant, which was found in the moat in the morning. Jinshi arrives to request the quack doctor to examine the corpse, revealing bloodied fingertips, bandaged feet, and a single shoe. He comments on Maomao's lack of emotion at the corpse, who cites seeing similar scenes in the backstreets of the pleasure district. Jinshi further requests to hear Maomao's opinion on the corpse afterwards.

Jinshi explains that the maidservant acted normally before her death, and that the guards believe she intentionally threw herself into the moat from the top of the wall. Maomao notes that the maid couldn’t have done it alone, due to her bound feet. In contrast, Fuyou was able to climb up the small protrusions on the wall herself due to being a skilled dancer. Maomao further deduces that the maid went into the moat alive, and that her fingertips show that she repeatedly clawed at the wall, trying to escape. She also denies Jinshi's request for her to touch the corpse, since human bodies can be used in medicines, to Jinshi and Gaoshun's shock and realization.

Staring at a plant in the guardroom, Maomao ponders on how she would die, when the time comes. She asks Jinshi to make sure it is by poison, to his reluctance. Maomao then reminds him that she is but a peasant who cannot oppose nobles, before leaving.

While chatting with Xiaolan, Maomao discovers that the maid's death was ruled a suicide, and that most people believe it was the maid who tried to poison Lishu. Xiaolan also suggests that Ah-Duo's rank might be lowered to make way for a new high consort. Since the maid was from the Garnet Pavilion, she could have had a motive to poison Lishu to prevent Ah-Duo from losing her rank. Maomao recalls that Ah-Duo had already been a consort of the Emperor when he was the crown prince, but had a son who died in infancy. Not having birthed another son, Ah-Duo could soon be forced out. Xiaolan suddenly mentions that Gyokuyou is having Lishu over for a tea party and reminds Maomao to let her know if anything 'juicy' happens.

Gyokuyou invites Lishu to head inside the Jade Pavilion, while Lishu flusters. Maomao acknowledges Gyokuyou's skill at gathering information through conversations, which she sends to her family in the west. At the table standing next to a seated Gyokuyou, Maomao notices Lishu's food taster opposite of her, trembling. She also considers the rest of Lishu's ladies-in-waiting, who are not currently bullying her. Lishu agrees to Gyokuyou's offer of sweets, but falters on hearing it will be honey boiled with citrus peel. Maomao notices her distressed face (along with her other ladies-in-waiting making fun of her), and immediately whispers to Gyokuyou, who suggests ginger tea instead. Lishu then accepts, with Maomao also noticing her other ladies-in-waiting being unsatisfied with the turn of events, confirming that they do normally bully her.

After the tea party, Jinshi asks Maomao how it went. Though she replies with a simple answer, Jinshi prevents her from leaving by bringing up the case of the drowned maidservant. To that end, he requests her to help at the Garnet Pavilion starting tomorrow.

Characters

• Jinshi
• Gaoshun
• Fengming (mentioned in report)
• Lady Ah-Duo (mentioned in report & in Maomao's recollection)
• Maomao
• Quack Doctor
• Drowned corpse
• Lady Fuyou (in Maomao's recollection)
• Luomen (in Maomao's recollection)

• Xiaolan
• Lady Lishu (in Maomao's recollection, & later at tea party)
• Lady Gyokuyou (in Maomao's recollection & later at tea party)
• Lady Lihua (in Maomao's recollection)
• Kanan (at tea party)
• Yinghua
• Ailan
• Guiyuan
• Three other ladies-in-waiting of Lady Lishu

Notes

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