The Shrine Maiden of Shaoh is the religious leader of the Country of Shaoh, and a pillar of the country alongside the King of Shaoh. At some point, she was brought into the Country of Li to be treated for illness.
Appearance[]
The first Shrine Maiden to visit Li was an albino with white hair and red eyes who often wears a veil for sun protection. She was tall with long limbs, had a slightly protruding belly, and was noted to be very beautiful.
Personality[]
The Shrine Maiden had no aspirations in life other than fulfilling the role of a venerated shrine maiden, for the benefit of Shaoh. When Maomao confronted her on Aylin's planned fate and Yao's condition, she was overcome by guilt. The Shrine Maiden was also rather short-sighted, having not considered the consequences of dying in Li, or staying in power beyond the average term.
Abilities[]
Prophecy: As shrine maiden, she made prophecies which were interpreted by the Oracle. Although, she notes that her abilities disappeared once she learned what she really was.
Background[]
The Shrine Maiden was born in a village where several previous shrine maidens retired to. She was discovered and raised by the previous Oracle, who gave her an education.[1]
Due to the Shrine Maiden not having showed signs of menstruation, she was able to keep her position for several decades, which was attributed to her being albino. This allowed her to become influential in politics, and by extension Shaohnese women as well. At some point, the Shrine Maiden took on Aylin and Ayla as apprentice shrine maidens, giving them an education.
Before the previous Oracle died, she revealed that the Shrine Maiden was in fact a man, castrated as an infant. Using the Shrine Maiden's prophecy and albino status, the previous Oracle deposed the King of Shaoh at the time, who wanted to wage war.
When Sotei was born, the Shrine Maiden sent her back, as she felt she had to stay on as shrine maiden. The infant would later grow up to be used by Ayla, who hated the Shrine Maiden and wished to depose her.
The Shrine Maiden came to Li with her Oracle and Jazgul, in order to receive treatment for an illness. However, she only allowed Maomao and Yao to examine her, despite Jinshi assigning Luomen as her physician. The Shrine Maiden soon recovered, and began receiving visitors. At a banquet held to debut the Crown Prince, the Shrine Maiden was seated by now Consort Aylin. The Shrine Maiden and her food tasters were poisoned, including Yao, who fell unconscious. Though the Shrine Maiden recovered in three days, Aylin was blamed for the poisoning, based on the incense powder in her possession.
After reflecting on her past, the Shrine Maiden prepared to commit suicide, only to be interrupted by Maomao. She confessed that she came to Li to prevent the King of Shaoh's faction from deposing her and thus undoing years of progress, and worked with Aylin to ensure her secret was never revealed.
The Shrine Maiden eventually fulfills her plan of publicly dying, and sends an urn of bones back to Shaoh. In exchange for aid to Shaoh, the Shrine Maiden gives Jinshi decades of information from Shaoh, and moves into Ah-Duo's villa. She names Jazgul as the new Shrine Maiden, whose drawing offers Maomao a clue for a future event.
Trivia[]
- The Shrine Maiden is aided by an attendant known as the Oracle.
- The qualification for becoming a Shrine Maiden is that one is a woman who is unable to menstruate. This usually means that the individual is a young girl who has not yet reached the age of menstruation, but sometimes there are exceptions.
- Lahan speculated that the Shrine Maiden may have secretly given birth in the past, and that her child was the White Lady, making her unfit to hold her current position as the Shrine Maiden is supposed to be unable to menstruate. However, this was proved to be false.
References[]
- ↑ The Apothecary Diaries light novel: Volume 7, Chapter 20
Feilong • Fengming • Fengxian • Fuyou ☆ Gaoshun • Guen/Quack Doctor • Guiyuan • Gyokuen • Gyokujun • Gyoku-ou • Gyokuyou
Haku-u • Hongniang • Hulan ☆ Jazgul • Jin • Jinshi • Joka • Junjie ☆ Kanan • King of Shaoh • Koku-u • Kokuyou • Kounen
Lahan • Lahan's Older Brother • Lakan • Lakou • Dr. Li • Lihaku • Lihua • Lingli • Lishu • Dr. Liu • Lo-en • Loulan • Luomen
Maamei • Madam • Maomao • Maomao, the Cat • Meimei ☆ Onsou • Oracle ☆ Pairin ☆ Rikuson
Sanfan • Sazen • Seki-u • Shenlü • Shenmei • Shikyou • Shin • Shishou • Shisui • Shrine Maiden of Shaoh • Suirei • Suirei's Mother • Suiren • Sotei
Taihou • Taomei • Tianyu ☆ Ujun • Ukyou • Uryuu ☆ Xiaohong • Xiaolan ☆ Yakou • Yao • Yinghua • Yinxing • Yo • Dr. You ☆ Zulin
Crown Prince • Emperor • Empress Regnant • Former Emperor • Imperial Brother