Maomao returns to the Jade Palace only to find a grave problem as Consort Gyokuyo prepares for a difficult birth. Realizing the stakes are too high for her skills alone, she must decide if she can trust the Inner Court to accept her father, a former criminal, to save the future of the empire.

This lushly illustrated historical mystery follows a sharp-witted food taster as she navigates the dangerous secrets of the imperial court. Between ghostly encounters and high-stakes medical trials, the tension rises in this captivating volume of palace intrigue and herbal medicine expertise.

• Author: Natsu Hyuuga
• Illustrator: Nekokurage
• Publisher: Square Enix Manga
• Publication Date: October 7, 2025
• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• Print Length: 176 pages
• ISBN-10: 1646094220
• ISBN-13: 978-1646094226
• Dimensions: 4.96 x 0.55 x 7.1 inches
• Weight: 0.81 lbs
• Series: The Apothecary Diaries