Itβs incredibly important to me that the anime decided to include this scene that wasnβt in the manga. In the manga, Maomao does pass out in Jinshiβs lap after saving him from what was obviously an assassination attempt.
HOWEVER, the manga cuts off at this point, keeping strictly in Maomaoβs perspective, and cuts straight to when she regains consciousness in bed after being treated for her injuries. The manga doesnβt show how she got back. They SAY how, and she briefly mentions, βwow that must have been embarrassing; he carried me back,β but we donβt SEE it. We donβt get to feel the true impact of what that means. But the anime DID show us, and holy shit.
They SHOW us how taboo this is. They show Jinshi carrying her out of the temple, after a public attempt on his life.
They show us the shock and horror on Lakanβs face as Jinshi silently walks past him. Horror at the state his daughter is in, horror at another manβa man with a status he could never dare to questionβstaking such a public claim over his child, horror at the fact that he could never have this level of closeness with her (as Maomao would never allow it).
Everyone hides their gazes, as is their custom when someone of his rank passes by, but the air is different this time. Jinshi is furious, heβs terrified, and he could not give a single shit about how inappropriate it looks to these palace officials.
The shot that slowly follows her trail of bloodβeven though itβs a small detailβthat in particular leaves such a intense impression of how poignant this is for him.
Maomao talked about this scene in the manga like it was nothing to her. She did what she set out to do: she saved the person who was targeted by the attack. She didnβt even know the target would be someone she knew. But she has no idea that this happened afterwards as a result of her bravery. To her, it likely wasnβt even an act of bravery at all. She acted on impulse; she did what she knew was the right thing to do.
The anime didnβt need to include this, because the manga didnβt show it. But damn, Iβm so glad they did.




















