I think having a very minimal aspect of a story, being how bathing in the palace works, being implemented into this episode is very interesting. There is a lot one could do regarding how servant girls and concubines bathe, and I think this makes sense in a way? Like, having a giant bath is understandable since there are a lot of servant girls in the palace. Making it a place where networking happens is also an interesting factor because of the things presented in this episode from gossip to rumors.

One such rumor is that Loulan is pregnant since she hasn’t been seen outside of her pavilion these days. Nah, I just think she’s just posing as Shisui because look at her eyes and rack. Hazel eyes with an orange highlight? Same eyes as Loulan’s. Large rack that’s noticeable through her bathing clothes? The Emperor has a thing for large breasts, after all… It does feel like a new arc is brewing with Loulan being a central focus.

Want to know why? Because that eunuch with the long hair is Suirei. I am not fooled at all—that’s Suirei posing as a handsome eunuch. Hey, if she posed as the dude who killed two court officials back in season 1, she can pose as a man once again. She got the height to pass off as one. I wonder if the astute Maomao can figure this out if they meet face to face. Though, my biggest question is why Suirei is back in the palace again. Does it have to do something with Loulan, given that Loulan’s servant was whispering to her when the scene switched from Suirei to Loulan…

It was nice to see a laid back episode overall. It’s nice seeing Maomao interacting with girls her age for once. Heck, she even befriended Seki-u, who is stated to be the same age as her (not that I can tell because they look like triplets despite them not). It’s also nice to see Lishu. It seems that she and her new lady-in-waiting, who was the taster girl who had bullied her in the past, are getting along well. The episode does end with an upcoming storyline about Lishu which is about time because she hasn’t been getting a lot of focus despite her being around since season one. The last time she got focus was when her allergies and disdain towards honey were mentioned.

Since this is the start of the second half of the Apothecary Diaries, a new opening and ending sequences were revealed. The opening song is sung by a male artist for the first time in the band Mrs Green Apple whom I’m familiar with due to them singing the opening song for Oblivion Battery. Though, the opening sequence does feel a little weird as the fox masks feel like an emoji plastered on. 

Other than that, this was a nice, funny episode overall. It certainly got me giggling at some scenes. Let me know if you liked this episode!