In episode 21 of the second season of Kusuriya no Hitorigoto , released on June 6, Shenmei locks Maomao in a chamber and uses the Taibon method as punishment. The protagonist receives help from Suirei and Kyou-u to escape the fortress. However, a strange smell coming from the lower floor catches her attention, prompting her to investigate.
At the beginning of the episode, while Maomao is trying to develop the medicine of youth, Kyou-u sends her a letter with a wire and instructions to escape. However, the guard in charge of Maomao's room discovers the boy's plan and reveals it to Suirei. The woman, trying to defuse the situation, suggests they leave the incident alone. However, Shenmei witnesses the commotion and decides to punish the boy.
Maomao protects Kyou-u and is punished by Shenmei
Maomao realizes that Shenmei is cruel and unpleasant and that, in fact, her only concern is punishing someone. The apothecary, disgusted by the woman's attitude, insults her, which causes Shenmei to abandon her interest in punishing Kyou-u. She then decides to punish Maomao and take her to the water chamber. However, Loulan suggests that her mother use Taibon, a form of punishment that involves the use of venomous animals. The work reveals that Shenmei has already used this torture method on Suirei; it's no wonder she's terrified of snakes.
Maomao transforms punishment into a gastronomic experience. With only two hair ornaments, given to her by Jinshi and Loulan, she roasts the snakes in the chamber. Kusuriya no Hitorigoto is a work that surprises with a well-constructed script, but above all, impresses with the main character's genius and irony. Maomao's passion for medicine and her unique way of solving mysteries are characteristics that set her apart from other characters.
Suirei and Kyou-u convince the guard, who was involved in the earlier conflict, to release Maomao. After all, she also saved him from punishment. When the guard releases the apothecary, he warns her to avoid the lower floor, as they are making gunpowder and he fears an explosion. However, despite this advice, Maomao decides to check the gunpowder production and, there, finds Loulan trying to convince everyone to flee and ready to set the area on fire.
Loulan reveals that Suirei has imperial blood
After Loulan blows up the gunpowder production floor, Maomao tries to help her escape. However, she says there are still things she needs to do. As Maomao follows her, Loulan tells him a bit about her past. According to her, her mother doesn't remember her face because they started applying makeup when she was too young to understand. Shenmei only treated her well when Loulan was wearing makeup, dressed elegantly, and behaving like an obedient daughter.
Loulan also reveals that Taihou, the servant who mediated the meeting of the horror stories and died a year ago, is Suirei's grandmother. Taihou was the emperor's first victim, and when she conceived, her daughter was expelled from the Imperial Palace to cover up the former emperor's actions. After the victim's daughter grew up, Shishou married her, and they conceived Suirei. Thus, the woman, who is the former emperor's granddaughter, possesses imperial blood and has been hated by Shenmei since birth.
After recounting her past, Loulan arrives at the desired location. To Maomao's surprise, several children, including Kyou-u, have passed out in the room. Loulan explains that the children are not breathing because she gave them medicine. She explains that after everything they've done, everyone will die, including the women and children. The episode ends without further explanation from Loulan. Thus, it is impossible to know if the children are, in fact, dead.
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: What to expect from the next episode?
According to the preview for the next episode, it appears that Lakan manages to convince Jinshi to mobilize the army. This will lead to a war between the emperor's guards and Shishou's men. The anime is nearing its conclusion, and with only three episodes remaining, it's likely that after the conflict, the plot will begin to conclude Shishou's arc.
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto is a work full of mysteries and layers, but it leaves no loose ends. Details revealed in the first season were revisited in the second, such as Suirei itself, revealing that everything was connected from the beginning. Besides the interesting historical setting, with political intrigue and the rising imperial family, Maomao's cunning is also a fundamental piece in the anime's construction.
Episode 22 will be released on Friday (13) on the Crunchyroll streaming platform, with Portuguese subtitles. The manga is being published in Brazil by Panini and, so far, 14 volumes are available.
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