The Madam in the Apothecary Diaries is portrayed as a shrewd, stingy businesswoman who owns a brothel. Although she was once a “peerless beauty with tears of pearl” in her youth, she is now a grumpy old woman in her seventies.
Fans have noticed some Easter eggs and are wondering if there is some connection between her, Fiangxian, and Maomao, as they all look alike.
This article will solve this mystery and quench your thirst for answers. So, stick around until the end to find out.
1. Is the Madam in Apothecary diaries Maomao’s grandmother?

The Madam in Apothecary Diaries is Maomao’s maternal grandmother, as not only do they look alike, but also the fact the cold-hearted madam kept the “useless” Fengxian and raised Mamao at her brothel due to their relationship.
The old madam who runs a brothel called the Verdigris House is a very stingy woman. She will go to any length to keep her business running. She views her business as any other deal, as she grew up as a courtier.
Considering her personality, the fact that she kept Fengxian hidden in a secret room in the brothel and raised Maomao didn’t seem right. Why would someone with such a rational business mind keep two useless people?
It is evident that she is the Fengxian’s birth mother and the grandmother of Maomao.
2. Why did the Madam keep Fengxian locked up?

The madam locked Fengxian up to prevent her daughter from being a streetwalker, which is deplorable for a high-ranking courtesan.
In addition, she couldn’t abandon her daughter for the streets with her debilitating mental and physical health as Maomao’s father had abandoned Fengxian.
Even though Fengxian considered her role as a courtesan an art form, she helplessly fell in love with a man named Lakan. He got her pregnant, then abandoned her with the baby and went away for three years.
During this time, Fengxian desperately tried to contact Lakan. Still, with no response, she treated infant Maomao with contempt and abused her, as because of her pregnancy, her sales value had dropped, and she was left as a streetwalker.
Fengxian’s “useless” price affected her mental health and the brothel’s reputation, and the madam, being a cunning businesswoman, had to step in.
The madam decided to keep Fengxian locked up in a secret room in the brothel to save her business’s reputation and her daughter from dying on the streets due to her illness, syphilis.
3. Did Lakan ever come back for Fengxian?

Even though Lakan had abandoned Fengxian and his daughter Maomao, he returned after three years; however, the madam kicked him out.
The madam knew that Lakan didn’t value her daughter. Given his financial and mental status, he wouldn’t have been able to take care of Mamao.
Lakan was an eccentric man known as the “sly fox” for his skills and manipulative tactics. Since he had already ruined Fengxian’s life by getting her pregnant (reducing her value to zero as a courtier), the Madam didn’t want to let more storms into her daughter’s life and shooed him away.
4. Does the Madam care about Maomao?

The madam absurdly cares about Maomao and Fengxian. She raised Maomao with Luomen and never forced her to become a courtesan; she wanted to marry Maomao off to a rich man to secure her future.
The madam is a grey character. Like any human, she has faults, but her soft side peeks out for Maomao and Fengxian. Had she not cared for Maomao, she would have let Fengxian become a streetwalker and suffered mental and physical illnesses with the infant Maomao.
The madam tried helping in ways she knew best as a former courtier; she also had to look out for her business and revive its reputation.
5. About The Apothecary Diaries
‘The Apothecary Diaries’ is a light novel series written by Natsu Hyuga and illustrated by Touko Shino. The series will be receiving an anime adaptation in 2023.
The story follows a young girl, Maomao, who is the daughter of an apothecary and possesses an extensive knowledge of medicine and herbs. When she is kidnapped and sold to the rear palace, she is forced to navigate life in this new, foreign environment.
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