The Apothecary Diaries episode 22 aired on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at 1:05 a.m. JST. Titled “Blue Roses,” the episode primarily focused on Maomao struggling to grow blue roses upon Jinshi’s request. However, it seemed like the protagonist had something up her sleeves against Lakan.
The episode begins with Maomao at the rear palace, confirming concubine Gyokuyou’s pregnancy. After a few inner monologues from the protagonist, the episode jumps to Lakan appreciating the beauty of blue roses and how he admired them when he used to see them in the palace.
However, Jinshi quickly reminds Lakan that blue roses do not exist. Lakan begs to differ and subtly challenges Jinshi to grow them. He also gives the latter time till the following month’s garden party.
Jinshi asks Gaoshun to ask every florist in the town about the blue roses, but the investigation seems unfavorable. To Jinshi’s disappointment, he learns that roses are not in season. Finally, he resorts to Maomao’s help to solve the peculiar situation. Though Maomao initially disagrees, she somehow realizes that Lakan is behind this strange situation. Therefore, she takes up this challenge.
The Apothecary Diaries episode 22 spoilers: How did Maomao grow blue roses?
Maomao, who avoided encountering Lakan all this while, was suddenly interested in his schemes. Though she does not reveal much about why she took this challenge up, it is almost certain that the protagonist has decided to get on Lakan’s nerves.
To plant the blue roses, Maomao uses the steam room that was previously built for Lady Lihua. She tells Jinshi about her plan to “make the roses go mad.” So, she develops a greenhouse and brings in over a hundred rose saplings, hoping for them to bloom in a month.
Xiaolan comes to help Maomao when Jinshi and Gaoshun witness the protagonist overworking despite her injured leg. Maomao works day and night at the Crystal Pavilion until the garden party.
After much struggle and hard work, Maomao presents the blue roses to Jinshi. He then presents them to the emperor at the garden party. There, Shishou, Lady Loulan’s father, introduces Loulan, and Jinshi’s inner monologue sheds light on the palace men’s envy towards him.
The Apothecary Diaries episode 22 ending: Momao meets Lakan
When Jinshi asks Maomao how she pulled off this impossible task, she tells him that she dyed white roses blue from the inside. Moreover, she had already informed the emperor about it. She also reveals to Jinshi that the palace never had blue roses and someone must have been simply dyeing them blue, much like Maomao did for the garden party.
While she works on the blue roses, Maomao popularizes a new fashion trend. She introduces a bright crimson nail polish among the palace ladies. While this seems like an innocent act, fans speculate it might have something to do with Lakan.
Towards the end, the episode reveals that Lakan has face blindness, a neurological condition called prosopagnosia. The strategist reveals that most people looked like stones to him and that he compared them with chess pieces.
Maomao’s tactic worked out as Lakan seemed disturbed by the manicures. As he admitted that he was more used to the soft color of balsam on his nails, Maomao suddenly appeared in front of him.
Though not much is revealed in the episode, it could be gauged that Maomao was aware of Lakan’s face blindness and that she had intentionally introduced the nail paint in the palace to grab his attention. Moreover, the episode gives insight into Lakan’s character, indicating that he might be more than just a man whom Maomao hates.
