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The Apothecary Diaries: Xiaolan’s Story is a spin-off manga that shifts the narrative focus from Maomao and Jinshi to the maidservant Xiaolan. While the mainline series primarily follows events directly involving the leads, this supplemental work highlights Xiaolan’s influence on major occurrences within the Rear Palace.
The manga runs concurrently with the main series, though it begins with an origin story set a few months prior. Xiaolan’s background as a girl from a small farming village, sold to support her family, shapes her character. Unlike the strategic, medicinal focus of Maomao, Xiaolan’s narrative emphasizes her social nature, street smarts, and practical skills gained from rural life.
Natsu Hyuuga utilizes this series to provide alternate perspectives on events from the original story, such as the mysterious illnesses affecting consorts' babies. The manga demonstrates how Xiaolan’s cheerful disposition and information-gathering abilities assist Maomao. For instance, Xiaolan’s knowledge of firewood allows her to identify issues with green wood, showcasing her intelligence and utility in practical situations.
Volume 1 of The Apothecary Diaries: Xiaolan’s Story is currently available. Square Enix, which manages the mainline light novels and manga, has not yet announced a release date for the second volume.
