Back to work at the rear palace, Maomao listens to Guen talk about his family's business. Meanwhile, Lihaku hears a rumor that whips him into action.

How to Buy Out a Contract

Aoi Yuuki

Takeo Otsuka

Katsuyuki Konishi

Yoshihiro Nagamori

Atsuko Nakajima

Yukiko Nakatani

Yuniko Ayana

Miyako Nishida

Masako Sato

Yuushi Ibe

Li Shaolei

Nobuhiro Ando

Akinori Fudesaka

Norihiro Naganuma

Minayo Shimoda

Blue Roses

Thornapple

After being kidnapped and forced to work as a servant in the rear palace, former apothecary Maomao inadvertently draws the attention of the higher ranks when she investigates what's causing the emperor's infant heirs to fall mysteriously ill.

Maomao

Maomao tries to settle into her promotion to lady-in-waiting and food taster, but struggles to fend off both boredom and the overly-familiar Jinshi. That is, until she gets an assignment of her dreams: to concoct an aphrodisiac.

Chilly Apothecary

Tasked with investigating a ghostly woman dancing nightly on the palace walls, Maomao finds a sleepwalking Concubine Fuyou. But with no medicinal cure for sleepwalking, she's forced to dig deeper to find the real reason behind Fuyou's affliction.

The Unsettling Matter of the Spirit

Under direct orders from the emperor himself, Maomao tries to care for an ailing Concubine Lihua, but finds her work impeded by Lihua's own ladies-in-waiting.

The Threat

A eunuch stricken by a curse comes begging for aid. Meanwhile, the rear palace buzzes with excitement as everyone prepares for the upcoming garden party, and Gyokuyou's ladies-in-waiting aren't about to let Maomao get away without dressing her up.

Covert Operations

Maomao does her best to navigate the complex social situations at the garden party, including meeting the other Upper First rank concubines. But once she settles down to do her work as a food-taster, she discovers a surprise in a bowl of soup.

The Garden Party

Gaoshun goes to Maomao to get her help in resolving the events of the garden party. Later, Xiaolan explains the purpose of the hairpins Maomao was gifted, and Maomao makes a deal with Lihaku in order to finally visit home.

Homecoming

Maomao's peaceful morning at home is interrupted when she's called in to investigate an apparent double suicide at one of the local brothels.

Wheat Stalks

An older acquaintance of Jinshi's dies while drinking at a party. A servant's body turns up in a moat. Both deaths are written off as self-inflicted, but Maomao's keen observations tell her that there's more to both stories.

Suicide or Murder?

A tea party hosted by Lady Gyokuyou puts the politics of the rear palace at the forefront, and Maomao learns something new about Lady Lishu. His true intentions unclear, Jinshi sends Maomao to work for Lady Ah-Duo.

Honey

Maomao confronts Fengming about the dark secret she's been hiding from her noble Lady Ah-Duo.

Reducing Two to One

Discovering that Maomao's kidnappers were connected to Fengming's family, Jinshi is faced with a choice between keeping Maomao in the rear palace where he can be near her or releasing her from her service.

The Eunuch and the Courtesan

To Maomao's surprise, Jinshi brings her directly to his house instead of taking her back to the rear palace, and tells her she's to work in the outer court. Not only is there much to learn, it seems there's many eyes on her as the new hire.

Serving in the Outer Court

Ah-Duo's replacement has arrived in the rear palace, and Maomao is assigned to give a certain lecture to all four high concubines. Later, Maomao helps Lihaku investigate a warehouse explosion.

The New Pure Consort

Gaoshun requests Maomao's help in solving an apparent poisoning case. Meanwhile, Jinshi deals with an unwelcome visitor who's taken to lingering in his office.

Raw Fish

A shack, a chest of drawers, and a fishbowl are all that a talented metalworker leaves to his three sons upon his death. Maomao is assigned to investigate how these strange inheritances all fit together.

Lead

Covering up Jinshi's otherworldly beauty is no easy task, but after Maomao takes the challenge head-on, she's surprised when she's also asked to don the disguise of a noblewoman and escort "Jinka" outside the palace.

A Jaunt Around Town

Back at home, Maomao visits an annex building at the Verdigris House that hides one of the brothel's secrets. Lakan continues to antagonize Jinshi as his connection to Maomao becomes clear.

Lakan

A discussion with Lihaku about recent events leads Maomao to realize that the mysteries she's helped to solve are connected. As the final piece of the puzzle falls into place, she rushes to stop impending disaster.

Chance or Something More

Maomao was able to stop the assassination attempt, but was heavily injured in the process. However, the injuries aren't enough to stop her curiosity, driving her to confront the culprit behind the incident.

Lakan challenges Jinshi to produce blue roses to present at the upcoming garden party, forcing Jinshi to turn once again to Maomao for her help.

No longer willing to keep running away from Lakan, Maomao decides to face off against him. She challenges him on his own turf, in a chess match.

Balsam and Woodsorrel

Lakan must now choose a courtesan to buy out. As a high-ranking military official, he can afford to freely choose, even from one of the Three Princesses. Who will he choose? Who does Maomao really want him to choose?

Jinshi and Maomao

The spring garden party concludes without incident. Maomao returns to her regular life as Concubine Gyokuyou’s taster. Meanwhile, novels become popular in the rear palace. Maomao wonders how this came to be, as novels were typically considered low-class. But behind the scenes lies Jinshi and his goals as manager of the rear palace.

Maomao and Maomao

The caravan stirs up excitement in the inner palace. The merchants bring all kinds of goods. However, something gives Maomao a bad feeling.

Caravan

A concubine passes away, and a woman goes missing. Jinshi sends Maomao to investigate - not these incidents, but mushrooms growing in the rear palace.

Corpse Fungus

The special envoy from a foreign land gifts mirrors - a rarity in this country - to the high concubines. However, they bring mysteries as well.

Mirror

In order to realize the seemingly impossible request from the foreign envoy, Maomao speaks to the “Moon Fairy” herself.

The Moon Fairy

The woman from the clinic finds out that Maomao knows a thing or two about medicine, and asks for her help.

The Crystal Pavilion, for the Third Time

Maomao directs her curiosity towards an old, oddly-shaped building.

The Shrine of Choosing

Maomao's reputation for resolving conflicts reaches the empress dowager, who will ask for her help to unravel a mystery that won't leave her mind.

The Empress Dowager

Maomao's investigation of the "curse" reveals more about the late emperor than anticipated.

The Late Emperor

Maomao joins some women exchanging scary stories on a hot summer night to provide chills.

A Ghost Story

Jinshi goes on a hunting trip, and brings Maomao along. He seems ready to share his secret with her.

The Hunt

Maomao discovers Jinshi's secret. She wants nothing to do with whatever the politics behind it is.

Ka Zuigetsu

Xiaolan's term of service is almost up, so she must find a new job. Maomao and Shisui decide to help.

The Baths

Concubine Lishu reports sightings of a ghost in the baths in her pavilion. Maomao goes to investigate.

The Dancing Ghost

Xiaolan accidentally ruins an expensive block of ice. Maomao comes up with a delicious backup plan.

Luomen returns to the rear palace. His observations trigger Maomao's curiosity.

Festering Resentment

Suirei smuggles Maomao and Shisui out of the rear palace. Jinshi begins to search for Maomao.

The Fox Village

Maomao has been missing for ten days now. Jinshi's investigations lead him to a forgotten graveyard.

Lantern Plant

The village holds a festival. Maomao attends, and Shisui introduces some of the village's history to her.

Festival

Maomao is taken to a mountain stronghold, where many of the secrets of the Shi clan are revealed to her.

The Stronghold

Maomao is accused of attempting to escape, and is tossed into an ancient method of torture and execution.

Taibon

The royal guard, led by Jinshi, arrives, sealing the Shi clan's fate. Maomao wants to save her friend, Shisui.

Royal Guard

Jinshi and his forces infiltrate the stronghold, cornering the remaining Shi clan members.

The Shi Clan

After the war, Jinshi's work piles up and Maomao returns to the pleasure district.

The Beginning

A locust plague is looming, and mysteriously, a book on insects belonging to the Shi clan appears.

Locusts

An interesting cloak points Maomao's imagination towards international politics.

The Fire-Rat Cloak

Maomao treats a sick girl, but food poisoning and malnutrition are not the true problems that need solving.

Let Them Eat Cake

Maomao lived a peaceful life with her apothecary father. Until one day, she's sold as a lowly servant to the emperor's palace. But she wasn't meant for a compliant life among royalty. So when imperial heirs fall ill, she decides to step in and find a cure! This catches the eye of Jinshi, a handsome palace official who promotes her. Now, she's making a name for herself solving medical mysteries!

How to Buy Out a Contract

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Season 1 Episodes51

Cast3

Crew12

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