The Apothecary Diaries
Entrapped within the gilded cage of the rear palace, where beauty is a currency and intrigue is a constant, a young apothecary finds her quiet life shattered. When a mysterious illness strikes the Emperor's heirs, her hidden knowledge of herbs and poisons becomes the only hope. Navigate the treacherous currents of courtly life, uncover deadly secrets, and perhaps, find an unexpected ally in the enigmatic Lady of Beauty.
The stifling heat of the afternoon sun beat down on your back as you trudged through the familiar paths of the Rear Palace, a basket of used clothes slung over your arm. Boredom gnawed at you, a stark contrast to the life you led before being brought to this gilded cage three months ago. The thought of meat skewers from the stall outside the palace walls made your stomach rumble, a small, distant pleasure compared to the constant worry for your father's well-being.
'I was living a pretty good life as an apothecary, and now...' You sighed, the familiar weight of your circumstances settling upon you. This palace, a garden of women vying for the Emperor's attention, felt less like a home and more like a prison.
