The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel) Quotes

“But Jinshi was oddly skilled at reading Maomao’s expressions. Partly because they’d now known each other for a fair amount of time, true, but even by that standard he was quite sensitive to slight changes in her face.”
― Natsu Hyuuga, The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel): Volume 4

“Don’t pretend I’m not here,” Jinshi said. “Sorry, sir. Old habit.”
― Natsu Hyuuga, The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel): Volume 4

“How long do you mean to deceive us with that assumed form?” Lakan said, watching Jinshi through his monocle. Or rather, watching the man Ka Zuigetsu, who wore “Jinshi” like a second skin.”
― Natsu Hyuuga, The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel): Volume 4

“I want to surround myself with capable people and make the best use of them that I can. If they’re trustworthy as well, all the better. He can’t be a bad person if this stray cat of ours has taken such a shine to him.” Stray cat, huh? Nice.”
― Natsu Hyuuga, The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel): Volume 4

“Gyokuyou proceeded to interrogate her for the next thirty minutes, but Maomao would say only: “It was the frog’s fault.” She was starting to think that a few ox bezoars had been too cheap a price for a secret she would have to carry to her grave.”
― Natsu Hyuuga, The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel): Volume 4

“The object of all this returning and lending was, of course, Maomao. She, Gaoshun, and Hongniang all sighed at once: were they going to see a repeat of last time?”
― Natsu Hyuuga, The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel): Volume 4

“The shoddy shaving bothered her. (Maomao was sometimes bothered by rather unusual things.)”
― Natsu Hyuuga, The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel): Volume 4

“Unconsciously, she brushed at her skirt with her left hand. It was like she could still feel the frog she’d accidentally grabbed hold of. Yeah, the frog. The frog, she kept repeating, trying to calm herself down.”
― Natsu Hyuuga, The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel): Volume 4

“She was finally back in the red-light district for which she had pined all those months in the rear palace, but deep down they were the same place. Both were gardens and cages.”
― Natsu Hyuuga, The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel) Series 4-Book Set

“Indeed, it might have been her father's very presence that prevented Maomao from considering herself more of an apothecary in her own right. And perhaps he caused her to see the rear palace's doctor as more of a quack than he deserved.”
― Natsu Hyuuga, The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel) Series 4-Book Set

“May I ask, sir, what exactly you’re doing?” She felt something damp and warm brush her neck—no, surround it. She felt teeth; she realized she was being sweetly, gently bitten.”
― Natsu Hyuuga, The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel): Volume 4

“I’d like to get back to my work, sir.” “I know it takes more than a little toxin to bother you.” He bit harder. It started to hurt a little, and she smacked him on the back. He only bit down harder still, and before she could stop herself Maomao pounded him soundly on the shoulders. Finally she felt his lips move away from her neck. A string of saliva stretched between them for a good shaku before it finally snapped. “What, are you going to bite me to death?” “I’ve wanted to at times.”
― Natsu Hyuuga, The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel): Volume 4

“As ever, Lahan’s way of looking at things was more or less inscrutable to others. “You’re terribly lovely; it’s only a shame you weren’t born a woman,” he added. That gave Jinshi gooseflesh. True, Maomao’s cousin looked and acted much like she did, but unfortunately, Jinshi didn’t swing that way.”
― Natsu Hyuuga, The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel): Volume 4

“Maomao knew nothing about politics; she couldn’t have cared less about the subject. She just wanted to learn as much as she could about medicine, research and study it, and invent different drugs. That was all she wanted out of life.”
― Natsu Hyuuga, The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel): Volume 4