A palace servant trained in herbal medicine finds herself at the heart of imperial intrigue in this enthralling period mystery!Maomao tries to focus on her work after returning to the western capital, but she has to deal with both the quack doctor and the smart-mouthed young physician Tianyu. Meanwhile, Jinshi's status as an imperial heir doesn't hold the same weight within the western capital's hierarchies. All the visitors from court must tread through these halls of power with utmost care, lest they make new enemies. The threat of the insect plague also looms. Can one man use secrets from the region's past to counter this colossal menace? Natsu Hyuuga is the author of The Apothecary Diaries novel series.Touko Shino is the illustrator of The Apothecary Diaries novel series.