【The Apothecary Diaries】Major Reveal of Ren Shi's Identity: More Than Just a Eunuch? The True Identity and Shocking Background Mystery of the Imperial Younger Brother

In the globally popular work "The Apothecary Diaries," while the activities of the genius apothecary girl Maomao are highly anticipated, another core character—Renshi—with his mysterious identity and stunning beauty, is an even hotter topic of discussion among fans. Who exactly is he? Why does a seemingly powerful eunuch hide so many secrets? This article will deeply analyze Renshi's multiple identities, revealing his true face and heavy destiny hidden beneath his handsome appearance.

Surface Identity: The Celestial Beauty Eunuch Managing the Rear Palace

At the beginning of the story, Renshi appears as the Chief Eunuch managing all affairs of the rear palace. He possesses astonishing beauty praised as "celestial beauty," where every smile and frown can captivate the women of the rear palace. However, beneath this perfect exterior, he not only holds extremely high authority, able to easily mobilize precious medicinal ingredients and even influence the coming and going of consorts, but his profound knowledge and transcendent status make the sharp Maomao suspicious of his "eunuch" identity from the very start. In fact, Renshi is not a true eunuch; he uses medicine to suppress his male functions in order to operate within the rear palace for a special mission.

True Identity: "Moon Lord" Imperial Younger Brother Hua Ruiyue

As the plot progresses, the first layer of Renshi's mystery is unveiled. His real name is Hua Ruiyue (Kazui Getsu), and his true identity is the current emperor's younger brother, the esteemed "Imperial Younger Brother." Using illness and frailty as a pretext, he rarely appears in public and infiltrates the rear palace under the alias "Renshi" to assist his elder brother the emperor in rectifying the palace's order and investigating potential conspiracies and crises. The title "Moon Lord" not only corresponds to his cold, noble, moon-like demeanor but also hints at his extraordinary imperial bloodline.

Shocking Origins: The Swapped Eldest Imperial Son?

However, the mystery of Renshi's identity is far more complex than just being the "Imperial Younger Brother." The core secret of the story is the shocking possibility that he and the current emperor were switched at birth.

According to revealed clues, Renshi's birth mother is actually a consort of the late emperor—Consort Aduo. Back then, Consort Aduo and the then Empress Dowager (the current Empress Dowager An) each gave birth to a prince around the same time. To protect her own son whose position was not yet secure, Consort Aduo, with the tacit approval of Empress Dowager An, switched her own child with the prince born to the Empress Dowager (the true Imperial Younger Brother).

Therefore, from a bloodline perspective:

• Renshi (Hua Ruiyue): Born to the late emperor and Consort Aduo, he is actually the Eldest Imperial Son.
• Current Emperor: Born to the late emperor and Empress Dowager An, nominally the elder brother, but actually Renshi's half-brother.

Tragically, the true Imperial Younger Brother, who was switched to Consort Aduo's side, died in infancy due to a maid's negligence involving accidental honey consumption. This tragic exchange became an unspeakable secret within the imperial family. The current emperor knows about this matter, which also explains the complex emotions beyond ordinary brotherhood between him and Renshi, as well as his special care for Consort Aduo.

The Purpose and Destiny of the Hidden Identity

There are multiple reasons behind Renshi concealing his identity. Firstly, revealing this shocking secret would shake the foundations of the state and trigger unpredictable political turmoil. Secondly, by transforming into the eunuch Renshi, he can operate more flexibly between the front court and the rear palace, handling various棘手 problems with a non-imperial identity, becoming the emperor's most trusted covert assistant.

This heavy secret is the destiny Renshi carries throughout his life. He must not only shoulder the responsibilities of the imperial family but also face the emotional entanglements brought by his complex origins. This multi-layered identity profoundly affects his relationship with Maomao and serves as the core driving force propelling the story of "The Apothecary Diaries."

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