《The Apothecary Diaries》 Who are Maomao's Parents? Unraveling the Mystery of the Strategist Rohan and the Famous Courtesan Hōsen's Tragic Love

In the popular anime and novel "The Apothecary Diaries," the protagonist Maomao has captivated numerous fans with her exceptional pharmacological knowledge and unique charm of understanding human affairs. However, beyond her brilliant performance in solving various strange cases in the rear palace, the core mystery running through the entire story is undoubtedly her enigmatic origins. Many viewers and readers are curious: Who are Maomao's parents? What story lies hidden in this past? This article will deeply analyze the tragic love mystery surrounding Maomao's origins.

The Apothecary of the Pleasure District and Adoptive Father Luomen

In the early part of the story, we only know that Maomao grew up in the Verdigris House in the pleasure district, carefully raised by her adoptive father Luomen. Luomen was originally a court physician who, after being demoted, practiced medicine in the pleasure district. He passed all his knowledge to Maomao, laying a solid foundation in pharmacology. This upbringing shaped Maomao's pragmatic, calm personality and her penetrating insight into human nature. However, Maomao's origins are far more complex than this peaceful childhood suggests.

The Mystery of the Biological Father: The Eccentric Strategist "Rohan"

As the plot progresses, a high-ranking official with eccentric behavior and an unusual obsession with Maomao—"Rohan"—gradually emerges. Rohan is the "eccentric strategist" belonging to the military. He is resourceful and holds a high position, but his obsessive personality makes others keep their distance.

Rohan has an extremely peculiar condition—prosopagnosia (face blindness)—and cannot recognize most people's faces. In his eyes, people's faces are blurry and indistinct, like chess pieces. However, he can clearly recognize two people: one is his beloved, and the other is his biological daughter Maomao. In fact, Rohan is Maomao's biological father. His continuous attention and clumsy attempts to show affection towards Maomao stem from an unfulfilled past and his deeply buried regret and paternal love.

Mother's Tragedy: The Legendary Courtesan "Fengxian"

Maomao's biological mother was Fengxian, once the top courtesan of the Verdigris House. Fengxian was not only stunningly beautiful but also possessed exceptional chess skills and intelligence, even repeatedly defeating Rohan on the chessboard. The two bonded over chess and developed a profound romance.

However, this relationship was a tragedy. After Fengxian became pregnant with Maomao, Rohan had to travel far due to circumstances and became embroiled in family conflicts. He promised to return to redeem Fengxian, but due to a series of misunderstandings and delays, he failed to return in time. Fengxian mistakenly believed she had been abandoned and, having contracted syphilis, suffered physical and mental trauma, eventually losing her sanity. In despair, she bit off one of Rohan's fingers and also severed the tip of young Maomao's little finger, sending it as a curse to Rohan.

After that, the terminally ill Fengxian was isolated in a corner of the Verdigris House, while it was publicly announced that she had long passed away. It wasn't until Luomen came to the pleasure district that he adopted the critically ill infant Maomao and did his best to treat Fengxian.

Twisted Family Bonds and Ultimate Redemption

This tragic past gives Maomao extremely complex feelings towards Rohan. She resents this biological father who caused her mother's miserable life, yet she has inherited his keen observational skills and certain eccentric traits. For Maomao, Luomen, who raised her and gave her a stable childhood, is the only father she acknowledges. Interestingly, Luomen is actually Rohan's uncle, making him Maomao's great-uncle.

In the later part of the story, through clever arrangements, Maomao finally lets Rohan learn that Fengxian is still alive. At the end of the first season of the anime, Rohan spends his life savings to redeem the critically ill Fengxian, bringing her home with the highest规格 of marrying a top courtesan. Although Fengxian's beauty has faded due to illness, in the face-blind Rohan's eyes, she remains the peerlessly elegant woman who shone on the chessboard. This long-overdue reunion marks a touching yet heartbreaking conclusion to this tragic love spanning over a decade.

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