The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother

The Apothecary Diaries (Japanese: 薬屋のひとりごと, Hepburn: Kusuriya no Hitorigoto; lit. 'Apothecary's Soliloquy') is a Japanese light novel series written by Hyūganatsu and illustrated by Touko Shino. Since 2011, it has been serialized on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō. In 2012, Shufunotomo acquired the work, releasing it as a single-volume novel that year and then as a light novel series in 2014. Set in a fictional country inspired by Tang Dynasty-era China, the series follows Maomao, a girl trained in medicine by her apothecary father. After being sold as a servant to the emperor's palace, she secretly uses her skills to solve mysteries and help others.