Maomao suspects Jinshi’s true status long before it is confirmed, but she deliberately avoids facing the truth.
She first realizes he is not a eunuch earlier, yet still refuses to connect it to his royal identity.
The undeniable revelation comes during the Shi Clan arc, when Jinshi leads troops to rescue her and is addressed with imperial titles.
At that moment, Maomao finally accepts who Jinshi really is and understands how it changes their relationship.
When does Maomao find out about Jinshi is one of the most searched questions among The Apothecary Diaries fans and HariManga breaks it down clearly from early suspicion to the final revelation.
When does Maomao find out about Jinshi in the light novel?
Maomao finds out about Jinshi’s true identity during the Shi Clan arc, when he leads an imperial army to rescue her and openly reveals his status as royalty (LN Volume 4 / Manga Chapters 22–25 / Anime Season 2 finale).
After this point, Maomao can no longer avoid the truth she had long suspected.
From early on, she noticed inconsistencies in Jinshi’s role as a “eunuch,” including his refined demeanor, unusual authority and strong political connections.
Rather than pursuing these clues, she deliberately chose ignorance, believing that his real identity was irrelevant to her own survival.
Her suspicions are further reinforced during a hunting incident, when she accidentally discovers that Jinshi has not been castrated, confirming that he is not a eunuch.
Even with this clear evidence, Maomao still avoids fully confronting what that means, preferring not to acknowledge the implications.
The Shi Clan arc forces a final reckoning. Jinshi’s public command of imperial troops removes all ambiguity and compels Maomao to accept him as a member of the imperial family.
This realization alters their relationship, creating emotional distance and inner conflict.
In this sense, the answer to When does Maomao find out about Jinshi is not just a single moment of revelation, but the point at which she is finally forced to face a truth she had been avoiding all along.
When does Maomao find out about Jinshi in the anime?
Maomao officially finds out about Jinshi’s true identity at the end of Season 2, during the Shi Clan arc.
This is when Jinshi openly appears as a prince and leads troops to rescue her, confirming that he is the Emperor’s brother, known as the “Moon Prince.”
Earlier in the anime, Maomao only has suspicions. In Season 1, she notices Jinshi’s unusual authority and influence, which do not match his role as a eunuch. She deliberately avoids confirming the truth.
During the Frog arc in mid–Season 2, her doubts deepen as she accompanies him in his “Moon Prince” role, but she still does not fully accept his status.
The final and undeniable revelation happens in the last episodes of Season 2, around episodes 24–25.
At this point, Maomao is forced to face who Jinshi really is. In short, When does Maomao find out about Jinshi in the anime?
The clear answer is at the climax of Season 2, when his royal identity is revealed in public and can no longer be ignored.
When does Maomao find out about Jinshi in the manga?
In the manga, Maomao truly finds out about Jinshi’s identity during the Shi Clan arc, around Light Novel Volume 4 / later manga volumes (around Volume 12).
This is when Jinshi acts openly in his official role and soldiers address him with royal titles, leaving no room for denial.
Before this, Maomao only suspects the truth. In the early story (LN Vol. 1–3 / early manga), she notices many inconsistencies.
Jinshi has unusual access to the Emperor, uses privileged naming conventions, and holds far more influence than a eunuch should.
Aware that knowing too much could be dangerous, she deliberately avoids confirming her suspicions and chooses to stay in the background.
The turning point comes in LN Volume 4 and its manga adaptation, especially during the Shi Clan arc.
Jinshi appears publicly as the Moon Prince and commands troops. When soldiers address him as the imperial heir, Maomao is forced to acknowledge his true rank and accept what she had been avoiding.
Later, in LN Volume 13 / later manga chapters, Ah-Duo directly confirms Jinshi’s identity to Maomao.
She admits that she had suspected it for a long time but had never fully accepted it until then. This conversation makes her understanding official and final.
In short, When does Maomao find out about Jinshi in the manga? She suspects it early, but the real discovery happens during the Shi Clan arc, with full confirmation coming much later through Ah-Duo.
After Maomao finds out: What happens next?
After Maomao realizes Jinshi’s true identity in the manga, their relationship changes in quiet but significant ways.
She becomes more cautious around him and deliberately creates emotional distance.
Knowing he is part of the imperial family makes her acutely aware of the danger of standing too close to power, something she has always tried to avoid.
Maomao also reassesses her own position. She understands that any closeness to Jinshi now carries political meaning, not just personal emotion.
As a result, she returns to treating him more formally, even when her thoughts betray concern and familiarity. This inner conflict becomes a recurring theme.
Jinshi, on the other hand, continues to act much the same toward Maomao. He does not deny his status, but he also does not force his rank on her.
Instead, he allows her to keep calling him “Jinshi,” respecting her way of coping with the truth and her desire to separate the person from the title.
As the story moves forward, Maomao slowly accepts that Jinshi’s identity cannot be ignored forever.
Although she never feels at ease with court politics, she learns to navigate their relationship with greater care.
Their bond, like many relationships between the Apothecary Diaries characters, remains unresolved, shaped by unspoken feelings, restraint, and the tension between personal choice and imperial duty.
FAQs
After the Shi Clan arc, many readers and viewers have similar questions about Maomao and Jinshi. Below are clear, manga- and anime-accurate answers.
At which chapter does Maomao finds out about Jinshi?
In the manga, Maomao finds out during the Shi Clan arc, around Volume 12. This is when Jinshi appears in full authority and soldiers address him with imperial titles, forcing her to acknowledge his true status.
Does Maomao know that Jinshi is not an eunuch?
Yes. Maomao realizes Jinshi is not a eunuch earlier than the royal reveal.
This happens during the hunting trip / cave incident, when she accidentally confirms it physically.
However, she does not immediately connect this to him being royalty and chooses not to think further.
How does Maomao find out Jinshi is a prince?
Maomao finds out during the Shi Clan rebellion.
Jinshi personally leads troops to rescue her, appears in full armor, and she overhears soldiers (and Basen) addressing him with titles equivalent to imperial heir or beloved prince. This removes all ambiguity.
What episode of Apothecary Diaries does Maomao find out about Jinshi?
In the anime, Maomao learns Jinshi’s true identity in Season 2, Episode 12, which adapts the climax of the Shi Clan arc.
Do Mao Mao and Jinshi ever kiss?
No. There is no canonical kiss between Maomao and Jinshi in the manga, light novels, or anime.
Promotional clips or fan edits suggesting a “first kiss” are not canon.
Does Maomao dislike Jinshi?
No. Although Maomao’s inner monologue often sounds dismissive or sarcastic, her actions show that she genuinely cares about Jinshi. She looks out for his safety and well-being in her own restrained way.
This contrast between her thoughts and behavior is explicitly pointed out by Jinshi in the light novel.
What happens in the cave scene with the “frog” misunderstanding?
In that scene, Maomao falls on Jinshi in a cave and accidentally grabs his crotch, believing she has touched a large frog.
At that point, she still thinks Jinshi is a eunuch. The moment confirms to her that he is not, but it is played as dark humor rather than romance.
In conclusion, when does Maomao find out about Jinshi is a key turning point in The Apothecary Diaries, as her long-held suspicions are finally confirmed during the Shi Clan arc.
This revelation reshapes both the story and Maomao’s relationship with Jinshi, adding emotional depth and political tension to the narrative.
For more clear and accurate breakdowns like this, harimanga continues to be a reliable source for manga analysis and fan discussions.
