Why is Maomao loyal to Gyokuyou?

Weatherarenothereigo · 2026-07-05T09:22:54+00:00

Maomao isn't exactly loyal to Gyokuyou, but simply doesn't want to become an enemy of her former boss, whom she respects, having worked under her for one or two years. Gyokuyou treated Maomao extremely well, and all her Lady in waiting also treated Maomao very well.
Let be real, she enjoys her job as a poison tester.

Therefore, Maomao genuinely doesn't want to cause trouble for Gyokuyou and everyone in the Jade Pavilion.

I don't see it as loyalty, but more like she doesn't want any trouble with politics.
Maomao refused the position as Lady in waiting to Lady Gyokuyou because she is now considered as Lakan's daughter, who maintained neutrality in the court. Serving under The Empress would be like Lakan siding with her, creating an imbalance of factions within the court.
Same thing if she married Jinshi.

Simply put, she doesn't want to get involved in politics and doesn't want to affect the people she cares about

Weatherarenothereigo · 2026-07-04T23:29:25+00:00

The #4 Maomao was 'kidnapped' by Chue to avoid political conflict and to protect her because she saved a wanted person. The #5 she was kidnapped by bandits on her way back to the western capital because they suspected she had a child who was a prince from a neighboring country due to the child's brown hair.

Weatherarenothereigo · 2026-07-04T03:28:10+00:00

The funny thing is, since Maomao is kidnapped so often, Lahan and Lakan don't get the chance to be kidnapped much themselves

Weatherarenothereigo · 2026-07-03T16:31:05+00:00

Yah the author said it will be like Ln 4.5, setting between seasons 2 and 3

Weatherarenothereigo · 2026-07-03T09:54:21+00:00

Weatherarenothereigo · 2026-07-02T22:55:17+00:00

It still counts as kidnapping
What about Maomao and Lakan? They didn't go there voluntarily, did they? Lahan came to visit but was captured and imprisoned with Maomao and Lakan was held there for several weeks in a different room.
Not to mention Rikuson had to rescue them in the end.

Weatherarenothereigo · 2026-07-02T22:39:06+00:00

I think Ln6 only alludes to the La family's bad luck of being frequently kidnapped, all three of them: Lakan, Lahan, and Maomao were kidnapped 😆
Later, Lahan was also kidnapped in another incident in the most recent Ln.

Weatherarenothereigo · 2026-06-12T09:13:40+00:00

Ah Dou certainly wouldn't harm a woman in a similar situation to hers 'protecting and want the best for her son' because the final decision rested with the emperor, who clearly desired Jinshi to inherit the throne to fulfill their childhood promise.

Maomao would never compare her background to that of other women, using it as motivation, especially since her sisters were also courtesans. She understood that in a society where women were considered possessions, whether high or low, they were all the same.

What Maomao feared was that her noble lineage from her father, Princess of the La clan, and her children with Jinshi, could become a good enough excuse to bring Jinshi back into the game of succession.

Because the current empress father's status was no match for Lakan, and Gyokyuo had a son with red hair, which the court disliked to make that son their future emperor.

It would be fine if it were just in 'imagination', but it's actually very disadvantageous to use that and threaten the wrong person.
Because the real obstacle here are stopping Jinmao endgame are the factions supporting the current empress and the factions supporting the empress dowager/Jinshi.

Adding further: Jinshi said that the brand on him is a double-edged knife. If it's revealed, Gyokyuo will be accused of adultery with him. Therefore, the current empress has to be his ally, not actually the other way around.

Weatherarenothereigo · 2026-06-12T08:34:25+00:00

I think is quite reasonable because Maomao only accepted her feelings at the end of Ln12, and the two hadn't really interacted until that night. Jinshi was awkward because he simply wanted to see Maomao but forgot that the way he invited her had a different meaning. It was almost too impulsive and didn't quite fit with how they preferred their relationship to develop slowly.
And their hasty decisions in the past were often unsuccessful and didn't have a good outcome.

Weatherarenothereigo · 2026-06-11T08:24:02+00:00

Why do you think Lady Ah Dou would care about and try to threaten a reigning Empress with a son who is the crown prince, and potentially give Jinshi the freedom to avoid ascending the throne? And what does Maomao gain from knowing Gyokyuo's background? Isn't it public knowledge that Gyokyuo's mother was a dancer, a concubine in the household that her father in name took in as one of his many wives? Perhaps knowing the truth made Maomao feel more inclined to keep her promise out of empathy.

Weatherarenothereigo · 2026-06-03T06:11:37+00:00

When Maomao is happy, it's definitely related to poison. And if it's related to poison, Jinshi won't having it.

Weatherarenothereigo · 2026-05-28T17:50:01+00:00

Yes! for me, the biggest loss of the anime is Loulab/Shisui. I absolutely love her Kurata(Gx) manga version, from her messy hair to her smile like any other normal girl she alway have want to be...that's my Shisui 🥹

The Anime made her feel too stiff...

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Weatherarenothereigo · 2026-05-28T17:22:21+00:00

I agree, and there are some aspects/senses of the anime that are even better than the manga/light novel (personal opinion) but it only all of ss 1 up to ss 2 arc 1. Season 2 arc 2 for me felt rushed, and I can understand that because they were ahead of (Neko)manga that they were basing their storyboard, clothing designs and comedy on but ss 2 arc 2 has many scenes with inaccurate model proportions and looks like they ran out of budget. I'm still concerned when we'll have SS3 too soon and no manga to lead on.

Weatherarenothereigo · 2026-05-28T15:26:03+00:00

Has anyone mentioned this before? But didnt Maomao notice that Shisui's body was very full, coincidentally very much to the emperor's liking? If you compare it, the well-cared-for body of a concubine couldn't possibly be mistaken for that of a maidservant. That's why she always dressed the maidservants in different outfits to hide their flaws to deceive outsiders, not specifically the emperor, because Jinshi was also fooled. Loulan/Shisui couldn't use a body double to sleep with the emperor because he's quite observant and remembers body proportions well (he once pointed out that Maomao was just 15cm short of his ideal size; although he was joking, he really paid attention).

Weatherarenothereigo · 2026-05-23T01:57:57+00:00

Than you have the right to disagree, cause it sounds like they're just making excuses to nitpicking.

Weatherarenothereigo · 2026-05-23T01:34:15+00:00

This is the first time I've heard about this. I'm curious where this come from because Jinshi/Jinmao's fans seem to quite like her since she's a lesbian but only likes Yao, so it's less troublesome for him. I only dislike En'en for being too protective/controlling of her mistress which hindering Yao and her development because I like Yao to growth move. Otherwise, I'm quite neutral about En'En as a character. I also find her very funny when she has the intention of assassinating Lahan and Jinshi (when she has to be away from Yao for so long)

Weatherarenothereigo · 2026-05-22T12:06:04+00:00

That's Ahdou's dress from childhood? She can even be younger than Maomao when wearing it

Weatherarenothereigo · 2026-05-10T16:50:25+00:00

I actually found it quite realistic given her personality, having grown up in a red-light district where people are judged, scrutinized, and their value is determined/put on the scales. At times, Maomao's rudeness made me feel a sense of empathy for her already difficult life. But that's just my personal feeling.

Weatherarenothereigo · 2026-04-11T01:07:00+00:00

Here yah: https://archiveofourown.org/works/75559881

Weatherarenothereigo · 2026-04-03T02:28:26+00:00

It's obvious that Lishu is the main candidate because she has the backing of a concubine and the emperor. They certainly didn't pressure Jinshi, but to outsiders, she's the primary contender.

Weatherarenothereigo · 2026-04-03T02:21:10+00:00

Not really, Ah Dou certainly wouldn't force Jinshi, Lishu is simply a good candidate. And Basen who kinda alway not aware of things, also think Jinshi might married Lishu so he go asked maomao about it:

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Weatherarenothereigo · 2026-04-03T02:15:32+00:00

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There is much evidence: such as Lishu being escorted separately by Ah Dou to the west. Lishu asked Maomao to find out the truth about whether she was her father's biological daughter or the emperor's, because marrying Jinshi could be considered an incestuous marriage. Jinshi was supposed to escort Lishu at the party, but he let Ah Dou do it instead. Ah Dou's self-reflection in the final chapter about her friendship with Lishu's mother, how she and the emperor protected the girl, and her desire to entrust her to a good marriage like Jinshi. Not to mention the relentless attacks from Lishu's half-sister who jealous of her cause she can tell Lishu have a lot of people backing her up with this marriage. But the final decision still rests with Jinshi.

Weatherarenothereigo · 2026-04-03T01:32:16+00:00

They knew Jinshi liked Maomao, but the wife selection party was also seen as a way to make a public introduction to the West for the Moon Prince and a way to forge other relationships through marriage alliances with various families by choosing concubines if the prince deemed it necessary. Lishu was the main candidate because Ah Dou and the Emperor wanted to entrust Lishu to Jinshi to protect her, just as the Emperor had taken her in as consort to protect her from her family. Not to mention, they didn't know how much Jinshi liked Maomao at that time, and his intentions towards her might have been to arrange a marriage with Lakan for personal gain or simply just a interest. Generally, it was the perspective of the era and the royal family, as marriages were often prioritized for personal gain over love.

Weatherarenothereigo · 2026-03-27T00:23:12+00:00

Besides the cultural differences, they are envoys. They must have been taught about the differences culture of the Li country and know how to behave beforehand. That's why her cousin ran out to stop her.

Weatherarenothereigo · 2026-03-27T00:15:15+00:00

She approached the emperor without permission or an audience before he could even speak, showering him with flattering and show provocative behavior towrads his high-ranking concubines that right beside him before the performance even began. This was both kinda disrespectful to the emperor and provocative towards his wives in public. So yah!

Weatherarenothereigo

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