The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Episode 3 Recap: Maomao Treats Ergot Poisoning

In the third episode of The Apothecary Diaries Season 3, titled “Let Them Eat Cake,” Maomao encounters a desperate father seeking medical aid for his sick daughter. Upon arriving at the family’s dilapidated home, she discovers the younger child suffering from blackened extremities and lethargy. Maomao identifies ergot poisoning caused by contaminated biscuits provided by an unknown woman, noting the toxin’s link to abortion medicine and grain spoilage.

Maomao removes the girl from her abusive, gambling-addicted father, who had neglected their health. The older sister offers herself as payment for the treatment, volunteering to become a courtesan so her sibling can survive. Maomao accepts this arrangement, allowing the sisters to leave with their abuser. Meanwhile, Jinshi investigates rumors of a mysterious figure distributing drugs in poor districts but lacks evidence for arrest. He delegates tasks to Basen, who delivers books from the Shi stronghold that spark Maomao’s interest in potential human experimentation involving locusts.