Not long after pleasure district apothecary Maomao began work as a maidservant in the rear palace...
Rumors of unexplained happenings spread like wildfire amongst the court: the so-called “Five Mysteries”.
A faceless eunuch, a storehouse that wails every night,
garments turning a deep red with no warning...
With no rhyme or reason in sight, the rear palace remains unsettled.

When Master Jinshi, overseer of the rear palace, entrusts her with investigating these mysteries,
Maomao uses her medicinal knowledge, keen observation, and apothecary skills
to gather evidence and solve each case.

On a visit home, Maomao befriends traveling actor Guanyu,
who gradually begins to pull the apothecary into the very real drama of his life.

Time passes, and the Shi clan's rebellion is swiftly quelled.
The capital city is not yet at peace, however,
as similar mysteries begin popping up throughout the castle town,
earning the moniker the “Five Curses” from the afflicted citizens.

When Maomao is roped into investigating once more, she stumbles upon the would-be suspect:
a masked man calling himself the “imperial younger brother”.

The city is abuzz with rumors of the vigilante imperial prince,
righting the wrongs of the court—but Jinshi insists it is not him.
Who is this mysterious impersonator?
Why are similar mysteries and curses affecting both the rear palace and the capital?

As the truth is uncovered, so, too, is a long-lost mystery that was buried decades ago...