Read manga Kusuriya no Hitorigoto online in English. Also known as The Apothecary Diaries and 薬屋のひとりごと. Maomao is an eccentric young woman raised in the red-light district with an unusual obsession for poisons and medicine. Her quiet life takes a dramatic turn when she is suddenly kidnapped and sold as a lowly servant into the Emperor's sprawling rear palace. Determined to remain unnoticed and simply survive her term of service, she keeps her vast medical knowledge a heavily guarded secret.

However, her insatiable curiosity gets the better of her when a mysterious curse begins killing the royal infants. Unable to ignore the symptoms, Maomao covertly intervenes, only to catch the sharp eye of Jinshi, an influential and startlingly beautiful palace official. Thrust into the spotlight as a designated poison taster, she must now navigate the treacherous political waters of the inner court. Armed only with her sharp wits and apothecary skills, Maomao unravels complex medical mysteries, untangles dangerous court conspiracies, and deals with eccentric royals while desperately trying to keep her own head attached to her shoulders.

This series may appeal to readers who enjoy historical mysteries, medical drama, and slow-burn political intrigue stories.