Section 1: After-bath Encounter
The corridor after the bathhouse felt like stepping out of a warm dream into the palace's steady pulse—air cooler now, carrying the faint mineral tang of the water mixed with jasmine from the hanging vines overhead. Moon walked beside Hui-lan, her hair tied neat in a simple knot that still felt loose, the fresh robe light on her skin, drying damp patches at the cuffs. The steam's warmth lingered in her cheeks, making her feel almost human again, the morning's heat chasing the last of the night's fog. The hallway stretched long and quiet, red pillars standing like silent guards, their lacquer gleaming deep in the slanting light, golden ornaments twisting in vine patterns that caught the sun and threw it back in soft sparks. Dust motes floated lazy in the beams, and the distant trickle of a courtyard pond echoed faint, like the palace itself was breathing slow.
Hui-lan walked with that unhurried dignity, towels stacked neat on her arm, her steps measured as if the floor itself bent to her rhythm. She glanced at Moon now and then, eyes crinkling with a quiet approval—the flour gone from her cheek, the wild hair tamed, her face glowing soft from the bath. "You look refreshed,"Hui-lan said, voice prim but laced with that granny warmth, adjusting the stack with a free hand. "The water does wonders for a weary soul."
Moon nodded—small smile tugging her lips, the robe's silk whispering against her legs with each step. "Feels good. Like... reset button." She kept her pace matched to Hui-lan's, the corridor unfolding gentle: painted panels of cranes taking wing on the walls, their feathers etched so fine they seemed to ruffle in the breeze, silk curtains floating lazy at the arches. It was beautiful in that overwhelming way, the kind that made her chest ache with something she couldn't name—familiar tug, like seeing an old photo faded at the edges. These patterns... these colors... But she pushed it down, focusing on the towels' clean smell, the older woman's steady presence beside her. "Thanks for the lesson back there. No flailing. Got it."
Hui-lan huffed a laugh—soft, hidden behind her sleeve. "Lessons are for the young. The art chaos enough without more." Her tone held no bite, just that fond exasperation, like watching a kitten chase its tail and knowing it'd learn eventually.
They turned a corner—the hallway widening to a stretch where the light poured brighter, pillars framing a glimpse of the lotus pond beyond—and that's when the middle-rank maid appeared, blocking their path like she'd been waiting for the sun to hit just right. She wore a more decorated uniform than the passing servants—brocade sash tied high, polished hairpin glinting with jade inlays, her robe in a shade of rose that screamed look at me. Her face was sharp-featured, lips curled in a smug line that could sour fresh milk, eyes narrowing as they swept over Hui-lan first, then Moon, dismissal dripping from the glance.
The maid's lips parted—sneer blooming full. "Tch. Still dragging your old bones around, Hui-lan?The palace keeps relics now?" Her voice came out sweet-poison, pitched loud enough for the side maids lingering nearby to hear, fans fluttering behind sleeves as whispers started.
Hui-lan bowed her head silent—quick dip, no flinch, the stack of towels steady on her arm, her face smoothing to that practiced calm, like water closing over a stone. She said nothing, stepping aside slight, but Moon saw it—the faint tightening in her jaw, the way her fingers gripped the linens a touch too hard.
Moon blinked once. Twice. The words landed like a slap she'd felt before—old bones, relic, the kind of dig that stuck because it pretended to be joke. Her eyebrow twitched—small tic, heat rising slow in her chest. The corridor's hush amplified it, the pond's trickle mocking the tension. "HEY," she said, voice cutting clear, stepping forward before she could think. "Watch your tone."
The maid blinked—startled blink, her smug mask cracking, head snapping to Moon like she'd forgotten the girl was there. Nobody spoke to her like that—middle-rank meant buffers, eyes and ears for the ladies, a step above the low servants but hungry for more. The side maids gasped soft—fans pausing mid-flutter, whispers dying to breaths.
The maid blinked—one startled blink, her smug mask cracking as her head snapped to Moon, like she had forgotten the girl was even there.
"Who do you think you are," the middle-rank maid snapped, chin lifting, eyes cold and assessing, "to speak so freely to an elder of the palace? Know your place, girl."
A hush rippled through the corridor.
Side maids froze—fans pausing mid-flutter, whispers shrinking to held breaths. Middle-rank meant buffers, eyes and ears for the noble ladies, a step above the low servants… and hungry for more.
Moon took a slow step forward.
Her robes hung loose, hair still damp from the bath, but her spine straightened, something fierce and old waking in her chest — the kind of fire born from watching kindness get stepped on too many times.
She met the maid's gaze without flinching.
"She's my Obāsama," Moon said quietly — and the word landed heavier than shouting.
"So watch your mouth."
The corridor stayed silent.
Hui-lan caught her breath sharply—one soft hitch of air, her hand flying to her chest as if the word had struck somewhere deeper than sound.
"Obāsama…?" she whispered.
The title lingered — not as rank, not as duty — but as something intimate, chosen.
Her eyes shimmered faintly, surprise melting into a quiet, trembling warmth, as though a door inside her had been called open after a long winter.
Moon leaned in just a fraction, voice low and steady.
"I said it because I meant it."
Then she straightened again, heart still thudding, eyes returning to the middle-rank maid — who now stood frozen, her authority suddenly very small.
The maid's lips curled tighter—sneer twisting to something uglier, chin lifting proud as she stepped forward, sash brocade catching the light like a challenge. "You insolent thing. Do you even know which house I serve?" Her voice pitched higher, drawing the side maids closer, their fans hiding mouths but eyes bright with gossip.
She lifted her chin fuller, hairpin glinting smug. "I belong to Lady Suiren's court. A nobody like you has no right to speak—let alone to me."
Nearby maids gasped soft—whispers bubbling behind sleeves like water to boil: "Who is she? Have you seen her before?" One breathed, fan fluttering quick. "No... but she looks... unreal. Like a little fairy—look at her hair, so dark and soft..." Another leaned in, voice dropping. "Shh! Not so loud!" The third glanced Moon's way, eyes wide with that mix of awe and envy, the corridor humming now with their hush.
Moon gulped—throat dry, the maid's words landing like a reminder of ranks she didn't understand, Lady Suiren's name ringing vague from half-remembered book pages. But something fierce sparked inside her—hot, stubborn, the same fire that had pushed her up the mountain when everything else said stay down. She didn't back up. Didn't bow. Just stood, robe sleeves slipping long, eyes holding the maid's without flinch. "Well, I don't care which 'house' you serve," she said, voice even but edged, the words cutting clean. "Your house doesn't give you the right to bully elders."
The maids' whispers swelled—fans pausing, eyes on Moon like she'd grown wings. The middle-rank woman's face twisted—shock blooming to fury, lips parting on a hiss. Moon pointed then—finger straight, flustered but firm, the heat in her cheeks fuelling it. "And—AND—your attitude? Very... un-girlboss. Terrible vibes. Zero stars. Would not recommend."
Everyone froze—the corridor going pin-drop still, the pond's trickle the only sound. The maid's eyes bulged—mouth gaping like a fish on dry land. "What— what language are you even speaking?!" She sputtered, sash brocade heaving with her breath, the side maids leaning in closer, whispers exploding soft: "Did she just... curse her?" "Zero stars? What's that mean?" "She's bold—
Moon crossed her arms—best she could with the sleeves, chin high despite the knot in her stomach. "...Modern frustration." The words landed flat, her grin wobbly but holding, the fierce spark flickering to something like triumph when the maid's face purpled.
Footsteps cut the tension then—calm, measured, authority echoing in every tap against the wood. The maids bowed instant—robes dipping low, fans folding quick. The middle-rank one nearly tripled in her rush, sash tangling as she straightened, face paling to match the pond's underbelly.
Gao-shun appeared at the end of the hall—robes flowing smooth, expression like "Who ruined my morning peace?"—Gray eyes sweeping the group, landing on the maid first, then Moon, then Hui-lan with that quick assessment, seeing the stand-off without a word spoken. The air shifted with him—heavy, but not crushing, the corridor seeming smaller under his shadow.
"What is happening here?" His voice came quiet, dangerous low, rumble that didn't need volume to carry, eyes narrowing on the middle-rank maid like a blade unsheathed slow.
The maid paled fuller—lips parting on a stammer. "L-Lord Gaoshun! I was merely— instructing this girl on proper—" Her words trailed, sash clutched white-knuckled, the side maids shrinking back, fans hiding mouths.
Gao-shun: "By insulting senior servants?" The question hung even, no raise, but the weight crushed it, his presence alone turning the sneer to dust. He didn't need to shout. Didn't need to step closer. The maid froze—mouth working silent, eyes darting to the floor.
He turned his gaze to Moon then—calm, observant, ever slightly interested, the gray holding hers without pressure, taking in the flushed cheeks, the steady stand, the fierce spark still flickering in her eyes. "You defend those who care for you," he said, voice low rumble, a gesture with more warmth than he intended, faint nod acknowledging. "A rare trait."
Moon blushed faint—heat creeping up her neck, but she stood straight, chin lifting despite the wobble. "She didn't deserve it." The words came out simple, honest, the fierce easing to quiet, her hands unclenching at her sides.
Hui-lan looked away—hiding the tiny smile softening her eyes, hand on Moon's shoulder light, squeeze quick and grateful. The side maids whispered on—"She's beautiful... like a spirit out of a tale." One breathed, fan fluttering. "And bold.Did you see how she talked back?" Another leaned in. "Even Lord Gao-shun didn't scold her..." The third glanced Moon's way, awe mixing with the envy, the corridor humming with their hush.
The middle-rank maid scowled bitter—lips thin, eyes shooting daggers—but said nothing, backing away with a curt bow, sash trailing as she melted into the side path.
Gao-shun nodded once to Moon—gesture small, but the warmth lingered in his gaze a beat longer. Then he addressed the maids—voice even, cutting the whispers short. "Return to your duties." The group dispersed like frightened birds—robes fluttering, steps quick on gravel—but their chatter started up the moment they rounded the corner, voices low and buzzing: "Who is she? Gaoshun-'sama ward?" "Look at her—hair like night silk, eyes like deep pools..." "Bold as a fox in the henhouse."
Before leaving, Gao-shun turned to Hui-lan—his tone shifting practical, gray eyes holding hers steady. "Continue to watch her.And ensure she does not roam alone."
Hui-lan bowed—head dipping respectful. Moon puffed her cheeks—arms crossing, voice pitching whiny. "I'm not a toddler—"
Gao-shun:"Your behavior suggests otherwise." The words landed dry, no bite, but his eyes crinkled faint—ghost of amusement.
Moon: "HEY—!" She shot back, finger pointing half-hearted, the group dissolving into a huff that pulled a chuckle from Hui-lan.
But Gao-shun was already walking away—robes flowing, footsteps fading down the corridor, his voice echoing soft in his thought: Strange girl. Odd tongue. Fierce loyalty. I must keep an eye on her...The hallway fell quiet again, sunlight slanting warmer, the pond's trickle laughing faint.
Disclaimer
This work is a fan-made story inspired by The Apothecary Diaries. The world, its canon characters, and original setting belong to their creators.
Moon, her journey, and all new scenes written here are entirely my own creations. This story is shared purely for love of the universe and for personal enjoyment. No copyright infringement is intended.