Maomao, the apothecary with a nose for poisons and problems, never asked for the attention of the most beautiful man in the palace-yet Jinshi seems determined to haunt her steps. When courtly whispers and cryptic crimes force them to travel beyond the palace walls, the pair find themselves entangled in mysteries that span regions... and feelings Maomao would rather leave unsolved. A slow-burn journey through secrets, science, and the strange warmth of a man she didn't ask to love.