In the high-stakes Apothecary Diaries drinking contest featured in Episode 55, titled “The Bet,” Maomao travels with Jinshi to the Paper Village and risks her own freedom to save a family of imperial papermakers from financial ruin. The seventh episode of the third television season shows the young apothecary outsmarting an arrogant local landlord who tried to break an existing lease agreement and seize the village’s lucrative royal court commission [2].
Disputes Before the Apothecary Diaries Drinking Contest
Jinshi brings Maomao and Basen to the Paper Village to visit court physician Guen. The palace knows Guen as the Quack Doctor [2]. Upon their arrival, Guen discovers that the local landlord’s son wants to evict his relatives from their ancestral paper workshop [1].
Under the original contract signed by the former landlord, Guen’s family held a grace period of five years to pay off the lease on their papermaking land. The young landlord boasts that he is superior to his illiterate father and demands that Guen’s relatives teach his inexperienced farmhands how to make imperial grade paper within twelve months, aiming to take over the lucrative royal court supply contract for himself. Guen’s family spent decades perfecting their craft skills in the Paper Village, and handing over that hard-won knowledge would leave them homeless once the landlord replaced them. Guen cannot fight him alone [1].
The dispute grows more difficult because Guen’s nephew has fallen in love with the landlord’s daughter, blinding the young man to the threat facing his family’s craft. Instead of defending the workshop, the nephew seems willing to surrender the family trade just to maintain good standing with the landlord’s household. Maomao must save the workshop [1].
Jinshi Quarters Visit and Makeup Disguise
Jinshi travels through the Paper Village disguised as Basen’s servant, concealing his royal standing as the Moon Prince while sneaking into Maomao’s private quarters late in the evening to fix his fake facial scar before meeting the landlord. He needs her disguise expertise. The cosmetic scar conceals his striking noble looks from local officials [2].
During their conversation, Jinshi reveals that court official Lahan detected curious irregularities in regional harvest audits, suggesting that the Paper Village secretly hid grain shipments from the capital [2]. Did Jinshi foresee her clever plan? After finishing the makeup repair, Maomao paints her own face bright red and taunts Jinshi on the bed until Basen opens the door and gasps in horror at the scene [1], [2]. Both jump on him fast [1], [2].
The sudden scramble creates genuine coordination between Maomao and Jinshi as they work together to calm Basen down. Maomao privately appreciates how smoothly she and Jinshi acted together, proving their deep unspoken trust during unexpected crises in the Paper Village. Their teamwork silenced the room [2].
Apothecary Diaries Drinking Contest Stakes and Victory
The next day, Guen, Maomao, Jinshi, and Basen meet the landlord’s son at a village tavern to settle the workshop contract [2]. Seeing Guen and his family falter under pressure, Maomao inspects the rows of liquor jars behind the bar and proposes the Apothecary Diaries drinking contest to decide the fate of the land [1], [2]. She challenges his entire crew [1], [2].
The terms of the tavern match put Maomao’s future directly on the line. If the landlord’s crew outdrinks her, Maomao must submit to indentured servitude and be sold as a laborer, but if she outdrinks them, the property deed transfers to her ownership. Basen protests the gamble, but Jinshi pledges 300 silver to purchase her freedom if she loses [2]. Maomao relies on her body’s natural resistance to poisons and alcohol while downing cup after cup without hesitation, watching calmly as the landlord’s laborers collapse onto the wooden floor until only the arrogant heir remains seated opposite her [1], [2]. She outdrinks every single farmhand [1], [2].
The landlord’s son matches Maomao for several rounds before collapsing in total defeat on the tavern floor. Stumbling to his feet, the furious heir reneges on the agreement and declares the wager void despite Maomao’s clear tavern victory. The corrupt heir refuses defeat [2].
Exposing the Paper Village Moonshine Ring
Maomao turns the tables on the landlord once the drinking contest ends [2]. When the heir tries to disown his loss, Maomao points out that the tavern serves untaxed rice wine produced from unregistered surplus crops [1],. Court auditor Lahan discovered the harvest discrepancies that give Maomao exact evidence to prove the illegal distillery operations [2]. The landlord faces imperial trial [1], [2].
The landlord abandons his plan to seize the workshop of Guen’s family after Maomao exposes the illegal moonshine ring, agreeing to deliver steady rice shipments to the Verdigris House for ten years to feed workers in the pleasure district. The Madame wanted cheap rice. The cunning settlement satisfies the Madame who raised Maomao, showing that the young apothecary inherited the old woman’s shrewd commercial instincts. Maomao grumbles about Granny’s greed, but she uses the exact same moneymaking tactics to safeguard Guen’s craft [2].
Her instinct for uncovering palace conspiracies built upon past cases where Maomao confronted poison schemes to protect court figures. Guen is shocked to see her switch from playful drinking to cold calculation. The gentle Quack Doctor watches in disbelief as Maomao blackmails the landlord, finding her ruthless negotiation tactics frightening to behold. Her boldness terrified the physician [2].
Critical Praise for Episode 55 on Crunchyroll
Episode 55 won warm reception after premiering on Crunchyroll. Anime News Network reviewer Rebecca Silverman awarded the episode a 4.2 community rating, comparing the confrontation to Vizzini’s famous monologue in The Princess Bride. Silverman joked that the classic blunders about never entering a land war in Asia or going against a Sicilian when death is on the line should include a third warning: never challenge Maomao to a drinking duel [1].
Silverman said the farmers were doomed once Maomao realized free booze was involved, though she expressed mild confusion over subtitles translating the liquor as “thick” instead of strong [1]. Comic Book Resources critic Jennifer Melzer praised the entry as one of the finest chapters of the third season, explaining that the story highlights Maomao’s dual upbringing by blending Guen’s medical compassion with the Madame’s relentless practical eye. The episode balances playful romance with sharp social drama, letting voice actors Aoi Yuki and Takeo Otsuka display their comedic timing. Both actors delivered superb performances [2].
Directed by Jun Owada from the original story by Natsu Hyūga, the episode concludes with Guen’s family safely in possession of their imperial paper commission [1], [2]. Maomao turns an unfair eviction into a triumph, proving that her wits remain unmatched across the countryside [1], [2]. Guen’s workshop will survive [1], [2].
- ONLINE NEWS Silverman, R. (2026, November 13). The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 ‒ Episode 55. Anime News Network. [Article Link]
- ONLINE NEWS Melzer, J. (2026, November 13). All Bets Are Off in The Apothecary Diaries’ Greatest Episode This Season. Comic Book Resources. [Article Link]
