Does Fengxian Die in Apothecary Diaries?

A courtesan’s pride. A mother’s pain. A lover’s regret.

Fengxian’s story in The Apothecary Diaries is more than a footnote—it’s a pivotal thread that shapes Maomao’s resilience and Lakan’s tragic past. Her life, love, suffering, and ultimate death leave an indelible mark.

But what exactly happened to Fengxian? Did she die, or did she find redemption before the end?

The Courtesan’s Fall

Fengxian wasn’t just another courtesan. Once the star of the Verdigris House, she commanded respect with her intelligence, grace, and skill at Go. Her relationship with the brilliant strategist Lakan wasn’t built on fleeting pleasure—it was a meeting of minds over endless games of Go and Shogi.

However, her high status couldn’t shield her from tragedy. When she conceived Maomao with Lakan, it was a calculated move to prompt him to buy out her contract and secure their future. But fate had other plans. Lakan was exiled for three years after Luomen’s banishment, leaving Fengxian alone, pregnant, and trapped.

Without her patron’s protection, Fengxian’s value plummeted. Desperate to survive, she took clients from outside Verdigris House, leading to her infection with syphilis—a relentless, incurable disease at the time. Her health deteriorated, her beauty faded, and her mind faltered. The once-proud courtesan, now disfigured and broken, became a shadow of her former self.

The Bitter Truth

Fengxian’s suffering wasn’t merely physical—it was psychological. Her pride, which once made her a formidable presence, deepened her isolation. She refused to let Lakan see her in her debilitated state. In a moment of despair and perhaps delirium, she cut off her own pinky and Maomao’s, performing yubikiri as a symbolic curse or a desperate plea for Lakan’s return. This act left Maomao with a permanent scar, both physical and emotional.

Meanwhile, Lakan, unaware of her pregnancy and her suffering, believed he had been betrayed by fate and family politics. His exile delayed his return, while Fengxian’s condition worsened with each passing year.

Maomao’s Clever Gambit

Years later, Maomao, aware of her parentage and harboring complex feelings towards both her parents, devised a plan. She challenged Lakan to a game of Go, wagering that if she won, he would redeem a courtesan of her choosing. Maomao’s victory led Lakan back to Verdigris House, where he finally reunited with Fengxian.

What he found broke his heart. Fengxian was frail, disfigured, and barely lucid. Yet she still hummed lullabies and, in fleeting moments, recognized him. Overwhelmed, Lakan redeemed her—a symbolic marriage in the pleasure district, marked by her dressing in red, the color of brides.

Does Fengxian Die? The Light Novels Confirm It

While the anime and manga linger on her survival, the light novels confirm Fengxian’s death in Volume 6. After her redemption, she spent a brief time with Lakan, playing Go and sharing quiet moments. But the disease was too advanced. She passed away, her mind and body finally succumbing.

Her death devastated Lakan, who fell into deep depression, haunted by regret and love. For Maomao, it was a mix of sorrow and vindication. Fengxian’s story wasn’t just personal—it shaped Maomao’s worldview, her skills as an apothecary, and her deep-seated wariness of love and attachment.

Fengxian’s Legacy in Apothecary Diaries

Fengxian’s death wasn’t the end of her influence.

• For Maomao, it was a constant reminder of the cruelty of fate and the harsh realities of her world. Her mother’s suffering molded her pragmatic, often cynical approach to life and medicine.
• For Lakan, it was the love that defined him, the regret that haunted him, and the guilt that deepened his eccentric public persona.

Her life and death became the backdrop to Maomao’s adventures and investigations in the Rear Palace, fueling her determination to uncover the truth, no matter how dangerous.

The Full Arc of Fengxian’s Life and Death

Here’s a summary of her journey:

Why Fengxian’s Story Resonates

Fengxian’s narrative is a linchpin. Her choices, her love, her suffering, and her death ripple through the lives of Maomao and Lakan, adding layers of emotional depth and realism to the world of The Apothecary Diaries. It’s a tale of love lost, sacrifice made, and the cruel hand of fate—a stark contrast to the intrigue and mystery of the palace.

Her story is a reminder that behind every secret, there’s a personal tragedy. Behind every investigation, a human cost.