u/Fair_Comb_8351

...knowing that Jinshi is the Emperor and Ah-Duo's son, in other words the first born prince and rightful heir, and further knowing that the true imperial younger brother's death was preventable. What is the potential implication of her knowing these things? Interested in people's thoughts, and here are some of my own.

(I've done some searching of old posts, but haven't yet happened on one that talks about the specific angle I'm interested in here (though I'm sure it's out there somewhere! Links are welcome. 👍 ))

Full disclosure: this gets into a full blown theory on how the series could end (and a bit of fan fiction at the end of that, haha.) I'm not trying to argue that this is the way it will go; I just like to play around with possibilities until we get the actual ending (which will be a while it seems.) I am curious to see if I've missed or misunderstood something in the world building or details of the story.

Back to the dangerous knowledge Maomao holds: one she knows about the switch, and two she further knows that the death of the true imperial younger brother could be considered, from the POV of the imperial justice system especially in light of the fact that the baby was IMPERIAL, something like involuntary manslaughter instead of 'an act of heaven.' And so far as we know she is the only one who knows the latter, not to mention she shielded the true guilty party.

Of all the people who readers know are 'in the know' about the switch, I believe Maomao ranks the lowest. Luomen knows about the switch (and was the scapegoat who lost his kneecap), and could know about the accidental poisoning but kept his mouth shut.

Where I'm going with this is....

Given we have rumors going around that Jinshi is the emperor's son (and in the worst possible way with Anshi as his mom - that rumor needs to die an early death), if that comes to a head and the imperial hand is forced and it has to be formally admitted what happened to the babies, couldn't there suddenly be a demand for blood again in the name of justice? Luomen's mutilation was ordered by the Emperor in a fit of anger and a need to hold someone responsible, I suspect it and the reason it happened wasn't widely proclaimed. As such I could see a renewed call for justice happening when the switch becomes public knowledge.

In other words, couldn't Luomen be on the hook again? Further, what if the broader court could add the death of the imperial younger brother to the list of sins as well - just learning that the babes were switched could create all sorts of conspiracy theories. The removal of the kneecap may not be seen as punishment enough.

And because imperial punishment is meted out in some bizarre heavenly balancing act (someone needs to be punished, regardless of whether they were actually guilty or responsible, and often as a replacement for a person who is simply too elevated to be punished severely - Example A: Luomen), I believe a substitute could be accepted. Enter Maomao.

If Luomen is threatened, Maomao would do everything in her power to protect him. If I am understanding correctly, she can be considered to have committed a crime by just knowing these things and keeping it to herself. What if she uses the radioactive knowledge she has, including her knowledge that the death of the imperial younger brother could have been prevented, as a bargaining chip and/or a demonstration that she is a greater offender (again, in the bizarre world of imperial justice) to take the punishment instead of Luomen?  And yes, the punishment is death.

Luomen was already punished once, so the opportunity for fresh blood would be satisfying to many, and if there are factions against Maomao/Jinshi at this point other (despicable) parties would be happy with this outcome too. 

Devastating for Jinshi, but if Maomao were to act independently as she does, his hands would be tied. However, recall when Maomao negotiated with Fengming: death was guaranteed but Maomao allowed the woman to keep the killing of the baby a secret. Similarly, Jinshi cannot stop the death penalty, however he is able to change it to death by poison, just as Maomao requested back in LN 1.

And then he's on the phone to Suirei being like: "Cuz, whip up some of that resurrection poison, ASAP." (OK, the rest of this is basically fan fiction - but I am curious as to whether the points up until now are valid if anyone has feedback!)

Maomao wakes up on a ship with Suirei and maybe the Shi kids and possibly Chue (I feel like a Mi person would be sent with them to keep an eye) off to Shisui/Tamomo because I can't believe she hasn't quietly gotten back in touch with Suirei somehow.

Jinshi fulfills (most) of his duties as heir for the next decade and a half or so, but doesn't take a consort/have kids causing consternation at court (but he doesn't give a **** anymore so long as the nation is safe). Once his younger brothers show maturity Jinshi dies of poison. (Yeah, glossing over a few things here...)

Several months~a year later, halfway around the world a man with half his face covered and the other half drooping slightly shows up at an apothecary shop saying he has been looking for the most gifted apothecary he can find. A man is at the counter, but one whose face is somehow similar to that of the customer. The customer pulls out a fine hair stick that has some strange damage right in the middle of it (yeah, I think that makes its way back to Jinshi - the right people can judge where it came from by the craftsmanship, right?) The man running the shop opens a door at the back and starts speaking to someone there, only to stop with a weary look and simply asks "Again?"

The customer takes the liberty of going over to the door to find a woman in her mid-thirties about to slice into her arm.

"Just what are you about to do?!?"

^_^

Adding that someone suggested that it is to test the concubines, which makes sense and is introduced in LN 1, and in which case makes the prologue a flashback. The last paragraph of the epilogue could recast the conversation as having happened in the past, but I think it's unclear. Also I think the anime frames it as a current conversation...is it a flashback?

Specifically is he the one who >!requests that Maomao work for Jinshi in the outer court instead of returning her to the rear palace? !<

>!Doing so both !<

>!1) prevents Jinsh from benefitting from a highly useful pawn in the real palace (a woman in a woman's world - useful beyond her intelligence and specialized knowledge - Jinshi notes that the emperor's requirement presents challenges for him that not getting Maomao back in that position could be that challenge) and !<

>!2) places a female that Jinshi is attached to closer to him (good motivation to get Jinshi to abandon pretending to be eunuch as that's a non-starter for anything beyond their current relationship - part of the reason the emperor places Lishu back in the rear palace was in hope that Jinshi might develop an attraction to her, right)? !<

>!3) Maybe having her in the outer court presents other challenges that I haven't noticed, other things that could also be considered 'outrageous'? Adding that later in the book it is mentioned that hiring a maid out of a brothel is something of note - Lakan takes advantage of this and encourages the rumors to Jinshi's detriment.!<

>!While I think Maomao's influence on Jinshi later in the novels is a thorn in the Emperor's side, at this point her influence on Jinshi works towards what the Emperor would prefer to have happen: Jinshi acting a the Imperial younger brother/seriously and publicly (ie. without the mask) taking on Imperial duties. As such, this makes sense to me and I haven't identified anything else 'outrageous' that could be tied to the emperor's doing.!<