I can’t deny this was one of my favorite anime from late 2023 into early 2024, easily landing in my top three for the year transition.
The story takes place in imperial China and follows Maomao, a young woman kidnapped and brought to the emperor’s palace. From that point on, we get to know her striking personality as events unfold in a plot full of interconnected mysteries.
At first glance, it seems like just another anime structured in a “case of the week” format, but the protagonist is so captivating and charismatic that it becomes clear, at some point, that everything will connect.
As the narrative progresses, events begin to intertwine and gain an interesting cohesion. The story doesn’t have an explicit central goal; we’re mostly following Maomao’s daily life in a situation that’s absurd for her, inside a palace full of intrigue.
And that’s not a flaw—it’s actually one of its greatest strengths. The work doesn’t depend on a grand continuous arc to sustain itself, though by the end of the season, events do connect and tie together each investigation and conflict presented.
The anime combines investigation and mystery in an intelligent way, supported by a narrative that precisely balances comedy and seriousness. Even in the lighter episodes, the quality remains consistent thanks to well-measured humor and excellent comedic timing.
It’s also impossible to ignore the elephant in the room: Jinshi. He constantly shows up to help Maomao and facilitate her access to certain spaces, even though she finds him annoying and sees him, at first glance, as a frivolous noble.
The dynamic between Maomao and Jinshi is well-balanced. Still, I’d like to see more interactions between the two—more dialogue and more shared scenes.
Despite this, the few moments they share on screen are enough to maintain interest, because the narrative isn’t limited to episodic cases or palace intrigue. There’s clear care in building the relationship between them and in the gradual development of the characters.
I’m not saying the story needs to turn into a romance. However, since I appreciate the combination of romance and mystery—the so-called cozy mystery—I’d like to see the relationship between Jinshi and Maomao developed more explicitly, not just suggested in the background or punctuated by brief moments of fanservice.
Much of the anime’s strength lies precisely in these two characters. Individually, Maomao and Jinshi are already captivating, with eccentric and contrasting personalities. When they interact, though, the chemistry between them becomes magnetic.
The chemistry they share goes beyond traditional romance; even within the peculiar dynamic they maintain, the relationship is engaging and grows increasingly interesting with each episode. More screen time together would only amplify that impact.
I recognize the anime adopts a very Sherlockian approach, but this style is applied with competence and purpose.
Some characters take time to have their personalities and pasts explored in depth, but this also works as a strength, not a flaw. This gradual pace sparks the desire to watch the next episode to spend another day alongside Maomao and discover, bit by bit, the layers of the characters introduced throughout the season.