The popularity of The Apothecary Diaries has brought with it no shortage of online discussion and controversy. Chief among the most polarizing topics is the imperial noble Jinshi, a man whose relationship with protagonist Maomao has sparked fierce debate across forums, TikTok threads, and fan reviews. While some fans swoon over his affection for the brilliant apothecary, others cry foul, labeling him a "walking red flag" for scenes where his actions cross personal boundaries. But while this criticism is not without merit, it also lacks important context.

It is fair, and even necessary, to examine media critically. No one should gloss over the moments where Jinshi behaves inappropriately, including the infamous frog scene or his emotional outburst in the novels. But flattening his character to fit a meme-worthy buzzword ignores the layered writing and historical framework in which The Apothecary Diaries is set. Jinshi is not a modern-day romantic lead, and he should not be judged as such. Instead, he is a character written within the values of his time and one who consistently acts with remarkable restraint, empathy, and care in an era where power abuse was the norm.

Context Matters: Understanding the World Jinshi Inhabits

What Power Meant Then, and How Jinshi Refuses to Abuse It

One of the biggest missteps in the discourse around Jinshi is the assumption that he exists in a contemporary moral framework. The Apothecary Diaries is set in a world closely modeled on Imperial China, a highly stratified, patriarchal society where power imbalances were the law of the land. Within this system, Jinshi holds immense authority. As a high-ranking official, he could legally command Maomao, who is technically enslaved, to do virtually anything he wanted. And yet, he does not.

This is what makes Jinshi’s behavior so telling. In a time when women of Maomao’s status were expected to submit to their superiors, he not only refrains from abusing his authority but also actively defers to her intelligence and autonomy. Rather than using his power for personal gain, he uses it to protect Maomao and elevate others like her. That is not just rare for his world, it is radical.

More than that, Jinshi helps Maomao create space for herself. He is acutely aware that her mind is her greatest asset, and he continuously places her in positions where she can use her skills to thrive. Whether he is moving her out of the rear palace to keep her safe or ensuring she receives gifts and recognition for her work, his actions prove that he respects her, even if he does not always know how to express it properly.

Problematic Actions Are Not the Whole Story of The Apothecary Diaries

Yes, Jinshi Messes Up and Makes Mistakes, But That is the Point

The criticism of Jinshi stems largely from two moments: the frog scene, where he surprises Maomao by getting on top of her and acting like he is about to start something before being interrupted, and a later, more intense moment in the light novel where he loses control and physically grabs and chokes her. These scenes are, without a doubt, uncomfortable. They should make readers pause. But discomfort does not equate to toxicity, and the text itself does not romanticize these moments.

Maomao is not intimidated by him. In fact, she often challenges him and makes clear that his actions are not acceptable.

What matters most is how these actions are contextualized within the story. Jinshi is not portrayed as a flawless romantic lead; he is a deeply repressed, emotionally inexperienced man trying to navigate a world where showing vulnerability is dangerous. His outbursts are rare, and when they happen, they are not rewarded. Maomao is not intimidated by him. In fact, she often challenges him and makes clear that his actions are not acceptable, which is something Jinshi takes seriously.

Rather than glorifying Jinshi's mistakes, The Apothecary Diaries uses them to explore character flaws. Jinshi’s rare emotional lapses are framed as part of his growth. He is not a perfect love interest; he is a human being who is learning how to love someone in a world that has taught him to suppress his emotions and desires. Unlike truly toxic characters, Jinshi reflects, pulls back, and shows remorse, not just through words, but through consistent care.

Jinshi is a Quiet Revolutionary in Disguise

Jinshi is Rewriting the Court’s Rules, One Kindness at a Time

For a man in Jinshi’s position, doing nothing harmful would already make him an anomaly. But he does not stop at neutrality; he actively advocates for change within the limited framework he inhabits. One of the most overlooked aspects of his character is how much he does for women behind the scenes. Jinshi s Maomao’s mission to educate other palace women, a dangerous and socially disruptive goal. He encourages their literacy and critical thinking, knowing full well this could upend the structure he benefits from.

These are not small acts of kindness, they are subversive acts of resistance within a deeply unequal society. And Jinshi never demands recognition for them. His is quiet, steady, and often invisible to most characters in the story. Yet it fundamentally reshapes the world around him, making life just a bit more bearable for women like Maomao.

Even when Jinshi gives Maomao rare and valuable gifts, like the ox bezoar, it is not about dazzling her or showing off his wealth. It is about giving her the tools she can use, resources that open up her world. In contrast to typical period-piece power dynamics, Jinshi gives without expecting anything in return. He is, in many ways, the rare noble who does not just refrain from exploiting women, he actively empowers them.

Rooting for Jinshi Does Not Mean Endorsing His Flaws

Fans Are Not Supposed to Be Comfortable With Everything That Happens, They Are Supposed to Think

Acknowledging Jinshi’s complexity does not mean brushing aside his flaws or romanticizing harmful behavior. It means understanding that characters can be both problematic and worthy of empathy, especially in stories grounded in historical realism. Calling him a “red flag” flattens a multifaceted character into a cautionary meme, ignoring the fact that The Apothecary Diaries is more interested in character evolution rather than perfection.

Part of the discomfort in watching Jinshi struggle is precisely the point. Jinshi's growing affection for Maomao destabilizes his carefully constructed identity. He has spent his entire life pretending to be something he is not in order to survive the court. Falling in love with someone intellectually equal but socially beneath him challenges everything he has been taught. The process is messy, and at times, he gets it wrong. But the narrative invites us to witness this growth, not to excuse it but to better understand it.

To dismiss Jinshi outright is to miss what The Apothecary Diaries is trying to say about power, choice, and the complicated dynamics of love.

Jinshi is a mirror to the world he inhabits. He reflects both its limitations and its potential for progress. He is not a perfect man by modern standards, but he is deeply progressive within his context, and that is precisely why his story resonates. To dismiss Jinshi outright is to miss what The Apothecary Diaries is trying to say about power, choice, and the complicated dynamics of love.

Stop Calling Jinshi a Red Flag and Start Thinking Critically About the Story

The Apothecary Diaries Means for Jinshi to be a Nuanced and Complicated Character

Fans live in a time where conversations around consent, power dynamics, and emotional maturity are important, and The Apothecary Diaries gives viewers deep material to engage those topics critically. But criticism loses its value when it refuses to meet the text on its own . Jinshi is not a modern boyfriend. He is a man molded by the strict confines of imperial hierarchy, trying, however imperfectly, to become someone better.

That journey is not easy, and it is not always pretty. But it is sincere. Jinshi’s love for Maomao is real, vulnerable, and transformative, not just for him, but for the world he’s helping reshape from the shadows. Rather than dismissing him as a red flag, perhaps it’s time fans gave him credit for what he is, which is one of the most thoughtfully written male leads in recent anime and light novel storytelling.

Fans do not need to idealize Jinshi, but they should not vilify him either. His story in The Apothecary Diaries is a reminder that growth is not linear and that even in the most rigid systems, people can choose to act with kindness, restraint, and integrity. That is not just rare, it is worth rooting for.