In The Apothecary Diaries Episode 7, Maomao entices Lihaku with her offer to introduce him to Pairin, Meimei, and Joka, also known as Rokushoukan's Three Princesses. But who are they, exactly?
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Who Are the Three Princesses of the Verdigris House?
The Three Princesses of the Verdigris House, also known as Rokushoukan in the original Japanese, are three high-ranking courtesans who are well-known across the capital of Li.
Word of their grace has reached the inner palace, and it is rumored that a night with one of them will cost one's salary for a year.
The current Princesses are named Pairin, Joka, and Meimei, but they aren't the first to hold the title.
When a concubine of the Verdigris House retires from her role as one of the Three Princesses, another woman is trained in her stead.
How Does Maomao Know the Three Princesses?
Maomao is familiar with the Three Princesses and the Madam of Rokushoukan as she grew up in the red-light district.
Maomao's father, Luomen, is an apothecary who treats the prostitutes. In return, many of the prostitutes treat Maomao as their sister.
When Maomao receives a hairpin from Lihaku, one of the high-ranking eunuchs in the imperial court, she soon learns that this gives her the power to ask for a favor.
Since she longs to see her father, she persuades Lihaku to take her home by promising him a visit to the Three Princesses.
Lihaku accepts despite being a eunuch because Pairin, Meimei, and Joka are also versed in non-sexual arts.
Who Is Pairin?
Pairin is the eldest of the Three Princesses. Pairin is in her 30s during a time when people aged earlier and society was obsessed with women's youth. Regardless, she has lost none of her beauty.
As The Apothecary Diaries manga and light novel tell us, Pairin is skilled in bedroom arts, so much so that Lihaku falls in love with her within the three days of Maomao's home visit. She is also a talented dancer.
Who Is Meimei?
Meimei is the second oldest of Rokushoukan’s Three Princesses. She's a graceful woman in her early 30s.
Her strongest suits are her abilities in strategy board games such as Go and Shogi, which she often plays with customers to entertain them, and poetry writing, which she also employs to impress her guests.
Who Is Joka?
Last but not least, Joka is the youngest of Verdigris House's Three Princesses.
Interestingly, she doesn't like men, which, along with her aloof demeanor, suggests she doesn't really wish to work at Rokushoukan.
Her greatest talent is poetry. However, the Madam checks her poems before sharing them with clients as her lyrical verses often conceal a sharp tongue.
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