The Apothecary Diaries Originally Envisioned Jinshi Differently, But 1 Change Took Him In a New Direction

In the rich and complex world of The Apothecary Diaries, few characters stand out quite like Jinshi. With his striking looks and air of mystery, he quickly became a fan favorite, but his development was not always set in stone. In fact, author Natsu Hyuuga revealed that Jinshi's role, personality, and even his fate were once up in the air. Originally created almost on a whim, Jinshi's popularity among readers played a huge role in shaping who he eventually became.

Initially conceived as a handsome addition to fit the shoujo-style tone of the story, Jinshi was born from a desire to include visual charm, according to @keiuzuki on X. But what started as a superficial element grew into something far more layered. As reader interest in the character surged, Hyuuga saw potential to deepen his backstory and rework his trajectory. Jinshi transformed from a decorative presence into a main figure whose character impacted the entire story.

"I thought that [since this is a shoujo manga-style novel, let's have a handsome man in it, even if just for appearance], so I introduced him with that kind of light-hearted feeling. Regarding his identity, I had two options in mind: make him a eunuch, or... In the end, I decided to leave it up to the readers to decide. As he turned out to be popular, I decided to revise the direction and personality. Initially, I had considered a direction in which Jinshi dies, but that was also scrapped."
- Natsu Hyuuga

A Character Meant for the Background

Jinshi Was Never Meant to be a Main Character in The Apothecary Diaries

When Jinshi was first introduced, he was never intended to carry a lot, or any, story weight. Hyuuga admitted she included him largely for visual appeal, imagining him as a conventionally attractive man to suit the tone. At that stage, his role was flexible and his character relatively unformed. He was envisioned more as a narrative accent than a fully developed lead. It was only after readers responded so positively that his arc began to expand beyond its original design.

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One of the early ideas Hyuuga toyed with was making Jinshi a eunuch, adding a layer of palace intrigue and ambiguity to his identity. She deliberately left aspects of his background vague, encouraging fans to speculate. This open-endedness created a mystique around Jinshi, which helped boost his appeal. As fans grew more invested in uncovering the truth about him, it became clear that Jinshi’s presence needed more attention, and more intentional development.

From Casual Addition to Core Character

Jinshi Became a Fan Favorite and That Saved His Character

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Jinshi’s popularity did not just protect him from being a background figure, it saved him from being written out altogether. According to Hyuuga, one of her original plans included Jinshi dying, a possibility that would have dramatically altered the story’s trajectory. But thanks to his growing fanbase, that grim fate was abandoned. Instead, Hyuuga pivoted, choosing to explore his personality and role more deeply within the court drama, and within a slow-burn romance with Maomao.

This shift in direction also affected his interactions with other characters, especially Maomao, the story’s sharp-witted protagonist. As Jinshi evolved, so did their dynamic, adding romantic tension and emotional complexity to the series. What began as a lighthearted addition turned into a multilayered character whose arc intertwined with the plot’s most critical turns. It is a testament to how reader response can shape storytelling in surprising and rewarding ways, and shows just how different The Apothecary Diaries could have been.

Source: @keiuzuki/X