[podfic] The Apothecary's Self Saving System

Author's Summary:
So Shen Yuan is kidnapped and taken to the Inner Huan Hua Palace to serve as an maid just a few months after she FINALLY made it as an apothecary? Excellent. Just excellent! Add in a few murder-mysteries, a whole lot of poison, a gaggle of Ladies in Waiting, and a certain curly-haired eunuch who won't leave her the fuck alone, and it seems she has her work cut out for her. Now for the main issue: keeping her head attached to her neck in the process!

Notes:

For XxMiserySmilesxX.
Inspired by The Apothecary's Self Saving System by MathematicalSparkles, XxMiserySmilesxX

XxMiserySmilesxX mentioned in the original fic notes that this is their first time writing something big for this type of project - ironically, it's my first time podding something this long XD It has been so much fun, and Misery has been a great collab partner. A big thanks to them for being very supportive and patient with me, and for running so far with this idea! I am having a great time seeing how things develop in this fusion universe ^_^
Also! Misery drew some awesome art to go along with the fic! I'll include it in each chapter, or you can see it embedded in the original fic.

Chapter 1: The Apothecary and the Eunuch

Chapter Text

Listen to the podfic here:

Or download directly from Dropbox using this link.

And enjoy some tiny Shen Yuan art by XxMiserySmilesxX!

Chapter 2: The Food Taster and The Consort

Chapter Text

Listen to the podfic here:

Or download directly from Dropbox using this link .

Art by XxMiserySmilesxX to be added!

Chapter 3: The Past, The Future and The Space In Between

Notes:

Note from the original author:
Please be aware that in this chapter I have made some references to the canonical treatment of Shen Jiu by the Qiu family! If this is not for you, I will not be upset if you wish to skip. Thank you for reading!

Chapter Text

Listen to the podfic here:

Or download directly from Dropbox using this link.

Also, enjoy some more art from XxMiserySmilesxX! This time an adorable Shen Yuan walking into a ~~candy shop~~ apothecary, and a Mobei Jun being all cool and serious.

Chapter 4: The Banquet and The Hairpins

Chapter Text

Listen to the podfic here:

Or download directly from Dropbox using this link.

MiserySmiles also gave us yet more art!

Chapter 5: The Golden Mistress and The Prince

Chapter Text

Listen to the podfic here:

Or download directly from Dropbox using this link.

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Kudos

Falco_Sama, BOO_the_AHH, Navaless, Parasite_0, Ammo_Audio, yue_ix, demoninthecorner, and TwoDrunkenCelestials as well as 1 guest left kudos on this work!

Comments

Mo_on_raccoon (yue_ix) on Chapter 1 Sat 13 Sep 2025 04:50AM UTC

Omg you only had a few days to do this?? That's a huge task, good job tackling it!

The commentary format gives this podfic a oral not!fic quality that is warm and charming. It makes me feel like a friend-shaped person is sitting next to me and reading aloud as I do my tasks. The voice you did for Qiu Min, slower and somewhat perpetually confused, really brought the character to life as much as Shen Yuan's snarky inner voice.

Your description of the adorable illustration is spot-on. <3

The "“... wha…???” at the end was really on point!

Thank you for taking the time to record these chapters and sharing them with us. <3

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Ammo_Audio on Chapter 1 Sat 13 Sep 2025 07:08PM UTC

This is such a brilliant podfic! I'm honestly impressed with how clear and emotive you managed to make the characters when you said this is the first time you're reading this fic! I honestly forgot that it was a cold read several times haha. Thank you so much for this podfic, I can tell that the rest of the chapters are going to be just as much of a joy to listen to!

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Mo_on_raccoon (yue_ix) on Chapter 2 Sat 13 Sep 2025 12:15PM UTC

Yay another chapter!

If you hadn't pointed out the plot crumbs being left here and there (the baby, the trans allusions), they would have flown right past me! I appreciate you left those comments in. :)

I also like how in-character it is for Shen Yuan to be an huge nerd about weird stuff and completely self-unaware about herself at the same time. XD

Considering the format is less formal and more of a friendly read-along, fwiw I really don't mind variations with the voices. It's a cold read, trying to get consistently keep specific voices all the time would eat away at your energy, and it was already late enough when you recorded it! It's already noble enough you did all that in such a short time, and could resist laughing at all the jokes and tongue-in-cheek comments. For instance, "smooth, silky voice, even with its put on edge of pathetic helplessness" is a beautiful description, but not something I would even aspire to hitting right even with hours of practice and editing. ^^;

However, you did nail the maid-slapping scene! Shen Yuan's anger is audible and her ordering people around got me as breathless as SQH. :O

It's a fluent reading, and, like I said in the last comment, very friendly. Thank you for sharing it!

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Mo_on_raccoon (yue_ix) on Chapter 3 Mon 15 Sep 2025 03:19AM UTC

Ahhh, the plot thickens! I loved your descriptions of the illustrations, and you deserve many kudos for struggling with the plants' scientific names. XD

I also love the way the fic is written, but specially how you react to it, which helps me appreciate it too, even if I am working as I listen. I laughed when we discovered the guard is MOBEI-JUN and you emphasis the name in shock! And the way you made Shen Yuan's voice muffled whenever she talks with her mouth full. And the "oh no, oh no, oh no!" bit towards the end of this chapter. It's very lively and fun to listen to.

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Mo_on_raccoon (yue_ix) on Chapter 4 Mon 15 Sep 2025 01:30PM UTC

Ahahahah oh wow, so much happening in this chapter! It was a pleasure to listen along, and hear your exclamations and live reactions. The aphrodisiacs scene is indeed very suited to picturing a cat with its pupils blown. XD

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Ceewelsh on Chapter 5 Fri 12 Sep 2025 08:49AM UTC

I don't know these characters or the setting, but between the author and your reading I was absolutely entranced anyway! Your reading has such a lovely soothing quality to it and so dynamic at the same time, it was so lovely to listen to! Also I love your reader notes as well - definitely had me opening AO3 again every time you mentioned the art!

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Mo_on_raccoon (yue_ix) on Chapter 5 Mon 15 Sep 2025 05:48PM UTC

Ahh, what a meaty chapter. The fight between SQH and SY at the end was stressful, and you conveyed well the both of them getting emotive about this case and yelling at each other.

If you were thinking of recording the remaining chapters, I would love to listen to your take on them. It’s too much words for me to read with my eyes, and it has been fun to read these 5 chapters with you. Thank you for making them and sharing them with us!

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Parasite_0 on Chapter 5 Thu 02 Oct 2025 11:26AM UTC

Hey! May I ask if you have an update schedule?

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