Kusuriya no Hitorigoto / The Apothecary Diaries / Maomao's Murmurs

[DarthEnderX]

Put all this stuff together:
Gaoshun was probing Maomao to see if there was a means for the envoys to separate and do spycraft/assassination, or perhaps more significantly, sneaking off to seduce the Emperor.

Ohhh.

It's also important to remember why Maomao's surrogate and biological father both warn her to not jump to conclusions that the things she sees are connected. They might all be one conspiracy like before, they might all be totally unrelated, or they might be two parallel and completely independent schemes going on that know nothing of the other. Maomao is more cautious now to avoid making those leaps when the evidence doesn't support a link yet.

Even though she's usually right. And half the time, if she'd actually voiced her thoughts instead of keeping them to herself, these issues would get resolved much quicker, because she wouldn't be the only person thinking along those lines, and other people have information she doesn't that they'd actually add to the conversation.

[Ryllharu]

Even though she's usually right. And half the time, if she'd actually voiced her thoughts instead of keeping them to herself, these issues would get resolved much quicker, because she wouldn't be the only person thinking along those lines, and other people have information she doesn't that they'd actually add to the conversation.

Given Maomao's rank (i.e. none), she can't risk making accusations without being absolutely sure. Jinshi trusts her, and Gyokuyou does too, but if she crosses the wrong people, no one but the Emperor can protect her, and not forever. That's what the warnings meant. Speculation, even when she is right, will only risk her life.