Lishu is a secondary character in The Apothecary Diaries. She is a member of the U clan, one of the elite name‑bearing families associated with the twelve zodiac signs, and the only surviving direct‑line member of that clan. Her mother came from the clan’s main house, and her father married into the family. Lishu served as the Virtuous Consort from the Diamond Pavilion, one of the four high‑ranking consorts of the Emperor, though she was his least favored and held very little influence over the inner court. She was originally a consort of the previous emperor, having entered the palace at the age of nine due to her family’s political ambitions. After the previous emperor’s death, the current emperor brought her into his own harem, partly to prevent her family from marrying her to a powerful outsider. As a result, she became the former mother‑in‑law of the older consort Ah‑Duo. Lishu possesses a very honest and straightforward personality. She can act like a spoiled princess, often without caution, but deep down she is kind‑hearted and simply lacks worldly experience. Her position in the palace is precarious; she is frequently bullied by her own servants and looked down upon by many. Over the course of the story, she becomes drawn to a character with a similarly honest nature and develops shy romantic feelings. Later, she is sent to the Red Plum Village as a form of banishment, where she becomes a wayfarer and learns practical skills such as raising ducks. This experience marks her development from a naive consort into someone more capable and resilient. Lishu’s motivations are rooted in survival and a desire for genuine connection, and her journey highlights the vulnerability of those used as political pawns in the imperial court.