Alright, so 'Flames' manga, I think you might be talking about 'Kusuriya no Hitorigoto'? That gets translated as 'The Apothecary Diaries' sometimes, but the fan scanlation group was 'Flames' for a while, which causes confusion. If it's the one about Maomao, the main plot is this low-key genius apothecary girl who gets kidnapped and sold into the rear palace as a servant. She's not there to be a concubine; she just wants to avoid trouble and poke at interesting medical mysteries. The plot revolves around her using her knowledge of poisons, medicines, and just general observation to untangle the court's political dramas and 'illnesses,' all while trying to keep her head down. The protagonist is obviously Maomao, with her dry wit and obsessive curiosity, but Jinshi, the mysterious, beautiful eunuch official, becomes the deuteragonist. Their dynamic is the core—his political maneuvering and her blunt, fact-based problem-solving.
It’s less about big action and more about a slow, meticulous unraveling of palace intrigues through a scientific lens. The appeal is watching Maomao piece together clues everyone else misses, often with hilariously blunt explanations that leave the court nobles scandalized. Jinshi is constantly trying to leverage her talents for his own ends, while also being increasingly fascinated by her complete indifference to his status and looks. The plot thickens as her past and the secrets of the rear palace intertwine.