Kusuriya no Hitorigoto 2nd Season Episode 23 Discussion

I haven't read the manga so no spoilers please, but I suspect that Loulan is still alive! I think the silver hairpin that MaoMao gave her was tucked into her clothes right where the bullet hit, meaning it could have acted as a shield and then the snow could have softened her fall. Also, Jinshi said that was the last time he ever saw Loulan, which is an interesting choice of words because it means he didn't necessarily see her corpse later. Plus at the end of the episode there was a guy who saw something shiny in one of the bushes, which I think could be the hairpin.

Let me know if you agree/disagree or have other theories!!

Honestly not 100% sure Loulan is dead and that she won't surface again as Shisui as a final "fuck you" to her mother.

edit: I see some commentors are saying she shielded herself with the hairpin, but Loulan is a very intelligent character and wouldn't leave that to chance. What I think she might have done is learn all the capabilities of a firearm, including the fact that many layers of silk can act as a early form of kevlar and since soldiers are trained to shoot at the center mass she could have concealed something under her robes and it wouldn't be suspiciously bulky given it was winter. Unless of course it is sheer luck and Loulan is surprised as anyone else she is still alive.

@pixelante First, smoothbore firearms that use black powder are not very inaccurate. From a distance of 10 to 15 meters, you can confidently hit a person's torso with a pistol. With an arquebus or musket, you can hit a target at a distance of about 50 meters. There are many myths about the inaccuracy of such weapons. These myths are based on the infantry of the late 18th century. There, infantrymen were trained to reload quickly and fire volleys. These soldiers didn't aim particularly well. Furthermore, the quality of their muskets was mediocre. However, it should be noted that, by the 18th century, firearms had universally replaced bows and crossbows among hunters. A well-made weapon in the hands of a skilled shooter could be quite effective.
Duels were fought with cold weapons for quite a long time, by the way. Pistol duels didn't catch on everywhere. They were popular in the Russian Empire. If you're shooting from 20 to 30 meters away with pistols like the ones in this anime, you need to be a very skilled shooter to confidently hit your target. You also need to train with a specific pistol. Yes, duels were banned for a reason. Not just pistol duels. Thousands of people died. Educated nobles. People from the lower classes rarely participated in duels. However, the educated class was decimated. Remember Pushkin.