The world is mysterious. Maomao thought.
Why was she kneeling in a seiza right now? And right before her eyes, Jinshi was looking at her with chilly eyes.
Rihaku, who was in the room with them until a moment ago, dejectedly went back half-naked. How unfair, she thought. Though she also figured that it might be better if he wasnt there since it would be more confusing otherwise.
What the hell were you doing?
Its scary when a beauty is angry, Maomao thought, raising her head. Jinshi made a daunting pose, his arms crossed, looking overbearing. Behind him, Gaoshun put his hands together, his face like a monk who has reached the state of selflessness.
The two eunuchs at each of the entrances looked exhausted, but they kept glancing over to the beautiful head eunuch.
It seems that the court ladies were peeping at them from beyond the door that was firmly shut; they were surely fidgety. What should I do when I get out, Maomao thought about what happens afterwards.
Even if you ask me what I was doing, I was just giving a consultation.
Shell properly report it to Honnyan first at the Jade Palace. Laundry finished in the morning. And since there were no tea parties planned for today, she didnt need to food taste. There shouldnt be an issue on the side of work if she returned by dinner time.
In that case, why was that man looking like that?
Ahh, about that huh, Maomao thought.
Certainly, though they may have been standing before the guards, it was too great of a problem to have a man from outside the inner palace almost buck-naked. I need to properly fix that misunderstanding, Maomao thought.
Were not doing anything shameful. I didnt touch anything. I was just inspecting.
She emphasised to him that she was only looking. Not a finger touched him. She wanted him to understand that.
However, Jinshis eyes widened. He looked slightly taken back.
She noticed that Gaoshuns expression moved from the state of selflessness to nirvana[note]Buddhist term: the realisation of selflessness, and thus liberated from the cycle of rebirth.[/note]. Why was he looking at Maomao with the face of a bodhisattva[note]Buddhist term: Someone on the path to enlightenment towards becoming a Buddha[/note]?
You, were, inspecting?
Yes. I was just looking.
For what reason?
Even if you ask for what reason. It was the result of the consultation. I thought Id make sure whether itll turn out fine by seeing the actual thing.
Maomao had considered Pairins redeeming and everything else about it, but she also wanted to place importance on Pairins feelings. She was a woman who had fallen in love several times, but Maomao thought it would be preferable for her to go a man she liked more.
Thats why, at any degree, Maomao, who knew about her tastes, wanted to check whether Rihaku could get into Pairins strike zone. Even Maomao, for how much, in the case that Rihaku was too far apart from Pairins tastes, she wouldnt do things like accept a consultation like this. She wasnt that soft-hearted to the point of looking after others.
Until Maomao was taken in by her dad, she was brought up at the Rokushoukan. The people who looked after her that time were the Three Princesses Pairin, Meimei, Joga and the madam.
Pairin has never given birth, but since she had the special constitution to produce milk, Maomao was raised by drinking that. In the days when Maomao was born, Pairin had only just graduated from being a kamuro, but it seemed that her body had already completely matured.
She always called Pairin Neechan, but in actual fact, she was an existence closer to a Mother. By the way, she called Meimei and Joga Neechan[note]Means older sister, less formal than the latter.[/note] since they would get angry when she called them Neesan[note]Also means older sister, more formal than the former. Another possible way to differentiate between them is that this one could be denoted as elder sister? [/note] .
The talks of redeeming had been raised but it was probable that neither of the contenders would provide Pairin the lifestyle she desired. Nevertheless, Maomao would rather she not end up like the madam in this way. With the reason that they were once prostitutes, there are many women who gave up on having children. There are also cases where their wombs dont have the ability to make a child, having been constantly soaked with contraceptives and abortion drugs.
Maomao didnt know whether Pairin was like this or not. Just that, when she recalled the days she was rocked to sleep in the womans arms when she was younger, she thought that it was a waste.
She was a woman whose lust was strong, but she was also a woman who was just as maternal.
Rihaku fell in love with Pairin who is a prostitute. She is a prostitute he completely understood that she would give the same service to other customers besides himself. Though he has parts there were somewhat like a mongrel, he seemed to be earnest at heart. He also has that lovable idiotic side of him where he tries to get promoted for her sake. Since he has quite the wholehearted personality, his feelings shouldnt abate easily. Even if it does, even Maomao can handle the preparations on the occasion of them separating.
Above all, his physical strength was peerless.
Maomao giving Rihaku a consultation was also because of that reason. Although, given that he hinted at a different thing at first, she was also interested in that other thing too. What will come out of that now?
(In the end he couldnt give it back to me.)
It was about the ivory pipe. If no one wanted to use it, she was going to pawn it.
While she was in the middle of evaluating that, Jinshi turned up. Could it be that he, as the administrator of the inner palace, couldnt stomach court ladies recklessly meeting up with outside men? What a strange moment to be enthusiastic about his job.
Turn out fine, you say!?
Yes. Appearance is only just one aspect of a person, but it is better to have it, right?
Rihakus body almost passed with flying colours. At the end, checking the most important part, hereafter, she considered how it would arouse Pairin.
Maomao said that the redeeming money was ten thousand silvers, but depending on how it could go, she can drop it up to half the amount. This was also dependant on how Pairin felt about Rihaku.
Appearance is important?
Jinshi finally stopped being imposing and sat down on the chair. He continued to be irritated, tapping his shoes on the floor.
Accordingly.
Jinshi said. He looks somewhat down huh, Maomao thought.
You saying that is unexpected. Then, how is that mans appearance?
Hes just full of questions, Maomao thought. However, it was bitter that an underling had to answer everything.
His body was really well proportioned. The foundation of his training is steady, and he doesnt have extra bulk in his upper and lower muscles. I suppose he is diligent and never misses his daily training. It seems that he is quite skilled even among military officers.
Jinshis eyes were slightly bulging from Maomaos speech. It was an expression that could be taken as that he was surprised by what Maomao had said. And then, he looked extremely displeased.
Do you know what kind of person they are by looking at their body?
Roughly. Since your lifestyle habits show up on your body.
It was important to make sure when you prescribe medicine to customers who say nothing about themselves. She acquired that skill even if she didnt want to when she was being a pharmacist.
Will you know by looking at my body as well?
Hah?
Maomao unintentionally raised her voice stupidly.
Seeing Jinshis face, it wasnt like she didnt notice that his expression was a little sulky.
(Dont tell me,)
Isnt this man just jealous of Rihaku, she thought.
His displeased expression just then should also be because of that reason. Since Maomao was openly admiring Rihakus physical beauty.
(This man.)
Maomao wanted to sigh.
(To think that he wants to flaunt that he himself is more pretty.)
Jinshis face was beautiful; it was already a beauty that could rapidly overthrow the country if he was a woman, and she felt that it wasnt impossible even as a man. While possessing a beautiful face that was so perfect it spared no change, does he want to boast about his body this time?
(You dont need to do anything, dont need to do anything.)
Jinshis body that she had a fleeting look before was surprisingly muscular. Even if she didnt take a hard look at it, she knew that his body was beautiful.
But, even if she looked at it, what will come out of it? If his body was more built that Rihaku, does he even want to say, Recommend me to Pairin? No, she considered what Pairin would say, would she choose Jinshi?
Jinshi propped his elbows on the table, his lips slightly pursed, and stared at Maomao.
Behind, the eunuch guards were nervous, and yet they were entranced by Jinshis angry face.
Gaoshun was looking at Maomao, his gentle bearing the picture of nirvana.
She was sorry for Jinshi, but she had to say this clearly. The part that Pairin considered the most important component of the body, Jinshi didnt have it. No matter how excellent the other parts were. If he didnt have it, there was no meaning.
Even if I looked at Jinshis body, theres no meaning.
Maomao said timidly.
The air around them dropped to freezing. Gaoshun did a revolution from the picture of nirvana, his face was like a criminal that had broken spider web.
Unfortunately, I dont think Jinshi-sama is compatible with my older sister.
Hah?
A stupid voice came out of Jinshis mouth.
Gaoshun slammed his head into a wall.
T/N: same, Gaoshun, same
So Im aware that the second chapter of the manga has been translated (Yay! Go read it on Batoto if you havent yet~) and that has brought in a huge amount of new readers. Thank you for reading, and double thanks for everyone who referred people this way :>
That said, Ill take this opportunity to clear up some misunderstanding.
First off, this is the web novel version; anyone interested in the raws can read it here.
There are substantial differences between this version and the light novel version (which is published in physical book form; no ebook version for this though). As for what the differences are, I plan to talk about them on my old blog once I reach the part in the web novel. Though were officially in line with the third volume of the light novel, Im still also covering territory from the second volume of the light novel btw. (The Redeeming in the second volume as part of the events that transpired while Maomao was in the inner palace before the Blue Rose chapter)
But this doesnt mean that the web novel isnt worth reading. The writing is just as good, and many chapters in the light novel are exactly as it is in the web novel, albeit condensed together into longer chapters. As there are sections in the light novel that are not in the web novel, there are also sections in the web novel that arent in the light novel either (good for additional insight mhm). For best experience, I suggest reading both :>
Also, the manga should follow the light novel version, so youll eventually get those additional scenes in picture form how nice. Maomao dancing on the top of the wall, yes.
Please support the author and buy the light novels if you can (even if its just to look at the pretty illustrations ;D)!
Next, despite having a female protagonist, this novel is classified as a seinen novel.
The label (hero bunko) the current light novel is published under is aimed towards males.
Finally, on my own translation:
I am aware that my translations are rife with ambiguous sentences, wonky grammar structures, punctuation errors and all those other terrible things in the world that will make an editor cry ( ). I am pretty new as far as translators go, so I still have a lot to learn on that part too. I will be overjoyed and super grateful if people do point them out when they come upon them. I am working on this alone, both translating and editing, so there will be bound to be mistakes that I will miss completely even after countless re-readings.
Now that I said my piece, enjoy the novel! Revel in the bundle of misunderstandings that is Maomao! Feel for the poor misunderstood eunuch(?) that is Jinshi! And once again, thanks for reading. Hope you enjoy your stay o/
Its been a while since I wrote a wall of text for TL notes sorry about that. ()*: