The next day, Jinshi and the others rode horses to the falconry grounds. Jinshi begrudgingly wore a mask, and assumed the name Kousen.
It wasnt that she didnt understand the point of the mask. Having a man with a beauty like Jinshis loitering around, that in itself is an annoyance. Here wasnt the inner palace it was full of people who didnt know he is a eunuch.
Last night, there was a commotion in Jinshis guest room. Though she said it was Jinshis room, it was Basen who was sleeping there. She heard Basen screaming.
When she considered what it was, he was surrounded by women who had snuck in from somewhere and saw a very envious, no, he saw hell. It is possible that to say that, in a way, after drinking that aperitif, he tried his best maintaining his self-control.
There was a motive for serving up such a dinner. There were many maidens in this estate who want to become the lovers of high officials.
What could possibly happen if Jinshi walked about barefaced? It seems shutting up the windows excessively was also to not let people see his face.
(If so, I can understand why he has the mask.)
But, what about the alias?
Even if she thought about these sort of things, Maomao didnt have anything to say about interfering either. Court ladies who can read the atmosphere should just keep silent collectively.
And so, Maomao was going after the group who were going to falconry via horse carriage. The horse carriage transported the servants of the estate and was packed with lots of food preparation tools like pots and kindling. They must be intending to prepare the caught game on the grounds.
Giving a sidelong glance at the sorghum fields, in around a-quarter-dual-hour of the carriage shaking, she could see the forests and the grassy plains.
The servants were experienced. They promptly prepared an open fire in front of the forest. As it appears that there is a water source in the forest, a number of the servants carried pots and went to collect water.
Maomao thought about helping out on something, but the companions of the officials around her were doing nothing. They were chatting in the tent that had been set up by the servants who arrived earlier.
(Its more acceptable to do nothing.)
It is often the case that there is pretext attached to helping an inferior. Even the servants must prefer it that way.
Maomao looked at the sky. She saw a single black speck in the blue sky. It was gliding. While she looked at it repeat that several times, Maomaos eyes shifted to the forest.
(A forest huh)
Its a pretty good forest, Maomao thought. There were various types of trees growing. She had a good feeling that medicinal herbs and mushrooms would happen to grow in this kind of place.
(I suppose Im not allowed to go in.)
She was sorely tempted. Maomao glanced at her surroundings.
No one around here should notice, but oh well. And just like that, the sun had crossed the meridian when she realised it.
There was the savoury aroma of cooking meat.
She was being treated to a cup of wine inside the tent. The cooked meat was distributed by the women. There were around ten officials seated at the table, where there were other side dishes prepared.
Although it was a tent, there was a path for the wind flow, and buckets filled with water were left at their feet. There were also servants bearing large fans. She could see the effort to make the sweltering summer hunt comfortable.
The servants diligently carried over the food.
Since just the game procured from falconry wasnt sufficient, they also cooked other meats. First off, meat was different to fish, it wasnt something you can say is delicious when it was freshly caught.
Maomao was waiting behind Gaoshun. She gazed at the party scene in a daze. Gaoshun was also provided with a seat.
(That said,)
Aside from the time he was in the room, Gaoshun is hardly with Jinshi huh, she thought. Instead, it was Basen who did various things, and Maomao followed Gaoshun as a matter of course.
On the line-up of seats, sitting on the seat of honour, was a strange man. His face was hidden behind a mask. He didnt touch the food at all. The wine too. Basen was anxiously watching from the back.
(Its rough that he has to wear it here as well huh.)
Maomao watched like it was someone elses problem. The women who were distributing the wine looked at Jinshi, the Prince of the Mask, from time to time. He is the highest guest of honour among them, no matter how suspicious a mask he tried to wear. It was much more stable to become the mistress of a high official than to marry up. It seems to be a gathering of this kind of determined women.
It wasnt just women who were involved. The plump man sitting beside Jinshi was speaking to him like he was whispering. It was an intimate way to speak to someone, but was it her imagination that she could hear a little bit of impoliteness? Jinshi could only tremble slightly at that.
(Is that the man called Shishou?)
She may have heard the name before, but she didnt know his face. It shouldnt be wrong to think that from the position of his seat.
(I wonder what theyre talking about.)
Shishou stopped talking and removed his face from Jinshi. Jinshis hands continued to tremble.
Basens complexion got worse.
(Did he say something?)
No, Maomao whispered to Gaoshun.
He looks strange. However, Gaoshun shook his head lightly, and just told her to standby.
Under the guise of a toilet trip, Jinshi stood up from his seat.
Gaoshun pulled Maomaos sleeves.
Its about time you switch over.
Maomao nodded and called for another attendant who was outside the tent. She then went after Jinshi who was walking with an unsteady gait.
And, before that.
May I have this?
Maomao took a sake bottle that contained water, asking the servant who had prepared the meals.
Ahh, sure.
The busy-seeming servant left without looking around much. Maomao added some seasoning to the bottle with a spoon. She took that and went inside the forest.
Even though she entered a little while later, she found a figure in the forest.
The staggering person was leaning against a tree.
Ji
Jinshi-sama, Maomao was going to say, but she held her mouth. Why was he using an alias here? What name should I call him, she thought as she rushed over.
. its you?
She heard a hoarse voice from behind the mask.
Please take this off.
Maomao was going to strip off the mask, but Jinshi frantically held it down.
You cant.
Its not you cant. If its here, theres no one.
No, someone might come.
(Ahh, such a pain!)
Maomao lifted the staggering mans arm over her shoulders and pulled.
If youre that worried about people looking, well just have to go to a place where they cant see you.
They headed deeper into the forest. The forest became slightly elevated like a hill. She saw a cliff there was a beautiful waterfall. I can collect water from here, Maomao judged, and dipped the towel in the river.
(Will it be okay if its there?)
Close to the cliff, there was a cave that seemed to be right in a blind spot. They went in that and Maomao used the dangling ivy as a curtain. There was an old tree growing on the side, with parasol-like things on the trunk.
(Bracket fungus?)
Lets gather some back afterwards, Maomao thought. It was a mushroom that was firm like tree bark; it is used as ingredients for medicine.
There were lots of old pot shards fallen in the cave. It appears that it was used as a storehouse of the water drawing place, but it didnt seem to have been used in a long time.
It should be fine if its here.
Maomao piled up the tattered woven mats that were there and spread out a different dry towel on top. She slowly laid down Jinshi on that. He took off the mask, revealing a beautiful face that was bright red.
Please drink this.
Maomao carried the bottle she brought over to Jinshis lips. She got him to sip it slowly , and then passed it over to Jinshis hands afterwards.
After this, excuse me.
!?
Maomao loosened Jinshis sash, stripping off his outer garment. Jinshi was bewildered, but he didnt have to energy to resist. She wiped down his naked torso with the towel she had soaked some time ago. She inserted the towel under his armpit to dampen all his skin.
Not just court ladies, you even strip off mens clothes?
Its not like I stripped you because I wanted to.
At what Jinshi had said while in a daze, Maomao returned a pout. Even if she stripped off the clothes of the rascal, it wasnt interesting.
Jinshis body had a trace of fever. Having been wiped down, he should be more or less better. He still looked bad, but she felt that his complexion had become marginally better after drinking water. Maomao propped Jinshis head onto her lap so it would be easy for him to drink from the bottle.
Tastes kinda weird, this.
Jinshi said as he sipped from the bottle.
Its that kind of thing. Since its a mixture of sauce paste and sugar. I couldnt find salt, so its a substitute. A mixture of these things seem to be good for increasing hydration.
Maomao said as she fanned some wind over to Jinshis face with the mask.
On such a nice day like this, youll be brought down by the sun by wearing such a thing.
Not like there was anything I could do about it.
It is tough, to have a face that is so wastefully lovely.
Maomao said in amazement. In response to that, Jinshi stared at Maomao.
(Not good. Did I anger him?)
She had unintentionally said it in a sarcastic tone. Maomao awkwardly glanced at Jinshi. He didnt seem angry.
Relieved, Maomao took the towel she wedged under Jinshis armpits. She was going to slowly put down Jinshis head and stand up.
Where are you going?
Im going to soak the towel again.
You dont have to.
Even if you say that, Maomao thought. Jinshis body temperature was still high; she wanted to cool him down a little more. But, Jinshi didnt let go of her.
Theres something I want to talk about.
Jinshi said, his voice cracked yet earnest. The eyes staring at Maomao were like polished obsidian.
Maomao spontaneously shifted her gaze like she was reacting against it. Her eyes suddenly went to the old tree outside the cave.
For that intention, I brought you along this time.
An earnest, but slightly bewildered voice.
Amidst that, Maomao felt her own pulse starting to race. Her heart thumped noisily, sending blood, heating up her entire body.
Jinshi-sama, please release me.
Maomao squinted and said to Jinshi. She wasnt looking at his eyes, she was just looking outside.
I wont.
Please release me!
Maomao shook off Jinshi, she tried to leave the cave. She stretched out her right hand and tried to grasp the thing that was beyond her.
However, her left hand was grasped, and she was forcefully tugged back, breaking her stance. As she spun around, like she was going to slam onto the floor, her face was pressed into a sweaty chest.
What could he be doing, Maomao thought.
She looked beyond her outstretched hand. In about three shaku[note], Japanese Foot. Length of a forearm. About 30cm.[/note], she could see an old plum tree. At its roots, there was something protruding growing there. The parasol shape of it growing only on the tree trunk, looked like the bracket fungus but was a little different. The surface was glossy like it was painted with candy. There wasnt the roughness like bracket fungus.
The drumming of her heart got rapidly louder.
The mushroom recorded in books as a miracle drug from time immemorial. Right over there, was the mushroom that was named Lingzhi, or the Ten Thousand Year Mushroom.
And yet, her outstretched hand couldnt reach for it.
Instead, she was tightly embraced by Jinshi, and then.
And then, her remaining hand grasped onto something that was somewhat squishy[note]Ok. So the actual description of the feeling is (gu nyun). A better way of describing it is, uh completely limp. Yeah.[/note].
T/N: :O Is this the fabled development? Im totally evil that I will take a weeks break now. Back next Saturday >:D
Also,
wrong mushroom, Maomao.