Review from the Previous Chapter Jinshi Maomao mushroom
At the mystery sensation, Maomao was bewildered. She could hear the sounds of thumping. She was pressed up against a bare upper body, the heart was beating in proximity.
(What could it be, this?)
However, it was more important for her to get up. When she tried to get up to stand again, she put her weight onto something inscrutable. She was in a hurry to obtain the Ten Thousand Year Mushroom that was right before her eyes.
Nghh!
She heard a groan from below her.
(Not good.)
Jinshi was below her. He was grasping into Maomaos left hand, and his other hand was around her back. It seems he sheltered Maomao when she was about to fall. Maomao looked at the spirit herb that was growing on the old tree in regret, then dropped her gaze to Jinshi.
Jinshi-sama?
Jinshi turned his face away from Maomao. For some reason, his face was covered in cold sweat. His brows were knitted, he looked pained at something.
Come on, your fever is back again.
Maomao held out a towel to wipe his face. Jinshi released his hold around her back and held up his hand at Maomao.
No, before all that, can you move aside?
Still turned away, Jinshi glanced at Maomaos face.
youre touching, the, the position of your hand-
Jinshi pointed at Maomaos left hand. Jinshis hakama was under that hand. She felt she was pressing down on something soft[note]Ahem. So its (gu nyon) now. Think still limp, but not as limp as last chapter. Capisce? Cool. Moving on now.[/note].
(Umm, soft?)
No, it gradually wasnt getting soft.
Maomao flew off him. Eyes wide, she looked at the sprawled eunuch.
No, could he even be called a eunuch?
The part that eunuchs must not have, was right there.
Jinshi sighed deeply as he brushed up his bangs. And then, he looked at Maomao.
In a way, you can say you eliminated the labour?
The beautiful celestial maidens face was tinged with sorrow. But, this guy wasnt a celestial maiden. While he possessed the face that could topple the country with just a smile, this guy wasnt a woman.
And, he wasnt a eunuch who threw away the symbol of a man.
A bare upper body with his outer garment off. There wasnt any sign of flabbiness. It was a slightly tensed, trained body. Certainly, his looks were like a celestial maiden, but his body was no different to a well-trained warrior.
He might not actually be a eunuch, it was mystifying that never came to her mind. No, it might actually be that she had subconsciously tried not to notice it.
I did mention that there was something I wanted to tell you.
Maomao spontaneously had wanted to stuff her ears. She mustnt hear any more than this; Maomao had perceived that in an instant. But, that was exposed with her ears stuffed.
There was a man in the inner palace that wasnt a eunuch. What would happen if that was made public? Supposing, that man laid his hands on a consort, what would happen if there were offspring that were not the emperors mixed in there?
Maomaos eyes narrowed.
(Stop it. Dont involve me in something troublesome.)
She had been utterly used by Jinshi up till now. No doubt they had all been more or less troublesome matters, but if it was that much, she didnt not think. However, this was different. If she ended up knowing about this, she needed to carry it with her to the grave.
(I dont want to accompany you to the grave!)
For that reason, Maomao-
Im actually
Jinshi-sama!
Maomao cut over Jinshis voice.
Just then, it seems there was a frog under your clothes.
frog.
Jinshis face twisted in doubt. That is still fine, lets overcome this no matter what, Maomao thought.
Indeed. A frog. My apologies. It is damp and humid here.
That soft feeling was a frog. Maomao persuaded herself it was a frog. There was a swamp nearby. It wouldnt be strange to even have one or two frogs that come out in summer.
No, it wasnt-
My apologies. I was sloppy. For Jinshi-sama to quickly cool down your fever, it would be better if we returned to the party.
Maomao was going to leave the cave very naturally, but she was stopped, of course.
Jinshi, with a conceited expression, barred the entrance. Even if Maomao tried to avoid him and leave, she couldnt leave.
Jinshi-sama, can you step aside?
Who is a frog?
Maomao momentarily felt like flinching at Jinshi whose face drew oppressing close. However, she couldnt lose here. Maomao also looked at Jinshi undauntedly. She closed in until there was a two sun[note], unit of measurement. 3.03cm, about an inch.[/note] distance between their noses.
If that wasnt a frog, what could it be?
That was a frog, that was a frog, Maomao reminded herself. The soft feeling on her left hand was a frog.
Wasnt it big for a frog?
Jinshi inched towards Maomaos face by another sun.
No, during this season, there are a lot of moderately large frogs.
Mo-moderately
Jinshi winced. He looked like he received an impact, but Maomao readily slipped closer. She stopped when their noses were about to touch, and delivered the finishing blow.
Thats right, it was moderately sized. If it wasnt a moderately sized frog, what moderately sized thing could it be?
It truly wasnt moderately sized though, but moderately sized was good here. Moderately sized was adequate.
They glared at each other for several seconds, no several tens of seconds. And it was Jinshi who lost.
Jinshi froze, his lips in a zigzag shape. Maomao slipped through Jinshis side in that interval.
(I, I won.)
Maomao made a fist with her right hand and put pressure into it.
It wasnt good to know too much about anything. Within her means, Maomao, who was suited as a maidservant, was better off living obliviously. If anything happens, if her superior does something, Maomao can just say I know nothing.
Before she went to the stream to wet the towel, she sat down in front of the old plum tree. The precious, glossy mushroom that had a parasol was growing at its roots.
Maomao looked at it absorbedly.
In doing so, a shadow hung over her from behind.
Just one question. Youre fine with touching frogs yeah?
Jinshi said in a tired voice. It felt like he could just barely move.
Yes, commoners eat it.
It has a plain taste that was like chicken. Maomao also handled it often.
I guess so. Then youre fine with touching it yeah?
A faint smile appeared on Jinshis face.
Maomao found herself getting chills. She leaned against the old plum tree.
Jinshi pointed at Maomao.
In that case, why were you wiping your left hand some time ago?
Jinshi said, looking like he was going to crumble over.
Ah.
Maomao stealthily dropped her left hand that had been wiping her hakama to forget the soft feeling. It seems she had been subconsciously wiping her hand all this time. Seeing that action, Jinshi displayed a look of terrible misery.
Hey, why did you do that?
The fully wounded Jinshi mustered his final strength.
Maomao lost at that blow.
The party ended not long after the return of the guest of honour.
Gaoshun was concerned about that tired appearance, but he shook his head. That wasnt his position now.
Gaoshun who was the attendant of the eunuch Jinshi had no reason to be close to the guest of honour. In the end, he had no more than come here on behalf of his master Jinshi. It was better if he didnt project too much.
And, Gaoshun right now had a job.
It was planned that tonights party will be on a boat on the lake. With wine that will never run out and a gathering of beautiful women, it had to be based on an ocean of wine and mountains of meat.
Oh dear, Gaoshun thought.
Even if he went awry, Gaoshun was a eunuch. He wasnt interested in getting infatuated with women, and it would become scary if he did so. When he thought about the woman who gave birth to his son Basen, his wife, in other words, he couldnt think of even lifting one finger.
For a eunuch, this is a boring plan.
It was an official who approached Gaoshun who was only drinking wine. This boat had girls who were younger than his own child waiting on them.
No, theres good moon viewing wine.
Gaoshun said only that, and looked up at the moon. The half-moon was beautiful. He could enjoy it as it is without the bragging of noisy men and the coquettish voices of women.
At any rate, he wont be participating tonight either, right?
Thats the case.
He knew who he was referring to. Without the participation of the guest of honour, the night party could go on.
Gaoshun dripped wine onto the surface of the water and watched the ripples. It would be good if it ended earlier, he thought.
The emperor is also worried for that, right.
The official pinched his beard and sighed.
If that became the crown prince.
There was no sign of respect within the words That. It was true, he hardly ever leaves his room, and if he ever goes to a public place he wears a mask. This kind of Imperial Brother shouldnt be able to rule, everyone thought.
The guest of honour of the falconry this time, was the Imperial Brother.
The high officials gathered today had to be here half in jest. All to see the crown prince who rarely goes out in public.
Just what kind of person is he, there was no mistaking that they considered that it was important to ascertain that.
And so, this official must have decided that the crown prince was incompetent.
From the passing of the Imperial Prince last year, I wonder if there is a consort who is expecting?
So the main topic is this, Gaoshun thought. Who is expecting, which consort is that, is the child a boy or a girl depending on those, that would greatly change the image of influence in the Imperial Court.
Gaoshun slowly shook his head.
Unfortunately. As there are many consorts, I think eventually someone would be expecting.
Is that so, if its that way.
The official glanced at the gazebo. A plump official was standing there. He was watching to see if the guests were enjoying themselves. It was the person who held the party, Shishou.
Gaoshun sent off the official who saw through his brown-noser companion of a brief period, and poured the wine from the sake bottle with a sigh.
I wonder if I explained it properly?
He murmured and shook his head in negation.
When he saw the worn-out look when he returned then, he was convinced that it was impossible. At the very least, that he didnt pass it until the main point.
What is he doing?
Gaoshun looked at the estate that was illuminated by the moon. On the highest storey, there was only a single room that had lights.
T/N: So we now know Jinshi is not a eunuch (unless that truly was a frog lel). Though Gaoshun is.