Volume 3, Chapter 20: Fever Latter Part (1/2)

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.