Volume 6, Epilogue: The End of Summer, the Beginning of Autumn (1/2)

With the ending of cicada songs, the sounds of crickets could be heard.

(There are probably cricket fights in town.)

Cricket fighting—a pastime that pits two crickets against each other. Similar to cockfights, it wasn’t unusual for it to involve money, but the hubbub in town was located a little further away. Maomao was sitting by Yao’s bedside in an estate within the capital’s suburbs. They were at Yao’s home.

“I want to return to work soon.” ;Yao looked outside while clad in sleepwear. Over ten days have passed since her food tasting. Her consciousness was murky for a time, but she was probably fine by now.

“En’en will be delighted if you return soon,” Maomao said.

En’en was working. Though she had stepped down from serving Jinshi and was working at the medical office, she was probably still absent-minded. She had been dismissed upon her constant slacking off ever since Yao collapsed. It seems she had been nursing her the entire time, but Yao had chased her out, Maomao was told.

“I felt that I could’ve made it even without En’en, though,” ;Yao muttered to herself.

“I don’t think that could’ve been prevented.”

“Maomao too?”

“…” ;She inadvertently went silent. Maomao had a disposition where she would stuff poison she was interested in her mouth. She already had an experience with the destroying angel as well, she had spat it out before it was absorbed by her digestive system.

(That time, the madam also punched my gut.)

As if she was used to courtesan aborticides, the madam showed no mercy. Maomao thought that even her stomach would be vomited out.

And so, she learnt of the taste and texture of mushrooms. She might have noticed it from retaining the model of mushrooms.

“Am I really inexperienced?” ;Yao combed her bangs up. Due to the poison, she had lost all her fat. Her breasts were still in good health.

Maomao passed Yao the medical broth Dad had entrusted her with. She had crossed the mountains to recuperate in her own home, but Maomao tilted her head a little when she saw the estate.

The estate itself was splendid but had a somewhat lonely atmosphere. Even the servants who came to greet Maomao were few for the size of the estate.

“I’m sorry that we don’t have many servants,” Yao said.

Maomao should reply with “Not at all”, but she couldn’t do flattery well.

“This is supposed to be a secondary residence. My uncle had seized the main residence.”

“Is that how it is?” ;So that’s why she was living in such a quiet place. Maomao had known that Yao had good parentage, but why did she try to become a court lady who assisted court physicians—Maomao felt she understood her excessively high aspirations.

“En’en was also dismissed once, but she came back. Having her serve me didn’t erase my desire to succeed in life, though.”

Apparently, Yao’s father had passed away. She had an inheritance, but the entire family was passed down to her uncle. According to Rii’s customs, women followed men. When her uncle took over, Yao would have to marry in accordance with her uncle’s wishes.

(Also where she tried to get skilled at her job.)

The brave girl might have used this as a way to rebel against that fate.

“En’en even did something wasteful. It seems the Prince of the Moon had taken quite a liking to her.”

“I guess so,” Maomao said. ;

It’s not like she doesn’t understand why he had taken a liking to her. Maomao wasn’t one to talk, but Jinshi was quite twisted. Rather than someone who pampers him, he’s probably more at ease with someone who maintains the minimum contact necessary with him.

“Even though I think En’en would be fine wherever she goes.”

“Actually, I feel that En’en can display her true capabilities since she’s by Yao’s side.” ;

The part where she displays to the extent where it’s troubling is scary. Yao’s chest in particular, she had no doubt raised her while always keeping in mind the nutrients she needed.