It really is kind of a downer for the emperor, having to mentally prepare himself to be an uncle and not a grandfather. The Sun Emperor made a person, and that person made a person 'at least, in his mind, and he just wants to be a little bit happy about that.

Why can 't he be a grandfather?!

Blah, blah, blah, imperial succession. Of course it 's easier for him to go if he 's the 'brother ' and not the 'firstborn son ordained by the gods. '

As he passes through a hallway at his home, he sees Princess Lingli sitting in the parlor with her mother and brother. The little boy is playing with some blocks, Lingli is drawing with western colored wax on some paper, and the empress is watching over them while she reads a book.

Princess Lingli consistently lifts his spirits, so he sits next to her at the little table and asks, 'Well hello, Princess. What 's Papa 's special girl doing? '

'Drawing a picture of the prettiest lady in the world, Mama. '

Emperor Yang points to himself and asks, 'Does that make me the most handsome man in the world? '

Lingli never looks up from her page. 'I don 't think it works like that. '

'Okay, well then who is more handsome than your Papa? '

'Uncle Yue. He 's the most handsome man in the world. '

There is a noise 'not a full laugh, but a giggle that has been held in, and he cranes his head to find delight in his wife 's eyes as she peeks at him over the top of her book.

Gyokuyou is also a cat, but a different sort of cat than Maomao. She 's like a fluffy, beautiful orange cat with a full shiny coat made from silky fur and gemstone green eyes. She is the type of cat that knows she 's so beautiful the humans worship her 'their problem, really. She enjoys playtime, and she 'll sit on his lap if he asks (this is where the children came from after all), but her favorite thing to do is to lounge about and quietly watch the chaos of the world.

Lingli is basically a fuzzy little orange kitten who has become old enough to play and begin her own mischief, often unknowingly.

The emperor says, 'Are you sure Prince Yue is more handsome than me? I am your papa. '

'Mhmm. '

She 's still just looking down at her little drawing of her mother, the Prettiest Lady in the World.

The emperor can feel his wife 's amusement. She has the most playful eyes, and a sense of mischief that somehow makes her more lovely. Yes, she is prettiest when she is appreciating some sort of anarchy that she never causes but always seems to be around for.

Lingli says, 'Mr. Basen is handsome too. Mr. Gaoshun. Kumo. '

'Kumo is a dog, Lingli, ' the emperor answers.

'He 's a handsome dog. '

Gyokuyou thoroughly delights in the fact that Lingli is old enough to fully express her thoughts but too young to filter them. It 's such a rewarding stage of motherhood, and makes her want a third child now and then. If Maomao did actually get pregnant, she might be persuaded as she thinks parenting with Maomao would be quite a fun experience.

Lingli is quiet for a while, and then just starts to say men 's names, like she 's naming every single man that she knows to add to her list of 'men who are more handsome than papa. '

The emperor scowls; he 's just not allowed to have anything. Can 't be a grandpa due to a lie spanning across two and a half decades that is so old now telling the truth would be inconvenient and he has to be an 'uncle ' instead. And his daughter apparently thinks her dog is more handsome than he is.

Lingli stops drawing for a minute and looks up at him to find he seems playfully displeased.

She really

looks up at him, as if she is, in all of her youth, trying to understand why he seems unhappy. It is a moment for her, trying to comprehend the thoughts and feelings of her father, and after great consideration, she says, 'Mama says some people are only pretty on the inside. '

This is a misinterpretation of Gyokuyou 's actual lesson for her daughter, that inner beauty matters most, but she 's four. Comically misinterpreting information is one of her personality traits at this stage.

She comforts him like someone talking to a pubescent girl who has not been blessed by the gods with good looks or charm.

' 'But Mama is pretty on the inside and the outside. Like Uncle Yue. But I love you the most because you 're my papa! ' she says, jumping into his arms to hug him and give him a kiss on the cheek.

She wounds, and then she heals, like a kitten that bites for no reason and then wants to snuggle and purr afterward.

Like his oldest son, he 's a man who loves cats, after all.

Gyokuyou puts the children to bed, and when he enters her chamber, she asks, 'You don 't want to visit the rear palace? It 's my time of the month as you know. '

The emperor says, 'I 'm too tired. The rear palace is exhausting. '

'Maybe you just need a schedule. You could service them twice a year if you visited five of them each night. '

'Even courtesans and prostitutes get a day off. '

Gyokuyou says, 'The tireless father of our nation never stops working for the people of Li. Sounds like you need to get to the fathering. '

Pout. Pout. Pout. Pout. Pout.

When he joins her in bed, he says, 'Do you think Zuigetsu is more handsome than me? '

'Darling, I don 't think you should ask anyone else that question. Obviously you are the most handsome man in all the world. '

Pout. Pout. Pout. Pout. Pout.

Gyokuyou says, 'I think it 's cute how much she adores her uncle. I think they look a lot alike, don 't you? She 's got his perfect little doll face. '

Emperor Yang thinks often about how when Zuigetsu was a little boy, people saw how handsome he was and decided he must be a bastard child because he was so good looking that there was no possible way he was related to any of the men in the imperial family. Hidden in plain sight, because it didn 't occur to anyone '

ever

'that he might have made such a beautiful child.

One of the most salacious rumors that floats around is that because Gyokuyou 's children are such attractive creatures, and they both look resemble Zuigetsu, that she had an affair with Zuigetsu while he managed the rear palace. Because obviously, they didn 't get their beauty from the emperor.

In reality, they all look alike because they are siblings and he made them, but he is an artist who doesn 't get any credit at all for the art.

He can 't even tell people that he is the artist of the oldest one.

There is insult in saying, 'Trust me this isn 't my son, ' and literally everyone in the world answered, '

Yes, we believe that completely. He 's handsome. No questions here. '

Gyokuyou knows how to lift his spirits, and says, 'I 'm sure you 've been blessed in other ways compared to your brother. You were endowed well by the gods, ' as her hand slides under the covers.

'I appreciate you attempting to brighten my mood, but his is much bigger. I have no idea how much bigger it must be when it is ready for service. It 's probably a miracle he didn 't kill Maomao with it. '

'My poor little Maomao! ' she says hiding her face with the covers so she can once again giggle.

The emperor says, 'When she talked to Lakan and me. She just 'looked her own father right into his eyes with this weird sort of disdain that she has for him and told him how she was filled up twice and couldn 't stop herself. Told him how she usually puts him in her mouth and implied she finds it delicious. Zuigetsu 's cat has such unimaginable, carnal greed trapped inside her tiny little body. '

Gyokuyou really does try to control herself because if she laughs so hard she dies, then she will never get to see what happens next, and she can 't have that.

Sometimes Maomao encounters perilous amounts of foolishness in the wild, and as she has no will to remedy the bad thinking of other people, she simply drifts through it and her innate chaos makes everything worse. She doesn 't understand; she chooses not to understand. She grants no understanding to anyone else.

Gyokuyou and Gaoshun have jokingly given this very specific sort of event a name in honor for the first time they observed this curious phenomenon.

Yang and Lakan were Lihakued by Maomao.

This is all so lovely.

She 's so excited she can barely sleep, but she has to sleep, because the prince is expected back the next day.

Near the infirmary, Maomao awakens that morning, dresses, enjoys her morning off, eats another mysterious meal from the emperor 's kitchen, and ponders life. A package arrives for her, from Verdigris House, and when she opens it, it contains lingerie. Nothing but lingerie. A lot of it, brand new, the high grade stuff the courtesans wear that makes them look like goddesses and causes men to empty their pockets and their testicles.

The madam had written a note congratulating her for

finally

completing her mission and on her new baby, and perhaps she would know that everyone at Verdigris House thought she was pregnant if Pairin had actually remembered to put the letter in the box before it was sent. But she didn 't, so Maomao received this box without any context at all.

It is a gift for her, because the madam thinks that since she is pregnant 'at least as far as the madam 's knowledge is concerned 'the prince will certainly marry her. That 's all he 's been trying to do all long anyway. Now he has an excuse. This trunk of silky thrills is supposed to be a blessing for that marriage.

Maomao understands what lingerie is used for.

She doesn 't understand why it has appeared in her room.

The highest grade lingerie is really only worn by courtesans and the concubines of rich nobles, and it 's quite expensive. Considering how stingy the madam is, this appearance of this trunk is possibly the most suspicious thing yet.

Eating the same meals as the emperor is lavish and unexplained, but he 's actually quite generous, so it 's not entirely unheard of for him to treat someone quite well. The madam spending money unnecessarily is considerably more suspicious.

There are signs that something is going on: the madam spent money, the emperor is feeding her, the empress is moving about with this strange glimmer of mischief in her eyes, people are whispering around her, Lakan is being quite a pest '

It really is better not to know, she decides.

She wonders if the prince might like to see her wearing these? Maybe she could do a little show for him? She knows some erotic dance moves, being raised in a brothel. While she 's not particularly inclined to dancing in general, lap dancing seems like it would be easier since it doesn 't really require any sort of natural grace.

Perhaps she 'll ask if he wants a lap dance later after he returns? She wonders if the Grand Imperial Amphibian would like that sort of thing? As much as she has at times been annoyed at Jinshi 's dog behaviors, she 's been thinking a lot about how she kind of wants to tease him so bad that he loses his mind and has his way with her as he growls and nips at her neck. Consensually, of course, but she wants to be reminded how much stronger he is than her.

Maomao hasn 't even met the amphibian, and yet she thinks about it all the time. Her body aches for something she has never seen or touched, and it 's really driving her crazy. All politics side, even if she can 't get pregnant

today

, today is the day that she will meet the Grand Imperial Amphibian.

Maybe she 'll wear something from this trunk, and some lipstick, and 'well, isn 't there some western fairytale about kissing a frog prince, or kissing a prince 's frog or something like that? She knows it involves lips and a frog and a prince, and she has all of those ingredients so she figures it 'll work out nicely.

Maomao is sure that the prince will allow this introduction. She thinks he really wants to show it to her. Like

really, really, really

wants to show it to her.

On a road not far, the prince is napping peacefully in a carriage: angelic, unbothered, a mere one hour from the palace.

Gaoshun is quite relaxed, believing that everything has gone well during the trip. Sometimes, when he steps away from the capitol, situations emerge that seem difficult to manage, but nothing has been reported to him.

It 's just so incredibly rare for everyone to be competent

at the same time

. He 's so proud of everyone on a job well done and looking forward to making his report to the emperor and then heading home to meet his new grandson.

He 's exceptionally impressed with Basen, who both became a father and has reportedly done an excellent job attending to the emperor.

Gaoshun looks at the jar of black honey; someone they crossed paths while travelling knew what it was used for and told him. The prince didn 't hear, and Gaoshun is left wondering if he should maybe preemptively confiscate the honey and give the prince the souvenir he got for his own wife to give Maomao instead.

It just really seems like giving Maomao the black honey is similar in nature to giving a military grenadier a box of gunpowder and hoping they don 't make a bomb.

The prince can barely contain his affections as it is. He is young and virile, in the prime of his life. He does not need to be enhanced. He need relief, affection, and understanding from Maomao, not a drive-enhancing grenade he will definitely swallow the very first time she asks.

He sighs.

If these two ever figure it out, he 's going to be so relieved.

Maomao, meanwhile, goes to the infirmary to work because she has no idea that her entire world is about to be blown up by the foolishness that has quietly been churning around her this past week.

She mixes medicines.

She treats a kitchen burn.

She considers what the Grand Imperial Amphibian will look like.

She works on putting away a new order.

She remembers how Pairin told her that when she has it in her mouth, not to look away from his gaze.

She gives some medicine to a military medical officer to replenish the military 's stores.

She thinks about what it will taste like.

Luomen works alongside his daughter, who is just in a different place as she goes about her work. He considers asking her if she 's all right, but her pupils are dilated, she 's breathing much more heavily than she needs to, and the vein in her neck shows her heart rate is accelerated.

That man is due back, and he thinks she has been anticipating his arrival.

He 'll just leave her in her happy little world.

Then Lakan enters the infirmary while they work on charts together, causing Maomao 's happy little world to simply cease existing for the time being.

Luomen says, 'Oh, nephew! What a surprise. It 's always nice when we 're all together, isn 't it? '

Maomao answers, 'Nice in what way, exactly? '

'Now, Maomao, the day is too lovely for unpleasantry, ' Luomen answers.

Lakan has come to check on his daughter, who he believes is pregnant. He has brought an offering with him, from his genuine concern and care. 'These are for you, ' he says, holding out a wooden box she recognizes as being from an expensive shop in the capitol that sells different kinds of sweets.

Inside of the box are ginger drops poured into elaborate little floral shapes.

Since sucking on ginger candies is a well-known remedy for pregnancy-related nausea, and because she is planning on becoming pregnant, is it possible that Lakan somehow gave her a gift she will actually like and appreciate?

It doesn 't matter if she does like this gift, because one thing that Maomao has always known is that this stray fox must never be shown the slightest sign of kindness or acceptance or she will never be rid of him.

The fox, when it appears, must always be kicked.

If it is being good, it will be kicked.

If it is being bad, it will be kicked even harder.

Maomao asks, 'Is there something we can do for you, Grand Commandant? '

'Just checking on my darling precious petunia. Are you well? '

'Worse now that you are here. '

Lakan says, 'I just wanted to ensure that you were feeling well. '

Maomao answers, 'This is my job, where I work. I don 't show up to your job for personal reasons. '

'Do you want to?! That would make so very happy! Come visit me at my job at any time! I will stop everything I 'm doing no matter how important it is and we can do whatever you want. My petunia is more important than work. '

The fox must always be kicked.

The young woman says, 'This is an infirmary, where we treat disease. You, a Brothel Crawler, are a source of disease. If you do not have official business, please return to your own work. '

'Brothel Crawler? ' Lakan repeats with a frown. 'Okay, but have you considered 'Papa? '

'No. '

'Will you consider it? '

'No. '

Lakan says, 'Why don 't you come stay with me, and I will take care of you from now on. You don 't need that stupid prince. '

MUST KICK FOX.

'But he 's a good kisser. '

Maomao expects this to have a really dramatic effect on Lakan, but it really doesn 't, because Lakan believes she 'd told him all about their sex life. Saying she kisses him really just has no effect on him whatsoever because he is so deeply traumatized by his own misunderstanding.

She 's disappointed that he 's not disappointed. Her expectation was that she 'd tell him she kisses the prince, and he 'd fall over and need help getting off the floor. But nothing. He gave her nothing. She kicked, and he shrugged. It 's incredibly unfulfilling as she fully expected to damage his psyche.

Lakan leaves the infirmary because it 's clear she is annoyed, and he doesn 't want her to be stressed out in her nonexistent delicate state.

After he leaves, Maomao finds herself wondering why he wasn 't bothered.

Was it possible that Lakan had maybe accepted her feelings for the prince on some level? Sure, he said he wanted her to come stay with him, but when she said she kisses the prince, nothing happened.

Luomen is really very puzzled by the whole exchange, and when Lakan leaves, he asks, 'You seem disappointed. Did your father say something to make you upset? '

'I wanted him to be mad I said I kiss the prince, ' she grumbles.

Luomen asks, 'Well, accepting your affections for the man you 've chosen would be

quite

a sign of grown and personal development for Lakan. It seems natural that you would want his approval, or at least his respect for your decision. '

The old man 's voice is so calm and steady, so reassuring. So comforting! It has to be because everyone else in his family is criminally insane and yet they all seem to find their ways into high positions in the government.

Maomao answers, 'I don 't want him to approve or accept. I want him to disapprove of my choices and hate Master Jinshi. I want him to be mad about it until he dies. Besides, one of the most attractive things about Master Jinshi is that the old fart hates him. Said old fart accepting him would diminish his beauty. '

'Maomao. '

'Yes? '

'That is all deeply unhealthy and incredibly concerning. Sometimes, I really worry about you, ' he gently says.

'You don 't need to worry about me, Dad. I 'll be fine. '

When she goes back to check on a patient, Luomen hears a carriage outside.

Jinshi steps out into the bright sun, a crease on his face from his nap. This is his first stop; he wanted to see Maomao first before anything else.

Luomen often lingers near the front of the infirmary since it 's the central point of command and he 's less mobile than any of the other staff, so he is there alone, sitting at a large desk.

Gaoshun kicks himself mentally as they enter the infirmary to visit Maomao because the prince is carrying this huge glass jar of black honey. He doesn 't know it 's used for enhancing male sexual performance; he 's steady been thinking this whole time that she 's going to use it to save sick children, cure illness, and so forth.

In Yue 's mind, the black honey is an ambivalent substance that will heal and save.

Luomen looks at it and knows there 's basically only one thing it 's

really

used for and even though he likes the prince just fine, he 's not sure how he feels about this boy walking around with a substance he is going to use to do sexual things to his precious little Maomao.

It just seems like it 's in bad taste.

'Good afternoon, Master Luomen. Are you well? '

'Y-Yes 'I think? Mostly. And yourself? '

'Doing quite well. Excited to see Maomao again. '

Luomen looks down at the black honey again. 'I bet you are. Very excited to see her. '

'Yes! It 's been so long. '

Even longer now, after a few doses of that '

Luomen thinks, his thoughts making his mouth dry.

Does

he like this prince? This just seems so shameless, first of all to buy enough black honey to inseminate the entire Inner Court and secondly, to brandish it in front of him?

Gaoshun sends his strongest telepathic vibes across the room, saying

'He doesn 't know what it does, '

Luomen does not receive them.

Maybe Lakan was right and they should try and keep her away from this animal? What is he going to do to her?!

The other medical officers, hearing the prince has come to visit, make their way to the front of the infirmary to bow and show their respect to them, like they do each time he appears, almost always in search of Maomao.

He stands there, so casually and with such a friendly and innocent face, holding his giant jar of black honey. Everyone in the room knows what it is except him, and he does not pick up on the weird stares because why would he 'he 's never read a room successfully in his life, and he 's not going to start today.

Maomao hears his voice as he greets the others, and they stand mostly silent and a little grossed out. Even a little spoonful can turn a man into an unstoppable machine, what is this man going to do to Maomao with two full liters? And considering the cost 'in a year where taxes were raised?!

'Master Jinshi! How was your ' '

Her eyes grow wide when she spots the glass jar and he holds it out with an innocent smile.

It 's just 'such a nasty gift for them to exchange in the company of others. Everyone in the room is disgusted except Jinshi, who doesn 't know what he is doing, and Maomao who only sees the delight and wonder of a rare ingredient.

'Pearl Peak Black Honey?! Could it be?! '

He 's so happy that she likes it, and she 's so happy that she thinks this means he also wants to have tons of incredibly rough sex with her.

'Thank you! We 're always on the same page! '

Gaoshun sighs.

They have never been on the same page. He 's not even sure if they 've ever been in same section of the library at the same time, as Maomao is usually quietly tucked away in the mystery section, sitting on a stack of pornographic tomes while she reads about poison and the prince is reading joke books because he is depressed and wants to leave the palace.

Maomao 's ability to discuss sexual topics freely out in the open actually wasn 't that unwelcome in the rear palace, but in the infirmary where she works with those who are not concubines or brothel workers it is deeply unsettling.

She starts going on because she 's just so excited! 'This is the most potent male sex enhancing substance known to mankind. It 's said just a few drops can make an old man young again for a few hours and even increase semen and fertility. In brothels, we reserve this for the absolute wealthiest clients when it 's available. '

Jinshi 's brain briefly stops working and he blinks a few times as he tries to restart it again. 'I 'm sorry, it 's used for

what

? '

Luomen mumbles to himself, 'Oh, he didn 't know. '

Another person, 'He didn 't know. '

The onlookers realize this isn 't an unrepentant pervert expressing his wishes in public; he 's just a very nice idiot.

They whisper, and they all quietly slip away to go back to their work and hide from the disaster that those two always seem to be. Luomen also decides to go to the back with them because one minute of that and he felt like he was ten years older and he 's already old to start with.

This leaves the prince and Maomao, and Gaoshun, who stands by the door also feeling like he is ten years older than he was one minute ago.

Sometimes Maomao 's presence is like running face-first into a brick wall for the prince, because he didn 't even get to greet her properly or digest the fact that her appearance changed significantly in his absence before she started yelling perverted things at him.

She has little boobies, they have shape, they have form, they have a slight heaviness. She 's gained weight. Her hair is different, and shiny from deep conditioning. Her skin is freckle-less. Glowing.

Jinshi walks around her fully, taking little snapshots with his mind so that he can think about all of this once he recovers from running into this brick wall for the thousandth time in his life.

'Maomao, you look very nice? Did something happen while I was gone? '

'It 's a long story. I 'll explain later. How was your trip? ' she asks.

The prince answers, 'It was nice. What did you 'what did you mean when you said we were on the same page? What page was that? '

Maomao says, 'I was mistaken. '

'I would like to know about this page, please! What page are

you

on? '

'It 's not important. '

Jinshi also says, 'Also, I didn 't realize what that stuff is. I 'll take it back and get you something else. I apologize if you thought I was trying to give you a perverted gift. In front of your dad. And your coworkers. I am 'so sorry. '

When he reaches for it, her hands clench it with surprising force and she says, 'No need. This gift is just fine. '

'I insist. You deserve a much finer gift. '

Maomao tugs it back toward her. 'Master Jinshi, it 's the thought that counts. I 'm sure you had the most noble intentions. Perhaps you thought this ingredient would save the lives of others. And therefore, I will accept this gift. '

The prince tugs at it. 'Maomao, I have given you a gift that you cannot use and therefore insist on replacing it with one that might be of some utility to you. '

'How foolish of you to think that I would leave any ingredient unused. This is a rare item of high value and will make excellent use of it, ' she answers, tugging it back toward her.

Jinshi asks, 'And just who do you plan on administering this ingredient to besides me? '

'Well, Master Jinshi. Medicine is for everyone and not just you. '

'So you plan on enhancing the sexual drive of other men with this gift that I brought you? '

'Now you 're just being jealous, ' she answers.

Jinshi says, 'Do you think that

I

need enhancement? '

'Of course not. What if I just used it for experiments? On an animal, that will not be hurt? '

This seems reasonable, maybe. If no one is getting horny or harmed, maybe that is okay? The prince considers it, hands still clasping the jar, some of his fingers overlapping hers.

Jinshi asks, 'What kind of animal are you going to give this to? '

Feline mischief flashes in her eyes and she whispers so Gaoshun can 't hear, 'A frog! '

'I can 't even believe I almost fell for that! '

The tug the jar back and forth, getting closer and closer, and when they 're close enough, Maomao cops the puppy eyes and soft voice, bites her bottom lip and says, 'Please, Master Jinshi? I 'll be a good girl. '

To him, this is just so cute that he is instantly disarmed and incapable of denying his request. 'Fine. You can keep it. '

The young woman hugs him briefly and then runs down the hall to lock up the black honey, leaving a rather impish giggle echoing off the hallways.

Jinshi takes a deep breath. 'That was mistake. Should I be scared? I 'm a little scared. '

'Yes, ' Gaoshun answers.

While Maomao is gone, the door opens again, and as all of the other staff have fled from the front room due to Jinshi and Maomao being themselves as always, there 's no one else there besides the two men.

It is Basen, the unwitting attendant to the Carnival of Errors that has taken place this week, mostly without his knowledge. He has helped nothing, prevented nothing, clarified no misconceptions, and rectified no mistakes. On the precipice of chaos, he reports to his father.

Gaoshun embraces his son because this is the first time he has seen him since Basen 's son was born. 'Are you well? And your wife and child? '

'Yes, Father. '

'And things here? '

'No serious incidents. Everything has gone well. Although I did overhear the Grand Commandant asking the emperor if Prince Yue could be castrated like thirty times. He was the only one yelling so I don 't know what they were talking about. '

The prince stares at Basen, confused about how 'everything has gone well ' and 'the leader of the military wants to castrate you ' go together. Jinshi 's tone is rather mild and a bit confused as he says, 'Lakan was repeatedly demanding my castration? Well, that just seems kind of rude. '

Jinshi thinks for a while, but he as far as he knows, he can 't imagine a reason that Lakan would be acutely angry with him. He doesn 't like him, but Lakan 's opinion of him went from neutral to abysmal years ago and to his knowledge, there 's no reason for it to be worse.

In fact, Jinshi thought maybe he had made some minimal progress toward earning Lakan 's respect.

Jinshi asks, 'Basen, did you remember to deliver his birthday present? '

'Yes, of course. '

'Maybe he didn 't like it? '

Basen asks, 'Do you think Lakan wants to have your dick cut off because you sent him a bad birthday gift? '

Jinshi says, 'I don 't know why that man does

anything

. '

Gaoshun thinks the oddest piece of information here is that Lakan loudly demanded the prince, the emperor 's brother, face ritual mutilation and the emperor allowed him to repeatedly make this request without punishing him, which implies that the emperor at least understood whatever craziness that Lakan was expressing.

Asking for a man 's genitals to be removed suggested a very specific type of offense. In some countries, if someone steals, their arm is cut off, for instance. Castration implies an offense was related to sex, obviously.

He considers Maomao 's appearance: the glowing skin, the weight gain, the noticeable and striking change in her chest area.

Surely not.

Gaoshun doesn 't think these two have had sex, and generally, he thinks when it does that the prince will talk to him about in some form or fashion. Maomao isn 't formally bound to him, so if they lost control of their passions and she found out she was pregnant while they were away, that might explain both Maomao 's appearance and Lakan wanting the prince to be punished as well as why the emperor might tolerate Lakan 's anger.

When Maomao returns from the back, the prince says, 'Do you know why Lakan hates me more than usual? '

Maomao asks, 'He hates you? '

'Yes. Definitely more than before I left. He apparently has been calling for my castration before the emperor. '

She lets out a sigh at the proof that Lakan still hates Jinshi, and says, 'What a relief! '

This is just a very confusing utterance for the two attendants and the prince, who exclaims, 'Excuse me?! What do you mean 'what a relief?! ' Do you want me to be castrated?! '

'Of course not. Then the black honey would be worthless. '

'Then what part is the relief?! '

'It 's difficult to explain. It would take too long. I wish no harm on the amphibian. '

While Jinshi and Maomao have an animated discussion, Gaoshun pulls his son aside and whispers, 'Basen, is it the case that Maomao is pregnant and you have been asked not to say anything? '

Basen, in his Squareness, answers, 'No one has said anything to me. '

'Have you heard rumors? '

'There 's a rumor floating around that the prince got like six women from the Pleasure District pregnant during some giant orgy involving a live human sacrifice or something like that. You know how the court is. '

Gaoshun frowns because what can he even say to that? The good news is that false gossip often mutates from one form to another until it became so absurd everyone realizes that it was never true and it passes out of social circles without permanence.

'Nothing from senior officials or the imperial family? '

'No. '

'No signs that a pregnancy might be the subject of Lakan and the emperor 's discussions? '

'None whatsoever. '

Gaoshun looks back at Maomao, and then back at Basen. He dips his toe into the Idiot Plot experimentally, to see how it feels. He 's not willing to commit, but he can tell that there 's something amiss. A fire is burning somewhere, and Basen definitely hasn 't been able to smell the smoke.

Basen suddenly snaps his fingers. 'I totally forgot why I came here. The emperor wants to see the prince right away, privately, in his office with him and the Grand Commandant. '