Chapter 20

Eunuch 20 (You're ugly to me) - OK.

Title: "Eunuch 20(You're ugly to me)". The Chinese: Eunuch 20 (You're ugly to me). Likely "Eunuch 20 (You're ugly to me)". We'll translate as "Eunuch 20(You're ugly to me)". Keep parentheses.

"Mom, why is this book's title so weird?" - OK.

Translation: '"Mother, why is the title of this book so strange?"'

Upon hearing her son's words, Jiang Yuner fell silent, then said nonchalantly: "Because this is a book that makes people become crafty... intelligent." - OK.

Translation: "Hearing her son's words, Jiang Yuner fell silent, then said nonchalantly, 'Because this is a book that will make people become cunning……intelligent.'"

Note: Need to keep ellipsis as is? Chinese uses "……". We'll keep as "……". Could translate as "..." but better keep as "……". We'll keep same.

Jiulang said, if you could master half of this book's essence, it would be like brewing a hundred‑year‑old pu'er—your speech would carry the fresh scent of green tea.

Translation: "Jiu Lang said, if one could grasp half of this book's essence, it would be like brewing a hundred-year pu'er, and one's speech would carry the fresh fragrance of green tea."

Jiang Yun'er had always thought she wasn't foolish, but after reading this book she discovered that her brain had never properly developed.

Translation: "Jiang Yuner always thought she wasn't stupid, but after reading this book she realized her brain had never properly developed."

She remembered her fleeting, meteor‑like time as a favored consort and the "sisters" who talked to her, finally understanding what they had meant.

Translation: "She recalled her brief, meteor-like stint as a favored consort, and the 'sisters' who spoke with her, finally realizing that back then their words meant this."

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Translation: "This paragraph is an image paragraph; please visit the correct website, turn off ad-blocking, and exit browser reading mode."

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Same translation.

She managed to live comfortably in the palace for two reasons: half because the dog‑emperor still favored and protected her, and half because her combat skills were so poor that the "sisters" saw no point in attacking her.

Translation: "Back then she could live comfortably in the palace half because the dog emperor doted on her and protected her, and half because her combat strength was too weak, so those 'sisters' wouldn't bother to strike."

Xiao Mingzhi was completely unaware of his mother's worries, and he happily took the book.

Translation: "Little Mingzhi had no idea of his mother's worries, happily taking the book."

He loved reading, but they couldn't afford books, so his mother spent a lot of silver to buy brushes, ink, and paper, and she personally copied the Analects for him.

Translation: "He loved reading; before he couldn't afford books, his mother spent a lot of silver to get brush, ink, and paper, personally copying the Analects to teach him."

The child still recalls his mother copying the Analects while murmuring to herself.

Translation: "The child still remembers his mother copying the Analects while muttering to herself."

"If I had known earlier not to obsess over the Female Precepts, I wouldn't have ended up only being able to recite it by heart. What's the line after 'Learning without thought leads to confusion'? When I was copying it, I regretted my laziness; if I had memorized the Four Books and Five Classics, I wouldn't now worry about failing to teach my child."

Translation: '"If I had known earlier not to obsess over the Female Admonitions, I wouldn't now have only the Female Admonitions memorized backward and forward—what comes after 'Learning without thought is confusion'? When copying it I regretted my laziness; if I had memorized all the Four Books and Five Classics, I wouldn't now worry about not being able to teach my child."'

Mingzhi realized that the Analects he had studied were incomplete; if his uncle hadn't later given him a full version, he wouldn't have known how much his mother had left out when she copied it.

Translation: "Mingzhi studied a defective, incomplete Analects; if not for his uncle later sending a complete version, he wouldn't have known his mother had omitted so much while copying."

Besides, many of the sentences were incorrect; they weren't Confucius's words at all, but his mother's own fabrications.

Translation: "Moreover, many of the erroneous sentences were actually not spoken by Confucius, but were his mother's own made-up fabrications."

In that respect, his mother was actually quite talented.

Translation: "In this regard, his mother is actually quite talented."

Jiang Yun'er replied firmly: "Oh, this isn't just the after‑effect of copying the Female Precepts! I've copied it so much that I unconsciously slip a few lines of it into whatever I write."

Translation: "Jiang Yuner had a ready reply: 'Oh, this isn't the aftereffect of copying the Female Admonitions back then! Copying so much, I unconsciously mixed a few lines of the Female Admonitions into whatever I wrote.'"

She notices that sensible, innocuous sentences often end up mixed with a few of those lines without her realizing it.

Translation: "She felt that reasonable, harmless phrases would unconsciously slip in a few lines."

When she wrote Refuting the Female Precepts, she did so based on facts: she praised the sensible parts of the Female Precepts and refuted the nonsensical ones.

Translation: "When she wrote the Refutation of the Female Admonitions, she based it on facts: she would exalt the reasonable parts of the Female Admonitions and refute the unreasonable ones."

Mingzhi solemnly picked up The Art of Being Thick‑Faced and Black‑Hearted and swore he would memorize it too.

Translation: "Little Mingzhi solemnly picked up Thick Black Learning, vowing to memorize this book as well."

From his mother's incomplete Analects he learned that a book must be memorized word‑for‑word, so that even if the book disappeared he wouldn't have to fear forgetting it.

Translation: "From his mother's defective Analects he learned that a book must be memorized thoroughly, so that even if one day he had no book, he wouldn't worry about being unable to recite it."

"Mother, let's study in the cellar," the book‑loving child said eagerly.

Translation: '"Mother, let's study in the cellar," the book-loving child said eagerly.'

Though the little cold palace looks bleak, the cellar is warm and comfortable like heaven—winter is pleasantly cozy, letting him and his mother sleep straight through to dawn, unlike before when they often woke up frozen in the night.

Translation: "Although the Cold Palace's environment looks poor at first glance, the cellar is warm and comfortable like heaven; in winter it is quite cozy, allowing him and his mother to sleep straight through to dawn, unlike before when they often woke frozen in the middle of the night."

The cellar is stocked with everything they need; at night they can light a bright candle to read, and even a strong light won't draw outside notice.

Translation: "The cellar has everything needed for food and use; at night one can light a bright candle to read, and no matter how bright the light, there's no need to worry about attracting outside attention."

Now the weather is heating up, yet the cellar has grown cool—I don't know how his uncle designed it, but no matter how long they stay inside, they never feel stuffy.

Translation: "Now the weather is warming up, yet the cellar grows cool instead; I don't know how my uncle designed it, but no matter how long one stays inside, one never feels stuffy."

Mother and son came to the cellar, and Mingzhi naturally took a seat at the desk.

Translation: "Mother and son arrived at the cellar, and Mingzhi consciously sat down at the desk."

He sat bolt upright, with fine brush, ink, paper, and inkstone before him, and said affectionately: "Mother, go exercise; I'll study on my own. Don't worry—if I don't understand something, I'll note it down and ask Uncle."

Translation: "His back straight as a rod, with fine brush, ink, paper, and inkstone set before him, he said thoughtfully, 'Mother, go train your body; I'll read on my own! Rest assured, if I encounter something I don't understand, I'll note it down and ask my uncle.'"

After realizing his uncle knows everything, Mingzhi hardly asks his mother when he runs into learning difficulties—likely the incomplete Analects made him subconsciously discount her claim to vast knowledge.

Translation: "After discovering his uncle knew everything, Mingzhi, when encountering study problems, hardly asked his mother—probably because the defective Analects had subconsciously discounted his mother's boastful erudition."

Jiang Yun'er, of course, knows what her son is thinking, and she let out an annoyed snort.

Translation: "Jiang Yuner knew exactly what her son was thinking, and she snorted somewhat annoyed."

It's better not to ask her about problems; she never liked reading, yet she gave birth to a book‑loving, curious child, and from the time he could speak she's often been left speechless by his questions.

Translation: "It's better not to ask her questions; she never liked reading, yet she gave birth to a book-loving, curious child, and from the time he could speak she often found herself at a loss for words."

Seeing that her son didn't need her attention here, Jiang Yun'er went to the next room, which is separated by a wooden door.

Translation: "Seeing her son didn't need her worry here, Jiang Yuner went next door, to a room separated by a wooden door."

She began twisting her waist and stretching her legs on the mat‑covered floor; Jiulang said this is yoga, and regular practice improves one's figure, especially for women whose bodies change after childbirth—practicing it regularly will slim anyone down, no matter how heavy.

Translation: "She began twisting her waist and stretching her legs on the mat-covered floor; Jiu Lang said this was yoga, and long practice would improve one's figure, especially since women's bodies change after childbirth—practice regularly and no matter how fat you are, you can slim down."

She doesn't really care whether she's fat or thin; as a teenager she ballooned and couldn't control her appetite, and even after years of hunger she still can't, merely watching her weight rise makes her anxious.

Translation: "She didn't mind being fat or thin; as a girl she had ballooned and couldn't control her appetite, and after years of hunger she still couldn't, merely watching her weight rise steadily made her anxious."

She's heard that if a woman is too overweight, childbirth becomes dangerous; to continue the Jiang line she must first look after her own health.

Translation: "Having heard that if a woman is too obese childbirth becomes perilous, she wanted to continue the Jiang lineage, so she certainly needed to look after her own health first."

In the next room, Mingzhi reads seriously, his eyes growing brighter the more he reads.

Translation: "In the neighboring room, Little Mingzhi read earnestly, his eyes growing brighter the more he read."

He exclaimed, "The language in this book is so simple—I can actually understand all of it!"

Translation: "He exclaimed, 'The language in this book is so simple; Mingzhi actually understands all of it!'"

The light is bright but easy on the eyes, with a faint fragrance, and reading makes his mind feel much clearer.

Translation: "The light is bright but not harsh, with a faint fragrance, making one feel much clearer-headed when reading."

Jiang Yun'er hesitated, "Isn't pearl cream very expensive? I heard a small bottle costs over a hundred taels of silver."

Translation: "Jiang Yuner hesitated, 'Isn't pearl cream very expensive? I heard a small bottle costs over a hundred taels of silver.'"

He greatly doubts the old emperor's taste—could it be that he only likes young, slim women and doesn't care about their faces? Even if this seventh sister becomes slim and indeed a little beauty now, back then her face hadn't even developed; she was just a little girl…

Translation: "He greatly doubted the old emperor's taste—could it be he only picks slim youths and ignores the face? Even if this Seventh Sister slimmed down she'd be a petite beauty, but back then her face hadn't even developed; she was just a little girl……"

After placing the book on the nearby shelf, the child carefully checks the corners, afraid they might get bent.

Translation: "He placed the book on the nearby shelf and carefully checked the corners, afraid they'd get folded."

Mingzhi let out a deep sigh; his uncle has been so good to him that he will surely study hard and someday become a good emperor to support his uncle in old age.

Translation: "Little Mingzhi let out a deep breath; his uncle had been wonderfully kind to him, and he would surely study hard, later becoming a good emperor to support his uncle in old age."

Jiang He replied, "……" You're overthinking it.

Translation: "Jiang He found out: '……' You're overthinking it."

Later they even sent an entire case, and no one knows when it will be used up.

Translation: "Later he even sent a whole case; I don't know when it'll be used up."

"Mingzhi, watch the wick—if the light is too dim it's bad for your eyes."

Translation: '"Mingzhi, pay attention to the wick; too dim a light is bad for the eyes."'

"This book is so easy to understand, the reading reflection will surely be great to write."

Translation: '"This book is so easy to understand, the reflection after reading will surely be easy to write."'

Mother and son both thought this was Jiang He's way of catering to the child's current level of learning and making up for the lack of social experience and common sense caused by his near‑zero interaction from living in seclusion.

Translation: "Mother and son both thought this was Jiang He's way of catering to the child's current level of learning and making up for his near‑zero social experience from seclusion, which left him lacking in worldly wisdom and common sense."

The dog‑emperor has long been accustomed to the beauties of the harem; if she were merely ordinary looking, could he have been enamored of her back then?

Translation: "The dog emperor had long grown accustomed to the beauties of the harem; if she were merely ordinary in appearance, could he have been enamored of her back then?"

Jiang He looked at her with a very sincere expression: "Seventh sister, you should still use it, because you're ugly to me."

Translation: "Jiang He looked at her, his expression utterly sincere: 'Seventh Sister, you should still use it, because you're ugly to me.'"

Once, he and his uncle talked about the past; he said candles were too expensive and wanted to try the ancient method of using a firefly bag to read, and his uncle, feeling sorry for him, specially made some candles infused with Chinese herbs that burn with only fragrance and no irritating smell.

Translation: "Once, he and his uncle talked about the past; he said candles were too expensive and wanted to learn from the ancients by using a firefly bag to read, and his uncle, feeling sorry, specially made some candles containing Chinese herbs that burn with only fragrance and no irritating smell."

I don't know where Jiulang found a little eunuch apprentice who's superb at roasting duck; the duck is incredibly delicious, and after eating it Jiang Yun'er even found that fish and meat no longer smelled fragrant.

Translation: "I don't know where Jiu Lang found a little eunuch apprentice who's superb at roasting duck; that duck is delicious beyond words, and after eating it Jiang Yuner found even fish and meat lacking fragrance."

Mingzhi muttered to himself, gently stroking the characters with affection—this must be a book his uncle wrote especially for him, right?

Translation: "Mingzhi murmured to himself, tenderly tracing the characters; this must be a book his uncle specially wrote for him, right?"

He casually replied, "There are just a few who don't see eye to eye."

Translation: "He casually remarked, 'There are just a few clueless ones.'"

Since recognizing Jiulang, no matter how late it is, they always sit down together to eat a meal and keep each other company.

Translation: "Since recognizing Jiu Lang, no matter how late, they always sit together to eat a meal, keeping each other company."

Jiang He took a sip of tea and glanced at the child, who had pricked up his ears to eavesdrop.

Translation: "Jiang He took a sip of tea and glanced at the little kid pricking up his ears to eavesdrop."

Although he didn't elaborate, Jiang Yun'er, having also experienced the harem, certainly knows some of its bloodless killing methods.

Translation: "Although he didn't elaborate, Jiang Yuner, having also experienced the harem, certainly knows some of its bloodless killing methods."

"Mingzhi, go study—don't get distracted." He first told the child, then turned to Jiang Yun'er and said, "Seventh sister, this is pearl cream for the face; you must use it morning and night, and I guarantee your complexion will become white and tender in three months."

Translation: '"Mingzhi, go read, don't get distracted.' He first urged the child, then turned to Jiang Yuner: 'Seventh Sister, this is pearl cream for facial use; you must apply it morning and night, guaranteed to make your complexion white and tender after three months.'"

Jiang Yun'er jumped up angrily and punched him, saying, "I became ugly only because I was sick; before that I was beautiful enough to crown the harem!"

Translation: "Jiang Yuner jumped up angrily and punched him, 'I became ugly only from illness; I used to be beautiful, crowned the harem!'"

A life of long‑term hopelessness made him cherish books immensely, wishing he could read whenever he had time; the candles in the underground passage were specially made by his uncle to protect his eyesight.

Translation: "A life of long‑term hopelessness made him cherish books beyond measure, wishing he could read whenever he had time; the candles in the underground passage were specially made by his uncle to protect his eyesight."

No way—the more I think about it, the angrier I get; the dog‑emperor really is a scoundrel, not even sparing a little girl.

Translation: "No way— the more I think about it, the angrier I get; the dog emperor really is a scumbag, not even sparing a little girl."

Thinking of roast duck, Jiang Yuner secretly swallowed saliva.

She is especially generous when it comes to food, but she usually doesn't care much about clothing; hearing this price, she can't help but feel heartbroken—how many roast ducks could this buy?

After dinner, Jiang He took out the things he had brought with him—a small porcelain bottle.

Whether it was the old emperor, the princes, the Hougong ladies, or the palace maids and eunuchs, in his eyes they were all unrelated people who couldn't possibly hurt him; his staying in the Huangong was entirely for the sake of this mother and son.

Jiang He interrupted her, saying directly, "Don't worry, I can handle it!" After thinking, he added, "It will be resolved soon."

Both Little Mingzhi and Jiang Yuner greatly cherished the time they spent eating together with Jiang He.

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The child was very happy; when reading the Records of the Grand Historian, he couldn't understand much of it, but this book on 'Thick Black Theory' given by his uncle not only has simple language, like a dialogue, and contains no obscure words—it's easy to understand, and many examples are also very interesting.

He completely disregarded those tactics of the Hougong.

Mingzhi answered with a sound and placed an insect-repellent sachet on the rack.

"Jiu Lang, is someone giving you trouble?" Jiang Yuner asked anxiously, "You've been coming later and later each day."

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