Chapter 38 Chapter 7
The Jiaofangsi has many rules, but none of them have anything to do with Ruoruo.
It can be said that Eunuch Nan completely isolated her from others. Apart from Eunuch Nan, the only people Ruoruo could come into contact with every day were two maids and the eunuch who often came to bring her things.
But it is undeniable that, apart from this, Eunuch Nan did teach her very seriously, including but not limited to music, chess, calligraphy and painting.
"Your appearance and personality are perfect for showing off your innocence. Just looking at your appearance can easily make people feel unbearable, and you can fully exploit this. If you change your style, although you will still be beautiful, it will inevitably be a little strange. However, the more this is the case, the more unexpected surprises you will get when you occasionally show a side that is different from your usual self, such as coldness or charm." Eunuch Nan taught her word by word, but his body approached Ruoruo in a very dishonest way.
He seemed to be listening very seriously, but because of his so-called "demonstration" he didn't seem so serious.
That’s right, in the Jiaofangsi, why should there be any need for seriousness?
"Eunuch Nan, I don't quite understand..." Ruoruo looked at Eunuch Nan with pure eyes, her expression pitiful. She lowered her eyes as if she was complaining to herself.
"Is it true that just by looking at my appearance, one can feel so sorry for me? What about Eunuch Nan? Does Eunuch Nan think that Ruoruo is pitiful?" Ruoruo turned her head and looked at Eunuch Nan.
Eunuch Nan's heart sank. The girl was so close to him that he could even clearly smell her fragrance.
Did he find her worthy of pity? Of course he did. Sometimes he even thought, why not just forget it and hide her in the Jiaofangsi. As long as he didn't say anything, no one would know.
By the way, except Murong Bo, but Murong Bo has never seen Ruoruo's appearance.
But he also knew that even if he didn't want to push her out, he would definitely not be able to keep her.
Since that was the case, he naturally had to try to grasp what he could, and use the excuse of teaching her to naturally interact with her, perhaps he could use her as a stepping stone for his own advancement. It was a win-win situation, and there was no reason for him not to do so.
He always liked to weigh the pros and cons when doing things, and this time was no exception. His personal emotions were always based on reality, and it couldn't be said that as a eunuch, how could he be worthy of such a thing as personal emotions?
"Eunuch Nan? Why aren't you talking?" Ruo Ruo tilted her head and asked him, "Or do I have to ask you this before you can answer me, Eunuch?"
As she spoke, she pushed Eunuch Nan against the corner of the wall.
Eunuch Nan was like a wooden man, letting her do whatever she wanted, his eyes were unclear and his heart was in a mess.
Ruo Ruo moved closer to him and continued to ask, "Why don't you speak, father-in-law?"
"By the way, Eunuch Nan only asked for Ruoruo's name, but never told her his own name."
Eunuch Nan was first disturbed by her "boldness" which was different from her superficial image, and then when he heard her ask this question, he felt an indescribable feeling.
His name... This was actually the first time someone asked him his name since he joined the Jiaofangsi.
He entered the palace at the age of twelve and came to the Jiaofangsi at the age of seventeen. Now he is nearly thirty years old. It has been so long that he seems to have forgotten his own name.
He thought for a while before he remembered that his surname was not Nan, but Xu. His family called him Brother Mu, so his full name was Xu Mu.
He seemed to have lived a very comfortable life when he was young. He was not rich but not poor either. His family could afford food, he could go to school, and he lived a happy life.
But suddenly one day, he heard that his eldest brother had offended a wealthy businessman whom they could not afford to offend, and as a result, their family became increasingly poor.
The rich businessman was not very powerful, but his family had even less strength. The rich businessman only needed to spend some money to force his family to suffer. The eldest brother became addicted to gambling and eventually lost so much that he couldn't even afford to eat. The family had no choice but to send him to the palace.
After all, by sending him to the palace to be a eunuch, his family could exchange some money, and then leave the capital, and they could start a new life.
As for him, he was neither the eldest son nor the youngest and most favored child in the family. He also had a feminine appearance, so sending him to the palace did not seem to be a big deal for his family.
Later, he entered the palace and suffered a lot of hardships at first, until he met an old eunuch, and with his guidance and help, he gradually got used to the life in the palace. The old eunuch's surname was Nan, and he recognized him as his godfather, so he also took the surname Nan.
Later, a eunuch Nan died in the palace, and a little Nanzi appeared. Little Nanzi worked hard to grow up and became another eunuch Nan.
"What is your father-in-law thinking about now?" Ruo Ruo tried hard to imitate his usual demeanor, with seductive eyes.
"Thinking about my name." Eunuch Nan started to become serious, which was rare.
"My name is Nan Xu." This was the name the old eunuch gave him.
My godfather said that changing my name to my surname would also keep a memory in mind.
But he didn't know that since his death, he was just Xiao Nan Zi.
"Which Xu? Does the father-in-law need so much time to think of his own name?"
Ruo Ruo's hand gently brushed his chest and touched his cheek.
"Father-in-law, can you please write the word 'Xu' on Ruoruo's palm? This way, Ruoruo will always remember that there is a person named Nan Xu. The next time Father-in-law is unhappy, Ruoruo will be able to sense it."
Eunuch Nan looked dazed, and he seemed to be really planning to extend his hand.
But before he could fully react, Ruo Ruo quickly put down her hand that was stroking Eunuch Nan's cheek, took a step back, and moved away from him.
Then she looked shyly, "Father-in-law, is that so? Did I learn it correctly?"
Eunuch Nan was stunned for a long moment before he slowly spoke, "Yes, you have learned very well."
So good that when she pulled away, he felt lost.
Since that day, Eunuch Nan did not appear in front of Ruo Ruo for many days, and instead began to invite many gentlemen to her.
Among these teachers, some taught her reading, some taught her music theory, and some taught her etiquette and tea ceremony, but they were all women.
Ruoruo didn't hate learning these things, and only by studying them seriously and mastering them as quickly as possible could she get in touch with other dignitaries and help the dignitaries of the Bai family.
Most people in the General's Mansion did treat her the same, but her father's treatment of her was nothing to complain about. Not to mention the Bai family's misfortune. The Bai family wasn't limited to the General's Mansion; many of the side branches were also implicated for no reason.
She had to find a way.
Ruo Ruo thought that as long as she studied hard and met the teachers' standards, she would be able to interact with people outside.
But day after day, the gentlemen praised her highly, and some of the people who came in with her were sent away, leaving some to integrate into the Jiaofangsi. Only she was still accompanied by a maid who could neither see nor speak.
Finally one day, Ruo Ruo stopped Eunuch Nan on the road and asked, "When Eunuch Nan taught me, this wasn't the arrangement. What do you mean by this now?"
What does it mean? Eunuch Nan himself doesn't know.
Since that day, his impulse seemed to have overwhelmed his rationality. Whenever he thought that one day she would do the same to other men, he would feel a tightness in his chest, unable to breathe in or out, and he felt extremely uncomfortable.
It was obvious that he had originally intended to build a closer relationship with her by teaching her, but now that the relationship had been built, he was the first one who couldn't stand it.
As for what he said when he was teaching her, he did think so at the time, but now he regretted it.
He could regret it, but Ruo Ruo was unwilling to do so.
"Isn't it good to live a carefree life like this?" Eunuch Nan asked her.
Ruo Ruo shook her head. "How did Eunuch Nan know that I'm carefree right now? I just want to make my own choices. I don't want anyone else to make choices for me anymore."
Whether she lives or dies, whether she entertains guests or just avoids people day after day, it must be her own choice.
"Accompanying guests isn't as simple as you might think. Many high-ranking officials aren't easy to please, and some are even ruthless." Eunuch Nan rarely used to be so serious. Even when facing the most powerful officials, he wore a false yet flawless smile. But recently, the mask he'd worn for ten years seemed to have lost its effect.
What he said was not false. There were many nobles in the capital, and some of them were bored all day long, so they liked to think of ways to make fun of others.
In the past, he had never been kind to those who disobeyed him, and many people even thought he was cruel and ruthless. However, little did they know that sometimes, those noblemen who looked dignified and elegant on the surface were actually more ruthless than people like him.
"Will Nan Xu let me meet that kind of person?" Ruo Ruo looked at him, not frightened by his words at all.
Eunuch Nan said nothing.
Ruo Ruo didn't care and continued to whisper in his ear, "I believe that Nan Xu would never let me meet such a person, let alone such a situation."
Eunuch Nan smiled bitterly, it turned out that all the things he taught her were used on herself.
But to be honest, he didn't even believe himself, yet he couldn't help but feel a little happy from the bottom of his heart.
On the surface, he seemed very powerful in the Jiaofangsi, but in fact, in this capital city full of imperial power and wealth, his status was insignificant.
He was not bad-looking, and quite tall. He had attended school before entering the palace, and after entering, he met his adoptive father, who never neglected his teachings. He could pretend to be a wealthy young man, but what was the point? Fake was fake. He was no better than an ordinary man, because he couldn't even be considered a man.
He was just a slave under the imperial power and wealth, and the only thing he could control was to keep working hard to climb up.
Ruoruo was a very good weapon, but in the end he wanted to give up completely.
It’s not that he no longer loves power and status, but it seems that a person has forced his way into his heart.
absurd!
This is ridiculous!
Eunuch Nan closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he returned to his usual unabashed demeanor. "If that's the case, then of course we'll do as Ruo Ruo wishes."
He shouldn't change the choice he made long ago.
However, Eunuch Nan still had a doubt.
If someone would climb up the ladder for power and status at all costs, he would understand, after all, he was almost that kind of person.
But if this person was Ruoruo, he would not understand.
"So what does Ruoruo want to do? Can you tell us? Only if you tell us can we help you~" A hint of temptation appeared on his handsome face.
Ruo Ruo looked at him cautiously and asked, "Really? Is Nan Xu willing to help me?"
She leaned close to his ear and spoke carefully.
"No! Impossible!" Eunuch Nan suddenly opened his eyes wide.
The Bai family was charged with the crime of rebellion, and as a family with a history spanning hundreds of years, now that they had committed a serious offense, how many people could influence the verdict to such an extent?
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