-This Ranka or whatever guy wanted all along for Jinshi to ask Mao specifically about ‘how to lower the price of a courtesan’. This is the very reason why he brought up this story to begin with. -Mao would know because this is exactly what happened to Mao’s mother, and her death (if dead) is probably a consequence of what this guy did to her. Mao is probably the reason why her mother ‘became worthless’, too. -So, he probably enjoys the idea that Mao would be the one to have to answer that. Probably a petty cruel game meant to confuse Mao about Jinshi. One question is though: Is there competition for Mao? -Mao possibly knows that Jinshi is no eunuch. -It is possible that she reciprocates his interest but still entertains the ‘eunuch’ lie to protect herself from him. -She has no status, so the best thing that could happen to her, is to become a random noble’s mistress, were she to give in to Jinshi. This would be no different from living in the harem or working in a brothel. Actually, it would be worse, because she would end up unfree. -If what i said above is true, then she probably knows what happened to her mother, and knows exactly what to expect from such an unbalanced relationship.
Overall, there is a lot that is left unsaid, unshown in this manga. Sometimes, this is how works storytelling in japanese works: the reader has to connect the dots himself. Sometimes it is mere teasing. I don’t know what this is here.
Nox
Theory:
-This Ranka or whatever guy wanted all along for Jinshi to ask Mao specifically about ‘how to lower the price of a courtesan’. This is the very reason why he brought up this story to begin with.
-Mao would know because this is exactly what happened to Mao’s mother, and her death (if dead) is probably a consequence of what this guy did to her. Mao is probably the reason why her mother ‘became worthless’, too.
-So, he probably enjoys the idea that Mao would be the one to have to answer that. Probably a petty cruel game meant to confuse Mao about Jinshi. One question is though: Is there competition for Mao?
-Mao possibly knows that Jinshi is no eunuch.
-It is possible that she reciprocates his interest but still entertains the ‘eunuch’ lie to protect herself from him.
-She has no status, so the best thing that could happen to her, is to become a random noble’s mistress, were she to give in to Jinshi. This would be no different from living in the harem or working in a brothel. Actually, it would be worse, because she would end up unfree.
-If what i said above is true, then she probably knows what happened to her mother, and knows exactly what to expect from such an unbalanced relationship.
Overall, there is a lot that is left unsaid, unshown in this manga. Sometimes, this is how works storytelling in japanese works: the reader has to connect the dots himself. Sometimes it is mere teasing. I don’t know what this is here.