Palace Fighting: Naive Concubines' Ascent to Power-Chapter 455: Bestow a Name

He was nervous, and the words he had intended to say got mixed up. He wanted to express the same wish as Eunuch Liu, asking Master Lian to call him Little Doggie. But by the time he reached the last sentence, which originally was "please, Master Lian, call me by my name," he realized it was inappropriate and awkwardly twisted his words, completely changing the meaning.

A bolt of lightning struck through Eunuch Liu’s mind. Good little Doggie, he was on the right track, not a waste to have brought him along. Why hadn’t he thought of asking for a name first himself? It would have been so much better!

"Ah, you want me to rename you?" Lian Hua was somewhat baffled. She had just met the person, and he was already asking her to bestow a name?

Little Doggie proved himself worthy of Eunuch Liu’s recognition. Though initially clumsy in response, he knew not to change his plea easily. He promptly knelt down and kowtowed with a loud thud. "Master Lian, please forgive this servant’s impudence. As a child, my parents were illiterate and did not give me a proper name. Meeting Master Lian today is like seeing a celestial being, so I boldly ask Master Lian to grant me a name."

"So that’s the case..." Lian Hua nodded, deeply understanding the difficulty of having an unfortunate name; she had also been laughed at in school for her own name. It took her standing up to her classmates for the taunting to stop.

Since Little Doggie was so frail, probably unable to stand up for himself, she decided, "Then I will choose a name for you. Wait a moment, let me think, let me think..."

Little Doggie was overjoyed. He hadn’t expected Lian Hua to be so agreeable, and he was immensely grateful, repeatedly kowtowing and expressing his thanks.

Nanny Qi found this amusing. The young girl probably didn’t even understand the implications of allegiance and support hidden in granting a name, yet she agreed regardless.

Never mind, the people from the Bureau of Palace Attendants seemed quick-witted enough. It was fine.

Pang Ya couldn’t help but look up at Little Doggie with a strange expression thinking about Master Lian giving a name. Wasn’t that insane? Her original name had been Yuan Yuan, but no one remembered it anymore, all thanks to the name Master Lian had bestowed, and now she nearly forgot she was once called Yuan Yuan.

Lian Hua kept sizing up Little Doggie who was frail and tiny. She mumbled under her breath, "Little Doggie suits you well, it fits!"

Only those on the pavilion could hear her; those below could only see her lips moving and had no idea what she was saying.

She walked back and forth, glanced at Little Doggie, and murmured, "Otherwise, how about Chen Wangcai?"

The name Wangcai was very auspicious and akin in meaning to Little Doggie.

But since he had requested her to name him, never mind, let’s give him a name a bit mightier, quite the opposite of his frail physique.

So, she made up her mind and declared, "Then you shall be named Chen Weiwu, hoping that you grow strong and imposing."

Upon hearing this name, Little Doggie’s eyes immediately moistened. Master Lian truly understood him; this name couldn’t suit him better.

He was born frail as a kitten, barely surviving with a few spoonfuls of gruel. Growing up, he remained weak, and with several elder brothers, his family feared he couldn’t be supported and decided to sell him, leading him to the palace to become an eunuch.

When he first came to the palace, his weak body often led to bullying by taller, robust eunuchs, causing him to develop a complex around people who were taller!

If it wasn’t for his perseverance, good intellect, and ability to show weakness and obedience, which caught Eunuch Liu’s attention and brought him under his wing, he would have suffered even more bullying.

Thus, since childhood, he had wished to be stronger so that he wouldn’t have been abandoned by his family or subjected to so much bullying.

Master Lian truly understood him. This name was perfect for him.

With tearful eyes, he vigorously kowtowed three solid times, "This servant, Chen Weiwu, is immensely grateful for Master Lian’s great kindness."

The sound of kowtowing was so painful that Lian Hua could feel it, "Ouch, it sounds painful; please, no more kowtowing, get up."

She feared it might falsely implicate her if he injured himself.

He stood up, his eyes filled with endless gratitude, looking at Lian Hua as if looking at a parent who had given him a new life.

Lian Hua checked his forehead, relieved to see it wasn’t damaged—just a bit red. Thankfully, it hadn’t been bashed in.

Eunuch Liu, seeing Little Doggie’s issue resolved, felt a pang of envy. How wonderful it would have been if he had been granted a name by Master Lian; then he would have established a connection with Master Lian.

With his own name given by Master Lian, nobody would mistake him for being one of the Noble Consort’s people, and his superiors would have to respect him from then on.

It seemed that he would have to treat Little Doggie better in the future; after all, Little Doggie had been granted a name by Master Lian and was now his subordinate...

No wonder he was so eager to establish connections with Canglan Court. Since that day, the conditions in the palace had changed. The Noble Consort had met a quiet end. Currently, she was said to be recuperating and rarely made appearances, while Consort De strongly emerged on the scene, with almost all matters, big and small, being reported to Huaying Hall.

He suppressed the thoughts in his mind and, spotting an anthology, quickly stepped forward and said, "Master Lian, I have come to bring something to Eunuch Ji ..."

He wanted to state his purpose and add a few flattering and auspicious words to subtly hint, but he was cut off before he could finish.

"You’ve come to deliver clothes for the Managing eunuch for Xiao Jizi, right? I understand, thank you, Eunuch Liu. You may go about your business," Lian Hua nodded, knowing that those clothes had been thoroughly examined by everyone from top to bottom.

With that thought, she turned to look at the clothes, walked over, and, feeling tempted, touched them twice. "This fabric is indeed nice, much better than what Xiao Jizi is wearing."

Eunuch Liu paused, wondering from Master Lian’s words if he was being dismissed?

Yet, he had not exchanged many words with Master Lian and was reluctant to leave.

He lingered in place, and hearing the compliment about the fabric, he immediately looked up, energetically chimed in, "Master Lian truly knows quality. The higher the servant’s rank, the better the material used for the clothes. I specifically picked the finest material available for the Managing eunuch, without breaking the palace rules, to make Eunuch Ji more comfortable."

With a hopeful expression, he wanted to add some more complimentary words, but just as the words were about to leave his mouth, the opportunity was lost.

Lian Hua turned back with a "huh?" and saw him still rooted in place: "Eunuch Liu, do you have something else? If not, I need to prepare lunch for His Majesty."

She noticed out of the corner of her eye that Da Zhuang’s arms were already trembling, having held the food box in the same position for too long.

Eunuch Liu instantly swallowed the words that had reached his throat, speechless. His Majesty’s needs were paramount; Master Lian preparing His Majesty’s meal was a matter of great importance, and he dared not say another word.

He felt bitter inside. His trip had been well-planned: to deliver the clothes for the Managing eunuch, present them personally, sprinkle in a few auspicious words, and make a good impression.

But his plan hadn’t reached fruition. The palace maid had overreached, her speed in action crushing his plans instantly.

Little Doggie, on the other hand, was fortunate to have been granted a name, gaining increased esteem from everyone; whereas he had gained nothing, unsure whether Master Lian was aware of his intentions.

It mattered not, for there would be other days. To become familiar to them was also a start. He could only console himself with this thought, forcing a smile as he took his leave, a smile that looked uglier than tears.