"Eunuch Li, do you have time to stay for a meal at the residence?" Ye Muyu offered as was customary.
Eunuch Li congratulated her with a smile but politely refused, "Eunuch Ren is here to congratulate Madam Chu. The Emperor indeed appreciates Madam's contributions to Great Chu, and perhaps, in the future, Eunuch Ren might even learn some arithmetic."
Those in the palace are not always able to learn to read, especially the attendants serving Emperor Xuanming closely.
Eunuch Li naturally wouldn't admit he wanted to learn characters, but along with pinyin came Arabic numerals.
The origin of these numbers is quite straightforward; they came directly from the mouths of overseas foreigners.
"Eunuch, you jest! Your arithmetic skills are decent originally; this new method is merely for convenient writing."
