Dugong

Chapter 100 Empathy
Royal study room.

Li Pingan knelt on the ground.

Emperor Yongning flipped through the memorials expressionlessly until he saw the phrase "one million two hundred thousand taels of silver returned to the imperial treasury," at which point a faint smile appeared on his face.

"Xiao Anzi did a good job."

Li Ping'an respectfully replied, "This servant's meager merits are entirely due to Your Majesty's cultivation."

Emperor Yongning asked, "Does Eunuch Leng truly work for the Prince of Zhenbei?"

"Hard to say."

Li Ping'an neither admitted nor denied it. The matter of fabricating evidence could not be hidden from His Majesty, but it could not be said that Eunuch Leng had no connection with the Prince of Zhenbei.

After all, it was clear that Eunuch Leng's rise to power was due to the influence of Consort Zhang, so the slander was not entirely unfounded.

Emperor Yongning rebuked, "The Prince of Zhenbei is a loyal subject of the dynasty. Do not slander him without evidence, lest it affect the stability of the dynasty."

"I acknowledge my guilt."

Li Ping'an understood immediately. The Prince of Zhenbei had affected the stability of the country, and they should target him more in the future.

Emperor Yongning pondered for a moment: "The Imperial Hunting Garden was built by order of the late emperor. It cannot be halted because of the corruption of treacherous officials. Xiao Anzi, take on more responsibility and temporarily serve as the supervisor of the Directorate of Palace Attendants. Keep a close eye on it and make sure it is completed as soon as possible."

"The slaves obey the order."

Li Ping'an kowtowed repeatedly. Xiao Dengzi and his adopted son were all captured. The Inner Palace was in a power vacuum and it would be easy for them to seize power.

It's only temporary in name. Even if a new admiral takes office in the future, would he dare to remove any of our people?
After killing Eunuch Deng with a single blow, Li Ping'an became infamous and his power shook the Inner Palace.

He bowed and left the imperial study, while a fierce storm raged outside.

Xiao Liangzi bowed and handed over the oil-paper umbrella, his words filled with respect and fear: "Congratulations on your promotion, Eunuch An."

"Thank you, Eunuch Liang."

As Li Ping'an accepted the oil-paper umbrella, he slipped two silver notes into Xiao Liangzi's sleeve: "No matter how high an official we become, we will always remember Eunuch Liang's kindness."

Xiao Liangzi bowed repeatedly, showing great favor towards Eunuch An.

There is no shortage of people in lowly positions who comfort each other, but it is rare for someone in a high position to still treat old friends as equals.

Xiao Liangzi pointed to the kneeling figure in the rain and whispered, "Eunuch Leng has been kneeling for two days and two nights. Even Consort Zhang sent someone to deliver a message, but His Majesty still refuses to see him."

"Eunuch Leng is too obsessed!"

Li Ping'an opened the oil-paper umbrella, walked up to Eunuch Leng, and saw his miserable appearance, soaked to the bone, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"Eunuch Leng, isn't it cold kneeling on the ground?"

The old eunuch pressed his head to the ground, his white hair flowing freely with the rain, and choked out, "This old servant begs to see Your Majesty."

Li Ping'an took a deep look at the cold-faced eunuch and felt a strange sense of empathy. He stopped his contemptuous mockery.

"Uncle Leng, may you rest in peace. I'll burn some paper money for you when I have time!"

……

Royal study room.

Emperor Yongning glanced through the window at Eunuch Leng, who was kneeling and pleading, and suddenly felt a pang of pity.

"Little Hai Zi, do you think I've been too ruthless?"

Hai Gonggong was immediately horrified. Seeing that Leng Gonggong was about to die, he couldn't let him turn the tables.

However, His Majesty is merciful and cannot directly speak of execution.

Hai Gonggong's mind raced, and he said in a shrill voice, "Your Majesty, your permission for Leng Gonggong to leave the palace to retire is already a great act of benevolence, but he is ungrateful and too greedy."

Emperor Yongning nodded slightly: "The late emperor's old ministers, all those who wish to retire, I have always treated well and provided them with a comfortable old age."

"Your Majesty is benevolent and virtuous; he is a wise ruler for all ages!"

Hai Gonggong breathed a sigh of relief. Once Leng Gonggong and his cronies were wiped out, many official positions in the palace would be vacant, which he could then arrange for his adopted sons and grandsons to fill.

Emperor Yongning suddenly asked, "Little Haizi, what do you think of Little Anzi?"

Eunuch Hai said, "Eunuch An serves His Majesty with utmost dedication and fearlessness in the face of death; he is truly a loyal subject of the nation."

Emperor Yongning nodded and said, "That's right, I think so too."

"However, Eunuch An's actions are somewhat... somewhat..."

Eunuch Hai glanced furtively at His Majesty. Following his usual methods of sowing discord and making things difficult for His Majesty, he first praised him and then criticized him, making his "slander" seem more credible.

Emperor Yongning said, "Speak freely, I will not be swayed by one side." "Your Majesty, this servant fears Eunuch An's methods, but there are some things I must say."

Eunuch Hai knelt down with a thud, his eyes slightly red: "This servant has heard that the collapse of the Imperial Hunting Garden was man-made, but not by Eunuch Deng."

Emperor Yongning asked, "You suspect that it was Xiao Anzi who did it?"

Eunuch Hai kowtowed and said, "This servant has no evidence, but some things don't need evidence. If it was truly Eunuch An who did it, then it is indeed somewhat..."

The Emperor Yongning understood even before the words "great disrespect" were uttered.

Regardless of the reason, those who dared to demolish the Imperial Hunting Grounds were at least not as respectful and reverent of imperial power as others.

Emperor Yongning pondered for a moment, then ordered, "Summon Gong Jing."

After a while.

Gong Jing, the commander of the Zhenfu Division, bowed as he entered the Imperial Study. Before he entered, Eunuch Liang had already reminded him that His Majesty seemed to be in a bad mood.

"Your humble servant Gong Jing greets Your Majesty."

"Get up."

Emperor Yongning asked calmly, "Has the matter at the Imperial Hunting Ground been thoroughly investigated?"

Gong Jing said with a worried look, "Your Majesty, I sent people to investigate both openly and secretly, and confirmed that those people were on duty in the duty room when the Guangwu Terrace collapsed."

Hai Gonggong's heart trembled slightly. His Majesty had already sent the Zhenfu Division to investigate. Today, his rash "slander" of An Gonggong seemed rather hasty.

Emperor Yongning asked, "What was Xiao Anzi doing that day?"

Gong Jing hesitated slightly before replying, "Eunuch An is embezzling silver..."

Emperor Yongning was slightly taken aback, then interrupted, "Are you sure Xiao Anzi is on duty in the palace?"

"determine."

Gong Jing pulled a sealed memorial from his sleeve: "Your Majesty, this is Eunuch An's itinerary for the past few days. I have been sending people to keep an eye on him at all times."

Emperor Yongning took the memorial, glanced at it, frowned slightly, and rebuked it.

“Every time this scoundrel goes on an official mission, under the guise of investigating corruption, he secretly embezzles so much silver. What kind of behavior is this!”

The memorial clearly records that Li Ping'an opened a business, bought and sold goods to earn money from the Imperial Horse Administration, and purchased land and houses from corrupt officials at low prices.

The Zhenfu Division had planted spies in the East Market and Hengchang businesses, and had a rough estimate of the amount of silver Li Ping'an had embezzled, with fluctuations not exceeding 30%.

Emperor Yongning made a rough estimate and found that the imperial treasury accounted for the majority of the funds, which immediately pleased him.

Despite his greed, Xiao Anzi still knew the difference between superiors and inferiors!

Hai Gonggong craned his neck to peek at the memorial, and seeing the huge amount of embezzlement on it, he couldn't help but feel jealous. Our family couldn't even compare to one-tenth or one-twelfth of that amount.

Gong Jing tentatively asked, "Your Majesty, should we investigate Eunuch An's embezzlement case?"

"I'll remember that for now."

Emperor Yongning left the memorial behind and ordered, "Find out as soon as possible who destroyed the Imperial Hunting Garden. I want to see who dares to be so disrespectful!"

"The minister obeys the order."

……

Cining Palace.

Li Ping'an helped Empress Dowager Zhou to the window to listen to the rain.

The two Bodhi trees, which had been transplanted recently, were lush and green after being watered by the spring rain, which pleased Empress Dowager Zhou.

"Little Anzi, have you finished His Majesty's task?"

"Only the finishing touches remain."

Knowing what Empress Dowager Zhou wanted to hear, Li Ping'an smiled and said, "After Eunuch Leng fell from power, Consort Zhang's influence in the palace plummeted, and I reckon her orders can't even leave Cining Palace."

Empress Zhou's face lit up with joy, and she said hatefully, "I will make that wretched woman die a horrible death!"

Li Ping'an said, "His Majesty is benevolent and also considers the impact on the north, so it is highly likely that no blood will be shed."

Empress Dowager Zhou frowned and said, "Are you suggesting that we should let that wretched woman live out her days in peace?"

"Your Majesty, please don't worry. It's not appropriate for us to act directly. We can let the person who killed your mother do it..."

(End of this chapter)