Dugong

Chapter 109 A loving mother and a filial son
Cining Palace.

The air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood incense and the sound of chanting sutras.

Empress Dowager Zhou knelt on a prayer mat, her Buddhist prayer beads turning as she chanted sutras.

Perhaps she had let go of many things in her heart, or perhaps she had witnessed the decline of Cining Palace, or perhaps she had truly understood Buddhism, but Empress Dowager Zhou's face became more and more kind and peaceful.

Court officials repeatedly submitted memorials praising Empress Dowager Zhou for her "meritorious service within the court and her virtuous conduct in public."

Li Ping'an bowed respectfully outside the Buddhist hall, waiting for the chanting to stop before revealing a joyful smile and hurriedly running inside.

"Congratulations to the empress, congratulations to the empress!"

The news of the restoration of the Prince of Qi's title was not kept secret; many eunuchs and palace maids had already heard about it before the imperial edict was issued.

However, no one dared to report the good news on their own. Even a few words of praise from the Empress Dowager would result in being demoted to emptying chamber pots the next day. Now, with Chief Eunuch An overseeing the palace, he'd ensure you had an endless supply of chamber pots to empty and toilets to clean!
Empress Dowager Zhou laughed and said, "What a joyous occasion! It has made even the most well-behaved Xiao Anzi lose his composure?"

Li Ping'an said, "Yao Ge'er built a mausoleum for the late emperor and was praised by His Majesty for his filial piety. He was also ordered to restore the title of Prince of Qi."

Empress Dowager Zhou's face lit up with joy: "Really?"

"really!"

Li Ping'an nodded emphatically: "His Majesty issued the decree at noon, and it's possible that the imperial edict has already been delivered to Yao Ge'er's residence."

Empress Dowager Zhou put her hands together and said, "Amitabha, thank you Buddha for your protection."

The eldest son was put to death, the second son committed suicide, and the third son was demoted to a commoner. This had always been a source of worry for Empress Dowager Zhou, but finally, the clouds parted and the moon shone through.

Li Ping'an reminded her, "Your Majesty, this is His Majesty's benevolence."

"Xiao Anzi is right."

Empress Dowager Zhou suddenly realized what was going on and instructed, "Choose a day to summon the ladies of the various households. I have something to tell you."

"Your Majesty, please don't rush to summon the nobles..."

Li Ping'an gave a signal, and the palace maids and eunuchs serving in the Buddhist hall bowed and withdrew, whispering something.

"His Highness Prince Qi acted dissolutely in his younger days and offended Consort Cui while drunk. Fortunately, His Majesty is unaware of it."

"That good-for-nothing!"

Empress Dowager Zhou's expression instantly turned serious. If someone were to expose this matter, not only would the title of Prince Qi be lost, but even the Cining Palace would be implicated.

"What does Xiao Anzi think we should do?"

Li Ping'an suggested, "We must deal with all those who know about this to prevent the information from leaking."

Empress Dowager Zhou nodded and said, "Xiao Anzi, just do it. Better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free."

"This servant will certainly take care of it."

Li Ping'an bowed and accepted the order, taking this opportunity to thoroughly purge the old people of Kunning Palace and send away those troublesome old nannies.

To keep Cining Palace clean and tidy, cleaning cannot stop; it must be done frequently and repeatedly. There is no one-time solution.

Only by consistently employing both kindness and strictness to ensure stability at home can we effectively fight on the front lines.

Empress Dowager Zhou, with Xiao Anzi's arm around her, slowly walked out of the Buddhist hall. Dozens or even hundreds of eunuchs were already kneeling outside, all dressed in brand-new official robes.

The red, green, and emerald green colors are quite eye-catching.

Eunuch Rong, Eunuch Xia, Eunuch Fei, Xiao Yuzi, and others led the eunuchs in shouting in unison.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager! May Your Majesty's reign be everlasting and your benevolent grace everlasting!"

"Very well, rise. Rewards, all rewards."

Looking at the officials kneeling on the ground, Empress Dowager Zhou seemed to recall the scene of her reign as the mother of the nation, with all the officials paying homage. Her eyes involuntarily reddened.

"Xiao Anzi, you always handle things so well, you truly please me."

"Our hearts are connected with Her Majesty's."

Li Ping'an murmured, "This servant has never seen Grandma since I was a child. I have only heard my parents describe her appearance. In short, she has seven or eight parts of the kindness of Your Majesty."

Empress Dowager Zhou comforted him, saying, "Little Anzi suffered in his early years. When you have time, call your mother to the palace for a chat."

Li Ping'an looked ashamed and inferior: "This servant is just a village woman, only good at cursing people in the village. Please don't offend Your Majesty."

Empress Dowager Zhou laughed and said, "Interesting, interesting. I have seen female scholars and female generals, but I have never seen a shrewish village woman."

As they talked, they arrived at the entrance of the main hall.

Empress Dowager Zhou glanced back at the densely packed officials behind her and suddenly asked, "Little Anzi, how is Yaoge'er's health?" Li Ping'an hesitated, knowing that some things were easier said than done.

Empress Dowager Zhou said, "Just speak the truth. You are my own grandson, and there's no need for us to hide anything from each other."

Li Ping'an replied, "His Highness Prince Qi frequents brothels and contracted an illness a couple of years ago. I have already sent the imperial physician to examine him carefully, and his life is not in danger."

Empress Dowager Zhou's face turned ashen. Suddenly, she began to somewhat agree with the woman from Cining Palace who had indeed failed in her duty to raise her son.

"The late emperor's majesty extends to all corners of the land, and his name will be etched in history. Let's not allow Yao-ge'er to tarnish his illustrious reputation!"

Li Ping'an exclaimed in shock, "Your Majesty, isn't this a bit..."

Empress Dowager Zhou asked, "Xiao Anzi, can you guarantee that His Majesty will never know?"

"It's hard."

Li Ping'an said, "The palace maids and eunuchs are relatively easy to deal with, but if that person in Cining Palace knows the truth, it will be difficult to keep quiet in a short time."

"That's it."

Empress Dowager Zhou said softly, "I am no longer a widowed old woman, nor do I wish to move out of Cining Palace, especially since Yaoge has seven or eight children."

King Qi was dissolute and fond of women, which caused him a lot of trouble. His only good point was that he produced offspring for the royal family.

Li Pingan hesitated for a long time before gritting his teeth and nodding.

"The minister accepts the order!"

……

The second year of Yongning.

June.

On his way to his fiefdom, the King of Qi indulged in debauchery day and night in Jiangdu County. Even at midnight, the sound of a pipa could still be heard. He eventually died suddenly on a pleasure boat in a brocade tent.

The prefect and magistrate submitted memorials to plead guilty, and Emperor Yongning ordered an imperial envoy to inspect the Jiangnan region.

September.

Emperor Yongning issued an edict to reduce land rent and poll tax, and abolish some harsh laws.

Displaced people were allowed to cultivate wasteland and were reinstated into the household registration system.

……

The 29th day of the twelfth lunar month.

into the night.

The Imperial Horse Stables were decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, with bright red lanterns hanging everywhere, creating a very festive atmosphere.

Laughter and cheerful conversation filled the duty room as the godchildren and the old eunuch took turns toasting Eunuch An, offering different auspicious words each time.

Li Ping'an sat at the head of the table, accepting every cup of wine offered.

Tomorrow I'm going to Xingqing Palace to accompany His Majesty in a banquet for all the officials and nobles. Today I'm having a feast with my subordinates in advance to celebrate another year of peaceful life.

Xiao Yuzi finally put on his red official robe and competed for favor with Eunuch Xia and Eunuch Fei in person, so as not to be inferior to them. Tears dripped into his wine cup.

"Your son thanks you for your guidance, godfather. You are like our own father. I will write your name into the family genealogy in the future..."

The eunuch Fei, standing nearby, chuckled strangely, "Eunuch Yu has lost his testicles, yet he's still included in the family genealogy?"

Xiao Yuzi snorted coldly: "Our old-fashioned uncle is stubborn and inflexible. He said that eunuchs should not be included in the family genealogy or ancestral graves. In a fit of anger, our family moved our parents' graves."

"And then what happened?" asked Eunuch Xia curiously.

Xiao Yu said proudly, "We've reopened the family genealogy. Our parents are on the first page, and our achievements fill three whole pages. We're even going to build a big tomb for them in the future!"

A strange light flashed in Grandpa Xia's eyes. The younger generation was indeed efficient, decisive, and unconventional in their actions, showing no regard for their elders.

Eunuch Fei was quite intrigued: "Would Eunuch Yu's brothers and nephews be willing?"

"Do they dare to refuse? Are they willing to refuse?"

Xiao Yu's face was flushed, and she was slightly tipsy.

"My godfather taught us that in this world, whoever has power and money should be in charge, not some nobody!"

(End of this chapter)