Dugong

Chapter 110 Inheritance of the Faith
The old eunuchs pondered carefully. What Xiao Yuzi said might have been somewhat unorthodox, but it pointed out the way for eunuchs to be included in the family genealogy and buried in ancestral graves.

After Xiao Yuzi separated from his clan, all the nephews born to his brothers relied on this eunuch uncle for food.

They ran a business that was guaranteed to make money, and their clientele consisted of powerful and influential officials.

Given the choice between eating coarse bread and enjoying wealth and luxury, anyone who isn't a stubborn fool would consider including a eunuch in the family genealogy a trivial matter!
Grandpa Fei looked on with envy and said regretfully, "It's a pity that our branch of the family has no more brothers or descendants."

Several old eunuchs shook their heads and sighed with empathy. When they entered the palace, their brothers had already died, and their relationship with their nephews in the clan was somewhat distant.

The banquet, which had been filled with laughter and joy, suddenly became somewhat somber.

So what if our family is powerful and influential? A hundred years from now, we won't even have any descendants to offer incense and burn paper money for us.

Li Ping'an comforted him, saying, "There is a way."

Eunuch Fei hurriedly asked, "Please enlighten me, godfather, you are listed first in our family genealogy."

The godsons all started to clamor, wanting to write Grandpa An as the ancestor in the family genealogy.

"Little Fei bought a house in the capital, some newborn babies, and a dozen or so concubines."

Li Ping'an said, "We usually keep them outside, but when we have time, we can go out of the palace to visit them a few times and enjoy the happiness of family life!"

Grandpa Fei's eyes lit up; he found this method ingenious.

Grandpa Peng was quite tempted, but also a little worried: "After all, he's not one of our own, and it's hard to say he'll be filial when he gets old."

"So raise a few more, and pass the silver to whoever is filial!"

Eunuch Xia changed the subject and said coldly, "Besides, is it really safe to have your own offspring?"
"Back then, our family helped with the burial of Eunuch Xing. We coerced and bribed them into entering the ancestral graveyard, giving them a large sum of money and promising them a prosperous future. But the following year, when we went to burn paper money, the grave had already been dug up by his relatives, the body left to rot in the wilderness, barely a few bones found!"

The eunuchs immediately fell silent, fearing that the clansmen, who had been respectful in life, would have their graves dug up after death.

Eunuch Fei asked, "Eunuch Xia, how did you deal with the Xing family?"

Eunuch Xia replied, "Back then, I was still in the Directorate of Ceremonial. I told the Beijing government that the Xing family's businesses had been confiscated and they were all sent back to farming!"

The eunuchs cheered, and several older eunuchs, who were not very old, agreed to take care of the tomb.

Grandpa Fei, Grandpa Peng, and others discussed how many children they should buy and how to raise them to be filial.

After discussing it for a long time, they discovered that using the methods used to train eunuchs in the palace would definitely produce a "loyal and devoted" son.

"Interesting, interesting."

Seeing the gleam in the eyes of his eunuchs, who were even more excited than if they were reaping silver, Li Ping'an wondered if he should also consider having an heir.

My elder brother has two nephews; perhaps we could adopt one of them.

"Our family doesn't need filial sons, but having descendants and something to worry about makes His Majesty feel more at ease!"

……

The next day.

Xingqing Palace.

Li Ping'an attended another banquet, but unlike yesterday when he sat in the main seat, he bowed and served His Majesty on the left.

In the Great Yong Dynasty, the right side was considered superior, and Eunuch Hai, standing opposite him, looked smug.

No matter how skilled you are in martial arts or how many merits you have, you are just another Eunuch Leng. His Majesty still favors me!
Li Ping'an ignored the fellow and looked at the civil and military officials seated on his left and right.

"In just two years, half of the officials depicted in Grandpa's banquet painting have changed, including those in the Ministry of War!"

He stole a glance at the gentle-looking Emperor Yongning and found him to be on par with the ruthless former emperor.

The officials praised His Majesty as a benevolent and sage ruler, and even those who had retired or been demoted deeply agreed with this assessment.

Emperor Yongning smiled and raised his cup, saying, "Thanks to my maternal uncle's supervision, the grain tax in Jiangnan has been abundant this year. You have worked hard."

"It is all thanks to Your Majesty's benevolence that I dare not take credit for it."

Grand Secretary Cui quickly kowtowed: "Your Majesty's holy name resounds throughout Jiangnan, and all the gentry and celebrities praise him, and everyone is scrambling to pay their grain taxes."

The other civil officials were quick to offer praise, and the various flatteries made Li Ping'an blush slightly, and he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

"Our flattery skills are truly no match for these scholars; their praise of His Majesty is so eloquent and varied, quoting from countless classics." One must read books; only by reading more can one truly master flattery!
Look at those rough and uncouth military officers, their faces flushed red, all they can do is shout "Your Majesty is wise, Your Majesty is long-lived" over and over again.

When midnight arrives.

The sound of the Jingyang Bell resounded throughout the palace, marking the arrival of the third year of Yongning.

The imperial family, nobles, and officials, both civil and military, kowtowed three times and bowed nine times, shouting "Long live the Emperor!"

"Everyone loves you."

Emperor Yongning raised his cup and said, "I am fortunate to have been able to protect the ancestral temple due to my meager virtue. I am always afraid of failing the late emperor's last wishes, so I work diligently day and night, reading memorials until the night is over."

Thanks to the concerted efforts of all my ministers, the granaries are full, and the surrounding barbarians submit. On this auspicious occasion, I hereby bestow upon you all gold and jade scepters, so that we may all share in the joy of the New Year!

Upon hearing this, all the officials bowed again and shouted in unison.

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"

After the New Year's Eve banquet, the officials and nobles departed.

Li Ping'an was supposed to return to Cining Palace, but seeing that His Majesty had dismissed him, he had no choice but to follow him step by step to the Imperial Study.

After His Majesty ascended the throne, he became accustomed to reading memorials in the Imperial Study, and the Hall of Diligent Governance became a palace solely for holding court.

After Emperor Yongning took his seat, he rubbed his forehead to relieve his drunkenness and waved his hand.

"Xiao Anzi, you've had a long day of work, please take a seat."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Li Ping'an kowtowed to express his gratitude, with half of his buttocks rubbing against the brocade stool, seemingly sitting but actually suspended in mid-air.

Emperor Yongning flipped through the memorials and took out a volume from them.

"I have ordered Minister Shen to travel to Jiangnan to investigate the case of Prince Qi. This is the secret report he sent back. Xiao Anzi, take a look and see if there are any oversights."

Li Ping'an quickly got up to take it. He knew the cause of Qi Wang's death, but His Majesty emphasized the word "oversight" when he spoke, which meant that there was a change in the case.

The memorial was only two or three hundred words long, and the opening two sentences were to inquire about His Majesty's health, which was much more concise than that of the late emperor.

After conducting an in-depth investigation, Imperial Envoy Shen discovered that the death of the King of Qi was related to salt merchants in Jiangnan.

It is speculated that the salt tax eunuch colluded with local officials to embezzle large sums of money. When the King of Qi discovered their crimes, he died suddenly on the pleasure boat not long after.

"..."

Li Ping'an immediately understood that His Majesty's plan to investigate the salt merchants of Jiangnan was merely a pretext, and the death of Prince Qi was just that—a pretext.

As for evidence, it will be available if needed.

"Your Majesty, as far as I know, the major salt merchants are backed by powerful families in Jiangnan, among which the Lu and Zheng families hold the largest share."

Li Ping'an didn't dare mention the Cui family, and tentatively asked, "If Lord Shen continues to investigate, I'm afraid there will be big trouble."

Emperor Yongning's voice was calm and unwavering: "So, powerful clans can harm my brothers?"

"I acknowledge my guilt."

Li Ping'an quickly kowtowed: "Your Majesty, the local salt and iron eunuchs are under the jurisdiction of the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Ministry of Revenue. Even if I send someone to investigate, I'm afraid there will be no progress."

Eunuch Hai, who had been calmly watching the show, suddenly changed his expression upon hearing this and hurriedly kowtowed to explain, "Your Majesty, this servant has only recently taken over the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs and has not yet sorted out the salt and iron eunuchs in various regions, so I am not aware of the specific situation."

Li Ping'an's lips curled slightly. His Majesty only needed eunuchs to carry out his duties and wouldn't listen to any explanations.

Once or twice is fine, but if it happens too often, it will inevitably cause disgust.

Emperor Yongning had already prepared a plan and instructed, "I regard the Empress Dowager as my 'birth mother,' and Prince Qi is my elder brother. Since Xiao Anzi is the chief steward of Cining Palace, he should find out the real culprit for the Empress Dowager."

"The slaves obey."

When Li Ping'an heard the words "biological mother," a look of horror flashed across his eyes. He not only had to take the case, but he also had to handle it well.

(End of this chapter)