Dugong

Chapter 141 Tooth for Tooth
Eunuch An handled a case and was commended twice for his work.

Before His Majesty, he spoke of loyalty to the country and concern for the safety of the northern frontier; before the Empress Dowager, he spoke of seeking revenge and was willing to risk his life.

Neither side lied; they received the Emperor's power and the Empress Dowager's favor.

"Grandpa was right after all; it's not as good as someone who knows how to claim credit!"

The next morning.

Li Ping'an helped the Empress Dowager get up and dress, handed her a hot brocade towel to wipe her face, and personally combed her hair.

Empress Dowager Zhou's hair was white as snow, and she inevitably lost hair when combing it.

The elderly are particularly sensitive to this, and the eunuchs and maids who serve them on a daily basis are often scolded and punished for it.

Li Ping'an served the emperor day after day for years, from the Cold Palace to the Cining Palace, and had long since figured out his unique way of dealing with the hair loss.

When combing his hair and seeing white hairs fall out, he immediately used his inner energy to crush them into dust.

Such exquisite control over true qi is something ordinary eunuchs simply cannot learn; it is a "threshold" skill.

After returning from his studies at the Sanqing Temple in Jiangnan, Li Ping'an learned many health-preserving exercises.

When combing your hair, the vital energy flows along the midline of the head, which is the location of the Du meridian, slowly extending backward and to both sides, continuously nourishing and moisturizing the Yang meridian areas, promoting the circulation of Qi and blood, and invigorating the Yang energy throughout the body.

After such meticulous and thoughtful hair combing and conditioning, Empress Dowager Zhou felt full of energy and seemed to look much younger.

"I still need Xiao Anzi to serve me!"

Li Ping'an said modestly, "My family doesn't have any special skills, we just did our best."

The palace maids and eunuchs serving nearby looked on with admiration. Who in the palace had the ability to win the favor of noblemen like Eunuch An? It was only a matter of time before he rose to prominence.

Silently memorize Eunuch An's actions, expressions, and words, and carefully study their essence.

Even if it's just superficial knowledge, you'll benefit greatly from learning it.

After serving the Empress Dowager breakfast, Li Ping'an accompanied her for a stroll in the garden, where the crape myrtle and peonies were in full bloom in May.

As for plants like crabapple and lotus, Eunuch An had already ordered people to pull them up, lest they bear fruit and annoy the Empress Dowager.

After listening to some sutras at the Buddhist hall near noon, Li Ping'an hurried to the Imperial Horse Stable.

In the duty room.

Eunuch Xia, Xiao Jinzi, Eunuch Peng, and others had been waiting for a long time. When Li Ping'an took the main seat, he led the eunuchs to kowtow.

"Greetings, Admiral/Commander!"

"Get up."

Li Ping'an sat upright at the head of the table, looking down at those below, a stark contrast to his previous subservient demeanor in the Cining Palace.

Without bowing and scraping, how can one be imposing?

Eunuch Xia bowed and handed over a stack of official documents, much thicker than before, which included matters concerning the Salt Transport Office and the Anti-Traitor Office.

"We have drafted our opinions. Most matters will be handled according to established practices. We respectfully request your approval."

Li Ping'an casually flipped through the documents and found that each document contained the opinions of four eunuchs. Most of them were similar, while a few had objections.

At present, the four eunuchs in the Imperial Horse Administration who are qualified to draft official documents are Eunuch Xia, Xiao Chenzi, Eunuch Peng, and Xiao Jinzi. Although this job does not have a specific official position, the four of them are clearly of higher status than other eunuchs, young and old.

Two old men, two young men, three adopted sons, and one trusted confidant.

Below them are Eunuch Peng, Young Master, Eunuch You, and others, each holding important positions in government offices. If any of the four falls from grace, they can all vie to take their place.

As the number of government offices under Li Ping'an's jurisdiction continued to increase, management became increasingly difficult, and there was no past experience to draw upon.

So, imitating the official system of the imperial court, the Grand Secretary drafted proposals, the Minister carried out tasks, and a dozen or so adopted sons with low rank but high reputations were scattered in various government offices to supervise.

They check and balance each other, yet complement each other.

Eunuch Xia bowed and returned to his place, and Xiao Chenzi immediately reported.

"The Yu family in Hepu County has been illegally lending money at exorbitant interest rates, seizing farmland from the people, and causing deaths by forcing debtors. The entire family has been arrested and is awaiting trial."

Li Ping'an was slightly taken aback. What trivial case, so remote and insignificant, was worth discussing in the Imperial Horse Stables duty room?

Xiao Chenzi reminded him, "Godfather, that lowly maid in Kunning Palace has the surname Yu."

"It turned out to be her."

Li Ping'an had been so busy these past few days that he had long forgotten about the palace maid Xueyun. Now that Xiao Chenzi had brought it up, he naturally had to keep his word. "Inform the magistrate of Hepu County that he must impose a severe sentence and uphold justice for the people under his jurisdiction!"

"My child understands."

Xiao Chenzi bowed and accepted the order; he had to do the job his godfather had assigned him.

The magistrate of Hepu County originally dared not provoke the female official of Kunning Palace, but Xiao Chenzi ordered his black-clad guards to keep watch and investigate day and night, and obtained evidence of the magistrate's embezzlement.

Left with no other choice, this fellow had to stand up for the people.

After Xiao Chenzi returned to his place, Eunuch Peng followed closely behind, his face ashen.

"Your Excellency, yesterday the Beijing government received a report that a spies living in Yongping Ward had died at home."

Li Ping'an frowned slightly: "Have you found the murderer?"

Eunuch Peng shook his head: "The murderer killed cleanly and efficiently. I went to check it myself and found no clues."

"This must be retaliation from the Garrison Command!"

Li Ping'an disregarded the evidence and made a decision directly: "The treason case has caused the Zhenfu Division to lose face, so they openly impeached us while secretly killing the investigators."

Eunuch Peng said, "Sir, that spy was not involved in the investigation..."

“Eunuch Peng, you are wrong.”

Eunuch Xia interrupted, saying, "The treason case is of great importance. All the foreign agents in the capital were involved, which is why the Zhenfu Division is retaliating."

"Eunuch Xia is right."

Li Ping'an glanced at him with a cold look, which frightened Eunuch Peng into immediately shutting up.

This old eunuch was quite capable in his duties and dared to fight, but his vision was far inferior to that of Eunuch Xia, so he could only be subordinate to others.

"Eunuch Yue."

"The humble position is here."

Eunuch Yue hurriedly stepped forward. Unlike the other old eunuchs who bowed, he knelt down to receive orders.

Li Ping'an instructed, "You are in charge of investigating this matter."

Eunuch Yue's face lit up with joy, and he immediately agreed, "Don't worry, sir, I will definitely investigate thoroughly and find out the truth. The evidence is conclusive."

"Not only will we investigate the case, but we'll also retaliate tenfold!"

Li Ping'an said coldly, "Listen carefully, from now on, when you encounter the Zhenfu Division, whatever you do, you must be superior to them."

If anyone gets scared or backs out, disgracing our family, they will bear the consequences!

"As ordered."

All the eunuchs responded in unison. At this moment, Eunuch Peng realized that it didn't matter who killed the barbarian; what mattered was that Eunuch An was determined to oppose the Zhenfu Division.

Even if someone tries to sow discord, we will go with the flow.

"Alright, go and get on with your errand."

Li Ping'an waved his hand with displeasure and annoyance. At his level, some things didn't need to be said; his expression and face said it all.

When the eunuchs saw that Eunuch An was unhappy, they would secretly think about how to retaliate against the Zhenfu Division and take this opportunity to gain favor and promotion.

Li Ping'an reviewed each official document, circling those he agreed with and crossing out those he disagreed with, and ordered Eunuch Xia and others to draft new ones.

As evening approached, I saw the official document from the Beijing Garrison requesting pay.

Li Ping'an hesitated for a moment, then called out.

"Little Chezi."

Xiao Chezi, who was on duty at the door, jogged into the house and bowed to listen to Eunuch An's instructions.

"Go and inform Eunuch Xia that this month's rations will be changed to fine rice."

The military pay of the Beijing garrison is fixed and Li Ping'an cannot easily increase or change it, but the laws of the dynasty have loopholes and flexibility.

For example, the monthly stipend of "one shi of rice" is conventionally made with unpolished rice, but it would not be wrong to change it to polished rice.

(End of this chapter)