Dugong

Chapter 21: Appointment of the Talented and Nepotistic
Li Ping'an glanced at Xiao Liangzi's corpse and was secretly shocked by Eunuch Sun's cruelty. He really showed no mercy when killing people.

Xiao Liangzi, who was almost adopted as a godson, was killed without any investigation as soon as he had the slightest suspicion.

"If Godfather ever becomes suspicious of me, will he show me mercy?"

Li Pingan thought of this and lowered his body even more. He said comfortingly, "Godfather, Xiao Liangzi is usually quite loyal. He probably won't defect to that side."

"Humph, he doesn't have the guts!"

Eunuch Sun snorted coldly, "We hate this fellow for being stupid, blind, and ignorant of priorities. We are not afraid of fighting in the palace, but we are afraid of having fools here."

Li Pingan looked puzzled: "What does godfather mean?"

Eunuch Sun raised his eyelids and saw that his son did not seem to be pretending. He suppressed his doubts and told him about "Xiao Liangzi stealing the jade essence".

Li Pingan said indignantly: "Xiao Liangzi made a mistake this time. He couldn't control his mouth during the critical New Year's Eve banquet."

Eunuch Sun said coldly, "Don't worry about it anymore."

Li Pingan reminded: "Godfather, there are many people who steal food in the imperial kitchen. If we don't take precautions, this kind of thing will happen again in the future."

This time, there is a lack of lychees, so I can just add some to each bowl to get by. Next time, if there are not enough lychees, I can’t cut them in half.

Eunuch Sun asked, "What do you think?"

Li Pingan said: "It's difficult to prevent people from stealing food from the kitchen, but we can prohibit takeout. A few bites are enough, and takeout will cause a big shortage."

Eunuch Sun nodded and said, "That makes sense. In these critical times, we must strictly manage the situation. Let's ask the Palace Supervisor to replace him with someone who can handle the job efficiently."

Li Ping'an was delighted. Although the young marquis had escaped death, he would be assigned to another place.

I have been in the imperial kitchen for a short time and was the last to become the godfather, so I have no idea who the young marquis belongs to. I have to find a new one and start from scratch to win him over.

Eunuch Sun suddenly asked, "Xiao Liangzi is gone, and we need a servant at home. Do you have any recommendations?"

Li Pingan's eyes narrowed slightly, and after a moment's silence, he said, "We recommend Xiao Huizi."

Eunuch Sun asked, "Why?"

"Xiao Huizi is smart and loyal to her godfather..."

Li Pingan changed the subject and said smugly, "Godson and Xiao Huizi have a good relationship. If he becomes a doorman, we can be more filial to our godfather."

Eunuch Sun chuckled strangely: "You are a man who recommends the virtuous without avoiding relatives."

"With such a good thing, of course we will take care of those close to us."

Li Ping'an laughed along. Only by not avoiding relatives could he gain the trust of his godfather. The entire imperial kitchen knew about his relationship with Xiao Huizi, so naturally he could not hide it from his godfather.

If you are talking about an insignificant person, you might recommend a few other adopted sons.

Given the godfather's suspicious and ruthless nature, he either suspected that the imperial kitchen was out of control or that his godson was secretly colluding with others.

Eunuch Sun did not agree on the spot: "It's getting late, you should go back and rest."

"My child, please leave."

Li Ping'an bowed and left the main office. When he passed by Xiao Liangzi's body, he stretched out his hand to straighten his neck, and after a little hesitation, he took out a silver note.

Fold it into a gold ingot shape and put it into Xiao Liangzi's arms.

When the eunuchs who were collecting corpses in the palace saw gold and silver ingots and banknotes, they would bury the corpse in a less crowded place among the eunuchs' tombs and burn several stacks of yellow paper.

"We don't want to kill you, we just want you to stay alive in the palace..."

Li Ping'an let go of the little bit of pity and guilt in his heart, and walked away quietly and unhurriedly.

Only when I felt the cold and gloomy gaze behind me disappear did I finally breathe a sigh of relief.

……

Qinzheng Hall.

It's past midnight, but the lights are still bright.

One hundred and eight gilded candlesticks were lined up on all four sides, each burning a giant whale oil candle as thick as an arm. The flames rose fiercely, illuminating the hall as if it were daytime.

Memorials piled high on the red sandalwood dragon-shaped table. Emperor Wude, dressed in a bright yellow robe, carefully read through them one by one, circling those he agreed with with a cinnabar brush and crossing those he disagreed with with a cross.

Or if there is something inappropriate, the text will be circled and sent back to the cabinet for reconsideration.

Eunuch Chu, who was serving nearby, glanced at the clepsydra and reminded him, "Your Majesty, it's almost Yin hour. You have an early court tomorrow. It's time to rest."

After the New Year's Eve banquet, Emperor Wude changed into imperial robes and returned to the Qinzheng Hall to continue reviewing memorials.

"Today's work must be done today. The safety of the country and the foundation of our ancestors depend on me. How dare I slack off in the slightest!"

Emperor Wu De's eyes were sunken, but there was no trace of old age or turbidity in them. Instead, they were crystal clear and bright, and he gave the order.

"Why hasn't Chang Hong arrived yet? Send someone to urge him."

The words have not yet fallen.

The eunuch guarding the door led in a tall and thin man. He was seen bending his waist from a distance, with his legs naturally close to the ground, until he knelt down about ten feet away.

The whole person seemed to be slipping and knelt all the way in front of Emperor Wu De.

"Your Majesty, your Majesty, may your Majesty live long and long!"

Chang Hong, the commander of the Pacification Division, was kneeling on the ground. He did not hear the emperor say to stand up, and immediately realized that things were not going well. He thought about what he had done wrong in recent days.

Didn’t pay the bill at Chunfenglou?
Or was the casino business exposed?
Or maybe one of the younger generations in the clan did something like abducting women, killing people, or setting fires...

It's just a small matter. Your Majesty can just scold us a few times and we can kowtow a few more times, and it should be over.

Chang Hong was thinking when he suddenly felt a pain on his head. A red memorial fell in front of him, and then he heard the emperor's voice, which was neither sad nor happy.

"Look at what's written on it."

Chang Hong secretly thought that this was not good. Most of the red memorials were urgent reports from the border. Could it be that the war in the northern border was not going well and the barbarians were launching a counterattack against Dayong?

He quickly opened the memorial, and after reading it, he breathed a sigh of relief and put on an expression of surprise.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty! Marquis Weiyuan has defeated the elite barbarians and led his troops to besiege the Wolf King's Golden Tent. It won't be long before the threat from the north is eradicated!"

After the founding of the Great Yong Dynasty, the barbarians in the northern border have always been a major concern.

After three dynasties of Taizu, Shizu and Taizong, they were finally able to send troops to the north, winning battles one after another, and now they have even surrounded the barbarian king's tent.

Emperor Wude showed no joy on his face and said coldly, "I knew about this five days ago."

Chang Hong's eyes narrowed slightly, and he glanced at the date when the memorial arrived in Kyoto. He immediately understood why His Majesty was angry, and hurriedly spoke.

"Such a major military and national event, yet someone dared to withhold information? I will investigate immediately, and will execute anyone caught!"

Emperor Wude said, "I learned this from Concubine Yuan. Go check it out."

Chang Hong's face turned pale and he knelt on the ground, not daring to speak.

Marquis Weiyuan is about to accomplish the feat of destroying a country, and Concubine Yuan has given birth to another prince. Seeing that the Zhang family is about to prosper, he dare not provoke them easily.

Emperor Wu De said, "You will personally lead your men to the northern border to supervise the army. If there is any delay in military affairs, you will not need to come back."

Chang Hong kowtowed and said, "I obey your order!"

"Go down."

Emperor Wude raised his hand, and Eunuch Chu picked up the memorial and handed it to him.

After reading through the document again, Emperor Wude's expression shifted from gloomy to bright. He suddenly asked, "My dear companion, Minister Zhang has always been a competent and efficient person. Why do you think he delayed the military operation?"

Eunuch Chu's heart trembled. He certainly understood Marquis Weiyuan's intention. Sweat oozed from his fat face as he spoke softly.

"How can we, as servants, understand military and national affairs? We only know that Your Majesty should rest."

Emperor Wu De closed the memorial and muttered to himself.

"Lord Zhang is asking me for a title..."

(End of this chapter)