Dugong

Chapter 54: Forty-five Years
Does Eunuch Chu like perilla water?
Li Ping'an could never figure it out, but since then, Eunuch Chu drank up the soup every day, which at least proved that he really didn't like sweets.

A person who doesn't like sweets has been eating honey for most of his life!
"Outsiders only see Grandpa Gan's immense power and wealth, but they don't know the hardships he endured..."

Li Ping'an is self-aware. Born in a farming family, he has a low vision. Regardless of whether he has intelligence or not, even if he does, it is difficult for him to escape the shackles of his innate nature.

The most important thing right now is not to act on your own, but to learn and imitate Eunuch Chu.

Even if you cannot guess the deep meaning behind every move, you should first learn its form and then understand its spirit.

So, Li Ping'an forced himself to become lazy and casual, and woke up near noon. He lay in the rocking chair and looked at the sky and clouds for half an hour.

I read and wrote in the afternoon more carefully and seriously than before.

With the straw paper, pens and ink sent by Xiao Wuzi, I can finally practice calligraphy formally. Eunuch Chu only allows me to practice the official style and Ou style small regular script.

"As servants, all our thoughts must revolve around His Majesty. The official script is convenient for our work, and the small regular script will please His Majesty."

Li Pingan's eyes rolled. "Grandpa Gan, what if His Majesty prefers other fonts in the future?"

"The Second Prince likes official script, the Fourth Prince likes flying white script, and the Sixth Prince likes Weibei script..."

Eunuch Chu spoke to all the princes like the back of his hand: "Just take a brief look at these characters and understand their essence, so that you can use them easily in the future."

"Thank you, Grandpa Gan, for your guidance."

Li Ping'an felt that Eunuch Chu was unfathomable, his methods and calculations had reached perfection, he knew everything about the inner and outer courts, and was a thousand times more powerful than his former godfather.

Eunuch Sun's methods were ruthless, but Li Ping'an was confident that he could still deal with it. At worst, he would overturn the table and decide life or death with his fists.

When facing Eunuch Chu, I'm afraid I would be grateful to him even if I die.

"Grandpa Gan is so powerful, yet he was defeated in the palace fight. Is there an even more powerful eunuch in the palace?"

Li Ping'an thought of the Imperial Household Supervisor Eunuch Niu. This old eunuch was truly unfathomable.

The situation in the palace was changing, but he remained unmoved.

A few days ago, Xiao Wuzi complained that Eunuch Niu had raised the price of exchanging and sending gold and silver, which was 20% higher than before.

I sent back home a hundred taels of silver, but not even half of it was left.

This move angered many eunuchs, many of whom were quite powerful and could be regarded as the right-hand men of Zhaoyang Palace. They privately complained to Princess Yuan and spoke ill of her.

As a result, Eunuch Niu accepted the money without a penny less!

……

The 30th day of the twelfth lunar month.

New Year’s Eve of the 44th year of Wude.

A few years ago, His Majesty felt unwell, and the palace did not dare to celebrate in a big way. Without fireworks and firecrackers, without the lively music, the New Year atmosphere was gone.

Nearing midnight.

A silver hook hangs in the sky, cold, lonely and hazy.

Li Ping'an carried a bulging bag on his back and climbed over the walls from the imperial kitchen back to the cold palace. It was his first time stealing so much food, so he couldn't help feeling a little uneasy.

"Grandpa Gan, is it really true that nothing will happen?"

"Do not worry."

Eunuch Chu rocked his rocking chair gently, like a fat old man at the village entrance: "If we leave the cold palace, we will be surrounded by guns and arrows. But they would be happy to eat some imperial food."

Li Pingan was quite unconvinced: "Grandpa Gan, I have excellent Qinggong skills and am good at hiding. How many people in the palace can detect me?"

"Among the younger generation, no one can compare to you."

Eunuch Chu changed the subject and said, “However, there are many old eunuchs in the palace who are gifted with extraordinary talents. They have taken elixirs and medicines, practiced hard for most of their lives, and have reached the pinnacle of martial arts.

"You kid, train for another five years, don't go near the Martial Arts Pavilion, and you can come and go freely. Practice for another ten years, and if you get a chance from heaven, you might be able to dominate the palace!"

Li Ping'an suddenly understood and had a clear understanding of his own strength. He suddenly remembered something and bowed to ask for advice.

"Grandpa Gan, if there's a big fight in the palace and it makes a lot of noise, will it alert the old eunuchs?"

"Of course they will." Eunuch Chu said meaningfully, "Most of the pills refined by the Fire God Temple were consumed by them. Their primary task is to protect the palace."

"really……"

After Li Ping'an came to the cold palace, he had some quiet time to think about the past events. He had long suspected that someone was secretly spying on Eunuch Lu's death.

Otherwise, the palace guards should have been alerted and the rioters should have been arrested.

As he spoke, he had already placed the stolen tributes and meals on the stone table. Each one was a priceless delicacy. Ordinary wealthy businessmen would only dare to taste them secretly after purchasing one.

Daring to taste it publicly is an act of usurpation.

Li Pingan filled two glasses of wine and raised his glass, saying, "Grandpa, I am grateful for your guidance. If you have any mission, I will never refuse."

"Not bad, not bad. We didn't make a mistake in choosing the right person."

Eunuch Chu had experienced countless betrayals and had killed countless godchildren and godsons with his own hands. He had long since stopped believing in loyalty and filial piety, yet he still praised and commended them.

The grandfather and grandson chatted while drinking, and they let down their guard on New Year's Eve.

Li Pingan recounted how wicked Sun Baopi was, and how his sister had given him the coarse flour she had hidden before her death. Eunuch Chu said that Dao Yexiang was bullied and, after gaining power, he forced them to die from a diet of feces and urine.

Li Pingan clapped his hands and said, "Grandpa, this is a great idea! When we become high-ranking officials, we'll make Sun Ba Pi work day and night in the fields, starving him to death without food!"

After three or five pots of wine, the father and son were slightly tipsy without using any innate energy to dissolve the wine.

Eunuch Chu talked about how he had a fight with someone in the palace and was accidentally framed, which led to him being demoted from being the head of internal affairs to a eunuch in charge of laundry.

Li Pingan, under the influence of alcohol, mustered up the courage to ask, "Grandpa Gan, how could you be defeated when you are so powerful?"

"In the struggles within the palace, victory or defeat all depends on the will of the emperor."

Eunuch Chu took a sip of wine, his pale face flushed. "With just those womanly tricks, we can easily make her fall from grace, and even the Zhang family will suffer heavy losses!"

Li Ping'an's eyes were full of admiration. For a eunuch to reach the level of a grandfather was the pinnacle.

Do you still want to manipulate the imperial power?

"We're really drunk!"

Li Ping'an quickly circulated his true energy to dispel the smell of alcohol, and silently recited the Three Bonds and Five Constant Virtues, loyalty to the emperor and the country, etc. to dispel the random thoughts and fantasies in his mind.

At this time.

The moon was at its zenith, and the mighty sound of bells rang out in the palace.

Li Ping'an looked solemn and serious. He stood up and walked in front of Eunuch Chu. He kowtowed three times without saying any nice words of congratulations.

"Jie Jie Jie..."

Eunuch Chu laughed like a night owl, his eyes wandering over Li Ping'an, a hint of tenderness flashed in his deep eyes, and then he snorted coldly.

"Get up! When our family was prosperous, hundreds of our godchildren kowtowed to us during festivals and holidays, and each one of them was more loyal and filial than you!"

……

The forty-fifth year of Wude.

There is neither wind nor rain nor sunny.

The Empress worships Buddha devoutly and never leaves Kunning Palace, while Concubine Yuan concentrates on raising the prince in Zhaoyang Palace. A strange and delicate balance is maintained in the palace.

All this has little to do with Li Ping'an.

After reading "The Great Learning" and "The Doctrine of the Mean", I read "The Book of Rites" and "The Book of Changes".

Perhaps it was due to the teachings of Eunuch Chu, or perhaps it was due to the influence of the ancient sages, but the conspiracy and trickery in Li Ping'an's mind gradually dissipated, and the sinister and fierce expression between his brows turned gentle.

He speaks to people in a gentle and friendly manner and treats everyone with courtesy.

He changed into a long gown and went for a walk outside the palace, saying that he was not good enough to be a juren, but was more than qualified to pretend to be a scholar.

Only Li Ping'an understood that he was still cruel and ruthless, and his schemes were even more sophisticated. He would probably kill people with a smile and politely!

(End of this chapter)