Dugong

Chapter 65: Graduation is Possible
Cold palace.

It has returned to its usual quiet and deserted state.

The fire at the imperial estate could not be concealed; the towering flames could be seen from miles away.

The Wannian County constables who rushed to put out the fire only managed to rescue a few dozen corpses, which were burned black and charred, making it impossible to tell which one was the Crown Prince.

The magistrate of Wannian County wrote a memorial to the throne, grabbed a bucket of water, and rushed into the fire, only to be burned to ashes in the blink of an eye.

He was commended by the imperial court for sacrificing his life for his country.

When the news reached the palace, no one dared to approach the Cold Palace. The Crown Prince was dead, and there were no suitable princes or grandsons from the Empress's lineage to ascend the throne.

Li Ping'an instinctively suspected that the mastermind was His Majesty. Looking at the words "father is righteous, mother is kind, elder brother is friendly, and younger brother is respectful" written in the "Rites", he felt particularly annoyed.

Not daring to speak openly to Eunuch Chu, she asked indirectly, "Grandpa, how can there be such a heartless person in the world who can abandon even his own son and grandson?"

"Don't make things up without evidence."

Eunuch Chu gently rocked the reclining chair, his fat body jiggling like waves: "You entered the palace at such a young age, weren't you sold by your parents for money?"

Li Ping'an argued, "Our family suffered a disaster; if we don't sell, we won't survive."

"Then why don't you sell your brother?"

Eunuch Chu raised his eyelids slightly: "The fact that your parents sold you for grain is not much different from others sacrificing their sons and grandsons for the stability of their lineage and the continuation of their family."

"..."

Li Ping'an was speechless, but he was also unwilling to agree with Eunuch Chu's statement.

He climbed the ranks and made money in the palace largely so that his parents could live a better life. Without that thought, he would feel empty and adrift.

"Grandpa, I'm going to serve the Empress."

Li Ping'an closed the book. After years of painstaking study, he originally thought he had a deep understanding of the "Rites". However, what he saw and heard made him doubtful.

Those who preach the "Rites" all day long seem to never follow or practice them. Could it be that I've misunderstood it?

Studying is too difficult, practicing martial arts is much easier.

Li Ping'an arrived at the main hall, bowed and stood by the bedside to listen to the Empress chanting scriptures, murmuring along with the sound.

"Neither arising nor ceasing, neither defiled nor pure, neither increasing nor decreasing..."

Over the past two years, he has been listening to Buddhist scriptures every day, and through constant exposure, he has been able to recite them. Li Ping'an compares Buddhist scriptures with the Four Books and Five Classics for mutual verification, which allows him to experience a different kind of enjoyment.

At noon.

After the Empress finished reciting a passage of scripture, Li Ping'an gently reminded her.

"Your Majesty, it's time for lunch."

Today's lunch was served at the usual standard. Eunuch Chu had a sweet imperial meal, the Empress had an exquisite vegetarian meal, and there were also several steamed white flour buns made from silver thread noodles.

Li Pingan took a bite, and instead of being sweet, it tasted somewhat bitter.

Upon hearing the news of the Crown Prince's death the day before yesterday, even though it was somewhat expected, I couldn't help but feel disheartened and even considered when to seek refuge at Zhaoyang Palace.

Loyalty, filial piety, integrity, and righteousness—what utter nonsense! Not a single word written in the Book of Rites can be trusted.

Li Ping'an is able to maintain a calm mindset and serve the Empress wholeheartedly, all thanks to Eunuch Chu, who is sunbathing in the courtyard.

The Empress glanced at the vegetarian meal: "Is there some kind of funeral in the palace today?"

Li Ping'an forced a smile and said, "The palace is peaceful because the new head of the Imperial Kitchen is honoring Her Majesty."

The Empress did not touch her chopsticks and asked again, "Has something happened to Rui'er?"

Li Ping'an was startled, but his smile remained unchanged. He was pondering what kind of lie to make up to cover up the death of the Crown Prince.

The Empress is getting old and can't handle any stress.

The Empress said in a deep voice, "Xiao Anzi, I trust you the most. Think it over carefully before you speak."

Li Ping'an stammered, "What rumors have you heard?"

"Little Chu has surrounded the Cold Palace like an iron barrel, what rumors can I possibly believe?" The Empress pointed to the tables and chairs in the hall and said, "No one has come to visit for many days, and the table is covered with three layers of dust, yet no eunuch has come to wipe it clean. Something must have happened to Rui'er!"

Palace eunuchs are adept at flattering the powerful and belittling the weak. They will often visit a palace frequently, as that palace must be the one where the most favored person resides.

Seeing that he could no longer hide the truth, Li Ping'an had no choice but to tell them about the fire at the imperial estate.

Snapped!
Before the Empress could finish speaking, the Buddhist prayer beads in her hand shattered, and her kind and gentle face instantly turned ferocious and terrifying: "It must have been that vile woman from Zhaoyang Palace who plotted this. Your Majesty should have the entire Zhang family beheaded."

Li Ping'an quickly advised, "Your Majesty, please be careful with your words. According to the Zhenfu Division's investigation, this matter was committed by a Jianghu gang."

The Empress abruptly stood up: "I wish to see His Majesty. My ancestors were founding kings and marquises; how can I allow a mere lowly servant to insult me!"

Li Ping'an knelt before the Empress, clutching her robes: "Your Majesty, His Majesty has decreed that you are not allowed to leave the Cold Palace."

"My children and grandchildren are either dead or demoted. Today I defy His Majesty's decree and ask to be executed, so that I may die at the hands of that vile woman tomorrow."

The Empress knew perfectly well that she had caused Consort Yuan to become infertile and poisoned her child. She knew that if Zhaoyang Palace gained power in the future, she would surely subject her to all kinds of cruel tortures.

Li Ping'an said urgently, "Your Majesty, please calm down. My grandfather asked us to tell you that there is still hope for the matter."

"Ok?"

The Empress suppressed her anger, sat back on the bed, and resumed her kind and gentle demeanor: "What did Xiao Chuzi say?"

Li Ping'an's mind raced. Eunuch Chu hadn't said anything, but he had to persuade the Empress to stay and not let her try to kill herself.

You take care of someone wholeheartedly for two or three years, and then they die—it's all for nothing.

Furthermore, if they were truly at their wits' end, the Empress would be a stepping stone to Zhaoyang Palace, at least ensuring their survival.

Li Ping'an said, "Grandpa said that whether it's political struggles or palace intrigues, the most important thing is composure and patience..."

The Empress nodded slightly, which was considered an agreement.

"Although the Crown Prince is dead, we must not lose our composure."

Li Ping'an analyzed carefully: "There are other princes in the palace that Your Majesty can support. Although they are not your biological sons, Consort Yuan also has no biological sons..."

At this point, Li Ping'an suddenly realized the reason why Chu Gonggong was calmly sunbathing.

"Your Majesty, think about it. The Ninth Prince has a birth mother, Consort Shu. If he ascends the throne in the future, how can he tolerate Consort Yuan, who is not related to him, interfering in his affairs?"

"That makes sense."

The Empress nodded in agreement. History is full of emperors fighting to the death with their own mothers and empress dowagers. Suddenly remembering something, she frowned and said.

"I know Consort Shu. She is gentle and unassuming, and I might be able to win her over. However, she once complained to me that Yao'er was plotting something, and I reprimanded her a few times."

"..."

Li Ping'an had just begun to consider winning over Consort Shu and sowing discord within Zhaoyang Palace when the Empress extinguished his hopes with a single sentence.

The Fifth Prince Zhao Yao has caused endless trouble. If we had known this would happen, he should have been sent to the castration room.

The Empress felt a pang of pain in her heart as she recalled her three sons. She waved her hand and said, "Xiao Anzi, step down. I want to be alone."

Li Ping'an said worriedly, "Your Majesty, you..."

"Don't worry, I won't seek death."

The Empress gritted her teeth and said hatefully, "I want to live a long life and watch the entire Zhang family be executed. Then I will strangle that slut with my own hands!"

Li Ping'an bowed and left the hall, but dared not close the door, keeping a close eye on the Empress's movements.

If anything seemed amiss, he immediately used his light-footed skills to save her.

In the courtyard, Eunuch Chu leisurely rocked his recliner, watching the ever-changing clouds in the sky, and suddenly praised them.

"Little Anzi, you're ready to graduate."

"Grandson guessed correctly?"

"No, but it's enough."

(End of this chapter)