Dugong

Chapter 72 Leaving the Cold Palace
"Xiao Lanzi, Xiao Qingzi, get over here right now."

Eunuch Wu shouted sternly, and the two eunuchs, trembling with fear, threw down the bricks and rolled on the ground, rolling over to him.

Not daring to ask the reason, he knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly.

“Eunuch An, these two brats have no sense of propriety and have offended you.”

Li Ping'an narrowed his eyes slightly. He had just seen these two yesterday, and they dared to speak rudely to Eunuch Chu. He said in a low voice.

"It's not that I'm offending our family, but the ancestor... well, the former ancestor. It's true what they say, once someone leaves, they become forgotten. It's no big deal for a mere eunuch like me, but it's hard to say about the other elders."

Eunuch Wu's expression tightened. The new eunuch was unaware of how terrifying Eunuch Chu was, but he had personally experienced it. He knew how many old subordinates and spies remained in the palace.

"Hurry up and slap yourself!"

Xiao Lanzi and the other girl didn't argue. They immediately slapped themselves hard, gathering their inner energy in their palms to increase their strength. After a few slaps, their faces were bruised and swollen.

Li Ping'an seemed not to notice, and chatted idly with Eunuch Wu while smiling.

A moment later, Xiao Qingzi was the first to faint. Xiao Lanzi didn't dare to stop and slapped her face even harder, and soon she also fainted.

Eunuch Wu said coldly, "Guards, drag him away and beat him to death to feed the dogs. Let's see who dares to offend Eunuch Chu again."

Li Ping'an advised, "It's enough that you've taught them a lesson; there's no need to kill them."

Eunuch Wu flattered, "Eunuch An has the heart of a bodhisattva."

Li Ping'an nodded and said, "I listen to Your Majesty chanting scriptures and worshipping Buddha every day, so I have some understanding of Buddhist scriptures. I should do less killing and more good deeds!"

"Your Majesty is merciful."

Eunuch Wu kowtowed to the main hall, not caring whether the Empress could see him, showing that his respect for the noble lady was ingrained in his very being.

After bowing three times and kowtowing nine times, he stood up and said in a low voice, "Have you heard, Eunuch An? This morning His Highness ascended the throne in the Hall of Diligent Governance, and Minister Lu presented a memorial on the spot."

Li Ping'an asked in surprise, "Isn't this overstepping the bounds?"

Accession to the throne is not the same as ascending the throne; it merely establishes the successor to the imperial throne.

The new emperor will then observe a three-year mourning period, which is 27 days (days instead of months), before choosing an auspicious day to hold his enthronement ceremony and worship Heaven, Earth, and the ancestral temples.

Finally, after receiving the kneeling obeisance of all the officials and nobles, he officially ascended the throne and became emperor.

When Minister Lu ascended the throne, his memorial was too hasty, not only was it unreasonable, but it also seemed to indicate that he was abandoning his former master and currying favor with the new one.

Eunuch Wu glanced furtively at the main hall, his voice tinged with envy and flattery: "Minister Lu requests Your Majesty to honor the Empress as Empress Dowager, so as to uphold filial piety and etiquette and bring peace to the hearts of the people."

Li Ping'an asked, "What did His Majesty say?"

"The court was in complete chaos, with many officials accusing Minister Lu of having ulterior motives, rushing to curry favor with the Empress Dowager before the late Emperor's body was even cold."

Eunuch Wu said, "Let's put this aside for now and discuss it again after His Majesty ascends the throne."

Li Ping'an cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Eunuch Wu."

"You're too kind, Eunuch An. Her Majesty the Empress was the late Emperor's principal wife and the head of the harem. The position of Empress Dowager cannot possibly fall to anyone else!"

Eunuch Wu knew that the Zhang family was extremely powerful and now had contributed to the rise of the new emperor; it was possible that they would one day wield immense power in the court.

However, no matter how powerful the Zhang family was, they could not transcend the hierarchical relationship between legitimate and illegitimate children, or the patriarchal tradition.

……

October 23.

Emperor Wude died in Wentiao Palace.

The next day.

Grand Secretary Yuan Zhi read out the edict of succession in the Hall of Diligent Governance.

Prince Zhao Zhe of Chen ascended the throne and established the reign title Yongning.

……

The first year of Yongning.

The first month.

The New Year had just passed, and as if to celebrate the new emperor's ascension to the throne, the chill had dissipated, and the sun was getting warmer day by day.

This morning.

Li Ping'an was serving the Empress as she washed her face. Later, he would also use his inner energy to massage and acupressure the Empress, soothing her meridians, activating her blood circulation, and regulating her Qi and blood.

The old lady in front of us is a precious gem; we can't afford to have any problems with her. A familiar voice came from outside the door: "This servant, Xiao Yuanzi from the Directorate of Ceremonial, requests an audience with Her Majesty the Empress."

The Empress had a premonition and gestured for Li Ping'an to bring out the phoenix crown and court robes that she hadn't used for many years. After dressing properly, she spoke loudly.

"Come in and talk."

"According to the order."

Eunuch Yuan, dressed in a red official robe, held a yellow silk scroll with a jade scroll in his hands. Several officials in green robes followed behind him. After entering the room, he unfolded the imperial edict and read it aloud.

"The emperor is destined to be transported by heaven, and the edict says..."

Li Ping'an and the other eunuchs had already knelt down and prostrated themselves. They heard Eunuch Yuan recite: "I, in my humble state, inherit the great throne..."

With utmost reverence, we remember Empress Zhou, the late Empress Dowager...

In accordance with the relevant rites and regulations, and after careful consideration of the established ceremonies, the Ministry of Rites hereby respectfully presents the imperial seal and edict, and bestows upon the Empress Dowager the title of "Benevolent and Longevity-Oriented Holy Empress Dowager"...

Upon hearing the honorific title, Li Ping'an couldn't help but tremble.

He had been confined to the cold palace for five years, waiting for this day. As for the rest of the imperial edict, it was all useless nonsense.

For example, phrases like "kindly instructing and deeply nurturing" were used, but when the Empress was in Kunning Palace, she never gave the Ninth Prince even half a steamed bun.

Li Ping'an knew perfectly well that when the Empress heard the news of the Crown Prince's death last year, she wished she could immediately send people to assassinate the Ninth Prince and the Thirteenth Prince.

Times have changed, and His Majesty and Empress Dowager Zhou now proclaim their deep mother-son bond.

After reading the imperial edict, Eunuch Yuan bowed and handed it to Empress Dowager Zhou. He then took a few steps back, kowtowed three times and nine times, and led all the eunuchs in shouting in unison.

"This servant greets the Empress Dowager! Long live the Empress Dowager!"

Empress Dowager Zhou's lips trembled as she uttered the words that had haunted her dreams for many years.

"Flat body."

"Thank you, Empress Dowager."

Eunuch Yuan bowed and reported, "His Majesty has cleaned Cining Palace thoroughly, and the Empress Dowager can move there at any time. The servants arranged are all elderly people from Kunning Palace."

"Your Majesty is very kind."

Empress Dowager Zhou felt a surge of goodwill towards His Majesty, which explained why the court and the public praised his benevolence. She instructed, "Arrange the ceremonial procession. I will go to Cining Palace now. Remember to take the west route."

Eunuch Yuan understood: "This servant will certainly make proper arrangements for the Empress Dowager."

Zhaoyang Palace is located to the west of the Cold Palace. Empress Dowager Zhou's move was clearly intended to annoy Consort Yuan and vent her pent-up resentment from being confined in the Cold Palace for several years.

Among them were statements to His Majesty that Cining Palace would fight Zhaoyang Palace to the bitter end.

The ceremonial procession was quickly arranged. Empress Dowager Zhou looked around and saw several familiar faces from the Kunning Palace. She slowly extended her right hand.

"Xiao Anzi, help me out of the palace."

"According to the order!"

Li Ping'an suppressed his overwhelming joy. At such a critical moment, it was best not to show his emotions. He steadily supported Empress Dowager Zhou's arm and walked out step by step.

Empress Dowager Zhou asked, "Little Anzi, how much of Eunuch Chu's skill have you learned?"

After careful consideration, Li Ping'an replied, "Thirty percent... less than that."

"That's enough."

Empress Dowager Zhou's face was kind and gentle: "If you say seventy or eighty percent, I will be worried and uneasy. Thirty percent is just right."

"Your Majesty, please rest assured, this servant will do everything in my power!"

Li Ping'an stepped on the straight center line of the floor tiles, each step exactly two feet and two fen (approximately 1.6 meters) long, steadily walking out of the Cold Palace gate.

Empress Dowager Zhou was helped onto the phoenix palanquin, carried by sixteen eunuchs, with twelve phoenix flags leading the way and thirty-six palace maids carrying palace lanterns, incense burners, and whisks behind her.

On either side, eunuchs held incense burners and phoenix umbrellas, while ceremonial guards carried golden gourds and axes.

A magnificent and imposing procession!
Li Ping'an stood on the right side of the imperial carriage, closest to Empress Dowager Zhou. His gray-blue robe stood out conspicuously among the green official robes.

Before setting off, he glanced back at the Cold Palace, then resolutely turned and walked forward.

Years later.

Li Ping'an often reminisced about the Cold Palace, sighing to his adopted sons and grandsons, "That was the most peaceful and leisurely time of our lives."

(End of this chapter)