Dugong

Chapter 13 Twenty Acres of Land
Emperor, also known as Son of Heaven.

The son of God, a sacred being appointed by Heaven, is like a god enshrined in a temple in the eyes of ordinary people.

Just one glimpse from afar is a great blessing.

Li Ping'an was enjoying a good life now. He was only three or four feet away from the immortal. He didn't dare to raise his head to look at him, but only took a few furtive glances.

To be honest, I'm a little disappointed.

Now it is the 42nd year of Wude. Li Ping'an does not know the emperor's name, so he calls him Emperor Wude.

Emperor Wu De did not have eyes filled with thunder, radiant light, and overwhelming divine power as the legend said. Instead, he had white hair, drooping eyelids, and a face full of age spots.

His body curled up in the dragon throne, wrapped in imperial robes, looked less like a real dragon or god, and more like a skinny old man dozing off.

Emperor Wu De did not notice that the young eunuch was looking at him. His mind was all on the war in the northern border. He casually ate a few bites of food and drank some soup, then returned to the Qinzheng Hall to continue reviewing memorials.

Li Ping'an's first meeting with the emperor ended so hastily.

The soup that had just been served on the table was put back into the food box, and Xiao Huizi and she carried it back the same way.

On the way back, there was no imperial guards watching over him, and he didn't have to protect the stove under the food box. He walked briskly and returned to the imperial kitchen in a short while.

Then, according to custom, the leftovers are poured into the dining stove and burned.

Li Ping'an looked at the delicious dishes that had not been touched and poured into the fire. He felt it was a great pity and asked quietly.

"Xiao Huizi, can we drink this soup?"

The soup the two men were carrying was called the Golden and Jade Soul-Returning Soup. The gold represented the hundred-year-old ginseng, the jade represented the green rhinoceros horn, and it was boiled with other rare medicinal materials such as Polygonum multiflorum and deer antler.

Soul-Restoring Soup is not for daily consumption, but for emergency treatment.

If Your Majesty is poisoned, injured, or suddenly falls ill while eating, this soup can be used as a tonic to keep you alive before the imperial physician treats you.

It is not used under normal circumstances and will be burned after the meal is served.

"Eunuch An, this is absolutely not allowed!"

Xiao Huizi was startled and quickly said, "Your Majesty's leftover imperial meal is also tainted with dragon energy. It cannot be eaten without a reward. Anyone who violates this rule will be beaten to death!"

Li Pingan decisively poured the soul-restoring soup into the bonsai stove and casually asked, "Xiao Huizi, do you know how many white flour buns this bowl of soup can be exchanged for?"

Xiao Huizi shook her head: "We only know that dinner costs about two hundred taels a day."

"..."

Li Ping'an took a deep breath and thought for a long time, but the amount of copper coins was too large and he couldn't figure out how many white flour buns it was worth.

It can only be converted using land of higher value. Your Majesty ate twenty acres of land in one meal!

Before my sister starved to death, Li Ping'an's family of seven only had half an acre of thin land, and they rented ten acres from Sun Baopi's family. They could barely fill their stomachs only in a good year.

Even if these fields were sold, they wouldn't be enough for Your Majesty to have a dinner!
Li Ping'an developed some inexplicable emotions towards Emperor Wude. Although he did not dare to hate him, he no longer worshipped and admired him as before.

"If Your Majesty had given us the leftovers, my sister wouldn't have starved to death..."

……

When I got off duty in the imperial kitchen, it was already past the hour of Si.

The palace was dark and gloomy, and the cold wind blew through the palace walls and corridors, making whimpering sounds.

It sounded like a woman crying, and also like a wild beast breathing.

Li Ping'an was walking at night carrying a red gauze lantern. This was one of the taboos in the palace. The lantern had to be covered with red gauze to avoid encountering evil spirits.

Legend has it that someone was holding a white lantern and shone it on the dead eunuchs and palace maids, who were floating past in groups.

When I returned to my residence, only Xiao Zhenzi was in the house.

"Eunuch An, we have hot water at home, please soak your feet."

Li Ping'an did not refuse. Even though his body did not feel tired, his mind was overexerted and he still felt a little tired.

While soaking their feet, they chatted: "Is there anything interesting happening in the hall today?" Little Zhenzi enviously said: "Does it count if Eunuch Zhou has adopted a godchild? It's a pity that we don't have such luck."

A cold light flashed in Li Ping'an's eyes. He and Eunuch Zhou had a grudge over more than 300 white flour buns, which was a blood feud in the countryside.

And my round face is also given by Eunuch Zhou, who reminds me of it every day when I wash up.

"You are lucky enough to be assigned to live here."

"That's that."

Xiao Zhenzi nodded repeatedly, took the foot washing water out and sprinkled it, then came back to ask Li Pingan about the "Lotus Sutra".

Li Pingan answered all his questions without hiding anything.

This technique has been passed down in the palace for a hundred years and has long been thoroughly understood by the eunuchs. Even if he doesn't tell it, Xiao Zhenzi can learn it from others.

Why should I create a rift with this clever and hardworking little eunuch just for a few insights?

Of course, if Xiao Zhenzi didn't know what was good for him, Li Ping'an would not be merciful. He might not be able to kill him, but destroying his dantian would be easy.

While speaking.

Xiao Fangzi and Xiao Yuanzi are back from work.

Not only do the two look alike, but they are also like the circle and the square. They have always been on duty, practicing, and off duty together.

Xiao Fangzi asked, "How was your first day on duty? What were your responsibilities?"

Li Ping'an's lips curled up slightly: "I acknowledged Eunuch Sun as my godfather. I will be responsible for serving dinner in the imperial kitchen and will also have the opportunity to see His Majesty."

Xiao Yuanzi was stunned for a moment, then slapped his face. Without using his true energy to resist, a clear palm print soon appeared on his face.

"Eunuch An, we are short-sighted and have offended many people in the past..."

"Don't be like this, little Yuanzi."

Li Pingan took out a stack of banknotes from his sleeve, shook it and said, "You and Xiao Fangzi have taken great care of me. If I need you in the future, just let me know."

Xiao Yuanzi immediately breathed a sigh of relief: "Eunuch An is very generous."

Xiao Fangzi's cold face showed a rare expression of envy: "Eunuch Sun in the Imperial Kitchen is incredible, and Eunuch An's background is truly far-reaching."

Li Ping'an's eyes lit up: "What do you mean?"

During the day, Xiao Huizi talked about many things, but she was very secretive about Eunuch Sun, so Li Ping'an didn't dare to ask directly.

Xiao Yuanzi continued, "Eunuch Sun is the adopted son of Admiral Liu, the Imperial Kitchen Supervisor. Admiral Liu's godfather was someone Eunuch An met not long ago."

Li Pingan asked, "Could it be the ancestor?"

There is only one ancestor of the eunuchs in the palace, and that is Eunuch Chu, the chief commander of the twelve supervisors of the Internal Affairs Bureau, who also serves as the commander of the Imperial Household Department and the eunuch in charge of the seal.

Xiao Fangzi said, "Congratulations, Eunuch An. With such a powerful background, if nothing unexpected happens, he will definitely be able to fill the vacant position in the future."

Xiao Yuanzi took out a silver note from his sleeve, a look of pain appeared on his face, and stuffed it into Li Ping'an's hand.

"I wish Eunuch An a speedy promotion. We'll give our gifts in advance so we don't get stuck when the time comes!"

Li Ping'an glanced at the denomination inconspicuously. It was a full two hundred taels, equivalent to twenty acres of land. He immediately smiled.

"Eunuch Yuan, we are dear friends, brothers and sisters!"

Xiao Fangzi had no choice but to take out the silver notes as a share.

Li Ping'an glanced at the silly-smiling Xiao Zhenzi, and since he had the exclusive foot-washing water tonight, he didn't accept any gift money from the poor guy and allowed him to make up for it in the future.

That’s twenty acres of land, how can it be exempted!

With nearly five hundred taels of cash in his arms, Li Ping'an tossed and turned and couldn't fall asleep. Suddenly, he remembered something in his drowsy state.

Next time I meet Xiao Rongzi, do I have to call him grandpa?
Li Ping'an felt inexplicably uncomfortable because he was two generations younger than him. He would rather call Xiao Yuanzi his godfather than Xiao Rongzi his godfather!
(End of this chapter)