Dugong

Chapter 34 No Evidence Required
early morning.

Eunuch Rong from the Imperial Household Department came to the house and brought Li Ping'an an official robe.

Li Ping'an suppressed his excitement, first kowtowed three times and nine times to express his gratitude, then raised his hands above his head and respectfully accepted the blue official robe.

The brand new official robe still had a hint of fabric fragrance, which reminded Li Ping'an of the first time he ate white flour steamed buns. The extremely sweet taste was still unforgettable after more than ten years.

Eunuch Rong helped Li Pingan up with both hands and said with a smile: "Eunuch An, it's been a long time since we last met. Congratulations on your promotion. We will be counting on you in the future!"

"Eunuch Rong is too polite."

Li Ping'an took out a stack of banknotes and when their arms separated, it slipped silently into Eunuch Rong's sleeve.

Eunuch Rong glanced at the eunuchs on his left and right and waved his hand: "You go out and guard. Don't let any strangers disturb us. I want to catch up with Eunuch An."

When there was no one else in the room, Eunuch Rong's shoulders slumped, and he collapsed into the armchair, crossing his legs.

He lacked the dignity of a eunuch in the Imperial Household Department and looked like a commoner.

"Xiao Anzi, I haven't seen you for three days. You have impressed me!"

Li Pingan sat down opposite him, looked him up and down, and said with a sigh, "Xiao Rongzi is not bad either. According to seniority, our family should call you grandpa."

Eunuch Rong raised his eyebrows and said, "Why don't you just call out and let me hear it?"

"Do you dare to agree to our request?"

"cut……"

The two of them stretched their necks and stared at each other. After a while, their eyes became dry, and they laughed dryly and turned their heads away.

Li Pingan suppressed his smile and whispered, "Thank you, Xiao Rongzi. Without your help, we wouldn't be able to get a share of the imperial kitchen, let alone have the chance to become your godfather."

"I don't know whether our family has helped you or harmed you."

Eunuch Rong sighed and said, "If you get involved in the harem's struggles, you will die if you are not careful. In terms of longevity, you are worse than the eunuch who pours night fragrance!"

"Since I entered the palace, I've eaten a total of 6,572 white flour buns. In a good year, that's already equivalent to hundreds of my lives."

Li Pingan shrugged and grinned: "Even if I die tomorrow, I will still make a profit!"

"I'm glad you think so."

Eunuch Rong straightened himself and said in a deep voice, "The Tribute Department has wide ties, encompassing the inner and outer courts, and the imperial court. You must be extremely cautious when you go there."

Li Pingan nodded and said, "We understand."

"gone."

Eunuch Rong stood up, turned back at the door, and pulled out a stack of banknotes from his sleeve: "Congratulations to Eunuch An on his promotion. This is our family's gift."

Li Pingan looked at the familiar banknotes, which still had his body temperature on them, and couldn't help but laugh and curse.

"You are such a scoundrel!"

"Grandpa is back, and his grandson is living a good life."

Eunuch Rong laughed heartily and pushed the door open to leave. However, the moment the door closed, his smile suddenly disappeared and his face became as gloomy as water, making it difficult to predict his true colors.

inside the house.

Li Ping'an greedily touched the official robe, not missing every inch, as if he was touching a rare treasure.

"Our family...is he going to be an official now?"

Everything went so smoothly that it was almost weird, and it made people feel uneasy, as if there was an invisible hand controlling the fate of all living things in the world.

Li Ping'an couldn't wait to take off his gray robe, put on his official uniform and look at himself in the bronze mirror.

"In the stories told by storytellers, the faces of good and honest officials are all square and majestic. My face is round, like that of a corrupt official."

Li Ping'an touched his face, and a hint of gloom flashed in his eyes.

"Now we are qualified to seek revenge, right?"

……

evening.

Xiao Liuzi and the other two came back after learning the etiquette. As soon as they entered the door, they saw Li Ping'an's official robe and hurried over to kowtow and kneel down.

"This servant pays homage to Eunuch An."

The two men stared at the official uniform, not knowing whether they were worshipping the person or the clothes.

"Get up."

Li Ping'an imitated his godfather's posture, slowly picked up the tea bowl and gently blew away the hot steam. Even if the boiling water would not burn his throat, he still had to put on the posture of "tasting tea".

From now on, I will be a respectable person in the palace!
"How was my study today?" Xiao Chunzi quickly replied, "I'm learning the rules well enough. Eunuch Xu taught me with great care. But I haven't made much progress in martial arts. Eunuch Zhou's teaching was perfunctory."

Li Ping'an narrowed his eyes slightly and recalled his days in the Inner Martial Hall. Although only a year had passed, it seemed like a long time ago.

"Has Eunuch Zhou adopted a godson recently?"

Xiao Liuzi nodded and said, "I collected the pebbles and made them into a stick."

Li Pingan pondered for a moment and then ordered, "You two keep a close eye on Eunuch Zhou. If there's any disturbance, I'll assign you two to the Tribute Department when I assign you errands."

Xiao Chunzi and Xiao Liuzi were overjoyed when they heard this, and kowtowed a few more times.

"Thank you, Eunuch An."

"Jie Jie Jie..."

Li Ping'an couldn't help but laugh out loud. In the past, he always kowtowed to this person and saluted that person, but today it was finally his turn to receive the salute. He felt really refreshed.

Put aside your doubts for now and enjoy the present moment.

Nearing midnight.

Xiao Zhenzi returned to his residence and looked at Li Ping'an, who was sleeping in his official robe. His expression changed inexplicably, with fear, regret, and a bit of determination.

……

The next day.

It's still dark.

Li Ping'an habitually got up early, washed up, and went to the main office to greet his godfather.

When I passed by the door of the imperial kitchen, I found that the eunuch on duty had been replaced.

"Why isn't Eunuch Jin here?"

The leading eunuch bowed and said, "Replying to Eunuch An, Xiao Jinzi has been transferred to the Qinzheng Palace to serve."

"That's a really nice place. We'll have to go and congratulate them later."

Li Ping'an had a smile on his face, but he felt a little gloomy in his heart. Xiao Jinzi was specially transferred here by his godfather, and there must be something strange about his sudden transfer.

The two of them had a decent relationship, so he took the opportunity to congratulate her and test the waters.

Outside the master room.

Xiao Luzi and others had been waiting for a long time. When they saw the man in official robes coming over, they all knelt down and kowtowed.

"Greetings, Eunuch An."

Li Pingan raised his lips slightly and pretended to extend his hand to support him: "We are sworn brothers and of the same generation. Such a generous gift is really embarrassing."

Xiao Luzi didn't dare to stand up. He banged his forehead hard on the ground, and blood stained the blue bricks red.

"I am blind and have offended Eunuch An. Death is not a pity. I will accept your punishment, even if it means taking my life, without complaint."

A fierce look flashed in Li Ping'an's eyes, and he was wondering whether to take the opportunity to beat Xiao Luzi to death.

You have the right to use it and it will become invalid upon expiration.

If you don't seek revenge when you are at the peak of your power, do you have to wait until the sunset to let the little guys mock you?

While hesitating.

Eunuch Sun's voice came from inside the house: "Eunuch An, please don't embarrass them. It's too undignified."

Li Ping'an felt quite regretful. He looked deeply at Xiao Luzi and the others, strode into the main office, and bent his legs slightly as if to bow.

Eunuch Sun's old face trembled, and he smiled and said, "Eunuch An, according to official rules, people of the same rank and rank do not need to perform formalities. You don't need to come and pay your respects in the future."

"So there are such rules. I'm new to officialdom and not familiar with them yet. Please don't blame me, godfather."

Li Pingan stood up straight, looked at Eunuch Sun for a moment, and bowed, saying, "Today, I have something to ask you. I hope you can give me some advice, godfather."

Eunuch Sun seemed to have anticipated this: "Are you asking where we discovered the flaw?"

Li Pingan nodded and said, "I think I'm very careful..."

"It is indeed thorough. We have no actual evidence."

Eunuch Sun lowered his eyes and smiled sinisterly.

"But our family doesn't need evidence. We just need to see whose opponent died and who gained the benefits. Who else could it be but Eunuch An?"

(End of this chapter)