Dugong

Chapter 5 Hypocrisy
Eunuch Xu taught the rules carefully and seriously, and what was rare was that he also gave some pointers on how to survive in the palace. Compared with Eunuch Zhou who was perfunctory, he was even more valuable.

Li Ping'an felt that it would be better to ask Eunuch Xu to be his godfather.

At dusk, the standing rules ended and the eunuchs limped away in all directions.

Li Ping'an dragged his painful and numb body past Eunuch Xu. He didn't know whether his legs were weak from exhaustion or he had a sudden inspiration.

He fell to his knees with a thud and knocked his forehead forward.

"Xiao Anzi pays his respects to Eunuch Xu."

Eunuch Xu narrowed his eyes slightly, a strange color flashed in his eyes, his wrinkled face trembled up and down, and a string of shrill laughter squeezed out of his throat.

"Hehehe... She's really smart. No wonder she caught the old man's eye."

After saying this, he gave a wink, and the middle-aged eunuch serving nearby came forward to help Li Ping'an up, and then took out a small white porcelain bottle from his sleeve.

"This is a top-grade wound medicine. Apply it to the wound and it will heal quickly."

Li Pingan felt a little disappointed, but his face was filled with gratitude: "Thank you for your grace, sir. I am very grateful."

Eunuch Xu looked up at Li Ping'an's departing back, his eyes dark and deep, his thoughts floating and flying, and after a long time he sighed.

"My family also groped their way here back then, being extremely cautious and careful in everything we did, treading on thin ice at every step. We kowtowed countless times and worshipped countless gods, only then did we manage to survive to this day!"

The middle-aged eunuch said, "Since you like that boy, Godfather, why not take him in as your godson and have him serve you by your side?"

Eunuch Xu took out a raw soybean from his sleeve, put it into his mouth, and chewed it with a crunch.

"Xiao Quzi, what do you think of that kid?"

Xiao Quzi paused for a moment and commented, "He appears to be honest and grateful, but I don't know what his aptitude is."

"Martial arts talent is not important. The White Lotus Sutra is extremely profound. As long as there is a sufficient supply of elixirs, even a pig can reach the pinnacle."

Eunuch Xu said quietly, "A person's heart is hidden deep inside his belly, so no one can see clearly. How can you be sure that he is honest and loyal?"

Xiao Quzi suddenly realized: "Godfather, what you mean is that the boy was scheming and deliberately fell down and kowtowed?"

"Whether he did it intentionally or not, whether he meant it or not, just treat him as someone scheming and insincere."

Eunuch Xu slowly stood up and returned to the palace with the help of his godson.

"To survive in the palace, you have to be suspicious of everyone and everything, to survive long!"

……

Back to the residence.

Li Ping'an applied the golden medicine on the wound, and a slight cool feeling came over him. The burning pain in his lower body was instantly relieved. It was indeed a top-grade medicinal material.

"This small bottle is probably worth dozens of white flour buns. Eunuch Xu is really a good man!"

When I knelt just now, half of the reason was that my legs were weak and I fell, and half of the reason was that I just went with the flow. It was a pity that I was not able to become Eunuch Xu's disciple after all.

In the middle of the night, Xiao Zhongzi and the other two returned from their shift, and Li Pingan told them about this incident.

Xiao Fangzi looked surprised. He looked at Li Pingan straight in the eye for the first time and sneered, "You think you can be my godfather just by bowing? You think too naively."

Xiao Yuanzi consoled him, "Xiao Anzi did a good job. Even though he didn't succeed, at least he made himself known to Eunuch Xu."

Li Pingan asked, "How can I become a godfather?"

"You have to be useful!"

Xiao Zhongzi said in a deep voice, "The godfather and the godson each get what they need. The godfather needs tools and pawns, and the godson needs a backer. The two are in a mutually beneficial relationship."

Xiao Fangzi continued quietly, "It's not just godfathers and godchildren who use each other. It's the same with biological parents, too. Otherwise, why would there be the saying of raising children to provide for one's old age?"

Xiao Yuanzi coughed lightly and interrupted: "Filial piety is the foundation of a country, and you must not make irresponsible remarks!"

"use……"

Li Ping'an murmured to himself, vaguely understanding the relationship between godfather and godson. After thinking about it more deeply, it seemed that what Xiao Fangzi said made some sense.

Did our parents raise us to provide for our old age, or was it pure love? Lying in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep, unable to figure it out, Li Ping'an's primitive, simple beliefs inadvertently began to crack.

At dawn the next day.

Li Ping'an got up early to wash, fetch water, and sweep the floor.

I have to do my best to fulfill my promises. Besides, following Xiao Zhongzi and others will indeed help me avoid being bullied.

Yesterday at noon in the kitchen, I saw with my own eyes a lone little eunuch being bullied. Not only did he have to eat dirty steamed buns, but he also had to crawl out of the kitchen on his knees.

Bullying is a common occurrence in the palace.

Li Ping'an remembered the name of the little eunuch, Xiao Haizi. He was thin and looked about fifteen or sixteen years old.

After breakfast, I went to Neiwu Hall to study.

Today, Li Ping'an did not sit in the corner as before. He specially found an empty seat in the front row, right next to Xiao Guizi's exclusive seat.

Unfortunately, until Eunuch Zhou came to class, Xiao Guizi was nowhere to be seen.

Li Pingan secretly speculated: "Could it be that Xiao Guizi has already learned the exercises and is meditating in the quiet room, and is not attending the class anymore?"

As usual, Eunuch Zhou led the recitation of the Lotus Sutra, reading it several times more than usual, and then let the young eunuchs comprehend it on their own.

Li Ping'an felt quite regretful. He thought it would be better if he stayed next to Xiao Rongzi so that he could ask him for advice on writing.

"Xiao Anzi, if you don't recognize any characters, I will teach you." Eunuch Zhou appeared behind him at some point, silently like a ghost, and his sinister voice was chilling and piercing.

Li Pingan trembled all over, stood up hurriedly and said, "I've only been here for a short time, and I don't know most of the words."

"It's okay, just learn slowly, our family will teach you."

Eunuch Zhou stretched out his skinny, wrinkled hand and pressed Li Ping'an's shoulder: "Your body is too frail. Take good care of yourself. Only when you are strong can you practice martial arts!"

Li Pingan squeezed out a look of gratitude: "Thank you for your concern, father-in-law."

Li Ping'an finally breathed a sigh of relief after Eunuch Zhou left the Inner Martial Hall. The old eunuch's concern was not only devoid of warmth, but rather inexplicably cold.

The young eunuch sitting next to him flatteredly said, "Congratulations, Eunuch An, you have caught the eye of Eunuch Zhou."

Li Ping'an felt inexplicably cold in his heart, but he couldn't tell what was wrong. After all, it was a great thing to be taken care of by Eunuch Zhou and have him as his godfather.

"What's your name? How do you recognize our family?"

"Ours is called the small table."

The young eunuch bent over and stuck out his buttocks, then replied, "I know everyone in the Inner Martial Hall. I'm not afraid of you making fun of me. I'll curry favor with whoever becomes successful. After all, we have some friendship from the same school!"

Li Ping'an nodded slightly and kept this in mind. He would remember people's names like he did with Xiaozhuo in the future.

Soon, more young eunuchs came up to flatter her, just like they had flattered Xiao Guizi before.

Hearing the call of "Eunuch An" again and again, Li Ping'an couldn't help but feel elated. He put aside his doubts for the time being and began to enjoy the benefits of being Eunuch Zhou's godson in advance.

A few days later.

Eunuch Zhou took more and more care of Li Ping'an. He not only taught him how to read, but also explained rare words, acupuncture points and meridians.

The only difference between the two is the official status of godfather and godson.

The young eunuchs in Neiwu Hall flattered Li Ping'an in different ways, using all kinds of fresh flattering words. There was nothing you couldn't think of.

Li Ping'an seemed obsessed with it, but his uneasiness grew stronger.

"What on earth is there in our family that is worth using?"

Li Ping'an racked his brains and tried to find something useful in himself, even a tiny bit, to give Eunuch Zhou an excuse to take care of him.

However, he is just a country boy who has nothing except his life and property!

(End of this chapter)