Dugong

Chapter 50 A Good Beginning and a Good Ending
Eunuch Yuan was quite curious, wondering whether Eunuch Chu really had a photographic memory or recognized his great-grandson, and asked tentatively.

"Grandfather, do you remember the year our family tested palm power?"

Eunuch Chu recalled briefly and said with a smile, "Eunuch Yuan entered the palace in the thirty-ninth year. He was tested the following year. If I remember correctly, his palm power should be two points deep."

Eunuch Yuan exclaimed in admiration: "The old ancestor is truly amazing."

A strange look flashed in Eunuch Chu's eyes: "I remember there was a little recipe in my family that year. He was gifted in martial arts. I specially gave him some advice, but it's a pity that he has been forgotten by everyone."

Eunuch Yuan's expression suddenly stiffened. He looked carefully at Eunuch Chu who was reminiscing about the past, wondering whether the old man brought it up intentionally or unintentionally.

When Li Ping'an heard the word "tips", he recalled an old friend and bowed to ask.

"Grandfather, do you remember the little table?"

Eunuch Chu nodded and said, "Of course I remember. He's quite a clever boy. He knows how to be patient and has some commanding skills."

Li Pingan sighed and said, "A few days later, the little table died."

Eunuch Chu said nonchalantly, "That's indeed a pity."

Li Pingan asked the question that had been buried in his heart for a long time: "Xiaozhuo was in the eyes of the ancestor. He was someone you valued. He died inexplicably. Why didn't you punish the murderer severely?"

Assassinating the young eunuch who was valued by Eunuch Chu was, at the very least, an insult to his dignity, and at the most, a provocation to his authority.

Eunuch Chu asked in return, "Do you know how many people our family values?"

Li Ping'an shook his head. In his opinion, only a young eunuch who was outstanding, loyal or gifted would be qualified to catch the eye of Eunuch Chu.

“There are quite a few every month and every year.”

Eunuch Chu said, "Perhaps because he said something pleasant, or perhaps because he did a good job, we are willing to praise him and give him some favors."

Li Ping'an vaguely understood that Eunuch Chu was not interested in small prescriptions, small tables, or other young eunuchs, but was casting a wide net to select the best.

The eunuch Yuan next to him had a gleam in his eyes. This was an extraordinary way of controlling subordinates, and just hearing one of it would benefit him for the rest of his life.

After chatting for a while, Eunuch Chu seemed tired, waved his hand and closed his eyes to rest.

Eunuch Yuan did not dare to disturb them, so he bowed and took his leave, leaving the cold palace with his eunuchs.

Li Ping'an followed a few steps and skillfully stuffed a stack of banknotes into his pocket.

"Please advise Eunuch Yuan on how we should treat our ancestor. Should we serve him well, or leave him alone, or perhaps look for an opportunity..."

Eunuch Chu is in opposition to Concubine Yuan. If he gets too close to her, he will easily be affected. On the contrary, if he uses some ruthless means, he may be able to win Concubine Yuan's favor.

Eunuch Yuan said solemnly, "Your Majesty said four words: a good beginning and a good end."

Li Pingan pondered it for a moment and tasted something of the meaning. His Majesty and Eunuch Chu had a decades-long relationship, and their relationship was closer than that of most children.

Even though she was banished to the cold palace, she still couldn't bear the harsh treatment.

Li Pingan immediately understood and asked, "Then why don't you retire outside? Although the cold palace is quiet, you still can't be free."

Eunuch Yuan said, "The old ancestor has been in charge of the palace for decades. Who knows how many hidden tricks he has laid and how many old guys he is involved with? It would be too dangerous to let him out of the palace!"

"I see."

Li Ping'an was amazed and lamented that the relationship between the monarch and his subjects was very subtle, with both demotion and kindness, closeness and caution.

Eunuch Yuan reminded him, "Even though the ancestor has retired, his influence is still immense. You must know how to seize opportunities."

"It's saved by our family."

Li Ping'an felt quite regretful. If he had known that Eunuch Chu was imprisoned in the cold palace, he should have practiced the Nine Yang Finger Power of the Medicine King Sect, which is a top-notch finger technique for pushing the palace to activate blood circulation and dredge the meridians.

After completing his studies, he could serve Eunuch Chu, and perhaps he could be reinstated sooner.

Return to the cold palace.

Eunuch Chu was dozing in a rocking chair, humming an unknown tune. Li Ping'an didn't understand why, after being dismissed from office and imprisoned, Eunuch Chu didn't complain about his fate, but instead was in the mood to bask in the sun and sing a little tune.

He tossed and turned a lot during the first few days after he arrived in the cold palace.

The Queen resented her godfather, resented Eunuch Niu, and resented Eunuch Deng. She wished she could kill everyone to take back her official position. It took her half a month to calm down her boiling emotions.

"Is the ancestor going to lie down and wait for death, or is he going to take the victory?"

Li Ping'an couldn't figure out Eunuch Chu's thoughts, and didn't dare to disturb him, so he sat on the steps next to him to practice martial arts.

The old man and the young man just lay or sat there in silence, enjoying the cool breeze until the sun set.

Xiao Wuzi came with a lunch box to deliver the meal. Instead of putting it down and leaving as usual, he came to Eunuch Chu, took out a book, opened it, and raised it above his head respectfully.

"Grandfather, Eunuch Meng said that the first meal was prepared in a hurry, so he chose your favorite sugar-wrapped cheese cake. Please take a look at what we will have for tomorrow."

Li Ping'an took a glance and saw the names of various dishes written on the book.

Having been serving meals from the imperial kitchen for more than half a year, he recognized the dishes as imperial meals at a glance, and was surprised at the remaining prestige of Eunuch Chu. He still showed filial respect to him even after the chief chef of the Imperial Kitchen was replaced.

Eunuch Chu flipped through a few pages and pointed out two dishes, both of which were sweet meals similar to sugar-wrapped cheese.

"Eunuch Meng is very thoughtful. Thank him on behalf of our family."

"I will definitely pass on the message."

Xiao Wuzi took note of it carefully and hurried back to the imperial kitchen to report. It didn't matter if the other eunuchs waiting for food were hungry for a while.

Li Ping'an opened the food box, which was divided into two layers. On the upper layer were a few of his coarse flour steamed buns, and on the lower layer were sugar-wrapped cheese and some refreshing side dishes.

"Grandfather, which one do you want to eat first?"

"We're not old enough to need someone to feed us."

Eunuch Chu stretched out his hand, grabbed the food box, took the sugar-wrapped cheese into his hand, and threw the whole thing into his mouth to chew.

"It's a pity that Xiao Liuzi didn't leave behind the secret recipe for sugar-wrapped custard. We can't enjoy the same flavor anymore."

Li Pingan asked, "Excuse me, ancestor, who is Xiao Liuzi?"

"Former Imperial Food Supervisor Liu Yougui."

Eunuch Chu said, "Back then, little Liuzi was working on the stove, and my family went to the imperial kitchen to work. When we tasted the sugar-wrapped cheese he made, we were so happy that we adopted him as our adopted son."

Li Ping'an only now knows the name of his godfather. When he has the chance to visit the eunuch's tomb in the future, he will not cry at the wrong grave or burn the wrong paper.

"Grandfather, we are actually relatives."

Eunuch Chu ate another piece of candy wrapped in cheese, raised his eyelids and said, "Could you be our great-great-grandson?"

Li Pingan smiled flatteringly and said, "Did you recognize it?"

Eunuch Chu shook his head and said, "There are at least eight hundred great-great-grandchildren like you in our family, if not a thousand. Few are worthy of showing their faces in front of us."

Li Ping'an briefly recounted his relationship with Eunuch Sun and Admiral Liu, emphasizing how loyal and filial he was, and even shed a few tears when talking about his godfather's death.

Eunuch Chu shook his face and said, "You are an interesting kid."

There are many thousand-year-old foxes in the palace, and Eunuch Chu is the best among them. He instantly caught the loophole in Li Ping'an's lie. The truly loyal godsons and godsons should be imprisoned in the imperial prison.

To stay alive, you either have to find someone else to rely on or jump ship in time.

Eunuch Chu did not expose the lie. The past was gone with the wind. He was already very old and just wanted to spend his old age in the cold palace.

There are many eunuchs in history who have great power in the court, but how many of them can live out their retirement in peace after losing the palace fight?

(End of this chapter)