Dugong

Chapter 53 Apply what you learn
evening.

After helping Eunuch Chu fall asleep, Li Ping'an tossed and turned in bed, touching his face from time to time.

"Grandpa Gan is really amazing. Our family actually has some filial piety and loyalty!"

Loyalty and filial piety, wonderful shackles.

From the time Li Ping'an entered the palace until now, everything he saw, heard and experienced had made him forget loyalty and filial piety, and he was only thinking about climbing up the ladder.

But after spending only a short time with Eunuch Chu, he actually began to feel awe, awe, and obedience towards him.

Eunuch Chu is a pure power figure. Even the way he stands, walks, and eats can be used as a means to win him over and get close to him, making Li Ping'an unconsciously think that he has become his "close friend".

Such a method made Li Ping'an shudder, but also secretly happy.

"When I first entered the palace, I learned Xiao Fangzi, Xiao Yuanzi, and Xiao Rongzi, mostly ways to protect myself and survive. Later, I learned from my godfather how to be ruthless and use any means to climb up the ladder. Now I can learn from my godfather the art of taming and controlling people!"

Li Ping'an knew without comparison that Eunuch Chu's methods were ten or even a hundred times more sophisticated than those of the previous ones.

After figuring out the key points, he felt much more at ease and decided to find a young eunuch to try out his grandfather's human training skills.

There is a saying in "Shuowen Jiezi": "To study is to be ignorant, to be enlightened, and to be able to put it into practice."

The next day.

Eunuch Chu was still asleep, and Li Ping'an was reviewing his lessons in the yard, reciting a sentence and copying it on the ground.

“Only when you know when to stop can you achieve stability, and only when you are stable can you achieve tranquility…”

At noon.

Xiao Wuzi came in with a lunch box. He heard Lang Lang reading and saw Li Pingan writing seriously. He couldn't help feeling a little envious.

Although eunuchs were not prohibited from reading in the palace, there was no one to guide or teach them. Even if they knew all the words, they could not understand the essence of the books.

Either they bow and kowtow everywhere to ask for advice, or they find a godfather to seek guidance and support.

Xiao Wuzi put down the food box, glanced at the side hall, and asked in a low voice: "Is the old ancestor still not awake?"

Li Ping'an put down the branch and opened the food box. There were two sweet meals on the top layer, and his brows were slightly frowned.

The eunuchs in the palace were all experts at reading people's expressions. Xiao Wuzi, fearing that he might displease Eunuch Chu, hurriedly asked, "Eunuch An, is there something wrong with the dish?"

Li Pingan shook his head and said, "The food is very good, but our ancestor doesn't eat after noon and only likes to eat the same soup."

Xiao Wuzi asked, "What kind of soup? We'll send it over next time."

Li Pingan hesitated slightly and reminded: "I'm telling you, don't spread it out, lest our ancestors get angry."

Xiao Wuzi promised repeatedly: "Don't worry, Eunuch An, our family will keep the secret well."

"Perilla water."

Li Pingan said slowly: "When you deliver the lunch at noon, bring another pot of wine with you. If the old ancestor drinks it, we will find a chance to tell who sent it."

Xiao Wuzi was filled with gratitude: "Thank you, Eunuch An, for your support."

Li Pingan said, "We are also doing this for the comfort of our ancestors. His Majesty has said 'a good beginning and a good end'. As servants, we must obey His Majesty's orders, right?"

"Yes, yes, yes."

Xiao Wuzi had been in the palace for five or six years, doing the hard job of delivering meals. When he came into contact with the "imperial order" for the first time, he suddenly felt that he was an important person.

Li Ping'an sent Xiao Wuzi away and repeatedly reminded him not to reveal the secrets of his ancestors.

“If one does not express his preferences, his power will be unfathomable.”

"Eunuch An, your knowledge is enough to take the imperial examination!"

……

Noon the next day.

Xiao Wuzi brought the food box as usual. In addition to the two dishes specified by Eunuch Chu, he also added a pot of perilla water.

Given his status in the palace, it must have cost a lot. Li Pingan patted him on the shoulder and said, "Xiao Wuzi, you can achieve great things!"

Xiao Wuzi's eyes were filled with tears. If it weren't for the fact that Eunuch An had no official position and didn't meet the palace's unspoken rule of adopting godsons, he would have wanted to acknowledge him as his godfather right then and there.

Li Ping'an opened the lower layer of the food box and took out the rough flour steamed bun.

"Eunuch An, we heard you like white flour steamed buns, so we brought you some from the kitchen."

Xiao Wuzi took out a package from his arms and opened it to reveal a few white flour buns. "Rough flour will make your throat choke. In the palace, they feed the cows and horses with it. Please don't let it bother you."

Li Pingan chewed and swallowed slowly, speaking in a profound tone.

"People should never forget their roots. Before we entered the palace, we worked like cows and horses for half a piece of coarse flour steamed bun. Now we eat very well!"

"That's what Eunuch An taught me."

Xiao Wuzi looked at Li Ping'an with awe. Although he was young, he had profound martial arts skills, profound knowledge, and such a strong will. He would definitely make a name for himself in the future.

If you follow and serve them well, you can get a position by taking advantage of them!
Xiao Wuzi glanced at the sticks used for writing and said earnestly, "Eunuch An, we have a good relationship with Xiao Liuzi from the Imperial Household Department. Ask him to bring out some straw paper, pens and ink. Please don't be disgusted by these scraps."

Li Ping'an's eyes lit up. He actually had an unexpected gain. He bowed and said, "Fifth Eunuch's kindness is remembered by our family."

Xiao Wuzi smiled and declined repeatedly, saying, "I am just a eunuch who delivers food. I am not worthy of being called a father-in-law."

"Who can be sure that a nobody today won't become a powerful figure in the future?"

Li Pingan patiently said, "Eunuch Zhang during the reign of the previous emperor, the ancestor of the current dynasty, even fell into debauchery when he was down and out. He is not much more noble than the fifth eunuch."

When Xiao Wuzi left the cold palace, her legs felt so light that she didn't know how to walk, and the desire to follow Eunuch An became stronger and stronger in her heart.

In such a huge palace, he is the only one who understands us!

Li Ping'an looked at Xiao Wuzi's back, his expression gradually becoming cold and gloomy. Grandpa Gan's method of controlling people was really useful.

A secret that was not a secret, and a few words of encouragement and praise made Xiao Wuzi so confused that he almost bowed down in worship.

"Fortunately, my family still has some spirituality and can perceive Grandpa Gan's methods, unlike Xiao Wuzi who is so ignorant!"

Of course, it may be that Eunuch Chu was teaching intentionally and deliberately revealed some mistakes and deliberateness.

Li Ping'an was weighing things in his mind when he suddenly heard an old and shrill voice in his ears.

"Xiao Anzi, what are you thinking about?"

"We are pondering the profound meaning of the saying 'Only when things are understood can knowledge be attained, and only when knowledge is attained can intentions be sincere.'"

Li Pingan reacted quickly, blurting out the reason, and stepped forward to support Eunuch Chu's arm: "Grandpa, why did you get up so early today?"

Eunuch Chu reminisced, "I dreamed of accompanying His Majesty in reviewing memorials, working from midnight to dawn. His Majesty worked through the night, so how could I have the nerve to sleep until noon?"

Li Ping'an didn't believe a word of it, but he took note of Eunuch Chu's habit of flattering the emperor at all times and being loyal to him, and he must learn from him.

He helped Eunuch Chu onto the rocking chair and took out the steamed cheese with sugar and kidney bean honey rolls from the food box.

Eunuch Chu glanced at it and said, "We won't be eating sweets today. Bring me some perilla water to help with the greasiness and oiliness."

Li Ping'an's heart trembled. He tried hard to force a smile and opened the kettle to pour the soup into the small bowl.

"Don't bother, we can just drink from the pot."

Eunuch Chu lay in a rocking chair, sipped his soup pot, and said with a smile, "The cold palace is still better. There are no need to follow all kinds of etiquette and rules."

Li Ping'an nodded in agreement, unable to guess what Grandpa Gan was thinking.

"Xiao Anzi."

"Ah."

"My study of 'Shuowenjiezi' was not in vain."

"..."

(End of this chapter)