Starting with being handed over to the Imperial Concubine, building a family with a thousand-year hi

The eldest princess's people.

The crown prince's father.

The emperor's "auspicious omens".

as well as……

In the eyes of the imperial concubine, he was a thorn in her side that had to be removed as soon as possible.

The road ahead is long.

He looked at the white family fortune on the system panel.

The first step has been taken, and we've managed to gain a foothold.

But the real storm...

Perhaps the real turmoil has only just begun.

As evening approached, someone pushed open the creaking wooden door of the side courtyard of the library.

The visitor was named Yang Mao, who had been a personal eunuch in Consort De's palace and entered the palace around the same time as Su Mu.

However, deep resentment had accumulated between the two.

Yang Mao was quick-witted and eloquent, adept at understanding the emperor's intentions. However, this "cleverness" went too far, and he was not steady enough in his actions. Several times, he almost caused trouble for Consort De in important matters.

Consort De, mindful of his years of service, did not punish him severely, but instead transferred him away from her side and sent him to work in the lucrative Imperial Kitchen.

This was the result of Yang Mao's own actions, but he didn't think so. He stubbornly believed that it was Su Mu, who served in the same palace as Consort De and was more composed and reliable, who pointed out his shortcomings behind his back, which caused Consort De to become increasingly indifferent to him and eventually "exile" him.

This resentment, like a poisonous vine, took root and spread in his heart.

With his ability to read people's expressions and flatter others, Yang Mao has managed to thrive in the Imperial Kitchen. He is now the head eunuch in charge of the Imperial Kitchen, holding the rank of sixth grade!

It's important to know that before the Sixth Prince Xiao Jingye fell into the water, Su Mu was only a seventh-rank steward. Although the head eunuch had limited real power and his rank wasn't the highest, he often had a master backing him up, so his status was naturally much higher than that of ordinary stewards and eunuchs.

"Oh, you're still alive?"

A voice, clearly mocking, rang out. Yang Mao, a thin man with shifty eyes, entered uninvited, carrying a food box.

He looked Su Mu up and down, who was leaning against the bed, and said in a sharp tone, "The Princess valued you so much back then, and you still have the nerve to breathe in this world?"

Su Mu didn't even lift his eyelids.

How could he not know Yang Mao's intentions? He was simply taking advantage of Yang Mao's misfortune and enjoying his embarrassment.

"Steward Yang, be careful with your words," Su Mu's voice was hoarse but cold. "Don't judge a gentleman by your own petty standards."

"Hey!" Yang Mao slammed the food box down on the small table beside the bed. "If it weren't for Eunuch Li's orders to have the Imperial Kitchen 'look after' you, do you think I would have willingly stepped into this gloomy place?"

Su Mu stopped talking and closed his eyes, pretending to sleep.

The Imperial Kitchen has a large staff; why would a sixth-rank head eunuch personally come to deliver such a trivial matter as meals? Yang Mao's visit was clearly a deliberate act of humiliation.

"Everyone says that a serious injury weakens the body, and one shouldn't eat greasy food. That's why I specially prepared a bowl of fine millet porridge for you to soothe your stomach." Yang Mao lifted the lid of the food box and took out a large, rough porcelain bowl. The bowl contained a thin rice porridge so clear you could see your reflection in it, with a few grains of rice scattered at the bottom. "Can you eat this yourself? If not, considering our years of working together, I'll condescend to feed you, okay?"

"No need for Eunuch Yang to trouble himself." Su Mu opened his eyes, his gaze calmly sweeping over the fake smile on Yang Mao's face.

"Alright, enjoy your meal then." Yang Mao didn't linger, picked up the empty food box, turned and left. Reaching the door, he turned back and chuckled, "Take good care of yourself, don't die too quickly, otherwise... I'll miss out on a lot of fun, haha!"

The footsteps faded into the distance.

Su Mu remained expressionless, but a clear rumbling sound came from his abdomen.

I'm hungry.

He propped himself up, still feeling weak, reached for the bowl of porridge, and brought it to his mouth.

The porridge was not only cold, but it was also gritty, containing quite a few grains of sand that hadn't been rinsed out!

"Pooh!"

Su Mu spat out the cold porridge mixed with sand, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"A petty person who has gained power... I'll let you be arrogant for a few more days."

Time slips away quietly.

Thanks to the miraculous effects of that Body Tempering Pill, Su Mu's injuries healed extremely quickly.

No one from the outside world came to "take care" of him anymore.

Every day, only a young eunuch would come to the door to glance around, ostensibly to deliver his meal (which he often forgot or did perfunctorily), but in reality, to check if he had stopped breathing. After discovering that he could barely get out of bed and move around, even this sole "care" disappeared.

Su Mu decided to play along. His internal injuries had healed and his bones were stronger than before, but in order not to arouse suspicion, he still pretended to be weak and spent most of his time in bed.

The library was located in a secluded corner of the palace gardens, a separate courtyard with a simple kitchenette and washroom. Perhaps for convenience, the previous caretakers had stored some rice, grains, and vegetables in the kitchenette, enough to sustain one person for half a month if used sparingly. If they ran out, they could, according to regulations, go to the Imperial Kitchen to get more.

In the blink of an eye, Su Mu had been here for nearly ten days.

Feeling that he had recovered, he began to silently study the "Wind Shadow Step" movement technique in his small room late at night.

As for the "Hehuan Caishun Gong" (Hehuan Harvest and Nourishment Technique)... it is sinister and obviously a heretical and selfish practice. Although Su Mu is in a difficult situation, he disdains to prolong his life with such evil arts!

That evening, two eunuchs escorted a young eunuch, about ten years old and emaciated, to the library.

This young eunuch was named Cheng Ping'an. It is said that he was clumsy and broke one of Consort De's favorite teacups, so he was whipped ten times and sent to this place to serve.

Cheng Ping'an was too young to handle the complex work of organizing and cleaning the library. Su Mu, still recovering from serious injuries, was also clearly unable to manage it alone.

"The Empress Dowager sent him here at this time..." Su Mu observed coldly, understanding in his heart, "I'm afraid her real intention is not what it seems."

This journey was likely arranged by Consort De on purpose, ostensibly to assist, but in reality to monitor him, or... to give Su Mu, this "useless person," a "companion," to make her appear "benevolent and righteous."

"Well, since we're here, let's make the best of it." Su Mu looked at the child lying on the hard bed, groaning softly from the pain of the whip marks on his back, his head covered in cold sweat, and his heart softened. He got up, dissolved half a Body Tempering Pill in the clean water he had hidden away, and brought it to Cheng Ping'an's lips.

"Drink it. I added some herbs to the water to help with blood stasis and relieve pain. It will make you feel better."

"Thank you so much, Eunuch Su!" Cheng Ping'an raised his tearful eyes, full of gratitude.

After two days of meticulous care, Cheng Ping'an's whip wounds healed rapidly with the help of medicinal pills secretly administered by Su Mu.

That day, the little boy was able to get out of bed. He walked up to Su Mu, knelt down with a thud, and kowtowed three times. His voice was choked with emotion but extremely earnest: "Eunuch Su has treated Ping An as if he were a second father! Ping An has no father or mother. If you do not mind, I am willing to recognize you as my godfather and serve you for the rest of my life to repay your great kindness!"

Su Mu was slightly taken aback.

Having no relatives or friends in this deep palace, adopting a ten-year-old child as a godson seems appropriate in terms of age. More importantly, the child has clear eyes and a grateful nature; perhaps... it's fate.

He nodded and said gently, "Get up, I agree."

As soon as the words were spoken, a familiar, emotionless, mechanical voice suddenly rang in my mind:

[Ding! Detected that the host has adopted a godson. Reward has been sent to your system space, please check.]

Are there rewards for adopting a godson?