Dugong

Chapter 31: Millennium Emperor
Dark as ink.

Li Ping'an carried a red gauze lantern and walked quickly along the palace wall. He couldn't help but quicken his pace, as he always felt that there was a dirty thing staring at him from behind.

But I didn't dare look back, for fear of seeing my godfather's old and gloomy face.

I didn't breathe a sigh of relief until I returned to my residence.

When he touched his back, he found that his clothes were soaked. Li Ping'an didn't change into clean clothes. He stroked his pounding chest and lay on the bed in deep thought.

"How did Godfather find out that I framed Xiao Liangzi, and how could he be so sure of the words I left behind?"

After repeated consideration, Li Ping'an was sure that there were no loopholes in the method of framing Xiao Liangzi, and that he did not set up the trap on his own initiative.

Xiao Liangzi did steal the jade essence, and Li Ping'an just took advantage of the situation, causing the amount lost to increase.

Afterwards, without anyone reporting it, Eunuch Sun would find out that Xiao Liangzi was cheating on his own, and the whole thing would seem to have nothing to do with Li Ping'an.

"If Godfather had discovered our scheme earlier, with his ruthless nature, he certainly wouldn't have tolerated it until now... So, I made a mistake when I reported Xiao Junzi."

A few days ago, Li Ping'an lost a piece of writing in the imperial kitchen. It said that Xiao Junzi's lover was a spy from Zhaoyang Palace. He threw it on the ground and no one knew who picked it up.

After repeated practice, the few words were written neatly and squarely, completely different from usual.

"How did Godfather find the clues?"

Li Ping'an tossed and turned and couldn't fall asleep. Everything had gone smoothly for him in the past six months. He rose from a low-level eunuch to become the confidant of Eunuch Sun, and he prided himself on being quite intelligent.

As a result, Eunuch Sun's words made all the calculations become a joke and a clown.

"Our family is still too young..."

Li Ping'an sighed and temporarily suppressed his doubts. The most important thing at the moment was to find evidence of Eunuch Lu's guilt.

Godfather's words were not only a warning, but more of a threat.

If he fails to accomplish his task, he will certainly be held accountable. If he can successfully ascend to the throne, killing two young eunuchs will not be worth mentioning.

Li Ping'an had a vague premonition that Eunuch Sun must have some conspiracy behind letting him take charge of the Tribute Department. It was a pity that Xiao Fangzi was no longer around, otherwise he could have discussed it with him and asked for his advice.

"After all, they are not biological father and son. Even if there is some friendship, he can be crushed to death at will!"

Thinking of this, Li Pingan suddenly felt a little homesick.

I haven't seen my parents for a year. I don't know how they are doing, whether they have white flour buns to eat, and whether my eldest brother has found a wife.

In recent months, Li Ping'an has sent some money home through Eunuch Niu's channels.

Although Eunuch Niu took a high commission and only received half of the 100 taels of silver, his reputation has always been good and there has never been any rumor that he embezzled money.

Even if the eunuch who sent the money died, the silver would be delivered to the home as scheduled.

……

The next day.

It's still dark.

Li Ping'an did not sleep all night, but fortunately he had made great progress in martial arts training, and his physique and spirit were extraordinary. He went to the main office to pay his respects to his godfather in high spirits.

"My son wishes my godfather all the best..."

The customary respect and filial piety are no different from before.

Li Ping'an has only grown one year older, but he has experienced more than in the past twelve years. He is no longer the boy who cries when he is wronged and makes a fuss when he is unhappy.

People in the palace only care about interests, and feelings are also a kind of interest.

Eunuch Sun did the same. He asked about the injuries of his godsons and gave them some high-quality healing pills.

"Thank you, godfather, for your kindness."

Xiao Luzi kowtowed loudly, as if he had suffered internal injuries from hitting his head against the wall without paying attention.

Li Ping'an was not injured, but got a small pill. His godfather said it was a secret Taoist medicine that could increase one's martial arts skills by one year after taking it.

I threw it straight into my mouth as soon as I got out, chewed it up and swallowed it. "It tastes a little worse than white flour steamed buns!"

The medicinal power enters the internal organs and turns into rich essence, which is refined into true qi through exercise, increasing the effect by 20% to 30% compared to daily meditation practice.

After about two hours, all the medicinal power was refined. Li Ping'an carefully comprehended the true energy in his dantian and curled his lips in disdain.

"How can it be a year of cultivation? At most, it's only ten days or half a month..."

Although I say I don't care, I'm thinking about it in my heart.

One small pill will increase your skill level by ten days to half a month, one hundred pills will increase your skill level by half a year, and one thousand pills will increase your skill level by five or six years.

"If we can take the elixir freely, it won't be long before we can defeat those old eunuchs. Then, we can find an opportunity to take revenge on Eunuch Zhou."

In addition to eating white flour buns and making money as an official, Li Ping'an has a new idea.

When people are full, their desires will indeed increase!

The evening meals were still served in Zhaoyang Palace. His Majesty had been providing meals for three consecutive days.

Ever since Concubine Yuan's belly grew bigger and bigger, Emperor Wu De gave her meals more and more frequently. His obvious favoritism seemed to be sending a signal to people inside and outside the palace.

Concubine Yuan gave birth to a prince, who may inherit the throne.

Li Ping'an couldn't help feeling anxious as he watched His Majesty and Princess Yuan chatting and laughing happily, and the couple showing their affection.

Eunuch Sun is truly an old fox. No matter how bad the situation is, he can always introduce new dishes to His Majesty and Princess Yuan with a smile.

"This Shaoguang spring roll is made with toon sprouts, deer tendons, and golden hook shrimp. It tastes great and is also nourishing."

Emperor Wude personally picked up a young sprout and handed it to Concubine Yuan's mouth: "My beloved concubine, please try it."

Princess Yuan was immediately flattered. Who else in the world could have the emperor pick up food for her personally? Even the empress had never done that. This was a unique favor in the dynasty.

"Your Majesty, I have heard that the people call you a wise ruler of all ages."

Emperor Wude stroked his beard and said, "I have achieved a few things. My military achievements are not as good as Taizu's, and my civil governance is not as good as Shizu and Taizong's. How can I dare to call myself a wise ruler of a thousand years?"

Princess Yuan spoke softly, "Emperor Taizu swept across the land, yet he was troubled by the Great Black Mountain. Emperor Shizu and Emperor Taizong were both distinguished in their civil and political achievements, yet they also had to negotiate peace with the barbarians. Looking back over the past thousand years, across three dynasties and dozens of emperors, only Your Majesty has completely annihilated the barbarians, freeing the Central Plains from border troubles. You are truly worthy of the title of wise ruler of the millennium!"

"Hahaha……"

Emperor Wude laughed out loud. Although Concubine Yuan's words might seem like flattery, her achievement of destroying the barbarians was indeed unprecedented in a thousand years.

A month ago, the imperial court held a grand ceremony to present prisoners.

When Emperor Wude offered sacrifices to the Taimiao, he beheaded the Golden Wolf King Ashina Lu with a sword in front of his ancestors, burned tablets to offer sacrifices to heaven, and demonstrated his achievements.

At the same time, he took out Taizu's will and conferred the title of Weiyuan Hou as King of Zhenbei, a title that would remain unchanged for generations.

Ministers and clan members in the court wrote letters one after another, trying to dissuade His Majesty from conferring the title of king. They gave many reasons, all of which were very reasonable.

Emperor Wu De still ignored the opposition and insisted on enfeoffing the Zhang family as a king of a different surname, because the four words "a thousand years of achievements" were the proof of his hard work for more than forty years.

Some people in later generations may scold Emperor Wude for his extravagance, or criticize the rampant corruption in the court, but it must be admitted that his merits outweigh his faults.

There is no better way to leave your name in history than this!
Emperor Wude gently stroked Concubine Yuan's swollen belly and said in a steady and powerful voice, "My beloved, when the prince is born, I will make him the King of Qin."

According to the rules of the country, one must be crowned king before ascending the throne.

Princess Yuan was extremely surprised. His Majesty's title when he was in the palace was King of Qin. She didn't care about her bloated and heavy body and stood up to kowtow.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace!"

Eunuch Sun's face froze, but he immediately smiled again. He followed the eunuch from the Imperial Household Department and kowtowed three times and nine times to congratulate His Majesty and Princess Yuan.

Return to the imperial kitchen.

Li Ping'an burned the leftovers into ashes and was about to go back to the house to rest when he suddenly heard the voice of Eunuch Sun's true energy.

"Xiao Anzi, hurry up and do your work. My family and godfather can't wait too long!"

(End of this chapter)