Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

These words had a profound impact on Lu Aniu's mind and planted a very solid message in his worldview.

After entering the palace, he was surrounded by eunuchs like himself. In this environment, Lu Aniu felt that he was no longer special. He had food to eat and clothes to wear. Life wasn't particularly good, but he gradually adapted to it.

He didn't care about money at all, because he had neither the means to spend it nor the people to do so.

But now, he suddenly had a flash of insight.

He was a eunuch.

Once outside the palace, no one would like a monster who is neither male nor female.

Yes, even your own father would sell you to these people for money... so who wouldn't betray you?

Only silver!

Only hard-earned money will never betray you!

Seeing that he was deep in thought, Steward Wu nodded with satisfaction, turned around, and prepared to leave.

"...Steward Wu!"

"Ok?"

Not only Manager Wu, but throughout history, leaders have often been more lenient in their attitude towards talented subordinates.

Of course, he also had high hopes for this young man who was very capable and efficient in his work.

“That day, when I was receiving my salary, I…” Lu Aniu realized something, then lowered his voice and said, “Did I… break some rules?”

"You're not so stupid after all." Manager Wu tapped him on the head with the stick of a back scratcher. "That's enough. Let's let it go this time. Starting next time, you watch how much the person in front of you throws into the basin, and you throw in the same amount."

"Is that a gift for you?" Lu Aniu asked curiously.

"Hmph, I don't like hearing that." Although Steward Wu snorted, he still patiently explained to the newcomer Lu Aniu, "What do you mean by 'paying respects to me'? How old am I that I'm worth your respect?"

"If you ever get into trouble or offend someone, and they throw you in jail, who's going to go to the Imperial Household Department to clean up your mess? Do you think I can get away with just my mouth?"

"Even if I wear my lips out and my tongue rot, and I bend my ass up to the sky, I still won't be able to clean it up for you."

"Today, you threw something into this basin, and you heard a sound."

"Tomorrow, who knows, you might just escape with your life!"

"Don't feel like you're losing out. This isn't about showing respect to me; it's about showing respect to our unseen ancestors!"

Chapter 827: This Governor-General, He Has to Be Killed

“Isn’t this business model just insurance?” Evelyn listened with fascination. “In the 14th century, there was already marine insurance in Genoa, Italy. It also involved collecting some fees in advance, and in case of an accident, the company could compensate for a portion of the economic losses.”

Thinking about it this way, there are indeed similarities on the surface.

However, the situation in the palace is different from natural disasters; it is almost entirely man-made, and the probability of something going wrong is actually very high.

Various forces, both overt and covert, are fighting each other. The big shots naturally won't get involved in the infighting, so there have to be lowly pawns charging ahead.

There are no roles more suitable for lowly positions than palace maids and eunuchs. In the deep palace, the death of one or two eunuchs is hardly a big deal. This is also why Chief Eunuch Wu's "insurance business" is so popular. The lower-ranking eunuchs all eagerly hope that if they have bad luck and encounter difficulties, someone will lend them a hand.

"Later, I recognized him and made him my godfather," Lu Aniu said calmly. "Eunuchs in the palace all have this custom, it's the same in every dynasty."

"If someone is unable to have children and has no blood relation to another, they will place extra emphasis on these things... godfathers, godsons, those famous eunuchs, which one of them didn't take in hundreds of godsons? In reality, that was his power network. He used these people as spies to obtain intelligence from the palace and also to provide them with protection."

"Perhaps... he just brought this up because he saw how strong I am and wanted to recruit me. I don't care anymore."

"I just don't want to be alone, that's all."

Evelyn was touched by the emotions revealed in his tone.

Acting skills can be fake, but emotions will never be fake; they are 100% genuine.

At least during that period, this shrewd and capable chief eunuch became Lu Aniu's pillar of support. Their cooperation grew increasingly close, and the palace gradually learned that this strong-as-an-ox fellow was Chief Eunuch Wu's newly adopted son.

The palace is a huge, meticulous, and terrifying machine; different people go in and come out looking the same.

Lu Aniu gradually got used to life here, and he began to think that if nothing else happened, it would be nice to stay here for the rest of his life.

Until the day of parting arrived without warning.

----

"Boom!"

Lu Aniu hurriedly pushed open the wooden door, and the sound of sobbing came from inside.

Several eunuchs were tidying up the scene—Chief Eunuch Wu lay on the table in a strange position, his head submerged in a basin of water, already lifeless. His fingernails were full of sawdust, and the nail of his right ring finger was broken and embedded in the table.

Clearly, he must have struggled violently in his final moments, but to no avail.

He was drowned.

……

"Boom!!!"

Lu Aniu's pupils dilated instantly, then trembled. He couldn't believe it at first, then clenched his fists so tightly they cracked.

"What happened?" Lu Aniu asked in a low voice.

“Ah Niu… Brother Ah Niu, please don’t blame us… it was Manager Wu…”

“Manager Wu?” Lu Aniu suddenly turned his head, staring intently at the drooping eyebrows who had spoken up to explain. “What did you all call them in this room before? Now, his body isn’t even completely cold yet, and you’re already in a hurry to change your address?”

When people leave, the tea is cool.

When a person dies, the lights go out.

Such feelings as Lu Aniu's are very rare in this palace.

But drooping eyebrows were afraid of his fist, so she had no choice but to change her words tremblingly, "It was Dad who told us not to tell you."

"What?" Lu Aniu raised his eyebrows.

"He was afraid you'd act too impulsively and do something... irreversible, so he left you... left you a letter..."

With drooping eyebrows and trembling hands, she handed over the letter.

----

My son.

See the word as the face.

This is the last thing your father is leaving you. We were father and son, and we were somewhat connected by fate. Like you, I have no family outside. I managed to save up some money, but they took it all. I have nothing left but this message for you.

Father knew his fate long ago. In the Imperial Household Department, we were the absolute rulers. But outside, we were nothing more than dogs kept by others.

Remember this: save your life and don't act rashly.

See you in the next life, and may we both be people with roots.

----

……

Lu Aniu's eyes widened to their maximum, and he almost ground his teeth to powder.

"who is it?"

The crowd looked at him with some fear.

"Speak up, who is it?"

“I heard… it’s… it’s Lord Huang, the Grand Canal Governor of Jiangnan. He arrived today, submitted a note to his superiors, and complained about our father. After that, the Imperial Household Department… it’s… it’s Eunuch Qi who has the final say.”

Lu Aniu leaned against the wall, looking somewhat dejected, and slowly sat down.

The title of Grand Eunuch of the Imperial Household Department sounds prestigious, but in higher-level power struggles, he is merely a slightly more important pawn.

He finally saw the true nature of the palace, and immediately broke out in a cold sweat, feeling utterly lost. He sat there, sitting, sitting by the cold wall.

It got dark.

"Rumble————!"

Amidst the rumbling thunder, a torrential downpour began, as if striking his heart.

The other eunuchs did not dare to disturb him. They disposed of Chief Eunuch Wu's body and left him there.

The rain pounded on the stone steps, the sound irregular yet rhythmic, gradually helping Lu Aniu to regain his composure from the chaos: the River Conservancy Governor, also known as the "River Commissioner," was a local official. Regardless of the reason for his trip to the capital, it must be for something that required him to report directly to the Emperor. Only under such special circumstances could he stay overnight in a designated area of ​​the Imperial Palace.

In other words, by tomorrow, there's a high probability that I'll never see this "Lord Huang" again.

Lu Aniu made up his mind and pushed open the wooden door again, his eyes now completely cold.

His physical abilities were extraordinary, and he was also very familiar with the general layout of the palace.

Having bypassed all the visible and hidden sentries, they arrived at Lord Huang's gate amidst a torrential downpour.

The lamplight cast dappled shadows.

The two people inside appear to be talking.

……

"Will the recent floods in Jiangnan and the breaching of the dikes affect us...?" a deep voice said.

"Oh, Lord Suo, why are you so worried?" Lord Huang's voice sounded somewhat excited. "Tell me, where in this world is there a dam as solid as a rock? Isn't it normal for it to collapse when the waves crash and the wind blows?"

"The floods in Jiangnan have been over for several months now. The Emperor summoned us mainly to inquire about the disaster relief efforts. Tomorrow morning, when the Emperor summons you, just give a few casual answers as usual."

“I’m worried that the Emperor might suddenly become suspicious of the breach in the dike. What if he investigates the accounts from back then? Our money……”

"Haha, that's easy," Lord Huang laughed. "Have you heard? That old mangy dog ​​was drowned in a basin by his own puppies."

"He's quite an extraordinary person; he can even make a fortune from digging a well in the palace."

"If anything goes wrong, we can pin the blame on him. He can't possibly jump out of the ground and refute us."

"Oh, hahaha... Lord Huang, that's brilliant!"

"Don't worry, Lord Suo. So much time has passed, most of those who were supposed to drown have already drowned."

"No one will come back alive to complain!"

……

Amidst the pattering rain, they spoke in hushed tones, but Lu Aniu, with his exceptionally sharp hearing, heard everything clearly from outside the door.

These words, one by one, penetrated his ears, his skin, and his very bones.

He felt his heart burning with intense heat, almost to the point of boiling over!

But he didn't react immediately. Instead, he went to get a basin of hot water and a towel, and returned to the door.

"Master Huang."

"Who is it?" came a lazy voice from inside the house.

"I was sent by the Imperial Household Department. The weather is bad, so Eunuch Qi asked me to bring a basin of hot water to help the two gentlemen wash their faces."

"...Ah, Eunuch Qi, he's quite sensible. Alright, come in."

……

Lu Aniu pushed open the door, half-raised his head, and when he saw Lord Suo, he pretended to be very surprised.

"I...I was discussing some official business with Lord Huang," Lord Suo explained, seemingly a little guilty.

"Hey, why are you explaining this to them? The eunuchs in the palace don't have tongues. Even if you gave them ten lives, they wouldn't dare to go around telling everyone." Lord Huang sat there, waved his hand, and unbuttoned his sleeve. "You can do it."

"Yes."

Lu Aniu carried a basin of hot water, slowly stepped forward, soaked a towel in the hot water, wrung it out, knelt on the ground, and wiped Huang's face.

With a "thud," he deliberately let go, letting the scalding hot towel fall between Lord Huang's legs.

"Ah!" Lord Huang exclaimed in surprise, then said angrily, "You spineless wretch, can't even handle this simple matter?! I'll have the Imperial Household Department skin you alive!"

He said that, but he still subconsciously bent down to pick up the scalding hot towel.

Lu Aniu suddenly sprang up, grabbed his neck, pulled a pair of Morley scissors from under the basin, and stabbed them into his throat!

"Boom!!!"

Thunder exploded.

Lord Su was stunned. Even if he had ten more brains, he still couldn't understand what was happening at this moment.