diymy Chapter 42 A lackey should do what a lackey should do.
Chapter 42 A lackey should do what a lackey should do.
Feeling refreshed after his bath, Liu Feng lay down on a bamboo recliner, munching on a watermelon chilled to the bone by well water, enjoying the cool breeze gently fanned by Xiang Ling.
Xiangling gently waved her round fan: "Second Master, just now Liu Ma said that the fabric sent by Madam's family includes cicada wing gauze, which is intended to make two sets of clothes for you, Second Master, so that they will be cool and refreshing to wear in the hot summer."
Liu Feng rolled his eyes. What a braggart!
Seeing that he didn't believe her, Xiangling tugged at her gauze shirt: "Second Master, you'll know once you touch it. This is just ordinary gauze, and it's still exceptionally cool to wear."
Liu Feng glanced at it and said irritably, "Your undergarment is showing."
Xiangling blushed instantly and quickly covered the hem of her clothes.
"Why are you covering it up? It's not like we haven't seen it before." Liu Feng casually spat out the watermelon seeds in his mouth.
Xiangling's face turned even redder, her ears and neck also turning crimson.
Liu Feng threw away the watermelon rind, got up, washed his hands, and said, "I'll have Aunt Liu make you a couple of outfits later..."
"No, no!"
Xiangling shook her head vigorously, "Aunt Liu said that only Second Master in the family can wear this kind of high-quality fabric. This is fine for me, really!"
Liu Feng smiled and pinched her cheek, and Xiang Ling returned a sweet smile.
"Second Master, shall I massage your legs?"
"No need, just bring those books over."
"Oh." Xiangling turned around and picked up the books. "The Seven Military Classics?"
"You can read?" Liu Feng was slightly taken aback.
"Yes, we know each other. What's wrong?" Xiangling asked, looking completely bewildered.
Liu Feng's eyes darted around, and he coughed lightly: "I don't recognize many of these characters, can you teach me?"
Xiangling burst out laughing, but quickly suppressed it.
Just as Liu Feng was about to speak, the old woman's voice came from outside the door: "Second Master, Commander Li is here."
Xiangling hid in the bedroom before Liu Feng finally spoke, "Please come in."
The curtain was lifted, and Li Shoutian walked in, his brow beaded with sweat: "My lord..."
"Don't rush, sit down and have a piece of watermelon first." Liu Feng pointed to the stool.
"Thank you, sir!"
Li Shoutian bowed, picked up a slice of watermelon, sat down and ate it heartily, then wiped his sweat: "The lord previously instructed me to find a way to plant spies in the Rongguo Mansion..."
"Did you get it done?" Liu Feng asked.
Li Shoutian shook his head: "The Jia family is a powerful and influential clan. The servants in the mansion are all hereditary slaves, and outsiders can't get in at all. However, I discovered that the Southern Garrison Command has planted spies in the Rongguo Mansion..."
Liu Feng remained silent, waiting for what would follow.
"...This person is not a servant born into the Rongguo Mansion, but a servant who came with the Wang family as part of their dowry. The couple worked for Zhou Rui and his wife."
Li Shoutian swallowed the watermelon in his mouth and continued, "It's quite a coincidence. Last time I went with you to the Embroidered Uniform Guard to make some arrangements, I happened to meet the commander of the Southern Garrison who was in contact with you."
"People from the Southern Garrison?"
Liu Feng tapped the armrest of the recliner and said, "Give them more money, bring them under your control, and have them secretly act as spies for the Northern Garrison Command."
"Don't worry, sir."
Li Shoutian threw away the watermelon rind and wiped his mouth: "He's from the Southern Garrison Command. He knows the rules of the Embroidered Uniform Guard like the back of his hand. If he dares to betray the Northern Garrison Command Command, his whole family will suffer a terrible death."
"Better safe than sorry," Liu Feng said.
Li Shoutian nodded and then said, "There's one more thing. The Princess Consort of Nan'an went to the Rongguo Mansion and left in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea."
He paused for a moment, then added, "It seems the two families are having a rather unpleasant falling out."
Liu Feng was silent for a moment: "Ignore him, find a way to plant a few spies."
"Yes." Li Shoutian got up and walked out.
Liu Feng leaned back in his recliner, swaying leisurely, and left in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Was the Jia family really that reckless? Or was there something more to this...? He suddenly sat up. The Emperor! Yes, it must be the Emperor!
"Second Master..." Xiangling came out at some point.
That dog emperor is truly hypocritical, what a disgusting thing to do!
Liu Feng spat, stood up, and said, "Come on, teach me to read... We'll study late into the night!"
......................
Liu Feng has been very busy lately. He has to get up before dawn to report to the centurion's office, and then rush to the martial arts school for lessons. In the afternoon, he takes turns being on duty at the two centurion's offices, and at night he also has to learn to read with Xiangling. He's so busy that he doesn't even have time to dream.
Finally, school was over. A group of "Second Masters" grabbed their schoolbags and rushed out of the school, chatting and laughing as they left the martial arts academy.
After saying goodbye to the old man, Liu Feng slowly walked out with his cloth bag, following behind Xun Gui's son at a distance.
If you're not from the same circle, don't force yourselves to be together.
The martial arts program has a five-day rotation, and tomorrow, the 12th, is a day off, so I don't need to ask for leave.
The weather was getting hotter and hotter, and apart from a few noble sons, everyone else was riding in sedan chairs.
This sedan chair is no ordinary sedan chair; there is a copper basin filled with ice at the bottom, making it incredibly refreshing to sit inside.
You have to admire rich people, they really know how to have fun!
After Liu Feng left the martial arts school, only a few of Xun Gui's sons on horseback were left chatting and laughing in front of the hitching post.
When the group saw Liu Feng approaching, only the young man known as "Second Brother Liu" nodded; the others simply led their horses away.
Liu Feng simply nodded.
He wasn't wrong; the other person was none other than Liu Xianglian, known as Leng Erlang. He was a member of a collateral branch of the Duke of Liguo's family. He lost both his parents at a young age and was known for his unrestrained and dissolute nature. He enjoyed practicing swordsmanship and singing opera, often performing on stage. He was a man of many talents and a famous playboy in the capital.
Liu Feng led his horse and had only taken a few steps forward when he heard the rapid sound of hooves ahead. Looking up, he saw Zhang Laifu.
Zhang Laifu dismounted and rushed over, reporting, "Sir, I've found out the news."
"Where?" Liu Feng's eyes lit up.
Zhang Laifu: "West Mountain."
"Let's go!" Liu Feng mounted his horse and galloped out of the city.
Liu Feng never forgot the emperor's purpose in summoning him to the capital, and secretly investigated everywhere.
Instead of following the path of the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Northern Garrison to investigate kidnappers and eunuchs who had been castrated without authorization, he started his investigation by focusing on the old eunuchs who had left the palace.
According to the rules, when eunuchs grew old and frail, they were all to be released from the palace. Returning to their hometowns was unrealistic; even if they had relatives at home, they would be looked down upon and ostracized by others, and they wouldn't be able to stay at home for long. In the end, most of them would return to the capital.
The old eunuchs in the capital could be roughly divided into three categories: those who held high positions and had power in their early years built their own residences after leaving the palace, were served by servants, and enjoyed their later years in peace. Those who were poor either lived in the Anle Hall established by the court, where they were taken in and supported by the government. Most of the lower-ranking eunuchs could only stay temporarily in temples, barely making ends meet with incense money and a little savings.
However, there were a few exceptions. Some powerful eunuchs chose to live in temples after leaving the palace. Having spent their entire lives in the treacherous palace, their hearts were filled with unease. Only by staying by the side of Buddha could they find peace and tranquility.
These older eunuchs had extensive connections and a complex network of relationships, making it incredibly easy for them to recommend younger eunuchs for service in the palace.
Liu Feng suspected that some boys were raised by others and then sent to the palace through this route to be castrated through official channels, where they would secretly remain in hiding.
Zhang Laifu reined in his horse and pointed into the distance: "Sir, that's the temple."
Liu Feng took the binoculars he was handed and looked into the distance.
On the way, Zhang Laifu explained in detail that, unlike the temples in the capital, this temple in Xishan was built by several old eunuchs who pooled their money to build it during the reign of the retired emperor.
This place is hidden deep in the mountains and forests, far away from the hustle and bustle of the capital, and has a sense of tranquility and seclusion.
Liu Feng looked around the temple and asked, "How was it arranged?"
Zhang Laifu replied, "To avoid alerting the enemy, the brothers are all hiding on another hilltop, waiting to make their move at nightfall."
Liu Feng put down his binoculars: "It's still more than two hours before it gets dark. If it takes too long, something bad might happen."
Zhang Laifu hesitated, "There are quite a few female relatives of officials here offering incense and praying for blessings."
Liu Feng laughed: "What are we? We're the government's henchmen. Henchmen should do what henchmen do..."