The villagers had no ill intentions; they were simply curious why Grandpa Chang could still grow a beard. After all, they had heard that eunuchs didn't grow beards, and when they first met Grandpa Chang, his chin was completely bald.
The retired emperor was stunned for a moment. He had been playing wildly these past few days, returning home very late. He would wash up, lie down and go to sleep, and then get up the next day, wash up and go out without paying attention to his appearance. He had forgotten that he was now a eunuch and would not grow a beard.
Feeling a little embarrassed by the villagers' stares, he quickly realized that his age made him rather shameless, and he immediately said mysteriously, "I'm telling you the truth, but don't tell anyone else!"
The villagers nodded and leaned closer to hear more clearly.
"Actually, I wasn't completely castrated when I entered the palace. A few pubic hairs still occasionally come out. You must protect me, or I'll lose my life!"
The villagers were shocked: "Huh?"
Is there really such a thing as incomplete castration?
However, no matter how stupid he was, as a man he understood that this was a sad matter for Eunuch Chang, and even if he was a little curious, he could not ask too many questions. He immediately nodded and said, "Okay, Eunuch Chang, don't worry, I definitely won't tell anyone."
He thought Eunuch Chang was a very nice person. Coming from the palace, he was not arrogant at all. He spent his days digging lotus roots in the paddy fields with them, and at his age, he wasn't afraid of hurting himself.
The eunuch had no offspring, and his future care for his parents was a problem. He felt sorry for the old man, but the old man lived a carefree and unrestrained life, not caring about such things at all.
The villagers thought to themselves, "This is a person who has seen the world, unlike us short-sighted farmers."
In that instant, my respect for Eunuch Chang grew even stronger.
Just then, Jiang Jiuniang, carrying the child, came with Consort Liu to call the Emperor Emeritus back for dinner. They were quite worried to see him covered in mud, especially Consort Liu, who was concerned that something might have happened to the Emperor Emeritus, so she hurriedly stepped forward to help him walk.
Everyone in the village knew that Liu Gongnu was Chang Gonggong's wife, and they didn't think there was anything wrong with it. On the contrary, they felt that although Chang Gonggong had no children, it was good to have someone as beautiful and caring as Liu Gongnu by his side. They were very gratified for him.
Consort Liu helped the Emperor Emeritus walk back, muttering to herself, "Look at you, you're already so old, don't you know how to be more careful? If you had fallen on dry land, you wouldn't be in this state now. Let Jiu Niang take a good look at you when we get back, so you don't hurt yourself without even knowing it."
Jiang Jiuniang also thought it made sense. The retired emperor could have an accident anywhere, but it absolutely could not happen on the Lu family's territory, otherwise those people would definitely be able to join forces with the civil officials to bring down the Lu family.
The Emperor Emeritus knew that Consort Liu was concerned about him, but he knew his own body and was sure that there was nothing wrong. So he said, "Alright, alright, I know you're worried about me, but I'm fine. Let me tell you something funny."
Then, the retired emperor vividly recounted to Consort Liu how the villagers had said he had a beard, and how he had decisively said he hadn't been properly castrated, leaving the villagers completely bewildered.
Consort Liu: ? ? ?
Jiang Jiuniang: "Hahahahahahahaha..."
She couldn't help but burst out laughing, startling little Xiangxiang in her arms.
The elderly couple walking nearby were also affected by her devilish laughter. The Emperor Emeritus rolled his eyes at her and said with displeasure, "I wasn't talking to you, why are you laughing so loudly?"
Jiang Jiuniang said confidently, "I'm not deaf, of course I can hear you. But you really are amazing. This is the first time I've heard someone say that about themselves. Not properly castrated, hahaha, what a joke!"
The retired emperor didn't think there was anything wrong with it at first. Since he was out having fun and no one knew his identity, he could say whatever he wanted. But now that Jiang Jiuniang was laughing so loudly, he couldn't help but blush.
After returning home, Jiang Jiuniang told Lu Baichuan about it, without keeping it from anyone, and soon everyone in the family knew.
"Jiang Jiuniang, that's enough! You're so annoying!"
The retired emperor glared at her and stormed back to his room.
Consort Liu hurriedly followed, not forgetting to turn back to Jiang Jiuniang and say, "Jiuniang, come and take a look at him later!"
"Okay, I'll put the child down and head over."
While letting the children go, it also gave the Emperor Emeritus time to clean himself up so that Jiang Jiuniang could go and check on him directly.
He wasn't seriously injured, but Jiang Jiuniang was worried that he would catch a cold after falling into the paddy field, so she still got him some medicine for colds and made him a bowl of it to drink.
The next morning, he woke up as a sprightly old man again.
The Emperor Emeritus and Consort Liu stayed in Lu Family Village for half a month and really enjoyed life there. However, they did not forget that they came out to travel and enjoy the scenery. Even though they liked the atmosphere of being with the Lu family, they still took the initiative to say goodbye and said that they wanted to go and see other places.
The Lu couple had no objections. Originally, they were supposed to set off for the next city when Lu Baichuan returned, but the arrival of the Emperor Emeritus delayed them by half a month.
Now that the Emperor Emeritus and his entourage are leaving, Jiang Jiuniang and the others will also prepare to depart after arranging things in the village.
Jiang Jiuniang gave the Emperor Emeritus a lot of small pills, and the guards who accompanied and protected him prepared various weapons, medicines for treating external injuries or poisons and antidotes. In short, they were very well prepared.
Especially those little black balls; each guard has at least twenty of them, which is more than enough.
After all, the Emperor Emeritus had prepared so many gifts for her and her youngest daughter, so she couldn't be too stingy.
Moreover, the current emperor is not as reliable as the retired emperor. If the retired emperor lives a few more years, the Lu family will receive more protection.
The value these things give.
She gave him practical things, so the Emperor Emeritus naturally accepted them and set off with bags and packages of gifts.
Eunuch Chang and Palace Maid Liu were sent by the Emperor to take care of Jiang Jiuniang. Now they were leaving early, and the explanation given to the villagers was that they were going ahead to scout the way and help them move their luggage, so that the four of them would be much more relaxed.
Although the villagers couldn't understand why they didn't travel together—after all, traveling together would provide mutual support—they didn't say anything. They weren't in a position to interfere in these matters and only needed to do their own job.
Jiang Jiuniang and Lu Baichuan summarized the situation of the workshops in the village and the shops in the city, pointed out the areas that needed improvement and praised the areas that needed to be maintained. After giving all the employees a bonus, the family of four, along with their little cow, embarked on a new journey.
I've received fewer news about the treasure lately, probably because the crackdown last time worked; those people are no longer active in the Central Plains, but have instead moved to the surrounding areas.
This time, the family of four is going to Quanzhou, which is near the eastern border. Although it is a border area, it is not as harsh as the place where the war was fought. Instead, it is a beautiful place with clear waters and green mountains.
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