nycdaug Chapter 55 Tit for tat
Chapter 55 Tit for tat
Gao Chen's expression changed slightly, and he was secretly alarmed: Could it be that Xiao Xizi has been bribed by His Highness Prince Shou? He gripped the whisk tightly in his hand, and his mind was filled with a thousand thoughts.
“Your Highness, Xiao Xizi is just an insignificant eunuch. How could he possibly betray us? Your Highness, please don’t believe the rumors.” Gao Chen said, trying to appear calm, but a hint of panic flashed in his eyes.
Li Mao smiled calmly, his sharp gaze fixed on Gao Chen, and said, "Eunuch Gao, what I said is not a rumor. If I didn't have enough evidence, how could I draw such a conclusion so easily?"
Gao Chen's heart tightened, but he maintained a calm demeanor and said, "Your Highness, are you trying to trick me into revealing information? I wouldn't..."
Li Mao snorted coldly and continued, "Between you and me, the current situation is crystal clear. Eunuch Gao might as well think about it: if Xiao Xizi is not abnormal, why have I been able to escape danger time and time again?"
Gao Chen frowned, pondering the truth or falsehood of Li Mao's words.
“Your Highness Prince Shou, if Xiao Xizi really pledges allegiance to you, I have nothing to say,” Gao Chen said in a deep voice, deliberately feigning indifference.
Li Mao chuckled and said, "Eunuch Gao, I have never considered keeping such a despicable person by my side. As for how to deal with him, Eunuch Gao, you can decide for yourself."
Gao Chen was burning with anger, but there was nothing he could do.
Just as the two were locked in a heated argument.
Li Mao suddenly laughed, leaning forward slightly and looking at Gao Chen with a half-smile.
“Your Excellency, there’s no need to be so nervous. I invited you here not to be my enemy, but to cooperate with you,” Li Mao said slowly.
Gao Chen was slightly taken aback; he hadn't expected Li Mao to extend such an olive branch.
But the current situation has long since reached a point of no return, so how can we possibly cooperate?
Even if they agree to cooperate, they will likely outwardly comply but inwardly seek personal gain.
Given the current situation, no matter how unwilling Gao Chen was to accept it, he could only agree for now and make further plans after he returned safely.
"Your Highness Prince Shou, you are so kind as to offer this? I am quite flattered." Gao Chen said with a forced smile, without revealing any true emotion.
Seeing that Gao Chen did not immediately reject the proposal, Li Mao felt somewhat relieved and continued, "Your Excellency, there is no need to rush to answer. What I need to do is not something that can be done in a short time. If Your Excellency is willing, you can join me at any time."
Even so, Li Mao understood that Gao Chen would weigh the pros and cons and would not give in so easily.
"Your Highness, I will give it a good consideration," Gao Chen said vaguely, trying to hold out until he could escape his current predicament.
Li Mao nodded slightly, picked up the teacup on the table, and said meaningfully, "You may take your time to think about it, but in the meantime, please restrain your subordinates and do not cause any more trouble."
Although Gao Chen was unwilling, he understood that those who knew how to adapt to the times were wise, so he could only nod helplessly and agree: "Your Highness, rest assured, this servant understands."
Seeing that Gao Chen had agreed, Li Mao put down his teacup and said leisurely, "Since you have agreed, why don't we have a meal here today and do our best to be a good host?"
Gao Chen knew perfectly well that Li Mao was using this opportunity to test him, but he could only force a smile and say, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. I will certainly obey."
For a time, the two tried to curry favor at the Prince's birthday banquet. Although they appeared calm on the surface, they each harbored their own thoughts.
After lunch, Gao Chen took his leave with a sense of worry and helplessness.
Li Mao remained standing at the restaurant entrance, watching Gao Chen leave, a barely perceptible chill in his eyes. He knew that this negotiation was nothing more than a feigned test; the real contest had only just begun.
Upon returning to his residence, Gao Chen immediately summoned his trusted confidants to discuss countermeasures in a secluded room.
“Xiao Xizi is no longer reliable; he could expose our plan to Prince Shou at any moment. The situation is critical, and we must formulate a good countermeasure as soon as possible,” Gao Chen said anxiously, his brows furrowed with worry.
One of his trusted confidants thought for a moment and then cautiously asked, "Eunuch Gao, should we get rid of Xiao Xizi to prevent future troubles?"
Gao Chen hesitated for a moment, then shook his head: "The situation is unclear now, and acting rashly will only alert the enemy. Let's observe for a while and see how Prince Shou reacts."
Another confidant suggested, "Your Excellency, now that our connections with those ministers have been exposed, should we continue?"
“Of course we must continue,” Gao Chen sneered. “Now His Majesty intends to use Prince Shou’s power to stabilize the court. We cannot give up easily. We must find a weakness in Prince Shou in order to stabilize the situation.”
Several close associates nodded in agreement, indicating their understanding.
"In addition, we need to continue to deploy manpower at the racetrack and restaurants, waiting for the right opportunity to act," Gao Chen added, his tone laced with ruthlessness.
Several trusted confidants immediately accepted the order, all expressing their determination to assist Gao Chen in finding an opportunity to respond.
Meanwhile, in the Prince's residence, Lady Wang said to Li Mao with a worried expression, "Your Highness, are you really going to cooperate with Gao Chen in this meeting?"
Li Mao smiled slightly and gently comforted her, "My beloved consort, there's no need to worry. I have my own plans. Gao Chen is just someone who's dispensable."
……
After returning to his residence from the banquet for the Prince of Shou, Gao Chen felt restless and uneasy from time to time, as if he couldn't control himself.
He sat in his study, staring at the scattered secret reports on his desk, his heart filled with unease.
The details of his conversation with Li Mao not long ago kept replaying in his mind, giving him a headache.
"Eunuch Gao, do you wish to see me?" Xiao Xizi cautiously entered the study, interrupting his thoughts.
Gao Chen looked at Xiao Xizi, the eunuch who was once highly regarded, but now he felt unfamiliar and wary of him.
He waved his hand, gesturing for Xiao Xizi to sit down.
"Xiao Xizi, have you noticed anything unusual these past few days?" Gao Chen's tone was calm, but his gaze held a hint of scrutiny.
Xiao Xizi was slightly taken aback, pondered for a moment, and said in a low voice, "Reporting to the eunuch, this servant is as usual, there is nothing unusual."
“A man who does not plan for the future will have trouble in the present,” Gao Chen said calmly. “Although Li Mao has caused quite a stir, he is no pushover after all. You have been by my side for many years and should know how to assess the situation.”
Xiao Xizi understood that Gao Chen was reminding him to be more vigilant and to secretly observe the slightest movement around him. He had no idea that Gao Chen was suspicious of him.
He was still thinking about how to better serve Gao Chen.
"I understand," Xiao Xizi replied cautiously, maintaining a suitable distance.
Gao Chen nodded and continued, "From now on, you must be even more careful in your actions within the palace. Remember, your every move affects the overall situation."
He was weighing whether or not to abandon Xiao Xizi.
Just then, a guard hurried in, bowed, and reported, "Eunuch Gao, there is someone outside who claims to be an acquaintance of yours requesting an audience."
Gao Chen frowned. Who could be visiting at this time?
"What's your name?" Gao Chen asked.
“He only said his surname was Chen,” the guard replied.
Gao Chen hesitated for a moment, then said, "Please invite him in."