nycdaug Chapter 54 Shut up, all of you!
Chapter 54 Shut up, all of you!
Li Mao stepped onto the high platform and shouted, "All of you, shut up!"
Upon hearing Li Mao's words, everyone quieted down and looked up at him.
"Those who disrupt the order of the racecourse will be detained for fifteen days; all those who resist..."
Just then, a young eunuch dressed as a nobleman, who had blended into the crowd, shouted loudly: "Your Highness Prince Shou, everyone knows that you colluded with the local military governor and plotted treason. The problems at the racetrack and the restaurant are your retribution."
Upon hearing this, the crowd immediately began to discuss it amongst themselves.
Li Mao's eyes turned cold, and he said, "Who is spouting nonsense? Step forward!"
The young eunuch hid in the crowd, not daring to show himself.
Seeing that no one answered, Li Mao slowly walked down from the high platform and said, "If anyone reports the person who was talking nonsense just now, I can let him leave; otherwise, imprison them all in the dungeon."
Upon hearing this, the crowd instantly panicked, and several people grabbed the young eunuch and threw him out.
After giving him a disdainful look, Li Mao turned and left the racecourse, heading to the Shouwangyan No. 1 branch.
Upon seeing Li Mao, Wang Fugui immediately knelt down and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, you've arrived. I was just wondering what to do."
Li Mao said, "Get up. Tell me about the current situation."
Wang Fugui stood up and said, "Your Highness, ever since someone poisoned the food, no customers dare to come. Our business has plummeted."
Li Mao frowned and said, "Has it been found out who poisoned it?"
Wang Fugui shook his head and said, "Not yet. But I've already had the kitchen heavily surrounded, and I've assigned people to guard it. The people on duty each day are all recorded. I'm just worried about what might happen later..."
Li Mao nodded and said, "Well done. I will send people to assist you in restoring the restaurant's business as soon as possible."
Wang Fugui said gratefully, "Thank you, Your Highness. I will do my best."
Meanwhile, Gao Chen listened to his subordinates' report in his own residence, a smug smile on his face.
"Eunuch Gao, Prince Shou went to the racetrack and the restaurant, but he hasn't found any evidence against us yet," one of his men said.
Gao Chen added, "Send people to continue creating chaos at the racetrack and restaurants, keeping Prince Shou busy dealing with it."
The men took the order and left.
Gao Chen secretly thought to himself, "Prince Shou, His Majesty only sees you as a cash cow. If you can't pay the money, you'll be punished by His Majesty."
Meanwhile, in the Prince's residence, Lady Wang anxiously awaited Li Mao's return.
The prince's businesses are now in complete disarray; what can be done?
Then, Madam Wang summoned several trusted maids and said, "Go and secretly investigate Gao Chen's whereabouts and his relationship with those ministers. Be careful not to be discovered."
The maids obeyed and left.
Not long after, Li Mao returned to his residence.
"Your Highness, you're back. How are things at the racetrack and the restaurant?" Madam Wang greeted him, asking with concern.
Li Mao frowned slightly and said, "My dear consort, rest assured, everything is under control."
"Gao Chen wants to shake my foundation. As long as I stabilize the situation, His Majesty will take action."
Lady Wang gently grasped Li Mao's hand and said, "Your Highness, Gao Chen is a favorite of the Emperor. To try and use the Emperor to punish Gao Chen is probably..."
"My dear consort, just watch. When faced with the choice between money and servants, His Majesty will still make his choice."
Then, Li Mao said to the servant, "Send a messenger to Gao Chen. I will be waiting for him at the Shouwang Banquet headquarters."
at the same time.
In the imperial study, Li Longji had a series of secret memorials in front of him, which recorded Gao Chen's various actions.
After reading it, Li Longji was so angry that his face turned black.
"Someone, summon Gao Chen to the palace," Li Longji said in a low voice.
Gao Chen received the imperial edict with trepidation. He knew the emperor might have become suspicious of him, but he had no choice but to bite the bullet and enter the palace.
"Your Majesty, this humble servant pays his respects," Gao Chen said, kneeling and bowing.
Li Longji looked at Gao Chen and said, "Are you aware of the chaos in Chang'an?"
Gao Chen forced himself to remain calm and said, "This servant has heard a little about it."
Li Longji sneered and said, "Slandering a prince and creating unrest, what is your crime?"
Gao Chen said in a panic, "Your Majesty, I am innocent! Prince Shou colluded with the local military governors to plot against the emperor. I only exposed his crimes for the sake of the court."
Upon hearing this, Li Longji was startled.
Now that Shibalang is making a fortune every day, if he had any rebellious intentions, it would be easy for him to do so.
The racetrack was a melting pot of all sorts of people, and the regional military governors from various places all had connections with Shibalang.
Could it be true, as Gao Chen said, that Shibalang is secretly colluding with these military governors...?
Li Longji frowned and looked coldly at Gao Chen, saying, "Do you have any evidence?"
Gao Chen stammered, "There is no conclusive evidence yet, but this servant is already investigating."
Li Longji snorted coldly and said, "I do not wish for Chang'an to remain in chaos."
Helpless, Gao Chen could only kneel down and kowtow, saying, "This servant obeys the decree."
After Gao Chen left the palace, the corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily.
"His Majesty is now suspicious. If there is no evidence, he may take action himself..."
Thinking of this, Gao Chen decided to personally visit the military governors who were temporarily staying in Chang'an.
As soon as they stepped out of the palace gates, Xiao Xizi hurried over, bowed to Gao Chen, and said, "Eunuch Gao, His Highness Prince Shou requests your presence."
Gao Chen turned to Xiao Xizi with a puzzled look and asked, "What does Prince Shou mean by this?"
Xiao Xizi, also frowning, said, "I don't know what Prince Shou's intentions are. Could it be that he wants to curry favor with you, Father-in-law, and thus seeks reconciliation?"
"Hmph, that Prince Shou is dreaming! I will fight him to the death!" Gao Chen said, his face full of anger.
Gao Chen flicked his wide sleeves, preparing to leave, but suddenly stopped and looked at Xiao Xizi, asking, "Where is Prince Shou holding his banquet?"
"At the headquarters of Shouwang Banquet Restaurant."
After Gao Chen sneered, he got into the carriage and headed towards the headquarters of the Shouwangyan Restaurant.
Watching Gao Chen leave, Xiao Xizi couldn't help but lick her lips, thinking, "With Eunuch Gao gone, I can finally sneak off to have a drink."
Thinking of this, Xiao Xizi ran off, and along the way, found two eunuchs to prepare some snacks for each of them to go with the wine...
Shouwang Banquet Headquarters.
Li Mao sat upright in the main seat of the main pavilion.
Gao Chen swung his white whisk and walked in slowly, bowing slightly as he said, "Greetings, Your Highness Prince Shou."
Li Mao smiled faintly and said, "Eunuch Gao, please sit down."
Gao Chen sat directly across the round table from Li Mao.
Li Mao went straight to the point, saying, "Does Eunuch Gao know why I always receive advance notice and escape danger?"
Gao Chen narrowed his eyes and looked at Li Mao, asking, "Your Highness Prince Shou, you may wish to speak frankly."
Li Mao chuckled and said, "Xiao Xizi's appetite has been getting bigger and bigger these past few days. What do you think, Eunuch Gao?"