Gong Chi tasted the tea.

Then nodded in praise: “This tea shouldn’t be produced in Huyi, right? Drinking it, there’s some sweetness—it’s more like tea from Dalin.”

The Marquis of Nanguo: “The minister indeed has a good palate. This tea is indeed not produced in Huyi, but something I brought back when I went to Dalin for business some years ago. Today when the minister visits, I specially brought it out to serve you.”

“Good tea—sweet upon entering the mouth.”

“Good that you like it!”

“Over these decades the marquis has traveled everywhere doing business, not involving himself in politics, living quite well.”

“That’s true. Doing business is much more comfortable than acting in the official arena. What’s more, I have no interest in politics! Now the court is full of talented people—one less of me isn’t few, one more of me isn’t many.”

Gong Chi smiled slightly, slowly putting down the tea in his hand, asking as if casually: “Then what if… the marquis was asked to re-enter the court?”

At this question, the Marquis of Nanguo’s expression immediately darkened.

An uneasy premonition arose in his heart!

In this second, he also pondered the meaning of this statement countless times in his mind!

Re-enter the court?

Because he no longer interfered in politics and turned to commerce, the King of Huyi had spared him back then.

These twenty-some years he had been safe and sound.

But Gong Chi’s words carried deep implications.

Could it be that this person already knew about his secret plotting?

Coming today to say these things—was he trying to test him?

Unable to make up his mind, he could only speculate for now.

Gong Chi secretly observed his expression, naturally seeing the doubt and caution in his heart, and quickly said: “The marquis needn’t be nervous. My asking this was not to test you.”

Speaking frankly.

Ugh!

Not testing?

Then what did this mean?

The Marquis of Nanguo asked: “I wonder what the minister’s purpose is in coming here?”

Gong Chi didn’t want to beat around the bush anymore. He raised his eyes and asked directly: “Could the marquis truly be content being a merchant? Continuing to live the rest of your life so submissively?”

The Marquis of Nanguo’s hand on the chair’s armrest tightened somewhat, but his expression remained calm and composed. He pretended not to understand and smiled, asking: “I don’t understand the minister’s meaning. Could you explain in detail?”

“You still remember the Huyi civil war from back then, right?”

“…Ugh!” “Back then the King of Huyi led his personal troops to attack the palace, trapping the Late King in the great hall, personally beheading him, and throwing his body into the wilderness to be devoured by jackals, wolves, tigers and leopards in the forests, leaving no remains! And though the Late Queen escaped the palace with the young prince, the King of Huyi’s forces kept pursuing them. Though their fate is unknown, the odds were against them—one could even say… they’re also already dead!” Gong Chi calmly recounted these events while observing the changes in the Marquis of Nanguo’s expression, continuing: “The officials from the previous dynasty either died or were scattered, and you, Marquis, to survive did not hesitate to leave the court and began doing business! Over the years, living carefully and cautiously—could you truly be willing to let go of your hatred?”

Hearing all this, the Marquis of Nanguo’s expression remained calm.

Showing no emotion whatsoever.

He looked at Gong Chi: “The minister coming here today and saying so much—it’s indeed not as simple as just a visit!”

“Does the marquis still not understand what I’m saying?”

Of course he understood!

“I don’t understand! And don’t want to understand!” The Marquis of Nanguo stood up. “If there’s nothing else, please leave, Minister. Later, I need to go to the rice estate.”

Issuing an order to leave!

But Gong Chi was unhurried, saying: “I know the marquis doesn’t trust me.”

Even a blind person could see that!

Back then you led troops to surround the palace—if he trusted you, that would be strange! The Marquis of Nanguo laughed coldly, spreading his hands, helplessly saying: “Now, I’m just an honest merchant who has shed his court robes, conducting business for money. What grudges? What previous dynasty? They have nothing to do with me. I don’t want to discuss past events anymore, so the minister needn’t bring them up again.”

“Why must the marquis deceive yourself?” Gong Chi stood up and walked to his side, his face grave: “I was also among those who participated in surrounding the palace back then, so it’s natural for the marquis to be wary of me. But now, I stand on your side, Marquis. The wrongs of the past—it’s time to make amends.”

“…” “To be honest with the marquis, one reason I came to your residence today to say these things is also because of my son.” Speaking of this, Gong Chi choked up somewhat, his eyes reddening, his body trembling slightly: “When Shilin died, my heart ached unbearably. Besides pain, there’s also hatred! The ones who conspired to kill my son were the Li family with whom I have generations of friendship, the Third Prince whom I’ve always assisted, and… the Great King high above! Back then, to help him, I led my own troops to attack the palace. It was I who enabled him, letting him sit securely on the throne for over twenty years! But in the end, for the sake of some so-called law, he personally issued an edict to take my son’s life. How can such pain be swallowed in just a moment? I don’t want to swallow my anger for over twenty years like you, Marquis. Even if it costs me this life, I will personally avenge my son.”

His tone was full of hatred.

The Marquis of Nanguo was surprised. He had thought this old fox came to test him, but actually, he wanted to recruit him to strengthen his forces.

Although their goals were the same.

Both wanted to kill the King of Huyi.

However—

Years of endurance made the Marquis of Nanguo never easily trust anyone again.

He said firmly: “Regarding your son’s matter, I’m also sympathetic. But Minister, I’ll say it again—I no longer care about past grudges. If you want revenge, that’s your business and has nothing to do with me!”

Gong Chi grabbed his sleeve: “I’ve said so much just to tell the marquis that now you and I are in the same boat.”

Hmm?

“You’re mistaken. You and I, from beginning to end, have never been in the same boat—not before, not now, and not in the future.” The Marquis of Nanguo’s attitude was resolute. “I still have matters to attend to, so I won’t see the minister out.”

With that, he prepared to leave.

But was stopped by Gong Chi: “If the marquis were truly content, why would you send people to assassinate the Second Prince?”

Ugh!

The Marquis of Nanguo’s steps halted!

He whirled around to look at Gong Chi, demanding: “What do you know?” Gong Chi narrowed his eyes: “Actually, after Shilin’s death, I made up my mind to rebel! The only person I could think of was you, Marquis, but I also knew you would certainly be wary of me because of past events. So I had to make sufficient preparations before coming to see you. These past days, I’ve had people monitoring outside your residence. Last night the Second Prince’s residence was attacked by assassins, and one person who escaped entered the marquis’s residence, not leaving the city until daybreak today. One can imagine the repeated assassination attempts on the Second Prince are related to you, Marquis! Actually, you’re not content at all—you’ve never let go of what happened back then. If my guess is correct, all these years you’ve been secretly plotting. As for how your plotting has progressed, I don’t know, but I do know you’re waiting for an opportunity! Now the opportunity has come. I’ll help you, and you must help me. Our goals… are aligned!”

# Chapter 1321: Who Exactly Will Die—You? Or Me?

“Now the opportunity has come. I’ll help you, and you must help me. Our goals… are aligned!”

Gong Chi stated his position.

The Marquis of Nanguo was indeed surprised.

He hadn’t expected this old fox to really come prepared.

Even sinister enough to send people to monitor outside his residence!

He had avoided the King of Huyi’s surveillance, but couldn’t escape Gong Chi’s eyes.

A miscalculation!

He also knew there was no way to hide it now.

Everything had been seen through!

He was silent for a moment, half-believing and half-doubting, asking: “Then why should I trust you?”

Right, why? Gong Chi put away the tears and hatred in his eyes, saying honestly: “If I really wanted to harm you, I wouldn’t have come here but would have gone directly to the Second Prince to tell him about the assassin matter. If that were the case, then the people coming to your residence now wouldn’t be me, but people from the Ministry of Justice!”

Indeed!

If Gong Chi really wanted to harm someone, he wouldn’t have come here.

He could have gone directly to the Second Prince to report.

But the Marquis of Nanguo still looked at him vigilantly, asking: “Since that’s the case, why would you choose me?” Gong Chi took a deep breath, his face showing guilt and remorse: “The matter of surrounding the palace back then has always been a knot in my heart! Actually, before surrounding the palace, I hesitated for a long time. The Late King always trusted me, which is why he gave me military authority inside and outside the imperial city. But for greater power I betrayed him. I was blind to make such a great mistake, causing Shilin to also lose his life! As they say, you reap what you sow! And Shilin’s death has made me completely understand. I want to make amends for the wrongs I committed back then. The only person I could think of is you, Marquis. As long as we join forces, I’ll avenge Shilin, and you will become the new King of Huyi. When that time comes, I’ll naturally retire.”

As if everything had already been arranged by him from front to back.

As long as he could get revenge, he would die willingly.

And the position of King of Huyi would be taken by the Marquis of Nanguo.

The Marquis of Nanguo ultimately held back, not telling him the news that the Late King’s children were both still alive. Seeing him silent, Gong Chi continued: “The marquis has endured for over twenty years and also plotted for over twenty years. Your forces outside Gaoding City must be quite substantial! And I was after all a great general back then—my authority remains. With just one word, those troops scattered in various places will all be at my command, fighting to the death for me!”

Hearing these words, the Marquis of Nanguo paced a few steps in the hall.

Calculating in his heart for a long while.

After all, he couldn’t easily trust Gong Chi’s words.

So—

After a moment, he said: “For me to trust you is possible, unless you can show sincerity.”

“Sincerity? Hasn’t my coming here today already shown my sincerity?” “Since you also know the assassin who attacked the Second Prince’s residence entered my residence last night, I won’t hide it from you either. One more person didn’t come out—he was captured by the Second Prince and is now in the prince’s residence. But I sent people to search, almost turning over the entire residence, and still couldn’t find him. And no one came out last night either.”

Gong Chi immediately understood his meaning: “You want me to help you rescue that person?”

“If you can do it, then I’ll trust you! This is the condition!” The Marquis of Nanguo’s tone carried no hint of negotiation.

“Fine! I’ll help you rescue him.”

“How will you rescue him?”

“Didn’t the marquis say he can’t be found in the residence and hasn’t come out? Since that’s the case, he must still be in the residence, hidden somewhere.”

Ugh!

The Marquis of Nanguo: “You’re saying… there’s a secret chamber in the prince’s residence?”

“This is the only explanation. In any case, I’ll rescue him. I hope when the time comes, the marquis can also be honest with me.”

The Marquis of Nanguo looked at him with deep consideration.

Hesitating to speak.

After Gong Chi left the marquis’s residence, he said something to the person who had been beside the sedan.

“This servant understands.”

“Go quickly.”

“Yes.”

…

In less than half an hour, news reached the Third Prince’s residence.

At this time, Na Tuo was playing chess by himself.

White pieces placed beside him, and black pieces too.

He picked up a white piece and placed it on the board. Because he was too focused, the moment the white piece fell, he urged: “Shilin, your turn.”

Just as he finished speaking, his expression froze.

His gaze moved up bit by bit, looking across.

But the stone chair opposite was empty!

That hollow feeling was like several needles piercing his chest.

He had no heart for chess anymore!

He picked up all the black and white pieces covering the board one by one into the chess jar.

At this time, a man in black hurried over to report: “Your Highness, urgent matter.”

Very urgent.

Na Tuo asked while collecting the pieces: “What matter?”

“Scouts report that they suspect the Second Prince’s residence… has secret chambers!”

“What did you say? Secret chambers?”

“Yes.”

Na Tuo’s chess piece dropped from his fingertips. He rose abruptly with a triumphant smile: “Privately constructing secret chambers in a residence is a great crime. That Na Yan truly isn’t afraid of death!”

The man inquired: “Then Your Highness, what do we do now? Should we report to the Great King?”

“No need!” Na Tuo raised his hand, asking: “Is this matter certain?”

“They said it’s suspected.”

“So it’s not certain!” Na Tuo pondered. “This matter can’t be reported to Father King first—we need to find evidence.”

The man didn’t understand: “Does Your Highness plan to make a trip to the Second Prince’s residence?”

“Of course! Immediately organize men and go with this prince to the Second Prince’s residence for a thorough search. Otherwise, if Na Yan receives wind of it and prepares in advance, this prince will come up empty.”

“Yes!”

Na Tuo had always been the type to act as soon as he decided.

And his mind was also straightforward!

Anyway, finding something would be best; if not, just consider it a sweep.

At the same time, Na Yan also received the news.

“The Third Prince heard there are secret chambers in the residence and is bringing people to search.” His personal guard said.

“Bang!” Na Yan slapped the table. “He has such audacity to dare bring people to search this prince’s residence. Even if Father King issued an edict, he should still give this prince some face!”

“Then what do we do now? Given the Third Prince’s nature, he would rather kill wrongly than let go. He’ll definitely devise every method to search thoroughly. If he really finds something, wouldn’t that be…”

“Good! He wants to search? Then let him search to his heart’s content.”

“Your Highness’s meaning is?”

“Let him come up empty!”

“But the assassin is still imprisoned in the secret chamber.”

Na Yan thought for a moment: “Immediately send him out of the residence and hide him somewhere else for now.”

“Yes.”

“But remember, if he still won’t talk, resolve him tonight.”

“This subordinate understands. What about the secret chamber?”

“This prince has my own methods. You go hide him first.”

“Yes!”

The personal guard hurried to handle it.

Na Yan clenched his fist and heavily pounded the table again. His eyes turned fierce as he said: “Na Tuo, are you so eager for this prince to die? Fine, then this prince will let you see who exactly will die—you? Or me?”