Gao Gao's eyes moved around, the more he could see that every one around was pissed the more he doubted his chances at life.
Before he had a plan and lie he had frantically thought of but now Eunuch Gao was doubting it's possible effectiveness.
And also, so the boundary keeper and his wife were dead, leaving only this "son", no wonder things had changed.
Gao Gao even had an assumption, that maybe this "son" after the death of his parents wanted to leave his father's job and legacy, hence coming out to collect all his family's wages.
To be honest, this attitude really differed from the boundary keeper he had in mind, Gao Gao had seen the boundary keeper, and uncle/ father Gao had told him stories.
The boundary keeper Lin Pang was most supremely zealous worker, such person that held the boundary keeper work above his life, could such a person tell his son to leave after and go live a life outside!
Gao Gao doubted it, and if it was so, Gao Gao cursed this "son" for not being "supremely zealous and loyal" like his father!
But at this point what could he say, he needed to save his own skin, and even if it was possible true, mentioning such would only seem as an attempt to slander the "son", and it was only a conjection too.
And no matter what the "son" had a right to his father's wages.
Well Gao Gao was right, and he wouldn't know.
The empress having listened to Lin Ping's story nodded her head.
But still wondering why the empress of this kingdom was still looking at him, Lin Ping wondered if he had missed anything.
Or had he said something that had exposed him?!, was this empress some powerhouse whose divine senses or something like that could cover everywhere, knowing when he Lin Ping was shitting and anything he did, hence knowing what was real and lie!
Alas Lin Ping felt he was in a very passive situation due to lack of knowledge, it was the situation that always made Lin Ping consider so many aspects unnecessarily to be careful, and to avoid slipping up.
Seeing the consistent stare of the empress's face, Lin Ping was in a tough spot.
Whether it was of her divine beauty or imperial power that induced the nervousness, it uneased Lin Ping to be looked at by her this directly.
" Should he say the truth ", just when Lin Ping was at crossroads if he should come clean and all, he finally heard the staring woman talk, her sweet voice and words soothing Lin Ping.
" Your name, you haven't said your name "
Panae reminded that he hadn't said his name.
Truly soothing!, calming his worries!, just his name, no issue!
" Lin Ping, your Majesty"
" Lin Ping ", Panae repeated the name a few times, nodding her head.
" What do you have to say for yourself ", Panae faced Gao Gao.
The fatty seeing that hot seat was finally given to him trembled and fell on his knees, bursting into sobs.
" Your supreme, most impeccable divine empress! "
Lin Ping sneered within at this strong flattery, but he was also curious to see how this fatty eunuch would circumvent this.
Looked like the day was going well, going on in his head, Lin Ping imagined the beautiful life awaiting him, exploring the world, with two decades worth of wages, although the boundary keeper wasn't such an high position, but it would have amounted to something well substantial right?!
He would use the money to make a foothold, enjoying his second turn at life, sharing his enlightenment, and knowledge and beauty.
And if there was extraordinary power in this world Lin Ping also wanted to obtain such, and knowledge too, being so passive wasn't so nice, or comfortable.
Yeah, and also the other empire.
The wages there shouldn't be left too!
Gao Gao continued to talk, bringing Lin Ping's awareness back to reality.
" Your Majesty ", he said in sobs, " the previous caretaker was in charge for thirteen years, according to him, the boundary keeper asked that he not be disturbed wanting to focus wholeheartedly on his duty, as for his wages, he wanted it to be kept till when he was ready, the previous enunch kept his, I also kept mine, changing it into various properties to accumulate interest for the boundary keeper...
" Alas the previous enunch was so dedicated to keeping the boundary keeper's wages in his hands, that he died without telling anyone, even I his nephew...
Amidst sobs, Gao Gao continued, " That's why I was begging the boundary keeper's son, what I kept I can provide, what the previous caretaker kept I cannot provide "
Gao Gao burst into an higher pitch of tears, his fat jiggling.
This was the idea, Gao Gao had thought off to save his skin!
The dead tell no tales!
Uncle/ father you can only safeguard this child from the dead!
Truly in adversity one could have epiphanies, in the face of impending death Gao Gao had thought of a way!
What his father/ uncle stole and had eaten and left him a good part, he would write it off on his account!
As for him, although he had lavished a lot lot, Gao Gao knew if he gathered all the accumulations and properties of the Gao's that was left, it would look better than the supposed seven years wages he claimed to have kept, maybe a sizable 8-9 years worth, and Gao Gao planned to relinquish everything!
This way he could he could maintain a persona of a loyal servant and keep his life, as for being in penury afterwards and left to only a meager eunuch wage going on, it was necessary to save his life!
It was just sad that all the enjoyments would end, the leisure, good foods and drinks, and the caring companions of the red light district alleys, going on this would stop or be according to his now meager pockets
But it was necessary to save his life, if it seemed that he could give beyond the seven years he was supposedly in charge of, it would cover every lie or other thing he seemed to have done.
The only person really aware of the truth... Dead men tell no tales!
The rest!, not me!, it's the previous eunuch Gao!
Gao Gao saw the faces of every one change a bit, it seemed the scheme had worked.
Head Payo rubbed his chin in contemplation, what this Gao Gao said sounded reasonable.
The accompanying maid and eunuchs also rescinding the angry stares towards Gao Gao.
Only the Empress kept a stoic face and just looking, truly what the eunuch said sounded plausible, but looking at the man at his side, Lin Ping, Panae saw that his brows furrowed.
To Lin Ping what eunuch Gao said sounded plausible, but he felt it was cooked up story, he didn't think this person was so good, this good.
His excuse seemed so convenient, and the only person that could testify otherwise seemed to be dead, so convenient.
But Lin Ping had no candid evidence or proof otherwise what the fat eunuch said, so he could only keep mum.
Another thing to Lin Ping, what was going to happen to the remaining thirteen years of wages.
Panae discerned from his look that Lin Ping did not fully buy the eunuch's story, and taking another look at Eunuch Gao she discovered that his robe around the crotch area was wet.
Crunching her brows in disgust, " wetting your pants in such fear, what innocent person would do that ! "
" Throw him into the prison ", Panae ordered and turned " Mr Lin Ping follow me ".