Chapter 176 - 175: How Did You Provoke Empress Taichu?
Chapter 176: Chapter 175: How Did You Provoke Empress Taichu?
Of course, she didn’t expect this scheme to drive Ming Chengli entirely out of the Xu Family. But as long as it made it impossible for him to stay in the Xu Group and turned public opinion against him, that would be enough.
Everything had to be taken one step at a time. She couldn’t rush it.
She also had to use others to do her dirty work; exposing herself was out of the question.
"It was Miss Zhao Yu’s masterstroke. I merely gave the boat a push along the current," President He laughed heartily. "It also helps that the true Crown Prince knows absolutely nothing about business, which is exactly why he fell for the trap."
The signature was indeed a forgery, but it was a perfect one-to-one replica of Ming Chengli’s handwriting.
President He added, "Three days isn’t even enough time for a handwriting appraisal. Once the final deadline of the betting agreement arrives, the contract will naturally be destroyed. No evidence will be left behind."
"Good." Xu Zhao Yu paused, sounding exhausted. "It’s just that I keep feeling like some unexpected variable will pop up. My heart isn’t at ease."
"Miss Zhao Yu, there are only three days left. He can’t possibly fulfill the betting agreement. There will absolutely be no unexpected variables!" President He said firmly. "And as long as the company suffers a significant loss, he’ll have to go, even if Old Sir Xu tries to protect him. The shareholders won’t allow him to continue doing things that harm the company’s interests."
Hearing him say this, Xu Zhao Yu actually grew a bit uneasy. "Will he really not be able to turn defeat into victory?"
"Unless he can contact the higher-ups of the Medical Science Academy within three days and quickly expedite the process to reach a cooperation," President He sneered. "But how could he? Relying on his status as a historical archaeologist with zero track record?"
Only then did Xu Zhao Yu’s heart settle. She smiled again. "If he had grown up in the Xu Family, he probably really would be capable of inheriting the Xu Group."
What a pity. Reality didn’t deal in "ifs."
"Miss Zhao Yu, my loyalty lies with you," President He said. "What you promised me..."
"Don’t worry. I won’t shortchange you on what I promised," Xu Zhao Yu said lightly. "Everything you want, you will get."
President He burst into laughter. "Miss Zhao Yu is so straightforward! If there’s another chance to cooperate, you must come to me."
The call ended. Xu Zhao Yu let out a long breath. Only after putting away her phone did she get into the Meng Family’s private car.
Meanwhile, Ning Liuyu hurriedly went to contact the director of the Medical Science Academy to clear all the hurdles. Everything was in full swing.
On the way back to the Old Xu Mansion, Shi Changying said, "Dad, Qiaoqiao, don’t tell anyone about Ningning. Before the dust settles, we can’t afford any unexpected variables."
Xu Shuangqiao looked serious. "My lips are sealed tight. Don’t you worry, Yingying!"
Ming Chengli still looked a bit dazed. "Daughter, you actually know someone from the Medical Science Academy? And he’s the chief researcher?!"
"Dad, what we need to do right now is appraise the handwriting on that contract," Shi Changying said breezily. "I looked it up. Forging signatures is illegal, especially when it involves a ten-figure sum. That warrants a heavy sentence."
"Not bad, Changying. You’ve really studied the law thoroughly." Ming Chengli felt extremely gratified. A moment later, he grew a bit sad again. "This time, your old dad has caused trouble for you. I..."
"If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have returned to the Xu Family, let alone encountered this kind of thing, right?" Shi Changying interrupted him. "You’ve done so much for me. I’m your daughter. Whatever I do for you is only right."
Ming Chengli’s heart trembled fiercely. He opened his mouth. "Changying..."
Yes, this was his daughter. She was the continuation of his life.
That year, his heart had been as dead as ashes. But it was precisely because of Shi Changying’s birth that he found the courage to keep living.
"Besides, I also got to meet Qiaoqiao and that thirst-trap guy," Shi Changying added. "If you keep blaming yourself, I’m going to go rob a bank."
The sob that was just about to burst from Ming Chengli’s throat came to an abrupt halt. He asked blankly, "Who is the thirst-trap guy?"
Xu Shuangqiao flew into a rage. "That shameless Xu Wenge! If Second Uncle knew he was doing this kind of thing behind his back, he would definitely beat him up so badly that even Second Aunt wouldn’t recognize him!"
Ming Chengli was speechless.
Shi Changying patted his shoulder. "Dad, just watch how your daughter wins this war. When the time comes, all you’ll need to do is applaud."
Two days later, inside a conference room at the Xu Group headquarters, all the top executives were present, their expressions incredibly solemn.
It was for no other reason than the fact that there were less than twenty-four hours left on the deadline for the betting agreement.
"Time is almost up. I’d like to ask everyone here to be a witness," President He said coldly. "Mr. Chengli is solely responsible for this entire fiasco. If he hadn’t signed his name, the company wouldn’t be facing such a massive loss!"
The executives looked at Ming Chengli with varying degrees of displeasure.
"Why aren’t you speaking, Mr. Chengli?" President He spoke up again, his tone aggressive. "Didn’t your daughter say that you shouldn’t easily admit defeat until the very last moment? What about now? Is there any progress? Huh?!"
"Since it’s a betting agreement, why not raise the stakes?" Shi Changying said unhurriedly. "If we fail, my dad will give you all his shares. Conversely, if we win, all your shares will go to my dad."
President He’s expression changed.
He knew that after Ming Chengli returned to the Xu Family, Old Sir Xu had transferred five percent of the shares to him. Meanwhile, President He himself held sixteen percent.
"Why aren’t you speaking? Or could it be that you’re afraid of losing?" Shi Changying gave a half-smile. "Are you afraid that even with only three days left, we can still finish the entire process?"
President He narrowed his eyes, as if weighing something in his mind. A few seconds later, he looked at Ming Chengli and asked coldly, "Mr. Chengli, can she represent you?"
Ming Chengli finally spoke up. "She can."
Old Sir Xu exclaimed, "Chengli, don’t be reckless!"
This President He’s surname was He, after all; he wasn’t a Xu Family Member.
A five percent share wasn’t a large proportion, but it was enough to influence the grand scheme of things at a critical moment.
"Alright. Since Mr. Chengli says you can represent him, I’ll take your bet," President He said, tapping his cigarette ash. "We’ll bet our shares!"
Shi Changying pulled out a supplementary contract and said casually, "Then sign it."
President He frowned.
Wait, something was wrong.
She had actually prepared the contract in advance. This was far too well-prepared.
Could there be some sort of trap waiting for him?
But after reading the contract over and over again, he couldn’t find a single clause that was disadvantageous to him.
For Ming Chengli to win, it would have to be built on the premise that all the hurdles in the process had been cleared—which was absolutely impossible.
President He pondered it over and over, and in the end, he still signed his name.
Shi Changying picked up the contract, glanced at it, and spoke casually into her phone, which was on an active call. "Ningning, you can come in now. We are beginning."
Reaping the maximum benefits in a war was her favorite thing to do.
Her way of fighting was never about sacrificing eight hundred of her own to kill a thousand enemies.
What she wanted was always to destroy three thousand enemies while gaining three thousand for herself!