Dad, don't be greedy! My brother climbed into the emperor's bed, and I became famous overn

The next day, just after Chen Shi (7-9 AM).

When Taozhi ran in, Gu Mingyue was eating breakfast.

A bowl of plain porridge and two small dishes of side dishes were eaten quietly.

"Miss! Master sent the butler out early this morning!"

"Where did you go?"

"Go to... the City God Temple."

Gu Mingyue stopped eating.

City God Temple?

Going to the City God Temple so early in the morning?

When did her father become so devout?

Taozhi twisted her handkerchief between her fingers, her expression subtle, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

"The steward said the mansion was haunted last night. The master negotiated with the underworld officials and paid protection money before things quieted down."

"This morning I took six men with me, and we pulled two large carts full of money boxes... to deliver protection money."

Gu Mingyue put down her bowl of porridge.

"Wait a minute."

She looked up.

"Two large cartloads... of money boxes?"

Tao Zhi nodded and swallowed.

"They said it was... 200,000 taels."

The room was silent for three seconds.

Gu Mingyue's eyes lit up immediately.

Two hundred thousand taels!

Her father actually gave away 200,000 taels of silver on his own initiative?

Although the direction of delivery was not quite right.

But once the money leaves the Gu residence, it's gone!

"You mean, my father went to the City God Temple and gave two hundred thousand taels of silver to the Black and White Impermanence?"

"Yes."

Tao Zhi nodded cautiously.

Gu Mingyue clapped her hands happily.

"That's wonderful!"

She opened the system panel, brought up the task quota, and couldn't suppress the smile on her face.

Two hundred thousand taels of silver were confiscated.

The amount of stolen silver (200000 taels) should be available soon.

Just as I was pondering this, I heard the voices of the kitchen women coming from the doorway.

The group walked slowly, whispering about the terrifying moments of the previous night.

"Hey! It's all thanks to the master negotiating protection money with the underworld officials that our young master wasn't captured."

"Yes, the master got up before dawn."

"I personally supervised the workers making paper ingots. I specifically instructed them to use the best gold foil paper, saying that the Black and White Impermanence are legitimate officials, and there is no room for carelessness."

The sound drifted into the room, not a single word was missed.

Gu Mingyue sat there.

Not moving at all.

Paper ingots.

Gold foil.

It's burnt.

The excitement in his eyes gradually faded, as if someone had poured a bucket of well water on them.

Two hundred thousand taels... that was paper money burned.

Her father brought two large cartloads of paper money to the City God Temple to burn.

Not a single ounce of gold or silver was touched.

The panel displayed a notification.

[Friendly Reminder: Paper money, joss paper, and paper ingots (not physical currencies) are not counted towards the consumption of "dirty silver." Please do not entertain any such thoughts.]

Gu Mingyue stared at that line of text for five seconds.

Even the system was mocking her.

She turned off the control panel, picked up the bowl of porridge, and took a sip.

The porridge is cold.

My heart is cold too.

Row.

Her father was indeed a master at getting big results with little money.

Three days later.

Two thunderclaps struck Kyoto in quick succession.

The first blow was delivered to the inner palace.

Consort Mei was stripped of her title and transferred to the Imperial Clan Court.

The Miao people used witchcraft to instigate assassins, and every single one of these incidents has been confirmed.

The vast palace was emptied overnight; the palace maids were dismissed, and the eunuchs were transferred.

No one calls her "Your Majesty" anymore.

The second lightning strike occurred at the Chengen Marquis's residence.

Gu Debai handed over a folded document, which was full of accusations against Marquis Chengen for treason, embezzling military funds, and colluding with tribes in the southern border regions.

One case after another was brought to light, and the entire court hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

No one expected that Gu Youxiang, who had been mediating disputes for ten years, would have accumulated such a thick account.

The imperial edict was issued that very day. The ringleader was beheaded, the accomplices were exiled, and their property was confiscated.

The Marquis's mansion, which had been prosperous for thirty years, collapsed in just one afternoon.

Once the news spread, the political climate in Kyoto changed overnight.

Rumors circulated that Consort Mei had made a move against someone she shouldn't have.

As a result, the visiting cards in front of the Gu residence were piled up to half the height of a table.

Some came to offer gifts, some to curry favor, and others to subtly inquire about Miss Gu's marriage.

The housekeeper is so busy blocking people every day that he's constantly on the go.

Some people in the court were already whispering that the Gu family was about to rise to power again.

The Right Chancellor remained inactive for ten years, but when he finally did, he uprooted the Marquis's mansion.

In addition to his two children, one managed to control the floods in Jiangzhou, and the other supported the epidemic prevention line in the capital.

The Gu family's influence is now vastly different from what it used to be.

The Imperial Study.

Gu Mingli stood to the side of the dragon desk, holding an ink stick in his hand, mechanically drawing circles on the inkstone.

a circle.

Two laps.

Three laps.

He rolled his eyes, utterly dejected.

Liu An stood to the side, smiling kindly.

"Editor Gu, you've ground the ink quite well. The pressure is even, and the ink density is just right. You're much better than the last eunuch who served you with your writing implements."

Gu Mingli's lips twitched.

"Thank you for the compliment, Eunuch Liu."

Comparing him to a eunuch.

He was truly flattered. Thank you.

After Xiao Ye finished reviewing a memorial, he put down his vermilion pen and stretched his wrists.

He glanced at Gu Mingli for two seconds.

"I heard that Jiangzhou has changed a lot?"

Gu Mingli paused for a moment.

He lifted his eyelids and glanced at Xiao Ye, his honest eyes conveying four words:

What does this have to do with me?

"Really? I haven't heard of that."

"?"

Gu Mingli felt that he was right.

He stayed in Jiangzhou every day, surrounded by nothing but water, mud, and a group of working men.

What changes could happen? Will spring turn into summer?

The eunuchs serving in the hall gasped and lowered their heads in unison.

Xiao Ye was slightly taken aback, leaned back in his chair, and tilted his head slightly.

Since he ascended the throne, all civil and military officials have carefully considered their words before speaking in his presence.

No one has ever dared to reply to him in that tone.

Gu Mingli was the first one.

However, considering the man's vast and unusual knowledge, the emperor quickly adapted.

His tone became casual, as if he were chatting about everyday things.

"Many wealthy merchants have gone to Jiangzhou. After your dike was completed, the banks of the river became very lively. Someone even wrote a poem, which spread throughout the capital."

Gu Mingli glanced at him again.

"Why do you love listening to so many stories?"

"..."

There's no way we can talk today.

The emperor paused on the table for a moment, then laughed in exasperation.

Liu An listened from the side, a smile still on his face, but sweat was already starting to bead on his back.

Arrogant because of favor! Arrogant because of favor!

Geng Zhi gripped the hilt of his knife, glaring menacingly.

Xiao Ye didn't take it to heart.

He put down the folding book in his hand and leaned back.

"The dam is quite impressive. And what about that highway your sister built? I'd like to see it too."

Gu Mingli stopped grinding the ink.

Xiao Ye continued, "The epidemic has been brought under control. The situation in the capital has stabilized, and I should go out for a walk to see the people's livelihood. Jiangzhou is conveniently located along the way."

Gu Mingli lowered his eyes.

"Yes, my sister is indeed working on a road construction project in cooperation with the imperial court."

Xiao Ye nodded in satisfaction.

"I heard that you taught the guys how to repair the road."

Upon hearing about engineering issues, Gu Mingli was no longer sleepy.

He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and said solemnly, "That method wasn't my idea; it was..."

We can't exactly say it's a product of future human civilization, can we?

"It was taught to me through a dream by a celestial being."

Xiao Ye: "..."

Never mind, I'm too lazy to investigate further.

"I've been thinking of going on an incognito tour in a few days, starting with a visit to Jiangzhou."

He picked up the next fold book and opened it.

His eyes were already on the words, and his tone returned to a businesslike manner.

"You will accompany me."

Gu Mingli: "..."

Working people have no choice.