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

That evening, at the Gu residence.

When Gu Mingli dragged his feet back, his face still showed the despair of having spent the whole afternoon grinding ink for the emperor.

As he passed through the front hall, he saw his father, Gu Debai, discussing matters with several advisors.

Gu Debai looked up at him and asked kindly, "Mingli, how was your day serving before the Emperor?"

Gu Mingli's lips twitched.

well?

He, a dignified compiler of the Hanlin Academy and a sixth-rank official, spent an entire afternoon grinding ink in the Imperial Study.

The ink produced can fill three inkstones.

Liu An even praised him, saying he was "much better than the little eunuchs."

"That's good, Dad."

Gu Mingli remained expressionless.

He raised his hand and gestured as if he were grinding ink.

Gu Debai's eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands loudly.

"Oh my, His Majesty really values ​​you! He even puts you in charge of strategizing!"

Gu Mingli: "..."

"No, Father... I am..."

Gu Debai grinned so wide his eyes disappeared.

"Alright, alright, no need to say more. Those who can serve in the Emperor's presence will all become his confidants in the future."

He pointed to the sky as he spoke, his tone exceptionally smug.

"My son will surely be a person of high status in the future!"

Seeing his father so happy, Gu Mingli could only sigh silently.

Fine, whatever his dad thinks.

Gu Mingli didn't talk much and went straight to the backyard.

Gu Mingyue had just returned from Powa Lane.

The pandemic is now in its final stages.

The number of new patients has dropped to single digits for three consecutive days, the long queues at the entrance of the charitable hall have disappeared, and the pungent smell of vinegar in the air has also faded considerably.

Xue Ren's Imperial Hospital officially took over the follow-up inspection work, which relieved most of the manpower pressure in Powa Lane.

Taking advantage of this lull, Gu Mingyue fully launched the "Highway Business Division" project, which had been shelved for almost half a month.

How should the construction sections be divided? What is the material procurement list? Which villages and towns should be selected for the rest stops along the way?

All of these were plans she had worked on late into the night over the past two days.

She was dozing off at the table when she was woken up by the sound of Gu Mingli pushing open the door.

"Brother? Why are you back so late today?"

"Yeah," Gu Mingli waved his hand, "When you're working like a slave to your boss, how can you not work overtime?"

"Yi Wu said you were looking for me?"

"Yes, let's hold a progress review meeting."

"..."

Gu Mingli: o(╥﹏╥)o

The brother and sister sat down facing each other.

A pile of blueprints and account books lay on the table, the candle wick had been adjusted twice, and wax dripped down the brass stand.

Gu Mingyue rubbed her eyes and pointed to one of the drawings marked with a red line.

"Brother, I still have 170,000 taels of silver on hand."

"We are prepared to allocate all funds to road and bridge construction."

Gu Mingli nodded.

Building roads and bridges is extremely expensive.

It can benefit the country and its people, and also thoroughly clean up those dirty silvers of dubious origin.

Kill two birds with one stone.

"Roadbeds, bridge piers, drainage ditches—each one is a money-devouring beast. Just this section from Kyoto to Jiangzhou, if we throw in 170,000 taels, we can definitely swallow it all in one go."

Gu Mingyue looked up at him: "Brother, you know how to make cement, right?"

Gu Mingli puffed out his chest, leaned back, and crossed his arms.

The way they acted was as if it were perfectly natural to ask, "Do you even know how to eat?"

"No problem. It's an essential skill for time travel. Who doesn't know it?"

"Mix limestone and clay in the right proportions, calcine them, and control the temperature. Later, add some volcanic ash and iron ore powder to adjust the ratio, and the strength can be increased even further. This is just a basic skill..."

He glanced at Gu Mingyue.

"You can't?"

Gu Mingyue paused for a moment.

She really doesn't.

Before she transmigrated, she studied finance and her knowledge of chemical materials was limited to "cement is a gray powder".

But it doesn't matter, she has a brilliant brother.

This is enough.

"Okay."

Gu Mingyue clearly and efficiently assigned responsibilities.

"Then I'll leave the technical aspects of road construction to you."

"Anyway, we're cooperating with the emperor. He's the major shareholder, holding the largest stake."

"I'll provide the funding and the team, you'll be responsible for the technical control, and he'll be responsible for providing policies, approving land, and allocating personnel."

"The division of labor is clear, and everyone performs their duties."

Gu Mingli readily agreed: "No problem. I'll talk to Lao Xiao about it later."

Gu Mingyue was a little confused.

"Who is Lao Xiao?"

"The Emperor."

Gu Mingli was very serious.

"I guess I can be considered his special assistant now? I can always offer him work suggestions."

Gu Mingyue understood immediately.

Her brother's long face is a real advantage!

Speaking of this, Gu Mingli remembered something else.

"Oh, by the way. The Emperor mentioned in the Imperial Study today that he would be going on an incognito tour to Jiangzhou in a few days."

Gu Mingyue stopped flipping through the account books.

"He went to Jiangzhou?"

"Hmm. And they even let me come along."

Gu Mingli spoke in a flat tone.

Gu Mingyue lowered her head and thought for a moment.

"Perfect timing. I also need to go to Jiangzhou."

She also has a large business in Jiangzhou.

Poultry farms, textile workshops, dockside commercial streets, and bus fleets.

These projects have been running for more than three months, and it's time for the guys to get their second month's pay.

Especially in the commercial street and dock area, the initial investment is large and the return on investment is slow, and continuous investment is needed in the future.

This was her original intention in planning Jiangzhou.

Dig a huge money pit and have her father put money into it every month.

In this way, the embezzled silver can be quickly spent.

Thinking of this, Gu Mingyue made a rough estimate.

This time, I'll bring another 200,000 taels of silver.

I'll ask her dad for money tomorrow.

Gu Mingyue closed the ledger and tucked it away on the corner of the table.

"We'll travel at different times. We'll meet up again when we get to Jiangzhou."

Gu Mingli nodded, "Okay."

I got up to go back to my room to sleep.

I had just reached the door.

【Ding! 】

A semi-transparent light screen suddenly appeared in front of Gu Mingyue.

System panel.

[Mission Completed: Spend 200,000 taels within 2 months.]

[Reward: Access to "Future Headlines" x1.]

"elder brother!"

Gu Mingyue called out to Gu Mingli, who had already stepped out of the door.

"return!"

"The headline is out."

Gu Mingli rushed back, pulled up a chair, and sat down next to her. He wasn't even wearing his shoes properly; they were just slipping on.

The two stood side by side, their heads close together.

The system projected a semi-transparent text that floated above the desktop, the words clear and emitting a faint cold light.

Gu Mingyue held her breath and read it word by word.

Ten days later, the emperor made his routine incognito tour. Route: Kyoto → Jiangzhou → Peach Blossom Spring.

She already knows that.

Continue.

[While traveling through Peach Blossom Spring in Jiangzhou, a powerful family had set a trap for them beforehand.]

The emperor was boating on the waters of Peach Blossom Spring. A young lady from a noble family "accidentally" fell into the water but was rescued by the emperor's bodyguards.

To express her gratitude to the "young master" (the emperor) for saving her life, the woman invited him to a romantic dinner party under the guise of flowers and moonlight. During the meal, she drugged his wine.

Gu Mingyue's face gradually darkened.

Gu Mingli also frowned.

After a brief affair, the woman used her pregnancy with the emperor's child to enter the palace, becoming a spy planted by the Pei family beside the emperor.

"The Pei family?"

The brother and sister exchanged a glance.

The Pei family.

One of the four great families of Kyoto.