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

Xianggelila Inn is located in the heart of the riverside commercial district.

It is indeed the best quality and most expensive inn here.

The lobby on the first floor of the inn is spacious and bright, with the floor paved with polished bluestone slabs, each one fitting perfectly.

In the center stands a miniature mountain bonsai, about half the height of a person.

The flowing water cascades down from the mountaintop, splashing into the shallow pool at the bottom, creating a soft, rustling sound.

Several red carp swam leisurely in the pond.

A few water lily leaves floated on the surface of the water, and the lights reflected in the water, making it sparkle.

The front desk staff were well-trained and immediately greeted the guests as they entered.

A hot towel is handed to you, herbal tea is served on the table, and sachets are placed on a tray for guests to choose from.

All three items were in place before the guests were even seated.

The movements were fluid and graceful, without a single unnecessary element.

Xiao Ye paused slightly when he took the hot towel.

Even when he was in the palace, the eunuchs could deliver things at a similar speed.

Some of the eunuchs were even less perceptive than this fellow.

He glanced at the man's posture and expression without making a sound.

His back was straight, his eyes were level, and his smile was just right—neither obsequious nor aloof.

This has been trained.

"Welcome to Shangri-La, distinguished guests."

The guy had a standard smile and a gentle voice.

"Let me first introduce the services offered by our inn."

Our hotel has three classes of guest rooms.

"A standard room costs two taels of silver per night, including breakfast and hot water for showering."

"Elegant rooms are 5 taels per night, including three meals, bathing, aromatherapy, and personal attendant service."

"Deluxe rooms in the 'Xuan' and 'Di' categories are 10 taels per night. Suite in the 'Tian' category..."

The waiter paused for a moment, then his smile widened.

"Twenty taels a night. Includes three meals a day, private hot spring bath, personal waiter, personal musician, and a nourishing medicinal meal the next morning."

Liu An gasped.

Twenty taels for a night? Are you robbing me?

Even the best room at the Yuelai Inn in the capital only costs three taels of silver a night!

Why is this place selling for twenty taels?

He subconsciously glanced at his master's expression.

But Xiao Ye didn't think it was expensive.

He even felt that if the service was truly as attentive as claimed, twenty taels wouldn't be outrageous.

The monthly salary of a musician employed in the palace is more than twenty taels.

What's more, the price includes a private hot spring, a butler, and medicinal cuisine.

If these items were kept in the palace, the daily expenses would far exceed this amount.

Xiao Ye only said one sentence, "I want the top-tier one."

Liu An: "...Yes."

He silently did some mental calculations.

Two rooms in the top-tier category cost forty taels per night. If you stay for three days, that's one hundred and twenty taels.

Plus the staff's room and board...

Seeing the pained look on Eunuch Liu's face, Gu Mingyue quickly stepped forward to deliver the message.

"It is an honor for our inn to have Second Master grace us with his presence. I will cover the expenses."

"Wow! What a generous girl!"

Lord Liu was relieved.

Therefore, the emperor and the Prince of Qi each had a "top-tier" room.

The rest of the entourage stayed in the "Xuan" wing room below the "Tian" wing.

The reason was simple: the second-highest-class "Di"-class rooms were all occupied by wealthy businessmen from all over the country.

The waiter even added an explanation:

"I'm so sorry, it's peak season right now, and all the rooms in the 'Di' tier were fully booked five days ago. If you would like to come again next time, please send someone to make a reservation in advance."

It was fully booked five days ago.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ye glanced at Gu Mingyue again.

Gu Mingyue had already started to sigh.

Geng Zhi, accompanied by several shadow guards, took the emperor to the "Heavenly Room" on the third floor.

The stairs are made of solid wood, and each step is padded, so there is no sound when you step on them.

The corridor was filled with calming incense, and several landscape paintings hung on the walls, all signed by local artists.

Even in the corner of the corridor, there was a small potted plant with water droplets still clinging to its leaves, clearly indicating that it had just been watered.

When the door was pushed open, Gu Mingyue herself was stunned for a moment.

The drawings she gave Wen Yanzhi showed a general layout.

The configuration standards and services were just a casual description.

To her surprise, he filled in even the smallest details, and did so even better than she had expected.

The window faces a tributary of the Suhuai River, where the water flows slowly.

You can see the lights and painted boats on the river as soon as you open the window.

A night breeze blew, and the gauze curtains fluttered gently, like a thin mist.

The interior is simply furnished with rosewood tables and chairs, Shu brocade curtains, and Ru kiln tea sets.

The bedding on the bed was made of freshly fluffed cotton, as fluffy as a cloud.

In the corner stood a small screen, embroidered with a delicate picture of a lotus pond under the moonlight.

Behind the screen was a round wooden bathtub.

The bottom of the pool was covered with pebbles, and several bottles of different scented bath products were placed next to it.

The bottles also have handwritten labels: "Osmanthus", "Jasmine", "Mint" and "Mugwort".

Her handwriting is beautiful.

The room was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood and the fragrance of flowers from outside the window.

On the small table by the bed was a celadon dish with two pieces of osmanthus cake and a handwritten note inside.

Xiao Jue leaned closer to take a look; it read:

"Dear guest, welcome. There is a lantern festival on the river tonight, which can be seen from your window. Please ring the bell if you need anything. Sweet dreams."

A small lotus flower was drawn in the lower right corner of the note, serving as the inn's logo.

Xiao Ye looked around, nodded slightly, and was very satisfied.

"It's acceptable."

Gu Mingli followed behind, touching and looking at everything.

He never imagined that his sister could bring the standards of a modern five-star hotel to an ancient setting.

Finally, he plopped down on the soft couch by the window.

"Wow, this mattress is nice. It's filled with cotton!"

Xiao Ye glanced at him and snorted.

"Never seen the world."

Gu Mingli chuckled softly.

"You've seen the world, haven't you seen an inn of this standard elsewhere?"

Xiao Ye: "..."

Xiao Ye did not refute.

I've never seen it before.

He even wondered if, after returning to the palace, he should have the people from the Imperial Household Department stay here for a night to learn how they provide service.

Xiao Ye walked to the window and pushed open the carved wooden window.

A river breeze carrying the fragrance of flowers wafted towards us, and in the distance, the faint sounds of string and wind instruments and the clamor of voices drifted over.

On the river, lotus lanterns floated downstream, twinkling like stars, like the Milky Way falling into the water.

"Three months. To go from ruins to this state is truly something extraordinary."

Xiao Ye's words were tinged with emotion and admiration.

Gu Mingli tilted his head and looked out the window at the small bridge, flowing water, and bustling tourists.

"My sister is a business genius. None of the people in the Ministry of Revenue can match her brains."

Xiao Ye remained silent because Gu Mingli was right.

The Ministry of Revenue complained of poverty every year, yet it still requested funds for disaster relief, road repairs, and bridge construction.

No matter how much money I spent, I've never seen a place with this kind of vitality.

After all that money is allocated, it's skimmed off at each level, so how much is left when it reaches the destination?

The roads that were built deteriorated in three years, and the bridges that were constructed collapsed in five years.

Here, in three months, something was created from nothing.

Xiao Ye turned around, looked at Gu Mingli who spoke without any restraint, and chuckled.

"You're not bad either. Quite arrogant."

Gu Mingli grinned.

"That's right. My brother and I, one a scholar and the other a merchant, are both capable of contributing to the Great Yong Dynasty."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ye seemed to have thought of something, and his eyes lit up.

Gu Mingli's words are true.

The siblings in the Gu family are exceptionally capable and insightful.

If they can be properly employed...

"Gu Qing..."

"His Majesty."

Gu Mingli yawned, sprang up from the soft couch, and swayed toward the door.

"I'm sleepy, go back to sleep. You should get some rest too."

"Tomorrow I'll take you around this street. I'll show you what immersive shopping is all about."

Xiao Ye started to speak but didn't say it aloud; his hand was still raised.

Gu Mingli has already left.

The door closed.

Liu An: "..."

Geng Zhi: "..."

The surrounding eunuchs: "..."

Gu Dadan!

His Majesty hadn't finished speaking when he left?!

If this happened in the palace, such a breach of etiquette in front of the emperor would result in a salary deduction at best, and a caning at worst!

Xiao Ye withdrew his hand from mid-air, gave a blank snort, and turned to walk towards the window.

He muttered to himself.

"You unruly thing."