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

Pei Yu pondered for a long time but couldn't find a way to continue the conversation.

The "Emperor" was engrossed in rubbing the rough surface of the pillar with the knot on his wrist.

Huff, huff!

The rubbing was done with great rhythm.

Pei Yu bit her lip and changed her strategy.

"Young master, what happened just now... [just now] was truly interesting. You are very knowledgeable and talented, I admire you."

"Um."

Gu Mingli didn't even look up, continuing to grind the rope.

Pei Yuqing cleared his throat and sighed softly:

"I am not very talented, and I only know a little poetry and prose. If I could be taught a thing or two by you, young master, I would be extremely fortunate."

Gu Mingli paused for a moment while rubbing against the rope.

He turned and glanced at Pei Yu.

If that look were translated into words, it would probably mean, "Did the kidnappers damage your brain?"

Pei Yu finally met Gu Mingli's gaze and truly saw the "Emperor's" face.

He was greatly shocked.

As expected of the emperor! Truly a dragon among men!

He is more refined and elegant than the average person, and handsome and graceful.

Pei Yu took a deep breath and pressed on.

He desperately tried to lean his body towards Gu Mingli.

The rope was tied around his waist, making his posture extremely awkward, but he managed to raise his chin to a 45-degree angle.

The moonlight shone on his face.

Her eyes were slightly red at the corners, and a few strands of hair were loose at her temples, making her look exactly like a "beautiful woman with affection".

"Although I am trapped here, it is fate that I can share this hardship with you, sir."

Gu Mingli slowly glanced at him sideways.

I got goosebumps all over my body.

"I'm telling you, bro."

Pei Yu's eyes lit up. "Yes."

"Could you please stop looking at me like that?"

Pei Yu: "..."

"If you're bored, help me count how many centimeters it is from the bottom of that pillar to the knot."

Pei Yu's affectionate gaze shattered into pieces.

"Far...far what meters?"

"Forget it." Gu Mingli lowered his head again and rubbed the rope. "You can't count them."

Pei Yu swallowed hard, realizing that the "emperor" was completely unmoved.

Could it be that my good looks are not good enough for him?

Pei Yu decided to change her approach.

"Young master, I am Pei Yu, the eldest grandson of the Pei family of the capital."

He revealed his family background.

"The Pei family has been a scholarly family for generations; my father served as a Vice Minister of Rites. Although I am not as talented as you, sir, I am still..."

"The Pei family?"

Gu Mingli finally gave a serious response.

Pei Yu was greatly encouraged.

"Exactly!"

"Is your sister the one who plays the flute?"

Pei Yu was taken aback.

"Young master actually noticed?"

"I've noticed."

Gu Mingli nodded.

"You've been following us for several days now, haven't you?"

Pei Yu's smile froze for a moment, but she quickly recovered.

"It was fate that brought us together unexpectedly."

Gu Mingli squinted and pondered for a moment, then lowered his head and chuckled.

It seems that Pei Yu has mistaken him for the Empress.

also!

It's better to have the Pei family keep an eye on me than to have them target Xiao Ye.

Gu Mingli turned his gaze back to the knot.

The coefficient of friction between the hemp rope and the wooden post is approximately 0.4 to 0.6.

If we can find a rougher point of leverage.

In theory, the outer layer of fibers can be worn down by rubbing them repeatedly for about 300 times.

The problem is that my wrist hurts.

After rowing all day, he now has to work on the rope; his wrists are probably going to break.

Pei Yu was still chattering on and on beside him.

"...Does the young master enjoy the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting?"

"I have been playing the zither for over ten years. If I can escape this predicament, I will certainly play a piece called 'The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate' for you, sir..."

Gu Mingli remained silent and sped up the speed at which he was grinding the rope.

He had to run.

He was afraid he would go crazy if he listened any longer.

……

at the same time.

The east side hall of the dilapidated temple.

Gu Mingyue still had a loose hemp rope hanging from her shoulder, one foot on a broken bench, and the other hand on a square table with a hole in it.

A section of the table corner had broken off, and she slammed it down with a loud bang.

She glared fiercely at the burly man with a menacing face opposite her.

"Take these silver notes! Otherwise, my Puji Hall will never rest until you, the Canal Gang, have your way!"

The dilapidated temple was quiet.

A dozen or so members of the canal gang were crammed into the hall, holding knives and sticks, staring at each other with wide eyes.

No, have you ever shown any respect to the robbers when you speak like that?

The journey to where Master Gu was brought in was anything but peaceful.

First, they complained that their hemp rope was prickly and demanded that it be replaced with cotton strips.

Later, he complained that running around was too tiring and asked to ride in a horse-drawn carriage.

Upon entering the dilapidated temple, they complained that there was no table for the negotiations and ordered people to sweep the floor and set up a table.

Now it's even more outrageous.

He just pulled out a banknote and slapped it in their faces.

Deputy Hall Master Niu Jiaojin's dark face turned red, and the veins on his neck bulged out one by one.

"Don't think I don't understand your little schemes!"

He pushed the stack of silver notes onto Gu Mingyue's desk.

"You just want to throw money at us! Afterwards, report us to the authorities as river bandits who robbed your Pujitang of its silver!"

"Let me tell you! We at the Azure Dragon Hall now operate on principles!"

The ox strained and pounded its chest so hard it made a loud thud.

"What we want is a dock! A legitimate livelihood! Don't even think about insulting me with this wad of filthy money!"

Gu Mingyue was going crazy.

She was quite helpless to encounter such a stubborn and narrow-minded bandit leader.

"Isn't your goal to build a dock just to make money?"

Gu Mingyue spread the banknotes out on the table and counted them out for him one by one.

"I'll give you the money directly now. I'll skip the middleman who makes a profit. One hundred taels, two hundred taels, five hundred taels… why don't you take it?!"

Niu Jiaoji turned his face to the side, looking determined to refuse.

"I won't take it!"

"One hundred thousand taels!"

"I won't take it!"

"150,000 taels!!"

"I wouldn't take it even if it were 1.5 million taels!"

A skinny little lackey standing nearby timidly raised his hand.

"Deputy Hall Master, 1.5 million taels... I might consider it..."

Niu Jiaojin turned around and gave him a sharp rap on the head.

"Get out of my way! Master Qian said he doesn't want anything else! He just wants the dock!"

"With a dock, our brothers will have a stable job! They'll have a secure livelihood! It won't be considered banditry!"

Gu Mingyue's temples throbbed after hearing these words.

"Can't you use your brain? Isn't it the same if you use the money to do legitimate business?"

"It's different! Our Qinglong Hall only deals in canal transport!"

Gu Mingyue: "..."

There's no way to negotiate!

"Go and fetch your Master Qian!"

Gu Mingyue slammed her hand on the table again.

"I can't reason with you! Your perspective is too narrow!"

Niu Jiaojin was so angry that his mustache stood on end when a woman told him to his face that his penis was "too small."

But after thinking about it, he still shouted out loud.

"Master! She wants to see you!"

A moment later, Qian Dajiang, the leader of the Qinglong Hall, walked in from outside the dilapidated temple with great pomp and circumstance.

The man was in his early forties, with a robust build but a thin face.

His cheekbones were high and prominent, his eyes were deep-set, and he was followed by about a hundred brothers.

No wonder they didn't want money, they just wanted the dock.

It turns out there were too many people!

If caught by the imperial court, they would certainly be treated as bandits.

Gu Mingyue's eyes lit up.

If I were to acquire their Azure Dragon Hall!

Then this group of people are the perfect money-devouring beasts!