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

Gu Mingli quietly looked at Xiao Ye.

That person was clearly a young man in his twenties, but he lived a more mentally exhausting life than a corporate slave who works 996 every day.

At least you still have the right to choose your lifestyle; you can slack off or quit your job.

But Xiao Ye didn't.

That person was a tightrope walker.

On his shoulders lay an empire riddled with apocalypse, beneath his feet a bottomless abyss.

On the other side of the wire, countless tigers and wolves were waiting for him to fall so they could devour his flesh.

In such a life, it's a miracle if you don't live in constant fear and anxiety, let alone enjoy it.

Gu Mingli genuinely felt a little sorry for him.

Any words of comfort seem insincere and powerless in the context of this heavy identity.

Xiao Ye put down his teacup.

The coldness and hardness of the emperor in his voice had dissipated considerably.

"Having said that, in your opinion, how should I... live my daily life?"

Gu Mingli raised an eyebrow.

I felt it was absolutely necessary to provide some psychological counseling to this poor "workaholic".

He leaned back in his chair, instantly becoming relaxed.

Psychological counselor Gu is now online.

"Your Majesty, the life of a normal young person should be balanced between work and rest."

"During the day, I do my job properly, handling state affairs."

"But we should finish work by evening. We can take a stroll in the Imperial Garden, listen to some music, and look at... well, read some storybooks."

"Every now and then, I need to find a way to leave the palace and experience the everyday life of ordinary people."

"Cultivate some interests that are completely unrelated to politics, such as painting, growing flowers, or fishing."

"You need a few close friends you can talk to. You can sit down and chat about gossip, joke around, and vent your emotions by swearing."

As he was talking, he started laughing at himself.

These are perfectly normal things for modern people.

But for the emperor before him, all of these were mere pipe dreams.

Xiao Ye remained silent.

His gaze fell on the glossy white porcelain glaze on the table, as if he were lost in thought.

The hall was quiet for a moment.

The cicadas chirping outside the window suddenly became clearer.

A cool breeze carrying the scent of grass and trees drifted in through the half-open window, causing the candlelight to flicker gently.

Xiao Ye's expression was indifferent and lonely.

The atmosphere became a bit somber at this point.

Gu Mingli quickly changed the subject, not wanting to let his boss's mood sour.

"Alright, alright, stop being so sentimental."

He waved his hand with a hearty laugh.

"The past is gone, but the future can be created! Do you want to listen to a script?"

Xiao Ye turned his head to look at him, the loneliness in his eyes not yet completely gone.

"What storybook?"

"The kind of folklore, the kind that's supernatural and ghostly."

Gu Mingli tilted his head and thought about it mysteriously.

"Let me tell you something absolutely amazing."

Xiao Ye did not refuse.

He picked up his teacup again, leaned back in his chair, and was more relaxed than ever before.

This was a tacit approval, an acceptance of this absurd yet novel after-dinner pastime between the ruler and his subject.

Gu Ming cleared his throat and composed himself.

"Long, long ago, when heaven and earth were first separated into chaos, there was a Flower and Fruit Mountain..."

Xiao Ye's brows twitched almost imperceptibly.

"Flower and Fruit Mountain?"

"Yes. There was a magical stone on the mountain. Nourished by the essence of the sun and moon for countless years, it finally exploded with a 'bang' one day. A monkey sprang out from the crack in the stone."

Xiao Ye's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

"...A monkey jumped out of a rock?"

How absurd this beginning is.

Gu Mingli perked up and began to speak vividly, gesturing as he went, getting more and more excited as he talked.

"He was born of nature, without father or mother, yet he possessed an indomitable spirit, disrespecting neither heaven nor earth, traversing the heavens and the earth, fearless of ghosts and gods! Wielding the Golden Cudgel, the magic staff that stabilizes the seas, he swept across the four seas, wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, and even 100,000 heavenly soldiers and generals could not stop him alone!"

Xiao Ye composed himself and listened quietly.

A ripple stirred within me.

"With an unyielding spirit, he wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace..." Gu Mingli's voice rose and fell with emotion.

Xiao Ye's breath hitched slightly.

He pictured the powerful, entrenched families in the imperial court, relying on their seniority and influence.

Aren't they just like that self-proclaimed noble and all-powerful "Heavenly Court"?

Gu Mingli continued to tell the story, from the stone monkey's apprenticeship and learning of the seventy-two transformations, to his storming of the Dragon Palace and the Underworld, and then to his being recruited by the emperor, where he was dissatisfied with his low official position and angrily fought his way out of the South Heavenly Gate, returned to Flower Fruit Mountain, and proclaimed himself "Great Sage Equal to Heaven"!

"The Great Sage Equal to Heaven!"

When those four words came out of Gu Mingli's mouth, Xiao Ye felt a surge of heat rush to his head!

The more he listened, the brighter the light in his eyes became.

A spark seemed to be thrown into his eyes, which had been dark for many days, igniting a blazing and courageous fire.

It turned out to be the case.

That's it!

Gu Mingli wasn't telling any mythical tales.

He was clearly using this unruly monkey to make a suggestion to him!

Even a stone monkey, born of birth, can break free from constraints, rebel against tyranny, and defy fate.

He was born an emperor, holding power over the entire realm; was he really less than a monkey?!

He then decided to learn from this stone monkey!

He wielded the imperial power as a golden cudgel.

Shatter the shackles of these aristocratic families and sweep away the centuries-old malpractices of the imperial court.

Overturn the old order that had oppressed two generations of emperors and made him suffocate!

Even if the whole world is against him, even if the road ahead is fraught with danger, he will still defy fate.

Breakthrough and rebirth!

At that moment, Xiao Ye suddenly looked up, and the look in his eyes as he looked at Gu Mingli completely changed.

Gu Mingli understands him!

Xiao Ye calmly picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Gu Mingli is a talented individual; we must keep him on our side!

An hour later, Gu Mingli's mouth was dry from talking.

Xiao Ye took the initiative to pick up the teapot and pour him some tea.

"You know a lot."

Gu Mingli sighed, his tone carrying a hint of sincerity.

"Sigh, it's just something I watch to pass the time."

"Your Majesty, please feel free to speak if there is anything you would like to hear in the future."

Professor Gu was very willing to teach.

Xiao Ye smiled slightly upon hearing this.

A sly glint flashed in those deep eyes.

He placed a piece of stewed chicken, cooked until tender, into Gu Mingli's bowl.

He tentatively asked in a seemingly casual tone:

"There is indeed something I'd like to hear."

"Your Majesty, please speak."

Xiao Ye looked at Gu Mingli intently, his tone calm.

"What if I... also wanted to become the Monkey King, and wanted to uproot that rotten foundation?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the air in the hall seemed to freeze for a moment.

The two remained silent for a moment, neither of them touching their chopsticks.

Gu Mingli blinked blankly.

What does that mean?

Should I call you "Senior Brother"?

Also, are there trees in the palace with rotten roots?

Why would Huang Jiaojiao need to dig it herself?

"Go ahead and dig. Dig up the bad ones and plant new ones."

Xiao Ye's eyes sparkled.

A true friend is hard to find in life!

Gu Mingli is preparing to fight me!

Xiao Ye asked to confirm, "This requires unwavering will and determination. Have you thought it through? Are you willing to work for me?"

Gu Mingli waved his hand.

Planting trees is just a physical job, isn't it?

How tiring can it be?

He looked up.

She met Xiao Ye's complex gaze, which held both scrutiny and expectation.

He uttered two words with unwavering resolve.

"I'll go with you!"

It was a resounding statement.

[Ding! Xiao Ye's favorability towards you +50, current favorability: -453]

[Warning! Warning! Host detected as Xiao Ye activating the Tyrant script!]

[Side Quest for Correcting Deviation: Please guide and assist him to restore peace and tranquility to the land. Help him become a great emperor for all time.]

[Punishment for mission failure: Affection points -10000]

Gu Mingli: "!!!!"

Holy crap!

What the hell?!

Who started the tyrant's story?!