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

Of course, a duel is out of the question.

Gu Mingli decided to continue to lie low.

"Old Geng."

He lowered his voice and beckoned to Geng Zhi.

Geng Zhi stepped forward.

Gu Mingli pointed in a direction.

"Have someone run that way to divert the target's attention."

Geng Zhi did not respond, but turned to look at the emperor.

Xiao Ye nodded, and Geng Zhicai made a hand gesture towards the air.

A dark shadow flashed by, and a shadow guard ran out openly.

Immediately afterwards, footsteps sounded outside.

"Quickly, after them! His Majesty's guards are over there!"

The footsteps faded into the distance.

The light of the lanterns also disappeared on the other side of the artificial hills.

Gu Mingli let out a long breath.

My chest was pounding.

"Walk."

Xiao Ye's voice came from beside him, "Let's go somewhere else."

Gu Mingli nodded and squeezed out from the crevice.

He shook off the bits of moss that were stuck to his sleeve.

The three continued their journey through the night.

The third quarter of Hai hour.

The three men, accompanied by six bodyguards, sneaked back to the emperor's bedchamber in the dark.

They did not disturb any of the palace servants on duty along the way.

His Majesty has not returned to the palace; only a few lamps are lit inside.

The light was dim.

The three of them quietly entered the room, startling the eunuchs and palace maids inside, who all knelt down in fear.

Gu Mingli lowered his voice and reminded him:

"No lights allowed."

Even if Xiao Ye were completely clueless, he would realize by now that Gu Mingli was trying to hide someone from him.

He gave a faint "hmm".

He waved his hand and said, "Tell anyone who asks that I have not returned to my bedchamber."

"Yes!" The palace servants withdrew on their own.

The countdown on the system interface is still ticking.

[47 minutes remaining until mission completion]

Gu Mingli took a deep breath to calm his heartbeat.

They played hide-and-seek with Consort Cui all night long.

Only after sitting down did I realize that my legs were a bit tired.

Xiao Ye took a sip of tea when a voice suddenly came from across the tea table.

"A prize."

Gu Mingli blinked.

"what?"

"We won the game."

Xiao Ye spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"The story you promised to tell."

Gu Mingli started thinking.

Oh, right!

He also had to tell Xiao Ye a "wise fairy tale that has been passed down through the ages".

He rested his chin on his hand and thought for a moment.

What should I talk about?

Tell the story of Snow White?

It's too bloody.

What if Xiao Ye tries to send them poisoned apples?

Talking about Little Red Riding Hood?

That's not suitable either.

What if Xiao Ye, like that big bad wolf, ambushes his house?

I still need to tell you something simple, easy to understand, and positive.

Gu Mingli thought of someone who was particularly suitable for Xiao Ye.

So he cleared his throat and began to speak.

"Once upon a time, there was a wealthy family. The head of the family had a wife who passed away, leaving behind a legitimate daughter named Xiao Hui."

"Later, the head of the family remarried. His stepmother brought two daughters with her."

"After the head of the family died, the stepmother took over the household. The stepmother only loved her two biological daughters and treated her younger daughter like a servant."

"The youngest daughter has no dowry and no social status. She spends all her time cooking by the stove, with no hope of ever getting ahead."

"Later, the royal court held a grand ball. The prince was choosing a bride. The stepmother attended with her two biological daughters in their finest attire, while keeping Little Grey at home and not allowing her to go."

"But Little Grey received help from a benefactor, put on a gorgeous dress and glass slippers, changed his identity, and went to the ball."

"The prince fell in love with her at first sight. But at midnight, Little Grey had to leave. She ran so fast that she left behind one of her glass slippers."

The next day, the prince took the shoe and searched the whole city for its owner.

"The stepmother wanted her two daughters to marry a prince and become princesses. But no matter what they did, they couldn't fit into the glass slippers."

"Because those crystal shoes were custom-made for Little Grey by a nobleman."

"Finally, Little Grey arrived, put on the glass slippers, and was taken away by the prince."

"From then on, I lived an exciting life."

That's it.

Gu Mingli felt that he had spoken quite well.

It is concise and clear, with a beginning and an end.

There was a long silence in the darkness.

Then Xiao Ye spoke.

"So... the legitimate daughter seized all the family property, while the illegitimate daughters didn't even have the right to participate in the grand event."

Gu Mingli: "?"

No, why do you always have such peculiar points of focus?

Xiao Ye spoke slowly, his voice thoughtful.

"If it weren't for that 'benefactor' who stepped in, Cinderella would have spent her whole life tending the stove."

"And those two legitimate daughters, relying on their status as legitimate children, control all the family's resources. Even if they are mediocre, they can still attend banquets of kings and nobles dressed in gorgeous clothes."

Gu Mingli opened his mouth.

"Ah...is that right?"

He was just telling a fairy tale to lull a child to sleep!

Xiao Ye seemed to be completely absorbed in his deductions.

His voice grew lower and lower, and his brows furrowed.

"In aristocratic families, the eldest son inherits the entire family business and title. No matter how talented the sons born out of wedlock are, they are merely appendages and do not receive a single share of the property."

"Therefore, children born out of wedlock can only rely on the legitimate branch and be driven and used by it. The power of the entire family is concentrated in the hands of the legitimate branch. The more it gathers, the harder it becomes to shake."

Gu Mingli: "..."

The primogeniture system is one of the core reasons why powerful clans have been able to remain powerful for thousands of years.

All resources were concentrated in the hands of the direct descendants, which is why powerful clans could accumulate wealth generation after generation, becoming increasingly large.

"But if..."

Xiao Ye's voice gradually deepened, and excitement began to ignite in his eyes.

"What if children born out of wedlock are also entitled to a share of the family property?"

Gu Mingli's heart skipped a beat.

Holy crap?! This is going to be a reform?!

Xiao Ye continued.

"If the imperial court issues a decree, all illegitimate sons who hold official positions or titles within the court will be entitled to a share of the family property and will be eligible to inherit titles."

"The legitimate branch can no longer monopolize everything. The illegitimate branches will fight, scramble, and split apart."

"A powerful clan, originally a unified entity, is now fragmented into three or five pieces from within. The power of each piece..."

Gu Mingli's eyes lit up as well.

Continuing from the previous point.

"Breaking the court's monopoly is nothing to fear."

Both of them fell silent.

In the dim light, only the candlelight flickered slightly.

Gu Mingli went through this idea in his mind.

This is somewhat similar to the "Decree of Grace," but not entirely the same.

Once internal strife begins, the powerful factions will crumble on their own.

Without the emperor lifting a finger, they started stabbing each other in the back.

"Good idea."

Gu Mingyi sincerely praised him.

"but……"

Before he finished speaking, Xiao Ye already understood what he was going to say and continued.

"The problem is that this law is not being implemented."

Gu Mingli nodded.

Xiao Ye tapped his fingers silently on the armrest, squinting at the tiny candlelight.

"The vast majority of civil and military officials in the court came from noble families."

"The moment such a law is put on the table, they will unite to oppose it, and even force the emperor to resign."

"That's how the last emperor of the previous dynasty was dethroned."

"I need an opportunity."

He looked at Gu Mingli.

"If Pujitang wants to make its canal transport business work, it also needs this opportunity."

Gu Mingli didn't understand.

Xiao Ye smiled faintly and poured Gu Mingli a cup of tea.

"Mingli, go back and tell your sister about my new policies."

[Ding! Midnight has arrived. This palace intrigue mission is complete!]

[Xiao Ye's favorability towards you +3, current favorability value: -433]