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

Gu Mingyue picked up the brush and wrote three lines of characters on the paper in a flowing and elegant manner.

"The selection of personnel cannot be done haphazardly. I have these strict requirements."

"First of all, the candidate must be from a minor noble family."

"The family must have a government official position and a clean background."

"But his career was severely hampered by the powerful and influential families above him, leaving him frustrated and unable to achieve his ambitions."

Pei Yu nodded vigorously.

Such friends are so easy to find!

Eight out of ten of these young masters who spend their days loafing around together are the kind of people who are scolded by their elders for being "good-for-nothings".

In reality, their families were all marginalized individuals whose upward mobility had been cut off by powerful clans.

"Secondly, one must have a forthright personality and be a simple and reliable person."

"A player who can rely on their true skills on the field, and who can also have heart-to-heart talks with their teammates off the field."

"We don't want anyone who likes to use underhanded tricks or schemes behind people's backs."

Pei Yu nodded vigorously again.

This request was practically tailor-made for his circle.

In their circle of playboys, people as shrewd and clever as him are few and far between.

The vast majority of noble young masters are simple-minded men who are straightforward and honest.

After writing the last line, Gu Mingyue gently placed the brush on the brush rest.

He raised his eyes and looked at Pei Yu seriously.

"Finally, and most importantly."

"Those chosen must be absolutely loyal."

"They must have potential, so that His Majesty can see them at a glance from the stands and think, 'They are teachable.'"

Pei Yu scratched his head, looking completely bewildered.

"Boss... I understand the first two points."

"But what exactly is the criterion for this last point, 'a promising young person'?"

Gu Mingyue, however, did not directly reveal the truth.

Instead, he pinched a corner of the Xuan paper and gently pushed the still-wet ink page in front of Pei Yu.

"You don't need to figure it out now."

"Take this document and go back to your grandfather. Ask him for advice and listen carefully to his suggestions."

Although Pei Yu couldn't fully see through the hidden dangers behind the third path.

But he was very self-aware.

If my own brain is a bucket, then my grandfather's brain is an ocean.

Vast and boundless.

He stood up solemnly, carefully blew the paper dry, folded it neatly, and put it into his sleeve pocket.

"Master, please rest assured. I'll return home immediately and discuss a list with my grandfather tonight!"

He strode to the door.

Suddenly, it was as if she remembered something.

She turned her head timidly, her eyes sparkling.

"Boss, um... after I've chosen my team, can I also participate in the competition?"

"I promise I won't hold you back! Seriously, back in the Imperial College, I was known as the best ball-handler there!"

Gu Mingyue couldn't help but smile slightly as she looked at his eager expression, as if he couldn't wait to go on stage and perform a bicycle kick.

"Okay. Bring me that list of candidates first."

"If we can't get the list sorted out, the competition can't be held."

"Roger that! Mission accomplished!"

Pei Yu excitedly cupped his hands in greeting and strode out of the office like the wind.

As dusk approached, only a wisp of gray-blue with an orange glow remained on the horizon.

The lanterns in the main courtyard of the Pei residence had just been lit.

Pei Chongyue was sitting upright in the large armchair in his study, flipping through the official register that had just been sent by the Ministry of Personnel.

With a loud bang, the study door was suddenly pushed open.

Pei Yu rushed in, his face beaming with joy.

"grandfather!"

Pei Chongyue slightly raised his eyes and glanced at his impetuous grandson.

He slowly turned a page of the register of candidates for official positions.

"What's wrong? Did the sky fall, or did you get into trouble again?"

"How could that be? I'm busy with important matters every day!"

As he spoke, Pei Yu rushed to the desk in a few steps.

He pulled the piece of paper written by Gu Mingyue from his sleeve as if presenting a treasure, and slapped it on the table.

"Grandfather, there is something I need your guidance on."

Then, he recounted everything he had heard Gu Mingyue say at Pujitang that day, from beginning to end.

Cuju (ancient Chinese football) tournament!

It was officially sponsored by the imperial court, and Pujitang was fully responsible for its operation!

A staggering prize of a whopping 60,000 taels!

Young Master Gu is preparing to form a conspicuous team!

Finally, Pei Yu took a breath and uttered his last sentence.

"Grandfather, Master Gu specifically instructed me that this third point is the most important."

"The people selected must be those who His Majesty deems to be teachable."

Pei Chongyue listened attentively, then slowly put down the evaluation booklet in his hand, his eyes filled with joy.

The whole story clearly shows that the emperor has already approved of the Pei family's allegiance!

Tasks have begun to be assigned to the Pei family.

"Yu'er..."

Pei Chongyue sighed deeply, filled with awe for the person behind the scenes.

"Your employer is quite shrewd. It seems sending you to learn from her was the right decision."

He stood up, put his hands behind his back, and paced around the desk twice.

"The football match is a pretense; the real purpose is selection. Your Majesty is using the guise of a competition to openly select your own players right under the noses of the powerful clans!"

Pei Chongyue suddenly turned around, his eyes fixed intently on his grandson.

"Yu'er, this is an opportunity for our Pei family to make a name for ourselves!"

Pei Yu stood there, listening to his grandfather's meticulous analysis.

I felt a tingling sensation in my back, and my scalp felt like it was about to explode.

My mind goes through periods of darkness and light.

My thinking ability is simply not enough!

Pei Chongyue ignored his grandson's dazed expression and strode back to his desk, pulling open the bottom drawer with a copper lock.

From it, he solemnly took out a thick booklet with yellowed pages.

With a "smack," the booklet was slapped in front of Pei Yu.

That document contains detailed records of the backgrounds, strengths, personalities, weaknesses, achievements, and the most comprehensive ability assessments of all officials, large and small, in the capital over the past thirty years.

This is a collection of confidential Ministry of Personnel files compiled privately by Pei Chongyue.

The Third Prince tried to win him over during the struggle for the throne, all for this booklet in his possession.

"Yu'er,"

Pei Chongyue patted the booklet, his eyes gleaming with fervor.

"Since Master Gu has handed this opportunity to you, we must seize this chance to demonstrate the Pei family's sincerity to His Majesty!"

Pei Yu felt that his name was already on the "List of Loyal Ministers"!

He was immediately filled with enthusiasm and nodded with great fighting spirit.

"Understood! Grandfather, then let's choose the people!"

……

at the same time.

As evening fell, the palace gates were just locked.

Gu Mingli came out of the main door of the Imperial Study.

He let out a long yawn and raised his hand to rub his eyes.

Today he was in the palace, drinking tea and eating snacks.

I spent the whole afternoon drawing up the stadium design plans.

Xiao Ye spent the entire afternoon approving folded documents.

I would occasionally come over to take a look at his drawings and ask him a few physics-related questions.

Without any twisted palace intrigue missions, the two spent the whole day peacefully.

Gu Mingli felt relaxed and comfortable.

Ke Di walked down the steps.

The person was stunned.

Four shadow guards stood neatly in the open space below the steps.

He wore a black robe with narrow sleeves and a short knife at his waist.

Four pairs of eyes stared at him, their faces expressionless.

Yi Shi, who was standing to the side, saw Gu Mingli come out and quickly ran to his side with a smile.

The crickets chirped softly in a low voice:

"Young Master, His Majesty has assigned you four additional shadow guards. They will provide you with 12-hour close protection."

Gu Mingli's lips twitched slightly as he looked at the scene.

"Why is it close-body protection?"

Yi Shi smiled with his eyes crinkling.

"Perhaps His Majesty is afraid that you will die. Everyone in the palace says that you are quite troublesome, and that you have caused the deaths of two of the three imperial concubines."

Gu Mingli: "..."