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

Xiao Ye stopped pinching his brow.

He lowered his hand and looked at the folded paper that Gu Mingli had handed him.

Some surprises.

"You, a mere compiler in the Hanlin Academy," Xiao Ye's tone turned colder, "are you requesting imperial permission to manage the floods?"

Gu Mingli sensed the murderous intent in those words.

After all, according to his sister, his father embezzled 100,000 taels of water control funds, and the emperor should already know about it.

The fact that he proposed taking on this project at this time clearly showed that he also wanted to follow in his corrupt father's footsteps and become corrupt as well.

No, I need to explain this clearly right away.

Otherwise, today's dance would have been a waste of its "stunning" effect!

Gu Mingli mustered his courage and bowed again.

"Although I hold a lowly official position, the principles of Dujiangyan and the method of controlling sand dunes by meandering flow that I explained to Your Majesty a few days ago are not just empty talk."

Gu Mingli's voice steadied.

Once it comes to my professional field, that fear of being beheaded automatically disappears.

"I have repeatedly deduced and conducted on-site surveys of the root cause of Jiangzhou's recurring floods. I have a clear understanding of the location of the fish mouth for water diversion, the height of the Feisha Weir, and the width of the Baopingkou (Bottle-Neck)."

He raised his head and looked directly into Xiao Ye's eyes.

"This project cannot be completed without my assistance."

The candlelight in the imperial study flickered.

Xiao Ye stared at him, his gaze deep.

This man talked about water conservancy projects all night on the dragon bed, with clear logic and extensive references, and he certainly didn't seem like a scholar who could only talk the talk.

Moreover, the floods in Jiangzhou have been going on for decades.

Funds are allocated every year, dikes are repaired every year, and breaches still occur every year.

All the people in the Ministry of Works could do was write memorials saying, "Your Majesty, I am terrified and beg Your Majesty to allocate funds for further repairs."

Xiao Ye remained silent for a long time.

Liu An thought His Majesty was so angry that he was stunned. He carefully took half a step forward, preparing to return the folded book to Gu Mingli.

"Keep the folding paper."

Xiao Ye finally spoke, his tone showing no sign of yielding, but also no refusal.

"Let me see."

Gu Mingli respectfully placed the folded paper on the imperial desk, stepped back two steps, and bowed.

"Your subject takes his leave."

Before the emperor could even nod in approval, Gu Mingli had already turned and scurried away.

Xiao Ye: "..."

In the Imperial Study.

Liu An carefully picked up the whisk from the ground, barely daring to breathe.

Xiao Ye picked up the folded booklet and turned to the first page.

The handwriting is neat and the content is detailed.

From river surveying methods to dam renovation plans, from project timeline estimates to required manpower and resources, everything is listed in detail, accompanied by illustrations.

Very professional.

Xiao Ye's eyes lit up, and he carefully read through the "Flood Control Plan".

Near the end, there was one more line of small print.

"Your Majesty, I dare to request that you allocate three hundred artisans from the Ministry of Works. I am willing to sign a pledge to eradicate the flooding in Jiangzhou within six months. If I fail, I will bring my head upon myself."

Xiao Ye stared at the line of words, his thumb rubbing the edge of the folded paper.

half an hour.

"Liu An".

"Your servant is here."

"Issue an order to the Ministry of Works: after the morning court session tomorrow, have all officials of the rank of Vice Minister and above stay behind."

"Yes."

Liu An's mind was racing.

His Majesty has ordered the Ministry of Works to retain personnel? This means he wants to discuss and verify the contents of the memorial.

It seems this editor Gu is quite capable.

He was both capable and dared to climb into the emperor's bedchamber.

I'll have to treat this kind of talent with more respect from now on.

Morning next day.

The atmosphere in the main hall was three times more somber than usual.

Officials from the six ministries lined up on both sides, with Gu Debai standing at the head of the civil officials, his expression calm and composed, like a seasoned and dignified old minister.

Xiao Ye sat on the dragon throne, his gaze sweeping across the crowd below without lingering on anyone's face.

The morning court session, as usual, consisted of reports from various departments.

The Ministry of Revenue reported the amount of tax revenue deposited into the treasury recently, the Ministry of Rites reported the schedule of envoys from vassal states coming to court, and the Ministry of War raised the issue of the shortfall in military pay for the northwestern border defense.

Xiao Ye's replies were delivered at a slow pace, each decree clear and concise.

The morning assembly was drawing to a close.

Liu An stepped forward, his shrill voice echoing in the hall.

"His Majesty has decreed that all officials of the Hanlin Academy, including the Compiler Gu and the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, shall remain in the Wenhua Hall after the morning court session to discuss matters."

Several officials from the Ministry of Works exchanged glances, their faces remaining impassive, but their postures tensed slightly.

Gu Debai's eyelids twitched.

He glanced back instinctively, trying to find his son.

However, Gu Mingli's rank was too low, and he was standing at the end of the line, separated by dozens of heads, so he couldn't be seen at all.

After the court session ended, the officials filed out.

The Ministry of Works personnel remained where they were, huddled together in twos and threes, whispering amongst themselves.

"What matter does Your Majesty suddenly want to discuss?"

"I don't know. Nothing's gone wrong lately."

"But what happened that Compiler Gu from the Hanlin Academy was also kept here with us?"

Minister of Works Zhao Pei was the oldest and most senior, with graying temples but a calm demeanor.

He stroked his beard, didn't participate in the discussion, and just waited quietly.

Fifteen minutes later.

Wenhua Hall.

Xiao Ye had changed into casual clothes and was sitting in the main seat. There was only one thing on the table in front of him: the folded document that Gu Mingli had handed over last night.

The four officials from the Ministry of Works took their seats in turn.

Gu Mingli was the last to enter.

Minister of Works Zhao Pei glanced at him and frowned slightly.

This is the eldest son of the Gu family in the Hanlin Academy, the son of the Right Chancellor. He is a compiler, a seventh-rank official.

I heard he's a dull person.

He usually only did copying and writing in the Hanlin Academy, and his presence was extremely low. He was the kind of person who would not be given a second glance by anyone if he walked on the street after court.

Why did His Majesty specifically ask him to stay today?

Gu Mingli walked into the hall and nodded to several officials as a greeting.

He couldn't quite remember who was who among these people.

After all, the original owner of this body was a socially awkward person who rarely interacted with others.

Gu Mingli walked straight to one side of the hall, stood obediently, and looked around like a tourist.

Xiao Ye didn't look at him, picked up the folded booklet, and handed it to Liu An.

"Circulate."

The folding book was passed down from Zhao Pei.

Zhao Pei turned to the first page, glanced at two lines, and frowned.

"The scouring force is greatest on the outer side of the river bend, while silt accumulates on the inner side, causing the riverbed to rise year by year..."

He turned to the second page, his frown deepening.

"The fish-mouth weir is located three miles upstream of the bend, dividing the main stream in two: water is diverted into the inner river, and floodwaters are discharged into the outer river... The Feisha Weir utilizes the bend's circulation for silt removal..."

When the memorial was passed to Zhou Qiao, the Vice Minister of Works, the middle-aged official in his early forties immediately stood up.

"Your Majesty, who wrote this memorial?"

Xiao Ye picked up his teacup and glanced indifferently at Gu Mingli, who was standing in the corner.

Everyone's eyes followed.

Gu Mingli raised his head slightly, meeting seven or eight scrutinizing gazes, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

Zhou Qiao stared at him for two seconds, then looked down and flipped through the folded book again, his tone carrying a hint of disdain.

"Editor Gu, how many years did you study at the Hanlin Academy?"

Three years.

Have you ever been to Jiangzhou?

"I went once." Gu Mingli paused for a moment. "The day before yesterday."

Zhou Qiao gave a cold laugh.

"He only went there once, yet he dared to write such a bold suggestion. A winding, circular flow? Automatic dredging?"

"Do you know that the Ministry of Works has been trying to repair that section of the river in Jiangzhou for thirty years and still hasn't finished?"

"Know."

Gu Mingli's voice was not loud, but it was very steady.

"So the reason it hasn't been fixed in thirty years is because your technology is inadequate."