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

The entire inn fell silent instantly.

Xiao Ye remained calm, placing his fingers on the gold ingot and gently pushing it forward.

He didn't look nervous at all.

It really felt like a customer sitting idly in a teahouse, chatting with the owner.

The proprietress chuckled awkwardly twice, turned slightly, and glanced towards the counter.

Behind the counter, the middle-aged man who had been fiddling with the abacus and calculating accounts suddenly stopped what he was doing.

With a "thud," the last abacus bead slammed heavily onto the frame.

He coldly raised his eyes and slowly stood up.

The man was of medium build and rather thin, and was wearing a gray cloth robe.

He had two neatly trimmed short mustaches on his face.

At first glance, he seems like a shrewd and calculating businessman.

But the way he held his arms at his sides as he stood up was a habit of someone who had been holding a knife for many years.

Although Gu Mingli had never truly been involved in the underworld, he couldn't discern the profound intricacies of it all.

But he noticed that the shadow guards, disguised as merchants, were sitting around him, their backs now taut.

Their eyes were cold, and their hands were intentionally or unintentionally reaching for the hidden weapons and knife hilts at their waists.

If the innkeeper dares to brandish his weapon, blood will surely be spilled in the next second.

Gu Mingli's alarm bells rang loudly, knowing that the two sides were now completely on the verge of war.

The shop owner walked around the counter, hands on his belt, and swaggered toward their table with a roguish air.

He's clearly not someone to mess with.

Gu Mingli's mind was racing.

If this person is coming for Xiao Ye, I need to find a way to stop him.

Protecting the client is protecting yourself!

"Gentlemen..." the shop owner began quietly.

"Boss!" Gu Mingli stood up abruptly.

As he bent over to stand up, the mutton-fat jade pendant his father had given him slipped out of his waist pouch.

The jade pendant, with its silk ribbon attached, swayed in the air, its warm, lustrous color standing out vividly in the sunlight.

Gu Mingli swiftly grabbed it, held it in his palm, and tucked it back into his waistband.

This entire sequence of movements happens in the instant he stands up; you can't see him doing it from behind.

But the shop owner was standing directly in front of Gu Mingli and got a clear look at the jade pendant.

He paused slightly.

My gaze swept over the spot where the jade pendant had disappeared, and I was somewhat taken aback.

Then, he looked up and stared straight at Gu Mingli's young and handsome face.

In that brief moment, the shop owner's fierce and menacing aura vanished instantly.

His eyes widened slightly as he curiously surveyed the guests at the table.

"May I ask...where do you gentlemen come from?"

The shop owner changed direction and took two steps closer to Gu Mingli, his expression softening considerably.

Gu Mingli shifted his body half a step forward, subtly placing himself between the shop owner and Xiao Ye.

A warm smile spread across his face.

"We are merchants from the Great Yong Dynasty. We are passing through and wish to do some business with merchants from other regions."

"Oh...is that so?"

The shop owner was noticeably more polite, and the arrogant and oppressive feeling from before had completely disappeared.

Even the tone of his voice became casual and relaxed.

He tilted his head slightly, sizing up the young master who was being blocked behind the table by Gu Mingli.

"Merchants from Dayong, why would you travel all this way to our poor, remote place? Don't you find the journey long and bumpy?"

"Not far, not far."

Gu Mingli smiled and waved his hand casually, revealing the carefree and innocent nature unique to scions of a prominent family.

"The main purpose is to visit our ancestral home in Anyang. I've heard there are many merchants from the Western Regions here, so I'll also inquire about business opportunities."

"Oh, oh, oh, young man, you're quite well-informed. Our town may not have much else, but we're always frequented by caravans from the Western Regions."

As the shop owner spoke, he politely extended both hands, inviting Gu Mingli to sit down.

He pulled up a round stool that wouldn't get in the way and sat down on it.

"only……"

The boss suddenly changed the subject and lowered his voice.

"That 'news from the previous dynasty' that you just casually mentioned..."

He paused for a moment, then glanced at the faces of the people present.

"Such words are taboo in the territory of Dayong; one can't just say them carelessly, can one?"

"You outsiders asking around like this could get you into a huge mess."

Gu Mingli smiled and waved his hand.

"Hey! Boss, you're overthinking it. We're not going to pry into any military secrets for no reason."

"I heard that the previous dynasty left behind a lot of new things in the northern region, as well as some secret treasures that could grant one the world."

"We're just a little curious and want to know what it is that's all the mystery surrounding it?"

"We heard there are channels in the underworld that sell information, so we'll try our luck and ask around."

His words were perfectly watertight.

Xiao Ye didn't interrupt, slowly drinking from his wine cup as if Gu Mingli were the leader of their group.

The shop owner's gaze lingered on Gu Mingli for a moment, considering whether he should answer the young man's question.

Just as things were at a slightly tense juncture, four or five more江湖人 (jianghu people, people from the martial arts world) walked into the inn, their backs to the sunlight.

The leader was lean and muscular, and looked to be in his early forties.

He was dressed in dark shorts and had a narrow-backed curved knife without a sheath hanging at his waist.

His face had strong features, with a touch of the ruthlessness of a martial arts world.

He stepped over the threshold, his gaze sweeping around the lobby as usual.

When my gaze fell on the table by the window, I suddenly stopped in my tracks.

"The employer?"

Gu Mingyue was intently observing the changes in the store, her hands clenched tightly, afraid that something might happen to her brother.

Upon hearing the voice, she turned her head and her eyes widened slightly.

"Master Ji?"

Gu Mingyue was also stunned.

Ji San, Deputy Hall Master of the Thousand Machines Hall of the Cold Abyss Alliance.

He was ordered by the leader of the alliance to go to the logistics park on the outskirts of Beijing to cooperate with Pujitang and take over the shipbuilding business.

He can be considered a key figure in the Pujitang shipbuilding project.

The shipyard is currently bustling with activity.

How come their leader is here?

Before Gu Mingyue could figure it out, Ji San had already walked over with a smile, taking three steps in two.

"Oh, boss, what a coincidence!"

As he spoke, his gaze swept back and forth between Gu Mingyue and Gu Mingli twice.

Then he looked at Xiao Ye, who was sitting at the very back.

He had never seen this young man in the plain black robe before.

But that natural aura made Ji San subconsciously take another look.

"Why is the boss in a place like this?"

Ji San leaned closer, his face full of doubt.

Before Gu Mingyue could answer, the shop owner spoke up in surprise.

"Does Third Master Ji know these people?"

"Of course I know him."

Ji San patted the shop owner on the shoulder warmly.

"She's one of us. She's the owner of Pujitang, a business that the Hanyuan Alliance partners with, and she's Miss Gu."

The moment the words "Miss Gu" were uttered, the shop owner's guard instantly dropped by 70%.

"Hey! It's Mr. Gu!"

The shop owner slapped his thigh, laughed heartily, and put his arm around Gu Mingli's shoulder.

"Pujitang! I've heard of it! We're all family, no need for formalities!"

"I was just being overly cautious, brother. These days there are so many unfamiliar faces coming from out in the world, you always have to be careful. Please don't take offense!"

Gu Mingli was taken aback by this sudden enthusiasm.

A large, calloused hand patted my shoulder, making a loud slapping sound.

The other martial arts practitioners in the hall, who had been listening intently, all turned their attention away upon seeing this.

Those who want to drink should drink, and those who want to play chess should play chess.

They all wore undisguised curiosity, secretly glancing at Gu Mingyue and Gu Mingli.

Xiao Ye slightly raised his eyelids, exchanged a glance with Gu Mingli, and patted the spot next to him.

Gu Mingli understood immediately.

Huang Jiaojiao is telling him to sit closer and not to go to the other side.

He tactfully moved closer to Xiao Ye.

Gu Mingyue has already started her introduction.

"Second Master, this Master Ji is the head manager of our Pujitang Shipyard."

As she spoke, she stepped aside slightly and raised her hand in Xiao Ye's direction.

"Master Ji, this is our Second Master."

The title "Second Master" was a pre-arranged false identity.

Outside, Xiao Ye is the "second boss" of the Gu family's business partnership.

Ji San looked at Xiao Ye, smiled, and clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Greetings, Second Master."

He performed a standard江湖 (jianghu) etiquette.

This means that only the rules of the underworld apply.

Xiao Ye's lips curled slightly, and he even imitated the manner of a martial arts practitioner, raising his hands and clasping his hands in a fist salute.

The posture is actually quite convincing.

Gu Mingli smiled to herself, thinking that if Xiao Ye were in modern times, he could be a movie star.