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

Gu Mingyue didn't press them any further, but continued to ask about business matters.

"How many jars of liquor does your Sanliangye distillery sell per month so far?"

Manager Tao frankly admitted, "At most... around three hundred jars. That's all the caravans that came on the way; any more wouldn't sell."

"Three hundred jars."

Gu Mingyue nodded.

"What if there were sales channels within the Dayong region?"

Zhou Hui looked up at her, somewhat bewildered.

"The Cui family controls the Dayong region. If we sell our products, they will definitely discover our past dynasty identities."

"You don't need to worry about the Cui family's affairs."

Gu Mingyue spoke casually.

"Once you join Pujitang, you become a member of Pujitang, a member of the imperial merchants. No one dares to arrest members of the imperial merchants, and no one dares to investigate you."

"We can also re-register your household registration so that you can live and work in the city in peace and contentment, just like ordinary people."

"Pujitang is willing to partner with Longmen Inn to run this liquor business. You will provide the brewing technology and products, while Pujitang will be responsible for raw material supply and marketing. Profits will be shared according to shareholding."

"From now on, I will entrust the management of my Pujitang Jizhou branch to you."

Shopkeeper Tao and Ji San exchanged a glance and sat up straight.

"Master Gu, I speak frankly, please don't take offense."

"To be associated with the name 'Da Qi' within the territory of Dayong is to live with one's head on the line."

"You're a royal merchant, why don't you enjoy your wealth and status, and instead get involved in this mess for us? What are you after?"

Gu Mingyue did not avoid his gaze and spoke each word very seriously.

"To ensure that the people live in peace and prosperity, and that goods can be traded throughout the world."

Shopkeeper Tao was slightly taken aback, and Gu Mingyue stated a fact very objectively.

"What you hate are those who drove you to desperation back then."

"And those people are still fighting for power with the imperial court and harming the people."

"But if you join Pujitang, we will be able to counter those forces and do our business with peace of mind."

"Therefore, for the current court, there is no difference between the people of the previous dynasty and the people of the current dynasty. The current emperor will not indiscriminately kill the people."

Zhou Hui listened quietly without saying a word.

Shopkeeper Tao reached out and patted her on the shoulder.

"This is a huge deal."

He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Gu Mingyue, his tone sincere.

"Mr. Gu, we'll think about it some more. We'll get back to you tomorrow morning."

Gu Mingyue smiled and stood up.

"Of course, no rush. If you two are interested, we can talk again tomorrow. If not, just pretend I said nothing tonight."

"it is good."

Shopkeeper Tao nodded.

The three watched Gu Mingyue go upstairs and return to her guest room.

There were only three people left in the lobby.

The flame of the oil lamp was blown to one side by the draft.

After a long while, Manager Tao turned his head to look at Ji San.

His voice was so low that it was impossible for someone several steps away to hear him.

"It seems everything is going according to the Alliance Leader's plan; the imperial court is indirectly recruiting former members of the Great Qi."

Ji San took a sip of tea from his teacup.

"We'll do as the leader says from now on; this is the fastest way for us to gradually get closer to the capital."

"Besides, you won't lose out doing business with Boss Gu. I saw it with my own eyes at the shipyard. She promised to give her a share, not a penny less. She hasn't broken a single promise."

Shopkeeper Tao nodded slightly and tapped his fingers twice on the table.

"So, should I say yes tomorrow?"

"promise."

Ji San raised his eyes and looked at the guest rooms on the second floor.

"We'll leave the rest to the alliance's arrangements."

Shopkeeper Tao let out a long sigh of relief.

"OK."

"Twenty years have passed. Returning to Jizhou to live... is quite nice."

In the guest rooms upstairs.

Meanwhile, in the guest rooms upstairs.

Gu Mingli was pressing his ear against the door, trying to hear what was happening in the lobby downstairs.

Xiao Ye sat at the tea table, glanced at the comical figure from behind, and chuckled softly:

"Don't listen. With an entire floor of thick wooden planks separating you from the floor, how could you possibly hear a whispered conversation on the first floor?"

Gu Mingli, having been exposed, clicked his tongue in regret.

He dusted off his clothes, strolled back to the table, and plopped down in a seat.

"I'm just worried! I wonder how Mingyue plans to talk to them?"

"There are so many former members of the Great Qi who are living in seclusion in Longmen City. They are people who have survived by licking blood from the blade. It would be a bit dangerous for Mingyue to go and talk to them alone."

Xiao Ye put down the steaming teacup in his hand, his eyes still calm and indifferent.

"Don't worry. My shadow guards are stationed inside and outside this inn. If anything happens, they can act instantly and will ensure that nothing happens to your sister."

Since the emperor has already put it this way, Gu Mingli really has nothing to worry about.

He lay on the table, listlessly fiddling with the rough porcelain teacup in front of him.

In modern times, if he can't sleep in the middle of the night, he can watch short videos or play a couple of games with his buddies to relieve his boredom.

Now, he and Xiao Ye are sitting at the table, staring at each other blankly, completely lost in thought.

Xiao Ye seemed to sense his resentment and glanced at him sideways.

"boring?"

"Ugh, this is so boring."

Gu Mingli sighed and glanced at the table.

He casually picked up a bottle of "Sanliangye" that the shop owner had just brought over, uncorked it, and took a sniff.

"His Majesty."

"Um?"

"How about we go up to the rooftop and sit for a while? This room is so stuffy, it's like a sauna, it's suffocating."

Xiao Ye raised an eyebrow and glanced towards the roof.

"There's a rooftop terrace upstairs?"

"Yes! These flat-roofed houses, unique to Northwest China, all have rooftop terraces, specifically for drying grains and other items."

"Let's go then, take the wine with us."

Xiao Ye showed no airs of an emperor and stood up nimbly.

Gu Mingli brought out the wine pot and the rough pottery bowl.

There were no snacks to go with the drinks.

He thought for a moment, then casually picked up a plate with two roasted chicken legs from the table.

The two went up to the rooftop together.

The rooftop is indeed not large; it's just a flat, open-air platform.

During the day, the innkeeper's staff would hang out several guests' bedding to dry here, but they've all been taken down now.

The two found a tattered mat, spread it on the ground, and sat down.

A pot of wine and two rough earthenware bowls.

The sky outside the Great Wall is completely black, unlike the hazy, bustling atmosphere of the capital.

The starry sky overhead was densely packed, and the Milky Way shone brightly, exceptionally clear.

Gu Mingli looked up for a long time, amazed by this natural wonder with no light pollution, and couldn't help but sigh.

"There are so many stars, and they're so bright."

"Where in a bustling city like Beijing can you see such a pure starry sky?"

Xiao Ye didn't speak, but simply looked up at the vast, ethereal Milky Way, lost in thought.

A night breeze caused their clothes to flutter.

Gu Mingli picked up the bowl and took a hearty sip of wine.

"Your Majesty, I've always been curious about what you were like as a child?"

Xiao Ye was holding a bowl, about to drink, when he paused because of those words.

"When you were a child?"

He slowly lowered his eyes, staring at the wine in the bowl that reflected the Milky Way, and gave a light, bored snort.

"There's nothing to say. Royal children are nothing but a bunch of shady, shameful things."

Gu Mingli tilted her head and looked at him, refusing to let it go.

"Then just say whatever comes to mind, whatever you can say."

"Anyway, it's a long night, and I'm just killing time."

Xiao Ye turned his head and looked at Gu Mingli for a moment.

Suddenly, he spoke up and revealed a secret.

"My mother was not a noblewoman; she was a descendant of the personal maid of the Princess of the Great Qi."