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

Gu Mingli roared wildly in his mind.

[System, you bastard! Get out here and explain yourself! Who wants Xiao Ye dead? And what the hell is this contract?! What kind of contract do you want me to form with Xiao Ye?!]

The system can only offer polite explanations.

[A new hidden storyline has appeared; even the system is unaware of its direction.]

The binding contract allows the host to protect the mission objective when necessary.

[Also, make sure Xiao Ye sees your loyalty; only then can you get a pardon!]

[A get-out-of-jail-free card, exempting you from the death penalty regardless of the crime. Don't you want it?]

Gu Mingli: "..."

It seems like it would actually be suitable to get one for his dad to save his life.

Gu Mingli quickly calculated in his mind.

What kind of pact could he form with Xiao Ye?

Are you going to become sworn brothers?

So it seems like I didn't lose out at all?

After all, Xiao Ye is the true emperor, so this is considered as him latching onto the strongest patron.

Gu Mingli quickly rubbed his eyes and leaned closer to study the specific content on the task panel.

As it happened, the effects of the alcohol kicked in at that moment, causing the system to become unstable and crackle.

The pink lettering in front of me was all blurred into a mess.

Please refer to the story of Liangshan to guide Xiao Ye to form a relationship with you.

The system will provide you with a sample background music track. Please sing it yourself and enter into a contract.

Gu Mingli squinted and stared intently at the two perfectly fitted mosaic tiles for a long time.

No! Why does your notification include keyword blocking?

[Sizzle... Because the host is quite drunk, the system isn't working very well.]

Gu Mingli: "..."

Fine, he'll just have to fill in the blanks himself.

He frowned and read the message twice more.

Liangshan...

Liangshanbo!

One hundred and eight heroes! Drinking wine from large bowls and eating large chunks of meat! Swearing brotherhood!

This system may be unreliable, but at least it has some sense of brotherhood!

He slapped his thigh sharply.

"His Majesty!"

Xiao Ye was startled by his sudden action, and his hand holding the wine bowl paused slightly.

"Why are you so easily startled?"

"I...I'll tell you a story of a rough-and-tumble hero!"

"The 108 Heroes of Liangshan!"

He tilted his head to look at Xiao Ye, "Have you heard this story before?"

Xiao Ye was also quite drunk, and shook his head with a dazed look in his eyes.

"Unheard of."

"Then I must tell you!"

Gu Mingli immediately perked up and began to tell the story of "Water Margin" with great enthusiasm.

The story begins with Song Jiang, the timely rain, and continues until the 108 heroes are forced to join forces at Liangshan.

When he got excited, he even stood up and gestured wildly on the rooftop.

Xiao Ye didn't mind his noise.

His deep eyes reflected the starry sky and Gu Mingli's lively and expressive face, and he listened with great interest.

"So, all of these people ended up becoming sworn brothers?"

Xiao Ye played the straight man at the right moment.

Gu Mingli nodded heavily.

"Yes, sworn brothers are sworn brothers!"

"We don't ask to be born on the same day, month, and year, but we ask to die on the same day, month, and year! Sharing happiness and hardship together, that's called loyalty!"

A strong sense of interest flashed in Xiao Ye's eyes, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Interesting. Well..."

He deliberately dragged out the last syllable, tilting his head and asking with a smile, "You've gone through all this trouble, are you trying to become sworn brothers with me?"

Gu Mingli was stunned for a moment, but in his heart he was applauding Xiao Ye wildly.

This child is really smart! He understands things instantly!

That's practically handing the message over to them!

Gu Mingli nodded his head like a chick pecking at rice.

"Yes! I want to become sworn brothers with you! How about it? Shall we become sworn brothers?"

Xiao Ye chuckled softly.

The evening breeze ruffled his sideburns, adding to his dashing appearance.

"Alright. Then, according to your rules, how should we worship? And what kind of worship is it?"

Gu Mingli pondered for a moment.

If sworn brothers...

I'm 28 years old in modern times, I can't possibly call a 24-year-old kid "brother", can I?

But from Xiao Ye's perspective, for the supreme emperor to call one of his subjects "brother" is like an old man eating poison—he's tired of living.

Gu Mingli took a deep breath and grabbed Xiao Ye's wrist.

"Let's become sworn brothers, 'Party A and Party B'!!"

"We are one of a kind in the world; no one else is like us."

"Party A...Party B?"

Xiao Ye didn't quite understand this strange vocabulary.

"What do you mean?"

Gu Mingli explained, "We're soulmates. We're destined to be partners, to share life and death."

"I'm Party B, responsible for devising strategies and fighting to the bitter end; you're Party A, responsible for overseeing the whole situation and paying salaries... no, you're responsible for protecting me!"

"This is a powerful alliance, a strategic complementarity!"

Xiao Ye was amused by his peculiar explanation.

"Gu Mingli, every step I take is fraught with danger; the slightest misstep could lead to utter ruin. Are you truly certain you wish to share life and death with me?"

Gu Mingli glanced at the system panel that only he could see.

The countdown timer had already started flashing red, beginning the final thirty-second countdown.

If we dawdle any longer, the mission will fail, and our get-out-of-jail-free card will be gone!

It seems he really won't believe it unless he gives Xiao Ye a tough time.

Gu Mingli suddenly reached out and pointed to the vast sky above.

He had shed his usual carefree, drunken state and his expression became extremely solemn.

"I have decided! I will follow Xiao Ye forever! To establish a moral compass for heaven and earth, to secure a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of the sages, and to usher in an era of peace for all generations!"

Xiao Ye was already somewhat tipsy from drinking.

Hearing these four wise sayings, which express a broad vision for the world, in the quiet of the night, I felt my heart surge with emotion.

Those words struck my heart like a hammer blow, instantly igniting the long-dormant spirit I had kept hidden for so many years.

"What a wonderful way to usher in an era of peace for all generations! Excellent!"

Xiao Ye suddenly stood up.

Fueled by the alcohol, he stood side by side with Gu Mingli, their dark robes fluttering in the night wind.

"Then let's become sworn brothers!"

"How do we become sworn brothers?"

Gu Mingli looked around.

There was no incense burner, no offerings, it really didn't look like a ceremony.

So Gu Mingli simply picked up the two leftover roasted chicken legs next to him and stuck them into the mouth of the empty wine pot as incense sticks.

Then, pulling Xiao Ye along, they all knelt down in front of the wine pot and the roasted chicken leg.

"Heaven above and earth above bear witness!"

Gu Mingli shouted at the top of his lungs and nudged Xiao Ye with his elbow.

Xiao Ye suppressed a laugh and, mimicking his gesture, raised two fingers together and pointed them to the sky.

"Heaven above and the earth above bear witness."

"Today, I, Gu Mingli, will prevail!"

"Xiao Ye".

"We hereby establish a partnership between Party A and Party B!"

"From this day forward, we shall live and die together! May I be struck by lightning if I break this oath. A breach of contract will be punishable by one million taels of gold!"

Xiao Ye: "..."

He finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.

But I still solemnly repeated it:

"If I break this oath, may I be struck by lightning and shall pay...one million taels of gold in compensation."

Gu Mingli nodded in satisfaction and pulled Xiao Ye to his feet.

"Party A".

Xiao Ye couldn't help but laugh, and could only shout at Gu Mingli:

"Party B, what's next?"

Gu Mingli said in a serious tone, "The final step... is singing."

Xiao Ye: "?"

What song are you going to sing?

"You...you don't need to worry about that, these are the rules! Just listen to me sing."

Gu Mingli grabbed the two rough porcelain bowls containing Sanliangye liquor and shoved one of them into Xiao Ye's hand.

The two stood side by side, facing the vast and boundless night sky once again.

Gu Mingli solemnly cleared his throat and silently and devoutly called upon the system to start the accompaniment.

[Ding—The accompaniment is ready; please perform with heartfelt emotion.]

The system's background music instantly filled my mind in 360-degree surround sound.

However, when the mournful, poignant, and beautifully melodious violin prelude began, Gu Mingli felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

I was completely dumbfounded.

Holy crap?!

This is... this is "The Butterfly Lovers"!