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

"Your Excellency is too kind. I am truly sorry to have troubled you."

Xiao Jue smiled warmly and returned the greeting with clasped hands.

His easygoing and approachable demeanor was completely different from the rumored Yama, the living devil who would have the Dragon Scale Guards raid his home and execute him at any moment.

The two entered the main hall one after the other.

The atmosphere at the table was surprisingly harmonious.

Cui Yuan acted like a kind elder, repeatedly saying "Your Highness has worked hard for the country" and showing concern for his well-being without leaving any room for doubt.

Cui Ming recently spent some time in jail because of a case involving the Ministry of Works, and his sharp edge has become much more subdued.

At tonight's dinner, he very obediently played a subordinate role.

He simply stood by, diligently helping to serve the food and pour the wine, his smiling face showing none of the airs of a noble patriarch.

Xiao Jue accepted all offers of wine, raising his cup and urging everyone to drink.

That twenty-year-old Shaoxing wine was smooth and mellow on the palate, yet had a very strong aftertaste.

After a few rounds of drinking, a hazy blush appeared at the corner of Xiao Jue's eyes, and his tongue gradually became thicker, making his speech a little slurred.

"Fine wine... The Duke's cellar is indeed far superior to those ordinary wines outside."

Cui Ming's eyes darted around shrewdly, and he immediately grabbed the wine pot and went over to pour another full cup.

"Your Highness is so generous! I'll fill your cup again!"

Cui Yuan held his wine cup, which he had only taken a small sip from, and sat firmly in his seat.

His sharp eyes narrowed slightly as he silently observed Xiao Jue's increasingly red face.

The banquet was halfway through.

Xiao Jue's body had begun to lean to the right unconsciously.

One elbow rested limply on the table, and his slender fingers loosely gripped the white jade wine glass, as if it might slip at any moment.

Cui Yuan sneered inwardly.

Everyone says that King Qi is ruthless, but he is nothing more than a military man who cannot withstand the wine that has been spiked.

Cui Yuan put down his wine cup and slowly got to the point.

"Your Highness's personal visit to Lingzhou this time, covered in dust from the journey, must be all for the important task of selecting a site for the Emperor's commodity city, right?"

Xiao Jue blinked slowly.

His brows furrowed slightly, as if it took a great deal of effort to focus his unfocused gaze on Cui Yuan's old face.

"What location selection... that's not true."

He slammed his hand on the table, causing a few drops of rice wine to spill from the cup, splashing onto his sleeve without him noticing.

Xiao Jue sighed heavily, slumped back in his chair, rubbed his eyes haphazardly with the back of his hand, and his tone carried a hint of complaint, as if he were trying to drown his sorrows in alcohol.

"I didn't come to Lingzhou on official business; I just... had some free time and came to take a stroll!"

"Even if... even if there are jobs, they're hot potatoes! Not worth mentioning."

A glint of light flashed in Cui Yuan's eyes, but his face still wore a relieved smile.

"Oh? What makes you say that, Your Highness?"

Xiao Jue stretched out a finger, waved it in mid-air, and let out a loud burp.

"What else could it be? Money!"

"The Great Yong Dynasty needs money for everything, and those old misers in the Ministry of Revenue are always complaining about being poor in front of the Emperor!"

"Your Majesty means... the Commodity City is a golden goose that only lays golden eggs, it must... it must be controlled by the imperial court!"

He lowered his body, leaned closer to the table, and mumbled a complaint.

"But building the city requires cash! The Ministry of Revenue currently has all its cash on hand, but it can't allocate a single coin!"

"So, regarding the construction of the commodity city..."

"The imperial court can only provide land and grant a special permit. As for the actual money needed for building and road construction, we'll have to find capable merchants in Lingzhou to provide it."

Cui Yuan listened and nodded silently.

He personally took the teapot and poured Xiao Jue another full cup.

"Your Highness, while the Cui family may not be the wealthiest, we are still quite well-off. Why not cooperate with us to build a commercial complex?"

Xiao Jue waved his hand.

"Oh no! My brother has ordered a public tender in three days, and the highest bidder wins! Whoever can afford the biggest price gets the cut of the spoils shared with the royal family!"

Cui Ming, who was listening nearby, was getting anxious and was about to interject when Cui Yuan gave him a wink.

Cui Yuan changed the subject.

"Your Highness, I have heard rumors circulating these past few days that there is a severe drought and food shortage in the north this year."

"You just said that the Ministry of Revenue's silver is very useful. Could it be... that the imperial court's grain reserves are short and they urgently need money to buy grain?"

Xiao Jue was about to pick up the wine glass and put it to his mouth.

Upon hearing the word "food," he froze in mid-air in a bizarre manner.

Even when he was drunk and staggering, a hint of extreme alertness instinctively flashed in his reddened eyes.

He slowly put down his wine glass, leaned over, and pressed down on the back of Cui Yuan's hand.

He looked around warily, instinctively on guard.

With the other hand, raise your index finger and place it against your lips.

"Shh——!!"

"This is something you can't just casually mention!"

Xiao Jue spoke in a low, slurred voice, his words incoherent and utterly nonsensical.

"It's all those incompetent fools in the Ministry of Revenue! Now... now anyone who mentions even a single word about 'grain' in front of my imperial brother is asking for death!"

After saying that, he seemed unable to resist his drunkenness any longer, and shook his head with his head tilted to the side.

"Ugh, I'm so dizzy. Let's stop drinking here for today and head home."

Then he buried his head in his arms and lay on the table without making a sound.

Cui Yuan and Cui Ming exchanged a quick glance in mid-air.

They knew that their most crucial trump card had already been revealed through trickery.

Cui Yuan dusted off his sleeves with satisfaction and raised his hand.

Two strong servants from the Cui household immediately stepped forward and carefully lifted the completely drunk Prince Qi up.

Cui Yuan was extremely courteous, personally carrying a lantern to escort the person to the gate of the mansion, watching the servants carefully help the person onto the carriage, and watching the carriage slowly drive away into the night.

The carriage left the long street where the Cui residence was located and turned the second quiet street corner.

Xiao Jue slowly opened his eyes.

His previously dazed eyes now regained their clarity and sharpness.

He expressionlessly pulled a silk handkerchief from his pocket, disgustedly wiped the wine stains he had deliberately smeared on the corner of his mouth, and casually tossed it aside.

Immediately afterwards, he pulled out a leather water bag that he had prepared beforehand from a hidden compartment under the seat in the carriage.

He uncorked the bag and gulped down half of the slightly bitter, specially made hangover broth inside.

The carriage was still filled with a strong, pungent smell of rice wine.

Xiao Jue leaned lazily against the carriage wall, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

My elder brother and Master Gu are truly accurate in judging people; they've laid out this scheme perfectly.

Cui Yuan, that old fox, is indeed shrewd, cautious, and suspicious.

But precisely because he is so intelligent, he possesses the fatal weakness that all intelligent people have: arrogance.

He only believed the judgment he had painstakingly "faked".

The more you try to hide it and try not to reveal the secret, the more he will use his meticulous logic to prove it's true, and thus believe it without a doubt.

Sure enough, a big fish took the bait.

……