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

Kyoto, the Imperial Palace.

A chessboard is set up in the pavilion on the east side of the Imperial Garden.

Black and white pieces are scattered throughout, and the situation is deadlocked.

Xiao Ye held the white pen, and Xiao Jue held the black pen.

The two brothers sat facing each other across the chessboard, without a single servant by their side.

This is Xiao Ye's rule: he doesn't allow anyone to stay when he's playing chess with the Prince of Qi.

Xiao Jue placed a piece and rubbed his fingertip across it.

"Brother Emperor."

"Um."

"There's something I've been wanting to ask you."

Xiao Ye's gaze remained fixed on the chessboard, without looking up. "Ask."

Xiao Jue spoke directly and frankly.

"The Control Yuan has verified the evidence of Gu Debai's embezzlement. The amount is so large that his entire family should be executed."

He looked up at his elder brother, somewhat puzzled.

"You've been planning this for so many years, finally deciding to deal with this old fox after your ascension to the throne. Why are you delaying your move now?"

Xiao Ye picked up a white piece but did not place it immediately.

The wind outside the pavilion rustled through the bamboo grove.

"Fourth brother, in our previous investigation, we overlooked his two children."

"What do you think would happen to the court if Gu Debai were killed?"

Xiao Jue thought for a moment.

"The Right Chancellor fell from power, his cronies were purged, the court was shaken for a while, and then order was restored."

"and then?"

"And then..." Xiao Jue frowned.

Xiao Ye placed the white piece on the chessboard in a calm voice.

"Then, the position he vacates will be fought over by even more powerful people."

"The person who manages to snatch it will become the next Gu Debai within three years."

"Kill one corrupt official, and a hundred more will be waiting in the shadows. The people who are destined to starve will still starve. Those who are destined to die will still die."

Xiao Jue remained silent.

Xiao Ye leaned back in his chair, his gaze shifting from the chessboard to the distant palace wall.

"But his children do interesting things."

Xiao Jue's eyes lit up. "You mean resettling the disaster victims from Jiangzhou?"

"Hmm." Xiao Ye's tone held no praise whatsoever; he was merely stating a fact.

"Thirty thousand disaster-stricken households signed breeding contracts. They received silver and ducklings. Grain stores reopened, and the market resumed circulation."

He twirled the chess piece in his hand.

"My disaster relief funds have reached the hands of the prefect of Jiangzhou, but that fool is locked up in his office and dares not do anything. He believes that as long as he does nothing, he will not make a mistake."

"But the girl from the Gu family took the dirty money her father had embezzled and made the disaster relief work look beautiful."

Xiao Jue frowned and pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement.

"Indeed, with so many officials in the court, how come no one came up with this idea?"

"And that Gu Mingli."

Xiao Ye's expression was somewhat subtle when he said the name.

Some images I didn't want to recall flashed through my mind, and I couldn't help but raise my hand and pinch the bridge of my nose.

"I never realized this person had any abilities. He spends all his time copying books in the Hanlin Academy; his presence is about as noticeable as a stone bench in the courtyard."

"That's true." Xiao Jue nodded.

"Although this person passed the imperial examination at a young age with top honors, he is dull and has not accomplished anything. What? Does Your Majesty now think he has potential?"

Xiao Ye glanced at Xiao Jue, then narrowed his eyes, recalling the arguments Gu Mingli had made that he had never heard before.

"This person's mind and behavior are unusual. They are very different from what people say about him."

"He seems to be very knowledgeable about water conservancy. He can rattle off terms like 'fish mouth' for water diversion, 'flying sand weir', and 'bend circulation' that the people in the Ministry of Works have never even heard of. He can also draw up blueprints and list out mathematical...publications."

Xiao Jue's gaze shifted slightly.

"What my elder brother means is that he truly possesses genuine talent and learning."

"Whether it's true or not, you'll know when you get to Jiangzhou."

Xiao Ye placed a piece, capturing a group of Xiao Jue's black stones.

"Nobody paid attention to him before, probably because he was a bit..."

His eye twitched, and he carefully considered his words.

"Strange quirks."

Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow, curiously observing his elder brother's expression.

"What kind of quirks?"

Xiao Ye didn't look at him, and picked up his teacup.

"On his first night watch in the palace, he climbed onto my dragon bed."

The tea hadn't even been brought to my lips yet.

Xiao Jue's black piece fell onto the chessboard with a "thud," sending three pieces flying.

"...What?"

Xiao Ye took a sip of tea, his expression as calm as if he were simply saying that the weather was nice today.

"Then he lay down next to my pillow and talked to me about water conservancy projects all night long."

Xiao Jue's mouth was agape.

This editor...could he be a homosexual?!

Wait a minute! He's already climbed onto the dragon bed, and he's actually lecturing his elder brother on water conservancy projects while on the dragon bed?

"So...my elder brother didn't kill him?"

"The knife is practically at my throat." Xiao Ye put down his teacup. "He said a celestial being appeared to me in a dream, asking him to pass on the method of flood control to me."

"Did Your Majesty believe it?"

"Whether you believe it or not is unimportant." Xiao Ye's gaze darkened. "I had people investigate what he said, and there's no record of it in any ancient texts. Either he figured it out himself, or it really is..."

He didn't finish his sentence.

The pavilion was quiet for a moment.

Xiao Jue picked up the fallen chess pieces, rearranged them, and didn't ask any further questions.

Xiao Ye continued to place his pieces, his tone returning to its usual indifference.

"Gu Debai is more useful to keep alive than to kill him."

"Use him to manipulate his children. The girl has a knack for business, and the eldest son has extraordinary abilities."

"It's more worthwhile to have them work for me than to cut off Gu Debai's head."

Xiao Jue nodded and placed a black piece in the lower right corner of the chessboard.

"I understand. I will arrange for someone to continue keeping an eye on things shortly."

"It's not just about staring."

Xiao Ye raised his eyes and looked at Xiao Jue.

"Send a shadow guard over to Jiangzhou."

"Spy on them?"

"Save their lives." Xiao Ye's tone was indifferent. "Those two are still useful. Don't let those idiots in the area kill them."

Xiao Jue cupped his hands in greeting.

"Your subject obeys."

……

Jiangzhou City.

Early in the morning, Gu Mingyue arrived at the Jiangzhou branch of Pujitang with Taozhi.

Before the carriage even turned into the alley, Chen Sandao's raspy voice could be heard blaring from afar.

"If I make you run around chasing ducks every day, you have to run! If you can't run anymore, get a dog and make the dog chase the ducks!"

A woman in her fifties stood at the shop entrance, hands on her hips, her face flushed red.

"Manager Chen! Our ducks' legs have gotten so thin from running around! Other people's ducks stay in their pens eating and getting fat, but mine are getting thinner and thinner!"

Chen Sandao showed no intention of compromising, standing tall and unsmiling.

"Lean? That's more like it! Have you ever seen a free-range chicken? Chickens that roam all over the mountains, isn't their meat firm and flavorful?"

The old woman choked for a moment.

Chen Sandao frowned and emphasized it repeatedly.

"Sister-in-law, let me tell you, since you've joined Pujitang and want to make money with us, you have to follow our rules when it comes to raising ducks."

"Every day, I have to drive the ducks out three times and let them swim once."

"If you can't do that, then return the ducklings. We'll terminate the contract!"

The old woman's lips moved as if she wanted to retort, but she didn't dare to truly offend Manager Chen.

After all, the name of Pujitang has spread throughout Jiangzhou.

The employer is kind and generous, and pays high wages.

Currently, more and more people want to join Pujitang, but the number of places is limited.

Pujitang Jiangzhou branch is no longer hiring; if you quit, you'll really be throwing away this golden opportunity.

The old woman waved her hand angrily, "Oh well, I'll go back and raise a dog, and let the dog herd the ducks."