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

There are no clouds tonight.

The moon in the sky was big and bright, reflected on the calm lake surface, making it hard to distinguish between illusion and reality.

Gu Mingli and Xiao Ye drank a glass of wine, gazing at the moon reflected in the water and listening to the soft chirping of autumn insects.

Xiao Ye suddenly broke the silence.

"Mingli, how did you live your life when you were in the Immortal Realm?"

Gu Mingli paused for a moment, his fingers lingering on the wine glass.

He turned his head and met Xiao Ye's eyes, which held a hint of pure curiosity.

"Over there..."

Gu Mingli looked up at the vast night sky, and a feeling of indescribable nostalgia and emotion suddenly welled up in his heart.

"Life over there... is very different from here."

"Compared to this world, that world is more free, democratic, and equal..."

"There's a moon in the sky, and there's a Mid-Autumn Festival. On that day, the whole family gathers together, cooks some hot dishes, cuts some mooncakes, watches TV, and chats..."

Xiao Ye also looked at the moon, listening intently, as if he were seeing a different world through Gu Mingli's narration.

"and then?"

"Then……"

Gu Mingli smiled helplessly.

"My daily routine consists of going to get off work, teaching students, and supervising research projects. I'm constantly busy, like a spinning top."

"However..."

He suddenly changed the subject, his eyes lighting up.

"Sometimes after get off work, I'll go to a street stall with a few friends for beer!"

"That wasn't the small wine cup we use now, but rather a very large glass."

"I gulped it down, and after half a glass I felt full, but it felt so good!"

Xiao Ye's eyes widened slightly, showing some curiosity.

"Beer? What kind of strange drink is that?"

Gu Mingli turned his head to look at Xiao Ye, and smiled as he gestured with his hands.

"It's a bright yellow liquor with a thick layer of white foam on top. It tastes slightly bitter at first, but then a rich malty aroma immediately emerges."

"Especially in the sweltering summer. A chilled beer—it feels like your head is about to explode with coolness!"

Xiao Ye stared intently at the hand gestures Gu Mingli was making.

He couldn't help but imitate her, and vaguely grasped an invisible large cup in mid-air.

"A wine glass this big...?"

"Yes! That's about the size!"

Gu Mingli laughed heartily.

He also raised the "air cup" in his hand and forcefully hurled it towards Xiao Ye.

"When you clink glasses, make a big movement, and then the two of you just clink glasses like that! Cheers!"

The two men's hands collided in mid-air in an extremely comical manner.

It looked as if they were actually holding two huge beer mugs.

Then, they tilted their heads back and downed the non-existent beer in one gulp.

That action was really foolish.

If the entire court of officials were to see this, they would be utterly astonished.

But Xiao Ye couldn't help but follow suit.

After a childish pantomime, the two looked at each other and couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Do people over there always drink this heartily?"

"Yeah, not only do they drink, but they also have grilled skewers!"

Gu Mingli poured wine for Xiao Ye.

This is Sanliangye liquor transported by Pujitang Jizhou Trading Company.

The two drank a toast, and Gu Mingli continued his story.

"The skewers over there are a bit different from those here. They can grill almost anything over there."

"Beef, lamb, pork, grilled kidneys, grilled chicken wings, grilled oysters, grilled eggplant, grilled chives..."

"However, I like grilled oysters and grilled lamb."

"The marbled meat was skewered on bamboo sticks and grilled over glowing red-hot charcoal. The fat dripped onto the charcoal and sizzled, sending up white smoke."

"Sprinkle on lots and lots of cumin and chili powder...tsk tsk, the aroma is so enticing, it could make people drool from three blocks away."

Xiao Ye listened intently, his Adam's apple bobbing almost imperceptibly.

He turned his head and looked at the clear, cold moon in the sky. His tone lost its imperial authority, leaving only a touch of melancholy longing.

"If I have the chance, I would like to go to your world and see the immortal realm you speak of."

Gu Mingli was taken aback and turned to look at Xiao Ye's profile.

The cool moonlight outlined the man's sharp yet weary features.

For some reason, this king who controlled the world always had a bottomless sense of loneliness.

Gu Mingli sighed softly.

He suddenly reached out and familiarly put his hand on Xiao Ye's shoulder, shaking him with a smile like a good buddy.

"Alright, stop being so sentimental! Who knows, maybe one day this opportunity will really come."

"When the time comes, it'll be my treat! I'll take you out for lots of beer and barbecue! I'll take you to all sorts of fun things to do!"

Xiao Ye let out a rare, relaxed chuckle.

"Keep bragging. You're getting all worked up just because I said you're fat."

[Ding! Xiao Ye's favorability towards you +20, current favorability: -331]

Gu Mingli raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly.

Huang Jiaojiao is so righteous, her favorability has increased again!

"His Majesty!"

Suddenly, footsteps came from outside the pavilion.

Geng Zhi stepped forward and bowed.

"Your Majesty, the people from the Censorate have returned."

Xiao Ye's smile vanished instantly. He sat up straight again, reverting to his intimidating imperial demeanor.

"Let him come over."

A dark figure darted into the pavilion and knelt on one knee.

"Your Majesty! We have discovered a group of suspicious individuals outside the Imperial City."

"They were preparing to release poisonous insects upstream of the imperial city's waterways. But for some reason, the insects all died before they even entered the water."

"We dared not alert them, and secretly followed those men in black, finally discovering... that they had infiltrated the backyard of the Duke of Liu's residence!"

Gu Mingli frowned slightly, his wine glass hovering in mid-air.

Duke Liu?! That's the head of the Liu family, one of the four great clans!

The spy continued to report: "After an incense stick's time, the heads of the Wang and Jia families also secretly left through the back gate of the Liu residence."

"The three major clans... have secretly joined forces?!"

Gu Mingli's eyes widened alertly, and he suddenly sat up straight.

It turns out they planned to poison the emperor by releasing poisonous insects into the water!

Fortunately, I had taken people ahead of time to spray disinfectant with added insect repellent.

Xiao Ye waved his hand expressionlessly, and the spy silently retreated.

Gu Mingli was so anxious that his brows furrowed into a deep frown.

"They actually dared to use poisonous insects to murder the emperor! Are these old dogs of the powerful clans also preparing to rebel?"

Compared to Gu Mingli's anxiety, Xiao Ye was surprisingly calm.

He turned to look at Gu Mingli, his eyes filled with seriousness.

"The four major clans have always looked to the Cui family for guidance. Now that the Cui family has fallen, the remaining three naturally know to take precautions."

"Next, we need to be mentally prepared that those three families working together will be enough to hinder the court."

"However, I am not afraid of those three powerful clans."

"In court, someone said, 'If there is anyone who can make me feel like I have a thorn in my side, and make me unable to eat or sleep peacefully...'"

Gu Mingli's curiosity was instantly piqued, and he involuntarily leaned forward, lowering his voice to ask, "There's such a person? Who is he?"

Xiao Ye stared directly into Gu Mingli's eyes, his tone frank and calm.

"It is the Right Chancellor, Gu Debai."