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

Gu Mingyue raised a question, and Gu Mingli nodded without even thinking about it.

"Sure! I'm very familiar with the technology for purifying sea salt. Not only sea salt, but I can also easily produce well salt for you."

"However, if you want to produce salt in large quantities and in a standardized manner, you can't rely on just a few people. You need professional salt-making workshops and skilled workers with excellent craftsmanship."

At this point, Gu Mingli touched his chin and frowned slightly.

"There's also the issue of salt production permits and salt certificates. The imperial court strictly controls these things, but I can ask the Empress for them."

Gu Mingyue picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea, and calmly took a sip.

"Brother, let's not use salt permits."

"What?" Gu Mingli was slightly taken aback. "No salt permits? How will we sell the salt produced then? This is selling smuggled salt! If the powerful clans complain to the court, won't His Majesty be in a difficult position?"

A sly smile appeared on Gu Mingyue's lips.

She naturally had other arrangements for the procedures of selling salt.

"Brother, don't worry."

"I've already discussed the land reform with Huang Jiaojiao. This salt production is just the first step in our plan."

"You should focus on salt production first. As for the salt sales permits, I'll have King Qi go directly to the palace to get them."

Although Gu Mingli didn't know what his sister was planning, she was always steady and reliable.

Since she said that, it must have been after careful consideration.

"Okay, okay, as long as you all agree on it."

Gu Mingli raised his hand and affectionately poked Gu Mingyue's forehead.

"I'll just be your pure technical tool."

Gu Mingyue smiled and tugged at her brother's arm.

"Who said my brother is just a tool? Huang Jiaojiao wouldn't listen to or follow what ordinary people say."

Gu Mingli: "..."

Is this a case of "it can't be turned over"?

[Ding! A project assistance request has been detected from the host.]

[Temporary Palace Intrigue Quest Triggered: Telepathic Connection]

[Task Requirements: Tonight, between 9 PM and 11 PM, find Emperor Xiao Ye and complete the "I Say, You Guess" interactive game.]

[Task Contents: Ten questions in total, covering word puzzles, object puzzles, and brain teasers.]

[Mission Reward: If Xiao Ye can guess all ten questions correctly, the host will receive a top-tier 'Folk Crafts Team'.]

Gu Mingli, who had been lounging lazily against the back of his chair, suddenly sat up straight, his eyes widening instantly.

A top-notch team of folk artisans?!

This is like a pillow delivered just when you're about to fall asleep!

This task must be accepted, and it must be completed!

It's just a guessing game, isn't it?

Xiao Ye's brain is truly sharp; ten questions are definitely no problem for him!

He'll be going to the palace tomorrow...

[Ding! Countdown begins.]

【03:59:59】

"..."

Gu Mingli's expression instantly cracked.

"Holy crap! System, you son of a bitch! Don't you have any time restrictions for issuing tasks?!"

Gu Mingyue was startled by him and quickly came over to look at the system panel in front of her brother.

"What's wrong, bro? What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into now?"

"Damn it, this broken system is acting up again!"

Gu Mingli rolled his eyes helplessly and sighed as if it were a common occurrence.

"It makes me want to go find Xiao Ye and play a guessing game now!"

"At this time?"

Gu Mingyue also raised her eyebrows, her expression strange.

"You sneaked into the palace in the middle of the night?"

Gu Mingli rubbed his temples. "Yes, in the middle of the night."

Gu Mingyue pursed her lips, suppressing a smile, but also felt a little sorry for her brother.

"What mystery is so important?"

Gu Mingli's forehead was covered in sweat.

I was afraid that the system would cause some shady problems again.

As a result, the task details were brought up, and the siblings' eyes quickly scanned the rows of questions in mid-air.

The two of them breathed a sigh of relief.

Gu Mingli patted his chest and slumped back into his seat.

"It's alright, it's just some word puzzles, object guessing, and some outrageous brain teasers... ten questions in total."

"The system says that as long as Xiao Ye guesses all the answers correctly, he can obtain a top-notch team of folk artisans. Aren't you short of manpower? I'll get you some."

Gu Mingyue's beautiful almond-shaped eyes lit up instantly.

"That's perfect! What we need most right now is manpower! I need all kinds of craftsmen, from blacksmiths to carpenters! Brother, thank you for your hard work!"

Seeing his sister's excited expression, Gu Mingli slapped his thigh and stood up.

"Alright, alright, I got it! For your grand plan, I'll sneak into the palace tonight."

As he spoke, he quickly put on his brocade robe, fastened his belt, and then ruffled his sister's hair.

"Stop waiting around, go to sleep. Staying up late is bad for your skin. I'll bring you back this batch of artisan gift packages tomorrow morning."

"Alright, brother, be careful on the road, don't let Dad find out!"

Gu Mingyue gave a delicate yawn and followed her brother back to her room to rest.

As soon as the brother and sister stepped out of the room, they bumped into a familiar figure in the covered walkway.

Gu Debai, dressed in a loose, moon-white casual robe, stood with his hands behind his back, giving instructions to the old steward in the courtyard.

The two sides unexpectedly met at the corner.

The kind face that Old Man Gu had just had narrowed with alarm when he saw his son's neat brocade robe.

"Li'er, what time is it? It's the middle of the night, where are you going dressed like that?"

Gu Mingli's heart skipped a beat, and he thought to himself, "Oh no."

I was caught red-handed before I even left the gate! How am I going to explain this to my dad?

You can't exactly say, "Father, I'm staying up all night, planning to sneak into the palace to play a little riddle game with the Emperor, and then I'll be right back," can you?

That sounds absolutely twisted!

Gu Mingli scratched the back of his head awkwardly, chuckled dryly twice, and looked around erratically.

"Father...you're still up so late?"

"I...I have a very urgent matter that I need to discuss with the Emperor at the palace immediately."

It would have been better if the emperor hadn't been mentioned; as soon as the word "emperor" was mentioned, Gu Debai's face visibly darkened.

Ever since the emperor's incognito visit to his residence and the subsequent confrontation, alarm bells have been ringing in Gu Debai's mind.

He always felt that the way the emperor looked at his two children and his attitude revealed an inexplicable "tacit understanding".

It's not the theft itself that's scary, it's having someone eyeing you! We must be extremely vigilant!

However, what angered him the most was that his foolish son always seemed to be protecting the emperor, repeatedly stopping him from killing him!

They're really siding with outsiders!

You brat! Humph!

Gu Debai snorted coldly.

"Urgent matter? What urgent matter requires us to discuss it in the middle of the night?"

"Besides, it's the middle of the night, you two are alone in a room, what could you possibly be discussing that requires this time?"

Gu Mingli: "..."

Holy crap! What kind of idiom is "a lone man alone in a room"?!

That's spreading rumors!

Gu Mingyue, who had been watching the show from the back, almost burst out laughing. She quickly stepped forward to smooth things over: "Father, you've really misunderstood. My brother really did go to the palace..."

"Moon, this is none of your business. Go back to sleep!"

Gu Debai swept a sharp look at his daughter, ruthlessly interrupting her cover-up, and then glared at his son again.

"You! Go back inside!"

Gu Mingli was both amused and exasperated.

"Father, what are you thinking! I'm going to the palace on serious business!"

Gu Debai rolled his eyes at his own son without any politeness.

"What? You actually have a frivolous side?"

Gu Mingli: "..."

Holy crap, it's my own father! I'm innocent!

Gu Debai ignored his son's sophistry, turned to the servant on night duty in the courtyard, and shouted loudly.

"Guards! Keep an eye on the young master! He is not to leave the manor tonight under any circumstances!"

As soon as he finished speaking, more than a dozen burly "guards" immediately stepped forward.

They surrounded Gu Mingli respectfully.

"No... Father... Please let me explain..."

Gu Mingli extended Er Kang's hand.

"Father! I have something urgent! It's very important!"

Gu Debai didn't even turn his head. He casually waved his hand behind his back, leaving his son with a cold and ruthless back view.

"Bullshit! Your real job is to go to sleep. Take him back to his room!"