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

Two days later.

A cloud of yellow dust billowed up on the official road west of Kyoto.

Twenty thousand elite cavalry from the western border marched in a column, their iron hooves pounding on the compacted loess road, rumbling like muffled thunder from afar.

Leading the way was a magnificent, tall, chestnut-colored horse.

A female general sat on horseback.

She was dressed in a crimson, narrow-sleeved outfit, with a tiger-skin belt with a copper buckle tightly around her waist.

Her jet-black hair was tied into a high, neat ponytail, swaying back and forth in the night breeze.

It was none other than General Liu Liu of the Western Frontier.

Liu Liuliu gripped the reins with one hand and coldly looked up at the distant Kyoto city gate.

"Have we arrived yet?"

The lieutenant flicked the reins, spurred his horse forward two steps, and respectfully reported:

"General, we've arrived. The south gate of Kyoto is just ahead, and the garrison is already waiting with the gates wide open."

Liu Liu snorted dismissively, clearly showing some impatience.

If she had a choice, she actually wouldn't want to go back to Beijing at all.

How wonderful the western border is! Vast skies and expansive lands, with endless yellow sands and deserts.

There are no intricate court politics like those in Kyoto, no messy palace affairs, and no nauseating domestic drama.

Every day was spent either training troops or patrolling the border with light cavalry, accompanied by his master.

Occasionally, when they had some free time, they would sit around the campfire with their lieutenants, drink a few bowls of strong liquor, a specialty of the Western Rong, and eat large chunks of meat. Those days were more comfortable than those of the gods in heaven.

However, the emperor issued an edict summoning her back to the capital, and specifically appointed her to lead 20,000 newly recruited soldiers whom she had personally trained, saying that there were important matters that required her assistance.

She wouldn't have come back if it weren't for the fact that Xiao Ye treated her well and the agreement they had made before.

At that very moment, her biological father, Liu Hua, sent three urgent letters home.

There wasn't a single word of pleasantries in the letter; it was all just a frantic tattling, along with a bunch of ridiculous demands made in the tone of an elder.

However, one thing in those letters successfully piqued Liu Liuliu's interest.

Her father wrote in the letter that a remarkable and enchanting woman named Gu Mingyue had appeared in the capital.

The daughter of the esteemed Right Chancellor Gu Debai, instead of staying home embroidering, actually went and became a businesswoman!

Now, relying on the immense power of its "Pujitang" trading company, it is frantically suppressing major noble trading companies, turning the market in Kyoto upside down.

This is not finished.

The most outrageous thing is that the letter also vehemently criticized Gu Mingyue for having an older brother named Gu Mingli.

That man is a shameless sycophant who rose to power by virtue of his good looks!

It is said that this person is extremely cunning. In less than half a year, he persuaded His Majesty to squeeze out two of the most popular concubines in the harem.

One was demoted to a royal estate and spent his days picking manure and growing vegetables; the other fared even worse and was sent to become a nun.

"Heh, this is interesting..."

Liu Liu chuckled softly from horseback, a hint of interest flashing in her eyes.

She didn't care about the power struggles in the harem.

But she was really curious about the legendary "Gu Mingli".

It wasn't because her father said Gu Mingli was capable of "bewitching," but because she had heard many rumors about this person from passing merchants and postmen in the Western Army.

What "the emperor's favorite"? What "all sorts of tricks"?

Most importantly, he is rumored to be the "most handsome man in the Great Yong Dynasty," and all the playboys who have seen him admire him greatly!

As for Liu Liuliu, her lifelong hobbies, besides venturing into the martial arts world, were admiring handsome men.

After all, everyone has a love for beauty!

Fortunately, His Majesty is known for his tolerance towards matters concerning the harem. Even if she keeps several men outside the marriage, His Majesty will not say anything.

Therefore, she is now extremely eager to see what kind of stunning appearance the most handsome man in the Great Yong Dynasty, who could drive two imperial concubines out of their homes, has.

The sound of horses' hooves gradually subsided.

Liu Liuliu pulled on the reins, and the chestnut horse let out a long neigh and came to a steady stop.

"Don't go to the palace yet. Go to the logistics park at Pujitang in the western suburbs."

The lieutenant was startled, thinking he had misheard.

"General, His Majesty is still waiting in the palace. Shouldn't we go to the palace to pay our respects first?"

"What's the rush? I've been traveling all this way and haven't even had a sip of water!"

Liu Liuliu pointed her whip eastward across the city.

"Let's go to the west side of the city and meet those monstrous siblings!"

The lieutenant silently raised his hand, pointing the general's arm westward.

Liu Liuliu: "..."

……

Meanwhile, the Pujitang Logistics Park remains a bustling and busy scene.

The wholesale market was bustling with activity, filled with the sounds of cars and people.

The newly established tax office was right next door, and officials were coming and going.

Meanwhile, deep within the park, in the seaside salt-making workshop, huge chimneys are continuously belching out billowing white smoke.

Gu Mingli wore a moon-white brocade robe today.

To make it easier to work, he casually rolled up his wide sleeves to his elbows, revealing a section of his strong forearm.

At this moment, Zheng and Yi were squatting by the water tank in the backyard of the workshop, carefully washing the remaining salt stains off their hands.

He had just finished personally inspecting the quality of the third batch of "Snowflake Salt" with several clever apprentices under Master Zhao.

"Brother Gu!"

A person walked in with a smug look on their face.

Pei Yu, a new official, was eager to make a splash in his new job. He would stroll around the capital every day, wearing his brand-new blue official robe.

He was carrying a stack of tax regulations that he had drafted with King Qi, and he came to Gu Mingyue for review.

Hearing that "Master Gu" had gone to the salt-making workshop, they couldn't suppress their curiosity and came looking for him.

While we're at it, let's see what new invention his seemingly omnipotent "Brother Gu" has come up with.

When Pei Yu stepped into the workshop, Gu Mingyue was sitting with Gu Mingli, who had just washed his hands, at the table, examining the white crystals in several small celadon dishes on the table.

"Boss!"

Upon entering, Pei Yu respectfully bowed to Gu Mingyue with his hands clasped.

Gu Mingyue looked up at him, smiled, and nodded.

Pei Yu then turned to look at Gu Mingli, her eyes full of anticipation.

"Brother Gu, I heard you're up to some invention or creation here again?"

Gu Mingli casually picked up a dry cloth and wiped the water droplets off his hands, then pointed his slender fingers at a dish of fine salt on the table.

"You've come at the perfect time, have a taste."

Pei Yu curiously approached the table and looked down at the dish containing something as white as fresh snow, with fine and evenly distributed particles.

"What is this?"

"Salt?"

"How could salt be this color?"

In the Dayong Dynasty, even the tribute salt used in the imperial palace contained some yellowish impurities; they had never seen anything so white and shiny!

Pei Yu, with some skepticism, extended her index finger, carefully dipped a little of the white crystal, and put it into her mouth.

The next second, his eyes lit up.

"Hey! This is amazing! It tastes incredible!"

"A pure, bright salty flavor, incredibly fresh, without even the slightest hint of bitterness or astringency!"

"My goodness, salt prices are skyrocketing again. If we sold this, it would be worth almost nothing!"

As a tax official, a string of enormous tax revenue figures flashed through his mind, and he was so excited that his hands trembled.

"Brother Gu! You're practically a god descended to earth! Is there anything in this world you can't conjure up?!"

"If this product were to be listed on the market, our tax department could pocket a huge sum of tax revenue!"

"..."

Pei Yu was so excited that she wanted to rush up and give Gu Mingli a hug.

"Master! Young Master Gu!! No...something terrible has happened!"

Just as the atmosphere inside was getting lively, a workshop worker rushed in, sweating profusely.

Seeing the shop assistant's dazed expression, Gu Mingyue raised an eyebrow, amused.

"What happened? Did the sky fall down?"

The waiter pointed frantically towards the door, his face filled with terror.

"Master! A troop of soldiers is heading straight for our workshop! They've blocked the road outside!"