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

The hall fell silent.

Looking into his daughter's earnest eyes, Gu Debai suddenly felt a lump in his throat.

Half of it was because I was moved by my daughter.

Half of it is because I'm worried about the money.

He put down his wine glass and grabbed his daughter's hand.

"My daughter has grown up. She knows how to care for her dad now."

Looking at her father's moved face, Gu Mingyue felt a surge of indescribable emotions.

"Dad~~~"

She seized the opportunity and shook Gu Debai's arm affectionately.

"My brother and I both hope you live a long and healthy life. You'll always be with us, won't you?"

Gu Debai was so moved that he almost burst into tears.

"Yes, yes, Dad will always be with you."

Gu Mingyue continued speaking.

"Since the master has said so, then the money... I'll leave it with you."

"Our business in Jiangzhou is large, and we need money everywhere. If you keep the silver in the treasury, it will both bring bad luck and no interest. It would be better to let your daughter take it and use it for business purposes. It will also help you earn money and accumulate good fortune."

Gu Debai looked at his daughter, overwhelmed with emotion.

He worked hard all his life, just so that his son and daughter could live a happy, healthy, and carefree life.

"...You little rascal, you've always known how to flatter your father since you were little."

He muttered something under his breath, but his hand was already inside his sleeve.

He then took out a stack of silver notes and slapped them in front of his daughter.

"Take the remaining ten thousand taels."

Gu Mingyue calmly accepted the silver note and put it into her sleeve.

The system panel refreshed silently.

[New task funds: 50000 taels of silver]

[Remaining time for the mission: 10 days]

Gu Mingyue picked up the osmanthus wine and took a sip.

Fifty thousand taels isn't the problem. The problem is that her father has nearly eight hundred million in his secret stash.

If we keep digging out these tiny bits and pieces, when will it ever end?

The night was dark.

The lanterns in the Prince Qi's mansion were still lit, their warm yellow light shining through the window paper and casting long shadows of the crabapple trees in the courtyard.

Xiao Jue sat behind his desk in his study and opened a secret letter as thin as a cicada's wing.

The sealing wax on the letterhead has the logo of the Control Yuan.

The secret letter was short, consisting of only a few lines.

With the Emperor's birthday banquet approaching, Consort Mei has been frequently sending people out of the palace to contact her maternal family over the past two weeks.

Three days ago, her mother's family brought back an elderly man from Miao territory. His identity is unknown, and he has not appeared since entering the family home.

The elderly man was carrying a sealed bamboo tube; the contents are unknown.

Consort Mei has been in close contact with the Imperial Kitchen for the past three days.

Xiao Jue's gaze lingered on the words "Miao Territory" for a moment.

The candlelight flickered, casting an uncertain shadow on his face.

"Could it be that they're planning to sabotage the birthday banquet?"

It seems he needs to prepare in advance with his elder brother.

……

When Gu Mingyue woke up, the sun was already shining on the bed curtains.

Golden light peeked in through the cracks in the window and moved slowly across the embroidered orchid-covered curtains.

She squinted at it for a while, then turned over and pulled the blanket up a little.

Taozhi brought in a copper basin, draped a hot cloth over the shelf, and then lifted the bed curtains.

"Miss, it's time to get up. The young master left before dawn."

Gu Mingyue's hand stopped on the corner of the blanket, her voice weak and listless.

Where did my brother go?

"They've gone to the palace. They said they're going to send the painting to the Ministry of Rites for registration."

Tao Zhi wrung out a handkerchief and brought it over for the young lady to wipe her face.

"When the young master left, he wrapped the scroll in three layers of cloth and kept it in his bosom as if it were a hidden treasure."

Gu Mingyue sat up.

"Afraid of being seen?"

"Yes. I wanted to help him with that, but he took two steps back and said..."

Taozhi mimicked Gu Mingli's tone, lowering her voice.

"This is a work imbued with Zen philosophy; it cannot be revealed beforehand."

Gu Mingyue fell silent.

A work imbued with Zen spirit.

Her brother's painting.

A masterpiece by the winner of the Kindergarten Future Star Award.

Gu Mingyue sighed.

……never mind.

Since I've already given it away, I guess I'll just leave it there.

Birthday gifts piled up like mountains, but the emperor wouldn't look at them all one by one.

Moreover, it was a painting by a seventh-rank editor.

The people from the Ministry of Rites would probably just stuff the painting into the bottom of the box and let it gather dust for ages.

Too lazy to worry about it anymore, Gu Mingyue got up and washed up.

at the same time.

The Ministry of Rites.

A row of gift boxes was laid out on a long table in the side hall, and Liu Heng, the clerk, was registering the gifts for this year's birthday banquet one by one.

He's a seasoned pro; he's been doing this job for nine years and has seen all sorts of rare and precious treasures.

A Ruyi scepter made of Hetian white jade, a coral tree from the South China Sea, a Persian glass cup, and a Suzhou embroidery screen with butterflies among flowers.

It's the same old stuff that comes around every year.

Gu Mingli stood in front of the table and solemnly placed the scroll wrapped in three layers of cloth on the table.

"Gu Mingli, compiler of the Hanlin Academy, wishes His Majesty a long life."

He pushed the scroll forward with both hands, his expression calm and composed.

Liu Heng picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and didn't even raise his head.

"What gift?"

"My own artwork."

Liu Heng paused for a moment.

It wasn't of high quality, and he even painted it himself.

Such congratulatory gifts usually fall into two categories: one is a brilliant and talented scholar, and the other is a newly promoted top scholar who is ignorant of his own limitations.

Liu Heng looked up at the editor Gu in front of him.

Young, with clear features, standing ramrod straight, his blue official robe from the Hanlin Academy was spotless.

Liu Heng put down his brush and reached out to untie the cloth on the scroll.

One layer, blue cloth.

One layer, fine cotton.

One layer, oil paper.

It was wrapped up even more carefully than an imperial edict delivered from the palace.

Unroll the scroll.

Liu Heng stared at the painting for three seconds, shocked and confused.

In the end, all I could say was calmly, "...registered."

He picked up his pen and neatly wrote on the gift list: "A painting as a congratulatory gift from Gu Mingli, compiler of the Hanlin Academy."

Then he rolled up the scroll again and, without changing his expression, stuffed it into the bottom corner of the gift box.

Gu Mingli held his head high the whole time, watching his painting being put into the box, his eyes full of satisfaction.

A crisp notification sound rang in my mind.

[Ding! Palace intrigue mission complete: Personally prepare a birthday gift for the Emperor and send it out.]

[Reward: Skill Selection x1]

Gu Mingli walked out of the Ministry of Rites gate looking refreshed, attracting the attention of his passing colleagues.

He was in a hurry to get home.

……

The Gu residence.

When Gu Mingli pushed the door open and came in, Gu Mingyue was sitting at the table checking the accounts of Pujitang.

"You're back?" She didn't even look up.

"Yes! Everything went very smoothly!"

Gu Mingli strode over, pulled up a chair, and sat down, looking like he still wanted more.

"You didn't see the expression on that clerk's face when he unfolded my painting... tsk tsk tsk..."

"What kind of expression is that?"

"Shocking!"

Gu Mingli said seriously, "It was absolutely shocking. It took him a full three seconds to come back to his senses."

Gu Mingyue raised her eyes.

Looking at her brother's sincere and self-doubting face.

Hesitant to speak.

"……OK."

She put down her pen, got up, and closed the door.

"Is the mission complete? Let's check the reward."

Gu Mingli understood immediately and opened the system panel.

Pink heart-shaped bubbles bubbled out, exploding into pink fireworks on the light screen.

Three options appeared.