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

Charm spell activated.

Gu Mingli stood in the center of the hall, his back straight, silently reciting the activation command.

An invisible soft light slowly spread out from his body, rippling silently like a pebble thrown into a lake.

On the throne, Xiao Ye's originally cold and scrutinizing gaze paused slightly.

His pupils contracted slightly for a moment.

The fingers resting on the armrest of the dragon throne unconsciously lifted slightly, then lowered back down.

This change is extremely subtle.

If it weren't for the fact that Prince Xiao Jue of Qi was sitting on the lower right, no one else would have noticed him.

Xiao Jue picked up his wine glass, the rim of which just covered the curve of his lips.

He saw it clearly.

His elder brother's gaze toward Gu Mingli changed from "Is this guy out of his mind?" to "This guy is interesting."

The distance between the two gazes was roughly equal to the distance from the marketplace to the imperial study.

However... things have indeed changed.

"Editor Gu."

The emperor spoke.

The tone was a little softer than before, but not by much.

"Your painting... is quite unique."

The ministers looked at each other in bewilderment.

I thought Gu Mingli was going to be dragged out and flogged, but why did His Majesty's tone suddenly change?

The Minister of Personnel suppressed his laughter, his face filled with bewilderment.

The Vice Minister of War turned around from behind the pillar, looking puzzled.

The people at the Censorate table looked at each other and fell silent.

Gu Debai sat in the front row and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.

My heart, which had been hanging in suspense, was relieved of one half, but then lifted up again.

What kind of bewitching potion did his son give His Majesty?

"Thank you for your appreciation, Your Majesty." Gu Mingli cupped his hands, his expression calm.

My heart was pounding.

it works!

Charm really works!

The emperor did not reprimand him, much less order him to "get out! Drag him out and beat him to death!"

Such a gesture is extremely rare at a birthday banquet.

The process of presenting gifts to officials usually involves three steps: presentation, inspection, and withdrawal, which is quick and efficient.

No emperor would talk much with his ministers during this part of the process.

But Xiao Ye glanced at Gu Mingli a couple more times today.

For some reason, I've become more patient.

Just then, the sound of string and wind instruments began, and the curtains on the side of the hall were gently lifted.

Consort Mei emerged gracefully.

She wore a pomegranate-red palace dress, and the gold-threaded, beaded hairpin trembled slightly in the lamplight.

Her face was like a peach blossom, her eyes were full of affection, and her figure was faintly visible under her gauze skirt.

The lights in the hall illuminated her fair face, making her truly beautiful.

It's the kind of beauty that's deliberately crafted and carefully arranged.

Consort Mei held a golden wine cup in her hand, the osmanthus wine inside shimmering with an amber hue.

She walked to the foot of the imperial steps and gracefully bowed.

"May Your Majesty live a long and healthy life. I have brewed peach blossom wine for three years, wishing Your Majesty good health and long life."

Her voice was so soft it could drip water.

The emperor shifted his gaze from Gu Mingli to the golden cup in Consort Mei's hand.

He raised his hand, about to take it.

Gu Mingli's heart jumped into his throat.

It's here! The crucial plot point is here!

There might be a love potion in the wine.

But how could a seventh-rank editor stop him?

In front of all the civil and military officials, he shouted, "Your Majesty, don't drink that wine!"

That would be tantamount to accusing Consort Mei of poisoning someone on the spot.

There is no evidence, no witnesses or physical evidence.

Consort Mei's maternal family had deep roots in the court and were not to be trifled with.

And since his family is currently being watched by the Supervisory Commission, he might cause trouble for his family if he doesn't handle things properly.

The emperor's fingers had already touched the rim of the golden cup.

Consort Mei smiled and gently extended her hands forward.

time is limited.

Gu Mingli steeled his resolve and gritted his teeth.

She started singing.

Her voice wasn't loud, just enough to clearly reach the throne, bypassing the lingering sounds of the music in the hall.

"Having mistakenly entered the heavenly realm, I urge you to lay down the sand in your hand..."

Xiao Ye paused slightly in the hand holding the wine cup.

His gaze lifted from the edge of the golden cup and landed on the green-robed editor in the center of the hall.

Consort Mei's smile was still on her lips, but a hint of imperceptible urgency flashed in her eyes.

She took half a step forward.

Gu Mingli did not look at the emperor; his gaze was fixed straight ahead as he sang with utmost seriousness.

Fortunately, he wasn't off-key, and it sounded quite pleasant.

"She opened her mouth to sing, but her voice was hoarse; her powdered face and draped robe made her call a mere pretense..."

Xiao Ye's pupils contracted slightly.

His gaze swept subtly across Consort Mei, who was smiling and raising her cup before him.

Just a quick scan.

Xiao Ye's gaze turned cold.

Gu Mingli is still singing.

"I, pitying my presence, dare not partake of the tea served before the Buddha..."

The officials in the hall were dumbfounded.

The Left Prime Minister's chopsticks hovered in mid-air, holding a piece of venison, and he forgot to put them down.

The Minister of Personnel's mouth was open, and he forgot to close it.

Zhou Liang of the Censorate finally swallowed the tea that had been in his mouth for a long time, choking and coughing.

The Minister of Works turned to look at his colleague beside him and lowered his voice: "What is he doing?"

My colleague, expressionless, said, "Sing a song."

"I know he was singing! My question is, why was he singing this kind of tune for His Majesty at the birthday banquet?"

No one can answer this question.

Gu Mingli gritted his teeth and finished singing that part.

The sound echoed for a moment in the grand hall before dissipating.

The hall was so quiet that he could hear the sweat dripping down his back.

The emperor withdrew his finger from the rim of the golden cup.

"Editor Gu has a nice voice."

Xiao Ye's voice was flat, revealing no emotion.

But the hand holding the cup had already been placed back on the armrest.

He leaned back in his chair, tapped the armrest unconsciously with his right hand, and glanced at Consort Mei.

"My interest is not in wine today."

"Let's leave this wine for now."

Briefly, in just two sentences.

The wine was pushed away.

Consort Mei's smile froze on her face.

That damned Editor Gu!

Her hand remained in the position of holding a cup, her fingertips digging into her palm, her nails sinking into her flesh.

"...Yes. Your Majesty, I obey."

Consort Mei took two steps back, handed the golden cup to the palace maid behind her, and turned away with her head bowed.

He walked with a leisurely gait, his back muscles taut.

Xiao Jue sat beside him, smiling slightly as he drank the remaining wine in his cup in one gulp.

He had previously informed his elder brother, the Emperor, of Consort Mei's unusual behavior.

An elderly man from Miao territory, in a sealed bamboo tube, frequently enters and exits the imperial kitchen.

This intelligence had been on the emperor's desk three days ago.

The emperor was already somewhat wary.

And Gu Mingli's strange little tune only added another three points to this already heightened sense of vigilance.

But how did this seventh-rank editor know that?

Xiao Jue's gaze toward Gu Mingli held a new level of scrutiny.

interesting.

In the center of the hall.

Gu Mingli stood with his hands at his sides, his face calm and expressionless.

This wasn't the first time he'd done something so embarrassing.

After doing too much, you become too lazy to even look back on your past.

The officials around them looked at each other and began to whisper among themselves.

"What kind of rubbish is this? It's utterly inappropriate!"

"What on earth is this kid up to? Trying to compete for the emperor's favor with the concubines?"

Some people seemed to be deep in thought.

Gu Debai had stopped wiping his sweat and was drinking his wine with a smile.

He couldn't understand the lyrics his son was singing.

But he saw the emperor put down his wine cup.

I saw Consort Mei's ashen face as she retreated.

He noticed the meaningful look in Prince Qi's eyes.

All of this leads to only one conclusion:

The emperor admired his son.