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

Afternoon, Imperial Study.

Emperor Xiao Ye was bent over his desk reviewing memorials, his face weary and irritable.

The tea on the table had long since gone cold.

The four exquisite dishes delivered by the imperial kitchen at noon were almost untouched.

The roasted deer tendon was coated with a layer of white oil, and the dried glutinous rice was cracked with fine lines.

Liu An stood by his side with his hands at his sides, hesitating for the third time as if he wanted to speak but then stopped.

"Your Majesty, the meal..."

"withdraw."

Liu An sighed and beckoned for the eunuch to take it away.

Footsteps approached from afar outside the palace gate.

A young eunuch entered the hall to announce the arrival of guests.

"Your Majesty, Compiler Gu from the Hanlin Academy has arrived."

Xiao Ye didn't even lift his eyelids, and gestured for the person to come in.

Gu Mingli was in high spirits today. He entered the hall and bowed to the emperor.

"Your subject, Gu Mingli, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Xiao Ye gave a faint "hmm".

As if remembering something, she stopped writing and glanced at him.

What is the progress of the flood control efforts in Jiangzhou?

"Your Majesty, progress is going smoothly. However, I have another matter to report to you today."

Gu Ming straightened up and presented the first page of the tattered scroll and a piece of paper with the rules written on it with both hands.

"I have encountered immortals again."

Xiao Ye: "..."

The Imperial Study fell silent for a moment.

Liu An's eyelids twitched. Every time Editor Gu came to meet the Emperor, his palms and the back of his hands would sweat.

Geng Zhi's gaze was like a knife, coldly staring at the person in front of the hall, his hand tightening around the sword hilt.

Prince Xiao Jue of Qi sat on a round-backed chair in the side hall, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and watched the scene with a smile in his eyes.

Gu Mingli remained expressionless and continued speaking.

"A celestial being appeared in my dream, saying that a long-lost ancient imperial secret manual for governing the country is scattered in the palace. It has twelve pages in total. Follow the clues to find the complete text."

Xiao Ye finally put down his vermilion pen and casually pushed the page to the corner of the desk.

"Absurd and nonsensical."

The eunuchs waiting outside the door exchanged a few glances.

We are prepared to "drag Editor Gu out and beat him to death".

A thin layer of sweat appeared on Liu An's forehead.

This editor, Gu, is getting bolder and bolder.

Relying on her good looks, she became arrogant and dared to say any kind of nonsense.

His Majesty is the least believer in ghosts and gods.

I imagine Editor Gu is going to get a scolding today.

Alas, I was too young and didn't know what was important.

Gu Mingli didn't intend to offer any further advice.

He remained calm and composed, and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

"Your Majesty, I take my leave. The remaining scroll is left on your desk; Your Majesty may take a look if you are interested."

"The immortal said that the secrets of governing a country are only given to a wise ruler."

After saying that, he turned and left.

The people inside the hall: "..."

This editor Gu is getting more and more arrogant!

His Majesty hadn't even given him permission to leave, but he left on his own.

King Qi peered at the emperor's expression, then leisurely continued drinking his tea.

Xiao Ye watched the retreating figure outside the door without saying a word.

He picked up his vermilion pen again to annotate the memorials.

A moment later, the vermilion brush stopped again.

My gaze fell on the page of paper that had been pushed aside on the corner of the desk, revealing half a line of small print in the lower right corner.

The brushstrokes are simple and unadorned.

It is not the font used in the current dynasty.

The four characters “君子不器” (Junzi Buqi) mean “a gentleman is not a vessel”.

The annotation below does not discuss morality from the perspective of self-cultivation, but rather from the perspective of the emperor's art of employing people.

This passage discusses why a monarch should not allow himself to become a mere "tool".

[If tools have a fixed form, they are subject to the control of their subjects. Only by transcending the limitations of tools can one command all tools without being commanded by them.]

Xiao Ye's finger stopped at the edge of the page.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

He slowly pulled out the page completely and read it carefully from beginning to end.

The study remained quiet for the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.

King Qi put down his teacup and silently tapped the rim of the cup with his fingertip.

He noticed that his elder brother was turning the pages more slowly.

It seems he is repeatedly pondering the meaning of the text.

After a long while, Xiao Ye closed the paper with a light in his eyes.

His tone remained indifferent, but there was a clear hint of anticipation.

Where is the next page?

"..."

Liu An practically ran out of the imperial study and gave instructions to the eunuch waiting outside the door.

"Quickly! Go to the Hanlin Academy and bring Editor Gu back to me!"

"yes!"

The young eunuch took off running and disappeared into the distance at the end of the palace road.

Liu An leaned against the door frame, catching his breath, and stole a glance back at the emperor behind the imperial desk.

Wow, this editor Gu is something else!

I guess I'll have to treat him like a master from now on.

Xiao Ye did not continue to approve the commemorative documents.

The vermilion brush rested on the brush holder, and the vermilion ink at the tip slowly seeped into a small patch of red.

His fingers pressed against the edge of the page, his thumb unconsciously rubbing the corner of the paper.

Xiao Jue took in this scene and chuckled as he joked.

"Editor Gu is truly a remarkable person."

The emperor scoffed and tossed the page back onto the corner of the table with utter disdain.

"I think he's asking for trouble."

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, footsteps were heard outside the hall.

The young eunuch led Gu Mingli back.

Gu Mingli walked at a steady pace, calm and composed.

He entered the hall and bowed respectfully, his every move measured and proper, exuding an air of composure as if he knew nothing.

"Your Majesty, why have you summoned me back again?"

Liu An's eyelids twitched upon hearing this.

Who would dare speak to the emperor so bluntly!

Xiao Ye looked up at him, his tone indifferent.

Where is the next page?

Gu Mingli blinked, revealing a perfectly timed embarrassed expression.

"Your Majesty, I do not know either."

The Imperial Study fell silent for a moment.

Gu Mingli calmly took out a folded piece of paper from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.

"The immortal said that each page of the fragment is hidden in a specific location. We need to follow the clues and find it ourselves."

His tone was calm and sincere, as if saying "a fairy grants a dream" was as natural as saying "the weather is nice today."

"The clue on the second page is here. It points to the back corridor of the Wenhua Hall, in the crack of the stone base of the third pillar."

Xiao Ye did not take the note.

He leaned back in his chair, coldly scrutinizing the young Hanlin compiler in front of him.

half an hour.

"You're just trying to fool me."

Gu Mingli's back stiffened slightly.

Holy crap! How am I supposed to respond to that?

How do people in typical palace intrigue novels usually answer the emperor's questions?

Oh! That's right! Subtle! Can't refuse!

Gu Mingli coughed lightly and said in a serious tone:

"If Your Majesty is pleased, I... am not incapable of trying to appease you."

Everyone: "..."

Liu An lowered his head and gasped.

His gaze darted back and forth between His Majesty and Editor Gu.

Xiao Ye narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly, as if deep in thought.

"Editor Gu is quite bold."

Gu Mingli cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, his expression sincere.

"Your Majesty flatters me. I was just being a bit frank."

Xiao Ye: "..."

Gu Mingli quickly steered the conversation back on track.

"The immortal said that such ancient secrets can only be obtained by a wise ruler. One must seek them out with sincerity in order to sense the location of the fragments."

"If someone is sent to search for it, the words on the paper will disappear."

Liu An, who was listening nearby, couldn't stop his mouth from twitching.

This nonsense wouldn't even fool a three-year-old, yet you think you can fool His Majesty?

Editor Gu is indeed very frank!

Liu An pricked up his ears, awaiting His Majesty's decree to punish Compiler Gu.

But after a short while, the emperor suddenly stood up from his dragon throne.

He picked up the tattered page from the table, his tone indifferent.

"Okay, let's take a walk today."

Having said that, he walked straight out of the palace gate.

Liu An was stunned for a moment and exchanged a glance with the King of Qi before he realized what was happening and quickly jogged to catch up.

King Xiao Jue of Qi put down his teacup, closed his folding fan, and rose unhurriedly.

As she passed by Gu Mingli, she glanced down at him.

"Editor Gu is quite something."

Gu Mingli was confused and could only offer a perfunctory response.

"Your Highness is overthinking it. Aside from my knowledge, I don't actually have much else to offer."

Xiao Jue: "..."

Geng Zhi gripped the hilt of his knife and followed.

Six guards lined up on either side and filed out.

The group of more than ten people marched in a grand procession through the palace road in front of the Imperial Study.