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

A contest?

Gu Mingli chuckled.

Anyone who dares to question his talent will be thoroughly humiliated by him!

What are you going to compete in?

Liu Liuliu turned to look at Pei Yu and raised her chin with utter contempt.

"Let's compete in something that Master Gu is good at..."

Gu Mingli snorted coldly, stepped forward and pulled Pei Yu behind him.

"You have something to say to me, you don't need to look at him."

He is a man of principle who remains true to his word and his name!

If you have something to say, come at him!

There's no need to push Pei Yu out to help him shoulder the burden of the competition.

Although he was not very proficient in the Six Arts, he had a basic understanding of them all.

So come on! Let's have a contest!

Gu Juanwang has never lost a competition!

Liu Liuliu respectfully bowed to "Your Majesty".

"Your subject... wishes to compete with Lord Gu in dice."

A gust of autumn wind swept past the door, lifting the hem of Gu Mingli's clothes.

There was a moment of silence in the venue.

Gu Mingli: "..."

The next second, he raised his hand without changing his expression.

He grabbed Pei Yu's arm and shoved her forward.

"Go ahead, young Master Gu, and have a good competition."

The workers at the salt-making workshop: "..."

Pei Yu: "???"

Gu Mingyue frantically covered her face from behind, peeking through her fingers at her older brother's shameless act of shifting blame, she simply couldn't bear to watch.

Pei Yu was stunned for a moment, then her eyes lit up.

Brother Gu is affirming his abilities! Let him perform well!

Pei Yu's fighting spirit was instantly ignited.

He rolled up his sleeves and walked up to Liu Liuliu.

"Playing dice? Let's make it clear first, don't cry if you lose."

He's good at this!

Back in the day, he was a well-known "Dice King" in Kyoto's elite social circles.

Whether it's guessing high or low, rolling numbers, or comparing suits, he's a pro at it all.

Seeing that "His Majesty" had given permission, Liu Liuliu snorted coldly at "Gu Mingli" and waved to the deputy general behind her.

The lieutenant took out an exquisite bone dice cup and six white jade dice from his pocket and respectfully handed them over.

Liu Liuliu took the dice cup, casually tossed it in her hand, and it made a crisp clinking sound.

"My request is very simple."

She raised her chin, her eyes looking down at him disdainfully.

"The loser shall be expelled from the harem and shall stand on the city wall and shout three times toward the capital: I have lost to the other and shall henceforth acknowledge the other as my master."

Gu Mingli: "???"

No, what do you mean...?

He rolled up his sleeves, ready to step forward and argue, "What do you mean by 'get out of the harem'?!"

He's a capable and upright official, when did he start living in the harem?

This is blatant defamation!

Before he could finish speaking, his arm was grabbed.

Gu Mingyue covered her mouth and laughed, then shook her head at her brother.

"Brother, don't you notice something's wrong?"

Gu Mingli calmed down and looked at Liu Liuliu again.

Seeing that there was something to watch, the workers in the courtyard all gathered around.

Someone brought over an eight-immortal table and placed it in the center of the courtyard.

Pei Yu and Liu Liuliu stood across the table from each other.

Pei Yu took the dice cup from Liu Liuliu, weighed it in his hand, and sneered inwardly.

Today I'll show you what it means to be Kyoto's number one dice king!

After a while.

Pei Yu stood with his hands on his hips, seemingly unaware of the concept of an opponent.

"Hahaha~ General Liu, you flatter me!"

Liu Liuliu was stunned for a moment, a look of unwillingness flashing across her face.

She snorted coldly, turned around and walked to her chestnut horse, nimbly mounted it, and looked down at Pei Yu.

"Gu Mingli, you've got some skills. This general is willing to honor his bet and will go to the city wall in three days to fulfill our agreement."

After saying that, he pulled on the reins, and the chestnut horse neighed loudly.

Liu Liuliu turned to look at Gu Mingli and clasped her hands in a salute.

"Your Majesty, I will return to the palace now."

As soon as she finished speaking, she spurred her horse and rode away with her lieutenant and a troop of cavalry.

The courtyard fell silent again.

Pei Yu was still immersed in the joy of victory when she turned to look at Gu Mingli.

"Brother Gu, aren't I amazing?"

Gu Mingli's lips twitched, but he didn't say anything.

Gu Mingyue finally couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

"Brother, did you notice?"

Gu Mingli nodded and sighed.

"I can tell."

Pei Yu looked completely bewildered.

"What did you figure out?"

Gu Mingyue laughed so hard that tears almost came out.

"General Liu...she is severely nearsighted."

This is a common disease in modern times, but it was not so common in ancient times.

Pei Yu's eyes widened. "What do you mean...high myopia?!"

Gu Mingli patted him on the shoulder, "You can't tell the difference between humans and animals from five steps away."

When Liu Liuliu rode back to the palace, it was already late afternoon.

She went straight into her own bedroom.

Before the palace maids and eunuchs could even kowtow to their mistress, she began packing her belongings without saying a word.

The palace maid, who was in charge of the household, followed behind, watching Liu Liuliu deftly tie the bundle behind her back, her face full of bewilderment.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong...?"

Liu Liuliu put her finger to her lips and made a "shh" sound.

"Pack your things and prepare to leave the palace."

The personal maid was stunned.

"Your Highness, you're leaving the palace on your very first day back in the capital? This...this isn't in accordance with the rules, is it?"

"What's wrong with the rules?"

Liu Liuli patted the bundle on her back.

"This general lost to Gu Mingli in a dice game today."

"If I lose, I'll have to get out of the harem. And in three days I'll have to go up to the city wall and shout to acknowledge my master! I can't afford to lose face like that."

She was about to leave when she saw a young eunuch rushing into the courtyard, panting heavily.

"Consort Liu! His Majesty summons you!"

Inside the Imperial Study, Xiao Ye was reviewing memorials.

Liu An stood to the side, cautiously observing the emperor's expression.

"Your Majesty, Consort Liu has arrived."

Xiao Ye put down his pen and looked up at the door.

Liu Liuli strode in, and without even kneeling, immediately clasped his hands in a military salute.

"Your Majesty, you've returned to the palace so soon?"

Xiao Ye stared at her for two seconds, his gaze falling on the bulging bundle tied to her back.

"I heard you're moving out of the palace?"

Liu Liuliu nodded.

"I have lost the bet and should leave the palace."

Xiao Ye rubbed his temples and suddenly felt a headache coming on.

He had just received a secret report from the Censorate, which detailed all of Liu Liuliu's movements after returning to Beijing.

[Liu Liuliu mistakenly identified Young Master Gu as His Majesty, and Pei Yu as Gu Mingli]

[Young Master Gu made a bet with Liu Liuliu, and then had Pei Yu go on stage and win against Liu Liuliu.]

Xiao Ye: "..."

"I ask you, with whom did you make a bet?"

Liu Liuliu snorted indignantly.

"Didn't you witness the whole process? With Gu Mingli."

Xiao Ye took a deep breath. "Then do you know who the person you met at Pujitang this afternoon was?"

Liu Liuliu was taken aback. "Isn't it Your Majesty and Gu Mingli?"

Xiao Ye closed his eyes, forcibly suppressing the urge to get angry.

"I have been reviewing memorials in the palace all day and have not stepped out of the palace gates even once."

Liu Liuliu's eyes widened. "Then...then what I saw this afternoon..."

"The man in the blue official robe you saw was Pei Yu, the Vice Minister of the Tax Bureau. You made a bet with him and lost."

Liu Liuliu froze.

The scene from that afternoon flashed through her mind.

If she were to fight Pei Yu, then the one next to her in the moon-white brocade robe…

Liu Liuliu's expression instantly became quite interesting.

"So, what I saw this afternoon was actually Gu Mingli and Pei Yu?"

Xiao Ye nodded.

Liu Liu gritted her teeth, cracking her knuckles.

"Fine! Gu Mingli! You're shameless! How dare you impersonate His Majesty and even have someone else compete with me! I'll make sure you never leave the palace..."

"Liu Liuliu."

Xiao Ye's voice turned cold.

"Take good care of your men and get to work properly with the tax authorities. Don't cause any more trouble for Gu Mingli."