In the field of architectural design, Ye Tao rarely engaged in remodeling or renovation work. With the current level of technology and aesthetics, and because current buildings and gardens are so simple in terms of construction technology, building new ones is much easier than renovating existing ones. Moreover, no matter what, original architectural designs are always more pleasing than renovating someone else's, and this is also true for someone as established as Ye Tao. However, in Zhongjun Town, he took it upon himself to renovate a massive courtyard.

The courtyard was located on the east side of Zhongjun Town, a short distance from Ye Tao's current command post, within easy walking distance. When Nie Rui first heard that Ye Tao was planning a renovation, he assumed it would be some kind of magnificent and ornate courtyard. He didn't expect that from the outside, the place would be so unremarkable, with plain blue brick and black tile walls and no elaborate decorations. Although the Northern Liao architecture had always been known for its brick and stone structures, it was also meticulous in some aspects to an unimaginable degree. For example, the Northern Liao had a unique architectural element: carved tiles. Each tile was extremely intricate and ornate, and the underside even had religious maxims. In this way, the entire building was shrouded in the "divine" protection, presumably that was its meaning. But the building that Nie Rui saw clearly didn't have this element. On the contrary, it looked extremely simple and unadorned.

The original main entrance of the courtyard had been demolished, and the original deep gate with a spirit screen had been transformed into a separate small building. The walls on both sides were torn down and turned into new access paths that could accommodate the largest carriages. Walking into that separate small building, Nie Rui realized that it was now a small reception area. The original stone spirit screen had been removed and replaced with a new spirit screen made of a whole piece of colored glaze. The entire piece of colored glaze was covered with relief and openwork carvings. When Ye Tao took Nie Rui to see it, he specifically had the lighting installed below the colored glaze turned on. The soft light bathed the entire piece of colored glaze, creating a visual effect that was unforgettable. Nie Rui was not someone who had never seen the world. As the director of the intelligence bureau, his horizons were second to none in the world, but now, apart from understanding that the arrangement alone was a treasure, he couldn't even guess how much the entire piece of colored glaze and related arrangements would cost. In front of the spirit screen were several exquisite counters, behind which stood two middle-aged men dressed smartly and uniformly.

"This is..." Nie Rui still didn't understand why Ye Tao had made the entire courtyard like this, and why it was necessary to put these two people at the door. They weren't like doormen, nor were they like stewards, and their attitudes were modest and indifferent, without a trace of servility.

"This will be the most luxurious and comfortable hotel in Dongping, and this is the front desk." Ye Tao's answer greatly surprised Nie Rui. Looking at the entire courtyard with this understanding, everything made sense.

After passing through the front desk, the passageway quickly separated carriages, horses, and guests. Although the hotel's service staff was not yet fully in place, the design of this buffer zone was very reasonable, and the guidance and reception of guests was very humanized. Stepping over the front courtyard to the core area of the entire hotel, the scenery in front of him suddenly opened up. And Nie Rui finally understood why Ye Tao had taken a fancy to this place. This courtyard was definitely not a place where ordinary people lived. It was mostly a building like a guild hall. This entire open courtyard was not something that a residential house would have. And the most attractive thing was naturally the twelve ancient trees that were neatly planted in two rows. These trees had been there since the courtyard was completed, and now they were more than one hundred and fifty years old. They were lush and green, healthy and vigorous, full of strength, yet not at all rough. Nie Rui didn't know much about this kind of tree, but when he saw the scene in front of him, his eyes lit up.

"These trees alone are priceless treasures." Nie Rui couldn't help but sigh. Being able to maintain a batch of trees from the same period for so many years, and all of them growing so well, and the thickness and size of the twelve trees being very uniform, this kind of thing rarely happened.

"Yes, I was a little reluctant at first sight. But... I can't buy the courtyard to collect these trees, that would be too extravagant." Ye Tao said with a smile, and continued to happily walk around inside with Nie Rui. "The layout of the rooms may not be that different from ordinary hotels, after all, everyone is used to this kind of arrangement when they go out. It's just that it's much more comfortable here."

A waiter at the hotel respectfully opened a room for the two of them. The interior decoration was not gorgeous, but every detail looked so appropriate and comfortable. Now, electric lighting, plumbing, and drainage systems were quite popular and gradually being promoted in Dongping, and Ye Tao's designed and renovated hotel would naturally not lack these elements. In fact, in Ye Tao's own opinion, what this kind of hotel lacked compared to what he remembered might be air conditioning, internet access, and bathroom heaters. In this "standard room," the entertainment equipment provided was some books. Not only this luxurious and low-key hotel, but even the "Home Inn" chain inns, which now had more than two hundred chain institutions all over the world, each had a library. Reading, in any era, was the cheapest and most popular form of entertainment.

Nie Rui marveled, "This place looks very comfortable... But, Ye Jinglue, you doing this kind of thing is probably... a waste of talent, isn't it?"

Ye Tao smiled and said nonchalantly, "I still like it here, just coming up with a general plan and being responsible for the overall design. My family is all here, and they can help. Otherwise, where would I have time to spend so much on the drawings?"

Nie Rui knew that Ye Tao was talking about Dai Qiuyan and Sophie, both of whom were becoming more and more influential. Ye's Workshop had many departments related to art and design. The design of various types of products not only had to meet the standards in terms of craftsmanship, but also strived for excellence in the design of those civil products. Even the simplest products would not give people a rough feeling. Dai Qiuyan now managed the design departments for regular civil products such as IKEA Home Furnishings, while Sophie, because of her relatively rich experience in technical drawing production and design assistance, managed the design departments for technical products and military products. There was no doubt that the aesthetics of the two were profoundly influencing the entire Dongping, and even the entire world... With such assistants, Ye Tao really didn't need to invest too much energy in this kind of design and construction.

And the hotel was not only comfortable to look at. Hot water was available 24/7, the lighting design was comfortable, and the super-comfortable bed that made people not want to get up made people feel very comfortable. For someone like Nie Rui, who didn't usually pay much attention to his own life, and was always running around to various more difficult places, having to make do with everything, this place was much more comfortable than his home. In general, such a hotel might even completely subvert the casual feeling that ordinary people used to have when staying outside, and instead connect travel and enjoyment together. Of course, this kind of quality of life would probably be attractive to the truly wealthy, not to mention the relatively wealthy ordinary travelers.

"However, Ye Jinglue, you're taking away Du's family's business like this, isn't that a little bad?" Nie Rui said jokingly.

"No, this hotel was actually built for the Du family. Du Fengchi will come here in a few days to take over the management of the hotel. The current expenses are all paid by me in advance. When he comes, he will bring two Yunzhou Bank drafts, one to pay for the renovation labor and materials, and the other is my design fee." Ye Tao smiled happily, not at all embarrassed. He was now undoubtedly the richest man in the world, but his relationship with his friends was still friendly and warm, and he never put on airs. Du Fengchi started out as the big brother who took care of Ye Tao back then, and now he was still the closest friend who constantly interacted with the Ye family. And the Du family, which was only relatively powerful in the inn and restaurant industry in Yicheng back then, had grown into a giant in this industry. Moreover, Du Fengchi was gradually expanding Du's family's business from his own direct operation into a hotel management group that combined direct operation, franchising, and concurrent management, according to Ye Tao's suggestion. Now, the Du family controlled as many as seven hundred various types of inns, restaurants, hotels, and other types of entertainment service projects, and had even penetrated into Chunnan... Nie Rui was also very familiar with Du Fengchi. He occasionally arranged some secret agent-related businesses through Du Fengchi, and almost every hotel and inn in Chunnan had Nie Rui's subordinates.

Nie Rui teased, "Do you still care about this little money now?"

Ye Tao said with a smile, "Money is one thing, but even if I don't care about it anymore, it's better for everyone to follow the rules in the industry. It shouldn't change just because we are very close friends. I originally wanted to invest in this hotel, but Brother Du didn't agree. He said that he couldn't use the people I have, and it's better for me to build it and just throw it to him. I think about it, and it's true, but the design fee is still a considerable amount of money. I'll take it back and buy something for the kids to play with."

Nie Rui shrugged and said, "Speaking of this, since you mentioned your subordinates, then I have something to tell you. Ye Jinglue, you ignore those impeachments, and His Majesty also has deep trust in you. Those impeachment memorials are just read and then ignored. But the court discussions are endless, especially those... newcomers who don't understand anything, just like to talk. Not restricting speech was something that Princess Zhaohua and you persuaded His Majesty to agree to, so it's naturally not good to take it back, but there is a lot of discussion outside. You can not care, but what about your subordinates? They are being told outside that their boss is some kind of traitor, are they happy?"

Nie Rui saw Ye Tao's brows furrow, sighed and said, "Ye Jinglue, if it wasn't for the idle trick of you and Princess Zhaohua, I probably wouldn't be in this position today. And in this position, I can see too many things. This human heart is a treacherous place, and it really can't be treated with your usual way of doing things. I originally wanted to help you take care of it myself and deter the villains, but now, I still have to tell you about it. I have to take action when I go back this time. Those bastards are making me unable to stand it anymore."

After speaking, Nie Rui suddenly thought of something and asked, "Ye Jinglue, what's the name of this hotel?"

Ye Tao was still thinking about what Nie Rui wanted to do to help him take care of things, and casually replied, "Kuan Ting." (wide courtyard)