I was a stepmother in ancient times, and I led my whole family to wealth.

Chapter 42 Gu Chenglin's Background

Dongfang Jin brought him a cup, and then poured one for each of the two children: "Try it."

Lu Yunqing watched her smell and taste the tea and said, "This is Maojian tea that was just sent over from Guanglin Prefecture this year. It's new tea and tastes quite good."

Dongfang Jin smelled the aroma, took a small sip, and then put down the teacup: "Hmm, not bad, but it's missing one step in the process."

As soon as she finished speaking, she regretted it. She had really been too talkative, and this was a bad habit she couldn't break.

No wonder her mother always tells her that if she continues to be so carefree, she'll get a beating.

Lu Yunqing paused in her tea-drinking motion, then asked in surprise, "Oh? This is a thousand-year-old craft passed down by the Yao family of Guanglin Prefecture. The first batch of tea leaves each year is tribute tea."

Dongfang Jin laughed upon hearing this. A thousand-year-old tradition? And a tribute item? It's nothing compared to her stockpile.

The color and liquor of this tea clearly indicate that it underwent two less rounds of fixation and two fewer rounds of re-rolling.

To know that truly good Maojian tea leaves are slender, straight, round, and smooth, covered with white down, and have a bright green color, resembling pine needles.

What about this one? These individual stems look like wilted eggplants, all droopy and lifeless.

This flavor doesn't have that rich aroma and sweet aftertaste; it's elegant and refreshing, with a crisp and refreshing taste.

Seeing her increasingly disgusted expression as she tasted the tea, Lu Yunqing became curious: "This tea was picked around the time of the Autumn Equinox. You know, tea from this time is a rare and precious commodity."

There's only so much of it. Once it's past the picking season, the tea will be completely ruined in terms of both color and taste.

Dongfang Jin was speechless. Didn't people here pick tea around the time of Qingming Festival?

Autumn tea is nowhere near as tender, fresh, fragrant, or delicious as spring tea.

It should be noted that Maojian tea is mainly made from one bud and one leaf or one bud and two leaves.

This cup contains good tea leaves, but it's such a waste to treat such good things like this. The workers certainly didn't bring out the aroma or the quality of the tea.

However, she doesn't want to say too much right now. She has already revealed too much, and it's best to proceed gradually in everything.

He took another sip, savored it carefully, nodded, and said against his will, "Hmm, not bad."

Lu Yunqing shook her head helplessly. This girl was dishonest, so perfunctory, a bit sly. Oh well, let's take it slow.

……

Chu Xiong led Gu Chenglin to the last courtyard of the county government office, where Feng was already waiting. Upon seeing Gu Chenglin, Feng knelt on one knee and said, "Master."

Gu Chenglin nodded: "Get up."

Chu Xiong then changed his expression and looked at Gu Chenglin with a loving look: "Child, you have suffered."

Although Gu Chenglin was puzzled, he still shook his head: "It's not bitter."

Seeing his reaction, Chu Xiong knew his doubts: "Hehe, you don't need to be wary of me. My wife is the daughter of the old Duke of Ningguo, and also your mother's aunt."

My wife and your maternal grandfather, Lu Yunqing's maternal grandfather, were both the eldest sons of the late Duke Ning.

I've come here on behalf of the current Duke of Ningguo, Hua Yutang, who is also your maternal uncle. I presume you've already met him.

Upon hearing this, Gu Chenglin was shocked. So, he was the cousin of Magistrate Lu?

"Yes, I've seen it. I retired from the army and went home because of this."

He thought of his uncle rushing to Feihu Pass to see him, recognize him, and tell him about his background.

If it weren't for this, he probably would have died on the battlefield and never returned.

"Back then, your mother came to Guangnan Prefecture with the Rongguo Duke's family to pay respects to their ancestors and also to Lingyin Temple to pray for the Rongguo Duke's patriarch... Little did she know that she was already two months pregnant after arriving here..."

Because the old Duke, that is, your grandfather, was seriously ill, the whole family rushed to the capital.

For your mother's safety, leave her and the maids and servants who serve her here in your hometown until she gives birth, then return home.

Little did you know, just when your mother was almost eight months pregnant with you, your grandfather's affairs were still unfinished, and then the old master of the Rongguo Duke passed away.

Your grandfather is the pillar of the Rongguo Duke's power; he's an old man who fought alongside the first emperor of Donglin Kingdom...

Your mother, as the direct granddaughter-in-law of the family, had to be present, so she rushed back to her home in the capital...

Your aunt was the late emperor's empress and is now His Majesty's mother.

With the Duke of Rongguo's pillar of stability gone, those in the court who were eager to make trouble began to act unruly.

Unable to find fault with your aunt and the Crown Prince, they set their sights on the Rongguo Duke's family...

Someone leaked the information and ambushed you and your child on the way... In the end, the Ningguo Duke's family found out that those people were a branch of the Zheng family of the Wuguo Duke.

At that time, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Wu's family was the Crown Princess, and could be said to be related to the Duke of Rong... Although this matter dealt with the branch of the Duke of Wu's family.

However, the intricacies of this situation are clear to anyone with eyes to see, and the mastermind remains at large.

"I know, my uncle told me," Gu Chenglin said expressionlessly, revealing no emotion.

Duke Wu? He knew.

It is the maternal family of the Crown Princess when Your Majesty was the Crown Prince. That Crown Princess seduced Your Majesty's elder brother, Prince Kang, and even had a son with Prince Kang.

Later, she competed with Prince Kang for the throne, but ultimately failed... I heard that the Crown Princess is currently still in the Cold Palace, and the child she had with Prince Kang is also imprisoned in the palace.

After that, Chu Xiong told him about the various forces in the capital again.

While these families were of high social standing, none of them were of one mind during the struggle for succession ten years ago.

Some families even supported several princes. In the end, after the current emperor ascended the throne, those who had chosen the wrong side were either dismissed from their posts, executed, or exiled.

The scene could be described as a river of blood.

Now, of the families that participated in the struggle for the throne, only one remains that supports His Majesty. No one knows who came up with this treacherous plan, which is tantamount to cutting off the arms of those powerful families.

Even the few neutral powerful families suffered heavy losses.

However, those families that remained neutral are now somewhat dissatisfied, because after the current emperor ascended the throne and married the granddaughter of General Helian, the Duke of Zhenguo, he has not taken any action to select concubines.

The women in the palace now were all there when His Majesty was the Crown Prince.

They all wanted to send their legitimate daughters into the palace, but no matter how much they urged the officials of the Censorate to speak, no matter what they said, the emperor simply refused to select a concubine.

The first three years were due to the mourning period following the death of the late emperor, the next three years were due to the depletion of the national treasury, and now?

Now the empress has no children, the emperor is not selecting concubines, the national treasury is still not enough to support the empress, and no powerful family is offering any assistance.

To the east lies the western part of the country, to the northwest are Flying Eagle Pass and Flying Tiger Pass, and to the southwest are Dragon Tiger Pass and Wild Goose Gate Pass.

Feiying Pass corresponds to the Western Liang Kingdom, which is relatively better off. There aren't many major battles, but there are occasional minor incursions.

Feihu Pass corresponds to the Xiongnu, a country that has been sworn enemies with the neighboring country for generations, a feud that is irreconcilable.

The Cangmo Kingdom and the Oirat Kingdom in the southwest are relatively better off, only occasionally coming to the border to cause trouble, but even so, we cannot let our guard down, and the soldiers are still stationed there.

His Majesty the Emperor seems to be at odds with these powerful families, and the stalemate continues.

……

"Goose, goose, goose, with its curved neck singing to the sky. White feathers float on green water, red webbed feet stir clear waves."

The next morning, when Lu Yunqing returned from handling official business at the yamen, she heard Gu Chenglin's two children reciting poems.

He followed the sound and saw two children, each holding a stick, writing something on the ground.

Meanwhile, Dongfang Jin sat to one side where he played chess, engrossed in writing something.

He approached and saw the maid about to bow, but he stopped her with a gesture.

"Sesame paste? Sesame oil? What are these?"

Dongfang Jin looked up and saw Lu Yunqing dressed in official robes. She was about to get up and pay her respects when Lu Yunqing stopped her.