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

Chapter 451 A family reunion

She lightly tapped the stone table with her fingertips, her eyes crinkling slightly as she looked up and glanced at everyone: "Let him stay here, as long as he wants."

Stone, tell your brother Wenkai to treat the Gu residence as his own home.

Also, there happen to be quite a few of my uncles' exam papers stored in the study at home—"

Then, turning to Yang Wenwen, whose eyes were red-rimmed, he said, "Wenwen, your brother is taking the exam next year, so you can use this to study hard."

Yang Wenwen's nose trembled slightly as she wiped away her tears, her voice trembling with sobs as she said, "Thank you, Aunt Jin..." Her voice trailed off as she clenched her handkerchief tightly in her fingers.

With the notes and exam papers from my uncles as references, my brother will definitely pass the imperial examination next year.

Gu Chenglin leaned back on the stone chair, smiling as he watched the children gather around his wife.

Suddenly, I noticed that Shen Qihui, who usually loved to joke around, was sitting on the stone bench, staring blankly at a lychee shell between his fingers.

He raised an eyebrow and called out softly, "Xiao Hui, are you homesick?" His voice carried a hint of teasing.

Dongfang Jin looked in the direction of the sound and saw Shen Qihui peeling lychees with his head down, unaware that the fruit was falling onto the stone table.

He couldn't help but frown slightly: "Is Xiaohui really homesick?"

She tapped her fingertips on the fruit plate in front of him. The usually lively, cheerful and energetic man looked like a wilted eggplant today.

Shen Qihui suddenly looked up, his ears turning bright red, his fingers twisting his sleeve as he stammered, "Uncle Chenglin, Aunt, I..."

Before he could finish speaking, Gu Jingye bumped his shoulder.

"Mother, him—" Gu Jingye leaned close to Dongfang Jin's ear, his eyes glancing with a smile at Shen Qihui, who had suddenly sat up straight, "He's fallen for my cousin Rongrong."

"Cough!" Gu Chenglin almost choked on his tea and tapped his fingers on the stone table.

If I remember correctly, Gu Rongrong is only eleven years old, right?

His gaze fell on Shen Qihui's flushed face, and he suddenly remembered when the child first came to the capital... Now he has grown into a handsome young man.

At only fourteen years old, he had already developed feelings for someone even earlier than his older brother?

Dongfang Jin was also taken aback, and then looked Shen Qihui up and down.

Seeing that his ears were so red they looked like they were about to bleed, she suddenly chuckled and said, "Rongrong is only eleven years old, yet you're as anxious as an ant on a hot pan."

"Does this mean you want your aunt to act as a matchmaker right now?"

She lightly touched his brow with her fingertip, a smile appearing in her eyes, and then teased, "You're a little impatient."

"Auntie, I..." Shen Qihui clenched his fists, then suddenly slumped down as if deflated.

"I'm afraid... afraid she'll look down on me... my identity..." Her voice grew softer and softer, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the patterns on the stone table.

Dongfang Jin reached out and flicked his forehead, her tone tinged with disappointment: "Silly boy, you have to earn your status yourself."

As long as you act uprightly and honestly, you are no worse than others.

Besides, you have your aunt backing you up.

Seeing him look up at her with a firm gaze, she softened her tone: "Besides, you have the Prince Dun's Mansion behind you, hmm?"

“Mother—” Gu Caiwei suddenly leaned closer and tugged at Dongfang Jin’s sleeve with her fingertips.

With a smile, she glanced at the awkward Shen Qihui, "A few days ago, Brother Hui gave Sister Rongrong a silver jade bracelet."

As a result, he was kidnapped by Rongrong's uncle and imprisoned in the western suburbs camp for three days!

The voice was kept extremely low, yet it made Shen Qihui's ears turn bright red instantly.

Recalling those three days, Shen Qihui subconsciously shuddered.

He was not bad in terms of martial arts skills, but in terms of actual combat, he was still far inferior to the soldiers in the western suburban camp.

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Jin chuckled, gently rubbing her daughter's hair with her fingertips, a look of understanding in her eyes.

Helian Shuo is extremely protective of his own.

Back then, for the sake of his sister, he didn't even give face to those powerful and wealthy young men who came to propose marriage.

Gu Yunlang, this brother-in-law, was someone he found for his sister himself.

He turned to Shen Qihui, his tone slightly teasing, "You should focus on your studies first."

"We can bring this up again after I pass the imperial examination next year."

Shen Qihui looked up abruptly, his eyes shining: "Really?"

"Of course." Dongfang Jin smiled and patted the back of his hand. "Don't worry, Rongrong is a sensible child."

If she had the same feelings for you, she wouldn't easily agree to date someone else.

"Let your aunt find an excuse to visit your Empress Aunt..."

Before he finished speaking, Shen Qihui straightened his back, his fingertips tightly gripping the lychee shell, his eyes filled with a determined look.

Steam rose from the teacups on the stone table. Gu Chenglin looked at the children and suddenly chuckled softly.

The fragrance of lychees filling the courtyard seems to hold a secret sweeter than honey.

Before we knew it, the children had all grown up and reached the age where they could become adoptive parents.

And he, too, has grown old.

But his wife... seems... not to have changed much.

It seems he'll have to be more proactive about having a child.

A gentle breeze suddenly rose under the eaves, making the copper bells on the corners of the eaves tinkle.

Gu Caiwei suddenly reached out and tugged at her mother's sleeve, handing her a peeled lychee: "Mom, try this one, it's even sweeter than the last one."

Dongfang Jin looked down at the fruit in her daughter's palm, the glistening juice reflecting the concern in her eyes.

Suddenly, she chuckled softly—oh well, the children have all grown up and have their own little thoughts.

Too much restraint is not a good thing either.

She took the lychee and put it in her mouth. The sweet taste spread in her throat, and when she looked up, her eyes were filled with a gentle smile: "Caiwei was right, it really is the sweetest one."

Gu Jingye looked at his father: "Father, how long will you and Mother stay in the capital this time?"

Gu Chenglin looked at his son. It had been five years; he had lived in the capital for five years.

Although he and his wife often visited them over the past five years, they never had much time to spend with them.

"I have no plans to leave at the moment."

Gu Caiwei excitedly tugged at Dongfang Jin's sleeve and said, "Really?"

Dongfang Jin nodded: "Yes, from now on, Mother will live in the capital to stay with you."

Gu Jingye's gaze darted back and forth between his father and mother: "Father, do you and Mother live in the Prince's Mansion or at Grandpa's house?"

Gu Chenglin looked at them and said, "Listen to your mother."

"Alright, stop guessing. Your father and I will be living in a manor on the outskirts of Beijing from now on."

I want to properly renovate the land and the three mountains that your grandfather gave me back then.

It just so happens that the grapes in the vineyards of your royal uncle's estate are bearing fruit this year.

The distillery is also successfully built, and it just so happens that your father and his men are needed there to brew wine.

Upon hearing this, Gu Jingye excitedly asked, "Father, Mother, can we live on the estate?"

Gu Chenglin glanced at his son's expectant eyes, then at his wife: "If you don't mind the fatigue, then go."

"yeah!"

After staying at Prince Dun's Mansion for two days and then at Duke Rong's Mansion for two more days, Dongfang Jin and Gu Chenglin went to their estate in the suburbs of Beijing.

"Finally, some peace and quiet." Gu Chenglin glanced at the fields of crops swaying in the wind in front of him.

He turned to his wife beside him and said, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the jade pendant at his waist.

This jade pendant was given to him by Ruyi last night; its interior space is larger than that of a Qiankun bag.

Dongfang Jin looked at the neatly arranged corn in the field. Although it was not as vigorous as the spiritual field in Lingwu Village, it was still full of vitality.

She gently brushed the dark pattern on her sleeve, her gaze sweeping over the busy figures in the fields.

A faint smile played on her lips: "It is indeed quieter than the capital."

Her voice carried a hint of weariness with the hustle and bustle of the city, and her fingertips unconsciously caressed the intertwined floral pattern on the hem of her skirt.

It's never as real and genuine to be with those who wear "masks" as to be with the soil in the fields.

"Since you're staying here long-term, go and pick some corn for me."

Gu Chenglin raised his chin and suddenly noticed the contentment in his wife's eyes.

His tone held a hint of affection: "Jin'er doesn't want to eat roasted corn, does she?"

"I'll go!" Yu Ying was about to take a step when she heard her son-in-law say this, but Dongfang Jin grabbed her hand.

She pointed at Gu Chenglin, raising a slight brow at the corner of her eye: "Let him go, you'll only get a few if you go."

"Let's go set up the grill and grill some meat when Jingye and the others come back."