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

Chapter 279 Who provoked her?

When Dongfang Jin and Gu Chenglin arrived at the place they had arranged with Lu Yunqing and the others, two carriages were already parked there.

As they approached with grim faces, a dozen men in black emerged from the shadows and surrounded them.

"Step back!" A powerful shout came from one of the carriages.

Upon hearing this voice, those people vanished into the shadows as if they were ghosts.

Upon seeing this, Dongfang Jin froze for a moment. Before she could speak, Cang Lingxuan, Jun Qirui, and Lu Yunqing emerged from the carriage.

Lu Yunqing walked quickly to them, grabbed Dongfang Jin and pulled her away: "Xiao Jin, my teacher wants to see you."

Gu Chenglin...

Am I still here?

Is it appropriate for you to pull my wife like that?

Dongfang Jin didn't speak, but nodded weakly. She had just been taken advantage of by that shameless Emperor Shengde, and now she had no energy at all.

He followed Lu Yunqing listlessly to the understated yet luxurious carriage, exhaled a breath of stale air, and stepped into the carriage.

Cang Lingxuan watched Dongfang Jin get into the carriage, then walked to Gu Chenglin's side, asking curiously, "What's wrong with her? Who upset her?"

It's only been a short time since we separated, how come you're acting like you've had a serious illness?

Jun Qirui frowned and looked at Gu Chenglin, who also had a cold expression: "Did someone bully her?"

This is the capital city, right under the emperor's nose. It's a place where princes, nobles, high-ranking officials, and the families of officials of all ranks gather. Could it be...?

Gu Chenglin glanced at the carriage and pointed at Cang Lingxuan with his elbow: "That's his cousin. He's asking for a bit too much."

Now, just thinking about the pile of stuff in the main hall of the Imperial Study gives him a headache.

His emperor cousin is really shameless; didn't he see his wife's angry face?

They kept saying it wasn't enough and wanted more.

He only stopped, looking bewildered, when his wife broke down in tears.

Perhaps realizing he had gone too far, he hurriedly ordered Eunuch An to fetch ten thousand taels of gold, a hundred bolts of silk, a box of pearls, and a token that would allow him to enter the palace without having to kneel.

But none of these things made his wife happy; she cried so much her heart was breaking.

After he and his wife entered the space, Ruyi looked pale and ashamed, and kept telling his wife that she was wrong.

The more you talk about insatiable greed, the worse it gets...

Cang Lingxuan was surprised: "How much did you want?"

What did his cousin want from turning his sister into this state?

The more he thought about it, the more curious he became, and the more itchy he was to go to the palace to find out what was going on.

Gu Chenglin sighed: "There are many, the Imperial Study is almost full."

Upon hearing this, Cang Lingxuan stared wide-eyed, his face filled with astonishment and shock: "Ruthless!"

My cousin's study is quite large; could it be filled to the brim? It sounds a bit exaggerated, but it must be quite a lot, otherwise the couple wouldn't be in this state.

Jun Qirui looked at Gu Chenglin with great sympathy: "It seems that today is Xiao Jin's day of tribulation."

Gu Chenglin was about to nod when he sensed something was wrong and asked, puzzled, "What do you mean?"

Jun Qirui raised his chin slightly: "There are two more boxes in the car."

He thought to himself, "These aren't treasures, they're just some books, given to me by the Imperial Tutor, waiting for your wife to translate them."

Gu Chenglin still didn't understand, but Cang Lingxuan said quietly, "They all seem pretty ruthless."

I feel sorry for his sister for a minute.

Upon hearing this, Gu Chenglin immediately sensed something was wrong. He walked over to Lu Yunqing and asked in a low voice with a stern face, "What did your teacher prepare for Xiao Jin?"

Lu Yunqing smiled wryly: "You'll find out when we get home."

He had heard what they were saying. Knowing Cang Lingyuan as he did, he wouldn't stop until he had squeezed every last drop out of Dongfang Jin.

Thinking back to when we were kids, that's how he exploited us, giving us both a stick and a sweet treat...

Seeing his expression, Gu Chenglin felt increasingly uneasy. Just as he was about to get into the car, Lu Yunqing and Jun Qirui grabbed him from the left and right.

Cang Lingxuan whispered from the side, "My dad is in the car."

Gu Chenglin...

Father-in-law?

My heart skipped a beat, and I slowly lowered my raised foot.

Why is Prince Dun joining in the commotion?

……

He had planned to go home before dawn, but today's events were too sudden, and Dongfang Jin had no intention of lingering.

After midnight, the four returned to the Gu residence in Ling'an County.

Lu Yunqing, Jun Qirui, and Gu Chenglin did not go to sleep. The three of them sat in the living room, drinking tea and chatting about what had happened that night.

Jun Qirui looked at Gu Chenglin with sympathy: "You should take Xiao Jin to the capital less often in the future!"

Lu Yunqing shook her head helplessly: "That guy really went a bit too far this time. I don't think he'll do it again. He knows his limits."

Dongfang Jin returned to her room, still wearing her shoes and clothes, lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed), pulled a quilt over her head, and went to sleep.

Gu Chenglin spoke with the two of them absentmindedly for a while, but he was really worried about his wife, so he went back to his room.

Looking at the person lying casually on the kang (a heated brick bed), he regretted not coming back sooner.

I can't always listen to my wife anymore.

I knelt down and carefully took off my wife's shoes, gently touching her feet to make sure they weren't cold.

He took off his shoes and got onto the kang (a heated brick bed), then carefully and slowly lifted the quilt covering his wife's head.

Seeing that she was covered in sweat under the blanket, with tears still clinging to the corners of her eyes, I gently wiped them away with a handkerchief.

He leaned down and whispered gently in her ear, "Xiao Jin, let's go to the space."

My clothes are all wet. If I change them here, I'll definitely catch a cold.

Dongfang Jin didn't open her eyes, but reached out and tugged at Gu Chenglin's sleeve. When Gu Chenglin saw that she responded, he took the opportunity to pull her into his arms, and the two disappeared from the house.

After entering the space, Gu Chenglin looked at the empty sofa. Everything was there, but the small figure was nowhere to be seen.

Well, it seems both master and servant have been discouraged by their cousin. They should probably avoid going to the capital in the future.

Looking at the person in his arms, he felt heartbroken. This cousin of his really had no shame.

Capital

At midnight, the bells of the royal temple rang out, dong dong...

One hundred and eight sounds represent the twelve months, twenty-four solar terms, and seventy-two pentads (each pentad lasting five days) in a year. The sum of these numbers is exactly one hundred and eight.

Therefore, the 108 chimes symbolize the cycle of a year and the eternity of life.

Furthermore, the 108 chimes ringing out in the royal temple also have special significance in Buddhism.

It is said that the Buddhist bell-ringing ceremony usually includes seven quick strikes, eight slow strikes, then twenty light strikes, repeated three times, and finally ending with three heavy strikes.

These 108 bell chimes are interpreted as representing the 108 kinds of suffering in life, with each chime representing a sound of liberation.

imperial study room

Only when they heard the bell did Long Yi and the others come to their senses, and they all moved their stiff bodies slightly.

Cang Lingyuan stared blankly at the Dragon Guards and Shadow Guards not far away, their bodies stiff.

And there was Anshun, who was slumped on the ground in front of him, silently grinning like an idiot while holding a corn cob.

Somewhat annoyed: "Why didn't you remind me?"

Long Yi sighed helplessly, "My lord, you keep calling me that, it's never enough."

It means that if you keep shouting, how can the subordinates respond?

His legs are still weak with fear.

If Gu Chenglin hadn't carried the crying, aggrieved Dongfang Jin away, you probably wouldn't even know it.

Compared to this, the reward you gave is nothing; how could they possibly feel good about it?

How can I be happy?

Thinking of Gu Chenglin's face as black as charcoal and Dongfang Jin crying uncontrollably, he felt a pang of sympathy for her.

Prince Dun, Cang Nanxi, and the Imperial Tutor saw off Dongfang Jin and the other three. After watching them leave, they did not go home but went directly to the palace.

They were genuinely curious about what the emperor had done to offend the little girl.