My stepmother is here, all the rebellious sons and evildoers should kneel down!

Lu Shengshi was just about to make a move in secret to kill another mouth, but she heard Aunt Mei's excited voice coming from outside: "Xingcheng, my son, you are finally back!"

She was startled and quickly hid the poison she had prepared and hurried out to meet him.

In the courtyard, Aunt Mei had already hugged Lu Xingcheng, who was dressed in gorgeous clothes, tightly, and said excitedly: "Mother knew that my Xingcheng would not die in the Cining Palace. He would definitely become successful and return home in glory."

Lu Xingcheng came with more pomp and circumstance than the last time he came back. Not only did he have two servants following him, he also had a large and luxurious carriage.

"Xingcheng! Xingcheng is back... Mother, Xingcheng is back." Lu Shengshi hurried to help Old Madam Lu, and quickly called several starving children of the Lu family to gather around.

Lu Xingcheng instructed the servant to distribute the beef jerky and candy he brought back to everyone first.

The Lu family was already starving, and when they saw the good stuff, they didn't care about their appearance and just stuffed it into their mouths.

"Xingcheng... Mother, I can still taste the taste of beef in this life. This is not a dream!" Aunt Mei started crying. Lu Xingcheng asked in a low voice, "Did mother suffer after I left last time?"

"There is no food at home, but your aunt didn't make things difficult for me. She gave me an egg every ten days or so." Aunt Mei had no idea that if Lu Xingcheng didn't come back today, Lu Shengshi would send her to see the King of Hell.

"Is my father back yet?"

Lu Xingcheng walked into the room and asked.

Everyone was just busy eating and nodding their heads.

Lu Xingcheng sighed, "I am now in the palace, and I don't know whether he is alive or dead, let alone who his noble lady is. Among the royal relatives in the palace, I have never heard of any woman with a birthmark on her face."

Old Madam Lu ate several pieces of beef jerky in one breath. She had bad teeth and swallowed them without thinking.

Beef is nutritious, and you won’t have to worry about starving to death if you eat a few more pieces for a few days.

"You guys better stop eating. You all are like starving ghosts." Old Madam Lu scolded the four children from the second and third rooms.

Lu Xingcheng waved his hand and said, "Grandma, don't worry about them. Just eat when you're hungry. Now that I'm back, you don't have to live the hard life you had before."

Wen Qiqi brought back a large sum of money to enrich the imperial treasury. It seemed that the imperial court would soon notify the county government to distribute some relief food, and there would also be free porridge on the streets.

Madam Lu said hurriedly, "That won't do. You don't know that these four mouths are simply not full. If you let them eat whatever they want, they will eat a pit of food. When you leave, we will be in trouble."

Many people starved to death in the countryside this year, including more than ten from the Lu family alone.

The Lu family has managed to survive until now thanks to the savings given by the nobles, as well as the little things and money that Lu Xingcheng brought back last time.

"Since there is no news about my father for the time being, the Lu family can only rely on me now."

Lu Xingcheng looked at Old Madam Lu and Lu Shengshi with a proud look on his face, "Grandma, aunt, and these four brothers and sisters, come with my mother and live with me in Beijing today."

When these words were spoken, Mrs. Lu was shocked.

Lu Xingcheng smiled slightly and held Aunt Mei's hand: "Mom, your son is now a favorite of the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager personally gave me a house in Kyoto, which is not smaller than our previous house. I have ordered people to decorate it. This time I came back to pick up mother, grandmother, aunt, and my brothers and sisters."

Because the last time she came back, Aunt Mei was bullied by the second and third rooms, and the Lu mother and daughter didn't care at all, so Lu Xingcheng deliberately mentioned Aunt Mei first to let them know who he had benefited from.

Madam Lu couldn't believe her ears and hurriedly confirmed it with Lu Shengshi.

Aunt Mei couldn't believe it either, and asked Xingcheng hurriedly, "How can we return to Beijing to live when our Lu Mansion has been confiscated?"

"This is the Queen Mother's grace."

Lu Xingcheng smiled proudly: "It's just that I am now Lord Lan. When you go back, you will live in the Lan Mansion. Don't mention anything about the Lu Mansion. As for wealth and glory, it's certainly not a problem."

Old Madam Lu dreamed of returning to her former days of luxury, but her grandson's words today made her feel as if she were dreaming.

In order to show his current strength and to prevent his relatives in the countryside from looking down on him, during those years of famine, Lu Xing bought a pig, killed it immediately, stewed the pork, cooked red beans and white rice, and invited the village head, relatives of the Lu family, and Aunt Mei's parents, brothers and sisters-in-law to have a delicious meal.

In times of famine, this is like saving lives.

Everyone was grateful for the benefits they received, and when they left, they each received three to five pounds of pork and some oil and water. From then on, they regarded Lu Xingcheng as a benefactor and dared not say anything against him anymore.

Lu Xingcheng brought the Lu family back to Kyoto and moved into the Lan Mansion given by the Empress Dowager herself. Not to mention that Old Mrs. Lu cried with joy.

Besides, the Fourteenth Prince had received the military order and was planning to rush to East City with Wen Qiqi and General Ye.

After much deliberation, he finally came to Wen's house in person with the betrothal gifts.

Xinyi had already told the young lady the secret in his heart, and after some persuasion, he was no longer as worried about Diejiu as he was at the beginning and cried his heart out. However, when he saw that the Fourteenth Prince had really sent a betrothal gift, he was still worried.

"Diejiu, the prince said that when he returns to the capital, you will marry into the Fourteenth Prince's mansion. I can't bear to leave you, and I'm even more worried..."

Xinyi pouted and whispered, "Although what the young lady said makes sense, or I am too pessimistic, but when I think of my sister's fate, I am afraid that you will follow in her footsteps."

Die Jiu smiled, her eyebrows and eyes curved.

"Don't curse me. If I were like your sister and couldn't find a good man, I would go back to the young lady and would not swallow my grievances alone or commit suicide..."

Xinyi finally burst into laughter. The Fourteenth Prince was still discussing with the sisters in the Wen Mansion about marrying Diejiu when he came back this time. Diejiu walked in and heard the prince say, "Although she can't be my legal wife, in my heart, she is no different from my legal wife."

"Your Majesty."

Die Jiu's eyes turned red and she walked over.

"I understand the prince's good intentions, but I don't want to delay the prince's offspring... The prince only wants me to be a concubine. The legal wife is the one who gives birth to the prince's offspring. Her status is noble. I am lucky to be able to stay with the prince."

The Fourteenth Prince looked at Die Jiu's rosy little face, thinking of how she pretended to be pregnant for the sake of her young lady and ate sour apricots in big mouthfuls, and he couldn't help but smile.

"I just thought of the finished product, but Miss Die Jiu has already thought of offspring."

"what?"

Die Jiu's excitement disappeared, and she was instead filled with anger and humiliation.

"Your Majesty!"

"Haha! There is still a long way to go. We can discuss the issue of offspring after I return triumphantly."