Feng Zexuan felt a bit puzzled in her mind.
【System, Li Qingfeng is the dignified Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, earning 15 taels of silver a month—how did he end up so miserably hungry?】
【Host, his household consists of only his wife and daughter. His wife is frugal and capable, and his daughter is obedient and sensible.】
【His parents live in the countryside, farming and supporting themselves, so he doesn’t need to worry about them at all.】
【Then that’s strange! Fifteen taels for three people in the capital may not be wealthy, but they definitely shouldn’t be starving!】
The court officials all turned their attention upon hearing this inner voice.
Chu Heng, the Minister of Revenue, frowned.
He managed the empire’s finances and knew the capital’s living costs very well.
Fifteen taels for three people—indeed not rich, but absolutely enough to avoid hunger.
Someone murmured quietly, “Does Lord Li have some illness that requires expensive treatment?”
“Or has some misfortune happened at home?”
【Host, the truth is something you could never imagine!】
【What?】
【Because he has a second aunt!】
Feng Zexuan’s mind flashed through countless melodramatic possibilities.
【What does a second aunt have to do with him being poor?】
【When Li Qingfeng was young, he often stayed home alone, so he would frequently go next door to his second aunt’s house.】
【And then?】
【He’d go over and forget to come back when meals were ready. His aunt and uncle would call him to eat, and he just… sat down with them.】
【And so, his “mooching meals” life began.】
【How many times did he mooch?】
Feng Zexuan asked weakly.
【Too many to count! From age seven to fifteen—at least over a thousand meals!】
She sucked in a sharp breath.
【Over a thousand meals?! That’s insane!】
【His second aunt saw that he studied well and started manipulating him emotionally, saying she treated him like her own son.】
【What does a child understand about manipulation?】
【He only felt that his own home was cold, while his aunt’s house was warm.】
【Whenever he had time, he would bring his books there, and she would make him oil tea every day.】
【Oil tea?】
【Just tea mixed with rice—very simple food. It costs less than a wen per serving, and that’s what he ate the most.】
The other ministers sneered inwardly; such food truly was humble.
Li Qingfeng’s face burned red.
He still vaguely remembered that warmth.
A bowl of hot oil tea, the relaxed conversations with his aunt and cousins…
It was one of the few warm memories of his childhood.
His parents had worked themselves to exhaustion just to support him.
He was often left alone with an empty stove, starving.
His aunt’s house, though poor, always had hot food and people to talk to.
【Young Li Qingfeng even once thought: if he could choose, he’d rather have his second aunt as his mother.】
【Sometimes he even accidentally called her “Mother.”】
【System, stop. I feel bad for his real mother now.】
The officials in the court were stunned.
Calling his aunt “mother”?
How heartbreaking would that be for his real mother?
Li Qingfeng’s body stiffened, his face burning.
He had been only seven years old then. That slip had haunted him for years.
Fortunately, his mother never knew.
Otherwise, how much would it have hurt her?
【Where was his mother at that time?】
Feng Zexuan asked.
【She and his father were working in town—washing clothes and carrying goods. They returned home exhausted late at night.】
【They worked themselves to the bone just to support their son’s education.】
【A left-behind child, huh…】
Feng Zexuan shook her head, emotions tangled.
【But what does this have to do with why he’s poor now?】
Everyone also realized this point.
Exactly—childhood was one thing, but what about now?
【Host, after Li Qingfeng became an official, his second aunt came looking for him!】
She said, “Qingfeng, you used to call me ‘mother,’ I fed you for over ten years.”
“Now that you’re an official, you can’t forget me, can you?”
“I’m old and won’t live much longer. Just let me benefit a little from your success.”
She cried as she spoke, pitiful and heartbreaking.
Li Qingfeng was completely stunned and couldn’t refuse.
“I fed you countless meals! I watched you grow up like my own son!”
The ministers shook their heads.
How could anyone refuse that?
After eating over a thousand meals, how could he cut ties?
Chu Heng frowned.
But still… this shouldn’t have made him poor.
【Host, Li Qingfeng’s heart softened, so he agreed to give her two taels per month as support.】
【But then…】
The system paused.
【The second aunt pushed further. Not only did she move into his residence, she brought her two sons and a daughter with her.】
“Qingfeng, your cousins are your family too. You can’t let them suffer outside.”
“You have such a big house—what’s a few extra people?”
Feng Zexuan’s teeth itched in anger.
【This isn’t support… this is bloodsucking!】
【Host, it gets worse!】
The eldest son gambled and accumulated debt.
Every time, Li Qingfeng paid it off—tens or even hundreds of taels.
The second son’s wedding expenses were covered by him.
The daughter’s dowry was also paid by him.
The second aunt even said:
“Qingfeng, you promised to be filial to me forever when you were young. Now that you’re a court official, what’s this little money?”
The court officials were furious.
This was emotional blackmail!
How could childhood words be taken seriously?
She was shameless!
Li Qingfeng trembled, unable to lift his head.
Every attempt to refuse was blocked by those childhood memories.
They had become chains binding him for life.
【Host, Li Qingfeng’s monthly salary of 15 taels supports a family of five from the aunt’s side!】
【Two taels go as “filial money.”】
【Each of the three children receives one tael each.】
【That totals five taels.】
【The remaining ten taels are still used for gambling debts and social expenses!】
【Meanwhile, his own wife and daughter live the hardest life.】
The court grew angrier by the moment.
His wife wore patched clothes.
His daughter had never even tasted candied hawthorn.
On her birthday last month, she couldn’t even get a meat bun.
But the aunt’s eldest son frequented brothels, spending several taels at a time.
The second son lived lavishly after marriage.
The daughter-in-law kept returning to demand money.
The aunt always said:
“Qingfeng, your sister is being mistreated—you must help her!”
The ministers were enraged.
How unfair!
Li Qingfeng’s family was innocent!
Xiao Juechen’s expression darkened further.
He valued loyal and capable officials.
He never expected Li Qingfeng to be living like this.
Li Qingfeng closed his eyes.
His eyes grew moist.
He knew he was being exploited.
But those childhood memories were real warmth.
And the aunt always knew how to strike his weaknesses.
And… he did owe her.
If not for her…
His childhood might have been nothing but cold darkness.
【Worst of all, the aunt boasted everywhere!】
“She treats me like her real mother!”
“This outfit? Bought by Qingfeng. This jewelry too!”
Neighbors even believed Li Qingfeng was her biological son.
When his real mother heard about it, she fell ill and was still recovering in the countryside.
Feng Zexuan let out a cold laugh.
【System, I want to eat this aunt’s gossip alive.】
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