Golden Branch

Chapter 292 Rejection
"Yes, they are all cousins ​​from your Dugu family!"

Madam Dugu had gentle features and a smile on her lips.

The look he gave Lou Yu was one of both pride and relief.

Lou Hanzhang and Lou Xueshi, her sons, became famous in the capital less than a year after arriving there.

He is very beautiful, knowledgeable, elegant, and a gentle gentleman.

Having Lou Yu in the Lou family is enough to bring honor to the entire family.

Lou Jin became a wealthy idler in name only, but the Anguo Mansion did not fall into decline.

It’s all thanks to Lou Yu!

The reason why Madam Dugu could receive praise and support from others when she went out to socialize was because she had a "nephew" like Lou Yu.

Now, Lou Yu, as a scholar, was entrusted by the sage and the prince with the important task of compiling history.

Although he was not yet twenty, he had the potential to become the leader of the civil officials.

This outstanding young man is her son.

Madam Dugu was truly one hundred, one thousand times satisfied with Lou Yu.

The only shortcoming is probably Lou Yu's marriage——

How did he get engaged to Wang Jiu?

Lou Yu agreed to Wang Lin's request before his death without telling his parents.

Afterwards, Lou Yu never came to the Duke of Anguo's mansion in person to confess his crime to Lou Jin and Madam Dugu.

Mr. and Mrs. Lou Jin even learned about their "oldest son's" marriage from outsiders.

However, this marriage has already been cleared before the saint.

The prince also strongly supported it.

Even though Lou Jin was so angry that his face turned black, he couldn't openly object.

He could only order someone to summon Lou Yu to the Duke of Anguo's mansion, dismiss his attendants, and give him a good scolding:

"Why marry into the Wang family?"

"Don't even mention Wang Lin's dying request. This man is not a good person, and certainly not one who says good things when a dying man is about to die."

"Lou Yu, you are making decisions on your own. Do you have any regard for your parents and elders?"

Ever since the military remonstration last year, every time Lou Jin saw Lou Yu, he felt a sense of frustration and grief as if he had grown wings.

This little beast is really naughty.

When he was young, he was wild and difficult to tame.

When he grew up, he still refused to obey discipline.

Marriage is a major matter and it is up to parents to decide.

But he——

Lou Jin was filled with rage, but Lou Yu remained calm.

However, in order to show respect to his "elders", he still bowed slightly:

"My uncle taught me this, and Han Zhang will definitely take it as a warning and take it to heart."

Then there is no more then.

Lou Yu’s main point is to admit one’s mistakes and not change them!
Lou Jin became even more angry when he saw Lou Yu's humble appearance.

"Lou Yu, stop pretending with me!"

"...The marriage is final and cannot be changed! Uncle, do you want me to be a treacherous villain who breaks my promise to the deceased?"

Breaking a promise is bad enough, but breaking it to the deceased is even more despicable.

He, Lou Yu and Lou Hanzhang, were well-known gentlemen of noble character and integrity in the capital.

"Lou Dalang!" Lou Jin was so angry that he was shaking all over.

However, Lou Jin was a brave general who had fought on the battlefield and had seen too many storms. He was not so angry as to be dizzy by the unfilial son.

He took a deep breath and said calmly, "You are a gentleman, so you cannot betray your trust."

"But what if Wang Jiu doesn't want to get married?" The Lou family could let Wang Heng give up on her own.

"Lou Yu, you and Wang Jiu are not suitable. The Wang family is in decline and will certainly not be able to help you. You should marry a noble lady from aristocratic families like Yang, Li, Wei, or Lu."

Lou Jin had a cold face and patiently spoke slowly about the best choice for Lou Yu.

Lou Yu was still as gentle as a spring breeze, but his words were tinged with sarcasm: "My uncle, are you teaching me to 'seek benefits and avoid harm'?"

"Abandoning those you once loved the most for your own selfish reasons?"

"It's fitting? There are so many things in this world that are 'fitting'. Does that mean we just have to do what's fitting?"

"Just like when you asked to marry the noble daughter of the Dugu family, in order to make your wife feel at ease, you 'should' get rid of the annoying illegitimate son?"

After Lou Yu's accusation, Lou Jin immediately stopped talking.

He looked at Lou Yu, his eyes full of complexity, "Ayu, are you still blaming me? Blaming me for not giving you away in the first place?"

Lou Yu smiled broadly, "No! I don't blame you! On the contrary, I'm even grateful to you!"

However, he still has a father above him who has the power of life and death over him.

Lou Yu is rebellious and cruel by nature.

If possible, he really doesn't want to "kill his father".

But Lou Jinyi is a self-centered, overbearing and strong person.

If they were still legitimate father and son, they would most likely end up in war.

The grown-up wolf cubs will not tolerate the wolf king acting tyrannically.

Even though this wolf king is his biological father.

The darkness and viciousness deep in Lou Yu's heart made him capable of killing his own father.

"What did you say?" Gratitude?

Lou Yu was actually grateful to him for adopting him?
Could it be that this child has no admiration or attachment to him at all?
Lou Jin was not afraid that Lou Yu hated him, because there is hate only when there is love.

If Lou Yu holds a grudge, it means that he still cares about his father and his relatives.

But if there is no hatred, then——

Seeing Lou Jin's greatly stimulated look, Lou Yu's smile became even brighter:

"Uncle, are you getting old and confused?"

"Have you forgotten that I was the one who took the initiative to be adopted back then!" He was not the one who was abandoned, but the one who took the initiative to sever ties with his parents.

He, Lou Yu, has never been a poor little kid begging for love from his father or mother.

But he is a big devil who can make decisions without hesitation and without regard for his relatives.

He doesn't care about parents, and he doesn't need relatives.

For him, having Ah Heng is enough.

Aheng is willing to support him and stay with him.

Even if everyone in the world might betray and abandon him, Ah Heng would always stay by his side.

No one in this world can understand what Ah Heng means to him.

Lou Jin and Dugu Shi, they understand even less.

Lou Yu didn't care about their understanding and support.

"Uncle, I've been adopted. The bond between you and me as father and son was completely severed ten years ago."

"There's no need to bother you with my marriage."

Lou Yu smiled gently and calmly, but the words he said chilled Lou Jin's heart.

Lou Jin looked at his son in front of him with a perfect mask, and suddenly realized that he had really lost his son.

There is no possibility of reconciliation between him and Lou Yu, father and son!

Lou Jin realized the truth. Besides feeling sad and regretful, he also had the idea of ​​giving up.

Because he knew that given Lou Yu's cruelty and decisiveness, once he had made a decision, it could not be reversed.

In fact, Lou Jin had already guessed it in his mind, and the conversation with Lou Yu only made him face the reality completely.

Lou Jin "accepted his fate", but Madam Dugu was still unwilling to accept it.

Since I can't interfere in my son's marriage, then I can arrange a few concubines for him. I hope that by perseverance I can win back his heart.

Madam Dugu herself is a positive example of someone who successfully crossed the class barrier by relying on a man's love. She naturally understands the power of "pillow talk".

It just so happened that Wang Lin died, and Wang Jiu needed to observe mourning.

The three-year mourning period is neither long nor short, enough for her to do many things.

It is also enough to make a man change his mind!
Mrs. Dugu had a plan in mind and began to select suitable candidates from among her familiar relatives.

As the Dugu family fell into decline, Madam Dugu turned her attention to her "hometown" which had fallen into the quagmire.

"Han Zhang, A Wei, A Yan, you have seen them all!"

Madam Dugu smiled and pushed the two young girls out. She said softly, "Awei, Ayan, come and greet your cousin!"

Dugu Wei just felt embarrassed and her face turned red.

Thinking of how she was the daughter of the Dugu family, she was once so noble and proud.

But now, she was pushed in front of the man like a commodity, and he was allowed to pick and choose.

Dugu Wei pinched her palm hard, the slightest pain reminding her:
Don't think too much!
Don't be so pretentious!
Things are different now, the Dugu family has long since fallen into decline.

Although the whole family, young and old, were not starving, it was difficult for them to maintain a decent life.

The only way out is "marriage".

It is impossible to marry the Duke of Qi as his legal wife.

Then, be a concubine.

In this way, the Dugu family once again had a powerful in-law to support them.

With Lou Yu's support, the Dugu family has hope of rising.

For the family and for myself.

Growing up in luxury, Dugu Wei had never imagined that the lives of common people were so difficult and humiliating.

It's bad enough that she lives in poverty, but Dugu Wei is also unwilling to endure the despair of losing her privileges.

She doesn't want to be an ant trampled on by others. She wants to return to the center of power and become a person who is respected and admired.

"Avi has met her cousin!"

Dugu Wei knelt down and saluted, no longer as arrogance and publicity as before, but more humble and flattering.

Dugu Wei surrendered on the surface, but she was still determined in her heart.

Li Yan didn't feel so awkward.

She had already experienced "living under someone else's roof" once, and her character had been tempered, so she was able to become more clear-headed.

She smiled, and her somewhat dull face became a little more lively: "Ayan greets my cousin!"

Lou Yu: ...I don't want to see you! I'm even more uneasy!

"...My two cousins, please don't be polite!"

"My aunt and cousin are here, and I should be welcoming them warmly! But I don't have a mistress in my house, so I can't entertain the women!"

"After you finish this bowl of tea, I will send you back to the Anguo Mansion."

Lou Yu was so fed up that he didn't bother to flatter her.

He simply didn't even bother to save face and just told the guest to leave.

Although his words were too straightforward, they were also in accordance with the rules.

There is indeed no female ruler in the Duke of Qi's Mansion. Even if an elder like Dugu is present, it would not be easy for them to get along in the same room.

Lou Yu's avoidance of suspicion is not out of disdain, but rather the behavior of a gentleman.

He did it for the reputation of Dugu Wei and Li Yan.

Even if the matter gets out, the world will only praise Lou Yu for his gentlemanly demeanor.

Dugu Wei and Li Yan's expressions changed at the same time.

Madam Dugu's smile was even more stiff.

How could Han Zhang be so ruthless?
Also, what does it mean when he keeps calling her "cousin"?
Lou Yu didn't care how the three women reacted. He didn't think it was enough to just say goodbye. He even stood up, walked closer, and extended his hand in a gesture of invitation: "Aunt, my two cousins, please take care!"

Dugu Wei, who still had some pride left in her, could hardly hold on any longer and stood up anxiously.

Li Yan wanted to save the situation: "Cousin, I still have some homework, can I ask you for help?"

"No! Cousin Li, please!"

Lou Yu’s refusal was straightforward!