Ming Dynasty: I am truly not the Emperor of Longevity

Inside the mourning hall.

"What exactly did Father's dying wish mean?"

Lu Wei, the second son of Lu Song, dressed in plain clothes and a fifth-rank commander of the Imperial Guard, glanced at his silent mother and brother.

"That Lu Kun, isn't he just a steward of my Lu family's estate in Chengtian Prefecture? He's not very capable."

Over the years, I haven't seen my father value him much. He's been in Beijing for so many years, and all he's done is elevate him to the status of a hereditary bannerman.

Why did Father, on his deathbed, instruct us to take good care of Lu Kun's illegitimate son left in Chengtian Prefecture?

"Lu Kun's illegitimate son is probably not that simple."

Lu Bing, the eldest son of Lu Song, who had already risen to the rank of Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard (a third-rank official), spoke first.

"If my father hadn't mentioned him on his deathbed, I would have almost forgotten about Lu Kun."

Speaking of which, Lu Kun can be considered a loyal servant of my Lu family for generations. When His Majesty ascended the throne, he followed my father to the capital.

However, for more than a decade, he remained unknown and accomplished nothing in the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The people I sent to Lu Kun's residence in Xuanbeifang reported that Lu Kun suffered from rheumatism, and his condition had worsened over the past few months. He passed away at home six days ago, and it is still before the seventh day after his death.

His eldest son, Lu Chengguang, was sixteen years old (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning). He had just joined the Embroidered Uniform Guard last year and was only a captain. He was waiting for the end of his mourning period to succeed Lu Kun as the head of the guard.

Lu Kun's legal wife, Chen, was someone he married the year he went to the capital.

According to her, Lu Chen had been living in Chengtian Prefecture since birth, and she had never even seen him.

Lu Chen's birth mother was Wang, Lu Kun's concubine, who was given to him by his mother years ago.

"I was wondering why that sounded so familiar!"

The speaker was Madam Fan, the biological mother of Lu Bing and Lu Wei, the widow of Lu Song, the wet nurse of the Jiajing Emperor, and bestowed the title of "Lady Yousheng".

"This Lu Kun, isn't he the ugly steward from the Chengtian Prefecture estate back then?"

"Yes, he is indeed not good-looking."

Lu Bing looked at his mother and nodded.

"So, his concubine, Wang, is the same lowly maid who used to serve me."

Madam Fan's expression changed slightly, and she let out a cold snort.

"So, this Lu Chen was born to that lowly maid!"

"You old man, after all these years, you still can't forget that vixen!"

"Mother, please calm down."

The brothers Lu Bing and Lu Wei stepped forward together to help their mother.

Having served in the Embroidered Uniform Guard for many years and already having numerous wives and concubines, the two brothers were well aware of the story behind it.

It was simply that back then, my father had feelings for one of my mother's beautiful maids, and my mother found out.

In a fit of anger, the mother gave the maid, Wang, to an ugly steward on the estate.

In the homes of ordinary officials, the principal wife would usually turn a blind eye to such matters, and might even take the initiative to elevate the maid who had caught the master's eye to the status of a concubine.

But the Lu family is different.

The Lu family's wealth and status are largely due to the Fan family. Even back in Anlu Prefecture, Lu Song didn't dare to be defiant towards his wife, who was the wet nurse of the Prince of Xing.

Therefore, Lu Song did not have any concubines when he was in Anlu Prefecture. It was only after he arrived in the capital for several years that Lady Fan reluctantly agreed to let him take a few concubines.

However, none of these concubines conceived children. Lu Song's two sons and one daughter were all born to Fan Shi.

"wrong!"

After catching her breath, Madam Fan seemed to have thought of something else.

"Having spent so many years with the master, I know him better than anyone what kind of person he is!"

Even if he had feelings for that vixen back then, so many years have passed, he should have forgotten about her long ago.

How could he still be thinking about her on his deathbed?!

They even extended their affection to the vixen's son, instructing you brothers to take care of him!

unless..."

After a few seconds of pause, Madam Fan gritted her teeth.

"That little brat isn't that ugly steward's son at all; he's his bastard child left outside!"

"Father...it doesn't have to be this way."

Lu Wei glanced at his mother, then turned to look at his elder brother.

"If what Mother thinks is true, then isn't Lu Chen our own younger brother?"

"That's certainly possible!"

After a moment of silence, Lu Bing stood up.

According to Lu Kun's widow, Madam Chen, although she had known about the existence of Madam Wang and Lu Chen all these years, Lu Kun had never mentioned bringing them to the capital.

They simply sent someone to Chengtian Prefecture every year to give some money to the mother and son.

This is very unusual!

"What my elder brother says makes sense."

Lu Wei nodded as well.

"Although Lu Kun is only a captain, and the position will be passed on to his legitimate son Lu Chengguang, it is not difficult to arrange for his illegitimate son to enter the Embroidered Uniform Guard and become a guard or a strongman."

If Lu Chen is indeed his illegitimate son, and has now grown up, there is no reason for a father not to arrange his future.

Unless Lu Kun wants him to take the proper path of the imperial examination.

"But according to Chen, Lu Kun never mentioned to her that Lu Chen was studying at Chengtian Prefecture."

Lu Bing shook his head and said,

Even though they had been married for nearly seventeen years, Lu Kun almost never mentioned Wang Shi and Lu Chen in front of her.

It was as if these two people didn't even live in the house.

"So it seems that Lu Kun is intentionally downplaying the existence of Lu Chen and his mother."

Lu Wei thought for a moment, then asked,

"Has brother inquired about the current situation of Wang Shi and Lu Chen?"

According to Chen, Wang passed away last year, and Lu Chen was observing mourning in Chengtian Prefecture.

Lu Bing nodded and said,

"In March of this year, after Lu Kun's condition worsened, he instructed Chen to write a letter and send it to Chengtian Prefecture, asking Lu Chen to come to the capital to serve him medicine."

Lu Chen should have received the letter in early to mid-April at the latest, and if things go as expected, he should be on his way to the capital now.

"Why has Lu Kun suddenly changed his mind after all these years of not letting Lu Chen come to the capital?"

Lu Wei frowned.

"Could it be that she felt her time was near and wanted to see him before she breathed her last?"

"Erlang, you may only be half right."

Madam Fan glanced at her youngest son.

"The imperial physician determined that your father's illness had reached a terminal stage and was beyond cure, also in March."

It's very likely that your father wanted to see that bastard child before he died, which is why he instructed Lu Kun to do so!

"In that case, it is indeed very likely that Lu Chen is Father's illegitimate son."

For years, Lu Kun had been raising him in Chengtian Prefecture.

Lu Bing looked at his mother and younger brother.

"In his letter, Chen did not ask Lu Chen to come to the capital as soon as possible."

It will take Lu Chen quite a while to travel from Chengtian Prefecture to the capital.

I had my men estimate that if he had set off immediately after receiving the letter, he would likely be somewhere in Nanyang or Kaifeng, Henan Province.

If this drags on for a while, we might not even have left Xiangyang Prefecture yet.

But in any case, he will eventually reach the capital.

Before that, we need to carefully consider how to treat him.

"I have no interest in that vixen's brat."

Madam Fan glanced at Lu Song's memorial tablet.

"Even if he really is the master's son, he hasn't acknowledged him all these years, so I won't let him into the Lu family!"

"Your son understands what your mother means."

Lu Bing first comforted his mother, then turned to look at Lu Wei.

"Father's dying wish was nothing more than for us brothers to take care of Lu Chen."

He never said that this person had any relationship with the Lu family, nor did he ever mention that Lu Chen was his illegitimate son.

Even if we have some guesses, they are just guesses. As sons, we cannot presume to know our father's intentions.