Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

"My father's name is Lu Sheng, not Duke Dingguo, Lu Zhong." Cui Zeyu raised his hand to block the Duke Dingguo's rushing embrace.

The two were only a few steps apart, yet it felt as if they were separated by thousands of mountains and rivers.

Upon hearing the name Lu Sheng, the Duke of Dingguo was instantly speechless.

For many years, no one has called him by that name.

However, he is now certain that the young man in front of him is his son.

"I had my reasons for what happened back then," the Duke of Dingguo hurriedly explained. "I was ordered to lead troops into battle, and I was unaware that the Qin family had sent people to look for you. When I returned, the Qin family said that you were already dead, but I didn't believe it. I sent people to search for a long time before I found out that you were not dead."

"So you're saying it's all the Qin family's fault, and you're not at fault?" Cui Zeyu looked at the Duke of Dingguo.

"I...I really have let you and your son down." The Duke of Dingguo lowered his head in shame.

Seeing the Duke of Dingguo's attitude, Cui Zeyu retorted, "Since Qin committed murder, why didn't you divorce her? Oh, back then you had other sons and didn't need me to go back and inherit the family business, so it didn't matter whether you found me or not, right?"

"That's not how it works."

"What does it look like?"

Looking at the Duke of Dingguo, Cui Zeyu felt no joy at the reunion, only a bellyful of resentment. "Do you know how my mother died? She was stripped naked and hung up by those men!"

"What?" This was the first time the Duke of Dingguo had heard of this. Qin Shi had told him that he had been burned to death.

"You don't know?" Cui Zeyu scoffed. "Then you certainly don't know how much I suffered to survive, and how many times I almost died! Should I call you Lu Sheng now, or Duke Dingguo?"

Cui Zeyu laughed as he spoke, "When I saw you that day, I thought about it for a very long time. I never imagined that my father was not a traveling merchant, but the Duke of Dingguo, who held a high position of power."

If he hadn't met his sister, he would have had a hard time surviving to adulthood.

Looking at the person opposite him, Cui Zeyu took a deep breath, "Do you know what my name is now?"

The Duke of Dingguo shook his head.

"You should have heard of Cui Zeyu," Cui Zeyu said.

The Duke of Dingguo couldn't think of anything for the time being.

Seeing the Duke of Dingguo's puzzled expression, Cui Zeyu then asked, "When I was framed by Qian Jin and imprisoned, didn't you advise General Xie to leave me alone?"

Cui Zeyu never heard about this. He just thought that the Duke of Dingguo and Qian Jin were the same kind of people, both pedantic old men who would die a bad death.

Upon hearing this, the Duke of Dingguo was thunderstruck, staring at his son in disbelief. "You...you are the adopted brother of Lady Song?"

"Yes, you didn't expect that, did you? You almost killed me again." Cui Zeyu scoffed, a chilling smile playing on his thin lips. "Even if it wasn't me, would you really disregard the life and death of an innocent person? Lu Sheng... no, Duke Dingguo, your heart is truly hard."

The Duke of Dingguo was speechless for a long time, unable to defend himself.

Cui Zeyu continued, "That year, I fainted from hunger. If my sister hadn't taken me in and raised me with such care, I would have died at the age of ten. Without my sister, I wouldn't be where I am today. And yet, you heartless old bastards all try to bully us. Are you even human?"

Cui Zeyu grabbed the Duke of Dingguo by the collar and punched him hard.

It's rare for a son to beat his father.

But even after throwing a punch, Cui Zeyu was still not satisfied. Thinking of his mother, his sister, and the injustice he had suffered in prison, Cui Zeyu wished he could hang up the Duke of Dingguo and all those people and whip them!

"Peng'er!" The Duke of Dingguo pushed his son aside and shouted, "I didn't know you were the adopted brother of Lady Song, and I've been looking for you all along. It's not like you said, that I have another son and don't care about your life or death. I swear to God on this!"

He has indeed been searching for his youngest son, and his feelings for Choi Taek-ok's mother are genuine.

Marrying a woman surnamed Qin was for the sake of his future, and to have the Qin family's support.

Later, he got together with Cui Zeyu's mother because he genuinely liked that gentle and considerate woman.

Because of his love for his son, Duke Dingguo also doted on Cui Zeyu. However, due to past circumstances, he was not allowed to visit Cui Zeyu and his mother often, as Qin Shi kept a close eye on them.

Although he hid Cui Zeyu and his son very well, Qin Shi still managed to find them.

"Do you know how devastated and desperate I was when Qin told me that you and your son were dead?" The Duke of Dingguo shed two lines of tears. "You... your mother was the only woman I ever truly loved in my life. I also regret not sending more people to protect you."

"Stop talking nonsense. What happened next? Why didn't you divorce Qin? Why did you let her live such a comfortable life?" Cui Zeyu had inquired and learned that Qin had lived a comfortable life in previous years. With her status as the Duchess of the State, she was treated as an honored guest wherever she went.

"I...I have my reasons," Dingguo said fairly.

"What's your predicament?" Cui Zeyu looked directly at the Duke of Dingguo.

Duke Dingguo stared at Cui Zeyu for a long time, unable to utter the truth. Admitting to his son that he was despicable and lustful was an extremely embarrassing thing.

"Just know that I don't want to see the Qin family have an easy time either," said the Duke of Dingguo. "Now that your brother is dead and he left no offspring, as long as you acknowledge your ancestors and return to the family line, the entire Duke of Dingguo's mansion will be yours."

He continued to tempt Cui Zeyu, "Wasn't Qian Jin wronging you? Wasn't your sister having a hard time in the Jiangyuan Marquis's mansion? As long as you become the heir of the Dingguo Duke's mansion, all of this can be resolved. With money and status, you will no longer be just a merchant of low status. Everyone who sees you will respectfully call you Heir Lu."

Since learning that his son was still alive, the Duke of Dingguo had been waiting for this day.

The family fortune he painstakingly built should not be allowed to fall into the hands of those in his clan.

He was born out of wedlock and was not valued by his father from a young age, not to mention his stepmother and elder brother who suppressed him in every way.

Now that he has no children, everyone wants a piece of the pie.

Dream on!

He will definitely leave his family business to his son!

"Peng'er, listen to your father. Qin has committed many evils and will eventually get her retribution. If you want to take revenge on her, then you must acknowledge your ancestors and return to the family line. You know that she least wants to see you inherit the Duke of Dingguo's mansion."

Cui Zeyu retorted, "Why can't you see her retribution now? Is it because you still have feelings for her and can't bear to let her go?"

"How could this be? I wish I could tear that poisonous woman to pieces!" The Duke of Dingguo looked troubled. "It's just... I can't bring myself to do anything to her."

"I understand, she has leverage over you. Fine, you can't touch her, but I need you to do something." At this point, Cui Zeyu's eyes were filled with murderous intent. "One of the men who hunted me and my mother back then had a piece of flesh bitten off his arm. I need you to bring him and those assassins, alive or dead, to me. Dig them up and grind their bones to dust!"