Golden Branch

Dugu returned to her own courtyard, but did not go back to the main house immediately. Instead, she went to the east wing.

"Miss!"

The servants in the east wing bowed and saluted when they saw the lady come in.

"Auntie, Erlang, are you all asleep?"

Dugu glanced at the two rooms where only a little light was left on and asked in a low voice.

"My lady, Dalang and Erlang are both asleep."

The servants hurried back to report.

Dugu nodded, but did not stop.

She first went to the east wing of the east courtyard, which was the room of her twin sister.

After taking off her clogs and wearing only snow-white footwear, Dugu tiptoed to the inner bedroom.

On the bed, a girl of seven or eight years old was sleeping soundly.

His little mouth was slightly open and he was snoring softly.

Dugu bent down and carefully tucked the thin quilt for her daughter.

Seeing her daughter sleeping soundly, Dugu's expression softened unconsciously.

She reached out her hand and gently brushed the hair off the little girl's face. Her fingertips touched the child's delicate skin, and she couldn't help but touch it a few times.

"This child is only quiet when he is asleep."

Although she was a little girl, she was spoiled since childhood and developed a lively and willful personality.

During the day, he plays and fights, and is even more naughty than a little boy.

Sometimes, when Lou Jin saw her, he couldn't help but hold his forehead and said, "This girl is a bit like her brother, a complete little devil."

The "brother" that Lou Jin mentioned was naturally Lou Yu.

Both Dugu and Lou Jin felt guilty towards Lou Yu, but they would not avoid mentioning him.

Lou Yu is not a taboo topic in the Anguo Mansion.

Even though they were twins, a boy and a girl, and they were so young and had hardly ever met Lou Yu, they all knew that they had a biological brother, but he was adopted out early.

My parents are also very concerned about this brother.

Every year on major festivals such as the Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, New Year, and my brother’s birthday, my parents would prepare gifts and have people send them to Yizhou from thousands of miles away.

When chatting on weekdays, my father or mother would always mention this brother inadvertently.

Therefore, even though the twins had never seen this brother in person, they felt inexplicably familiar with him.

Lou Jin raised Lou Yu until he was five or six years old, and he knew his son's childhood very well.

At that time, Lou Jin was a little troubled by Lou Yu, who was too naughty and disobedient.

Now, after all these years, when I think of Lou Yu’s mischievousness in the past, I am filled with nostalgia and sighs.

Comparing Lou Yu with Lou Lang is not because I dislike Lou Yu's mischievousness, but because I found a familiar feeling in my daughter and once again realized the difficulty of raising a child.

As for Dugu, she took the opportunity to escape just one month after giving birth to Lou Yu.

She did not raise Lou Yu and did not know how her son grew up.

Hearing her husband reminiscing about the past, his past shortcomings and guilt, she seemed to find satisfaction in the twins.

Therefore, whenever Dugu heard Lou Jin mention Lou Yu because of Alin or Alang, she would feel an inexplicable sense of intimacy.

It was as if she had not missed Lou Yu's growth.

It was as if she had never lost this son.

According to Lou Jin, his naughty daughter Lou Lang is very similar to Lou Yu in her playful and clever nature.

And his son Lou Lin’s eyebrows and eyes are almost exactly the same as Lou Yu’s.

After staying by her daughter's bed for a while, Dugu got up and went to the west wing.

This is the room of the twin brother Lou Lin.

Lin and Lang, the names of the twins, bestowed by the saint himself—

Firstly, twin boys and girls are extremely rare and are also a sign of good fortune.

Secondly, the sage was valuing and trying to win over Lou Jin at that time, so he naturally showed him more favor.

Ever since he knew his beloved wife was pregnant with twins, Lou Jin almost read through the Book of Songs, the Book of Changes and other classics. Having spent several pages picking names, he sadly lost the right to name his beloved son and daughter.

However, Lou Jin was only slightly disappointed.

He knew that it was a great honor for the saint to be willing to give his children names.

He had no resentment at all, only full of gratitude.

Lou Lin is the elder brother of the twins, and should have been the eldest son in Lou Jin's family.

But... Lou Jin was used to Lou Yu being the eldest son. Although he had adopted him out, he still stubbornly believed that Lou Yu was his eldest son.

It’s still Erlang.

Dugu was also unwilling to completely erase Lou Yu from her heart.

The left and right rankings can be the small ranking of a certain room or the large ranking of the entire family.

The young men from other branches of the Lou family: ...So, our son is not a man of the Lou family?

Lou Jin: ...I am the head of the family, I have the final say!

Lou Lin's name is Erlang, but he is actually Lou Jin's eldest son.

Perhaps having learned from Lou Yu's lesson, Lou Jin was very strict with Lou Lin and never indulged her.

Lou Lin's personality is not as rebellious as Lou Yu's.

He is sensible and obedient.

He started practicing martial arts with his father at the age of three and studied with a great scholar at the age of four.

Now he is seven years old, talented in both literature and martial arts, and is what many powerful people in Beijing call "other people's children".

When the saints saw Lou Lin, they couldn't help but sigh: The Lou family has successors.

Hearing the praise from outsiders, including the saint, Lou Jin and the Dugu couple felt proud, but also vaguely guilty.

The Lou family should have been inherited by Lou Yu.

It was because they, as parents, were not loving enough that they turned Lou Xiao into Lou Yu!

Perhaps it was because Mrs. Cui mentioned Lou Yu several times in the mourning hall. At this moment, seeing Erlang sleeping soundly and thinking about her children, Dugu felt mixed emotions.

She feels love and pride for Erlang, but also feels indebted and guilty towards Dalang.

"…Things have already happened, there is no way to change them!"

"In the future, when Dalang is older, I'll let you plan a future for him and find him a good wife. That will be considered as compensation for him!"

Dugu suppressed the emotions churning in her heart, looked at Lou Lin a few more times, and then stood up and went outside.

The two children's wet nurse, personal maid, and others were all waiting at the foot of the corridor with their hands hanging down.

Dugu instructed them one by one to serve well and not to slack off.

Seeing the servants respond respectfully, Dugu nodded with satisfaction.

Leaving the east wing, we returned to the main courtyard.

The main hall was brightly lit, but Lou Jin was nowhere to be seen.

It’s not that Lou Jin didn’t come home at night, it’s just that he was busy with official duties.

He was originally a general who led troops, either going to war or guarding the capital.

Especially this year, the contradiction between the King of Chu (the sage) and the King of Qi began to intensify, and Lou Jin, the sage's most capable general, became increasingly important.

Since last year, Lou Jin has been appointed by the Sage as the General of the Imperial Guard, guarding the Northern Ya Forbidden Army and concurrently in charge of the Wanqi Division.

As the commander-in-chief of the Northern Court, Lou Jin and Yang Chong, the general of the Twelve Guards of the Southern Court, check and balance each other.

Of course, if we simply compare strength and prestige, Lou Jin is far inferior to King Qi Yang Chong.

However, Lou Jin is the confidant of the saint and possesses the Emperor's Sword bestowed by the saint. In a critical moment, he can mobilize the army to rescue the king without the saint's call.

His 100,000-strong Lou family army was located north of the capital.

The northern gate of the palace, Xuanwu Gate, was also guarded by Lou Jin.

However, Yang Chong was restricted in every way, and now his wings were clipped by the saint, both openly and covertly.

The generals under his command were either called up or dismissed.

Yang Chong's troops were basically stationed outside the capital.

In the capital, Lou Jin is superior to Yang Chong in terms of the number of people on the surface.

With great power comes great responsibility.

Lou Jin was entrusted with an important task by the sage, so he naturally did not dare to slack off.

On weekdays, he basically lived in the military camp at Xuanwu Gate.

Lou Jin can only rest during the ten-day holiday every month.

Today is not a day off, so Lou Jin is naturally not at home.

Dugu knelt in front of the bronze mirror, allowing the maid to take off her hairpins and comb her long hair.

After removing her makeup and washing up simply, Dugu changed into a plain white silk dress.

"Okay, please step back!"

Lou Jin was not around, and Dugu had been busy all day, so she wanted to go to bed early.

She waved her hand and dismissed the servants.

Perhaps because she had been a slave in her early years, Dugu did not like to be surrounded by a group of people when she slept.

The servants all knew the rules of the lady, so they responded and bowed before leaving.

In the huge bedroom, the candlesticks were bright. Dugu walked through the layers of curtains and prepared to rest on the couch.

At this moment, a black shadow flashed in quickly.

"who?"

Dugu was shocked.

Just as she was about to call for help, she saw the man in black Hu clothing take off his mask.

"you you?"

Dugu just felt that the young man looked familiar.

She even forgot to be panicked and frightened, and stared intently.

“…Ah, Yu?”

Maybe it was because she always thought of Lou Yu during the day. At this moment, she saw a familiar-looking boy, about fourteen or fifteen years old, with the Lou family's characteristic tall stature and deep eye sockets. A light bulb suddenly lit up in Dugu's mind: this is A Yu, her son!

After not seeing him for seven or eight years, the naughty boy has grown into a handsome, gentle and kind young man.

"Mother has a good memory! She still remembers Lou Yu!"

Lou Yu had a gentlemanly face, but his words were full of sarcasm.

Isn’t it a good memory?

Good mother?

Even though I haven’t seen my own son for several years, I can still recognize him at a glance.

Lou Yu felt that he should be thankful.

At least, his biological mother did not scream and shout "assassin" when she saw him suddenly appear like a shadow.

She recognized him!

Although I was hesitant, at least we didn't meet without knowing each other.

"You, are you really Ayu?"

Dugu didn't notice Lou Yu's sarcasm. All her attention was on her son.

He had grown taller, and was only half a head shorter than Lou Jin, who was in his prime.

You know, Lou Jin is six feet three inches (190 cm) tall, which makes him stand out among the tall and strong people in the north.

As a teenager of fourteen or fifteen years old, Lou Yu's height is close to six feet (180 cm), which is definitely rare.

His appearance has "changed".

I don’t know if it’s because he’s open-mouthed or because he’s away from his parents, but Lou Yu’s appearance is different from when he was a child.

When Lou Yu was six or seven years old, he looked very much like Dugu. Anyone who saw them in the same frame would know that they were relatives with a very deep blood relationship.

The only thing that is similar between Lou Yu and Dugu now is his eyes. His overall appearance is exquisite and handsome. Although he still has the softness of the southern border, he is more gentle and not as graceful as a woman.

He began to have his own temperament and charm.

It's not someone's stand-in, nor is it a replica.

If we have to say who he resembles, he has the gentleness of Yang Rui and the unrestrainedness of Shen Du, but he lacks the gentleness of Dugu and the domineering aura of Lou Jin.

Faced with Dugu's reconfirmation, Lou Yu did not say anything.

He looked at Dugu calmly, as if the woman in front of him was not only his biological mother, but also the so-called "legitimate mother".

Just a stranger, oh no, to be more precise, his "debtor".

In Dugu's eyes, Lou Yu's indifference was his "tacit agreement" to her question.

This is really A Yu.

Her son, her own flesh and blood whom she had abandoned time and again.

"you you--"

Dugu had a lot to say to Lou Yu.

"How have you been doing these past few years?"

"What exactly happened to Lou Rang's death?"

"Why did you come to the capital so rashly?"

"...Do you still harbor resentment?"

There were too many questions and countless words, but in the end, Dugu couldn't say a single word.

Facing Lou Yu, Dugu was actually at a loss.

She was filled with guilt and had not known what to say to her son since they had been separated for so many years.

It was Lou Yu again. After a moment of silence, he held up three fingers and said, "Mother, you have abandoned me three times!"

Just one month after he turned one, she abandoned him at the Lou family home and ran away alone;

When she was seven years old, in order to marry Lou Jin legitimately and with honor, she refused to acknowledge him;

She successfully married Lou Jin and became pregnant again, and she "tacitly agreed" to his adoption.

They should have been blood-related mother and son, but now they have become aunt and nephew from different rooms.

Dugu's pupils contracted violently, and he looked as if he had been struck by lightning.

three times?

A Yu said she abandoned him three times?

What do you mean?

He, he knew her identity, and knew that they were not mother and illegitimate son at all, but biological mother and son?

Dugu couldn't tell what she was feeling at the moment.

Ashamed and angry?

Have!

It was as if she had been stripped of her clothes in public, and all her ugliness and true face were exposed.

Flustered?

Have!

The secret she tried so hard to hide was exposed, and she was terrified.

Guilt?

Have!

Her son's words touched the deepest part of her heart.

She had indeed abandoned him three times for her own sake.

As a mother, how cruel is it to not want your son again and again?

And as a son, how pitiful it is to know that you have been abandoned time and time again?

She is really sorry to A Yu!

"Mother! Mother!"

However, Lou Yu seemed not to notice Dugu's shameful, guilty, and shaky appearance.

He continued to call Dugu in a very calm tone.

However, Dugu did not dare to agree.

She doesn't deserve it!

Lou Yu continued, "Could you please help me just once? Just once! From now on, you and I, mother and son, will owe each other nothing!"

She sniffed hard to suppress the surging tears, then raised her head as if she had made up her mind.

She whispered, "Ayu, what do you want me to do?"

"I want the Lou family's Fang Tian Ji and Ming Guang Armor."

Both of these are heirlooms of the Lou family and have been passed down for more than a hundred years.

The great generals of the Lou family in all generations wore Ming Guang armor, held Fang Tian Ji in hand, fought on the battlefield, and made great military achievements.

It can be said that, to a certain extent, these two things are the symbols of the head of the Lou family.

Sometimes, it is more useful than military talismans!