Chapter 272: The Half-Brother
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
Lu Yuan Ze’s hand trembled slightly.
“Lu Family bloodline? What do you mean?”
“Father only has me as a son! Where did this so-called Lu Family bloodline come from? Clan Leader, you must not shelter outsiders! He has sullied the Lu Family’s lineage—he and that wretched woman must be drowned!” Lu Yuan Ze’s gaze was filled with malice.
His mind had long been consumed by fury and betrayal.
For the sake of Madam Pei and her wretched offspring, he had cast out his own children. How could he possibly accept this?
The Clan Leader stroked his beard as an elder behind him retrieved the family registry.
“This is the registry enshrined at Clear Creek. The last time it was brought over was when you personally requested a divorce and expelled your children from the family,” the Clan Leader sighed.
Madam Xu had been a rare virtuous woman, and Lu Yan Shu was a prodigy blessed by the heavens.
“You personally removed your children’s names from the registry last time. Did you ever bother to turn back a page and look?” The Clan Leader’s gaze was filled with sorrow.
“Before the Old Marquis passed, he held my hand and asked me to guide you, knowing that you were of mediocre talent. He wanted the old estate to support and advise you. But did you listen? You tore apart a good family and left it in this state.”
With another sigh, the Clan Leader flipped the registry back one page.
“Look closely—this is your family’s registry. Read it carefully!”
Lu Yuan Ze’s face burned with shame under the Clan Leader’s reproach. With trembling hands, he scanned the registry line by line.
Father: Lu Bao Feng.
Eldest son: Lu Yuan Ze.
Eldest daughter: Lu Wan Yi.
Illegitimate son…
Illegitimate son: Lu Yuan Xi!!!
“Illegitimate son, Lu Yuan Xi? How could my father have an illegitimate son? Impossible! My father’s inner court was always kept clean—there were no concubines or bed maids! How could he have an illegitimate son? Clan Leader, you mustn’t be deceived by some scoundrel!” Lu Yuan Ze felt deeply humiliated and glared at Lu Yuan Xi in fury.
“Your mother was the Old Marquis’s first wife, who shared in his hardships. While the Old Marquis was out waging war for the empire, he sent every bit of his reward money home. Your mother used it to purchase several servant girls for herself, among whom was a particularly beautiful one named Li Qiao.”
“Even before entering the capital, she could not stand Li Qiao’s beauty and tormented her constantly.”
“After entering the capital, the Old Marquis achieved great military success and was granted the title of Marquis. Many officials sent him beauties as gifts, and even though the Old Marquis rejected them, your mother still made a fuss about it.”
“Fearing that the Old Marquis might be bewitched by those seductresses, she steeled herself and forced Li Qiao into his bed as a bed maid.”
“But the Old Marquis was a man of principle. He refused her countless times. It was your mother who coaxed him into drinking in her chambers, then drugged him, forcing him and Li Qiao to consummate.”
“That alone might have been manageable.”
“But when your mother later regretted her actions and discovered that Li Qiao was pregnant, she flew into a rage and drowned Li Qiao in the moat.”
“Luckily, a passing merchant saved her, and in her dying moments, she gave birth to Lu Yuan Xi.”
“With her last breath, Li Qiao entrusted the child to the Old Marquis. Left with no other choice, he raised the child at Clear Creek. Yuan Xi was personally brought to the old estate by the Old Marquis and entrusted to us,” the Clan Leader said firmly.
Lu Yuan Ze’s body turned ice cold, his expression vacant.
“The money sent from the Marquis Manor every year was partly for the veterans who fought alongside the Old Marquis, and partly…” The Clan Leader glanced at Lu Yuan Xi.
“Partly to support your half-brother.”
“Even though the Old Madam’s status was not high, the Old Marquis never considered taking another wife. The marquisate—he always intended for you to inherit it. When you married Madam Xu, the Old Marquis even praised you, saying that the greatest fortune of your life was marrying a good wife. Yet, you failed to cherish her.”
“The Old Marquis bore deep guilt toward Li Qiao and her child. Every year, he would return to Clear Creek to stay for a time.”
“You cannot kill him. He is your brother—your half-brother!”
Lu Yuan Ze was so furious that his vision blurred. He had a half-brother?!
He pointed at the old Clan Leader, then at Lu Yuan Xi, his fingers trembling violently.
“A brother? Ridiculous! He slept with his legitimate brother’s wife—what kind of brother is that?! A lowly servant’s spawn dares to call himself my brother?!” Lu Yuan Ze roared, his eyes bloodshot with hatred.
Lu Yuan Xi—this adulterer—was actually his half-brother.
“Brother or not, he must be drowned! I will not spare them!” Lu Yuan Ze raged. “Not just him—even those wretched children must be drowned! The spawn of adulterers are unworthy of life!”
His former love had turned into boundless hatred.
Lu Yuan Xi’s expression remained calm, his lips curving into a faint smile.
“Elder Brother, you should at least leave a trace of the Lu Family’s bloodline.”
“Father planned everything for you. Surely you cannot sever the Lu bloodline completely? Lu Yan Shu, Lu Zheng Yue, Lu Yuan Xiao, Lu Chao Chao—you have already cast out three sons and a daughter. If you drown Lu Jing Huai and Lu Jing Yao as well, the Lu lineage will be extinct!” Lu Yuan Xi looked at him mockingly.
Lu Yuan Ze laughed bitterly in his rage.
“I am still young! I can still have more children! How could my line be severed?!”
“I will never let your filthy blood enter the Lu Family!”
Madam Pei shuddered suddenly, not daring to meet Lu Yuan Ze’s eyes.
“Is that so? Can Elder Brother still have children? Why not call an imperial physician to check and see whether you truly can?” Lu Yuan Xi said with a smirk.
Lu Yuan Ze suddenly recalled Madam Xu’s words.
Cold sweat trickled down his forehead, and unease gripped his heart.
“You say call an imperial physician and expect one to come? Do you think they are so easily summoned?” Lu Yuan Ze forced out a sneer.
The moment he spoke, several figures raised their hands by the moat.
“I—I—ah-hem, I happened to pass by. If needed, I can examine Lord Lu.”
“And me! I just happened to enter the city today—what a coincidence…”
The Head of the Imperial Medical Bureau quietly raised his hand: “I am the Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau. Ahem… I happened to pass by. If Lord Lu requires, I can provide a free consultation.”
The elderly director, his hair and beard completely white, quietly put his shoes back on.
Rumors had spread that, for the sake of so-called ‘true love,’ Lord Lu had divorced his first wife and removed his children from the registry, only to be cuckolded by his mistress. He had run here so fast that he had lost his shoes.
Lu Yuan Ze??!!
He jerked his head up, looking toward the moat.
Both sides of the moat were packed with countless onlookers, a dense sea of people. Among them were not only commoners but also many court officials.
Lu Yuan Ze’s legs went weak, nearly collapsing to the ground.
Lu Yuan Xi cupped his hands toward the physicians. “I must trouble the esteemed doctors. Thank you.”
“My dear Elder Brother has been taking medicine for two years now—I wonder what state his body is in.”
Lu Yuan Ze’s heart pounded violently.
His gaze turned sharp as a blade, landing on Madam Pei.
Madam Pei shrank away, not daring to meet his eyes.
“Lord Lu, if you please, extend your wrist,” the three imperial physicians stepped forward. The director studied Lu Yuan Ze’s expression and furrowed his brows.
After taking his pulse, they pondered for a moment.
“Lord Lu, have you been taking medicine long-term?” one physician asked.
Lu Yuan Ze’s face stiffened slightly. Suppressing his rage, he nodded. “Yes, I took some tonics recently, but there is no issue now.”
“Has the area three inches below your navel often felt cold?”
“Do you suffer from insomnia, frequent nightmares, or cold sweats at night?”