For a moment, Cao Cao even wanted to embrace Lu Yu and excitedly call out, "Yu'er."
But… reason triumphed over impulse.
After all, fifteen years ago, he had "abandoned" that mother and son for various reasons.
Now, what would happen if Lu Yu knew the truth?
Would it be paternal affection and filial piety, or a father-son rupture? Cao Cao dared not gamble…
Cai Zhaoji's words still echoed in his ears—"Lu Yu now deeply resents his father!"
Sigh… deep resentment…
Could fifteen years of hatred be explained by a few pale, weak words? Would Yu'er accept it?
Cao Cao's heart began to falter…
The world knew Cao Cao as someone who would "rather betray the world than let the world betray me," but… who knew that fifteen years ago, when Cao Cao betrayed the woman he deeply loved, when he betrayed his own flesh and blood, the guilt he carried in his heart all these years!
In the end, it was guilt and regret that were at play. He worried that if Lu Yu knew the truth, he might do something extreme, like "avenge" his birth mother?
Beyond that, Cao Cao had to consider more.
His legitimate wife was Lady Ding, and his birth mother also came from the Ding clan. Cao Ang was Lady Ding's adopted son, treated as his own flesh and blood. Lady Ding's sister was married to Xiahou Yuan, a clan brother…
Precisely for this reason, the Cao clan of Qiao Pei, the Xiahou clan, and the Ding clan had long regarded Cao Ang as the rightful heir.
If an elder son, "Cao Yu," were to suddenly appear, wouldn't he… become a thorn in the eye and a barb in the flesh of the Xiahou and Ding clans?
Wouldn't it be detrimental to the stability and unity within the Cao camp, and wouldn't it threaten Yu'er's safety!
Coupled with the current internal and external troubles, with Hidden Dragon pointing the way, Cao Cao gained control of Yan Province through reputation. If rumors of his past abandonment of his wife and child were to spread…
He feared that the renowned scholars of Yan Province and the literati of the world would gossip behind his back, which would be extremely disadvantageous to Cao Cao, who was currently "eagerly seeking talent"!
Sigh…
After repeated deliberation.
Cao Cao slowly opened his eyes. The immediate priority was not father-son recognition, but atonement…
To atone as much as possible for the mistakes he made in the past, and to give Lu Yu care and love to the greatest extent.
Only in this way, when Yu'er learned the truth in the future, could he understand his father's hardships and apologies, forgive his father, and thus achieve paternal affection and filial piety!
Beyond that…
He also had to help Yu'er establish a firm foothold in the Cao camp and cultivate his own power. The greater his influence, the smaller the resistance from within the Cao camp would be when father and son finally met, and the more stable and unified they would be…
Although the truth would be revealed, father-son recognition was not something Cao Cao could decide on a whim; he had to weigh the pros and cons… This was a matter that affected the entire situation with a single move!
One must know…
Cao Cao didn't just want Lu Yu to be an elder son. While harboring immense guilt towards Lu Yu, he also held infinite hope. He wanted Lu Yu to be his successor, Cao Cao's heir!
In the future, when Yu'er learned the truth, it must be when he was fully grown and had become the Crown Prince.
The road ahead was long, but Cao Cao would help his son pave it step by step. Yu'er, you must also strive!
…
Cao Cao's thoughts had long since drifted to the heavens.
However, the way his eyes were fixed on Lu Yu's thigh was extremely bizarre…
"Lord Cao, uh… I've washed, and I've scrubbed. Can we go out now?"
Lu Yu didn't dare to speak too loudly, fearing that Cao Cao might actually do something outrageous.
As soon as he said this…
Cao Cao finally snapped back to reality. "Washed, haha… it's good that you've washed!"
Even though he deliberately suppressed it, the excitement in his heart was still irrepressible in his words.
"Guards, guards!"
"Didn't you hear? Young Master Lu Yu has washed up. Quickly help him get dressed."
Cao Cao commanded loudly. After a long while, a maidservant cautiously approached from afar and entered the pavilion… They all stepped forward, seemingly to help Cao Cao get dressed first.
After all, in the eyes of the maids in the Wei residence, there was an order of seniority and a hierarchy of status. Cao Cao was the one of more noble status.
"Don't mind me!" Cao Cao added. "You help Young Master Lu Yu get dressed…"
Ah… ah…
This time, the maids were a little surprised. Who was this young master?
It was one thing for him to be treated as an honored guest by the Wei family, but for Cao Cao, the governor of a province, to show him such courtesy and deference.
Of course…
It wasn't just these maids who were surprised. The most bewildered was undoubtedly Lu Yu himself…
Just a moment ago, Old Cao was staring intently at the inside of his thigh, and the next moment… his attitude had become so mild?
Something unusual must be afoot!
Coupled with Cao Cao's naturally suspicious nature, his thoughts could not be understood by ordinary means. For a moment, Lu Yu felt that all the ancient texts he had memorized were in vain. The image of Cao Cao in history did not match the man before him at all…
Lu Yu felt miserable…
Good heavens, I really can't see through you, Old Cao.
With this thought, Lu Yu could only become even more cautious and said, "No need to trouble you, I'll dress myself…"
Hearing this, Cao Cao nodded…
Lu Yu's caution and prudence were something he could understand most at this moment. Fifteen years without parental protection, surviving in this treacherous world where people ate others without spitting out bones, wouldn't one have to be careful in everything!
Alas… Yu'er has really suffered these past years!
…
After bathing and perfuming, and putting on new, clean clothes, Lu Yu felt completely refreshed.
Comfortable…
Unlike the coarse cloth he wore before, he was now wearing excellent Shu brocade. Speaking of this Shu brocade, even the Wei family, the richest family in Chenliu, only had a few bolts, and even Cao Cao didn't have any.
Instantly, Lu Yu felt warmth all over his body, and a sense of lightness. Was this the beginning of a happy life?
Although Cao Cao's behavior was somewhat strange, it was undeniable that… good days had truly arrived.
Lu Yu took out a wooden token and a jade pendant from his old robe. The small seal script on the wooden token, stating his birthdate and time, was still clear. The words "Ji Li" on the jade pendant were exceptionally prominent.
Cao Cao changed his clothes quickly, his eyes constantly fixed on Lu Yu…
To be precise, he was also waiting for this jade pendant and wooden token.
In fact, there was no need to wait any longer. Cao Cao was already largely convinced that Lu Yu was his long-lost elder son from the common people.
This time was merely a final verification as a formality.
Sigh… As expected!
When the jade pendant and wooden token appeared in Lu Yu's hands, Cao Cao's peripheral vision caught a glimpse of the small seal script on them, which wrote his birthdate. Wasn't it his own handwriting from fifteen years ago?
Back then, his calligraphy was still in the small seal style, with horizontal strokes flat and vertical strokes straight, circular and uniform in thickness, and basically consistent in width;
Only a few years later did he learn the "Flying White Style" from his mentor Cai Yong, which was vigorous and unrestrained!
However, even with his own handwriting from fifteen years ago, how could Cao Cao forget it?
And the jade pendant inscribed with the words "Ji Li" instantly brought back many memories.
Few people knew that this greenish jade pendant, and the words "Ji Li" inscribed on it, were tied to a "homicide case" from Cao Cao's youth.
That year, Cao Cao was fifteen years old. He accidentally killed someone and nearly paid with his life…
…
…