Chapter 35: Princess Zhaoshan (Bonus Chapter for Subscription)

“As Your Majesty can see, these are the clan rules of the Song family. The Song clan has stood for a hundred years solely by relying on these rules to discipline its members, allowing them to walk with heads held high, unashamed before Heaven and Earth.”

“Although I am not a daughter of the Song clan by birth, I have been cherished by my maternal grandfather since childhood. His affection for me surpassed even that of his biological granddaughter; thus, he specially gifted me a copy of the *Song Clan Rules*, hoping that I would uphold the spirit of the Song family.”

“Moved by my grandfather’s painstaking efforts, I have studied the *Song Clan Rules* diligently since childhood, committing every single rule to memory.” Tang Zhao turned to ask Song Qingyan, who was kneeling beside her, “May I ask, Song Qingyan—since you claim to be a daughter of the Song clan, are you capable of reciting the *Song Clan Rules* from memory?”

Song Qingyan froze.

It was true that the Song clan had rules, but such family heirlooms were only permitted to be read by true members of the clan. How could she possibly know them?

“I... I... I do not know.”

The Duke of Wei’s eyelid twitched. “Your Majesty, the Song clan separated from the direct lineage during the time of the Great-Grandfather; the descendants of the direct line are largely unfamiliar with such matters.”

“Oh~” The undulating tone made both the Duke of Wei and Song Qingyan flush crimson.

“If you do not know, then you do not know,” Tang Zhao said magnanimously. “Then may I ask, Father, do you believe the Song clan should abide by the *Song Clan Rules*?”

The Duke of Wei was momentarily speechless. He knew Tang Zhao’s question was ill-intentioned, but he could not refuse. If they did not abide by the rules, how could they have the face to call themselves members of the Song clan?

“What does Your Majesty think?” Tang Zhao turned to the Supreme Sovereign.

Emperor Kangzhi said, “All members of the Song clan shall abide by the *Song Clan Rules*, without exception.”

These were the exact words of the Old General Song.

“The first rule on the opening page of the *Song Clan Rules*: The Song clan shall have no men who commit crimes, and no women who serve as concubines or maids. Should anyone violate this precept, they shall be stripped of their surname and expelled from the family to rectify the clan's integrity!”

Tang Zhao’s powerful words struck the hearts of everyone in the Fengtian Hall. “Song Qingyan, despite being a daughter of the Song clan, has willingly debased herself to serve as a mistress to another. She has shamelessly shared a husband with her elder clan sister. Her actions have brought utter disgrace to the Song clan! According to the rules, from the day she became a mistress, she ceased to be a daughter of the Song clan.”

The Duke of Wei was speechless, and Song Qingyan collapsed to the ground.

“Your Majesty, Song Qingyan is not a daughter of the Song clan, yet she has flaunted herself under that name, even claiming to be a Song daughter before the entire populace of Luoyang, thereby tarnishing the reputation of the Song clan. This humble servant implores Your Majesty to punish her severely to prove the innocence of the Song clan, to redress the grievances of the clan, and to appease the heroic souls of the Song ancestors!”

Tang Zhao knelt and bowed her head once more.

The censor who had been most vocal earlier hunched his back, trying to make himself as small as possible.

*Too ruthless, truly too ruthless. She even dragged in the heroic souls of the entire Song clan. Won't His Majesty fly into a rage?*

Gu Ci echoed, “Your Majesty, the County Lady Zhaoshan’s words are earnest and every point is justified. I request that Your Majesty punish those who defile the name of the loyal and heroic, to serve as a warning to the world!”

Gu Liu seconded.

Yin Wei seconded.

The other officials discussed fervently, and eventually, the majority of the court officials stepped forward to support the motion.

This time, Song Qingyan was truly terrified into tears. She wailed and kowtowed incessantly, “Your Majesty, this woman did not know! I truly did not know! Please, Your Majesty, have mercy on one who was ignorant and spare me this once! I will never dare again!”

Emperor Kangzhi: “Song Qingyan, though she bears the Song bloodline, she has defiled the Song name and prevented the heroic souls from resting in peace. Guards, drag her away!”

“Your Majesty!” The Duke of Wei suddenly interrupted loudly. “Your Majesty, I am willing to trade my merits in pacifying the Southwest to return life to the Song woman. I beg Your Majesty to show mercy!”

*Gasp!* The officials were stunned. Was the Duke of Wei a reincarnated hopeless romantic?

Song Qingyan looked at the Duke of Wei, who stood before her, through a veil of tears.

“Duke of Wei, are you threatening me?”

“I would not dare. Since ancient times, men have fought desperately on the battlefield for nothing more than to honor their sovereign, reward their wives, and provide for their children. I have fought through life and death on the battlefield for my entire life, and the military merits I have earned were solely to save the life of my beloved! I beg Your Majesty, in view of my twenty years of diligent service fighting in the north and south, spare the life of my beloved!”

If it weren't for the enemy, Tang Zhao would have thought quite highly of the Duke of Wei.

He was a man.

“Hmph! Since Tang Zhao is willing to sacrifice her future for a woman, then I shall fulfill your wish!” Emperor Kangzhi rose abruptly. “Pass the decree: Strip Tang Zheng of all positions, including his role as Marshal of the Southwest. He is to remain at home for self-reflection and is sentenced to three years of penance!”

“The death penalty for Song Qingyan may be waived, but she cannot escape punishment,” Emperor Kangzhi said, growing angrier the more he thought about it. “She has failed in her womanly virtues and is unworthy of being a wife. Strip her of her surname and sentence her to copy the Four Books and Five Classics ten thousand times to cultivate her conduct. Furthermore, she is to copy Buddhist scriptures ten thousand times to be offered at the Protector Temple to appease the heroic souls of the Song clan!”

“Until she has finished copying, she shall not step one foot outside the Duke of Wei’s manor!”

“Your Majesty, Song Qingyan has a pair of children. If she is confined to the Buddhist hall, where are those children to go?” Tang Zhao interjected.

Chief Eunuch Zhou thought to himself, *Good heavens, this County Lady Zhaoshan is truly trampling people to death; she won't even let the children off.*

“If the mother is such, the character of the children is evident. Let the Duchess of Wei instruct her children well, ensuring they do not inherit their mother's habits of being talentless and immoral.”

With this single sentence, the political future of the Song lineage was severed.

With a wave of Emperor Kangzhi’s hand, palace attendants stepped forward to drag the limp, broken Song Qingyan out.

【Ding! 'Save the Cannon Fodder Male Supporting Character' System. Third Mission: Prove the innocence of the Song clan—Completed! Reward: 100 catties of cotton seeds stored in space. 50 Life Points received. Total current Life Points: 91.】

Tang Zhao could not suppress the joy on her face.

Emperor Kangzhi felt even more irritated watching her. He wanted to curse, but remembering she wasn't his own child, he swallowed his profanity and sat back in his dragon throne to drink tea and calm his anger.

After finally suppressing his fury, Emperor Kangzhi glanced at the girl standing among the officials, still composed and dignified, and felt a sense of pride for his old friend.

Another censor jumped out, “Your Majesty, the Duke of Wei has achieved significant merits in pacifying the Southwest. If his merits are offset by a woman's mistake, will it not dampen the spirits of the soldiers?”

Emperor Kangzhi thought the same, but he had his own way of resolving it. “The Duke of Wei just stated that men fight for merit to honor their wives and provide for their children. The Duke's original wife is already a First-Rank Duchess; there is no higher title to bestow. Therefore, I shall extend this grace to the Duke's daughter.”

“County Lady Zhaoshan, Tang Zhao, receive the decree.”

Tang Zhao knelt.

Emperor Kangzhi twirled a jade tablet in his hand. “Tang Zhao, daughter of the Duke of Wei, is both loyal and filial, possesses commendable courage, a refined intellect, and is endowed with both virtue and talent. She has inherited the loyalty and bravery of the Song clan. I find this most commendable. I hereby promote her to the rank of Commandery Princess.”

Tang Zhao felt dizzy from the sudden windfall thrown her way by Emperor Kangzhi.

“I further grant you the right to submit memorials. In the future, should there be any injustice, you may submit your petitions directly to the imperial desk.”

Tang Zhao knelt to express her gratitude.

By noon, the morning court had dispersed. A smiling eunuch escorted the newly minted Commandery Princess Zhaoshan to the palace gates, pointing to a magnificent carriage waiting there. “This is an imperial carriage personally bestowed by His Majesty. Aside from Princess Yingde, Your Highness is the very first!”

“My thanks to His Majesty!” Tang Zhao slipped him a silver ingot. “Thank you, Eunuch.”

The eunuch’s face split into a wide grin as he tucked the silver into his sleeve. He watched as Tang Zhao boarded the carriage and was escorted away by the Cavalry General.