Chapter 34: Seeking Justice

The girl's gaze was open and honest, devoid of a trace of pretense.

Looking through the girl's eyes, Emperor Kangzhi felt as if he were conversing with an old friend. "I am well."

Tang Zhao's face instantly brightened like a blooming flower. "Then your servant and my maternal grandfather can rest easy."

Emperor Kangzhi asked, "Zhao Shan, what injustice have you suffered that requires me to seek justice for you?"

Before she had even stated the injustice, His Majesty was already prepared to act?

The assembled officials were stunned by the Emperor's gentle tone and the blatant favoritism underlying his words.

The censors were so incensed their whiskers twitched.

Tang Zhao had been waiting for this very sentence. Her eyes instantly reddened as she knelt again, her voice sharp and piercing. "Your servant accuses Song Qingyan, the unofficial wife of the Duke of Wei, of insulting the reputation of the loyal and heroic Song clan!" She struck her head heavily against the golden bricks. "I implore Your Majesty to seek justice for me, for General Song, and for the entire Song clan!"

Emperor Kangzhi sat up straight. "What has happened? Tell me in detail."

"Your Majesty, my father, the Duke of Wei, maintains an unofficial wife in Yidai Alley. This in itself is nothing; my mother passed away many years ago, and my father has few heirs, so such an act is beyond reproach."

"When my stepmother, Lady An, learned of the unofficial wife, she considered the merit of the woman having borne a son and a daughter. She personally went to invite the woman and her children into the manor. However, the woman refused. Furthermore, the woman's daughter has been loudly claiming that the woman is a cousin of my mother's clan and a granddaughter of my maternal grandfather's clan."

An official cried out in shock, "Did the entire Song clan not die fighting to defend the city?"

Tang Zhao wanted to give him an appreciative look, but she had no time.

She continued, "I was present at the time. Upon hearing these words, my mind went blank. Just as I was about to get off my carriage to demand an explanation, I saw my father personally ride up, protect the unofficial wife in front of the common people, and sternly rebuke my stepmother."

"When I questioned my father about this, he admitted it—and even demanded that I call my stepmother 'Aunt'!"

"I must ask Your Majesty: how can I, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Duke of Wei's manor and the County Lady Zhao Shan bestowed by Your Majesty's own decree, be expected to show the respect due to a junior to an unofficial wife?"

A censor stepped forward. "County Lady Zhao Shan is mistaken! Regardless of who that woman is, if she truly is a cousin of the late Duchess of Wei, the County Lady indeed ought to call her 'Aunt'!"

Other officials stepped forward to echo him.

"I have not finished speaking," Tang Zhao interrupted their accusations.

The censor who had been speaking most heatedly was choked into silence.

"Though I am unrefined, I understand the principles of ethics and social order. If that woman truly belonged to the Song clan, I would be overjoyed! After all, aside from myself, no one else in this world carries the blood of the Song clan."

"But this 'Song' is a fraud, a thief of fame! She uses the name of the Song women to swindle people and insults the pure reputation of the Song clan!"

"Do you have evidence?" Emperor Kangzhi gripped the arms of his dragon throne.

"I am prepared to confront that woman right here in court!"

Gu Ci's heart sank. This meant she had no concrete evidence.

A censor immediately jumped out. "County Lady Zhao Shan lacks clear proof; how does she dare claim that the woman is not a daughter of the Song clan?"

The Crown Prince stepped forward. "Your Majesty, why not follow County Lady Zhao Shan's suggestion and invite the unofficial wife and the Duke of Wei to confront each other in court!"

Emperor Kangzhi nodded. "Granted."

Seeing the girl kneeling on the ground with disheveled makeup, Emperor Kangzhi made an exception and ordered palace attendants to take her away to freshen up.

Half an hour later, the Duke of Wei entered the hall accompanied by the unofficial wife, both kneeling and kowtowing.

"Your servant, Tang Zheng, the Duke of Wei, pays respects to Your Majesty."

"This common woman, of the Song clan, pays respects to Your Majesty."

Emperor Kangzhi did not allow them to rise. "Duke of Wei, County Lady Zhao Shan accuses your unofficial wife of impersonating a daughter of the Song clan to swindle people and ruin their reputation. Do you have anything to say in your defense?"

The Duke of Wei had heard on his way that Tang Zhao had struck the Drum of Denunciation to appeal directly to the Emperor. He wished he could strangle her right then and there, but on the surface, he feigned grief, acting like a heartbroken old father. "Your Majesty, the Song clan is indeed my father-in-law's clan, the female kin of the late General Song."

"During the wars of the past, the Song clan encountered rioters while migrating. One branch was forced to scatter. That branch is the father of my unofficial wife. Her great-grandfather and my father-in-law's grandfather were paternal cousins."

Emperor Kangzhi asked, "Is there proof?"

Song Zheng replied, "There is. All female members of the Song clan have their given names tattooed on their right arms, which appear when soaked in hot water."

Emperor Kangzhi was aware of this custom. He ordered Chief Eunuch Zhou to personally use a cloth soaked in hot water to wipe the right arm of the woman. A moment later, the three characters—Song Qingyan—indeed appeared on the pale, jade-like arm.

Chief Eunuch Zhou reported, "Your Majesty, the characters are indeed on her arm."

The censor could not wait to step forward. "Your Majesty, the witnesses and the evidence are both present! The woman is indeed a daughter of the Song clan. County Lady Zhao Shan has committed imperial deception and slandered another in Your Majesty's presence. I implore Your Majesty to punish her severely!"

Song Qingyan sobbed softly.

Several others stepped forward. "We implore Your Majesty to punish County Lady Zhao Shan severely."

Emperor Kangzhi frowned. "Summon Zhao Shan to the hall for the confrontation."

Tang Zhao calmed her racing heart and strode forward, only to be pulled back by Gu Ci.

"What are you doing?" *Don't get in the way of your mother crushing these scumbags!*

Though Gu Ci's voice was low, it was reassuring. "Don't be afraid. If you truly cannot win the argument, do not throw a tantrum or curse in the streets. Just confess your mistake to His Majesty. At worst, your title will be stripped and you will be demoted to a commoner. Regardless, I will ensure your life remains safe."

Tang Zhao felt conflicted. She didn't know whether to thank him for his kind protection or curse him for being so pessimistic.

Chief Eunuch Zhou gave a heavy cough.

Even if the Cavalier General was desperate to protect his wife, he should show some decorum in front of the ministers and the Emperor.

Gu Ci let go, and Tang Zhao jogged forward. Just as she was about to perform her salutations, Emperor Kangzhi stopped her. "Confront her!"

"I am a woman of thin fate; I never thought I would be fortunate enough to share a husband with my clan sister. I only regret the fickleness of destiny," Song Qingyan looked up, weeping uncontrollably. "I know the County Lady blames me and resents me. This was my fault; I beg for your forgiveness." She kowtowed three times heavily. "But the Duke is, after all, the County Lady's father. How can the County Lady be so heartless?"

Tang Zhao found it absurd. "I am accusing you, not my father. My father hasn't said a word; why are you meddling?"

She spoke with absolute certainty, as if she and the Duke shared a deep bond. "Even if I did accuse my father, I am sure he would not have the heart to blame me, right, Father?"

The Duke of Wei forced a smile. "You are still young; how could your father blame you?" He then turned serious. "But you should never have committed the crime of deceiving the Emperor. Zhao Zhao, admit your mistake to His Majesty. Even if I have to throw away all my military merits, I will plead for you."

"Your father's paternal love leaves your daughter moved to tears," Tang Zhao smiled happily. "But Father, how can you be so certain that your daughter is deceiving the Emperor?"

She leaned close to the Duke's ear and whispered, "It remains to be seen who will ultimately prevail."

The Duke of Wei turned his head to look at her.

Tang Zhao ignored him and spoke loudly, "Your Majesty, it is precisely because the Song clan *is* the Song clan that I am accusing her of impersonating a daughter of the Song clan!"

?

The officials were utterly bewildered. Had County Lady Zhao Shan gone mad? Was she even speaking human language?

Why couldn't they understand?

Emperor Kangzhi also failed to grasp her meaning. "What do you mean by this?"

Tang Zhao pulled a thin book from her robes and held it above her head with both hands. "I implore Your Majesty to examine this!"

Chief Eunuch Zhou personally presented it.

On the cover of the thin book, four large characters were written in powerful, sweeping calligraphy that seemed to pierce through the paper: *The Song Clan Rules.*