Chapter 69 The Prodigal Brother (Part 9): The Merchant's Son's Path to Becoming a King of a Different Surname...

Before long, the Song family ancestral home was bustling with people, and the respected elders of the clan arrived one after another.

It had been a long time since the Song family had gathered together like this. For a moment, everyone had different expressions. While exchanging greetings, their eyes kept glancing towards the direction of the council hall. They whispered among themselves, speculating about why the clan leader had urgently summoned everyone here.

After the elders were seated, Song Tongsheng stood up solemnly. He stepped forward, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, and said in a deep voice, "Today, Tongsheng has invited you elders here because a major incident has occurred in our Song family that has caused us great embarrassment. This matter concerns the family's reputation, so Tongsheng dares not speak rashly. I hereby request that you elders make a wise decision."

"Clan leader, please just say it. Why have you summoned us old bones here?" an old man in the audience said slowly.

"Sixth Uncle, no rush, there are still people who haven't arrived yet. Please wait patiently," Song Tongsheng said.

After an incense stick's time had passed, Madam Li helped Madam Song, whose face was cold, into the room. Upon seeing Song Ce standing to the side, Madam Song's tense body suddenly relaxed, and the coldness on her face dissipated, replaced by a look of relief and ease.

“Madam Lu, today is a grand gathering of the Song clan. Why have you, a mere woman, come here?” An elderly man who recognized Madam Song stood up and asked with considerable surprise.

"Seventh Uncle, please sit down first. Madam Lu must be present today," Song Tongsheng said loudly.

Seeing this, the elders knew that the matter to be discussed next must be related to Song Sanzhi (Master Song).

Just as the hall quieted down, a bewildered Mr. Song was led to the main hall by the butler.

Upon seeing the indifferent expression on Madam Song's face and the expressionless Song Ce, his heart skipped a beat, and a bad premonition arose within him. Master Song forced himself to remain calm, forcing a smile, and asked, "Clan leader, why are you in such a hurry to gather everyone today?" He then turned to Madam Song and Song Ce, paused, and asked in a deep voice, "But I wonder why my wife and son are here as well?"

Upon hearing this, Song Tongsheng did not directly answer his question. Instead, he turned to the elders and said, “As the saying goes, a loving father and filial son, a righteous husband and obedient wife. Song Sanzhi, as a descendant of the Song family, has learned from those good-for-nothing playboys outside, spending his days in gambling dens, neglecting both family and affairs. This is a grave transgression. Now, he has squandered ninety percent of the family's assets, yet instead of repenting, he has even set his sights on Lu Shi's dowry. Later, he incurred huge gambling debts, nearly harming his daughter. Song Sanzhi's disgraceful actions have truly betrayed the teachings of our ancestors. Elders, you are all wise and understanding; let us see how to properly resolve this matter.”

Upon hearing this, Master Song's face flushed red with anger. He retorted, "Elders, please understand! Our family still has some sense of propriety and shame. The matter of my wife's dowry has already been investigated and found to be malicious theft by an old woman in our household. It has absolutely nothing to do with me! As for harming my daughter, that's even more absurd! It was precisely because of a moment of carelessness that the scoundrel was able to take advantage of the situation, and that's why my daughter suffered this misfortune. Elders, please understand! I, Song Sanzhi, have studied the classics for several years in the clan school. How could I do such a beastly thing? As the saying goes, even a tiger wouldn't eat its own cubs!"

At this point, Master Song suddenly turned around, looked directly at Song Ce, and said angrily, "Ce'er, let me ask you, did you come to the clan chief and make up such nonsense about what happened today?"

Hearing Master Song's almost completely distorted words, Song Ce remained unmoved. He slowly stepped forward, bowed to the assembled elders, and said, "Elders, it is common knowledge that my father is addicted to gambling and has squandered almost all of the family fortune. My mother has been yielding to him, hoping that he would change for the better someday. But unexpectedly, he has set his sights on my mother's dowry. Yesterday, villains kidnapped my younger sister, all because of my father's gambling debts. My mother is heartbroken and even contemplates suicide. I implore you elders to uphold justice for my mother and grant my parents a divorce so that they can both live in peace."

Upon hearing this, everyone's faces immediately showed shock.

Hearing Song Ce reveal all his secrets, Old Master Song immediately turned red with anger. Feeling the strange looks from the elders around him, his eyes widened, and he slammed his fist on the table, pointing at Song Ce and shouting, "You unfilial son! How dare you instigate the elders to make your mother divorce me! What are your true intentions?"

Song Ce remained calm, meeting his father's angry gaze directly, and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Father, my intentions are simple: I only wish to free Mother from her suffering and grant her some peace for the rest of her life. Ask yourself honestly, in all these years, has Mother ever had a single day of comfort by your side? You favor your concubines over your wife, indulge in gambling, and have squandered almost all of the family's wealth. Mother has poured her heart and soul into maintaining this family, yet what have you done? You show no remorse whatsoever. Mother has been broken beyond repair by you. I beg you to spare her and allow her to have a peaceful old age."

"How dare you!" Upon hearing this, Master Song was both ashamed and furious, his chest heaving with anger. "If what you say is true, and she divorces me, then she will be a woman abandoned by her husband's family. What peaceful life will she have in the future?"

Seeing that the situation was not going well, Song Tongsheng spoke up at the right time: "Song Sanzhi, calm down for now. The reason for summoning all the elders here today is this matter. You and your nephew are father and son, blood is thicker than water. You two should talk things out, why argue like this?"

Seeing that Song Tongsheng was mediating, Master Song said, "Clan leader, it's not that I'm being unreasonable, it's just that this wretched child has disobeyed his biological father, and I really can't tolerate it anymore!"

"Sanzhi, please sit down." A middle-aged man in the front row stood up, waved to Master Song, and then turned to Madam Song: "Back then, when you two got married, my wife's aunt acted as guarantor. Now that she has passed away, I will take the liberty of calling you sister-in-law. Sister-in-law, tell me, is there any chance of reconciliation between you and Sanzhi regarding your divorce?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Song bowed slightly, her eyes reddening: "Brother, my mind is made up, and I have no intention of arguing anymore."

The middle-aged man nodded, then looked at Master Song again, "Sanzhi, you've heard what your sister-in-law said. Reflect on your actions over the years. Have you lived up to the expectations of your wife and children, and your ancestors?"

Master Song suddenly lost his strength and slumped back in his chair. He clenched his fists and said stubbornly, "Brother, I know I was wrong. I was just confused for a moment. I will definitely correct my mistakes in the future. I cannot agree to this divorce."

“Madam Lu.” The eldest son of the Song family, the second eldest, was helped to his feet and advised, “You have been married to Sanzhi for fifteen years and have a son and a daughter. Don’t act impulsively. As the saying goes, a prodigal son who returns is more precious than gold. Now that Sanzhi has repented, why can’t you give him a chance to start over?”

Madam Song smiled bitterly, "Second Uncle, I appreciate your kindness, but over the past fifteen years, he has repeatedly become addicted to gambling and squandered our family fortune. I have given him countless chances. This time, I am not acting impulsively, but after so many years, I have lost all hope. I beg you, Second Uncle, to grant my request, and I beg you, the elders of the clan, to grant my request."

After hearing this, the second uncle frowned slightly, a hint of regret on his face: "Alas, Madam Lu, I understand what you mean, but a divorce would damage the family's reputation."

Song Tongsheng stood up and sighed, "What you say is absolutely right, but Sanzhi's actions have already brought shame to the family. In my opinion, since Madam Lu has already made up her mind, allowing the two of them to divorce may be the best solution at present."

Upon hearing this, the crowd began to whisper among themselves. Some nodded in agreement, believing that Master Song had indeed made a grave mistake and that Madam Song should be allowed to leave; others hesitated, feeling that divorce was too shocking and concerned the family's reputation, and that it required careful consideration.

Just then, the second uncle saw Song Ce patting Madam Song's hand. He coughed and said, "Young Ce, come forward and tell me, what do you think about your parents' desire to divorce?"

Song Ce first bowed to the elders before slowly speaking: "Elders, over the years, I have witnessed my mother's physical and mental exhaustion, and I feel deeply guilty. Therefore, I support my mother's decision and only hope to help her escape from this suffering."

Upon hearing this, Master Song slammed his fist on the table, furious. "You unfilial son! You are truly an unfilial son! I would have rather given birth to a donkey than you! Your constant stirring up trouble is utterly wicked!"

After hearing this, the second uncle could no longer hold back and shook his head, saying, "Sanzhi, our Song family has always taken loyalty, righteousness, benevolence, and filial piety as its foundation. Your actions are truly a disgrace to our ancestors."

"Second Uncle! You love me the most!" Master Song shouted.

Upon hearing this, the second uncle could only sigh deeply, his eyes filled with disappointment.

Seeing the various expressions on everyone's faces, Master Song panicked and hurriedly said, "Elders, please don't believe this unfilial son's one-sided story. I... I only occasionally go to the gambling den for entertainment. How did he make me addicted to gambling and disgracing the family? Besides, a son shouldn't speak ill of his father. Isn't this unfilial son's behavior today extremely disrespectful? As for my wife's dowry, that's completely unfounded. I swear to heaven today that if I have even the slightest covetousness for my wife's dowry, may I... may I... die a horrible death."

The last four words were almost uttered through gritted teeth by Master Song, and his pronunciation was not very clear. Seeing the slight sweat on his forehead, how could anyone not understand?

At this moment, Madam Song, who had been silent beside Song Ce, suddenly stepped forward and said, "Elders of the clan, I have something to say."

Seeing this, Song Tongsheng nodded and said, "Go ahead."

"He and I were husband and wife for a night, and now that things have come to this, I only want some dignity. Therefore, I am willing to give him half of the dowry I brought with me when I married him, just to find some relief." After Madam Song finished speaking, she first bowed to the elders of the clan, and then looked at Master Song and bowed again.

Since Madam Song has said all this, she must have made up her mind to divorce.

Upon hearing Madam Song's words, Mr. Song was struck dumb. He looked at Madam Song in disbelief, took two steps back, and murmured, "Madam...you, you really want to divorce me?"

"Yes," Madam Song replied decisively.

Master Song's lips trembled slightly, and his face turned pale and then flushed. He wanted to say something nice to try and salvage the situation, but he found that his throat felt like it was blocked with cotton, and he couldn't utter a sound.

They were once a loving young couple. When he learned that Madam Song was pregnant, he was overjoyed and couldn't wait to tell everyone in the county that he was going to be a father.

When did everything change? Was it when he brought back his first concubine, Madam Song, and had a big argument with her, or when he went to the gambling den and didn't come home all night?

He didn't know, he...and he didn't remember.

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Author's Note: Mrs. Song is finally free! Hooray!