Zong Houzhao stared dumbfounded at his son, who was somewhat out of control. Once Zong Chengping calmed down, he said coldly, "Since you are a member of the Zong family, you must abide by these rules. Ping'er, the rules set by a family are meant to be followed. If these rules are not followed, what is the point of their existence?"

Zong Chengping, his eyes red, growled in a low voice, "Father, such unreasonable rules are meant to be broken! Over the years, how many talented sons born out of wedlock have had their futures ruined because of these broken rules? And what about the legitimate sons? How many纨绔 (spoiled brats) have emerged from them? Father, I'd rather not be a member of the Zong family."

Zong Houzhao looked at his agitated son with mixed feelings, sighed, and said, "Ping'er, your stepmother is arranging a marriage for you. After you get married, wouldn't it be better to live a good life?"

Zong Chengping looked at his father with disappointment and said in a mournful voice, "Father, you know better than I what kind of person my stepmother is. What kind of marriage do you think she would propose to me? Father, I don't want this marriage. Can you help me refuse it? I would rather be alone than spend my whole life with someone I don't like. Father, I beg you."

Zong Houzhao shook his head and said, "Ping'er, this matter has been settled. Your stepmother will not harm you."

Upon hearing this, Zong Chengping seemed to have all his strength drained away. He sighed and said, "Father, I shouldn't have come to find you. I'm too tired of living. Let it be."

Zong Houzhao stood up from his chair and said solemnly to Zong Chengping, "Our bodies and hair are given to us by our parents, and we must not damage them. Ping'er, don't do anything foolish."

Zong Chengping sneered twice and said, "This body is not what I wanted. If you want it, you can take it. Father, I did not beg you to give birth to me. Since you are not willing to plan for your son, please do not interfere with what I want."

Zong Houzhao sneered twice and said, "What, are you trying to threaten your father? Ping'er, you should know that you can't fight city hall. The status of a son of the Duke's family is something many people can only dream of. What more could you want?"

Zong Chengping snorted twice and said, "Whoever wants it can take it. Father, I don't care. Anyway, I have no way to survive in this mansion. It's better to die than to live."

As Zong Chengping's words became increasingly absurd, Zong Houzhao grabbed his teacup and smashed it on the ground, saying, "Who gave you such an idea? Ping'er, are you going to do something so unfilial?"

Zong Chengping was disheartened and said, "Only a kind father can make a filial son. Father, I am bound by this rule and my life is worse than death. I have asked you for help but to no avail. Please forgive my unfilial behavior. I lost my birth mother when I was young and it was not easy for me to make a living under my stepmother. For so many years, I have been very talented, but I have been careful to hide my talents in order not to offend my stepmother and to keep up with the so-called rules of the mansion. I have had enough of this stifling life. Since I cannot make a difference with my abilities, I would rather not live in this world."

Zong Houzhao paced around the room in anger, then pointed at Zong Chengping's nose and cursed, "No wonder your stepmother says you're becoming more and more disobedient. It's all because of those women outside who seduced you. Ping'er, how can you do this to me? How can you do this to your stepmother?"

Zheng Yuanyuan was the person Zong Chengping cherished most in his heart. How could he tolerate being insulted like this? He simply tore off the mask and said, "Father, you are my father, the person I have admired most since childhood, and the person I want to be closest to. But have you fulfilled your responsibilities as a father? You are a good father to my second and third brothers, but what about me? My second and third brothers and I are all your sons, children born from your blood and blood. Just because our mothers are different, you treat me like this. Father, was my biological mother willing to give birth to me like you were? And my stepmother, what have I done to wrong her? To grow up in the inner courtyard, I have been careful in everything I do, always cautious, just to avoid being caught by her and having my life taken. Don't you know how she has treated me all these years? You know, you know she is sweet on the outside but bitter on the inside. You also know that she cannot tolerate me, the eldest son of a concubine, but for your own sake, for the so-called peace and happiness of this family, you insist on sacrificing me. Why?"

As a feudal patriarch, Zong Houzhao could no longer tolerate being verbally abused by his own child. He shouted, "Guards! Guards!"

The servants who were serving outside quickly came in. Zong Houzhao was so angry that his face turned red. He pointed at Zong Chengping's nose and said to the two servants, "Go and give him thirty lashes. After he's been lashed, throw him into the ancestral hall to reflect on his actions. You disobedient and unfilial brat, we'll send you back whenever you've reflected on your actions."

The servants exchanged bewildered glances. They didn't know if this punishment of Zong Chengping, the eldest son born out of wedlock, was Zong Hou's original intention or just a moment of anger. Thirty strokes of the cane! A real beating could take half a person's life. What's more, he was being sent to the ancestral hall. The Zong family's ancestral hall was not a pleasant place. Anyone who went in to reflect on their actions would not come out alive without losing half their life. Sending someone who had just been beaten into reflecting on their actions was practically a death sentence for Zong Chengping.

Zong Hou, seeing that the two servants didn't move, angrily shouted, "What are you doing? Can't I be the master? What? Are you going to disobey my orders like this unfilial son?"

Upon hearing Zong Houzhao's words, the two servants could only grab Zong Chengping's arms and pull him into the courtyard.

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