Chapter 221 The Wasted Son of an Ancient Family (19)
What does it mean to say that the wrath of Heaven is unpredictable?
That's it.
Song Yu and Bai Susu returned to the Marquis's residence with trepidation. They sat facing each other, and the atmosphere was silent for a moment.
"My lord, what... what should we do?"
After a while, Bai Susu raised her head and asked anxiously.
It's not about the son's reputation anymore.
The Marquis and I were reprimanded by the Emperor in the street, and the entire Marquis's mansion lost its reputation.
These kinds of things spread the fastest.
Song Yu frowned.
"Something's not right. A few days ago, I was reprimanded in court, and now..."
He fell silent.
Your heart is hard to fathom.
But it was clear that he had done something to displease the emperor.
Bai Susu was puzzled, "But we haven't done anything to displease His Majesty. We've done things like distributing porridge before..."
Song Yu thought back carefully.
No, there really isn't.
I haven't done anything outrageous lately. Occasionally I gamble a little or go to brothels, but these are trivial matters that wouldn't attract the emperor's attention.
As for Bai Susu, she was just a woman, and the emperor would never care about her.
Could it be...?
Song Yu thought of his two children.
Especially the eldest son, Song Changqing, was uneducated and spent his days sleeping at school.
It seems the emperor mentioned the education of officials' children in court just a few days ago. Could it be because of this?
right!
It must be because of this!
Song Yu's eyes lit up.
It must be that the emperor heard about the Marquis's eldest son's unfilial behavior and thought that the Marquis's family had no successor. Therefore, he looked down on the Marquis's family. In particular, he was disgusted by the behavior of the eldest son in school. Naturally, the emperor could not cause trouble for a child, but he, as the father, would suffer.
Bang!
Song Yu slammed his hand on the table.
"That wicked son! It's all that wicked son's fault!"
Bai Susu didn't understand at first, but after Song Yu explained it to her, she immediately believed it.
That's quite possible.
The Marquis's mansion has that good-for-nothing the worst, and he has the worst reputation.
what to do?
The most crucial thing now is to change the emperor's impression!
The two discussed it.
I felt I had to take a stand.
Those whom the emperor dislikes should, of course, be punished.
And they should be severely punished.
This is how one can demonstrate that they are on the emperor's side.
then.
Changqing then received a reprimand from his own father, who said that he was ignorant, arrogant and rude, and ordered him to return to his hometown to guard his mother's tomb and reflect on his actions for three years.
Changqing's first reaction was—
Such a good thing?
Without saying a word, he packed up and left immediately.
Then, Mr. Qing's picture books were suddenly discontinued, and there were even rumors in the capital that Mr. Qing was old and had passed away a few days ago.
Some young readers even solemnly offered sacrifices by the river.
Inside the palace.
A majestic man in a dragon robe raised his head from behind the desk.
"Mr. Qing has passed away?"
Eunuch Su, who was respectfully serving him, nodded upon hearing this. "Your Majesty, there are indeed such rumors circulating outside, and some people are even making a big show of it by offering sacrifices."
The dignified man then smiled.
Others might not know who Mr. Qing was and assume he was an old man, but he knew that young man couldn't possibly have died of illness at such a young age.
"Tell me, what's going on?"
He knew that the chief eunuch beside him must have already investigated the matter thoroughly.
Eunuch Su then said, "Song Changqing has already left the capital. It is said that he was punished. Lord Song said that he was ignorant and arrogant, and ordered him to return to his hometown to guard his mother's tomb and reflect on his actions."
The emperor's expression changed.
"Then, what about his new illustrated version of Romance of the Three Kingdoms?"
Eunuch Su: "It's been discontinued."
"What audacity!"
The emperor slammed his hand on the table.
"What I mean is, Song Yu has quite the audacity!"
Just then, someone came to report that Lord Song was requesting an audience.
The emperor's face immediately turned cold.
"Very well, very well, Song Yu, you've really got some nerve! I told him to stay home and reflect on his actions, yet you still dare to come see me!"
"Your Majesty, should I go out and chase him away?" Eunuch Su said cautiously.
"No, I want to see what he's here for!"
The emperor waved his hand, "Let him in!"
However, to the emperor's surprise, Song Yu came to report on the results of his self-reflection. He said that he had been reflecting carefully at home these days, deeply regretting his mistakes, and felt that he had not disciplined his son properly, which had tarnished the reputation of the nobles. Therefore, he had ordered that his unfilial son to return to his hometown of Hanyang to guard his mother's tomb and not to return to the capital for three years.
At the same time, he felt that this was not enough, so he applied to the palace to establish his second son as the heir apparent so that he could inherit the marquis's estate in the future.
"I have been lenient with that rebellious son because he lost his mother at a young age, but I never expected him to be so unruly and disgraceful to the Emperor. I beg Your Majesty to grant permission for my second son to inherit the Marquis's mansion..."
Song Yu knelt on the ground, his tone filled with deep regret, as if he were truly disappointed in his son.
Even Eunuch Su almost laughed out loud.
The emperor's face darkened further.
The deposition and establishment of a marquis's heir is no small matter; it must be recorded in the palace. There are precedents for deposing the eldest son and establishing the younger one, but those are considered extreme cases.
"Lord Song, is this the result of your reflection?"
A cold voice came, and Song Yu's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that he was going in the wrong direction? No, it shouldn't be. That rebellious son of the Marquis's mansion is the most outrageous. He has been working diligently all these years and has absolutely no fault that anyone can use against him.
He gritted his teeth.
"Your Majesty, that is indeed the case, that rebellious son..."
"So, it was your son's idea to distribute porridge at the city gate? I told you to go home and reflect on your actions, and you're just blaming your child for everything? Also, it's against the law to depose the eldest son and establish the younger one in favor of the heir. Song Yu, your youngest son wasn't born to your principal wife; strictly speaking, he's just an illegitimate son, isn't he? Are you sure you want to make an illegitimate son the heir?"
The emperor interrupted him, asking a series of questions that left Song Yu sweating profusely.
"My lord...my lord..."
He kowtowed repeatedly, at a loss for words.
The emperor sighed, his voice low and distant, as if it came from afar, "I think Lord Song is getting old. From now on, he should stop serving in the city guards and retire at home."
Song Yu was completely stunned.
He didn't even know how he got out of the palace.
The real position I worked so hard to get is gone?
It was that simple!
Half a lifetime of hard work, all gone in one day—this feeling was somewhat unreal to him.
Isn't the problem with the child, but with oneself? What did one do wrong to earn the emperor's disdain?
He began to question the meaning of life.
Fortunately, the title left by their ancestors is still there, but it will be downgraded in the next generation.
I'm home.
He told Bai Susu about it, and the two of them couldn't sleep for several nights.
The emperor's heart is unfathomable.
I simply can't understand what happened.
"My lord, is it still possible for Changming to establish an heir?"
Bai Susu asked with red eyes.
Originally, Song Changming's status was rather ambiguous. The Marquis's family treated him as their second son, but with a single word from the emperor, he was classified as an illegitimate son, and illegitimate sons have no right of inheritance.
"I have no idea."
Song Yu shook his head; he was truly confused now.
"How could you not know!" Bai Susu exclaimed anxiously.
Song Yu was also annoyed. "His Majesty's attitude is clearly not supportive. At least, not now. We can only wait."
Bai Susu's eyes reddened.
And so on.
How long will it take? The Marquis's reputation is already ruined, and the Marquis has lost his real position. All that's left is the title left by the ancestor. If his son can't get it, then he will really have nothing left.
no.
He can wait, but I can't!
if--
The Marquis's family only has one son, so whether he is the legitimate son or the illegitimate son, he should be able to inherit the family business, right?
Bai Susu hardened her heart.
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