Chapter 82 The Hatred of Stealing a Wife in a Past Life
In the spring of the fourth year of Tianyou, several sensational events occurred in Tianning City.
When Emperor Muzong died, Crown Prince Pei Siyan ascended the throne, and all of Prince Rui's supporters were purged.
Zhang Chengxian was granted the title of Duke Zhenguo, while Xie Guidu, the Grand Secretary who shared the fate of Tianning City and was revered by thousands, was also granted the title of Duke Dingguo.
"Lord Duke, the Duke of Dingguo requests an audience!" The gatekeeper pushed open the door, and the room was filled with a strong smell of alcohol, with seven or eight wine jugs lying on the ground.
Drunk, Zhang Chengxian crawled up from under the table and muttered, "You bastard, you came because you smelled me? I'm not going to see you!"
Upon learning of Dou Wenyi's heroic death, Zhang Chengxian was devastated. He received a secret order from Pei Siyan and only recently managed to retrieve her remains.
The gatekeeper was obsequious and dared not reply. Xie Guidu was the Grand Secretary and now a First-Class Duke, yet in his master's mouth he was considered the lowest of the low.
For three consecutive days, Xie Guidu came to the Zhang family to request an audience, but Zhang Chengxian avoided seeing him each time.
The sky was just beginning to lighten, the fog was thick, and it wasn't yet dawn.
Outside Xuanzhi Gate, the Imperial Guards stood in rows, and the white marble steps outside the palace were swept clean and gleaming by the palace maids. The court officials stood solemnly and orderly, waiting in line to attend court.
Xie Guidu, who was at the head of the line, turned around, stopped Zhang Chengxian behind him, and solemnly bowed, saying, "Could the Duke of Zhenguo do me the favor of returning my deceased wife's remains and coffin? I, Xie, will certainly repay you handsomely!"
Zhang Chengxian's face darkened, his brows revealing a cold and ruthless expression. He spoke in a disdainful tone, "Deceased wife? Xie Guidu, you dog, you don't deserve that title! She already wrote a divorce agreement, wanting to sever all ties with you!"
Xie Guidu lifted his eyelids, his gaze sharp and direct, "Yi'er is my lawfully wedded wife, she's been included in the Xie family genealogy, she was born a member of the Xie family, and she will die a member of the Xie family. What does her business have to do with you?"
"Zhang Chengxian, you've gone too far!"
"If you had married sooner, you probably wouldn't have committed such a despicable act as forcibly taking another man's wife's remains. I hope you will do good deeds and return the coffin as soon as possible. The dead should be respected, and your deceased wife needs to be laid to rest!"
"Xie Guidu, do you really think I wouldn't dare to kill you?"
Zhang Chengxian shouted sharply, then suddenly drew the sword from the waist of the Imperial Guard and held it to his neck.
"By force? If I had tried to force her, would she have married you and suffered a lifetime of misery? You sent her to her death with your own hands, how dare you?"
Xie Guidu's eyes were red and filled with grief. "I, Xie, will atone for my sins with my death. After my death, I hope to be buried with my deceased wife. I hope the Duke of Zhenguo will grant my request."
An uproar erupted around them.
After the imperial guards had finished gossiping, they hurriedly stepped forward to dissuade him, and the commander of the imperial guards carefully took the knife from Zhang Chengxian's hand.
Suddenly, Zhang Chengxian punched Xie Guidu in the face.
Xie Guidu dropped the scepter in his hand, raised his hand and grabbed Zhang Chengxian's belt tightly, then threw a punch with his backhand. The two fought back and forth.
One was a highly decorated general and the newly promoted Duke of Zhenguo, and the other was a respected chief minister and the newly promoted Duke of Dingguo. Disregarding all decorum, they actually started fighting in the palace.
This is absolutely unprecedented!
"...It seems that this Duke Zhenguo coveted another man's wife, disregarding the law and human ethics. Otherwise, why would he not even spare the corpse? It is truly a disgrace to civilization!"
"The hatred of having one's wife stolen is not so easily resolved."
"She's truly a femme fatale!"
"Alas, without knowing the full story, it's best not to comment! Let's not speculate!"
......
The assembled officials, who were watching the spectacle, held differing opinions and engaged in lively discussions.
Eunuch Anxi ran all the way to the Imperial Study and said, "Your Majesty, the Duke of Dingguo and the Duke of Zhenguo are fighting at Xuanzhi Gate."
Pei Siyan's thin lips curled slightly, "You've really grown capable!"
It was already noon, and the morning assembly was drawing to a close.
In the Golden Palace, Eunuch Anxi's high-pitched voice rang out, "Summon the Duke of Dingguo and the Duke of Zhenguo to enter the palace."
Zhang Chengxian, who had been standing outside the hall as punishment for almost two hours, strode into the hall as if nothing had happened.
Xie Guidu, on the other hand, was not so lucky. His legs were numb and he was swaying. His face was covered in bruises and cuts, and he looked dejected like a stray dog.
It's truly unbearable to look at.
If he were young, Xie Guidu could have barely fought Zhang Chengxian to a draw. But these years he has been busy with government affairs and has been plagued by cold poison for many years, so his body has become much weaker. How could he be a match for Zhang Chengxian?
After all, Zhang Chengxian was a general who trained every day, so he was physically strong and had inexhaustible energy.
The two knelt respectfully on the ground, performing a full and respectful bow.
Pei Siyan looked at the two men expressionlessly, "Minister Xie, Minister Zhang, do you know your mistake?"
With tears in his eyes and a choked voice, Xie Guidu said, “Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. My wife’s body is not yet cold. I beg Your Majesty to allow me to bury her first, and then I will come to accept punishment. I am willing to exchange all my merits and titles for my wife’s remains, and to repay Your Majesty for your kindness.”
He's killed people, and yet he still acts all high and mighty. It's disgusting!
Zhang Chengxian's eyes were filled with disdain, and his voice was firm and resolute, "Your Majesty, I know my mistake. Dou Wenyi is a woman who is no less capable than men. She personally killed Wanyan Tai, the powerful minister of the Northern Barbarians, and made an unparalleled contribution to the Great Zhou."
"Your Majesty personally bestowed posthumous honors upon her. She is a heroine who should be remembered for generations to come, not a woman confined to the inner quarters of the Xie family."
These words immediately caused an uproar in the imperial court.
Although several days had passed since the reward ceremony, most court officials were unaware that Wanyan Tai had been killed by a woman from the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Pei Siyan said casually, "He should be rewarded! Minister Xie is well-versed in the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty. What do you think I should do to reward him?"
Xie Guidu suddenly looked up, staring at Pei Siyan in astonishment, "I don't know!"
The bitterness in his heart began to swell, and a bad premonition quietly rose in his heart.
His reply was truly offensive and extremely disrespectful.
Immediately, someone in the court spoke up to refute, "Such a great achievement deserves a reward; even posthumously bestowing the title of Princess would be worthy of it."
When someone makes a suggestion, others agree.
Pei Siyan quickly reached a conclusion, posthumously bestowing upon Dou Wenyi the title of Princess Ni'an.
Zhang Chengxian continued his impassioned speech, "Princess Ni'an's only wish before her death was to divorce Xie Guidu, and she hopes that His Majesty will grant her wish!"
"Your Majesty, this is absolutely unacceptable! It's against all propriety! The person is already dead, why are you still talking about divorce? Wouldn't that break Lord Xie's heart?"
"If it is truly a divorce, will Princess Ni'an return to the Dou family? Or is she going to establish her own household?"
Where should she be buried?
"She has no children or descendants, and will not be able to enjoy the offerings of incense and worship in the future. What should we do?"
In this situation, astute officials naturally sensed something amiss. Ni'an, Ni'an, isn't it only when she's separated that she feels at ease?
They immediately began to come up with ideas.
"What's so difficult about that? Just support some poor children in the name of Princess Ni'an, and they will sincerely worship and thank her."
"The princess has accomplished great deeds, and it is only right that a temple and shrine be built for her, so that people will naturally come to worship her."
......
Dou Mingxiu huddled in the corner, not daring to utter a sound.
Beneath Xie Guidu's wide sleeves, a section of snow-white coarse hemp mourning robe was visible. His fingers were already clenched into fists, and veins bulged on his forehead. He said in a cold voice, "Your Majesty, even if I die, I will not agree to a divorce from Yi'er."
He was prepared to die, but he was determined to fight.
Pei Siyan looked at him coolly without saying a word.
Xie Guidu suddenly stood up and resolutely slammed his head against a pillar in the Golden Palace. His head was bleeding profusely, a shocking sight, and he almost died on the spot.
Unfortunately, the emperor on the throne didn't even lift his eyelids. "The chief minister is young and promising, and has made great contributions. How can he harm himself? Someone, have the imperial physician treat Lord Xie properly and make sure to save his life."
Pei Siyan paused, his tone seemingly tinged with regret, "I have no choice but to grant Princess Ni'an's dying wish! The Grand Secretary should understand my predicament."
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