flstandardbreds Chapter 143 Confrontation
Chapter 143 Confrontation
Consort Song was both ashamed and furious, and immediately burst into tears: "Shangguan Zisu, you shameless little hussy, I'll fight you to the death today!"
As he spoke, he lunged at Zisu again.
Zisu nimbly dodged, then kicked out with her right foot, striking Consort Song squarely in the knee. Caught off guard, Consort Song was sent flying a considerable distance, unable to get up for a long time.
"What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and help me up!" Consort Song shouted at her maids and servants, enduring the excruciating pain.
"Yes, Your Highness!" Immediately, a maid and an old woman rushed forward and helped her up.
"Shangguan Zisu, you're ruthless! The Song family isn't so easy to bully. Just you wait and see, I'll go back right now and ask the Song family for a hundred or so experts!" Consort Song was filled with shame and anger, feeling that she had lost all face and dignity. To hide her inner panic, she threatened fiercely.
"You think I'd be scared? Don't you even realize that I'm the daughter of a military family? My father is a Protector-General and the Minister of War! Your Song family has experts, but our Shangguan family are all incompetent fools? If I were you, I'd be more honest and not say such laughable things!"
Zisu looked at Consort Song with a sharp gaze, like a drawn sword, which immediately chilled Consort Song to the bone. She couldn't help but mutter to herself, "How can a girl not even fifteen years old have such a frightening look?" This feeling was like being enveloped by the glint of swords, making it hard for Consort Song to breathe.
"You wait, I'll be back!" Consort Song shouted, her voice a mix of bravado and cowardice, as she walked and yelled.
Zisu watched her hastily departing figure and couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.
What a coward! He dares to come to Wuliping to cause trouble for her! The Prince Duan's mother has terrible taste! This person alone occupies the position of a concubine. You know, concubine positions are very scarce; a prince can only have two concubines and four secondary consorts, with no limit on the number of maids.
In a typical prince's case, the position of concubine wouldn't be given to a woman who offers no benefit. He would definitely choose a woman who could help him. Firstly, her family must be powerful enough; secondly, the concubine herself must be intelligent, not just a pretty face.
Before Consort Song had even left Yulin County and returned to the Prince's residence, Prince Duan received a message by carrier pigeon, learning in detail about her journey to Wuliping. He had left two guards at Wuliping, and the message was delivered by these guards via carrier pigeon.
When Consort Song returned to the capital and arrived at the gate of Prince Duan's residence, she was stopped by the steward: "I'm sorry, but you are no longer the prince's consort. His Majesty has issued an imperial decree stripping you of your title as consort. Furthermore, he has permitted the prince to divorce you!"
Song Wu was stunned and asked incredulously, "What? Butler, say it again!"
The steward said coldly, "You are no longer the prince's concubine. He has divorced you!" After saying that, he didn't look at her again and ordered the old women and a dozen guards standing to the side, "Quickly load her dowry onto the carriage!"
When Song Wu looked, she saw that ten large cargo wagons were already parked at the gate of the Prince's mansion, and a long row of boxes and furniture was laid out on the ground. The furniture looked very familiar; it was her own dowry, and the boxes were also part of her dowry.
Before the words were even finished, the old woman and the guards had already begun loading things onto the carriage, and in no time, it was all loaded. The steward waved his hand: "Send Miss Song's dowry back to the Song family and personally hand it over to Miss Song's parents!"
"Yes, I understand, don't worry!" The one who said this was the chief steward of the Prince's mansion, who personally led the caravan towards the west of the city.
The Song family lived in the west of the city.
Song Wu cried and sobbed, shouting, "I won't leave! I'd rather die than leave! If you want to divorce me, you have to have a reason, right?"
The steward said disdainfully, "The reason? The reason is that you went to Wuliping to beat and humiliate Princess Yulin. Isn't that reason enough? Besides, in the past few months you've been in the Prince's mansion, you've been beating and scolding the servants at the drop of a hat. Several honest and loyal servants have died unjustly because of you. A woman as vicious and insidious as you isn't even worthy to carry the Prince's shoes!"
Furthermore, you spent the night outside without the Prince's or the Empress Dowager's permission, which is extremely immoral. For that alone, you deserve to be killed. The Prince, being kind-hearted, spared your life and even returned your entire dowry; that's already merciful enough! If you continue to cause trouble, then don't blame me for being impolite; I'll have no choice but to send you to jail!
What? The Prince already knows about my trip to Wuliping?!
Hearing this, Consort Song felt utterly dejected, her face filled with despair. She numbly boarded the carriage, letting her maids and servants take her back to the Song family. No wonder; she had been reckless. Well, since things had come to this, she might as well go home and ask her parents for help! If her parents were willing to intervene, perhaps she could still return to the Prince's mansion.
Unexpectedly, when the carriage arrived at the Song family's gate, the steward refused to let her in: "Master said you have no self-respect, staying out all night! He doesn't intend to acknowledge a daughter as shameless as you. Out of consideration for our past relationship, he has taken one thousand taels of silver from your dowry and is giving it to you. Take this one thousand taels and go to Huangjue Temple to become a nun! Master allows you to bring a maid and an old woman to take care of your daily needs. The master of Huangjue Temple has already sent someone to make arrangements!"
"Wait a moment, I will personally escort you there. Don't worry about food, clothing, or lodging! Everything will be taken care of by the master! If you truly realize your mistake and are willing to repent, perhaps in a couple of years the master will bring you out and arrange a good marriage for you! Otherwise, you'll stay there for the rest of your life!"
What?! My father would do this to me?! In his heart, wasn't I his most beloved daughter? No! None of this is real; it's all a dream, an illusion!
Song Wu went berserk, trying to rush into the mansion, but was stopped by the tall and burly guards: "Miss, you should listen to the steward, otherwise, your fate will be even more pitiful!" One of the guards, feeling a little sorry for her, kindly advised her.
Song Wu slumped to the ground, feeling as if all her strength had been drained away. At this moment, she felt an indescribable regret.
If she hadn't chased after him to the Northwest, perhaps the Prince would have returned to the capital long ago; if she hadn't gone to Wuliping and verbally and physically abused Zisu, perhaps the Prince wouldn't have stripped her of her title as a concubine. The Prince appears cold-hearted, but deep down he is a man full of a sense of justice.
If she hadn't humiliated Zisu, even if the prince was dissatisfied with her, he would likely have spared her some dignity and wouldn't have expelled her from the palace. He would have certainly made proper arrangements for her, whether by sending her to the prince's estate or marrying her off; he would have taken good care of her. But now, it's too late for regrets. The emperor has already issued his decree; she has absolutely no connection with the Prince Duan's residence anymore!
She never dreamed that returning to her parents' home would lead to such a tragedy! If they wouldn't accept her, they could have given her a small estate to live on for a few years and then found an opportunity to marry her. Why, why send her to Huangjue Temple? Huangjue Temple had a place specifically for imprisoning concubines who had committed serious offenses, or daughters of wealthy families. The rules there were extremely strict, cruel, and inhumane. Very few who entered Huangjue Temple could survive two years peacefully.
Many people either went insane or committed suicide within two years. Very few emerged from there as normal people. How cruel her parents were! Even finding her a remote farm to keep her under surveillance would have been better! At least on a farm, she would still be a mistress, able to move around freely, and it wouldn't be like being in prison! No! Entering Huangjue Temple was far more terrifying than prison!
"Someone, quickly pull her onto the carriage and send her to Huangjue Temple. Do not delay!" Before Song Wu lost consciousness, she clearly heard these words. The speaker was none other than her biological father.
Father, how cruel you are! Your daughter hasn't done anything heinous; she just spent one night outside, and you're driving her to the brink of despair.
Upon thinking of this, Song Wu completely fainted.
Upon receiving the news, Prince Duan remained silent for a moment before turning to his trusted subordinates and saying, "Spread this message. I want to see if, after Song Wu's lesson, any other girl will dare to shamelessly try to become my woman!"
There's no such thing as a thousand-day defense against a thief when you can only chase them from afar. He must nip all potential threats in the bud.
"Yes, Master!" The trusted subordinate replied respectfully and quickly took his leave.
When Lady Ying, the wife of Marquis Zhongxin, heard that Prince Duan had gone to Wuliping, she became anxious and hurriedly boarded her carriage to go there. Seeing Zisu reading alone in the courtyard, her anxiety finally subsided.
"Auntie's here! Please have a seat!" Zisu quickly stood up, smiling as she greeted her. She then glanced at Xiangli and said, "Hurry and serve tea. It's so hot, so let's have orange blossom tea!"
"Yes, miss!" Xiangli quickly brewed a pot of orange blossom tea.
“My son likes you very much,” Lady Zhongxin picked up her teacup, took an elegant sip, and smiled brightly and kindly on her beautiful and generous face: “So, do you like my son?”
Zisu smiled and nodded calmly: "Yes, Madam, I also like the heir of the Marquis of Zhongxin very much! However, I don't know if your son likes me as well, he has never said that he likes me."
Lady Zhongxin smiled broadly, like a flower in bloom: "Very good, you like my son, you have good taste! How about this, I'll accept you as my daughter-in-law! No matter what obstacles there are, I will help you overcome them!"
Zisu: "Madam, it's too early to say such things. I don't know what Lord Fang is really thinking! Besides, I'm not even fifteen yet, and I don't want to get married so early! I want to stay with my parents for a couple more years, and we'll talk about it when I turn eighteen!"
Madam Ying: "You're not young anymore, you can get married at fifteen! Besides, my Heng'er is almost twenty-six, and by the time you turn eighteen, he'll be almost thirty! No, no! You should get married when you turn fifteen!"
“Auntie, I’m sorry, but I will not budge on this point under any circumstances. I will absolutely not discuss marriage before I am eighteen!” Zisu’s attitude was very firm.
In her dream, she learned that women who give birth before the age of eighteen are very likely to experience difficult childbirth. Furthermore, the quality of the child is often lower. She valued her life highly; if she were to die in childbirth before turning eighteen, it would be a wasted life! Wasn't Fang Heng's ex-wife the one who died in childbirth?
Ying's expression turned somewhat unpleasant: "Why are you so stubborn, child?"
Zisu: "Getting married and having children too early can easily lead to difficult labor, and the quality of the child may be lower."
Madam Ying couldn't help but roll her eyes, thinking that these were all just excuses: "I got married at fifteen and gave birth to my son Fang Heng at sixteen. Aren't I living a good life now? My son Fang Heng is no worse than anyone else. He is now a dignified third-place scholar!"
Zisu: "But I heard from Qiong'er that he was very weak when he was little, and he almost didn't survive! He didn't get out of the medicine cabinet until he was about ten years old!"
"That brat, she's talking nonsense!" Madam Ying scolded her daughter, then tried to persuade Zisu: "But Fang Heng is perfectly fine now, and his health is excellent. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to stay in the Northeast Army camp for five years! You shouldn't think so much! Just listen to me, quickly pick a date, and let's arrange the marriage between our two families! In two months, when you turn fifteen, you can marry Heng'er!"
His tone was very forceful, showing no intention of giving Zisu any leeway.
Zisu was a little unhappy and frowned slightly: "I'm sorry, Aunt, please forgive me for not being able to do it! I've already said that I'll get engaged when I'm sixteen and married when I'm eighteen. This is a matter of principle, and I will not compromise!"
Madam Ying said, "Since you insist, I won't force you. However, my son is already twenty-six years old, and he has been single for more than five years. How about this, let him take a concubine first, not a noble concubine, but just an ordinary concubine!"
Zisu: "Doesn't the Fang family have a rule that a man can only take a concubine if he has no son by the age of thirty? Now that Lord Fang already has a son, can he still take a concubine?"
Madam Ying: "This rule has already been broken by his father, so it will no longer be valid! Moreover, you can't marry Heng'er right away, and you'll have to make him remain single for more than three years. That's too cruel!"
Zisu: "I will not agree. If Lord Fang wants to take a concubine, I will not choose him!"
Madam Ying: "This is jealousy, which is one of the seven grounds for divorce!"
Zisu: "I don't care about the seven grounds for divorce. I only know that if a man is truly devoted to his wife, how can he have room for another woman in his heart? Similarly, if a woman loves her husband very much, she cannot tolerate him having other women! I pursue a lifelong, monogamous relationship, and I would rather have none than a bad one. If Fang Heng can't do that, I will never be with him!"
Ying: "Are you confused? In this world, any man with a bit of ability and wealth, do you see any man who doesn't have three wives and four concubines? For a man to take a concubine, besides sex, it's also a matter of dignity, just like a mink coat, it's a symbol of a man's success!"
Upon hearing this, Zisu couldn't help but roll her eyes: "So, does that mean that Lady Zhongxin Marquis also wholeheartedly approves of Marquis Zhongxin taking a concubine?"
Ying was immediately speechless.
Zisu: "Madam, do not do to others what you would not have them do to you!"
Madam Ying's face turned deathly pale as she said, "Anyway, if other people's sons can take concubines, my son can certainly take concubines too. It's not like he'll take many concubines, just one. Besides, it's because you're unwilling to marry my son now. How can my son endure three years? Furthermore, I'm still waiting to hold my grandson!"
Zisu: "Don't you already have grandchildren?"
Madam Ying: "One is not enough! Heng'er's father's sixth concubine is pregnant, and the son of his first concubine has given birth to another son!"
Zisu shook her head and sighed, too lazy to pay any more attention to her, and said to Xiangli, "Xiangli, I have to go take care of some business, see the guest out!"
Madam Ying was both shocked and furious, glaring at Zisu: "You, how dare you treat me like this? Aren't you afraid my son will abandon you?"
Xiangli sneered, "Madam, my daughter is the dignified Princess of Yulin, and the eldest daughter of the Protector General. She's not even fifteen yet. Tell me, how many good men in this world would want to marry my daughter? Plenty of men are willing to marry her; they don't need your son!"
Enraged, Madam Ying lost her temper and raised her hand to strike Xiangli: "You lowly servant, what right do you have to interrupt? Today, I will teach you a lesson on behalf of your mistress, and let you know what rules a servant should follow!"
His hand was raised high, but he couldn't bring himself to strike.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out that Zisu was holding her hand.
Ying: "Zisu, what do you mean by doing this?"
Zisu: "It all boils down to one thing: if my people do something wrong, then I, as their master, will naturally have to teach them a lesson."
Ying: "Are you really not afraid of offending me? Are you really not worried that I won't let you into my Fang family's house?"
Zisu: "Madam, what you're saying is ridiculous. Why should I be afraid? What relationship do I have with your Fang family? We have absolutely no relationship!"
Ying was speechless, unable to respond.
Zisu: "Xiangli, let's see the guests out!"
She has a lot to do, and it's pointless to waste words on someone she doesn't click with.
Xiangli looked at Ying Shi and smiled coldly: "Madam, please leave. My young lady is very busy!"
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