Shipin Dalizheng

Chapter 343 Other People’s Children

The virtuous concubine was startled, "You child, how could you..."

What truth are you talking about?

Rong Tang bowed to her, "My Lady Consort, this is the truth. Madam Rong faked her pregnancy and picked me up to be recorded in the family tree."

The virtuous concubine had an inexplicably complicated expression. "Child, if you don't say anything, who would care about these things? Whether you were born or adopted, since my sister has recognized you, you are the child of the Rong family."

Rong Tang said, "That being said, if this is exposed in the future, people will accuse Madam Rong of being unfaithful to her husband, which will damage her reputation."

The virtuous concubine's eyes were red. How many people were scheming for a title, trying to get it even if they couldn't get it with eight sticks, but still insisted on doing it. Have they ever cared about their sister's reputation?

She herself had just heard that Jin Shizhao had not consummated his marriage with her sister and that the child might be illegitimate. She was secretly anxious, fearing that someone would dig it up and criticize her in the future.

She turned around and knelt at Emperor Xuanning's feet again. "Your Majesty, now that things have come to this, I no longer have the face to ask to keep my title. If Your Majesty wants to take it back, I have no complaints."

Emperor Xuan Ning was overwhelmed with emotions at that moment. As an emperor, he had seen too many high-ranking officials fighting and framing each other in order to compete for titles and property, but he had never seen anyone willing to give up the reputation of his adoptive mother.

But to him, Rong Tang is worth more than just the Earl of Jian'an.

He first helped Concubine Xian up and said, "My beloved, this is not Madam Rong's fault. It's that abominable Jin Shizhao."

Emperor Xuanning really looked down upon Jin Shizhao's character more and more. The private scandals of ordinary people would never come to his sight, but all the bad things about Jin Shizhao were revealed to him. How could such a person be classified as a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Rites when selecting officials?

Tracing back, we inevitably have to trace it back to Prince Rui. It was he who instructed his supporters in the court to recommend him from many sides, which allowed Jin Shizhao to rise step by step by building on the foundation of the Jian'an Earl's Mansion.

"My beloved concubine is right. Since Madam Rong voluntarily adopted him, he is the direct descendant of the Earl of Jian'an. Legally, he is legitimate and does not need to be changed."

Princess Zhaoling jumped up and said, "Great! You're still my cousin. It doesn't really matter whether he's biologically born or not. Before you came, they were all going to adopt Jin Shizhao's son. That was disgusting. My mother and I were fine with anyone, as long as they weren't Jin Shizhao's son. But then a bunch of old men from the Ministry of Rites cited classics and insisted that according to law, if the wife had no children, the concubine's child could be adopted to inherit the legitimate line. It really disgusted my mother."

Outside the imperial study, Queen Wang was walking towards this side. She listened vaguely, turned her body, and retreated.

The nanny beside her whispered, "Seventh Princess really doesn't mean what she says. Doesn't this hurt Her Majesty?"

Queen Wang spoke calmly, "She's talking about the Rong family. What does that have to do with me? I'm not dead yet, so whoever inherits the throne in the future can bypass me?"

It’s upset to think about it. She was six years older than the emperor, so it’s not that she didn’t have the emperor’s favor. But she gave birth to three princesses. She didn’t know who to blame except her own womb.

I hadn't walked far when I saw Prince Rui coming over, braving the wind and snow. He bowed from a distance and said, "Mother."

Once upon a time, Queen Wang thought Prince Rui was a good person and even registered him as the legitimate prince under her name. With this title, the probability of Prince Rui inheriting the throne was infinitely close.

When did this idea fade? Yes, it started when Rong Tang returned to the clan and Prince Rui fought for the title on behalf of Jin Shizhao.

"Prince Rui, it's almost dark and snowing, what are you doing in the palace?"

Prince Rui said, "I have something to say to your father, concerning matters of great importance to the rule of law."

"then you go!"

After paying his respects, Prince Rui stood up and walked towards the imperial study.

Queen Wang walked a little further and met another person. Her expression became even more strange. "Prince Jing, you are here too?"

Nangong Jing saluted, "Your Majesty, I have some official business to report to Your Majesty."

"Can you tell me a thing or two?"

What Nangong Jing was about to say would soon leak out. Queen Wang's early knowledge of it didn't seem to have much of an impact on the outcome, so she said vaguely, "A servant from the former Earl of Jian'an's residence claims that Madam Rong is deceiving the emperor and has made some claims. I'm unsure whether they are true or not, so I've come to report this to Your Majesty."

Queen Wang opened her mouth and said, "Then go ahead!"

As soon as Nangong Jing left, the eldest nanny said in a surprised tone, "My Lady, we bumped into each other."

"Don't worry about their fight, we just need to watch the fun."

The wind and snow are getting stronger.

When Prince Rui entered the imperial study, Rong Tang happened to help Concubine Xian out. When the two met, there was a flash of lightning, and as Rong Tang was bowing, they passed each other.

Concubine Xian was worried, "Tang'er, this Prince Rui seems to have bad intentions."

Rong Tang snorted through his nose. "So what if it's not good? It's too late."

When he met Nangong Jing, Rong Tang asked, "Have you, Lord Prefect, seen my guards?"

Nangong Jing nodded and hummed as a reply.

In the imperial study, Emperor Xuanning listened silently to Prince Rui's angry words and felt only disgust.

"So what are you doing here? Are you representing Jin Shizhao in condemning the Rong family for their infidelity? Or do you think that since Rong Tang isn't of the Jian'an Earl's bloodline, his title should be revoked, and he should be punished for his impersonation?"

Prince Rui's heart skipped a beat. "Father, I simply believe that what is true is true, and what is false is false. Bloodlines cannot be mixed."

"If you really believe that bloodlines cannot be mixed, why did you put so much effort into promoting Jin Shizhao's illegitimate son to inherit the title? The title that Rong wants to pass on is the title of the Rong family. As long as she is willing, whether it is a biological son or an adopted son, it is completely in line with the legal system. Even though I, as the emperor, have the right to choose the candidate for the crown prince, the decision to record a prince as the legitimate son under the name of the empress is still in the hands of the empress. This is the legal system, not what you think, that men can do whatever they want. Prince Rui, I am really disappointed in you. You were originally my eldest son, and I had high hopes for you, but you are really a terrible person. You are eager for quick success and instant benefits. You will do anything to gain the support of court officials, and you don't even care about their character. You are surrounded by greedy, cunning and ungrateful people. There are no virtuous officials who are beneficial to the country and the people. How can I trust you to hand over the throne to you to cause trouble?"

Prince Rui knelt on the ground with a thud, sweat pouring down his face. "Father, this is not what I meant. I just wanted to tell you a fact. I'm afraid you might be deceived."

"You think you're being deceived by the fact that Earl Jian'an sacrificed his elders' reputation for a title? Earl Jian'an has already come here and admitted the matter. He would rather take back his title than damage the Rong family's reputation. This is a wise minister, this is a good son, open and honest, with an open mind. Prince Rui, you are far inferior to him, but you are my son!"

Emperor Xuan Ning pounded his chest. People are selfish. No matter how unfilial their own children are, they are still their own children. But in private, they still feel jealous of other people's children.

Prince Rui's face flushed red, and his knees trembled uncontrollably, not knowing whether it was out of shame or resentment.

He was wrong again, he was wrong again, he shouldn't have come.

Nangong Jing listened for a long time, remaining silent until Emperor Xuanning asked him, "What are you doing here?"

Nangong Jing uttered an "oh," "What I want to say is the same as what Prince Rui said. Jin Shizhao personally admitted in the hall that he and Madam Rong had not consummated their marriage. This proves that he is not the biological father of the Earl of Jian'an, and Your Majesty's pardon for him has no basis. At that time, it was only believed that Madam Rong had another lover. An old servant in the Earl's mansion said that Madam Rong had never been pregnant. Therefore, the current Earl of Jian'an is fake. I dare not make a judgment. I ask Your Majesty to make the decision."