Chapter 647: Chapter 609: Princess Yong’an, Expanding the Residence (Part 1)

Emperor Guangxi had just asked, and Song Wei felt that Zhao Xi seemed to glance at him.

Regarding the matter of a general amnesty, Song Wei had actually pondered it before. When asked now, he did not hesitate much and responded, “Throughout history, there have been examples of general amnesties during significant events. Since it is an ancestral practice, naturally it cannot be easily severed.”

Emperor Guangxi’s tense expression eased upon hearing this, signaling him to continue.

Zhao Xi remained silent, listening quietly.

Song Wei suggested, “As long as we classify the prisoners in various prisons by severity, pardoning those with minor offenses and continuing to detain those with serious crimes, in this way, we both show mercy to some prisoners and issue a warning to other citizens, letting them know that if they commit a major crime, they cannot expect a pardon, even during a general amnesty, thus serving as a deterrent to some extent.”

After listening, Emperor Guangxi’s old face tightened, “Then, in your view, how should the Ningzhou coal mine case be classified back then?”

“Secretly opening a coal mine without the court’s knowledge was already a serious crime, not to mention it involved so many lives. This case should be a model for serious crimes, and those involved are beyond pardon.”

Song Wei spoke righteously and sternly, causing Emperor Guangxi to grunt, “You are quite forthright, daring to act righteously even against your own father-in-law and mother-in-law, aren’t you afraid that my little niece will turn against you?”

Song Wei just smiled without speaking.

If the father-in-law and mother-in-law were people who could not distinguish right from wrong, they wouldn’t have requested to be excluded from the clan and gone to Ningzhou to keep vigil all those years ago.

Seeing his demeanor, Emperor Guangxi couldn’t help but snort coldly again.

In truth, the saying, “The emperor is punished the same as commoners for crimes,” is merely an empty phrase used by the emperor to win over the people. Lu Yanqing, as part of the royal family, could easily be shielded from his crime with just a few words from Emperor Guangxi at the time.

In Emperor Guangxi’s view, his nephew has already been exiled for so many years, enduring the hardship and punishment he deserved. After all, he was just a child at the time, misled by others, and was not the main perpetrator. There was no need to sentence him to death.

Thus, he intended to grant an amnesty following the victory of the Western Expedition Army, allowing his sister’s family to return to Beijing, yet he was repeatedly opposed.

One was his biological son, and the other a trusted favorite of his. The two seemed to have weighed the scales in their hearts, insisting on preventing Lu Yanqing from returning to Beijing.

As an emperor, being unable to make such a minor decision, Emperor Guangxi was very displeased, his old eyes filled with gloom.

At this point, Zhao Xi, who had been silent for a long time, spoke up, “In my opinion, the proposal by Junior Minister Song is very reasonable. Categorizing criminals, keeping serious offenders detained while releasing minor offenders, allows those released to be grateful for the vast imperial grace, without letting serious criminals escape justice.”

All said and done, it was just to reinforce that even the most supreme entity cannot pardon Lu Yanqing’s serious crime.

Emperor Guangxi was so angry he pulled out a beard hair.

Zhao Xi knew that his father wanted to save Aunt Changping, but it was a matter of great importance, and acting arbitrarily would not work, “If Father wants to make amends to Aunt, it’s not necessary to bring them back. Mrs. Song is also Aunt’s biological daughter. If you compensate her, Aunt in Ningzhou will also be grateful to Father.”

Mentioning that niece, Emperor Guangxi sighed. He had previously contemplated how he could reveal Wen Wan’s identity openly to the public, and perhaps, how to have her naturally recognized by her ancestors, yet didn’t expect that a mere banquet by the Lu Family would settle it.

Emperor Guangxi had long known the truth behind how Wen Wan was conceived by Changping, so the version Song Wei provided was obviously false at first hearing. However, being fabricated in such a coherent manner, it seemed it had been long prepared.

Glancing at Song Wei, Emperor Guangxi asked, “The entrusted letter in your hand was written by Lu Xingzhou?”

Song Wei nodded, “It is indeed written by my father-in-law’s own hand.”

“When was this?”

“The year the Empress Dowager passed away, my father-in-law and mother-in-law came to Beijing and recognized Wanwan. Before leaving Beijing, my father-in-law entrusted the letter to me, instructing me to produce it as an emergency measure if ever Wanwan’s identity could no longer remain hidden.”

Emperor Guangxi grunted, “Lu Xingzhou, this…”

He wanted to utter a curse, but considering his status as an emperor and in front of the two young ones, he immediately concealed it with a cough and changed his words, “He really thought things through thoroughly.”

If it weren’t for Changping later joining him and becoming family, just for the fact that Lu Xingzhou disparaged the Eldest Princess’s body and fled for three years, Emperor Guangxi would never have let him off!

Zhao Xi and Song Wei exchanged a glance but did not respond.

It wasn’t hard to discern that the Emperor had long since forgiven the Lu Family and Lu Xingzhou, but emperors care about face and cannot straightforwardly share their mind with their subordinates.

At such times, Mr. Cui, the imperial chief steward who had served closely for many years, played a crucial role.

As a confidant of the emperor, when certain words are difficult for the master to utter directly, he naturally had to stand out as the communicator.

Looking at Zhao Xi and Song Wei, Mr. Cui said, “Actually, the Emperor has always been thinking about the former Princess and Prince Consort over the years…”

He was speaking the truth, but the Emperor didn’t admit it, glaring, “You are everywhere, get out!”

Mr. Cui had no choice but to bow and retreat to stand guard outside the hall.

Zhao Xi and Song Wei exchanged another glance, but neither spoke.

Dealing with two stubborn individuals in a psychological tug-of-war, Emperor Guangxi felt like he must have been too idle, secretly glaring at these two clueless rascals. He waved his hand, letting them leave, saying he was tired.

Song Wei and Zhao Xi had no choice but to bow and leave.

The proposal to classify criminals was brought up again by Crown Prince Zhao Xi during the court assembly the next day. After discussing it for a while, the ministers agreed to a general amnesty, following the rule of majority.

Lu Xingzhou’s family was excluded from the amnesty.

Emperor Guangxi couldn’t save his own sister, so after the court was dismissed, he issued a royal decree, conferring the title of Commandery Princess Yong’an upon Wen Wan, a fourth-grade noblewoman.

A bright yellow royal decree indicated the Imperial Family’s stance on Wen Wan’s identity.

From then on, no one in town dared to talk about Wen Wan’s origins.

——

Song Mansion.

After Mr. Cui finished reading the royal decree, he was entertained by the servants of the outer courtyard with a cup of tea before he received his reward money and left with a smile.

Granny Song was still in a daze.

She learned that Third Son’s wife was the biological daughter of the former Princess and Prince Consort from the maid Yun Xia and others. She never dared to ask her daughter-in-law directly, fearing the rumor was incorrect and that it would be inappropriate to ask rashly. She also feared asking something she shouldn’t, only to draw her daughter-in-law’s dislike.

Now that the royal decree was issued, not only did it confirm that Third Son’s wife is the biological daughter of the former Princess, but the Emperor also granted her the title of Commandery Princess.

Granny Song actually had little concept of what status a Commandery Princess holds. She only knew it was a title bestowed by the court; since Third Son’s wife is part of the royal family, the title shouldn’t be too low. Seeing her daughter-in-law act nonchalant, Granny Song’s knees softened, and she wanted to kneel.

Wen Wan was startled by her and quickly handed the decree to Song Jiao, bending over to help her mother-in-law up, “Mother, what are you doing?”

Granny Song couldn’t stop sighing, “Oh dear, I used to have someone read my fortune, saying the daughter-in-law is good for her husband, and that’s fine. But this daughter-in-law is actually part of the royal family. The Old Song Family must have smoke rising from the ancestral graves!”

She glanced at Song Wei, “Third Son, do you think you’ve hit the jackpot?”

Song Wei smiled, “If Mother says so, then it must be.”

Yun Cailong and the others covered their mouths, laughing nearby, even Song Jiao couldn’t help but chuckle, “Grandmother, your act is a bit much; although Third Aunt has indeed been granted a Commandery Princess title, there’s still no reason for a mother-in-law to kneel to a daughter-in-law!”

“What do you know!” Granny Song didn’t feel ignorant at all, snapping back, “This old lady is merely showing respect to the Imperial Family.”

“Alright then!” Song Jiao went along with her, “Whatever you say is right.”

Wen Wan said, “It’s cold outside; let’s go inside to sit.”

Granny Song, supported by Wen Wan, was still very emotional, “You’ve been given the title of Commandery Princess; what am I supposed to call you in the future?”

Knowing her mother-in-law wasn’t familiar with these matters, Wen Wan patiently said, “Mother, the Commandery Princess title is just that—a title for outsiders to see. Among family, we should interact as we’ve always done; whatever you called me before, call me after, it doesn’t make a difference.”

“But your identity is different now.” The Emperor’s real niece—it’s a status many people burn incense and pray to Bodhisattva for but can’t attain.

Granny Song’s emotions were akin to a family digging up a basket of gold in a house that had been farming in the dirt with unease, feeling she had to do something.

Thinking it over, she approached Song Wei, “Third Son, your wife is now a Commandery Princess; how about we expand this residence? Firstly, to earn her respectability, and secondly, Yuanbao isn’t young anymore and will be getting married in a year or two. Won’t we need to expand the mansion? We might as well take advantage of this fervor and do it all at once.”

Song Wei had long thought about expanding the mansion, but he hesitated to talk about it, worrying his parents might see it as a waste. So he kept it to himself until now.

Now even the usually stingy old lady came up with the idea of expanding, leaving Song Wei with nothing to say.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep