The Prince Wants to Assassinate Me Every Day-Chapter 848 - 432: Ming Yufang’s Embarrassment (A Minor Slap in the Face, Second Update)
"What does the Duke of Xie intend to do?" Xiao Jinxing asked.
Naturally, Xiao Jinxing would not want to offend both families.
His role today was simply to act as a mediator.
"From ancient times to the present, it is always the women who suffer in such matters."
"Indeed," Xiao Jinxing agreed.
"Since my daughter has suffered, as her father, I must seek justice for her."
"However, General Xie just clarified that Song Yanqing does not need to take responsibility."
"My daughter refuses to have Song Yanqing take responsibility solely because she does not wish to marry him," Xie Kangheng said firmly. "And since my daughter is unwilling to marry Song Yanqing, yet he has defiled her purity, according to the laws of Daxuan Kingdom, Song Yanqing has committed an immoral crime and should be sentenced to death by hanging. I implore Your Majesty to issue the decree!"
The moment these words were spoken.
The Song Family lost their composure.
Xie Ruotong’s eyes also grew stern, pausing for a moment.
She hadn’t expected her father to become so extreme.
"Since it is Xie Ruotong who is unwilling to marry into our Song Family and does not require us to take responsibility, why should my son be executed!" Ming Yufang could hardly believe the Xie Family could go to such lengths.
She had initially thought that Xie Ruotong, with her pride, disdain for their Song Family, might allow her some relief.
Since it is Xie Ruotong who refused to marry, her son would have nothing to say later.
How could it suddenly be that her son would be executed now?
"According to Lady Song’s view, any flower thief who defiles a woman should not only avoid the punishment they deserve but also be given a woman for free. If that were truly the case, then what need would there be for compatible matches, for knowledge and etiquette? As long as one fancied a lady from a family, one could use such a means to acquire her," Xie Kangheng retorted. "In that case, even a beggar could marry a noble lady."
"I..." Ming Yufang could not outargue the Duke of Xie. Confronted by him, she was momentarily speechless.
Xie Kangheng turned again to face Xiao Jinxing and resolutely said, "I ask Your Majesty to issue the decree and have Song Yanqing executed."
"Your Majesty, it must not be so," Ming Yufang’s face turned pale with fright. "Our Song Family has shown sincerity, and Xie Ruotong just mentioned that there was fault on both sides in their relationship; it was not solely Song Yanqing’s fault. How can all the punishment be placed upon Song Yanqing?"
"There is no fault on the part of the woman in such matters," Xie Kangheng frankly declared. "But my daughter’s words were merely an excuse to avoid being forced into marrying Song Yanqing. Regardless of circumstances, I cannot accept Song Yanqing being declared innocent."
Xiao Jinxing nodded, "What the Duke of Xie says is indeed true."
"Your Majesty," Ming Yufang was intensely concerned.
"General Xie," Xiao Jinxing called to Xie Ruotong, ignoring Ming Yufang.
Ming Yufang wanted to speak, but Song Yuanzhong firmly held her back.
Ming Yufang was anxious and distressed, yet she was utterly helpless.
"Present," Xie Ruotong responded to Xiao Jinxing.
She had been silent all along.
Even when her father declared the desire to execute Song Yanqing, she showed no reaction.
"Your father is determined to seek justice for you today. Thus, I will stand from a position of fairness and impartiality to address your matter with Song Yanqing. Tell me truthfully, do you truly have no desire to marry Song Yanqing?" Xiao Jinxing gave the decision-making power to Xie Ruotong.
Everyone knew that Xie Ruotong’s answer was crucial.
It directly determined the fate of Song Yanqing’s life.
All eyes were on her.
The hall was dead silent.
"I do not wish to marry Song Yanqing," Xie Ruotong declared clearly and deliberately.
Song Yanqing’s heart ached.
Despite somewhat anticipating this outcome.
It still felt, uncomfortable.
He pressed his lips, tightly pursing them, trying to appear unaffected.
"Xie Ruotong, how can you be so stone-hearted!" Ming Yufang was utterly distraught. To her, her son’s life was most important, and she knew well that if Xie Ruotong insisted on not marrying Song Yanqing, Song Yanqing would be punished, for Duke Xie would surely not relent.
"Wasn’t Lady Song who specially came to inform me that the Song Family would never marry someone unable to bear a child? She urged me not to appear before Song Yanqing, to give him no hope. Has Lady Song forgotten so soon?" Xie Ruotong asked.
Ming Yufang was left completely humiliated.
She felt extreme discomfort.
"Rest assured, Lady Song; I remember everything you’ve said. I, Xie Ruotong, will never marry Song Yanqing in this lifetime!" Xie Ruotong spoke each word forcefully.
Song Yanqing listened.
He simply listened to Xie Ruotong.
It seemed there was a smile at the corners of his mouth.
A faint, sad smile.
Gu Xingchuan remained in the hall all the while.
He truly couldn’t comprehend why the emperor had called him here for the Xie and Song family matter.
Did he look like someone who meddled in others’ affairs?!
Or was the emperor worried about mishandling the situation and trying to drag someone down with him?
What slyness.
However, seeing Xie Ruotong’s attitude towards Song Yanqing, he couldn’t help but sigh.
He initially thought their intimacy could have been a turning point.
But who would have expected that Xie Ruotong’s inner demons still loomed large.
Even when pressed to this extent, she did not relent.
Furthermore, Xie Ruotong should understand that even though Duke Xie’s desire for her to marry could lead him to seek the emperor to execute Song Yanqing, to Duke Xie, Song Yanqing’s life wasn’t of ultimate importance, so even if Song Yanqing were truly executed, it would have no real impact on Duke Xie.
The confrontation between father and daughter was genuinely gambling on Song Yanqing’s life.
"Ruotong, I was wrong initially. It was due to your aversion to Yanqing that I spoke such rash words. I can accept it if you don’t bear children, accept it if you don’t carry on the lineage. You can marry into our Song Family, and I will treat you well," Ming Yufang conceded, immediately softening.
She was genuinely moved by Xie Ruotong’s determination.
She indeed understood that only Xie Ruotong could save Song Yanqing now.
"Lady Song overstates. Your considerations, as I said before, I completely understand. There’s no need to flatter me like this; I simply will not accept it," Xie Ruotong replied. "On the contrary, it would rather make Lady Song uncomfortable."
Ming Yufang’s face turned green from Xie Ruotong’s rebuttal.
At this moment, she dared not utter another word, fearing further antagonizing Xie Ruotong.
"Also, to clarify, whether or not I marry Song Yanqing has no relation to whether I can conceive. Song Yanqing, do not be mistaken," Xie Ruotong stated. "I refuse to marry you solely because I have no feelings for you, nothing more."
Song Yanqing nodded.
Silently, he nodded.
He had long known that Xie Ruotong had no feelings for him.
He had always fantasized that maybe cold embers could reignite.
"So, General Xie indeed will not marry Song Yanqing," Xiao Jinxing demanded.
"I will not," she replied.
"Very well," Xiao Jinxing declared, "Song Yanqing defiled Xie Ruotong’s purity, thus committing an immoral crime. Yet, due to Song Yanqing’s years of diligent instruction for the Princess in the Imperial Palace, I ask the Xie Family to spare me some grace; execution is unnecessary, but punishment cannot be escaped!"
