I just want to be a princess, no, you want to be a queen

Chapter 204 Duke Song Dies

"He's worthy of my trust."

"is it?"

The light in his sister's eyes stung Lu Mingze. Once upon a time, he had believed in something, but it was ultimately shattered. Lu Mingze hid the frost in his eyes and said, "He may be trustworthy, but I can't tie my loved ones to him alone."

Lu Mingyang was shocked: "Third brother, what do you want to do?"

Before he could finish his words, Zheng Hao hurried in and reported, "Princess, the Duke of Song has knelt outside the Meridian Gate with his certificate of immunity from death, begging Your Majesty for mercy."

Lu Mingyang was puzzled: "Isn't it inappropriate for him to save Song Wei at this time?"

"No!" Zheng Hao was also puzzled: "The Duke of Song wants to save the Marquis of Chengyang."

Lu Mingyang and Lu Mingze looked at each other and hurried to the Meridian Gate.

The Duke of Song was wearing a formal dress and kneeling in front of the long and narrow path, holding up the iron certificate of immunity from death. His hunched body was cast even shorter by the scorching sun.

When the two arrived, Eunuch Su had already gone ahead and invited Duke Song in. They could only see a hunched figure as he walked into the cold and long corridor, bowing every three steps before disappearing from their sight.

Half an hour later, the Emperor summoned Lu Mingze to the palace. Eunuch Su went to invite him personally and saw the Lu siblings at the palace gate. He took it upon himself to summon Princess Ningyuan as well.

On the way, Lu Mingyang whispered, "Eunuch Su, what is the emperor thinking?"

Eunuch Su didn't have time to elaborate. He lowered his voice and said, "Princess, please persuade my brother later. After all, the dead are not as important as the living, right?"

Lu Mingyang was puzzled and followed Lu Mingze into the Lizheng Hall.

In Lizheng Hall, the emperor sat high on the throne, flanked by officials attending the trial of the Marquis of Chengyang. The Duke of Song knelt in the center, his imperial crown placed before him.

Lu Mingyang and Lu Mingze walked past Duke Song and saluted.

The Emperor said, "The Duke of Song said he always treated Lu Shao's children as his own and wanted to use the Iron Certificate of Immunity to save the Marquis of Chengyang's life. I think it's not impossible."

At this point, he paused. "But the Song family's certificate of immunity from death can only save members of the Song family. That's the rule. Alternatively, I will grant the Duke of Song the right to recognize the Marquis of Chengyang as his adopted daughter. What do you think, Lu Sanlang?"

It was obvious that the emperor was testing Lu Mingze's reaction.

Lu Mingyang knelt down to express his gratitude: "Your Majesty, your son thanks you."

"What's the point of you thanking me? What does Sanlang Lu think?" the emperor asked again.

Lu Mingze clenched his fists and said coldly, "My Lu family will no longer have any relationship with the Song family."

Lu Mingyang felt that his third brother was not as simple-minded as Chu Mingzheng said. He tugged at his sleeve and cried, "Third brother, the dead are gone, but the living can be pursued. Mother passed away young, but you were raised by your eldest sister."

"Stop talking." Lu Mingze stood there for a full half-minute, gritting his teeth and saying, "I will leave it entirely to Your Majesty to decide."

After that, he turned around and left.

Lu Mingyang chased after him and deliberately shouted, "Third brother, Duke Song really doesn't know anything."

As they walked out of the Meridian Gate, they heard a young eunuch calling out. They turned around and saw Duke Song walking quickly towards them, supported by the young eunuch.

Just a hundred steps down the dark corridor, his once black hair turned white. Duke Song emerged as a white-haired old man. Even the palace guards were shocked.

Seeing Lu Mingze, Duke Song pushed the young eunuch away, gently straightened his hair, brushed his clothes, knelt down, and kowtowed heavily.

"Uncle Song."

Lu Mingze wanted to step forward to help, but Lu Mingyang stopped him. There was no guarantee that every move here would not be heard by the emperor. Since he was her enemy, she couldn't let the emperor suspect her. She said coldly, "30,000 loyal souls from Dasheng, three lives in my Chengyang Marquisate, and Duke Song expects my third brother to forgive you with just a certificate of immunity from death?"

"No, I dare not hope for such a thing," the Duke of Song choked up. "It was my poor parenting that harmed your father. I dare not ask for your forgiveness, nephew. I only ask that you give me one of your father's old belongings so that I can burn incense and offer sacrifices every day."

The ministers of Lizheng Palace came out of the palace one after another, watching this scene, and couldn't bear to look away.

Lu Mingyang said coldly, "Who is Duke Song showing off to? No one."

Duke Song didn't say anything more, but just kowtowed again and again, and the wrinkled corners of his forehead became bruised and bled.

Lu Mingze couldn't bear it and said, "I'll send someone to deliver it to your house."

"Thank you, my dear nephew." Duke Song stood up tremblingly, and the young eunuch hurried to help him. After he stood firmly, Duke Song took one last look at Lu Mingze, his voice infinitely desolate.

"On your first birthday, I gave you a longevity lock, but you grabbed my beard and giggled. Days like that are finally gone."

The Emperor accepted the Duke of Song's certificate of immunity from death and quickly released Lu Mingyuan that night. When the family gathered together, they heard a shocking news:

Duke Song died.

Lu Mingyang and Chu Mingzheng returned to the palace, taking a detour to the Duke of Song's residence. The residence was already draped with white silk and lit with white lanterns. However, the gates were tightly shut, so they couldn't see what was going on inside.

Lu Mingyang lowered the carriage curtain and asked, "Your Highness, shall we go to worship tomorrow?"

"Go!" Chu Mingzheng sighed, "Although I don't like his tolerance of the Xiongnu, it's ultimately a matter of political opinion, and he has no selfish motives."

Thinking about it now, Duke Song really hadn't done anything excessive. Lu Mingyang felt a little sad: "Why did he commit suicide?"

"To ensure that the Duke of Song's Mansion remains standing!"

"With luck, Song Wei can be released too."

When the two went to worship, Chu Mingzheng's two words were verified one by one.

The old clothes that Lu Mingze had brought to the Duke of Song's mansion were neatly folded on the coffin. Everyone who came to pay their respects not only paid their respects to the Duke of Song, but also to Lu Shao.

Lu Mingze said, "Aunt Song... isn't this against the rules?"

The Lady of the Duke of Song moved her aching legs from kneeling, looked at Lu Mingze, and cried, "Before the master died, he kept saying that he was sorry to my dear brother Lu. This was his only wish. He said that in the future, every bit of incense he received would be a bit for your father. He wanted the descendants of the Song family to remember the sins committed by the Song family for generations to come. I beg my dear nephew Lu to help me do this."

Even though he knew that Duke Song was doing this for the Song family, Lu Mingyang was still moved when he heard it.

Lu Mingze wanted to say "no", but before he could say anything, the wife of Duke Song kowtowed repeatedly.

Zheng Xuan brought a set of mourning clothes and presented them to Lu Mingyuan. Since she was the adopted daughter of Duke Song, she naturally had to observe mourning. Duke Song's face instantly turned cold, and he scolded, "How presumptuous! Take it off now."

"Let's just follow the rules!" Lu Mingyuan felt a surge of guilt. If his brother hadn't saved him, Duke Song wouldn't have died.

The Lady of the Duke of Song said in panic, "No, that's just a temporary solution. If Miss Yuan really wears it, the Master won't be able to leave in peace."

Having said that, Lu Mingyuan couldn't wear it anymore.

After this incident, I'm afraid no one would dare to condemn the Song family for the battle outside Yanmen Pass, including the Chengyang Marquis Mansion.

"Madam, the second young master is back!"

The housekeeper of Duke Song's mansion shouted excitedly, and everyone looked over.