The Marquise: I Earn My Own Worship

Duan Jingzong immediately knelt down, grabbed his mother's hand, and looked anxious.

"Mother, if you want to hit me, just hit your son. Why hurt yourself? It's because of your sons' unfilial behavior that you should be worrying about their future when you should be enjoying your old age with your grandchildren."

It’s off topic.

"Jingzong, to be disrespectful, sometimes in the middle of the night I dream about you and your father, and I blame him. If he could hold on, you and Kangge'er would all have a much easier time."

"He just walked away and left us. I just hate myself for being a woman and not being able to do anything."

Song Shengfu sobbed softly. Why Duan Chongming disappeared in his prime has always been a mystery.

The original body didn't know much about it. Back then, her whole heart was on Duan Jingzong, and Duan Chongming deliberately concealed it, so she only had a vague memory of what happened back then.

But she couldn't see this clearly from her original body's mind, as if it was covered by a layer of fog.

They are all like the same person, and they also pursue mysterious aesthetics, Song Shengfu complained in her heart while wiping away her tears.

"Mother, I understand your heart, but father, he also has his own difficulties."

Speaking of my father, in my memory, he was a man with gray hair at the temples when he was only thirty years old.

When he was dying, his loyalty to the emperor, which was as if he was following him till death, still shocked him when he thought about it now.

"Since ancient times, it has been difficult to be both loyal and filial. When that person passes away, his father's ambitions also pass away."

Even if my father wanted to rise to power, the environment at that time and the newly enthroned emperor would not trust the Earl's Mansion.

It was not easy to survive that devastation, how could I ask for more?

Now Your Majesty is a wise ruler, and it is already a mercy that you have not settled accounts with these old ministers.

Song Shengfu was calculating in her mind. Now that it came to this, she was not a fool and could probably guess something.

That is to say, the deceased Duan Chongming followed Prince Huiwen at the time, but Prince Huiwen died in a rebellion and the current emperor took the throne.

As loyal followers of Prince Huiwen, their family is naturally not given important positions by the current emperor.

"During that turmoil, your father hid so many things from me. I don't know anything about them. Now I don't have many years left to live, so I just want to know what really happened back then."

Duan Jingzong did not doubt his mother, but his mother's question brought him back to twenty-five years ago.

At that time, he was just feeling better and was able to come out and bask in the sun. It was also early spring.

That day, my father was invited to a banquet in the palace and did not return until late at night.

Until the mother received a letter, she was so sad after reading it that she disguised herself and left the house.

That night, he and his sister were taken to his grandfather's yard, and everyone was waiting.

At dawn the next day, the fainted mother was sent back by people from Prince Ping's mansion.

Soon after, my father came back, covered in blood and looking dejected.

When his grandfather asked him, he said nothing and went straight back to the study.

Later, news of the death of the thirteenth prince came from the palace, and the late emperor vomited blood and fainted.

If Prince Ping had not come to the rescue late, the palace would have been almost taken over by Prince Ke at that time.

Later, Prince Ping, who had the worst reputation in the capital, became the crown prince. Prince Ke and his upstart followers were all killed in the wrath of the late emperor.

The previous emperor passed away and the new emperor ascended the throne. Not long after, my grandmother and grandfather passed away one after another, and my father observed a period of mourning for several years.

At that time, because of my father's merit in delivering messages, His Majesty wanted him to take charge of the Ministry of War, but my father refused. His Majesty was angry and made him the commander-in-chief of the Beijing Defense Army.

He has fame but no power, and is just a mascot.

"If father agrees, then maybe our family will be next."

At that time, Your Majesty had just ascended the throne, and when he was still a prince, he had a bad reputation, was impulsive, irritable, and moody.

Especially nobles like them, they all lowered their heads and dared not look up.

But fortunately, although His Majesty has a bad temper, he has never taken action against the old nobles since he came to power, and he has even had the intention of using them in recent years.

After saying that, Song Shengfu understood. She didn't say anything, but just lowered her head and wiped her tears.

Duan Chongming died while protecting the emperor, leaving behind the final protection for his wife, children and family.

For him, Prince Huiwen grew up with him and they had a special friendship. It was difficult for a loyal minister to serve two masters.

When in power today, he stays out of the spotlight, firstly to protect his family, and secondly to maintain his loyalty.

No wonder, after Duan Chongming's death, His Majesty posthumously bestowed upon him the title of Duke Zhonghuai.

The loyalty here probably doesn't refer to the loyal Emperor of Chu, but rather to Prince Huiwen. Song Shengfu couldn't help but secretly give a thumbs up. Although he was said to be stingy, he was actually quite generous.

"He fulfilled his loyalty and righteousness, but now I have to be more considerate of you."

"Your Majesty is benevolent now, and Kang Ge'er is on good terms with the Sixth Prince. As long as the Sixth Prince is well, our family won't be in trouble. Now only Jing'an is supporting the family from the outside, and you, as his brother, can't rely entirely on him. If you take good care of yourself and support the Bo Mansion, they will still have something to rely on. Don't be like your father."

Duan Chongming was depressed and unhappy. His health deteriorated every year due to years of worry, and he passed away early.

She certainly didn't live as long as Duan Jingzong. Once she left, there was no old lady Hou in the Earl's Mansion, only the frail Earl.

"I know, my son, that my father didn't mean to hide it from you. You spent so much effort on me back then, and he didn't want to tell you about it, to avoid wasting your heart and energy. Now our family is gradually getting better, and it's better than before. Mother, you are well, and your son will always be with you."

Duan Jingzong didn't know how much his mother knew about this matter. Seeing his mother like this, he just thought that his father was hiding most of it from her.

Song Shengfu's mood calmed down, and the fog in her mind slowly cleared. She wanted to absorb these things slowly.

"Jing Zong, there's no end in sight for what's to come. A person's life, the fate of their family, all hinges on a single thought. There are so many possibilities, how can one predict clearly?"

"Look, you've been nagging me for so long today, your body can't take it anymore. Go back and have a good rest."

"Mother, I'll help you go to bed and rest."

Duan Jingzong actually wanted to say that he was fine, but looking at his mother's tired face, he helped her to the bed before leaving.

He recalled his mother's words, wasn't it just a matter of thought?

My father spread the news and asked my mother to deliver a letter to King Ping, so that the Duanhou Mansion was preserved after the new emperor ascended the throne.

Later, I did not follow Your Majesty's wishes to become the Minister of War. Although this angered Your Majesty, it also made my position clear. I had no intention of fighting for power, which reassured Your Majesty.

It was only now, after seeing some things, that he began to guess that when His Majesty asked his father to take over the important task, in addition to testing him, he was actually sincere.

Although he is not in the court now, Jing'an always talks to him about related matters in private.

The new factions in the court have become too rampant, especially the new ministers trained by the previous emperor. Relying on the previous emperor, they behave like the former nobles.

The previous incident involving the eldest prince and the flood in Nanyang had drawn in many new factions. With the court now so lopsided, His Majesty must be overwhelmed.