Chapter 28: Vigilante Justice? Family Law?

Chancellor Xie Zuo left the Imperial Study, not even sure how he had managed to walk out. It was glaringly obvious that His Majesty was biased toward Tang Wu; there had been no investigation, let alone any accountability. This made him, a Chancellor of the realm, feel like nothing more than a joke.

Just as his fury peaked, Crown Prince Murong Bo, having heard that Tang Chaochao had entered the palace, hurried over. Xie Zuo bowed in a salute. "I pay my respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Tang Chaochao was, after all, a lady of a noble house. Previously, the Crown Prince had used the excuse of paying a visit to the General’s residence to see her, but he could not simply drop by all the time. Thus, the moment he heard she was in the palace, he had come running without a second thought. Upon colliding with Xie Zuo, he paused slightly.

"Ah, Chancellor Xie. I heard that the second young lady of the Tang family acted rashly and abducted your daughter. Her actions were indeed impulsive. However, I find the young lady to be sincere and straightforward; seeking the truth for her sister is, in a way, understandable. Why must you be so calculating, Chancellor? Besides, I heard that Miss Xie has already returned home safe and sound!"

Xie Zuo felt as if he were about to vomit blood from rage, but he kept his tone restrained. "Your Highness is correct. His Majesty told me the very same thing."

Crown Prince Murong Bo chuckled. "His Majesty is wise. I shall not keep you any longer, Chancellor."

Watching the Crown Prince walk away, Xie Zuo clenched his fists tightly. *Just you wait.*

Crown Prince Murong Bo had arrived too late; by the time he reached the Imperial Study, Tang Chaochao and Tang Wu had already left. Emperor Kangjian remarked to him, "This second daughter of the Tang family is quite interesting. If you can leverage her to suppress your brothers, that would not be a bad thing. But remember, you are all brothers—do not go too far. Do you understand?"

Though disappointed not to have seen Tang Chaochao, the Emperor’s words left the Crown Prince overjoyed.

No sooner had Tang Chaochao returned to the General’s residence than a maidservant waiting at the gate invited her to see the Old Madam Tang. Hearing this, Song Rongzhi wanted to accompany her, but Tang Chaochao laughed. "Mother, why would you want to go to the inner courtyard? It’s boring. I can handle it myself."

Tang Wu looked at his daughter with exasperation, yet his eyes were full of doting affection. "Be careful. She is, after all, your grandmother."

Tang Chaochao raised an eyebrow. "Don't worry. I saw that Grandmother’s complexion is rosy and she is full of vigor; she’ll live to be eighty! This is nothing."

Tang Wu sighed and departed first. When Tang Chaochao followed the maidservant to the Shou’an Courtyard, she could already hear the Old Madam’s shrill scolding from inside.

"You unfilial wretch! It was the misfortune of our Tang family that my eldest son ever married you! You couldn't produce a son, and now that I intend to discipline you, you dare to dodge! Someone! Hold her down and beat her hard!"

Inside the room, a group of maids and matrons had already surrounded Song Rongzhi.

"Old Madam, are you truly going to strike me today?" Song Rongzhi’s voice was icy. In the past, due to her poor health, she had endured whenever possible to avoid trouble while at the General’s residence. Fortunately, she had later accompanied Tang Wu to Huaicheng. She had not expected that after several years, her mother-in-law’s spite would only have grown worse, reaching a point of complete unreasonableness. And now, she actually intended to beat her.

Madam Zhou interjected, "Sister-in-law, stop provoking Mother. Mother acts for the good of our Tang family. Your daughter is simply too unruly; it would be best to send her away as soon as possible."

Song Rongzhi’s gaze, sharp as a blade, landed on Madam Zhou’s face. "As long as I draw breath, no one shall send Chaochao away. If the Old Madam insists on this, I shall take Chaochao back to her maternal grandfather’s house. At the very least, my father still holds the title of Duke. With him there, he will surely protect my daughter!"

Old Madam Tang’s eyes widened in fury. "Are you threatening me with your maiden family? Song! Tang Wu is still my son; I will force him to divorce you! Do you think he wouldn't dare?"

Song Rongzhi tilted her chin slightly. "The Old Madam is welcome to try!"

The Old Madam was so enraged by her attitude that she slammed the table. "Still standing there? Pin this disobedient wretch down!"

As the maids and matrons moved forward to obey, a figure suddenly appeared. Tang Chaochao let out a sharp cry. "Let’s see who dares to touch my mother!"

The maids and matrons instinctively froze. Facing Tang Chaochao’s cold glare, they all retreated a few paces.

The Old Madam roared, "You little beast! Is it your place to speak? Seize her as well and beat them both!"

Faced with the fierce and menacing Tang Chaochao, the servants ultimately chose to obey the Old Madam. Tang Chaochao sneered, delivering a swift, powerful kick to the chest of the lead matron. It was Qin Mama, the Old Madam’s personal attendant, who collapsed to the ground, clutching her chest and wailing in agony.

Following that, the other maids and matrons were kicked aside by Tang Chaochao in a matter of seconds.

Old Madam Tang was so incensed that her head swam, and her finger trembled as she pointed at Tang Chaochao. "You! You rebel! You rebel!"

Tang Chaochao grinned at her. "Grandmother, I’m not sure what crime my mother has committed that would warrant you resorting to private lynch law."

Madam Zhou, while patting the Old Madam’s back to soothe her, said, "Chaochao, don't speak nonsense. Your grandmother is exercising family discipline, not private lynching."

Tang Chaochao responded with an "Oh?"

"Whether it is family discipline or private lynching, there must be a reason. If you act like this, I can take this matter to the magistrate."

According to the laws of the Kang Kingdom, for anyone of the third rank or above, no physical punishment could be administered without evidence—this included family discipline. Without an imperial decree, all matters required the involvement of the Ministry of Justice. If the Old Madam truly beat Song Rongzhi today without a valid justification, Tang Chaochao could indeed file a lawsuit against her.

Madam Zhou, also from a prominent family, knew the law well. However, every official’s household had their own "family discipline." Usually, if a beating occurred, no one would speak of it, and it certainly wouldn't reach the courts. As the saying went, family shame should not be aired in public. Official families feared nothing more than scandals that could damage their reputations.

Tang Yuntao, who had been watching the scene, saw her mother being humbled and jumped out. "Grandmother is teaching the eldest aunt a lesson because you don't know your place! Not only did you offend the Chancellor’s residence, but you’ve also blackened the name of our Tang family!"

Tang Chaochao’s gaze, flickering with a mocking smile, fell upon the chattering Tang Yuntao. Tang Yuntao inexplicably took a step back, feeling a surge of panic, and grabbed onto Madam Zhou’s sleeve. Regaining her composure, she added, "I didn't say anything wrong! Why are you looking at me like that?"

Tang Chaochao cracked her knuckles. "It seems I didn't hit you hard enough the other day! Otherwise, how would you dare to keep jumping around in front of me?"

Hearing this, Tang Yuntao immediately hid behind Madam Zhou, poking her head out defiantly. "Tang Chaochao, if you dare to hit me again, I won't let you get away with it!"

Tang Chaochao sneered. "I’d love to see how you plan to stop me."

Watching Tang Chaochao walk toward them step by step, Madam Zhou threw a desperate look at the Old Madam. "Mother, do something! She dares to lay a hand on Yuntao right in front of you. Yuntao is someone who has caught the Crown Prince’s eye! If she gets hurt, what are we to do?"