Gong Zizhen's son is Gong Ju (also known as Gong Banlun), which sounds a bit like a hero, but in fact he is not a hero.
Gong Ju is probably the mastermind of burning Yuanmingyuan in those days. Chen Gong was clever since he was a child, but he was frivolous and unruly. Although his father advised him many times, he didn't change. Not only that, Gong Ju also took refuge in the British envoy when he was desperate, and because of his high English level, Gong Ju won a very high treatment for him.
Later, Chen Gong came to Beijing, with his back to Britain behind him. He was very arrogant. He introduced the allied forces into Yuanmingyuan, collected and blew up property himself, and let a fire destroy Yuanmingyuan.
Gong Zizhen was a patriotic hero, but Gong Ju became a traitor, and Gong Zizhen was also responsible.
According to the records in the book, Chen Gong was poor and insane in his later years, which was probably the end he deserved.