The Command to Pamper the Husband - Chapter 101

Seeing the Fourth Prince approaching the pagoda tree, the Duke, dragging his leg that was injured by the Heavenly Hound’s tail, endured the pain and caught up.

“What do you mean by that, Your Highness? Qian Lai falsely accused this old official. You acknowledged that yourself. We didn’t find the jade pendant Qian Lai mentioned in the East Wing Courtyard.”

Song Jin paused and turned to look at the Duke. Meeting her gaze, the Duke’s heart pounded. With the Crown Prince here, if the Fourth Prince insisted on something about the tree, how could he stop it? And there were so many commoners outside. How had things escalated to such an uncontrollable situation? The Duke couldn’t figure it out, nor did he have time to.

“His Majesty is concerned about this case. The culprit is my unworthy son. I am both angry and ashamed. Now that the truth is clear, I must go to the palace to report to His Majesty. I don’t know what I’ve done to offend Your Highness, for you to insist on these baseless accusations from Qian Lai.”

Song Jin replied, “Who should I believe, you or the dog?”

The Duke…

The commoners outside laughed uproariously. “Believe the dog, of course!” they cheered loudly.

Song Jin raised an eyebrow. “The Heavenly Hound led me here. Do you think it was just bored and taking a walk?”

The Duke…

A torrent of curses ran through his mind. But it was the Heavenly Hound, a symbol of the imperial power. What could he say! Glancing at the dog, the Duke said, “The Heavenly Hound only responds to the imperial aura. Are you suggesting, Your Highness, that you possess such an aura?”

This was a malicious remark. Even a favored prince, let alone one who wasn’t favored, couldn’t claim to have the imperial aura while the Emperor was alive. Wasn’t that treasonous!

This was a blatant threat. The Duke stared unwaveringly at the Fourth Prince. His gaze said: If you truly find something here, think about your own retreat. Will the Emperor let you live? Everyone knew the Fourth Prince’s fate clashed with the Emperor’s. If the Heavenly Hound connected with the Fourth Prince, what did that make the Emperor?

After a moment’s pause, the Duke continued, “According to the astrologers, you’re destined to be a leisure prince. Now, the Heavenly Hound connects with even a leisure prince? Why doesn’t it connect with the Crown Prince?”

This was to provoke the Crown Prince’s anger. However, the Crown Prince was lost in the excitement of experiencing a live storybook protagonist. Damn. He felt like writing his own storybook, sure to be a hundred times more exciting than those written by scholars. After all, he had personal experience.

With a faint sneer, the Crown Prince glanced at the Duke, tapping his folding fan. “I too am curious why the Heavenly Hound insisted on bringing my brother to this tree.”

Song Jin said, “Maybe the dog discovered that this tree is suppressing a dragon vein.”

The Duke’s face changed drastically. “Your Highness, you must be careful with your words! How can you say such things!” he reprimanded sharply.

Song Jin smirked. “How do you know I’m not right? Otherwise, why are you so nervous?”

She leaned closer to the Duke. “Tell me, did you do something to this tree to affect the dragon vein? You have some nerve! If you’re not guilty, why obstruct us at every turn! Can you explain? If not, it means I’m right!”

The Duke…

When had the Fourth Prince become so cunning? How could he casually mention affecting the dragon vein? That’s a severe crime! How could the Fourth Prince dare! The Duke was uneasy, but the Crown Prince was increasingly satisfied. Yes, she has the qualities of a protagonist.

After speaking, Song Jin turned to Lu Zhan, “Dig it up. I want to see what’s under this tree that makes the Duke so nervous.”

Lu Zhan obeyed, grabbing a shovel and starting to dig. The Crown Prince signaled his attendant, who also picked up a shovel. Seeing the Crown Prince’s men digging, the Capital Magistrate’s officers joined in.

The Duke watched, feeling dizzy. There was gold under that tree. If found, his house would be ruined. But how to stop them? Kill the Crown Prince? Kill the commoners outside? If not, he was dead. If he did…

The thought swirled in his mind for a moment before he made up his mind. He signaled the steward. The steward understood and quietly slipped away. Determined to wipe out everyone, within a quarter of an hour, his mansion’s archers would surround the area. The Heavenly Hound might escape, but everyone else… would die! His eyes filled with malice, the Duke stood there, no longer fearful or anxious. He just waited for the final moment.

Waited… Waited… Waited… The pit around the tree grew larger, but his archers hadn’t arrived. The Duke was getting impatient. Sweat trickled down his face. In the winter morning, he wiped sweat while facing the north wind, glancing towards the gate repeatedly. All he saw were the commoners. Where were they?

The Crown Prince noticed the Duke’s changing expression and smirked, walking over to Song Jin. Standing close, the Crown Prince whispered, “Are you sure there’s gold here?”

Song Jin’s focus was on pinpointing the gold’s exact location. The dug-up soil smelled strongly. She wasn’t wrong. But why hadn’t they found it yet?

As she pondered, the Crown Prince’s sudden appearance startled her, making her step aside. “Brother, can’t you speak to me from a distance?”

The Crown Prince smiled and stepped closer. “Why should I? What we’re discussing is secret. Aren’t you afraid the Duke will hear if I speak from afar?”

Song Jin… But it feels like you’re flirting with me! The Crown Prince leaned closer again. “Are you sure?”

Song Jin blurted out, “Of course, you’re flirting with me!”

Lu Zhan… The Capital Magistrate’s officers… Even the terrified Duke looked over.

The Crown Prince chuckled, “Brother, shouting that isn’t wise.”

Song Jin wanted to tear him apart. Like ripping apart enemies in anti-Japanese dramas. Why had she voiced her thoughts! She glared at the Crown Prince, folded her arms, and fell silent again.

The Crown Prince smiled, “If I were you, unable to find something in the pit, I’d look for a mechanism.”

Song Jin turned sharply to him. The Crown Prince pointed to his temple. “A brain is a good thing. Use it when needed.”

Song Jin… Damn you!