The Command to Pamper the Husband - Chapter 122

The Duke was so shocked that he forgot the rules of respect and hierarchy. He looked up in disbelief at the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, gold in my other residences? Impossible! I am wronged, Your Majesty. All the gold transported back to the capital was buried in my study’s courtyard. I never moved it.”

The Emperor coldly snorted. “Are you saying I am lying to you?”

The Duke immediately lowered his head. “I dare not, but I am truly innocent. Your Majesty, please investigate thoroughly. I had no reason to move the gold! Why would I hide it in my other residences?”

The Emperor’s piercing gaze bore into the Duke. “Hide it? Do you need me to explain your motives to you?”

The Duke was on the verge of tears. “Your Majesty, I had no reason to move the gold! I mined it solely to save my eldest son’s life! Why would I go through the trouble of hiding it elsewhere?”

The Emperor laughed coldly. “One part in an outer residence, one part at the Capital Magistrate’s residence, and one part in your study—forming a tripartite stance. Are you not attempting to divide my kingdom?”

Hearing this, the Duke turned pale with fear. “Your Majesty~” His voice trembled.

“I admit to privately mining gold and deceiving Your Majesty. I know my crimes are severe, but I would never covet Your Majesty’s throne. Even if I had the courage of a thousand men, I would never do such a thing!”

“Then why did you divide the gold into three parts?”

The Duke was speechless. “I didn’t! I never divided the gold. I only placed it in my study’s courtyard.”

The Emperor raised the inkstone by his side and slammed it onto the table with a loud bang, interrupting the Duke’s words.

“Insolent! At this point, you still dare to argue?”

The Duke, tears streaming down his face, pleaded weakly. “I’m not arguing. I truly didn’t do it.”

The Emperor’s eyes were cold. “I have given you a chance to confess because of our past. Yet, you refuse to see reason. Since you do not regard me, I no longer need to consider our old bond.”

Understanding the Emperor’s intent, the Duke immediately prostrated himself. “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please don’t abandon your loyal subject. I have risked my life for Your Majesty. Though I am greedy, I have never betrayed you. For the sake of our past, please reconsider.”

The Emperor’s gaze was icy. “Are you threatening me?”

“I dare not. Serving the Emperor is as dangerous as being near a tiger. I only wish to live.”

The Emperor stared at the Duke for a long time, then suddenly raised his hand and gestured towards him. The Chief Eunuch immediately stepped forward and bound Duke with a thin execution rope.

Terrified, the Duke looked at the Emperor. “What are you doing? Your Majesty, even if you disregard my life, won’t you care about your own reputation? If something happens to me, the evidence will be revealed.”

The Emperor’s face darkened like a stormy sky. The Chief Eunuch glanced at the Emperor, and seeing no command to stop, he took out a prepared oil paper.

He soaked the paper in water and plastered it over Duke’s nose and mouth. The thin layer of paper quickly made it difficult for the Duke to breathe. His eyes widened in fear as he looked at the Emperor, shaking his head frantically, and making muffled sounds.

The Chief Eunuch applied another layer of paper. The Duke’s entire body shook as he struggled to escape, but it was futile. The Emperor watched coldly.

“If you tell me who instructed you to divide the gold into three parts, I will spare your life.”

The Duke…

Heaven and earth bear witness, he had not divided the gold! Who was framing him? He cursed their ancestors for eighteen generations!

But his fury could not stop the Chief Eunuch from continuing to apply the paper. As the Duke’s struggles weakened, he eventually stopped moving.

The Chief Eunuch looked at the motionless Duke, then turned to the Emperor. “Your Majesty?”

The Emperor closed his eyes briefly, then raised his hand. “Take him out and bury him. Officially, he is still imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Chief Eunuch followed orders, placing the  Duke’s body in a sack and carrying it out. He returned shortly after.

“Your Majesty, it is done.”

The Emperor stood by the window, his expression unreadable. The Chief Eunuch stood behind him. “Your Majesty, Consort Li is kneeling outside.”

“I saw her. If she wishes to kneel, let her kneel.”

Though the Duke’s Estate had fallen, Consort Li still had the Great General behind her. The Emperor wouldn’t neglect her entirely.

After a pause, the Emperor added, “If she insists, tell her I have spared the Duke from the death penalty, but imprisonment cannot be avoided.”

The Chief Eunuch bowed in acknowledgment, knowing it was a lie to placate Consort Li.

“Your Majesty, the whereabouts of the Duke’s heir are unknown. We still don’t know where he is recovering.”

The Emperor turned sharply towards the Chief Eunuch, who immediately bowed his head in fear. “I deserve death.”

But the Emperor’s eyes lit up with understanding. “No wonder the Duke wouldn’t confess. I forgot his eldest son is still at large! Send out an order for a nationwide search for Xu Lin.”

The Chief Eunuch obeyed immediately. Now, he could report to the Second Prince.

Early on, the Second Prince had instructed him to ensure Xu Lin was eliminated if any opportunity arose. Now, he had accomplished that task. It was understandable—the Second Prince’s grudge against Xu Lin for disgracing the Third Miss of the Duke of Ning’s family, his beloved.

The Second Prince had tolerated this revenge until now, giving Duke’s family ample face. Collecting his thoughts, the Chief Eunuch left the Imperial Study.

He walked a few steps to Consort Li and sighed. “Your Grace, please rise. The Duke’s crime is severe. The Emperor has already shown great mercy by sparing his life. Please don’t push further. The Emperor must account for the people.”

Consort Li, her knees aching from kneeling, felt a surge of relief. The Emperor still valued her. Sparing the Duke’s life was enough. As long as he lived, everything could be gradually resolved.

Wiping her tears, Consort Li, supported by her maid, slowly stood up. “Thank you for conveying the Emperor’s grace.”

The Chief Eunuch smiled politely. “Your Grace is too kind.”

Consort Li curtsied towards the Imperial Study, then left with her maid.

Watching her leave, the Chief Eunuch’s expression turned inscrutable.

The Duke died not knowing how the gold he had kept together was split into three parts. The orchestrator, Song Jin, was currently sitting on a threshold, gnawing on a chicken leg, lost in thought.

Her brows were tightly furrowed.