The Command to Pamper the Husband - Chapter 13

Being watched by a dog is better than being watched by a person.

At least the dog wouldn’t reveal his cross-dressing and hiding in the Song family!

This… this was absurd!

Sitting in the carriage, Shen Yue didn’t realize how twisted his expression was.

After Lu Zhan finished reporting, he nodded at Song Jin and then disappeared again.

Song Jin had no interest in their whispered conversation. Seeing they were done, the group set off for home.

Upon arriving at the Song residence, Song Jin was approached by a servant before she even dismounted.

“Young Master, Young Master Zhao is here. He’s waiting for you in the outer study.”

Young Master Zhao, Zhao Ke, the legitimate son of Prefect Zhao.

Why is he here again?

Dismounting, Song Jin told her six-foot-tall bride, “You go ahead. I have to meet a friend. Have lunch without me. If you need anything, tell Wan Xi or Uncle Han Bo.”

Shen Yue only had Lu Zhan with him, who came as a maid accompanying the bride.

Without makeup, he couldn’t show his face.

And there were no maidservants in Song Jin’s courtyard.

For now, everyone said the maidservants would wait until the young madam personally chose them.

The six-foot-tall young madam responded with a dignified “hmm” and walked away with small, delicate steps.

Watching those strange little steps, Song Jin couldn’t help but smile.

However, to onlookers, that smile was an expression of true love from the young master for his new bride.

Noticing the expression of a nearby servant, Song Jin shivered and hurried to the study.

When she entered, Zhao Ke was standing with his hands behind his back, looking at a painting on the front wall of the study.

It was a landscape painting.

But to Zhao Ke, it seemed like he could see pavilions and palaces in the painting.

He saw them clearly, but in the next blink, they were gone.

How magical.

He was puzzled when he heard the door open. Turning around, he cupped his hands to Song Jin. “Brother Song, I am forever grateful for your help.”

Song Jin…

She hesitated for a moment before realizing he was talking about Sun Qiyao.

She quickly returned the gesture with a smile. “Brother Zhao, it was something I should have done long ago. This matter is entirely my fault for delaying your and Miss Sun’s happiness.”

Zhao Ke stepped forward, helping Song Jin up. He pointed to a side table filled with gifts. “Qiyao agreed to my pursuit. My mother has already arranged to meet with Madam Sun for tea. We should have the marriage settled in a few days. These are my gifts to you.”

His words were filled with joy.

Zhao Ke truly loved Sun Qiyao deeply.

The Sun family was an ordinary family, neither wealthy nor noble.

As the Prefect’s wife, Zhao Ke’s mother treating the Sun family so well showed her affection for this daughter-in-law.

Unexpectedly, her marriage benefited others.

Knowing Zhao Ke was sincerely grateful, Song Jin didn’t decline the gifts.

Remembering the incident with the body disposal, Song Jin chatted for a bit before casually bringing it up. “I need to thank Prefect Zhao for attending my wedding yesterday. My father said I should visit to express my gratitude. Is he busy these days?”

Zhao Ke sighed, “Don’t mention it. With the year-end approaching, things were peaceful. But this morning, we received an official document asking my father to register all sixteen-year-old girls in Yu Prefecture.”

Song Jin…

What?

Seeing Song Jin’s shocked expression, Zhao Ke smiled bitterly.

“The document surprised my father as well. What is this? Even if it’s for selecting palace maidens, it shouldn’t be like this. Usually, only a certain number of girls are sent each year, not specifically sixteen-year-olds.”

“The document didn’t explain why?”

Zhao Ke shook his head.

“Official documents rarely explain reasons. But it did give a strict order: every sixteen-year-old girl must be registered. Any mistake will result in severe punishment.”

Song Jin sighed, “This sounds serious. Is it just Yu Prefecture or everywhere?”

“All over the country. They’re looking for sixteen-year-old girls everywhere, not fifteen or seventeen, only sixteen. And…”

He paused and smiled bitterly at Song Jin. “Guess what? Even married or deceased girls who would be sixteen this year must be registered.”

Song Jin…

After chatting a bit more, Zhao Ke left.

Once Zhao Ke was gone, Song Jin fell into deep thought.

With the year-end approaching, the court wouldn’t stir up such a commotion for no reason.

Searching nationwide for sixteen-year-old girls suggested a special sixteen-year-old girl might be hidden among the common people.

Thinking this, Song Jin couldn’t help but glance at her chest.

She was sixteen!

And a girl!

Moreover, her father was very afraid of her being exposed as a girl.

Could she be the girl mentioned in the document?

Feeling nervous, Song Jin took a sip of tea to calm herself. As she lifted her hand, the jade pendant hidden in her sleeve fell out.

With a clink, it hit the ground.

Frowning, Song Jin bent down to pick it up.

The pendant was sturdy, without a crack. But the patterns on it looked so familiar.

She felt like she had seen it somewhere.

In the original owner’s memory, there was definitely something with similar patterns, but she couldn’t recall exactly.

The appearance of the pendant interrupted her thoughts about the sixteen-year-old girls.

Resting her chin in one hand and holding the pendant in the other, Song Jin tried to recall her memory when she heard a soft call from outside.

“Young master~”

The trembling voice sounded like a ghost calling.

Turning, Song Jin saw Wan Xi peeking through the door crack. Seeing her, Wan Xi waved urgently.

“Young master, come out quickly.”

Still in a low voice.

Song Jin carefully put away the pendant and walked over.

Opening the study door, she was greeted by the sight of a big black dog squatting in the courtyard.

The dog sat up immediately, wagging its tail and shaking its head to please Song Jin.

It looked as if Song Jin had its favorite bone.

Song Jin…

Staring at the dog, she twitched her eye and asked Wan Xi, “What’s going on?”

Wan Xi stood behind Song Jin. “I don’t know. When I came in, it was already here. It didn’t bark at me, so I hurried to inform you.”

Pausing, Wan Xi glanced at the dog and added, “Young master, I really think it likes you!”

While they talked, the dog inched towards Song Jin.

It moved stealthily, as if no one noticed, but both Song Jin and Wan Xi kept their eyes on it.