The Command to Pamper the Husband - Chapter 130

Lu Zhan nodded. “Master Deqing’s Daoist skills are profound and highly valued by the Emperor. However, the Emperor does not want the common people to know how much he values Daoist practices, so he rarely interacts with Master Deqing.”

Song Jin frowned. Daoism often led people to pursue immortality. Once on this path, they often became obsessed with alchemy and neglected governance. The Emperor’s decision to distance himself from Master Deqing was understandable.

However…

“Since the Emperor doesn’t usually interact with Master Deqing and deliberately avoids him, how do you know the Emperor values him?”

Lu Zhan replied, “When the late Emperor and Empress Dowager passed away, according to national law, the Venerable Masters of the Great Buddha Temple chanted sutras for forty-nine days. However, the Emperor also invited Master Deqing into the palace.”

Hearing Lu Zhan mention the late Emperor and Empress Dowager made Song Jin’s heart tighten. From her dreams, she knew that the late Emperor and Empress Dowager were the parents of the body she now inhabited. In her dream, it wasn’t that they died naturally but that the current Emperor stormed into the birthing chamber on the day of the Empress Dowager’s labor and killed everyone. His ascension to the throne was bathed in blood.

“How do you know about this from sixteen years ago? If the Emperor wanted to keep his relationship with Master Deqing secret, this should have been confidential.”

Lu Zhan glanced around and spoke in a low voice, “Our master discovered it.”

“Why would he investigate this?” Song Jin asked, though she already suspected the answer related to greater ambitions. However, this wasn’t something Lu Zhan could share with her.

They could cooperate with Song Dingzhong, and now that the master and Miss Song had swapped bodies, Lu Zhan would remain loyal to Miss Song. But revealing their master’s ambitions within the Great Yan Dynasty was out of the question. Miss Song was a citizen of Great Yan; if she knew their true plans…

Lu Zhan’s eyes flickered, and he forced a bitter smile. “The master ordered the investigation, so I did it. As for why, I don’t know.”

Song Jin wasn’t foolish. Because this matter concerned the late Emperor and Empress Dowager and because of her dreams, she paid close attention to Lu Zhan’s expression. She caught the flicker of something in his eyes and suspected he wasn’t telling the whole truth. Still, she didn’t press further. She had her own conclusions.

If it was certain the Emperor summoned Master Deqing into the palace and that Master Deqing was highly skilled, it was likely to cleanse the palace of lingering spirits. The events of that night, described as a bloodbath, were no exaggeration. The Emperor probably felt guilty and feared the vengeful spirits of the late Emperor and Empress Dowager. The hatred in her heart made Song Jin clench her fists.

“Is the Empress’s current residence the same place the Empress Dowager lived?” Song Jin asked, changing the topic.

Lu Zhan shook his head. “Why do you ask?”

Song Jin smiled. “The Crown Prince wants me to steal a painting called ‘Cloudy Jade Book Pavilion.’ He said it’s in the Empress’s sleeping quarters.”

Lu Zhan’s expression changed. “The Crown Prince asked you to steal that?”

Song Jin looked at Lu Zhan’s reaction. “Is it special?”

Lu Zhan’s expression was complex. He paused before saying, “It’s not the painting that’s special, but where it’s hung.”

“Where is that?”

“The Empress’s boudoir, reportedly beside her bed.”

Song Jin looked at Lu Zhan in disbelief. “How do you know that?”

Lu Zhan scratched his head. “We have people in the Empress’s palace.”

Song Jin…

No wonder the Crown Prince wanted to kill Shen Yue. For someone vying for the throne, a prince who appeared weak but secretly raised soldiers and placed spies was like the characters in storybooks who pretended to be harmless but were actually dangerous. The Crown Prince, having read so many storybooks, must have recognized this type.

In that light, the Crown Prince’s desire to kill Shen Yue made perfect sense. Unfortunately, the Crown Prince now chose to use Shen Yue instead.

“So what’s the value of this painting? Why does the Crown Prince want me to steal it?”

Lu Zhan rubbed his chin in thought. “It’s just an ordinary painting, not even a famous one. But the Empress likes its warm colors and hangs it by her bed.”

He paused and looked at Song Jin. “The Crown Prince probably values the difficulty of stealing it more than the painting itself.”

Song Jin…

Damn~

Song Jin and Lu Zhan talked as they returned to the royal residence. According to the Crown Prince, there would be a banquet at the palace tomorrow, and she would be invited. She needed to prepare.

As Song Jin approached Shen Yue’s courtyard, Yuan Bao came running up to her. He looked her up and down, sniffing around.

Song Jin bent down to pet Yuan Bao’s large head. She wanted to pick him up but hesitated due to his size. “You missed me after just a short time apart!”

She laughed, ruffling Yuan Bao’s fur as she walked inside. Yuan Bao followed her, and suddenly she heard his voice in her head: Why do you smell like snakes?

Startled, Song Jin almost tripped. She turned to look at Yuan Bao, whose black obsidian eyes met hers.

Where did you go? Why do you smell like snakes?

He was still asking.

Song Jin…

She still wasn’t used to communicating with a dog’s soul.

Without speaking aloud, she silently recounted the incident at the Crown Prince’s residence, expecting Yuan Bao to understand.

Yuan Bao…

You told me everything. Why are you still looking at me? Want me to bite the Second Prince?

Song Jin…

After a moment of surprise, she realized Yuan Bao could read her thoughts. Everything she thought, he could hear.

Excited, she hugged Yuan Bao’s neck. “You’re amazing.”

Yuan Bao stiffened. His master was hugging him! So happy.

Uh…

Can’t breathe. Master, Master, calm down. My neck is going to break.

Lu Zhan stood nearby, witnessing the silent exchange, his mouth agape in shock. What are Miss Song and the Heavenly Hound doing?

After a moment, Song Jin let go and headed toward the main house. On the way, Yuan Bao silently warned her: Take me with you next time you go out.

Song Jin silently refused: No, you’re the Heavenly Hound. I can’t just bring you along. If the Emperor notices something, I’ll be dead.

Yuan Bao’s head drooped. He just wanted to be with his master all the time.

Following behind, Lu Zhan watched the scene and felt something was off. It seemed as if Miss Song and the Heavenly Hound were having a conversation. How could he have such a strange thought!

He must have been too frightened recently!