The Command to Pamper the Husband - Chapter 136

As the group walked along, a young eunuch suddenly approached, bowed to the Crown Prince, then turned to Song Jin and said, “Fourth Highness, His Majesty has summoned you to the Imperial Study.”

The Crown Prince frowned slightly, glancing at the young eunuch.

This eunuch was indeed from the Imperial Study, but…

Since when did such low-ranking eunuchs deliver messages from the Imperial Study?

Suddenly, he remembered that this eunuch seemed to be close to Consort Li, and the incident with the Duke’s Estate was uncovered because the Fourth Prince investigated it.

Having read many storybooks, the Crown Prince immediately understood the intricacies of the situation.

Understanding it was one thing, but he chose to remain silent and continued walking forward.

After all, he wasn’t the one being summoned.

Song Jin looked at the young eunuch with confusion. “Did Father Emperor summon me? Do you know what it’s about?”

The young eunuch bowed his head submissively. “I do not know, but it is probably still about the case.”

Since the Emperor had summoned him, Song Jin had no choice but to follow the young eunuch down another path.

The Heavenly Hound hesitated for a moment before following Song Jin.

The Second and Third Princes exchanged glances. The Second Prince said coldly, “Just now, I saw that the Heavenly Hound was always with the Crown Prince. How did it follow him in the blink of an eye?”

The Third Prince glanced in the direction where Song Jin had left. “That’s the way to the Imperial Study.”

The Second Prince narrowed his eyes, looked at Song Jin’s back for a moment, then withdrew his gaze and continued walking.

“The Duke’s case was handled ruthlessly by him, uprooting the entire Duke’s Estate. However, the Duke had always wanted to get close to the Crown Prince. With the Duke being uprooted, how is it that the Crown Prince seems to be getting closer to him?”

The Third Prince chuckled, “Doesn’t that mean the Crown Prince doesn’t want to get close to the Duke’s Estate?”

He spoke with a tone of jest, half-serious and half-mocking. The Second Prince gave him a sidelong glance.

“The Duke’s Estate holds a high position. If the Duke wanted to befriend you, would you refuse?”

The Third Prince raised his chin, “Of course I would refuse. I don’t want to get involved in the conflicts between you and the Crown Prince.”

The Second Prince turned his head and looked at him deeply.

He snorted inwardly and said nothing more.

They’re all old foxes, pretending to be innocent.

Meanwhile, the three princes headed straight to the banquet hall, while Song Jin was led to the Imperial Study by the young eunuch.

Just as they were about to reach the entrance, another young eunuch appeared and called away the one who had been leading Song Jin, leaving her to enter alone.

The small courtyard of the Imperial Study was eerily quiet.

As she walked in, she immediately attracted the attention of several eunuchs sweeping the courtyard.

A eunuch standing under the corridor hurried a few steps forward to greet her, bowing. “Does the Fourth Highness have any business here?”

The Imperial Study was a heavily guarded place. Without the Emperor’s summons, no one could enter freely.

Song Jin frowned. “My Father Emperor summoned me.”

The eunuch gave her a suspicious look, then smiled. “Highness, perhaps you remembered incorrectly. His Majesty is not here. The banquet will start in a quarter of an hour, and His Majesty has gone to the Empress Dowager’s place.”

Song Jin was stunned.

“Just now, a eunuch told me that His Majesty summoned me.”

The eunuch smiled again. “Which eunuch?”

Song Jin…

The eunuch had kept his head down the whole time, so she didn’t get a good look at his face. But…

As she racked her brain, trying to recall every detail, a sudden shout of panic rang out.

“Not good! There’s a fire!”

Song Jin and the eunuch were immediately drawn to the sound.

Smoke was billowing from the entrance of the Imperial Study.

The eunuch’s face turned pale. He stopped talking to Song Jin and ran towards the Imperial Study.

“Quick! Get water to put out the fire! Hurry!”

Song Jin looked at the thick smoke and hesitated for a moment before turning to leave.

She didn’t want to stay here. Shen Yue’s fate was already at odds with the Emperor. If the Imperial Study caught fire, she might be blamed for it.

She decided to leave immediately.

After leaving the courtyard of the Imperial Study, Song Jin looked at the road ahead, feeling bewildered.

Where was the banquet?

Just as she was about to grab a eunuch to ask for directions, she felt something nudge her knee. Looking down, she saw the Heavenly Hound nudging her with its big head.

As she looked down, the Heavenly Hound’s voice echoed in her mind: “Follow me, Master. I know the way to the banquet hall.”

Song Jin…

How did she keep forgetting she had such a divine beast with her?

Remembering what the young eunuch had said earlier about the banquet starting in a quarter of an hour, Song Jin and the Heavenly Hound quickly made their way there.

When she finally burst into the banquet hall…

It was already full of people.

At first glance, it looked like she had entered the Mogao Caves of Dunhuang.

Though it was called a banquet, it was actually just a royal family gathering.

Besides the princes and Princesses, the attendees included their mothers.

The seating arrangement was centered around their mothers, with the princes and Princesses forming small groups around them.

As soon as Song Jin entered, she attracted everyone’s attention.

Consort Li, who was unaware that the Duke had been quietly executed by the Emperor, looked at Song Jin with venomous eyes.

Among the many gazes, Song Jin happened to meet Consort Li’s eyes, which sent a chill down her spine.

Consort Li sneered, “What a surprise. In past banquets, we never saw the Fourth Highness. Today, the Fourth Highness graces us with his presence and attracts all our attention. Truly the one who has achieved merit.”

Everyone knew that because of the Duke’s incident, Consort Li would undoubtedly hold a grudge against the Fourth Prince who handled the case. Besides, the Fourth Prince’s fate clashed with the Emperor’s. Almost everyone looked at Song Jin with a sense of amusement.

Song Jin suddenly realized a problem.

Where should she sit?

It seemed that all the seats were taken.

The only empty seats were the three at the top.

Those were surely for the Emperor, Empress, and Empress Dowager, so she couldn’t sit there.

It meant there was no seat arranged for her!

Realizing this, Song Jin’s eyes scanned the room like laser beams, searching for the Crown Prince.

As soon as she spotted him, she quickly walked towards him.

She couldn’t just stand there foolishly and let everyone mock her!

She was brought here by the Crown Prince, so she naturally had to go to him. Besides, the Crown Prince wanted her to steal something. He couldn’t possibly deny her a seat.

If she didn’t get a seat, she wouldn’t steal for him!

Song Jin’s actions drew everyone’s attention.

The Crown Prince seemed to have anticipated this. When he saw her approaching with determination, he shifted to one side, smiling. “If Fourth Brother doesn’t mind, you may share a table with me. Please.”

Song Jin snorted and sat down with the Crown Prince at the same table. “You did this on purpose!”

The Crown Prince smiled, his expression unchanged. “What do you mean? How did I do it on purpose?”

Song Jin replied, “That person said it earlier, didn’t he? I never attended the banquets before, so naturally, there was no seat for me. You were the one who brought me here.”

The Crown Prince chuckled, turning his head slightly towards Song Jin. “You claim to be the Fourth Brother, but how could the Fourth Brother not recognize Consort Li and call her someone else?”

Song Jin…

She turned and glared fiercely at the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince, looking very amused, turned his head away, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Everyone stared in shock at the scene before them.

How could it be!

The Crown Prince actually let the Fourth Prince sit next to him!

They were even sharing the same table!

Moreover, the Crown Prince had moved aside to make space for the Fourth Prince!

How was this possible!

Wasn’t the Crown Prince supposed to despise the Fourth Prince the most!