The Command to Pamper the Husband - Chapter 137

Everyone remembered one thing. Three years ago, the Fourth Prince accidentally bumped into the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince, disgusted, immediately took off the robe that the Fourth Prince had touched. His aversion to the Fourth Prince was so extreme, yet now… The two were laughing and talking! The Crown Prince even leaned close to speak into the Fourth Prince’s ear! This… was too strange!

Recent rumors claimed that the Fourth Prince had been seen arm in arm with the Crown Prince in the street. They hadn’t believed it then, but now it seemed… true?! While everyone was stunned, an announcement came from outside, and the Emperor and Empress entered with the Empress Dowager. Immediately, everyone stood and bowed.

The Emperor respectfully and attentively supported the Empress Dowager as she took her seat, and only then did the Emperor and Empress sit down. The Empress Dowager, in her old age, delighted most in being surrounded by her descendants. Knowing this, the Emperor held such family gatherings almost every month to alleviate the Empress Dowager’s grief over the late Emperor’s passing.

As her gaze swept over her grandchildren, the Empress Dowager smiled kindly. “I am indeed blessed with many grandchildren. I just wonder when I will be able to hold my great-grandchildren.” With these words, she looked towards the Crown Prince.

Her gaze froze momentarily, and a powerful wave of grief surged in her heart, intensified by the memory of the late Emperor and her deceased daughter-in-law. Looking at that unfamiliar face, she seemed to see her poor daughter-in-law.

“Who is that sitting beside Ye’er?” The Empress Dowager’s voice trembled. The consorts, princes, and Princesses turned their gaze to Song Jin. The Emperor frowned. In all these years of family gatherings, he had never allowed Shen Yue to attend. Why was he here today?

With a cold expression, the Emperor snorted. “Why are you here?” Facing the Emperor’s disdainful gaze, Song Jin quickly pinched the Crown Prince’s thigh under the table. It’s all your fault! If you hadn’t called me here, would I be here?

But, Lu Zhan was also to blame. He knew Shen Yue never attended these gatherings. Why didn’t he tell her earlier? Why didn’t he stop her! These thoughts flashed through her mind as she pinched the Crown Prince. Song Jin stood up and respectfully clasped her hands. “Reporting to Father Emperor, it was my brother who brought me here.”

The sudden pinch, right on his thigh, almost made the Crown Prince cry out. However, he wasn’t angry. Realizing he wasn’t upset surprised even the Crown Prince. Why wasn’t he angry?

There was no time to ponder this. As Song Jin finished speaking, the Crown Prince stood up to explain, but the Empress Dowager pointed to Song Jin and asked the Emperor, “Who is that child?” The Emperor had to respond, “The fourth.”

The Empress Dowager looked at Song Jin with confusion. The Emperor mentioned the fourth, and she remembered. Yes, there was such a child. When the Emperor ascended the throne, the astrologers said this child’s fate clashed with his, so the Emperor always disliked him. He had never attended these family banquets before. As a grandmother grieving for her late son and daughter-in-law, she had never paid attention to him. But now, seeing him suddenly…

This child resembled her late daughter-in-law in some ways. The more she looked, the more he reminded her of her daughter-in-law. How strange. Shen Yue’s mother was a consort Princess from Southern Liang, with no connection to her late daughter-in-law. How could she see her daughter-in-law’s shadow in this child?

And it wasn’t just a delusion. The more she looked, the more similar they seemed. Although their features were entirely different, it felt as though… they were the same person. Deeply moved, the Empress Dowager waved her hand. “Good child, come forward and let me have a look.”

Her words shocked everyone present. Shen Yue’s fate clashed with the Emperor’s! How many years had he been neglected! Was he about to turn his fortune around? Those who had bullied Shen Yue felt uneasy. Consort Li glared at Shen Yue with venomous eyes, wishing she could flay him right then and there!

Being summoned by the Empress Dowager, Song Jin had no choice but to step forward. “Grandson greets Imperial Grandmother.” She clasped her hands and bowed, keeping her eyes lowered. The Empress Dowager looked at her. “Raise your eyes.” Song Jin obeyed.

As Song Jin raised her eyes, the Empress Dowager felt as if something struck her heart. The child’s gaze, the way he looked at people, the shyness in his eyes when he raised them, was exactly like her poor daughter-in-law. How could it be! This discovery stirred the Empress Dowager’s heart violently. But she couldn’t show any emotion.

Such a revelation would not bode well for the child. Her eldest son had passed, and her youngest was on the throne. Though her youngest always showed respect and reverence for his late brother, she knew deep down that he harbored resentment towards him. A deep resentment.

“This child looks fine to me. How did the astrologers predict such a thing?” The Empress Dowager shook her head and gestured for Song Jin to return. Song Jin… What was wrong with this old lady? She called her forward just to take a look?

Song Jin returned to the Crown Prince’s side. The Crown Prince remained standing, so she dared not sit and stood next to him. The Empress Dowager continued, “When the astrologers made their predictions, did they mention any way to resolve it? After all, he is your flesh and blood; you can’t keep him in this situation forever.”

Her words caused ripples in everyone’s hearts. The Emperor was taken aback. Why had the Empress Dowager suddenly taken an interest in the fourth? Had she sensed something? Or was she merely speaking offhand?

Suppressing his thoughts, the Emperor replied warmly, “Mother, rest assured. The astrologers have been searching for a solution all these years.” Song Jin inwardly rolled her eyes. Who would believe that! This deceitful Emperor!

With this interruption, the Emperor couldn’t question the Crown Prince about bringing Shen Yue. He merely signaled for the two to sit down. The banquet began, with singing and dancing as the opening act.

Watching the dancers’ flowing sleeves, Song Jin glanced at the Emperor. How could she kill this deceitful Emperor! While she was pondering, the Crown Prince leaned in. “It seems you’ve caught Imperial Grandmother’s eye. Shouldn’t you thank me?”

Song Jin suppressed her thoughts, turned, and glared at the Crown Prince, baring her teeth in a soft, cute smile. “I really thank your ancestors for eighteen generations!” The Crown Prince smirked, “My ancestors and yours are indeed two different matters. It seems you should thank them. Don’t worry, for the sake of the Empress’s palace map, I’ll soon give you a chance to thank my ancestors.”

After a pause, the Crown Prince added with a cold, mocking smile, “Unfortunately, you might be disappointed. The ancestors you’ll see won’t add up to eighteen!”