The Command to Pamper the Husband - Chapter 144

The old maid glanced at Song Jin, then brought the silver ingot to her nose and sniffed. She reported to the Empress Dowager, “Your Majesty, this silver ingot indeed has the scent of golden osmanthus.”

The Empress Dowager nodded and turned to the Emperor. “There are only a few consorts in the palace who can use golden osmanthus. Do you still refuse to investigate?”

The Emperor sighed deeply. If this had happened to his elder brother, would the Empress Dowager have reacted the same way? Clearly, she was protecting Shen Yue. Even though Shen Yue’s destiny clashed with his, the Empress Dowager insisted on defending him! However, in front of everyone, the Emperor couldn’t afford to disrespect her.

“Investigate!” he ordered, throwing the prayer beads onto the table with a heavy thud.

The Empress Dowager sighed inwardly. “Minister Liu, explain the golden osmanthus scent on your body,” she said, her gaze piercing.

Minister Liu quickly glanced at Consort Li, then lowered his head. “Your Majesty, I do not know. Perhaps I brushed against someone and picked up the scent.”

The Empress Dowager snorted. “Brushed against someone? Nonsense! Only high-ranking consorts use golden osmanthus. How could an outside minister have contact with them?”

The Emperor’s face darkened. The Empress Dowager was clearly humiliating him to exonerate Shen Yue, even at the expense of his dignity. Would she also publicly question Noble Consort De about the golden box?

Minister Liu’s heart raced under the Empress Dowager’s rebuke. Seeing the Emperor’s expression, he quickly said, “Your Majesty, I truly do not know how I acquired this scent. Perhaps it’s the will of heaven, inexplicably giving me this fragrance. Otherwise, I cannot explain how I could have encountered any consorts.”

Minister Liu emphasized “the will of heaven,” knowing the Emperor valued the belief that Shen Yue’s fate clashed with his own. Sure enough, the Emperor’s gaze turned sharp as a knife towards Song Jin.

Song Jin cursed inwardly: Stupid Emperor! Outwardly, she feigned disbelief and turned to Minister Liu. “Minister Liu, are you accusing heaven of treason?”

She widened her eyes in incredulity.

Minister Liu, aware of the Emperor’s discontent towards this prince, replied, “I have always been loyal. Why would Your Highness sow discord?”

Song Jin responded, “You claim the scent is the will of heaven, just as the fire in the Imperial Study was. Since I was there when the study caught fire, are you saying this scent was heaven’s way of absolving me? Are you implying heaven opposes Father Emperor?”

“Impudent!” the Emperor roared.

Song Jin glared coldly. “Father Emperor, did I interpret it wrong? Minister Liu’s words suggest that heaven caused both the fire and the scent, implying heaven opposes you.”

The Crown Prince chuckled, enjoying Minister Liu’s predicament.

Minister Liu’s face paled, unable to refute. He had intended to incite the Emperor’s anger about the conflicting destinies. Now, Shen Yue’s rebuttal left him speechless. The Emperor’s gaze shifted from Song Jin to Minister Liu. “Explain!”

The Emperor awaited a reasonable explanation, one that would reveal heaven’s true intent. The Empress Dowager shook her head. After all these years, the Emperor still harbored resentment.

Minister Liu… What could he say? As he hesitated, a dog’s bark drew everyone’s attention.

Song Jin turned to see the Heavenly Hound dragging a person into the hall. The Chief Eunuch recognized him immediately. “It’s Xiao Fu.”

The Heavenly Hound dropped Xiao Fu beside Song Jin and bared his teeth at Minister Liu. Minister Liu shivered, seeing the scratch marks on Xiao Fu’s face from The Heavenly Hound’s claws. After intimidating Minister Liu, the Heavenly Hound approached the Emperor.

The Emperor’s heart tightened, wondering why the Heavenly Hound would side with Shen Yue instead of him. Seeing the Heavenly Hound approach, the Emperor relaxed, feeling relief yet angered by his own reaction.

The Heavenly Hound rubbed his furry head against the Emperor’s leg, then barked. The Emperor was astonished; he understood the bark! Communicating with The Heavenly Hound was a true mark of an Emperor!

The Emperor’s anger subsided considerably. “Explain!” he commanded Xiao Fu.

Minister Liu didn’t understand the change in the Emperor’s attitude and knelt in fear. “Your Majesty, I was deceived and misled. Please have mercy.”

The Emperor’s brows furrowed in shock and disbelief. Watching Minister Liu bow, he glanced at the Heavenly Hound. His faithful dog had resolved everything with his presence.

The Emperor patted the Heavenly Hound’s head. The Heavenly Hound, suppressing his disgust, stayed still, inwardly rolling his eyes: Idiot!

The Empress Dowager observed the Heavenly Hound, finding him different from the dog her eldest daughter-in-law had. Her daughter-in-law’s Heavenly Hound had been passionate about her. This Heavenly Hound, while close to the Emperor, seemed different. Was she overthinking?

The Empress Dowager sighed again, wishing her son and daughter-in-law were still alive. Feeling stifled, she turned her gaze to Shen Yue, momentarily mistaking him for her daughter-in-law. Startled, she clenched her hands.

Unaware of the Empress Dowager’s reaction, the Emperor focused solely on Minister Liu. Minister Liu kowtowed repeatedly. “Yesterday afternoon, Consort Li visited me. That’s how I got the scent.”

Consort Li felt dizzy, struggling to breathe. Hearing her name, the Emperor connected the scent to her and furiously ordered, “Take Consort Li away for interrogation!”

Consort Li cried out, “Your Majesty, I am innocent!”

Song Jin turned to look at Consort Li.