The Command to Pamper the Husband - Chapter 156

Lately, every time the Emperor flipped Noble Consort Shu’s nameplate, she always found various excuses to refuse him. Was it because she was afraid of harming the fetus? Why didn’t she say anything? Her pregnancy was her leverage for favor; why had it become a weakness for Consort Li to exploit?

Suddenly, the Emperor’s eyelid twitched. At today’s banquet in the main hall, before the commotion involving Consort Li, Noble Consort Shu had left, citing unwellness. Was it really just a coincidence? Or did she know that Consort Li would be exposed and, fearing her own secrets would be revealed, decide to leave early? That way, even if Consort Li were caught and lost control, she wouldn’t be able to implicate her.

If that were true, how did she know about Consort Li’s plans? Did she plant someone close to Consort Li? The Emperor quickly dismissed this thought. Even if Noble Consort Shu had a spy, they couldn’t possibly know Consort Li’s plans unless they were very close to her. And if they were that close, Consort Li wouldn’t be able to manipulate Noble Consort Shu.

The only reasonable explanation was that Consort Li setting fire to the Imperial Study was likely instigated by Noble Consort Shu or the Empress. Consort Li couldn’t have taken on both Noble Consort Shu and the Empress alone. Shen Yue was furious over the lives at stake under Duke of An’s control, so he was easily manipulated by the Empress and Noble Consort Shu.

The question was, did the Empress and Noble Consort Shu just want to get rid of Consort Li, or was there more to it? The Emperor’s thoughts raced. He suddenly remembered that Noble Consort Shu’s brother was a fierce general under the Great General.

The Great General was invincible, but Noble Consort Shu’s family background was also strong. Did Noble Consort Shu’s brother want to replace the Great General? As long as the Great General lived, the army would always be under his control. With Noble Consort Shu and the Empress not getting along with Consort Li, the army wouldn’t support the Second Prince and might even become an obstacle for him.

Smart as the Second Prince was, he wouldn’t keep such an obstacle. He would try to eliminate it using others to do the dirty work. If Consort Li and the Duke’s entire household were gone and a secret letter from the frontier accused the Great General of rebellion, he would believe it.

The Emperor’s thoughts deepened, and he broke into a cold sweat. Thankfully, he realized this in time; otherwise, he would have been led by the nose by these people. Losing the Great General was minor, but if the Second Prince got control of the army…

The Emperor had seized the throne through less-than-honorable means, so he feared anything that threatened his rule. At that moment, the Chief Eunuch entered with a troubled expression.

“Your Majesty, there’s bad news.”

The Emperor looked up. “What is it?”

As he spoke, he already had a guess. “Did something happen to Consort Li?”

The Chief Eunuch immediately replied, “When the Ministry of Justice went to the Cold Palace to interrogate her, Consort Li had already committed suicide.”

A fierce light flashed in the Emperor’s eyes. Suicide? Consort Li held leverage over Noble Consort Shu and the Empress and had the backing of the Great General. How could she commit suicide? Given Consort Li’s nature, she wouldn’t die without retaliating against Noble Consort Shu and the Empress.

“Where is Noble Consort De?” the Emperor asked immediately.

The Chief Eunuch was startled. “Noble Consort De? She is in a side hall of the Cold Palace and probably doesn’t know yet.”

The Emperor sneered. Doesn’t know? How could she not know? The scene at today’s banquet was clearly set up by the Empress and Noble Consort Shu, using Noble Consort De to eliminate Consort Li and then fabricating a story about Consort Li committing suicide out of shame. How could Noble Consort De not be aware?

Noble Consort De knew very well! Why else would she have that gold box at the banquet? It was likely given to her by the Empress or Noble Consort Shu. The Emperor’s thoughts clicked into place. Grabbing a wolf-hair brush, he quickly wrote a letter on a piece of rice paper, sealed it with wax, and handed it to the Chief Eunuch. “Deliver this to the Great General personally and make sure no one knows.”

The Chief Eunuch immediately took the order. Song Jin stood quietly, observing everything. After the Chief Eunuch left, the Emperor turned his cold gaze to Song Jin.

“Speak, what do you want?”

Song Jin showed no surprise at the Emperor’s question and responded calmly, “I want a painting from the Empress’s bedchamber.”

The Emperor raised an eyebrow, staring at Song Jin like a dagger. “Oh?”

“‘Cloudy Jade Book Pavilion.'”

“Why?”

“I have admired it for a long time.”

The Emperor sneered. “I should feel proud to have a son like you!”

The sarcasm was obvious. Song Jin bowed her head. “I dare not presume, Father Emperor. I simply feel that I have been too wronged in the past and no longer want to live that way. I am of the Dragon Lineage.”

Song Jin emphasized the last words. He was the legitimate heir of the Dragon Lineage. This wretched Emperor was nothing!

Raising her head, she looked directly at the Emperor. “If it weren’t for Minister Liu from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau causing such a scene, I wouldn’t have doubted whether the supposed clash between my fate and yours was true. I used to believe it was true and minimized my presence for your sake. But now, I think it might not be true, and I refuse to live so wronged.”

“You feel wronged?” The Emperor’s voice was icy.

Song Jin showed no expression. “Isn’t it true? If the same incident had happened to the Crown Prince, would you have handled it the same way? Ignoring the falsely accused?”

The Emperor snorted. Who do you think you are to compare yourself to the Crown Prince? However, after a moment’s hesitation, the Emperor nodded. “That painting is yours.”

Song Jin bowed respectfully. “Thank you, Father Emperor. If I remember anything important in the future, I will certainly do my utmost to report it.”

The Emperor listened, feeling an urge to slap him. The one he had always disregarded actually had his own thoughts and wasn’t foolish, even possessing some wisdom. His intelligence and depth were not inferior to the Second and Third Princes.

The Emperor didn’t want to see Song Jin anymore and waved him away. “Leave!”

Song Jin bowed. “I will wait in the courtyard for the painting.”

The Emperor, exasperated, slammed his hand on the table. “Do you think I won’t give it to you? My word is my bond!”

Song Jin smiled. “Thank you, Father Emperor.”

Leaving the main hall, he indeed waited in the courtyard of the Imperial Study. The Emperor, furious, slammed his hand on the table again.

But he had no time to worry about the Fourth Prince. The Great General, Noble Consort Shu, the Empress, and the Second Prince were all far more worth his attention.