The Command to Pamper the Husband - Chapter 16

“This is what you call helping? Rather than saying you’re helping Wang Fugui clear his name, it’s more accurate to say you’re using his grievances to eliminate your own enemies! Lord Shen, you truly are a pure white lotus blooming unstained from the mud!”

Wan Xi, following behind Song Jin, echoed loudly, “White lotus, lotus, lotus~”

Shen Yue…

What’s wrong with this servant!

Indeed, like master, like servant—both are effeminate!

“If I don’t do this, Wang Fugui…”

Thinking inwardly about the effeminate pair, Shen Yue began to explain, but Song Jin interrupted him.

“What’s in it for me if I help you?”

Smiling, Song Jin crossed her arms and stood waiting for his answer.

Shen Yue’s eyebrows twitched, “Young Master Song, isn’t that a bit too mercenary? Won’t you help without a reward?”

Song Jin nodded, “Yes, no benefit, no help.”

Straightforward and blunt.

Shen Yue…

“Your father made it clear before he left. Your task is to assist me in the investigation.”

Song Jin shrugged, “If my father told you that, then you should know that since I was three, I haven’t used my skills. Why should I help you when my father couldn’t even persuade me?”

As she spoke, a sudden realization struck Song Jin.

It seemed her father’s repeated requests for her to use this skill to amass wealth were not genuine.

In fact, the opposite might be true.

Because of her rebellious nature, her father deliberately made those requests to provoke her into refusing to use the skill.

This thought opened a door in Song Jin’s mind, leading her to recall various conflicts between her and her father.

…

Could it be that when he urged her to take the imperial exams, his real intention was to prevent her from doing so?

Song Jin, arms crossed, stared at Shen Yue, but her mind was filled with thoughts of her father.

She sighed inwardly.

What a truly extraordinary father!

To contend with such a rebellious child must have been quite challenging!

But why did her father reveal her skill to Shen Yue?

Selling out his daughter for money?

That didn’t fit her father’s character!

Even this request for her to cooperate with Shen Yue seemed out of character for her father.

Despite her father’s claim of a hefty reward!

Shen Yue…

Why did Song Jin’s gaze seem so strange?

Looking at the effeminate figure before him, Shen Yue had an impulse.

To snap her delicate, slender neck.

How could a man have such a thin neck!

And…

Why would a man wear such high-collared clothes? To protect his neck from the wind?

“What kind of benefit do you want?” Shen Yue asked, averting his gaze to the pleasing greenery in the courtyard.

Song Jin refocused, smiling, “First, you must promise never to tell anyone about my skill, or you will be struck by lightning, and your children will be born without buttocks!”

Wan Xi, standing beside Song Jin, echoed earnestly, “Without buttocks, buttocks, buttocks.”

Song Jin…

Wan Xi, are you sent by monkeys?

Shen Yue…

With a twitching eye, he glanced at Wan Xi, then looked back at Song Jin, his face turning pale.

Song Jin smiled, “Raise three fingers on your right hand and swear.”

Shen Yue…

But Song Jin gave him no chance to refuse, “You have no choice.”

Shen Yue…

What could he do?

The news about Duke An secretly mining gold in the mountains outside Yu County was confidential.

The gold mine was heavily guarded, impossible for outsiders to approach.

The miners were all strong laborers from the northwest, making it hard for any investigation to trace back to Yu County.

Because of this, the secrecy was tightly maintained.

Defeating Duke An hinged on this gold mine; there was no better way.

Taking a deep breath, Shen Yue silently raised three fingers.

Wan Xi glanced at his fingers, lifted her chin, and flicked her wrist, “Begin your oath!”

Shen Yue…

Through gritted teeth and with a contorted face, Shen Yue recited Song Jin’s exact words, “…and my children will be born without buttocks.”

“Now, can you agree, Young Master Song?” he asked.

Song Jin smiled serenely, “Not so fast. There’s still the second condition.”

Shen Yue…

The hidden guards thought their prince might explode like a firecracker at any moment.

“What’s the second?” Shen Yue asked, struggling to keep his composure.

“Second, tell me honestly why my father told you about my skill.”

Song Jin was genuinely curious.

Shen Yue looked deeply at Song Jin, “Is that all?”

Song Jin nodded.

Shen Yue sneered, “Because I need it for the investigation.”

Sensing Song Jin’s curiosity, Shen Yue added, “Even if your father were here, he would have you accompany me to investigate the mountains.”

Shen Yue spoke lightly, without any hidden intentions.

Before leaving, Song Dingzhong had explained everything to him, knowing Song Jin would ask.

“Your family and Duke An’s have a grudge. I don’t know the specifics, but with me targeting Duke An, your father would naturally help.”

That should quell Song Jin’s doubts.

Shen Yue internally dismissed the matter.

Song Dingzhong was overly indulgent toward his son.

At sixteen, Song Jin was fully capable of handling responsibilities.

Look at me, only seventeen, and already so capable!

Unlike this effeminate figure.

With this thought, Shen Yue couldn’t help but glance again at Song Jin’s neck and high-collared robe.

So thin…

It could be snapped so easily!

And too pale!

Song Jin, unaware of Shen Yue’s thoughts, found his explanation frank and didn’t press further.

After all, if he intended to hide something, no amount of questioning would uncover it.

She wasn’t a clever protagonist capable of extraordinary discoveries from mere hints.

She was just an ordinary person.

“Third…”

“There’s a third?” Shen Yue’s face darkened.

This effeminate person was so demanding!

Song Jin calmly said, “The first two points don’t involve any benefit for me. I don’t do anything without gain, so naturally, there’s a third.”

As Song Jin spoke, Shen Yue’s scalp tingled, and he glanced at Wan Xi.

Afraid she might echo again.

Wan Xi…

“Why are you looking at me?” she asked, puzzled.

Shen Yue…

Sorry for the interruption!

Song Jin, holding back laughter, continued, “Third, I’ve heard there’s a popular dish in the capital called boiled pork slices. I want to eat it.”

Shen Yue was stunned.

Staring at Song Jin with wide eyes.

Did he hear wrong?

“I’m not asking you to cook it yourself. Why so surprised? You have so many guards, and there’s Lu Zhan. Anyone can cook it. If it tastes good, I’ll go. If not, consider the first and second points null and void.”

Shen Yue…

He had sworn an oath, and now it could be nullified?!