The Command to Pamper the Husband - Chapter 161

Song Jin’s hands clenched into fists as she spoke in a low, cold voice, her eyes fixed on the painting, a chilling light emanating from them.

“Help me investigate if the late Empress was ever poisoned by gu, and if so, whether it was resolved.” Before Wang Liu could respond, Song Jin slowly turned to him. “My father assigned you to follow and protect me. You should be able to find out, right?”

Wang Liu didn’t hesitate, “Rest assured, Miss, we can find out. Master Song has acquaintances in the palace. He specifically instructed me to seek out those people if you encounter any danger in the palace.”

It didn’t surprise Song Jin that her father had connections in the palace. Her mother was the late Empress, so her father had to have been close to either the late Emperor or the Empress, which meant he held some power and influence within the palace. Otherwise, on that night of the massacre, she wouldn’t have been smuggled out.

Song Jin nodded, took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and gestured with her hand for Wang Liu to leave. Wang Liu received the order and disappeared into the night.

Song Jin stood in front of the painting for over half an hour.

“Miss, are you hungry? Shall I get you something to eat?” Wan Xi asked, watching her with concern.

Song Jin shook her head lightly, but before she could speak, a sudden crackling sound came from outside. She swiftly turned toward the window and ordered Wan Xi, “Extinguish the candles.”

Wan Xi, though confused, did as told without hesitation. In an instant, the room plunged into darkness.

Song Jin moved to the window and saw shadows flickering outside. Shen Yue’s secret guards were fighting with four or five men in black. Song Jin frowned and whispered to Wan Xi, “Hide in the secret room.”

In the dark, Wan Xi’s bright eyes stared at Song Jin, “Miss, what about you? I won’t hide, I’ll protect you.”

Song Jin pushed her towards the secret room, “There’s no time, go quickly!” She rolled up the painting on the table and handed it to Wan Xi. “Protect this.”

Though reluctant, Wan Xi obeyed, tightly holding the painting and turning into the secret room. “Miss, be careful.”

Song Jin nodded, and after ensuring Wan Xi was safe, she quickly pulled a scroll from a large vase by the table and stepped outside.

The moment she appeared, she drew the attention of the men in black. They stopped fighting Shen Yue’s secret guards and rushed towards her.

Though the secret guards resented Song Jin for killing the divine physician, they couldn’t act against her since Lu Zhan had said nothing. Seeing the men in black rushing at Song Jin, they secretly hoped the attackers would kill this vicious woman. However, she was in Shen Yue’s body. Killing her would be the same as killing their master!

Suppressing their anger, the secret guards fought fiercely, their swords gleaming in the moonlight, entangling the men in black.

Seizing the opportunity, Song Jin dashed towards the rear courtyard where Shen Yue’s consorts lived. Though Consort Jiang was gone, three remained: Consort Liu, Consort Zhen, and Consort Dou, each backed by different princes.

Song Jin moved quickly, dragging the three consorts, still in their sleepwear, out into the courtyard. In the dead of winter, the consorts were shivering, barely awake, as Song Jin roughly tied them up with ropes, linking them together. She led them back to her courtyard.

The consorts, used to luxury, were bewildered and terrified. “What’s going on? Has the Fourth Prince gone mad?”

Consort Liu, closest to Song Jin, trembled as she asked, “Your Highness, what have we done wrong?”

Song Jin ignored her and kept walking briskly. Her tall frame and long strides forced the consorts to half-run to keep up. Tied together, any stumble by one affected the others, dragging them along.

They finally realized the gravity of their situation and began to scream and struggle, hoping to break free and attack Song Jin. Song Jin easily knocked one unconscious with a strike to the neck and kept walking, dragging the limp body along the ground.

The remaining two consorts, shivering in their thin sleepwear, dared not make another sound, fearing the same fate.

Their servants, panicked, ran to their families for help. The commotion woke the household, and the servants gathered to watch.

Song Jin grabbed a random servant and ordered, “Inform the gatekeeper to allow any visitors in.”

The servant, terrified, obeyed and ran off to relay the message.

Song Jin returned to her courtyard just as the men in black were breaking free from the secret guards and rushing towards her. Seeing her, they charged with their swords raised.

Song Jin pulled out the scroll and held it before her. “Dare to cut it?”

The men in black hesitated, their swords poised to strike. The leader, startled by the scroll, halted abruptly, dropping his sword to avoid harming the scroll.