The Command to Pamper the Husband - Chapter 164

“Brother, how long are you planning to cause a scene in the middle of the night?” Song Jin asked, her face stern as she looked at the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince sighed helplessly. “Fine, as you wish.”

Song Jin watched as the Crown Prince walked away with his men, his strides confident and without hesitation. Just like that, he was gone. Song Jin thought to herself, is he really that addicted to teasing me?

Wait! She almost forgot the important matter.

“Brother, wait!” Song Jin called out immediately.

The corners of the Crown Prince’s mouth lifted slightly before he quickly returned to his composed expression. He turned back, his face cold. “Anything else?”

Song Jin felt a bit taken aback. How could he change his demeanor so quickly?

“Um, Brother, I…” Song Jin originally wanted to ask the Crown Prince about the painting. Given how magical it was, the Crown Prince must have known something when he had specifically asked her to steal it. While Wang Liu might be able to uncover some things about the late Empress, the Crown Prince certainly knew more.

However, as soon as she called him back, Song Jin regretted it. Now was not the right time with the patrol guards still present.

Hesitating, she then said, “Nothing, Brother. Be careful on your way back.”

The Crown Prince stared at her, bewildered. Are you messing with me?

Annoyed, he glared at Song Jin with a mix of exasperation and indulgence before walking back to her. “Fine, I’ll stay with you. So many things happened tonight; you must be scared. Don’t worry, I’m here.”

Song Jin cursed herself internally. Should she slap herself now?

Just as the Crown Prince returned, the newly appointed Capital Magistrate, Zhao Jide, rushed in, covered in sweat. He saluted the two princes and wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Your Highnesses, I apologize for being late. I am guilty.”

Pausing, Zhao Jide glanced around, seeing the tied-up men in black before focusing back on the princes. “Was there an assassination attempt on Your Highness?”

Seeing Zhao Jide, Song Jin felt a sense of familiarity and was about to speak when the Crown Prince interjected, “Someone tried to kill and set fires here. Fortunately, I arrived in time. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.”

Song Jin stayed silent.

Zhao Jide, a close friend of Master Song, believed that Master Song and the Fourth Prince had helped him secure his position as the Capital Magistrate. Hence, he was grateful to the Fourth Prince.

Without hesitation, Zhao Jide said, “Who dares to attack the Fourth Prince?”

The Crown Prince watched Zhao Jide with interest. “It was the Third Prince.”

Zhao Jide, taken aback, was about to exclaim when he realized what the Crown Prince had said. His eyes widened in shock.

The Crown Prince smiled. “You must report truthfully.”

Not wanting Zhao Jide to be troubled by the Crown Prince, Song Jin interjected, “The Capital Magistrate is new to the capital and may not be aware of everything yet.”

Before she could finish, Zhao Jide bowed and said, “If Your Highness trusts me, allow me to take the prisoners. I will ensure you have a satisfactory answer by morning.”

The Crown Prince replied on her behalf, “Of course. There’s not much time before morning court. Hurry.”

With the Crown Prince’s approval, Zhao Jide ordered the prisoners to be taken away. “Your Highnesses, I will take my leave.”

After saluting, Zhao Jide left with his men.

Song Jin turned to the Crown Prince. “What do you mean by this?”

The Crown Prince smiled. “You started the fire to lure him here, didn’t you?”

Song Jin gave him a look as if he were crazy, making him frown slightly. “Really not?”

Song Jin stayed silent.

The Crown Prince thought for a moment and then said, “You intended to draw the Second and Third Princes’ people here, didn’t you?”

Smiling, he added, “But they didn’t come. Instead, I and Zhao Jide came. Was this a miscalculation?”

Song Jin replied, “Whether Consort Liu’s supporter Minister Liu, Consort Dou’s supporter Minister Dou, or Consort Zhen’s supporter Minister Zhen come or not, Father Emperor knows who they support. Their presence doesn’t matter.”

The Crown Prince, intrigued, asked, “Oh? Then what matters in your view?”

Song Jin explained, “The Third Prince trying to frame the Second Prince is what matters to Father Emperor. If Father Emperor punishes the Third Prince, those who support him will have to show their allegiance.”

The Crown Prince laughed. “I didn’t expect my younger brother to be so clever.”

Song Jin didn’t respond.

The Crown Prince’s smile faded. “Are you sure that after the Third Prince is punished, Minister Zhen will come to you?”

Song Jin replied, “That depends on the Second Prince’s reaction.”

The Crown Prince smiled again. “The Second and Third Princes have been fighting for years. This time, if the Third Prince tries to frame the Second Prince and gets caught, the Second Prince will ensure he is thoroughly defeated.”

Song Jin agreed. “Indeed. If the Third Prince can’t recover, what will happen to those who support him?”

Looking up at the Crown Prince, she continued, “Brother, you have kept yourself clean, never forming cliques. After the incident with the Duke, no one dares to ally with you.”

The Duke had openly supported the Crown Prince but was dealt with impartially by him. This pleased the Emperor and showed the ministers that the Crown Prince wouldn’t form factions.

That left only the Fifth Prince and the Fourth Prince. While the Fifth Prince had his supporters and was willing to take in more, the Second Prince wouldn’t want him to grow stronger. After defeating the Third Prince, the Second Prince wouldn’t want to strengthen the Fifth Prince. The ministers knew this, so their only option was the Fourth Prince, who was considered an unusual choice.

Though the Fourth Prince had recently shown some promise, he wasn’t seen as a significant threat by the Second Prince. If the Fifth Prince didn’t exist, the Second Prince would have focused on dealing with the Fourth Prince, but with the Fifth Prince around, the Second Prince’s target would temporarily not be the Fourth Prince.

The Crown Prince tapped Song Jin’s head. “You have a good head on your shoulders.”

Song Jin dodged his playful gesture, wary of the Crown Prince’s intentions.

The Crown Prince, interested, asked, “So what will you do if you attract Minister Zhen?”