The Command to Pamper the Husband - Chapter 168

When Master Deqing arrived at the Imperial Study, the Emperor had not yet finished the court session. He anxiously waited.

In the court, many were as anxious as Master Deqing. The newly appointed Capital Magistrate, Zhao Jide, stood firmly in the hall, speaking assertively. “Those men in black, I have detained them all in the Capital Magistrate’s prison and interrogated them overnight. They finally confessed that they were sent by the Third Prince.”

This statement caused an uproar in the court.

The Second Prince, who had already assumed an official position, immediately looked at the Third Prince. What an idiot! How could he be so foolish?

Before anyone could react, the Third Prince stepped forward. “Father Emperor, I am innocent.”

The Emperor didn’t look at the Third Prince; his sharp eyes were fixed on Zhao Jide. “Do you know what you are saying?”

Zhao Jide remained calm and composed, showing no sign of fear. He didn’t even recognize who the Third Prince was. “I am reporting a crime. Last night, I saw the fire and rushed over. The Crown Prince was already at the Fourth Prince’s residence, along with a minor officer from the Jingwei Camp, who had presumably gone to extinguish the fire.”

This bit of insinuation didn’t escape Zhao Jide. Last night, the commanding officers of the Jingwei Camp on duty were all men of the Third Prince.

The Second Prince quickly grasped the key point. He liked Zhao Jide. He always said what the Second Prince wanted to hear. Just the failure to extinguish the fire properly was enough to remove the Third Prince’s men, allowing the Second Prince to appoint his own.

There was one commander and two deputy commanders in the Jingwei Camp. The Second Prince had only managed to place one deputy commander. The commander had been difficult to win over. Now, he could remove them directly.

The Second Prince quickly calculated his advantage. On the other side, the Third Prince began to sweat. He knew about the fire last night and had sent someone to inform the commanders to extinguish it promptly, not to leave any handle for others. Why hadn’t they gone?

What had happened? Who was trying to frame him?

The Third Prince instinctively turned to look at the Second Prince, who snapped, “Why are you looking at me?”

The Second Prince was busy calculating his gains and hadn’t noticed Zhao Jide’s mention of the Crown Prince. The Third Prince was preoccupied with why the commanders hadn’t extinguished the fire and also missed the crucial mention of the Crown Prince.

The Emperor, however, noticed. When Zhao Jide mentioned the Crown Prince, the Emperor immediately looked at him. Since the Fourth Prince returned from Yuzhou, he and the Crown Prince had been unusually close. This time, the Fourth Prince’s residence caught fire in the middle of the night, and no one went to help, not even the Jingwei Camp, yet the Crown Prince was there, even before Zhao Jide.

What was the Crown Prince up to?

Meeting the Emperor’s cold gaze, the Crown Prince stepped forward. “Father Emperor, I did go to my Fourth Brother’s residence last night.”

He paused, lowering his head as if hesitating.

“Speak!” The Emperor’s voice was filled with anger. Since when did the Fourth Prince’s affairs warrant discussion in the court?

If Zhao Jide hadn’t come from Yuzhou and stayed there for sixteen years while the Fourth Prince had always been in the capital, the Emperor would have suspected collusion between them. Despite the Fourth Prince’s recent visit to Yuzhou, it was unlikely that he could have swayed Zhao Jide in such a short time.

The Fourth Prince was the only one of the princes with no chance of ascending the throne. Zhao Jide had no reason to be close to him.

The Crown Prince took a deep breath, glanced at the Second Prince, then reported to the Emperor, “Yesterday, I heard that my Fourth Brother received a painting from you. I have admired that painting for a long time and wanted to borrow it for a few days.”

The Second Prince immediately recalled something. The painting was taken from the Empress and given to Shen Yue. Yesterday, after giving the painting to Shen Yue, the Emperor ordered the Empress to be confined, and the Empress knelt the entire time the Emperor was there. He hadn’t had time to find out what happened, but now, the connection was clear.

The Emperor gave the painting to Shen Yue, and then the Third Prince sent people to kill and burn. If those men in black hadn’t been captured alive but were killed on the spot, he might have been implicated. This realization made the Second Prince’s eyes chill as he looked at the Third Prince.

Zhao Jide continued, bowing slightly. “Your Majesty, according to the captured men, the Third Prince ordered them to take a painting called Cloudy Jade Book Pavilion’ from the Fourth Prince’s residence and return it to the Empress’s chambers.”

The Third Prince was stunned. Aren’t death warriors supposed to commit suicide upon mission failure? How did his death warriors survive and talk so much?

“I am innocent! Someone is framing me. Father Emperor, please seek justice for me.” The Third Prince didn’t know what else to say, feeling utterly confused.

The Crown Prince, indifferent, said, “Those men in black were already there when I arrived at my Fourth Brother’s residence last night. The guards there couldn’t stop them. Seeing they were about to kill my Fourth Brother, I had my men subdue them. Minister Zhao arrived just as my men had subdued them, and he took them away.”

The Third Prince was furious. Are you crazy? Helping the Fourth Prince!

The Second Prince was pleased. Well done, Brother!

The ministers were surprised. The Emperor felt conflicted. The Crown Prince’s words seemed impartial and truthful. Zhao Jide’s words also seemed honest. Why did the Third Prince cause such trouble?

As the Emperor looked suspiciously at the Third Prince, Zhao Jide spoke again. “Your Majesty, based on the confessions, I should have detained the Third Prince for questioning, but as he is a prince, I do not have the authority.”

The Emperor was stunned. Did you just say that out loud? No wonder you stayed in Yuzhou for sixteen years!

Zhao Jide ignored the court’s reactions and continued his steadfast approach. “However, according to our laws, Your Majesty can organize a trial by the Three Judicial Offices.”

The Third Prince was shocked. He blurted out, “Minister Zhao, did I offend you?”

Zhao Jide looked at the Third Prince, puzzled. After a long pause, he said, “You are the Third Prince?”

The Third Prince felt like spitting blood on the spot.

The Second Prince struggled to contain his laughter.

The ministers were stunned.

What a mess!