The Command to Pamper the Husband - Chapter 188

Song Jin’s first reaction was: Do you use your hands but not your mouth? Watching the Crown Prince’s lips move, she swallowed nervously.

The Crown Prince tilted his head, a hint of surprise in his eyes. “What? Are you finally tempted by my body? Want a hug?”

Song Jin was speechless. What was happening to her? Had the Crown Prince cast a spell on her?

Frightened, she took a step back and quickly turned to leave.

The Crown Prince stood behind her, his low laughter filled with warmth and affection. If Song Jin had turned around at that moment, she might have been truly tempted by his body. He was incomparably handsome.

“I’ll come find you when there’s news,” the Crown Prince said softly as Song Jin hurried out, almost tripping over the threshold.

Seeing her master leave the study with a red face, practically fleeing, Wang Liu was puzzled but quickly followed. “Master, what happened?”

Song Jin said nothing, walking briskly.

She must have been enchanted. Just now, she admitted that when she felt the Crown Prince’s breath on her ear and saw his face, her heart beat faster—not out of rejection or disgust, but something else.

Had she fallen for him? Absolutely not. The Crown Prince was the son of the murderer!

Song Jin wanted to say she and the Crown Prince were mortal enemies, but then she remembered he was helping her seek revenge. Almost all her discoveries were guided by the Crown Prince, who was leading her to kill the Emperor for revenge.

Why was the Crown Prince doing this?

Unable to make sense of it, Song Jin walked even faster. It took her half the usual time to get from the Crown Prince’s residence to the magistrate’s office.

Yes, she walked, not using a sedan chair.

As soon as she arrived, she heard Zhao Jide’s frustrated yell.

“What happened?” she asked.

Zhao Jide, fuming, threw a punch into the air. “They ran away.”

“They ran away?”

“Cui Liang’s parents. They ran away.”

Song Jin was speechless. Had they alerted the enemy?

“When did they run?”

“According to the neighbors, about a quarter of an hour before we arrived.”

A quarter of an hour. It took about the same time to get from her residence to Cui Liang’s home. So, just as Zhao Jide prepared to go there, Cui Liang’s family fled.

Why did they run so timely?

As Song Jin thought about this, Zhao Jide, now calmer, seemed to realize something too. He looked at the Fourth Prince in shock.

Just as Song Jin was about to speak, there was a commotion outside.

“Let me in, get out of my way!”

It was a familiar female voice, but Song Jin couldn’t place it.

Frowning, Zhao Jide turned toward the door. “What’s going on?”

One of the guards replied, “Sir, it’s the young master and young madam. The mistress insists on coming in, and the young master is with her.”

Song Jin recognized the names. Zhao Ke and Sun Qiyao?

Zhao Jide grumbled, “Nonsense. The prince is here, what are they doing?”

“Father, let me in. I have something important to say!” Sun Qiyao’s voice pleaded.

Song Jin hesitated. “Minister Zhao, let them in.”

“Your Highness, this is really…”

“It’s fine. It might be important. I’ll step aside.”

Zhao Jide wanted to argue but feared his children might offend the Fourth Prince, so he led the prince to an inner room.

With the door closed, Zhao Jide called out, “Come in.”

Sun Qiyao burst in, her entrance like someone catching a cheater, her eyes scanning the room urgently.

Zhao Ke stood beside her, indulgent yet helpless. He was there to support Sun Qiyao and prevent his father from kicking her out.

Zhao Jide was annoyed. “What are you doing here?”

“Father, where are the people in your study?” Sun Qiyao demanded.

Zhao Jide glared, “Nonsense! That’s the Fourth Prince inside. Show some respect.”

Sun Qiyao sniffed, as if she had detected a special scent. Fixing her gaze on the inner room door, she asked, “Father, is it really the Fourth Prince in there?”

Inside, Song Jin’s heart skipped a beat.

Outside, Zhao Jide’s face darkened, “What are you implying?”

Sun Qiyao stared at the door as if possessed. “Is there only the prince in there?”

Zhao Jide thought his daughter-in-law had lost her mind.

Turning to Zhao Ke, he barked, “Take your wife out of here!”

Zhao Ke tugged on Sun Qiyao’s hand but didn’t forcefully remove her, standing supportively behind her.

Zhao Jide was speechless. “What are you doing?”

Sun Qiyao interrupted, “Father, just tell us if the Fourth Prince is alone in there. We’ll leave once you do.”

Confused about their intentions, Zhao Jide nodded reluctantly.

Seeing him nod, Sun Qiyao and Zhao Ke exchanged glances and left without a word.

Zhao Jide was baffled. “What are they up to?”

Frustrated by his son’s unwavering support for Sun Qiyao, Zhao Jide sighed. At least he trusted his children not to cause harm.

With the case pressing, Zhao Jide didn’t dwell on it and went to fetch the Fourth Prince.

Inside, Song Jin’s heart raced—not out of attraction, but guilt. Sun Qiyao’s questions had a hidden meaning.

What had she discovered?

Song Jin couldn’t understand. The Crown Prince had identified her based on storybook knowledge and probably verified it through investigation in Yuzhou. But how did Sun Qiyao know?

“Your Highness?” Zhao Jide’s voice snapped Song Jin back.

She took a deep breath and refocused. The case needed her attention.

“Who knew about my orders after you left?” she asked.

“I only told my people to go to Cui Liang’s home,” Zhao Jide replied.

Then, realization struck. “Damn!”

“Did your people leak it?” Song Jin asked.

“No, someone must be monitoring my actions. As soon as I gave the order, they got the message. Even though I only mentioned going to Cui Liang’s home, they probably feared exposure and ran ahead of time,” Zhao Jide explained.