The Command to Pamper the Husband - Chapter 189

With the vast number of people and so much time passed, finding the informant who tipped off Cui Liang’s family seemed like an impossible task.

Despite not holding out much hope, Zhao Jide still ordered his men to investigate.

“Your Highness, what should we do now?” he asked.

“Put out a nationwide wanted notice,” Song Jin said after a moment of silence.

Zhao Jide nodded and called for a trusted subordinate. “Go to the Ministry of Justice and get the Minister to issue a nationwide wanted notice.”

Song Jin looked at Zhao Jide in surprise. Even though the Capital Magistrate was an important position, there was still a significant gap between it and the Minister of Justice, especially since Zhao Jide was newly appointed.

Sending a subordinate to demand an order from the Minister of Justice seemed audacious. Wouldn’t the Minister just dismiss him outright?

Was this truly the legendary iron-headed Zhao Jide?

Noticing the Fourth Prince’s doubt, Zhao Jide smiled. “The Minister of Justice and I were classmates. We even shared the same bed during our studies.”

Song Jin raised an eyebrow, understanding now.

Zhao Jide continued, “However, in public, we appear to be on bad terms, always at odds with each other.”

“Why is that?” Song Jin asked.

“Survival in the bureaucracy,” Zhao Jide replied frankly.

Song Jin shrugged. “Alright, your bureaucratic matters are beyond me, as a time traveler. Do as you see fit.”

“How likely is it that we’ll find them with the nationwide wanted notice?” Song Jin asked.

“Almost zero,” Zhao Jide replied without hesitation, with a bitter smile.

“Then why issue it?” Song Jin asked, wide-eyed.

“It’s a procedure, and also a prevention. It tells the suspects that we have identified them. It’s a psychological battle between the authorities and the criminals.”

After a pause, Zhao Jide sighed. “If the suspect is put off, they won’t commit more crimes, at least not soon. But if the notice triggers some emotion, they might become more mad. The former gives us time to investigate slowly, while the latter offers more clues and chances to catch them quickly.”

Zhao Jide looked grim.

The latter scenario would mean more families destroyed and more innocent children lost.

Song Jin clenched her fist.

“Let’s go,” she said, exhaling her frustration and walking out briskly.

“Your Highness, where are we going?” Zhao Jide asked, quickly catching up.

“To Cui Liang’s house.”

“Did you discover something?” Zhao Jide asked, hope in his eyes.

“I didn’t, but the Heavenly Hound might,” Song Jin replied.

When Song Jin arrived, Wang Liu had already returned to the residence to fetch the Heavenly Hound. Originally, Wang Liu intended to take the Heavenly Hound directly to the crime scene, but he didn’t know the way.

To save time and avoid any mishaps, they hurried to Cui Liang’s house.

However, before they reached the residential area, they saw a massive fire in the distance.

Both Song Jin and Zhao Jide’s hearts sank.

“Could it be Cui Liang’s house?” Zhao Jide muttered, then started running alongside Song Jin.

Cui Liang’s house was ablaze, and the City Guard was already helping the neighbors extinguish the fire.

Neighbors were cursing and crying as they fought the flames. “Which bastard set the fire? Damn them! Her family is gone, and now you’re burning my house too? Damn it, I spent three taels of silver building this wall last year!”

Listening to the angry shouts, Song Jin clenched her fists. They had been followed. The arsonist had set Cui Liang’s house on fire as soon as they headed there, fearing the Heavenly Hound.

This realization made Song Jin eager to see the Crown Prince and tell him about it.

Wait… why did that neighbor say Cui Liang’s family was gone? Did he mean they were dead, or that they wouldn’t return?

What did he know?

Fearing further complications, Song Jin whispered instructions to Wang Liu. He nodded and joined the City Guard to help put out the fire.

Although the fire had been intense, it was discovered in time and well-contained, causing minimal damage to the neighbors’ properties.

The deputy commander of the City Guard, who was a man of the Crown Prince, approached and saluted Song Jin.

“What happened?” Song Jin asked him.

“We haven’t determined the cause yet, but someone saw oil-soaked rags being thrown into the house,” the deputy replied.

Neither Song Jin nor Zhao Jide was surprised.

“Fortunately, you arrived in time and prevented the fire from spreading,” Song Jin said.

The deputy smiled wryly. “Your Highness, we were patrolling the alley when the fire started. We were chasing a suspect who attacked someone in the street and ended up here. The suspect escaped, and then the fire broke out. We had no choice but to put out the fire first. But don’t worry, I’ve sent three men to continue the chase.”

Most of the guards were wealthy young men holding idle positions, usually just patrolling for public safety. Today’s events were special.

The fire was quickly extinguished, and the deputy led his men away. Wang Liu returned to Song Jin’s side.

“Did you find out anything?” she asked.

Wang Liu nodded and whispered, “The neighbor said he heard Cui Liang’s father and brother arguing. The father wanted to take all the valuables, but the brother said there wasn’t time and that carrying too much would slow them down. They took only the money.”

Sudden departure, taking valuables but fearing being slowed down—it was clear they had to leave immediately and wouldn’t return.

Realizing this, Song Jin had an idea and looked at Zhao Jide.

Sensing her thoughts, Zhao Jide said, “Your Highness, perhaps Wang Liu should wash his face. Look at all the soot.”