The Command to Pamper the Husband - Chapter 190

Song Jin gave Wang Liu a look, and he understood, nodding his head before heading toward Cui Liang’s neighbor.

After only a few steps, the Heavenly Hound chased after him.

Song Jin couldn’t help but smile. “It wants to drink water. Ask for some for it.”

She then turned to Zhao Jide with a sigh. “The Heavenly Hound is really pampered. It just watched the firefighting for a while and now it’s thirsty. Ordinary dogs wouldn’t have this issue.”

Zhao Jide smiled but didn’t comment. This was the Heavenly Hound, not something to joke about. However, he understood the Fourth Prince’s intention. They were being followed, and their every move was being watched. They couldn’t speak openly and had to communicate in code.

Soon, Wang Liu returned with the Heavenly Hound. With this visit yielding nothing, Song Jin and Zhao Jide wore expressions of disappointment as they left together.

Zhao Jide followed Song Jin back to the Fourth Prince’s residence.

Once in Shen Yue’s courtyard, Wang Liu reported, “Your Highness, that person indeed entered Cui Liang’s house after the family left and stole many things.”

Song Jin had sent Wang Liu to investigate under the pretext of washing his face.

“Are you sure it’s from Cui Liang’s house?” Song Jin asked.

Wang Liu nodded. “It seems so. Many of the items are exquisite decorations, and even the cheapest ones are worth at least ten taels of silver. Such items are not usually found in ordinary homes. These were hidden in a box under the bed.”

Ordinary people barely managed to make ends meet. Any extra money would be spent on food, clothing, education, or improving their home and livelihood, rarely on expensive decorations.

Buying such items and then hiding them in a box suggested they were stolen.

While Wang Liu was speaking, the Heavenly Hound let out a haughty, aggrieved whimper.

Everyone turned to look at it, especially Zhao Jide, who had been stunned when he first heard the Heavenly Hound speak in the palace. He had thought he was losing his mind.

Zhao Jide watched the Heavenly Hound intently.

The Heavenly Hound seemed pleased with the attention.

“Those are indeed items from Cui Liang’s house. Why ask him when you can ask me?” The Heavenly Hound looked disdainfully at Wang Liu.

Wang Liu stood speechless.

“Did you discover anything else?” Song Jin asked immediately.

The Heavenly Hound raised its head proudly. “Of course. Those items are not worth just ten taels; the cheapest is worth one or two hundred taels. However, they are tacky, and no reputable household would buy such things.”

Song Jin and Zhao Jide were stunned.

One or two hundred taels! Those were not items that ordinary officials or even moderately wealthy families could afford unless they were heavily involved in corruption.

These were items typically bought by wealthy playboys in the capital, either to gift mistresses or to show off.

Where did Cui Liang’s family get such items?

“Can you trace the origin of these items?” Song Jin asked.

The Heavenly Hound snorted. “Such items are common in many shops and not unique. Tracking their origin is pointless. It’s better to trace Cui Liang’s family.”

Song Jin and Zhao Jide looked delighted.

“You can trace Cui Liang’s family by the scent of these items?” Song Jin asked, then paused, realizing how redundant her question was.

The Heavenly Hound nodded. “Yes, but we need to act quickly before the scent fades.”

Song Jin turned to Zhao Jide. “To be safe, let’s split up. I’ll take the Heavenly Hound to track Cui Liang’s family, and you draw away anyone following us.”

“Understood,” Zhao Jide agreed without hesitation.

In Shen Yue’s residence, there were several carriages. Song Jin and Zhao Jide each got into identical carriages driven by Shen Yue’s secret guards and left the residence in opposite directions.

Outside the prince’s residence, Zhao Ke and Sun Qiyao watched the two carriages heading in different directions. Zhao Ke looked confused, then deferentially turned to Sun Qiyao.

“Can you tell which one it is?”

Sun Qiyao took a few deep breaths and pointed to the one heading west. “That one.”

Zhao Ke didn’t question her. “Let’s go.”

They got into a carriage and followed the one heading west.

As they left, two men in plain clothes hiding nearby exchanged glances.

“What should we do?”

“Those two are Zhao Jide’s son and daughter-in-law. They’re following Zhao Jide’s carriage. We’ll follow the other one.”

The two ordinary-looking men, blending into the crowd, decisively followed the eastbound carriage.

Inside the eastbound carriage, Song Jin almost screamed in surprise.

Wide-eyed, she stared at the man before her, shocked to the point of near convulsions.

The Crown Prince leaned comfortably against the carriage wall, smiling. “What? Are you so happy to see me that you can’t control yourself? You’re getting more and more to my liking. Don’t worry, my body is reserved just for you.”

As the Crown Prince’s shameless words fell, Song Jin still hadn’t caught her breath.

“How did you get in here?” she demanded, glancing around as if someone might overhear.

The Crown Prince smiled, “I walked in.”

Song Jin was annoyed. “How did you know I’d take this carriage?”

The Crown Prince chuckled, “You always pick the first carriage.”

Song Jin furrowed her brow. “You got in without anyone noticing? Not even the spies outside?”

The Crown Prince smirked. “The spies know I came to see you. As for the people in Shen Yue’s residence,” he shrugged dismissively, “they didn’t notice me at all.”

Hearing that the spies knew, Song Jin quickly said, “Do you know Cui Liang’s house was set on fire? We barely found some clues and were about to take the Heavenly Hound to…”

The Crown Prince interrupted her, his voice filled with emotion. “I know you’re going there. I came to accompany you. It’s outside the capital, and I might not get news of any danger in time. If something happened to you…”

He grasped Song Jin’s hand. “With me by your side, I’ll feel reassured.”

The Heavenly Hound stared in astonishment.

Was this what they called a “romantic fool”?