The Command to Pamper the Husband - Chapter 199

After a moment, the Crown Prince turned to Song Jin, “What is it? Did you find something?”

Song Jin hesitated, “I’m not sure, but it seems like there are a lot of weapons stored inside.”

The Crown Prince’s expression changed, “Weapons?”

Song Jin nodded and sniffed the air again, “You know I can smell things.”

“I thought you could only smell gold and silver.”

“Weapons too.”

The Crown Prince…

No wonder she’s the protagonist.

Whatever skills are needed, she has them. Quite the cheat code.

“Are you certain?”

“Not entirely, which is why I need to take a look inside.”

The Crown Prince’s face darkened slightly.

Song Jin paused and then asked, “What does the Marquis of Jingning do?”

“He’s an idle and corrupt old playboy,” the Crown Prince replied, frowning slightly. “According to the stories, such an idle playboy is either truly incompetent or a cunning schemer pretending to be a fool.”

Song Jin…

Are the stories you read written by modern people?

Pretending to be a fool to catch the tiger?

Then again, if I can travel through time, maybe some web novel writers can too.

Song Jin suddenly became interested in the Crown Prince’s bookshelf.

“Is there a way to take a look inside?”

“Let me arrange something.”

The Crown Prince paused before saying, “We won’t go to the palace today. Let’s check this place first.”

Just as he was about to instruct the coachman to turn back, he changed his mind upon lifting the curtain.

“Wait here for me,” he said, pinching Song Jin’s cheek before jumping out of the carriage.

About the time it takes to burn a stick of incense later, Song Jin heard some voices outside the carriage. She lifted the curtain and saw the Crown Prince chatting and laughing with a portly man in his forties.

“Come down,” the Crown Prince called to her.

“We’re going to have tea at the Marquis of Jingning’s residence.”

The portly man beside the Crown Prince was Noble Consort De’s brother, the Marquis of Jingning.

He waved his hand and laughed, “It’s not much of a residence, just a small courtyard. Please don’t laugh at it.”

Song Jin jumped down from the carriage. The Marquis of Jingning gave her a once-over, and his gaze felt different from what one would expect of an idle playboy looking at a disregarded prince.

However, his gaze only lingered for a moment before he smiled and walked shoulder to shoulder with the Crown Prince towards the residence.

From the outside, it looked unremarkable, but inside, it was filled with luxurious pavilions and towers.

The Marquis of Jingning was known as a famous idle playboy in the capital, known for strolling around with his pet birds, but he had built a miniature Great Wall in his courtyard.

It was almost identical to the real Great Wall, just smaller in scale.

You could climb up and stand on the watchtower, which directly faced the Imperial Palace.

Seeing this, Song Jin was stunned.

Isn’t he afraid the Emperor will accuse him of treason for this?

Noticing her expression, the Marquis of Jingning proudly pointed at the miniature Great Wall and said, “I sought an imperial edict from the Emperor to build this.”

Song Jin was surprised.

The Emperor actually agreed.

“Can I go up and take a look?”

The Marquis of Jingning gestured, “Feel free, Your Highness.”

The Crown Prince glanced at Song Jin with a look that said, “I don’t want to catch a cold up there. Go ahead, Fourth Brother. I’ll stay here with the Marquis for tea.”

The Marquis didn’t say anything more and walked off with the Crown Prince.

Song Jin climbed up to the watchtower alone.

The solid floor beneath her feet emanated a strong scent of weapons. Song Jin closed her eyes, concentrated, and used her spiritual power to see if the weapons were spears or lances.

The Heavenly Hound followed Song Jin, wagging its tail.

“These weapons are known to the Emperor. When this miniature Great Wall was built, it was to hide these weapons.”

Song Jin looked at the Heavenly Hound in surprise.

Why didn’t you say so earlier?

Heavenly Hound…

No one asked me earlier.

Song Jin…

I didn’t ask you now either.

Heavenly Hound…

So it’s my fault…

“What is the Emperor hiding weapons for?”

“He knows how he got this throne. He’s afraid that his guards will betray him just as they betrayed the previous Emperor. So, he secretly established another guard unit. I just didn’t expect that the Marquis of Jingning was involved.”

Back then, he managed to seize the palace not just because the previous Emperor was poisoned but also because he had the support of the Deputy Commander of the Emperor’s Guard.

Past lessons.

Since he seized power in this manner, he has to guard against losing it in the same way.

“Unfortunately, this Marquis of Jingning is likely not just an idle playboy. The Emperor had people build the watchtower and hide weapons under it, but he must have hidden private soldiers elsewhere. How could he expect that the Marquis has more than just these weapons?”

Song Jin’s eyes fell on a small lake in the distance.

The scent of weapons from the lake was even stronger than here.

She glanced at the lake and then descended the watchtower. Following a servant, she walked towards where the Crown Prince and the Marquis were.

In the warm pavilion, the Crown Prince and the Marquis of Jingning chatted about various topics. Song Jin held her tea quietly, playing the role of Shen Yue.

After leaving the Marquis’ residence and getting back on the carriage, the Crown Prince immediately dropped his smile and asked Song Jin solemnly, “What did you find?”

Song Jin relayed her findings and the Heavenly Hound’s earlier remarks.

The Crown Prince snorted coldly.

“The Emperor truly is prepared for everything.”

He gritted his teeth as he spoke the words.

Song Jin knew the Crown Prince resented him and sighed softly, “What should we do next?”

“Go to the palace,” the Crown Prince said without hesitation.

Song Jin thought for a moment and understood his intent.

“Do you suspect the child abductions are related to Noble Consort De or the Empress?”

“It has nothing to do with Noble Consort De. Although she has a hold over the Empress, it’s related to personal matters, not court affairs. But…”

He stopped abruptly, staring at Song Jin as if he had an epiphany.

“Or maybe Noble Consort De is the true mastermind. The Empress, Noble Consort Shu, and the Second Prince are just her pawns.”

“What do you mean?”

“Before entering the palace, Noble Consort De was childhood sweethearts with the heir of the Duke of Ning. If it weren’t for the Emperor forcing her into the palace, she would have married him. Now, the heir works under the General of the Flying Cavalry,” the Crown Prince explained their relationship.

Song Jin was confused.

“Then why didn’t the Emperor suspect the heir during the last banquet when I exposed the box?”

The Crown Prince shook his head.

“The Duke of Ning and the Marquis of Jingning concealed it well. If I hadn’t investigated specifically, I wouldn’t have known either. Aside from me, only the Empress and Noble Consort Shu know. So, the Empress uses the heir to control Noble Consort De.”

“Then what does Noble Consort De have on the Empress?” Song Jin asked, though she already had an idea. “Could it be that the weapons in the Marquis’ residence were hidden at her behest?”

The Crown Prince smiled.

Song Jin was skeptical. “How could that be? Even if the Empress were foolish, she wouldn’t hide her weapons on Noble Consort De’s turf.”