The Command to Pamper the Husband - Chapter 224

The city gates were heavily guarded, with strict inspections for anyone leaving the city.

Fortunately, the Thirteenth Prince’s massacre had nearly wiped out everyone in the Empress’s bedchamber.

No one told the Thirteenth Prince that a young eunuch had escaped from the Empress’s quarters.

The Thirteenth Prince only knew someone had hidden away with the child, but he didn’t know who it was.

Song Dezhong and Han Bo, dressed in plain clothes, managed to leave the city without any issues.

Once outside, they spurred their horses and rode swiftly towards Shili Inn.

Venerable Master Hongzhu had already arrived at Shili Inn with the young Princess.

When they met, Venerable Master Hongzhu held the Princess in his arms. Having already heard the news of the Empress’s violent death, Venerable Master Hongzhu looked as if he had aged ten years overnight.

With red-rimmed eyes, Venerable Master Hongzhu’s tears flowed freely.

“To you both, I offer my deepest gratitude on behalf of the Empress.”

Song Dezhong and Han Bo hurriedly waved their hands, “No need, Master. The Empress was our benefactor. We are willing to lay down our lives for her.”

The elderly Master wiped his tears.

“Do you have a place to go after leaving the capital?”

Song Dezhong and Han Bo exchanged glances and shook their heads.

Venerable Master Hongzhu suggested, “In Yuzhou, there is Zhao Jide, who once received the Empress’s kindness. He is a person of high moral character and adept at handling matters. You might consider seeking his help.”

After a moment’s pause, Venerable Master Hongzhu added, “The palace will likely extend the search nationwide in a few days. You must act quickly.”

With that, Venerable Master Hongzhu handed them a small pouch.

“This is a token of my heart for the Princess. Please do not refuse.”

The pouch contained ten gold ingots.

Song Dezhong and Han Bo accepted the pouch and bowed deeply to Venerable Master Hongzhu.

There were no words to express their gratitude.

The two men, carrying the Princess, mounted their horses and rode away.

It would take at least ten days of hard riding to reach Yuzhou from the capital.

They dared not let their guard down in the northern regions.

After traveling solidly for a day and night, they found the best inn in a bustling county town to rest.

Choosing the best inn meant fewer troubles from unsavory elements.

Better to avoid falling into the hands of rogues after evading the palace’s searches.

They ordered a few simple dishes and a bowl of goat’s milk for the Princess.

Starving for a long time, the Princess eagerly drank the goat’s milk spoonful by spoonful, like a hungry wolf cub.

Both Song Dezhong and Han Bo were moved to tears.

“Such suffering for the Princess.”

But the Princess seemed unfazed.

After drinking half the bowl of goat’s milk, she smiled contentedly, kicked her legs playfully for a while, and then fell asleep.

She was so well-behaved it broke their hearts.

This was only her second day of life, and she hadn’t cried once since the incident.

After a good night’s rest, they resumed their urgent journey the next day.

By evening, they stopped at another county town for the night.

After four or five days, they were far enough from the capital. Song Dezhong and Han Bo bought a carriage.

With the carriage, things became more manageable.

They could change the Princess’s diapers, prepare some goat’s milk, and even get a few toys for her.

Han Bo drove the carriage while Song Dezhong looked after the Princess as they journeyed to Yuzhou.

They arrived in Yuzhou twenty days later.

News from the capital had already reached Yuzhou.

However, by then, they had settled in Yuzhou.

Song Dezhong made a high-profile purchase of a large house and quickly acquired seven or eight shops in Yuzhou. He also started buying up raw silk and cloth in the surrounding areas.

He wanted to create the image of a merchant for himself.

He had enough silver to establish this identity.

Buying land and hiring servants, Song Dezhong quickly became known as Merchant Song in Yuzhou.

Han Bo was his most trusted steward.

As for the Princess… there was no more Princess.

Everyone knew that Merchant Song’s wife had died in childbirth, leaving behind a premature baby boy.

Young Master Song was personally cared for by Merchant Song.

Many in Yuzhou wanted to marry off their daughters to Merchant Song, but he always refused, claiming to cherish the memory of his late wife.

Song Dezhong dared to live so openly in Yuzhou for a crucial reason.

When the news came from the capital about the sudden deaths of the Emperor and Empress, the Yuzhou Magistrate, Zhao Jide, and his entire household wore mourning clothes in their honor.

This gesture deeply moved and reassured Song Dezhong.

Perhaps, if the capital ever investigated, and they were forced to reveal their identities to Zhao Jide, he could become the Princess’s last protector.

Fortunately, for reasons unknown, the new Emperor did not conduct a thorough investigation.

The search in Yuzhou lasted less than half a month before it ended.

Just when Song Dezhong and Han Bo thought they only needed to raise the Princess safely, her body was suddenly wracked by the poison.

On that day, the Princess had just turned three.

The Thousand Mechanism Poison acted like a swarm of insects gnawing at her bones, causing her to writhe in pain.

Han Bo and Song Dezhong watched helplessly as she screamed in agony.

There was nothing they could do but watch.

At that moment, they thought the Princess might not survive the night.

As the Princess writhed in pain, something shocking happened.

Every metal object in the room began to rise and fall, moving erratically.

Song Dezhong and Han Bo were stunned.

“Is it the Empress? Has the Empress come?”

They knelt, chanting prayers to the Empress.

The Princess continued to writhe on the bed.

In midair, countless metal objects flew back and forth with no direction.

This lasted all night until the Princess’s cries finally ceased.

As soon as she stopped crying, all the metal objects clattered to the ground.

The room fell silent as a tomb, a stark contrast to the chaos before.

Song Dezhong and Han Bo, their legs weak from fear, rushed to the bed.

“Princess…”

“Your Highness!”

They knelt by the bed.

The Princess was sleeping soundly.

Exhausted from crying, her face and eyes still bore tear stains, but a smile played on her lips.

Seeing this, the two men breathed a sigh of relief.

Even more astonishing, after this episode, the Princess’s previously blue skin was normal.

She looked no different from any other child.

Before this, Song Dezhong had never dared let her leave the house, fearing someone would notice her blue skin.

He had always claimed she was born prematurely and too weak to be exposed to the elements.

Now, as they looked at the Princess’s rosy face and chubby hands, both men wept.

They could never know when the poison might claim her life.

For now, every day the Princess lived was a blessing and a torment.