The Command to Pamper the Husband - Chapter 71

“Let him in!”

The Emperor’s voice was cold and hard.

The Crown Prince, noticing the Emperor’s expression, subtly stepped back.

Song Jin stood outside the door, took a deep breath, clenched her fists, and with her head lowered, nervously stepped inside when the doors of the Imperial Study opened.

Eunuch Chi followed Song Jin inside.

Before Song Jin could catch her breath, Eunuch Chi spoke, “Your Majesty, the eunuch who went to deliver the decree, Eunuch Liu, has scratches on his face.”

As he said this, he kept his eyes lowered, neither looking at the Emperor nor at Song Jin.

Song Jin’s heart…

You old eunuch!

The Emperor’s face, already cold, grew even more severe. His eyes narrowed in anger as he glared at Song Jin, slamming his hand on the table. “What happened?”

Song Jin’s knees went weak, and she fell to the ground.

“Father Emperor, it wasn’t me who scratched Eunuch Liu’s face.” She extended her hands obediently, showing her ten fingers. “Father Emperor, look, my nails are smooth and can’t cause such scratches.”

As she spoke, she rolled up one sleeve and scratched her own arm.

“No matter how hard I try, I can only leave white marks.”

The Emperor…

The Crown Prince…

Eunuch Chi…

All three had a twitch in their eyes.

The Emperor’s anger was still simmering, but seeing Shen Yue like this, he was momentarily speechless. After a long pause, he finally exhaled. “Then who scratched Eunuch Liu?”

Song Jin promptly responded, “Father Emperor, it was indeed not Eunuch Liu himself.”

The Emperor…

This fourth son was usually timid, but he wasn’t a fool. What’s going on today? The Crown Prince watched with interest and suspicion.

As expected, the tales were right. After getting that kind of woman, even the way his Fourth Brother spoke had changed. Interesting.

Eunuch Chi couldn’t help but turn to look at the Fourth Prince. But with Song Jin’s head lowered, he couldn’t see her expression. After a moment, Eunuch Chi said, “Your Majesty, the scratches on Eunuch Liu’s face were made by the Heavenly Hound.”

The Emperor was slightly surprised. “The Heavenly Hound has always been well-behaved and proud. It doesn’t even spare a glance at the palace maids and eunuchs. Why would it attack someone?”

Eunuch Chi lowered his head. “This, old servant does not know. Perhaps only the Fourth Prince can explain.”

The Emperor spoke to Eunuch Chi with a gentle face but turned to the Fourth Prince with a stern expression. “Explain!”

Song Jin immediately lowered her head further, obediently responding, “Father Emperor, I was with the Heavenly Hound preparing to follow Eunuch Liu into the palace. Eunuch Liu suddenly spoke disrespectfully about you, and the Heavenly Hound attacked him right then.”

“Spoke disrespectfully?” the Crown Prince asked curiously.

The dog first betrayed him, then killed his men, and now attacked the palace eunuchs. What was it up to?

“When Eunuch Liu arrived, I was still unconscious due to illness. Eunuch Liu ordered that as long as I wasn’t dead, I should be carried into the palace. Yuan Bao reacted impulsively to that.”

Song Jin obediently lied. After all, Yuan Bao couldn’t suddenly start talking to refute her.

The Emperor scrutinized his fourth son. Given his attitude towards the Fourth Prince, it was well known among the eunuchs and officials that they showed little respect for him. He was aware of this. But for a prince with a conflicting fate, it wasn’t worth his concern. However, never before had the Heavenly Hound attacked someone for such remarks.

As Song Jin finished, seeing the Emperor remain silent, she continued, “Perhaps the Heavenly Hound cannot tolerate anyone defaming you, Father Emperor. No matter how flawed I am, I am still your blood. If someone treats me like that, the Heavenly Hound might see it as an insult to your honor.”

The Crown Prince…

I don’t believe you! Everyone treats you that way. Are we all insulting Father Emperor’s honor? You’ve clearly been influenced by a woman! Amazing! This woman has changed the Fourth Prince’s way of speaking in such a short time.

The Emperor looked at the Fourth Prince, his deep eyes unreadable. After a moment of silence, the Emperor said to Eunuch Chi, “Bring the Heavenly Hound and Eunuch Liu in.”

Eunuch Chi obeyed and turned to leave, casting a deep glance at Song Jin. Unaware of the cold gaze above her head, Song Jin kept her head down, acting obediently.

In a moment, Eunuch Liu and the Heavenly Hound followed Eunuch Chi inside. Seeing the scratches on Eunuch Liu’s face, the Crown Prince couldn’t help but gasp.

“Father Emperor, he might not be suitable for service anymore.” Serving in the Emperor’s presence required an unmarred face.

Eunuch Liu shivered and knelt, “Your Majesty, please seek justice for this servant!” He knew that with these scratches, he could no longer serve the Emperor directly. He could only hope that the Emperor would take pity on him and grant him a good position. Thinking of this, Eunuch Liu felt both anger and hatred towards the Fourth Prince.

“Explain how you got these injuries,” the Emperor said calmly.

Eunuch Liu wept, “This servant does not know what trick the Fourth Prince used to confuse the Heavenly Hound. I did nothing, but the Heavenly Hound suddenly knocked me down.”

The Crown Prince couldn’t help but imagine Eunuch Liu being knocked down by the dog. Given Eunuch Liu’s small frame, he must have been thrown far. Did it scare him to wet himself? In stories, such scenes usually ended with someone wetting themselves.

Just as Eunuch Liu finished speaking, Yuan Bao, squatting beside Song Jin, turned and barked fiercely at him: “Woof!”

The Crown Prince…

The Emperor…

Eunuch Liu was so frightened by the dog’s bark that he fell back onto the ground.

The Emperor frowned and turned to the Heavenly Hound. The Heavenly Hound bared its teeth at Eunuch Liu, as if ready to bite him again.

The Heavenly Hound was a divine beast, known for its intelligence. Until now, he had only heard of its abilities but never seen them. This moment seemed like witnessing a miracle. The Emperor’s anger had dissipated by more than half. Instead, he felt a sense of anticipation.

“Is he lying?” the Emperor asked after a pause, looking at the Heavenly Hound.

The Crown Prince… Father Emperor, you don’t expect the dog to talk, do you!

As the Crown Prince rolled his eyes inwardly, the Heavenly Hound nodded.

The Crown Prince… What the hell!

He stared in shock at the dog. After all, when the dog was with him, it only showed better tracking skills than other dogs. It had never communicated with him in any way! Not even in the stories! He swore, with all his experience reading tales, nothing like this had ever happened!