The Command to Pamper the Husband - Chapter 73

The Crown Prince stood to the side, imagining what the legendary girl might look like.

The Emperor frowned as he looked at the Fourth Prince.

This useless son, was he benefiting from the Heavenly Hound? The Heavenly Hound had always been aloof, indifferent to his other favored sons. Yet with this useless one, it was different…

This irked the Emperor. Shen Yue’s fate clashed with his. If the Heavenly Hound was loyal to Shen Yue, did that mean Shen Yue was the true dragon and he was not? The thought darkened the Emperor’s face again.

But Song Jin, her head bowed, didn’t notice.

“This scholar’s father, named Qian Lai, wants to testify against Duke for trying to silence him after he was saved. However, Duke is a royal relative and with Consort Li supporting him, I dare not make decisions on my own.”

The Emperor glared at the Fourth Prince, fresh waves of anger rising. Why wouldn’t this dog be close to him? Why be close to this useless son!

The Crown Prince, seeing the Emperor’s dark expression, assumed it was due to dissatisfaction with Shen Yue. He stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, “Father Emperor, if this man claims Duke tried to silence him, it means he probably knows a lot about Duke’s affairs. If it were only about the Third Young Master killing a courtesan, Duke wouldn’t risk a murder charge.”

Pausing, the Crown Prince glanced at Shen Yue.

“Fourth Brother, where and when did you find the body?”

Song Jin, keeping her head down, replied, “Eldest Brother, it was last night, though I don’t recall the exact time. The location I remember clearly; it was at the east wall of Duke. The body was buried near a manure pit or flower bed, still reeking of filth when dug up.”

Song Jin’s informal and bold address of “Eldest Brother” caught the Crown Prince off guard. He wasn’t used to being addressed so familiarly. Frowning, he glanced at Shen Yue, then turned to the Emperor.

“Father Emperor, it’s suspicious that the father of an imprisoned scholar could gain access to Duke. This suggests he knows more than just the Third Young Master’s crimes.”

The Crown Prince knew the Emperor distrusted Duke. He paused for effect, then added, “Yesterday, I visited Duke to see the heir, but he was too ill to be seen, or so I was told.”

He left it at that, giving room for the Emperor’s imagination. After all, with two murders linked to the Third Young Master and Duke killing someone to silence them, combined with the heir’s severe illness, it all seemed suspicious. The Emperor, being naturally suspicious, was bound to suspect foul play.

Sure enough, the Emperor turned to the Crown Prince after only a brief moment. Looking at his legitimate eldest son, the Emperor’s gaze softened.

“You will handle this case alongside the Chief magistrate.”

The Crown Prince glanced hastily at Shen Yue, then bowed, “Father Emperor, this case is Fourth Brother’s investigation. I…”

The Emperor snorted. “He’s done his part. From now on, you will handle it.”

Song Jin… What the heck! This was clearly Shen Yue doing the legwork and the Crown Prince taking the credit! Such blatant favoritism!

But what could she do? Shen Yue’s fate clashed with the Emperor’s! Song Jin kept her head down, silently fuming.

The Crown Prince glanced at Shen Yue, seeing his expressionless face, then said to the Emperor, “Father Emperor, it would be better for Fourth Brother to continue. He knows the case well.”

“Then let him assist you.”

The Crown Prince shook his head with a smile. “Father Emperor, Duke had intentions of marrying his third daughter to me. Although he never formally proposed it to you, he did ask for my opinion. It would be inappropriate for me to investigate this case.”

The Crown Prince spoke with apparent embarrassment.

Song Jin was puzzled. Didn’t Lu Zhan say Duke’s third daughter wanted to marry Shen Yue? And why did it seem like the Crown Prince was defending her? Weren’t they supposed to be rivals? Unable to decipher the Crown Prince’s intentions, Song Jin decided to remember his words and discuss them with her father later.

Lu Zhan said even if her father couldn’t come today, Uncle Han Bao would.

While the Crown Prince and the Emperor talked, Song Jin kept her head down. The Emperor noticed and snapped, “What are you thinking? Lift your head!”

When someone dislikes another, everything they do is wrong. Song Jin, startled, quickly raised her head. Seeing the Emperor’s face, she shivered and nearly screamed.

It was him! The man from her dreams, wearing a deep red robe, ordering the slaughter of everyone in the courtyard. The man who had led the attack on the birthing chamber when the baby was born. He had killed the baby’s mother and the man in the yellow robe.

Though the faces in her dream were younger than the one before her, she recognized him. How could this be! Wasn’t it just a dream? How could she be seeing the person from her dream!

Song Jin broke into a cold sweat, her lips turning purple.

The Emperor, seeing him like this, thought he was simply scared. His anger eased slightly.

Feeling Song Jin’s fear, Yuan Bao’s eyes filled with anger.

The Emperor glanced at Song Jin, “Since your Crown Prince is willing to speak for you, handle this case with the Chief magistrate. You owe your brother a debt of gratitude.”

Terrified by the Emperor’s face, Song Jin lost her composure. The Emperor’s words had barely ended before Song Jin’s knees gave way, and she knelt again.

“Thank you, Father Emperor, thank you, Crown Prince.”

The Emperor waved dismissively, looking impatient. “Go, and leave the Heavenly Hound here.”

Yuan Bao was to stay? Though reluctant, Song Jin’s mind was too jumbled to protest. She kowtowed, “Yes, Father Emperor, I take my leave.”

But as she moved to leave, Yuan Bao followed her.

The Emperor slammed the table in fury. “Stop!”

Song Jin knelt immediately, “I dare not disobey, what is my crime?”

Even as she spoke, her mind couldn’t help but return to that dream.

“How dare you! Still trying to deceive me!” The Emperor’s rage was palpable.

Song Jin was on the verge of tears. No matter what she did, it was wrong.

She bowed deeply, “Father Emperor, I plead for your understanding, as I am foolish.”

“The Heavenly Hound is my loyal companion. What right do you have to take it?”

Song Jin realized the issue. Yuan Bao had followed her when she tried to leave.

She quickly said, “I do not dare take the Heavenly Hound. It was not my intention.”

Saying this, she started shuffling on her knees, keeping her forehead to the ground as she inched toward the door of the Imperial Study.

Surely, you can’t accuse me of trying to take the dog this way.

Cursed old society!