The Command to Pamper the Husband - Chapter 76

The Crown Prince was initially angry. But seeing Duke, an old man, make such a spectacle of himself, he found it amusing. He remembered the storybook he had read that morning, which had a similar scene, and couldn’t help but think, art indeed imitates life!

With a faint smile, the Crown Prince said, “I have matters to attend to at my residence, so I won’t chat further with Duke.”

“Safe travels, Your Highness.”

Duke bowed, but once the Crown Prince’s carriage had left, he slowly straightened up, his face burning with embarrassment. His old face felt like it had been shoved into the ground.

Not only had he been humiliated by that useless Fourth Prince, but he had also been publicly accused of his son’s crime.

Unacceptable!

How dare a prince, discarded by the Emperor, speak to him like this?

Duke’s face twisted in fury, accompanied by a murderous intent. The surrounding commoners, sensing the Crown Prince’s departure, quickly dispersed.

The essence of being a bystander was to watch.

Watching without leaving would only get them beaten!

His calf, suddenly attacked, was swelling painfully and might have been injured. Whoever dared to harm him, if discovered, would have their neck snapped.

Burning with anger, Duke turned to leave. But as he took a step, a sharp pain in his calf made him break out in a cold sweat and he collapsed. His attendant hurriedly rushed to support him.

“Careful, my Lord.”

Leaning on the servant, Duke suddenly realized his calf hurt so much he couldn’t walk. With no choice, Duke had to be carried to the carriage by the servant.

Once back at his residence, Duke immediately summoned a physician. Lifting the robe to expose the calf, the physician gasped. The silk trousers had a thumb-sized, finger-length tear. Blood had soaked the area, making the silk stick to the skin.

The physician had to cut the trousers off. As the silk was peeled from his skin, Duke winced in pain. The physician quickly disinfected the wound. Wiping away the blood revealed a gash half a thumb deep. A bit deeper and it would have reached the bone.

The physician couldn’t help but ask, “What caused this?”

Looking at his leg, Duke winced, “It happened so suddenly, I didn’t see who did it.”

He turned to his attendant. The servant knelt down, “Please forgive me, my Lord, but I saw who did it and didn’t dare stop it.”

Duke felt like strangling the servant.

Feeding you well, for what use!

“Who was it?” he asked through gritted teeth.

The servant replied, “It was the dog that the Crown Prince petted!”

Duke…

“Heavenly Hound?”

Seeing the Crown Prince petting it, the servant had suspected the dog wasn’t ordinary, and indeed, it wasn’t. Luckily, he hadn’t tried to stop it. Otherwise…

Looking at Duke’s wound, the servant silently thanked his quick thinking.

Duke’s wife, sitting nearby, asked worriedly, “Can the wound heal?”

The physician, more relaxed, said, “The wound looks severe but is only deeper than usual. With proper care and timely medication, you’ll be walking in ten days.”

Relieved, the Duchess said, “Then please apply the medicine and bandage it.”

The physician prepared the ointment, and despite Duke’s pain, the wound was treated and bandaged. Once the physician left, the Duchess dismissed the servants, then looked at Duke in confusion.

“Why did you provoke a dog?”

Duke…

“Am I crazy to provoke a dog, especially the Heavenly Hound?”

“Then why did it attack you?”

Duke, with a dark expression, leaned back against his cushion.

“How should I know!”

He replied angrily, then explained what had happened to the Duchess. She raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.

“So you’re saying the Crown Prince is siding with the Fourth Prince?”

Duke nodded weakly. “Not just siding with him, they seem very close.”

The Duchess frowned. “How could that be? The Crown Prince’s fate is tied to the Emperor’s; befriending the Fourth Prince would mean opposing the Emperor.”

“Who knows what’s going on!” Duke fumed. His leg hurt terribly!

He had invited the Fourth Prince to ask about Yuzhou. Perhaps the Fourth Prince knew something about the gold mine. As for his third son causing trouble, even with witnesses found by the Fourth Prince, Duke wasn’t worried. He didn’t believe the Chief magistrate would dare convict his son. At worst, all charges could be pinned on Qian Zhen.

Who could have expected the useless Fourth Prince to refuse to come!

Seething with unresolved anger, pondering the day’s strange events, the steward rushed in.

“My Lord, Madam, something has happened.”

Both Duked the Duchess turned to him. “What is it?”

“The Yuzhou Magistrate, Zhao Jide, is personally escorting the miners to the capital.”

Duke was shocked and sat up quickly. But the sudden movement tugged at his wound, causing him to break out in a cold sweat.

“To the capital? Are you sure?”

The steward nodded. “Absolutely. They’ve reached Zhending and will arrive in the capital this afternoon.”

Duke was dumbfounded.

Officials were not allowed into the capital without summons. This was a clear law.

Was Zhao Jide crazy?

When the gold mine issue arose, he had immediately sent men to Yuzhou. He had intended to delay Zhao Jide and handle the matter privately. At worst, if Zhao Jide refused to cooperate, he would intercept his reports. As long as those reports didn’t reach the Emperor, he could manage everything.

But now, Zhao Jide hadn’t sent his reports yet was coming to the capital?

Rubbing his fingers, Duke said, “Since they haven’t entered the capital yet, arrange for them to be killed by bandits.”

The steward looked troubled and shook his head. “We can’t kill them.”

“We can’t?”

“Zhao Jide had large posters made and hung banners that read: ‘The criminals confess, Duke secretly mined gold. If we meet any harm, Duke is surely guilty.’”

Duke nearly fell off his bed.

What nonsense is this!

If they come to harm, he’s guilty?

“Zhao Jide distributed posters all along the way. They weren’t sent to the local authorities but to the common people. So, many of them are following Zhao Jide to the capital.”

Duke…

Following him to the capital?

To do what?

Watch the spectacle?