The Command to Pamper the Husband - Chapter 78

When her younger son mentioned her eldest son, the Empress Dowager’s face showed a gentle yet sorrowful smile. She had been utterly devastated at the time, but sixteen years had passed, and she gradually chose to forget.

Seeing that the Empress Dowager’s expression had softened, the Emperor said warmly, “Mother, please be at ease. In a few days, it will be New Year’s Eve. Your grandchildren are eagerly waiting to show their filial piety to you.”

The Empress Dowager felt a sudden pang in her heart. Her eldest son died… Her eldest son and daughter-in-law died on the day her daughter-in-law gave birth. All three of them perished, leaving no descendants behind. She missed her eldest son, but she couldn’t let the memories of the deceased overshadow those still living. She was not completely senile yet.

Smiling at the Emperor, she said, “I am blessed with prosperity and will surely live to a ripe old age to hold my great-grandchildren.”

The Emperor laughed along with her. “Indeed, if not for Mother’s abundant blessings, I would have been in grave danger a few days ago.”

The Emperor spoke jokingly, but the Empress Dowager sharply slapped his hand. “What nonsense are you spouting? You are the Emperor now, already in your twenties, yet you speak so carelessly.”

After giving the Emperor a reproachful look, the Empress Dowager held his hand. “For that matter, you should really thank the Empress. I should thank her as well.”

“Mother, do not worry. I am aware.”

The Empress Dowager gave him another reproachful look. “You always say you know, yet you keep visiting Consort Li!” The Empress Dowager’s disdain for Consort Li was evident.

The Emperor just smiled. “This time, I truly understand the need to cherish the Empress.”

The mother and son continued to talk, and as the Empress Dowager gradually relaxed, the Emperor accompanied her for a while before getting up to leave.

Once he exited the Empress Dowager’s chambers, the Emperor instructed Eunuch Chi, “Go to the Fourth Prince’s residence. I want to see the miraculous physician who revived the corpse.”

Eunuch Chi bowed and quickly went to carry out the order.

The Emperor boarded his sedan chair and headed to the Imperial Study. The Fourth Prince was a powerless wastrel, so how could he know a miraculous physician? If he didn’t know one, then how did the Heavenly Hound, after retrieving the body, manage to find someone to save it so accurately? He would not tolerate that wastrel acting without his knowledge. Being alive was the greatest luxury for that wastrel! It was also the greatest favor the Emperor granted him.

Deep in thought, the Emperor sat down in his chair in the Imperial Study. Just as he was about to pick up a memorial to review, he heard a report from outside.

“Your Majesty, the Official of Justice requests an audience.”

The Emperor frowned. Why was he here at this time? Setting down the memorial, he rubbed his forehead and said wearily, “Let him in.”

The doors of the Imperial Study creaked open, and the Official of Justice walked in, wrapped in cold air. After greeting the Emperor, the Official of Justice said, “Your Majesty, Zhao Jide, the Yuzhou Magistrate, has arrived in the capital.”

The Emperor was taken aback. Didn’t he just come to the capital recently to report on his duties? Why is he here again? Provincial officials were not allowed to enter the capital without being summoned. Did he summon Zhao Jide? He didn’t remember doing so.

Maintaining his composure, the Emperor asked, “For what reason?”

The Official of Justice replied, “There have been secret gold mining activities in the Yuzhou area. Upon discovering this, Zhao Jide immediately arrested the miners and nearby guards and brought them to the capital. The matter was urgent, so he didn’t have time to send a report beforehand.”

The Emperor was stunned. “Gold mine?”

The Official of Justice continued, “One of the miners confessed that the gold mine belonged to Duke. Due to Duke’s special status, Zhao Jide didn’t dare to submit an official report, fearing that it might be intercepted before reaching Your Majesty.”

The Official of Justice spoke without any reservation.

The Emperor was furious and slammed the table. “Outrageous!”

The Official of Justice lowered his head. “Fearing assassination, Zhao Jide wrote banners and posters. He was escorted by numerous martial world heroes all the way from Yuzhou to the capital.”

As he spoke, the Official of Justice handed over the banners and posters. Since Eunuch Chi was not present, the Official of Justice personally moved forward and placed them on the Emperor’s desk. Looking at the words on the banners and posters, the Emperor’s face turned ashen.

The Official of Justice stepped back to his original position and said, “Thanks to Your Majesty’s benevolence, Zhao Jide received such exceptional protection.”

The Emperor clearly remembered Zhao Jide. Sixteen years ago, he was the top scholar. He was known for his excellent pig slaughtering skills. With one chop to a pig’s neck, he could knock it unconscious. At that time, it was the most talked-about topic in the capital. It was the hottest topic in every teahouse. Zhao Jide was talented, but he had repeatedly shown disrespect to Duke, who then used his influence to have Zhao Jide sent to Yuzhou. The Emperor knew this. Unexpectedly, Zhao Jide had now uncovered Duke’s illegal gold mining! Was this revenge or a real accusation? The Emperor’s thoughts were heavy.

After a long silence, the Emperor asked, “How do you know about this?”

The Official of Justice replied, “Zhao Jide’s convoy has reached Zhending and should arrive today. Half an hour ago, Zhao Jide entered the capital first and came to my residence. Given the urgency and severity of the matter, I came to report to Your Majesty immediately.”

“Where is he?”

“Just outside the door.”

“Let him in.”

Half a tea’s time later, Zhao Jide knelt respectfully in the Imperial Study.

“That gold mine belongs to Duke?”

After Zhao Jide paid his respects, the Emperor asked directly.

Zhao Jide immediately replied, “I dare not make such an assertion. That’s what the leader of the miners claimed. I have no concrete evidence to prove it belongs to Duke.”

The Emperor snorted coldly. “Without evidence, you made such accusations, severely injuring a court official’s reputation. Do you realize your crime?”

Zhao Jide lowered his head further. “I had no choice. Your Majesty is wise and benevolent. I hope you can understand my predicament. Those who dare to mine gold illegally must be highly powerful. If I had submitted an official report, I fear it might not have reached Your Majesty.”

The Emperor angrily said, “Outrageous! Do you take me for an unwise ruler?”

Zhao Jide replied, “Your Majesty is wise. However, the empire is vast, and there are places where even sunlight cannot reach.”

The Emperor snorted coldly and said nothing more. The atmosphere in the Imperial Study became tense. Zhao Jide knelt there, remaining motionless. The Official of Justice wanted to speak on Zhao Jide’s behalf but decided against it and stood quietly.

After a long silence, the Emperor suddenly asked Zhao Jide, “Have you ever seen Duke’s heir in Yuzhou?”

Zhao Jide, still kneeling, replied respectfully, “I do not know Duke’s heir, so I cannot say if I have seen him.”

The Emperor laughed coldly. “You have seen Eunuch Zhao Fuhai in the palace. When you participated in the imperial exams, Zhao Fuhai served cooling tea to you and the other examinees for seven days.”