The Command to Pamper the Husband - Chapter 88

The Capital Magistrate turned sharply upon hearing the words “illegally mining gold,” staring at the kneeling man.

The document presented accused the Third Young Master of the Duke of murder and bribery to convict someone unfairly. It didn’t mention anything about gold mining! Mining gold was a crime equivalent to treason!

How dare they speak such words!

The Capital Magistrate was so shocked that he even forgot he was only wearing one shoe. He took a step towards Qian Lai and demanded, “What did you say?”

Qian Lai raised his head and declared loudly, “The Duke has been illegally mining gold in Linglong Mountain of Yuzhou for five years!”

As his words fell, the surrounding onlookers burst into a flurry of discussion.

Good heavens!

Gold mining!

This case involving the Duke was huge! A scandal that big could keep people talking all winter long and into the next!

Countless eyes filled with curiosity stared at the courthouse.

The Crown Prince watched Shen Yue with great interest, pondering silently about the soul beneath this exterior. His curiosity made him hesitate to kill Shen Yue immediately.

The Capital Magistrate’s eyes twitched heavily. “How dare you! Do you know what you’re saying? Illegally mining gold is a crime of rebellion. If these allegations are false, do you know the consequences?”

Song Jin, standing to the side, laughed coldly, “So, your way of handling cases is to deal with those who bring up the issue rather than solving the issue itself?”

Stung by Song Jin’s sarcasm, the Capital Magistrate’s face showed shame and anger. But the golden belt in Song Jin’s hand glittered painfully in his eyes and even more so in his heart.

He was supposed to investigate the Duke, so how did he end up being implicated?

Glancing at the Capital Magistrate, Song Jin stood tall before Qian Lai.

“You say you are accusing the Duke of illegally mining gold. Do you have evidence?”

Qian Lai responded, “I was merely running errands for the Duke. He has been mining gold in Yuzhou but couldn’t go there personally. I handled all the gold mining affairs.”

The crowd…

The murmurs erupted again.

Was he a turncoat?!

Song Jin looked down at Qian Lai, “You have worked for the Duke for five years, so why accuse him now?”

Qian Lai explained, “The Third Young Master of the Duke caused a death and pinned the crime on my son. My son was tortured in prison while the real murderer roams free. I went to the Duke to plead for my son’s release, but the Duke was ruthless and wanted to take my life too.”

As Qian Lai spoke, the crowd’s chatter gradually died down.

For a moment, only Qian Lai’s voice echoed, resonating like a temple bell in the stillness.

“You say you were working in Yuzhou. If the Duke truly wanted to use your son to cover for his son’s crime, how did you know about it?”

As Song Jin questioned, the onlookers turned their eyes from her to Qian Lai.

Qian Lai took a deep breath.

“A hunter in Linglong Mountain blasted a tiger’s lair, which alerted the local authorities. When they went to investigate, they discovered the gold mine. Since I was handling the Duke’s affairs, I rushed to the capital as soon as the mine was exposed, only to find my son imprisoned.”

Song Jin’s questioning was methodical.

Qian Lai’s answers were logical.

Speaking of this, Qian Lai choked up, tears falling.

“I thought working for the Duke would ensure my son’s safety, but I was wrong…”

Hearing this, the crowd couldn’t help but curse angrily.

How despicable!

People work for you, and you imprison their son.

Everyone had heard about the case involving the young male courtesan. Now, it seemed it was indeed the Third Young Master of the Duke who committed the crime.

What a scoundrel!

Song Jin glanced at the crowd and then turned back to Qian Lai, “You claim the Duke wanted to kill you to silence you. Do you have evidence? If he indeed wanted to kill you, how did you escape?”

The crowd turned their attention back to Qian Lai.

Qian Lai continued, “The steward of the Duke brought me to the east courtyard and forced poison down my throat. I hadn’t died when he buried me under a flower bed. Later, a big dog dug me out of the dirt.”

The crowd…

A divine dog?

The Crown Prince rested his chin on his hand, his eyes filled with interest. This scene seemed more thrilling than a storybook.

“The dog dug me out and carried me over the wall. As I was escaping, a jade pendant fell into the pit and was buried by the dog.”

Song Jin nodded and turned to the Crown Prince, “Brother, I think there’s some truth to Qian Lai’s words. We need to check the east courtyard of the Duke to verify.”

The Crown Prince stared at Song Jin. Ever since he suspected a woman was inhabiting this body, he couldn’t stop scrutinizing the face closely.

Feeling uneasy under his intense gaze, Song Jin called out, “Brother?”

The Crown Prince smiled, “It’s your case, Fourth Brother. I’m just a spectator. You don’t need my permission.”

Song Jin…

She couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

The Crown Prince…

Rolling eyes?

What an uncharacteristic gesture for a man.

So, this girl inhabited the Fourth Brother’s body but hadn’t fully adapted to a man’s role, often showing feminine expressions?

How interesting.

The Crown Prince stood up and walked towards the Fourth Prince.

His eyes gleamed with a strange light.

Song Jin…

What was he doing?!

She couldn’t help but take a step back. “Brother, what are you doing?”

She watched him warily.

The Crown Prince put an arm around her shoulders. “Nothing. As your brother, if you’re going to the Duke, I’ll accompany you.”

The Crown Prince’s sudden behavior shocked the Capital Magistrate to the point of dropping his jaw.

The Crown Prince must be out of his mind.

But the crowd praised the Crown Prince.

What a good prince! Despite any sibling rivalry, he distinguished right from wrong when it mattered.

Song Jin…

She wanted to cross her arms defensively and dodge away.

Why did this feel like being teased?

She blinked her large eyes at the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince, his arm around her shoulders, leaned in, smiling mischievously. “I’ll go with you, alright?”

Song Jin shuddered.

Damn it.

Was the Crown Prince crazy?

She was using Shen Yue’s body.

This felt like… something inappropriate!

She forced a smile. “Having my brother with me is wonderful. Shall we head to the Duke?”

Then she turned to the Capital Magistrate. “Bring your men.”

The Capital Magistrate looked to the Crown Prince for approval.

The Crown Prince, never taking his eyes off the Fourth Prince, smiled. “Do as the Fourth Prince ordered.”

The Capital Magistrate…