The Command to Pamper the Husband - Chapter 92

Upon hearing the news, the Dukegrily exclaimed, “Insolent fool!”

Naturally, he was cursing the Capital Magistrate.

However, despite his anger, he still had to enter the palace with his injuries.

He dared not leave through the front door, fearing the wrath of the angry commoners. So, the Duke chose the back door.

But as soon as he emerged from the back door, his sedan chair had barely traveled the distance of a tea’s time when suddenly a crowd of commoners surrounded him.

Terrified, the coachman whipped the horses and fled.

In his entire life, the Duke had never experienced such a high-speed carriage ride.

By the time he arrived at the palace gates, his face was green from motion sickness.

He wanted to vomit.

But standing at the palace gates, he knew the Emperor might make him eat it back if he did.

Rather than vomiting it out and eating it again, he decided to swallow it back down.

After much struggle with his stomach, by the time he reached the Imperial Study, he felt somewhat better.

His stomach had settled, but the atmosphere in the Imperial Study made him extremely uncomfortable.

Ignoring the pain in his leg, the Duke knelt on both knees. Before the Emperor could speak, the Duke remorsefully said, “Your Majesty, I failed in my duty as a father, allowing my son to commit such heinous crimes. I implore Your Majesty to punish me.”

The Emperor…

Squinted his eyes, staring at the Duke.

When Zhao Jide came to the capital, the Emperor learned about the illegal gold mining.

Before he could investigate the gold mine issue, so many deaths emerged from the Duke’s Estate.

It was as if even the heavens didn’t want the Duke to live.

After looking at the Duke’s head for a moment, the Emperor’s gaze shifted to his leg.

“Is your leg injury caused by the Heavenly Hound?”

The sudden question made the Duke lower his head to the ground, replying submissively, “Yes, but it has nothing to do with the Fourth Prince.”

The Emperor coldly snorted.

“The Fourth Prince is not favored by me, so you all think you can trample over him?”

The Emperor’s unexpected remark made the Duke’s heart pound.

Everyone knew the Fourth Prince was not taken seriously and the Emperor had tolerated it.

Why now…

Unable to read the Emperor’s thoughts, the Duke remained kneeling, motionless.

Recalling his wife’s words, he thought about calming the public’s anger, which would also appease the Emperor.

On his way here, he had considered blaming a random illegitimate son, but now…

It had to be his third son.

Having made up his mind, the Duke remained obediently on his knees.

The Emperor glanced at him.

“The Heavenly Hound is my dog. Its actions are not controlled by the Fourth Prince.”

This statement left the Duke speechless, so he continued to kneel, trembling.

Just then, the eunuch outside announced, “Your Majesty, Consort Li requests an audience.”

The Emperor stared at the Duke, enunciating, “Tell her to go back. If she comes again, she will be demoted.”

The Duke’s heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, please calm down. Consort Li is only…”

The Emperor chuckled, “What? You understand Consort Li’s thoughts well?”

The Duke…

I’m her father, can’t I understand her?

Why did it feel like the Emperor was jealous?

Shivering, the Duke said, “I dare not. I failed to teach my son properly, leading to this grave mistake. I am deeply ashamed.”

He skillfully redirected the conversation back to the case.

He could sacrifice his third son, but he couldn’t drag Consort Li down with him.

Consort Li’s favor was the shield of the Duke’s Estate.

As for his third son…

He had other sons.

The Emperor looked at the Duke coldly, “What is the situation with the bodies in your residence?”

The Duke pounded his chest in regret, “It was the sin committed by my third son.”

The Emperor paused, then suddenly smiled, “You’re quite good at finding scapegoats.”

The Duke felt a chill in his bones.

The Emperor didn’t believe him?

Should he explain?

How to explain?

For a moment, the Duke was at a loss.

The Emperor didn’t say much more, “The Capital Magistrate said that the deaths in your residence have angered half the capital. I don’t care what you do, but calm the public’s anger.”

Under the Emperor’s rule, how could there be public anger?

What a joke.

He was a wise ruler for all ages.

The Duke immediately kowtowed, “I will fully cooperate with the Capital Magistrate to investigate this case thoroughly.”

The Emperor waved his hand, tired of listening to his useless words.

He only wanted peace.

As for the method…

The result was the most important.

“I heard it was the Heavenly Hound that threw the bodies out of your residence?”

The Capital Magistrate’s heart skipped a beat.

He didn’t say that.

The Emperor saying this in front of the Duke was asking for trouble!

Indeed, as the Emperor finished speaking, the Duke shot a cold glance at the Capital Magistrate.

The Capital Magistrate shivered.

The Duke kowtowed, “Your Majesty is wise. If not for the Heavenly Hound’s intervention, I would still be in the dark about my son’s crimes.”

He certainly wouldn’t admit that he tried to kill the Heavenly Hound to stop everything.

The Emperor didn’t comment, just raised his hand, “I don’t want to see this case drag on.”

The Duked the Capital Magistrate immediately agreed.

“The heir’s illness is still not cured?” After a moment of silence, the Emperor asked.

The Duke’s heart was filled with unease, “Yes.”

The Emperor said, “Still recuperating in your residence? Shall I send an imperial physician?”

The Duke quickly replied, “Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. My son’s illness, though not completely cured, is under control with the right treatment. No need to trouble the imperial physician.”

The Emperor smiled faintly and said no more.

After the Duked the Capital Magistrate left, the Emperor coldly snorted.

“Trying to kill my Heavenly Hound? With your abilities, ordinary people can’t even scratch it.”

Recalling the efforts needed by his imperial guards to subdue the previous generation of the Heavenly Hound, the Emperor felt a surge of excitement at how the dog managed to expose the corpses in the Duke’s east courtyard.

He had wanted to deal with the Duke for a long time.

The Duke’s power had expanded too quickly.

But he never found an opportunity to strike.

Now…

The Heavenly Hound seemed to share his thoughts, accomplishing what he desired.

As the Emperor pondered the Heavenly Hound, the Duked the Capital Magistrate left the palace together.

“Why didn’t you inform me before entering the palace?” The Duke asked coldly.

However, he realized something was wrong as soon as he spoke.

Not far from the palace gates, a large crowd of commoners had gathered.

Forbidden from approaching the palace grounds, they waited just outside.

The Duke felt unsteady.

The Capital Magistrate smiled, “Your Grace, I had no choice. Look at these commoners, they’re relentless. I feared that if I consulted with you first, it would provoke them.”

The Duke’s cold glare indicated he didn’t believe the Magistrate’s words. He turned and climbed into his sedan chair.