The Command to Pamper the Husband - Chapter 96

The Duke looked at Song Jin with suspicion.

At this moment, shouldn’t she be asking where the Third Young Master was?

It was obvious that Uncle Zhong was the errand runner, and the one who instructed him was the Third Young Master.

Instead, she was asking where Uncle Zhong lived.

Unable to guess the Fourth Prince’s intentions, the Duke could only respond, “This man was the steward in charge of my third son’s courtyard. He has been with our family for many years. He lived in a side room in my third son’s courtyard, had no children, and his wife passed away three years ago.”

Song Jin glanced around. “Is this the courtyard?”

The Duke nodded.

“I’ll go see his room. Is that alright?”

The Duke turned to a servant, “Take the Fourth Prince there.”

The servant obeyed and led Song Jin.

Uncle Zhong’s room consisted of two inner and outer chambers, spacious enough to show that he held a significant position in the mansion.

Lu Zhan muttered under his breath, “To save himself, the Duke even sacrificed his own legitimate son.”

Song Jin ignored Lu Zhan and pretended to inspect the room before coming out.

Lu Zhan wanted to ask Song Jin about her plan in private, but the Duke’s servants followed closely, leaving him no choice but to stay silent and follow Song Jin.

“Little Brother, did you find anything?” The Crown Prince asked as soon as Song Jin returned.

Song Jin maintained a safe distance from the Crown Prince, then looked at the Duke with a solemn expression. “From my observations, Uncle Zhong didn’t commit suicide voluntarily. He was forced.”

The Duke’s eyes glinted with a cold light. “Oh? Really? Your investigative skills are quite impressive. I never knew the Fourth Prince had such talents.”

Song Jin nodded. “Indeed, you didn’t know. It’s fine, I don’t blame you.”

The Crown Prince… puffed.

The Duke…

Song Jin looked at the Duke calmly and asked, “Who could have forced him?”

As she spoke, she made a show of calculating with her fingers, then looked up towards the southwest. “Isn’t the southwest direction where your study is, Duke?”

“What? Are you implying that the person who forced Uncle Zhong is me?” The Duke clenched his fists behind his back, his face betraying his murderous intent.

This Fourth Prince really didn’t know his place.

Song Jin, however, smiled and shook her head. “Duke, you’re joking. How could you be the one who forced him to commit suicide when you’ve been with us the whole time?”

The Duke…

Was the Fourth Prince stupid, or was he up to something?

The Crown Prince observed Song Jin’s face with a faint smile. “Little Brother, are you suggesting that the person who forced Uncle Zhong is currently in the Duke’s study?”

Song Jin smiled. “Even if not in the study, they’re in the study courtyard. To avoid alerting them, it’s best to surround the study immediately.”

“Your Highness, the study is where I handle official matters, full of state secrets and documents…” The Duke said through gritted teeth, his face darkening.

Song Jin smiled lightly. “I’m only suggesting we surround the study courtyard, not enter it. What are you worried about? Are your secret documents pasted on the courtyard walls?”

The Crown Prince almost laughed out loud.

Just like the sharp-tongued female protagonists in storybooks!

The Duke’s face twitched uncomfortably. “Your Highness, are you resorting to these superstitious methods to investigate the case?”

Song Jin shrugged.

“I was supposed to work with the experienced Capital Magistrate, but he’s nowhere to be found. This is how I conduct investigations. If you’re not satisfied, Duke, feel free to ask my father to assign someone more competent.”

The Duke…

Was the Fourth Prince tired of living?

How dare he speak to him like this!

“Your Highness, even though there has been a murder case in my mansion, I am still a senior official of two dynasties. I expect at least basic respect from you, not these superstitions.”

The Duke’s face was dark as he flung his sleeves.

Song Jin leaned closer to the Duke, looking him in the eye. “So, Duke, are you refusing to seal off the study courtyard?”

The Duke waved his hand dismissively, as if swatting away a fly, and stepped to the side, glaring at the Fourth Prince with disgust.

“Although there has been a murder case in my mansion, I will certainly go to the Emperor to confess my guilt. I am willing to cooperate with Your Highness in the investigation, but I will not allow you to humiliate me in this way.”

“Sealing off the courtyard is considered a humiliation?” Song Jin asked coldly, staring at the Duke.

The Crown Prince’s interest was piqued.

In storybooks, the female protagonist always had a backup plan to show what real humiliation was.

The authors called this “face slapping” or “sweet revenge.”

With a sense of curiosity, the Crown Prince remained silent.

Song Jin raised an eyebrow. “Since the Duke is unwilling to seal off the study courtyard, and the Capital Magistrate’s officers likely won’t listen to me, I’ll have to…”

She paused mid-sentence.

“What are you going to do?” The Duke’s eyes gleamed with a sharp edge, staring at Song Jin.

He looked as if he wanted to snap Song Jin’s neck on the spot.

Song Jin ignored him and turned to Lu Zhan. “Take me there.”

The Crown Prince…

What a way to say it.

Lu Zhan…

Nearly lost his composure.

Grabbing Song Jin’s arm, Lu Zhan launched himself into the air.

“Where to?”

“The Duke’s study.”

Lu Zhan’s lightness skill was excellent, and he headed straight for the Duke’s study with Song Jin.

The Duke panicked, forgetting the Crown Prince beside him, and immediately shouted, “Stop them!”

At his command, a dozen black-clad men emerged from the shadows and chased after Lu Zhan and Song Jin.

Seeing pursuers, Song Jin asked Lu Zhan, “Did you bring your sword?”

Lu Zhan nodded.

“Engage them and draw them to the main gate.”

Lu Zhan immediately understood Song Jin’s intention.

There were countless commoners gathered at the main gate.

If the Duke tried to kill the Fourth Prince in front of them…

Even if the Emperor disliked the Fourth Prince, he wouldn’t let it slide.

“But my skills aren’t enough to lead them there.”

Before they could get there, they might be captured.

Song Jin smiled. “I’m here, don’t worry. Just make it look intense.”

Lu Zhan recalled Song Jin’s ability to control weapons.

“But didn’t Master Song tell you not to use that skill in the capital?”

Song Jin pouted. “If I don’t use it, how do we solve this? I’m not clever enough to outsmart the Duke. My father isn’t here, Uncle Han isn’t here, and your prince is still unconscious. What else can I do?”

Lu Zhan…

Forget it, the black-clad men were already upon them.

He wasn’t smart enough to think of another solution either.

His mind wasn’t as sharp as Miss Song’s.

Lu Zhan gripped Song Jin with one hand and wielded his sword with the other.

The black-clad men, not expecting resistance, drew their swords without hesitation.

But something was off.

They were supposed to head to the study, so why were they moving towards the main gate!

This was wrong!