Chapter 443: Countermeasure
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
“How can you be so certain of the Third Prince and Su Bin’s conspiracy without any evidence?” The Empress was not easily deceived, her skepticism apparent.
The Crown Prince hastened to explain, “We are actively seeking evidence,
Mother. We are determined to uncover it.’
“No matter how careful their scheming is, there will inevitably be loopholes.”
“I implore you for your assistance, Mother. I need your support for both myself and Fifth Sister when we face Father.
Just then, a servant approached. “Your Majesty, Ah Lian has returned.”
“Very well!” The Empress excused herself for a moment.
Upon her return, she fixed a stern gaze upon the Crown Prince. “You and your sister are my flesh and blood. Whatever you do, I shall stand by you.”
“However, if you keep anything from me, how can I be of assistance?”
The Crown Prince lowered his head in guilt, sensing that his mother had her means of obtaining information. Ah Lian must have relayed some news to her.
The Empress’s tone grew even more severe. “Tell me the truth!”
“Wasn’t the incident on the cruise ship your doing?”
The Crown Prince breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that the Empress had only learned about the cruise ship incident. This was manageable.
“Mother, regarding that matter… you should inquire with Fifth Sister!”
He signaled for his fifth sister to reveal the truth.
The fifth princess welled up with tears once again, prompting the Crown
Prince to speak directly to his mother, “That day, Fifth Sister happened to see Su Bin and became infatuated with him. She believed that Su Bin was the person she had been searching for.”
“But Su Bin is already married.”
“Yet, Fifth Sister did not heed my advice and insisted on making Su Bin her husband.”
The Empress’s face contorted with anger. “So you aided her and attempted to push Mrs. Su into the water. You tore her garments and subjected her to humiliation. However, she discovered your scheme and fought back.”
“To cover up for your sister, you even agreed to marry both women! Is that not the truth?”
The Crown Prince nodded in silence. “I was mistaken. I should have stopped Fifth Sister…
The fifth princess, overwhelmed, could no longer bear it and pointed at the
Crown Prince. “You’re lying. That’s not how it happened at all!”
She made it clear that she had not initially wished for any of this. It was always the Crown Prince who had incited her.
The Empress, however, promptly delivered a resounding slap to the fifth princess. “Have you no shame?”
“As a princess, you pursued a married man!”
She then turned and slapped the Crown Prince as well. “Your sister is engaging in reckless behavior, and now you are doing the same?!”
“Moreover, your method was far from clever!”
“Why didn’t you consult with the advisors by your side before taking any action?”
Many of the Crown Prince’s aides had been placed by the Empress’s family to assist him in his smooth ascension to the throne. However, the Crown Prince failed to comprehend their careful planning and often felt that his freedom was constrained by these advisors.
He had initially contemplated an attack on Qin Zhenzhen but had refrained because one of his advisors had dissuaded him.
Hence, when he arranged this garden tour and conspired with the fifth princess, he deliberately kept it concealed from his advisors.
The Empress felt a profound sense of disappointment. “Now, your only recourse is to confess to your father about your actions on the cruise ship.”
“Even I am now aware of the situation. Your father can no longer keep it under wraps.”
“The Third Prince cannot evade the truth either.”
“Perhaps it’s best for me to acknowledge my wrongdoing ahead of time, so the Third Prince won’t place blame solely on me.”
The three of them engaged in a discussion, strategizing their next steps..
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