Chapter 447: House Arrest
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The Third Prince had no desire to engage further with the Empress, considering her to be a simple-minded woman. Nevertheless, the Empress persisted in her tirade, declaring, “Don’t play the innocent. You’re a cunning one!”
The Crown Prince chimed in with a sneer, saying, “Let me enlighten you with this!”
He brandished a piece of paper in front of the Third Prince. “This is a confession written by your guard, Cheng Feng!”
The Third Prince glanced at the document with composure. “Cheng Feng is a guard my father assigned to me just two months ago. What kind of confession has he authored?”
The Crown Prince continued to sneer, “In his confession, he acknowledges that you were the one who harmed my fifth sister!”
“He also admits that you conspired with the new Primus, Su Bin!”
Colluding with the Empress, the Crown Prince decided to shift the blame onto the Third Prince. This strategy would serve a dual purpose: minimize the damage inflicted upon the fifth princess and eliminate the Third Prince, all while sidelining Su Bin.
They even had a witness to support their claims.
The Third Prince couldn’t help but chuckle. “Your Highness, are you perhaps mistaken?”
“What motive could I possibly have for harming Fifth Sister?”
The revelation of Fifth Sister’s scandal was linked to Su Bin, and the Third Prince had played no part in it. Nevertheless, their accusatory tone suggested they had failed to uncover any evidence against Su Bin and had consequently pinned the blame on him.
They were even willing to resort to threats and enticements. The confession of his guard, Cheng Feng, was a fabrication.
Incensed, the Crown Prince retorted, “Cheng Feng has already confessed that you suspect our mother’s death is connected to your own mother’s, so you intend to exact vengeance upon us!”
“Just because Fifth Sister and I share the same mother, you envy the fact that she has a mother to support her. You’re the one who’s warped and twisted. You think you can make us suffer just because you’ve ruined Fifth Sister!”
Although the Third Prince remained calm, he was now visibly provoked. He uttered icily, “No matter what you say, it’s futile. If you want to accuse someone, words won’t make a difference.’
“Present Cheng Feng’s confession letter to Father for examination, and then summon Cheng Feng here for interrogation.”
“I have faith in Father’s fairness, wisdom, and impartiality. Father will discern whether Cheng Feng’s accusations are true or false!”
Did they truly believe they could lay the blame on him?
Did they think he was merely a frail and ailing prince?
At that moment, the emperor’s trusted eunuch entered the room, delivering a sealed secret letter to the Emperor. Su Bin had arranged for the letter to be discreetly delivered.
The letter contained substantial evidence of the fifth princess’s disorderly private life, including a handwritten note to the courtesan and the rewards she had offered him due to her delight. This material constituted compelling proof.
The letter also revealed that she had dispatched someone to introduce the courtesan’s entertainment into the royal grounds. It was apparent that the fifth princess had devised a plan to rendezvous with handsome men during the garden tour organized by the Crown Prince.
Additionally, the secret letter conveyed that the fifth princess was no longer a virgin and was considered an experienced individual in that regard. This assertion would be corroborated by a palace nanny.
There were at least ten handsome men with whom she had engaged in indiscretions.
The Crown Prince was privy to all the disgraceful activities the fifth princess had been involved in. Strangely, he had never attempted to curtail her behavior. In fact, he had been rather encouraging.
The Crown Prince was well aware that she intended to meet the courtesan in secret for her birthday and had even facilitated her entry by unlocking the door. Without this, Qingsheng wouldn’t have been able to gain access.
On one hand, the Crown Prince had provided access to the fifth princess, and on the other hand, he had orchestrated a plan to apprehend the adulterer red-handed. Subsequently, the Crown Prince apprehended Cheng Feng’s family, compelling Cheng Feng to testify on his behalf.
Upon reading the secret letter, the Emperor was overcome with fury, and he flung it toward the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince rapidly perused its contents before collapsing to his knees. Despite his predicament, he remained obstinate. “Father, this is a setup!”
Seeing the Crown Prince’s lack of remorse, the Emperor’s heart grew cold. He issued orders for the Empress, the Crown Prince, and the fifth princess to be placed under house arrest..
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