The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!

Chapter 544: Then What Crime Have I Committed?

The Emperor frowned, "Why do you say that?"

Prince Zhuang’s tone was urgent, fearing interruption, he said, "Father, Old Fifth said he hadn’t arrived in the Capital City early, and almost a month has passed since the assassination on the street, but he says Huangfu Jingchen is still alive. He must have seen him. If he wasn’t in the Capital City early, how could he have seen him?"

Everyone: "..."

Was Prince Zhuang deliberately misinterpreting, or was he willing to pay any price to incriminate Prince Cheng?

Why did everyone hear a different meaning than what he did?

After all, how could he, a murderer, understand the sorrowful and desperate feelings of a father who lost his son? How could he comprehend that it was just a father’s self-deception and self-comfort when unwilling to accept such a cruel truth?

The Emperor was already angry, his gaze at Prince Zhuang was cold. However, in Prince Zhuang’s urgent, almost mad eyes, he thought of how he submitted memos again and again, even a blood petition, and the Emperor’s heart was stirred.

This Third Son, he knew very well, was a ruthless character.

If it were Prince Liang behaving this way, he might even suspect Prince Liang had killed Huangfu Jingchen and was afraid of Old Fifth’s revenge, thus went mad. After all, for every memo from Third Son, he secretly sent people to investigate, but found nothing.

Only Third Son claimed to have seen Old Fifth and his wife, but after verification, none of the servants at Prince Zhuang Mansion had seen it.

Yet, the Emperor felt Third Son wasn’t like that.

Such a patient and strategic person, advancing step by step, calculating everywhere, calm and shrewd, when Huangfu Jing died before his eyes, although he grief-strickenly cried out, that sorrow did not reach the depths of his eyes; there was a faint, barely perceptible hint of murderous intent. The Emperor, with years of imperial experience, could see even such fleeting emotions clearly.

So, he admired this son’s temperament but was also cautious that too much coldness and ruthlessness could turn him into a tyrant.

This was his concern at the time.

Soon after, the incident of Huangfu Jingchen’s street assassination occurred.

Then, the Capital Governor, Capital Guard, and Ministry of Justice jointly investigated and found the mastermind to be Third Son.

He even tried to assassinate his own nephew, especially since that person posed no threat to him. He even claimed that Master Kong Chan said it was to divide destiny.

Vicious, violent, daring to deceive the Emperor with falsehoods.

A royal banquet with hidden malice, able to utilize old people from the Dragon Nest Department of twenty years ago. Knowing there were still people from the Dragon Nest Department in the palace, yet secretly used them for his own purposes. Where in his heart did he place his father, the Emperor?

In the Imperial City, under the Emperor’s presence, he orchestrated such an assassination, causing chaos in the Capital City, Xiao Xiao rampant, and the people terrified, did he ever consider he was the Crown Prince at that time?

It was also then that the Emperor considered deposing the Crown Prince.

A Crown Prince who did not use his identity to consider issues, who did not think about national stability and the people’s wellbeing, but only cared about his own gains and losses.

Due to suspicion, he took a life, especially when that person was his own nephew.

Disregarding ethics, cold and heartless.

The Nanxia Dynasty has lasted over a hundred years since Tianqian. He did not wish for the Crown Prince he chose to be a tyrant, affecting Nanxia’s fortunes. He hoped Nanxia could last over eight hundred years like Tianqian, passing on through the ages!

But, though the Crown Prince was deposed, he understood Third Son even more deeply.

How could such a person become delirious for fear of Old Fifth’s revenge? How could he speak nonsense just because his son was beaten and captured?

Therefore, the Emperor’s gaze deepened as he looked at Prince Cheng and said, "Back then, during the royal banquet, Jinxuan was beaten, and after Jingchen sent him back to Cheng Prince Mansion, he was ambushed on the way back. No one survived. Although half of the bodies were burned beyond recognition, based on the remaining clothing, it is known that one of them should be Jingchen."

Prince Cheng looked at the Emperor and slowly said, "Father, when Jingchen was young, we had his fortune told at a temple in Yunzhou. The Abbott there said Jingchen’s fate was like that of a cat, with nine lives, not easily dying. Since the body is unrecognizable, perhaps it was not Jingchen. I believe Jingchen was saved by someone or escaped on his own but was severely injured, so there’s been no news. Since I’m now in the Capital City, I will definitely find him!"

The Emperor squinted slightly, "Are you sure?"

Prince Cheng’s expression was firm, "I’m sure! My Jingchen will not die. He is so young; heaven won’t take him!"

The Emperor: "..."

He thought Prince Cheng had some evidence or clues, but it was still just speculation.

However, the Emperor also understood why this reckless Old Fifth was so easy to talk to this time. He didn’t cause a scene in court, nor did he make any excessive actions or remarks.

Although he fought with Third Son outside the hall, mostly it was still Third Son who provoked first.

The main reason was that he believed Huangfu Jingchen was not dead.

At that moment, the Emperor also hoped Huangfu Jingchen was not dead.

Although he had many grandsons, excellent ones were few and far between.

Prince Zhuang’s heart was filled with cold laughter, but his expression was full of grievance and sorrow as he said, "Father, I told you, my men didn’t kill Jingchen, and you didn’t believe me! Now Old Fifth also believes Jingchen is not dead. Since Jingchen is not dead, what crime do I have?"

Actually, Prince Zhuang was firmly convinced, even certain, that Huangfu Jingchen was dead beyond doubt. But since Old Fifth said so, he wanted to make one last desperate struggle.

Because logically, if Huangfu Jingchen is not dead, he would not be guilty of murdering his nephew, and his position as Crown Prince was unjustly taken. Which means he was wronged.

As for the truth, it doesn’t matter.

What matters is what Father thinks!

Although the decree deposing the Crown Prince was announced to the world, if he was wronged and severely punished, there is a scale in Father’s heart that will compensate him in other matters. It also makes it less likely for another Crown Prince to be established during this period, which is his real aim.

The ministers all considered themselves transparent in this matter, leaving it to the wise and mighty Emperor to decide—it was a royal matter; they should not interfere.

The Emperor merely gave him a cold glance.

Prince Zhuang couldn’t discern what the Emperor intended to convey with that glance, but he saw the coldness in it and felt a chill in his heart. He continued to feign his pitiable narrative: "Father, Jingchen may not have died, but my Wei’er truly did. Father thinks I killed Jingchen and punishes me harshly, but Old Fifth killed my Wei’er, and you must not let him go!"

The Emperor looked at Prince Cheng, "Old Fifth, where is Huangfu Wei?"

Prince Cheng looked at the Emperor, his gaze slightly wounded: "Father, do you believe Third Brother’s words, that I killed Third Brother’s son?"