Chapter 448 - Chapter 448: Dilemma
Chapter 448: Dilemma
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The emperor issued a decree, ordering the empress, the third prince, the crown prince, and the fifth princess to be placed under house arrest within the palace. Until a thorough investigation was conducted, no one was permitted to visit or interact with them. The emperor held a strong distrust of anyone’s claims and deemed it necessary to deploy the elusive Dragon Guards for a comprehensive inquiry.
First on the docket was the matter concerning the fifth princess’s tumultuous personal life. The investigation swiftly confirmed the accuracy of a secret letter’s revelations. Palace staff verified that the fifth princess had lost her virginity some time ago, engaging in a two-year-long affair with various handsome men. During this period, she frequently dispatched emissaries to the pharmacy for contraception supplies and brewed contraceptive concoctions to maintain her secrecy.
The fifth princess had been discreet in her actions. The crown prince, initially unaware of her indiscretions, eventually uncovered the truth. However, by that time, the fifth princess was deeply entangled in her web of deception, and neither of them seemed to care about the other. Her fixation on Su Bin had intensified over time, to the point that the crown prince even facilitated a meeting between her and Su Bin during a capital city tour.
Consequently, the fifth princess’s infatuation with Su Bin grew uncontrollable. Meanwhile, the crown prince’s objective shifted towards removing Su Bin from the equation and securing Qin Zhenzhen’s affections.
The fifth princess had a strong desire for Su Bin, yearning for him to become her husband. However, Su Bin had openly pledged his lifelong commitment to his wife on the streets.
During a grand garden event, the fifth princess hatched a plot to harm Qin Zhenzhen in her pursuit of Su Bin. However, Qin Zhenzhen saw through the scheme and allowed those responsible for her harm to face the consequences of their actions. The Crown Prince, who was entangled in this affair, ultimately consented to marry the two ladies involved to resolve the matter.
After their initial plan failed, the fifth princess, in collaboration with the crown prince, sought to discredit Su Bin during the garden event. They invested considerable resources in acquiring the Western Region Bewitching Poison with the intention of poisoning Su Bin and causing him to lose his senses, thereby accusing him of assaulting a young lady. Fortunately, luck was on Su Bin’s side, as operatives from the Black Panther Hall had received orders in advance to deal with the fifth princess and apprehend her, sparing Su Bin from their treacherous plot.
The fifth princess’s romantic escapades with a handsome man in the artificial mountain of the royal courtyard were orchestrated by the Black Panther Hall and had no connection to the Third Prince or Su Bin. During the garden event, the Third Prince had entered with just two guards while the others waited outside, displaying his unassuming and discreet demeanor.
However, the crown prince and the fifth princess remained oblivious to this fact, wrongly attributing all capabilities to the Third Prince and Su Bin.
Regrettably, the Crown Prince was unable to tind any concrete evidence to support his claims.
In his desperation, the Crown Prince resorted to a scheme, secretly apprehending Cheng Feng’s family and coercing Cheng Feng into becoming a false witness. He aimed to use this opportunity to completely discredit the Third Prince while allowing the fifth princess to portray herself as a victim and salvage a fragment of her tarnished reputation.
The siblings’ plan had received the Empress’s approval.
Upon gaining a comprehensive understanding of the situation, the emperor’s countenance grew somber.
The Crown Prince harbored a strong desire to eliminate the Third Prince, leading to suspicions that he may have been involved in the attempt on the Third Prince’s life at Guang Mansion in the past.
The Third Prince was undoubtedly aware of the Crown Prince’s involvement, yet he adeptly concealed his knowledge. His decision to endure the situation stemmed from a combination of lacking substantial evidence and a strategic effort to seize an opportunity to expose the Crown Prince’s transgressions.
The emperor found himself caught in a dilemma. Announcing the Crown Prince’s wrongdoing and incapacitating him would undoubtedly meet resistance from the Public House. This house held significance not only as the Empress’s family but also as the Empress Dowager’s maiden family..