Chapter 452 - Chapter 452: Competition
Chapter 452: Competition
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
After a few days of public discourse, the scandal that had unfolded within the royal family’s courtyard lost its appeal and interest began to wane.
The emperor decided to put an end to the Third Prince’s confinement. He fabricated a story, explaining that the matter concerning the fifth princess had been investigated by the Black Panther Hall. In this narrative, it was a case of misunderstanding, as the Crown Prince and the Empress had wrongly accused the Third Prince.
The Emperor elaborated that, following the incident with the fifth princess, the Crown Prince had been incensed and had instructed his subordinates to apprehend the mastermind within three days, threatening them with grave consequences if they failed to do so. To save themselves, the Crown Prince’s subordinates embarked on a series of arrests and interrogations. By a stroke of luck, they apprehended Cheng Feng, who had already been bribed by the Black Panther Hall. Cheng Feng swiftly confessed to the Third Prince, implicating him and Su Bin in the scheme.
The master of the Black Panther Hall was revealed to be a remnant of the previous dynasty. Their objective was to foment discord between the Third Prince and the Crown Prince for their own gain.
The Emperor felt compelled to clarify this with the Third Prince. For the Third Prince, who had been unjustly confined for many days, it was a deeply vexing experience.
Although the Crown Prince and the Empress had falsely accused him, his father had casually attributed it to a misunderstanding. However, the Third Prince was keenly aware that it was far from a mere misunderstanding.
He surmised that his father had uncovered the truth but was unwilling to hold the Crown Prince and the Empress accountable. Not only did he have no intention of punishing them, but he also had no plans to publicize the fact that they had wronged him.
The Third Prince felt a profound sense of disappointment and disillusionment in his father.
He recognized that both the Empress Dowager and the Empress belonged to the influential Public House, which had played a significant role in his father’s rise to power.
The Emperor held a strong affinity for the Public House and frequently exhibited clemency towards them. This led the Third Prince to harbor suspicions that the Public House had some form of leverage over his father.
Despite the Emperor’s disapproval of the Empress and the frequent missteps of the Crown Prince, he had no intentions of replacing the Crown Prince. This decision was influenced by the Public House’s unwillingness to consent to such a change, as well as the potential interference from the Empress Dowager.
It’s possible that the Emperor, in recognition of his perceived shortcomings toward the Third Prince, took steps to rectify the situation. Upon releasing the Third Prince from confinement, he allocated a substantial sum from the national treasury and issued a decree to facilitate the reconstruction of the Third Prince’s residence. This task was entrusted to the General Manor.
However, the General Manor did not receive the Emperor’s gift with satisfaction.
Following his release from confinement, the Third Prince visited the General Manor to inform his great-grandfather of the Emperor’s actions, repeating the words of the Emperor.
Old General Chen expressed his indignation, exclaiming, “This is deceit!”
The Third Prince’s maternal grandfather, General Chen, along with his uncle and cousins, were still stationed at the border, leading troops to safeguard the realm. While the General Manor remained loyal to the royal family, the Emperor harbored concerns about potential rebellion from them.
The Third Prince’s mother had met an inexplicable demise, and the Third Prince had suffered from a severe illness. It was evident that someone had administered a slow poison, yet the Emperor had never offered an explanation. In essence, the Emperor had shielded the Empress and the Crown Prince from scrutiny.
The Third Prince had come of age, but the Empress and the Crown Prince had resumed their attacks against him, even though they had wronged him in the past. Surprisingly, the Emperor chose not to delve further into the matter.
Old General Chen’s frustration was palpable as he pounded his walking stick on the ground, admonishing, “This is preposterous. The Emperor’s bias is far too pronounced!”
The Third Prince remained silent, pondering the fact that the Public House was his father’s family, after all.
“Recall your Fifth Imperial Uncle’s passing…”
The memory weighed heavily on Old General Chen.
“At that time, your Fifth Imperial Uncle had no interest in that position, yet they still wouldn’t spare him.”
“Sometimes, it’s not that you want to compete for something, but you are left with no choice.”
The Third Prince understood his great-grandfather’s implications.
“Great-grandfather, I have come to a decision.. Since peaceful coexistence appears unattainable, and we seem destined for confrontation and rivalry, we may as well embrace the competition!”