The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!

Chapter 543: Chapter 543: Heart-Piercing Accusation

Emperor: ”...”

Prince Zhuang claimed, ”My father, don’t be deceived by him. Last night, he tried to kill me again. He forced me into the pool and nearly drowned me!”

Thinking about last night’s events still left Prince Zhuang shaken. After sending the blood-lettered memorial, he had felt relaxed, anticipating the downfall of Old Fifth. He went to his favorite concubine’s quarters, seeking comfort for the recent torment and anger he had endured.

However, by the pool near the concubine’s quarters, Prince Cheng was waiting for him.

Initially accompanied by four guards, upon seeing Prince Cheng, Prince Zhuang immediately commanded, ”Quickly, seize him!” Catching him red-handed would make it easier to present him to the father and see how Old Fifth could deny it.

But when he turned, there were no guards to be found.

The guards following him had vanished, leaving him alone to confront Old Fifth.

Then, Old Fifth brought up the old matter, questioning why he had wanted to kill Jingchen and who had told him to do so.

He only mentioned the name Kong Chan, and Old Fifth became furious, pressing him into the pool.

The fear of nearly drowning left his mind blank as he struggled desperately, splashing water everywhere. Just when he thought he was going to die, the pressure suddenly eased. As he caught his breath, he saw his four guards surrounding him, but Old Fifth was nowhere in sight...

His words were filled with indignation, but the listeners were left confused.

What a mess; one moment he said Prince Cheng killed Huangfu Wei, the next he accused Prince Cheng of trying to drown him...

Prince Cheng coldly replied, ”Third Brother, I waited outside the city gates last night for them to open. Ninth Brother was with me the whole time. You’re saying I tried to drown you in the pool? Do you think I can fly?”

Prince Zhuang anxiously said, ”Father, Old Fifth is highly skilled in martial arts; he can definitely do it! I beg you, Father, please do justice for me and for Wei’er. My Wei’er was only ten years old, just a child, yet he died tragically at Old Fifth’s hands!”

The officials: ”...”

Your child is a child, but others’ children are not?

Even if your son was indeed killed by Prince Cheng, it’s only because you sowed the seeds of discord first.

How could you put on such an innocent victim facade?

However, indeed Prince Zhuang’s legitimate son was only ten years old. Could it be that Prince Cheng became so ruthless out of vengeance for his son?

As everyone speculated in silence, Prince Cheng calmly stated, ”Not to mention your son is my nephew. Even if he were a stranger, I wouldn’t lay a hand on a ten-year-old child! Third Brother, don’t project your own cruelty and malice onto others!”

”Old Fifth, I knew you’d try to argue your way out. You entered the Capital City unauthorized, injured my son Huangfu Chi, kidnapped Huangfu Wei, and burned down my Crown Prince Mansion. Yet, you still won’t admit it?”

The Emperor’s eyes grew heavy as he glanced at Prince Cheng.

The words ’unauthorized entry to the Capital City’ carried significant weight.

Prince Cheng, unmoved by Prince Zhuang’s aggressive accusations, calmly asked, ”Do you have any evidence?”

”I am the evidence! I saw it with my own eyes, how could it be false?” Prince Zhuang shouted angrily.

Prince Cheng turned to the Emperor, ”Father, Third Brother plotted to kill my son and accused me of entering the Capital City unauthorized. Is he not insinuating I have treasonous intentions? Such words are heart-wrenching. I urge you, Father, to discern the truth!”

The Emperor looked at Prince Zhuang.

Every time evidence was mentioned, an investigation would yield nothing. Now that Old Fifth was present, and both could confront each other in court, he could finally see who spoke the truth and who didn’t.

Prince Zhuang immediately claimed, ”Father, Old Fifth is persecuting me; I saw it with my own eyes. When they burned my Crown Prince... my Prince Mansion, Old Fifth and his wife stood atop the Zhuangya Pavilion of my mansion. Many servants witnessed it; he injured me in my bedroom. When my guards rushed in, they saw it clearly; last night he pushed me into the pool, trying to take my life. If not for my guards arriving in time, I would have died, Father! Father, you must seek justice for me and for Wei’er!”

Prince Cheng bowed respectfully and said, ”Father, it seems that my Third Brother is still holding a grudge over a sword I took from him over twenty years ago and won’t be satisfied until he eliminates me. Such baseless accusations, Third Brother dares to make them, but I dare not acknowledge them. If you don’t believe me, Father, you can investigate. Evidence or witnesses, let us confront them face to face!”

The officials exchanged glances, the claim that Prince Cheng had entered the Capital City unauthorized and was now trying to cover it up by officially entering was put forward.

Prince Cheng claimed Prince Zhuang was fabricating everything and rejected all allegations.

Who’s telling the truth?

They only came to attend the assembly, but the Emperor wouldn’t let them leave, and now no one dared to speak up for leaving first.

When they saw Prince Cheng deflecting the allegations with righteous indignation, Prince Zhuang nearly choked with rage, shouting, ”It was clearly you! Yet you speak so self-righteously. A few nights ago, you sneaked into my bedroom and injured me, clearly saying you wanted to exchange one life for another, and then...” Prince Zhuang halted abruptly.

If he revealed that he had suggested exchanging his son’s life for his own, it would only invite disdain, serving no purpose.

Prince Cheng coldly said, ”You got that right!”

This statement shocked everyone, even the Emperor’s gaze hardened. Was Prince Zhuang speaking the truth? Did Prince Cheng just admit it?

Prince Cheng continued, ”If I truly wanted revenge, a life for a life, I would only come for you! I wouldn’t look for others!”

Prince Zhuang gritted his teeth and said bitterly, ”You indeed argue cleverly. You pressed the sword to my neck, cutting a wound, and then said if you killed me outright, I’d die content and it wouldn’t ease your heart. Only by using Wei’er to exchange for my life would it make me more grief-stricken, cause me a living death!”

The crowd, upon hearing this, found it incredibly vicious. Yet they wouldn’t be surprised if Prince Cheng had said such a thing, given the pain of losing a son.

Prince Cheng let out a cold laugh, ”Don’t say I wasn’t in the Capital City; even if I were, my Jingchen is not dead. Why would I kill Huangfu Wei?”

This statement was like cold water splashing into hot oil, shocking everyone, who all looked at Prince Cheng, including the Emperor, who gravely asked, ”Old Fifth, Jingchen is still alive?”

”I believe he is still alive!” Prince Cheng spoke with determination, his expression serious and earnest.

The officials were first stunned, then looked away, each with their own thoughts. Some suppressed laughter, mocking and derisive; others sighed in sympathy; and some remained indifferent, as if it didn’t concern them.

As a father, with a heart for his beloved child, unwilling to accept that his son had been assassinated, firmly believing his son was not dead, such unwavering belief sounded so heart-wrenching?

Even the Emperor paused, sighing inwardly, and turned to Prince Zhuang, rebuking, ”I see you’re the one who’s mad. Step down immediately!”

Prince Zhuang’s eyes darted, hurriedly saying, ”Father, Old Fifth has shown his own weakness this time, inadvertently confessing!”