Chapter 424: 435

Inside Chengqian Hall, the Crown Prince was sitting on the throne. Meanwhile, several princes and Imperial Counselors stood on both sides, with Baili Junyi and Xiao Jingran facing each other in the middle of the hall.

Baili Junyi’s expression was cold like a sharp blade, and Xiao Jingran’s face looked gloomy. His under eyes were dark as if he had not rested for a long time, and a sense of irritability exuded from him.

Baili Jinyi spoke, “Old General Xiao, is everything you said true?”

Xiao Jingran paused for a moment and quickly nodded. “Yes, Your Highness. Every word that I have said is true. Those assassins were hiding in the Fifth Prince Mansion at that time. When I was in the midst of my investigation, I happened to capture them and obtain their confessions. A few of them have already signed their confessions. According to them, the Fifth Prince’s princess consort, Princess Zhaohua, had sent them. Firstly, they were sent to assassinate Madam Xia to prevent Princess Zhaohua’s affair with the Second Prince from being exposed. Then, Princess Zhaohua had an ulterior motive and sent them to assassinate His Majesty to seize the throne while the royal guards were lax.”

Baili Junyi laughed coldly. “Old General Xiao, you have made up a good plot. Did you say that Ninghua and the Second Prince had an affair? How dare you frame my princess consort and then me? Did we, the princes, do something that offended you, which caused you to be so determined to get rid of us one by one?”

Xiao Jingran was apparently trying to implicate Baili Jinchuan, which was a secret order from the Crown Prince, who aimed to get rid of the few princes who threatened his position altogether. Naturally, Baili Junyi would not let this slide easily. Three days had passed since Shen Ninghua was locked up in Imperial Clan Court just so Xiao Jingran could torture her more.

In these past three days, Baili Junyi had been enduring the burning pain in his heart and secretly planting suspicions within the public. After the Crown Prince took over, he punished several officials with corruption charges. Logically speaking, this act would have been supported by the people. However, it was found out to be the opposite after a thorough investigation.

The officials at the side were silent. Right now, it was a game between the Crown Prince and the princes. Whichever side won would obtain the supreme power. It was best for them to stay silent for now to avoid rooting for the wrong team. If they rooted for the wrong team, their death would be a tragic one.

When the Crown Prince heard this, his brows immediately furrowed. “Fifth Brother, what do you mean? Are you suspecting me?”

Baili Junyi hurriedly denied it. “How could that be possible? Your Highness, you’re worrying too much. It was just something that I heard from the public.”

Xiao Jingran continued to sneer. There was even a hint of irritation in his eyes. “Fifth Prince, why didn’t I hear of such rumors, but you did? Are you deliberately lying to the Crown Prince to save Princess Zhaohua?”

In his opinion, the Crown Prince could have used the evidence he provided to convict Shen Ninghua immediately and punish Baili Jinchuan and Baili Junyi together. However, the Crown Prince was concerned about his so-called reputation. As the saying went, “Men of great ambition were not bothered by trifles”. In the case of the Crown Prince, was fame more important than power?

“Old General Xiao, don’t judge others based on your opinions. Father Emperor once praised me for being fair and filial. I wouldn’t make up lies for my own selfish desires based on the public’s speculation.”

Did Xiao Jingran think everyone was like him? Moreover, there was no affair between Shen Ninghua and Baili Jinchuan. There were usually servants by their side wherever they went, and there was no evidence against them at all. Xiao Jingran should stop trying to twist the truth. As long as the affair was nonexistent, the accusation of Shen Ninghua trying to kill Xia Jingqiu to silence her would not be valid. With that, everything else would be easily explained.

The surrounding ministers became even quieter. After all, Xiao Jingran had been shunned by them before. Now that he had regained his power, they had more or less suffered a loss. Deep down, they agreed with Baili Junyi’s words. Xiao Jingran was indeed unscrupulous while trying to regain his position. If there were anyone who disobeyed the Crown Prince, they would be punished by Xiao Jingran. Up until now, many spies had been placed around the officials. As soon as they behaved a little strangely, it would be reported to the Crown Prince. As of now, quite a few officials had already been punished.

They did not know that Xiao Jingran wasn’t targeting anyone else and he only focused on his revenge on Shen Ninghua and Baili Junyi. It was the people from Biyun Pavilion and Qingtian Pavilion who punished the officials in secret. Meanwhile, the mastermind behind all this was the Crown Prince, Baili Jinyi, who was sitting on the throne with a benevolent expression.

Xiao Jingran’s face turned red. “Fifth Prince, no matter how hard you try to quibble, it is impossible for you to help Princess Zhaohua get away with her crimes!”

Baili Junyi casually glanced at Xiao Jingran as if he was extremely reluctant to acknowledge his existence.

Suddenly, a eunuch hurriedly ran in from outside. “Your Highness, the Second Princess requests permission to see you.”

“Summon her in.”

Baili Jinchuan, who had been lowering his eyes, suddenly raised his head when he heard this. Then, he looked at the entrance where Bu Yonghan was walking in with a pale face. Her expression looked extremely complicated and seemed to carry a strong sense of uneasiness. The fierce look when she confronted the Crown Prince disappeared without a trace, and she looked as if she had been wronged. With that, she bowed to the Crown Prince and said, “Greetings, Your Highness.”

“Princess Yonghan, please be at ease. We are discussing Princess Zhaohua’s matter here. What brings you here?”

Bu Yonghan looked at Baili Jinchuan, and her tears fell before she could open her mouth. “I… I really don’t know how to say it.”

“Hmm? You seem to be hiding something based on your expression.”

“This matter… I know the inside story about this matter.” Bu Yonghan bit her lips as the struggle in her eyes became more apparent.

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Baili Jinyi said, “An inside story?”

“Yes. I didn’t handle this matter properly since the beginning. When Madam Xia came to the mansion, I personally went to the Fifth Prince Mansion and spoke to Fifth Sister-in-law about this matter. At that time, she denied this matter firmly. She also said that Side Concubine Yang’s death had nothing to do with her, so I believed her and didn’t pursue the matter further. Who knew that when I married the Second Prince, Madam Xia came to seek justice. Therefore, I had to invite Princess Zhaohua over. At that time, the Second Prince overreacted. At first, I thought he was worried that Madam Xia would interrupt the wedding. Later, I realized it was because he feared his relationship with Princess Zhaohua would be exposed.”

As soon as these words came out, everyone looked at Baili Jinchuan. Even his own princess consort had admitted that he was having an affair with Princess Zhaohua. Could the matter be true?

Baili Jinchuan’s expression was cold and solemn, and the aura around him was abnormally cold. He glanced at Bu Yonghan but did not stop her from speaking nonsense. It was as if he had no intention of stopping her at all.

The Crown Prince widened his eyes slightly. “Princess Yonghan, you mean… Do you know something about the secret affair between Second Brother and Princess Zhaohua?”

Bu Yonghan bit her lips. After struggling for a long time, she finally nodded. She knelt on the ground as if she had lost all her strength. Then, she looked at Baili Jinchuan bitterly. “Your Highness, it is all my fault, but I can’t watch you persist in your wrongdoings anymore. You and Princess Zhaohua will never be together. It is impossible!” She couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction as she spoke. She thought, “Baili Jinchuan, aren’t you abandoning me? In that case, I will destroy you forever! If I can’t get you, no one else can.”

Baili Jinyi was shocked. “Second Brother, you and Princess Zhaohua really… Sigh. How can you be this reckless…”

Baili Jinchuan walked up to Bu Yonghan and spoke with an indescribable coldness. “How did you come out of the mansion? Didn’t I ask someone to keep watch on you?”

Bu Yonghan raised her head with tears in her eyes. “Your Highness, I am your legal Princess Consort. You can’t imprison me in the mansion.”

At the door, an announcement sounded timely. “Noble Consort Qi has arrived!”

Baili Jinyi frowned and looked up at the door. There were four nurses and one imperial doctor behind Noble Consort Qi. After Noble Consort Qi entered, she frowned and looked at Bu Yonghan, who was on the ground. “Bu Yonghan, are you done with your nonsense?”

Bu Yonghan was stunned. “Mother Consort, what do you mean?”

“I’m asking if you’re done with your nonsense? Someone, hold her!” Noble Consort Qi coldly ordered the nurses behind her.

A few strong nurses quickly stepped forward and held Bu Yonghan tightly.

“Mother Consort, what are you doing? Why are you holding me back?”

Noble Consort Qi ignored her and signaled the imperial doctor to step forward. The imperial doctor took out a pill from the medicine chest. Then, the nurses immediately opened Bu Yonghan’s mouth and forcefully fed her the medicine.

Only then did Noble Consort Qi look at the Crown Prince. “Your Highness, court officials, I apologize for the commotion. After returning from the forest, Yonghan suddenly became hysterical for some unknown reason. She always thought she was not favored and even pushed the blame onto Princess Zhaohua. She insisted that Jinchuan and Princess Zhaohua had an affair, which explained his lukewarm behavior toward her. Today, I let her out of my sight for a moment, and she managed to escape. I ask for the Crown Prince’s forgiveness.”

Xiao Jingran widened his eyes that were filled with anger. How dare Noble Consort Qi brazenly distort the truth? “Noble Consort Qi, don’t you think your actions are inappropriate?

Noble Consort Qi frowned and looked over. “Why would you say that, Old General Xiao? Is it wrong of me to discipline my own daughter-in-law?”

How could Xiao Jingran watch his hard-won victory slip out of his fingers? “Princess Yonghan has always been fine. Why would she suddenly become hysterical?”

Baili Junyi sneered, “Old General Xiao, you didn’t spend much time with Princess Yonghan. How did you know that she has always been fine?”

“You… Fifth Prince, you are really doing everything possible to clear Princess Zhaohua’s name!”

“You have framed my second brother and me, and now, you are even framing Noble Consort Qi! Are you implying that Noble Consort Qi and I are in cahoots to help Princess Zhaohua clear her name? Xiao Jingran, you are really bold! Do you think you can frame anyone you want with your authority just because His Majesty is unconscious?” Baili Junyi was having a full-on argument with Xiao Jingran, and he was no longer addressing him courteously.

Xiao Jingran was furious. He raised his fist to punch Baili Junyi as if he had lost his mind. “You brat! Where were you when I was on the battlefield? Who do you think you are? How dare you talk to me in this manner? I shouldn’t have raised you in my mansion for so many years!”

Then, the Crown Prince’s face darkened, and he shouted, “Old General Xiao, stop this at once!”

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