Chapter 445: Justice
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The Emperor had long been aware of the cruise ship incident and the scandal involving the fifth princess and the gigolo, and he had been seething with anger initially.
However, as he listened to the fabricated stories spun by the Crown Prince and witnessed the fifth princess’s tearful confession, his anger gradually subsided.
Seizing the moment, the Empress knelt on the ground and wept. “Your Majesty, our daughter has suffered such grievous harm. I can’t bear to live anymore…”
While speaking, she struck her head against the Emperor’s throne, prompting the Crown Prince to swiftly pull her back.
“Mother, please don’t distress yourself too much!”
The Emperor furrowed his brows. “Empress, cease this folly!”
“Guards, escort the Empress away!”
However, the Empress vehemently refused to depart.
“Your Majesty, I implore you to seek justice for our daughter. Unearth the truth and bring the one who harmed our daughter to justice!”
“Your Majesty, do not be misled! Our daughter is a victim. You should not take her life!”
“If you do, I shall not endure it alone!”
The Emperor grew exasperated. “Stop this nonsense! I never said I intended to take her life!”
“She desires to end her own!”
“Don’t fret; I won’t impose punishment until the truth is ascertained clearly!” Only then did the Empress cease her impassioned pleas.
The Emperor turned to the Crown Prince. “Who do you suspect framed your sister?”
The Crown Prince confessed with remorse, “Father, I haven’t determined that yet.”
“Nonetheless, I believe that the individual responsible must possess significant influence to dare set up a scheme to harm Fifth Sister and bribe so many individuals,” the Crown Prince asserted.
“First and foremost, his identity is assuredly not ordinary. His high social status affords him considerable advantages, allowing him to insinuate himself into Fifth Sister’s inner circle.’
“I suspect that this individual’s primary aim is to target me.”
The Crown Prince’s words were evidently aimed at the Third Prince. Yet, the Third Prince remained composed, knowing it wouldn’t be easy to pin something on him that he hadn’t done.
Nonetheless, he harbored secret concerns for Su Bin. The situation also placed Su Bin at risk. If the Crown Prince managed to unearth substantial evidence, the Emperor would not spare Su Bin.
Before entering the palace, the Third Prince had privately inquired of Su Bin,
“Were you behind the incident involving the fifth princess?”
Su Bin didn’t conceal the truth. “I merely wanted to give him a taste of his own medicine.”
The Third Prince furrowed his brow. “Why didn’t you discuss this with me beforehand?”
Su Bin explained, “If I had revealed that the Black Panther Hall was behind this, would you have believed me?”
The Third Prince was taken aback. “The Black Panther Hall?”
“That’s correct. The Black Panther Hall accepted a significant contract to tarnish the fifth princess’s reputation, compelling her to wish for her own demise. I only discovered this later.”
The Third Prince was even more astounded. “The Black Panther Hall is said to be led by remnants of the previous dynasty. How are you connected to them?”
Su Bin replied, “I am not directly associated with the Black Panther Hall, but the Dragon Phoenix Hall specializes in gathering all kinds of information. It’s not surprising for them to have knowledge about the Black Panther Hall, is it?”
“When I learned that the fifth princess and the Crown Prince were scheming against me, I sold this information to the Black Panther Hall and aided them in this endeavor.”
It was indeed the Black Panther Hall that executed this operation, but the individual who commissioned it was Su Bin.
Su Bin went on to clarify further.
“The fifth princess leads a tumultuous private life, characterized by a proclivity for inflicting suffering upon handsome men, rendering them powerless afterward.
“Perhaps someone sought to mete out retribution on her behalf, so they engaged the services of the Black Panther Hall.”
“That’s the extent of my knowledge.”
“I merely lent a hand.”
“Even without my assistance, the Black Panther Hall would have undoubtedly fulfilled the contract. The fifth princess’s fate was sealed sooner or later..”