Chapter 604: Guessed Right
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
After all, the old duke was the elder brother of the Empress Dowager. During her time as the crown prince consort, he had exerted considerable effort to secure her position.
In the past, he had been a supportive and caring brother.
However, his current aspirations to seize the throne and condemn her to eternal damnation erased the memory of his past benevolence.
Despite harboring resentment, the Empress Dowager refrained from exposing that incriminating document in her possession. Instead, she chose to address a matter relevant to him.
The old duke expressed gratitude, saying, “I am genuinely thankful for the
Empress Dowager’s concern.”
She responded, “I will never forget that you are my biological brother.”
Directly, the Empress Dowager queried, “What transpired in the court?”
The late emperor’s countenance darkened, and he displayed no intent to answer.
The old duke proceeded to narrate the events.
Observing the new emperor with a resentful gaze, the Empress Dowager exclaimed, “Is this truly your intent? For Qin Zhenzhen, you discard etiquette, integrity, and shame? You would go so far as to harm me just to claim my wife. Do you comprehend the repercussions if this scandal were to spread?”
The new emperor refuted his prior statement, stating, “My true motivation is revenge! You only know part of the story, not the entirety. During last year’s garden event. an incident occurred involving mv sister- It wasn’t the work of outsiders; it was orchestrated by Su Bin and the Third Prince!”
The Empress Dowager, taken aback, inquired, “Is this indeed true?”
The new emperor affirmed, “Absolutely! If they weren’t spies, how could those individuals execute the plan so flawlessly?”
“At that time, I informed my father, but he sought to shield the Third Prince and sided with his account. He and Su Bin dismissed the matter entirely.”
“That incident shattered my sister and brought disgrace upon the royal family!”
“Despite my public declaration of my sister’s innocence, she was still driven to madness!”
“Every time I witness my royal sister screaming, her hair disheveled, tormented until she’s as frail as a matchstick, it pierces my heart with immense pain. I secretly vowed to avenge my royal sister!”
“Transferring Su Bin back to the capital will facilitate catching him in the act.” “This is why I am insistent on bringing Su Bin back to the capital!”
The new emperor grew more animated with each word, delivering his narrative with apparent sincerity, even if it was a fabrication.
“My sister has always been magnanimous and carefree, unlike ordinary women. Given her personality, it’s implausible for her to go mad.”
“I suspect that she has been administered a substance inducing madness. Although the imperial physicians acknowledge it, they are powerless. They claim that the person who tied the bell must untie it.”
“To restore my sister, we need someone capable of formulating this potion.” “Only Qin Zhenzhen possesses the skill to create such a potent concoction!” “For the sake of my sister, I will compel the antidote from Qin Zhenzhen!”
The new emperor, appearing benevolent and passionate, presented himself as a concerned sibling.
The old duke scoffed.
“Why haven’t I heard from the imperial physicians that the princess went mad due to poisoning?”
Indeed, the imperial physicians had not explicitly stated this; it was merely a conjecture.
Yet, the new emperor’s assertion was correct.
Su Bin had indeed administered a pill to the fifth princess, and it was a creation of Qin Zhenzhen. Consuming it induced a gradual descent into madness.
Qin Zhenzhen seethed with anger at the fifth princess’s malicious and shameless behavior. Not only did she seek to claim Su Bin for herself, but she also aimed to tarnish Qin Zhenzhen’s reputation.
Su Bin harbored similar sentiments. Anyone audacious enough to harm his wife deserved nothing less than a torturous demise.
Considering the malevolence of the fifth princess, Su Bin believed that even if her reputation was tarnished, she would persist in causing harm. In his opinion, subjecting her to a year and a half of torment before her death would be the most fitting retribution..