The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!

Chapter 545: The Person Most Worried

Prince Zhuang was overjoyed, his efforts had indeed yielded results, and Father Emperor trusted him.

The Emperor said calmly, "I only trust evidence. However, Huangfu Wei has been missing for some days now. Since you did not kill him, and his disappearance has nothing to do with you, while you’re searching for Huangfu Jingchen, you should also look for Huangfu Wei. If Huangfu Wei is unharmed, it will clear your suspicion!"

Prince Cheng’s lips curled with a trace of chill, "Father Emperor seems to view me so poorly. In Father Emperor’s eyes, compared to Third Brother, I am nothing, right? Otherwise, in such obvious matters, Father Emperor prefers to believe Third Brother’s flawed statements, instead of suspecting me."

Prince Zhuang said, "Fifth Brother, you shouldn’t make false accusations. Every word I say is true, where are the flaws?"

The Emperor glanced between his two sons.

Emotionally speaking, he indeed trusted Prince Zhuang more, and appreciated him more.

One was a son who knew reverence, acted cautiously, listened and obeyed him, with reverence and submission.

The other defied him in court for the sake of a woman, went to Vassal Land for twenty years, and seldom returned to the Capital City.

However, setting aside the father-son relationship, he’s still an Emperor, so some things can’t be too biased.

Though Prince Cheng’s words displeased him, he still said, "Old Fifth, I also want to hear what flaws you are referring to."

Prince Cheng’s gaze swept across Prince Zhuang, then turned to the Emperor, his voice even colder, "Can’t Father Emperor discern the truth? Third Brother is merely trying to evade punishment, making Father Emperor feel that I disregard the law, ignore rules, spurn human ethics, with a venomous heart; thinking that blaming me for Huangfu Chi’s beating isn’t enough to make Father Emperor loathe and fear me, he adds his own legitimate son to the mix."

"What do you mean by this?"

"I mean, Huangfu Wei is perfectly fine. All this is just Third Brother’s self-directed performance."

"You’re speaking nonsense, making false accusations. My Wei’er has been missing for a long time, I’m heartbroken." Prince Zhuang nearly jumped up, "How could I possibly joke about my own son’s life?"

The Emperor frowned, "Old Fifth, since you believe Huangfu Wei is fine, then where is he?"

Prince Cheng’s lips grew colder, he said expressionlessly, "I don’t know."

Prince Zhuang nearly jumped up, "You took him, you killed him, you wouldn’t be unaware? Now I don’t even hope Wei’er is alive. I only ask you to return his body to me, so I can give him a proper burial, let him rest in peace!"

As he finished, he was in tears, his face full of sorrow.

The Emperor also frowned, "Since you don’t know, how can you assert he’s fine?"

"I may not know, but someone does; simply call them to ask and you’ll see." Prince Cheng’s expression was indifferent, neither moved by Prince Zhuang’s tears, nor changing color due to the Emperor’s questioning.

The Emperor asked, "Who is this person?"

His eyes flashed with suspicion and doubt.

Someone knows, who could it be?

By the time, Old Fifth should have arrived directly at the Imperial Palace after entering the city today, he shouldn’t have interacted with anyone, if he did, it would be only those I sent to meet him, Old Nine, and a few officials from the Ministry of Rites.

Could Old Nine be involved in this too?

Could Old Nine be the one in the know?

Or was Old Fifth, as Third Brother said, not arriving in the Capital City today, but much earlier, hence knowing the details.

As the Emperor spoke, Prince Cheng smiled, yet the smile appeared mocking and sarcastic.

He raised his eyes, candidly meeting the Emperor’s gaze, "Father Emperor, if Huangfu Wei truly is missing, his life and death unknown, who other than Prince Zhuang as the father would be most concerned?"

This question made many people wonder, who else could be concerned?

Soon they realized who it could be, as Prince Cheng’s words carried a hint.

The person most concerned about a child’s safety in this world would naturally be their parents. Prince Zhuang is the father, and the other is Princess Consort Zhuang.

The Emperor knew the answer Prince Cheng was suggesting wasn’t him.

However, he didn’t want to answer this question himself, it would make him appear too passive as an Emperor. He looked towards the courtiers, "Mr. Xia, you answer!"

The Right Minister Xia Shi’en stepped forth upon hearing, "To The Emperor, I don’t know whom Prince Cheng refers to either, but I speculate Prince Cheng’s indication could be Princess Consort Zhuang."

The Emperor looked at Prince Cheng.

Prince Cheng responded bluntly, "Correct!"

Earlier, Prince Zhuang worried that someone indeed knew Huangfu Wei’s whereabouts. Finding Huangfu Wei would be good, but he worried it might be a scheme set by Prince Cheng.

Upon hearing ’Princess Consort Zhuang’, he breathed a sigh of relief.

The Emperor also frowned, "Old Fifth, what exactly do you mean?"

Prince Cheng said, "No one is more concerned about Huangfu Wei in this world than Third Sister-in-law. Because for Third Brother, he has many sons; losing one is surely painful, but it won’t be unbearable. Third Sister-in-law is different, she has only one son, Huangfu Wei. Moreover, she is a mother, mothers are kind! If Huangfu Wei is truly missing, his fate uncertain, it would only be Third Sister-in-law who is most sorrowful."

"What does this have to do with whether Huangfu Wei is alive or dead?"

Prince Cheng said, "Yesterday, when Old Nine went outside the city to greet me, due to the city gates being closed, we chatted for a while while waiting. From Old Nine’s words, I heard the Prince Zhuang Mansion had no anomalies, Third Sister-in-law’s emotions seemed stable. So I can conclude, Huangfu Wei is fine!"

Prince Zhuang sneered, "Fifth Brother, surely you don’t mean my Princess knows where Wei’er is?"

Prince Cheng said expressionlessly, "Whether she does or not, we call her to ask and find out!"

Prince Zhuang sneered, "If my Princess doesn’t know."

"Then it’s my wrong assumption, the matter concerning Jingchen will be wiped clean with you!"

The Emperor said calmly, "Come, summon Princess Consort Zhuang immediately to the palace!"

His gaze swept over Prince Zhuang and Prince Cheng’s faces, eyes deep; actually, deep inside, regarding the issue of Huangfu Wei and Huangfu Jingchen, though enraged, he didn’t feel much of a grandfather’s sorrow over a grandson’s unfortune, more of this was about his two sons using such matters for their own tactics, including deceiving the ruler.

As for who deceived the ruler, it’s still uncertain.

Currently presenting arguments before the emperor, both persist in their claims.

Regarding these two sons, he isn’t pleased with either, so rather than serving justice, he’s more of an onlooker.

Thus he does not make judgments, allowing both to argue before him.

If one side provides conclusive evidence against the other, for instance, if Prince Zhuang can prove Prince Cheng indeed entered the Capital City without authorization, fabricated deceit, deceived the ruler, harboring disloyalty. He would not be lenient!

The same applies in reverse.

Though Prince Zhuang Mansion isn’t far from the Imperial Palace, passing the decree and waiting for Princess Consort Zhuang to arrive will still take some time.