Chapter 4: The Crown Prince, Innocent!

Chapter 4: The Crown Prince, Innocent!

Xiao Dingbang saw Xiao Ce suddenly change his plea in court, and his face turned gloomy. “You beast, are you making a fool of me and all the civil and military officials in the court? Do you dare to retract the confession you made yourself?”

As he spoke, Xiao Dingbang looked at the Black-Armored Guards standing to the side. “What are you waiting for? Take this beast to the Imperial Prison!”

“Yes!”

The previously stunned Black-Armored Guards responded and stepped forward.

Xiao Ce continued to shout. “I report to my Imperial Father, from beginning to end, your son never said that he violated the Prime Minister’s daughter!”

Xiao Dingbang did not say to stop.

The Black-Armored Guards stepped forward, grabbed Xiao Ce, and dragged him out.

Xiao Ce was not panicked and shouted in an orderly manner.

“What your son said last night was about bullying Chancellor Yin’s daughter! Last night, drunk, I found Yin Pan’er taking care of me by the bedside. I thought it was a dream, so I lost my composure, tugged at Yin Pan’er a few times, and tore her clothes. However, Yin Pan’er resisted fiercely and stabbed me with a small knife. Only then did I realize it was not a dream, and I immediately apologized to Miss Yin.”

“I never expected that someone would bring you, Imperial Father, and the others here! Your son believes this is a deliberate frame-up by someone with ill intentions.”

“Second Brother saw the bloodstains on the bed yesterday, but they were not from a woman’s first time. They were the bloodstains left after Yin Pan’er stabbed me…”

“Moreover, Miss Yin never said that I violated her!”

Seeing no one responded to him, Xiao Ce looked at Yin Weiyong. “Chancellor Yin, speak fairly for me. Even if not for me! For Miss Yin’s reputation, you cannot let me be wronged! Otherwise, wouldn’t it confirm that Miss Yin was violated by me?”

Yin Weiyong’s eyes turned slightly cold. In his heart, he was also extremely unwilling.

He had calculated everything but never expected this Deposed Crown Prince before him to have such cunning.

Now he had no choice.

After the Crown Prince slept with his daughter yesterday, it almost ruined his entire plan, leaving him in a dilemma.

“Wait! Your Majesty, what the Crown Prince said is true. Last night, after Pan’er returned to the mansion, she told me about it. It was exactly the same as what the Crown Prince said.”

Xiao Dingbang saw Yin Weiyong change his tune and felt a trace of unease. His gaze turned cold. “Chancellor Yin, why didn’t you speak up when the Crown Prince confessed earlier?”

Yin Weiyong cupped his hands. “Your Majesty, earlier when the Crown Prince confessed! I also thought my daughter had been defiled. Now it seems, it was all a misunderstanding.”

Seeing the timing was right, the Prince of Zhenguo, Xiao Dingshan, stepped forward. “Your Majesty, since that is the case. The truth has come to light…”

Before the Prince of Zhenguo finished, Xiao Yang interrupted. “Imperial Uncle, how is the truth clear? He says the blood on the bedsheet is his, so it is his? We cannot rely solely on his word.”

The Prince of Zhenguo said. “All the evidence from yesterday is kept by the Department of Justice and Punishment. Whether it is human blood or blood from a woman’s first time, let the coroner from the Department of Justice and Punishment examine it. Your Majesty, this matter concerns the purity of Chancellor Yin’s daughter. It cannot be decided rashly!”

Xiao Yang snorted coldly. “Imperial Father, in that case, let the coroner go and check!”

“Fine! Since that is so, this case still has many unclear points! First, take that beast to the Imperial Prison! Lord Xing, go and have the evidence from last night examined.” Xiao Dingbang said sternly.

At that moment, a tall, resolute-looking man stepped forward. “I report to Your Majesty, last night’s bedsheet, I have already ordered someone to examine it. It was definitely not a woman’s first time blood.”

This person was precisely Xing Shoulu from the Department of Justice and Punishment.

Xiao Dingbang’s eyes sharpened. He did not suspect Xing Shoulu had been bribed.

Xing Shoulu was the Great Xiao Kingdom’s famous impartial judge.

“Lord Xing, if that is so, why didn’t you report it earlier!”

Xing Shoulu bowed. “I report to Your Majesty, because a bloodstained bedsheet alone does not mean much for this case. Even if it is not Miss Yin’s first time blood, we cannot conclude that Miss Yin was not violated by the Crown Prince.”

“Earlier, the Crown Prince’s statement made me think he had confessed. However, now the Crown Prince has explained the whole story, and Chancellor Yin is also willing to corroborate! Currently, there is no solid evidence, and the person involved is not accusing or pursuing the matter.”

“Now, in my view, the charge of the Crown Prince committing violation is not valid! At most, it is misconduct due to drunkenness, and fortunately, no serious consequences occurred! According to the laws of the Great Xiao Kingdom, no punishment is necessary.”

Seeing this, the Prince of Zhenguo said. “Your Majesty, since that is so, although the Crown Prince is not guilty, he is still at fault! He can be confined to the Crown Prince’s Temporary Palace to reflect on his mistakes, as a warning to others.”

Xiao Yang saw this and stepped forward. “Ninth Imperial Uncle, Lord Xing, your words are too hasty! Last night, I escorted Miss Yin back to the mansion. Miss Yin cried and told me repeatedly that she was violated by this beast!”

“However, this beast threatened Miss Yin! That is why Miss Yin dared not tell the truth! Now Chancellor Yin says this, probably also concerned about his own face! Lord Xing, can my words count? As Miss Yin’s fiancé, can I act as the person involved and accuse him!”

Xing Shoulu looked at him calmly. “I report to Second Prince, that is natural.”

Xiao Yang turned his head. “Ninth Imperial Uncle, the crime he committed is violation! If it’s just confinement to the Temporary Palace, your protection of him is too obvious!”

Seeing this, Xiao Ce shouted. “Second Prince, don’t make false accusations. If you have solid evidence, show it! If I just say so, I could also say I saw you violating your old sow at home!”

Xiao Yang never expected that Xiao Ce, who usually wouldn’t make a peep even if hit three times, would dare to talk back to him like this.

“You…”

Before he could speak, the Prince of Zhenguo interrupted. “Second Prince, the Crown Prince’s words are rough, but the reasoning is not! This Prince still says, if you have evidence, bring it out! This Prince will definitely not shield him. If there is no evidence and you want to pin false charges on the Crown Prince’s head, This Prince will not agree either!”

As he spoke, he turned and cupped his hands to the Emperor. “I ask Your Majesty to investigate strictly. This matter is indeed suspicious. The Crown Prince was drunk; he could have been cared for by servants or maids. Why was it Miss Yin, who has no connection at all, who took care of him? This case is full of doubts. I ask Your Majesty to make a wise judgment, not letting a single bad person go, and also not letting an innocent person be wronged for no reason!”

Xiao Dingbang’s gaze was cold. “Ninth Brother, don’t worry! The Crown Prince is also my son. I will not wrong him! But, precisely because he is the Crown Prince, I will not shield him either!”

After saying that, he looked at Yin Weiyong to the side. “Chancellor Yin, is what Second Prince said true? Do you have concerns? No matter what happens, I will never let Second Prince wrong your daughter! She will always be Second Prince’s principal wife! If that beast, the Crown Prince, did inhuman things, I will not spare him!”

Yin Weiyong’s expression did not change. He knew exactly what had happened because he was involved. Others might not be clear, but he was.

He clearly felt Xiao Dingbang putting pressure on him.

However, he also knew he dared not add to the trouble.

Otherwise, that mad dog Xiao Ce would surely drag him and his daughter down together.

“I report to Your Majesty, what I said earlier is exactly what my daughter told me last night. As for anything else, I do not know. I believe a strict investigation is necessary!”

“If it was the Crown Prince’s doing, I ask Your Majesty to uphold justice for my daughter. If the Crown Prince did not do it, I also ask Your Majesty to clear the Crown Prince’s name. After all, the Crown Prince’s position is the foundation of the state. With the court situation unstable and the borders unsettled, changing the heir might cause turmoil!”

Xiao Ce listened to this old fox Yin Weiyong still beating around the bush and thought to himself, “This old thing is really good at muddying the waters! Last night, I already told Yin Pan’er how to respond. If he had just brought out what I needed early on, there wouldn’t be so much trouble!”

“It seems he still has illusions about Xiao Yang? He doesn’t want to stand on my side! In that case, I’ll add some fuel to the fire.”

Thinking of this, Xiao Ce rolled up his sleeve, revealing a fierce-looking knife wound.

“Imperial Father, this is the wound Miss Yin stabbed. Moreover, everyone in the streets knows your son is a natural eunuch! How can a natural eunuch commit violation?”

Xiao Yang pointed at Xiao Ce. “Imperial Elder Brother, you are really stubborn. You won’t stop until you hit the wall!”

“Imperial Father, we just need to invite Miss Yin here. Have the palace matrons examine her purity. Whether Miss Yin is or isn’t, one examination will tell!”

Xiao Dingbang listened and nodded. “Good, this is indeed a good method!”

Before he could speak, Yin Weiyong’s eyes sharpened. “Your Majesty, Second Prince, this is not appropriate.”

Xiao Yang was already somewhat displeased and said with a hint of threat. “Chancellor Yin, now you and Miss Yin are unwilling to come forward to testify! We cannot let such a beast go unpunished! If Miss Yin is willing to tell the truth, then naturally, there is no need for the matrons to examine her purity.”

Yin Weiyong snorted coldly. “Second Prince, Pan’er is your betrothed wife. Have you not considered her reputation?”

Xiao Yang continued. “Chancellor Yin, it is precisely because I am considering her that I want to give her justice. Chancellor Yin, will you tell the truth? Or…”

Xiao Ce saw this and stirred the pot. “Imperial Father, I think this method is not proper. Even if it proves Miss Yin is not a virgin, it cannot be said it was your son’s doing, right?”

As he spoke, he turned to Xing Shoulu. “Lord Xing, isn’t that right!”

Xing Shoulu nodded and cupped his hands. “Crown Prince, correct! If it only proves Miss Yin is not a virgin, it cannot convict you. Other corroboration is needed!”

Seeing this, Yin Weiyong completely lost his composure. If things continued like this, he would truly be the biggest loser.

He had no choice now; he had to do as Xiao Ce said.

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is indeed wronged! I have solid evidence to prove it! I ask Your Majesty to investigate!”

As he spoke, Yin Weiyong cupped his hands and presented a memorial.

Xiao Dingbang glanced at a eunuch nearby. The eunuch bowed and stepped forward to take the memorial from Yin Weiyong.

Holding Yin Weiyong’s memorial, he opened it, glanced at it, and his expression changed greatly.

He instinctively looked at Yin Weiyong.

Then angrily looked at the Second Prince, Xiao Yang, to the side.

Xiao Ce pretended not to know and asked. “Imperial Father, what solid evidence did Chancellor Yin present? Can it prove your son’s innocence?”

Xiao Dingbang looked angrily at Xiao Ce, almost grinding his teeth as he said. “This case has been concluded. The Crown Prince is innocent!”