The princess regretted it.

Chapter 311 Yundou Confession

In reality, the Third Prince's cleverness backfired, his impatience and recklessness completely shattering his usual composure. Ultimately, the root of his impatience stemmed from Concubine Chun's pregnancy. Ever since learning that Concubine Chun was carrying a prince, the Third Prince had been like an ant on the hot pan, his heart aching with anxiety. In this treacherous harem, the iron rule was that a mother's status depended on her son. If Concubine Chun gave birth to a prince, the situation within the palace would undoubtedly shift dramatically, reshuffling the various factions.

The Third Prince knew full well that, despite being a crown prince, his background and support were of minimal importance in the struggle for succession. Previously, he had cultivated a close relationship with Jin'an through his intelligence and strategy, and ministers like Prime Minister Mu had a favorable impression of him. This allowed him to briefly gain prominence, and he secretly accumulated influence, hoping to one day rise to the occasion and ascend to the supreme throne.

However, Jin An had recently become increasingly distant from him. Even Prime Minister Mu, who had previously admired him, had begun to suppress him. Furthermore, the Jinwu Marquisate, which he had secretly cultivated, had fallen, leaving him without a powerful official who could speak for him at court. Those in his camp couldn't even begin to compare with the Prime Minister's Office, the Duke of the Protectorate's Office, or the Grand Tutor's Office. Consequently, he was facing numerous setbacks, which had made him somewhat impatient. Furthermore, Concubine Chun's unexpected pregnancy was like a bolt from the blue, disrupting his previously well-planned plans.

You know, in this imperial family, the birth of another prince brings more competitive pressure, and the road to the throne will become more and more bumpy. Driven by this huge sense of crisis, the third prince's mentality gradually became unbalanced, and he was eager to find any opportunity to suppress his opponents and consolidate his position.

Therefore, when he heard that his second brother's maid, Yundou, had been arrested and implicated in the harem arson case, a glimmer of hope ignited in his heart, believing it was a perfect opportunity bestowed by heaven, hoping to seize this opportunity to overthrow his second brother and completely disqualify him from competing. However, he never expected that his hasty actions would only arouse his father's suspicion, putting him in an extremely unfavorable situation. It can be said that he stole the chicken but lost the rice, and the loss outweighed the gain.

Even as they pondered this, the cane had already struck five times in quick succession. Bright red blood oozed from Yundou's frail back, staining her once-pristine palace gown with glaring stains. Her face was now as pale as paper, devoid of any color, her eyes tightly closed, and she was on the verge of fainting. Just as everyone thought she was about to pass out, she suddenly summoned her last ounce of strength and shouted, "Your Majesty, I confess! Your Majesty, I confess!"

Upon hearing this, the Emperor gently raised his right hand and waved it slightly. Seeing this, the Imperial Guards immediately stopped their rods and stood in a neat row on either side, awaiting further instructions. The Emperor narrowed his eyes, gazing at Yundou intensely. He wanted to see what she would say. Then, his gaze turned coldly and slowly towards Yundou. His voice was low and commanding: "Speak." The tone, wrapped in the emperor's endless oppressive power, made the atmosphere in the entire hall even more solemn.

Yundou lay sprawled on the cold ground, her body trembling uncontrollably. She strained her strength to raise her head with difficulty. Her face was as pale as paper, and beads of sweat, the size of beans, rolled down her forehead, mixing with the dust on the ground and covering her face. Her breath was weak, and she spoke in halting, "Your Majesty, I am acting on the orders of the Second Prince."

As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a thunderclap, exploding in the hall.

The Second Prince was struck by a bolt of lightning. He froze in place, his entire body frozen. His eyes widened as he stared at Yundou in disbelief, his lips trembling slightly. He could never have imagined that this seemingly well-behaved and sensible maid would say such heartless words at this moment.

When he heard Yundou's confession, he was genuinely panicked, worried she would identify his mother. He had even planned to plead with his father for mercy. But he never expected Yundou to bluntly admit that he had instructed her to set fire to Concubine Chun. God bless him; before this, he had no idea who Concubine Chun was!

Yundou looked up at the Second Prince, tears streaming down her face, "Second Prince, I'm sorry. I'm useless and failed to complete the task you assigned me. I deserve to die, but I really can't stand this kind of punishment. It hurts too much. I'm sorry." She was crying, and her miserable appearance was something that anyone who saw her would feel pity for her.

"How dare you! You're talking nonsense!" Before the second prince could open his mouth, the third prince took the lead and shouted, "How dare you accuse my second brother! How could my second brother do such a thing?" He looked indignant, as if he was the one who upheld justice the most.

Like a frightened bird, Yundou kept kowtow- ing , his forehead banging against the ground as he cried, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

The Second Prince's expression shifted from initial shock and disbelief to a look of disappointment and loneliness, the brilliance in his eyes gradually dimming. He didn't blame Yundou, but instead slowly turned around and knelt heavily before the Emperor, his voice brimming with powerlessness: "Your son is innocent! Please understand, Father."

Seeing the Second Prince's actions, the Third Prince's eyes rolled, and he quickly knelt down, saying earnestly, "Father, you must believe Second Brother. He would never do such a thing. Father, think about it, Second Brother has been cared for and loved by Concubine Zhang since he was a child. He has never lacked anything in the palace. Even if he is now adopted by Concubine Cen, his status and position are still unshakable. Moreover, his maternal family is the prestigious Grand Tutor's Mansion in the court. Why would he do such a thing?"

The Emperor, initially shaken by Yundou's sobbing, grew even more skeptical of Yundou's identity after witnessing the Third Prince's dedicated performance. What hidden secrets lay behind this? After hearing the Third Prince's words, his eyes darkened, a thick mist forming in their depths. He paused for a moment on the Third Prince, then turned to the Second Prince and asked in a low voice, "Yunji, what do you have to say?"

The Third Prince was secretly delighted when he heard his father's question, as if he saw the dawn of victory before his eyes. As expected, his father had suspected the Second Prince. Although he himself could not be sure who had done this, the Zhang family had long been a thorn in his father's heart. His words just now must have made his father think that the Zhang family was supporting the Second Prince's actions behind the scenes. The Second Prince was definitely finished this time.

The Second Prince continued to kneel straight, his posture as straight as a pine tree, and said calmly, "Father, I have nothing to say. I didn't do it, and that's it."