My Princess and Crown Prince Are Revived
Chapter 399 The Official Acknowledges the Crime

Chapter 399: Chapter 399 The Official Acknowledges the Crime

"Our Zhu Family raised you for over a decade, even lost a life because of you, treating you like a treasured daughter. What more do you want that you’d harm us?"

Zhu Liqun’s tone grew increasingly angry.

His gaze upon Zhu Xinyue held not a trace of warmth, as if he looked upon an enemy.

"Father believes I’m the one who revealed secrets to the Princess?"

Zhu Xinyue looked at Zhu Liqun with complex eyes.

She had wanted to explain, but facing his disappointed gaze, she felt as if there was a fishbone stuck in her throat, and many words could not come out.

"Who else could it be if not you? It’s true, one cannot grow familiar with a child that’s not one’s own."

Because he was so angry, Zhu Liqun said some things without even thinking them through.

Listening to these words, Zhu Xinyue felt as if her heart was pricked by countless needles.

"So, the apologies you made to me a few days ago, saying that you always considered me a member of the Zhu Family... Were those all lies?" she asked with a trembling voice.

Zhu Liqun was annoyed in his heart and snorted coldly, "There is a life between us, how could I still consider you my daughter? Now, you have even revealed secrets to the Princess, plotting against our Zhu Family, we have even less affection to speak of from now on."

His words were utterly heartless.

Furthermore, the volume of their conversation was not low, so many people heard it clearly.

"Father, this matter is our fault. How can we blame Yueyue?"

At this moment, Zhu Yinian clenched his fists and turned around.

His eyes looked at Zhu Xinyue with guilt and heartache.

But when his gaze moved to Zhu Liqun, his expression was indescribably sad and disappointed.

"Yueyue has never done anything to wrong our Zhu Family. Mother’s death is not her fault."

"Moreover, regarding the recent incident, indeed, we hid Xie Feifei’s identity and nearly caused a great mistake. It’s our fault. Even if Yueyue did reveal secrets, we would deserve it."

He said through gritted teeth.

"Yinian, you, you..." Zhu Liqun was both anxious and flustered.

How could Yinian agree to take the blame for this? That could result in the extermination of the entire family.

Soon, Zhu Yinian turned back and knelt down before Chu Baihan again.

"Princess, actually, I had my suspicions about Xie Feifei’s identity from the very start. But due to personal feelings, I used her to get at Yueyue, thus hid the doubts about her identity."

"Unbelievably, she turned out to be a spy from Dongli Country, and nearly caused a great disaster."

"Also, I was afraid of being blamed by the Princess, so I never came forward to admit this."

"Now that the truth has come to light, I am overwhelmed with shame and will accept whatever punishment you deem fit. However, this whole matter is my doing alone, and has nothing to do with the rest of the Zhu Family. Please spare them, Princess," he said.

Zhu Yinian uttered these words one by one.

The scene was thrown into chaos.

"So there are such details," Yan Lian muttered under her breath.

Zhu Yinian’s subordinates all had tears in their eyes.

"General, you’re being foolish. How could you do this?"

"No, Princess, the fault lies with me. In truth, I knew Xie Feifei’s real identity, but I was willfully obstinate and wouldn’t let my brother expose her. It was also me who stopped my brother from confessing."

"If you and the Crown Prince wish to assign blame, punish me. It has nothing to do with the others."

Zhu Xinyue also came forward, kneeling next to Zhu Yinian, incessantly kowtowing until her forehead turned red.

The Zhu Family had raised her, and she only wished to plead on their behalf one last time, and then sever ties.

Jian Yun saw this scene and originally wanted to say something.

But she knew that it was Yunxi who was handling the matter now, so she had to suppress the urge to speak for Zhu Xinyue.

"Princess, Crown Prince, you are magnanimous, please forgive the Zhu Family this one time."

"They didn’t know about Xie Feifei’s true identity either, they too are victims."

"All the faults and mistakes lie with Xie Feifei. Please, Princess, in light of the General’s meritorious service, spare the Zhu Family this time."

The Deputy Generals all knelt down and pleaded for mercy.

Zhu Liqun also knelt down, truly fearful.

"Princess, if there is to be punishment, then punish me alone. I am responsible for all these matters, please spare the others," he begged Chu Baihan with a tone filled with sorrow.

All eyes were on Chu Baihan, including Nan Li’s.

He spoke slowly, "Xiaobai, I was given great authority by the Emperor for this trip to Tongzhou. Therefore, I have the power to punish a courtier."

What would the Princess do?

Everyone held their breath, watching Chu Baihan’s expression with tense anxiety.

With a single word from her, the fate of the Zhu Family could be sealed.

Her gaze, cold and detached, swept over the panicked faces before abruptly stopping on Zhu Liqun.

"Did the honorable Zhu just volunteer to take on all the blame? I thought you would place all the faults on Xinyue instead."

Chu Baihan’s casual remark unsettled many.

What did the Princess mean by that?

"Princess, this officer... I don’t quite understand what you mean," Zhu Liqun stammered out.

"You don’t understand. Haven’t you believed from the start that this affair was Xinyue’s fault? Even just now, you immediately suspected Xinyue of revealing secrets to me."

Chu Baihan chuckled coldly as she spoke.

"I, this officer..." Zhu Liqun faltered for a long time, unable to articulate a reason.

Because, in his heart, he indeed thought as such, and he couldn’t refute the Princess.

"However, this incident truly wasn’t Xinyue’s doing," Chu Baihan spoke somberly.

What?

Zhu Liqun suddenly raised his head, disbelievingly staring at Chu Baihan.

Could it be she knew about this all along?

"When I sent people to investigate Xie Feifei’s origin, I realized someone was hiding clues for her. A thorough investigation made it not difficult to trace it back to you."

Chu Baihan explained coldly.

"Then Princess, why didn’t you..."

"I have been waiting for your confession, but you just wouldn’t speak up. Lord Zhu, you’ve greatly disappointed me. When you did wrong, rather than reflecting on yourself, you shifted the blame onto others," she said, her gaze on Zhu Liqun piercing and icy, causing his scalp to tingle.

"Luckily, Xinyue isn’t your flesh-and-blood daughter; otherwise, she would feel even worse," Chu Baihan remarked indifferently.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xinyue, who had been holding back her emotions, could no longer contain herself.

She looked up, her eyes red, gazing at Chu Baihan.

Was the Princess standing up for her?

That lonely, desolate heart of Zhu Xinyue finally felt a trace of warmth.

"This officer admits his guilt, admits his guilt."

Zhu Liqun kept kowtowing.

"Brother, what do you think we should do with them?"

Chu Baihan turned her head to ask for Nan Li’s opinion.

Nan Li smiled with lowered eyes, "Just decide as you see fit; I’ll hold up the sky for you if it falls."

His words left Zhu Yinian, who was not far away, feeling a bitter ache in his heart.

The Crown Prince’s care for the Princess, compared to his own protection of Yueyue, was like heaven and earth apart.