Gatekeeper Temple Fair 3

"Since you've tacitly admitted it, then let the judgment be passed!" The Celestial Empress's voice grew heavier, full of authority. "Murdering the Crown Prince is a capital crime! Take her to the Execution Platform immediately!"

As she spoke, a magical artifact flew from her body, suddenly attacking Lily Bai.

Divine Lord Tanya Quinn swept her sleeve, deflecting the artifact away.

"Your Majesty, perhaps we should ask First Prince Brandon Xiao for his opinion! First Highness, what do you say?" said Lord Wynn Drake.

Brandon Xiao had been summoned after the incident. He kept frowning in silence.

"Crown Princess, you should explain why you had poison on you. The same poison ended up in both the Crown Prince’s and your own wine cups. He was harmed, but you were fine. Why is that?"

Lily Bai was like a block of wood—lifeless, numb, and completely unresponsive.

"Big Brother," Fourth Prince Henry Xiao spoke up, unable to bear it. "I really don’t think the Crown Princess could have poisoned the Crown Prince! I know their relationship—she would never do that!"

Brandon Xiao said, "I don’t care what you think; I want evidence. Unless she took the antidote in advance, why did the same poisoned wine kill the Crown Prince but not the Crown Princess?"

Henry Xiao said, "We should wait until the Crown Princess calms down before investigating further. Anyway, I believe she couldn’t possibly poison the Crown Prince."

"She’s Bianca Whitefan’s daughter—why wouldn’t she be capable of anything?" Second Prince Zane Xiao sneered. "Henry, this isn’t your business. Why are you interfering?"

Henry Xiao frowned, about to speak, but Third Prince Nathan Xiao dragged him back, forbidding him from saying another word.

Henry Xiao was left sulking and frustrated.

Brandon Xiao took a deep breath and said, "Crown Princess, I’ll ask you one more time. If you don’t answer, I may have to imprison you."

Lily Bai slowly moved her eyes toward the First Highness and finally spoke: "The poison powder on me came from..."

Her gaze swept past the crowd and pointed at Cassie, the Little Phoenix hiding in the corner: "It was her! She put the poison on me."

The entire hall was stunned.

Even Divine Lord Tanya Quinn was baffled. "Crown Princess, what are you talking about?"

Ruby Hong gave Lily Bai a calming look, then said, "Divine Lord Tanya, why not check if Cassie’s feathers smell like wine?"

Divine Lord Tanya Quinn looked at Cassie suspiciously.

"Lily Bai, shut your mouth!" The Celestial Empress suddenly stood up. "Why drag a child into this? And not just any child—your own master’s daughter! Are you trying to say the Little Phoenix killed the Crown Prince?"

"Your Majesty, it was First Highness who told me to speak! You tell me to be quiet, he tells me to answer—who am I supposed to listen to?" She looked at Brandon Xiao.

The Celestial Empress said to Brandon Xiao, "Brandon, she’s obviously just trying to shift the blame. There’s no point in continuing this!"

Brandon Xiao paused for a moment, then said, "Crown Princess, go on."

"Brandon Xiao! What did I tell you?" the Celestial Empress transmitted privately. "No matter who it is—even Lily Bai—she must be crushed! Otherwise, her two children will become Crown Princes! You—"

"Crown Princess, go ahead," Brandon Xiao interrupted the Empress, addressing Lily Bai. "But you should know there’s a price for talking nonsense."

Lily Bai nodded and looked at Divine Lord Tanya Quinn.

Divine Lord Tanya Quinn looked at her daughter, reaching out: "Come here."

Cassie’s dark eyes darted around, looking at everyone, then flew into her mother’s hand.

Divine Lord Tanya Quinn sniffed her daughter’s feathers and nodded. "There’s definitely a scent of wine."

Lily Bai said, "The poison that killed the Crown Prince is called Liquor-Flame Hex Poison. For dragons, it’s incredibly lethal, but for non-dragon races, it barely matters."