Chapter 431: Misunderstanding the Focus
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The discovery of the accident brought the four boats to a halt. They docked along the sh.o.r.e, allowing everyone to disembark.
The two distressed young ladies, their faces veiled with tears, knew full well the implications of having their clothing forcibly torn and exposed before being carried ash.o.r.e by a stranger.
Their reputations were irreparably tarnished, and the prospects of securing a good marriage were forever dashed. Their already modest family background now faced even greater challenges. Families of even modest prominence would recoil from allying themselves with women who had marred their reputations in such a manner.
Furthermore, should the Fifth Princess hold them responsible for their inability to execute such a straightforward scheme, their family would undoubtedly face repercussions. Retribution from the Empress’s family, the wealthiest and most influential, was not to be taken lightly. Offending them was bound to result in severe consequences.
The brothers of the two young ladies bore expressions of distress and embarra.s.sment, well aware of their sisters’ public humiliation. They hurriedly removed their outer garments and wrapped the ladies securely.
Unaware of the full story, they were eager to investigate the incident’s root cause.
“What happened here?”
“How did you end up against the railing?”
Even if it were an accidental collision with the railing, it should not have been enough to break it. A brand-new cruise ship would not possess corroded iron railings. Thus, it appeared highly likely that the breakage was the result of deliberate sabotage.
The cruise ship, however, was under the Crown Prince’s ownership, which meant that any issue with the railing was inherently his responsibility. Still, they were but insignificant individuals and did not dare to provoke the Crown Prince directly. Thus, they redirected their frustrations towards Qin Zhenzhen and Su Ning.
“Mrs. Su, Miss Su, a pa.s.senger on our boat claims they witnessed you pushing my sister into the river!”
Unperturbed, Qin Zhenzhen responded, “Why would I have any reason to push them into the river?”
“She said you grew upset after she accidentally b.u.mped into you, and that’s why you pushed them into the water!”
Qin Zhenzhen remained unfazed. “What an interesting coincidence! Your sister happened to choose a spot where the railing was damaged, and she accidentallv collided with me.”
The surrounding onlookers murmured amongst themselves. It did indeed seem like an extraordinary stroke of luck.
“What if I were to tell you that your sister was well aware of the broken railing in that location and intentionally b.u.mped into me, aiming to knock me into the river? Fortunately, I reacted quickly and managed to pull my sister out of harm’s way. They couldn’t restrain themselves and fell into the water.” “They’ve conspired to harm both me and themselves. Do you believe me?” The brothers of the two young ladies were incensed by Qin Zhenzhen’s statements.
“Mrs. Su, you’re making baseless accusations!”
“My sister bears no grudge against you. Why would she push you into the river?”
“Evidence is essential in everything. If you cannot provide a reasonable explanation, we will not let you off!”
With a smile, Qin Zhenzhen remarked, “You are absolutely correct; evidence is crucial.”
“Did anyone witness me pushing your sister?”
“You seek to accuse me based solely on your sister’s one-sided account. That is quite foolish!”
“Furthermore, it appears you have missed the primary issue here.”
“The heart of this matter does not seem to revolve around who pushed whom, but rather why the railing on this pleasure boat broke so easily..”