Chapter 244: Chapter 221: Louisa and Belina, Step Down
It was only at this moment that Qingt finally understood.
Belina had forged the imperial edict.
The nobles and ministers of the Central Star might have thought the previous Queen was just showing favoritism toward Princess Belina.
Despite being clearly inferior to Marquis Yisha in both reputation and ability, the throne was ultimately passed to Belina.
But only those truly caught in the middle of it all, the people inside the Imperial Palace, knew just how absurd it was for the throne to go to Belina.
Qingt had even seen an edict naming Marquis Yisha as the heir to the throne once when she was delivering something for Belina.
"At the time, Marshal Arturo was a powerful force, and Marquis Yisha was widely celebrated."
"Even with the edict in hand, if Marquis Yisha had objected, Belina wouldn’t have been able to secure her position on the throne."
"Perhaps that’s what she was afraid of, so Princess Belina bribed the Medical Hall to secretly swap you and Princess Louisa."
"I kept this a secret the entire time, not daring to tell anyone."
"It wasn’t until the National Day celebration several years later that I sensed Belina was planning to move against you."
"Marquis Yisha once saved my life. I couldn’t just stand by and watch her descendant die in obscurity, so..."
Everyone could guess what happened next.
As Belina’s most trusted Chief Palace Maid, she secretly followed her and found the Dark Laboratory.
Under the pretext of acting on Belina’s orders, she took away Yu Lan, who had been stripped of her SS-level talent and was now considered useless.
By the time Belina found out and sent assassins after them, Qingt had already taken Yu Lan into hiding on the Garbage Star. They remained there for many years, until they were discovered by Gu Deming.
The secret she hadn’t dared to tell anyone for so many years was finally revealed.
Qingt finally let out a sigh of relief and turned to Yu Lan.
"What do you want to do now?"
"I will cooperate in any way I can."
"Perhaps I should have spoken the truth back then without a moment’s hesitation."
"I was scared."
Poisoning the Queen, forging the edict, swapping the children.
Back then, Marquis Yisha had accepted the outcome, and Belina had become Queen.
Qingt couldn’t guarantee what would have happened if she had stepped forward to reveal the truth. What if Marquis Yisha didn’t believe her, or couldn’t have defeated Belina?
As a traitor, certain death would have been her only reward.
No one would dare gamble with their own life.
Because of that one moment of hesitation, the truth was buried by the passage of time.
Not until Yu Lan was discovered by Gu Deming and brought back to the Central Star did everything begin to turn around.
*
「Three days later.」
「Central Star.」
The entire Central Street was decked out in fiery red decorations, exuding a lively and festive atmosphere.
It was the succession ceremony for the Empire’s new queen, Louisa.
To prevent any further complications, Belina had impatiently announced Louisa as the Empire’s next heir—the new Empress—immediately after the incident on White Sand Star.
The crowds that came to watch the succession ceremony packed Central Street, creating a sea of people.
However, the atmosphere wasn’t nearly as lively and excited as Louisa had originally envisioned.
People in the crowd watching the ceremony could be heard sighing under their breath:
"If only it were Princess Yu Lan succeeding the throne."
"What a shame. It’s such a terrible shame."
"Princess Yu Lan’s body isn’t even cold yet, and Queen Belina is already rushing to hold a succession ceremony for Princess Louisa. Is she really Princess Yu Lan’s mother?"
"If you ask me, that whole ’New Queen Selection Competition’ should never have happened. It would have been so much better if they’d just given the throne directly to Princess Yu Lan. Then none of this other business would have occurred."
They hadn’t come to watch this ceremony for Louisa.
They had only come to imagine what it would have looked like—how festive and grand her own succession ceremony might have been, if only Princess Yu Lan were still alive.
The Empire had once again lost a successor who had the people’s hearts. As for the Empire’s future, everyone saw only darkness.
As grand, celebratory music began to play, Louisa slowly started walking toward Belina.
At that very moment, the broadcast system across Central Street flared to life.
Qingt’s familiar voice echoed above Central Street.
"I am Queen Belina’s Chief Palace Maid. Eighteen years ago, Belina collaborated with the Dark Planet to poison Queen Kali and forge the imperial will to ascend the throne."
"During her reign, she embezzled military funds, allowed the Dark Planet to devour the Empire’s territories, ignored the Border Star, and let the Garbage Star become a living Purgatory."
"To ensure Louisa’s smooth ascension, she once again conspired with the Dark Planet, stopping at nothing to have Princess Yu Lan assassinated."
"Princess Yu Lan’s death was not an accident—it was murder!"
"A person like that is unfit to be the Empress of the Empire!"
"Louisa, likewise, is unfit to be the next Queen."
!!!
Everyone present was stunned by Qingt’s sudden appearance and the revelations she brought forth.
Standing on the high platform, preparing for the ceremony, the color drained from Belina’s face the moment she saw Qingt’s familiar features appear on the broadcast.
She shrieked:
"Turn it off! Turn it off now!"
But it was too late.
The succession ceremony for the Empire’s next queen was being broadcast live across the entire Star Network.
Nearly everyone in the entire Empire saw it.
As Qingt’s image faded, it was immediately followed by a barrage of evidence.
[Kill Yu Lan as soon as possible. The down payment has been sent. Once it’s done, you’ll get a handsome reward.]
[The throne can only be Louisa’s. As if *she’s* worthy!]
[What’s the Garbage Star? Just a bunch of untouchables. If they die, they die. If Gu Deming doesn’t plead guilty, don’t blame me for what comes next!]
One piece after another.
The data collected by Shen Zueran and Huo Zhanting, combined with the ironclad evidence from Qingt, Gu Deming, and Ye Moyun, completely nailed Belina to the pillar of shame.
Her mask of nobility and elegance was torn away, revealing to all that the so-called Empress of the Empire was, in fact, rotten to the core.
[Collaborating with the Dark Planet! Oh my god!]
[Isn’t the Dark Planet supposed to be our mortal enemy? Why would Belina do that?!]
[Countless Imperial citizens die at the hands of the Dark Planet every year, and it turns out Her Majesty the Queen was secretly in league with the enemy all along.]
[She even got the throne with the help of the Dark Planet. It’s laughable. Utterly, ridiculously laughable.]
[Then what was the point of all our years of struggle and sacrifice?!]
After the initial shock, a towering rage swelled in the hearts of the people.
When they looked at Belina and Louisa on the high platform now, all traces of their former respect were gone.
It’s unclear who shouted it first:
"Step down!"
"Step down! Step down! Step down!"
The crowd’s furious roars crashed toward Belina and Louisa on the platform like a tidal wave.
People threw whatever they had in their hands at the pair.
As for the Royal Guard...
At that moment, even they hesitated.
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