Chapter 122: Piqued, the wangfei pardons (1/2)

Chapter 122: Piqued, the wangfei pardons Original and most updated translations are from volare. If read elsewhere, this chapter has been stolen. Please stop supporting theft.

The tense atmosphere that had dispersed upon Gu Qishao’s arrival turned taut again at Long Feiye’s words. He hadn’t blamed wrongly, since it was Huo Yang’s collaboration with the spies that made it so easy to snatch Qin Wangfei away.

“Your Highness Duke of Qin…” Guard Shangguan was about to explain, but Gu Qishao cut him off with a laugh.

“Your Highness Duke of Qin, this one’s been chasing after esteemed wangfei ever since the southern mountains to protect her from harm. I don’t know if my merits can make up for my shortcomings?”

Guard Shangguan was quick to chime in. “Your Highness Duke of Qin, it was fortunate our owner was here, or else we would’ve been one step too late.”

These words carried a hint of vying with the Duke of Qin for contributions in the rescue effort. Guard Shangguan was usually an intelligent man, but his nervousness before the Duke of Qin always turned him blunter than usual. In this situation, being too honest was a mistake. Long Feiye didn’t like the sound of his words and his eyes grew even colder. Of course, he couldn’t refute the truth.

But he could ignore it.

“What about the wound on her arm?” Long Feiye asked immediately.

If not for his reminder, Han Yunxi would’ve forgotten about it. This was inflicted by Gu Qishao with his whip so he could gain the chance to grab her from the masked man’s clutches. The injury was worth it.

“That was something I did accidentally during my rescue,” Gu Qishao was very truthful.

“An injury’s still an injury, there’s no excuse,” Long Feiye denied everything with one sentence.

Gu Qishao smiled indifferently, prepared to allow him to do as he willed. But Guard Shangguan wasn’t satisfied and said, “Your Highness Duke of Qin, I beg you on behalf of our owner’s contributions to give him merit where it’s due and absolve the Celestial Fragrance Teashop from blame.”

Gu Qishao didn’t seem to care either way, but he didn’t stop Guard Shangguan for pleading mercy either. Yet Long Feiye once again left him speechless. “It’s only natural to save Qin Wangfei, this doesn’t count as merit. How can it make up for other things?”

Mu Qingwu listened from the side, wanting to help Guard Shangguan but without the guts to speak. He couldn’t help but feel that the Duke of Qin had been offended by Guard Shangguan’s earlier comment and was in a bad mood.

Finally, a sinister look flashed through Gu Qishao’s laughing eyes, though he kept it concealed. His smile was like a flower as he spoke. “Your Highness speaks rightly. Would the Celestial Fragrance Teashop allow offenders to do as they pleased?”

He chased after Han Yunxi to save her, first because he was interested in this woman and wanted to make friends, secondly because he wanted to see what kind of person dared conceal enemy spies in his Celestial Fragrance Teashop. As for using merit to absolve his blame, he’d never given it a second thought, nor did he need it. The Celestial Fragrance Teashop was his favorite property in Tianning. It’d be a lie to say that he didn’t cherish it. But no matter how much he liked it, it was still a teashop in the end. He could afford the loss.

Yet Guard Shangguan sucked in a deep breath at his words. “Your Highness Duke of Qin is a great and generous man. I beg Your Highness to be lenient with the offenders!”

Enemy spies had kidnapped Qin Wangfei. Such a crime was enough leave to shut down the Celestial Fragrance Teashop for good and have all its assets turned over to the national treasury. The owner had spent money to buy the land, but he was the one in charge of managing all its affairs. Guard Shangguan could feel his heart bleeding at the thought.

Still, Long Feiye was cold. “Your lordship is already being magnanimous by not investigating you and your owner. Beyond this, your lordship will thoroughly trace every matter and figure associated with the Celestial Fragrance Teashop!”

Gu Qishao finally narrowed his eyes at these words. Long Feiye wouldn’t investigate him, but the Celestial Fragrance Teashop and its people. Undoubtedly, he’d look into his unsavory past. He hated people that tried to find out about his past!

Gu Qishao prepared to speak when Han Yunxi beat him to it. “Your Highness, if it wasn’t for Gu Qishao’s timely intervention, chenqie would have lost her life long ago. Chenqie hasn’t blamed the young general and doesn’t want to blame any member of the teashop. Moreover, Gu Qishao risked his life to save me from danger, fearing nothing in his heroics. Just from this fact, chenqie is willing to pardon his crimes.”

Han Yunxi intentionally brought up ‘risked his life to save me,’ her clear eyes firmly staring into Long Feiye’s own.

No one expected her to speak up.

No, in truth, she wasn’t pleading for leniency, but outright asking for a pardon. It wasn’t clear exactly what had infuriated Long Feiye, but his nostrils quivered as he spoke, “You have no right to issue a pardon.”

“Chenqie does. It was chenqie that was kidnapped, not Your Highness!” Han Yunxi spoke out rebelliously, leaving Mu Qingwu and Guard Shangguan dumbstruck. But Gu Qishao’s lips curved up as he took pleasure in gloating over Long Feiye’s misfortune. Even Emperor Tianhui didn’t dare to face off directly against Long Feiye, but Han Yunxi was being contrary to his face?

What pluck!

If one listened closely, they’d definitely pick up the sounds of Long Feiye’s fists clenching inside his sleeves. His face remained expressionless as he spoke, word-by-word, to remind her. “Han Yunxi, everything of yours belongs to your lordship. That includes your authority. Before your lordship, you have no rights whatsoever!”

Han Yunxi feared Long Feiye, but she forgot her fear in her anger. She didn’t budge a step and replied, word-by-word, with a retort. “Chenqie refuses to give in! Chenqie will enter the palace and find the emperor to ask him to decide!”

Heavens!