Chapter 264: His lordship is willing to lose face (1/2)

Chapter 264: His lordship is willing to lose face

Tianning’s Duke of Qin has arrived?

The announcement caused everyone to suddenly quiet down. No one expected Tianning Country’s Duke of Qin to show up at Medical Academy, much less at a time like this! News had already spread of how Han Yunxi and Gu Beiyue had misdiagnosed the crown prince and been sent to the imperial prisons. Supposedly, His Highness Duke of Qin had not only gone to the imperial prisons at the earliest opportunity, but refused to protect Han Yunxi as well. Instead, he told Official Ouyang to do things according to official principles without allowing any special cases. Clearly, he was casting her aside to protect himself so that Han Yunxi’s mess with the crown prince wouldn’t implicate himself. He hadn’t appeared when Luo Zuishan cried injustice for Han Yunxi and Gu Beiyue either, so why now?

It was already midnight, so Han Yunxi had already lost and landed on the blacklist for Medical City. Wasn’t he disgracing himself now by showing up? Although Han Yunxi was the one being accused, she was also bearing the title of Qin Wangfei and Long Feiye’s woman. Even if they were only linked by name, a husband and wife bore respect and dishonor equally. He was an intelligent man, so why didn’t he understand that the best choice was to wash his hands of the whole affair and not take a stand?

Qinwang Rong immediately rose to his feet. He was the most surprised of all. Just yesterday, he had exchanged letters with Emperor Tianhui to discuss Long Feiye’s attitude towards Han Yunxi. Emperor Tianhui had given up on Han Yunxi back then, instead of tormenting her, precisely because of Long Feiye’s actions. Otherwise, how could Han Yunxi pass her days in prison without being tortured? After all, as soon as that Official Ouyang got the go ahead from Emperor Tianhui, he’d start persecuting her without showing any face for the Duke of Qin.

Amidst the silent stares of the crowd, Long Feiye walked in alone. He was dressed in elegant brocade robes, his expression icy as he looked on loftily. Every step he took affected the hearts of all those present. There were people like him in this world whose mere existence made the very moon dim and fade away.

“We are honored by the presence of Your Highness Duke of Qin. Please excuse me for not going out to meet you, it’s my wrong!” Fourth Elder immediately yielded his seat. Though Long Feiye’s seniority ranked below that of Qinwang Rong, he was a far more weightier figure. Qinwang Rong might treat the three Elders politely, but Long Feiye had no such habits. Although the extent of this duke’s power was unclear, there were enough facts to prove that anyone who slighted him, both in and out of Tianning, were destined for a bad end.

Third Elder and Fifth Elder rose to greet him politely as well. “Your Highness Duke of Qin, long time no see.”

But Long Feiye words went beyond their expectations. “I heard that your lordship’s wangfei disappeared from Medical City, is this so?”

Third Elder found himself at a loss, along with all the people around him. Had this man really come to look for his wangfei? Did he know that Han Yunxi had made a bet with Third Elder, or that Han Yunxi had lost now that it was midnight?

Nobody could figure him out. Third Elder had no grounding upon which to speak; of course, he was experienced enough to calm down easily and smile. “Your Highness Duke of Qin’s words are a little off. Qin Wangfei didn’t disappear, but…escaped to avoid punishment for her crimes!”

Long Feiye wasn’t in a rush to reply, but coolly sat down on a high seat as if this was Tianning, not the medical academy, and he was the master instead of a guest. His voice was cold and severe as he slowly asked, “Third Elder, what is Qin Wangfei’s crime?”

Third Elder paused in surprise at these words. He was sure now that Long Feiye had bad intentions! Though he didn’t know why he showed up now of all times to protect Han Yunxi, he did know that midnight had already passed. Han Yunxi had lost! If that was the case, she had to pay the price. There were no exceptions in the medical academy, especially with all these eyes watching. Tianning’s Duke of Qin might have a large presence, but he wasn’t planning to give him face this time. Instead of explaining, Third Elder looked towards Qinwang Rong. It was Tianning’s emperor who had determined the crime, which had nothing to do with the medical academy.

Qinwang Rong never expected Long Feiye to really show up and defend Han Yunxi either. Now that things had gotten to this point, Long Feiye couldn’t be allowed to have his way. He’d have trouble explaining things to Emperor Tianhui otherwise when he returned.

“Duke of Qin, the crown prince narrowly lost his life at Han Yunxi’s hands. Both her and Gu Beiyue misdiagnosed him, and she even had the gall to gamble with Third Elder here. She’s lost face for our Tianning. Now that midnight’s passed, what else could she be but someone who escaped to avoid punishment for her crimes?” Qinwang Rong said indignantly.

But Long Feiye’s voice was as cold as before. “These are simply your conjectures. Who can prove that she escaped to avoid punishment instead of being kidnapped instead? Stand out and explain things clearly to your lordship!”

No one dared to speak up in front of Long Feiye’s icy visage. Truly, Han Yunxi and Gu Beiyue’s mysterious disappearance could be attributed to trouble meeting them instead. Nobody dared to stand out and claim otherwise. If they were wrong, they’d have to shoulder the consequences. Finally, it was still Qinwang Rong who replied.

“Duke of Qin, the crown prince’s illness is the best proof. She clearly lied, what with using needles to expel the poisons. That was all a play at most.”

“What, did Han Yunxi tell you that Long Tianmo recovered fully?” Long Feiye asked as he arched an eyebrow.

Qinwang Rong was momentarily speechless. When he thought back carefully, he recalled that Han Yunxi hadn’t claimed that Long Tianmo’s poison was cured, much less that he had fully recovered. They’d just assumed the poison had been treated based on their subjective judgment. Han Yunxi had said she’d re-examine him in three days’ time, which meant he hadn’t fully recovered yet. Everyone present three days ago felt a twinge of guilty conscience. All of them were afraid to give Long Feiye a straight answer.