Chapter 673: You betrayed this crown prince (2/2)

“I gave Duanmu Yao a warning ahead of time to distrust any probing from the Tang Clan. She was only there to act out a play with that servant girl.” As Aunt Ru spoke, she sighed. “Big brother, I’ll admit my wrongs, but I don’t accept the label of traitor. I haven’t betrayed the Tang Clan!”

Tang Zijin was waiting for these words. This would be his only way to lighten Aunt Ru’s punishment. He could just watch her be put to death. But Long Feiye spoke up before he ever had the chance.

“You didn’t betray the Tang Clan, but you did betray this crown prince!”

This crown prince?

Tang Zijin, Aunt Ru, and even Chu Xifeng were stunned by those words. They had never heard the Duke of Qin refer to himself as “crown prince.” Was he going to use that status to deal with the problem today?

He’s serious!

Chu Xifeng immediately fell to one knee. Seeing this, Tang Zijin took a step back and made a respectful bow as befitting of an official to his monarch. Aunt Ru’s heart beat wildly in her chest. Once again, she felt the inviolable air of a monarch emanating from his form. She tried her best to ignore it, however, because she’d have no more chances to explain herself after today.

“Your Highness, Yiru didn’t commit any acts of treason. Yiru was only thinking of–”

“Tang Clan Head, if revealing this crown prince’s secrets to the enemy doesn’t constitute as a betrayal, then what does?” Long Feiye demanded coldly, ignoring her altogether. “You better give this crown prince a thorough explanation!”

How was Tang Zijin supposed to explain?

“It’s certainly treason! But I implore Your Highness to deal with the offender leniently for this old man’s sake. Yiru has neither caused great losses nor harbored any ill intentions.”

“This crown prince has already spoken of East Qin’s laws. A traitor must be executed along with her family according to the nine familial exterminations.” Long Feiye’s voice was ice. “The Tang Clan can count as descendents of the royal clan, so we can skip the nine and put your direct family to death.”

Tang Zijin immediately fell to his knees at the words. He exchanged glances with Aunt Ru, both of them gaping. So Long Feiye was this vicious!

“Feiye, do you know what you’re saying? For the sake of a single woman, you want to destroy the Tang family! Do you even remember what your imperial mother tasked you with before she died?” Aunt Ru asked loudly.

Tang Yiwan had been very clear about her instructions. Should any of the other noble clans try to revolt, the Tang Clan was the most loyal option! She’d left Long Feiye in Tang Zijin’s care.

Long Feiye finally lost his temper. “Then do you know what you’ve done?”

“I do!” Aunt Ru wouldn’t budge an inch. Before Tang Zijin could stop her, she exclaimed, “It’s you who doesn’t know what you’re doing! That woman Han Yunxi has bewitched you! Did you forget how your imperial mother died?”

“Tang Zijin, drag her out to be executed! Otherwise, don’t blame this crown prince for showing no mercy right here and now!” Long Feiye said.

Perhaps his words were only meant to intimidate before, but now he was playing in earnest! He wouldn’t really kill off the Tang Clan, but he was definitely capable of killing Aunt Ru! Tang Zijin knew he needed to give an explanation or else things would turn worse.

“Your Highness, please calm your anger! This came about because I wasn’t strict enough as clan head. May Your Highness allow this one to withdraw from his position and give the title of Tang Clan head to someone more competent.” This was Tang Zijin’s biggest counter.

“Big brother!” Aunt Ru cried.

“Shut up!” Tang Zijin roared. Yiru might be an idiot, but not him. Long Feiye only lost his temper because Aunt Ru was targeting Han Yunxi. He’d told her long ago to take her time when dealing with that woman, but Aunt Ru just wouldn’t listen. Now look–not only was Long Feiye on guard, but even willing to take her life.

Because Long Feiye had no confidence in the Tang Clan, he had no choice but to yield his position to fix the problem.

“Your Highness, this matter concerns the face of the Tang Clan. Please keep it a secret above all else,” Tang Zijin’s eyes flashed with calculations before he added, “Your Highness might have wanted to conceal events since esteemed wangfei isn’t present today. How about this…”