Chapter 479: Chapter 173 Don’t Kneel_3
It was a sight that struck fear into one’s heart.
She looked at him with a faint breath, her frail figure casting a chill over Qi Yutai’s heart.
Qi Yutai prostrated himself once more, "Please, Your Highness, make a decision!"
No one would speak up for her.
At most, it would only be those pedantic medical officers from the Medical Officer Institute.
But what of it? Powerless, influence-less, and background-less commoner medical officers were a dime a dozen in Shengjing, and their words would not be heeded, inconsequential as they were, much like how one wouldn’t listen to the thoughts of ants, perhaps even less significant.
"This is wrong."
Qi Yutai abruptly stopped.
Lu Tong, lying in Lin Danqing’s arms, also raised her head.
The crowd looked toward the source of the voice.
Ji Xun—the young medical officer who always stood aloof from the crowd—stepped forward, approaching Lu Tong, knelt down to meticulously examine the wounds exposed on her body, and then turned to Yuan Zhen to perform a salute.
He said, "Your Highness, I have just examined Doctor Lu’s wounds, and they are all inflicted by a ferocious dog."
"’The Analects’ state: When the stables were burnt down, Confucius asked upon returning from court, ’Was anyone hurt?’ He did not ask about the horses. Noble men valued people over animals, which is why he did not ask."
He nodded, his voice steady and unhurried.
"I believe that our immediate priority should be to treat Doctor Lu’s injuries, before making any other plans."
Lu Tong silently watched him.
Qi Yutai bit back his frustration, "Does Doctor Ji not understand? This beast was gifted by the Emperor..."
Ji Xun’s expression remained calm, "It’s merely an animal."
It’s merely an animal.
To Qi Yutai, these words were particularly grating on the ears.
He raised his eyes, carefully observing the young medical officer before him.
This Ji Xun, relying on his family’s scholars, had always been somewhat aloof and arrogant, keeping to himself, and he had not expected him to speak for Lu Tong.
His words couldn’t be said to carry no weight, certainly more important than those good-for-nothing medical officers.
Still not satisfied, Qi Yutai wanted to speak again when someone else interjected, "Indeed, Young Master Qi, the Grand Preceptor is compassionate, distributing porridge to relieve the poor annually, accumulating vast merit. Why not turn a blind eye on this occasion, spare Doctor Lu this once? She has been severely injured by the hunting dog and knows her mistake."
Qi Yutai’s expression darkened.
They dared to speak using his father’s name.
He looked toward the speaker, a man named Chang Jin, who appeared to be a very ordinary middle-aged man. Seeing Qi Yutai looking at him, he hastily lowered his head, avoiding eye contact, appearing somewhat fearful.
Just another ignorant commoner.
Before he could speak, Jin Xianrong, who stood nearby, also coughed lightly, whispering, "...Indeed, by rights, this event should be considered an accident. I see that Doctor Lu has been seriously injured as well. If not in urgent circumstances, she likely would not have acted rashly."
Jin Xianrong stole a glance at Lu Tong.
He really didn’t want to get involved in this mess. After finally getting closer to Qi Yutai, his efforts would be negated over a few words.
And yet, it was Lu Tong who was in control of the future of his descendants.
His illness had recently been getting better, his martial arts improving greatly, and he still hoped that Lu Tong could help him advance further in the future. If she truly died, then even if he curried favor with the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion and secured a high position, it would only be high but lonely success.
After deliberating, his lower half turned out to be more important than the second half of his life.
With his words, Qi Yutai’s face changed multiple times.
Ji Xun, Chang Jin, Jin Xianrong...
One after another, they all spoke up for Lu Tong.
He had originally thought that Lu Tong was just an ordinary female doctor, who relied on her modest looks to ensnare Pei Yunmeng, thus upsetting Hua Ying. But now it seems, she was far more formidable than he had imagined.
It was why so many people would risk offending the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion to speak up for her.
Especially Ji Xun.
What exactly had she done to bewitch Ji Xun?
All was silent around, when suddenly, a calm female voice rang out.
"The ’Laws of the Liang Dynasty’ clearly state: Of all the livestock, if dogs bite or trample on people due to tags and restraints not being as per the regulations, if a rabid dog is not killed, the owner shall receive forty lashes; if the dog harms someone due to negligence, they are charged with accidental harm. If one intentionally lets the dog loose to harm someone, the penalty shall be reduced by one degree compared to murder."
The words came unexpectedly, drawing everyone’s gaze toward her.
Lu Tong said, "Young Master Qi’s keeping of a rabid dog that harmed someone should be charged with negligence. And as for my killing of the vicious dog, according to the ’Laws of the Liang Dynasty,’ I have done nothing wrong and should not be held accountable."
She turned towards the Crown Prince, surrounded by the crowd, as if making a final desperate move, her eyes filled with desolate coldness.
"Please make your judgement, Your Highness."
Yuan Zhen’s expression shifted slightly.
His gaze wandered among the crowd, the Crown Prince having seen through Qi Yutai’s poorly staged act. Had it been any other day, he might have gone along with Qi Yutai’s words without fault.
But Ji Xun was present today.
With the hidden currents within the court, although the Ji Family didn’t pledge allegiance to any side, they were not insignificant nobodies. Coupled with today’s assassination attempt in the forest and the fact that he was already in a bad mood, seeing Qi Yutai’s troublesome actions made him somewhat impatient.