Chapter 465: He Didn’t Say Anything

Andy suddenly shouted as if grabbing a lifeline. He was just a doctor running a mini clinic, with different goals from those scholars.

Suddenly, a commotion came from outside the government office. A receptionist rushed in and said, "Your Highness, hundreds of scholars have gathered outside, making noise, demanding the release of Andy Lacrosse. They say he is innocent and ask why the government arrested him without any solid evidence."

"Scholars, solid evidence?" Prince Simon and the minister exchanged glances.

Hearing this, Andy’s expression grew complicated. Trying to make amends, he carefully said, "Your Highness, these people are likely the scholars organised by Olivier. From my point of view, these scholars are only pretending to help me. What they really want is for Your Highness to allow them to take the exams. In my clinic, these scholars shamelessly claimed that the vacant official posts should belong to them instead."

Under the threat to his life, Andy immediately turned against the scholars. He was smart — his alliance with the religion was only for his own benefit.

Now exposed and threatened by the prince, he dared not oppose him. Saving his life was his top priority.

Simon snorted coldly. Andy was nothing but a greedy merchant, only after silver. He said, "Good timing. I want to meet this group of scholars and see what kind of trouble they can stir up."

With that, he and his minister went outside.

As the clerk said, hundreds of young men dressed as scholars stood outside the government office, shouting loudly, acting as if fighting for the nation and the people.

When they saw Prince Simon and his minister appear, the scholars’ voices slowly died down. Recognising them, they clearly did not expect Prince Simon to be here and were momentarily confused.

The leader of the scholars spoke loudly, "Your Highness, we come for Andy lacrosse life. We believe that he is innocent. We do not understand why the government arrested him. Your Highness is usually open-minded, so why would you do something so unfair today?"

"How do you know he is innocent? And how do you know I want to harm him?" Simon asked sharply, suspecting this leader was the infamous Olivier, brainwashed by the famous Hill Dickinson.

"Doctor Oscar died, but the government arrested Andy. Isn’t this to cover up Doctor Oscar’s suicide?" As Prince Simon expected, the leader was indeed the infamous Olivier.

When Brambleford exam reform excluded them, these so-called religious scholars exploded with anger. Those unhappy gathered, and Olivier, a student of Hill Dickinson, quickly became their leader. Together they plotted how to change this situation.

Doctor Oscar’s death gave them the perfect opportunity. They tried to prove that they were the true followers of the right path and that the reform exam should include them.

"So you mean Doctor Oscar’s death is all my fault?" Simon asked calmly.

"I dare not say such," Olivier replied with a fearful look.

"Dare not say?" Simon sneered at the scholars behind Olivier. "What else are you afraid of? Do you think the law won’t punish the crowd, so you came to pressure me with these scholars of yours?"

"I dare not," Olivier said, while keeping a calm face.

Simon laughed then. He had to admit the religious scholars had pros and cons, but some were truly stubborn. However, he didn’t believe Olivier was one of the tough ones.

Anyone driven by self-interest was not tough.

His eyes shifted. "Hmph, I’m not falling of your little tricks. Since you want Andy, I’ll give him back to you safe and sound."

With that, Prince Simon signalled. The men behind him immediately brought Andy out of the government office and pushed him in front of the scholars.

Olivier’s expression changed. He had thought the government wouldn’t release him, so they could make trouble and have the Nelson family put pressure on Prince Simon.

But what was Prince Simon really playing at?

"What are you waiting for? Didn’t you all come here for Andy? I just gave him back to you. Why are you still standing there, like a lost dog? Disperse, disperse!" Simon said.

"Your Highness, even so, shouldn’t you say something about Doctor Oscar’s death?" Olivier finally revealed his true intent.

Simon had been waiting for this. He said, "Step forward. I’ll explain to you."

Olivier glanced back at the scholars, gathered enough courage, and stepped forward in front of Prince Simon. Suddenly Simon’s mouth moved a few times close to his ear, but no sound came out.

Before anyone could react, Simon said to the scholars loud and clear. "I’ve said all I need to say. Ask him anything, yourselves." Then he entered the government office.

Hearing this, the scholars immediately clustered around their leader, asking, "Olivier, what did His Highness say?"

"He didn’t say anything," Olivier looked puzzled.

"That’s impossible. We clearly saw him open his mouth," one scholar said.

"I saw it too, and he seemed very happy," another added.

Olivier was now feeling frustrated. He explained again, "I swear His Highness really said nothing to me."

"Olivier, His Highness clearly moved his mouth. Why do you say he said nothing?" Andy asked sharply.

After that, many scholars grew even angrier. Several stormed off in rage. Olivier bit his lower lip as he stood frozen, feeling very uneasy.

This feeling became reality the next day.

It was the day the reform exam list was published. Except for the Oxford Academy students, the only new name on the list was only Olivier.

"Well done, that scheming, beast like of a human called Olivier tricked us all. He made us cause a scene at the government office, claiming the law wouldn’t punish a crowd. It was all for himself. Now his name is on the list. What else can we say?"

Some of the scholars stomp their feet in anger.

In front of the list, a scholar who had participated in the protest shouted.

"Shameless villain! His Highness must have told him beforehand. He played dumb afterwards. No wonder he stopped causing trouble. We were all fooled."

"Scoundrel! Let’s beat him to death, that despicable villain!"

"That little rat, he played me for a fool."

"Beat him to death!" The crowd of scholars grew enraged.

Nearby, Simon watched this group of scholars from a corner a satisfied smile playing on his lips. Baldwin stood beside him and laughed, "Your Highness, what a clever divide-and-conquer. First, you released Andy to take away their excuse for trouble, then pretended to say a few words to dismiss Olivier, and finally arranged for Olivier’s name to appear on the exam list. Now Olivier can’t even explain himself."

Prince Simon smiled, "This is only the beginning. Using this matter, I will show the people their true faces."