ASTRP -Chapter 105 Feng Jingge, the Master of Verbal Retorts

Although the Empress Dowager was displeased, she still had to give her son some face.

“Since Yuan’er has said so, then this dowager shall speak plainly.”

“This dowager intends to arrange a marriage between you and the daughter of the Li family.”

As she mentioned the Li family’s daughter, the Empress Dowager’s gaze landed directly on Li Xiyue.

Her meaning could not have been more obvious.

At that moment, Feng Jingge glanced at Li Xiyue.

The young woman secretly peeked back at her before quickly lowering her head again.

A sneer surfaced in Feng Jingge’s heart.

This Empress Dowager truly refused to give up. Last time, she had already made it clear that her marriage was not for the Empress Dowager to interfere with.

Yet now she had directly brought the girl here and spoken of arranging the marriage in front of her.

Clearly, she wanted Xiao Jinghan to be embarrassed today.

Feng Jingge let out a cold laugh, her voice sharp as icy blades.

“It seems Imperial Sister-in-law has treated this prince’s words as nothing more than wind in her ears?”

“Mother is only doing this for Imperial Uncle’s own good—”

Before Prince Ning could finish speaking, he suddenly began coughing violently behind his sleeve.

“Cough! Cough cough cough—”

The coughing only grew harsher.

The entire Hall of Mingci echoed with the sound.

The Empress Dowager hurriedly raised a hand and patted Prince Ning’s back.

The palace maid called Qingxiu was quick-witted and promptly brought over a cup of hot water.

The Empress Dowager took it and held it to Prince Ning’s lips.

“Yuan’er, quick, drink some hot water. You’ll feel better after a sip.”

“This son… cough cough… can do it himself…”

Prince Ning shakily raised a hand, trying to take the teacup.

The Empress Dowager was frantic.

“You’re coughing this badly and still talking nonsense!”

Feng Jingge sat at the side, coldly watching Prince Ning drink water, the corners of her lips twitching faintly.

That sickly weakling should be lying in bed recovering instead of worrying about her marriage.

Oh, no.

He was worrying about Xiao Jinghan’s marriage.

Serving as the Empress Dowager’s echo chamber—he deserved to cough like this.

After drinking a cup of hot water, Prince Ning finally stopped coughing.

But his face was devoid of color, pale as paper.

Combined with his thin frame and frail appearance, he looked like a withered tree in the cold wind, swaying as though he might collapse at any moment.

Seeing Prince Ning in such a state, Feng Jingge began calculating inwardly whether he might cough himself to death from lack of breath.

Just as she was thinking that, the Empress Dowager suddenly roared—

“Prince Xian!”

Feng Jingge lifted her eyelids and glanced lazily toward her.

The Empress Dowager’s face was full of fury.

“Yuan’er is your nephew no matter what. How can you bully him like this?”

Feng Jingge: ????

What nonsense was this?

When had she bullied Prince Ning?

Clearly, it was this mother-and-son pair morally blackmailing her together!

Besides…

She had not even opened her mouth, so how exactly had she bullied him?

Grinding her teeth, the Empress Dowager snapped, “This dowager arranged this marriage for your own good! Fine if you refuse to appreciate it, but you even vent your anger on Yuan’er!”

“…”

Feng Jingge was speechless inside. She coldly shot back, “Should we summon an imperial physician for Imperial Sister-in-law?”

The moment those words came out, everyone present changed expression.

Prince Xian was clearly implying the Empress Dowager was mentally ill!

Ever since “Xiao Jinghan” arrived, Li Xiyue had kept her head lowered in silence.

She had practically turned herself into an invisible person.

But upon hearing “Xiao Jinghan” subtly curse the Empress Dowager, her heart jolted in shock and anxiety, and she secretly glanced at “Xiao Jinghan” several times in concern.

Prince Ning frowned, his gaze falling upon his imperial uncle.

The Empress Dowager reacted the most strongly. Her expression changed abruptly, her pupils shrinking in fury as she squeezed out a single word through clenched teeth.

“You!”

Feng Jingge ignored the hateful stare that looked ready to skin her alive.

She raised a hand, her slender finger pointing at the palace maid Qingxiu.

“You. Go summon Imperial Physician Liu. Tell him the Empress Dowager has developed hysteria and have him come immediately.”

Suddenly singled out, Qingxiu froze in confusion.

She did not move and instead looked toward the Empress Dowager.

“Prince Xian, you are outrageous!”

The Empress Dowager thundered in rage.

“This dowager is your imperial sister-in-law, yet you dare curse me!”

“You!”

By the end, she was trembling so violently with anger that she forgot what she had wanted to say next.

“Curse you?”

Feng Jingge lightly repeated the word before giving a cold laugh, her icy gaze sweeping over the Empress Dowager’s face.

“Heh…”

“What is mere hysteria worth?”

She stood up and coldly swept her gaze around the hall.

“If Imperial Sister-in-law truly pushes this prince too far, it’s not impossible for this prince to overturn the entire Hall of Mingci.”

Her tone was light and airy, but every word carried naked threat.

Prince Ning’s expression darkened.

As for the Empress Dowager—the person being threatened—she was already so furious she could no longer speak, only glaring fixedly at “Xiao Jinghan.”

If looks could kill, Feng Jingge would already have been hacked into pieces.

At the side, Li Xiyue felt like crying without tears, her delicate body trembling.

Had she known things would turn out like this, she would never have entered the palace even if beaten to death…

Watching Prince Xian openly clash with the Empress Dowager, she was starting to worry for her own life.

After all, this counted as witnessing things she should not have seen, didn’t it?!

Facing the Empress Dowager’s hateful stare, Feng Jingge curled her lips into a sneer.

She no longer bothered staying here. Flicking her sleeve, she turned around and strode directly out of the Hall of Mingci.

The Empress Dowager was both furious and stunned!

She glared coldly at “Xiao Jinghan’s” departing back until the figure disappeared beyond the palace doors. Only then did she come back to her senses.

She raised a hand, pointing in the direction “Xiao Jinghan” had left, and hysterically shouted at Prince Ning,

“Yuan’er! Yuan’er, look! Look at that!!”

“Too outrageous! Far too arrogant!!!”

The moment Li Xiyue heard the Empress Dowager’s voice, she knew the woman had been angered by Prince Xian to the point of losing rationality.

And people who lost rationality often blurted out things they should not say.

Earlier, she had already seen things she should not have seen.

For the sake of her own life, she absolutely could not hear things she should not hear!

Taking several deep breaths while silently encouraging herself, Li Xiyue suddenly spoke with closed eyes,

“Empress Dowager…”

The sudden voice interrupted the irrational Empress Dowager.

She slowly turned around. Upon seeing Li Xiyue behind her, her gaze immediately darkened, and displeasure surfaced in her voice.

“Why are you still—”

Prince Ning coughed lightly, as though reminding her of something.

The Empress Dowager also seemed to realize something. The coldness on her face faded, replaced by a smile, and even her tone softened.

“Girl Xiyue, return home first and wait for this dowager’s message.”

With that, the Empress Dowager heavily patted Li Xiyue’s shoulder twice.

“This subject’s daughter takes her leave.”

Li Xiyue’s body trembled. After quickly responding, she lowered her head and hurried out of the Hall of Mingci.

The Empress Dowager turned back to watch Li Xiyue’s retreating figure, the gentleness in her eyes replaced by cold malice.

Originally, she had summoned the girl to the palace intending to turn her into a chess piece under her control.

Unexpectedly, the girl had not become a pawn at all—instead, she had witnessed a complete farce!

Had it been anyone else, they would never have walked out of the Hall of Mingci alive.

A cold smile spread across the Empress Dowager’s lips.

Turning back around, she ordered the trusted palace maids beside her,

“All of you withdraw.”

“Yes.”

After responding, the palace maids all retreated one after another.

The enormous hall was left with only the Empress Dowager and Prince Ning.

Prince Ning walked over to a nearby chair and casually took a seat.