ASTRP -Chapter 106 Feng Jingge and the Prince’s Cold War Is Discovered by the White Lotus

Prince Ning poured himself a cup of water before asking softly, “Mother, do you still remember what your son once told you?”

“What words?”

The Empress Dowager frowned as she replied, then walked over and sat closely beside Prince Ning.

Prince Ning drank several mouthfuls of hot water, soothing his aching throat. Only after feeling slightly better did he slowly speak.

“One must not act too hastily.”

The Empress Dowager asked in confusion, “Yuan’er, what do you mean by acting too hastily?”

Before Prince Ning could answer, she continued, “Xiao Jinghan sat upon that position and rectified the imperial court, replacing officials one wave after another.”

“And most of the officials he removed were promoted back then by your uncle.”

The graceful composure the Empress Dowager had only just regained now became tinged with agitation and anger once more. Her hands hidden within her sleeves had already clenched tightly into fists.

“Isn’t Xiao Jinghan doing this to weaken the Pei family’s power?!”

She paused and cast a meaningful glance at Prince Ning.

Yet Prince Ning’s expression remained unchanged as he leisurely continued drinking tea.

The Empress Dowager sighed softly.

“And recently, because of Jingning’s matter…”

Prince Ning’s drinking motion paused.

Seeing this, the Empress Dowager hurriedly stopped the topic.

“Forget it, forget it.”

“Your health is already poor. Speaking to you about these things will only affect your mood.”

Prince Ning remained silent, calmly sipping his tea.

The Empress Dowager also did not know what to say.

She had never been able to see through the thoughts of her precious son.

So she simply stayed quiet and watched him silently.

Time passed, and Prince Ning finished the tea in his cup.

Setting the cup down, he slowly parted his lips.

“How has Yu’er been lately?”

The “Yu’er” he referred to was the young emperor, Xiao Yu.

The Empress Dowager never expected Prince Ning to suddenly mention Xiao Yu.

She froze briefly before letting out a cold laugh.

“He now spends all day mixed together with those four study companions.”

“As for my words, they go in one ear and out the other.”

Prince Ning’s brows knitted tightly.

“He still comes daily to pay respects to Mother?”

The Empress Dowager straightened her posture proudly.

“I am his imperial mother. Of course he must come every day to greet me.”

Prince Ning said slowly, “When he comes tomorrow, Mother should tell him about the arranged marriage.”

“Him?”

The Empress Dowager stared blankly before frowning.

“Yuan’er, have you become confused?”

“He’s terrified of Xiao Jinghan. Why would he listen to what I say?”

“Trying is still better than not trying at all.”

Prince Ning curved his lips into a faint smile as he looked at her.

“What does Mother think?”

Meeting the smile-filled gaze in Prince Ning’s eyes, the Empress Dowager seemed to realize something. Her expression changed instantly.

Her tone also became solemn.

“Yuan’er, you mean…”

Prince Ning interrupted her with a smile.

“Mother, some matters are understood without being spoken aloud.”

The Empress Dowager nodded knowingly.

“Mother understands.”

—

Meanwhile, Feng Jingge had already left the palace and returned to the Regent Prince’s Manor.

The moment she entered the manor, she unexpectedly ran into Xiao Jinghan, who was heading out.

Thinking about what happened last night, Feng Jingge was already in a bad mood.

Then, seeing Xiao Jinghan act as though he hadn’t seen her at all, her anger instantly surged.

Good!

Very good!

If you can pretend not to see me, then so can I!

And just like that, neither of them spoke. Both wore indifferent expressions as they brushed past one another.

Qing Shan originally wanted to greet Feng Jingge.

But seeing her icy face—as if someone owed her money—and noticing that his own prince also remained silent…

To avoid provoking disaster, he wisely kept his mouth shut.

Feng Jingge returned to her courtyard.

Xiao Jinghan left the manor.

The two walked away from each other in opposite directions.

And this scene just so happened to be witnessed by Liu Qingqing.

The moment Liu Qingqing saw them, she hurriedly dragged Fu Ping behind a tree to hide.

The two peeked secretly from behind the tree.

When she saw Xiao Jinghan and Feng Jingge leave separately without even interacting, she almost suspected she was hallucinating.

Excited, she pinched herself hard.

Only after feeling pain did she realize—

This wasn’t an illusion.

It was real!

Clearly, the prince and that bitch Feng Jingge had gotten into conflict.

Could it be… because of last night…

Did the trick that person taught her actually work?!

Overjoyed, Liu Qingqing grabbed Fu Ping and said excitedly,

“Fu Ping, quickly! To the rouge shop!”

Before Fu Ping could even react, Liu Qingqing dragged her hurriedly out of the manor.

After the two disappeared beyond the manor gates, Feng Jingge emerged not long after.

She glanced toward the tree Liu Qingqing had hidden behind and curled her lips into a cold smile.

As the saying goes, whenever something is abnormal, there must be something suspicious behind it.

Looks like there truly was something fishy going on.

Since she had nothing to do today anyway, she might as well go see what kind of “monster” was backing Liu Qingqing.

Feng Jingge followed them out of the manor as well.

The first thing she did after leaving was slip into a deserted alley and disguise herself slightly before tailing Liu Qingqing.

This tail nearly exhausted her to death.

Liu Qingqing wandered here and there—from jewelry shops to clothing stores.

The important part was…

She only browsed and bought nothing.

Feng Jingge even began suspecting that she had accidentally exposed herself, causing Liu Qingqing to deliberately wander around trying to shake her off.

Just as suspicion arose in her heart, Liu Qingqing brought Fu Ping into a cosmetics shop.

Before entering, Liu Qingqing stood at the entrance and looked around cautiously. Only after sweeping her gaze around did she step into the shop.

Coincidentally, directly across from the cosmetics shop was a teahouse. From the second-floor windows, one could clearly see inside the shop.

Feng Jingge immediately went into the teahouse and rented a private room upstairs.

After entering, she locked the door and walked over behind the rolled curtain by the window.

Raising a hand, she gently lifted the curtain and looked toward the cosmetics shop.

Just as expected, this position gave her a perfectly clear view inside.

She could see Liu Qingqing talking with someone.

However, Fu Ping’s body completely blocked the other person, making it impossible to see their appearance.

She couldn’t hear anything either.

Couldn’t hear.

Couldn’t see the person’s face…

Hadn’t she just wasted all this effort following them?

Following?

Feng Jingge suddenly jolted inwardly.

Wait!

Why… why was she following Liu Qingqing in the first place?

Liu Qingqing had a relationship with Xiao Jinghan, but had absolutely nothing to do with her.

Even if Liu Qingqing was scheming…

The reason for it would still be Xiao Jinghan.

Once she and Xiao Jinghan switched their bodies back, she would never have any interaction with Liu Qingqing anyway.

Whatever schemes Liu Qingqing had would have nothing to do with her.

So…

Everything Liu Qingqing did had no relation to her whatsoever.

Yet she…

Was currently stalking Liu Qingqing?

Feng Jingge’s thoughts became a mess, and she urgently needed some water to calm down.

She walked over to the table, picked up the teapot, and poured herself a cup.

Then drank it all in one gulp.

But instead of calming her chaotic thoughts, the tea only reminded her of why she had been angry last night…

She was angry at Xiao Jinghan.

Was she angry because Xiao Jinghan got angry over Liu Qingqing… or because of Liu Qingqing herself…

Liu Qingqing was Xiao Jinghan’s concubine.

Was she angry because…

She was jealous?

Jealous?

Because she liked Xiao Jinghan, so she became jealous?

She…

Liked Xiao Jinghan??????