ASTRP -Chapter 117 Feng Jingge and the Prince Open Their Hearts to Each Other

Fu Ping nodded, and the two of them walked forward side by side.

As soon as they moved, the carriage waiting at the far end of the alley began moving as well.

It kept a steady distance behind them—not too close, not too far.

Liu Qingqing and her maid chatted as they walked, completely unaware that they were being watched.

Liu Qingqing asked, “Fu Ping, how many years have you served me?”

Fu Ping frowned thoughtfully before replying, “Replying to Madam, it’s been about six years.”

“Then during these six years, how many times has the Prince come to the courtyard where I live?”

This…

Fu Ping thought about it but didn’t know how to answer.

Because…

In her memory, it was always her mistress who went to look for the Prince. As for the Prince stepping into her mistress’s courtyard, it seemed to have happened only twice.

Once was when Madam claimed she was pregnant, and the second time was on Madam’s birthday.

Liu Qingqing smiled bitterly and asked, “Can’t answer, can you?”

“Madam, in the past few years the Prince was always traveling outside. It was only this year, after being named Regent Prince, that he returned to the residence. Every day he leaves early and returns late, busy beyond measure.”

“You’ve seen all of this yourself.”

“He may have countless reasons for not entering my courtyard, but… why won’t he give me a proper status?”

Fu Ping froze.

So Madam actually had no official status?

Thinking about it carefully… that did seem to be the case.

Aside from her two personal maids, everyone else in the Prince’s Residence addressed her as Miss Liu.

The title “Madam” had been self-assigned.

Fu Ping’s thoughts became a mess. She had never considered it before.

But now that she thought back on it, she realized her mistress truly had nothing.

Liu Qingqing noticed every change in Fu Ping’s expression and laughed self-mockingly.

“Looking back on it now, doesn’t it seem like I have nothing at all?”

Just as Fu Ping was about to answer, a carriage stopped beside them.

Before the two could react, two tall women leaped down from the carriage. Their figures flashed forward.

In an instant, they arrived before Liu Qingqing and Fu Ping.

One hand each covered their mouths.

Then they dragged Liu Qingqing and Fu Ping into the carriage.

The carriage immediately departed.

The streets were crowded with people coming and going, yet no one noticed that two people had vanished.

At the same time, inside a private room at the teahouse.

Feng Jingge and Xiao Jinghan sat cross-legged on cushions.

The two faced each other, their gazes meeting.

Feng Jingge spoke first.

“Your Highness, let’s play a game.”

Xiao Jinghan asked, “What game?”

“It’s called I Ask, You Answer.”

“It means I ask a question, and Your Highness must answer immediately. If more than three counts pass, the answer becomes invalid.”

“I’ll ask first, then it’ll be your turn.”

Xiao Jinghan countered, “Any question?”

Feng Jingge nodded.

“Yes, any question.”

Xiao Jinghan agreed without hesitation.

“Alright.”

“Then the game begins.”

Feng Jingge looked at the man and asked,

“Your Highness… do you like me?”

Xiao Jinghan answered without thinking,

“Yes.”

Feng Jingge froze slightly.

Though she had already vaguely guessed that Xiao Jinghan had feelings for her, hearing him say it aloud and merely suspecting it herself were two entirely different feelings.

She quickly regained herself and asked the second question.

“Hypothetically speaking, if I agreed to marry Your Highness, what status would you give me?”

The man once again answered without hesitation.

“Principal wife.”

“Then I’m afraid I’ll disappoint Your Highness.”

“I already told you before—what I seek in marriage is monogamy. I cannot accept sharing one husband with other women.”

“Coincidentally,” Xiao Jinghan replied, “what this Prince believes in is one life, one partner.”

One life, one partner?

Feng Jingge’s heart shook violently.

Wasn’t that the kind of line ancient romance novel heroines usually said to the male lead?

She herself had originally wanted to say those exact words.

But she felt they were too cliché, so she intentionally phrased it differently.

Yet unexpectedly, those words had come out of Xiao Jinghan’s mouth instead.

Which raised a question.

If it was a phrase associated with ancient romance heroines, how did an “ancient relic” like Xiao Jinghan know it?

“Where did Your Highness hear the phrase ‘one life, one partner’?”

Xiao Jinghan answered honestly, “My imperial mother said it.”

Holy shit???

Feng Jingge was instantly stunned!

A classic transmigrator heroine phrase had come from Xiao Jinghan’s mother.

Then…

Could Xiao Jinghan’s mother also be a transmigrator?

Feng Jingge steadied herself and asked, “What was Imperial Mother’s identity?”

“I don’t know.”

Feng Jingge frowned.

“You don’t know?”

Xiao Jinghan answered seriously, “I truly don’t know. Neither Father Emperor nor Imperial Mother ever mentioned it.”

“From what I learned from others, Imperial Mother appeared during an autumn hunt many years ago.”

“That year, Father Emperor encountered an assassination attempt and became trapped in the mountains. While escaping the assassins, he hid in a cave.”

“And inside that cave, he met Imperial Mother.”

Hearing this, Feng Jingge’s suspicions became even stronger.

She asked again, “Did Imperial Mother ever tell you stories or nursery rhymes you’d never heard before?”

“Yes.”

Feng Jingge stared directly at Xiao Jinghan, her heartbeat accelerating faster and faster.

Faster and faster, as though it might burst through her chest.

“What were they?”

“One Monkey, and Two Tigers.”

Feng Jingge: ?????

What did that mean?

One Monkey??

Two Tigers??

Xiao Jinghan explained,

“The monkey was a story. The two tigers was a nursery rhyme.”

Feng Jingge thought for a moment before asking, “The monkey… Sun Wukong? The Monkey King?”

Xiao Jinghan nodded.

“Sun Wukong.”

Feng Jingge: “!!!”

It really was!!!

Xiao Jinghan’s mother truly was a transmigrator!!!

Which also meant Xiao Jinghan was the child of a modern person and an ancient person?!

According to novel logic, that would make him some kind of genius.

And…

After receiving some modern-style education, he probably applied modern concepts to governing the country as well?

Feng Jingge lowered her eyes in thought.

Suddenly Xiao Jinghan spoke.

“Has Madam finished asking her questions?”

Feng Jingge answered without thinking, “Mhm, I’m done.”

“Then it’s this husband’s turn to ask?”

Feng Jingge snapped back to reality, met his gaze directly, and nodded.

“Then this husband shall ask.”

“Mhm, go ahead.”

“Does Madam like this husband?”

Feng Jingge: “……”

“Yes.”

Hearing that word, Xiao Jinghan’s lips curled upward before he continued asking, “Madam comes from the same world as Imperial Mother, correct?”

The moment Feng Jingge heard this, her heart trembled violently, and her mind exploded with a loud buzz.

Had this man known her true identity all along?

Seeing her remain silent, Xiao Jinghan kindly reminded her, “Madam, if more than three counts pass, it won’t count anymore. Those were your own rules.”

“……”

A bitter smile tugged at Feng Jingge’s lips.

This was the perfect example of lifting a rock only to smash your own foot.

Xiao Jinghan asked again, “Did Madam hesitate just now because this Prince guessed correctly?”

“…Yes.”

This time, Feng Jingge answered directly.

Xiao Jinghan was no fool. Since he had asked that question, it meant he already had suspicions.

And with her reaction just now, the answer had already been laid before him.