ASTRP -Chapter 124 Once a Chess Piece Loses Its Value, It’s Discarded Immediately

“Your Highness, this subordinate…”

Nineteen’s expression turned guilty.

Feng Jingge interrupted him in time. “I don’t want to hear self-blame. I want to know who attacked you.”

“Replying to Your Highness, it was a woman wearing a peach-pink dress.”

“This person possessed exceptional martial arts. When this subordinate exchanged blows with her, I couldn’t gain the slightest upper hand.”

“Afterward, I don’t know what she scattered. I failed to avoid it and… fell for it.”

“As for what happened after that, this subordinate remembers nothing.”

Feng Jingge was still fixated on the scent of face powder.

“Did that woman have a very strong smell of rouge and powder on her?”

Nineteen nodded. “Yes.”

Feng Jingge and Xiao Jinghan exchanged a glance before standing up.

“Let’s go to the cosmetics shop.”

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

Shen Fufeng sat dressed in white robes, his slender fingers lightly rotating a jade teacup.

His phoenix eyes lifted as his gaze swept toward the peach-clad woman kneeling on the floor.

His thin lips parted, his voice lazy and casual.

“So what you’re saying is, you were discovered by Xiao Jinghan’s shadow guard?”

The peach-clad woman’s body trembled slightly. “Replying to Master, yes.”

“But this servant can guarantee that man won’t live past today. Before escaping, this servant scattered poison powder.”

Shen Fufeng chuckled softly, his tone calm without the slightest trace of anger.

“When you poisoned Prince Chen that day, didn’t you say the same thing to me? And what was the result?”

The woman hurriedly explained, “Prince Chen was already a dying man. The reason he survived must be because an expert helped him behind the scenes.”

Shen Fufeng asked, “So you mean the person who detoxified Prince Chen is more capable than you?”

“Yes, this—”

The woman had only spoken two words when the teacup in Shen Fufeng’s hand flew out, striking directly at her throat.

Before she could react, her life was already gone.

The next instant, her body crashed heavily onto the floor, her eyes bulging like a dead fish’s, unable to close in death.

Blood poured continuously from her throat onto the wooden floorboards.

“If there’s someone more capable than you, then why should I keep you around?”

“I told you to wait for the fish to take the bait, not become the fish yourself.”

After speaking unhurriedly, Shen Fufeng snapped his fingers, and someone immediately flashed into the room.

Seeing the dead woman on the floor, the newcomer’s expression didn’t change in the slightest, as though already accustomed to such scenes.

“What instructions does Master have?”

Shen Fufeng glanced at him. “How is the matter I ordered you to handle progressing?”

“Replying to Master, everything has been arranged. We only await your command to act.”

Shen Fufeng praised, “Not bad, not bad. Your speed is improving more and more.”

As he finished speaking, he pointed at the woman.

“She’s already exposed.”

“Xiao Jinghan will definitely follow the trail to investigate the cosmetics shop.”

“Throw her into the shop and use her as bait.”

“Yes.”

Meanwhile, Feng Jingge and Xiao Jinghan were preparing to head to the cosmetics shop to test the waters.

Who would’ve thought that just as the two stepped out of the courtyard, Zhi Liao came looking for them again, opening with: “Your Highness, this subordinate has something to report.”

Hearing this, Feng Jingge nearly despaired.

One wave hadn’t settled before another rose…

Was life even supposed to continue like this?

Xiao Jinghan cast Zhi Liao a glance and coldly said, “This prince is about to leave the estate with Miss Feng. Whatever it is can wait until this prince returns.”

But Zhi Liao immediately said, “Your Highness, if we wait for your return, it’ll already be too late. By then, the three-day deadline will have passed, and this subordinate will have to offer up his head.”

Xiao Jinghan looked at Zhi Liao coldly.

Hearing how serious Zhi Liao sounded, Feng Jingge knew it must be urgent.

She turned to Xiao Jinghan and said, “Your Highness, listen to Zhi Liao’s report first. I’ll head out alone, and you can come after me.”

After speaking, Feng Jingge left.

Xiao Jinghan froze briefly. As he stared at Feng Jingge’s departing back, he suddenly remembered what she had told him earlier.

His heart tightened. Just as he was about to call out to stop her, Feng Jingge had already turned and exited through the gate.

Left with no choice, Xiao Jinghan swallowed the words that had reached his lips.

He withdrew his gaze and looked toward Zhi Liao.

“You found out that person’s identity?”

“Mhm.” Zhi Liao nodded. “The name Shen Fufeng doesn’t produce any information.”

“But based on the appearance Your Highness described—especially that silver mask…”

“This time, the breakthrough point was the mask. This subordinate found the craftsman who made it and learned some information through him.”

“Following the clues led us to the Blood Slaughter Sect.”

“The Blood Slaughter Sect?”

Xiao Jinghan frowned. How had this become entangled with a martial arts sect?

Meanwhile, Feng Jingge left the estate and headed toward the cosmetics shop.

Halfway there, she encountered Qing Shan and Fu Ping returning.

Seeing Feng Jingge alone without Xiao Jinghan or Ning An accompanying her, Qing Shan looked somewhat stunned.

“Your Highness, Miss Feng, Ning An didn’t come with you?”

Fu Ping also bowed. “Greetings, Your Highness.”

Feng Jingge’s gaze swept across Qing Shan’s face.

“They each have their own matters to handle. Come with me.”

Qing Shan looked at Fu Ping. “Then… Fu Ping?”

Fu Ping quickly said, “Your Highness, Guard Qing, this place isn’t far from the estate. This servant can return by herself. Please go about your business.”

Feng Jingge nodded. “Mm.”

Receiving permission, Fu Ping immediately left.

Feng Jingge also continued forward while Qing Shan hurried after her, lowering his voice.

“Miss Feng, where are we going now?”

Feng Jingge answered with another question.

“What did you discover?”

Qing Shan looked confused. “Discover what?”

“……”

This Qing Shan really didn’t seem too bright.

Feng Jingge glanced sideways at him.

“Didn’t you go with Fu Ping to inspect the scene of the incident?”

“Mm, we did.” Qing Shan nodded. “It was right by the street. Fu Ping said that as soon as the carriage stopped, she and Miss Liu were abducted into it.”

“Then they lost consciousness.”

Feng Jingge frowned. “Did you question the street vendors nearby? Did anyone witness what happened?”

“We did.” Qing Shan nodded again. “Not sure whether they’d been bribed or were afraid of trouble, but their statements were all the same. They said they opened late and saw nothing.”

“Mm.”

While talking, the two had already arrived at the cosmetics shop. Feng Jingge stopped in her tracks.

Qing Shan failed to notice and continued walking forward.

After going some distance, he finally turned back and saw Feng Jingge standing in front of a cosmetics shop.

He froze briefly before hurrying back.

“Your Highness, what are you—”

Before Qing Shan could finish speaking, Feng Jingge kicked the tightly shut shop door.

Bang!

The loud noise drew the attention of passersby.

As though oblivious to the strange looks around her, Feng Jingge lifted her leg and kicked the shop door again.

Qing Shan felt uncomfortable under everyone’s stares.

He quickly moved beside Feng Jingge and lowered his voice.

“Miss Feng, what are you doing?”

Feng Jingge remained silent. She grabbed his clothes and coldly ordered, “You came at just the right time. Kick the door open for me.”

“Th-this…”

Qing Shan had just started to say this wasn’t acceptable when Feng Jingge shot him a cold glare.