ASTRP -Chapter 14 Making Feng Jinge Attend Court and Review Memorials

The face mask was made of some unknown material. Once applied, it fit perfectly against the skin—so seamlessly that no ordinary person could tell it was a disguise.

After putting it on, Xiao Jinghan’s face instantly returned to that plain, uneven-toned appearance of “Feng Jinge.”

Xiao Jinghan and Feng Jinge walked out of the room one after the other.

The door opened.

Qing Shan and Ning An, who had been waiting outside, immediately stepped forward upon hearing the movement.

Their lips twitched as if they were about to speak, but Xiao Jinghan spoke first.

“Ning An.”

His gaze fell on Ning An.

Ning An stepped forward. “Your subordinate is here.”

Xiao Jinghan asked, “How is the matter I assigned to you?”

The matter?

What matter?

Listening to the exchange, Feng Jinge grew puzzled—and uneasy.

Dragging her out in the middle of the night and asking whether something had been arranged… it didn’t sound like anything good.

“Replying to Your Highness, everything has been arranged.”

Ning An paused, glancing at Feng Jinge before asking, “Does Your Highness wish to go now?”

“Mhm.”

“Lead the way.”

“Yes.”

Under the night sky, Ning An led in front.

Feng Jinge and Xiao Jinghan walked side by side, with Qing Shan trailing behind.

After about the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, Ning An stopped in front of a courtyard gate.

The gate opened automatically.

Ning An stepped aside, signaling for them to enter.

“Walk ahead,” Xiao Jinghan said coldly.

Feng Jinge froze for a moment, then remembered that she was currently “Xiao Jinghan,” and stepped forward.

The moment she crossed the gate, she sensed subtle fluctuations in the air.

Her lips pressed together slightly, and a shadow flashed across her eyes.

There were quite a few experts hidden in this Regent Prince’s residence.

Once inside, Xiao Jinghan, who had been behind her, suddenly moved ahead.

“Keep up.”

Feng Jinge: ???

Then… why make her walk first?

She pouted but obediently followed him into the room. The door shut behind them.

The hidden guards lurking in the shadows instantly became restless. Staring toward the study, they began whispering among themselves.

“Hey, hey… who is that girl? How dare she walk ahead of His Highness?”

“Is she His Highness’s junior sister?”

“If you don’t want your eyes, gouge them out! Since when is His Highness’s junior sister so plain?!”

“Could she be the future Princess Consort?”

“Future Princess Consort? Impossible. Doesn’t His Highness dislike women?”

“Dislike women? How do you know that?”

“Well—”

The discussion spiraled further and further off track.

Inside the room, Xiao Jinghan heard everything. His expression darkened.

He kept himself clean and disciplined, never indulging in women.

And yet these people were saying he preferred men?

His lips pressed into a thin line, a chilling aura spreading from him.

Feng Jinge, standing nearby, noticed his darkened expression and the cold aura radiating off him again.

She looked aggrieved.

She had only complained a little—was that enough to make him this angry?!

As the outside chatter grew more outrageous, Xiao Jinghan realized he had to speak up.

But before he could say anything, three different voices reached his ears at once—

Feng Jinge: “Your Highness, I only complained a little. You don’t have to look so grim, do you?”

Hidden guard: “Uh… have you noticed that the aura around that girl feels a bit like His Highness?”

Ning An: “Do you think His Highness is deaf?”

The moment Ning An spoke, all discussion outside vanished instantly.

Silence fell.

“Ning An, you know what to do.”

A cold female voice reached the hidden guards’ ears.

The guards looked at each other in confusion.

That tone—it was clearly His Highness.

But why was His Highness speaking with a female voice?

Ning An understood.

After receiving his response, Xiao Jinghan waved his hand, cutting off the outside sounds. He then looked at Feng Jinge.

He raised his hand and pointed at a bookshelf.

“Left row, third shelf.”

Feng Jinge glanced in that direction and walked over.

The spot was filled with stacked scrolls.

“Move all the scrolls you see over here.”

“All of them?”

Her brows furrowed. There were at least dozens—maybe hundreds!

“What do we need them for?”

“To look at.”

Xiao Jinghan’s answer was concise.

Feng Jinge felt reluctant, but figured there must be a reason behind it.

She rolled up her sleeves and got to work.

Back and forth she went, carrying the scrolls, while Xiao Jinghan sat calmly at the desk, holding a brush and making marks in a small notebook.

He remained composed.

She, meanwhile, was exhausted like a dog.

After placing the final stack, she rushed to a nearby armchair and collapsed into it, panting heavily.

It had been a long time since she’d done such physical labor.

She was about to die of exhaustion.

Was being a Regent Prince this tiring?

Wait!

That’s not right!

Shouldn’t a Regent Prince not be doing this kind of work?

Isn’t this what attendants are for?

Feng Jinge sat up straight, her gaze falling on Xiao Jinghan.

Before she could speak, he said lightly, “You didn’t ask them to help.”

Feng Jinge: ???

So that means… she didn’t have to carry them herself?

She could have asked Qing Shan and Ning An to help?!

“You didn’t say so!” she gritted her teeth.

Xiao Jinghan set down his brush, glanced at her, and replied calmly, “You didn’t ask either.”

“……”

Feng Jinge was furious.

Ignoring her expression, Xiao Jinghan continued, “Among the scrolls you just moved are portraits of court officials and imperial consorts.”

“For the important ones, their preferences and conversational taboos are noted.”

“Important people refer to those you will frequently meet and interact with after entering the palace.”

“You must remember these thoroughly. As for the unimportant ones, just remember their names and appearances.”

Feng Jinge looked at the mountain of scrolls and went blank.

Don’t tell her this was tonight’s task?

Xiao Jinghan saw right through her thoughts.

“This is not tonight’s task—it’s a two-day task.”

Hearing that, Feng Jinge finally relaxed.

But before she could fully settle, his next words made her tense up again.

“After memorizing these, you’ll also need to finish reading that stack of booklets.”

Feng Jinge stared at the pile stacked like a small mountain.

“Don’t tell me those are memorials?”

Xiao Jinghan nodded. “Imitations.”

Feng Jinge: …

Even memorials had imitations?

“The real ones are in the Emperor’s study. For your convenience in learning, I had these made based on them.”