ASTRP -Chapter 153 The Prince Was Actually Lectured by a Little Kid

Xiao Jinghan ate very elegantly, and Feng Jingge couldn’t help but silently admire him.

As expected, handsome people were pleasing to the eye no matter what they did.

Soon, the bowl of noodles was finished.

Only after eating did Xiao Jinghan remember to ask something.

“Madam, what did you put in this?”

“I’ve never tasted this flavor before.”

Feng Jingge curled her lips into a smile.

“You haven’t tasted it before—that’s exactly right.”

“I added stewed tomatoes into it, giving it a slightly sour taste.”

“You haven’t been eating properly these past few days. A bit of sourness will help open your appetite.”

Xiao Jinghan smiled. “Thank you, Madam.”

Feng Jingge raised a brow. “No need to be so polite.”

“Now that you’re full, do you want to go to the palace?”

“You haven’t gone to court or entered the palace for several days…”

“I finally went through so much effort to help you win over Xiao Yu’s trust.”

“If you don’t show up for a few more days, what if he gets pulled back again?”

When Xiao Yu was mentioned, Xiao Jinghan frowned slightly.

“Probably… he won’t.”

“You say ‘probably’?”

Feng Jingge pouted.

“He’s a child who lacks love and security.”

“That’s why I thought of using friendship to fill that emotional gap.”

“But later I realized, some things can’t be replaced. In the end, it still depends on his own heart.”

Xiao Jinghan could hear the concern in her words.

He gently reassured her, “He has Chu Ning by his side. There’s no need to worry.”

“Chu Ning?”

Feng Jingge thought for a moment and nodded.

“He does have some ability. If this seed doesn’t grow crooked, he could become a top Grand Chancellor in the future.”

Xiao Jinghan smiled faintly.

“The Chu family originally produced chancellors.”

“Three generations of Grand Chancellors.”

Feng Jingge was surprised. “Three generations?”

“If I remember correctly, Chu Ning’s father is just a minister, right?”

“Yes.”

“The emperor grew wary of the Chu family. They sensed it and cut off their own influence to protect themselves.”

“They safeguarded their family and retired from prominence.”

“Afraid of attracting attention, the younger generations were no longer given high-profile positions.”

“But it seems Chu Ning has broken that pattern.”

Feng Jingge frowned.

“So is this a good thing or a bad thing?”

“For Chu Ning himself, it’s naturally a good thing.”

“He’s clever, sharp-minded, and can guide Xiao Yu.”

“But involving the Chu family—it’s hard to say.”

“However, if the Chu family supports Xiao Yu, that would also be beneficial.”

“Then when I leave with you, we won’t need to worry about the Pei family anymore.”

While they were talking, Ning An entered the room.

Seeing the two of them, he first saluted Xiao Jinghan, then said:

“Your Highness, Chu Ning has arrived at the residence.”

Feng Jingge and Xiao Jinghan exchanged a glance.

Feng Jingge smiled. “Is this what they call speaking of the devil?”

“Indeed.” Xiao Jinghan smiled. “Let’s go.”

Shortly after, they arrived at the main hall.

Chu Ning sat like a little adult, holding a teacup and drinking calmly.

When he saw them enter, his gaze fell on Xiao Jinghan and he paused slightly.

Then he set down the cup and stood to greet them.

“Greetings, Your Highness. Miss Feng.”

Feng Jingge originally intended to just sit and listen, but Xiao Jinghan directly pulled her to the main seat.

After sitting, Xiao Jinghan reminded Chu Ning: “Don’t call her Miss Feng anymore. Call her Princess Consort.”

Unexpectedly, Chu Ning not only refused to comply but countered instead.

“Has Your Highness and Miss Feng officially set a marriage contract?”

“If not, calling her Princess Consort is inappropriate.”

“First, it violates etiquette. Second, it would damage Miss Feng’s reputation.”

Chu Ning spoke with complete confidence.

Feng Jingge glanced at Xiao Jinghan and noticed his expression darken slightly.

She almost laughed out loud.

She truly hadn’t expected that Xiao Jinghan would be lectured by a little kid.

Chu Ning’s words were clearly implying that Xiao Jinghan had not yet given her any official status.

Without an official status, calling her “Princess Consort” would indeed harm her reputation.

Xiao Jinghan’s face darkened, but since the other party was only a nine-year-old child, he couldn’t lose his temper.

He only said coldly, “I was just about to enter the palace to request an imperial marriage decree, and you arrived.”

Chu Ning bowed slightly.

“Then I congratulate Your Highness and Miss Feng in advance.”

After the greeting, Chu Ning directly stated his purpose.

“I came today to ask if Your Highness knows about the assassination attempt on the Emperor two days ago.”

“Assassination?”

Xiao Jinghan frowned. “When did this happen?”

Chu Ning replied, “At the twenty-third day, at the fourth quarter of the hour of Yin.”

Xiao Jinghan’s lips pressed tightly together, a cold light gathering in his eyes.

The twenty-third… the early morning after Feng Jingge’s incident.

In other words, just after Feng Jingge’s accident, Shen Fufeng had immediately sent people into the palace.

He had guessed the enemy would use Xiao Yu to threaten him, but he didn’t expect Shen Fufeng to act so quickly.

Fortunately, he had immediately arranged for hidden experts to protect Xiao Yu.

Otherwise…

The consequences would have been unimaginable.

Feng Jingge’s heart tightened upon hearing about the assassination.

She quickly asked, “How is Xiao Yu? Was he injured?”

Chu Ning paused slightly at her direct address of the emperor’s name.

“The emperor is protected by experts and is safe.”

“However, after that, it seems the Empress Dowager said something to him, and the emperor has become very curious about the person behind those experts.”

As he said this, his gaze lightly swept over Xiao Jinghan.

The implication was extremely clear.

“Also, Your Highness.”

“The emperor has not seen you for several days and is very worried about you.”

“Xu Shu came up with a bad idea—he suggested the emperor crawl out of the palace through a dog hole.”

“By my estimation, they should be nearing the final checkpoint.”

After saying everything he needed to say, Chu Ning stood up to leave.

Feng Jingge asked, “Aren’t you afraid they’ll ignore you after you report them like this?”

Chu Ning paused and turned back with a faint smile.

“Miss Feng worries too much. It will only ever be me who ignores them.”

Feng Jingge: “…”

So arrogant. So confident.

“As for reporting them,” Chu Ning added lightly, “between the Empress Dowager and Your Highness, they would rather be caught by the latter.”

With that, he left without hesitation.

Inside the hall, Xiao Jinghan sat silently, his eyes lowered, deep in thought.

Feng Jingge looked slightly dazed.

Are children in ancient times this terrifying?

A nine-year-old is already playing political mind games?

If this were the modern world, that would be something else entirely.

After a long pause, she came back to her senses and looked at Xiao Jinghan, who was still sitting quietly, thinking.

She reminded him, “Your Highness, aren’t you leaving?”

“If you don’t leave soon, the Empress Dowager will get ahead of you.”