ASTRP -Chapter 16 Feng Jinge Is About to Show Her Skills

“Your Highness, something has happened in the palace!”

Ning An quickly explained the situation. Soon after, Feng Jinge boarded the carriage and headed for the palace.

There was no moon tonight.

The carriage swayed as it sped toward the imperial palace at great haste. Inside, the candlelight flickered.

Feng Jinge wore a jade crown and a purple robe. Under the glow of the lamp, the dark-patterned python design on her robe seemed to come alive—clawing and writhing, ready to strike.

Her eyes were half-closed. Despite the jolting of the carriage, her posture remained perfectly composed.

“Whoa—!”

With a long shout, the carriage came to a halt.

Su Xiu’s voice came from outside the curtain. “Your Highness, we’ve arrived.”

Feng Jinge slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze was calm and unreadable, devoid of any emotion.

She rose and stepped out of the carriage.

Below, Su Xiu—dressed as an attendant—was already waiting, his heart filled with unease.

He was worried Feng Jinge wouldn’t be able to convincingly impersonate Xiao Jinghan. If she were exposed, he’d likely be dragged down with her.

At the same time, he deeply regretted returning tonight of all nights. If he had come back just one day later, he wouldn’t have been seized by Xiao Jinghan and forced into this mess!

Internally, Su Xiu was on the verge of tears. He looked up at the carriage—just in time to see Feng Jinge stepping out.

Cold as ice.
Eyes deep and imposing.
And that overwhelming aura radiating from within—

Su Xiu froze.

Th-this… this was practically Xiao Jinghan himself!

The moment Feng Jinge stepped out, she noticed Su Xiu staring at her without even blinking.

She clenched her teeth inwardly. This unreliable fool!

Even if she didn’t slip up, this guy might expose everything just by dragging her down!

Though she grumbled inwardly, her face remained cold and distant, keeping others at bay.

Her feet touched the ground.

A gust of wind swept past, lifting her robes.

Feng Jinge glanced up at the towering palace gates before her, feeling a surge of awe inside. But she quickly suppressed it and walked forward.

Su Xiu snapped out of his daze as she passed him. He hurried to follow, walking alongside Ning An behind her.

The imperial guards at the gate immediately bowed upon seeing the Regent Prince.

After passing through the gates—

Due to the Regent Prince’s special privileges, Feng Jinge was carried in a sedan chair.

From the gate to the emperor’s residence, Ming Palace, it took about half an hour.

Outside Ming Palace stood three people.

Two elderly men with graying hair, and one young man.

The moment Feng Jinge’s gaze landed on them, they also turned at the sound of movement and looked toward her.

Feng Jinge pressed her lips together, her hands tightening within her sleeves.

The real test had begun.

The sedan chair came to a stop.

She stepped down and ascended the stairs.

Her posture was straight as a pine tree, proud and unyielding, walking directly toward the three under their gazes.

Ning An stared at her back, his heart slowly rising to his throat.

Su Xiu, meanwhile, was drenched in sweat, silently chanting in his heart.

Please, ancestors, bless us… please let that woman be reliable… don’t let her slip up…

“Greetings, Regent Prince.”
“Greetings, Regent Prince.”

The two elderly men bowed.

From the information she had seen earlier, Feng Jinge knew—

One was Grand Tutor Yuan, the other was Imperial Uncle Pei.

To her, they held extremely high status.

But to Xiao Jinghan, the Regent Prince…

Sorry—in his eyes, everyone present was insignificant.

So Feng Jinge ignored their greetings entirely and walked straight past them into Ming Palace.

Left without a response, Grand Tutor Yuan and Pei Guojiu felt awkward.

At that moment, a teasing voice sounded.

“As I see it, Grand Tutor, Imperial Uncle, you two are just asking for humiliation.”

The two elders turned sharply toward the young man.

The young man’s smile remained. His gaze shifted and landed on Ning An and Su Xiu, who hadn’t been allowed to enter with Feng Jinge.

When his eyes fell on Su Xiu, they flickered slightly.

Su Xiu: Why do I suddenly feel a chill down my spine?

Ning An spoke from the side, “Greetings, Prince Yu.”

Prince Yu?

Su Xiu paused briefly, then hurriedly followed suit. “Greetings, Prince Yu.”

Prince Yu swept his gaze over Ning An before settling on Su Xiu.

“Changed attendants? Where’s Qing Shan?”

Ning An replied, “Reporting to Your Highness, Qing Shan is unwell and resting at the residence.”

“Mm.”

Feng Jinge was unaware of what was happening behind her.

As soon as she entered Ming Palace, a eunuch holding a whisk approached her—it was Eunuch Chen, the emperor’s personal attendant.

The moment he saw her, he froze, then quickly recovered, plastering a smile on his face as he stepped forward.

“Your Highness, you—”

Feng Jinge acted as if she hadn’t seen him and continued walking inward, casually asking about the emperor.

“How is His Majesty?”

Eunuch Chen’s smile stiffened for a moment as he was brushed past, but he quickly turned and followed.

“Reporting to Your Highness, the imperial physician has already examined His Majesty. He said the emperor was merely frightened and is not in serious condition.”

Feng Jinge entered the inner hall.

Behind her, Eunuch Chen suddenly raised his voice: “The Regent Prince has arrived!”

Feng Jinge, already highly alert, was startled by the sudden shrill announcement. She nearly kicked him out of irritation.

Inside the hall, by the bedside, sat a richly dressed, dignified middle-aged woman. Beside her stood an old maidservant and two palace maids.

Upon seeing Feng Jinge, the servants immediately knelt.

“Greetings, Regent Prince.”

The elegant woman turned her head to look at Feng Jinge—but did not rise.

At the sight of her, three words appeared in Feng Jinge’s mind:

Empress Dowager Pei.

The emperor’s birth mother.

The Empress Dowager asked leisurely, “What brings the Prince here?”

Feng Jinge let out a cold laugh, her gaze landing on the Empress Dowager.

“Does the Empress Dowager think I shouldn’t have come?”

The Empress Dowager chuckled and slowly stood up.

“I simply didn’t expect Your Highness would come.”

“After all, weren’t you gravely injured and bedridden?”

Facing her questioning and mockery, Feng Jinge replied coldly: “Since when has my business been something for the Empress Dowager to interfere in?”

The smile on the Empress Dowager’s face stiffened.

Indeed, the Regent Prince’s affairs were not hers to meddle in.

Feng Jinge’s gaze shifted to the bed.

The young emperor, upon seeing her cold expression, trembled slightly beneath the covers and called out hoarsely: “Im… Imperial Uncle…”

Imperial uncle?

So Xiao Jinghan was the emperor’s uncle—brother to the late emperor?

Though she thought this, Feng Jinge still responded coldly and asked: “What happened?”

The Empress Dowager turned around, her sharp gaze directed at the young emperor—a naked threat.

Standing behind Feng Jinge, this scene went unnoticed by her.

The young emperor lowered his eyes. “Reporting to Imperial Uncle… I accidentally stepped on moss and slipped into the pond.”

From his demeanor, Feng Jinge could tell he was lying.

But she didn’t expose him. Instead, she turned to Eunuch Chen standing in the corner.

“Eunuch Chen, bring the memorials from the imperial study here.”

Before Eunuch Chen could respond, the Empress Dowager spoke: “Your Highness, the emperor has just been frightened. He should be resting.”