ASTRP -Chapter 165 The White Lotus Was So Angry She Spit Blood

Chu Ning hadn’t even spoken yet when Xu Shu cut in first.

“Princess Consort, he has family rules. He’s not allowed to…”

Chu Ning coldly interrupted him.

“As the ancient saying goes, ‘Eat without speaking, sleep without talking.’”

After giving Xu Shu a sharp glare, he walked forward. Seeing the fried chicken legs he had never seen before, he froze for a moment.

Then, without saying a word, he picked one up, brought it to his mouth, and took a bite.

His eyes immediately lit up.

The outer layer was crispy, while the inside was tender and juicy.

What kind of heavenly food was this?!

Xiao Jinghan stared at the fried chicken leg in his hand and pressed his lips together.

He didn’t particularly like deep-fried, oily food.

He had originally intended to politely refuse Xiao Yu, but Jingge spoke first.

“Does Your Highness not like it?”

Feng Jingge walked to Xiao Jinghan’s side and asked him.

Xiao Jinghan turned his gaze toward her, about to respond, when he noticed Xiao Yu looking over at him expectantly.

The young emperor’s eyes were full of anticipation—truly hard to refuse.

After weighing it internally, he shook his head.

“No. As long as it’s made by my wife, I like it.”

With that, he took a bite. His deep eyes flickered slightly… seemingly surprised.

Not as greasy as he had imagined.

Feng Jingge asked again, “How is it?”

Xiao Jinghan answered instinctively.

“Not as oily as I thought.”

Feng Jingge: ?

She now vaguely understood why he had only been holding it earlier without eating.

So he thought it would be too greasy?

She silently made a note: Xiao Jinghan doesn’t like greasy food.

Not long after, after the four little troublemakers finished their meal, Xiao Jinghan sent them off to practice calligraphy.

Chu Ning was assigned as supervisor. As soon as Xu Shu heard “practice calligraphy,” he immediately wailed.

“Your Highness, do you have to be this cruel?! Didn’t you say I came to the palace to play with Xiao Yu?”

“And now you’re making me write?! I refuse!”

“Besides, my butt still hurts! I can’t even sit down!”

Xiao Jinghan cut him off calmly.

“Who said practicing calligraphy requires sitting?”

“You can stand and write too.”

Xu Shu: “……”

Your Highness… could you please behave like a human being?

Xiao Yu also didn’t want to practice calligraphy. His eyes rolled, landing on Feng Jingge, and a pleading smile appeared on his face.

He called out, “Imperial Aunt.”

Feng Jingge responded, “Hmm?”

Xiao Yu looked at her pitifully.

“Imperial Aunt, I rarely get to leave the palace. I want to play, not practice calligraphy.”

“Can you let me play instead?”

Feng Jingge: “……”

Xiao Jinghan: !!!

His gaze gradually darkened.

Very good. So they’ve learned to play tricks on him.

Xu Shu was quick-witted. After glancing between Xiao Jinghan and Feng Jingge, he immediately understood.

He chimed in.

“Exactly, exactly! Princess Consort, Xiao Yu rarely comes out—why don’t you play with us for a while?”

“Last time the thing you folded for Xiao Yu was amazing!”

Xiao Jinghan’s expression darkened instantly when he heard Xu Shu trying to drag Feng Jingge into it.

He had sent them to practice calligraphy precisely to keep them from bothering Jingge.

He didn’t expect Xu Shu not only to refuse but also to try pulling her in.

“Ning An!” Xiao Jinghan called out sharply.

Ning An entered immediately and bowed.

“Yes, Your Highness?”

Xiao Jinghan pointed at the four of them.

“You and Qing Shan will supervise them.”

Without waiting for their reaction, he grabbed Feng Jingge’s hand and left swiftly.

By the time the four reacted, there was no trace of Xiao Jinghan or Feng Jingge left.

After walking far enough and confirming they weren’t being followed, Xiao Jinghan finally let her go.

Feng Jingge looked at him worriedly.

“Can Ning An and Qing Shan handle them?”

Xiao Jinghan naturally took her hand again.

“If they can’t handle it, they’ll learn. They’ll have to deal with children in the future anyway—consider it practice.”

“But…”

Before she could continue, he interrupted her.

“Ning An may not be reliable, but Qing Shan is.”

“He’s childish himself; he’ll get along with them.”

“Besides, Chu Ning is there. The rest follow him.”

Feng Jingge finally gave up worrying.

“Then where are we going now?”

“Out of the residence.”

She looked at the blazing sun overhead.

“…It’s hot. I don’t want to go out.”

Xiao Jinghan paused, then turned back.

“Then we won’t go out. Let’s go back to the room.”

Back to the room?

Feng Jingge immediately imagined them sitting opposite each other, staring silently into each other’s eyes.

That scene…

So awkward it made her want to dig a hole in the floor.

She quickly said, “Maybe… we should still go out for a walk?”

Xiao Jinghan raised a brow.

“Not afraid of the heat anymore?”

Compared to the awkwardness of sitting face-to-face doing nothing, she chose heat without hesitation.

She shook her head.

Xiao Jinghan chuckled softly and agreed. The two walked out.

Halfway there, they ran into the steward.

The steward rushed over, clearly anxious.

He hesitated when he saw Feng Jingge beside them.

This matter involved Miss Liu—he feared saying it in front of the Princess Consort would upset her.

Feng Jingge saw his hesitation and let go of Xiao Jinghan’s hand.

“I’ll step aside.”

Unexpectedly, Xiao Jinghan tightened his grip on her hand.

He didn’t even look at her.

“Speak.”

The steward braced himself.

“Your Highness… Miss Liu’s maid came. She said Miss Liu is ill…”

Xiao Jinghan interrupted coldly.

“Send the imperial physician.”

He turned to leave, but the steward hurriedly added.

“Miss Liu refuses a doctor. She said… she wants to see you.”

Xiao Jinghan’s voice turned colder.

“I’m not a doctor. What does she need to see me for?”

“Tell her maid this: I am already a married man. If I go, people will gossip.”

Without waiting for a response, he took Feng Jingge and left.

In a small courtyard in the capital, a series of coughing sounds echoed from inside the room.

Liu Qingqing listened to her maid’s report. Tears streamed down her face.

She cried and laughed, repeating the words she had just heard.

“Married man… married man!”

“Hahaha… what a ‘married man’!”

Her emotions grew more and more intense. Her expression turned twisted. She clenched the blanket tightly beneath her, eyes wide with rage.

“Pfft!”

A mouthful of blood spurted out.

It splattered across the bedding like scattered red plum blossoms.

The maid cried out in alarm and rushed forward.

“Fu Ping! Go get a doctor! Hurry!”

“Y-yes, yes!”

Fu Ping ran out immediately.

The other maid sat by the bed, patting Liu Qingqing’s back and rubbing her chest to help her breathe.

She tried to comfort her.

“Miss, don’t be angry. It’s not worth ruining your health…”

Liu Qingqing clenched her fists tightly, gritting her teeth in hatred.