ASTRP -Chapter 187 The Empress Dowager Is Stirring Trouble Again

“Your sister’s death has disgusted the Emperor. He will definitely hold everyone from Wu Xing Country accountable.”

“You must kneel all the way from here to the Emperor to show your sincerity.”

Feng Jingge felt that if the princess of Wu Xing Country had endured just a little longer—

Even for a moment, and not died in front of the Emperor, things would not have become this dangerous.

Seeing Shen Nan crying, Feng Jingge spoke again,

“I’m not saying the Emperor wasn’t wrong, nor am I saying your sister isn’t pitiful. But you need to recognize the situation.”

Feng Jingge also said that his sister could actually have chosen to die before serving the Emperor.

But since she spent the night with him, she was probably trying to protect Wu Xing Country.

It was only afterward that she truly couldn’t endure it anymore.

“You can’t let your sister suffer humiliation for nothing and then go throw your own life away too, can you?”

“You have to live.”

After hearing Feng Jingge’s words, Shen Nan realized she was exactly as he had imagined.

This little girl was incredibly meticulous, yet people kept calling her a useless fool.

If Feng Jingge hadn’t deliberately sought death back then, she probably would never have been drowned.

Feng Yunxiao couldn’t even compare to a fraction of her.

Shen Nan took a long while to calm down, his lips trembling uncontrollably.

Feng Jingge personally poured him tea and helped him drink it.

“I’ll give you one incense stick’s worth of time to calm yourself. No more than that!”

Afterward, the people of Wu Xing Country truly followed Feng Jingge’s method, kneeling all the way from the envoy station to the main hall of the imperial palace.

Their knees were scraped raw, and with every kneel and kowtow, their foreheads bled as well.

Because so many people witnessed it along the way,

the Emperor couldn’t simply kill them directly. He had to appear magnanimous.

Shen Nan was ultimately able to escape disaster, and Wu Xing Country was not implicated.

Before returning, Feng Jingge met with him once more in the carriage.

Shen Nan said Feng Jingge was a good person.

Feng Jingge smiled faintly.

“What’s the use of being a good person?”

“A good person can’t change the thoughts of bad people. Go now…”

Shen Nan gazed into the distance.

“I heard that in three months, the Emperor of Jing Country will visit Wu Xing Country for an inspection…”

“He’ll probably bring the Prime Minister too, right?”

“I’m not sure. But if fate allows it, we should meet again someday!”

“Then… can I write letters to you?”

“Of course…”

“Oh right, I also have an older brother named Shen Ruo.”

“It’s just that he’s been in the army all year round. If there’s a chance in the future, I’ll introduce you two.”

“Sure!”

It was easy to imagine that the two of them slowly developed feelings for each other through exchanges like this.

Feng Jingge sighed. She felt the pain in her head easing somewhat.

It didn’t hurt as much anymore.

And the original host’s memories stopped progressing further.

At least now she knew that person had been the prince of Wu Xing Country, and Shen Fufeng was his older brother.

He had merely changed his name.

As for why “Feng Jingge” pretended to be foolish and useless, a large part of it was probably because the Feng family simply could not tolerate her.

She truly hadn’t expected the former Emperor to be so inhumane.

Though, as an Emperor, liking beautiful women was normal.

All men liked beautiful women.

At that moment, Feng Jingge suddenly heard Xiao Jinghan’s voice, though it sounded distant.

“It’s already been three days… Does it still hurt? Are you uncomfortable?”

“This Prince has decided to test the medicine. I can’t even protect you now, so what future is there to speak of?”

Feng Jingge froze upon hearing this.

Test what medicine!?

She wanted to wake up, but for some reason, just like before, she couldn’t awaken no matter what.

Judging by Xiao Jinghan’s tone, he must be feeling terrible… heartbroken.

“Don’t be afraid… This Prince is in good health. Even if I test the medicine, it should be fine. I’ll come back very soon…”

No… no, no, no!

Xiao Jinghan, explain yourself!

Clearly, he was planning to do something dangerous for her sake!

Then Xiao Jinghan gently kissed her forehead.

Feng Jingge could feel it.

The scene shifted, and Xiao Jinghan instructed Ning An to guard the entrance.

He said he would return soon.

Ning An couldn’t help but speak up.

“Your Highness, if you go, you’ll truly be falling into the Empress Dowager’s trap.”

“If this Prince does not go, Jingge’s life will be in danger.”

Feng Jingge struggled desperately.

She wanted to get up!

Don’t go!

Her current state was no different from sleep paralysis.

And just like that, Xiao Jinghan left.

When he arrived at the Empress Dowager’s residence, a nanny immediately went in to report his arrival.

Everyone who saw Xiao Jinghan was frightened. Trembling, they hurriedly bowed to him.

Xiao Jinghan walked straight toward the Empress Dowager.

The moment she saw him, she laughed happily.

“For that little girl, you truly are willing to do anything.”

Xiao Jinghan did not wish to waste time.

“What medicine needs to be tested, and for how long?”

“After this Prince tests the medicine, when will the Empress Dowager send the imperial physicians to treat Jingge?”

The Empress Dowager thought it ridiculous that even now, Xiao Jinghan still carried himself with such arrogance.

She slammed the table.

“You’ve never placed this palace in your eyes. Now, kneel before me and kowtow!”

But Xiao Jinghan did not move at all.

Seeing this, the Empress Dowager walked over and raised her hand to slap him, but Xiao Jinghan caught her wrist midway.

“You may ask this Prince to do anything, but the prerequisite is curing Jingge.”

The Empress Dowager laughed.

“Fine. As the mighty Regent Prince, you always keep your word, don’t you?”

“If you want Feng Jingge to live, then you should at least show some sincerity first.”

“Didn’t this Prince coming here today already count as sincerity?”

Unable to win against Xiao Jinghan verbally, the Empress Dowager angrily turned around and sat back down.

“Previously, I offered you women better than Feng Jingge, yet you refused them.”

“And now, for her, you willingly come begging before me.”

“Since you care about that girl so much, then you must obey me.”

“Drag him away and give him fifty lashes first.”

Xiao Jinghan frowned tightly. He knew Feng Jingge would definitely be unhappy about this, but he had no other choice.

Some eunuchs approached, though they still did not dare lay hands on Xiao Jinghan.

Standing tall and straight, Xiao Jinghan shouted coldly, “This Prince may comply with the Empress Dowager’s wishes, but you must say when Jingge will be treated!”

“After all, the Empress Dowager has never been one to keep her promises.”

“…”

The veins on the Empress Dowager’s forehead throbbed painfully.

She had assumed that once Feng Jingge got into trouble, Xiao Jinghan would come crawling to her like a dog.

He had indeed come—but his attitude infuriated her.

She grabbed a nearby rod and struck Xiao Jinghan across the back.

Xiao Jinghan’s body trembled, the cry of pain trapped in his throat.

Cold sweat instantly covered his forehead, and the piercing agony in his back forced him down onto one knee.

The Empress Dowager was stunned for a moment.

She remembered that when Xiao Jinghan had been brought out of that sealed space years ago, he had been like a puppet.

He had grabbed candle flames with his bare hands without fearing burns at all.

The imperial physicians and residence doctors had examined him together and concluded that Xiao Jinghan couldn’t feel pain.

Perhaps his nerves had been damaged, or perhaps he had suffered too great a shock.

Yet now, unexpectedly, he had returned to normal.

The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes and struck his back with the rod again.

“Ever since you came out of that sealed space, this Dowager thought you had become some monster incapable of feeling pain.”

“I never expected you hadn’t.”

Upon hearing those words, Xiao Jinghan abruptly looked at her.