ASTRP -Chapter 188 Feng Jingge Boldly Rescues the Prince

“When this prince was locked inside that secret chamber back then, how did you know about it?”

“Hahaha…”

The Empress Dowager laughed loudly.

“Because I was the one who arranged it. Such a pity you didn’t die in there.”

“I truly didn’t expect your life to be so tough.”

Xiao Jinghan’s five fingers clenched into fists, veins bulging on the back of his hands.

He grabbed the rod, wanting to strike back.

“If you resist, the one who dies will be Feng Jingge!”

His fingers tightened around the wooden stick, but in the end, he loosened his grip.

He knew he couldn’t resist. If he did, there would be even less hope for curing Feng Jingge.

The blows landed on him again and again, the Empress Dowager showing absolutely no mercy.

“Weren’t you always so high and mighty in front of me?”

“Look at yourself now. What difference is there between you and a dog?”

She kicked Xiao Jinghan hard in the abdomen, causing him to cough repeatedly.

“You used to be so arrogant before me. Now look how miserable you are!”

“If I had known you’d willingly become a dog for a woman, I would’ve dealt with Feng Jingge long ago!”

Another brutal strike landed on Xiao Jinghan, making him spit out a mouthful of blood. Scarlet spots stained his white robes.

At this moment, he regretted it.

He regretted sparing her all this time because she was Xiao Yu’s mother.

Otherwise, Jingge would never have been hurt.

Hatred filled Xiao Jinghan’s heart, yet he stubbornly stretched out his bloodied hand, pressed it against the ground, and slowly forced himself upright.

“You can do whatever you want to this prince… but Jingge… must be saved…”

Grinding his teeth, he said, “If she dies… this prince will never let you go!”

“You still dare threaten me? You still dare threaten me for that little girl’s sake?!”

“Men! Take him away and hang him up.”

“When Imperial Physician Ming finishes developing that nerve-controlling medicine, pour it straight down his throat.”

This time, she wanted to see how Xiao Jinghan would ever recover.

The palace attendants stepped forward, though none of them truly dared touch Xiao Jinghan.

Suddenly, Xiao Jinghan let out a cold laugh.

“You think you can really control this prince?”

The Empress Dowager was no longer afraid of him now.

“I know you’re capable, and I know those three subordinates by your side are formidable too.”

“But if you want Feng Jingge to stay alive, you must obey me.”

“And in three days, Feng Jingge will die.”

“These three days, I’ll make sure to properly ‘entertain’ you.”

“As long as you don’t resist, I’ll definitely give Feng Jingge the antidote after three days.”

Seeing Xiao Jinghan remain silent, the Empress Dowager signaled the attendants with her eyes.

Unable to disobey her, they approached Xiao Jinghan.

“Prince, forgive us for offending you.”

Xiao Jinghan raised a hand.

“This prince will walk on his own.”

Seeing that he truly no longer resisted, the Empress Dowager sneered coldly.

In truth, the poison she gave Feng Jingge wasn’t fatal at all. It was merely a drug that caused confusion and deep sleep.

She knew Xiao Jinghan cared deeply about Feng Jingge. If Feng Jingge truly died, the next person to die would be herself.

In the end, she was still afraid of Xiao Jinghan.

She also didn’t dare use this opportunity to kill him outright. After all, Xiao Jinghan held immense power.

And since Xiao Yu listened to him quite a bit, she could only use this chance to crush Xiao Jinghan’s pride.

She wanted the ministers loyal to him to see that Xiao Jinghan was willing to become a dog for a woman.

The Empress Dowager had sent imperial physicians to the prince’s residence to check on Feng Jingge’s condition.

But before the physician could examine her, Feng Jingge suddenly woke up and sat bolt upright.

“Where’s the Prince?! Where’s the Prince?!”

Ning An had been standing guard outside. Hearing movement inside, he immediately rushed in.

“Princess Consort, y-you’re awake?”

“Where’s the Prince?!”

“H-He… he went to the Empress Dowager’s place to test medicine…”

“She said if the Prince tested the medicine, she’d give Your Highness the antidote…”

“Bah! I don’t give a damn about that!”

Feng Jingge jumped out of bed, stumbling slightly, and Ning An hurried to support her.

“Princess Consort, you can barely walk steadily right now. You can’t go!”

“Move aside!”

Feng Jingge casually threw on a robe. Upon seeing the imperial physician outside, she grabbed him by the collar.

“Where’s the Prince?!”

“Y-You woke up on your own?!”

Already irritated to death, Feng Jingge shoved the physician aside and directly mounted a horse.

Then she instructed Ning An to prepare a carriage and wait for her at the Empress Dowager’s palace.

Late in the night, Xiao Jinghan hung suspended from the beam inside a room, blood dripping from his wrists.

There were nails hidden within the ropes. Once tightened, every nail pierced deep into flesh.

Xiao Jinghan thought—it really hurt.

He had never experienced such pain before. Now he was tasting all of it.

Yet his mind still worried about Feng Jingge—how she was doing, whether she had talked in her sleep… whether her identity had been exposed to everyone…

For a brief moment, Xiao Jinghan felt as though he could no longer hold on.

Even when his mother left him, it had never been this unbearable.

This time, he truly felt like he was dying.

Through his fading consciousness, he seemed to hear Feng Jingge calling out to him.

“Prince!”

“Damn it, let the Prince out right now!!!”

Then came the sound of another door being kicked open.

“Am I starting to hallucinate?”

But Feng Jingge had truly come.

The Empress Dowager, dressed only in her inner robes, was helped out by her personal maidservant. Both shocked and furious, she glared ahead.

This Feng Jingge was absolutely outrageous!!!

She actually dared to storm into her palace at night?!

The medicine hadn’t even been completed yet. Wouldn’t that mean neither of them could be controlled anymore?

“Insolence!”

“Feng Jingge, without my permission, you dare trespass into my palace?!”

“Men, seize her for me!”

“Yes!”

“I’d like to see who dares!”

Feng Jingge’s face radiated murderous intent.

“I am the Prince’s Consort now. If any of you dare touch me, don’t blame me for taking your lives!”

“This is outrageous! What are you all standing around for?!”

“Seize her!”

The attendants knew Feng Jingge was the Prince’s Consort, but since Xiao Jinghan himself was already in danger, they still moved to capture her.

Just as they were about to act, a sharp voice rang out:

“His Majesty has arrived!”

It wasn’t only Xiao Yu who came. The Grand Tutor, the Minister, and several other high-ranking officials were with him as well.

But Xiao Yu was the first to speak.

“Mother, what crime has Imperial Aunt committed that you want her arrested?”

The Empress Dowager glanced at the group and realized that tonight, they would absolutely take Xiao Jinghan away before leaving.

“She trespassed into my palace—”

“You secretly had the imperial physicians poison me and then used that to threaten the Prince.”

Feng Jingge coldly interrupted the Empress Dowager.

“If I hadn’t barged in here, I still wouldn’t know what you’d done to the Prince.”

“If the Empress Dowager refuses to release the Prince, then don’t expect a peaceful night’s sleep.”

“You dare threaten me?!”

“Mother!” Xiao Yu spoke again. “If what Imperial Aunt says is true, then please release Imperial Uncle.”

The ministers immediately followed.

“Yes, Empress Dowager.”

“If anything happens to the Prince, the entire imperial palace will know no peace.”

At this point, the Empress Dowager understood.

There was no longer any possibility of refusing to release Xiao Jinghan.