ASTRP -Chapter 216 Preparing to Go to Xiqing Kingdom

“Yu’er just woke up. He needs more rest.”

“Go tell them to come tomorrow instead.”

“After a night’s rest, Yu’er’s spirits will improve.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. This servant will go inform them now.”

Xiao Yu had not expected the Empress Dowager to agree so easily.

“Thank you, Mother.”

Then he looked toward Feng Jingge.

“And thank you too, Royal Aunt, for saving Yu’er.”

Feng Jingge smiled lightly.

“It’s good enough that His Majesty doesn’t blame me.”

Now that Xiao Yu was fine, Feng Jingge returned to the Prince Manor.

Xiao Jinghan had not returned yet.

The moment she stepped into the manor, Qingshan hurried over to her.

“Your Highness, Shen Fufeng took the child away.”

“He said the child was his, so it wasn’t appropriate for us to stop him.”

Feng Jingge raised a brow.

“So Feng Mingyue still told him about the child.”

“It’s better this way. It shows Shen Fufeng still cares somewhat about Feng Mingyue.”

If that was the case, Shen Fufeng would not become enemies with the prince.

“Jingge…”

At that moment, Xiao Jinghan walked in from outside, his expression extremely grim.

Feng Jingge frowned slightly.

“What’s wrong, Your Highness?”

“Yesterday, Shen Nan encountered bandits on his way to Jing Kingdom.”

“No one knows where he is now.”

“I’ve already sent Ning An to search for him. I just don’t know whether Shen Fufeng knows about this yet.”

Feng Jingge looked surprised.

“Bandits?”

“How could it be such a coincidence?”

“He ran into bandits the moment he came to Jing Kingdom?”

“Perhaps they weren’t bandits at all.”

Xiao Jinghan paused before continuing.

“There’s another matter. I had Zhiliao set a trap for Feng Qiancheng.”

“Perhaps because he felt guilty, when he saw what he believed was his wife’s ghost, he revealed the entire truth.”

Only then did Feng Jingge learn that the man the Empress Dowager had secretly been involved with was named Qiao Xiaoyu, and Xiao Yu was actually the child of the Empress Dowager and Qiao Xiaoyu.

At first, Feng Qiancheng had not been certain about the matter.

Later, after investigating Qiao Xiaoyu, he discovered the affair between him and the Empress Dowager.

Afterward, Feng Qiancheng tried to use the secret to control her, but the Empress Dowager was not afraid of him at all.

So for all these years, Feng Qiancheng had not dared act rashly.

Even after discovering that the Empress Dowager had once given Qiao Xiaoyu a jade pendant—and after seizing it himself in hopes of using it against her—the Empress Dowager still showed no fear. Instead, she warned him that if he dared scheme against her again, she would destroy the Feng family.

Though Feng Qiancheng had ambitions, he was also cowardly.

Under the Empress Dowager’s threats, he obediently backed down.

But unexpectedly, Shen Fufeng got involved.

Naturally, Feng Qiancheng was no match for Shen Fufeng and ended up under his control.

Shen Fufeng ordered Feng Qiancheng to threaten the Empress Dowager and arrange for venomous snakes to be released inside the imperial palace.

As long as the Empress Dowager agreed, the secret would never again be mentioned.

Initially, the Empress Dowager refused.

But this time, Feng Qiancheng was determined to oppose her to the bitter end.

Left with no choice, she agreed.

The original plan had been that Xiao Yu’s death would deal a severe blow to Xiao Jinghan.

But Shen Fufeng had never expected Feng Jingge to successfully remove the snake venom from Xiao Yu’s body.

That outcome was completely beyond his expectations.

Unwilling to accept failure, he went again to threaten Feng Qiancheng.

But by then, Feng Qiancheng had already fallen into Zhiliao’s trap and confessed everything.

In a fit of rage, Shen Fufeng tried to kill him.

At that moment, Feng Mingyue rushed out and begged him not to kill her father.

She even revealed the existence of the child, hoping Shen Fufeng would spare her father for the child’s sake.

One aggravating event after another pushed Shen Fufeng over the edge. Since he had never truly liked Feng Mingyue to begin with, he injured her in his fury.

Terrified, Feng Qiancheng tried to flee.

But Shen Fufeng killed him with a single strike.

Afterward, Shen Fufeng came to the Prince Manor.

All of this had been personally witnessed in secret by Zhiliao.

“So Feng Qiancheng is dead?”

“Yes. And Feng Mingyue may also be in mortal danger now.”

Xiao Jinghan took Feng Jingge’s hand.

“If my wife wishes to save Feng Mingyue, this prince can do so.”

But Feng Jingge shook her head.

“Your Highness, I actually think Shen Fufeng won’t kill Feng Mingyue.”

“After all, both his parents are gone now, and Shen Nan has also disappeared.”

“He probably doesn’t have the heart to do anything to Feng Mingyue anymore.”

“Then should we search for Shen Nan?”

“Yes.”

“He’s also a pitiful person.”

At once, Zhiliao accepted the order and left to search for Shen Nan.

Although the truth had finally come to light, Feng Jingge still felt weighed down.

She was truly exhausted from all the scheming and intrigue.

Xiao Jinghan could tell what she was thinking, so he proposed gently,

“My wife, now that everything has finally been revealed, how about we leave the capital?”

Feng Jingge immediately brightened up.

“Alright!”

“But where should we go?”

Xiao Jinghan smiled.

“How about we first go find Prince Chen?”

“After that, wherever my wife wishes to go, this prince will accompany you.”

Feng Jingge thought it sounded good.

“Alright. Then when do we leave?”

“As soon as this prince finishes arranging matters at court.”

“Yu’er is now capable of standing on his own. It truly is time for this prince to leave.”

However, just as they were preparing to depart the capital, Prince Yu rushed anxiously into the manor.

“Royal Uncle, Royal Aunt, something terrible has happened!”

“Xiqing Liyue has gone back!”

Feng Jingge had just finished packing and walked out carrying her bundle.

“Why did she suddenly return? Did you bully her?”

Prince Yu hurriedly shook his head.

“No. And she didn’t return willingly either.”

“Her mother sent her a letter saying she was old and in poor health, asking Liyue to return and see her.”

“She even said that if Liyue didn’t return soon, she might not see her mother one last time.”

“And people from Xiqing Kingdom came personally to escort her back.”

Seeing the panic written all over Prince Yu’s face, Xiao Jinghan immediately hit the nail on the head.

“If Xiqing Liyue truly didn’t want to return, would you, a prince, really have been unable to stop her?”

“If you couldn’t even stop her, then your title as prince is truly useless.”

“…”

Prince Yu felt thoroughly slapped in the face.

He opened his mouth, only to realize he had no rebuttal.

After all, he really hadn’t stopped her.

Seeing his aggrieved expression, Feng Jingge burst into laughter.

“You…”

“Earlier, the prince already said the two of you would marry in three months.”

“But you delayed going to His Majesty to request the marriage decree.”

“Now that she’s gone back, you’re anxious and full of regret.”

“You deserve it!”

“…”

Prince Yu looked like he was about to cry.

He had rushed over hoping his royal uncle and aunt would give him advice, not mock him.

“Then… I’ll think of a way myself.”

He lowered his head and turned to leave.

Suddenly, Feng Jingge called out,

“Your Highness, traveling to Xiqing Kingdom actually sounds pretty nice!”

Xiao Jinghan immediately followed up,

“Mhm, Xiqing Kingdom is indeed a fine place.”

“Then let’s go there for a visit.”

“Alright.”

“Then instead of picking another day, let’s leave now.”

“Mhm. As my wife wishes.”

Prince Yu immediately spun around.

“Royal Uncle, Royal Aunt, I… I want to go too.”

Feng Jingge deliberately asked,

“The prince and I are going traveling. Why would a lonely bachelor like you follow us there?”

“…”

Prince Yu naturally understood what she meant.

At this point, he no longer acted shy or hesitant and declared firmly,

“I’m going to find Xiqing Liyue.”

“And I’m going to tell her mother that I want to marry her and make her my princess consort.”