ASTRP -Chapter 26 The Regent Prince Is Quite a Schemer

Just then, Cuizhu happened to glance outside, and the two met eyes.

Cuizhu nodded at Cuiyun. The next second, Cuiyun turned and left.

She didn’t go to the restroom but exited the restaurant directly and hurried back to the residence to deliver the news.

When Feng Yunxiao’s mother learned that her daughter had been detained in the restaurant by Regent Prince Xiao Jinghan, she immediately panicked and went to find Feng Qiancheng.

Upon hearing that his daughter had snatched the Regent Prince’s dishes, Feng Qiancheng nearly fainted from anger on the spot.

With the new emperor ascending the throne and Xiao Jinghan acting as regent, the moment they took power, Xiao Jinghan executed more than a dozen officials. Although those officials were indeed guilty, in his view, their crimes did not warrant death.

Now, the entire court was on edge, everyone fearing that the slightest misstep might provoke the Regent Prince and cost them their lives.

He had tried so hard to keep a low profile, yet in the end, everything was ruined by that rebellious daughter of his!

That wretched girl even dared to snatch Xiao Jinghan’s food—she might as well have tried to take his head instead!

Angry as he was, he still had to bring her back.

But before that, he needed to make a trip to the Regent Prince’s residence.

That unfilial girl!!!

Cursing all the way, Feng Qiancheng left the residence, got into a carriage, and headed toward the Regent Prince’s mansion.

—

Feng Jinge slept straight through until late afternoon. Though she had rested well, her stomach was growling again.

Just as she was about to get up to find something to eat, Xiao Jinghan’s voice suddenly sounded by her ear.

“Awake?”

Startled, Feng Jinge turned her head.

She saw Xiao Jinghan sitting by the table, holding a teacup, looking in her direction.

Still groggy from sleep, Feng Jinge blinked. “Y-you… why are you here?”

“This is my room. Isn’t it normal for me to be here?”

Feng Jinge pouted. “Normal, sure. But if word gets to Liu Qingqing, she’ll come tearing at you again.”

At the mention of Liu Qingqing, Xiao Jinghan said, “Speaking of her, you’ve reminded me about the divorce letter.”

“Divorce letter?”

Feng Jinge frowned. “What divorce letter?”

“The one for Liu Qingqing.”

The moment she heard that he planned to divorce Liu Qingqing, Feng Jinge panicked.

“Wait—Xiao Jinghan, are you crazy?!”

Xiao Jinghan, who had been walking toward the desk, paused and turned back, his gaze deep and dangerous.

“What did you just call me?”

A chill ran down Feng Jinge’s spine as she snapped fully awake.

She had… just called him “Xiao Jinghan” directly?!

She was doomed!

Given his temperament, he might just chop her in half!

Her mind raced, desperately trying to come up with a way to smooth things over.

Suddenly—

With a creak, the tightly shut door was pushed open. Both of them turned to look.

Their gazes met Su Xiu, who was peeking inside. For a brief moment, the air froze.

Su Xiu’s eyes shifted to Feng Jinge.

Seizing the opportunity to divert the topic, Feng Jinge spoke up.

Su Xiu stepped in. “Tsk tsk, you’ve got quite the nerve, daring to call the Prince by his name.”

Feng Jinge raised a brow. “Young Master Su, were you eavesdropping outside the door?”

They spoke at the same time, picking faults with each other.

Exchanging a glance, they both denied it in unison.

“This isn’t eavesdropping. This is openly listening.”

“You were eavesdropping and hearing things.”

Their voices overlapped again, and they both paused, then shot each other disdainful looks.

The next moment, they both shifted the topic toward Xiao Jinghan.

“If you’ve got the guts, don’t talk about me—go on, keep talking about him!”

“Why are you picking on me? If you’ve got the guts, talk about him!”

At the same time, they raised their hands and pointed at Xiao Jinghan.

Caught between them, Xiao Jinghan swept his gaze over their faces and said calmly, “I’m listening. Go on.”

The moment he spoke, Su Xiu immediately feigned realization. “Ah! I just remembered I have something to do. I’ll be going first!”

He turned to leave.

Feng Jinge followed right behind. “The weather outside is nice—I’ll go get some sun.”

As the two rushed for the door, they started jostling each other for the lead.

Xiao Jinghan glanced at the pair crowded at the doorway, then shifted his gaze to Feng Jinge.

“Speaking of getting some sun, I suddenly remembered that Minister Feng is still kneeling in the front courtyard.”

Feng Jinge acted as if she hadn’t heard, continuing to squeeze her way out.

Seeing her about to get out, Su Xiu grew anxious.

“Hey, why are you still pushing? Didn’t you hear your father is kneeling in the front courtyard?”

“Huh?”

Feng Jinge froze. “My father?”

Taking advantage of her distraction, Su Xiu darted out in a flash.

“I’ll be going first!”

After getting out, he even turned back to show off.

Before Feng Jinge could respond, he slipped away like oil on his feet and vanished.

Watching his figure disappear, Feng Jinge gritted her teeth in anger.

“Su Xiu! You treacherous bastard!”

“Feng Jinge.”

Xiao Jinghan’s voice came from behind. Her body stiffened.

After silently cursing Su Xiu’s ancestors eighteen generations over, she turned around with a bright smile and said sweetly,

“May I ask what instructions Your Highness has?”

Xiao Jinghan’s gaze was sharp as a blade, as if trying to see through her.

“Who is Feng Qiancheng?”

“My father,” Feng Jinge replied, meeting his gaze. “What about him?”

Xiao Jinghan found nothing he was looking for in her eyes.

A flicker of something strange passed through his gaze before he said calmly,

“Looks like you didn’t hear what I said earlier.”

Feng Jinge admitted it openly, looking slightly embarrassed.

“I was too busy fighting with Young Master Su to get out the door, so… I didn’t hear what Your Highness said.”

Her voice grew softer as she spoke, head slightly lowered, occasionally glancing up to check his expression.

“Heh…”

Xiao Jinghan let out a cold laugh. “You have the nerve to call me by name, yet not the courage to bear my anger?”

After going in such a big circle, they had returned to the same issue.

Feng Jinge quickly admitted defeat. “Your Highness is mistaken—I don’t have the courage for either.”

“What happened just now was purely an accident. I was still half-asleep.”

Even while admitting defeat, she didn’t forget to flatter him.

“Your Highness is magnanimous, with a heart broad enough to sail a boat. Considering how I’ve been working day and night reviewing memorials for the sake of the people…”

“Could you… let me off this once?”

She looked at him with hopeful eyes.

Seeing “himself” looking so pitiful, Xiao Jinghan found it somewhat unbearable to watch.

His face darkened as he turned away and said coldly, “I’ll let you off this time. But if there’s a next time—”

Feng Jinge’s eyes lit up, and she quickly cut him off. “Rest assured, Your Highness, there won’t be a next time!”

“Oh right—what did you say about my father earlier?”

Xiao Jinghan replied coldly, “Minister Feng is kneeling in the front courtyard. He’s been there for about an hour.”

Unaware of what had happened at the restaurant, Feng Jinge assumed Feng Qiancheng had come to the Regent Prince’s residence to beg for her release.

“He came to ask you to let me go back?”