ASTRP -Chapter 3 The White Lotus Picks a Fight

He had become the eldest young lady of the Feng family, Feng Jinge.

And she had become…

What was his name again? What kind of prince was he?

Feng Jinge turned her head. “That prince—what’s your name again? What prince are you?”

Xiao Jinghan answered instinctively, “Xiao Jinghan, the Regent Prince.”

“Oh, Xiao Jinghan, the Regent Prince.” Feng Jinge muttered it casually, but suddenly felt something was off. She stared at him, her voice stammering, “Re… Re… Regent Prince??”

“You recognize me now?”

Xiao Jinghan raised an eyebrow slightly, letting out a proud snort.

Feng Jinge jogged over to his side. “The one written about in storybooks—the Regent Prince who assists the emperor and holds overwhelming power over the court?”

Seeing her wide-eyed curiosity, Xiao Jinghan inexplicably found it… somewhat cute?

Tch!

That was his face—of course it was adorable!

“Assisting the emperor is true,” Xiao Jinghan said coldly, glancing at her. “As for holding overwhelming power over the court…”

He paused briefly, then spat out a single word, “False.”

Feng Jinge pouted. “Then how do we switch back?”

Hearing this, Xiao Jinghan’s expression turned colder. “You’re asking me? Shouldn’t you be asking yourself?”

“Me?” Feng Jinge frowned. “How would I know how to switch back? I just fell into the water for no reason, and when I woke up, I had become you!”

Xiao Jinghan narrowed his eyes, a chilling aura radiating from him. “So you’re saying this soul swap has nothing to do with you?”

Affected by the cold air around him, Feng Jinge shivered.

As expected, powerful men really do come with their own cold aura.

“Mm-hmm.”

She nodded stiffly, pretending nothing was wrong.

Xiao Jinghan was about to press further when someone suddenly knocked on the door.

Ning An’s voice came from outside: “Your Highness, Miss Liu has arrived.”

Xiao Jinghan’s expression turned cold. “What is she here for?”

“Replying to Your Highness, Miss Liu says she came to see you.”

Xiao Jinghan pressed his lips together, his gaze falling on Feng Jinge. His thin lips parted, his voice as cold as ice: “Every word I say next—you must remember.”

Feng Jinge: ???

What am I supposed to remember?

After a while, Xiao Jinghan looked at the still-dazed Feng Jinge and said coldly, “Did you hear what I just said?”

Feng Jinge remained silent, looking completely absent-minded.

Xiao Jinghan gritted out three words through clenched teeth: “Feng Jinge!”

Feng Jinge snapped back to reality, looking at Xiao Jinghan whose face had darkened terribly.

She swallowed guiltily and replied weakly, “I’m here…”

Xiao Jinghan gritted his teeth. “Everything I just said—you must remember—”

Feng Jinge quickly cut in, “I remember, I remember!”

“Isn’t it just pretending to be you for now? OK! OK! No problem.”

Acting? She was good at that!

Seeing how readily she agreed, and how unconcerned she seemed, Xiao Jinghan felt even more uneasy.

But at this point, there was no other choice.

“I kindly remind you—one misstep, and you will fall into eternal ruin!”

“Mm-hmm.”

Feng Jinge nodded rapidly.

Xiao Jinghan said, “I’ll have Liu Qingqing come in. What happens next depends on your performance.”

“Alright.”

Feng Jinge agreed without hesitation, then suddenly frowned. “Wait!”

“Who is Liu Qingqing?”

The air instantly froze, the temperature dropping sharply.

Xiao Jinghan’s expression was calm. “I’d better end my life right now.”

As soon as he spoke, he flicked his sleeve and struck toward Feng Jinge. She sidestepped easily, dodging the attack.

Turning around, she stuck out her tongue at him. “Bleh… I was just teasing you.”

Xiao Jinghan’s face stiffened. Watching his own face make silly expressions was truly… hard to accept.

“My noble Regent Prince, please sit aside and watch me.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the smile on Feng Jinge’s face vanished. Her expression turned cold and emotionless.

She turned toward the door and said icily, “Let her in.”

Xiao Jinghan’s brow twitched. That cold expression and icy tone—she really did look like him now.

His chaotic thoughts settled somewhat. Pressing his lips together, he gave Feng Jinge a deep look before turning to sit on a chair.

To watch the show.

The door creaked open.

A slender figure dressed in plain white entered slowly, carrying a tray, her steps graceful like a lotus.

When Feng Jinge saw her, a flash of light passed through her eyes.

Are ancient beauties all this stunning?

Her skin was fair as jade, her lips like cherries, her fingers slender like scallions. But the most striking part was her willow-like waist—so incredibly slim.

As Liu Qingqing entered, she clearly felt the cold gaze fixed upon her.

Her heart filled with joy—so the prince really liked plain white clothing and disliked gaudy colors.

No wonder he hadn’t even glanced at her before, despite her careful dressing!

“Your servant greets Your Highness.”

Liu Qingqing stepped forward and bowed to Feng Jinge.

Just as Feng Jinge was about to speak, Xiao Jinghan’s icy voice suddenly sounded in her ear: “Do as I said.”

Feng Jinge: …

She glanced at Liu Qingqing, her expression cold. “If you have something to say, say it. If not, get out.”

Liu Qingqing’s heart tightened. She hurriedly said, “I heard that Your Highness was pushed into the water by the Feng family’s eldest young lady at the General’s residence, so I specially prepared ginger soup to help you ward off the cold.”

“Oh?” Feng Jinge narrowed her eyes, a cold glint flashing. “Your information is quite well-informed.”

Liu Qingqing stiffened, her face turning pale. “Replying to Your Highness, I heard it from the servants. At first I didn’t believe it, but they said the matter has already spread throughout the capital. I then sent people to confirm it…”

Feng Jinge said nothing, only stared at her coldly.

With her head lowered, Liu Qingqing felt the piercing chill of that gaze.

Suddenly, Feng Jinge frowned and glanced toward Xiao Jinghan.

He remained expressionless, not looking at her.

Feng Jinge pressed her lips together and suddenly stood up.

Startled, Liu Qingqing trembled. She raised her tearful eyes to look at Feng Jinge, then quickly lowered her head again. “Your Highness, what I said—”

Before she could finish, Feng Jinge slowly crouched down. Reaching out with her right hand, she grabbed Liu Qingqing’s chin and lifted it, forcing her to meet her gaze.

Their eyes met.

Liu Qingqing’s face was pale, her eyes misty with tears, her lips lightly bitten—like a pitiful little creature.

Feng Jinge’s expression was cold. Her thin lips parted slightly.

“Liu Qingqing, you know my bottom line. Put away those improper thoughts of yours. If you can’t, then get out of the Prince’s residence!”

With that, she flung her hand away.

The next moment, Liu Qingqing lost her balance and fell to the ground.