ASTRP -Chapter 30 Everyone Harbors Their Own Thoughts

Prince Yu gave Su Xiu a deep look, then shifted his gaze to Feng Jinge, smiling lightly. “I didn’t expect to run into Royal Uncle here.”

Hearing this, Feng Jinge could immediately tell that Xiao Jinghan had never set foot in a place like this before.

She lifted her eyelids slightly, glanced at Prince Yu, and replied coldly, “Is it that surprising?”

Prince Yu shook the jade fan in his hand and smiled. “Not just surprising—extremely surprising.”

“After all, Royal Uncle is usually not one to be close to women.”

Feng Jinge’s heart tightened. She wanted to explain, but then remembered that a cold and aloof persona was supposed to be sparing with words.

Explain?

Impossible.

So…

She gave a cold response, cast a sideways glance at the head-lowered Su Xiu, and uttered a single word, “Go.”

With that, she walked forward.

Su Xiu was just about to follow when he looked up and realized Feng Jinge was heading toward the brothel district.

He was about to remind her she was going the wrong way when he saw Prince Yu quickly catch up and walk side by side with her.

Prince Yu said enthusiastically, “Royal Uncle, it’s your first time here. You’re unfamiliar with the place—let me guide you.”

Feng Jinge: “……”

Su Xiu felt doomed. If he had known they would run into Prince Yu, he would never have brought Feng Jinge here!

Feng Jinge refused coldly, “I already have an appointment.”

“An appointment?” Prince Yu was taken aback, then smiled. “Royal Uncle, don’t tell me you came here for business?”

“Otherwise?” Feng Jinge shot him a cold look. “What do you think I came here for?”

“Uh…”

Prince Yu was stumped.

Not because he had no answer, but because he didn’t dare say it.

No one could ever figure out Royal Uncle’s temperament.

Seeing him fall silent, Feng Jinge knew she had successfully bluffed him.

Now all she needed to do was casually enter a brothel, rent a private room, stay for a while, and then return to the residence.

The long street ahead was brightly lit, with elaborately dressed women standing on both sides.

The moment Feng Jinge and the others appeared, they instantly became prime targets. The women rushed forward to solicit them.

“Young masters…”

“Where are you gentlemen headed? Why not come inside and sit for a while?”

Facing the approaching women, Feng Jinge remained expressionless and called out, “Su Xiu.”

Su Xiu understood. He reached for the sword at his waist—only to grab empty air.

Looking down, he realized he wasn’t carrying one at all…

His gaze shifted to the swords at the waists of Prince Yu’s two attendants.

“Brother, lend me a sword.”

Without waiting for a response, he stepped forward and drew one out.

With a swift movement, he flashed in front of Feng Jinge, pointing the sword at the approaching women.

The women shrieked in fright and quickly retreated.

A bolder one couldn’t help but curse, “If you don’t want to play, then don’t! Why pull a sword?”

Others chimed in, “Exactly!”

“You come here to have fun—why pretend to be a gentleman…”

Complaints continued.

Feng Jinge’s expression didn’t change, but internally she was cursing Su Xiu to death.

Prince Yu’s expression wasn’t great either. He wanted to scold them, but then thought—if Royal Uncle hadn’t spoken, what right did he have to?

Better to endure it.

They had already walked halfway down the brothel street, yet Feng Jinge still hadn’t stopped.

Prince Yu began to grow suspicious.

Ahead was the end of the street, yet Royal Uncle kept walking.

Meeting someone at the very end?

Obviously unlikely.

After much thought, Prince Yu reached a conclusion: Royal Uncle had come here to have fun as well, but with him present, he felt too embarrassed to admit it.

Yes…

That must be it.

Unaware of Prince Yu’s thoughts, Feng Jinge saw that the road ahead was growing dark—it seemed they had reached the end.

She was already thinking about how to turn back naturally without raising suspicion.

At that moment, Prince Yu suddenly coughed.

“Ahem…”

“Royal Uncle, I suddenly remembered I have something to take care of, so I’ll be leaving first.”

“Please, carry on.”

Without waiting for a reply, Prince Yu turned and left with his attendants.

Feng Jinge: ??

Su Xiu: ????

The two stopped and looked at each other, both seeing confusion in the other’s eyes.

Feng Jinge said with slight concern, “Could it be he noticed something?”

Su Xiu felt a chill in his heart but reassured her softly, “You barely spoke—what could he have noticed?”

While they were talking, Prince Yu led his attendants into a brothel.

Feng Jinge originally intended to return directly to the residence.

But…

If you’re acting, you have to act it out fully.

What if Prince Yu was secretly watching them? Going straight back would definitely arouse suspicion.

She had already said she had an appointment here…

Feng Jinge looked at Su Xiu. “Use your instincts as a man and quickly pick one.”

“You’re not planning to—”

As Su Xiu spoke, the corner of his eye caught sight of a woman peeking over.

He instantly understood Feng Jinge’s intention.

His gaze swept around quickly before settling on three words: Yihong Pavilion.

“Yihong Pavilion.”

“Let’s go.”

Feng Jinge dropped a word and strode forward, Su Xiu following closely behind.

They arrived at the entrance of Yihong Pavilion.

The welcoming girl at the door saw Feng Jinge, and her eyes lit up immediately.

But just as she was about to step forward, she noticed the man behind him holding a long sword.

With that kind of presence, who would dare approach?

Feng Jinge found it strange that the women here weren’t swarming them like before—in fact, they seemed to be avoiding them.

Just as she was wondering what went wrong, a young girl dragged an older madam over.

The madam saw her and smiled so widely her eyes became slits.

Waving a handkerchief, she hurried over. “Young master, you—”

Suddenly, Su Xiu stepped in front of Feng Jinge.

The madam had been rushing toward her “wealthy guest,” but a sword-wielding man suddenly appeared midway.

Her pupils shrank in shock, and she screamed, hurriedly retreating and grabbing a nearby girl to shield herself.

Feng Jinge: “……”

Brother, look how badly you’ve scared her.

Su Xiu paid no attention to the madam’s fear. Holding the sword, he said calmly, “Prepare a top-tier private room. And send in a girl who can play the zither.”

The madam peeked out from behind the girl, looking confused. “Young master… you’re not here to cause trouble?”

Su Xiu raised a brow. “What do you think?”

After confirming he wasn’t here to make trouble, the madam stepped out from behind the girl.

But seeing the sword in his hand, she still felt uneasy. Glancing at it, she cautiously said, “Young master, could you put the sword away?”

Su Xiu replied bluntly, “There’s no sheath. I can’t.”

He paused, then added impatiently, “Didn’t I tell you to arrange a room? Why are you dawdling?”

His tone turned more irritable. “If I really came to cause trouble, do you think you’d still be standing here talking to me?”

The madam trembled at his words and quickly agreed.

Her gaze swept over Feng Jinge—who hadn’t said a single word the entire time—before lowering her eyes. A fleeting glint flashed through them and disappeared.

“Please, young masters, follow me.”