ASTRP -Chapter 56 Once the souls are switched, Feng Jingge will die

Xiao Jinghan walked over.

Feng Jingge and Xiao Jinghan exchanged a glance, then each picked up a stool and sat side by side.

Old Man Cui’s expression lost its usual smile and turned serious. His demeanor became solemn as he said, “Are you two sure you want to switch back?”

The two were about to answer without hesitation when they heard Old Man Cui continue.

“That brat Su Xiu told me to come take a look first and then decide.”

“So, I’m not fully prepared…”

Feng Jingge immediately knew this old man was trying to stall again.

She cut him off. “Old Cui, can you stop wasting time? Just tell us—can it be done or not?”

Old Man Cui stared at her and slowly said, “He can. You can’t.”

Feng Jingge instinctively wanted to retort.

But as she lifted her gaze, she accidentally met his eyes.

Those eyes were sharp like a torch, as if they could see straight into her soul.

She froze slightly.

What he said next made her heart tremble.

“Jinghan boy can return to his original body with absolute certainty. As for you, girl… your chances of going back are very low.”

Feng Jingge immediately understood the implication.

She was not the original owner of this body, so her soul might not be able to return to the original body.

But she didn’t quite believe it.

“If you don’t believe me, I can try it. But if you fail to return afterward, things will get very troublesome.”

Feng Jingge had already been tricked by Old Cui before, so she didn’t trust his abilities at all.

She was about to say “try then,”

but before the words came out, Xiao Jinghan beside her spoke first.

“When will there be a foolproof method?”

Feng Jingge frowned and turned to look at him.

But Xiao Jinghan wasn’t looking at her—his eyes were fixed on Old Cui.

Old Cui gave an ambiguous answer. “I’ll only know after I try.”

Xiao Jinghan refused immediately. “I will not try.”

Old Cui’s words had already confirmed his suspicion.

The Feng Jingge in front of him… was not the real Feng Jingge of the Feng family.

If her soul was extracted, there was a real chance she would never return—or worse, disappear like that person before.

He wouldn’t gamble.

And he didn’t want to gamble.

Feng Jingge’s frown deepened. “Didn’t you want to switch back all along? Now that the chance is right in front of you, you refuse it?”

Xiao Jinghan remained silent, his eyes dark and unreadable.

Old Cui studied him for a moment, his expression shifting slightly.

“Girl, even Jinghan boy understands this. Yet you still don’t. I don’t even know what to say about you.”

Sigh… this girl is truly foolish.

Feng Jingge: “……”

He understands nothing!

He just hasn’t been deceived by you before, that’s all.

“Jinghan boy, what I mean by ‘try’ is not switching you back.”

“It’s this.”

Old Cui took out a red string from his robe and signaled both of them to extend their right middle fingers.

They did as told.

He tied one end of the red string to Feng Jingge’s middle finger and the other to Xiao Jinghan’s.

Then he closed his eyes and began chanting something under his breath, waving his hand in the air.

He looked like a complete charlatan performing a ritual.

Feng Jingge curled her lip.

She never expected that someone as intelligent as Xiao Jinghan would also be fooled by this old man…

“Go!”

Old Cui shouted.

The red string on Feng Jingge’s finger snapped instantly.

At the same time—

It felt as if a heavy hammer struck her head. Her ears rang, her vision went black, and she lost consciousness completely.

Xiao Jinghan reacted quickly and reached out to catch her.

He caught her, but due to the difference in strength, Feng Jingge’s body—now over 1.8 meters tall—was too heavy for him to support alone.

“Senior, what are you waiting for? Help!” he said urgently.

“I’m coming!”

Old Cui snapped back to reality and helped support her.

Together, they finally managed to carry the tall Feng Jingge onto the soft couch.

The moment she was placed down, Old Cui collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath.

“I’m exhausted!”

“Jinghan boy, see? Good thing we didn’t actually try a full switch.”

“Otherwise, her soul might’ve been lost completely.”

As he spoke, he wiped sweat from his forehead.

Xiao Jinghan suddenly asked, “Senior, you and she… you’re not from here, are you?”

Old Cui’s expression changed immediately. Realizing danger, he turned to run.

But Xiao Jinghan moved instantly, blocking his path.

Old Cui looked like he was about to cry. “Your Highness, this question is above my pay grade…”

“You don’t have to answer. I only want to know if she is.”

Old Cui said, “Whether she is or not… if she is the one you like, does it really matter?”

“It matters,” Xiao Jinghan said coldly. “I once had a person I cared about. She didn’t belong here either. One day she disappeared, and I searched all four kingdoms but couldn’t find her.”

Old Cui: “???”

Is reincarnation… this popular nowadays?

“So you want to confirm whether Feng Jingge is that person?”

Xiao Jinghan’s expression darkened instantly.

Old Cui quickly realized he had misunderstood something.

“The person I mentioned… was my mother.”

Old Cui: “……”

At this point, there was no point in denying it anymore.

“Xiao Jinghan, this girl’s identity is complicated. She belongs here… yet also doesn’t.”

“All I can tell you is that she indeed comes from another world. Everything else—you’ll have to hear from her yourself.”

“Will she tell me?” Xiao Jinghan lowered his gaze, bitterness hidden in his eyes.

Old Cui patted his shoulder. “That depends on what you do.”

Xiao Jinghan pressed his lips together, his expression dim.

Feng Jingge woke up the next day.

As soon as she opened her eyes, Qing Shan walked in.

“Your Highness, the Grand Tutor has requested an audience.”

Feng Jingge: “……”

Can she refuse?

Obviously not.

After quickly washing up and eating, she rushed to the palace without delay.

From her sedan chair, she saw the Grand Tutor pacing back and forth outside the imperial study.

The sedan stopped, and the Grand Tutor came forward to greet her.

“This minister greets Your Highness.”

“Mm,” Feng Jingge responded indifferently.

After the surrounding attendants withdrew, she finally asked, “What is it?”

“This minister has come to request Your Highness’s review of candidates for the Emperor’s study companion.”

“There are eight candidates in total.”

“I have brought them to the South Study Room. Your Highness, please take a look…”

The Grand Tutor looked at her, waiting for her decision.

Feng Jingge said coldly, “Lead the way.”

Relief immediately washed over the Grand Tutor’s face, and he turned to guide her.

The South Study Room was where the princes of the Great Jin Empire studied.