ASTRP -Chapter 7 The Prince Is Sick? Assassins Have Arrived

Someone must be trying to kill her!

Don’t ask how she knew—she could feel the killing intent rushing straight at her.

Xiao Jinghan narrowed his eyes, grinding his teeth as he spat out each word, “What did you say?”

Feng Jinge could only laugh awkwardly and brush it off. “Nothing, nothing. I just came to ask you—how exactly am I supposed to act out this ‘gravely injured, on the brink of death’ role?”

She had just finished reading the book when Ning An entered the room and relayed all the important matters Xiao Jinghan had previously instructed.

Having “her, Feng Jinge,” enter the Prince’s residence as a maid—she could understand that. After all, staying close would make certain things more convenient, and if either of them slipped up, they could cover for each other.

That part, she understood.

But announcing to the outside world that she was critically ill, even on the verge of death…

How on earth was she supposed to act that out?

Just as Feng Jinge finished questioning him, Xiao Jinghan suddenly reached out toward her.

Instinctively, she tried to dodge, but he grabbed her and pulled her over.

Because of the height difference between them, the one who ended up falling forward… was Xiao Jinghan—right into Feng Jinge’s arms.

Both of them froze.

Their eyes met for a brief moment.

Xiao Jinghan was the first to recover. He raised a hand and placed it against Feng Jinge’s forehead.

After withdrawing his hand, he said, “Go back to your room and sleep. Don’t worry about anything else.”

Feng Jinge looked doubtful. “Don’t worry about anything at all?”

He nodded.

“Really? You’re sure?”

“You don’t trust this prince?” Xiao Jinghan frowned.

“I do, I do!” Feng Jinge quickly replied. “Then I’ll go sleep.”

The moment she finished speaking, she slipped away like oil under her feet, disappearing from Qin Xin Residence in a flash.

As soon as she stepped out, the smile on her face vanished instantly. Her expression turned cold, exuding an aura that warned others to stay away.

The moment Feng Jinge left, Ning An emerged from the shadows and bowed respectfully. “Your Highness.”

“Is everything arranged?”

Xiao Jinghan asked faintly, his gaze still fixed in the direction she had left.

“Reporting to Your Highness, everything has been arranged.”

“Good.”

By the time he finished speaking, her figure had already disappeared. He turned to head inside, but Ning An called out from behind.

“Your Highness.”

Xiao Jinghan paused but did not turn around.

Can she really do this?

His lips pressed into a thin line.

After a long silence, he finally spoke, “Ning An, you’ve overstepped.”

Ning An’s expression changed. He dropped to one knee. “This subordinate knows his fault. Please punish me, Your Highness.”

“Go receive your punishment.”

With those cold four words, Xiao Jinghan stepped inside.

Strangely, after he entered, the door behind him slowly closed on its own.

—

Meanwhile, Feng Jinge returned to her quarters. The moment she stepped inside, she completely let loose and returned to her true self.

But her happiness didn’t last even three seconds before she remembered Xiao Jinghan’s words, and her face instantly fell.

“The bed even collapsed—”

Before she could finish, she looked up and saw… a bed in the room.

“Huh?”

“Did I walk into the wrong place?”

She muttered to herself, stepped back out to check, then, after confirming she hadn’t made a mistake, went back in and threw herself onto the bed.

Lying on the new bed, Feng Jinge sighed in admiration. As expected of the Regent Prince’s subordinates—their efficiency was top-notch.

Before long, drowsiness crept in, accompanied by a faint headache.

She didn’t think much of it, pulled the blanket over herself, and fell asleep.

—

As the sun dipped westward, hinting at dusk—

A heavy atmosphere suddenly descended upon the Regent Prince’s residence.

Regent Prince Xiao Jinghan had suddenly developed a high fever, and the medicines prescribed by the residence physician had no effect.

His personal guard, Qing Shan, was loudly cursing non-stop, his voice echoing through half the estate.

The news soon reached Liu Qingqing’s courtyard.

Both Liu Qingqing and her personal maid were stunned.

They had just seen the prince not long ago—how had he suddenly fallen gravely ill?

“Could this news be false?” Liu Qingqing asked, her expression serious.

The maid replied, “It doesn’t seem fake. Guard Qing Shan’s shouting can practically be heard across the entire residence.”

“Did you hear what exactly happened over there? He was fine after falling into the water—why is he suddenly in trouble now?”

The maid cautiously glanced around before lowering her voice. “I heard from the residence physician… it’s something called delayed illness after trauma.”

“Delayed illness?”

Liu Qingqing was dumbfounded. She had never even heard of such a condition.

No, she had to send someone to keep watch and find out what was really going on.

With that thought, she quickly sent a maid to keep an eye on the prince’s original courtyard.

—

The residence physician was at a loss and could only seek outside help.

Still cursing, Qing Shan rushed out to find another doctor.

But just as he stepped out the gate, he collided with an imperial physician arriving at the residence.

Preoccupied with urgency, Qing Shan didn’t even recognize him and hurried past.

The imperial physician, Liu, paused in confusion before realizing—wasn’t that Qing Shan, the Regent Prince’s personal guard?

He quickly turned around and called out, “Hey—”

No response.

He raised his voice. “Hey! Hey!”

Still no response.

Seeing Qing Shan about to disappear into the night, Physician Liu panicked and shouted, “Guard Qing!”

Qing Shan: ?

Someone was calling him?

He turned back and saw a man at the gate waving at him.

Frowning, he flashed back over. “Who are you?”

“I heard the prince fell into the water. His Majesty is concerned and sent me to examine—”

Qing Shan narrowed his eyes and cut him off. “You’re a physician from the palace?”

“Yes.”

Qing Shan’s eyes lit up. He grabbed him immediately. “Perfect. Come with me!”

“Hey—hey—slow down! My old bones can’t take this!”

—

At the same time, Feng Jinge was sleeping groggily when a series of clanging noises—like metal being hammered—suddenly rang in her ears.

It was so loud she couldn’t sleep, and her head throbbed as if it might split open.

The noise continued relentlessly.

Unable to bear it any longer, she sat up drowsily. “Can you keep it down a bit—”

Before she could finish, the chaotic sounds abruptly stopped.

The silence that followed was eerie.

Even the air seemed to freeze, growing heavy and oppressive.

Something felt wrong.

She turned her head—

Her pupils shrank in shock.

A cold, gleaming sword slashed toward her, the sharp wind carrying killing intent straight at her face.

Without thinking, Feng Jinge grabbed a pillow and twisted her body aside, dodging the blade while hurling the pillow at the black-clad attacker.

Taking advantage of the brief opening, she finally got a clear look at the situation inside the room.