ASTRP -Chapter 96 What a Massive Conspiracy Theory

The two looked into each other’s eyes.

Inside the carriage, it was so quiet that the only sound was the creaking of the wheels rolling over the stone-paved road.

In the end, Xiao Jinghan spoke first.

“This prince will let you ask first.”

Feng Jingge did not refuse and voiced the doubt in her heart.

“Your Highness, didn’t you say the carriage had already returned to the manor? Why did it appear outside Prince Chen’s residence again?”

Xiao Jinghan was somewhat speechless.

“You only want to ask this?”

Feng Jingge nodded.

“With your clever little brain, how did you manage to ask such a foolish question?”

Feng Jingge: ?????

Xiao Jinghan mercilessly mocked her.

“Your question is like eating breakfast in the morning, then asking whether you should eat lunch at noon.”

“Just because the carriage returned to the manor, does that mean it can’t leave again?”

Feng Jingge was rendered speechless.

She even began doubting whether there was something wrong with her IQ.

“Alright, now it’s this prince’s turn to ask you something.”

Upon hearing this, Feng Jingge hurriedly interrupted first.

“Your Highness, wait a moment. Let me guess what you want to ask.”

Xiao Jinghan quietly looked at her.

She smiled.

“Your Highness, are you going to continue the earlier topic?”

“About who taught me my medical skills.”

“Am I right?”

“If I guessed correctly, then I’ll answer you.”

Her eyes sparkled brightly like stars in the night sky.

Xiao Jinghan pressed his lips together before lightly uttering two words.

“No.”

“Huh?” Feng Jingge’s expression froze. “The question you want to ask isn’t about that?”

“Mhm,” Xiao Jinghan replied.

Feng Jingge was instantly dumbfounded.

She had racked her brains trying to come up with a reasonable answer that could fool Xiao Jinghan without arousing his suspicion.

And yet—

Xiao Jinghan told her…

His question wasn’t about her medical skills at all…

Damn it!!

Xiao Jinghan had been observing Feng Jingge the entire time.

Every change in her expression fell into his eyes, exactly as he had expected.

Sure enough, she had indeed prepared an answer to fool him.

If he did not already know her true identity, he really might have been deceived by her.

After cursing inwardly for a while, Feng Jingge returned to a calm expression and asked,

“Then what is Your Highness’s question?”

Xiao Jinghan said, “Your opinion on Prince Chen’s situation.”

The smile in Feng Jingge’s eyes gradually faded, replaced with seriousness.

“Does Your Highness want the truth or lies?”

“Naturally, the truth.”

Feng Jingge’s tone grew heavy.

“Not optimistic.”

“From what I’ve seen, Prince Chen is too weak. While he’s in the capital, you may still be able to protect him somewhat. But once he leaves the capital and goes to his fief in Fengxiang…”

“I’m afraid his chances are grim.”

Xiao Jinghan chuckled softly.

“Weak?”

Feng Jingge: ??

What?

Was she wrong?

She stared at Xiao Jinghan, but he did not continue.

Unhurriedly, he picked up the teapot beside him and poured tea.

One cup was pushed in front of Feng Jingge.

The remaining cup he lifted himself. After taking a few sips, Xiao Jinghan slowly spoke again.

“How many weak imperial princes have you ever seen?”

“The weakness you see is merely what others want you to see.”

Feng Jingge’s heart trembled, and a flash of shock quickly passed through her eyes.

What he meant was…

She had been deceived by Prince Chen?

But…

Prince Chen really had been poisoned.

And Prince Chen’s Consort had genuinely appeared panicked and terrified today… completely at a loss…

No matter how good an actor someone was, flaws would eventually show.

But the Consort had shown none…

Could it be that Prince Chen had even calculated his own wife into his schemes?

Once the seed of conspiracy took root, it spread wildly like weeds.

In only a few breaths, Prince Chen’s image in Feng Jingge’s heart transformed from a refined and gentle jade-like gentleman into a hypocritical, ruthless villain hiding behind a pleasant facade.

Holding his teacup with both hands, Xiao Jinghan quietly watched the changes in Feng Jingge’s expression.

Judging from her face, he could roughly guess what she was thinking.

And by the end of it, Feng Jingge’s expression had become darker and darker.

He knew that if he did not speak now, Prince Chen’s image would probably be completely ruined.

Xiao Jinghan lightly coughed. After drawing Feng Jingge’s attention, he slowly said, “Compared to the other two, Prince Chen can indeed be considered weak.”

His fingers lightly tapped against the table.

“He has the ability to protect himself. It’s not as disastrous as you described.”

His words circled around so much that Feng Jingge became confused.

“Compared to the other two?” Her brows tightly furrowed. “You mean Prince Ning and Prince Yu?”

“Mhm,” Xiao Jinghan answered, then added, “Up until now, you haven’t met Prince Ning yet, right?”

Feng Jingge frowned and thought for a moment before uncertainly replying,

“Seems like…”

Halfway through speaking, her knitted brows relaxed.

“No, that’s not right. I have met him.”

The hand Xiao Jinghan used to rotate his teacup paused.

“Where did you meet him?”

Feng Jingge recalled as she spoke.

“That time when we dealt with the Pei family, he was there too.”

“At the time I was very angry. I spoke quickly and harshly, finished what I had to say, and left without even turning my head back.”

“The whole time, Prince Ning never even had a chance to speak.”

Xiao Jinghan lowered his gaze. His eyes fell upon the tea in his cup, deep and unreadable.

“Your Highness, you just said Prince Chen has the ability to protect himself.”

“Then what happened today…”

Feng Jingge truly could not understand it. If Prince Chen really could protect himself, then how had he ended up poisoned?

And…

If she had not intervened today, Prince Chen really would have gone to report to the King of Hell.

“Being schemed against is within the realm of normal.”

Xiao Jinghan calmly explained, even using himself as an example.

“Didn’t this prince become Regent only to suffer assassination attempts as well?”

Feng Jingge: “……”

This conversation could not continue.

She lay back onto the couch, but soon sat upright again.

Looking at Xiao Jinghan, she asked, “As Prince Chen’s uncle, shouldn’t you investigate who was behind this?!”

Investigate?

Heh!

Xiao Jinghan smiled faintly, coldness flickering in his eyes.

“Naturally, it will be investigated.”

Meanwhile, at Feng Yunxiao’s residence within the Feng Manor, the doors were tightly shut.

Madam Feng, Chen Jinfeng, stood outside, pounding hard on the door.

“Yunxiao, it’s Mother!”

“Yunxiao, open the door and let Mother see you!”

“Yunxiao… Yunxiao…”

Chen Jinfeng shouted outside until her throat was nearly hoarse. Not only did the door remain closed, but there was not even the slightest sound from inside.

Anxiety overtook her. Turning toward the maidservant attending Feng Yunxiao, she strode over.

With a vicious slap, she struck the maid across the face.

Chen Jinfeng furiously scolded,

“Was it you, you little slut, who upset Yunxiao?!”

The maid covered her face with one hand and immediately dropped to her knees, hurriedly explaining,

“Madam, it wasn’t this servant.”

“This afternoon, Miss went out. After returning, she locked herself inside her room.”

“No matter what this servant said or how much I called for her, Miss refused to respond.”

“Went out?” Chen Jinfeng tightly furrowed her brows. “Who did she go out with? Was it with that little bitch Feng Mingyue?!”

“It must be Feng Mingyue who angered Yunxiao.”

“Men! Go bring that bitch Feng Mingyue—”

At that moment, the old nanny serving Chen Jinfeng stepped forward.

“Madam, please calm your anger first.”