ASTRP -Chapter 98 The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind

While Feng Jingge and Prince Yu were talking outside the hall, Xiao Jinghan and Xi Liyue remained inside.

Xiao Jinghan casually found a seat and sat down, then glanced at the visibly uneasy Xi Liyue.

Coincidentally, Xi Liyue was secretly peeking at him too.

Their gazes collided in midair.

Thinking she had been caught staring, Xi Liyue’s little face instantly flushed red, and she hurriedly lowered her head.

Xiao Jinghan calmly withdrew his gaze as if nothing had happened and said coldly,

“Sit and wait.”

Xi Liyue froze for a moment, looked at him again, then quietly returned to her seat.

Outside the hall—

Prince Yu wore a bitter expression as he endlessly poured out his grievances to Feng Jingge.

“My thinking was that if we didn’t announce it, nobody would know.”

“Who would’ve thought people would still come knocking at my door?”

“Imperial Uncle, you have no idea how terrifying the situation was back then! It was horrifying—”

Prince Yu kept rambling nonstop, but not a single sentence got to the point.

Feng Jingge finally couldn’t take it anymore and coldly interrupted him.

“Get to the point.”

Prince Yu’s voice abruptly stopped.

A moment later, he slowly said, “I was thinking… maybe Xi Liyue could stay here with Imperial Uncle…”

Stay in the Regent Prince’s residence?

Feng Jingge didn’t even need to think to know Xiao Jinghan would definitely—

Her face darkened as she interrupted Prince Yu.

“You should understand the rules of this prince’s residence.”

Prince Yu failed to react immediately and mistakenly thought his royal uncle had agreed.

“I understand.” His heart filled with joy. “Imperial Uncle, just let her stay with Miss Feng.”

Feng Jingge: “…”

She shot Prince Yu a cold glare.

“Feng Jingge is this prince’s servant. You want Xi Liyue to stay with Feng Jingge—are you planning to make her this prince’s servant too?”

The princess of Western Ling becoming a servant?

Prince Yu was stunned.

Only his royal uncle could come up with something like that.

The moment Feng Jingge saw his expression, she knew he still hadn’t understood what she meant.

“The residence does not keep female dependents.”

This time, the meaning couldn’t have been clearer.

There was no way Prince Yu still didn’t understand.

“This…” Prince Yu looked troubled. “I can’t handle this anymore… Last night, five or six people died.”

“If this happens a few more times, all the guards in my residence will be wiped out.”

Feng Jingge frowned tightly.

What Prince Yu said was true.

Xiao Jinghan had previously told her that the assassins of Western Ling were practically dead soldiers…

Each one stronger than the last.

Prince Yu might be able to handle one or two attacks, but if there were several more…

At that moment, Xiao Jinghan’s voice suddenly sounded.

“Is the matter Prince Yu worries about merely the assassination attempts?”

Feng Jingge and Prince Yu both turned around, their eyes landing on Xiao Jinghan at the same time.

Looking at the two of them, Xiao Jinghan said, “If so, I have a method to lure out the people hiding in the shadows and eliminate them all at once.”

Feng Jingge turned to look at Prince Yu.

Prince Yu hesitated internally, uncertain whether he should push Xi Liyue away.

After all, he had been the one who encountered Xi Liyue first.

While he was still weighing things, Xi Liyue’s timid voice came from nearby.

“Your Highness…”

Prince Yu looked up.

The young girl stood by the doorway like a pitiful little stray, gazing at him with wide pleading eyes.

His chest trembled, and an indescribable ripple stirred in his heart.

Prince Yu turned to Xiao Jinghan.

“What method?”

After Xiao Jinghan explained the plan, Prince Yu carefully discussed it with him and found it feasible.

Once everything had been arranged with Xiao Jinghan and Feng Jingge, he left with Xi Liyue.

As evening fell, mist began rising into the air, turning everything gray and hazy.

Feng Jingge leaned lazily against the doorway with a teacup in both hands. She lifted the cup to her lips and took a sip before speaking.

“At this hour, Prince Yu and the others should’ve set out already, right?”

Xiao Jinghan sat inside the room and responded, “About time.”

Feng Jingge turned around to look at him.

“Your Highness, when are we leaving?”

“Leaving for where?” Xiao Jinghan asked in return.

Feng Jingge: ???

“Didn’t we agree during the day to help Prince Yu wipe out the Western Ling assassins?”

Xiao Jinghan answered calmly, “Yes, this prince agreed.”

Feng Jingge walked into the room and stopped before him.

“They’ve already departed, so we should head out too.”

Xiao Jinghan lifted his eyes and met Feng Jingge’s gaze.

“This prince agreed to lend him assistance.”

“I never promised that this prince would personally go.”

“I already sent Ning An and Qing Shan with men.”

Feng Jingge: “…”

She had wanted to join the excitement, yet this man was playing word games with her here.

There went her fun.

Grinding her teeth, Feng Jingge gave Xiao Jinghan a thumbs-up.

“As expected of Your Highness. Your wordplay skills are truly first-rate.”

Xiao Jinghan smiled faintly.

“Many thanks for Miss Feng’s praise.”

The moment she heard the words “Miss Feng,” goosebumps instantly rose all over Feng Jingge’s body.

She strongly suspected Xiao Jinghan had ulterior motives.

Sure enough—

“There is something puzzling this prince, and I require Miss Feng’s enlightenment.”

Before Feng Jingge could refuse, Xiao Jinghan had already asked the question.

“Regarding Xi Liyue’s identity, aside from you and this prince, only Ning An and Prince Yu know.”

“The two Western Ling men captured the other day were killed before they even reached the Jingzhao Prefecture.”

“There are undoubtedly Western Ling people hidden within the capital. They may know Xi Liyue is staying in Prince Yu’s residence, or perhaps they may not.”

“Assuming they do know Xi Liyue is there, why didn’t they directly kill Xi Liyue instead of targeting Prince Yu?”

“This prince truly cannot understand the matter. I ask Miss Feng to clear up my confusion.”

Feng Jingge: “…”

Clear up his confusion?

What nonsense.

This man’s mind was clearer than a mirror. He saw through everything already—why would he need her explanation?

He was obviously teasing her.

And after saying all that…

Wasn’t he basically just implying Prince Yu couldn’t be trusted?

“Your Highness, next time you can just directly tell me Prince Yu isn’t trustworthy. No need to go around in such a huge circle.”

Xiao Jinghan rose to his feet.

“If this prince spoke directly, you would ask why. So it is simpler for this prince to ask you instead.”

The corners of Feng Jingge’s mouth twitched.

His words truly cut straight to the point every single time.

“According to Your Highness, Prince Yu deliberately came to us today? We’ve been schemed against by him?”

Xiao Jinghan paused mid-step as he walked outside.

“If neither you nor this prince goes tonight, then it doesn’t count as being schemed against.”

Feng Jingge suddenly understood something, her heart trembling as the words escaped her mouth.

“The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind?”

Xiao Jinghan curled his lips into a smile.

“More or less.”

He paused briefly before adding another reminder.

“Take care of your injuries and sleep early.”

“Alright.”

After receiving her response, Xiao Jinghan returned to Qinxin Residence.

Night had already deepened.

There was no moon tonight. The darkness was as thick as ink, so black one could barely see their own hand.

On the official road, Prince Yu’s carriage slowly advanced forward.

Two riders on horseback led the way ahead, holding pine-torch flames to light the path.

But the torches illuminated only a limited area.

To avoid accidents, the entire group could only move at a snail’s pace.

Inside the carriage—

Prince Yu lay against a barrel, intending to rest with his eyes closed and conserve energy for dealing with the Western Ling assassins later.

However…

Imagination was beautiful, but reality was cruel.