ASTRP -Chapter 99 A Love Rival Comes Knocking

The moment he thought about what was about to happen, panic filled his heart, and his mind became a complete mess.

Lying on the couch, Prince Yu tossed and turned restlessly.

Xi Liyue sat quietly in the corner with her head lowered, occasionally sneaking glances at him.

After a while, seeing how anxious and agitated he looked, she clenched her hands tightly inside her sleeves and bit lightly on her lower lip.

Her gaze stayed fixed on Prince Yu’s back, looking as though she wanted to speak but hesitated.

Suddenly, Prince Yu, who had been facing away from her, sat up abruptly.

Caught off guard, Xi Liyue’s eyes met his.

She froze for a moment before hurriedly lowering her head.

Prince Yu was already irritated and uneasy to begin with. The moment he saw Xi Liyue, he remembered that all this anxiety stemmed from her.

He was panicking like mad, yet she looked completely unconcerned and even had the leisure to secretly watch him?!

Prince Yu instantly became furious.

He coldly demanded, “Were you spying on me?”

Xi Liyue’s petite body trembled. She lowered her head even further, almost burying it into her chest.

Too frightened to speak, she remained silent.

Seeing her reaction only made Prince Yu angrier. The flames of rage surged upward, practically blazing in his eyes.

Grinding his teeth, he was just about to speak when a loud shout suddenly came from outside the carriage.

“Assassins! Protect the prince!”

The next moment, the sharp sounds of clashing blades rang out.

They’re here!

Prince Yu’s eyes sharpened. Grabbing the sword beside the couch, he prepared to rush out.

Just as he was about to leave the carriage, someone suddenly grabbed his sleeve.

Turning back, he saw Xi Liyue looking at him tearfully.

“Your Highness… can you not go outside?”

Prince Yu nearly exploded with rage.

“I’ll count to three. Let go yourself, or don’t blame me for being rude!”

“Three!”

“Two—”

Xi Liyue interrupted him with a trembling, tearful voice.

“Your Highness, it’s dangerous outside. Please don’t go…”

Prince Yu turned and snapped angrily, “Even Imperial Uncle is outside. How can this prince hide like a coward?!”

He yanked hard, pulling his sleeve free. The force caused him to stagger back two steps.

After steadying himself, he immediately climbed out of the carriage.

But the fighting had already ended.

Qing Shan and Ning An each held a torch, checking the assassins on the ground to see if any were still alive.

Prince Yu stood there in confusion.

That fast? The battle was already over?

“Imperial Uncle, where’s Miss Feng?”

Filled with doubt, Prince Yu jumped down from the carriage.

Hearing the movement, Ning An and Qing Shan turned around.

Seeing it was Prince Yu, Qing Shan asked, “Your Highness, are you alright?”

Prince Yu looked around for Xiao Jinghan. “I’m fine. Where’s Imperial Uncle?”

Ning An calmly replied with the excuse they had prepared beforehand.

“After dealing with the assassins, His Highness returned to the residence.”

Prince Yu frowned. “So urgently?”

Qing Shan quickly added, “Miss Feng wasn’t feeling well, so of course the prince was anxious.”

Everyone present already tacitly understood the relationship between Feng Jingge and Xiao Jinghan.

Hearing that Feng Jingge was unwell, Prince Yu frowned even deeper.

“What happened to Miss Feng?”

“Seems like a stomachache or something. We’re not too sure.”

Qing Shan answered with a straight face.

“At the time, we were rushing over to meet up with Your Highness, so we didn’t ask further.”

Ning An calmly said, “It’s getting late. Your Highness should continue onward and rest at the inn ahead.”

Prince Yu stared at them. “What about you two?”

Ning An replied, “Don’t worry, Your Highness. Qing Shan and I will head over together afterward.”

“Alright.”

Inside the Regent Prince’s residence, the night was deep and silent.

A white figure flashed past, easily avoiding the manor guards before swiftly slipping into Qinxin Residence.

Like a ghost, the figure arrived at the bedside.

With two fingers flicking lightly—

The candle ignited.

The pitch-black room instantly brightened.

Standing beside the bed, he looked at the peacefully sleeping “Feng Jingge,” and tenderness gradually surfaced in his deep eyes.

He slowly reached out toward “her” face.

But just as he was about to touch it—

Xiao Jinghan suddenly opened his eyes and struck at him with his palm.

As if already prepared, Shen Fufeng blocked the attack with one hand while quickly tapping two acupoints on “Feng Jingge” with the other.

Instantly, Xiao Jinghan felt his body stiffen.

Aside from his eyes, he couldn’t move at all—not his body, nor his limbs.

Seeing the intruder, his gaze darkened.

It was the same man from Mingyue Tower last time.

Wearing a silver mask, his true face remained hidden.

He had called himself Shen Fufeng.

After the incident at Mingyue Tower, Xiao Jinghan had ordered Zhila to investigate the name Shen Fufeng and his appearance.

The result—

No such person existed.

This man was extremely cautious and had left behind no traces whatsoever.

Since the man had not appeared again during this period, and with Xiao Jinghan buried in numerous affairs, he had gradually put the matter aside.

Who would have thought…

The person appearing here tonight would actually be him.

Then…

What relationship did this man have with Prince Yu?

Shen Fufeng noticed the coldness in “Feng Jingge’s” eyes.

He sat down by the bedside, curling his lips into a smile.

“Jingge, I suddenly realized…”

“Compared to your previous timid and overly cautious self…”

“I like the current you more.”

“All prickly and fierce, like a hedgehog covered in thorns.”

“Though you stab people until their hearts ache, you’re also adorable enough to make one fall for you.”

Xiao Jinghan: “……”

Shen Fufeng gazed at “her” affectionately, his eyes so gentle they seemed ready to drip with tenderness.

“After parting at Mingyue Tower last time, I thought things through…”

“And I’ve decided to marry you.”

Xiao Jinghan’s eyes turned icy cold, murderous intent radiating from him.

Marry her?

Heh…

Using a fake name to marry her?!

Shen Fufeng’s gaze landed on “Feng Jingge’s” right arm. With a flick of his hand—

Rip!

The sound of tearing fabric rang out.

Xiao Jinghan’s right sleeve tore apart and slid down, revealing his arm.

On the fair skin was a vivid virginity mark.

Shen Fufeng curled his lips into a smile.

“Jingge, you little liar.”

The moment his words fell—

Xiao Jinghan leapt up, fingers clawed as he attacked Shen Fufeng.

For a split second, Shen Fufeng was stunned and failed to dodge in time. Sharp fingertips sliced across his neck.

Shen Fufeng sucked in a breath of cold air and immediately leapt backward several steps, widening the distance between them.

The instant he steadied himself, Xiao Jinghan was already in front of him with sword in hand.

The sword tip flicked upward toward the mask.

Shen Fufeng reacted quickly, one hand holding the mask in place while two fingers clamped onto the sword blade.

The blade instantly bent.

Smiling, Shen Fufeng said, “Jingge, if you kill me, there’ll be no one left to marry you.”

“You’re courting death!”

Xiao Jinghan coldly snapped as he twisted the sword.

Shen Fufeng hurriedly released the blade.

The sword slashed down.

Shen Fufeng’s figure blurred as he barely dodged.

Crack!

Sword qi tore through the air, followed by a loud boom.

The bookshelf in the room split into two and crashed to the ground.

The enormous noise alerted the manor’s hidden guards, and several powerful auras swiftly approached.

Sensing this, Shen Fufeng knew staying any longer would put him at a disadvantage. His figure flashed, and he rapidly retreated.

He happened to run straight into the hidden guards rushing over from the prince’s residence.

Far from afraid, Shen Fufeng merely sneered.

Then he suddenly reached into his robes and threw an unknown object at the hidden guards.