Chapter 39: Regent King, Please Return Power to Your Majesty

Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Regent King, Please Return Power to Your Majesty

Rong Ling abruptly lifted his eyes and stared into Feng Qing’s eyes, saying, "Come, tell me who you really are?"

This woman is sinister and cunning, full of schemes and daring—not at all like the eldest miss of the Marquis Jing’an Mansion.

Not just the Marquis Jing’an Mansion, but many noble families within the Imperial City could not possibly boast such a capricious and unpredictable woman.

Rong Ling’s words startled Feng Qing, causing her to shiver and for the hairs on her body to stand on end, much like the instinctive fear a small animal feels when faced with a powerful predator.

She must not let this person know she comes from the future, for if he finds out, he might deem her a demon and burn her at the stake.

While thinking this, Feng Qing grinned widely, showing her top and bottom four teeth in a perfectly executed, immaculate smile.

"What does Prince mean by that? I am indeed the eldest miss of the Marquis Jing’an Mansion, Feng Qing. Prince can investigate if you wish. As for others claiming I am cowardly and weak, unworthy of public appearance, if Prince were in my position, you would be as reserved as I am. It’s the only way to protect oneself and avoid being harmed; if I don’t do it, who knows if I would end up poisoned with a bowl of toxic wine to meet my end."

By the end of her speech, Feng Qing was genuinely upset, her eyes reddening.

Rong Ling squinted at her from his seat, observing her expression; it appeared truly genuine, making him ponder whether this woman is indeed the eldest miss of the Marquis Jing’an Mansion, perhaps her drastic changes were to evade persecution from the Marquis Mansion’s wife, concealing her true self to shield and preserve.

As Rong Ling was contemplating this, a cold shout suddenly rang out from outside the carriage.

"Who dares block the carriage?"

With a cry, the Regent Prince Mansion’s carriage came to a halt, guards on both sides of the carriage rode forward and stopped the path of whoever was obstructing it.

On the bustling street, a middle-aged man dressed in official robes dashed out, blocking Rong Ling’s carriage. Without waiting for permission from Rong Ling, he fell to his knees, prostrating repeatedly and speaking loudly as he did so.

"Please, Prince Regent, return governance to Your Majesty. His Majesty has already come of age, and should rightfully take over affairs of state. Prince Regent should not hold on to power, not allowing His Majesty to touch state affairs."

"Please, Prince Regent, return governance to Your Majesty, please return governance to Your Majesty."

The man knocked his head fervently, as if intending to die on the spot if he didn’t receive a favorable response from Rong Ling.

Today was supposed to be the day for His Majesty’s banquet in the palace, so the street was crowded with vehicles. This man’s disturbance had stopped many of them, drawing several onlookers to observe the commotion.

In the Regent Prince Mansion’s carriage, Feng Qing watched Rong Ling with a faint smile, thinking humorously, so someone was picking a fight; why did she feel inexplicably excited?

Inside the carriage, Rong Ling’s previously gentle demeanor vanished, his expression inexplicably cooled, his dark eyes filled with shadows of arrogance; he slightly lifted the carriage curtains to look outside, and immediately recognized the prostrating official as Xia Tao, the fifth-rank Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

Rong Ling coldly laughed as he spoke directly, "Xia Tao, do you, a mere fifth-rank minister, intend to climb over this prince to rise in power? Death petition, huh."

With that, Rong Ling commanded Nan Feng at the front with a cold voice: "Send Xia Tao to the Ministry of Justice for recklessly disrupting the prince’s carriage and coercing this prince into rebellion."

The face of Minister Xia Tao turned pale as his body weakened, collapsing to the ground.

With a wave of his hand, Nan Feng had the Regent Prince Mansion’s guards swiftly pick up Xia Tao and take him away.

The street resumed its usual flow, and once the Regent Prince Mansion’s carriage departed, the roadside erupted in discussion.

Some argued Xia Tao deserved it, while others criticized Rong Ling for being tyrannical, saying that His Majesty had already come of age, and it was high time the prince returned governance to His Majesty, yet he stubbornly held on, forcing ministers to plead unto death.