As for Xiao Wangye, he did not restrict Ye Qingcheng's guests, citing her bad mood.
This, however, gave Shangguan Hong an opportunity.
In reality, Ye Qingcheng did not want to see this person at all. She truly wished Xiao Wangye would order Shangguan Hong not to enter the Prince's Mansion, but she did not voice her desire.
Ye Qingcheng sat down in the courtyard. "Young Master, please sit as well."
After Shangguan Hong sat down, she turned and instructed the maid behind her, "Serve Young Master Shangguan some tea. Bi Luochun, as usual."
This entire sequence of actions was identical to the preceding days.
Shangguan Hong, however, did not take her perfunctory attitude to heart. He merely smiled and said, "Princess Consort, have you considered my suggestion?"
"Suggestion?" she glanced at him.
"Precisely. I told you long ago that the Regent King's intentions toward you are more complex than what you perceive. For your own good, it would be best for you to leave this place as soon as possible," he said.
This was not the first time Shangguan Hong had spoken these words.
Ye Qingcheng found it somewhat amusing.
Why was he so insistent on taking her away? Under these circumstances, Ye Qingcheng felt no gratitude but rather suspected Shangguan Hong of being rather dubious.
She shook her head and said, "Young Master, you mean well, and I know that. But the Regent King is not that kind of person. Besides, the cat demon is dead, and the Prince believes me to be an ordinary person. Therefore, your concerns are actually unnecessary."
"Then, Princess Consort, do you still recall the scene when the cat demon was captured?" Shangguan Hong asked tentatively.
"What was so special about catching the cat demon that day?" Ye Qingcheng raised an eyebrow and looked at him.
Shangguan Hong closed his fan and said with a profound expression, "Logically, once the cat demon was caught, it should have been destroyed. But Princess Consort, you are unaware that this cat demon was first seen by people from the Regent King's Mansion and had been tampered with."
Ye Qingcheng heard Shangguan Hong's words clearly.
She paused for a moment, then furrowed her brow. "Young Master Shangguan, you mustn't speak such things carelessly."
"It is absolutely not idle chatter. These are things I have personally witnessed and information I have personally investigated," Shangguan Hong stated frankly.
"Then how can you be so certain that the cat demon was tampered with?" she asked.
"The cat demon's tail possesses immense power; I believe Princess Consort is aware of this. So, escaping with its tail should not have been a difficult task, right? But why didn't the cat demon escape? It is a demon; it wouldn't be unable to deal with a group of ordinary people, would it?"
Shangguan Hong spoke persuasively, and Ye Qingcheng seemed to be swayed by his words.
According to him, Bi Xi's inability to escape back then was actually because he had been tampered with, limiting his abilities? And the one who tampered with him was Xiao Wangye?
The little maid finished brewing a pot of Bi Luochun and served it.
Ye Qingcheng looked at Shangguan Hong and said, "If there is anything else amiss, please tell me, Young Master Shangguan."
But Shangguan Hong refused to speak further. His gaze lightly swept over the little maid, without pointing her out.
Ye Qingcheng understood instantly and said to the maid, "You may leave now. I have very important matters to discuss with Young Master Shangguan privately."
"Yes."
After the little maid left, Ye Qingcheng pushed the teacup towards Shangguan Hong. "Young Master, you can speak now, can't you?"
"Naturally," Shangguan Hong smiled.
He picked up the Bi Luochun, lowered his head, and took a sip. He then smiled and said, "Thank you for the tea, Miss."
"You're welcome. It's just that I'm still very curious about why you know so much, Young Master Shangguan," Ye Qingcheng asked directly.
"Princess Consort." Shangguan Hong put down his cup and leaned slightly towards Ye Qingcheng. "Do you believe in transmigrators?"
Seeing his earnest and mysterious expression, not joking at all, Ye Qingcheng couldn't help but be taken aback.
What surprised her was not the question itself.
After all, she was also a transmigrator. What was there to believe or not believe about transmigrators? The question was practically unsophisticated.
However, hearing this question from Shangguan Hong was profoundly shocking.
Prior to this, Ye Qingcheng had firmly believed Shangguan Hong to be an exceptionally ordinary mortal man.
But now, with him suddenly asking such a question, she did not know what his intention was.
"Why are you suddenly asking this, Young Master Shangguan?" Ye Qingcheng asked, frowning.
"Princess Consort, as I've said, I have always considered you my best friend, so I hope everything goes well for you," Shangguan Hong said.
"Does my belief in transmigrators have any relation to you hoping I fare well?"
Ye Qingcheng found it even stranger.
"It does," Shangguan Hong narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Ye Qingcheng. "Because, Princess Consort, in reality, I am not a mortal."
Upon hearing this, Ye Qingcheng was stunned for a moment.
She didn't quite react, simply looking at Shangguan Hong before her.
"Princess Consort, you don't need to be afraid. I will absolutely not harm you."
Even if everyone in the world disbelieved her, or even harmed her, he would not. This was his promise to her, and his promise to himself.
Ye Qingcheng shook her head gently. "But, but what do you mean when you say you are not a mortal? Are you a transmigrator, Young Master Shangguan?"
She looked at Shangguan Hong with an expression of confusion and suspicion.
If he was truly a transmigrator, she hadn't noticed it before?
However, a peculiar point was that even though Ye Qingcheng had lost all her strength, she faintly sensed that Shangguan Hong indeed possessed the aura unique to transmigrators.
"Yes, I am. This is something only you, Princess Consort, know," he said, looking at her with a serious expression.
"This matter is of great importance. Young Master Shangguan, are you not afraid I will speak of such a significant matter so readily?" Ye Qingcheng frowned.
Shangguan Hong smiled. "I believe you won't."
Without waiting for Ye Qingcheng to say anything, he continued, "Princess Consort, I have revealed my true identity to you and explained all the advantages and disadvantages. Whether or not to stay in this Regent King's Mansion, and whether to believe me or the Regent King, are entirely your decisions."
"I..."
"That will be all for today," Shangguan Hong said with a smile and stood up. "I have some urgent matters to attend to. Farewell, Princess Consort."
With that, he truly turned and left.
Ye Qingcheng watched his retreating figure, still completely bewildered and not understanding the situation.
At that moment, Xiao Wangye's figure reappeared in the courtyard. He looked at her, his expression impassive.
"Your Highness?" Ye Qingcheng sensed something was amiss.
This scene felt eerily familiar!
Xiao Wangye looked at her coldly, then walked towards her.
"Qingcheng, are you a cat demon?"