If word got out that the Princess Consort had been staying at Shangguan Hong's estate for two full days, no one knew what the Regent King's reaction would be.
The guard lowered his head, not daring to look at Xiao Wangye before him.
Although Xiao Wangye's expression was unpleasant, he was somewhat relieved to learn that the person he longed for was safe.
He frowned. The thought of Shangguan Hong and Ye Qingcheng made him uncomfortable.
Why had his woman gone to Shangguan Hong's estate?
"Go, arrange a carriage. We will go together to bring the Princess Consort back," Xiao Wangye commanded coldly.
"Yes!"
The guard quickly arranged everything. Xiao Wangye walked out of the royal manor with a blank expression, heading directly for Shangguan Hong's residence. The imposing group of people terrified the pedestrians along the way.
Those who didn't know might have thought the Regent King's retinue was preparing to commit murder.
In fact, if Xiao Wangye knew that Shangguan Hong had dared to lay a finger on Ye Qingcheng, he might very well have killed someone.
At this moment, Shangguan Hong was sitting in his estate, playing chess with himself.
With his secret guards, he could know about any movements in the capital at any time, but he remained unfazed, not taking Xiao Wangye and his troops seriously.
A servant rushed over to report, "Young Master, something's wrong!"
"What is it? Why the hurry?" Shangguan Hong asked, putting down a chess piece without looking up.
"It's... it's the Regent King. He's coming towards the estate with a large group of people. They look fierce. I don't know what it's about," the servant said nervously.
"What do you think the Regent King is coming for?" Shangguan Hong asked with a smile.
When asked this, the servant's lips trembled, unsure how to answer.
"Speak freely," Shangguan Hong said, dropping another chess piece, inadvertently disrupting the original board layout.
Given Shangguan Hong's reassurance, the servant swallowed and quietly said, "I believe it's related to the Princess Consort staying in the West Wing."
Shangguan Hong smiled. "Well said."
The servant scratched his head and smiled sheepishly.
"Oh, yes, how is the Princess Consort now?" Shangguan Hong asked.
"She's still asleep," the servant replied. "Recently, the maids attending the Princess Consort said she's been very drowsy. Perhaps she's just too tired."
Shangguan Hong's expression was rather playful.
Tired? If it were truly due to fatigue, it would be one thing.
But this matter was certainly not that simple.
"Go and wake the Princess Consort. Tell her an old acquaintance has come to see her. After she wakes up, bring her to the main hall to meet the guest," Shangguan Hong said calmly. The chess game before him was in a stalemate, and he wasn't in a hurry to make another move.
"Yes."
This servant had been by Shangguan Hong's side for quite some time. Although he agreed readily, in his heart, he was somewhat puzzled.
It wasn't hard to guess Young Master Shangguan's feelings for the Princess Consort; every time he saw her, his eyes sparkled.
If the Regent King came to demand her return, most men would try to resist if they could.
The servant, though unaware of what had happened to the Princess Consort, knew that her relationship with the Regent King was deep. Perhaps she had quarreled with the Regent King, which led her to come here.
Now that the Regent King was here, a few kind words might be enough for the Princess Consort to smile and leave with him.
Wouldn't that be very upsetting for Young Master Shangguan?
The servant couldn't fathom Shangguan Hong's intentions, but he dared not disobey the order. He went to the West Wing and instructed a young maid to go to the room and wake Ye Qingcheng.
Ye Qingcheng was groggily woken up. She put on her clothes, washed her face simply, and then vaguely followed the servant out of the West Wing.
Her head felt heavy. She only remembered the servant saying an old acquaintance had come to see her.
Who could this old acquaintance be?
She strained to recall past events but could only remember scattered fragments.
Finally arriving at the main hall, Ye Qingcheng first looked at Shangguan Hong, who was sitting to the side. He had a slight smile on his face, his folding fan closed, held in his right hand, tapping his left palm intermittently.
"Young Master Shangguan," Ye Qingcheng said with a smile. "You asked me to come, saying an old acquaintance was here. May I ask who it is?"
"Take a look over there," Shangguan Hong said, raising his fan and pointing opposite him.
Ye Qingcheng's gaze followed, landing on a man in blue.
The man's appearance was outstanding, almost otherworldly. However, his brows were tightly furrowed, and his lips were pressed together. His expression suggested someone owed him millions of taels of silver.
Ye Qingcheng's mind was hazy, but she still remembered who he was: "The Regent King."
"You seem to be living quite comfortably here," Xiao Wangye said, shifting his body and standing up. He walked before her, looking down at her. "But haven't you had enough fun? Come back with me!"
Ye Qingcheng flinched slightly and glanced at Shangguan Hong.
Xiao Wangye's expression became displeased, his brow furrowing further. Since when had her relationship with Shangguan Hong become so close?
She bit her lip lightly and said politely yet distantly, "I'm sorry, Your Highness the Regent King. This concubine will not return. This concubine will stay here and go nowhere."
Xiao Wangye took a great effort to digest the meaning of Ye Qingcheng's words.
What was she saying? Refusing to go back with him? And preferring to stay with Shangguan Hong?
This woman was truly incorrigible!
Xiao Wangye looked at the woman before him and asked, enunciating each word, "Ye Qingcheng, do you understand what you just said?"
"This concubine naturally understands very well," Ye Qingcheng replied. "But between Your Highness and this concubine, there is no longer any relationship. Even if there were, it would only be hatred."
She clearly remembered what Xiao Wangye had done. If not for him, Bixi would not have died, nor would she have lost her golden core, vanishing into thin air.
After a pause, Ye Qingcheng spoke again. "I just want to kill you!"
Xiao Wangye remained silent for a moment, then whispered, "You can kill me, but before that, you must come back with me!"
Ye Qingcheng shook her head. "I won't. Please show some respect, Your Highness, and let go of this concubine's hand!"
"Ye Qingcheng!" Xiao Wangye's hand did not loosen; instead, it tightened its grip.
No matter how Ye Qingcheng struggled, she couldn't break free.
The situation became tense for a moment.
Finally, Shangguan Hong, who had been sitting by, spoke. "Regent King, if the Princess Consort is unwilling to return with you, why must you force her so?"
"Force? This is my woman. Do I need to report to anyone about what I do?" Xiao Wangye said, giving Shangguan Hong a cold glance.
In the past, facing such a look, Shangguan Hong would have been filled with dread.
However, times had changed. Shangguan Hong, who could be called a modern person, naturally felt no fear towards Xiao Wangye.