"That is rather rude of you, Regent. If the Princess Consort is unwilling to return with you, how can you force her?" Shangguan Hong said as he stood up.
"Shangguan Hong, my affairs have nothing to do with you."
Wouldn't it be better for him to faithfully serve as the Crown Prince's advisor? Why must he always covet Ye Qingcheng?
Shangguan Hong merely smiled faintly, even extending a hand to grasp the hand Xiao Wangye had placed on Ye Qingcheng's arm. With a slight exertion of force, he compelled Xiao Wangye to release Ye Qingcheng.
As soon as Ye Qingcheng was free, she quickly retreated behind Shangguan Hong, casting a cautious glance at Xiao Wangye.
"Qingcheng, you..." Xiao Wangye's face showed pain, not from the strength in Shangguan Hong's hand, but from Ye Qingcheng's attitude towards him.
"Regent, please return," Shangguan Hong said with a smile, releasing Xiao Wangye.
"Regent, please return," Ye Qingcheng echoed Shangguan Hong, saying the same words.
Xiao Wangye frowned and moved forward again, but Butler Zhang stopped him, shaking his head.
Butler Zhang whispered in his ear, "My Lord, the Princess Consort must still be angry. It would be better for you to come back later and not disturb her at this moment."
These words held a certain logic.
Ye Qingcheng was certainly still angry with him, hence her refusal to return and her intimate demeanor with Shangguan Hong.
Indeed, everything he had done in those days was to make Ye Qingcheng despise him, to make her heart harden and kill him. Only then could she return to the heavens and live a peaceful life.
His reason for coming this time was twofold: first, he was worried if Ye Qingcheng would encounter any problems, and second, he was feeling jealous.
Ye Qingcheng was staying in Shangguan Hong's residence. Who could guarantee that nothing would happen between the two of them?
However, upon further reflection, Xiao Wangye could not find any valid reason to be jealous. It was indeed as Shangguan Hong had said; if Ye Qingcheng preferred to stay here, how could he possibly force her?
A mix of anger and sorrow, these intertwined emotions almost crushed Xiao Wangye's will.
In the end, he could only flick his sleeve, turn around, and leave without looking back. Butler Zhang and the guards quickly followed.
"My Lord, walk slowly. We shall not see you off!" Shangguan Hong's triumphant voice sounded behind him.
Once Xiao Wangye's figure had completely disappeared beyond the gate, Shangguan Hong turned to Ye Qingcheng and said with a smile, "Alright, it's over. Princess Consort, you don't need to be afraid."
Ye Qingcheng nodded. "I'm not afraid."
"Have you been well recently?" Shangguan Hong asked, sitting down on a chair.
"Everything is fine, I'm just a bit sleepy and always want to sleep." Ye Qingcheng sat down beside him.
"Oh, perhaps I could take your pulse for you, Princess Consort, and see what's wrong. How about it?" Shangguan Hong put down his folding fan and offered Ye Qingcheng a smile as warm as a spring breeze. "Does the Princess Consort trust me?"
Faced with such a smile, Ye Qingcheng seemed enchanted and actually extended her hand, even lifting her sleeve. "Of course, I trust you."
Shangguan Hong smiled and placed his fingers on Ye Qingcheng's wrist.
Ye Qingcheng blinked her eyes. "I didn't expect that you, Young Master Shangguan, also know how to take pulses."
"There are many things I know, Princess Consort, you just haven't found out yet," Shangguan Hong said with a smile.
"Then I look forward to it," Ye Qingcheng replied.
After taking her pulse for a while, Shangguan Hong withdrew his hand and said, "Princess Consort, you are ill."
Ye Qingcheng was startled. "Ill?"
Shangguan Hong nodded. "Yes, you are ill. But it's not a particularly serious condition. With a little adjustment, you will get better."
"Adjustment..."
"I will write a prescription for you later, and a maid will deliver the medicine to you daily. Please remember to take it on time, and your condition will gradually improve," Shangguan Hong said.
"Will the medicine be very bitter?" Ye Qingcheng put on a slightly wronged expression.
Seeing her expression, Shangguan Hong was momentarily dazed before smiling. "Princess Consort, medicine is naturally bitter. But as the saying goes, 'good medicine tastes bitter but is beneficial for illness.' You should bear with it for a while. Once you are cured, you will no longer need to take it."
Ye Qingcheng sighed. "Then it can only be so."
"However, if you are really afraid of the bitterness, I will arrange for someone to deliver a candied hawthorn to you every day. That might help a little," Shangguan Hong said.
"Really? That would be wonderful," Ye Qingcheng said happily.
She had never considered before that being with Shangguan Hong was quite comfortable.
After all, he was very concerned about her and quite considerate.
As a result, Ye Qingcheng's favorable impression of Xiao Wangye had decreased significantly.
However, for some unknown reason, the strange feeling that had been lingering in Ye Qingcheng's heart since entering this mansion remained as it was.
She didn't know why.
Early in the morning, Shangguan Hong personally brewed the medicine. Once it was ready, he arranged for a personal maid to deliver the brewed medicine to Ye Qingcheng.
As the young maid carried the bowl of medicine, she couldn't help but add, "Young Master Shangguan is truly good to the Princess Consort."
Shangguan Hong smiled and did not respond.
A carriage was waiting for him outside the door; he had to go to court to see the Emperor that day.
Upon entering the imperial palace and waiting until after the morning court, when the Emperor returned to his study, he entered the study and bowed. "Shangguan Hong pays his respects to His Majesty."
"Rise," the Emperor waved his hand.
After a pause, the Emperor looked at the memorial in his hand and asked without looking up, "How has the Crown Prince been recently? Has he been diligently studying? As his advisor, you should be paying attention to these matters."
"Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject... I do not know if I should speak," Shangguan Hong's expression revealed a hint of difficulty.
"What is there that you should not speak of? I am asking you a question, and you must answer truthfully," the Emperor frowned, put down the memorial, and looked at Shangguan Hong standing before him, his tone intensifying. "Speak quickly!"
After a pause, he said, "Do not think of deceiving me. Someone has already mentioned seeing the Crown Prince in certain places recently. If you deceive me, you will not escape punishment!"
Shangguan Hong trembled with feigned fear.
He lowered his head and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Shangguan Hong nodded and said, "In the past few days, the Crown Prince has not been studying. Instead, he went out of the palace."
"Went out of the palace? What did he go out for?" the Emperor asked sternly.
"Outside the palace, there are beautiful women, hunting dogs, horses, and birds. The Crown Prince has gone out to enjoy these," Shangguan Hong said.
The Emperor's face sank. "What did he himself say? As his advisor, did you not try to dissuade him?"
Shangguan Hong replied, "His Highness the Crown Prince felt that life in the palace was too dull, which is why he went outside. And I am merely an advisor; there is nothing I can do to stop the Crown Prince from doing as he pleases."
After speaking, he quickly knelt down. "Please forgive me, Your Majesty! Your subject was compelled by the Crown Prince, and therefore did not report this to Your Majesty!"