The Cold King Demands Love and Pleasure

Inside the Imperial Study, two giant golden dragons coiled around the crimson pillars, and the golden dome, rich in color and solemn with dignity, exuded an aura of majesty.

The man in the bright yellow robe looked solemnly at the memorial in his hand. "Xiuyong, did you come up with this idea?"

Xia Xiuyong was in a dilemma. If he spoke, he was afraid that if something went wrong, his daughter would be held responsible. If he didn't speak, he would be guilty of deceiving the emperor. He weighed the pros and cons.

He began, “These past few days, I have been deeply worried about the war at the front. My daughter, seeing this, could not bear to see me so troubled, and devised this plan for me. However, she is still young and inexperienced, so I have brought it here for Your Majesty to review. I humbly request Your Majesty’s decision!”

"Your daughter?" As if remembering something, a glint of light flashed in his eyes, and a possessiveness crept into them, disappearing in an instant. "Is she the child who studied under Master Guigu? She's back?"

"Exactly!"

"What a talent! What a talent!" The emperor's somber expression faded as he praised her, but then a hint of regret crept in. "It's a pity she's a woman; otherwise, she would surely be a pillar of the nation!"

"Your Majesty flatters me!"

Thinking of his daughter who had just returned from Yunmeng Mountain that day, he missed her terribly and hurriedly took his leave of the palace.

Xia Tongsheng returned to the courtyard where she grew up. The sycamore trees there were in full bloom, with clusters of flowers and petals falling everywhere.

The courtyard was filled with the sweet fragrance of sycamore trees. She walked quickly into the woods, her feet crunching on fallen petals. "Only ten years have passed, and these sycamore trees have grown so big!"

Turning his head, he saw a little girl approaching from a distance. Presumably, her father knew that she would be staying at the Xia residence for a long time, so he specially arranged for her to serve him.

She straightened her clothes slightly, looked at the young girl in front of her, and asked in a slightly teasing tone, "What's your name?"

Yingling was a little scared. The master in front of her was a legendary figure in Beimin. It was said that when she was born, there was not a cloud in the sky, but a phoenix rising from the ashes appeared in the sky above the Xia Mansion.

Yingling looked up and saw Xia Tongsheng's exquisite face. It was not the stunning beauty Yingling had imagined. It was a kind of simple beauty, neither vulgar nor seductive.

Realizing her dereliction of duty, she immediately lowered her head and said, "This servant is Yingling."

She slightly raised her beautiful eyes. "Yingling? A name that evokes images of an orphan, left to fend for herself and suffer hardship. Your name is too bitter!"

Yingling couldn't figure out her temper, so she didn't dare to speak and just kept her head down.

She looked at the infant spirit, who was even younger than her, and felt a pang of heartache. She patted the child's head and said, "But it's alright, I'll treat you well! From now on, you'll be my personal maid!"

Xia Tongsheng's smile made her relax a little. Noticing that she was sitting on the ground, she said, "Miss, let me go get you a stool!"

Xia Tongsheng waved her hand with a smile, her exaggerated manner belying her status as a daughter of a wealthy family. "No need! I don't mind."

Xia Tongsheng moved to the side, tugged at Yingling's arm, and pulled her to sit down with him. She grinned mischievously, "Come on, let me gossip a bit. My mother has been dead for so many years, has my father had any lovers all these years?"

Xia Tongsheng's elegance was indeed limited to just three sentences; after those three sentences, her true colors were immediately revealed...

Yingling was a little shy. "Miss, Master is a devoted lover. He has been thinking of Madam all these years. There is nothing between him and Madam..." She was too embarrassed to say the word "lover".

"My father is pitiful too!" Xia Tongsheng couldn't help but sigh.

Looking at her approachable young lady, Yingling couldn't help but ask boldly, "Miss, why haven't you returned to the Xia residence even once in all these years?"

Xia Tongsheng picked up a fallen paulownia flower from the ground and stared at it in a daze, "Why didn't you come back!"

Ten years. It wasn't that she didn't want to come back, but that Master Guigu—her master—would prevent her from returning. She had asked him, but he only sighed and never answered her.

Fortunately, every now and then, her master would write to her father, Xia Xiuyong, asking him to come to Yunmeng Mountain to see her.

A few days ago, Guiguzi received a letter from Xia Xiuyong, who said that Xia Tongsheng was already 17 years old and of marriageable age, and hoped that Master Guiguzi would let her leave the mountain.

Master Guigu locked himself in his room for three days before finally agreeing to let her return home.

Xia Xiuyong returned from the palace with a rosy complexion and went back to the Xia residence. However, just after the father and daughter had finished lunch, General Lin suddenly came to visit.

Upon hearing this, Yingling excitedly ran to tell Xia Tongsheng, "Miss, the Lin family has come to propose marriage!"

"What?" Xia Tongsheng asked in surprise.

Although she and Lin Jiuyang were already of marriageable age, it wouldn't be right for General Lin to send someone to propose marriage so soon after his return!

"It's over, these good days are numbered!" Xia Tongsheng said dejectedly.

"Miss, you have many more good days ahead of you..."

Xia Tongsheng shook her head and pouted, "Little girl, you don't understand. Marriage is the grave of love. I'm about to enter the grave myself, so what good days are there left!"

Yingling was startled when she heard the word "grave." "Miss, what are you saying? I don't understand! How could someone so young like you be going to a grave!"

"That's true, there's no love between Lin Jiuyang and me, so how can you say marriage is a grave?"

"This servant is getting more and more confused!" Yingling said in bewilderment.

"So be it if you're confused. Also, don't refer to yourself as a servant in front of me anymore. I don't like it!" Xia Tongsheng corrected her.

Yingling nodded.

Lin Lao and Xia Xiuyong were comrades-in-arms, having gone through life and death together for decades, so their relationship was naturally close, and their children had long been betrothed since birth.

Xia Xiuyong greeted him with a smile, "Brother Lin, what brings you at this hour?"

Unexpectedly, General Lin looked helpless and said, "Brother!"

Seeing General Lin's embarrassed expression, Xia Xiuyong said, "Brother Lin, please speak frankly!"

General Lin looked at Xia Xiuyong with a solemn expression and slowly said, "Actually, I've come today to annul the engagement!"

Xia Xiuyong was stunned for a few seconds, then his stubborn temper flared up. "Are you kidding me? My daughter hasn't done anything wrong, and your Lin family is looking down on her?"

“How could our Lin family possibly look down on Tong’er?” He then shook his head and sighed. “It was that person who took a fancy to your daughter and came to snatch her away from me. Tell me, how could I dare to refuse!”

"That one?" Xia Xiuyong thought of someone.

General Lin pointed upwards, raised his eyebrows, and said, "It's him!"

Having confirmed his suspicions, Xia Xiuyong plopped down on a bench and slapped his forehead, exclaiming, "It's all my fault!"

General Lin, puzzled by Xia Xiuyong's unusual behavior, said apologetically, "Brother, I'm sorry for what happened. I'll be leaving now!"

After saying this, General Lin fled in panic.

Xia Xiuyong leaned weakly against the stool, his eyes vacant.

It seems he had already made up his mind back then...

Thinking about this, Xia Xiuyong began to regret his decision that morning. In the end, he was the one who ruined his daughter's marriage!