The Cold King Demands Love and Pleasure

Before long, the four dishes and one soup were served!

Xia Tongsheng took a bite, and it was really delicious!

Xia Tongsheng and Yingling immediately abandoned all decorum and frantically devoured the food until they were both burping and couldn't eat anymore, at which point they stopped!

Xia Tongsheng slammed her hand on the table, "Waiter, the bill!"

The waiter jogged over, his eight-tooth smile still on his face. He glanced at the ledger in his hand and said, "Sir, your total bill is 5 taels of silver!"

Xia Tongsheng was startled when she heard this. "Waiter, did I hear you wrong or did you misunderstand? We only ate five dishes, how could it be so expensive!"

The waiter explained, "Sir, you heard me right, and I didn't misspoke. Our prices are indeed this high! All the ingredients we use are top-quality. Take this cabbage, for example. It grows from the snow-capped peaks. We have people who monitor its growth every day, and each cabbage must weigh around one pound. Anything over or underweight is discarded. If even the cabbage is of this quality, then we can only imagine how precious our other ingredients are!"

"And every dish has our secret recipe..." the waiter went on and on, but Xia Tongsheng couldn't listen to a word he said.

It seemed she was in deep trouble. "Stop, stop talking! I'll pay!" She was about to faint if she kept talking!

Xia Tongsheng took out the silver notes from his pocket and counted them, but it wasn't enough! "Waiter, could you give me a discount?"

"Discount?" The waiter was confused, as this was the first time he had heard such a novel term.

Xia Tongsheng explained, "It'll be cheaper!"

"No way!" The waiter's attitude was firm.

Yingling said, "Then let's go back to the manor to get the money first, and bring it to you later!"

Realizing the two were likely trying to dine and dash, the waiter's signature eight-tooth smile turned into a standard eight-tooth disdain. "No way! We don't offer credit! If you all try this and run away, how much money will we lose!"

Oh my god, Xia Tongsheng was getting a little anxious. What should we do?

"I'll treat you!" came a clear, crisp male voice.

Xia Tongsheng looked in the direction of the voice, but for a moment she didn't recognize who it was. Well, she was indeed face-blind, but she was too embarrassed to ask.

They just stared blankly as he took out his banknotes and paid the money.

After receiving the money, Xiao Er resumed his standard eight-tooth smile, the smoothness of which left Xia Tongsheng speechless.

After the waiter left, the man said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, you really are something else! How can you eat without money? If word gets out, people will think my fifth brother can't even support a woman!"

Fifth brother, sister-in-law! He is the Crown Prince!

Wasn't it said that in ancient times, women disguised as men were unrecognizable? How come this gentleman recognized her at a glance!

Sure enough, time-travel novels are a killer!

Actually, Min Zhifu recognized her simply because he had seen her at the banquet before. Even when she was dressed as a man, she had the same face! There was no reason why he wouldn't recognize her!

Xia Tongsheng realized his identity and immediately bowed, "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

Min Zhifu waved his hand, "No need for formalities!"

"Your Highness, I will send someone to deliver your silver notes to your residence as soon as I return!"

Crown Prince Min Zhifu glanced at her, thinking to himself, "You won far more than 5 taels from my gambling den..."

That's right, he was the mastermind behind the Tongling Gambling House, and also the mysterious figure hiding upstairs watching Xia Tongsheng's every move. However, compared to her confident and decisive demeanor in the gambling house, Xia Tongsheng now possessed a more delicate and feminine side.

Min Zhifu looked at her with "tender affection," waving his fan idly. "I'll take you back!"

Good heavens, this is going to cause trouble!

She had only recently made an agreement with Min Yoo-an to help him seize the throne. If she were to get too close to the Crown Prince now, it would surely arouse Min Yoo-an's suspicion.

She still wanted to keep her life.

"No need! I can go back by myself!" After quickly bowing, he ran off like the wind!

Min Zhifu watched her flee at top speed, then put away his folding fan and smiled meaningfully.

Suddenly, he muttered to himself, "You can hide for a while, but you can't hide forever!"

Xia Tongsheng hurriedly returned to the Prince's mansion, changed back into women's clothing, and the steward came to invite her, "Your Highness, the Prince requests your presence!"

Xia Tongsheng frowned, "Why is Your Highness back so early today?"

"His Highness is resting today! So he returned after the morning court session!" The steward replied respectfully, his tone calm.

Xia Tongsheng was startled. What did that mean? It meant that after she ran out, he came back!

Oh my god, we're going to get caught!

With a heart full of trepidation, she went to the study. This time, Cang Jue did not stop her. Instead, he looked at her with a different kind of gaze and then helped her open the door!

There was pity in those eyes! Yes, pity!

Xia Tongsheng turned to look at Yingling, then at Cangjue who looked at her with sympathy. She swallowed unconsciously, clenched her fists, and said with a smile, "I'm not feeling well today, I have a bit of a fever. I don't want to infect the Prince! I'd better go first."

Cang Jue stopped her abruptly, "The Prince said that even if the Princess Consort is unconscious today, we must carry you inside!"

What do you mean by "they have to carry him in, even if they have to"?

Xia Tongsheng bit her lip and asked cautiously, "Does Your Highness know something?"

Cang Jue glanced at her, then lowered his head again. "This subordinate cannot speak!"

She forced a smile, and cold sweat slowly seeped down her back. "Then I'll say something to Yingling!"

Cang Jue lowered his hand that was blocking Xia Tongsheng, indicating his agreement.

Yingling was still unaware of the seriousness of the problem and continued to let Xia Tongsheng pull her along without a care in the world.

Xia Tongsheng pulled Yingling to a large tree some distance away. "You need to leave the palace now and wait for me at Yang's Cloth Shop on the street. If I haven't come to pick you up in an hour, you need to go back to my father immediately!"

"Why, Miss?"

"Don't ask so many questions, just do as I say!"

Yingling was startled by Xia Tongsheng's serious expression and nodded mechanically. Then she turned and left.

Xia Tongsheng felt slightly relieved after watching Yingling leave Min Youan's courtyard. If a catastrophe was about to occur, the only thing she could do was to minimize the harm and affect as few people as possible.

Xia Tongsheng straightened her clothes and went into the study.

That imposing manner vividly captured the heroic spirit of the Eighth Route Army soldiers facing death.

Min You'an was standing by the window pruning the bonsai in the study when Xia Tongsheng respectfully greeted him, "Your Highness!"

"Sit down!" He remained focused on the bonsai in front of him, not looking at Xia Tongsheng.

The prince rarely showed such courtesy, so Xia Tongsheng dared not sit down.

She replied, "I'm not tired! Your Highness's bonsai is beautifully done!"

“Bonsai trees are like people; if they are not pruned for a long time, they will grow wildly and even forget that there are certain places where new branches should not sprout! Even if they try their best to grow new branches, they cannot escape the fate of being pruned!” As he spoke, Min Youan easily cut off an extra branch. And the murderous aura around him became even more rampant.

The sharp, loud sound of scissors startled Xia Tongsheng.