The Cold King Demands Love and Pleasure

"Your Highness, please forgive me. Miss Xia has just returned to the General's Mansion and has not yet learned some of the proper etiquette."

"Hmm!" Although he only uttered one word throughout, the sense of oppression was even stronger than when he was facing the emperor.

According to the etiquette of Beimin, generals who have made meritorious contributions in the army do not need to kneel when they meet princes or princes; they only need to bow. Therefore, Lin Jiuyang does not need to kneel before Min Youan, while Xia Tongsheng must perform the kneeling ceremony!

The matter of performing the wrong greeting can be a big deal or a small deal, so while Min You'an was not pursuing it, Lin Jiuyang planned to take Xia Tongsheng away as soon as possible.

"Your Highness, this humble general must take her away first!"

Min Youan nodded, and Xia Tongsheng immediately turned to leave, while Lin Jiuyang called after her, "Wrong!"

Xia Tongsheng ignored him, her mind only focused on escaping. Lin Jiuyang bowed to Prince An, took a few steps, and grabbed Xia Tongsheng's arm, saying, "You're going the wrong way, you should go this way."

Xia Tongsheng covered her eyes with one hand, frowning, "Why didn't you say so sooner!"

Lin Jiuyang said with a laugh, "You're the one who's bad at directions, so who can you blame!"

Although the voice was very soft, every single word reached Min Yoo-an's ears.

He stared intently at Xia Tongsheng's figure until she left his side. There was a faint, almost imperceptible fragrance, but he couldn't quite place what it was.

Min Youan's personal guard, Cang Jue, watched the prince's expression from behind. He knew the prince's character best. Would his prince be so kind as to let Xia Tongsheng go? Impossible!

The fun of a cat catching a mouse isn't in eating it, but in playing with it! And it's about playing, killing, stopping...

Lin Jiuyang led Xia Tongsheng to the palace gate, but was then called away by General Lin, leaving her standing alone at the palace gate.

When Xia Xiuyong came out of the palace, Xia Tongsheng grabbed his arm and said, "Father, I didn't embarrass you, did I?"

This time it was Xia Xiuyong's turn to have a bitter face. "You didn't embarrass me, but I, your father, have embarrassed you!"

"Dad, stop joking, I'm right here."

He opened his mouth, then sighed, "Never mind, let's talk about it when we get back."

Before the carriage even entered the Xia residence, Xia Tongsheng jumped up. She stood up abruptly, and because of the force, she hit the roof of the carriage, wincing in pain.

However, she couldn't care less about anything else and directly questioned Xia Xiuyong, "Old Xia, how could you sell me out of my sight?"

Xia Xiuyong knew that unless she was angry, she would not easily call him Old Xia.

"Then I have no choice. The Emperor told me directly that I must marry into the royal family. However, the Ninth Prince is too young, so I have to choose between the Crown Prince and Prince An. So tell me, what am I supposed to do? Openly defy the imperial decree?"

Seeing that Xia Tongsheng ignored him, he continued, "I originally thought that the Emperor had taken a liking to you, and I was worried for many days. I didn't expect that he just wanted you to marry his son. At least you won't have to marry an old man in his fifties!"

Well, she knew her father all too well. He was a master at fighting, but he wasn't very cunning. Asking him to fight the emperor was like asking him to play a cartoon—Tom and Jerry.

His father was like a foolish cat, completely outmaneuvered by the emperor, the mouse. To expect him to help him cancel his arranged marriage was utterly delusional.

Xia Tongsheng rubbed her head with one hand and asked, "Then who did you promise me to?"

Xia Xiuyong immediately said, as if he were taking credit, "I betrothed you to Prince An, as his principal wife, a princess!" His tone was as if he had made a brilliant decision!

Xia Tongsheng glanced speechlessly at his honest and harmless father, who seemed as pure as a white lotus flower, and felt like crying. Why didn't he think about why the emperor agreed so easily?

Xia Tongsheng composed herself and said, "Dad, do you feel very proud that you helped your daughter win the position of a legal wife?"

"Of course, if you marry the Crown Prince, you'll only be a concubine at most. The Crown Prince already has a Crown Princess!" His father still didn't realize the problem; he was hopeless.

"Father, fine, I give up!" Then he slumped onto the carriage, refusing to acknowledge Xia Xiuyong any further.

Upon returning to the Xia residence, Xia Tongsheng jumped off the carriage without a word and went straight into her courtyard, calling out, "Yingling, Yingling!"

“Miss, I’m here.” Yingling came out of the kitchen.

Xia Tongsheng sat angrily on the swing in the yard and shouted, "Quickly, close the door! I won't open it for anyone!"

Seeing this, Yingling quickly closed the courtyard gate. "What's wrong, Miss? Did you have a bad day at the palace? Did you not eat enough? I made your favorite peach shortbread. Would you like some?"

Xia Tongsheng hugged Yingling's waist tightly, "Yingling is the only one in this world who understands me the most, hurry up and bring it up to me!"

"Wait, I'm coming right away!"

Xia Tongsheng watched Yingling's retreating figure and rambled on, "Let me tell you, the food in the palace looks delicious, but it's not enough to last long. It's gone in a bite, sigh!"

Yingling handed her a few peach shortbread cookies. "Who made you angry today?"

"Let's not talk about it anymore, it's just heartbreaking," Xia Tongsheng stuffed a mouthful of peach shortbread into her mouth, her eyes lighting up. "By the way, do you know Prince An? He's the Fifth Prince!"

"Of course I know him. In the entire Beimin, I guess no one but you doesn't know his name. The Fifth Prince is our God of War. It is said that he is handsome and dashing, and people can't take their eyes off him at first sight. Because of his outstanding military achievements, he was granted the title of Prince and a mansion. He has not married yet. Right now, the young ladies who want to become Princess An are already lined up outside the capital."

Hearing this, Xia Tongsheng thought of Min Youan's face and couldn't even eat her favorite peach shortbread anymore. "Your young lady, I'm going to marry her!"

Seeing that Yingling remained silent, Xia Tongsheng asked curiously, "How old is Prince An this year?"

"Two more on Double Ten!"

Xia Tongsheng thought to herself, she was only 17 years old and was already being called an old woman, while this so-called Prince An was already 22 years old and still not married. Could it be that he had some kind of hidden illness?

Why doesn't he get married?

The infant stammered, "I've heard that Prince An has a penchant for homosexuality!"

Yingling thought her young mistress would be angry, after all, her future husband...

Unexpectedly, she happily said, "Sure enough, all the handsome boys are going to befriend other handsome boys!"

That's right, Xia Tongsheng was a fujoshi (a female fan of male-male romance) in her past life.

The next morning, the imperial edict was issued: It is hereby announced that Xia Tongsheng, daughter of General Xia, is virtuous, beautiful, gentle and generous, and is a perfect match for the Fifth Prince. In order to make this beautiful couple a perfect match, Xia Tongsheng, daughter of General Xia, is betrothed to the Fifth Prince as his princess consort. All the ceremonies shall be handled by the Ministry of Rites, and the wedding shall be held on June 26th!

"My lord, thank you Lord for your kindness!"

"Thank you, my Lord, for your grace!"

Xia Tongsheng outwardly appeared gentle and respectful, but inwardly she was seething with rage. How could the emperor, after only one meeting, have recognized her virtue, grace, and outstanding beauty? This emperor must be blind…

To others, a marriage alliance with the royal family would be an unparalleled honor, but for the Xia family, it was an abyss...