The Cold King Demands Love and Pleasure

No, no, no, that's not the point. The point is, there are less than two weeks left until June 26th.

After the eunuch who delivered the imperial decree left, Xia Tongsheng slumped into the armchair, exclaiming, "Heavens!"

"Daughter, you're not still angry with your father, are you?"

Xia Tongsheng shook her head. "Father, how could I be angry with you? Prince An is a war god, right? Maybe one day he will sacrifice himself on the battlefield and I will become a widow, all alone and helpless. Wouldn't I still have to rely on you?"

"Oh right, how could I forget that? Thinking about it now, I should have betrothed you to the Crown Prince. Even if you weren't his principal wife, at least I wouldn't have to worry about living a life of widowhood!" Xia Xiuyong said with some regret.

Xia Tongsheng looked at her father, who still hadn't grasped the situation, and said, "You're overthinking it. Do you really think the Emperor would betroth me to the Crown Prince? He'd love for me to marry Prince An, so I can help him fight!"

"Oh no, I've been tricked!"

She said with some relief, "You finally realize you've been tricked. All my careful guidance wasn't in vain!"

“Prince An is also quite good-looking, handsome and dashing, a pleasure to behold!” Xia Xiuyong comforted her.

"Dad, I think my intelligence is definitely inherited from my mother."

When his mother was mentioned, Xia Xiuyong's expression darkened. "Your mother was indeed very intelligent!"

"Father, I didn't mean to." Xia Tongsheng felt a little guilty.

"It's okay, it's been so long! I've already let it go!"

Although he said that, Xia Tongsheng knew that he was just deceiving himself.

She changed the subject, "How much dowry are you planning to give me?"

He patted his chest and said, "When I, Xia Xiuyong, marry off my daughter, I naturally can't skimp on the gifts!"

"Father, the sentiment is enough. Don't give too much as a dowry. I plan to rely on my maternal family in the future, so you can't empty the Xia family's coffers!"

Although that's what she said, Xia Tongsheng was thinking, why should she have to give him money after marrying him?

"Don't worry! Dad knows what he's doing!"

Of course, Xia Tongsheng didn't tell her father that Min Youan was gay, because her father simply didn't believe it!

June arrived in the blink of an eye. In the past two weeks, Xia Tongsheng had worked hard to learn etiquette, but looking at her recent results, it was all worth it!

Xia Tongsheng wore a bright red wedding dress, which was specially made by the Ministry of Rites according to royal standards.

Every stitch and thread inside is made of gold thread, the mandarin ducks embroidered on the wedding dress are lifelike, the veil is decorated with pearls, and the phoenix coronet and embroidered robe are handmade by craftsmen and inlaid with various gemstones.

It's beautiful, but...

too heavy!

If the person she marries today were the one she loves, she would bear this "pressure" for him without complaint, but he is clearly a stranger.

Suddenly, firecrackers went off. The matchmaker, Granny Gui, urged her to quickly put on the veil, and then, with a smile, helped her pull it out.

"Please, Miss Xia, come this way!" Granny Gui said respectfully.

"..." It wasn't that she didn't want to leave, but the clothes were just too heavy, and her body couldn't bear it.

"Granny Gui, is it normal to wear such heavy clothes for a wedding?"

"It is natural to have a grand wedding, but the prince values ​​the princess very much. I heard that the pearls on the veil and the jewels on the clothes were all ordered by the prince himself. He instructed that the more the better."

Xia Tongsheng silently rolled her eyes. This wasn't showing her any concern; he was clearly trying to exhaust her. This man was indeed cunning.

"Miss, let's hurry up and leave, lest we miss the auspicious time!" Yingling said.

Xia Tongsheng staggered out of the room. If it weren't for the matchmaker and Yingling supporting her, she probably would have fallen to the ground.

After tearfully bidding farewell to her father, Xia Tongsheng was led into the bridal sedan chair. At the matchmaker's command, "Lift the sedan chair!", Xia Tongsheng immediately removed her red veil to get some fresh air...

It's rather pitiful that they've fallen to this state!

Anyway, since she was inside the sedan chair, no one could see what she was doing.

She thought she could reach Prince An's mansion smoothly, but as it turned out, she was wrong. Not long after she started walking, a group of men in black suddenly appeared on the way.

In an instant, all the onlookers fled in panic, leaving only the wedding procession and the men in black facing off in the entire street!

One red and one black create a striking contrast.

Xia Tongsheng couldn't help but imagine, "Could it be that someone's come to steal the bride!"

This idiot was smugly thinking that the marriage might be called off because of this, but as it turns out, she was overthinking it.

The leader of the men in black shouted, "Attack!"

Min Youan, mounted on his horse, let out a cold laugh—a look of utter disdain befitting a king!

Cang Jue quickly stepped forward, "Your Highness, please go to the sedan chair for a while, so as not to offend your eyes."

His guards might not be the top experts in the martial arts world, but they were certainly capable of taking on a hundred opponents single-handedly!

Especially Cang Jue, he's practically a legend in the martial arts world. It's just a mystery how such a master would willingly become Min You'an's servant!

Min Youan dismounted and turned to walk towards the bridal sedan chair, as if the danger before him had nothing to do with him.

Xia Tongsheng scoffed. What's with this? It's an eyesore. Acting like I'm some kind of germaphobe. But something still felt off...

Yes, Min Yoo-an is about to get into the sedan chair!

After grasping the key point, Xia Tongsheng immediately picked up the veil, but before she could put it on, she felt a sudden gust of cold wind. Although it was a sunny day in June, she visibly shivered.

Xia Tongsheng held the veil, looked at Min Youan who was already sitting next to her, her eyes blinking, and smiled awkwardly, "Well, it's a bit hot, I need to get some fresh air!"

Min Youan glanced at Xia Tongsheng with obvious displeasure in his eyes.

However, amidst the dissatisfaction, there was also a touch of amazement. Compared to the light makeup at the banquet, her makeup today was more exquisite, with bright red lips and a plum blossom decoration between her eyebrows, making her complexion appear even whiter and more alluring.

Xia Tongsheng lowered her eyes shyly as he stared at her, her long eyelashes obscuring her clear gaze.

Not wanting to face his icy expression, she picked up the veil and put it on her head, thinking that out of sight, out of mind.

Before long, the fighting subsided, and Min Youan lifted the curtain and went outside.

Cang Jue cupped his hands in greeting, "Your Highness, it has been cleaned up."

"Hmm," he said coldly, and mounted his horse.

Not long after, the bridal sedan chair stopped again. Xia Tongsheng wondered, "Could it be another assassin?"

Her wedding was really difficult, full of twists and turns!

She asked, "Yingling, why aren't you leaving?"

“Miss, um…” Yingling stammered.

Xia Tongsheng frowned, slightly lifted the curtain, and looked outside. The three large characters "Jiaoliyuan" came into her view. Isn't this a brothel? Why are we stopping here?

Was he trying to humiliate himself? Come to think of it, on the wedding day, the groom abandons the bride to go to a brothel for pleasure. No girl could stand that. It's like a slap in the face for the bride!

She'll probably carry this shame for the rest of her life.