The Cold King Demands Love and Pleasure

Min Youan pondered for a moment, "Both."

"The princess's plan is truly ingenious!"

Cang Jue watched as Xia Tongsheng neither relinquished her dignity as a princess nor failed to reassure Gao Liang about leaving Min You'an's side. He had to admit, Xia Tongsheng was truly clever.

I always thought the princess was just a little clever, but I recently realized that the reason she hadn't used any tricks was because she didn't need to. Now that I think about it, she's not simple at all!

Now, a woman suddenly appears and is vying with her for the prince. The princess suddenly makes her move, and this is an exceptionally beautiful and swift attack!

"Tell Gao Liang that he doesn't need to stay with me in the palace. I'm afraid Asheng will be unhappy if she sees this."

Cang Jue nodded, "I'll go right away!"

Xia Tongsheng led Gao Liang to the pavilion and had the servants prepare ice in advance. "Look, it's been so long since we sisters have seen each other. I didn't even know how you've been doing outside all this time."

"In ordinary families, people do housework every day, so there's nothing much to say about it."

A sly glint flashed in Xia Tongsheng's eyes. "Really? I've never grown crops before, and I'm a little curious. Shouldn't we be planting rice at this time of year?"

"No, it's already autumn. Rice is sensitive to cold, so it should be the season for planting wheat."

Although Xia Tongsheng deliberately misrepresented the rice planting time in an attempt to lure Gao Liang into a trap, Gao Liang did not fall into the snare that Xia Tongsheng had prepared in advance.

"You've been away for so long. Now that you're back in the Prince's Palace, you should live a good life here from now on."

"Your Highness, you're not trying to find someone else to match me with, are you?"

Thinking back to how Xia Tongsheng had arranged marriages for the seven concubines who had entered the Prince's mansion together, Gao Liang felt somewhat uncomfortable.

"Don't worry, it won't happen again!"

Xia Tongsheng took a sip of her herbal tea.

Xia Tongsheng would only dare to do this once, as it was a favor Consort Jing would not let her off the hook the second time.

Yingling carried Yiyi over, and Xia Tongsheng took her, saying, "Yiyi, this is your Aunt Gao Liang."

Generally speaking, Yi Yi should call Gao Liang "Auntie", but Xia Tongsheng insists that Yi Yi call Gao Liang "Auntie".

Xia Tongsheng couldn't possibly be unaware of the issue of how to address someone; it could only be intentional.

The title "Aunt" can drastically change Gao Liang's status. An aunt is the prince's sister, and they generally wouldn't have any romantic relationship with the prince.

Gao Liang lowered her eyes and stood up, subtly dodging Xia Tongsheng's questions, "Your Highness, Princess Yiyi is of noble status, while I am of lowly status and am truly unworthy of being called 'Aunt'!"

"What's this about being worthy or unworthy? There aren't so many rules and regulations!"

Gao Liang immediately knelt down, "Your Highness, I am just a maid in the palace. I am already extremely grateful to be able to come to the Prince's residence. I do not ask for anything else."

"Then forget it, just keep me company and talk to me. This palace is too quiet, I can't find any sisters to talk to."

Gao Liang thought to herself, "Isn't the tranquility of the Prince's mansion your doing? Because you're afraid the Prince might have other women, every woman sent to the mansion is either sent back or driven away untouched. Of course, the Prince dotes on his Princess so much that he won't interfere much."

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. Since Your Highness wants to talk to someone, I can accompany you."

Xia Tongsheng looked up at Yingling, then looked down and lifted Gao Liang up from the ground. "You should get up now."

Two days later, Ji Shuihan arrived at the Prince's residence and reported the information he had gathered.

Xia Tongsheng led Ji Shuihan into the room, leaving Yingling to stand guard at the door. "Shuihan, tell me what you found out?"

"Your Highness, I have basically finished investigating everything you asked me to investigate!"

"Let's talk about the emperor first!"

Ji Shuihan said, panting, "It is said that the Emperor has been poisoned, but it is unclear what kind of poison he was poisoned with."

"Such a serious matter as His Majesty's poisoning should not be known to many people, so it's understandable that they couldn't find out!"

Ji Shuihan continued, "Your Highness, do you know who treated the Emperor?"

"Who?" Wasn't the person who treated the emperor the imperial physician?

"They're elm seeds!"

Xia Tongsheng was no longer calm. "Poor Jiuyang, he finally found his wife, but he never expected her to be taken to the palace!"

However, no imperial physician could diagnose such a serious matter as the emperor's poisoning. In the end, they managed to get Yuqian'er to come to the palace to treat the emperor, which was clearly Min You'an's doing.

"Did the prince go to Yuqian for help?"

Ji Shuihan shook his head, "I don't know, I didn't see the prince and Yuqian'er have any contact!"

Xia Tongsheng recalled seeing Min Youan and Lin Jiuyang walking together outside the palace and muttered to herself, "But the prince has been in contact with Lin Jiuyang all along, so it must be true!"

Unexpectedly, Lin Jiuyang is the bridge connecting the prince and Yuqian!

"But doesn't Yuqian have a grudge against the emperor? Given Yuqian's personality, how could she possibly agree to treat the emperor's illness?"

Xia Tongsheng pouted, then thought for a moment, "It must be that the prince gave Yuqian some conditions, otherwise Yuqian wouldn't have agreed!"

Elm Seed is not one to meddle in other people's business; if she gets involved in this matter, it must be because it has something to do with her.

Ji Shuihan looked at Xia Tongsheng, his dark green eyes sparkling beautifully. "Should I investigate this?"

"No need, it's not a big deal, it shouldn't have any impact!" Xia Tongsheng looked up, gesturing to Ji Shuihan, "You continue!"

"Furthermore, the news from the Imperial Observatory that the prince and the emperor are incompatible was spread by Min Zhifu!"

Actually, Xia Tongsheng knew without even investigating that Min Zhifu was behind this. Who else would be so bored as to do this?

"Oh, by the way, Shui Han, have you found out who poisoned the emperor?"

Shui Han shook his head. "Actually, even the imperial physicians in the palace couldn't tell that the emperor was poisoned, let alone find out who poisoned him. I think whoever could poison the emperor would have made thorough preparations!"

"Yes, complete preparation, or a radical solution!"

After Min Zhifu's status as crown prince was revoked, he was probably afraid that the emperor would discover his true identity. So, before the emperor knew Min Youan's true identity, Min Youan took the initiative to strike first.

It's just a pity for the emperor; he raised someone else's son for over twenty years, only to be harmed by the very child he raised!

A classic real-life version of the farmer and the snake story.

For some reason, Xia Tongsheng thought of Min Yanyue. Although Min Yanyue was a good child, Bai Shiqiu was not necessarily a good mother, much less a good teacher. Min Yanyue had only been with Bai Shiqiu for a short time, yet she dared to do such a thing at Yi Yi's first birthday party. If she had been with Bai Shiqiu for a longer period of time, she might really have become someone like Min Zhifu.