The Cold King Demands Love and Pleasure

But how did a fight between two people end up resulting in a child?

Old Nine is quite the fighter!

"Cangyi, the Ninth Princess Consort has done a good job in protecting Bei Min. Find some treasures in the national treasury and send them over. Also, go and call Yue'er over."

"Yes!"

Upon hearing that Min You'an had returned, Min Yanyue immediately went to pay his respects, "Father, you're back?"

"Yes, the court officials have recently said that you have performed well."

"It's all thanks to my father's excellent teaching and the constant assistance from my uncle and Uncle Feng."

"Yes, it's good to avoid being overly ambitious."

Min Youan asked Min Yanyue some more questions, and saw that Min Yanyue answered them very well.

He is satisfied.

Upon hearing the news of Xia Tongsheng's return, Bai Shiqiu rushed to Fengqi Palace, saying, "Sister, you're back."

The joy on Xia Tongsheng's face slowly faded, and she smiled coldly, "Sister? I can't accept that title from you."

“Sister, during the three years you were missing, the Emperor did not appoint a new Empress, so you are naturally my sister.”

No new empress has been appointed? You are naturally my elder sister.

Why do these words sound so strange?

Xia Tongsheng looked at Bai Shiqiu's attire and realized that it was clearly the style of a concubine's clothing.

Min Yoo-an, that big bad guy, didn't he say that she was the only woman in the palace?

What happened to Bai Shiqiu?

She actually brought Bai Shiqiu into her harem.

"Why would the Emperor take you as a concubine?" Seeing Bai Shiqiu about to speak, Xia Tongsheng interrupted, "Don't say anything like the Emperor 'likes you,' I'm not a child, I don't believe it!"

"The Emperor did not bring me into the harem because he liked me; the Emperor did it to give Yue'er a proper status."

"How to say?"

“Yue’er is my son. He felt that it was unfair for Yue’er to keep calling me his wet nurse, so he gave me the position of a concubine and put Yue’er up for foster care in my name so that Yue’er could openly call me mother.”

"Is that what you think, or is that what the Emperor thinks?" Xia Tongsheng narrowed her eyes. "I know the Emperor too well. It's true that he loves Yue'er, but he would never take the initiative to take a concubine unless you bring Yue'er and beg him."

"Let's not talk about this anymore, sister. We haven't seen each other for three years, so let's have a good chat."

"Bai Shiqiu, I don't believe you came all this way just to catch up with me?"

"I heard you're pregnant, so I brought you some herbal medicine."

Xia Tongsheng picked at the food Bai Shiqiu had placed on the table with her chopsticks a few times. "I wouldn't dare eat other people's food, I'm afraid it will burn my mouth."

"This was specially prepared for you by the imperial physician."

"Made especially for me?" Xia Tongsheng shook her head. "Bai Shiqiu, we've known each other for so long, I know exactly what kind of person you are. There's no need for you to keep pretending, is there?"

Bai Shiqiu finally dropped the mask, "Xia Tongsheng, do you have to put on such a superior attitude?"

"Hmm? Am I superior, Yingling?"

Yingling stood next to Xia Tongsheng and said, "Miss, of course not. I think you are very approachable."

"You see, Bai Shiqiu, you think I'm superior, but that's just your own inferiority complex."

"Say what you will, I've delivered the things, and I need to go back to take care of Yue'er."

Xia Tongsheng frowned as she watched Bai Shiqiu's retreating figure. "Yingling, how has Bai Shiqiu been doing in the palace these past few years?"

"Not so good. I heard she tried to seduce the Emperor several times behind his back, but each time she met a terrible end."

"poor person must have something mean."

"She's not pitiful; it's the little palace maids in her palace who are more pitiful."

Xia Tongsheng stood up. "In short, be extra careful around her."

Bai Shiqiu came again the next day.

"Your Majesty, the Empress is already asleep. You may return."

Bai Shiqiu wasn't angry. She had a palace maid hand the food box to Yingling, saying, "This is a tonic I specially prepared for my sister. Give it to her to drink when she wakes up."

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."

Xia Tongsheng watched Bai Shiqiu leave from inside the room.

Yingling handed the food box to Qinyin, saying, "It's yours now."

When she returned, she said, "Miss, I had Aunt Qinyin take it to the Imperial Hospital for examination."

"Hmm, what exactly does Bai Shiqiu want to do?"

"No matter what she wants to do, as long as we keep a close eye on her, she won't succeed."

Xia Tongsheng shook her head, "But we can't keep not seeing each other like this, lest that person start gossiping again."

"You mean the Empress Dowager?"

"Yes, she has disliked me from the beginning. If rumors spread that I have been harsh to the concubines in the palace, who knows what she will say about me."

Yingling nodded, "Anyway, as long as I can protect you and the baby in your belly, I'm not afraid of being punished."

"Silly girl."

Yingling blushed. "Um... um, how is he?"

Xia Tongsheng pretended not to understand, "Who are you talking about?"

"Miss, you know perfectly well who I'm going to ask. You're mean, you're teasing me on purpose."

"You mean Mo Chen? He's doing very well over there, so there's no need to worry about him."

"As long as he's alright!"

Yingling breathed a sigh of relief.

Before long, Aunt Qinyin, who had delivered the food boxes for inspection, returned with a message.

"Your Majesty, the imperial physician has examined the food box and found no problems with the tonics. The tonics are indeed highly nourishing."

"Qinyin, why are you back so soon?"

Xia Tongsheng asked this not because he doubted Qin Yin, after all, Qin Yin was the person Min You'an sent when Yi Yi was born, so she was trustworthy!

"The Imperial Medical Academy knows that the examination is for Your Majesty the Empress, so they dared not delay and examined me first."

"You dare not delay?"

Xia Tongsheng sneered.

"The entire capital knows I'm from Nanye, and they hate me so much they don't even have time to spare. How could they not dare to delay?"

"Your Majesty, that's exactly what the people from the Imperial Medical Academy said."

Yingling, being more cautious, said, "It seems that even the people from the Imperial Hospital can't be trusted. Aunt Qinyin, when you have some free time, go out of the palace and find the best doctor to take a look at this food box."

"No need for today. Let's see if Bai Shiqiu will come again tomorrow."

The piano nodded.

“If Bai Shiqiu is like this every day, then there is a problem. Perhaps the food boxes or clothes she sends have safflower or musk on them, which could cause a miscarriage.”

"Miss, since that's the case, why not keep Bai Shiqiu outside the palace?"

"If Bai Shiqiu has done nothing wrong, how can I keep her out of the palace?"

"Or perhaps we should seek out the Emperor?"

Xia Tongsheng shook his head, "Forget it, he's busy enough with court affairs. I can handle this little matter."

Min Youan came to find Xia Tongsheng after returning from court.

"I heard Bai Shiqiu is here again?"

"Yes, I've brought some tonics."

Min Youan pursed her lips, thought for a moment, and said, "If you find her troublesome, leave her to me. You should just focus on taking care of your pregnancy now."

"Oh, it's alright. My identity is already sensitive enough. If you do anything against the rules for my sake, I'm afraid the whole world will condemn me."

"I am not afraid. Tomorrow I will issue an imperial decree that no unauthorized person may enter Fengqi Palace."

"Okay! It's all up to you."

Xia Tongsheng noticed that Min Youan never referred to himself as "朕" (the imperial "I") in front of her, whether it was in Nanye or now back in Beimin.