Chapter 245: The Black-Bellied Hu Yan

Empress Leia said with a beaming smile, “I’m glad you like it. I was worried you wouldn’t.”

The Emperor said, “She spent a long time in the storeroom picking that out. First, she’d think one thing wasn’t exquisite enough, then that another wasn’t pretty enough. Since it was her first time meeting you, she was determined to give you a decent welcoming gift. She wasn’t even this thoughtful when she gave me a gift. She just grabbed something random from the storeroom for me.”

Hearing this, Bai Zhi was even more moved. She remembered the gifts she had prepared for them before coming and quickly took them out. “These are the gifts I prepared for Father Emperor and Mother Empress. I hope you like them.”

“This bolt of gauze is for Mother Empress. Although it’s just gauze, it’s actually deep-sea ‘jiao’ gauze. It’s transparent and light, doesn’t get wet in water, and is extremely comfortable as an inner garment in the winter.”

Then she explained, “This weapon is called ‘Conceal.’ As the name suggests, it can hide you. However, it can only be used once. It allows you to evade the eyes of anyone SSS-level and above, as well as all forms of weapon tracking.”

The Emperor was instantly captivated by the weapon Bai Zhi described. He knew exactly how important such an item was. If it really worked as well as she said, it would be a life-saving tool.

The Emperor suppressed his excitement. “Can it truly evade all tracking? How do you use it?”

Bai Zhi nodded. “Yes, but its drawback is that it can only be used once.”

She gave the Emperor a demonstration.

In reality, Bai Zhi had only redeemed one of them. She was afraid it would be too conspicuous.

After all, most things produced by the system were far better than their real-world counterparts. Having a drawback proved it wasn’t perfect. While it might still attract attention, at least it wouldn’t be overly ostentatious.

Empress Leia was also very pleased as she felt the gauze. In the Imperial Palace, there was no shortage of fine things she had seen, but this was the first time she had ever encountered such gauze. It felt silky and cool, yet it was also warm to the touch. It was very comfortable.

Empress Leia ordered her attendants to put the items away carefully, then said to Bai Zhi, “Thank you, child. We love the gifts you gave us.”

Seeing that they both loved the gifts, a smile spread across Bai Zhi’s face. She had been picking them out ever since she found out last night that she would be meeting his parents. Luckily, she had chosen well.

Empress Leia said, “The banquet is about to start. Let’s head over.”

Bai Zhi froze for a moment. ‘A banquet? What banquet?’

Hearing this, Empress Leia glanced suspiciously at Hu Yan. “Didn’t Hu Yan tell you? We’re holding it especially for you, to introduce you to everyone and show how much we value you.”

Bai Zhi whipped her head around to glare at Hu Yan. ‘I knew something felt off. So this was the trap!!’

Hu Yan avoided Bai Zhi’s gaze, looking away.

When Empress Leia saw this, she understood everything. It was obvious Hu Yan hadn’t told Bai Zhi the truth and had tricked her into coming. She couldn’t help but sigh.

Now that things had come to this, Bai Zhi took a deep breath and forced a smile. “Well, let’s head over then.”

Empress Leia thought to herself, ‘I’ll have to go to the storeroom later and pick out a few more things for Bai Zhi. It’s Hu Yan’s first time liking a female, so he has no experience. I hope she’ll be patient with him for the sake of the gifts.’

Their group arrived at the banquet hall.

Bai Zhi immediately spotted her Beast Husbands, who stood out conspicuously in the crowd. Several females were already stirring with interest, casting many glances in their direction.

Just then, Hu Yan suddenly said, “I remember you said that if we reject any females who throw themselves at us, you’ll give us a reward. Does that offer still stand?”

Confused, Bai Zhi nodded.

At that moment, Bai Zhi hadn’t yet realized the gravity of the situation, not until Hu Yan suddenly led her into the crowd.

The moment Hu Yan appeared, he captured everyone’s attention. Immediately, numerous people started walking toward him.

“Third Prince, it’s been a while. This is my young daughter. You two have met before.”

Almost everyone would first exchange a few pleasantries before casually bringing up the female beside them.

With uncharacteristic good humor, Hu Yan asked, “Are you suggesting you want them to become my Imperial Concubines?”

Hearing this, those who had brought their females were all slightly stunned. They clearly hadn’t expected the Third Prince to be so approachable today. An Earl immediately chimed in with a smile, “We do have that wish. If you two get along, we would naturally be delighted.”

The others quickly chimed in, “Yes, yes, that’s what we mean as well.”

Then, Bai Zhi heard Hu Yan say with a grin, “I’m terribly sorry, but I already have a wife-master. I’m afraid I must disappoint you.”

For a moment, everyone who had gathered around was stunned. The Third Prince had a Third Princess Consort? How had they not heard the news?

Then again, it was said that an important announcement was to be made at tonight’s banquet. Could this be it?

Before they could figure it out, Hu Yan had already pulled Bai Zhi away.

“Wife-master, you can count carefully how many people I’ve rejected and how much of a reward you owe me.” After saying this, Hu Yan quickly repeated his trick and moved on to the next group.

Bai Zhi watched as Hu Yan, beaming, rejected person after person. The corner of her mouth twitched. “…”

She personally heard him say things like, “I have a jealous female at home, so it’s inconvenient for me to interact with them.”

In short, his rejections were varied and never the same twice, but every time, he would first bait them into stating their intentions before shutting them down.

And he even made Bai Zhi keep a clear count of how many people he rejected.

This was the first time Bai Zhi realized Hu Yan’s cunning could be used in a situation like this!

No wonder when she first made the offer, Hu Yan had specifically asked if it applied to all five of them. So he was confirming it back then!

‘He’s been plotting this for a long time!!’

Bai Zhi wasn’t the only one who saw what Hu Yan was doing; Sang Mo and the others did too.

Sang Mo ground his back teeth, his eyes glinting with a cold light. “Hu Yan, that scheming fox!”

Yue Junxiao also shouted angrily, “Hu Yan is too damn cunning!!”

The Empress saw Hu Yan actively making his way around the entire hall for the first time. Although she didn’t know why he was doing it, seeing Bai Zhi’s “face of despair” and considering Hu Yan’s personality, it was obvious he wouldn’t be doing such a thing if there wasn’t something in it for him.

She silently lit a candle for Bai Zhi in her heart.

‘It’s his first time liking a female, so he doesn’t know how to hold back…’

‘Gifts… I should probably get some more. I think we still have a few houses in the main city district. Maybe I should give her those too.’

She was genuinely afraid Bai Zhi would have enough one day and run away.

By the time the Empress and Emperor announced that Bai Zhi was Hu Yan’s wife-master and the Third Princess Consort, the people below were already expressionless.

They already knew, having personally experienced the Third Prince’s rejection.

After the banquet concluded successfully, the Empress invited them to stay at the palace, but Hu Yan declined, saying he had things to do.

After they returned, Hu Yan took Bai Zhi to a room, pinning her against the door and trapping her with his arms. “Did you count? How many were there? According to what you said before, is that enough for the next six months?”

Bai Zhi: “…” ‘I knew it.’

When she had said it, she never imagined Hu Yan would pull such a slick move.

“Six months might be a bit much. They won’t agree. How about this, then: one month. The entire next month belongs to me.” Hu Yan’s tone was partly negotiating, partly teasing. His fingertips toyed with a strand of Bai Zhi’s hair, making it impossible for her to think straight.