Chapter 1529: 倒贴

Zu'an was a little bewildered. With so many close female friends, marrying one and not the others would be unfair favoritism.

"Hmm? What, unwilling?" Seeing his reaction, the Great Elf King's face immediately darkened.

"How could that be? Father-in-law, you've misunderstood," Zu'an quickly said with a placating smile. "It's just that this happiness came so suddenly. Before, you didn't even want me to call you so intimately."

The Great Elf King's breath hitched. He recalled that Zu'an had called him "father-in-law" upon their first meeting, but he had sternly told him to call him "uncle." He truly had shot himself in the foot.

He lightly coughed: "So you agree?"

"Of course! It's my honor to marry Xue'er," Zu'an replied unequivocally. He knew he couldn't hesitate on such a question; it was best to agree first.

Of course, this was also his true feeling. Though he and Xue'er had been separated for a long time, their affection remained deep. Coupled with their soul-bond connection, how could he possibly let her down?

Hearing his words, Xue'er's eyes sparkled with joy. Her delicate cheeks flushed with shyness and happiness. Before, she had affectionately held Zu'an's arm, but now she was too shy to even look at him properly.

The Great Elf King's expression softened slightly. Suddenly, he found the ordinary-looking man before him seemed a little more handsome.

Zu'an then said, "It's just that Queen Medusa and I also share a solemn vow, and I cannot let her down either. We might all be married together at that time."

He thought he might as well take this opportunity to marry Yu Yanluo as well. Yan Xuehen and Yun Jianyue had left, so there was no need to worry about them. As for the Little Demon Empress, her status meant their relationship could not be public.

Anyway, he was getting married here as the Regent King. Even if the news reached the human realm, it wouldn't matter. What did the marriage of a Demon Race Regent King have to do with him, the Great Ji Bo of the Human Race?

"Queen Medusa?" The Great Elf King frowned. "Her appearance is merely acceptable. Letting her be a concubine wouldn't disgrace our elf tribe's reputation."

"Father~" Qiao Xueying tugged at his sleeve, a little worried.

Zu'an also spoke up then: "Father-in-law, you might have misunderstood. I'm not suggesting Queen Medusa become a concubine."

The Great Elf King immediately flew into a rage: "What? Are you implying you'd make our Elf Princess a concubine?"

Rage points from the Great Elf King +666+666+666...

"That's not what I meant..." Zu'an hadn't finished speaking before he was interrupted.

"Hmph, you brat, do you think I wouldn't dare kill you?" the Great Elf King said sternly. However, he immediately recalled how Zu'an had easily dealt with several grandmasters earlier, and his confidence waned. "Even if I can't do it alone, our elf tribe still has many masters."

Zu'an explained, "Father-in-law, you've misunderstood. I'm not making either Queen Medusa or Xue'er a concubine. It's just that my family doesn't have so many rules; there's no distinction between principal and secondary wives—they are all wives."

"Heh," the Great Elf King scoffed. "You're dreaming. Even the Demon Emperor and Human Emperor only have one Empress; all others are consorts, which are strictly speaking, concubines. Are you greater than them?"

"They simply didn't have this concept, which doesn't mean they couldn't have achieved it," Zu'an said sincerely. "Whether you believe it or not, Father-in-law, this is genuinely how I feel."

"Nonsense," the Great Elf King retorted, finding Zu'an's words too unconventional. He was about to speak further but was stopped by Qiao Xueying, who said, "Father, I'm still young. There's no rush for these matters."

The Great Elf King was about to get angry, but quickly muttered to himself, "No, no, anger harms the liver, and it can lead to dull skin and age spots..."

He took a few deep breaths before saying to Zu'an, "Think about it carefully yourself. I don't want to hear such childish talk next time."

With that, he didn't wait for Qiao Xueying's objection and simply pulled her away.

Only after they had walked some distance did he release his daughter. Qiao Xueying pouted, "Father, why did you break us up?"

"Silly girl, don't you know that being too eager or giving too much in a relationship never ends well?" The Great Elf King looked at his daughter, a little frustrated with her lack of assertiveness.

"Who said I was being too eager? Look, Brother Zu even gave me something nice," Qiao Xueying said, extending her hand to show him.

Seeing a string of red objects in her hand, the Great Elf King's eyelid twitched. "You were bought off by a string of candied hawthorns?"

For a moment, he even wondered if this girl had been swapped during the war years.

Of course, he never suspected his wife of doing anything to betray him. After all, he was so handsome; how could any woman abandon him for another man?

Qiao Xueying's face flushed, and she couldn't help but exclaim, "Look at the ring! Look at the ring!"

Only then did the Great Elf King notice the ring on her finger, realizing he had misjudged. "Hmph, this ring is crudely designed, without any delicate patterns. It's truly ugly. How could you like... Wait, is this a Heaven-tier weapon?"

As the Great Elf King, he naturally possessed extraordinary insight and quickly recognized it.

"Yes, this item can be used for combat and can change size. Brother Zu gave it to me for self-defense, and he deliberately made it into a ring, which clearly shows his thoughtfulness," Qiao Xueying said, gently stroking the ring, her face full of happiness.

"Hmph, to be so taken by a mere Heaven-tier weapon, what aspirations!" Although the Great Elf King spoke these words, his mood brightened considerably. While Heaven-tier weapons weren't rare in the Great Elf King's Mansion, they were still valuable. Moreover, there were superior and inferior Heaven-tier weapons, and one that radiated such power and could transform freely was clearly among the very best of them.

That boy wasn't entirely heartless.

"Come back with me and behave. Girls who are too forward in a relationship will always be at a disadvantage," the Great Elf King advised earnestly.

Qiao Xueying pouted and grumbled, "Back then, weren't there many aunts who actively pursued you? They were far more forward than I am, and I never heard you object."

The Great Elf King nearly choked. "Otherwise, why do you think I'd utter such sentiments? Isn't it the heartfelt advice of someone who's been there? If you weren't my daughter, would I tell you this? Alas, your father has had countless women eagerly pursue him his whole life, and now I've unexpectedly begotten a 'money-losing commodity' who eagerly pursues others. This truly is retribution."

"That's horrible! If you keep talking like that, I'll smash your mirror!"

"You dare? ...Hmph, I won't say it then." ...

Meanwhile, Zu'an was debating whether to go after them when suddenly a Golden Crow Guard arrived to report that the Little Demon Empress wished to see him.

Zu'an was a little puzzled. For her to send someone to formally notify him like this, it must be for serious business. So, he followed the guard to a magnificent mansion.

"The Crown Prince's Mansion?" Zu'an's heart stirred. For a moment, he even suspected that the Crown Prince's remaining forces wanted to harm him.

However, all these suspicions vanished when he saw a magnificent carriage.

Gauzy curtains fluttered, and a pleasant fragrance wafted from it. It was the Little Demon Empress's personal carriage.

Soon, the Little Demon Empress emerged, supported by palace maids. Today, she wore a goose-yellow palace gown. Though not as formal as her ceremonial robes for sacrifices or grand events, it was still beautiful and noble.

Her hair was styled in a celestial cloud chignon, adorned with various precious jeweled hair ornaments. With phoenix eyes and vermilion lips, her waist swayed softly and gracefully as she walked, creating an alluring rhythm that stirred the blood. Some people were simply born enchantresses.

"Greetings, Empress!" In front of outsiders, the proper etiquette naturally had to be observed.

"Regent King, there's no need for such formality. Do you know why I specifically asked you to come here?" The Little Demon Empress, whose gaze had become somewhat more authoritative after becoming Empress Dowager, softened as she looked at Zu'an. Only she knew how powerful this man was, in every sense.

"I await your guidance, Empress," Zu'an replied, his gaze gentle. No one could guess how wild they were in private.

The Little Demon Empress didn't keep him in suspense. With a glance, the guards at the entrance immediately pulled down the red silk from the lintel, revealing the characters for "Regent King's Mansion."

"I originally intended to prepare a new royal residence for you, but that would take more time. Your current dwelling is too modest, so I've renovated the former Crown Prince's Mansion and gifted it to you. In the entire royal court, besides the Imperial Palace, only the Crown Prince's Mansion is fitting for you," the Little Demon Empress said, gesturing for him to come inside and look around.

Zu'an followed her. Before he could admire the exquisite scenery and grand architecture inside, he was startled by a large group of people kneeling on the ground. Especially those in the front row, though their heads were bowed, their figures were graceful and their skin delicate. Even with a quick glance, it was clear they were all exceptionally beautiful women.

Seeing his surprise, the Little Demon Empress smiled, pressing her lips together. "I've replaced your servants and maids with a new batch. See if they meet your approval. Oh, and those in the front are the former concubines of the Crown Prince. Pick any you fancy to warm your bed; the nights here in the royal court can be quite cold in winter."

Zu'an was startled: "No need, I don't have that inclination."

That Crown Prince certainly lived a life of pleasure. Although he hadn't formally married a Crown Princess, his mansion was filled with a multitude of concubines.

"Is that so?" The Little Demon Empress's eyes glinted as she glanced at him. Her own experience clearly made her disbelieve his words. "If you don't want them, these women will be sent to the Imperial Entertainment Bureau."

Clearly, she still harbored some resentment towards the Crown Prince's past oppression.

Zu'an: "..."