Chapter 382: Empress

Inside the great hall, there was silence.

As soon as Luo Zijun stepped inside, he felt a strange fragrance wafting toward him.

Outside, the weather was freezing, and snowflakes were flying.

Inside this great hall, however, flowers were in full bloom, and it was warm and cozy.

The little fox girl led him, walking on the soft carpet, all the way forward until they reached the center of the great hall.

Standing on both sides were the Fox Clan Ministers, all watching him quietly and curiously.

Directly ahead, White Jade steps carved with murals of divine foxes rose steeply; atop these three-meter-high steps sat a throne inlaid with jewels, shimmering with brilliant light.

Upon the throne, the Wan Yao Empress, who had just ascended the throne today, sat high and upright at this moment.

Luo Zijun looked up and saw that the area around the throne was wreathed in a layer of soft, milky-white light, shrouding the Wan Yao Empress and making her look hazy and mysterious.

He could not see her true face clearly, only vaguely perceiving the strange red dot between her brows.

It doesn't look like her...

He thought to himself, then lowered his head and bowed in obeisance: "Luo Zijun pays respects to the Empress, wishing Her Majesty the Empress a life of ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"

No one responded.

The Fox Clan Ministers lined up neatly on both sides and the Fox Clan Guards behind the pillars were also silent.

The atmosphere was somewhat eerie.

He waited for a long time again.

Just as he could not help but prepare to look up and steal another glance at the Empress on the throne, the Empress finally spoke, her voice cold and unfamiliar, her aura imposing without anger: "Are you Luo Zijun?"

Luo Zijun's heart stirred; he looked up again and said respectfully: "Yes, does Your Majesty know me?"

It seems the other party is not Senior Sister, but what exactly is going on with that Rolling Pin and that "Marriage Declaration"?

The Empress seemed to stare at him for a while longer before speaking indifferently: "I heard about you from a junior in the clan; it was also she who had the congratulatory gift sent on the day of your wedding to the Snake Clan Second Princess."

Luo Zijun's expression shifted as he understood, and he hurriedly asked: "May I ask Your Majesty, what is the name of that junior of yours? And where is she now?"

The Empress did not answer, saying in a cold and haughty tone: "I summoned you simply to see what humans look like. I heard that you humans look similar to us on the outside, but your habits are different—men are lecherous and morally corrupt, while women are promiscuous and shameless. Is this true?"

Luo Zijun's mouth twitched, and he thought to himself: Isn't it you demon-kind who look similar to us humans on the outside?

He said respectfully: "In reply to Your Majesty, that is a misconception from the outside world. We humans value morality and shame most of all; although there are a few morally corrupt individuals, the majority are refined gentlemen and dignified ladies."

"Oh?"

The Empress seemed to hum softly and asked: "Then how many women do you have?"

"Uh..."

Luo Zijun choked, but he dared not lie, and said respectfully: "That... it is quite a lot..."

"Quite a lot? Is it too many to count?"

The Empress's tone made it impossible to tell if she was pleased or angry.

Luo Zijun answered honestly: "Yes."

The Empress sneered and said: "Then why did you refute me just now when I said you human men are lecherous and morally corrupt?"

Luo Zijun lowered his head and said: "I did not dare to refute you; I was merely explaining to Your Majesty. Within any species, there are good and bad members, and humans are no exception. And I, as it happens, am one of those few morally corrupt ones among the human race and cannot represent the entire human population."

"Heh..."

"Hehehe..."

The first sneer came from the Empress.

The second sneer came from the Fox Clan Ministers on both sides.

"You are indeed honest."

The Empress commented indifferently.

Luo Zijun lowered his head and said: "In the face of Your Majesty's divine might, I would not dare to lie."

The Empress seemed to stare at him for a while longer and said: "You flatter well and have a glib tongue. How about this: stay in the palace, become a eunuch, and serve me? I can appoint you as the Second Chief Eunuch; among the eunuchs in the palace, you will be below one person and above ten thousand."

Luo Zijun's brows twitched; he raised his head and looked at her again.

This time, he did not hide or cover up, but looked at her openly, as if wanting to see her clearly.

"Audacious!"

A Fox Clan Elder nearby immediately shouted sternly: "How can the immortal countenance of our Empress be something for a lowly human like you to look upon! Lower your head at once!"

Luo Zijun withdrew his gaze, lowered his head, and said respectfully: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your imperial grace, but I have a wife and concubines at home and bear heavy responsibilities, so I cannot enter the palace to serve Your Majesty."

Inside the great hall, it became quiet once again.

After a moment of silence, the Empress spoke indifferently: "Is that person outside the hall your wife?"

Luo Zijun was silent for a moment and said: "She is my wife in name."

"In name?"

"Yes, in name."

Luo Zijun lowered his head and said respectfully: "I once suffered an injury and lost my memory. I originally thought she was my true wife, but one day, I suddenly discovered that I had actually been betrothed long ago and already had a true wife."

He had already confessed this matter to Bai Daxiaojie.

"Oh?"

Atop the high platform, the Empress sitting on the throne spoke in a voice that remained cold and indifferent: "Then who is your true wife?"

Luo Zijun looked up at her again: "Why is Your Majesty interested in such a trivial matter?"

The Empress snorted coldly: "Just a casual question. If you do not wish to answer, then you need not answer."

Luo Zijun said: "I do not wish to answer."

"Audacious!"

The Fox Clan Elder from before shouted angrily again: "Our Empress asking you is a display of immense imperial grace; you, a mere lowly human, should be grateful and moved to tears, yet you dare to refuse to answer! Kneel down and admit your crime, and answer at once!"