After the two finished speaking, the other females in the hall started smiling and cozying up to Si Shuo, asking where she was from, how many Beast Husbands she had, and what type of male she preferred.
Some had even brought a whole retinue of males of all different types.
There were valiant ones, gentle ones, cute ones, alluring ones, and even half-beast males!
Yin Jiang’s expression turned cold. Standing behind his little female, he began scribbling furiously on a piece of paper, which he then placed into their shared space to gossip with his Couple Brothers. "The Princess has started her appeasement policy, using a honey trap of handsome males."
"Tsk, I’d guess there are eighty to a hundred males in this whole hall, just waiting for our little female’s inspection."
Si Shuo, who was sipping on honey water, nearly choked. ’Can’t they talk about this behind my back?’
However, several more notes materialized out of thin air.
"Kitty, these females are too wicked. Aren’t they trying to tempt you into violating your principles? You’ve already sworn an oath, so why are they still bringing males over?"
"Little Shushu, you can’t show the slightest bit of interest, or they’ll only get worse."
"A shuo, don’t give these males even the slightest hint. You’ll never be able to get rid of them..."
"My dear, the handsome males of the Yongchang Continent are all for show. They’re weak. Even without your oath, they wouldn’t be able to pass our test."
"Sister, if you see a type you like, you can just remember it, and I’ll transform into one for you later~"
"Shuo, you’re already beautiful enough. None of these males can outshine you!"
The shared space was silent, but the words on the notes made it feel boisterous, as if her husbands were right beside her, whispering jealous little comments.
Si Shuo gazed calmly at the males and females in the hall. ’This is Pingjing, after all.’ The females invited to the Princess Mansion all came from powerful backgrounds, and the males accompanying them were all capable in their own right.
The females looked like walking Christmas trees, with all sorts of vibrant feathers, beautiful gems, and other ornaments sewn onto their clothes.
The males were also heavily adorned, each with meticulous details to their attire—trophies to display their strength, for instance, such as pairs of horns on their heads, beast teeth hanging from their necks, or the Beast Skins of ferocious animals wrapped around their waists.
"Of course, if none of these males satisfy you, Si Shuo Divine Servant, you could also take a look at our own Beast Husbands," one female said. "After all, it’s so convenient for you to transfer a Beast Mark."
The other females were suddenly inspired and began pitching their own favored Beast Husbands one after another.
Si Shuo felt a headache coming on. ’It can’t be helped. Whether it was the women of ancient times or the females of this Beast World, they were like canaries in a gilded cage, their lives revolving solely around their partners and offspring. They rarely had their own careers or a chance to truly discover what they wanted.’
’Looks like I’ll have to grant the petition of one or two of these females today.’
Just as she was thinking this, a sharp, clear cry echoed through the hall. A small white Hunting Falcon then flew inside, landing steadily on Si Shuo’s shoulder.
The Little Falcon was so fast that none of the Beastmen had time to react.
Si Shuo smiled and stroked the little fellow’s head. ’Little Hong is still just a chick. As long as he doesn’t transform in front of people and let them find out he’s male, there won’t be any problem.’
With Little Hong present, Si Shuo’s last bit of hesitation vanished. She smiled and said, "I know all of you are curious about my abilities. However, the more powerful and heaven-defying an ability is, the greater its limitations. Otherwise, wouldn’t our entire Beast World be thrown into chaos?"
"The exchange conference for the five Beast Countries is approaching, so I must be conservative with my ability to change Beast Marks. For that reason, I will only grant the wishes of one or two of you today. And it will depend on who I feel a connection with."
This was the exact sentence the Princess had been waiting for. "Si Shuo Divine Servant, in that case, I will have the females form a line. You can select them one by one!"
After receiving Si Shuo’s consent, the Princess gave the order. The females cooperated, eagerly forming a line. After all, they had all been informed that this particular Divine Servant had a peculiar temperament and that it was best to stay on her good side.
’Females who would covet a male who had already offered his Beast Mark to another would, for the most part, have twisted values.’
The Princess was aware of Si Shuo’s criteria and had even deliberately pre-screened the petitioners. But the females were good at faking it. If Si Shuo hadn’t been able to hear their innermost thoughts with Little Hong’s help, she would have certainly been moved by their heart-wrenching tales.
Of course, among the forty or fifty females present, there was an exception!
When it was the Flower Raccoon female’s turn, she dropped to her knees directly in front of Si Shuo, prostrating herself on the ground in a display of utmost sincerity. "Si Shuo Divine Servant, my name is Jiao Ru, and I am a Flower Raccoon female. I was once an ordinary female from the Pingjing City South District. A Golden Monkey male named Shang Kun lived next door, and we shared a bond from childhood. We had already promised each other that we would become a couple after our coming-of-age ceremonies."
"But after our ceremonies, I waited and waited, and he never came. All I heard was that Princess Ling Shuang had taken a liking to Shang Kun and, taking advantage of him while he was drunk, had forcibly claimed him."
"Even though we had a prior vow, and neither of us ever broke it, reality tore us apart. We each ended up marrying other people."
"Princess Ling Shuang has so many Beast Husbands that she has long since forgotten about a certain Golden Monkey... He isn’t good at currying favor, so he’s often bullied by the other males and can’t even get enough to eat..."
"Now, I have several powerful Beast Husbands of my own, and I have the means to give him a good life."
"Si Shuo Divine Servant, please, I beg you to fulfill this devotee’s wish and return the Beast Mark to Shang Kun..."
Si Shuo heard that the female’s inner voice matched her words perfectly. A little surprised, she couldn’t help but ask, "Why return the Beast Mark to him, instead of transferring it to yourself?"
The female chuckled softly. "Because I want to pick up where Shang Kun and I left off before our coming-of-age ceremony. When we get back together, I don’t want us to miss a single step. I want to fulfill the dream of our youth."
"Only then will he be able to face his own heart and be with me without any lingering resentment."
Si Shuo could feel the sincerity in her emotions and nodded with a smile. "In that case, I will give you two a helping hand."
Just then, Ali flew back, carried by an invisible Xu Ye, and settled right into his Mother’s arms.
Si Shuo began to chant an incantation, and Ali, copying her, chanted along.
「In another Princess Mansion.」
Princess Ling Shuang was reveling in the services of a courtyard full of males—being fed, massaged, sung to, and danced for. She was so blissful she could hardly stand it.
She was pulling a Beast Husband in for a kiss when she felt a sharp pang on her lower back. She paid it no mind, however, and continued to float down the river of pleasure with him.
She had so many Beast Husbands, and her body was so densely covered in Beast Marks, that she probably wouldn’t even notice if one was added or removed.
Meanwhile, in a remote courtyard of the Second Princess Mansion, Shang Kun, who was busy brushing down a Horse Beast, abruptly lifted his head. He had distinctly felt the rope that bound him snap. For a moment, he was dazed, unable to believe it.
He quickly reined in his emotions, however, and continued his work as usual. After he finished scrubbing a whole row of Horse Beasts and refilling their feed, he asked for a short leave of absence, claiming he needed to go out and buy something.
He returned to his room to pack a few belongings, then walked out of the Second Princess Mansion. Gazing at the sunlight outside, Shang Kun’s heart was like an arrow, eager to fly home. But halfway there, his courage failed him.
"Shang Kun." Suddenly, he felt a tap on his shoulder.
Before Shang Kun could even register who was behind him, his body had already instinctively shifted into a defensive posture.
When Jiao Ru circled around to face him, her hands clasped behind her back, Shang Kun’s first instinct was to pull her into a corner. He glanced around, and only after confirming that they hadn’t been seen did he let out a long sigh of relief...