Inside the Golden Palace, the lights were on.
It was already late at night, and the main hall was filled with a festive and joyous atmosphere, with people making a great commotion.
The main hall was filled with long tables covered with white tablecloths, and even the originally empty dance floor was occupied by these long tables. This was a banquet to celebrate Zhou Chen's engagement to Princess Xue Ke.
This is also a tradition at Engagement Banquet; guests are always treated to a good meal.
The guests present were seated at the table, some eating slowly and leisurely, some raising their glasses in toasts, and some chatting with each other.
Court maids carrying platters moved between the tables, and one delicious dish after another appeared on the tables.
On the high platform, the original thrones were all removed and replaced with long, white dining tables and chairs.
Xue Ye sat at the head of the table, with his children Xue Qinghe and Xue Ke on his left and right sides respectively.
Zhou Chen sat to the left of the shy Xue Ke, and to his right were Zhu Zhuqing, Ye Lingling, and several other girls, as well as Ye Lingling's mother Ye Yinzhu.
This was Zhou Chen's insistence; he didn't want to neglect his girlfriends, and even less dared to neglect his mother-in-law.
The reason he can have so many girlfriends and still manage to handle them all so well is because of his ability to be charming to all sides and treat them all equally.
Opposite Zhou Chen and the women were Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo.
As for Salas, he sat alone on the edge of the dining table, looking pale and unwell.
"Zhou Chen, from today onwards, you are my brother-in-law. As your older brother, I don't have many fancy words to say. I just hope that you can treat Xue Ke well and give her happiness."
Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, stood up, holding a wine glass, and looked at Zhou Chen with a sincere expression.
"Your Crown Prince Your Highness, rest assured, I will definitely protect Xue Ke and ensure she is not harmed in any way."
Zhou Chen also stood up, picked up his wine glass, and clinked glasses with Qian Renxue.
"That's good."
Qian Renxue smiled broadly, as if she were genuinely happy for Xue Ke and the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.
Only Zhou Chen could see that Qian Renxue's eyes concealed many worries. Although she tried her best to hide them, she still couldn't escape Zhou Chen's careful observation.
Clearly, Qian Renxue did not want Xue Ke to marry Zhou Chen.
The alliance between the Purple Micro Palace and the Heaven Dou Imperial Family has a huge impact on her infiltration plans. If exposed, she will have no hope of seizing the Heaven Dou Empire's throne.
"Xue Ke, you and Zhou Chen, go and greet the guests present."
Xue Ye smiled, his brows furrowed with delight.
The newlyweds paying their respects to the guests at the Engagement Banquet is also a part of the etiquette.
"Yes, Father."
Xue Ke nodded, stood up, and took Zhou Chen's arm as they walked down from the platform.
At this moment, although her pretty face was still slightly flushed, she was no longer as shy as before. Instead, she was poised and elegant, with the demeanor of a princess.
The two men, holding wine glasses, wandered around the palace, clinking glasses with guests and getting to know them.
"Zhou Chen, this is Azure Earl, a confidant of Father Emperor."
"This is Teacher Sun Buyu, Heaven Dou Grade teacher at the Royal Academy, and a Soul Emperor-level expert."
"This is Nan Qian Yue, the sect leader of the Earth Dragon Sect, Soul Saint, a heroine, and a supporter of our Heaven Dou Imperial Family. Her sect and Sister Yu Tianmeng's Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family are also related by marriage..."
Xue Ke patiently introduced each of the guests to Zhou Chen, who became increasingly surprised.
It must be said that Heaven Dou City is truly a place where hidden talents abound.
Among those present were more than ten Soul Douluo and more than thirty Soul Saint, most of whom Zhou Chen did not know before.
By the time Zhou Chen had recognized all these people and returned to the high platform, nearly an hour had passed.
Seeing Zhou Chen return, the usually refined Ning Fengzhi teased, "Zhou Chen, there's one last step in the engagement ceremony: you're going to present the betrothal gifts to the bride's parents. Have you decided what kind of betrothal gifts to give His Xue Ye?"
"A bride price? Does our Heaven Dou Empire even have such a thing?"
Zhou Chen asked, bewildered.
Upon hearing this, Xue Ye chuckled, a cunning look on his face. "Of course, I've even provided a dowry of three million Gold Soul Coin. You, kid, should naturally offer a bride price. Moreover, according to custom, the bride price should always be more than the dowry."
"What? Wasn't that three million Gold Soul Coin supposed to be my compensation?"
Zhou Chen realized he had been completely scammed. Damn it, he had to pay money for an engagement?
Giving money is out of the question; those three million Gold Soul Coin have already been spent.
I wonder if it's possible to annul the engagement?
Seeing Zhou Chen's unwilling expression, Xue Ke Zhou Chen nervously leaned against him, afraid that Zhou Chen would get angry. She said pitifully, "It's okay, I don't want any betrothal gifts. Father and the others were just joking with you."
Hearing Xue Ke's words, Zhou Chen felt a pang of pity. Such a good girl, giving her a dowry wouldn't be a problem; he couldn't let her lose face at the most glorious moment of her life.
Besides, it doesn't necessarily have to be money. There's something that's more suitable as a betrothal gift than Gold Soul Coin.
Zhou Chen's left hand lit up slightly, and a pill the size of a longan, emitting a silver light, appeared in his hand.
This pill is the Longevity Pill.
Zhou Chen, who is always shrewd and calculating, did not give the precious Longevity Pill as a betrothal gift for nothing, but rather to benefit the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.
He wanted to take this opportunity to promote his upcoming Longevity Pill auction to countless dignitaries in the Heaven Dou Empire.
Although the Longevity Pill has miraculous effects, Zhou Chen has always struggled to find a good way to identify and promote it.
How can anyone believe your elixir works? Just by relying on the appraisers at the auction house? Or by just boasting?
Can these two methods make those top powers obediently hand over millions or even tens of millions of Gold Soul Coin?
Joke!
The best way is to find someone of high enough status, such as Xue Ye, and have them take the pill in front of hundreds or thousands of powerful and influential people, and show obvious effects!
For example, gray hair turns black, new teeth grow, wrinkles on the face decrease, and energy levels increase.
In this way, those present will have no doubt about the efficacy of the Longevity Pill.
As long as these powerful and influential people believe in the efficacy of the Longevity Pill, given their status and connections, it won't be long before the news that Zhou Chen possesses this miraculous Longevity Pill and is about to hold an auction spreads throughout the entire Douluo Continent!
Countless forces eager to obtain the Longevity Pill will be heading to Heaven Dou City with tens of millions of Gold Soul Coin!
Zhou Chen had no reason not to use such a convenient and efficient method of publicity.
As for letting Xue Ye Xueye obtain a pill for free, consider it as an endorsement fee and a "GG fee" for his Father-in-law.
Don't you see how many large corporations on Earth spend billions, even tens of billions, of dollars every year on celebrity endorsements and promotional fees to advertise their products?
Zhou Chen is practically the only one who could get the emperor to endorse his product.
Moreover, Zhou Chen had another secret purpose in giving this pill to Xue Ye.
This objective is related to Qian Renxue and the Spirit Hall behind her, and it is beneficial to Zhou Chen.
Thinking this, Zhou Chen raised his head and said with a smile:
"Father-in-law, this is the Longevity Pill, a precious elixir obtained by my Xuanyuan Family from Ancient Ruins. This pill can extend the life of a Title Douluo by ten years and that of an ordinary person by thirty years! Are you satisfied with this betrothal gift?"