The next day, early morning.
The once peaceful palace became lively as maids carried trays of pastries and delicacies into the main hall and placed them on four tables.
Xue Ye, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, and a pretty young girl each sat at a table, quietly waiting for the arrival of the Jun Xue Pavilion.
In the center of the hall, various scantily clad dancers stood poised to perform, while musicians held a variety of instruments, ready to go at any moment.
The palace doors opened, and Jun Xuehan walked in.
Looking at the scene before him, Jun Xuehan couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement. The grand display put on by Xue Ye was quite impressive. Putting aside everything else, just the variety of dancers and beautiful musicians alone was something that Wind Snow Pavilion couldn't produce.
"Pavilion Master Jun, please have a seat. There's no need to be so polite." Xue Ye pointed to the side seat next to him as he watched Jun Xuehan walk in.
"Your Majesty is too kind. This banquet is a bit too extravagant." Jun Xuehan walked straight to her seat and sat down.
"No need for formalities, no need for formalities. Let me introduce you. This is Princess Xue Ke of our royal family. Although her talent for cultivation is a little lacking, she has been learning etiquette and various musical instruments at the Moonlight Pavilion since she was a child. Xue Ke, please greet Pavilion Master Jun." Xue Ye pointed to Princess Xue Ke, who was standing to the side, and introduced her with a smile.
Following the direction pointed out by Xue Ye, Jun Xuehan looked over and saw a pretty girl with a delicate figure and neatly combed hair slowly getting up.
"Pavilion Master Jun." Princess Xue Ke bowed very politely and then slowly sat down.
"Your Princess is too kind." Jun Xuehan nodded calmly and then withdrew her gaze from Princess Xue Ke.
Xue Ke leaned closer to Xue Qinghe and said, "Brother, this Pavilion Master Jun is so handsome! And I heard from Father that his talent and strength are also very powerful."
Xue Ke glanced at Jun Xuehan, her eyes sparkling.
"Well, but sister, you shouldn't have too high hopes. I've heard that he already has a wife, so Father's plans may fall through." Xue Qinghe lowered her voice and said softly.
"Really?" Xue Ke blinked, her eyes filled with surprise.
Xue Qinghe nodded seriously and then remained silent.
Jun Xuehan looked at Xue Ye, about to say something, when Xue Ye waved his hand to interrupt her.
"Pavilion Master Jun, today is a private banquet, so let's not discuss official business. Xue Ke, you have been studying in the Moonlight Pavilion for so long, so today you will lead the musicians in playing a piece." Xue Ye waved his hand gently, signaling Xue Ke to go.
"Yes, Father." Xue Ke replied and walked to the musician, sat down on a harp, and began to play with her fair and slender fingers.
As she played, the other musicians also began to play their instruments, and the dancer standing in the center of the hall started to dance gracefully.
The melodious music, combined with the graceful dancing girls, created a breathtakingly beautiful scene.
Looking at the grand hall filled with singing and dancing, Jun Xuehan couldn't help but feel speechless. It seemed that Xue Ye wasn't even going to give him a chance to speak.
"Pavilion Master Jun, since your Wind Snow Pavilion and our Heaven Dou Imperial Family support each other, our Imperial Family will naturally not be stingy. I have already issued a decree to bestow upon Pavilion Master Jun the Noble Title of Silver Dragon King and a Princely Rank. From now on, Pavilion Master Jun will also be a king in our Heaven Dou Empire."
"Moreover, the name of this Princely Rank was actually suggested by Qinghe," Xue Ye said with great satisfaction as he listened to the music.
Jun Xuehan looked at Xue Qinghe, who winked at her. Jun Xuehan's Second Martial Soul was the Silver Dragon King, and Xue Qinghe used the name of his Second Martial Soul as the name of his Princely Rank, since they were not too different.
Just as Jun Xuehan was about to speak, Xue Ye interrupted him.
"Pavilion Master Jun, please be patient. Our royal family's reward is naturally not this small. Look at Princess Xue Ke, she is the apple of our royal family's eye. If Pavilion Master Jun is willing, I can marry our royal Princess Xue Ke to Pavilion Master Jun. I wonder what Pavilion Master Jun?" Xue Ye looked at Jun Xuehan with a smile, waiting for Jun Xuehan's reply.
Political marriages are very common in royal families and various powerful forces, so Xue Ye never imagined that Jun Xuehan would refuse.
Hearing Xue Ye's words, Xue Qinghe couldn't help but sneer inwardly. "Is the status of a royal princess really that high? Marrying down? She's a disciple of the current His Holiness the Pope of the Spirit Hall, the successor to the future Great Worship Elder of the Worship Hall, comparable to the Pavilion Masters of the Upper Three Sects. Even I, the young master of the Spirit Hall, am pursued by the future Angel God. You, a member of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, want to marry down? You're more like climbing the social ladder!"
Jun Xuehan looked at Xue Ye, speechless. Marry me? Is my status so low? The current Pope the Spirit Hall is my teacher, the successor of the Great Worship Elder of the Worship Hall of Offerings, the young master of the Star Dou Great Forest, and the master of the Wind Snow Pavilion. Behind me stand three Limit Douluo— Bibi Dong, Qian Daoliu, Di Tian —as well as my sister, a Quasi God King. And you want to marry me?
The future Angel God, the young master of the Spirit Hall, never mentioned marrying down. Besides being the head of the Wind Snow Pavilion, which is lower than your royal family, her other status is lower than your Heaven Dou Imperial Family.
In terms of strength, I already possess the power of Super Douluo, while your royal family can't even produce a Titled Douluo. In terms of background, I'm miles ahead of your royal family, without a doubt.
"Your Majesty flatters me. I already have a wife, Princess Xue Ke. I am truly unworthy of your kindness," Jun Xuehan immediately declined.
"It's alright. Look at me, I have three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two concubines, and I'm perfectly fine with that. Having three wives and four concubines is no big deal." Xue Ye waved his hand dismissively. He had managed to keep Jun Xuehan, this prodigy, and the entire Wind Snow Pavilion under his control. Let alone having a wife, even if she had three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two concubines like him, he wouldn't have any objections.
"Your Majesty, this is still not appropriate. Such matters still require the consent of parents and the words of a matchmaker, so I need to go back and discuss it." Jun Xuehan's expression remained unchanged as she continued to politely decline.
"It's alright. We have time now, so we can invite your parents over as well. We can also set a date for you two." Xue Ye nodded slightly, his voice full of indifference.
"I'm afraid that won't work. My adoptive parents passed away many years ago, and I still haven't found my biological parents," Jun Xuehan said with a slight shake of her head, sounding somewhat helpless.