Chapter 390 The Robust Imperial Husband 1 (2/2)

"So boring..."

Zi Xi took another bite of grape.

It's not just the present that's boring, but also this little world.

In the Phoenix Kingdom, her status as the eldest princess was like a flower that attracted bees and butterflies.

Wherever she went, she was always surrounded by men.

She had finally found this secluded place, a rare quiet spot in this matriarchal world, where she could find peace and quiet.

The building beneath her was not only a notorious den of iniquity in the capital, but also one of the assets of her largest intelligence network.

"Your Highness, Your Highness!"

A slightly anxious, soft call came from below.

Zi Xi lazily opened her eyes and glimpsed her personal maid Qing He looking up with a helpless expression.

"What is it?"

Her voice was hoarse from just waking up, adding to her nonchalant tone.

"His Majesty has sent someone to request your immediate return to the palace."

"The husband selection ceremony is about to begin."

Qinghe lowered her voice.

Xiao Zixi clicked her tongue, her beautiful brows furrowing.

The thought of those men who wore makeup, looked delicate and frail, and who would only become shy and timid or jealous in front of her gave her a headache.

This world, where women are revered, has an outrageous number of rules, especially regarding the aesthetic standards for men, which are simply distorted.

They valued gentleness, docility, and high fertility as beauty, as if men were born merely as appendages and tools for reproduction.

"Okay, okay."

Zi Xi responded impatiently, but did not move.

The sounds of string and wind instruments coming from downstairs grew clearer, mixed with the charming laughter of men, making her feel increasingly helpless.

Just as Zi Xi was preparing to delay the pressure to get married a little longer, there was a light knock on the door of the private room.

"Your Highness, His Majesty has ordered that you proceed to the Selection of a Husband Hall immediately."

Two women dressed in the uniforms of the imperial guards stood solemnly outside, their voices steady yet respectful.

Well, there's no escaping it now.

Xiao Zixi sighed resignedly, then nimbly flipped over and landed as lightly as a feather, brushing off non-existent dust.

"Let's go, let's go see if these beauties can compare to the young masters in my brothel."

She twitched the corners of her mouth, revealing a slightly roguish smile.

The Hall for Choosing a Husband was resplendent with gold and filled with the fragrance of incense.

The Empress and her husband sat high in the main seats, their brows furrowed with a subtle mixture of indulgence and helplessness.

Below the stage, the tinkling of jade pendants and the fragrance of fine clothes filled the air.

The young masters of each family used all their talents to play the zither, paint, compose poems, or sing and dance.

Each of them was impeccably made up, and their eyes, as they glanced around, revealed an undisguised expectation and ambition directed at the empty seats for the VIPs.

Zi Xi was invited by the guards to sit in the main seat behind the screen. She rested her chin on her hand listlessly, her gaze lazily sweeping over the overly effeminate faces below the stage.

I had already mentally complained about it all.

This world, where even shaking your sleeves requires careful angle, and you're afraid of stepping on an ant while walking, is utterly boring.

Moreover, these men, though handsome, seemed like clay figures carved from the same mold, utterly lifeless.

Her gaze wandered aimlessly until it was finally drawn to an unusual commotion in a corner of the hall.

Several elegantly dressed young men were gathered there, surrounding a tall figure and chuckling softly at something.

The man surrounded by others wore a rather plain dark blue brocade robe, which stood out from the ostentatious surroundings.

He was extremely tall and upright, with broad shoulders and a wide back. Even through his clothes, one could feel the power contained beneath the fabric, a power completely different from that of men in this world.

The young men around him appeared as tiny birds.