Chapter 329: The Marriage Is Set

It was Yu Zhizhi’s first time seeing him, and she didn’t know who he was. She gave a slight bow in return and looked at Teacher Dai Li beside her.

Dai Li introduced in a low voice, "This is Yan Ze of the Green Snake Clan. He excels in poetry and painting. He just arrived in the Imperial City last month and is currently living in the Duke Mansion."

’A Green Snake?’ Yu Zhizhi lifted her skirts with both hands, stepped onto the stairs, and slowly walked to the entrance of the reception hall.

She stared curiously at the young Snake Clan man for a good while. He seemed to grow a little embarrassed, his gaze shifting slightly away.

From within the reception hall came the soft sound of a teacup being set down.

Only then did Yu Zhizhi realize the Duke was there as well.

"Have you seen him clearly?" The Duke held a long, slender pipe in one hand, his golden, vertical pupils narrowing slightly. The pipe tobacco today was especially bitter, leaving a stuffy, burning sensation in his chest.

Yu Zhizhi nodded lightly.

’She... had seen him clearly.’

The next time she saw this young man from the Snake Clan, she was certain she could call him by name.

The Duke lifted his eyelids slightly. "You are dismissed."

"Yes, Duke."

The young Snake Clan man bowed and excused himself.

Yu Zhizhi froze for a moment. ’Did the Duke really summon me here just so I could take one look at this Green Snake?’

She couldn’t help but turn back to look at the young man’s departing figure. His posture was as straight as a pine, his steps steady, as he gradually disappeared into the depths of the bamboo forest.

Seeing her look as if she couldn’t bear to see him go, the Duke slowly tightened his grip on his pipe. "Had your fill of looking?"

Yu Zhizhi turned back and asked curiously, "Is there something special about him?"

"A clean family background, handsome looks, excellent character, and no ambition." The Duke toyed with the blue Luck Bag hanging from his pipe. "This is the Beast Husband I’ve chosen for you. Are you satisfied?"

"...For me?"

Yu Zhizhi was stunned.

After returning to the Valoran Imperial City, Teacher Dai Li had indeed given her a booklet listing some young men from the Snake Clan.

She hadn’t looked at it closely.

She hadn’t expected the Duke to have already made a choice for her.

"But, I don’t even know him," Yu Zhizhi murmured.

’Take someone I’ve never even met as a Beast Husband?’

The thought had never crossed Yu Zhizhi’s mind.

"Well, now you’ve met," the Duke said.

Yu Zhizhi: "..."

"Isn’t this a bit rushed? Besides, he might not be willing, either."

Through the smoke, the Duke’s golden, serpentine eyes were deep and obscure. The corners of his mouth seemed to curl into a slight arc. "In the entire Empire, there isn’t a male who would be unwilling."

Forget just Varolan—anywhere in the entire world—

From the moment she officially advanced to SS+, all the major powers would begin to stir.

"I’d still like to think about it some more..." Yu Zhizhi tried to stall.

"I have already petitioned the King, and His Majesty the King has agreed. The wedding will be in three days," the Duke said.

Yu Zhizhi looked at him in astonishment.

’Three days?!’

’Why is he in such a hurry!’

The smoke swirled, blurring the man’s figure. Yu Zhizhi was nearly speechless. After a long moment, she took two steps forward. "It’s too fast..."

’Fast?’

To the Duke, having to wait another three days was already far too slow.

For every day her name was not entered into the Snake Clan’s records, he could not rest easy.

Yu Zhizhi slowly clenched her skirts. "I don’t want to marry him... I don’t know him at all. I don’t even know how I would face him."

"You won’t have to face him." The Duke lifted his gaze to her. "After the wedding, you will still live in the Duke Mansion and have your own separate courtyard. If you don’t get used to it, you can continue living in the book house."

"Nothing will change. Everything will be the same as before."

"Whatever you want to do, whatever you desire, you can just tell Billy. Staying here is the safest, most secure, and the most free you can be."

Yu Zhizhi realized the Duke was serious.

He had really found her a young man from the Snake Clan to be her Beast Husband.

And the wedding was to be in three days.

’—Is it because I advanced to SS+ during the test?’

’Do I have to get a First Beast Husband right away to make sure I can stay in the Valoran Imperial City for the rest of my life?’

The Duke’s mood remained gloomy.

He didn’t want his little pet to have any Beast Husband, even in name only.

But this was the only way to keep her in the Snake Clan, by his side, forever.

"The matter is settled. Go back and prepare to be a bride." The Duke didn’t look at her again.

Yu Zhizhi’s eyes instantly reddened.

She refused to accept it. "I refuse! I don’t know him, and I don’t like him. I don’t want to get married."

"It’s not up to you."

Today, the Duke was even colder than usual. Even when he glanced at her occasionally, the depths of his eyes were filled with a heavy gloom.

Yu Zhizhi felt extremely wronged. The Duke had decided her marriage directly, and even the King hadn’t asked for her opinion.

She suddenly turned and ran outside.

Yu Zhizhi ran all the way back to her own residence, shut the door, and locked it from the inside.

Teacher Dai Li stood at the door, pacing back and forth worriedly.

The night grew late, but there was still no movement from the room.

Dai Li tried knocking on the door to remind Ms. Zhi Zhi it was time for dinner, but she had locked herself in the room and refused to come out.

Finally, with no other option, Dai Li went to find Mr. Billy.

Billy sighed softly. "Please try to persuade Ms. Zhi Zhi. The marriage has been decided and cannot be changed."

No matter how unwilling Ms. Zhi Zhi was, Yan Ze of the Green Snake Clan would become her First Beast Husband in name.

And her only Beast Husband.

Given the Duke’s temperament, he would absolutely never allow her to find another Beast Husband.

Dai Li was frantic with worry.

A whole night passed, and Ms. Zhi Zhi was still unwilling to come out.

With no other choice, they could only force the door open.

They saw her hiding under the covers, her head buried, her body trembling slightly.

"Ms. Zhi Zhi, no matter what, you can’t just refuse to eat." Seeing the Rabbit Clan Lady like this, Teacher Dai Li’s heart was breaking.

She had been the one taking care of Ms. Zhi Zhi ever since she arrived at the Duke Mansion.

More than anyone, Dai Li wished for Ms. Zhi Zhi to be safe and happy.

"Besides... the Duke isn’t here."

Dai Li reminded her softly.

If Ms. Zhi Zhi thought she could use a "hunger strike" to threaten the Duke into backing down, then she had miscalculated. The Duke was famously hard-hearted.

Yu Zhizhi had felt awful ever since returning last night and couldn’t eat. Her voice was muffled. "I want to see Zero."

"The Duke has given orders. Before the wedding, no one is allowed to see Ms. Zhi Zhi."

Dai Li brought the food to the bedside.

"Eat something first. You’ll need your strength to negotiate with the Duke when he returns."

Yu Zhizhi sniffled, her body shifting under the covers. "I’ll eat in a bit. Teacher Dai Li, I want to be alone for a while."

"Alright. I’ll be right outside. Call me if you need anything."

Dai Li walked out the door.

After hearing the door close, Yu Zhizhi poked her head out and looked around. She was the only one left in the suite.

’This won’t do.’

’—I have to find a way to escape this marriage!’

She was being watched now and had no way of seeing Zero. Yu Zhizhi decided to enter the Divine Hall Illusion Realm.

It seemed that every time she entered, Zero would notice. She hoped he would come to see her this time, too.

Yu Zhizhi took out a silver coin, pressed it to her chest, and silently recited the temple spell.

Soon, she entered the Divine Hall Illusion Realm.

When she opened her eyes, she was at the familiar round table.