MY PRINCE HUSBAND HAS SEVEN WIVES AND I AM HIS FAVOURITE!
Chapter 71: Let me have a close look at you

Chapter 71: Let me have a close look at you

Hua Jing’s mouth fell open like a fish gasping for air. Her eyes darted across the Hall of Radiance, taking in every opulent detail.

"Wow!" she breathed, barely able to contain herself.

It was one thing to know the imperial palace was extravagant, but this... this was something else entirely.

Gold. Everywhere.

Everywhere she looked, there were rare gems embedded into walls, jade pillars, golden chandeliers, and carpets that probably cost more than an entire city block in her original world. Her mind spun as she mentally calculated the worth of everything in sight.

If I could just take a small bit of that gold trim on the columns... or maybe one of those emeralds over there...

In her world, these things would be worth millions—millions! If she ever managed to return home, she would never have to work another day in her life!

Her hands twitched at her sides as she resisted the urge to reach out and "borrow" something for future financial security.

Zhao Yan, who had been silently observing her, watched as her gaze flitted around the room, sparkling with greed. His lips twitched.

"Don’t make it too obvious that you want to take everything in this place," he muttered under his breath.

Hua Jing snapped out of her money-induced trance and shot him a glare.

Oh, he did not just—

She clenched her fist, resisting the overwhelming urge to smack his chest. She would have done it, too, if not for the presence of the couple standing before them.

Her body went stiff as she took in the sight of the older man and woman dressed in the most extravagant garments she had seen yet.

The woman’s robe was a rich cream color, flowing and ethereal, adorned with delicate embroidery that shimmered under the golden light. There was an undeniable air of regality about her, her poised expression both welcoming and firm.

Beside her stood the emperor, his presence commanding yet warm. His ceremonial headpiece gleamed in the light, emphasizing his status as ruler of the empire.

Surrounding them were several other elegantly dressed women, their presence subtle yet notable. Hua Jing quickly deduced that these must be the emperor’s consorts.

Realizing the gravity of the moment, she forced herself to sober up.

She straightened her posture, schooling her expression into one of respectful solemnity.

Zhao Yan took a step forward, and she followed suit, both of them moving toward the imperial couple.

As they approached, she quickly glanced at Xia Lin, who subtly nodded in encouragement.

Upon reaching an appropriate distance, both Hua Jing and Zhao Yan dropped into a deep bow, lowering themselves in perfect synchrony.

Hua Jing’s voice was steady, her words formal and deliberate.

"This humble consort greets His Majesty, the Emperor, and Her Majesty, the Empress."

Zhao Yan echoed her greeting, his voice firm yet reverent.

"Son greets Royal Father and Royal Mother."

A moment of silence stretched between them before the Emperor’s warm chuckle filled the hall.

"Rise."

Both Zhao Yan and Hua Jing straightened themselves, their gazes now respectfully lowered.

The Empress, her eyes sharp yet kind, studied Hua Jing for a moment before speaking.

"You must be the Seventh Consort."

Hua Jing felt a sudden pressure settle upon her shoulders. The Empress’s tone was neither harsh nor particularly welcoming—it was simply assessing.

She clasped her hands together and nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty."

The Emperor smiled. "Come closer, let Us have a good look at you."

Hua Jing quickly obeyed, rising gracefully to her feet and stepping toward the Emperor.

When he held out his hand, she hesitated for only a second before placing hers gently in his palm.

The first thing she noticed was how soft his hands were—clearly the hands of a man who had spent his life surrounded by luxury, untouched by the harshness of labor. Yet, beneath the softness, there was an unmistakable firmness, a quiet strength that came with being the ruler of the empire.

The Emperor smiled at her, his eyes kind yet observant.

"So this is the young lady my royal son has married."

Hua Jing maintained her polite smile, keeping her composure as best as she could. Even with her years of experience in front of cameras, being this close to the Emperor still made her slightly nervous.

Just as the Emperor seemed about to continue speaking, a smooth voice interrupted him.

"Child," the Empress said, her gaze landing on Hua Jing, "if you let him speak for too long, you’ll be standing here all day. Come inside. A royal banquet has been prepared for you."

There was a teasing lilt in her tone, but what shocked Hua Jing more was the way the Empress had so casually cut off the Emperor.

From what she had read about ancient times, emperors were often the final authority, and no one—not even their wives—dared to interrupt them. Yet, here was the Empress, speaking over the Emperor without a trace of fear, and even more surprising, the Emperor merely chuckled in response, as if he was used to it.

Hua Jing quickly lowered her head in a respectful bow.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

She took a step back, falling in step beside Zhao Yan as they prepared to enter the hall.

She could feel his eyes on her, a skeptical gaze lingering on her every movement. When she glanced up at him, she found him studying her with an unreadable expression.

She frowned slightly. "Why are you looking at me like that?" she whispered.

Zhao Yan didn’t answer right away. Instead, he continued watching her, his mind running through a thousand thoughts at once.

Hua Jing was well-mannered. Perfectly so.

Too perfect.

The way she bowed, the way she spoke, the way she moved—it was all executed flawlessly, as if she had been raised in the palace from birth.

It wasn’t that he thought she was incapable of learning etiquette, but she had grown up without formal training, without the kind of refinement that noble daughters received from childhood. And yet, in such a short time, she had mastered everything to perfection.

How?

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