HBWMA -Chapter 229 The Bai Royal Family

The silver-haired boy wore a composed expression, but the gloom in his eyes made him look like a highly dangerous young beast.

The Queen’s temper really was as explosive as ever.

The man was afraid of provoking the boy’s anger and tried his best to minimize his presence.

The captain of the guards was already used to this and stepped forward to open the doors of the council hall. “Your Highness, you may go in now.”

The man placed a hand on his shoulder and entered the inner hall with cautious respect.

The boy took a few steps forward, then stopped. He looked at the man’s disappearing back with some hesitation in his eyes. But remembering how coldly he had just been treated, his pride wouldn’t allow him to back down. In the end, he turned and left the hall instead.

The attendants outside were anxiously waiting. The moment they saw him come out, they immediately rushed forward. “Your Highness, Her Highness the Grand Princess wishes to see you.”

The boy’s handsome face twisted in displeasure.

“The Grand Princess is waiting for you in the West Palace Hall,” the attendant added.

The boy rubbed his swollen cheek. “Lead the way.”

The West Palace Hall was not usually used for political receptions; it was typically reserved for gatherings of the royal family.

At that moment, Bai Laman’s expression was not pleasant either. She sat upright on the main seat with her eyes closed.

As the eldest legitimate daughter of Queen Buzhula, Bai Laman’s status was second only to the late Crown Prince, Duke Bai Mian. Everyone in the West Palace Hall moved with extreme caution, afraid of offending her.

Before entering, the boy deliberately rubbed his cheek harder, exaggerating the swelling, then calmly pushed the door open.

Hearing the movement, Bai Laman lifted her gaze to examine him. The moment she saw the swelling on his face, the disgust in her eyes deepened.

The boy walked up respectfully. “Mother.”

“How old are you this year?” Bai Laman asked.

“Seventeen,” the boy replied.

Bai Laman let out a cold laugh. “Are you planning to commit every possible crime before you turn eighteen?”

The boy frowned. His striking eyes were full of rebellious defiance. “People from Country A killed members of our Bai family and then smeared our reputation. What’s wrong with me bombing one of their ports? And Grandmother too—she usually hits people but never the face. I don’t know what got into her this time.”

Bai Laman snapped, “What’s wrong? You’ve practically punched a hole in the sky, and your grandmother only gave you two slaps. You should be thanking the heavens you’re still alive! If you didn’t resemble him even a little, you would’ve been beaten to death when you were a child. You wouldn’t have survived until now!”

“…Are you even my biological mother?” the boy said, half laughing in anger.

Bai Laman replied coldly, “No need to test it. With those eyes that resemble Dehman VII by about thirty percent, you’re definitely a Bai.”

S Country had been plagued by centuries of war. It was Dehman I, the ancestor of the Bai family, who unified the various regimes and established the Dehman Dynasty.

As times progressed and nations evolved, S Country became the only major power still operating under a constitutional monarchy.

During the reign of Dehman VI, S Country underwent its largest political reform in history. The monarch’s power was stripped by Parliament, the Cabinet, and the Courts, leaving the king and royal family without real political authority.

However, such days did not last long. After Deman VI, Deman VII, Bai Pu (the current queen’s father), ascended the throne. This monarch orchestrated the cabinet to amend the constitution and regained military and political power over S Country.

The achievements of Emperor Bai Pu did not stop there. Among his many children, he favored his daughter Bai Zhula (the current queen, who was then still a princess). In order to support her ascent to the throne, he directly revised the succession law, changing it from male-only inheritance to one where royal women also had the right to inherit the crown.

However, no one is perfect. Emperor Bai Pu also had a controversial side. For example, he was notoriously promiscuous—besides the queen consort, he kept countless mistresses outside. It is worth noting that the royal family of S Country is one of the few remaining monarchies in the modern world that still practices polygamy.

Emperor Bai Pu had a deep bond with his daughter, and the queen has always been grateful for her father’s support in helping her rise to power. After her ascension, despite strong opposition, she replaced the portrait of Deman I in the main hall of the White Palace with that of her father, Deman VII.

Anyone fortunate enough to have seen that portrait knew that Emperor Bai Pu was an exceptionally handsome man—especially those elegant, noble phoenix eyes that were impossible to capture fully in paint.

The youth had seen the painting hanging in the main hall. He admitted he could never match the aura of his great-grandfather, though among the royal family, there was indeed someone who resembled him about seventy percent.

He turned and found an empty seat, grumbling indignantly, “In the end, Grandma is just biased.”

The Grand Princess knew who he was referring to and said with a grave expression, “How many times have I told you? You must not speak recklessly about such things.”

“It’s just the two of us here—what’s wrong with saying it? I really don’t understand what Grandma is thinking. Why hasn’t she appointed a crown prince yet? Now look—both my eldest uncle and younger uncle are dead. Those distant relatives must be thrilled. They’re probably celebrating already.”

The queen also had an elder brother named Bai Jila. If Bai Pu had not favored this daughter so much back then, the current ruler would have been Prince Jila instead.

After failing in the struggle for the crown prince position, the prince became disheartened and indulged in women, his only interest becoming having children.

This prince was even more promiscuous than his father. Although he died young, he left behind many descendants. The most prominent among them was the Great Consort’s line, and his son, Prince Bai Lie, was regarded by the people of S Country as the “second Prince Bai Mian.”

The youth’s “maternal uncle” referred to this branch of the royal family.

“I told Grandma that my younger uncle’s death might have been Bai Lie’s conspiracy, but she wouldn’t listen to a single word. Instead, she kicked me out.”

“You think I wouldn’t kick you out if you kept spouting nonsense in the main hall? Do you even understand how serious the consequences are of you blowing up A Country’s port? If this becomes the trigger for war between the two nations, not even the queen can protect you! And worse, even I would be implicated and lose my qualification as heir to the throne.”

The youth remained unconcerned. “I did it very discreetly. Who would know it was me? Even if they did, what can they do to me?”

“Discreet?” Bai Laman sighed in frustration. “Do those two slaps on your face not hurt anymore? Don’t underestimate A Country—especially their financial and aristocratic families. Those people are all cunning schemers who kill without shedding blood.”

The youth: “……”

“I’ve received news that A Country has already submitted a diplomatic note this morning, and the queen has approved it.” Bai Laman persuaded him earnestly. “Mother, Bai Lie is now the top military executive, second only to the queen. Meanwhile, our line only has us left, and your aunt’s family. It is already difficult for women to rule a nation—future struggles for succession will be brutal. When will you finally mature?”

The youth replied lazily, “Isn’t there still another royal grandson? Grandma has never given up on him all these years—she’s even searched A Country thoroughly for him. That guy is the son of Prince Bai Mian. If he comes back, half of the military factions will probably submit to him, right?”

Bai Laman’s expression turned solemn. That royal uncle had once been so extraordinary that a country was nearly named after him before he even ascended the throne. If he had not died unexpectedly back then, Bai Lie would never have had a chance to rise.

But the world was vast—how could a baby in swaddling clothes have possibly survived so many layers of assassination attempts?

Continuing the search was nothing more than a faint hope held by the queen.

Thinking of that godlike royal uncle, Bai Laman looked at Bai Mi with growing disdain.

“Next month, A Country will be visiting. All royal family members must attend. I’m warning you—if you dare show up at the banquet with that silver hair of yours, I will shave your head off.”