"Eleventh Prince has arrived!"
The atmosphere inside Golden Palace Hall was somewhat tense.
A few minutes later, a long, hoarse duck-like voice came from outside Golden Palace Hall.
Hearing that duck-like voice, the many civil and military officials inside Golden Palace Hall first froze, then exchanged baffled looks.
Who was the Eleventh Prince?
Oh, it seemed he was one of His Majesty's unremarkable sons.
But why had the Eleventh Prince come at a time like this?
The many civil and military officials were utterly perplexed.
Yet when Azure Emperor heard this, a faint smile appeared on his face.
Just then, a young figure walked through the Great Gate of Golden Palace Hall.
He wore a purple-gold python-dragon robe, which looked somewhat jarring against Lu Chen's tender face.
Under the watchful eyes of the officials, Lu Chen entered Golden Palace Hall without the slightest trace of panic and cupped his hands toward Azure Emperor with a beaming smile.
"Your son pays his respects to Imperial Father!"
"Hahaha, Little Eleventh is here. You got up so early—have you eaten yet?"
Seeing Lu Chen, Azure Emperor could no longer conceal his delight. He burst into laughter before speaking.
On both sides of Golden Palace Hall, the many civil and military officials saw how delighted Azure Emperor looked upon facing Lu Chen. More importantly—
Since when had Azure Emperor become so easygoing?
He had even asked whether Lu Chen had eaten breakfast.
Everyone knew that Azure Emperor had never shown such easygoing concern toward any of his princes.
At an angle in front of Golden Palace Hall stood a man in a bright-yellow python-dragon robe. He looked to be around thirty and radiated a gentle aura.
This man was the First Prince of the Daqian Empire, Lu Ling!
He was nearly thirty years old and had already become an Emperor-realm powerhouse.
He was accomplished in both civil and military affairs, highly esteemed throughout the court, and enjoyed considerable prestige among the people.
Moreover, Lu Ling was the only one among the many princes whom Azure Emperor permitted to attend court every day.
Thus, although Azure Emperor had yet to appoint a crown prince,
in the eyes of all the civil and military officials, First Prince Lu Ling was practically the crown prince already.
However, at this moment, when Lu Ling saw this younger brother whom he had barely met a few times and had almost forgotten, he froze.
After thinking carefully for a while, he finally remembered who it was.
When Lu Chen entered Golden Palace Hall, Lu Ling was completely dumbfounded.
Little Eleventh?
What was going on? Was Little Eleventh the person Imperial Father had been waiting for?
Then he looked at Azure Emperor's beaming face.
No matter how unbelievable it seemed to the officials and Lu Ling, they had no choice but to admit it.
The person Azure Emperor had just said he was waiting for seemed to have been the Eleventh Prince.
"Imperial Father, your son hasn't had time to eat yet!"
Hearing this, Lu Chen spoke with a beaming smile.
"You haven't eaten? Then when court is dismissed, eat with Me."
Hearing Lu Chen's tender voice, Azure Emperor spoke with a chuckle.
"Thank you, Imperial Father."
Lu Chen's eyes lit up at that and he nodded repeatedly.
This was the perfect opportunity to ask Azure Emperor whether there was anything he needed help with and hurry to complete the Reversal Mission.
Listening to the intimate exchange between father and son, all the civil and military officials were left in a daze.
First Prince Lu Ling, however, felt a pang of sourness upon hearing this.
Imperial Father, oh, Imperial Father,
the love you give Little Eleventh is something your son has never enjoyed.
Beside them, Duke of Zhenguo looked at Lu Chen with an odd expression.
Duke of Zhenguo was familiar with this formerly most unremarkable little prince.
That was because his precious daughter, Luo Li, liked playing with this boy.
As long as his daughter was happy, Duke of Zhenguo had not stopped her.
The problem was that, as Azure Emperor's childhood friend and brother, Duke of Zhenguo knew very well that Azure Emperor had never taken this son seriously. Why was he acting so close to him now?
"Little Eleventh, I summoned you to court this morning because I want to read an imperial decree to you!"
Looking at Lu Chen, Azure Emperor nodded with a smile, then gave the eunuch beside him a glance.
The next moment, the old eunuch took out an imperial edict and stepped forward.
By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:
My son Lu Chen is considerate of My heart. Though young in years, he understands the greater picture and observes proper etiquette, bringing Me great comfort. Therefore, I specially bestow upon Lu Chen one Azure Dragon Jade Pendant. He may travel throughout the imperial palace, freely go anywhere within it without obstruction, and enter or leave the imperial palace at will. No one may stop him. Furthermore, as My son Lu Chen has reached the age of six, I bestow upon him one Tianchen Hall within the imperial palace, along with a full complement of eunuchs, palace maids, and guards. He may go there and reside whenever he wishes!
As he has reached the age of six and may now cultivate, I bestow upon him one hundred Dragon Crystals, ten thousand spirit crystals, one hundred bottles of Fortune Pills, ten bottles of Rejuvenation Pills, two bottles of Breakthrough Pills, one bottle of Dao Rhyme Pills, one set of the Heaven-tier mid-grade defensive supreme treasure Golden Scale Ice Crystal Armor, and permission to visit the Royal Treasury and personally select one divine art or cultivation technique of any grade and one supreme treasure of any grade.
So decreed!
As the old eunuch's duck-like voice faded, the entire Golden Palace Hall instantly fell silent.
The many officials, Lu Ling, and the others all widened their eyes and stared at Lu Chen in disbelief.
Had this brat drugged His Majesty with some soul-bewitching potion? How else could he have received such an outrageous reward?
There were simply too many rewards, and they were far too outrageous.
To put it this way, First Prince Lu Ling was Azure Emperor's first son.
When he turned six, Azure Emperor had rewarded him as well, but what he had received had not even amounted to a third of Lu Chen's reward.
Not to mention that Lu Chen had also been granted freedom to travel throughout the imperial palace and enter or leave it at will, with permission to go anywhere within it.
What the hell did this mean?
It meant that Lu Chen was directly invincible within the imperial palace.
No one dared provoke him. No one dared stop him.
If Lu Chen wanted to come to Golden Palace Hall, he could come. If he wanted to go to Azure Emperor's sleeping quarters, he could go there. If he wanted to visit Central Extreme Palace, he could go there.
But why?
He, Lu Chen, was merely an Eleventh Prince. How had he suddenly gained so much of Azure Emperor's favor?
Inside Golden Palace Hall, Lu Ling and the many officials racked their brains without finding an answer.
"Your son thanks Imperial Father!"
When Lu Chen heard Azure Emperor's reward, his eyes shone brightly.
This wave of rewards from Azure Emperor had landed squarely in Lu Chen's heart.
Whether it was free access to the imperial palace, the palace granted exclusively to him, or the cultivation resources, every single one made Lu Chen's heart race.
Thus, Lu Chen grinned so broadly that his teeth showed, looking exceptionally happy.
Azure Emperor watched this scene with a faint smile on his face.
"I'm glad Little Eleventh likes it. In that case, court is dismissed. Chen'er, stay behind and have breakfast with Me!"
Azure Emperor rose with a hearty laugh, then descended the dragon steps. Under the complicated gazes of the officials, he took Lu Chen's little hand and left.
Watching Azure Emperor and Lu Chen walk away hand in hand, looking every inch the loving father and filial son, First Prince Lu Ling began to darken with resentment.
No, Imperial Father, Little Eleventh isn't your only son!
I, Lu Ling, am also your beloved son! How could you do this?
Lu Ling felt utterly miserable.
Cloud Palace!
This was generally where Azure Emperor ate, rested, and met with court officials to discuss matters.
At the dining table, Lu Chen stared at plate after plate of Earth-tier Demonic Beast meat and porridge cooked with demonic beast milk, then devoured the food ravenously.
No—
He had transmigrated into this world six years ago.
Although Lu Chen was a prince, he had never eaten food this delicious.
Across from him, Azure Emperor watched Lu Chen eat with great relish, smiling from ear to ear.
Before you continue