"He could only be from within the Great Xia Dynasty."
"I have already received word from headquarters. In recent years, no geniuses from outside have entered this Earth Realm."
"If we cannot uncover anything, then we must consider whether some force has already risen in secret, while we simply remain unaware of it."
The voice of the Misty Rain Pavilion Master rang out once more.
Xu Nian's expression changed sharply. "Yes, I will immediately send people to investigate. We must get to the bottom of this matter!"
After leaving the secret chamber, Chu Yun summoned Luo Feng and learned from him the results of the Sky Demoness's soul-search of Chu Yuan.
At tomorrow's Eastern Palace banquet, Crown Prince Chu Rong merely intended to test what level Chu Yun's strength and talent had reached.
As for the events of that year, Chu Yuan had not even been ten years old at the time, so he did not know much about the specific details.
He only knew that his mother, the Empress, had personally handled everything.
And deep in his bones, ever since he could remember, his Imperial Father had always neglected his mother, while Consort Shi had enjoyed favor. This made Chu Yuan hate Consort Shi—and everyone connected to her—to the bone.
As for the rest, it was all meaningless nonsense.
Either he went to brothels to have fun, or he held group activities with several nobles. Truly refined and vulgar... truly vulgar beyond endurance!! (As flowers of the motherland, everyone must never imitate this. Take it as a warning, and be irreconcilable enemies with lies, gambling, and drugs in this life!)
Early the next morning, the Crown Prince entered the palace ahead of time.
He did not return to the Eastern Palace until noon, but he had obtained the Empress's permission during this trip.
She directly had Wang Han Cuo relay the news back to the Divine Sect.
The Divine Sect had captured several Nirvana Realm Evil Infants in its early years. One of them happened to be at the Nirvana Realm Peak, and it was sealed within the Divine Sect.
As for Lan Ji herself, she personally sent word to the Blood God Sect's Sect Master, asking him for a Ten Thousand Year Blood Essence Stone.
The Blood God Sect lacked nothing less than Blood Essence Stones.
But a Ten Thousand Year Blood Essence Stone, even to the Blood God Sect, was an incomparably precious treasure. Only she could personally step forward to request it.
A mobilization of supplies was now proceeding safely under the meticulous arrangements of the Empress Faction.
Yet none of them could have imagined that, after going to such lengths to move these treasures for Xiao Yan, they would ultimately gain nothing—and instead lose the lady and the army as well!
As time passed, the day of the Eastern Palace banquet soon arrived.
That evening, Chu Yun changed into formal attire and stepped out of his room, only to find Luo Feng already waiting at the door. "Your Highness."
Chu Yun looked at him. "Commander Luo, let us go."
"Yes."
Because Venerable Wan Lei had previously shown himself at the Misty Rain Pavilion, and had worn only a mask in the Cangfeng Mountain Range—
To avoid stirring up unnecessary trouble, Chu Yun still had him remain in the mansion.
The Eastern Palace was exceptionally lively that night.
The Crown Prince had personally hosted a banquet to celebrate Ninth Prince Chu Yun's return, inviting nearly all the young nobles of the Imperial City.
Young princes from royal estates, sons and daughters of numerous aristocratic families, and the children of many powerful figures within the city were all among the invited guests.
Besides giving the Crown Prince sufficient face, most of them also wished to see what this Ninth Prince, who had returned after being missing for many years, was really like.
Chu Yun and Luo Feng left the Prince's Mansion and made their way unhurriedly to the entrance of the Eastern Palace.
Several servants stood at the entrance receiving guests. When one of them saw the unfamiliar Chu Yun, he stepped forward and asked politely, "May I ask if you are His Highness the Ninth Prince?"
"Mhm." Chu Yun nodded indifferently.
"Your Highness the Ninth Prince, please come in!"
"His Highness the Crown Prince has been waiting for a long time."
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That servant immediately led the two of them into the Eastern Palace.
At this moment, within the luxurious and magnificent main hall of the Eastern Palace, several beautiful songstresses dressed in dancing attire were performing in the center of the hall to liven up the occasion.
Crown Prince Chu Rong sat upright in the seat of honor. Below him sat the other Imperial Princes of the dynasty in turn, along with most of the renowned nobles of the city.
Third Prince Chu Yuan was conspicuously among them, seated in the first seat to the Crown Prince's left.
This showed just how highly the Crown Prince valued him.
Yet he had no idea that the current Chu Yuan had long since been replaced.
"Ninth Prince has arrived!!!"
At those words, every noble in the hall turned their gaze toward the entrance.
They saw Chu Yun enter with a calm and composed expression, dressed in brocade robes and jade garments. The natural bearing of Imperial Nobility faintly emanated from him.
Luo Feng followed behind him. Beneath the converging gazes of the many nobles, the two walked straight into the main hall.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
With a slight smile, Chu Yun cupped his hands and bowed toward the Crown Prince seated above.
"Hahaha!"
"Ninth Brother and Commander Luo have arrived!"
"You and I are brothers, so there is no need for formalities. Quickly take your seats. All our friends have been waiting for you."
Crown Prince Chu Rong smiled "kindly."
Chu Yun smiled and nodded, then took a vacant seat on the right with Luo Feng.
Chu Yun could feel everyone's gaze upon him. Some watched him curiously, while others looked disdainful as they sized him up without restraint.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, I heard that several of my other elder brothers have also come today. I would trouble Your Highness to introduce them to me," Chu Yun said after taking his seat.
"Good!"
"Ninth Brother, even if you had not mentioned it, I would have introduced them to you."
"The one seated to your left is your Fourth Brother, Fourth Prince Chu Shen."
"The one to your right is your Fifth Brother, Fifth Prince Chu Yu."
"The one across from you is your Sixth Sister, Sixth Princess Chu Xinyan."
"As for the one beside her, he is your Seventh Brother, Seventh Prince Chu Bei."
"Finally, the one seated across from your Third Brother is your Eighth Brother, Eighth Prince Chu Hao!"
Other than the Second Prince, who was commanding troops at the border, all the other Imperial Princes and the princess were present in the hall.
Chu Yun looked over them one by one. As they met his gaze, they all gave slight nods.
Naturally, Chu Yun had already learned about these brothers and sisters of his.
Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, and Seventh Brother were not particularly outstanding among the Imperial Princes, nor were they part of the Crown Prince Faction. They belonged to the neutral side.
The Sixth Princess and Eighth Prince had both been born to the Imperial Consort, so their relationship was naturally closer than their relationships with the others.
As for the Second Prince, he was the cleverest of them all.
His talent was the best among all the Imperial Princes. In both civil and martial arts, he fell short in nothing. Back then, he had even overshadowed the Crown Prince.
But because his mother consort had died, and because he had no backing of his own, if he remained at court, he would become a thorn in the Empress's eye.
Thus, he had requested permission early on to command troops at the border. He did not involve himself in the struggles of the court and stayed far away from this whirlpool of imperial power.
At this moment, Chu Yun stood and raised his wine cup toward them. "My elder brothers and elder sister, I have only recently returned to the Imperial City and am still unfamiliar with its people and affairs. Thus, I did not visit you all at the first opportunity."
"Here, I ask my elder sister and elder brothers not to blame me."
"Chu Yun will punish himself with a cup."
After saying this, Chu Yun drained it in one gulp.
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