Chapter 1017 — The Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace

Shen Mu, driving the Heavenly Lord's body, walked this way and that; but this was the Inner City, and he was not familiar with it, so he could only wander at random. Fortunately he was now the Ancient God Heavenly Lord, and though he wandered at random, none dared question him; rather, wherever he passed, whether palace female officials or eunuchs, or the god generals stationed in the Yujing Imperial City, all knelt to the ground.

"Shujun sensed the birthplace of the Ancient God Heavenly Lord in the rear palace, so that place should be in the rear palace.

" Shen Mu walked eagerly toward the rear palace, and a wanton thought rose in his heart: "I have heard that the Heavenly Lord's rear palace holds beauties beyond counting, the peerless women of every race. If I enter the rear palace, what if those consorts beg to attend me at night?

" He blinked, somewhat at a loss. "Your son pays his respects to Father!

" Suddenly a young god of tall and mighty build knelt before Shen Mu, then raised his head and said joyfully, "Father has long kept deep within and gone out seldom; your son has not seen Father for many a day.

" Shen Mu's heart tightened.

This young prince he did not recognize, nor knew his name, so he could only raise a hand and say, "Rise.

I have been much occupied these days, and have kept my distance from you. " The young god was overjoyed at heart; he rose hastily, tears seeming to swim in his eyes, and forced them back, saying, "It has been more than forty thousand years since Father last paid your son any heed. Though your son is the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, the times he has seen Father are fewer than those of the palace maids; he cannot even show a child's affection before Father. " Shen Mu's heart jolted: "Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace?

Could this be the very Crown Prince who, in the last years of the Shanghuang era, captured the Red Emperor Qi Xiayu and forced Qi Xiayu to surrender?

This is bad — this prince is a great expert of the Imperial Throne realm! " In those years Qi Xiayu, as an expert of the Southern Shanghuang Heavenly Court, had slain the Red Emperor of the previous generation, and in his triumph had erected a stele in commemoration; thereafter he was captured by this Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace and forced to submit to the Heavenly Court.

This Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace was himself a figure of the utmost ability; after capturing Qi Xiayu he too erected a stele in commemoration.

When Shen Mu broke the seal in the Yuan Realm, he had seen both steles, and the impression had stayed with him.

"I wonder whether this Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace can see through me. .

. " His heart was full of dread.

In history, the Ancient God Heavenly Lord had installed many crown princes, yet none had come to a good end; this Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace was likely a prince born of the Ancient God Heavenly Lord's true body, possessed of surpassing bloodline, and therefore of exceedingly formidable strength. If he saw through him, could this Heavenly Lord's body stand against him? And more crucial still, he did not even know the Crown Prince's name! "If only Qi Xiayu or that little minx Yun Chuxiu were here.

. .

Bah, bah — the little minx is Lady Yuanmu. If she learned that I had taken up residence in the Heavenly Lord's body, she would flay me alive even if she did not kill me!

" Shen Mu looked down at the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace and said gently, "These days have been hard on you. I seldom see you, yet I know your arts and divine powers advance with amazing speed.

But in the house of emperors there is little of a father's and son's affection; the stronger you grow, the less at ease I am, and so I have kept from seeing you as much as I might.

Your several elder brothers, in their day, all rebelled against me once they had achieved something, so that father and sons were parted as man from ghost. That is why I have kept you at a distance — I do not wish you to come to the same end as your brothers. " The Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace hastened to kneel and bow again, and said, choking, "Father, your son's loyalty to Father is plain to heaven and earth; he would never dare harbor a second heart!

These years, seeing the Ten Heavenly Venerables grow daily stronger, grasping the Heavenly Court's government, reducing Father to a figurehead, your son's heart has been anxious for Father's safety!

" Shen Mu's expression stirred slightly, and he said coldly, "What great daring you have, to presume to criticize the Ten Heavenly Venerables.

Do you know what a capital crime is? " The Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace bowed himself deeply to the ground, not daring to rise, and said, choking, "In the court today, which Ancient God does not bow and scrape to the Ten Heavenly Venerables, fearful that the slightest displeasure on their part will bring a cruel death?

Your son fears that, should this go on, Father will have no one left to employ! " Shen Mu looked at him coldly, and after a moment said, "Rise. What you have said — how could I not know it? I know your loyalty, and I have my own means to deal with them. " The Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace rose and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes.

Shen Mu was moved beyond measure, sighing again and again: "Good child, a truly good child. You are not like Hao—" He seemed unwilling to speak of Heavenly Venerable Hao, and changed the subject: "In this Heavenly Court there is hidden the place of my birth. Do you know where that precious ground lies?

" The Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace was struck with awe; he bowed and said, "Though your son would not presume to inquire after that precious ground, he has heard the people of the palace mention that forbidden zone.

But your son has never entered it! " Shen Mu smiled and said, "Today I — today your father shall take you to see this ancestral ground. Come, lead the way.

" Hearing him change his self-appellation, the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace was overjoyed at heart, and led the way before him. Shen Mu followed him, secretly troubled: "This Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace — what is his name?

Not knowing his name, I fear I shall be exposed sooner or later.

.

. And who was his mother among the consorts?

Surely it cannot be the Empress herself? "