Chapter 1017 — The Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 4
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.