The old crone was dressed plainly and appeared exceptionally old, her skin was the color of clay, her body was covered in wrinkles, and there were only a few sparse white hairs left on her head, which were almost about to fall out.
The old crone’s emotions, quite agitated, broke away from Bai Xuan Yu and Bai Xuan Frost’s hands and rushed to Zhang Ruochen’s face, tremblingly grasping out his hands and asking with tearful eyes, “Crown Prince …… Crown Prince …… are you really theCrown Prince? Have you returned?”
The old woman’s cultivation was so profound that when she stepped into this area, the entire space seemed to be separate.
Obviously, they were standing on top of the bustling and lively streets, yet no one could see them at all, or even, could not touch them.
Zhang Ruochen stared at the old crone in front of him, giving birth to a feeling that was both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time, and at the same time, he was also able to discern that the old crone was indeed an expression of true feelings.
Otherwise, with her cultivation level and state of mind, how could she be so excited that she shed tears?
Zhang Ruochen was infected by that emotion, and without deliberately trying to hide his identity, he asked, “Elderly man, do you recognize me?”
The old woman said in a trembling voice, “I am Bai Su, Bai Su! Back then, His Highness the Crown Prince had two little palace maids by his side, and one of them was me ah! Does His Highness not remember me anymore?”
Zhang Ruochen was slightly stunned, once again carefully sizing up the woman in front of him who was about to die of old age, and with some disbelief, he said, “You’re Bai Su, the Bai Clan’s Little Su’er? I remember, you were only nine years old when you entered the palace, and on that day, it was snowing heavily in the palace. The White Family’s White Seventh Ancestor personally sent you to the East Palace so that you could follow me around, take care of me and study with me. At that time, you were only this little bit tall, how come you are already …… so …… old now?”
“Old” two words, Zhang Ruochen finally did not say it.
Eight hundred years ago, many deceased people had already died of old age, and it was a miracle that she was still alive.
Granny Baisu was already in tears, having been awakened to many distant memories by Zhang Ruochen, she directly knelt on the ground: “Your Highness the Crown Prince …… You really are the Crown Prince, Baisu is able to see Your Highness once again before she dies …… It’s worth it!…… This life has been worth it!”
Qin Yutong, Bai Xuanyu, and Bai Xuanshuang were also shocked in their hearts and immediately knelt down in unison, saluting Zhang Ruochen, “Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“The Sacred Brightness Central Empire has long since been destroyed, so how could there be any Crown Prince? Get up! All of you get up.”
Zhang Ruochen let out a long sigh and stretched out his hands to help Granny Baisu up first.
“As long as Your Highness returns, the Sacred Brightness Central Empire will not be considered extinguished.”
After all, Granny Bai Su had the experience of eight hundred years ago, her mind was very profound, gradually, suppressing the excitement in her heart, she asked, “Your Highness, has the Great Emperor returned with you?”
Qin Yutong, Bai Xuanyu, and Bai Xuanshuang were still kneeling on the ground and did not get up, yet at this moment, they all revealed looks of anticipation as well.
If so, the Ming Emperor’s return would be even more inspiring news.
“No, I’ve been looking for him as well.”
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze, once again, stared towards Granny Baisu as he said, “Baisu, regarding the incident of the palace mutiny eight hundred years ago, I have many questions that I want to ask you alone.”
“Hm.”Granny Bai Su nodded deeply.
Re-entering the Phoenix Dance Palace, he arrived at a deep cultivation cave.
Qin Yutong, Bai Xuanyu, and Bai Xuanfeng all stood guard outside the cave mansion as Zhang Ruochen and Granny Bai Su marched towards the depths of the cave mansion.
Bai Xuanfeng was very excited and incomparably fortunate as she said, “He’s actually His Highness the Crown Prince, we must be the first group of people to come into contact with His Highness. What if …… accidentally I become the Crown Princess?”
Bai Xuan Yu appeared much calmer and said, “Sister, you don’t need to worry about that, the Crown Princess won’t be your turn in any way. I think that Senior Sister Qin and His Highness, are the real groom and daughter.”
Bai Xuanxiang put on an exasperated look and kept grinding her teeth.
Qin Yutong stood in the distance, looking exceptionally quiet, as if she was a fairy in a painting. Only her pair of starry eyes, however, still revealed a smirk.
No matter how one put it, the appearance of the Sacred Brightness Imperial Crown Prince was indeed an uplifting piece of news that made all three of them feel very elated.
In the cave dwelling.
Granny Baisu was hunched over, walking extremely slowly, her voice very hoarse: ”Eight hundred years ago, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was assassinated and died tragically in the Eastern Palace. The Great Emperor also disappeared on the same day, and the entire Ming Emperor Palace, the entire court, was thrown into chaos.”
Zhang Ruochen asked, “The day I was assassinated, do you know, what exactly happened?”
Granny Baisu shook her head and sighed, “I don’t know exactly what happened, on that day, I happened to go back to the Bai Clan, and when I learned of the news of His Highness’s assassination, it was already late in the evening. Moreover, regarding the incident of the palace mutiny, many claims have appeared, and rumors are flying around, so I simply don’t know who to believe?”
“What are all the rumors?”Zhang Ruochen asked.
Granny Baisu said, “Some people claimed that when His Highness died, only the Peacock Villa’s eldest young lady appeared in the Eastern Palace, and that the matter was a palace coup staged by the Peacock Villa, wanting to seize the Sacred Brightness Central Empire’s kingdom.”
“However, there were also rumors that the person who killed His Highness was Princess Chi Yao of the Chi Qing Central Empire.”
“There are even rumors claiming that this matter is related to the Immortal Blood Race, and that it is a retaliatory action by the Blood Queen.”
Zhang Ruochen’s expression stirred as he asked, “This matter, how could it be related to the Immortal Blood Clan? Didn’t the Blood Queen fall into the Endless Abyss a long time ago?”
Granny Baisu said, “I also heard Twelfth Master mention it once later on, and he said that Emperor Ming and the Blood Empress had some delicate relationship, and back then, Emperor Ming would most likely be merciful to the Blood Empress and didn’t send her into the Endless Abyss.”
Zhang Ruochen fell into silence for a long time.
The incident of the palace change back then, which unexpectedly had the shadow of the Immortal Blood Race, made Zhang Ruochen feel more and more perplexed.
Granny Baisu continued, “Later on, Kong Shangling staged a coup d’état, took control of the dynasty, excluded dissidents, and caused the Sacred Ming City to be a bloody mess, so I never entered the Ming Emperor Palace again.”
“Then later, the Chiqing Central Empire attacked Shengming City, and there was another three-month series of massacres, some cultivators escaped, while others didn’t.”
“Many clans that were unwilling to submit were subjected to bloody massacres, our Bai family, also at that time, our family was broken, and many of our female family members were captured and subjected to inhumane treatment.”?
“I have followed His Highness’s side to cultivate for five years, and His Highness rewarded me with many elixirs. Therefore, my physique and qualifications are considered superior, and my cultivation is also considered top-notch. During the auction, I was spotted by a Saint from the Phoenix Dance Palace and bought over at a high price. Counting up, I’ve been in the Phoenix Dance Palace for more than seven hundred years.”
Granny Baisu talked with Zhang Ruochen for three hours in a row, recounting many things.
This included how she had met the Twelfth Master, how she had broken through the Saint realm, how she had become a senior member of the Phoenix Dance Palace …… , and so on.
Some of these things, she spoke with heartache and grief, wiping her tears non-stop, as if she had become the somewhat timid little palace maid from back then again.
Granny Baisu’s tears with a smile, said, “Two hundred years ago, I should have died, only, the twelfth master will send some life renewing elixir every year, I hang half a life, has been living until now.”
“In the last few years, if I take the spirit medicine again, the medicinal power is already minimal. Counting the days, there will be at most three more months before I completely fall. To be able to see His Highness the Crown Prince again before I die, I already have no regrets in this life.”
Granny Baisu did not inquire about Zhang Ruochen’s experiences over the years, but only asked Zhang Ruochen if he wanted to inform the Twelfth Master immediately?
Zhang Ruochen shook his head and said, “No, this matter should not be publicized for the time being, the more people who know the truth, the more dangerous I will be.”
“That’s true, even within our ranks, there are forces from all sides lurking in.”
Obviously, Granny Baisu also had some worries, fearing that Zhang Ruochen would encounter another assassination.
She added, “Especially those from the imperial court, once they are allowed to ascertain the news of His Highness’s return, the consequences would be unimaginable.”
Rumors and the truth were two completely different situations, and the importance of the imperial court was not the same.
So far, no matter how much people rumored, there was no factual proof that Zhang Ruochen was the Sacred Brightness Crown Prince from eight hundred years ago.
When everyone calmed down, some sensible cultivators would not believe this rumor at all.
Because, the rumor itself was too much of a rip-off, beyond normal people’s knowledge.
“The fewer people who know, the better. Don’t inform the Twelfth Imperial Uncle for the time being, when the time is ripe, I will personally pay him a visit.”Zhang Ruochen said.
Granny Baisu asked, “What are Your Highness the Crown Prince’s next plans?”?
Zhang Ruochen was in an excellent mood when he saw his former deceased, revealing a smile as he said, “Of course, I’m going to cultivate hard and strive to become a saint as soon as possible, otherwise, where in the world would there be a place for me to stay? Of course, there is one more thing that you have to do for me.”
“If there is anything, Your Highness, feel free to command.”
Granny Baisu bowed, even though eight hundred years had passed, she was still very respectful to Zhang Ruochen.?
A complicated look appeared in Zhang Ruochen’s eyes as he paused and said, “Help me find out who actually spread the word that I am the Crown Prince of Sacred Brightness?”?
“I will do it now.”
Granny Bai Su attached great importance to this matter and was prepared to personally investigate, immediately marching outside.
“And slow down.”?Zhang Ruochen called Granny Bai Su to a halt, and from his spatial ring, he took out a fist-sized black fruit and handed it to her.
“This is a Divine Naughty Fruit that I picked from the netherworld, and it has grown for an unknown number of years, absorbing a large amount of Divine Qi from a Divine Corpse, although, it’s not considered a Divine Pill, it’s still capable of renewing your life for a few decades.”
“Your Highness …… you are still exactly the same as you were back then, and when you have any elixir, you don’t forget to share a portion with us.”
Granny Baisu didn’t push back because, she knew His Highness the Crown Prince’s character, since she decided to give away something, there was absolutely no possibility of taking it back.
Furthermore, her lifespan was coming to an end, and she was indeed in dire need of the Divine Naughty Fruit.
Not long after Granny Baisu left the cave, Zhang Ruochen also walked out.
Outside the cave, only Qin Yutong was still waiting outside, while Bai Xuan Yu and Bai Xuan Shuang followed Granny Bai Su and had already left.
“Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Qin Yutong’s demeanor was gentle as she immediately bowed to Zhang Ruochen, every movement extraordinarily elegant, bearing a unique beauty.
“In the future, don’t call me Your Highness the Crown Prince, I don’t want to announce my identity just yet.”Zhang Ruochen said.
“Understood.”
Qin Yutong gave a shallow smile, “Granny still instructed Yutong not to reveal Mr. Zhang’s identity to anyone.”
Zhang Ruochen glanced towards her, nodded, and said, “The commander of the fourth battalion of the Canglong Army, Liao Huacheng, should still be in the Seventh City Region now, right?”?
“Mr. Zhang is still going to kill him?”
Qin Yutong wanted to stop Zhang Ruochen, after all, his identity was too honorable, once there was a loose end, no one could afford it.
Many of the former dynasty’s surviving officials would treat her, Qin Yutong, as a sinner.
However, Zhang Ruochen had already rushed out first and left the Phoenix Dance Palace.
Qin Yutong sighed quietly and performed her body technique, transforming into a slender figure and immediately chased after her, not daring to let Zhang Ruochen risk his life alone.
