Chapter 544: Chapter 178: Secrets! Fan Wu’s Origin, the Jade Pendant, and the Pawn Shop! (A 10,000-word Chapter asking for subscriptions)_2
Fortunately, Fan Wu was in a good mood today; he was incredibly patient.
To suddenly receive so many Free Attribute Points.
How could his mood be anything but good?
By this time, the sky had gradually darkened, and the Imperial Palace amidst the night was brightly lit. The lanterns hanging under the eaves had already been lit with candles inside. The Imperial Palace at night didn’t carry a hint of spookiness.
The guards within the Imperial Palace seemed to bring out many torches from nowhere, every third person holding a burning torch, making the palace in the night much brighter.
Only some corners remained dim, while in other places, even those with night blindness could see the path clearly.
"Hu Banban!" Just then, a voice filled with excitement suddenly rang out.
Almost startling Hu Banban enough to tumble to the ground.
Hu Banban hurried to look and discovered, to his surprise, that it was the Little Prince who was calling him!
He saw a little tyke scampering over.
However, after running over, the Little Prince’s attention was no longer on Hu Banban but was entirely focused on Fan Wu and the others.
The Little Prince said excitedly, "Daoist Fan Wu, I just spoke many good words about you in front of Father-Emperor! Considering how hard I’ve tried to speak well of you, could you also teach me some powerful magic?"
Xing Fengzi smiled helplessly and warmly, "Your Highness, you are the Emperor’s child, how could I dare to teach you the Daoist arts? Moreover, surely there are many masters of cultivation within the Imperial Palace."
"Why not ask His Majesty to find a great teacher for you?"
The Little Prince grumbled, "I want to, but Father-Emperor won’t let me cultivate. He says there’s no benefit to cultivating."
"Oh?" Xing Fengzi was taken aback.
An Emperor actually saying that there is no benefit to cultivating?
But upon further reflection, the status of this Little Prince seemed to make things a bit clearer. He was a Prince, the child of the current Emperor. Such a status implies great sensitivity, and if such a person, in pursuit of cultivation, were to become crooked in heart.
It would likely be a considerable disaster for the entire Great Zhou Dynasty.
And it would not be a natural disaster.
But a man-made one!
"Young Taoist Priest, there are some matters it’s better not to inquire about," Hu Banban quickly lowered his voice, cautioning, "I can only tell you that the young Princes and Princesses are all forbidden to cultivate. This is a rule set by the Emperor decades ago."
Xing Fengzi was taken aback. He had thought that the current Emperor was merely worried that the Little Prince was too young and that early exposure to cultivation could lead him astray due to immature thinking.
However, it seemed the situation within the Imperial Palace was different than he had imagined; his thoughts had been too superficial.
Suddenly, Xing Fengzi thought of something, and he looked towards His Highness the Prince of Nanjun, standing beside Daoist Fan Wu.
Then, he cast an inquiring glance at Hu Banban.
Hu Banban felt helpless inside.
How come the minds of young people nowadays are so sharp? How could a teenager guess at certain things so quickly?
He nodded slightly.
After that, no one spoke for the rest of the way until Hu Banban led Fan Wu and the others to the front of a brightly lit palace. Only then did he speak, "Please wait here for a moment, gentlemen. I will come out shortly."
After finishing,
He took out a special token, under the watchful, aggressive gaze of the guards,
he steeled himself and walked in.
From inside this palace... vague voices of conversation could be heard, and not long after, Hu Banban came back out.
He addressed Fan Wu and the others, "His Majesty invites you to enter the Yangxin Hall."
So this was the Yangxin Hall? Yun Jiuqing looked up curiously at the plaque hanging above the palace. She had heard that the Yangxin Hall was where the Emperor went to rest when he felt troubled.
Seeing that Daoist Fan and the others had already gone inside, she scurried after them eagerly.
Upon entering the Yangxin Hall, Yun Jiuqing’s first thought was...
——This place is enormous!
And that was swiftly followed by her second thought...
——There are quite a few people!
Indeed!
There were indeed many people in the Yangxin Hall—of course, these were some eunuchs, along with some palace maids, some guards, and... two individuals whom Yun Jiuqing thought looked like women but oddly appeared to be men.
She watched as these two who resembled women, one delicately peeling grapes, the other gently massaging someone’s shoulders.
The one enjoying the shoulder massage seemed to be a very old man.
His hair was mostly gray.
His face bore wrinkles and age spots.
The man’s physique was slightly plump.
Yet, this slight plumpness did not detract from his dignity.
Instead, it made his entire presence,
more substantial,
and quite majestic.
"This humble servant greets Your Majesty!" Hu Banban immediately prostrated before the old man, his head nearly buried in the ground as he spoke with utter respect, "This servant has not disappointed Your Majesty’s expectations and has brought His Highness the Prince of Nanjun and others here!"
Then, Hu Banban slightly lifted his head, attempting to signal to Fan Wu and others with his eyes, urging them to quickly pay their respects to His Majesty.
