Chapter 269: Chapter 202: Entering the Eastern Palace: The Turtle Shell Reveals Fortune and Misfortune, the Python and Sparrow Swallows the Dragon

An imperial edict to name the Crown Prince?

At Emperor Yong’an’s direction, and with the head eunuch deliberately spreading the word, the news quickly swept through the Imperial Palace.

Never underestimate the speed at which gossip travels through the Harem.

Especially for something as momentous as naming a Crown Prince.

Palace Maids and eunuchs rushed about, spreading the news. Concubines craned their necks, their faces alight with curiosity, all eager to know who would be named Crown Prince.

After all, the Holy Emperor had been on the throne for a full sixty years without ever mentioning succession. He had never openly shown favor or approval for any of the Princes.

This sudden imperial edict appointing a successor had caught everyone completely off guard.

It was something no one had expected.

The eunuch carrying the imperial edict was the same old man as before—an Old Eunuch with frost-white temples, dressed in a red Python Robe. He had been attending to Emperor Yong’an since the Emperor’s birth and held a position of immense prestige.

When Yun Qinghe had attempted to assassinate the Fifth Prince, it was he who had intervened, using the power of the Ending Realm to stop the Daoist Nun’s rampage.

All the Eunuchs of Great Yan addressed him respectfully as Eunuch Yan. His Cultivation was a mystery, but it was certain that he was a Twelfth Realm Martial Artist.

Civil Servants and Military Generals who assist the King are known as Fulong—"supporters of the dragon." Inner Eunuchs and Tributors, however, are a lesser class also known as Fulong—"adherents of the dragon," from the word for "attach." Because of this, both groups have a certain sensitivity to an Emperor’s Dragon Qi. Having spent years serving the Holy Emperor in the Deep Palace, Eunuch Yan had been blessed by proximity, his body suffused with Dragon Qi. His Cultivation Realm had advanced at a speed no ordinary Martial Artist could ever hope to match.

Great Yan had crushed several ancient Dynasties to establish its dominance over the Central Plains, and the amount of Dragon Fortune it had seized was simply colossal.

This was also why such powerful Tributors were willing to humble themselves and serve Great Yan.

Eunuch Yan wore a faint smile, his gaze profound as he walked toward the depths of the palace.

Several figures followed behind him, among whom were none other than Qi Xingyan, the Fisherman, and the Piano Demon.

The Fisherman was a diminutive old man, the shortest of the group. His murky eyes were hidden beneath long, white eyebrows. As he entered the Deep Palace, he glanced about this way and that, showing none of the airs of a master.

The Piano Demon kept his eyes closed in quiet contemplation, his salt-and-pepper hair and beard falling to his waist. He seemed completely indifferent as to who would become the Crown Prince.

Now that Qi Xingyan had broken through to become a Twelfth Realm Saint, his aura had grown even more profound. A thoughtful expression crossed his face as he walked.

He had prepared numerous arguments to persuade the Holy Emperor to name a successor.

But he never expected the Holy Emperor to be so decisive.

He had simply been handed the pre-written edict.

All of his carefully prepared words were now left unsaid.

He had already seen the contents of the edict back in the Imperial Garden, so he knew who the Eastern Palace now belonged to. While the news had surprised him at first, upon reflection, it was not entirely unexpected.

He just couldn’t fathom the Holy Emperor’s true intentions.

The four of them walked abreast. Looking across the entire Central Plains World, what other Dynasty possessed the power to have four top-tier Twelfth Realm Cultivators escort a single imperial edict?

Combined with the protection of the Great Flame Dragon Wall, not even a common cultivator of the Upper Three Grades could hope to touch the edict.

In the shadows.

Countless eyes watched, unblinking. They followed the four as they left the Imperial Garden, noting the direction they took with the edict. They weren’t heading out of the palace... but toward the Cold Palace!

At that moment, shock registered in countless pairs of eyes.

The Holy Emperor had indeed named a successor.

But the outcome was something no one had ever imagined.

A young, beautiful Consort murmured, "The Crown Prince... is actually Prince Huai’an? The one who’s been in the Cold Palace all this time?"

Why?

Or rather, by what right?

It wasn’t just her. The news sent shockwaves through the entire Harem.

No one could understand the Holy Emperor’s reasoning.

"What did you say?"

"The imperial edict is heading to the Cold Palace?"

The voice of Noble Consort Yaoguang, Wang Zhaoyan, boomed throughout the hall.

Her face was a mask of utter astonishment.

She stood frozen, seemingly unable to process the news.

"It is true, My Lady, completely accurate. They are indeed heading toward His Highness’s Qingzhu Hall. Spies from the other palaces saw it with their own eyes; Mr. Qi and two Tributors are escorting the edict to the Cold Palace."

"By the looks of it, if all goes as expected, His Highness will soon be moving into the Eastern Palace and become the new Crown Prince of our Great Yan!"

The Palace Maids beside her were also stunned.

They had watched the Sixth Prince grow up. He was a man who had always seemed idle and devoid of ambition. The fact that he would now inherit the throne, chosen from among the nine princes, was truly shocking to them as well.

If His Highness inherits the title of Crown Prince and becomes the Emperor of Great Yan, then the Noble Consort will become the master of the Harem—the nation’s Empress Dowager! Their own status would rise with hers!

HSSST!

At that very moment, Wang Zhaoyan began to tremble.

She couldn’t stop her body from shaking!

It was irrepressible excitement.

"Ten years! I have waited for ten long years!"

"Yuan’Er has made it! He’s truly going to become a dragon!"

Wang Zhaoyan, who had always maintained an enigmatic and ruthless demeanor in front of her Palace Maids, could no longer contain her joy. She let out a peal of ecstatic laughter that filled the hall.

She was elated.

An unparalleled excitement.

The commotion in Yaoguang Palace was immense. Her laughter echoed endlessly, completely shattering her usual image as a Noble Consort.

None of the Palace Maids dared to interrupt. When their mistress was happy, they were happy too.

Any woman in the palace would have been just as overjoyed to learn that her son was about to become the nation’s Crown Prince.

Most importantly, Wang Zhaoyan had never dreamed that her son could win the title of Crown Prince. She had thought it would be a struggle for him just to stay alive, let alone ascend to such a position.

But now, their fortunes had completely reversed. It was finally her time to shine.

"Prepare the palanquin! To Qingzhu Hall!"

"And at the same time, go to the Cabinet and inform Mr. Wang."

Wang Zhaoyan commanded, her beautiful eyes blazing as she spoke in a delicate voice.

"Yes!"

Her personal Palace Maid didn’t dare to delay and hurried to have the palanquin prepared.