Gentlemen, it's time to enter the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

Chapter 400 Not an Old Acquaintance
"Princess Hongyu..."

These four words are like a splinter that was stuck in your finger long ago. You thought it was gone, but one day it will suddenly sting you, and you will remember the past.

The death of Princess Hongyu was the first thing that troubled him on his path of cultivation.

It was when he was still a novice that he met a woman as fragile as a candle in the wind. An orphan girl who had been manipulated by a demon since childhood, her life's joys and sorrows were all like those of a puppet on a string.

She once fought desperately in a hopeless situation, just to gain a moment of freedom.

In the end, she turned into countless points of light before him, her soul scattered and vanished.

Chen Ye still vividly remembers that resolute scene.

Unfortunately, Chen Ye had not yet mastered the supernatural powers of the Eighteen Levels of Hell at that time, so he was unable to judge her good and evil, and could only watch helplessly as she vanished into thin air.

Later, he returned to the capital with Lan Yu and made a special trip to find her grave, even if it was just a cenotaph, to offer incense and commemorate their first meeting.

However, the two searched the entire royal mausoleum but found no trace of Princess Hongyu, as if she had never existed. Before Chen Ye could investigate further, they encountered a demon under the Soul Lord's command, and the matter was once again put on hold.

And at this moment, within this heavily guarded palace, he heard her name once again!

In an instant, Chen Ye's mind was violently shaken. Amidst the shock, there was also a faint sense of anticipation.

Could it be that Princess Hongyu really didn't die? Was everything just a deception she staged to escape?

Or perhaps, this is a technique employed by the Soul Master?
A lifelike replica, a brand-new puppet to manipulate imperial power? After all, what could influence the emperor's decisions more than his most beloved daughter?

Countless questions swirled in Chen Ye's mind, his gaze becoming deep and complex. Yet, he remained motionless, hidden in the shadows, and did not follow the two eunuchs.

There are priorities.

Master Yuji and his fellow disciples from the Qinghe Sword Sect are traveling throughout the Nine Provinces, racing against the shadow of the Soul Venerable for the sake of all living beings. As the leader of this operation, I should not allow personal feelings to cause unnecessary trouble.

As long as "Princess Hongyu" is truly alive, whether she's an old friend or a mere imposter, she'll always be there, unable to escape. It's not too late to uncover the truth once this matter is resolved.

Chen Ye forcibly suppressed the turmoil in his heart, composed himself, and was about to turn towards the depths of the imperial city to find the true dragon emperor.

But the two eunuchs' hushed, anxious conversation drifted clearly into his ears.

"Hurry up! If the princess doesn't get to eat this freshly baked osmanthus cake and throws a tantrum, and the Emperor sees it, we'll all be in deep trouble!"

"Ah, who can argue with that? Our Princess Hongyu enjoys unprecedented favor from the Emperor. Look at those princes, which one of them doesn't go to pay his respects to the Emperor every day at dawn? But with the princess, it's the Emperor who visits her palace every day, showing concern and care."

"Shh—keep your voice down! The current emperor has many children, but only this one is his precious darling. How else can he cherish her?"

……

The two people's conversation gradually faded into the distance, and their figures hurriedly disappeared into a brightly lit and magnificent palace in the distance.

In the darkness, Chen Ye smiled helplessly. He had searched high and low without finding it, only to have it come to him effortlessly.

Just when I was struggling to pinpoint the emperor's location within this vast palace, they pointed me in the right direction. Rather than searching for a needle in a haystack, it's better to wait patiently.

Wouldn't it be easier to just wait in the palace of the so-called "Princess Hongyu"?

Chen Ye changed direction and followed the two eunuchs forward. He wanted to see whether this Princess Hongyu was the real person or a fake.

The two eunuchs walked quickly and lightly, clearly knowing the route by heart.

Carrying palace lanterns, they wandered through the intricate corridors, and in no time, a magnificent palace, almost exaggerated in its grandeur, appeared before them.

The palace buildings, with their upturned eaves and corners, resemble phoenixes about to spread their wings; the glazed tiles, under the sparse starlight, reflect a deep and luxurious luster. The square in front of the palace is paved with white jade, every brick and stone exuding extravagance.

The overwhelming sense of grandeur reminded Chen Ye of the extremely extravagant mansion of Magistrate Cui County back then.

It seems that the "Princess Hongyu" continues to enjoy the emperor's favor as always.

Chen Ye's figure blended into the shadows, like a ghost following him in. He watched as the two eunuchs carefully handed the food box to a palace maid at the door. The food box then passed through at least four more palace maids, each one dressed more ornately and with stricter rules than the last, before finally being delivered to a beautifully decorated, warmly fragrant inner room.

Chen Ye floated lightly to the window frame, his gaze falling on the woman inside through the intricately carved window lattice.

She truly resembled Princess Hongyu from back then.

With bright eyes and white teeth, her face was pretty, and her long, black hair cascaded down her back, casually tied up. She wore a delicate red gold necklace on her chest, from which hung a pigeon-blood red gemstone, its shimmering light reflecting off her snow-white skin.

She was no different from the person she had met before; at least, Chen Ye could not find any difference in her memory.

However, this is merely a superficial resemblance.

In Chen Ye's memory, Princess Hongyu always had an unyielding sorrow and grief between her brows, and her eyes were as fragile as glass that could shatter at the slightest touch. But the woman before him had bright, lively eyes, a charming smile on her lips, and an air of pampered languor and elegance in every gesture.

This is what a princess who truly enjoys the emperor's favor should look like.

Chen Ye blinked, and his eyes turned golden.

Under his spiritual observation, he could indeed see a faint flow of spiritual energy around the woman, indicating that her cultivation had just reached the Qi Sea Realm. More importantly, he found no trace of illusion or disguise.

This Princess Hongyu... has actually grown up to look like this.

This is rather strange. Is it a case of someone coming back to life, or is the person in front of you another "sister" of that old friend?
According to what Hongyu said, she was not a true member of the royal family, but rather a pawn planted by the old demon who used secret methods to bewitch the entire royal family. The old demon Tianwu used Princess Hongyu as a front, raising his own bloodline in the deep palace, only to select the most perfect vessel from among them for his own possession and rebirth.

Princess Hongyu witnessed her brothers and sisters die tragically at the hands of the demon more than once.

The methods of the Demonic Sect are so cruel that they are appalling; even the killing of one's own children doesn't rank among them.

According to Princess Hongyu, she tried her best but only managed to save her younger sister, Lanyu.

It was precisely because she carried this deep-seated hatred and endless guilt that she chose to dissipate herself at the last moment, unwilling to live on alone.

The last words of a dying person, the lament of a person dying out of guilt, should not be fake.

If she said that Lan Yu was the only survivor, then where did this one in front of her come from?

A person who should not exist is sitting here alive, enjoying the wealth and luxury that should have belonged to that tragic woman.

Chen Ye desperately wanted to capture the woman immediately and interrogate her about her background. However, he ultimately suppressed this impulse, realizing that alerting her at this moment would be a poor strategy.

The emperor is the primary target of this trip.

He concealed all his presence, like a perfect stone sculpture, quietly "hanging" on the windowsill, patiently waiting.

It was getting light.

Chen Ye watched as the princess leisurely finished the plate of delicate osmanthus cake, then listlessly spread out Xuan paper, picked up a brush, and practiced calligraphy for a while. Her handwriting was elegant and quite graceful.

Finally, just as Chen Ye was about to lose patience, a sharp and long greeting came from outside the palace.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

Chen Ye breathed a sigh of relief. He had finally waited for this emperor to come and see his daughter every day. As the announcement ended, a middle-aged man in a bright yellow dragon robe with a refined appearance walked in, surrounded by a crowd.

Although he was over fifty, he was well-maintained, walked steadily, and looked like an emperor who commanded respect without anger.

But Chen Ye knew at a glance that the emperor's age was suspicious.

He planted the arrow of time, and he has probably lost more than ten years.

This person looks quite energetic, but he is actually already old and frail, and will probably die of old age in a few years.

Chen Ye didn't bother to investigate why the emperor also needed to borrow a life. It was too easy to fool an emperor; he could simply trick him into taking two pills, claiming they would prolong his life. Blood pills were enough to achieve that effect.

Once he lowers his guard, trick him into believing that the Arrow of Time will grant him "divine revelation" and allow him to control the future. There are many versions of this story. Then you can plant the Arrow of Time in him.

Of course, an even simpler way would be to take advantage of his inattention and stab him with two Time Arrows, ensuring that the emperor would only think it was a nightmare and wouldn't notice anything amiss.

There are too many methods; it doesn't matter whether you use force or deception.

However, since the emperor planted the Arrow of Time, he had to replace it.

When the emperor entered Princess Hongyu's palace, his gaze fell on his daughter, and all his majesty melted away instantly, leaving only love and doting in his eyes.

"Hongyu, how are you today? Did the pastries made by the imperial chefs suit your taste?" The emperor's voice was so gentle that it didn't sound like that of a monarch, but rather like that of an ordinary old father.

"Father!" Princess Hongyu immediately put down her brush and rushed forward like a joyful butterfly, affectionately taking the emperor's arm and saying coquettishly, "Why did you take so long, Father? I've been waiting for you for ages. The osmanthus cake was alright, but it was a bit too sweet. Next time, tell them to put less sugar in it."

"Alright, alright, whatever you say." The emperor laughed heartily, his eyes full of affection for his daughter. "Didn't I rush over as soon as court was over? Do you want to go for a stroll in the garden today, or go hunting? I can accompany you either way."

A loving father and a filial daughter, a scene of perfect harmony. If Chen Ye hadn't witnessed it with his own eyes, he would never have imagined that the emperor's family could be so warm and loving.

However, he didn't have time to continue observing. He saw Chen Ye gently blow a breath at the emperor through the window.

This breath was a mysterious Yin energy invisible to the naked eye of mortals, colorless and odorless, emanating from the soul itself, which Chen Ye had taken from the Myriad Souls Banner.

"...A sneeze!"

The emperor, who was chatting and laughing with his daughter, suddenly sneezed loudly without warning, and his body involuntarily trembled. A sudden chill shot from his tailbone to the top of his head, making him shiver instantly.

This ghostly energy is inherently harmful to people, and given the emperor's advanced age and frailty, he reacted almost immediately.

"Father?" Princess Hongyu asked with concern.

"It's nothing, perhaps I caught a chill outside the palace." The emperor waved his hand, trying to sound strong, but an indescribable feeling of fatigue and discomfort washed over him like a tide. He felt dizzy, weak in the knees, and even his vision blurred slightly.

Before he could finish speaking, he swayed and was quickly supported by the chief eunuch beside him.

"Pass on the Imperial Physician!"

As soon as the chief eunuch gave the order, chaos erupted inside the palace.

The news spread like wildfire throughout the palace. The Emperor was unwell—this was a matter of utmost importance! Within half an hour, the area outside the Emperor's bedchamber was filled with anxiously waiting princes and concubines.

Several of the most favored princes were allowed to enter and visit. Inside the palace, the warmth of ambergris was mingled with a lingering bitterness of medicine. The emperor lay pale on the dragon bed, his breath weak, while Princess Hongyu attended to him at his bedside.

"Imperial Physician, how is Father?" a prince wearing a golden crown and with an arrogant expression asked sternly. He was none other than the Second Prince of the court.

"Your Highness, His Majesty has caught a cold, and coupled with his recent busy work on state affairs, he is exhausted. He only needs to rest for a few days." Although the imperial physician spoke with great certainty, he still felt that something was amiss. His Majesty's cold had come on too suddenly and was not in accordance with common sense.

However, regardless of the circumstances, when the imperial physician made a diagnosis, he could be ambiguous, but he could never hesitate or stammer. If he hesitated, he would be blamed. Therefore, it had to be a cold caused by wind and cold, and he had to stay in bed to recuperate.

Upon hearing this, the Second Prince turned his head sharply, his gaze like a knife, piercing the tearful Princess Hongyu beside him: "Rest in peace? Father Emperor is full of vigor and was perfectly fine during the morning court session. Why did he catch a cold as soon as he came to your palace? Hongyu, what are you up to! Did you harm Father Emperor?!"

"Second Brother! What nonsense are you spouting!" Another prince with a gentle face immediately stepped forward, protecting Princess Hongyu behind him. This was the Third Prince. "Father is feeling unwell. As his elder brother, instead of sharing his burdens, you are here criticizing your sister without cause. What kind of logic is that!"

"I'm making baseless accusations? Everyone in this palace knows that Father Emperor listens to her every word! If she hadn't been pestering Father Emperor all day long, would Father Emperor be so exhausted?" The Second Prince pressed aggressively.

"Enough!" The Crown Prince, who had been silent all along, snapped, leaning on the edge of the bed with a worried expression. "Father is seriously ill, and you are all arguing here. What kind of behavior is this!"

The three princes were arguing, but Princess Hongyu remained silent. However, when she heard someone blaming her, she took her leave, leaving her brothers to argue.

Inside the palace, the princes vied to show off, regardless of whether the emperor could see them or not.

That's how you act; you have to act for your supporters, at least.

Chen Ye hid on the beam and took in all of this.

When a group of princes were arguing, he didn't care about their attitudes or their character. After all, once someone became emperor, they couldn't be considered an ordinary person, and their stance and character would change accordingly.

Chen Ye only cared about their age.

According to their titles, the Crown Prince is the eldest son of the legitimate wife, but the Second Prince and the Third Prince are actually older than the Crown Prince.

Without a doubt, these two also planted the Arrow of Time.

That's truly a ruthless scheme. Not only did the old emperor plant the Arrow of Time, but the princes weren't spared either. Soulfire Lord's move was truly brilliant. If it weren't for someone like Chen Ye, the righteous sects would probably be helpless. You can't expect the righteous sects to carry out a massacre or support a commoner's rebellion to overthrow the previous dynasty.

Chen Ye waited in the palace for a while longer, and more princes came upon hearing the news, making the palace even noisier.

Some princes couldn't tell from their appearance whether they had been implanted with the Arrow of Time, but Chen Ye quickly found his target.

The Eighth Prince... is twelve years old this year.

The youngest prince was too young to have the Arrow of Time implanted in him. Otherwise, if a two-year-old suddenly became twelve, wouldn't the palace be in complete chaos?

It's not impossible for him to become emperor at the age of twelve; just prepare a few high-ranking officials for him.

The candidates have been chosen; the remaining princes can be dealt with by simply letting them catch a cold occasionally.

Then came the selection of ministers.

Chen Ye was about to go outside quietly when he suddenly sensed a change in spiritual energy that was not weak.

Upon closer inspection, Chen Ye realized it was in the direction of Princess Hongyu's bedroom.

This time, Chen Ye did not hesitate and quickly flew to Princess Hongyu's palace, where he found the princess searching for something in her boudoir.

She touched a mechanism on the wardrobe, and a hidden compartment slowly opened.

Inside the hidden compartment, there was a black lacquered wooden box and an antique white jade plate.

Princess Hongyu opened the wooden box, inside which was a whole box of Time Arrows.

Chen Ye clenched his fists immediately. Could it be that the Time Arrows planted by the emperor and those princes were all the work of Hongyu County?
The emperor and princess's seemingly loving father and daughter relationship was all an act.

Chen Ye smiled wryly. It seemed that the person in front of him was not the same Hongyu from before.

(End of this chapter)