As the voice resounded, the smile on Empress Dowager Li’s face inside the Zhaixin Palace diminished slightly.
The cheerful atmosphere in the hall abruptly shifted, and Cheng Guang keenly sensed it, quietly stepping back a few paces to hide behind Mrs. Wu.
It seemed that Empress Dowager Li also had her close and distant kin, even at a family banquet, treating each person differently.
Clearly, Cheng Guang and Princess Yuemei of the Wu Clan held high status in Empress Dowager Li’s heart.
“If it were only the two of you coming to this family banquet hosted by the emperor, it would have been easier for this old woman,” Empress Dowager Li said with a hint of helplessness.
“Mother, what has happened?”
Princess Yuemei discerned something and curiously looked at Empress Dowager Li.
“What else could it be? It’s all about the Crown Prince’s issue.”
“Recently, the Court officials have already started to urge the emperor to appoint a Crown Prince. It’s also because of me; I deposed the former crown prince and installed Wu Shang as emperor, leading to the de facto demise of the legitimate eldest son succession system.”
“Now, these people below have started to fight over the matter of appointing the Crown Prince…”
Empress Dowager Li closed the Buddhist scripture she was holding and slightly furrowed her brows, “This family banquet, the emperor probably wants to gather everyone to see which prince this old woman thinks is capable of taking the Crown Prince’s position.”
Upon hearing these words, Princess Yuemei immediately understood.
The emperor was over a hundred years old and, according to the cultivator’s extended lifespan, still in his prime. However, even if Emperor Zhou could live another thousand years, the time to appoint a Crown Prince had come.
During the Ancestor’s time, the deposed crown prince held the title for three hundred years. If not for the Ancestor’s unexpected death, the journey of the crown prince would likely have continued for a while longer.
Three hundred years as Crown Prince, and yet the throne never became his; it was a wasted wait.
Thus, it was clear that becoming Crown Prince didn’t necessarily mean one would become the emperor.
Then why were they fighting over the position?
Princess Yuemei was puzzled.
Empress Dowager Li noticed Yuemei’s expression and simply uttered, “The Blood Pool that opens once every thirty years is about to open, and only the reigning Crown Prince can enter first. All other princes and princesses must wait their turn.”
Empress Dowager Li’s words made Yuemei suddenly remember, her face showing a surprised and astonished expression.
“If it’s for the Blood Pool, then it’s indeed worth their fight.”
The Blood Pool, also known as the Great Zhou Ancestral Blood Pool, is a secret treasure cultivated by the ancestors of the Great Zhou Imperial Family, nurtured with thousands of precious Heavenly-Earthly Spiritual Herbs, capable of enhancing the concentration of the royal bloodline.
The royal bloodline is the most revered bloodline in heaven and earth.
Among all the great dynasties within the Four Directions Mortal World, it is said that the royal bloodlines originated from the same source in antiquity. However, due to historical reasons, during the long course of history, they have diverged, with every bloodline developing slight differences. But one thing remains the same.
That is, only the royal bloodline can cultivate the path of Spirit Dao.
Among cultivators of the same realm, those of Spirit Dao cultivation can often crush those of Martial Cultivation, which has established the extraordinary status of the royal families between heaven and earth.
Spirit Dao cultivation, aside from depending on an individual’s comprehension, is even more critically linked to the concentration of bloodline.
The more concentrated the royal bloodline, the better the aptitude for Spirit Dao cultivation, and the Blood Pool is the secret treasure that can enhance the concentration of bloodline, which shows its immense value.
The Blood Pool requires a considerable amount of Heavenly-Earthly Spiritual Herbs to nourish and only opens once every thirty years, with only a few people able to enter each time.
Missing this opportunity, the remaining royal descendants who have not entered the Blood Pool must wait another thirty years.
The gap of thirty years cannot be made up with overnight efforts.
At this moment, whether it’s appointing the Crown Prince or the Blood Pool, both have disturbed the hitherto calm waters of the harem.
Princess Yuemei now understood why her mother looked troubled upon hearing about the Empress and several Noble Consorts’ arrival.
No matter which prince, she loved them dearly, but fair distribution of her affection was ultimately impossible.
Who wouldn’t hope their child becomes Crown Prince? Who wouldn’t wish their child to be the first to enter the Blood Pool?
After all, every family has its problems, and the imperial family is no different.
Cheng Guang had heard only a few words, yet he had largely grasped the situation.
But he had no desire to get involved, nor could he. At this moment, the ultimate goal of his visit was to be invisible, to avoid drawing attention to himself.
A smaller goal was to find the future Empress Wu Ling, to see what kind of person she was at this time, and conveniently complete the system task, if possible.
Cheng Guang’s gaze turned toward the palace door.
Soon, a procession entered in a grand manner.
“This consort pays her respects to the Empress Dowager, wishing you eternal blessings and a life as long as the heavens,” they said.
As the voice sounded, Cheng Guang looked over.
It was a lavishly dressed woman, extremely well maintained, with only a trace of time visible on her face, her eyes revealing a full sense of dignity and beauty, revealing her to be a top-tier beauty.
This was Empress Wang of the Great Zhou Imperial Family.
She was the daughter of the Grand Secretary of the current cabinet. Empress Wang had a gentle demeanor, and beside her was a man wearing a golden Python Robe. He did not seem old, with a sense of composure in his brows.
This man was Empress Wang’s eldest son and the legitimate eldest son of the current emperor, Wu Ming.
Wu Ming was nearly thirty, but years of cultivation made him appear much younger, around twenty-something, slightly older than Cheng Guang.