Although his words sounded respectful, his back was ramrod - straight, exuding an air of great official authority.
The sight of him made my blood boil. I glared angrily at Xue Liang. Next to me, Jun He hated him to the core. He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles cracked.
I reached out and tugged at Jun He, reminding him to stay calm. He turned his eyes to look at me, and his tense fists slowly relaxed. He shook his head at me, indicating that I didn't need to worry, that he was calm.
"Your Highness, Crown Prince Yuan, what's this your subordinate is carrying? No random items are allowed in the Heavenly Court. We'll have to keep it for you for the time being."
His tone was so sarcastic that it was really annoying.
Gu Yuan curled his lips, gave Xue Liang a sidelong glance, and then waved at Jun He, signaling him to hand the package in his hand to Xue Liang.
Jun He was initially worried and didn't really want to hand over the item. But seeing Gu Yuan's determined look, he held the package in front of Xue Liang.
Xue Liang stepped forward with big strides, placed the whisk on his elbow, and was just about to untie the package when Gu Yuan stopped him.
"This is a gift for His Majesty, the Heavenly Emperor. Are you sure you want to untie it?"
Gu Yuan's eyes were cold and filled with a murderous aura. After just one look, Xue Liang immediately stopped what he was doing and didn't dare to untie it.
Just as he was about to reach out to take the package, Gu Yuan said coldly again, "Kneel down to receive it."
Hearing Gu Yuan's words, Xue Liang's previously smug face instantly fell.
He was a favorite under the Heavenly Emperor. Back then, although Gu Yuan was the crown prince, in Xue Liang's eyes, he was just an out - of - favor son of the Heavenly Emperor, with less authority than even a eunuch like him.
Now that Gu Yuan had returned to the Heavenly Realm, it was probably because the Heavenly Emperor remembered old feelings and recalled him. His return to the Heavenly Realm would surely enhance his prestige, which was unprecedented.
He was different from Gu Yuan. Gu Yuan had also returned to the Heavenly Realm after being demoted. But all of us, including me and all the other immortals in the Heavenly Realm, knew the real reason.
Gu Yuan was able to return because the Dragon Scales had rebelled. The Heavenly Emperor was struggling to fight against them and needed a scapegoat, so he recalled Gu Yuan to the palace.
A person who was originally out of favor, now that he had returned to the Heavenly Realm, the first thing he did when seeing Xue Liang was to put him in his place in front of so many people.
Xue Liang felt utterly humiliated. But after all, Gu Yuan was the master and he was the servant. Due to Gu Yuan's status as the crown prince, he naturally didn't dare to be negligent.
Xue Liang's rigid features twitched, and he forced a smile that didn't reach his eyes. He had no choice but to obediently put down the whisk in his hand, kneel on both knees, raise his hands above his head, and respectfully receive the package from Jun He.
"You'd better hold it steady. If there's any mistake, you'll lose your head."
Xue Liang stood up from the ground, his head bowed very low. I could even feel his back teeth trembling as he said, "Of course I wouldn't dare to be negligent, Crown Prince Yuan. All the immortals have already gathered. Please follow this humble servant to the Purple Star Palace to meet His Majesty, the Heavenly Emperor."
After Xue Liang finished speaking, holding the package in his hand, his narrow fox - like eyes looked in the direction of the Purple Star Palace.
Gu Yuan gave Xue Liang a sidelong glance, curled his lips slightly, and strode towards the Purple Star Palace.
At this moment, a group of immortals had already gathered in the Purple Star Palace. When Gu Yuan led us into the palace, the previously noisy hall instantly fell silent.
The immortals were standing in the Purple Star Palace, but none of them bowed down to pay homage.
Even when Gu Yuan and Long Jin walked to the middle of the hall, the immortals still looked disdainful.
A thousand years ago, Gu Yuan was an out - of - the - way crown prince. Later, he was deposed for various reasons. A thousand years later, he ascended to the position of the crown prince again.
Naturally, the immortals were not willing to submit. Or perhaps this was the will of the Heavenly Emperor. Although Gu Yuan had returned as the crown prince, no matter what, he was still second in rank and could never overshadow the Heavenly Emperor.
But Gu Yuan didn't care about these things at all. He came today not only to settle the score with the Dragon Scales but also to settle things with Xue Liang and even the Heavenly Emperor.
Long Jin held the imperial edict of the Heavenly Emperor in his hand and said to all the immortals in the hall, "Crown Prince Long Yuan has been restored to his position. All immortals, pay your respects."
The group of immortals stood in the hall, looking at each other and whispering, but none of them bowed or paid homage.
At this time, seeing the reaction of the ministers, Xue Liang seemed to have some plan in mind. Holding the package in his hand, he looked at Gu Yuan and Long Jin smugly.
"Your Highness, Long Jin, the immortals have their reasons for not kneeling. Firstly, the position of the crown prince is second only to the emperor. Now that he has been restored to his position after being demoted, he should have made great achievements to return to the Heavenly Realm. As far as I know, Crown Prince Yuan only became a low - level earthly immortal when he went to the mortal world, and the number of people in his sect was very small. Just two days ago, his sect was on the verge of disbanding. So..."
He scratched his head and said uncomfortably, "...Can such an un - authoritative crown prince really hold the position of the crown prince?"
This guy really hadn't seen Gu Yuan get angry. He was really tired of living.
After hearing Xue Liang's words, Gu Yuan wasn't angry at all. Instead, a cold and murderous look flashed in his deep eyes. It seemed that he had been waiting for Xue Liang to say these words.
Gu Yuan took a step forward and said to Xue Liang, "Do you think I'm not authoritative enough?"
Relying on the support of the immortals, Xue Liang straightened his back. In his eyes, it seemed that he was the master and Gu Yuan was the servant.
"This isn't just my opinion. All the immortals think so."
Hearing the conversation between Gu Yuan and Xue Liang, the immortals below started to talk even more.
They were just like onlookers, enjoying the show and not afraid of things getting too big.
"Fine. I'll show you what real authority is."
After Gu Yuan finished speaking, he waved his hand, and the package in Xue Liang's hand suddenly opened.
Xue Liang's body stiffened slightly, and he quickly lowered his head to look at the contents of the package.
A pile of eerie white bones appeared in the package. The skull on top of the bones had empty, gloomy eye sockets. Although there were no eyes, it seemed to be able to seize people's souls and stared directly at Xue Liang.
Xue Liang was startled when he suddenly saw the pile of bones. Thinking that he had carried it for so long, he gasped in horror, and his hair stood on end.
"What... What... What is this?" With that, he threw the bones in his hand out.
"Jun He..." Gu Yuan roared angrily.
In the blink of an eye, Jun He received the order. A black shadow passed through Xue Liang, and he caught the package with one hand. In less than half a second, when Xue Liang looked back, he was holding a memorial tablet in his hand.
On it was clearly written: The Tablet of Gu Qingcheng.
Xue Liang stared at the three blood - red characters of "Gu Qingcheng" with his narrow eyes. Fresh blood was constantly dripping onto the characters.
The scarlet blood flowed down the characters on the memorial tablet, drop by drop, to the ground.