Chapter 364: Big Sister, Why is This Imperial Prison Empty?
Arriving near the Imperial Prison, Chu Xin had the maid return to the Yu Palace. Then, she led Chu Chen and the Two-Headed Little Pig, swaying their little butts as they walked towards the entrance of the Imperial Prison.
“Stop. This is an important area of the Imperial Palace. Without the Empress’s decree or documents from the Ministry of Justice, entry is forbidden.”
The Imperial Prison guards drew their long swords and spoke in a cold tone.
“You two little ones, this is the Imperial Prison, not a place for you to play. Leave quickly.”
One of the guards spoke in a much gentler tone.
“We can’t go in?”
Chu Xin tilted her little head, took out the Golden Dragon Token, and said with a puzzled look, “But Her Majesty the Empress said that with this token, I could go anywhere except the Martial God Mansion. Did Her Majesty the Empress lie to me?”
Thud!
As soon as these words were spoken, all the Imperial Prison guards knelt on the ground, cold sweat dripping down their faces.
“We were unaware that Young Miss possessed the Golden Dragon Token. Please forgive our negligence.”
The Imperial Prison guards said in unison, their heads bowed to the ground, their hearts filled with fear.
To see the Golden Dragon Token was to see Her Majesty. Disrespecting the holder of the Golden Dragon Token was disrespecting Her Majesty. If Her Majesty were to investigate, it would be a capital offense.
“Then can we go in?”
Chu Xin weighed the Golden Dragon Token in her hand and asked in a childish voice.
“Yes, of course.”
Hearing this, the Imperial Prison guards quickly made way.
As Chu Xin said, the holder of the Golden Dragon Token could go anywhere in the Imperial Palace, except for Her Majesty’s bedchamber and the Martial God Mansion.
A token of this level had not appeared for many, many years. How could this little toddler have one? Could she be Her Majesty’s illegitimate daughter?
The Two Provinces Grand Competition was not made public. Only the prodigies of the two provinces, the Martial Emperors from the Middle Province, and a few important officials knew about it. These Imperial Prison guards, who had been guarding the Imperial Prison for many years, naturally had no opportunity to know.
“Then we’re going in?”
Chu Xin blinked her big eyes and said excitedly.
Beside her, Chu Chen also looked eagerly into the Imperial Prison.
As long as they entered the Imperial Prison, they could find their mother and rescue her.
“Please!”
The Imperial Prison guards extended their hands and bowed, their attitudes extremely respectful.
This little toddler held the Golden Dragon Token. No matter how she got it, they dared not stop her. Moreover, all the prisoners in the Imperial Prison had been transferred to the front lines to form the Cannon Fodder Army. The Imperial Prison was empty, so there was no fear of any accidents.
“Young Miss, the Imperial Prison is very large. Allow me to guide you.”
A more quick-witted guard said respectfully and expectantly.
This little toddler possessed the Golden Dragon Token at such a young age. Even if she wasn’t Her Majesty’s illegitimate daughter, she definitely had a close relationship with Her Majesty. If he could build a good relationship with her, he might have a chance for promotion in the future.
“Okay!”
Chu Xin nodded, put away the Golden Dragon Token, and waved her little white hand, leading Chu Chen and the Two-Headed Little Pig into the Imperial Prison with a swagger. The guard followed closely behind, guiding them.
“Ah, why am I so slow-witted?”
After Chu Xin and the others entered the Imperial Prison, the remaining Imperial Prison guards beat their chests in regret.
Unfortunately, there was only one chance, and once missed, it would not come again.
“Young Miss, this is where the Level One prisoners are held. The further down we go, the higher the level of the prisoners.” The Imperial Prison guard respectfully explained.
Chu Xin looked at the cells on both sides of the corridor and asked curiously, “Prisoners have levels?”
The Imperial Prison guard nodded and said, “The Imperial Prison has nine levels, and the prisoners are also divided into nine levels. The higher the level of the prisoner, the stronger they are and the more serious their crimes. Level One to Three prisoners are basically cultivators below the Martial King realm. Level Four to Six prisoners are cultivators from Martial King to Martial Ancestor. Level Seven prisoners are all Martial Venerables. Level Eight prisoners are all Martial Saints. Level Nine prisoners have reached the Martial Emperor realm and are held in the Ninth Level of the Imperial Prison. Throughout history, only one person has ever been held in the Ninth Level of the Imperial Prison, and she is a woman. As for what crime she committed, no one knows.”
A woman?
Chu Xin’s eyes lit up. She almost subconsciously thought of her mother.
She turned to look at Chu Chen and saw the excitement in her little brother’s eyes. Clearly, the two siblings had the same thought.
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“Then take us to the Ninth Level of the Imperial Prison quickly.”
Chu Chen urged impatiently.
“Huh?”
The Imperial Prison guard was stunned, a hint of doubt in his eyes. These two little toddlers seemed very eager to go to the Ninth Level of the Imperial Prison?
Seeing this, Chu Xin glared at Chu Chen. She turned back and said with a smile, “He’s just curious about what the person held in the Ninth Level of the Imperial Prison looks like. Don’t mind him. Let’s look at each level one by one. I’ve heard from Dad that this Imperial Prison is the most secure prison in all of the Nine Provinces. Once you enter the Imperial Prison, no one can escape. Since we’re here, we should take a good look.”
At the mention of this, the Imperial Prison guard immediately beamed with pride. “That’s right. This Imperial Prison was created by the Old Martial God and has Martial God-level restrictions. It is definitely the most secure prison in the Nine Provinces. Even if a Martial Emperor entered, they would not be able to escape.”
“So impressive.”
Chu Xin gave a thumbs up. This was a gesture that Dad often used to praise them.
Seeing this, the Imperial Prison guard puffed out his chest, looking very proud.
Chu Xin tugged at Chu Chen’s sleeve and whispered in his ear, “Little Brother, can your Spatial Transfer Ring be used now?”
Chu Chen nodded and whispered, “I can use a random teleport once.”
“Good!”
Chu Xin nodded. Once they found their mother, they would use the Spatial Transfer Ring to teleport out. No matter where they were teleported to, it would be better than staying in this Imperial Prison.
Dad seemed to be a Martial God too. The restrictions Dad set couldn’t limit the Spatial Transfer Ring, so the Martial God restrictions in this Imperial Prison definitely couldn’t limit it either.
At this moment, Chu Chen looked around and tugged at Chu Xin’s sleeve again. He whispered, “Big Sister, why is this Imperial Prison empty?”
“That’s right.”
Chu Xin’s little brows furrowed slightly. She turned to the Imperial Prison guard and asked, “Big Brother, why are there no prisoners in the First Level of the Imperial Prison?”
The Imperial Prison guard smiled and said, “Fire Province and Cloud Province have rebelled. The rebel armies of the two provinces are attacking the Middle Province. It is said that there are also invulnerable Blood Puppets. Not long ago, Her Majesty issued a decree to gather all the prisoners that could be mobilized from the Nine Provinces to form a Cannon Fodder Army, intending to use a sea of people to wear down those Blood Puppets. All the prisoners in the Imperial Prison have been transferred. Now the entire Imperial Prison is empty.”
“Empty?”
Chu Xin was stunned. She asked, “Then the prisoner in the Ninth Level of the Imperial Prison is also gone?”
“Yes!”
The Imperial Prison guard nodded.
Hearing this, Chu Xin and Chu Chen simultaneously stopped in their tracks.
“What’s wrong?”
The Imperial Prison guard asked with a puzzled look.
Chu Xin thought for a moment and asked, “Big Brother, do you know where the prisoner in the Ninth Level of the Imperial Prison was taken? To Cloud Province? Or Fire Province?”
“I don’t know.”
The Imperial Prison guard shook his head and said, “But the battlefield is not in Fire Province or Cloud Province. It’s on the northwest border and the far south border of the Middle Province. I heard the Martial Emperor who came to extract the prisoners say that they were to be taken to Wolf City in the northwest and Blazing Fire City in the far south.”
“I see.”
Chu Xin’s brows furrowed. Then she looked at the Imperial Prison guard and smiled, “Big Brother, we’ve seen enough. We should go now. Thank you, Big Brother.”
With that, she took Chu Chen’s hand and walked out.
Seen enough?
But they haven’t even finished looking at the First Level.
The Imperial Prison guard stood there, dumbfounded.