Chapter 47: Disaster Strikes, Three Demons of the Queen's Palace Pay Homage to the Saint

  "Come on, why don't you take down the Viscount of Xi Bo!" Huang Feihu saw that Ji Chang was momentarily speechless and immediately gave the order. His trusted followers heard the command, nodded in agreement, and rushed towards the Viscount of Xi Bo together.

  Xī Bó Hóu had previously thought that Shāng Róng, although being conservative, was after all a high-ranking minister of commerce. In such circumstances, driving away the old prime minister would have unexpected effects later on. However, he did not expect that his attempt to show off his loyalty to the emperor would instead bring him calamity and leave him speechless!

  Ji Chang saw the crowd coming, and he was extremely flustered. In his urgent situation, he suddenly remembered the words of Guiguzi, took out a pellet of incense from his sleeve, lit it, and a refreshing fragrance wafted through the air, causing everyone to scatter in all directions!

  Ji Chang suddenly felt a fragrance and his face turned earthy yellow. He hastily cried out: "That Taoist is harming me!"

  "Sensual fragrance!" All the ministers heard it and frowned, hearing Zhong Da shouting loudly, his long sleeves fluttering, dispersing the scent, pointing at Ji Chang, "Still dazed, what's going on? The Emperor wrote this poem, must have been affected by this person's evil, don't quickly take him down!"

  "Your...!" Ji Chang didn't even have time to speak before he was knocked to the ground by a group of soldiers, who then dragged him away without hesitation!

  "Preposterous! Absolutely preposterous! Such a major event, yet you come up with such an inauspicious outcome. You are bullying me, the lone widow!" Zhang Emperor Xin was even more enraged, kicking over several nearby tables with one foot, and storming off with a flick of his sleeve.

  All the officials also thought that this grand celebration would have such a twist, seeing the emperor's anger, they didn't dare to come and persuade him, they could only awkwardly shrug their shoulders and respectfully send Zhang Emperor Xin away...

  Zhang Yizhen had previously gone to deceive Ji Chang, thinking that King Zhou of Shang had once written lewd poems in the Temple of Nuwa, so he had prepared aphrodisiac incense early on to entice the Marquis of Western Zhou.

  In the Western Qi, Zhang Emperor Xin had already welcomed the heavenly master's account, and all the rituals and trivial matters he had gone through were informed. If what was said was true, then the move to replace heaven could be carried out; if not, with this fragrant letter, it would also be possible to ensure his safety and nothing untoward happening.

  Ji Chang secretly thought that this person followed the Upper Immortal Yun Zhongzi, and must also be a high-ranking Taoist who had attained the Way. He shouldn't deceive himself, but despite his doubts, he agreed to follow him. As they traveled along the road, everything happened just as Guiguzi had said, even the arrangement of the carriages was identical, which made Ji Chang believe it even more.

  It was the Son of Heaven's poem, Shang Rong's remonstrance, a completely disrupted plan. Ji Chang originally wanted to suppress it, but unexpectedly disaster was approaching, and even hiding couldn't avoid it. This ignited the incense of faith, Wen Zhong had been worried about the affair of the incense of emotions, seeing an opportunity to protect the Son of Heaven's reputation, he loudly shouted.

  Ji Chang was momentarily flustered, lit incense to pray, but fell into the Emperor's trap. Even if he wanted to shirk responsibility, there was no way out, only surrender. Zhang Emperor Xin had long been resentful of Shang Rong for ruining his plans, and now he had an excuse, so he pretended to be angry and left the palace, no longer bothering with the aftermath.

  As the night deepened, the lights in the Queen's Palace remained bright. Zhang Emperor Xin stood before the jade tablet, gazing at it for a long time before finally speaking: "If not for the Grand Master, I...".

  "Your Majesty's reputation is the foundation of the country, if I don't maintain it, who will? Wen Zhong, regarding today's singing and blackening the pot, was thoroughly convinced. However, with a change in tone, he didn't express concern, "Your Majesty, today's Flying Tiger affair may have gone too far. If Xiqi rises up in arms, I fear Yin Shang will be in trouble."

  Zhang Di Xin was also helpless in this matter. If it weren't for the great affairs of heaven, the vassals from all directions wouldn't need to pay their respects, and even if they didn't see each other for a decade or two, it would be normal. Except for the coronation of the new emperor and the grand celebration of Nuwa, it would be difficult to see the old fox, Marquis Xi, again. At this time, he was not imprisoned, but in ten years, the national power of Xiqi would rise greatly, which would be even more troublesome.

  "As for the matter of Xi Qi, send someone to comfort and appease him. Ji Chang can take control immediately, but absolutely must not harm his life." As for Huang Feihu's matter, naturally Zhang Emperor Xin had given instructions beforehand, telling him to take action according to circumstances, now he has captured the Marquis of Western Zhou.

  Zhang Emperor Xin did not want to force the Western Qí into a desperate situation, directly provoking a war across the land. The imperial court had been accumulating poverty for a long time, and since the time of Wu Ding, there was not enough money or grain in the treasury. After passing through the reigns of Tai Ding and Emperor Yi, when it came to Emperor Xin's hands, the situation became even more dire, with expenses exceeding income, no grain in hand, and tigers staring from all sides. If this battle is fought now, defeat is certain.

  "I humbly obey Your Majesty's orders." Wen Zhong replied, his eyes fixed on the poem written on the wall. He furrowed his brow slightly and said, "The incense offering is a grand affair, I fear there may be some heavenly family secretly plotting against you. Your Majesty should remain vigilant in the future. The emotional desire incense held today is of the highest quality, yet it's still an ordinary product, unlike the fragrance in the palace today, which seems to be of a celestial class."

  Zhang Di Xin nodded, that aphrodisiac was indeed made by himself, and the difference in quality was naturally understood. Bi Gan pondered for a long time before slowly opening his mouth: "Your Majesty, the matter of the Western Duke is also likely to be a case of being secretly plotted against. Although it's a miscarriage of justice, some measures can still be taken to let Xiqi collect his thoughts."

  "This matter is known to few, Your Majesty need not worry." Zhang Emperor Xin waved his hand and said, in his heart he was more worried about the poem on the wall. He had already sent someone to clean it off, but no matter how they tried, they couldn't erase it completely, even using tiger bone powder to scrape it off, it was still difficult to remove a single stroke. "Instead, this matter requires the Grand Tutor's attention."

  Wen Zhong nodded, but in private he was self-reproaching. As a cultivator, he couldn't even resolve this small matter properly. Bi Gan saw that things had come to this and wanted to leave, but when he reached the door, he turned around and said: "Your Majesty, regarding Shang Rong's case..."

  Although Shang Rong is old-fashioned, he is ultimately a loyal and patriotic person. Zhang Emperor Xin has mixed feelings about him, but can't help it, and can only bitterly smile: "The old prime minister's remonstrance has merit, reward with 100 pieces of brocade, and 3,000 servants."

  "Thank you, Your Majesty..." Shang Rong and Wen Zhongyuan thought that if Shang Rong could save his life, it would be fine, but he didn't expect to receive a reward as well. Overjoyed in his heart, he thanked the emperor for his kindness and then withdrew.

  Zhang Di Xin stood alone facing the wall, thinking that this matter had already been settled, and there was no need to make any changes. It would be better to let things unfold naturally, rather than trying to embellish or disguise them.

  After everyone left, a group of people sneaked into the Nuwa Palace. The leader, a stout man, ordered the others: "Hurry up, hurry up! Remember to draw it exactly as it is, make sure it's true to life, remember!"

  Everyone nodded, unfolded the brocade in front of the statue of Nüwa, and began to draw. After everyone finished, that fat man took a look at the poem on the wall, his eyes rolled over, and suddenly a plan came to mind, arranging for someone to do this and that...

  But it is said that the Queen of Heaven, Nüwa, was born on the 15th day of the third month and went to the Huoyun Palace to pay respects to Fuxi, Yandi, and Xuanyuan San Sheng. After discussing the Tao for a long time, she returned home. On her way back to the palace, she happened to meet the Golden Mother of the Jade Pool, which excited her and delayed her return by several more days before finally returning to the Wuhuang Palace on Fengqiu Mountain.

  "Saintly Mother, the mortal world is celebrating a cycle of sixty years. This time, the incense and candles for worship are more prosperous than before." The Goddess Nüwa put down the blue phoenix and a white-robed boy with cloudy patterns hurried forward to welcome her.

  The number of Jiazi, how did it pass so quickly? It was as if I hadn't noticed. The goddess Nüwa thought to herself, and happened to have received a few more peaches from the heavenly realm: "White-haired boy, you can go now, if you see a virtuous person, give this peach to that person."

  The peaches can prolong life and benefit longevity, in the eyes of many immortals, they may be seen as a delicacy, but in the eyes of Nüwa, they are like weeds. If it weren't for her birthday, she wouldn't want to lose face in front of the heavenly court, this thing would have been given away to the previous few plants, and it still depends on the mood of the holy one.

  Bai Ze Tongzi received the order of Nuwa, and with a nod, he went down to the lower realm. When he returned after counting the time, his forehead was covered in sweat and his face was pale. At this moment, Nuwa was sitting cross-legged in the precious hall, seeing him like this, she opened her mouth and asked: "What's wrong, why are you so flustered?"

  "Reporting to the queen, that heavenly master...that heavenly master..." The crime of being indecent to a holy person is what kind of sin? Bai Que didn't know how to speak, only managed to draw out a white cloud in the air, the white cloud slowly moved and slid out a mirror. In the mirror's reflection was the scene of Gu Ling Mountain's Nu Wa Palace.

  This is the Queen of Heaven's mirror, which can reflect all things in the four directions and know all matters in the four directions. When Nuwa looked at it, she saw inside the nine tripod furnace with fragrance rising, a golden plaque with the words "Nuwa Temple" hanging above the temple, six feet away from Nuwa's body, behind her was a tight lotus flower, auspicious clouds were born.

  Suddenly, the picture in the mirror changed, and several lines of poetry appeared on the pink wall. The Queen of Heaven saw it and became angry, scolding: "The tyrannical and unrighteous king Zhou of Shang is not thinking of cultivating his virtues to ensure peace in the world. Instead, he dares to defy heaven, recite poems that insult me, which is detestable! I think of Tang's conquest of Jie and becoming the ruler of the world, enjoying a reign of over 600 years, my fate has been exhausted; if I don't give him some retribution, I won't see my divine inspiration."

  After saying that, the Goddess Nuwa snapped her fingers to calculate, but unexpectedly, the emperor's aura was flourishing, and two red lights seemed to hold up the sky, vaguely surging. Only then did she look down and inform Yin Shang that there were still 28 years of national fortune left, and it would not be good to make another move, lest the heavenly machine be disrupted.

  After thinking for a long time, the Nuwa Goddess still felt that her anger had not dissipated. She said to the White-snake Boy: "Boy, take out the golden gourd."

  The White Bone Demon Child listened to the order, took out the golden gourd and placed it under the Danzhu, lifted the gourd lid, and pointed with one hand. A white light emerged from the gourd, as thick as a thread, four or five zhang high!

  Above the white light, a banner emerged, its radiance divided into five colors, auspiciously reflecting thousands of rays. It was called the "Banner to Summon Demons". This banner was an ancient and extraordinary object, as all the demons under heaven gathered their essence and blood here in gratitude for Nüwa's benevolence in saving the world, waiting at all times to be dispatched.

  Before long, the sorrowful wind blew strongly, and the miserable fog spread all around. The dark clouds gathered from all sides, and after several gusts of wind had passed, all the demons in the world arrived at the palace to await the orders of the goddess Nuwa. Goddess Nuwa looked down upon the crowd of demons and saw that one person was missing from the front row. She frowned and said: "The world is about to change, three years later, the disaster will begin, you can avoid it by hiding in the mountains and cultivating, so as not to be affected by the disaster. Those who are willing to face the disaster should take action when they see the opportunity and make early preparations."

  The crowd of demons listened and, although they didn't dare to speak privately, each had their own thoughts. They all knelt down and said: "Thank you, Holy Mother, for your guidance."

  Nüwa ordered, and the White-clad Boy spoke in front of the platform: "All you demons from various places retreat, leaving only three demons to guard the Xuanyuan Tomb."

  Xuanyuan Tomb's three demons, one is a thousand-year-old fox spirit, one is a nine-headed pheasant spirit, and one is a jade-stone pipa spirit. The three of them heard that Nüwa Niangniang had summoned them, all were overjoyed, thinking that the saint was keeping them behind, there must be good fortune.

  Three people knelt down outside the Queen of Heaven's Palace, seeing four sides of silk and jade dripping, emerald flowing, under the red pillar and green eaves, a colorful sail flying in the air: "The Holy Mother's longevity is boundless, the three demons of Xuanyuan Hill seek an audience."

  "Nüwa Niangniang is calling you to come in." On this side, the White-clad Boy came out to invite them. The three demons felt extremely honored and their footsteps became even lighter as they entered the palace gates. Before they could pay their respects, Nüwa Niangniang asked: "Do you know where that monkey has gone?"

  Sorry about that, today's update for Lock City is late~~