Journey to the West: Demon Emperor: Beginning as a Little Toad

Chapter 522 The Queen Mother Asks for a Poem
"Boundary..."

Upon hearing Wan Shenglongnu mention the barrier outside the Queen Mother's herb garden, Xiao Chen's thoughts drifted to the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong.

In fact, Sun Wukong is also very good at creating barriers.

With his Ruyi Jingu Bang in hand, Sun Wukong casually waved his hand on the ground, creating a "circular barrier" that possessed immense power.

Sun Wukong's seemingly simple action is actually an extremely powerful spatial magic called "drawing a circle on the ground as a prison".

In Sun Wukong's words:

"The circle drawn by Old Sun is stronger than a copper wall and an iron wall. No matter what tigers, leopards, wolves, insects, demons and monsters, none of them dare to come near it."

"But you are not allowed to step outside the circle; you must remain seated in the middle to ensure your safety!"

However, although Tang Sanzang had a compassionate heart, he was stubborn by nature.

Faced with the life-saving circle drawn by Sun Wukong, Tang Sanzang always found it difficult to heed advice.

At crucial moments, Tang Sanzang's kind heart would always drive him to step out of his comfort zone and perform what he called "good deeds."

But once he stepped out, Tang Sanzang was like a lamb entering a tiger's den, often easily captured by monsters lurking in the shadows, causing countless troubles and dangers.

This happened repeatedly, until Sun Wukong was utterly helpless.

Later, Sun Wukong simply stopped drawing that circle.

After all, Tang Seng doesn't listen to you; he just wants to run outside the circle.

Even if Sun Wukong draws it, it's useless; it's all in vain.

"The Great Sage Equaling Heaven's Abode, Sun Wukong..."

Xiao Chen thought of Sun Wukong and his heart stirred.

He heard from the other heavenly soldiers at the banquet, such as Yang Xinghe, Zhao Tiezhu, and Shi Dalang, that the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, Sun Wukong, had also come to the banquet later.

Although Xiao Chen did not know where Sun Wukong was before.

But it is now certain that Sun Wukong is definitely in the Heavenly Court.

Sun Wukong's "transformation skills" were superb. He stole peaches from the Heavenly Peach Banquet, disrupted the Peach Banquet, stole and ate the Jade Elixir and the Eight Treasures, and stole the Golden Elixir from the Tushita Palace... He was also a monkey who was good at stealing.

"Once the matter at Yaochi is settled, I will find an opportunity and a proper way to visit Sun Wukong at the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's residence."

"With Sun Wukong's help, the 'stealing of the Heavenly Court' will be much easier!"

Xiao Chen thought to himself.

……

Inside the Jade Pool Golden Mother Palace, the atmosphere was so oppressive it seemed like water could be squeezed out of it.

The Queen Mother of the West sat regally on the Kunlun Jade Throne, surrounded by swirling clouds and mist, yet she could not conceal the sharp majesty and subtle displeasure between her brows.

The fairy Su'e and the jade rabbit spirit were brought to the hall, where they both knelt down with a thud, their heads bowed low, not daring to even breathe.

The Jade Rabbit Spirit's eyes still burned with lingering anger, and her full breasts heaved violently with her rapid breathing, as if she was still indignant about the fierce battle that had just taken place.

She exuded an unruly nature, like a wild rabbit that had been thoroughly provoked and was ready to pounce again at any moment. Even in the majestic Jade Pool Golden Mother Palace, she could not hide her stubbornness and unwillingness.

The Fairy Su'e, on the other hand, looked disheveled, her clothes were in disarray, her hair was loose, a few strands of black hair fell down her cheeks, her face was as pale as paper, her eyes were full of panic and confusion, and she looked "wronged and pitiful".

Upon seeing the Queen Mother of the West, she hurriedly struggled to kneel and pay her respects, her voice trembling with tears, and rushed forward, sobbing as she pleaded:
"Your Majesty, you must do me justice!"

"This jade rabbit fought fiercely in the Jade Pool. Its ferocity was extreme, and it almost killed me. If that had happened, I would never have seen Your Majesty again."

The Jade Emperor possesses a "Haotian Mirror," which can perceive all things in the Three Realms.

The Queen Mother of the West also has a "Kunlun Mirror".

The Kunlun Mirror is also known as the "Heavenly Secret Mirror".

Although this mirror is slightly inferior to the "Haotian Mirror", it still possesses the ability to discern celestial secrets and deduce past and future events.

When the Fairy Chang'e and the Jade Rabbit were brought here, the Queen Mother of the West had already clearly deduced the whole story through the "Kunlun Mirror," and everything was under her control.

However, most people are unaware that the Queen Mother of the West possesses this treasure.

Both emperors and emperors have their own secrets; how can they be left to others to speculate on at will?

This magical artifact, the "Kunlun Mirror," is one of the Queen Mother of the West's secret treasures.

The Queen Mother of the West coldly surveyed the two of them.

at last.

The Queen Mother of the West spoke slowly, her voice cold and majestic:
"Jade Rabbit, as the fairy who pounds medicine, you should be conscientious and dutiful in your duties."

"Yet, in a fit of anger, you fought fiercely in Yaochi, nearly causing a death and breaking the rules of Heaven. Do you know your crime?"

The Jade Rabbit spirit suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with grievance and resentment, and said loudly:
"Your Majesty, it's not that the Jade Rabbit is deliberately causing trouble; it's that Su'e is going too far!"

"She coveted the secret formula for the Empress's longevity elixir and tried to peek at it. When I discovered her, she not only refused to admit her mistake but also verbally abused me and even hit me. I could no longer tolerate it, so I..."

The Queen Mother frowned slightly, her gaze shifting to the Fairy Chang'e, her voice growing increasingly cold:

“Su’e, as a seventh-rank celestial maiden of the Heavenly Court, you should uphold your celestial duties, devote yourself to cultivation, and serve the Heavenly Court.”

"But you, instead of being ambitious, harbor wicked intentions and try to obtain the formula for the elixir of immortality."

"How is this any different from the petty thieves and scoundrels of the mortal world?"

"This time, you once again provoked Yutu, causing a conflict. What do you have to say about that?"

Fairy Su'e originally wanted to continue lying and make up some excuses to absolve herself.

But when she met the Queen Mother's icy, all-seeing gaze, she felt a sudden chill in her heart.

That gaze was like a sharp blade, piercing straight into the depths of her soul, exposing all her pretense and lies.

After all, if she were to deceive her superiors and be found out, it would be a serious crime of deceiving the emperor, and the punishment would be even more severe.

At that time, she might not even be able to keep her lowly status as a seventh-rank fairy maiden, and would suffer even more severe punishment.

She forced herself to lift her head, her voice trembling with tears, and said haltingly:

"Your Majesty, Su'e... Su'e was just confused for a moment."

"I was blinded by greed because my lifespan was nearing its end, and I had heard that the elixir of longevity had miraculous effects. That's why I did this wrong thing. I beg Your Majesty to have mercy and forgive Su'e this time..."

Tears welled up in her eyes, then slid down her cheeks, dripping onto her gorgeous fairy dress and spreading out in patches of water, making her look pitiful.

The Queen Mother of the West snorted coldly, her eyes filled with deep disappointment:
"Hmph, a moment of confusion?"

“You and the Jade Rabbit have a long-standing grudge. Last time in the Moon Palace, you attacked the Jade Rabbit over a trivial matter. Now you are repeating the same trick. Can this be excused by saying ‘I was confused for a moment’?”

"Do you think I'm a three-year-old child, so easily fooled?"

Upon hearing this, Fairy Su'e's body went limp and she almost collapsed to the ground. She knew that she could not escape punishment this time, and tears streamed down her face, but she dared not say another word.

finally.

The Queen Mother slowly spoke:

“Jade Rabbit, although your actions may be understandable, it is a fact that you still resorted to violence.”

"I will be lenient with you because you have always worked hard to prepare the elixir and this time you were protecting the secret recipe of the elixir."

"From this day forward, your daily dosage of pounding medicine will be doubled..."

"what?"

"Did I get extra work again?"

Upon hearing this, the Jade Rabbit Spirit's face fell; this was practically forced labor for her.

Her task of grinding herbs was already heavy, and she had to work for a long time every day to complete it.

Now, she has to work day and night. The thought of the mountains of medicinal herbs and the endless work of grinding them fills her with worry.

But she also knew that the Queen Mother's decision could not be changed, and she could only silently accept the punishment.

However, she still harbored resentment.

"It's all Su'e's fault!"

"Damn it! Hateful!"

"If I, the Jade Rabbit, do not avenge this wrong, I am no longer a true rabbit!"

The Jade Rabbit looked at the Fairy Su'e with a hateful expression.

After all, it was Fairy Su'e who started this whole thing from the beginning.

"Su'e..."

The Queen Mother then turned her gaze to the Fairy Su'e.

According to the rules of Heaven, she should be stripped of her seventh-rank fairy maiden status and banished to the mortal realm.

However, although Fairy Su'e has committed a grave error, she is still of some use to her at present...

We can keep Fairy Su'e for now...

...This was the case in ancient feudal society. Although there was "rule of law," the sentencing was inconsistent, and it tended to be "rule of man by those in power."

Can the law be treated the same whether it's committed by royalty or commoners?

There is no such thing as absolute fairness in this world.

……

Xiao Chen waited quietly outside the Golden Mother Palace in Yaochi, and about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn passed quietly.

The Azure Bird Fairy moved gracefully from the palace, bowed to Xiao Chen, and said:
"Yang Guoshan, Her Majesty has decreed that you be summoned to the palace for an audience."

After speaking, she turned slightly to the side and made an inviting gesture.

"Fairy, please."

Xiao Chen nodded slightly, and then followed the Azure Bird Fairy as they slowly stepped into the Jade Pool Golden Mother Palace.

……

At this moment.

In the back garden of the Jade Pool Golden Mother Palace, flowers bloom in profusion and their fragrance fills the air.

The Queen Mother of the West was strolling leisurely in the garden, admiring the various exotic flowers and plants.

The Jade Rabbit Spirit and the Fairy Chang'e stood quietly to one side.

The Jade Rabbit Spirit's displeasure and grievances were clearly visible, as if she had a bellyful of resentment with nowhere to vent it. She just hung her head and silently bowed her head, as if she was secretly grieving.

The fairy Su'e smiled, a hint of smugness in her eyes, as if she had already secured victory.

"The Jade Rabbit Spirit..."

Xiao Chen glanced at the Jade Rabbit Spirit unintentionally, though he didn't know what the Queen Mother's final decision would be.

Judging from the situation, Xiao Chen secretly wondered if the final outcome would be quite unfavorable to the Jade Rabbit.

……

At this moment, the Queen Mother of the Jade Pool had just finished bathing in the Great Heavenly Pool. After being soothed and comforted by the gentle pool water, she was truly like a lotus emerging from the water, delicate and beautiful, with fair skin and jade bones, untouched by the dust of the world.

Her skin was as white as snow, delicate and smooth, and with a light application of makeup, she looked even more charming and alluring.

She wore a celestial robe of seven-colored cloud brocade, shimmering and dazzling, as if the splendor of the entire sky had been draped over her. Her delicate eyebrows were slightly arched, like distant mountains shrouded in mist, carrying a touch of aloofness and nobility; her face was like a full moon, pure and flawless, truly a beauty that transcended the heavens and unparalleled in its magnificence.

She stood in the garden, her presence making all the flowers in the garden pale in comparison.

Twelve celestial maidens served her, each with graceful figures and beautiful faces, surrounding the Queen Mother of the West like stars around the moon, further highlighting her natural divine beauty and unparalleled nobility.

"This humble fairy greets Your Majesty!"

Xiao Chen quickly stepped forward and respectfully bowed to the Queen Mother of the West.

The Queen Mother of the West waved her hand slightly, her voice gentle yet majestic:
"Get up."

"Last time, you disregarded your personal safety and resolutely went to Yaochi to borrow a golden hairpin for the Heavenly Court. You also offered some sincere advice, which contributed to the Heavenly Court's suppression of the rebellion. You deserve some reward."

As she said this, she waved her hand gently, and a fairy from the bluebirds walked gracefully over carrying a beautiful wooden box, presenting it to Xiao Chen.

"I wonder what kind of treasure is inside..."

Xiao Chen glanced at the wooden box, noticing its exquisite craftsmanship and magnificent appearance. It was sealed with magical energy to prevent others from peeking in, and it exuded an extraordinary aura, all of which spoke of the preciousness of the treasure inside.

Although he did not know what was inside the wooden box, he knew that it must be something extraordinary, given by the Queen Mother of the West.

Xiao Chen accepted the wooden box and bowed in gratitude:

"Thank you, Madam, for the reward!"

The Queen Mother of the West looked at Xiao Chen, a faint smile playing on her lips, a smile tinged with anticipation and admiration:
"I recently visited Yaochi to admire the flowers, and the poems I heard were all old lyrics and tunes, with nothing new."

“I summoned the God of Literature to compose a few poems, but I felt they were just average and did not quite meet my expectations.”

Do you have any outstanding works to share?

……

The ancients were always fascinated by composing poems and essays, which was a refined hobby deeply ingrained in their lives.

Poetry was as essential to the lives of the ancients as air and water.

When climbing mountains, poems are often written to express lofty aspirations, such as Du Fu's "Looking at the Mountain": "I will climb to the top and look down on all the mountains below," which fully reveals his heroic spirit.

During banquets, poems are always composed to enhance the refined enjoyment, such as Li Bai's "Bring in the Wine: You Don't See Me": "Let's cook lamb and slaughter cattle for fun, and drink three hundred cups at a time."

When farming, one should write poems to record life, such as Tao Yuanming's "Returning to the Countryside": "I rise at dawn to tend the weedy fields, and return home with my hoe under the moon," which fully expresses the joy of rural life.

When parting, it is customary to compose a farewell poem to express deep affection, such as Gao Shi's "Farewell to Dong Da": "Do not worry about having no friends on the road ahead, for who in the world does not know you?"

Even when ancient people frequented brothels or engaged in intimate sexual acts, they would not forget to use poetry to enhance the experience and add a touch of elegance to these romantic affairs.

"...She blew out the lamp with a shy smile. She pierced the peach blossom with a golden needle, and dared not make a sound while secretly frowning."

This is what is depicted in "Stories to Awaken the World" written by Feng Menglong, a writer from the Ming Dynasty.

The delicate brushstrokes perfectly capture the shyness of courtesans and the allure of their love affairs.

and.

Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, was a romantic emperor who "preferred wild flowers to domestic ones," enjoyed visiting brothels, and had secret meetings with the courtesan Li Shishi.

Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, even wrote a sensual work called "Drunken Spring Breeze":

"...Ouch, ouch, ouch! I gently push my lover away. I hear a trembling voice, and I blush slightly in surprise... Our arms embrace, our lips meet, and our tongues play."

Its words are sensual and beautiful, vividly depicting the scene of lovemaking between men and women.

In short, the ancients would compose poems to commemorate whatever they did.

Without poetry as my companion, I feel uneasy, as if something is missing.

and.

Corresponding.

In the world of Journey to the West, most of the ancient gods and monsters, especially those with a bit of cultural refinement, also enjoy reciting poetry.

Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong were particularly adept at composing poetry.

The Bull Demon King was also quite cultured, often quietly studying and playing with ancient books.

Among the eighty-one tribulations, there is one that arises from "poetry," which can also be called "the difficulty of poetry."

On the westward journey, there is the 800-li Thorn Ridge.

The old pine spirit, the old cypress spirit, the old bamboo spirit, the apricot blossom fairy... these demons never intended to eat Tang Sanzang's flesh. They simply invited Tang Sanzang to the Wooden Immortal Temple, where they exchanged poems and spent the whole night reciting verses.

Among them, the Fairy Apricot Blossom, described as having "a jade-green face, a rosy cheek, bright eyes, and delicate, even eyebrows," fell in love with Tang Sanzang because of his exceptionally handsome appearance and outstanding poetic talent, and even wanted to marry him.

These demons didn't actually intend to harm Tang Sanzang; they were simply obsessed with reciting poetry and enjoyed exchanging verses with him, appreciating the beauty of poetry together.

Tang Sanzang also said, "Each of them speaks with refined elegance and is extremely skilled at composing poetry. I exchanged poems with them... yet they never harmed me..."

Unfortunately, Pigsy was ruthless and killed the old pine spirit, the old cypress spirit, and the apricot blossom fairy without saying a word.

……

This shows that this was the way of life and culture of the ancients. Anyone with a little cultural literacy basically loved reciting poetry and enjoyed scrutinizing the words and carefully pondering the charm of the poems.

For example, "Jia Dao deliberates and refines".

Therefore, it is not surprising that the Queen Mother of the West loved poetry.

The "Biography of King Mu" records that when King Mu of Zhou made his western tour to the Kunlun Mountains...

The Queen Mother of the West hosted a grand banquet at the Jade Pool, and spontaneously composed a poem: "White clouds in the sky, mountains rise naturally. The road is long and winding, amidst mountains and rivers..."

This dialogue between the Queen Mother of the West and King Mu of Zhou is considered one of the earliest poetic exchanges in China, which is enough to show that the Queen Mother of the West, as a deity, was also well-versed in poetry and etiquette and had extraordinary talent.

but.

Good poetry and prose are not so easy to come by.
but.

As the saying goes, "Read three hundred Tang poems by heart, and even if you can't compose poetry, you can still recite it."

Xiao Chen's head was naturally full of good poems, and at this moment, he could just be a "literary plagiarist".

At this very moment, the Queen Mother of the West asked him for a poem.

This was the perfect opportunity for King Golden Horn to display his talent and win the favor of the Queen Mother of the West.

"Since the Queen Mother of the West loves poetry, this is an opportunity."

"The Queen Mother 'asked for a poem,' while I 'asked for a draft.'"

Xiao Chen pondered to himself:
"If I could frequently visit Yaochi and recite poems to the Queen Mother of the West to please her, I could use this opportunity to obtain a token for entering and leaving Yaochi."

"From then on, I will be able to freely enter and leave Yaochi."

"Then this 'Nine-Leaf Lingzhi Grass' will be as easy as something in my pocket, readily available to me."

(End of this chapter)