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

Chapter 526 The Jade Pool Master of Ceremonies and Literary Master (5k+ long chapter, please vote with monthly tickets)
It is said that when the Queen Mother of Yaochi saw that Xiao Chen was quite talented and could compose poems on the spot, they were all wonderful verses. So she wanted to reward Xiao Chen by appointing him as the "Wangchi Master of Ceremonies and Literary Master".

"The Liwen Envoy of Yaochi Secretary..."

Upon hearing about this position, Xiao Chen secretly began to make plans in his mind.

The position of Yaochi Sili Wensong Envoy belongs to the civil service system of the Heavenly Court.

If placed in the lower realm court, it would be similar to the official positions of "Hanlin Scholar" or "Imperial Playmate" in the imperial palace.

The "Hanlin Academy Attendants" usually just accompanied the emperor to compose poems, paint, chat, and provide some entertainment, occasionally drafting some unimportant edicts.

Upon careful consideration, Xiao Chen realized that the "Heavenly Court system in the Journey to the West world" actually bore some resemblance to the "Grand Secretariat system of the Ming Dynasty".

It was the same as the court system of the Ming Dynasty.

In the Heavenly Court of the Journey to the West world, there are also civil officials, military officials, and public officials...

Each department performed its duties in an orderly manner.

It is similar to the six ministries system of the Ming Dynasty: the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Works.

The civil officials of the Heavenly Court are in charge of many affairs such as government affairs, etiquette, and documents.

Figures like the Four Celestial Masters shouldered the important responsibility of conveying the Jade Emperor's memorials and drafting imperial edicts, much like the Grand Secretariat of the Ming Dynasty, serving as important assistants to the emperor in handling state affairs.

In the Ming Dynasty, the process of the Grand Secretariat processing memorials involved going through the Office of Transmission and the Directorate of Ceremonial before finally being presented to the emperor, a lengthy and cumbersome process.

Sometimes, it can take months or even years for a local memorial to be submitted and approved.

The Jiajing Emperor of the Ming Dynasty rarely attended court.

The saying "one year on earth is one day in heaven" is a biting satire of the fact that "it takes a year for earthly events to reach the emperor's ears."
In the Heavenly Court, the martial arts generals are responsible for commanding the heavenly soldiers and guarding the celestial realm, such as Li Jing, the Great Marshal of Subduing Demons and the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, and Nezha, the Marshal of the Central Altar.

The celestial officials in the Heavenly Court are somewhat like the "Ministry of Works in the Ming Dynasty," focusing on technology, internal affairs, and specialized matters.

Zhang and Lu were skilled craftsmen in Heaven. They used their supernatural powers to build a magnificent palace for the Great Sage Equaling Heaven on the right side of the Peach Garden, contributing greatly to the construction of Heaven.

There were also judicial deities who held the power of punishment and supervision in the Heavenly Court, somewhat similar to the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, and the Court of Judicial Review in the Ming Dynasty.

For example, Wang Lingguan, the "Grand Inspector of the Heavenly Court," was somewhat like an official of the Ming Dynasty's Censorate, responsible for maintaining the laws and regulations of the Heavenly Court.

There are also those with eyes that can see a thousand miles and ears that can hear the wind, who help the emperor to see all directions and gather information, like the "Jinyiwei" of the Ming Dynasty, who were the "eyes and ears of the emperor".

There were also local officials... similar to the "local administration commissioners" of the Ming Dynasty, who supervised local areas and were responsible for collecting local taxes (incense offerings).

There are also the scattered immortals... They each occupy their positions and fulfill their responsibilities, working together to maintain the prosperity and stability of the Heavenly Court.

It can be said that the "Heavenly Court Structure of the Journey to the West World" and the "Court Structure of the Ming Dynasty" are actually almost the same template, the same main framework.

This is within the official system of the Heavenly Court.

The position of "Jade Pool Master of Ceremonies and Literary Praise" is not high at all. He is only a seventh-rank official, belonging to the lower-level celestial officials in the Heavenly Court. He does not even have a special office to handle his duties. It is really a sinecure.

This official position is somewhat like a "canary" kept by the Queen Mother of the West in the Jade Pool—it has an elegant name but no real power.

However, for King Golden Horn, he didn't really care about official positions or anything like that.

He never intended to become a celestial official in Heaven.

The important thing is that if one could become the "Jade Pool Master of Ceremonies and Literary Praise," it would mean:

"King Golden Horn can now freely enter and leave the Jade Pool."

Thinking of this, Xiao Chen was about to accept the reward.

At this moment, the Queen Mother of the West spoke again:
"However, Yang Guoshan, you made great contributions in suppressing the rebellion in Heaven last time, and I'm sure the Heavenly Court's reward will come soon."

“It’s not impossible for you to become a ‘Sky Patrol Captain’.”

Immediately afterwards, the Queen Mother of the West said:
"Since you have the ambition to 'fear not being crushed to pieces, but to leave your integrity in the Three Realms'."

"Then you should continue to hone your skills in the military and improve your strength."

"It would be a waste of your talents to serve as the 'Master of Ceremonies and Literary Praise' in my Jade Pool."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen's lips twitched slightly.

What's with all this talk about the Sky Patrol Captain? He wanted to climb the ranks and become a Golden Armored Heavenly Soldier or Sky Patrol Captain just to gain more authority in the Heavenly Court so he could search for the Nine-Leaf Lingzhi Grass.

Right now, he's only one step away from getting the Nine-Leaf Lingzhi Grass, so why should he be a Sky Patrol Captain?
In his view, the position of Yaochi Master of Ceremonies and Literary Praise was the most tempting one at the moment, as it would grant him the freedom to enter and leave Yaochi.

As for the words "I fear not being crushed to pieces, but only wish to leave my purity in the Three Realms," they were merely polite words he uttered in front of the Queen Mother of the West in order to borrow a golden hairpin from her.

At the time, he spoke earnestly and passionately in order to achieve his goal. He never expected that the Queen Mother of the West would actually take it seriously. Perhaps he had overdone it by showing off.

But now that things have come to this, he can't afford to ruin his image, otherwise all the goodwill he's worked so hard to gain in front of the Queen Mother of the West will be gone, and all his previous efforts will be in vain.

Helpless, Xiao Chen had no choice but to bite the bullet and bow in agreement with the Queen Mother of the West:
"Yes, that is exactly what I aspire to."

“From childhood, my teachers have taught me that we cultivators are blessed by the great grace of heaven and earth, which is why we have the elusive opportunity to ascend to immortality.”

Xiao Chen's expression was solemn, his gaze firm, as if he were immersed in the memories of his teachers' teachings from the past:
"Now that I have become an immortal, I should take it upon myself to maintain the order of heaven and earth. Even if the road ahead is difficult and dangerous, I will not hesitate to do so, so as not to waste this journey to immortality!"

At this point, Xiao Chen suddenly raised his voice, becoming impassioned and passionate:
"I fear not being shattered to pieces, but only wish to leave my integrity in the Three Realms!"

His words were earnest and resounding, as if he truly had the determination to sacrifice his life for righteousness and protect the Three Realms.

"it is good!"

"What a fine line: 'I fear not being shattered to pieces, but only wish to leave my purity in the Three Realms!'"

Upon hearing Xiao Chen's words, the Queen Mother of the Jade Pool nodded slightly.

A look of approval appeared on that exquisitely beautiful face, as if sculpted by nature itself.

The Queen Mother of the West parted her crimson lips slightly and spoke slowly:
"In that case, you should go and take up a post in the Ministry of War or the Ministry of War."

"As for my official position as the Director of Ceremonies and Literary Praise of Yaochi, it can be considered a sinecure, and it does not conflict with your original duties."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen was overjoyed and instantly understood the meaning of the Queen Mother of the West.

To put it bluntly, his official job was still to serve as a celestial soldier in the Dou Department.

However, he later took on an additional sinecure at Yaochi, effectively holding two positions and receiving two salaries.

However, Yaochi does not hold banquets every day.

The position of Yaochi Sili Wensong was originally a sinecure, and he didn't have many affairs to handle on a daily basis.

Xiao Chen's face lit up with joy, and he smiled:

"Thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty. I will respectfully accept your offer."

"Your Majesty's kindness is so great, I will certainly do my utmost to live up to Your Majesty's high expectations."

"Um……"

The Queen Mother of the West nodded slightly with an approving expression, her eyes full of expectation.

Subsequently.

The Queen Mother of the West gently raised her jade hand, her slender fingers moving slightly, and a dazzling ray of light shot out from her fingertips, instantly transforming into a scroll of royal edicts radiating a faint golden glow.

Above the Queen Mother's decree, celestial script flowed, seemingly imbued with spiritual energy, with the faint forms of dragons and phoenixes appearing within, displaying supreme majesty and nobility, as if bearing the will of heaven and earth.

The Queen Mother of the Jade Pool placed her hand on the Queen Mother's Seal, and where the seal fell, a great light shone brightly, and auspicious energy spread everywhere.

"Yang Guoshan, receive the imperial decree."

With a hint of expectation in her eyes, the Queen Mother of the Jade Pool looked at Xiao Chen with gentle eyes.

"Thank you, empress!"

Upon seeing this, Xiao Chen hurriedly stepped forward and respectfully accepted the Queen Mother's decree with both hands.

At this time.

Behind the Queen Mother of the West.

A fairy maiden moved gracefully to Xiao Chen, bowed slightly, and with a gentle smile, said softly:

"Immortal Yang, please follow me."

Xiao Chen was slightly taken aback, then realized that "Immortal Official Yang" was a way of addressing his new identity. He quickly cupped his hands in greeting and said:
"Thank you for leading the way, Fairy Sister."

……

Afterwards, the fairy maiden led Xiao Chen to the Yaochi Registration Office.

Even before stepping into the hall, a sense of antiquity and solemnity immediately greets you.

Upon entering the hall, one sees a spacious and bright interior, with numerous giant bookshelves arranged around the perimeter. These bookshelves are extremely tall, perhaps thousands of feet high.

The books and records on the shelves were neatly arranged, densely packed yet perfectly placed, a dazzling array.

In the very center stands a huge desk, upon which rests an enormous immortal brush, its sharp tip seemingly concealing countless sharp edges; and an immortal inkstone, radiating a wondrous five-colored light, dreamlike and ethereal, seemingly imbued with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

An elderly celestial official with white hair sat upright before his desk, dressed in a plain-colored celestial robe, exuding an otherworldly air and extraordinary temperament.

He held a book of immortals in his hand, his gaze focused as he carefully turned the pages, his expression serene, as if he were immersed in the vast history of immortals, oblivious to all the noise and clamor of the outside world.

The fairy maiden approached the old immortal official and respectfully said:
"Immortal Official in Charge of Records, this is an immortal official from Yangguo Mountain. The Queen Mother of the West just issued a decree appointing him as the Master of Ceremonies of Yaochi, Wen Song. He has come here to register him."

After speaking, the fairy maiden turned slightly to the side, gesturing for Xiao Chen to hand over the Queen Mother's imperial edict.

Xiao Chen presented the Queen Mother's decree.

"Oh? The Master of Ceremonies..."

The old celestial official slowly raised his head, his gaze sharp and piercing. He first carefully examined the imperial edict, and after confirming its accuracy, he looked Xiao Chen up and down, nodded slightly, and praised him:
"Hmm, not bad, imposing and dignified, he does have the air of a celestial official."

Say it.

The old immortal official picked up the immortal brush on the table and gently dipped it into the ink in the immortal inkstone.

Then, the old immortal official wielded his brush with incredible speed, writing on the immortal register with a flourish, his handwriting elegant and unrestrained, yet vigorous and powerful.

After a short while, the old celestial official put down his celestial brush, examined the handwriting on the celestial register, and said with a satisfied expression:
"Alright, Immortal Yang, your information has been registered."

As he spoke, he took an exquisite box from a shelf beside him, opened it, and inside was an official seal that emitted a soft golden light and a set of magnificent celestial official robes.

The old immortal official handed Xiao Chen his official seal and robes, and said solemnly:
"This is your official seal and attire as the Ceremonial Officer of Yaochi. From this day forward, you are an official celestial officer of Yaochi. You shall be dutiful and serve Yaochi wholeheartedly."

"The Jade Pool is a vital place in the Heavenly Court, and the duties of the Director of Ceremonies and the Director of Literature are of great importance. We must not slack off."

Xiao Chen accepted the official seal and robes of Wen Song, the Master of Ceremonies of Yaochi, with both hands, and tied the seal around his waist to signify his status. Then, Xiao Chen smiled and said:
"Thank you, Celestial Official. I will certainly keep my mission in mind and live up to the expectations of the Queen Mother and the Celestial Official."

"I will certainly do my duty and serve Yaochi wholeheartedly."

From then on, he (Yang Guoshan), the Golden Horn King, was considered to have been granted a celestial title and official rank in Heaven.

After that, he became a registered celestial official in the Heavenly Court, specifically in the Jade Pool.

He, the Golden Horned King, a wild demon from the lower realm, unexpectedly became a member of the celestial officials in the Heavenly Court.

This is truly a cruel twist of fate!
……

"This trip to Yaochi has been quite fruitful..."

After leaving the Jade Pool Golden Mother Palace and bidding farewell to the Jade Pool Queen Mother, Xiao Chen silently summarized his gains from this trip to Jade Pool.

Firstly, Wan Shenglongnu used this opportunity to confirm the authenticity of the Nine-Leaf Lingzhi Grass and the protective forces around it.

Secondly, he, King Golden Horn, became the "Master of Ceremonies and Literary Scripts of Yaochi".

In the past, entering Yaochi was fraught with difficulties, but now with this official position, things are different.

This means he can explore this fairyland more freely, creating more opportunities to obtain the Nine-Leaf Lingzhi Grass.

Thirdly, King Golden Horn recently acquired one of the new armor sets, the "Ephemeral Shadow Boots".

These boots were a gift from the Queen Mother of Heaven, and they are quite a remarkable magical artifact, even slightly superior to the "Lotus Silk Cloud-Walking Boots" given to Sun Wukong by the Dragon King of the North Sea.

Wearing these "Ephemeral Shadow Boots," my strength has increased even more.

Fourthly, he also helped the Jade Rabbit Spirit avenge a minor grudge, taught that Fairy Su'e a lesson, and vented the Jade Rabbit Spirit's anger.

As for the fifth one...

"This reward from the Queen Mother of the West..."

Xiao Chen glanced at the exquisite wooden box in his hand.

He still didn't know what this gift from the Queen Mother of the West was.
The wooden box emitted a faint ethereal light, and a mysterious power emanated from it, making one want to open it and explore its contents.

Anyway, the Queen Mother of the West, the "richest woman in the Three Realms," is incredibly wealthy and possesses countless magical medicines and treasures.

The things bestowed by the Queen Mother of the West must be precious treasures.

However, as the saying goes, "A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime."

This is a valuable item; you should go back and open it to take a look. Don't open it outside, or you might cause unnecessary trouble.

"Ao Yao, it's time to go back."

Having completed his mission at Yaochi, Xiao Chen contacted Wan Shenglongnu via his "mosquito-brand wireless phone" and prepared to return to his residence.

"King Golden Horn, how's the situation on your end?"

The Dragon Girl of the Ten Thousand Saints was curious about the Golden Horned King's affair with the Queen Mother at Yaochi, and inquired about it.

"This trip has been very fruitful, Ao Yao, let's go back and discuss it in detail."

Xiao Chen transmitted his voice.

then.

Xiao Chen and Wan Shenglongnu met at Yaochi and planned to return to the Yang residence.

The heavenly soldiers of the Doubu tribe also have some daily training tasks, so they can't afford to be delayed.

Xiao Chen pondered in his heart that he had made many contributions in this "anti-heaven war" against Emperor Donghua.

Once he's promoted to the rank of Heavenly General, things will be much better, and he'll have more freedom of action.

In this immortal realm, the hierarchy is strict, and only by constantly improving one's status can one acquire more resources and power.

"I've seen the envoy Si Liwen..."

"I've seen the envoy Si Liwen..."

As Xiao Chen walked through Yaochi, a group of low-ranking fairy maidens, as well as the celestial officials who brewed wine, the strongmen who prepared the wine lees, the Taoist priests who carried water, the boys who tended the fire, and so on, all bowed to Xiao Chen in greeting.

Xiao Chen looked at the people who were bowing to him and nodded slightly.

What is an official?
To use the poem "After Passing the Imperial Examination" by the Tang Dynasty poet Meng Jiao as an example:
"The sordid past is nothing to boast of, today my thoughts are boundless and unrestrained. Riding on the spring breeze, my horse gallops swiftly, and in a single day I can see all the flowers of Chang'an!"

This is what officials are like!

Even if the position of the Director of Ceremonies and Literary Envoy is lowly, it is still a proper celestial official of the Heavenly Court, and its status is vastly different from that of ordinary celestial soldiers and fairy maidens.

Upon seeing this, Wan Shenglongnu felt a slight surprise. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly as she pondered to herself:

"How come the Golden Horned King even got an official position in the Heavenly Court?"

However, she was always intelligent and knew that King Golden Horn had his reasons for doing things, so she did not ask any further questions.

Wan Shenglongnu simply followed silently behind Xiao Chen.

They were about to leave the Jade Pool.

The Azure Bird Fairy who had previously received Xiao Chen and facilitated his entry into the Jade Pool, her beautiful eyes sparkling with charm, smiled sweetly at Xiao Chen:

"If the Director of Ceremonies has any free time, we should make more of a trip around Yaochi."

The Bluebird Fairy's voice was as clear and melodious as a silver bell, yet it also carried a hint of deeper meaning.

Xiao Chen knew that this Azure Bird Fairy was "pointing at him".

The implication was that he should not forget the kindness she had shown him in the past.

In this immortal realm, human relationships are intricate and complex, like an invisible net. If you do me a favor today, I may be able to lend you a helping hand in the future. This is the principle of "reciprocity".

The rules of the imperial court are that officials protect each other and exchange gifts; this has been the case from ancient times to the present.

Xiao Chen's lips curled up slightly, revealing a gentle smile, and he cupped his hands in greeting:

"I will never forget the fairy's kindness."

"May I ask your name, fairy?"

An ordinary celestial soldier would naturally not be worthy of knowing her name, but the Director of Ceremonies and the Imperial Physician were different, since they were all officials and on duty at Yaochi.

The Bluebird Fairy nodded slightly and said:

"I am Qingling, and my official title is 'Guardian of Yitian Yaochi'."

"The Imperial Guardian of Yitian Yaochi..."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen smiled and said:
"Greetings, Commander Qingling. We should keep in touch more often in the future."

"Since we're on duty here at Yaochi, we'll inevitably have many things to look after each other in the future."

The title "Yitian Yaochi Patrol and Garrison Envoy" is self-evident, as it carries great responsibility. The envoy is responsible for patrolling Yaochi, managing the forbidden laws of the Yaochi Immortal Garden, and supervising the rituals and banquet order of the celestial maidens. He holds considerable power and is of paramount importance in Yaochi.

The Azure Feather Commander before him was surrounded by immortal energy, faintly exuding a sharp aura. Xiao Chen estimated that she was probably at the mid-stage of the Golden Immortal realm.

This was one of the main defensive forces he faced during the incident of King Golden Horn stealing grass.

Xiao Chen secretly pondered that he really needed to get closer to this Commander Qingling, find a suitable excuse to have more contact with her, explore her abilities and supernatural powers, and find out her "background".

In this way, he would be able to keep track of the matter of stealing herbs from Yaochi and prepare in advance for any unexpected situations.

However, during this trip to Yaochi, Xiao Chen also gained a certain understanding of Yaochi's defensive capabilities.

The Jade Pool is the residence of the Queen Mother of the West, and its importance is self-evident.

Besides the Queen Mother of the West, who is the supreme being, her mount "Azure Phoenix" possesses the bloodline of a phoenix and has great strength. The white tiger guarding her is even more majestic and fierce, both of which are forces not to be underestimated.

Besides.

In Yaochi, there are also the "Twelve Cloud Guards of Yaochi". They assist the Queen Mother and protect Yaochi. Each of them is an outstanding person in the Golden Immortal Realm, with unique skills and superb strength.

and.

It is said that the combined power of the "Twelve Cloud Guards of Yaochi" can activate the "Yaochi Grand Array," which is an ancient immortal array containing endless mysteries and power.

Once activated, the Yaochi Grand Array will emit light and surge with immortal power, capable of blocking the invasion of demons and protecting the peace of Yaochi. Its power should not be underestimated.

Xiao Chen secretly pondered what would happen if they accidentally alerted the "Twelve Cloud Guards of Yaochi" while stealing the herb from Yaochi, causing the Twelve Cloud Guards of Yaochi to activate the "Yaochi Grand Formation".

They might then be trapped in the Yaochi Grand Formation, facing numerous crises.

Although King Golden Horn is strong enough to break through the formation, the commotion would be too great, which would inevitably alarm the entire Jade Pool and attract the attention of the Queen Mother of the West, which would be a huge problem.

Therefore, it is essential to make thorough preparations before taking any action to minimize the possibility of such a situation occurring.

Among them, the Azure Feather Commander before us is one of the Twelve Cloud Guards of Yaochi.

"Commander Qingling..."

Xiao Chen was secretly on guard, but on the surface he still maintained a gentle smile and exchanged pleasantries with Commander Qingling.

……

After bidding farewell to the Yitian Yaochi Patrol and Garrison Commander, he became the Commander of Qingling.

Xiao Chen led Wan Shenglongnu out of Yaochi.

Afterwards, Xiao Chen planned to return directly to the Yang residence.

"The Thirty-Three Heavens, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's Palace, Sun Wukong..."

Xiao Chen thought for a moment, then shook his head.

He did not choose to visit Sun Wukong at the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's Mansion at this time.

After all, according to the "character relationships of Yang Guoshan", "Yang Guoshan and Sun Wukong" are not familiar with each other.

Therefore, Xiao Chen needed to come up with a suitable excuse to use his identity as Yang Guoshan to legitimately visit Sun Wukong.

suddenly.

A woman's voice came from behind Xiao Chen, clear yet with a hint of coldness:

"Master of Ceremonies, please wait a moment."

(End of this chapter)