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

Chapter 531 Uncle and Nephew

"Fairy Yao Ji" was titled "Lady of Yunhua Shanggong", hence she was often respectfully referred to as "Fairy Yunhua".

Myths and legends are vast and complex, and Yao Ji had many identities.

In the myth of "The Lotus Lantern", Yao Ji (Lady Yunhua) is the younger sister of the Jade Emperor and the mother of Yang Jiao, Yang Jian and Yang Chan.

……

Above the heaven.

In the back garden of Tongming Hall.

Venus proposed that Yang Jian be appointed as the Heavenly Judge.

"Yang Jian's divine power is in no way inferior to that of the late God of Justice, Wang Lingguan."

"If Yang Jian were to take charge of the Heavenly Court and safeguard the majesty of Heaven, those gods with ulterior motives would no longer dare to act recklessly, and the authority of the Heavenly Laws would be upheld."

"Besides..."

Venus paused briefly, as if he had something difficult to say, before finally speaking:

"Moreover, Yang Jian's mother, Fairy Yunhua, was once a celestial judicial deity."

"It is only reasonable for Yang Jian to inherit his mother's position and take over the former duties of Fairy Yunhua."

"Yang Jian……"

The Jade Emperor sat on his throne, repeating the name in a low voice. His deep gaze pierced through the Thirty-Three Heavens and looked directly at the Zhenjun Temple, a quiet and secluded place filled with celestial mist, at the mouth of the Guanjiang River.

In a daze, he seemed to see again his unruly nephew who wielded a three-pointed double-edged sword and had once split Peach Mountain with an axe to save his mother.

For a while.

The Jade Emperor's thoughts surged like a tide, and countless emotions welled up in his heart.

"Yunhua..."

The Jade Emperor murmured, recalling his younger sister Yao Ji (Fairy Yunhua), who was imprisoned under Peach Mountain and ultimately perished.

And the unspeakable emotional entanglements, caused by the separation of identities and the limitations of heavenly rules, are like a tangled mess entangled in my heart.

All the past events are intertwined with the Heavenly Court's laws and the duty to uphold its supreme authority, creating numerous contradictions and making it difficult to choose a course of action, like a tangled mess.

Think back to those days.

His killing of his own sister, Yunhua, was actually a desperate act.

The position of the God of Justice is of paramount importance, wielding the heavenly laws and acting first and reporting later; it is the foundation of the Heavenly Court.

This important task should not be entrusted to anyone who is not an absolute confidant.

And in this world, who is more trustworthy than one's own sister?
and so.

The "first judicial deity" of Heaven was actually the Jade Emperor's younger sister, Yang Jian's mother, namely Yao Ji (Fairy Yunhua).

Back then, Fairy Yunhua was a renowned and valiant female war goddess in the celestial realm, possessing great supernatural powers and boundless magic.

Yang Jian's magical powers are inherited from his mother goddess, which is why he is also capable of great supernatural powers and subduing demons.

Fairy Yunhua was the first judicial deity of the Heavenly Court.

Wang Lingguan was the second judicial deity of the Heavenly Court.

At that time, the Heavenly Court was newly established, and everything was in need of being rebuilt. It was precisely the time to establish the majesty of the Heavenly Court and awe the Three Realms.

result.

Good luck tricks people.

His younger sister, Fairy Yunhua, was a celestial judge who knew the law but broke it by having an affair with a mortal and having children.

This matter became known throughout the three realms, causing a great uproar, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up countless waves.

Heaven was first established.

There are so many eyes in the Three Realms watching the Heavenly Court.

As the ruler of the Three Realms, what could the Jade Emperor do in the face of such a thorny issue?
What choice does he have?

……

As the ancients said, "Jade is the most beautiful of stones."

Jade is actually an extremely beautiful stone.

In ancient times, people valued jade and regarded it as the most beautiful stone.

The "Imperial Seal," made of jade, was a symbol of imperial power, carrying supreme authority.

Throughout history, emperors have regarded the imperial seal as a national treasure, and only those who possessed the imperial seal were considered the legitimate rulers.

The imperial seal, by its very nature, symbolizes imperial power.

Therefore, the "belief in the Heavenly Emperor" and the "worship of jade" have intertwined and permeated each other throughout history.

Ultimately, this gave birth to the supreme deity, the Jade Emperor, whose full title is "The Supreme Jade Emperor of the Golden Palace of the Vast Heaven... The Jade Emperor God".

The "jade" in Jade Emperor actually refers to jade. Jade Emperor, meaning "Emperor of Jade," is literally "Emperor of Jade" or "Emperor of Stone."

This title also hints at the Jade Emperor's origins.

Legend has it that at the beginning of the primordial chaos, there was a primordial stone from which two stones split apart. One stone became the Jade Emperor, and the other became his sister, Yunhua.

Fairy Yunhua also inherited this miraculous physique, possessing extremely strong combat power. She shares the same origin and mother as the Jade Emperor.

The Jade Emperor was the "Lord of Heaven," and Fairy Yunhua was the "God of Justice" of Heaven. The two siblings once supported each other and jointly protected the Three Realms.

Ultimately, however, they became adversaries.

……

Yunhua broke the law.

The Jade Emperor didn't really have many good options.

Should he choose family ties or the law?

one.

If the Jade Emperor chooses kinship, he will protect his younger sister, Fairy Yunhua.

However, if this precedent is set, the laws of Heaven will be completely abolished.

The gods in heaven all regarded the laws of the Heavenly Court as child's play, secretly thinking:
"Your own sister, the Jade Emperor, broke the law, and you didn't punish her. So what right do you have to interfere with us?"

At that time, the entire Three Realms will surely be thrown into chaos.

That is: "Abandon the law to protect the younger sister."

However, immortals and mortals definitely cannot be paired up privately.

Humanity was weak, like ants trying to shake a tree, and had no power to resist the mighty power of the gods.

The gods are powerful enough to manipulate events and control the fate of all things in the world.

From the moment of birth, humans and gods are destined not to be on equal footing.

This is the law of heaven and earth, and it cannot be changed.

Every country has its laws, every family has its rules, and every heaven has its laws.

These rules are the cornerstone of the operation of the Three Realms, maintaining the order and balance of the Three Realms.

Without the constraints of these rules, humans and gods could freely engage in clandestine relationships.

That was actually a disaster for the human race in the lower realm.

After all, how can human power resist the power of the gods?
Countless mortals will become playthings in the hands of the gods, losing themselves and utterly losing their freedom and dignity.

How many tragedies will there be?
The gods are emotional and the three realms are restless.

The celestial realm forbids mortals from marrying other immortals; in fact, it's to protect mortals.

Although the rules of heaven are cruel and merciless, they are also necessary to a certain extent.

Second.

The Jade Emperor could either choose the law, uphold justice and suppress his own sister Yunhua.

Only in this way can the laws of Heaven be established.

That is: "Suppressing the younger sister as a ritual sacrifice".

……

He only has these two paths to choose from:
Or is it "abusing power for personal gain"?
Or should one "sacrifice family for the greater good"?
The Jade Emperor never actually intended to kill his own sister, Yunhua.

He was actually thinking of saving Yunhua's life.

However, Yang Tianyou, the mortal who had an affair with Yunhua, must not survive.

Not killing Yang Tianyou would not be enough to uphold the heavenly rules, nor would it be enough to "kill the chicken to scare the monkey".

In addition, the children born from the illicit union between Fairy Yunhua and a mortal, namely Yang Jiao, Yang Jian, and Yang Chan, should also be killed as a warning to others.

In this way, the rules of heaven can be established.

The Jade Emperor once fantasized:
"Once Fairy Yunhua admits her mistake and is willing to correct it, this matter will be considered over."

But fate is cruel. From the moment he killed Yang Tianyou and Yang Jiao, he and his sister's family were perhaps irreconcilable enemies.

Later, when Yang Jian wanted to split the mountain to save his mother, the conflict between the Jade Emperor and his nephew Yang Jian completely erupted. This tragedy, caused by an illicit marriage between a celestial being and a mortal, and the conflict between him and his nephew Yang Jian, remains irreconcilable to this day.

……

In fact, in the patriarchal order of ancient society, the maternal uncle held an extremely high position, second only to the father.

The reason is quite practical.

From the perspective of family interests, the uncle is a maternal relative, and there is no risk of family property disputes between him and his nephew.

The nephew's family business has no direct connection with the uncle's, and there is no conflict or struggle for interests between the two.

In contrast, uncles, cousins, and other relatives within the clan are all within the family inheritance system and have potential inheritance rights to the family property.

The existence of this right of inheritance is like the sword of Damocles hanging over one's head, posing a constant threat to one's personal estate, and even risking the loss of one's estate.

Learning from history, the story of Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, launching the "Jingnan Campaign" and seizing the throne from his nephew, Emperor Jianwen, is a prime example.

Because they all share the surname Zhu, are all members of the Zhu family, and all have the right to inherit the throne.

Uncles, on the other hand, are completely different. They are not qualified to inherit their nephew's family business (the throne) and will not become contenders for family interests.

In this context of inheritance system, maternal uncles are undoubtedly more reliable than paternal uncles.

Uncles, paternal uncles, and other relatives are often potential rivals for your family fortune and throne, while maternal uncles are more like staunch supporters who stand by your side and help you protect your family business.

There is a saying among the people that "if the maternal uncle is not alive, the division of the family property will be unfair."

That's the truth.

On the stage of imperial politics, the emperor also needed the role of the maternal uncle to check the power of the imperial clan and prevent them from seizing power.

In ancient times, emperors often relied on the power of their maternal relatives, represented by their maternal uncles, to consolidate their rule.

For example, Dou Xian was the maternal uncle of Emperor He of Han, Liu Zhao. After the death of Emperor Zhang of Han, Dou Xian, as General of Chariots and Cavalry, took charge of the imperial guards and suppressed the rebellious elements, thus enabling the ten-year-old Emperor He of Han to safely inherit the throne.

Tian Fen, the maternal uncle of Emperor Wu of Han, represented the power of Empress Dowager Wang, helped Emperor Wu ascend the throne, and suppressed the Dou clan (Dou Ying's faction) to consolidate the foundation of imperial power.

During the Three Kingdoms period, He Jin, a general who held great military power, was the maternal uncle of Liu Bian, the son of Empress Dowager He, and protected and supported the enthronement of Emperor Shao of Han, Liu Bian.

Changsun Wuji plotted the Xuanwu Gate Incident, helped Li Shimin seize power, and later, as the emperor's uncle and regent, helped Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Li Zhi, ascend the throne.

……

This is why the maternal uncle held such a high position in the hearts of the ancients, second only to the father.

In ancient families, the maternal uncle played a unique role, serving as the protector of the maternal family's interests and often acting as a backer for his nephew.

In family etiquette norms, it is often seen as an overstepping of authority for uncles and elders to instruct their nephews, which easily invites criticism and blame from others.

The maternal uncle enjoys a special status, as he can discipline his nephews and nieces like a parent, and even severe punishments are considered reasonable and legal.

The Jade Emperor and Yang Jian are an uncle and nephew.

Although their relationship has shown signs of improvement, it is far from being completely intimate.

With his exceptional strength and outstanding abilities, Yang Jian is undoubtedly a suitable candidate for an important position in the Heavenly Court.

However, in the Jade Emperor's heart, there may still be many concerns and considerations...

……

As a close minister of the Jade Emperor, I should do my utmost to relieve the emperor's worries and troubles.

Taibai Jinxing understood that the Jade Emperor actually held Yang Jian in high regard.

After all, Yang Jian was a descendant of the Jade Emperor and his own nephew.

Recalling the time when Yang Jian split Peach Mountain with his axe, he engaged in a fierce battle with the Ten Golden Crows that shook heaven and earth and moved gods and ghosts to tears. Although he eventually killed nine of the Golden Crows.

However, these ten golden crows were not the Jade Emperor's biological sons, but his adopted sons, the so-called "adopted sons".

As the saying goes, "Like begets like."

Like father, like son.

Just as is common sense in the world, dragons beget dragons, phoenixes breed peacocks and roc birds, and roc birds beget chickens... all of this is perfectly logical.

The Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother of the West are neither golden crows nor birds, so how could they have given birth to ten golden crows?

It was nothing more than the ancient war between the Lich King and the Demon King, in which Yi shot down nine suns, which fell to the ground and transformed into the Nine Suns Spring.

At that time, the gods had not yet been conferred titles, and the Heavenly Court was in dire need of talent and was facing a period of transition.

There are no eternal enemies in the world, only eternal interests.

The Jade Emperor, attracted by the immense power contained in the Nine Yang Spring, made a deal with Lu Ya Dao Ren, the former "Golden Crow Prince". After exchanging benefits, he used the power of the Nine Yang Spring to cultivate and hatch ten "fake Golden Crows", and adopted them as his sons, ordering them to fight for the Heavenly Court and serve him like dogs and horses.

However, the nine golden crows that Yang Jian killed were ultimately just adopted sons of the Jade Emperor, not his close relatives.

But his nephew Yang Jian was bound by blood.

Therefore, the Jade Emperor did not actually harbor any deep hatred towards Yang Jian.

If the Jade Emperor truly intended to put Yang Jian to death.

Back then, when Yang Jian attacked Mount Ling, he wouldn't have been sent by Taibai Jinxing to rescue him.

……

"His Majesty."

Venus, sensing the Jade Emperor's hesitation and knowing his concerns, quickly bowed and respectfully offered his advice once more:

"Your humble servant is well aware of the past deeds of Your Majesty."

"However, Yang Jian's cultivation is profound and his supernatural powers are great. He once fought against the gods of the Heavenly Court in the Investiture of the Gods. His cultivation and prestige are respected by all the Taoist sects in the Three Realms, which is enough to deter villains."

"Besides..."

Venus then changed the subject and continued:

"He enforced the law fairly and strictly, and governed the Guanjiang Estuary area in a well-organized and orderly manner. In this respect, he was indeed an excellent choice to serve as the judicial god."

"Since the death of Wang Lingguan, the position of the God of Justice has been vacant for a long time. The Heavenly Laws have fallen into disarray, the immortals have become lax, and the chaos of the Heavenly Peace Assembly is still fresh in our minds."

"In these turbulent times, Heaven urgently needs someone who can truly shoulder the heavy responsibility of 'God of Justice' to take charge of the law, set things right, and restore Heaven's authority!"

"Some old stories... With major events in the Three Realms at hand, this may be a temporary measure."

At last.

Venus then said:

"Moreover, many of the gods in Heaven were personally sent to the Investiture of the Gods list by Yang Jian."

"Yang Jian and they were born with a grudge."

"It's not easy for Yang Jian to collude with them and call himself a faction."

Emperors have always been extremely wary of their ministers forming cliques for personal gain and undermining imperial power.

Venus's words struck right at the heart of the Jade Emperor's heart, hitting him where it hurt.

Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor couldn't help but laugh:
"Taibai, you don't know, my nephew is quite arrogant."

“If I appoint him as the God of Justice in the heavens, placing him second only to the Emperor and above all others.”

"I'm afraid he won't acknowledge me as his uncle, and might even think I have ulterior motives."

Venus hesitated for a moment, then spoke after a brief pause:

"The position of the God of Justice was, after all, once held by Yang Jian's mother, Fairy Yunhua."

“It is only natural for a son to inherit his mother’s legacy.”

"As the ruler of the Three Realms, Your Majesty is not in a position to condescend to such a high position."

"But the Queen Mother of the West is Yang Jian's elder, highly respected, and she has no enmity or grudge against him."

"If Your Majesty were to invite the Queen Mother of the West to Guanjiang Estuary, to reason with them and persuade them personally, this matter would surely be accomplished."

"Yunhua...Yang Jian...God of Justice..."

The Jade Emperor tapped his fingertips lightly on the purple bamboo fishing rod, gazing intently at the vast, churning sea of ​​clouds below.

The sea of ​​clouds was ever-changing, sometimes resembling a chaotic dance of demons, ferocious and terrifying, hinting at the disorder and crisis of the Heavenly Court; at other times, it resembled a battlefield of iron horses, surging with fighting spirit, as if telling the story of the strife and turmoil of the Three Realms.

Amidst this ever-changing sea of ​​clouds, the Jade Emperor's thoughts, like the churning mist, drifted aimlessly as he weighed the pros and cons.

After a long time.

The unwavering resolve in the Jade Emperor's eyes replaced all hesitation.

The emperor's majesty was rekindled like a tide, permeating the entire Tongming Palace.

Previously.

Erlang Shen, the True Lord Yang Jian, stormed Mount Ling and killed the eighteen Arhats, three thousand Jiedi, eight Vajra, Dharma protectors, and Dingguang Huanxi Buddha, among others, thus angering the Buddhist forces.

To this day, they are still ordered to stay at the mouth of the Guanjiang River and are not allowed to leave for three hundred years.

"Preach my will."

The Jade Emperor's voice regained its usual grandeur and indifference, piercing through the brightly lit palace and echoing above the celestial clouds:
"Effective immediately, the confinement period for Erlang Shen Zhenjun Yang Jian is lifted."

"By imperial decree, Erlang Xiansheng Zhenjun Yang Jian of Guanjiangkou is hereby ordered to ascend to Heaven immediately to report on his duties and succeed his mother as the 'Goddess of Justice,' to be in charge of the Heavenly Laws, to investigate the good and evil of the Three Realms, to supervise all the gods, and to uphold the Heavenly Order!"

"Grant him the power to 'establish his own office and command' in the Heavenly Court, reorganize the guardian spirits, supervise all the gods in the Heavenly Court, and ensure that all impurities are cleansed and the order of the Heavenly Court is restored!"

(End of this chapter)