Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons

"What did you say? Do you really want to seek immortality?" Princess Xiangyang accidentally smashed the crystal glass.

Huo Linger also looked up in surprise, then looked at her poor fellow who had been hit hard by the fall with heartache. Seeing that the cup was fine, she lowered her head again and secretly ate the tea cake that Wen Jiao secretly handed to her.

In the past few days, Wen Jiao married off her maids, sent her maids to find godparents, and returned the indentures of all the other maids. Huo Ling'er saw it all, but she was ignorant and thought that she was just being restless because of the summer. The freed maids were all restless these days, thinking about how to live in the future, and they didn't work hard. So when Wen Jiao came out this time, she had to bring Liu Cui and Huo Ling'er, the only calm ones, to make up the numbers. Huo Ling'er herself only realized at this time that Wen Jiao was not making trouble out of idleness, but was intentionally leaving Chang'an.

But she left Chang'an, what should I do? Huo Ling'er immediately thought of the personal impact of this matter on herself, and she couldn't help but panic and took a big bite of the crispy pastry.

Ask her when you get back home!

Wen Jiao held her forehead with her hand: "I told you a long time ago that I wanted to be a Taoist priest, but I knew that neither of you took it to heart."

Princess Han patted the small table in front of her and said, "How could anyone know that you really weren't just making up an excuse not to get married! What's so good about being a Taoist priest? Even if Prime Minister Yin built a comfortable Taoist temple for you, and let your maids become Taoist nuns to serve you, and you can also socialize with the many young men who come to burn incense..." She became more and more confused as she spoke, and finally whispered, "Why does it sound no different from when you were at home? There are even fewer rules and regulations?"

"Stop!" Wen Jiao said hurriedly.

Female Taoist priests in the Tang Dynasty were much freer and had a wider circle of friends than women in the boudoir. It is said that a female Taoist priest named Song Huayang once fell in love with Li Shangyin. But the "freedom" behind this is not worth pondering. After becoming a nun, a noble woman of high status can still be surrounded by people and live a comfortable life. But those maids who followed her to become Taoist nuns were miserable. After becoming a Taoist priest, they still did the work of maids. Moreover, they were bound by the identity of Taoist priests. Even if they met a man they liked, they could not marry him. When they were old, they had no power, no influence, and no children. The apprentices they took in might not be reliable, and naturally there was no one to take care of them in their old age. Their lives were ruined in it, which was a sin.

This is why Wen Jiao gave all the maids freedom in advance. She was afraid that the Yin family would want these girls to follow her and become Taoist priests. If she allowed Princess Han to open up a new world, it would not be a big deal for King Han and Fang Xuanling to knock on the door of the Yin family. But it would be absolutely unacceptable to force a bunch of women to become nuns.

"I really want to become an immortal. What will it look like to have a bunch of maids serving me? I will only take a team of servants with me when the time comes. They are the ones my father gave me. I have made up my mind that from now on I will not wear colorful clothes, put on makeup, or eat meat. I must first make myself look like a Taoist priest, only then will I be considered sincere." Wen Jiao said.

Princess Xiangyang frowned, "No wonder you look so gloomy today and wear so plain clothes. You didn't even touch the meat dishes on the table, and you only drank the bland fruit wine. I thought you were in a bad mood and dissatisfied with the cooking skills of my chef, so I planned to punish him after the banquet."

Wen Jiao wiped her sweat. So there was such a thing? Fortunately, it was explained clearly early, otherwise it would be a sin.

Princess Han was quite bored by her words: "If you can't eat, wear or wear anything, what's the fun in that? Well, you have always had your own ideas. You look softer than anyone else, but once you make up your mind, even ten oxen can't pull you back. You can do whatever you want. But when do you plan to leave? We, the old sisters, can help you decide, right?"

Wen Jiao smiled and said, "To be honest, it will be tomorrow. I haven't told anyone except my family about the date, so please don't tell anyone."

"So soon?" Princess Xiangyang said regretfully, "It's a pity that the little princess in the palace will hold a hundred-day banquet tomorrow. Awan and I have to go, so we can't see you off."

"It's enough to show your intention. There's no need to see her off in person, which only adds to the sadness." Wen Jiao has either been hiding in Xuanji Pavilion or busy with her own affairs. She has not paid attention to the palace. She just heard that there is a princess's 100-day banquet coming up, and the ladies of the inner and outer courts who are free can go to support it. She has made up her mind to become a Taoist priest, so how can she still be mixed up in it? So she just asked Madam Yin to bring a gift for her, but it was too late. At this moment, she couldn't help but gossip, "I wonder which lady gave birth to a princess?"

Princess Han said, "It's Concubine Xiao. She has never been favored. She finally got a child and she protects it like the apple of her eye. I heard she is trying to get the emperor to give her a title of princess. The little girl is so young, it's uncertain whether she can be raised or not, how can he give her a title so early? The emperor got tired of her pestering and promised her that when the little princess is eight years old, he will give her an excellent title, Gaoyang."

"Gao Yang," Wen Jiao repeated, resisting the urge to spit out her food, and said with a smile, "It is indeed a very beautiful title."

Princess Gaoyang, isn't she the fierce woman in history who was married to Fang Xuanling's second son Fang Yiai by Emperor Taizong of Tang, but who looked down on her husband after marriage and had an affair with Xuanzang's disciple Bian Ji. After the beloved jade pillow she gave to Bian Ji was stolen, her affair was exposed. Emperor Taizong of Tang was furious and killed Bian Ji, and then she lost the favor of Emperor Taizong of Tang. Later, she conspired with the Fang family to rebel, and was ordered to commit suicide by Li Zhi?

She looked at Princess Xiangyang, who was the fierce woman's aunt.

Let's look at Princess Han again. This is the future sister-in-law of this fierce woman.

Then look at yourself. This, uh, is the mother of the master of this fierce woman's future lover.

What a complicated and bloody relationship diagram.

After bidding farewell to the two noble ladies, Wen Jiao felt a little relieved. She knew that these two nobles were only kind to her out of habit because of their childhood friendship with Yin Wen Jiao. But since she had accepted this kindness, she naturally couldn't help but feel warm. She came here specially this time to say goodbye to these two friends who were not really friends.

"Go to Tianhu Temple." Wen Jiao told the driver as she got on the car.

The Heavenly Fox Temple was the temple she built for Fengji. She built the temple openly under the banner of "a fox fairy gave medicine to a seriously ill person, which not only cured his illness but also restored his youth." In order to allow the fox king to supervise the construction at any time, the temple was located in Guangfufang. Fengji was very concerned about the progress of the construction of his own temple. Not only did he go to see it intentionally or unintentionally during the day, but he also sent a message in his dream every night to threaten the lazy craftsmen, which frightened everyone. It took only one month to complete the construction. The magical story of the Heavenly Fox's dream gradually spread. In addition to the pilgrims who were eager to cure diseases and beautify their skin, Fengji also gained more incense by accident.

In order to show her respect for the Tianhu Temple, Wen Jiao would go there from time to time. Therefore, the driver was already familiar with the route. Upon hearing this, he whipped the horse whip, and with a crisp sound, the wheels drove towards Guangfufang.

After Huo Linger sat down, she couldn't wait to ask, "Are you leaving?"

Wen Jiao nodded.

"Then what should I do?" Huo Linger panicked.

Wen Jiao sighed.