I am a fairy in Journey to the West

Chapter 122 Ao Rong saves his brother, Zhuang Yan pleads for mercy

Ao Rong, the second prince of the West Sea Dragon Palace, was currently sitting in the peach forest of Danchi Ridge, looking at Zhuang Yan anxiously.

"My third brother Ao Lie accidentally caught a fever and burned the pearl on the Feng'en Palace. Father has already reported his crime of disobedience to the heaven. Now my third brother has been taken to the Dragon Slashing Platform by the Thunder Department and will be executed soon." After Ao Rong finished speaking, he immediately stood up and bowed to Zhuang Yan, saying, "Please have mercy on me, Lord Lingtai, and save me."

Zhuang Yan stepped forward to help Ao Rong up and said, "Your brother has accidentally developed a fever, which is a violation of the laws of heaven. Since it is a violation of the laws of heaven, there is nothing I can do."

The real dragons between heaven and earth also have the attributes of the five elements, and Ao Lie is a fire dragon.

According to Ao Rong, the Heavenly Court sent an order to Ao Lie, ordering him to get angry, but Ao Lie miscalculated the direction of his anger and started the fire in the wrong direction, burning down the Feng'en Hall and the pearl on the hall.

Ao Rong sighed and said, "It's not true that this matter violated the Heavenly Law. Although Third Brother accidentally set off a fire, there was no other damage except burning down Feng'en Palace. Third Brother also made repairs afterwards. If it were normal, at most he would only be reprimanded by the 'Ministry of Fire'."

Zhuang Yan asked, "So, there is another reason why the Third Prince was taken to the Dragon Slaying Platform?"

Ao Rong said: "Yes, because the pearl in the Feng'en Palace was given by the Jade Emperor, my father did not dare to tolerate it and complained to the heaven."

Zhuang Yan understood that this was actually the same crime as that of the General Rolling the Curtain. If the General Rolling the Curtain had behaved improperly under another circumstance, the Jade Emperor would not have punished him so severely. It was simply because the situation and environment at the time were too sensitive, and the impact was also bad.

This time, Ao Lie burned the pearl given by the Jade Emperor. If the Jade Emperor was in a good mood, he would at most punish him once or twice, and would not send him to the Dragon Execution Platform.

But the thing is, the Jade Emperor was in a bad mood these days, and the Marshal Tianpeng, whom he promoted, got into trouble, which was also a disgrace to the Jade Emperor.

"Improper conduct before the palace" and "destroying the imperial treasure" are of the same nature, both are crimes that depend entirely on the Jade Emperor's mood. They can be big or small, high or low, depending entirely on the Jade Emperor's mood at the time.

At this time, Ao Rong took out a jade box from his arms, handed it to Zhuang Yan, and said, "Lord Lingtai, this is the 'Water Dragon Treasure Box', which is a sacred object from the West Sea. It has the ability to nourish all things. Please accept it."

Zhuang Yan saw the jade box emitting aqua-blue fairy light in front of him, raised his hand and pushed it back, saying, "No need to send a gift. Since the Second Prince has come to ask for it, I will go to the Thunder Department to ask for the Prince first."

Hearing this, Ao Rong's face lit up. Although Zhuang Yan did not agree directly, he was still willing to ask.

After saying that, Zhuang Yan said to Ao Rong: "Second Prince, you can wait here. I will go to Daluo Heaven now."

Ao Rong bowed quickly and said, "Then I'll have to trouble Lord Lingtai. Xiaolong thanks you."

Zhuang Yan waved his hand, then flew away into the sky like a cloud of light, and disappeared into the sky in the blink of an eye.

Seeing Zhuang Yan leave, Ao Rong sat down on the stone bench again. At this time, the Fire Spirit Immortal, who was taking care of the peach forest in the distance, saw this scene and immediately stood up and walked back.

She first took out some spiritual fruits to entertain Ao Rong, and then sat down on the other side.

Ao Rong said quickly: "Thank you, Prime Minister. If you are busy, you don't have to worry about me."

Fire Spirit Immortal smiled and said, "It's not a good way to treat guests to let them sit here alone. Besides, I don't have much to do. Every day I just deal with the affairs of the Divine Palace and take care of these peach trees."

Ao Rong took a look and asked, "Were all these peach trees planted by the prefect?"

"Yes." Fire Spirit Immortal nodded and said, "When I planted them, they were all ordinary plants. Now there are ten spiritual roots."

Hearing this, Ao Rong's eyes moved slightly, and then he took out the water dragon treasure box again.

"Prime Minister, if these ordinary plants want to become spiritual roots, even if the time and place are right, it will take at least a hundred years to achieve success. But if we have the help of this thing, we can get twice the result with half the effort." Ao Rong said.

Fire Spirit Immortal was somewhat surprised. He looked at the Water Dragon Treasure Box in Ao Rong's hand and asked, "What is this?"

Ao Rong said: "This is the 'Water Dragon Treasure Box', a rare treasure from the Dragon Palace in the West Sea. It has the ability to nourish all things and stimulate spirituality. If the chancellor can use this box to irrigate the peach forest, in ten years at least, or twenty years at most, there will definitely be a group of spiritual trees here."

Upon hearing this, the Fire Spirit Immortal's eyes lit up immediately. He looked at the Water Dragon Treasure Box and asked after a moment, "How much is this thing worth?"

Ao Rong smiled and said, "Although this treasure is rare, it is not hard to find for my West Sea Dragon Palace, so I will give it to the Prime Minister."

Fire Spirit Immortal smiled faintly, picked up a spiritual peach and took a bite, glanced at the Water Dragon Treasure Box, and then said: "Second Prince, please name a price."

Ao Rong was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "That's not necessary, it's not a valuable item anyway."

Fire Spirit Immortal said: "It's better to name a price. You can use the things you bought with confidence."

"This..." Ao Rong was stunned again, then thought about it and said, "Okay then." Ao Rong thought for a moment and prepared to name a price.

But he suddenly had an idea, as if he had thought of something, and immediately changed the number he was about to say, "What do you think of the fifty thousand purple coins?"

The Fire Spirit Immortal threw away the peach pit in his hand, then took out 50,000 purple coins and handed it over. Ao Rong took the 50,000 purple coins, then handed the Water Dragon Treasure Box to the Fire Spirit Immortal with both hands.

Fire Spirit Immortal took the Water Dragon Treasure Box and asked, "How do I use it?"

Ao Rong said quickly: "As long as you inject your divine thoughts into it, you can use it as you wish."

"Okay." Fire Spirit Immortal nodded, then stood up and said, "I'll go and try. Here are some spiritual tea and spiritual fruits. Please enjoy them slowly, Second Prince."

Ao Rong nodded and said, "Okay, the chancellor doesn't have to worry about me."

Fire Spirit Immortal nodded slightly, then stood up and walked towards a peach tree not far away.
At the same time, in Daluo Heaven, in the Thunder Department’s mansion, Zhuang Yan met True Lord Yisheng.

After Yisheng Zhenjun gave Zhuang Yan a seat, he smiled and asked, "Lingtai Shenjun, how come you have time to come to the Thunder Department today?"

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "I am here to visit the True Lord."

Yisheng Zhenjun smiled slightly and said, "I am the Grand Historian of the Heavenly Court, in charge of the Heavenly Laws and Jade Regulations. You, Lingtai Shenjun, would never come to visit me for no reason. So, who violated the Heavenly Law?"

Zhuang Yan laughed and said, "Your Excellency is so good at predicting things. I admire you."

"Really?" Yisheng Zhenjun was quite surprised, "Who is it?"

Zhuang Yan said, "Actually, he is not someone close to me. I was just asked by someone to ask about Ao Lie, the Third Prince of the West Sea Dragon."

"Oh," Yisheng Zhenjun suddenly realized, and then said: "His Majesty has already issued an order on this matter. Ao Lie will be taken to the Dragon Slaying Platform and beheaded tomorrow."

Zhuang Yan said, "Master, what I want to know is whether Ao Lie's crimes are so heinous that he deserves to be beheaded according to the Heavenly Laws?"

Upon hearing this, Yisheng Zhenjun pondered for a moment, then said, "Not really. If it was just a mistaken crime of catching fire, it would not be punishable by death. His main crime was burning the pearl bestowed by the Jade Emperor."

Hearing this, Zhuang Yan nodded, then stood up and bowed, saying, "Thank you for telling me, Master. I'll take my leave now."

Yisheng Zhenjun nodded and smiled, "Okay."

Afterwards, Zhuang Yan left the Thunder Department and went straight to the Tongming Palace. After arriving at the Tongming Palace, Zhuang Yan showed the 'Xuanxiaotianqingyu Ruyi', and the spiritual officer on duty in front of the palace immediately went to report.

Soon after, the Lingguan walked out of the hall and said to Zhuang Yan, "Spiritual Platform Lord, His Majesty summons you to come in."

"Thank you, Lingguan." Zhuang Yan bowed and walked into the Tongming Hall.

Entering the Tongming Hall, the Jade Emperor seemed to be quite relaxed today, or perhaps he wanted to relax. The music of stringed instruments was pleasant in the hall, and the Chang'e fairies were dancing in the hall. The Jade Emperor leaned on the throne, his eyes slightly closed, his left hand resting on the jade table, and his right hand gently swaying to the rhythm of the stringed instruments and the flute.

Zhuang Yan walked forward from the right side of the hall, bowed and said, "Your servant, Lingtai Shenjun Zhuang Yan, pays homage to the Great Celestial Lord."

The Jade Emperor opened his eyes and saw Zhuang Yan sitting up straight. He smiled and said, "Zhuang Yan, what is the matter that brought you to see me today?"

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I am here to plead for mercy."

The Jade Emperor smiled and asked, "Ao Lie?"

Zhuang Yan said, "Your Majesty is wise."

The Jade Emperor waved his hand and said, "I approve."

"Ah?" Zhuang Yan was stunned. "Your Majesty, I didn't say anything."

The Jade Emperor smiled and said, "It's true even if you didn't say it."

After saying this, the Jade Emperor said to Xu Tianshi who was standing beside him, "Draft an edict. Now that Lingtai Shenjun has pleaded for mercy, Ao Lie, the Third Prince of the West Sea Dragon, will be spared the death penalty. Instead, he will be hung on the West Heaven Gate and beaten with 300 thunder whips as a punishment."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Master Xu bowed and accepted the order, then walked to the jade table and began to draft the edict.

Seeing Zhuang Yan's surprised expression, the Jade Emperor smiled and asked, "Zhuang Yan, what are you thinking about?"

Zhuang Yan replied, "My Lord, I'm telling you the truth. I think the power of heaven is truly unpredictable."

"Hahaha." The Jade Emperor was amused by Zhuang Yan's words. "Okay, I hope you can speak the truth like this."

At this time, Master Xu had already drafted the edict. After presenting it to the Jade Emperor for review, he picked up the Jade Emperor's seal beside the imperial desk and stamped it with the Jade Emperor's seal.

Zhuang Yan immediately bowed his head and said, "I thank the great celestial being for his mercy."

The Jade Emperor just waved his hand, ordered Taibai Jinxing to pass on his order, and then pointed at the Chang'e fairies dancing below and said, "Zhuang Yan, which of these fairies has the best appearance and talent?"

Zhuang Yan was stunned when he heard this, and then he quickly said, "Your Majesty, this is really not something I can judge."

The Jade Emperor smiled and said, "It's okay. Recently, the Taiwei Yuqing Palace is selecting female servants from the fairy Chang'e. Alas, this matter also bothers me. Now that you are here, Zhuang Yan, you can talk about it."

Zhuang Yan was still a little hesitant, and the Jade Emperor smiled and said, "Everyone thinks these fairies are my concubines and concubines, but in fact, I have not been close to women since I entered Taoism. These female officials are nothing more than serving me in my daily life, taking care of some palace chores, and growing flowers and vegetables. The officials in the Heavenly Court are just like you and dare not comment on it. There is nothing to be afraid of. Just say it when I ask you to."

When Zhuang Yan heard what the Jade Emperor said, he no longer hesitated and said, "Your Majesty, since it is just a female official in charge of palace affairs, it seems that anyone can do it, right?"

"No." Standing nearby, the third-rank immortal official, the 'Wushan Goddess', a servant of the Taiwei Yuqing Palace, said, "There are rules for selecting female officials. We must select the best ones. How can we just do it casually?"

The Jade Emperor said helplessly to Zhuang Yan: "You see, everything has to follow rules and regulations. I am also helpless."

Zhuang Yan was speechless. He looked at the fairies Chang'e, and the fairies Chang'e were also looking at Zhuang Yan expectantly.

After all, being chosen as a female official in Taiwei Yuqing Palace means a bright future, because as long as you enter Taiwei Yuqing Palace as a female official, you may become an immortal official in various departments and courts of the Heavenly Court in the future, and you will no longer be a "beautiful vase" that only provides emotional value to people.

If the female fairies in heaven want to "progress", entering Taiwei Yuqing Palace is a necessary step.

Zhuang Yan met the expectant gazes of the fairies Chang'e, then turned and bowed to the Jade Emperor, saying, "Your Majesty, I actually have a hidden illness."

"Oh?" The Jade Emperor asked in surprise, "What's your hidden illness?"

Zhuang Yan said, "My eyesight is not good, and I cannot tell the difference between beauty and ugliness, especially for women. I cannot tell the difference at all. Your Majesty, please forgive me."

"Haha." The Jade Emperor smiled and pointed at Zhuang Yan, then said, "Well, since you have this hidden disease, I won't force you."

Zhuang Yan felt as if he had been pardoned, and he bowed quickly and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding."

Then, Zhuang Yan bowed again and said, "Your Majesty, I will take my leave now."

The Jade Emperor nodded and said, "Okay. By the way, I heard from Officer You Yi that you have planted many peach trees on Danchi Ridge. When the peaches are ripe, the whole mountain is covered with red peaches?"

Zhuang Yan bowed and said, "Your Majesty, it is true. Those peach trees were planted by one of my subordinates, but most of them were ordinary peaches."

The Jade Emperor said, "No matter what kind of peach it is, send some to me every year when it's ripe, so I can taste some fresh fruit from the earth."

Zhuang Yan immediately bowed and said, "I obey your order." Then Zhuang Yan bid farewell to the Jade Emperor and turned to leave the Tongming Hall.

When he arrived at the West Heaven Gate, he saw the third dragon prince Ao Lie being hung up and whipped by the thunder god.

After being beaten with three hundred thunder whips, Ao Lie was covered with whip marks, but as soon as he was put down, he knelt on the ground and thanked Zhuang Yan for saving his life.

Zhuang Yan helped Ao Lie up and asked him, "Where are you going from now on?"

Ao Lie's expression darkened, and he said, "My father won't tolerate me. I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to return to the West Sea in the future."

Zhuang Yan said, "In that case, when you return to the Thunder Department and are released, you can go to the lower world and settle down at 'Snake Mountain Eagle Sorrow Stream'. There you will find your chance."

Hearing this, Ao Lie hurriedly bowed to Zhuang Yan again and said, "Xiao Long thanks you for saving my life. Thank you for your guidance. I am very grateful to you."

Zhuang Yan smiled faintly and said, "Go ahead."

Afterwards, Ao Lie was brought back to the Thunder Department to report, while Zhuang Yan went down to the mortal world and returned to the Lingtai Divine Palace.

When Ao Rong saw Zhuang Yan coming back, he immediately stood up and went forward to greet him, saying, "Greetings, Lord God."

Zhuang Yan smiled and said to Ao Rong, "The Great Celestial Lord has pardoned Ao Lie's death sentence."

Ao Rong's expression changed when he heard this, and he immediately knelt down and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Lord God, for saving my third brother's life!"

Zhuang Yan helped Ao Rong up and said, "This is the mercy of the Great Heavenly Venerable, not my credit."

Ao Rong bowed again and said, "Thank you, Great Lord, for your mercy. Thank you, Lord God, for your help. I cannot repay you for your kindness."

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "Don't talk about this. Your third brother has been released by the Thunder Department. You can go to the Eagle Sorrow Gorge in Shepan Mountain to wait for him. You two brothers will be able to meet each other then."

Ao Rong heard this and said, "Thank you, Lord God. I will repay you for your kindness one day. Xiaolong sees that I am so eager to help you, so I will take my leave first."

Zhuang Yan nodded and said, "Go ahead."

Ao Rong bid farewell to Zhuang Yan, then jumped up and turned into a white dragon light and disappeared among the blue sky and white clouds.

(End of this chapter)