I am a fairy in Journey to the West

The Divine Palace of Mount Heng, the Hall of Astronomy.

Minister Ye Meicang was presenting an account book to the Great Emperor of Nanyue. After reading the account book, the Great Emperor of Nanyue frowned slightly and asked, "What is the meaning of Xue Ding's words?"

Ye Meicang said, "Your Majesty, the rare treasures from all corners of the world that Xue Ding presented are all treasures needed for forging armor and weapons using the 'Double Divine Refinement Heaven' technique, and are worth a total of two hundred million purple coins."

"Oh?" The Great Emperor of Nanyue's expression turned solemn. "Two hundred million purple coins worth of celestial treasures? This Xue Ding truly has a loyal and righteous heart."

Ye Meicang smiled slightly and said, "Your Majesty, merchants are driven by profit. This person would not offer so many rare and precious treasures for no reason."

The Great Emperor of Mount Heng asked, "What are his requirements?"

Ye Meicang said, "He wants an official position with honors and rank, regardless of grade."

The Great Emperor of Mount Heng smiled and asked, "What is his family background? To have built a business to this extent, his ancestors could not have been ordinary people."

Ye Meicang said, "I have already investigated. Xue Ding is Xue Ji's son. Does Your Majesty still remember Xue Ji from back then?"

Upon hearing this, the Great Emperor of Mount Heng remembered, "You mean Xue Ji, who built bridges and roads in Mount Heng ten thousand years ago?"

“Exactly,” Ye Meicang said. “Ten thousand years ago, there was a young man named Xue Ji who vowed to enable all beings in the Southern Continent to walk on a smooth road to worship His Majesty. So he gave away all his wealth, carried it on his back and shoulders, and built a bluestone road from the foot of Mount Heng step by step. He also built bridges in all the valleys and cracks along the way. It took him sixty years to finally build a pilgrimage road that was three hundred and sixty miles long, with eighteen bridges along the way. His Majesty was moved by his sincerity and granted him the opportunity to become an immortal. He also appointed him as ‘Separate Minister’, a seventh-rank official of honor and wealth.”

"Hmm." The Great Emperor of Nanyue nodded and said, "I do remember now. So, how is Xue Ji doing these days?"

Ye Meicang said, "Your Majesty, Xue Ji died eight hundred years ago due to his calamity. At that time, the Divine Palace even issued a special decree to revoke his position as Vice Minister of a Separate Department and his seventh-rank official title."

The Great Emperor of Mount Heng laughed and said, "Since that's the case, then let's bestow this honorary title of Junior Minister of a Seventh Rank upon Xue Ding, so that his son can inherit his father's position."

Ye Meicang bowed and said, "Your subject obeys the decree."

Just then, a divine general entered the main hall and reported to the Great Emperor of the Southern Mountain: "Your Majesty, Wang Fu, the Southern Heavenly Envoy, is waiting for an audience outside the hall."

"The Southern Heavenly Envoy?" The Southern Mountain Emperor immediately turned his gaze to Ye Meicang.

This Southern Heavenly Envoy was none other than the Assistant Envoy of the Southern Continent of the Jade Palace. However, people from the Southern Heavenly Palace would not come to the Southern Mountain Divine Palace without a reason, so the Southern Mountain Emperor looked at Ye Meicang immediately.

After a moment's thought, Ye Meicang said, "Your Majesty, this Southern Envoy must have come for something else."

The Great Emperor of Mount Heng nodded, then said to the divine general, "Summon the Southern Heavenly Envoy to an audience."

"As you command." The divine general acknowledged the order and walked out of the Hall of Astronomy. Soon after, he entered with a scholar dressed in the robes of a fifth-rank celestial official.

The scholar stepped forward, bowed to the Great Emperor of the Southern Mountain, and said, "Your subject, Wang Fu, the Assistant Envoy of the Southern Heaven, pays respects to Your Majesty the Great Emperor of the Southern Mountain."

The Great Emperor of Mount Heng smiled and said, "Rise, Southern Heavenly Envoy, and take a seat."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Wang Fu bowed in thanks, rose, and then sat down on the sandalwood chair on the right side of the main hall.

The Great Emperor of Mount Heng said to Ye Meicang, "Minister Ye, please sit down as well."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Ye Meicang walked to the side of Wang Fu and sat down as well.

At this moment, the Great Emperor of the Southern Mountain asked Wang Fu, "What important matter brings Wang Zuo to the Southern Mountain Divine Palace?"

Wang Fu cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I have come to the Southern Continent to summon one person by order of the Southern Heavenly Lord."

"Oh? Summon one person?" the Great Emperor of Nanyue asked curiously, "Who is it?"

Wang Fu said, "A woman named Xue Baochai is a descendant of the Xue family of Yangzhou in the Southern Continent. She has recently attained the Dao fruit of an Earth Immortal."

Upon hearing this, the Great Emperor of the Southern Mountain suddenly asked Ye Meicang, "Is Xue Ding a member of the Xue family of Yangzhou?"

Ye Meicang quickly replied, "Your Majesty, Xue Ding is indeed the head of the Xue family in Yangzhou."

The Great Emperor of Mount Heng nodded and asked Wang Fu, "Envoy Wang, why has the Heavenly Emperor's Palace summoned this person?"

Wang Fu said, "Your Majesty, I am not aware of the details of this matter. It was an imperial decree from the Dust Realm Jade Palace that arrived at the Southern Heavenly Lord's Palace. The Southern Heavenly Lord specifically ordered me to handle this matter."

At this point, Wang Fu asked, "Is there some difficulty? If so, Your Majesty need not issue an order; I will personally go and summon them. When I came, I specially went to the Tian Shu Du Sheng to request two generals to accompany me."

"Oh?" The Great Emperor of the Southern Peak's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Two generals of the vanguard have come with you? I've heard that their Eight Treasures Armor and Seven Treasures Sword are extremely powerful, and there are even pictures of them in the mortal world's official gazette, but I haven't seen them with my own eyes."

Wang Fu laughed and said, "If Your Majesty wishes to see them, I will summon them into the palace."

"Very well." The Great Emperor of Nanyue nodded and said, "Summon them into the palace immediately."

Wang Fu acknowledged the order, then rose and addressed the people outside the hall: "Generals, His Majesty has decreed that you be summoned to the hall for an audience."

"As you command!" Two muffled thunderous voices immediately came from outside the hall, and then the ground of the entire Sitian Hall trembled slightly.

The eyes of the Great Emperor of Nanyue, Ye Meicang, and all the celestial officials, children, and maids in the hall turned toward the hall door. A moment later, the light in the entire hall dimmed, and then two three-meter-tall divine generals walked in.

As soon as the two divine generals entered the main hall, they exuded a suffocating sense of oppression. They stood in the hall, their golden scales gleaming in the sun, their seven-treasure swords gleaming coldly. Especially after the masks on their golden helmets were removed, the eerie light emanating from their crystal-clear eye sockets was even more terrifying.

The two divine generals, holding swords downwards in their right hands and covering their right hands with their left palms, bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Great Emperor of the Southern Mountain."

"Truly a valiant warrior, his reputation is well-deserved," exclaimed the Great Emperor of the Southern Mountain.

Ye Meicang also praised it repeatedly. No wonder the Eight Treasures Armor and Seven Treasures Blade were so expensive. Their power alone was enough to match those top-quality materials.

Immediately afterwards, the Great Emperor of the Southern Mountain ordered people to arrange accommodations and food for Wang Fu and the two generals who were to be dispatched, and issued an imperial edict to Ye Meicang, ordering him to personally go to the Xue residence to deliver the edict.

This decree contained two orders: one was to appoint Xue Ding as a seventh-rank junior official, and the other was to summon Xue Baochai.

Of course, the Great Emperor of the Southern Mountain would not allow those two generals to go; it would be too frightening. After all, they were going to deliver imperial edicts and bestow rewards, not to exterminate entire families.

Therefore, Ye Meicang only led a team of three hundred Nanyue generals to the Xue residence at Zijin Mountain in Yangzhou to deliver the imperial edict.

A month has passed since the last banquet celebrating Xue Baochai's ascension to immortality, and the Xue family has returned to its usual tranquility.

Xue Baoqin was reading a book by the window in the front courtyard when she suddenly heard anxious footsteps and her grandfather Xue Ding's shouts coming from the courtyard.

Xue Baoqin immediately put down the sutra in her hand, got up and walked out of the flower hall. She saw that all the servants and maids in the house were busy, and even her father and uncle Xue Ming were busy with nervous expressions.

Before long, the maid Xiaoluo rushed over, "Miss, hurry, hurry to the main hall."

Xue Baoqin looked at the maid and asked, "What's wrong? What happened?"

While wiping the sweat from her forehead, Xiao Luo said, "Miss, the local earth god just came to report that Minister Ye of the Southern Mountain Divine Palace is coming to deliver an imperial edict. The ancestor has ordered people to prepare a celestial banquet and asked all the relatives in the mansion to go to the main hall to greet him later."

Xue Baoqin was taken aback. "Minister Ye from the Southern Mountain Divine Palace is coming?"

"Yes, Miss, please go to the lobby quickly, everyone has already gone over there," Xiao Luo said.

Without saying a word, Xue Baoqin hurriedly followed Xiaoluo to the main hall of the Xue family mansion. There, she saw her grandfather Xue Ding and grandmother already sitting in the hall, while her uncle Xue Ming and his wife, as well as her parents, stood respectfully on both sides.

As for her cousin Xue Pan, cousin Xue Baochai, and older brother Xue Ke, they had already arrived. Xue Baoqin hurriedly stepped forward, first paying respects to her grandparents, then her uncles and aunts, and finally her parents. Then she stood beside her brother Xue Ke. At this moment, Xue Ding said, "When we welcome Minister Ye later, everyone must be impolite, Xue Pan, especially you."

Facing his grandfather, Xue Pan dared not disobey in the slightest, and repeatedly bowed and said, "Yes, Grandfather, your grandson will remember."

After an unknown amount of time, a divine light and auspicious clouds descended upon the Xue residence. Soon after, a doorman rushed in to report, "Grandfather, Minister Ye has arrived."

Mr. and Mrs. Xue immediately stood up and led the Xue family to greet Ye Meicang outside the mansion. When they saw Ye Meicang, dressed in the robes of a fifth-rank immortal official, surrounded by divine light and exuding an awe-inspiring presence, Mr. and Mrs. Xue directly led the Xue family to kneel and bow, saying, "Xue Ding and his family respectfully welcome Minister Ye's arrival."

Ye Meicang nodded slightly and smiled at Xue Ding, saying, "Young Master Xue, there's no need for such formalities."

Xue Ding was taken aback for a moment, then looked up and asked, "Minister Ye, what did you call me?"

Ye Meicang laughed heartily and immediately took out the imperial edict from his sleeve, saying, "Xue Ding, receive the decree."

Upon hearing this, Xue Ding immediately understood and, with a face full of excitement, kowtowed and said, "This humble immortal Xue Ding obeys the decree."

Ye Meicang immediately read out the imperial edict conferring titles upon Xue Ding, and after reading it, he said, "Young Master Xue, come up and receive the decree."

Xue Ding raised his head, his face full of excitement. After receiving the imperial edict, he immediately kowtowed in the direction of Mount Heng to express his gratitude.

Then Xue Ding stood up and said to Ye Meicang with a smile, "Minister, I have ordered people to prepare a grand banquet. Please do me the honor of joining us in your residence."

Ye Meicang nodded slightly and said, "Since Xue Shaoqing has already made preparations, it would be disrespectful for him if I didn't attend the banquet. Let's go."

After speaking, Ye Meicang entered the Xue residence surrounded by Xue Ding's family. They arrived at a magnificent hall, where an extremely sumptuous feast had already been prepared.

After Ye Meicang took his seat, he said to Xue Ding, "I have also brought three hundred divine generals with me."

Xue Ding laughed and said, "This need not be of concern to the Minister. Our ancestral home has already made preparations and will ensure that all the divine generals have a full meal and drink and that their trip is worthwhile."

"Okay." Ye Meicang nodded with a smile, then drank a few more cups of wine offered by Xue Ding and his son, and then said, "Alright, alright, we can't drink anymore."

Upon hearing this, Xue Ding had no choice but to give up. He had wanted his four grandsons to also offer a toast and show off in front of Ye Meicang.

But Ye Meicang's next words stunned Xue Ding: "By the way, I also have a summons from the Dust Realm Jade Palace here, summoning one person from your Xue family."

Upon hearing this, Xue Ding was taken aback, and then asked, "A summons from the Jade Palace of the Mortal Realm? May I ask who in my family is being summoned?"

Ye Meicang said, "It's your granddaughter, named Xue Baochai. Which one is it? Let me see."

At this moment, not only were Xue Ding and his wife stunned, but all the Xue family relatives at the table were also stunned.

Xue Baochai sat there, looking up blankly, wondering why she was involved in this whole affair.

At this moment, Xue Baochai's father, Xue Ming, hurriedly asked, "Minister, why does the Jade Palace of the Mortal Realm want to summon Baochai?"

Ye Meicang waved his hand and said, "Don't say I don't know, even the envoy Wang Zuo who came to the Southern Mountain Divine Palace to proclaim the edict didn't know. He only knew that this was an order issued by the Dust World Jade Palace."

For a moment, everyone present was bewildered. Ye Meicang asked again, "Which one is Xue Baochai?"

Xue Baochai slowly stood up in a daze. Ye Meicang's eyes lit up when he saw her and he said, "Indeed, she has a fairy-like appearance and a beautiful face."

Xue Baochai lowered her head, while Xue Ding seemed to remember something, his heart suddenly skipped a beat, and then his whole body began to tremble uncontrollably.

After a moment, Ye Meicang said, "Xue Baochai, go and make preparations immediately. Come with me to the Southern Mountain Divine Palace in an hour."

At this moment, Xue Baochai's mother hurriedly asked, "Minister, is it in such a hurry?"

Ye Meicang said, "Envoy Wang is still waiting at the Southern Mountain Divine Palace."

The separation came so suddenly that no one in the Xue family was prepared, and Xue Baochai looked helplessly at her parents.

"Minister, could you please grant us another day?" Xue Ming asked. "The time is far too short; we are unprepared."

Upon hearing this, Ye Meicang immediately turned to Xue Ding and said, "That Wang Zuo Envoy originally intended to come in person. He brought with him the divine generals of the Tian Shu Du Province's Zhe Chong Camp. It was the Great Emperor of Nan Yue who persuaded the Wang Zuo Envoy, which is why he sent me to deliver the imperial edict."

Upon hearing this, Xue Ding immediately understood the meaning behind Ye Meicang's words. He slammed his hand on the table and stood up, saying, "Xue Ming, you two should take Baochai to prepare immediately. We'll depart in an hour."

After Xue Ding spoke, Xue Ming and his wife dared not say anything more and immediately got up and left the hall with Xue Baochai, who had already begun to shed tears.

After the banquet, Ye Meicang was invited to the main hall of the Xue family mansion for tea, accompanied by Xue Baoqin's father, Xue Guang, while Xue Ding went to the Xue Ming family's residence.

When they arrived, Xue Baochai was crying in her mother's arms, while Xue Ming and Xue Pan sighed and looked worried.

When they saw Xue Ding approaching, Xue Ming immediately stepped forward and asked, "Father, what... what exactly is going on?"

Xue Ding said, "Even Minister Ye doesn't know why, so what's the use of asking me? However..."

Xue Ming hurriedly asked, "But what?"

Xue Ding said, "I have a guess as to why the Jade Palace of the Mortal Realm would summon Baochai."

Upon hearing this, everyone, including Xue Baochai, turned their gazes toward them.

Xue Ding said, "That supreme emperor who governs the mortal realm, the Heavenly Venerable of the Spirit Platform and the Great Emperor of the Divine Firmament who assists the Three Realms, still has no empress, let alone a divine consort."

Upon hearing this, everyone present changed their expressions, and even Aunt Xue, who had just been crying while holding Xue Baochai, clutched her heart.

No one knew what this meant. If Xue Baochai became the Empress of the Divine Emperor, then the Xue family would become the most prestigious family in the entire Three Realms, without exception!

However, Xue Pan also raised a question: "If that's the case, why would it be done through conscription? Shouldn't it be a formal betrothal ceremony with the Heavenly Official issuing a proposal, the six rites of marriage, and a proper wedding?"

Xue Ming also realized: "That's right, how could the Divine Emperor be so noble as to marry a queen so casually?"

After pondering for a moment, Xue Ding said, "Given my family's situation, it's unlikely that Baochai will directly become the Empress of the Divine Firmament Emperor. She might be selected as a concubine."

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately felt it was very likely, and choosing a concubine was also a good idea. If Xue Baochai could become the concubine of the Divine Emperor, then the Xue family could also rise to prominence in one fell swoop.

Besides, who says a concubine can't become an empress? Isn't the position of empress of the Great Emperor Shenxiao still vacant?

Thinking of this, Aunt Xue dared not delay any longer. She immediately called many maids over to help, determined to make Xue Baochai look absolutely stunning and not to be negligent in the slightest.

The Xue family members were no longer sad at this moment, and even the sadness of parting was greatly diminished, because if any of the above speculations were true, the Xue family could become a noble family and roam freely in the world of Yanfu.

Of course, no one considered Xue Baochai's own thoughts anymore, not even Xue Baochai herself thought it was very possible, after all, she was very confident in her beauty.

However, Xue Baochai was in a state of confusion at this moment. On the one hand, she had a good impression of Jia Baoyu of the Jia family, and on the other hand, she had her own stereotypes.

She had never really paid attention to the appearances of the gods and emperors in Heaven, but she had seen the statues of the Five Sacred Mountains Emperors enshrined in her home. They were all depicted as dignified and solemn old men, and the Divine Firmament Emperor, who was even more powerful than the Five Sacred Mountains Emperors, must be the same.

The thought of serving an old man and spending every day with him, even though he was the Heavenly Emperor who ruled over the mortal realm, was still somewhat difficult for Xue Baochai to accept. (End of Chapter)