Qingnu pointed a finger toward the sky. "That damned Heaven sent him."
That damned Heaven?
Chunyu Tiying looked up at the sky. She had never seen the heavens manifest in person, but from what she heard from Qingnu, it wasn't exactly a benevolent entity.
Regardless, Sun Huowang had become a member of Mt. Tai's immortal retinue.
However, the daily bickering and play-fighting between him and Jingang were simply too loud. If not for their fear of Qingnu's authority, the two rascals would have likely leveled the palaces on Jade Emperor Peak! Finally, during one of their chases, they accidentally knocked over Qingnu's barbecue grill.
Hongluan remarked, "You're both dead."
Chunyu Tiying said nothing.
The young Tiying immediately stood up to prepare medicinal herbs, moving without a moment's hesitation.
Sun Huowang and Jingang slammed their heads onto the ground, tails tucked between their legs. "My Lady, please appease your anger!"
"..."
Qingnu set down the oil-dipped brush and stood up calmly. She rubbed the heads of Jingang and Sun Huowang, whispering soothingly.
"There, there. It's just some grilled meat, it doesn't matter! Just have better luck in your next life..."
As the words fell, she slammed their heads together with immense force!
The monkey and the wolf rolled their eyes back and fainted on the spot.
On the other side, Chunyu Tiying had already arrived with her medicine box, skillfully taking out herbs to treat the two.
Still, Qingnu didn't truly mistreat them. After giving them a beating, she prepared a meal to help them recover. Truly... what a kind snake she was!
After that thrashing, the two stayed well-behaved for several days.
But soon, Sun Huowang came rushing up from the foot of Mt. Tai.
He shouted, "My Lady! Someone is coming—"
People often entered the mountain to gather herbs or goods, but for Sun Huowang to report it with such urgency, it was certainly no ordinary person.
Qingnu asked, "Who?"
Sun Huowang didn't recognize the man, only saying he had an extraordinary aura and a train of carriages that stretched beyond the horizon!
For such a grand procession to arrive, it could only be a sovereign.
Qingnu blinked, turning to look at Hongluan, who was picking fruit in the courtyard. "Sister Bird, do you remember how many years Liu Xiu has been emperor?"
"I don't know. Decades, probably."
Hongluan shook her head.
Decades?
Then the time was about right. It was time for him to perform the Fengshan ceremony at Mt. Tai.
Qingnu hopped onto a cloud and parted the mist to look down. At the foot of Mt. Tai, before the Shrine of the Heavenly Immortal Jade Maiden, Liu Xiu was leading his civil and military officials in offering incense. Table after table of sacrificial offerings were laid out. Compared to the past, Liu Xiu had aged significantly. The young scholar from the Imperial Academy had become an emperor in the winter of his life.
A faint aura of death lingered around him.
Calculating the time, he was sixty-one this year.
"Slow or fast, fate is decreed..."
Qingnu sighed and returned to Jade Emperor Peak.
When Liu Xiu led his officials up the mountain, they saw lush vines creeping over the stone steps and a spiritual monkey standing upon them.
The Jinwu Guards hurried forward, shielding Liu Xiu. "Your Majesty, be careful!"
Sun Huowang glanced at them, his gaze landing on Liu Xiu. He spoke, "Mortal Emperor, My Lady has ordered us to receive you. Do you dare come up?"
My Lady?
Liu Xiu pushed aside the Jinwu Guards and asked, "Is it the Holy Mother of Mount Tai, Heavenly Immortal Jade Maiden?"
"Do you dare or not? One word. Why ask so much?" Sun Huowang scoffed.
Hearing this, Liu Xiu fell into thought. The officials behind him looked hesitant, and someone advised, "Your Majesty, this ape appeared from nowhere and speaks human tongue. It is most bizarre. It would be better to be cautious... Why not let the Jinwu Guards scout ahead first?"
"When paying respects to the immortals, how can I let others do it for me?"
Liu Xiu wasn't worried. He took a step forward and accepted.
Seeing Liu Xiu agree, Sun Huowang gestured. From not far behind, a giant wolf came sprinting over, stopping before Liu Xiu and bowing low.
"Climb on, mortal emperor."
In his life, Liu Xiu had ridden cows, horses, and donkeys, but never a wolf—especially a divine one.
With one leap, Jingang carried Liu Xiu up Mt. Tai, leaving the civil and military officials staring at each other in shock before they began a frantic pursuit.
In the palace atop Jade Emperor Peak, Liu Xiu saw Qingnu.
He froze in place, his expression filled with astonishment.
Seeing him motionless and silent, Qingnu turned to Jingang and Sun Huowang. "Did you two scare him?"
The two hurried to shake their heads. Sun Huowang said, "My Lady, how would we dare!"
"No... it has nothing to do with these two divine creatures."
Liu Xiu finally found his voice. He shook his head, his gaze toward Qingnu filled with shock and a sense of realization.
"Years ago, I felt that Teacher was no ordinary person. I never imagined that Teacher was actually the Holy Mother of Mount Tai!"
"When traveling the world, it's more convenient to have a few identities," Qingnu smiled. Seeing his aged appearance, she had Chunyu Tiying bring over a chair.
When Liu Xiu heard how Qingnu addressed Chunyu Tiying, he was even more stunned!
Chunyu Tiying?
Wasn't that the female physician who saved her father during the reign of Emperor Taizong two hundred years ago? She was actually still alive, and looking so young and beautiful!
This was truly the realm of the immortals!
Once Liu Xiu was seated, Qingnu continued, "I called you up here simply to reminisce, and also to give you a reminder. If you want to perform the Fengshan at Mt. Tai, fine. But do not just build shrines everywhere. That shrine at the foot of the mountain—leave it as it is."
Liu Xiu didn't quite understand. He asked, "Why?"
Throughout history, building shrines to worship gods was the natural course of action.
Take the Seal of the Jade Maiden in Chang'an, for instance. Legend said it was established three hundred years ago by King Xiaowen of Qin. Today, its incense fire is prosperous and the people praise it. If the Jade Maiden truly exists, she would surely be pleased!
"If you build a shrine, will the people recognize it?" Qingnu countered.
Liu Xiu replied, "But there are many unauthorized cults among the folk. What the people acknowledge aren't always true gods."
"That is where you, as the emperor, must provide guidance!"
Qingnu looked at Liu Xiu and spoke slowly, "If the court is upright, if the world is at peace and the rivers are clear, if the people are prosperous and the tillers have their land, then unauthorized cults will naturally vanish!"
In times of chaos and fear, people naturally seek out various things to anchor their souls.
"Wait until the day the people feel they should build me a shrine. Then, my shrine will naturally rise!"
Liu Xiu listened to these words, understanding them only halfway.
He still didn't quite grasp the way immortals thought, but his teacher was vast in knowledge. Since she was an immortal, she naturally had her own considerations; he would simply comply. Thus, Liu Xiu nodded slightly and said to Qingnu, "I understand what Teacher has said. Regarding the matter of the shrine, I will listen to the people of Mt. Tai."
"Mhm, a teachable student."
Qingnu nodded in praise.
However, her form of address made Liu Xiu feel a bit awkward.
A student?
He was already at the edge of the grave with little time left. Only in the eyes of an immortal like Qingnu would he still be considered a 'youth.'
When the civil and military officials finally reached Jade Emperor Peak, they saw Liu Xiu sitting alone before the great palace.
"Your Majesty..."
The officials looked around, but no immortals were in sight.
Liu Xiu stood up and turned to them. "Pass down my decree: select the most skilled craftsmen in the land to expand the palaces here! Furthermore, send men to visit the commoners of the Mt. Tai region and gather their opinions!"
He paused for a moment before continuing, "If there is a wish to establish a shrine for the Holy Mother of Mount Tai, grant it."
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