I am a fairy in Journey to the West

Chapter 232: Honoring the Ancestor and Establishing the Dao as the Country

The next day, two chariots drove into the Taiji Palace under the escort of royal guards.

This was the carriage of Zhuang Yan and Sun Simiao. After entering the Taiji Palace, they stopped directly outside the Liangyi Hall.

When Zhuang Yan stepped down from the carriage, Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun and her husband immediately came to greet him in person, followed by Crown Prince Li Chengqian and a group of princes and princesses.

"The people of the world respectfully welcome the True Lord of Lingtai."

"The eldest grandson respectfully welcomes the True Lord of Lingtai."

Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun walked forward and bowed to Zhuang Yan, which made the surrounding civil and military officials look at each other in surprise.

Zhuang Yan bowed his head in return, then said with a smile, "Your Majesty, Queen, please just call me Master Zhuang. I don't want to reveal my real name too much when I come to the mortal world this time."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin and his wife nodded and smiled, "Then we have offended Master Zhuang."

After saying this, Li Shimin immediately asked Crown Prince Li Chengqian and the other princes and princesses to come forward to greet them. Zhuang Yan then extended his hand to support them and said, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, the other princes and princesses, there is no need to be polite. Please stand up."

All the princes and princesses thanked them one after another, and then Li Shimin and his wife invited Zhuang Yan and Sun Simiao into the Liangyi Hall.

Then Li Shimin asked all the princes and princesses except Crown Prince Li Chengqian to leave, and ordered the palace maids and servants to serve the best delicacies in the palace.

Li Shimin first offered a glass of plain wine to Zhuang Yan, then told him about the appearance of the Supreme Lord Lao last night, and said, "Shimin was a mortal before and did not recognize the true god. I hope the master will not be offended."

Zhuang Yan smiled and waved his hands, saying, "Don't blame your Majesty, it's me who doesn't want to reveal my real name."

"Thank you for your understanding, Master." Li Shimin thanked him and then asked, "May I ask Master, what is the method you mentioned to change your fate?"

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, you can first honor the ancestor of the Li family, and then just do a good deed."

Li Shimin said: "I know about the matter of honoring the ancestor, but I don't know what this 'doing a good deed' means?"

Zhuang Yan asked: "What does the Tang Dynasty worship? Taoism or Buddhism?"

Li Shimin said: "Of course it is Taoism. My ancestor is Li Daozu, and our Tang Dynasty naturally worships Taoism."

"That is to establish Taoism as the state religion, honor Li Er as the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty, and order the whole world to respect him." Zhuang Yan said with a smile: "Isn't this a great merit?"

Hearing this, Li Shimin suddenly realized and said, "I understand what the immortal said."

Zhuang Yan smiled and nodded, saying, "Your Majesty, just follow my instructions. You will know how to change your fate in seven days."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin immediately nodded and said, "Don't worry, Master. I will hold a court meeting tomorrow to announce this matter."

Zhuang Yan nodded, then smiled and said, "Good."

At this time, Li Shimin said to Empress Zhangsun: "Empress, I have something else to discuss with Master Zhuang in secret."

Empress Changsun smiled and nodded, then immediately stood up and took away all the eunuchs, palace maids and attendants in the hall.

Then Li Shimin ordered all the officials present to leave, and finally said to Li Chengqian: "Chengqian, you personally accompany Master Sun to the side hall to sit for a while."

Li Chengqian stood up and bowed, saying, "Your son obeys your order."

Then Li Shimin bowed to Sun Simiao and said, "Sun Zhenren, please go to the side hall with Cheng Qian first. I have some unspeakable secrets that I need to discuss with Zhuang Zhenren. Please forgive me for my intrusion."

“No, no.” Sun Simiao smiled and stood up, saying, “Your Majesty, I will take my leave.”

Li Chengqian stepped forward and left the Liangyi Hall with Sun Simiao.

After everyone left, Li Shimin no longer concealed his feelings and immediately asked, "Master Zhuang, I am a little worried because I have a lack of virtue."

Zhuang Yan said with a blunt smile, "Your Majesty, are you talking about the incident at Xuanwu Gate?"

Li Shimin nodded and said, "Killing brothers and sisters, imprisoning fathers and seizing the throne, this has always been a great evil. If I honor Li Laojun now, will I suffer retribution for it?"

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, will these things prevent you from being a wise ruler?"

Li Shimin said flatly: "No."

"That's enough. As long as the emperor can make the people live and work in peace, make the country prosperous and strong, and make the people happy and healthy, who will care about other things?" Zhuang Yan said with a smile.

Li Shimin asked, "Don't the gods and Buddhas in the sky care?"

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, you are the Emperor of Man. Even if all the gods and Buddhas in the sky care about you, as long as your destiny has not ended, how can they do anything to you?"

Li Shimin sighed and said, "That's true, but destiny will eventually end."

"Haha." Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "But since the Supreme Lord Laojun can show his divine power to you, I won't care about the Xuanwu Gate incident. As long as Your Majesty becomes a good emperor in the future."

Li Shimin's heart immediately settled down, and then he asked, "There is one more thing. Five years ago, I ordered Xuanzang to go to the West to worship Buddha and seek scriptures. Now I have established Taoism as the state religion of the Tang Dynasty. Will this offend Buddhism?"

Zhuang Yan asked: "You are the emperor, what are you afraid of?"

Li Shimin said: "We have to be afraid, because the Buddhists have Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva in the underworld."

Zhuang Yan said: "There are also the Northern Yin Fengdu Emperor and the Eastern Yue Tianqi Rensheng Emperor."

Li Shimin was startled, then a smile appeared on his face, and then he said: "Throughout history, there have been many emperors who destroyed Buddhism. Are they considered human kings?"

"Yes." Zhuang Yan nodded.

Li Shimin said: "If a human king destroys Buddhism, he or his descendants will suffer retribution in the end, and some will even go to the eighteen levels of hell. If I establish Taoism as the state religion and offend Buddhism, will I..."

Zhuang Yan asked, "Your Majesty, do you also want to destroy Buddhism?"

"No." Li Shimin said, "As long as the monks abide by the laws of our Tang Dynasty, our Tang Dynasty is big enough to accommodate the coexistence of Taoism and Buddhism."

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "That's right. Your Majesty did not destroy Buddhism, nor did he oppose Buddhism. He even ordered Xuanzang to go to the West to worship Buddha and seek scriptures, so that Buddhism could flourish in the Tang Dynasty. This is obviously a great merit. How could it offend Buddhism?"

“Besides, those Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are all great saints, all of them are compassionate and sympathetic to the world, and they are definitely not petty-minded people,” Zhuang Yan said.

After hearing this, Li Shimin immediately smiled and said, "After listening to the words of the real person, my mind is suddenly enlightened and I no longer have any doubts."

Zhuang Yan nodded and said, "Since your majesty has made up his mind, you must complete this matter as soon as possible. After seven days, you can change the fate of the queen."

"Shimin understands." Li Shimin nodded.

Then Li Shimin asked again: "Master, is the Lingtai Taoist Temple in the Maple Forest built by you?"

"Yes, I built that Taoist palace, but the master of this palace is 'Wangshu Zhenren'. She received my instruction in Taoism, so she became the master of Lingtai Taoist Palace." Zhuang Yan said.

Li Shimin nodded and said, "Okay, Shimin understands."

After that, Li Shimin stood up and said, "Master, I have ordered people to prepare a banquet in the palace. How about inviting the two masters to the banquet now?"

Zhuang Yan also stood up and said, "I'll follow your majesty's arrangements." Then Li Shimin and Zhuang Yan went to the side hall and invited Sun Simiao to the banquet.

This banquet was considered a family banquet of Li Shimin. All those present were Li Shimin's relatives, with only two outsiders, Zhuang Yan and Sun Simiao.

Even Li Yuan, who had not appeared in public for many years, attended the banquet this time. When he heard Empress Zhangsun introduce Zhuang Yan, he immediately raised his glass and said, "Master Zhuang, I offer you a drink. Please."

Zhuang Yan smiled, raised his glass and said in return, "Your Majesty, please."

After drinking a glass of wine, Li Yuan immediately smiled and asked Zhuang Yan: "Master Zhuang, how many years do you think I can live?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Li Shimin was choked by the wine and sat there coughing non-stop, while Li Chengqian and other grandchildren were even more silent.

Only Li Tai spoke up and said, "Grandpa Emperor is as vigorous as a dragon and a tiger. He will live as long as the Southern Mountains and live a hundred years."

Li Chengqian glanced at Li Tai, then lowered his eyes and said nothing.

"Hahaha." Li Yuan laughed, "Qingque is still so good at talking."

When Li Tai was praised by Li Yuan, a look of pride immediately appeared on his face.

At this time, Zhuang Yan said: "The emperor should die at the age of seventy."

Li Yuan's face fell. Seventy years old? That means seventy years old? He is already 66 years old this year, so he still has four years to live?
Li Tai, who had just been praising his grandfather, looked even more distraught and immediately shouted at Zhuang Yan, "You Taoist priest, you are misleading people with your lies!"

Li Tai's shout caused Li Chengqian to slam the table and stand up, "Shut up! Don't be rude!"

Li Tai was scolded by Li Chengqian and wanted to retort, but Empress Zhangsun suddenly stood up and shouted, "Qingque, get out."

Li Tai was stunned. He looked at his usually amiable mother and asked in confusion, "Mom, what did you say?"

"I asked you to go out and reflect on yourself." Empress Changsun said coldly.

Li Tai felt aggrieved when he heard this. He looked around, but no one spoke for him. Li Shimin had already run to Li Yuan and had no time to pay attention to him.

Li Tai had no choice but to stand up, bow and say, "Yes." Then he flicked his sleeves and walked out of the hall. The other concubines, princes and princesses were even more silent.

At this time, Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun stood up and bowed to Zhuang Yan to apologize. Zhuang Yan waved his hand and smiled, "It's okay. Young people are full of energy. This is a good thing."

After that, Zhuang Yan turned to Li Yuan and said, "Grand Emperor, it is rare for a person to live to be seventy. Everything is predetermined. Don't be sad."

Li Yuan laughed out loud. Although he still looked a little disappointed, he still smiled at Zhuang Yan and said, "Master, how about I make a bet with you?"

Zhuang Yan asked with a smile: "What does the emperor want to bet with me?"

Li Yuan said: "The immortal said that I can only live to 70 years old, so let's bet on whether I can live to 71 years old."

"Okay." Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "If I lose, I will fulfill one of the emperor's wishes."

Li Yuan's eyes lit up and he said, "Really? What if my wish is to be healthy and live another thousand years?"

"Okay." Zhuang Yan said, "It's just a small matter."

Li Shimin on the side widened his eyes, he was a little tempted, how about I also make a bet with Lingtai Zhenjun?
Empress Zhangsun, who was standing by, saw what Li Shimin was thinking and immediately pulled him aside and whispered, "You also want to make a bet with Lingtai Zhenjun?"

Li Shimin laughed and said, "Who wouldn't want to live another thousand years? Especially the emperor?"

Empress Changsun rolled her eyes at Li Shimin and said, "If we hadn't made the bet, Father might have been lucky enough to live a few more years after he turned seventy. But after making this bet, with Lingtai Zhenjun's high position in the heavenly court, do you think he will lose this bet? Forgive my rude words, but Father will surely die at the age of seventy!"

After hearing this, Li Shimin broke out in a cold sweat. Looking at Li Yuan who was very happy because of the bet he made with Zhuang Yan not far away, Li Shimin couldn't help but sigh heavily in his heart.

Li Shimin quickly turned around and persuaded Li Yuan to return to the palace, and then asked Zhuang Yan if the bet could be cancelled.

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "Now that the bet has been made, it cannot be cancelled."

When Li Shimin heard this, he felt very uncomfortable. Although the father-son relationship between him and Li Yuan had faded a lot after the Xuanwu Gate Incident, it still existed.

But now the matter is done, and Li Shimin can't say anything more.

There were no unexpected events at the following banquet. After the banquet, Zhuang Yan and Sun Simiao were sent back to Xuandu Temple by the royal carriage.

Early the next morning, Li Shimin went to court in Taiji Hall to discuss matters, and immediately brought up the issue of "respecting the Tao" for discussion with his ministers.

The ministers had no objection to this matter, because the Tang Dynasty had always worshipped Taoism since it recognized Li Er as its ancestor.

Only Wei Zheng expressed his opinion on this matter, "Your Majesty, the Tang Dynasty is still fighting wars everywhere, and there are still many things to do in the country. Why do we suddenly want to 'respect the Tao'? Your Majesty, please forgive me for speaking frankly. The Qin Emperor and Han Emperor were heroes in ancient times, but they also made many mistakes in this matter. Please learn from history and don't repeat the same mistakes."

Li Shimin smiled and said, "My dear minister, you are worrying too much. I am only honoring the ancestors and advocating Taoism. First, I will not build large-scale projects, second, I will not seek immortality, and third, I will not waste people's money. What harm is there?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Zheng said, "Your Majesty, if this is the case, then I have nothing to advise you about."

"Hahaha." Li Shimin laughed and said, "I am just on guard against you, Wei Zheng."

After saying this, Li Shimin immediately asked his ministers to discuss what title to give Li Er.

After a group of civil officials discussed it, Fang Xuanling finally said, "Your Majesty, I think you can add the title of 'Grand Emperor Xuanyuan'."

"Good." Upon hearing this, all the ministers praised: "This honorific title is very good."

Li Shimin was also very satisfied, and immediately issued an edict: Li Er was once again recognized as the ancestor of the Li family, and was given the honorific title of "Taishang Xuanyuan Emperor", Taoism was established as the state religion, and a temple to worship "Taishang Xuanyuan Emperor (Taishang Laojun)" was built in every state across the country. On the 15th day of February every year, officials of all ranks from all localities had to go to the temple in person to worship Taishang Laojun.

Then Li Shimin revered "Lingtai Yuji Xianmiao Zhenjun" as the protector of the country of the Tang Dynasty, and personally led the civil and military officials to the Lingtai Taoist Temple to worship Lingtai Zhenjun.

At the same time, Li Shimin bestowed a golden plaque on the "Lingtai Taoist Palace", which read: "The world's number one Taoist palace, the master of the Lingtai Taoist Palace, Wangshu Zhenren, is honored as the 'National Master of the Tang Dynasty'."

Seven days later, the Shangshu under the seat of Lingtai Zhenjun and the Siming Huoling Zhenxian of the Human World appeared in the dreams of Li Shimin, Empress Zhangsun and Li Chengqian respectively, and told them that the Human World and the Underworld had changed their fate and increased their lifespans, but they were not told how much longer their lifespans had been increased.

But the Fire Spirit Immortal clearly told the three that their lifespans were all over sixty years old.

On the second day, Empress Zhangsun and Li Chengqian told Li Shimin about this matter. Only then did Li Shimin know that Lingtai Zhenjun had changed the fate of all three of them. Li Shimin was very happy. He did not expect that he also had a part in it, so he immediately issued a general amnesty.

A few days later, Li Shimin went to Lingtai Taoist Palace again, but this time he did not see Zhuang Yan. He only saw the incomparably beautiful and elegant Wangshu Zhenren.

However, Li Shimin was very clear-headed and knew that he had no right to get involved with such a fairy figure.

From then on, Lingtai Taoist Palace became the most famous Taoist temple in the Tang Dynasty, and Wangshu Zhenren became the national teacher of the Tang Dynasty. Everyone in the Tang Dynasty, from the royal family to the common people, wanted to see Wangshu Zhenren but was unable to do so.

However, everyone is treated equally when coming to Lingtai Taoist Temple to burn incense. No matter whether you are a royal relative or a commoner, when you arrive at Lingtai Taoist Temple, you have to queue up in an orderly manner to burn incense and pray.

Of course, there was another person who often came here, and that was the Crown Prince Li Chengqian of the Tang Dynasty.

Ever since Zhuang Yan cured Empress Changsun and changed her fate, Li Chengqian became a loyal believer of Lingtai Zhenjun. He came to the Taoist temple at least three times a month to worship Lingtai Zhenjun. At the same time, he became very familiar with the two Taoist priests Tieguai Li and Jiang Han in the Lingtai Taoist temple, and even often invited them to banquets at his prince's residence.

The historical trajectory of the Tang Dynasty is changing little by little in Zhuang Yan's hands.

(End of this chapter)