I am a fairy in Journey to the West

Zhuang Yan reported, "Your Majesty, the Master of the Illusionary Realm and the others were implicated by Fairy Jiangzhu. I believe their crimes do not warrant death."

The Jade Emperor smiled faintly, picked up a cup of celestial tea from his imperial desk, took a sip, and then said, "You want to plead for them?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, I plead for the Immortal Jinghuan." Zhuang Yan bowed and said, "I beg the Great Heavenly Venerable to allow her to atone for her sins through meritorious service."

"And what about the others?" the Jade Emperor asked with a smile.

Zhuang Yan said, "I believe that execution is too harsh a punishment for them. It would be better to banish them to the mortal realm to experience tribulations and understand the suffering of the human world. After they have completed their tribulations, their souls can be summoned back to the Realm of Illusion. This is what is meant by learning from past mistakes to avoid future ones and curing the disease to save people."

"A good lesson in learning from past mistakes and curing the disease to save the patient." The Jade Emperor nodded slightly, then asked Wang Lingguan beside him, "Has the Fairy Disenchantment been sent to the Thunder Department yet?"

Wang Lingguan immediately said, "Your Majesty, I will go and bring her back."

“No need.” Zhuang Yan reached out to stop Wang Lingguan, then reported to the Jade Emperor: “Great Heavenly Venerable, please forgive me. I just took it upon myself to stop the Lingguan who was escorting the Fairy Disenchantment. They are currently outside the Tongming Hall.”

The Jade Emperor said, "You are the Emperor of Heaven, and your words are law. What crime have you committed?"

After saying this, the Jade Emperor waved his hand and said, "Bring the Fairy Disenchantment into the palace."

Wang Lingguan bowed to receive the decree, then loudly proclaimed to the outside of the hall: "The Great Heavenly Venerable commands that Jinghuan Xian be brought into the hall."

Soon the two spirit officials brought Jinghuan back to the Tongming Hall. As soon as Jinghuan returned, she immediately knelt down and bowed, saying, "This sinful subject, Jinghuan, pays respects to the Great Heavenly Venerable."

The Jade Emperor said, "Jinghuan, just now the Great Emperor Shenxiao pleaded with me for you, asking you to atone for your crimes by performing meritorious service. I have already granted your request."

Upon hearing this, Fairy Jinghuan abruptly raised her head and immediately kowtowed to Zhuang Yan, saying, "This sinful subject kowtows to thank the Great Emperor Shenxiao for his mercy."

Then he kowtowed to the Jade Emperor and said, "This sinful subject thanks the Great Heavenly Venerable for His grace."

The Jade Emperor waved his hand and said, "You will be spared the death penalty and made amends through meritorious service, but those female immortals in your Land of Illusion are not included in the pardon. They will be banished to the mortal realm to experience tribulations and understand human suffering. After they have completed their tribulations, their souls will be summoned back to the Land of Illusion. Now, step down."

Fairy Jinghuan kowtowed twice, then rose and left the Tongming Hall.

Then the Jade Emperor said to Zhuang Yan, "I entrust the affairs of the Emperor of All People to you. The position of the Great Emperor of the Western Mountain cannot remain vacant for long. You must handle it as soon as possible."

"Your subject obeys the decree," Zhuang Yan bowed and said.

Afterwards, Zhuang Yan bid farewell to the Jade Emperor and left the Tongming Hall. As soon as he left the hall, Fairy Jinghuan stepped forward, knelt before Zhuang Yan, and said, "This sinful subject kowtows to thank the Great Emperor Shenxiao for saving my life."

After speaking, Fairy Jinghuan kowtowed three times to Zhuang Yan. The other female immortals had vanished, undoubtedly taken to the Thunder Department.

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "No need for formalities. Come to Chenhuan Palace to see me later. I have something to ask you to do."

Fairy Jinghuan's expression hardened, and she immediately lowered her head and replied, "Yes."

As the Heavenly Emperor, Zhuang Yan naturally had his own exclusive palace and office in the Great Luo Heaven for him to govern the Heavenly Court.

Then Zhuang Yan took a step and his figure disappeared outside the Tongming Hall. In an instant, he appeared in the main hall of the Da Luo Tian Chen Huan Palace.

Seeing Zhuang Yan disappear, Fairy Jinghuan immediately got up and went to the outside of the Chenhuan Palace. Today, the four Heavenly Generals on duty outside the Chenhuan Palace are Di Kui Xing, Di Sha Xing, Di Yong Xing, and Di Jie Xing.

When the four celestial generals saw Fairy Jinghuan approaching, they immediately stepped forward to stop her and asked, "This place is the Dust Palace, the palace of the Divine Firmament Emperor. What brings you here?"

Fairy Jinghuan quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Reporting to the four star lords, I am Jinghuan, the master of the Taixu Illusion Realm, and I have come to pay my respects on the orders of the Great Emperor Shenxiao."

"Oh?" Di Kui Xingjun frowned and said, "But the Divine Firmament Emperor has gone out and will return to the palace soon. You should wait for him."

Upon hearing this, Fairy Jinghuan looked up at the majestic Chenhuan Palace before her, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Reporting to the Star Lord, I received the decree of the Divine Firmament Emperor outside the Tongming Hall, and then the Divine Firmament Emperor left the Tongming Hall. He must have already returned to the palace."

Upon hearing this, Di Kui Xingjun immediately turned to Di Jie Xingjun and said, "Go in and see if Her Majesty has returned. If she has, inform her of her return."

Dijie Xingjun nodded, turned and entered the Chenhuan Palace. He came to the outside of the main hall and asked the two celestial children, "Has the Divine Firmament Emperor returned?"

The fairy boy on the left said, "I just returned."

Upon hearing this, Di Jiexing immediately said, "The Master of the Illusionary Realm has come to the palace, saying that he has come to pay his respects on His Majesty's orders."

The fairy boy on the right nodded and said, "That is true. His Majesty just gave instructions that when a celestial being from outside the palace comes to inquire, there is no need to announce it; just let her in directly."

"Okay, I understand," Di Jiexing replied, then turned and walked out of the Dust Palace.

A moment later, Fairy Jinghuan arrived outside the palace. Two attendants stepped aside and said to her, "His Majesty is inside. Please go in."

Fairy Jinghuan thanked her and then led the female fairies into the hall with their heads bowed respectfully.

Upon entering the hall, they saw Zhuang Yan seated high on the throne, dressed in ordinary clothes, yet his majesty remained undiminished. "Your humble servants, Jinghuan and others, pay our respects to His Majesty the Great Emperor of the Spirit Platform and the Divine Firmament," Jinghuan Fairy immediately stepped forward and bowed deeply.

"Rise," Zhuang Yan said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Fairy Jinghuan bowed in thanks and rose, then stood respectfully inside the hall.

Zhuang Yan glanced at Fairy Jinghuan and then asked, "Where was Shenying Attendant reborn in the mortal realm?"

Fairy Jinghuan quickly replied, "Your Majesty, the attendant Shenying was reborn in the 'Rongxiang Marquis's Divine Palace' in Yangzhou, Southern Jambudvipa, and is the second son of Rongxiang Marquis."

Zhuang Yan asked, "What is the background of Marquis Rongxiang?"

Fairy Jinghuan said, "Your Majesty, Marquis Rongxiang Jia Yuan and his brother Jia Yan were originally generals under the Southern Mountain Emperor. Later, the two brothers made great contributions in suppressing demons and were granted the titles of Marquis Rongxiang and Marquis Ningxiang, both of whom were sixth-rank celestial officials in the Middle Yuan."

Zhuang Yan then asked, "Did the Crimson Pearl Fairy descend to the mortal realm without permission and also reincarnate in these two palaces?"

“No, that’s not true,” Fairy Jinghuan said. “Crimson Pearl Fairy was reborn in the Songjiang Water Palace in Suzhou, Southern Jambudvipa, as the only daughter of Lin Ruhai, the water god of Songjiang.”

Zhuang Yan nodded slightly and said, "Understood."

At this point, Zhuang Yan's gaze fell on Fairy Jinghuan, and he said, "I will entrust this case to you. Your female immortals in the Illusionary Realm are currently in the Thunder Department and have not yet been demoted to the mortal realm. You will personally take charge of this matter."

The Fairy Disenchantment asked, "Your Majesty has entrusted this humble subject with this matter. Is there any other arrangement?"

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "Since they were involved with Fairy Jiangzhu, they will inevitably have some karmic connection with her after descending to the mortal realm."

Fairy Jinghuan suddenly realized and said, "Your subject understands."

"Yes, if you can handle this matter well, I will personally absolve you of your sins," Zhuang Yan said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Fairy Jinghuan immediately bowed and said loudly, "Your subject obeys the decree!"

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "I bestow upon you a talisman. With this talisman, you may descend to the mortal realm at any time, and you may also come to the Jade Palace of the Mortal Realm to see me at any time if you have any questions."

After saying that, Zhuang Yan raised his hand and presented a talisman to Fairy Jinghuan.

Fairy Jinghuan looked at the golden edict before her, immediately reached out and took it, then bowed and said, "Your subject will certainly live up to your mission."

"Go then," Zhuang Yan said, waving his hand. Fairy Jinghuan then put away the talisman, bowed to Zhuang Yan in farewell, and gracefully departed.

For the countless gods and Buddhas, this trivial matter in the Land of Illusion was not enough to attract their attention, but some people spread the story of Zhuang Yan pleading for the Fairy Disenchantment as gossip.

What was said without intention was taken seriously by the listener, and the matter quickly reached the ears of Manjushri Bodhisattva.

On this day, Manjushri Bodhisattva was discussing Buddhism with Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva in Mount Wutai. After they finished, the two sat together drinking tea and talked about this matter.

After hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva laughed and said, "I never expected that the Great Emperor of Shenxiao would be so compassionate and chivalrous, and even personally plead for the Fairy Disenchantment in front of the Jade Emperor."

Manjushri Bodhisattva said, "But before this incident, Fairy Disenchantment had never seen the Great Emperor of the Divine Firmament, and the Great Emperor of the Divine Firmament had never known of Fairy Disenchantment."

"Oh?" Guanyin Bodhisattva looked slightly surprised and said, "So, the Great Emperor Shenxiao wants to take an empress and concubines? That's normal. After all, it's not appropriate for a Heavenly Emperor to not have any empresses or concubines by his side."

Manjushri Bodhisattva smiled upon hearing this. He knew that Guanyin Bodhisattva was pretending not to understand, so he said, "The Fairy Disenchantment was ordered by the Great Emperor of Shenxiao to banish those female immortals from the Realm of Illusion to the mortal world. Their karma is all related to the Rongxiang and Ningxiang Marquis families. This is probably not as simple as wanting to make an empress or take concubines, is it?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva smiled faintly, picked up the spiritual tea and took a sip, then said, "No matter what, this matter has nothing to do with our Buddhist sect. Our Buddhist sect has just withdrawn from Xiniu Hezhou, and now is the time to keep a low profile in Nanzhanbuzhou, spread the Dharma and promote the religion. We cannot afford any more turmoil."

At this point, Guanyin Bodhisattva looked at Manjushri Bodhisattva and said, "I know that many of your disciples have close ties with the Nanyue Divine Palace, so you should make preparations for this as soon as possible."

Guanyin Bodhisattva no longer pretended and directly stated: "The Great Emperor Shenxiao clearly intends to use the case of Shenying Attendant and Jiangzhu Fairy as an opportunity to rectify the Southern Continent and the Southern Mountain Divine Palace. Our Buddhist sect must not get involved now."

“I understand.” Manjushri Bodhisattva sighed, but as Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva said, many of his disciples had close ties with the Southern Mountain Divine Palace, and it was impossible for them to completely stay out of it.

However, he could not tell the Great Emperor of Nanyue directly about this matter. If he dared to do so and Zhuang Yan found out, the Buddhist sect would definitely suffer a severe blow from the Jade Palace of the Mortal Realm.

Thinking of this, Manjushri Bodhisattva felt quite helpless and looked at Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, saying, "Please give me some guidance, Venerable Avalokiteshvara."

When Guanyin Bodhisattva saw that Manjushri Bodhisattva was asking her for help, she pondered for a moment and then said, "Go to the Holy Mother of Lishan. Only she can help with this."

Manjushri Bodhisattva's eyes lit up, and he immediately found his direction. He picked up his teacup and said to Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, "Thank you, Venerable Avalokiteshvara."

Guanyin Bodhisattva smiled faintly, picked up her teacup, took a sip, then rose to take her leave. With Manjushri Bodhisattva seeing her off, she rode auspicious clouds back to Luojia Mountain in the South China Sea. (End of Chapter)