Journey to the West: Please Call Me the White Bone Demon

Yun Zhao and his disciples were led by eunuchs through several palace gates to a quiet courtyard.

The courtyard was small, but clean and tidy. Several banana trees were planted in the courtyard, with leaves as large as fans, and they were lush and green.

Stone tables and chairs were set up under the eaves, and tea and snacks were prepared on the tables.

The eunuch bowed and said, "Holy Monk, please rest here. His Majesty has said that a banquet will be held tomorrow to welcome you. If you need anything, please just let us know."

Yun Zhao clasped his hands together and said, "Thank you for your trouble."

After the eunuch withdrew, only the master and his disciples remained in the courtyard.

As soon as the door closed, the black bear spirit couldn't hold back any longer: "Master, the king was all smiles just now, but his expression changed after reading the letter. There's probably something fishy going on here."

Yellow Wind Monster nodded and said, "Yes, Master, I also feel that the king's expression is not quite right."

Sha Wujing didn't say anything, but silently leaned his demon-subduing staff against the corner of the wall and sat down on the stone bench.

Sun Wukong had long since transformed back into his original form, squatting on the railing under the eaves, and laughed, "You lot still don't understand."

The black bear spirit scratched his head and asked, "Senior Brother, do you understand now?"

Sun Wukong jumped down from the railing and said, "That king looks to be no more than thirty years old."

"Princess Baihuaxiu ran away from home more than ten years ago. More than ten years ago, the king was still a child. Tell me, if the old king were to pass away, how could the throne not pass to the eldest son and then to the youngest son?"

He paused, then grinned and said, "The waters here run deep."

Several junior disciples listened, seemingly lost in thought.

Huang Feng asked in surprise, "Does Senior Brother mean... that king isn't a descendant of the old king?"

Sun Wukong shook his head and said, "I don't know if he's a descendant, but I'd guess he was a usurper."

The monkey walked to the stone table, picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said unhurriedly, "After Baihua Xiu ran away from home, Old Wang fell ill, and power in the court fell into other hands."

"It is unknown whether it was a minister or a member of the imperial family who seized power."

"Once the old king died, he naturally ascended the throne. What such a person fears most is the remnants of the previous dynasty. Especially since Baihua Xiu is the old king's own daughter, her bloodline is purer than anyone else's."

"If she returns and raises her voice, those loyal ministers of the old king will likely respond in droves. Do you think the usurper king wouldn't panic after reading this letter?"

Sha Wujing listened silently, then suddenly spoke, his voice low and deep: "Wouldn't he harm Princess Baihuaxiu?"

Sun Wukong glanced at him and laughed, "Fifth Brother, you've hit the nail on the head. He'll not only be detrimental to Baihuaxiu, but I'm afraid he'll also be detrimental to us."

He looked at Yun Zhao, "Master, what do you say?"

Yun Zhao, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them and smiled slightly, saying, "Wukong is right. After reading the letter, the king's expression changed drastically, yet he still insisted on arranging for us to come here, intending to appease us first before making further plans."

"What he fears is not Baihua Xiu, but the people behind her. We made it clear that we came from the State of Chu, and he is afraid that the State of Chu is behind Baihua Xiu. We delivered the letter, and he cannot pretend not to know. But if the letter is delivered, he is afraid of getting into trouble. Therefore, he needs time to discuss with his ministers how to handle this matter."

Sun Wukong laughed and said, "Interesting. Let's wait here and see what tricks he can pull."

The Black Bear Spirit, the Yellow Wind Monster, and Sha Wujing all nodded, found a place to sit down, and waited to watch the show.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the main hall of the palace was completely different.

After Yun Zhao and his disciples left, the smile on the king's face faded like the tide, revealing a gloomy expression underneath.

He sat on the dragon throne, clutching the letter in his hand, his knuckles white. After a long silence, he finally spoke coldly: "Wasn't it said that the princess of the previous dynasty had been dead for over ten years? How come she suddenly reappeared?"

The hall was completely silent.

The civil and military officials lowered their heads, not daring to respond.

The king's gaze swept over the crowd, finally landing on an elderly minister with white hair and beard, and he said in a cold voice, "Prime Minister, speak."

That old minister was a former official of the previous dynasty, who was retained by the new king but was not given important responsibilities.

He stepped forward shakily, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, back then... back then, after Princess Baihuaxiu ran away, there were indeed rumors that she had died in the mountains, and the late King also fell seriously ill as a result. We had always thought that the princess was no longer alive, but now that she has suddenly appeared, we... we do not know if it is true or not."

The king scoffed and said, "Don't you know if it's true or not? The letter is beautifully written, and the words are so certain. There's also the jade pendant she carried with her when she fled years ago as proof. You say you don't know if it's true or not?"

Sweat beaded on the old minister's forehead as he prostrated himself and said, "Your Majesty, I am foolish and ignorant; please enlighten me."

The king ignored him, his gaze sweeping over the assembled courtiers, and said, "Tell me, how should this matter be handled?"

There was a moment of silence in the hall.

A young official stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that the princess has been missing for over ten years, her fate unknown. Now she has suddenly reappeared and sent a message through someone; who knows if it's true or false?"

"Even if it were true, she disregarded the late king's kindness and eloped with someone, which was already immoral. Now that the late king has passed away and the throne has been passed on, she is no longer a princess, but just a commoner. Your Majesty need not pay attention to it, just pretend that this letter never existed."

After he finished speaking, many people nodded secretly.

But another official stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I believe this is unacceptable."

"That letter was delivered by a monk from Chu. Chu is powerful; they've even conquered Hami and Tibet. We can't afford to offend them. If we openly deny the princess, and Chu uses this as an excuse to send troops to punish us, how will we defend ourselves?"

He spoke with reason and evidence, but as soon as he finished speaking, someone sneered and said, "You certainly know how to speak for the Chu Kingdom. But what if you acknowledge that princess? What if she returns to restore the throne and seize it? Will you let her do it, or will you do it for her?"

The official was speechless and had no choice but to retreat back into the queue.

The hall fell silent again.

The king sat on the dragon throne, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.

He knew, of course, that Baihuaxiu was merely a trigger; what truly made him wary was the State of Chu.

Yun Zhao and his disciples were too powerful; he dared not offend them, yet he couldn't pretend nothing had happened.

Just then, a military officer stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to say, but I don't know if I should."

The king glanced at him and said, "Speak."

The military officer said, "Since that princess is a remnant of the previous dynasty, whether it is true or not, she cannot be kept alive."

"If she lives, she will be a source of trouble. Those loyal ministers who were loyal to the late king, and those discontented people, will all use her as a banner to stir up trouble. Rather than waiting for her to return and cause trouble, it is better to strike first."

He made a decapitation gesture, his gaze sharp, "Better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free!"

An uproar erupted in the hall.

Some ministers objected, saying that those were, after all, descendants of the late king and should not be killed indiscriminately.

Some ministers also supported this, saying that in chaotic times, harsh measures are necessary, and that weeds must be eradicated at the root.

The two sides argued endlessly, their quarrel reaching a fever pitch.

The king listened to their argument, his face growing increasingly grim.

He slammed his hand on the armrest of the dragon throne, and the hall fell silent instantly.

Then he stood up, walked to the palace gate with his hands behind his back, looked at the distant horizon, and finally uttered only one word in a cold voice.

"kill!"