Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons

Green willows are swaying in the wind, green lotus leaves are shady, and clear waters are rippling.

A vermilion water pavilion is quietly located in this green space, like a bunch of bright red flowers showing their delicate face among the green leaves.

The eunuch dragged a small boat out from the dense lotus leaves, invited Wu Meiniang to board, and rowed the boat. The water pavilion became clearer and clearer in front of her. Wu Meiniang heard the sound of rowing and looked to the other side. The lotus leaves swayed and a small boat slowly rowed away. The man on the boat had a white face and black hair, five long beards, and fluttering clothes, looking like an immortal.

He seemed to have noticed Wu Meiniang's gaze. He nodded slightly to her, and his eyes suddenly gleamed with brilliance, making people dare not look him in the face.

"What a great wind god!" Wu Meiniang not only did not look away, but praised him without hesitation. She had recognized that it was the current Taishi Cheng Li Chunfeng. A few years ago, she was able to leave the palace to practice Taoism, and Huoshan Order Yuan Tiangang, now Taichang Cheng Lu Cai, and Li Chunfeng all contributed a lot.

Li Chunfeng was a famous handsome man in the court, but Wu Meiniang was most impressed by him not just because of his appearance.

After becoming Wen Jiao's apprentice, Wu Meiniang often saw Li Chunfeng because Wen Jiao and Yuan Tiangang were close friends, and Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng were close friends. He treated her warmly and politely, but for some reason, she always felt that he looked at her with a cold and cautious look.

And this three points of coldness, just now, surged to nine points. If it weren't for the pressure of a certain aura, Wu Meiniang almost suspected that he would rush over and chop her with a sword.

Wu Meiniang was not afraid. In the past few years, she had learned a lot of magic from Wen Jiao, and also got a few magic weapons to protect herself. She was quite confident against Li Chunfeng, a sorcerer who was not good at fighting. She just wondered where Li Chunfeng's hostility towards her came from.

Also, the person who made the appointment first invited Li Chunfeng and then her, and also wanted them to see each other. The whole idea behind this is very interesting.

As her mind raced, she felt a jolt under her feet, and the boat had already reached the shore. Wu Meiniang stepped ashore, climbed the stairs, and saw a young man who looked only thirteen or fourteen years old sitting by the window of the second floor of the water pavilion, holding a cup, with a sparse face and a frail body.

Wu Meiniang's eyes swept across the floral pattern on his purple robe, and after considering his age, she immediately had an answer in her heart: "Your Highness the Prince of Jin has summoned me, I wonder why?"

Empress Changsun and Li Shimin had three sons and four daughters. The third son, Prince Jin Li Zhi, was born in the second year of Zhenguan and was very much loved by his parents. However, he was not healthy since childhood, so he rarely appeared in public. Wu Meiniang had been a talented woman for several years, but she had never met this young and weak prince. I just made a tentative guess based on his clothing and age.

The young man looked at her, and as if his eyes were blinded by a bright light, he immediately lowered his eyes: "Master Miaodao is here? Sit down."

Wu Meiniang did not bother to exchange pleasantries with him, and leisurely sat down on the stool opposite him. The Prince of Jin still looked down, and said shyly: "I invited you rashly because I want to ask the master for a life-extending elixir on behalf of my mother."

Wu Meiniang blinked: "Is this the Queen's intention, or is it that His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin took the initiative?"

The sudden change in the King of Jin's expression told her the answer. He pinched his fingers and said, "It was my idea. An expert told me that although the Queen Mother's horoscope is set, it is not unchangeable."

Wu Meiniang stared at his face, not missing the slightest hesitation in his eyes. The Prince of Jin looked honest, but he showed a little discomfort after being stared at for a long time.

Wu Meiniang withdrew her gaze and smiled.

Was it because of this that he deliberately let her find out that he had met Li Chunfeng, who was famous for his ingenuity? It was to show her that someone had told her that Empress Changsun could be saved. If she said that she couldn't be saved, then it was either because she was not capable enough or she was not loyal enough and was unwilling to try her best to save the empress. With this sentence in mind, whether it was to show her loyalty or to show her ability, she should have tried her best to show it.

Unfortunately, no matter how much the King of Jin explained, he did not expect Wu Meiniang's understanding of the sorcerer business. With Yuan Tiangang, the number one physiognomist, hanging around in front of her master every now and then, it was hard for Wu Meiniang not to be familiar with sorcerers.

A sorcerer calculates the heavens, the earth, and all living beings in order to take advantage of the situation and avoid disasters, but it is not against heaven. Going against heaven is exclusive to cultivators like Master. Empress Changsun is indeed about to die, so will a sorcerer offer advice to change her destiny?

Obviously, no.

So, were Li Chunfeng’s original words really what the King of Jin said?

Of course, it doesn't matter what Li Chunfeng said. After all, even if he confronted him, the King of Jin was confident. He just said that a master said so, and he didn't say that it was Li Chunfeng who said it.

Although he is very young, he still has a lot of evil ideas.

Wu Meiniang, haha. Although she was only a few years older than the Prince of Jin, she could not help but look at the Prince of Jin with a bit of an elder's mentality because she was once a relative of Li Shimin.

She said calmly, "My master said that destiny has already been decided, and we can only do our best. Since the master Your Highness mentioned said that it can be changed, I would like to ask him to give me some advice on how to change it. We will definitely cooperate with him and follow his lead."

King Jin:......

How did he know how to change it? He just made it up. He has put all his mysterious style here, what to do, isn't this something you should consider? He has always done this, and everyone under him is afraid to run around and serve, so why didn't this former military talent accept it?

Bureau of Historiography.

There were two pieces of calligraphy in front of Li Chunfeng.

One is a prophecy: After the third Tang Dynasty, a female ruler, King Wu, will rule the country.

Yuan Tiangang's words echoed in his ears: "Brother Chunfeng, I know that you are loyal to Li Tang, so you are not happy about the incarnation of Heart Moon Fox, but you keep silent because destiny cannot be changed. It is impossible for you to help her leave the palace. But you might as well think about it. The fourth generation Tang Lord must be the son of Heart Moon Fox. When she usurps the throne, she will be old. Most people in their old age are kind-hearted. They are concerned about what will happen after their death, and they will definitely leave a ray of leeway for their children and grandchildren. You can report to the emperor and kill Heart Moon Fox now, but she can still reincarnate. When the third generation Tang Lord passes away, she will be in her prime. People in their prime must be angry and cruel. Even if she harms the descendants of Li Tang, how can an old woman do that?"

The other is a hexagram, with brilliant stars, bright moon and shining sun, which symbolizes the holy virtue of the emperor and empress and the bright and prosperous ministers.

That was the end of the Wude period, when Li Shimin ascended the throne. Thirteen days later, on the night when he appointed Zhangsun as empress, he observed the stars and made predictions.

Recalling Wu Meiniang's sharp and intimidating eyes when they looked at each other today, Li Chunfeng sighed.

Even though it was destiny, even though the meeting between the Third Tang Lord and Heart Moon Fox was a foregone conclusion, he still did not like Wu Meiniang.

Mansion of the Duke of Yun.

Ji Zun looked at the paper horse in front of him that looked like a real horse, touched its mane, and his eyes sparkled with love: "Can you give me one?"

On the way here, she followed the army of Jiangxia County King and rode in a carriage. When she returned with Wen Jiao, she changed to riding this kind of paper horse. It was light and stable, and she didn't feel tired. It was even better than a thousand-mile horse. Ji Zun had loved it for a long time, and when he saw it again, he couldn't help but speak.

"I forgot about that. I'll cut a stack for you on the way." Wen Jiao said, jumping on the back of her paper horse. Huo Ling'er had been sleeping soundly since she swallowed Kuimulang's relic, and she hasn't woken up yet. It's not convenient to fly with Ji Zun, so she has changed back to riding a paper horse. "By the way, Zhicheng, do you know anything about the country of Jiadi?"