Chapter 1658 — That Zun's Marriage

The Heavenly Court drifted quietly above the Ancestral Court. The news that Huotian Zun had turned traitor and slain the newly ascended Yintian Zun and Qinglong Zun had indeed caused an uproar in the Heavenly Court, but word soon followed that Huotian Zun, his crimes heinous beyond measure, had already been beheaded and executed, which set every heart at ease once more. Even if there were murmurs and rumors within the Heavenly Court, none could stir up any great wave, for Yan Yazi had personally ascended to the Heavenly Court to offer himself for punishment before Emperor Haotian, declaring that he was willing to bear the sins committed by his master Huotian Zun. Emperor Haotian, moved by his filial devotion and loyalty, extended great mercy, pardoned his transgressions, and permitted him to give Huotian Zun a lavish burial.

Further, out of regard for Huotian Zun's contributions to the world and the Heavenly Court, though he stripped him of the title Supreme of Equaling Heaven, he nonetheless retained the title of Zun and buried him with the rites of a Zun. —Yet Huotian Zun had died with no whole corpse remaining, so Yan Yazi simply sought out a man who resembled Huotian Zun in appearance, killed him, placed him in a coffin, and filled it with treasures. Yan Yazi then launched great construction, building a mausoleum, and buried this counterfeit Huotian Zun within.

Time and again he wept before the mausoleum until he swooned, and even sought to take his own life to accompany Huotian Zun in the tomb, so that his master might not be lonely. The civil and military officials of the Heavenly Court who attended the rites all sighed without end, saying that Huotian Zun had taken a good disciple, whose loyalty and righteousness were no less than Huotian Zun's own in his day. The crowd hurried forward to hold him back, and only thus did he refrain from doing a foolish thing. The whole Heavenly Court was steeped in grief as they buried Huotian Zun, Yintian Zun, and Qinglong Zun.

—Yintian Zun had died with no whole corpse, and so received a cenotaph; while of Qinglong Zun only a single head remained. Emperor Haotian, pitying his loyalty and righteousness, ordered that a body be forged for Qinglong Zun from divine gold and sewn together with his head.

On the day of burial, Emperor Haotian attended in person, and he too shed silent tears, clutching the coffin and weeping bitterly, while the civil and military officials followed with unceasing tears. It was only when the seven oldest ministers of the Heavenly Court, the most senior in years, came forward to urge the Emperor to take care of his health for the sake of all living beings that Emperor Haotian finally restrained his grief. After the funeral, Emperor Haotian issued further rewards: he promoted the Crimson Emperor Qi Xiayu to be the Zun of the Southern Heaven, with Yan Yazi as his assistant; the Western Emperor became the Zun of the Western Heaven; the Eastern Heaven's Azure Emperor became the Zun of the Eastern Heaven; and the Eastern Pole Heaven was made a place of retirement for the Retired Emperor Taichu.

Emperor Haotian also enfeoffed a new Northern Emperor, promoting the Taiyin Zun among the Primordial Gods of the Great Ultimate to be the Zun of the Northern Heaven, and the Taiyang Zun to be the Zun of the Primal Realm. For a time, the whole Heavenly Court was in an uproar, some rejoicing and some grieving.

After the rewards were issued, Emperor Haotian returned to his palace, where someone presented a jade box.

Emperor Haotian waved his hand, dismissing the Golden Guards around him, and opened the jade box, and there within lay the head of Yu Cangqi, the reincarnation of the Divine Emperor Langxuan.

Emperor Haotian laughed and said, "Brother Langxuan, how have you been? " Within the jade box, the head of Langxuan's reincarnation opened its eyes and said, "The victor is king and the loser a bandit. Why waste words, Your Majesty?

Just send me on my way. " Emperor Haotian laughed heartily: "The Retired Emperor knew I am suspicious by nature, and yet still preserved your soul sealed within your head, so as to dispel my doubts. Brother, does this make you hate him? " Langxuan said, "In the house of emperors, all is heartlessness to begin with.

From whence would hatred come? " Emperor Haotian nodded, ground his bones to dust and scattered his ashes, cast his soul into the Great Abyss of Guixu to be worn away to nothing, and laughed: "Now I may sleep without worry! " At that moment, a soul of his that had been split off in Jingping flew back and merged with his primordial spirit.

Emperor Haotian flew into a rage and said, "The barbarous fools of the lower realm dare to insult me thus! " He withdrew that split soul of his, and his cultivation and strength rose considerably once more.

He rose to his feet, about to go in person to kill Xing'an, when he suddenly laughed despite himself: "He is a talent, after all.

If he could be recruited to the Heavenly Court, he might be appointed Zun of the Zaofu Heavenly Palace. He was able to perceive the flaw in my cultivation method; he can be put to good use, perfecting my method for me. Let this matter be given to Mutian Zun to handle.

" He drew a portrait of Xing'an, summoned the Golden Guards, and said, "Go down to the lower realm and see Mutian Zun.

Have him find this man and send him up to the Heavenly Court. I have great use for him.

" Several Golden Guards assented and forthwith descended to the lower realm. The Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge had not yet closed, and these Golden Guards took but a day or two to arrive at the capital of Jingping, only to find the Upper Capital and Lower Capital of Jingping adorned with lanterns and streamers, bustling with uncommon festivity. The Golden Guards made brief inquiries, and someone said, "Emperor Yanxiu has abdicated.

The former Retired Emperor Yanfeng, his sentence served, has taken the throne once more.

Imperial Preceptor Shen Jingping has also resigned the post of Imperial Preceptor of Jingping and yielded it to the former Imperial Preceptor Jiang Jingping. Imperial Preceptor Jiang Jingping has likewise served out his sentence.

" One Golden Guard laughed and said, "What is there in that worth hanging lanterns and streamers for?

It is merely a change back to the former emperor and the former Imperial Preceptor of Jingping.

" "You do not know. " The people told them, laughing: "Imperial Preceptor Shen Jingping and Emperor Yanxiu had an agreement that when they retired in the future, they would be wed! There has been turmoil all along, and for the sake of this promise, Emperor Yanxiu kept sitting on the throne. The court officials repeatedly admonished him to open the rear palace, to select talents to fill the rear palace, to establish imperial consorts and empresses, and to beget a son or daughter, so as to continue the fortunes of Jingping. But the Emperor beat them all back.

This time the Emperor abdicates precisely in order to complete his marriage with Imperial Preceptor Shen Jingping! " The Golden Guards exchanged glances and ventured, "This Imperial Preceptor Shen Jingping who is to wed the Emperor—could he be Mutian Zun?

" "Is he not?

An Imperial Preceptor of Jingping cannot marry an emperor. After the Emperor abdicates, he becomes Princess Xiu, and after the Imperial Preceptor steps down, he becomes Mutian Zun, and then he may marry the princess.

" Someone told them: "The Zun has said that after he weds Princess Xiu, he will return to Yongjiang to be a cowherd and no longer concern himself with the troubles of the world! " The Golden Guards conferred quietly among themselves and said, "Mutian Zun is about to retire. The one in power in Jingping now is not him, but Emperor Yanfeng and Imperial Preceptor Jiang Jingping. How are we to answer to His Majesty now?

Who can still seize the man in this portrait? " "Mutian Zun's marriage and retirement is a matter of great importance.