The Wanli Emperor showed a strange expression. "Beans? What is this thing?"
Ji Xiang replied, "Your Majesty, this is an 'evil pot' black bean. Eating this will cause one to continuously encounter misfortune. If Your Majesty truly distrusts this temple keeper, you may bestow this black bean upon him to eat. This way, whatever he attempts to do will backfire."
This was Ji Xiang's plan.
You hide well, you hide wonderfully, and I truly cannot see any problems. Then I shall directly reward you with a black bean to taste, to make you stay home honestly and not go out to harm others.
Today is the twentieth day of the sixth month in the twenty-fifth year of Wanli.
For those who eat the black bean, it is advisable to stay home and avoid going out.
The Wanli Emperor's eyes suddenly lit up. Just moments ago, he had been wary of this bean and was about to tell it to stay away from him. But now, looking at this dark bean, it seemed more and more beautiful.
Ji Xiang said, "Your Majesty only needed to wait two days. Since today has passed, there is only tomorrow left. After one day, True Master Zhang will enter the capital. By then, whatever strange and evil gods are here will be of no use."
When Old Zhang enters the capital, spirits and ghosts will retreat. If Old Zhang comes and cannot resolve it, then it is recommended that Your Majesty directly choose a comfortable posture and lie down to accept death.
"If Your Majesty is still uneasy, after returning today, you may ask Chan Master Shuizhai of Changchun Temple to inspect again. Chan Master Shuizhai's magical powers are far greater than mine, and he may be able to discover the problem."
The Wanli Emperor pondered and found it reasonable. He then beckoned to Tian Fengyu, who scurried over with a fawning expression, bowed respectfully, and shouted, "Long live the Emperor!"
"Rise. I bestow a good thing upon you, eat it for me!"
The Wanli Emperor handed the black bean to Tian Fengyu. A faint black light flickered in Tian Fengyu's eyes; he naturally recognized what it was.
The black bean of the Kitchen God. Eating it would bring bad luck for the entire day, from minor incidents like slipping while walking to major ones like being hit by falling objects.
"Eat it. This is my reward to you. You must chew it thoroughly before swallowing!"
Eat it for me. Those who recognize food are heroes!
If you don't eat it, are you not giving me face?
The Wanli Emperor stared at Tian Fengyu. Tian Fengyu inwardly cursed his bad luck, then had no choice but to brace himself and eat the bean, chewing and swallowing it repeatedly.
Seeing him eat the black bean, the Wanli Emperor was immediately relieved.
After eating the black bean, he still had to oversee this temple keeper. The Wanli Emperor was very dissatisfied that he had not found any problems at the Dongyue Temple today. It seemed that demolishing this temple would require further deliberation.
He then said to Luo Sigong, "You will have the Embroidered Uniform Guard guard this place. Strictly control the entry and exit of worshippers these days!"
"No one, regardless of their reasons, is to enter! The gods of the underworld shall suspend their bell-ringing at night!"
"Tonight, the bell-ringing will begin from the First Red Shop. Dongyue Temple is closed!"
The Wanli Emperor forcibly gave the underworld employees of Dongyue Temple a holiday. The underworld gods who were out delivering bells were about to return to Dongyue Temple. The Wanli Emperor was waiting at the entrance, and during this time, someone started to babble again.
Minister Xu Wenbi, who had previously advised the Wanli Emperor, stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, since there are no problems within the temple, please choose an auspicious day for a grand sacrifice to appease Heaven and Earth, the ancestors, and all the gods..."
"What do you mean no problems? It hasn't been discovered yet. Is it up to you to say whether there are problems?"
The Wanli Emperor looked at Xu Wenbi with a cold face and said, "As long as this temple stands, I will not be at ease."
Are you, a minister, questioning me?
The deification and renovation ceremonies for this temple were even grander than those for the Fire God Temple!
Are you questioning my ability to court death!
Xu Wenbi fully displayed the arrogance of a Ming dynasty official and insisted,
"This temple was built by a Grand Master of Xuanjiao during the pseudo-Yuan dynasty, and it bears inscriptions from Emperor Yingzong and was renovated by Emperor Shizong. You previously stated that if there were no problems, you would return to offer sacrifices to the gods. Now that no problems have been found, how can the Son of Heaven go back on his word!"
Anger flared up on the Wanli Emperor's forehead. He glanced at the temple and thought of a good idea. He said to Xu Wenbi, "I think there are problems. If you don't believe me, then you can stay here for one night!"
Xu Wenbi loudly declared, "Your servant obeys the decree! However, after one night, if your servant is unharmed, then Your Majesty must conduct the sacrifice!"
His attitude was clear: I'll stay, there will definitely be no problems. You, Your Majesty, should stop scaring yourself!
The Wanli Emperor nodded. "Very well. If you are unharmed tonight, I will choose an auspicious day to return to Dongyue Temple for a grand sacrifice!"
Xu Wenbi sighed, "Your Majesty, these evil gods have been planning for many years to appear only once. Shun Tian Prefecture is the capital of the Great Ming, and it is protected by the Underworld Celestial Court, the constellations, and celestial generals and divine beings. You should not scare yourself!"
"If there truly are evil gods in this Dongyue Temple, occupying the clay statue of Emperor Dongyue, why did he not act when the Fire Lord burned the Forbidden City the day before yesterday, but remained quiet?"
Minister Xu Wenbi expressed that the Emperor should not be overly worried. Today, Old Xu will sacrifice himself to accompany the temple keeper and stay overnight, while also monitoring this temple keeper to verify for you that this temple is very safe, extremely safe!
The Wanli Emperor also gave his approval, stating that he would send another group of Embroidered Uniform Guards to "protect" him, which was actually to monitor the temple keeper.
At this time, the sky was gradually brightening, and soon, the underworld gods who had been out on patrol and delivering bells also returned.
Fourteenth, Department of Evidence Retrieval for Criminals: The duty of this underworld department is to investigate and collect evidence before apprehending criminals, to avoid harming loyal subjects. It is a detective agency.
Thirty-ninth, Department of魍魉 (Wǎngliǎng): This underworld department is the general organ for managing demons and spirits, strictly prohibiting them from wandering and causing mischief, or deceiving people.
Sixty-ninth, Department of Guidance: This department is in charge of guiding souls after death.
The three departments went first, unaware of what had happened at the First Red Shop the previous night. Upon arriving at the entrance of Dongyue Temple and seeing the Emperor, the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, celestial generals and divine beings, and the Wudang Taoist, all present at the entrance, they quickly came to pay their respects.
The Wanli Emperor informed them that starting tomorrow, they would be on holiday, and the end of the holiday would be announced later.
The group left Dongyue Temple, leaving behind some of the Embroidered Uniform Guards and Minister Xu Wenbi to guard it.
Ji Xiang turned and followed the Wanli Emperor away. Not long after, he suddenly felt a chilling sensation. Alarmed, he glanced back slightly and saw the underworld gods entering Dongyue Temple. Tian Fengyu was still standing at the threshold, beside Xu Wenbi, who was turning back towards the temple. Tian Fengyu was staring intently at Ji Xiang with both eyes.
"Earth Bright Divine Technique?"
Although he didn't feel any divine power flowing, his divine牌 (spirit tablet) reacted!
[Earth Bright God is observing!]
Ji Xiang immediately recited, "Heaven and man are one, how can one be careless!"
Looking at Tian Fengyu again, he had already run towards the temple gate, instantly ascending the steps and disappearing inside.
"Wait!"
Ji Xiang, disregarding reporting to the Emperor, turned back. Just as Xu Wenbi was about to enter, he heard Ji Xiang's voice and immediately turned back. Ji Xiang caught up and saw that Tian Fengyu was already close to the main hall of Dongyue Temple!
He immediately asked, "Lord Xu, why did that temple keeper leave so quickly just now..."
In the time it took to say this sentence, it was as if he had shifted form!
"Left quickly? That temple keeper went in long ago. He wasn't here just now. What happened to the temple keeper?"
Xu Wenbi looked at Ji Xiang strangely and told him that after everyone had left, the temple keeper had already gone inside. When Ji Xiang looked back, there was no one beside him.
Ji Xiang did not believe it. He asked the surrounding Embroidered Uniform Guards again and received the same response. He could only cast a deep glance at Tian Fengyu, bid farewell to Xu Wenbi, and slowly departed.
Meanwhile, in the main hall of the temple.
Black divine light flowed in Tian Fengyu's eyes. His abdomen bulged, and his throat moved. He slowed down half a step behind Xu Wenbi and exhaled a sinister black qi. From within the black qi, a complete black bean fell out!
"Damn Taoist, how dare you make this noble Holy Ancestor Godly Body eat a black bean rubbed from the lowly Kitchen God!"
"It's disgusting!"