Chapter 1207: A Sudden Surprise: Wu Gong

"Your Majesty is saying you wish to offer my daughter to the immortals?"

Wu Shiyue's expression turned suspicious; if not for the speaker being Li Shimin, he would have cursed.

Immortals?

Where do such immortals come from!

Could it be because the fortune-teller said Meiniang has the countenance of an emperor, so now they plan to sacrifice her?

Thinking of this, his heart grew cold.

This isn't entirely for the sake of my daughter.

It's mostly out of fear for my own family!

An emperor's heart is most cruel; cutting the grass and rooting out the seed—he would certainly do it.

They might sacrifice Meiniang today and turn on the Wu family tomorrow.

Wu Gong's slender frame grew icy, disbelief washing over her.

She had thought she would enter the inner palace, like a caged bird.

Who knew fate would be even more tragic?

She couldn't even be a caged bird—she was to be sacrificed to the immortals.

Would it be a live offering, burning, or something else?

Thinking of this, Wu Gong's face turned as pale as paper.

"I believe the two of you have misunderstood!"

Li Shimin laughed heartily, "The immortals I speak of are real immortals—not the kind you imagine."

With a wave of his hand, a portal appeared in the void.

Wu Shiyue and Wu Gong stared—and were stunned.

Could the Emperor really wield immortal arts?

"Come with me!"

Saying this, he stepped inside first.

Wu Shiyue and Wu Gong exchanged a glance, then followed him in.

Crossing the light portal, they found the world utterly transformed.

Before them stretched a grand, majestic realm, shimmering with immortal radiance.

The divine beasts, the colossal trees blotting out sun and sky—all proclaimed this was not the Tang world, but an unknown realm.

Wu Shiyue trembled as he asked, "Your Majesty, is this the Immortal Realm?"

Li Shimin nodded: "Correct. This world was opened by the Dao Lord, named Tai Xuan Realm. This is merely the Earth Immortal Realm of Tai Xuan. If Miss Wu is given to the Dao Lord, she will go further still—straight to the Great Luo Heaven. That is the highest tier of this world; even ordinary deities have no chance to reach it."

"Great Luo Heaven?" Wu Shiyue looked up, his heart shaken.

Wu Gong's emotions surged like a rollercoaster.

One moment she feared sacrifice, the next—she stood in a divine realm, possibly becoming a concubine to an immortal.

The shift was too sudden; she could not yet grasp it.

Gathering her wits, she gazed into the distance.

Mountains stretched endlessly, blotting out the heavens.

A crimson tree soared skyward, its crown holding a sun.

Farther still, a towering tree stood, upon which a phoenix cried out.

All of it proclaimed this realm's extraordinary nature.

Suddenly, a clear voice rang out.

"Huh? Who are you?"

"Are you also Brother Tai Xuan's friends?"

The three turned to see several young girls stepping out of a light portal.

Li Shimin blinked in surprise: "Who are you?"

"I'm Li Hua Zou. These are Zhongcun Youli and Yinwu Chuyin. We came here to cultivate."

Li Shimin smiled: "Ah, so you're Miss Li Hua. I'm Li Er Feng, also from the group. I'm just bringing Miss Wu here to get her acquainted—we'll return shortly."

"So it's you," Li Hua Zou said calmly, her gaze settling on Wu Gong, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

This future female emperor truly was beautiful!

"Little Zou, it's time to go!"

"Let's head to the cave dwelling!" Zhongcun Youli urged.

Li Hua Zou nodded to the three, then departed.

"Your Majesty, why is that girl's hair completely silver?" Wu Shiyue asked once they were gone, curiosity rising. "Her eye color is different from ours. Could she be some demon?"

Li Shimin sighed: "Stop right there—she's no demon. They're just people from another world. Come, we should return."

Li Shimin was speechless: "Stop right there—these aren't demons. They're just people from another world. Let's go, we should head back too."

Back in the Taiji Palace, when they resumed their discussion, Wu Shiyue's attitude had changed completely—he wanted to send her off immediately.

Wu Gong's brow now glowed with anticipation.

"This isn't urgent yet. Take Miss Wu home to prepare. Return to the palace in three days—I'll send you off then."

"Your Majesty is right; preparation is indeed necessary."

Wu Shiyue and Wu Gong hurried out of the palace and returned home.

"Lady, great fortune has come!"

"Lady, great good fortune!"

"What has gotten into you? Even if Your Majesty is going to appoint you to a high office, there's no need to act like this!" Lady Wu asked, utterly baffled.

.. Requesting flowers: 0

Wu Shiyue shook his head repeatedly: "This isn't some trivial matter of being appointed to office. Do you know why Your Majesty summoned us to the palace?"

"What is it? Now you're playing coy?"

"Your Majesty said he's giving Meiniang to a divine being of immense power!"

"Ah!" Lady Wu gasped in shock. "Isn't that like offering Meiniang as a sacrifice? Even if Meiniang is just a daughter, she's still our own flesh and blood. How can you be so heartless—"

"and still be happy?"

"Where do you get such ideas!" Wu Shiyue knew exactly what his wife was thinking. "It's not the sacrifice you imagine—it's a real immortal. Let me tell you."

"There's truly a celestial realm?"

"Of course there is. Meiniang went with us too—if you don't believe me, ask her." Wu Shiyue boasted, thoroughly delighted. "I even saw people from other worlds—silver hair, golden eyes—truly astonishing!"

"Could such a wondrous thing truly exist?" Lady Wu doubted, fearing her husband was babbling nonsense:

Wu Shiyue waved his hand: "Wife, you don't even trust me? Then go ask Meiniang. By the way, Your Majesty gave us only three days to prepare—use these three days to gather Meiniang's dowry. Meiniang is a daughter of the Wu family; her dowry must not be lacking!"

Wu Shiyue waved his hand: "Lady, don't you even trust me? Then go ask Meiniang. By the way, Your Majesty only gave three days to prepare—use these three days to get Meiniang's dowry ready."

Lady Wu nodded, then rushed to the inner quarters, where she found her daughter sitting motionless before the dressing table.

"Meiniang, what's wrong?"

"Mother, I'm fine—just stunned." Wu Gong snapped out of her daze. "There really are immortals. There really is a celestial realm."

Lady Wu was astonished: "So what your father said was true?"

Wu Gong nodded: "Yes. It's true. Your Majesty took us to that terrestrial immortal realm."

Seeing their accounts matched perfectly, Lady Wu finally believed, her face lighting up with joy.

"Meiniang, rest for now. I'll go prepare your dowry. When the time comes, we'll send you off to the Great Luo Heaven with all the glory befitting our family."

"Mm." Wu Gong had no objections.

"Mingniang, you rest first; I'll go prepare your dowry, and when the time comes, we'll send you off to Great Luo Heaven in grand style."

"Mm." Wu Gong had no objections.