Chapter 109: Xuanzang: Only children make choices, I want them all

Imperial Palace, Golden Throne Hall.

Led by the Chief Steward Eunuch Zhen, Xuanzang, Li Bai, and Daolei entered the great hall one after another.

Although last night, Xuanzang had just performed rites for the Dragon King on the roof of the Golden Throne Hall.

At this moment, the left and right sides of the hall were already filled with civil and military officials; these were Li Er's core team.

Among the civil officials were Zhangsun Wuji, Du Ruhui, Wei Zheng, Fang Xuanling, and others.

Among the military officials were Li Jing, Yuchi Gong, Qin Qiong, Cheng Yaojin, and others.

Basically, all of the Twenty-Four Meritorious Ministers of Lingyan Pavilion were present!

Besides them, at the head of the civil officials, Xuanzang also saw a young man dressed in white, roughly twenty-something years old, with a scholarly appearance, yet within that scholarly air, there was something slightly improper.

Not knowing if it was an illusion, this man in white gave one the feeling of being seventy percent scholarly and thirty percent roguish; such a peculiar temperament made one feel it was strange.

And to be so young, yet standing at the head of the civil officials?

If there wasn't something fishy about this, how could it be possible?

Seeming to notice Xuanzang's gaze, the scholarly man in white turned his head and smiled gently.

"Who is he?" Xuanzang asked.

Beside him, Eunuch Zhen's expression shifted slightly, and he whispered:

"This is the State Preceptor, Xu Mouren."

"Xu Mouren??"

Hearing this, Xuanzang thought, what kind of strange name is that, and does the Great Tang have a State Preceptor named Xu Mouren?

At this time, the entire court of civil and military officials was sizing up Xuanzang, Daolei, and Li Bai!

Of course, the center of their gaze was still Xuanzang; everyone had seen the battle in the Imperial Palace last night.

That kind of scene was simply not something a mortal could reach!

As the Great Tang's number one critic, Wei Zheng, also had to admire Xuanzang's methods!

Fortunately, the Jing River Dragon King did not seek him out; it was His Majesty who took the blame.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Daolei and Li Bai bowed one after another.

Xuanzang merely offered a slight bow, showing respect to the Emperor.

Regarding this, Li Er did not feel there was anything wrong; his face was warm as he said:

"No need for excessive formalities. Li Bai, Daolei, from now on in the Imperial Palace, you only need to bow, just like the Holy Monk Xuanzang."

"Many thanks, Your Majesty," said Li Bai and Daolei.

"This time, many thanks to the three of you for resolving this trouble for me, especially the Holy Monk, who bravely fought the evil Dragon; your heroic posture was truly inspiring, leaving me very shocked!

To those who have rendered service to the Great Tang, I am never stingy," Li Er said.

"Speak, besides the rewards on the imperial notice, what other rewards do you want?"

Daolei, Li Bai, and Xuanzang looked at each other.

Daolei took a step forward, his expression steady, and said:

"Your Majesty, I am a cultivator from the Celestial Master Mansion, a person outside the secular world; I have no need for fame or wealth. Furthermore, I did not subdue the evil Dragon; I am ashamed."

"The Celestial Master Mansion is worthy of being the ancestral court of Taoism. Since that is the case, I specially bestow a golden plaque upon the Celestial Master Mansion," Li Er said.

"Many thanks, Your Majesty!" Daolei expressed his gratitude.

The Emperor's golden plaque was more useful than gold, silver, or jewels!

Coupled with the fact that Taoism was currently in decline, having a golden plaque might perhaps help the Daomen recover a bit of its vitality.

"Li Bai, what do you want?" Li Er asked.

Li Bai touched his nose and said shyly:

"Your Majesty, I am a man of leisure; I do not seek fame or wealth, and in my life, I love wine the most. If Your Majesty could bestow a few jars of Fine Wine, I would be satisfied."

"Good, that is no problem. Eunuch Zhen, go to the Imperial Treasury and pick out ten jars of the best Fine Wine for Li Bai."

Li Er waved his hand, appearing quite generous. In reality, his heart was trembling; he was also a lover of wine.

"Yes, Your Majesty," said Eunuch Zhen.

Finally, it was Xuanzang's turn, and Li Er asked:

"Holy Monk, what kind of reward do you need?"

Xuanzang said: "Your Majesty, I have not yet decided."

Hearing this, Li Er's expression changed slightly.

The State Preceptor Xu Mouren below spoke up, saying:

"Your Majesty, the pearls under your knees have already reached the age for marriage. The Holy Monk is handsome in appearance; he is a good candidate for a Prince Consort."

Li Er's eyes lit up; the State Preceptor was right.

Xuanzang was not old; it was a pity to be a monk. Moreover, his strength was powerful, and he could subdue an evil dragon. If he had such a son-in-law, wouldn't the Great Tang be invincible across the four seas?

Xuanzang glanced at Xu Mouren; what exactly was this person's goal?

Li Er pondered for a moment; although he wanted to make Xuanzang a Prince Consort, he couldn't just brush him off with any random Princess.

The Princesses he cherished most were Princess Changle Li Lizhi, Princess Gaoyang, Princess Yong'an Li Le'yan, and Princess Yongning Li Zhangge.

Li Er had the maids bring the portraits of the four Princesses and unfold them in the great hall!

The women in the portraits were beautiful and moving, vivid and lifelike, with outstanding temperaments.

It was evident that the brushwork of the Great Tang painters was also at a masterful level.

Many officials saw these four Princesses and also revealed expressions of envy.

These four were all the apples of His Majesty's eye!

Countless princes and ministers were watching, yet at this moment, it was left to Xuanzang to choose.

Seeing this, Li Bai secretly thought he had been too hasty; if he had known the Princesses were so stunningly beautiful, he would have wanted one regardless of the cost.

If they are this beautiful in the paintings, the True Person need not say more.

Seeing such beauty, Daolei silently recited a Taoist name: "Immeasurable Heavenly Venerable!"

Seeing the expressions of the crowd, Li Er was naturally very happy.

Xuanzang only glanced at them indifferently and paid no further attention.

Thinking Xuanzang had made his choice, Li Er asked:

"Holy Monk, do you have any thoughts? Whichever one you want, as long as you speak, I will certainly satisfy you."

"Brother Xuan, hurry and choose," Li Bai said excitedly.

Daolei also gave him a look!

Xuanzang took a step forward, his gaze calm, and spoke slowly: "Your Majesty, you are being too stingy."

"?" Li Er.

"??" The civil and military officials.

"Interesting," the State Preceptor Xu Mouren whispered.

"What do you mean? Holy Monk, is there something I have done incorrectly?" Li Er asked in confusion.

"The four Princesses are stunningly beautiful and possess beauty that could topple cities. It is just that since Your Majesty has asked me to choose, I feel that choosing any one of them would be disrespectful to the other Princesses," Xuanzang said.

Upon hearing this, the civil and military officials nodded; these words made some sense.

No matter which one was chosen, it would hurt the face of the other three Princesses.

He is truly worthy of being a Holy Monk, with a broad and loving heart, thinking of others.

But what should be done about this?

"Brother Xuan is truly a great man!" Li Bai praised.

"This, I have indeed failed to consider. Holy Monk, what do you think?" Li Er said.

"Hoo!"

Xuanzang took a deep breath, then said:

"Only children make choices. For the sake of the four Princesses, I have decided to sacrifice myself and fulfill them all!"

"Your Majesty, I want them all!"

"What do you think?"

"!"

Li Er's pupils suddenly dilated, a look of disbelief on his face; was he suffering from auditory hallucinations?

"!"

The civil and military officials.

"Brother Xuan is truly a real man!"

Li Bai silently gave a thumbs-up; only a unique person like Xuanzang would dare to make such a bold statement.

"Worthy of being a Holy Monk, loving all living beings," Daolei said.

For a time, the entire court was filled with discussion, and everyone's expression was quite spectacular.

Xuanzang was not giving these princes and ministers a way out; he had actually taken all of the Emperor's most beloved Princesses in one go—his appetite was truly too large.

"Ahem~"

Guanyin Bodhisattva, who was secretly spying, almost had her Buddhist heart destabilized; what kind of Buddhist Dharma had Jinchanzi been learning these past ten years?

A monk should be detached from all worldly things, but looking at it now, where was Xuanzang detached?

For a moment, Guanyin felt somewhat angry.

Jinchanzi was like this back then, and now Xuanzang is the same!

In the great hall, Li Er's expression turned stern, and he said:

"Quiet!"

Xuanzang's request was too ruthless; wanting all four of his precious daughters at once—of course, he could not grant it.

But the promise had been made, and it could not be taken back; at this moment, Li Er needed a way out.

So he gave a look to the Duke, Zhangsun Wuji. Zhangsun Wuji understood the hint, stood out, and said righteously:

"Your Majesty, this cannot be. Since the founding of the Great Tang, there has never been a precedent for four Princesses to marry the same man."

"Ahem, the Duke's words are very true!" Li Er hurriedly followed up.

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