Chapter 336

Tang An could not answer Yang Jian's question, because even someone as strong as a Saint must still be bound by the Heavenly Dao.

Is it only by becoming the Heavenly Dao, or transcending the Heavenly Dao, that one can obtain complete freedom?

No...

With great power comes great responsibility.

Whether becoming the Heavenly Dao or transcending the Heavenly Dao, one would only be bound more deeply by various responsibilities and rules.

"In this world, no one has absolute freedom."

"From the moment we are born, we all face various injustices, disasters, and tribulations. Everyone is forced to grow, unable to stop, and must keep moving forward."

"If we speak of the purest freedom, I think it should be the childhood period of a mortal."

"At the very least, in a family full of love, we can feel the purest love. Not understanding the rules of the world, there won't be so many worries."

Speaking of this, Tang An looked into the distance, as if in infinite reminiscence.

"Actually, from beginning to end, what I wanted was not power, not to be some immortal, and certainly not to be above all living beings."

"I just wanted my mother and grandmother to live well, and for me to grow up in their company and love, nothing more."

"If possible, I don't want to challenge the rules, and I don't want to spend effort and energy fighting for some position as a chess player."

"I just want to rack my brains to sneak in some play under my grandmother's supervision. To be lectured by her, and then chased all over the courtyard." Tang An seemed to recall that scene and couldn't help but smile.

"I also want to stick by my mother's side; no matter how poor or bitter it is, I don't care. I just want my mother to be alive, as long as she can still hold me."

The intermittent silence was her silent sorrow.

"I have always, always just wanted to be an ordinary person, have an ordinary job, and live an ordinary life."

"It would be best if my grandmother and mother both had healthy bodies, lived to a ripe old age, nothing more."

Tang An looked at Yang Jian and Nezha, "I know, you think the same way."

"But no one can be the master of our fate."

The four master and disciples looked at each other, leaving only endless silence.

Yes, if there were a choice, who would want to experience countless sufferings and be some so-called high-and-mighty immortal who is boundlessly constrained?

But living according to one's own heart is always so simple, yet so difficult, and so unreachable.

"Alright, the matter at hand hasn't been dealt with yet; it's not the time for sentimentality."

Tang An snapped back to reality and looked at the Prefect Shangguan, who was still kneeling to the side.

"Let's go, we also need a place to stay; why don't we borrow your mansion for a few days, how about that?"

How could Shangguan dare to refuse? "For the Princess to condescend to enter my mansion is for my mansion to be honored..."

"Enough." Tang An did not want to hear these flattering words, "Lead the way."

Shangguan hurriedly stood up, but because he had been kneeling for too long, he stumbled and almost fell.

His subordinates hurriedly stepped forward to support him and led the way toward Shangguan's home.

Tang An looked at Sun Wukong, and then signaled for Sun Wukong to look at an inconspicuous person who was sneaking away not far away.

Sun Wukong nodded to indicate he understood and immediately transformed into a bee, following that person.

At the Prefect's mansion.

Tang An stopped in front of this imposing mansion and looked sideways at Shangguan.

"Fengxian Prefecture has had no rain for three years, yet your mansion is still as imposing as ever?"

Shangguan was so frightened that he wiped his sweat, not daring to say much.

Because his faults were already laid out before Tang An, and he could only say more and err more.

"Crash!"

Just as Tang An stepped into the mansion, a vase shattered in front of her.

Nezha's figure was about to move, but Tang An grabbed his arm.

"No rush, let's see what kind of play they are performing."

Although the killing intent in Nezha's eyes was retracted, his gaze was cold and frightening.

And the person who dropped the vase was none other than Shangguan's wife, the Prefect's wife.

When the Prefect's wife saw Nezha's killing intent, she turned pale with fright and forgot what she was supposed to say next.

When the Prefect saw her like this, he immediately scolded, "Wife, oh wife, what are you doing?"

The Prefect's wife finally snapped back to reality, her complexion not looking too good, and even showing a somewhat embarrassed expression.

However, she entered her role quickly and immediately stepped forward to beat the Prefect. "You heartless thing, you actually bring a woman into the mansion in broad daylight; what do you want to do? Huh? Do you want to replace your wife!"

Then she pointed fiercely at Tang An, "You cheap hussy, get out of our mansion, get out!"

Tang An's brows twitched, and Nezha's figure rushed out at a speed Tang An could not stop.

"Swoosh~"

The Prefect's wife's arm fell to the ground in response.

Blood sprayed out, and the shock and fright actually caused the Prefect's wife to faint directly.

Shangguan held his wife, scared to death, "Quick, quick, call the mansion physician!"

Yang Jian glanced at Xiaotian Quan, and Xiaotian Quan immediately ran over at high speed, grabbed the Prefect's wife's arm, and ran out.

Shangguan was completely panicked, "Quick, quick, go catch the dog! Grab the wife's arm back, hurry!"

The entire Prefect's mansion was in chaos because of this sudden change.

Shangguan snapped back to reality and almost couldn't hide his true nature, wanting to reprimand Tang An.

But thinking of his wife's encounter, he felt fear again.

"Princess, how could your subordinates treat this humble official's wife like this!"

Tang An took out the grand master chair and sat down right there.

"They are not my subordinates, they are my disciples."

"Even if they are disciples, the Princess should not be so indulgent."

"Oh? Is that so?" Tang An rubbed the Wealth-Gathering Ring, "Speaking of indulgence, did the Prefect not indulge your wife in being disrespectful to this palace?"

Shangguan was speechless for a moment, then thought of another excuse.

"Princess, my wife did not intend to hurt you; it was just because of an unfounded misunderstanding that she was disrespectful to the Princess."

"Disrespectful, that's all." Tang An leaned back, her fingers supporting her chin. "Do you know what the crime is for being disrespectful to the Princess in my Great Tang?"

The Prefect Shangguan was tongue-tied, not expecting Tang An to be so calm in the face of danger and even be able to use his own strength against him, causing him to instantly fall into a passive situation.

"Since the Prefect has just surrendered to my Great Tang and does not understand the laws of the Great Tang, this palace will kindly tell you about them."

"According to the laws of my Great Tang, those who offend the royal majesty, wantonly insult, and intend to harm the Princess shall be punished with the death penalty, and the crime shall involve the nine clans."

"I wonder if the heads of the nine clans of the Shangguan family are enough to be chopped off?"

Tang An had a smile on her face, but in the flow of her eyes, there was nothing but the pressure of a superior.

Shangguan was immediately so frightened that he knelt on the ground, "This humble official... this humble official had no such intention, I beg the Princess to forgive me!"

Not only did he kneel, but he also performed the grand kowtow.

Tang An didn't even look at Shangguan, "This palace can forgive, but it also depends on the Prefect's sincerity in surrendering to my Great Tang."

No matter how stupid Shangguan was, he should understand Tang An's meaning.

"This humble official... this humble official will naturally scatter all my family wealth, just to atone for my wife's sins."

Tang An couldn't help but applaud Shangguan; his words were truly so affectionate.

Is he atoning for his wife's sins? He just wants to live himself and protect the lives of his nine clans.

"Since that is the case, this palace will give the Prefect one day. I hope that tomorrow, I can see the register and items full of the Prefect's sincerity."

"This humble official obeys." Shangguan performed the grand kowtow again, not daring to challenge Tang An's authority anymore.