Chapter 894

She never imagined that the Qinglong Society would actually give her such an obviously difficult task meant to trip her up.

The Qinglong Society is really such a scam!

But precisely because she had set the bar too high earlier, the ministers of the Great Tang were clearly especially eager to complete this task.

If she didn't come up with suitable wording, it would instead arouse the ministers' suspicion.

After hesitating for a long while, just as Di Renjie called out "Your Majesty" repeatedly, Wu Zhao could only slowly come back to herself and said,

"Di Qing's words are indeed not bad.

However, in this world, there is also a Great Tang.

The experts within this Great Tang are also quite numerous.

If we send too many people, it would inevitably lead to conflict with that Great Tang.

Therefore, I think it would be better to send only a small number of people, to secretly hunt down that monk."

The Qinglong Society's task can yield immortal-grade or divine-grade treasures.

Though her junior brother was good, and also greatly revered her.

But in the face of profit, Wu Zhao was ultimately prepared to abandon him.

"What Your Majesty says is reasonable. This minister will go summon the Heavenly Devil and the Xuanxin Sect Master at once.

With those two taking action, any monk would likely be captured with ease."

Di Renjie was first stunned—how could there be a Great Tang in another world, and one whose strength was not inferior at that?

Could His Majesty, with just one glance at that jade pendant, obtain so much information?

Though doubts lingered in his heart, Di Renjie ultimately did not suspect that the empress before him was not Wu Zetian.

Instead, he felt Wu Zhao's words were reasonable, and thus proposed sending only the Heavenly Devil Cang Qu and the Xuanxin Sect Master Jin Guang.

Wu Zhao pondered once more, sorting through the information about the Heavenly Devil Cang Qu and the Xuanxin Sect Master in her mind.

She knew that although this Heavenly Devil Cang Qu was the Great Tang's chief guardian of the nation, he devoted himself entirely to cultivation and rarely went out.

So theoretically, this Heavenly Devil Cang Qu should not be able to tell the difference between Wu Zetian and Wu Zhao.

As for the Xuanxin Sect Master, he had only just joined the Great Tang and had met Wu Zetian only once.

Thinking of this, Wu Zhao felt the possibility of her identity being exposed was extremely small, and thus agreed with what Di Renjie had said.

It is said that Wu Zetian and Shangguan Wan'er were gravely wounded, on the verge of death.

They were thrown by Wu Zhao into the phantom image of Changancheng in the sky.

Then after a bout of the world spinning, when they came to again, the two women found themselves in a quiet Zen courtyard.

Their own injuries had also mostly healed.

The moment she woke, Wu Zetian immediately worried about Shangguan Wan'er.

After all, Shangguan Wan'er was not only her capable assistant, but also her intimate confidante.

Without Shangguan Wan'er, she did not know how long she could have held on.

But after waking and looking around, this quiet Zen room had not a trace of Shangguan Wan'er.

Wu Zetian immediately struggled to rise, wanting to go out and search for Shangguan Wan'er.

She did not expect the Zen room's door to swing wide open, and saw a solemn, dignified-looking monk push the door and enter.

"Your Majesty has awoken? How wonderful, how worthy of celebration."

This monk pressed his palms together, looking infinitely delighted.

Wu Zetian sat on the bed and asked the monk,

"May I ask the Master his dharma name, and where is this place?"

"This poor monk's dharma name is Fa Ming, and I am Your Majesty's junior brother.

As for this place, it is precisely where this little monk is stationed to preach the Dharma—Monk King Monastery!"

It turned out this monk was the Monk Wang Fa Ming.

This Zen courtyard was actually Monk King Monastery.

But how could Wu Zetian know so much, or know why a monk would claim to be her junior brother.

But she was, after all, of empress dignity, and knew this was not the time for denial; she merely asked,

"So it was Junior Brother who saved me. You have merit in saving the sovereign. Once I return to Great Ming Palace, I shall richly reward you."

Hearing this, Fa Ming was also delighted, and repeatedly declined.

Wu Zetian, however, continued,

"By the way, Junior Brother, there should have been a woman with me…"

"Is the woman Your Majesty speaks of perhaps my lord Shangguan?"

Sure enough, Fa Ming had indeed seen Shangguan Wan'er. Listening to him say,

"Earlier, Your Majesty and this my lord Shangguan fainted in the mountains. After this little monk discovered them, he immediately rendered aid.

Fearing that chaos would erupt in the imperial palace due to the disappearance of Your Majesty and my lord Shangguan, he specially dispatched disciples to find the Phoenix Guard.

He did not expect the Phoenix Guard to bring back another my lord Shangguan, who claimed that the my lord Shangguan by Your Majesty's side was a fake.

Therefore, they took this my lord Shangguan away directly."

"What?"

Wu Zetian's face changed drastically. She was already certain that the one who looked like her earlier was most likely also this world's empress.

That was why the monk Fa Ming before her had mistaken her for Her Majesty the Empress.

But she never imagined that this world not only had an empress, but also a Shangguan Wan'er.

Now that this world's Shangguan Wan'er had taken her intimate confidante away, did that not mean her own Shangguan Wan'er was in danger?

"No, I must go find Shangguan Wan'er."

Thinking of this, how could Wu Zetian possibly sit still any longer? She immediately tried to rise from the bed.

But the moment she tried to move, she found that she had completely lost all sensation in her lower body; no matter how she tried, she simply could not stand.

Seeing this sight, Faming said with a worried look,

"Your Majesty! You suffered grave injuries. This poor monk expended tremendous effort before I could bring you back.

Right now is still the critical moment of treatment, and your wounds have yet to fully heal.

That is why Lord Shangguan came, yet did not bring you back to the palace in time."

Wu Zetian could not help feeling anxious—her injuries were still not healed.

But if that were the case, how was she to rescue her own Shangguan Wan?

"No! Regardless of my injuries, I must return to Great Ming Palace at once."

She thought that this world's Shangguan Wan might very well act against her own Shangguan Wan.

Even bearing grave injuries, how could Wu Zetian possibly sit still.

"Your Majesty…"

But Faming dropped to his knees, kowtowed, and said,

"Please forgive this poor monk's discourtesy. The injuries Your Majesty sustained are extremely severe.

If treatment is delayed, I fear it will not be a temporary loss of sensation in the lower body, but a permanent one.

Therefore, even if it means defying the imperial decree and being punished by Your Majesty, this poor monk would not dare let Your Majesty leave!"

Wu Zetian was kind-hearted by nature; seeing Faming's intense devotion to protecting her, how could she throw a little tantrum and rebuke him.

Yet she worried about Shangguan Wan, and could not help but want to leave the Xiangleyi Society.

After thinking for a while, she suddenly said,

"Very well! Since my junior brother's heart is sincere, I shall stay here for now.

But I urgently need Shangguan Wan to come—I have important matters to entrust. Go quickly to the imperial palace and report."

"This poor monk obeys."

Hearing that Wu Zetian had not insisted, Faming seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. He stood up and said again,

"Your Majesty is still in a period of impaired dragon-body; please rest more.

This poor monk will personally go to the imperial palace now and summon Lord Shangguan."

"Good!"

Wu Zetian was quite pleased with Faming. If she were not truly his senior sister, having such a junior brother would not be bad at all.

After Faming finished speaking, he bowed once more before withdrawing from the meditation chamber.