Chapter 146: Nuwa Summons the Demons, Daji Enters the Palace

  It is said that Wuji and others suspected that the Western religion's Holy One and the Zhunti Holy One were plotting against them together, and they became furious. Under the joint efforts of Xuanjie and Liangjiao, the power of the Western religion in Hebei Province, which was supported by the Marquis of Julu Su Hu, rapidly declined.

  After the two main armies of Taigong Wang and Xi Bo Hou laid siege to the city, Su Hu had no choice but to surrender. When Su Hu learned that Chong Hou Hu and Xi Bo Hou Ji Chang were coming, he knew he was defeated this time and had no choice but to surrender.

  But to whom he surrendered was a matter of great importance. Chong Hou Hu had a violent temper, and if he were to surrender to him, his own city of Ji Zhou would likely be bathed in blood. Xi Bo Hou, on the other hand, was an old friend and a humble gentleman with a reputation for virtue. Surrendering to him would not only ensure the safety of Ji Zhou but also allow him to share some credit with his friend.

  Just as Marquis Su of Jizhou thought that offering his beloved daughter to Emperor Xin would bring an end to the matter, but things are hard to predict, this is just the beginning. It turns out that the incense offering at the Nuwa Palace was not only a plot against Emperor Xin, but he indeed desecrated Goddess Nuwa.

  Nüwa was not idle while the Three Pure Ones and Wújí were calculating the Western Teachings. She took out a banner, which would surely make anyone who had seen it before exclaim, "The Demon- Summoning Banner!" The Demon-Summoning Banner had been unheard of since Zhījūn's death, but unexpectedly, it reappeared today with Nüwa's reincarnation.

  Only to see the Goddess Nuwa gently shaking the demon-summoning banner in her hand, only to see the sad wind whistling, dark clouds gathering from all sides, after several gusts of wind passed, the major demons from all over the world gathered at the palace, waiting for orders. The Goddess Nuwa specially summoned three small demons as well. Then she instructed the Color Cloud Boy to let the major demons retreat from various places, leaving only the three small demons in Xuan Yuan's tomb to wait for orders.

  The three demons entered the palace to pay their respects, and said: "Greetings, Your Majesty, wishing you a long and prosperous life." The three demons were a thousand-year-old fox spirit, a nine-headed pheasant spirit, and a jade stone pipa spirit.

  Nüwa said: "Three demons listen to my orders! The fortune of the Shang Dynasty is declining, and it will lose the world. The phoenix sings on Mount Qi, and the Western Zhou has already given birth to a sage ruler. The heavenly intention has been decided, and the number of breaths makes it so. You three demons can hide your demonic form, rely on the palace, confuse the king's heart, wait until King Wu of Zhou defeats Zhou to assist in success, and do not harm many lives. After the event is over, you will also become a positive result." After Nüwa finished her instructions, the three demons knocked their heads to thank her and transformed into a clear wind to leave.

  After the three demons left the Palace of the Queen of Heaven, they each went their separate ways. The Fox Spirit arrived at the entourage that was sending Ji Zhou Hou Su Hu's daughter Daji to enter the palace. The Fox Spirit looked at the beauty in front of her and found that this Daji actually had some resemblance to the Queen of Heaven.

  The fox spirit didn't know why, but before leaving the Nuwa Palace, the queen's whispered message said that the daughter of Ji Zhou Hou Su Hu was about to enter the palace. Although it wasn't explicitly stated, the fox spirit herself was clever and immediately understood the queen's intention, which is why she came to Taizi's side.

  The fox spirit looked at the artwork in front of her with satisfaction, truly a heavenly fragrance and national color. After sighing for a while, the fox spirit possessed Daji's body. A moment later, Daji opened her eyes, and if the master was familiar with Daji, he would have discovered that she was undergoing some unknown transformation.

  Daji then entered the palace and became Emperor Zhou's concubine. Emperor Zhou subsequently issued an edict appointing Xuzhou Marquis Su Hu as Imperial Father-in-law, bestowing a grand mansion on him in Chaoge, allowing Su Hu to enjoy wealth and honor in Chaoge. He also allowed Su Hu's son Su Zhenzhong to replace Su Hu as the guardian of Xuzhou.

  Afterwards, the events unfolded without external interference, just like a previous life. Since Daji entered the palace, Daji was favored by Emperor Zhou because of her resemblance to Nüwa, and he indulged her excessively, with three thousand favors bestowed upon one person. From then on, the king did not hold court early in the morning.

  King Zhou and Daji indulged in pleasure every day, summoning all the concubines to attend daytime banquets. This led King Zhou to neglect state affairs. On this particular day, King Zhou rarely attended an early morning court session.

  After the ministers paid their respects, only Xiang Tian, Xiang Lei, Fang Xiang and Fang Bi were seen under the leadership of Town National Wu Cheng Wang Huang Feihu, each holding a large pile of memorials in their hands. Emperor Xin saw it and felt his eyes turn black, with a pang of sorrow in his heart. This was still before the court session, when the ministers had handled some minor matters and wiped away the dust. If not, King Zhou would have seen those memorials enough to bury him alive, and he would probably have died on the spot.

  King Zhou carelessly read a few books and was about to order the retreat of the court, but who among his subordinates was not a clever person? As soon as Shang Rong saw him, he knew what King Zhou was thinking in his heart, so he came forward to speak and discuss state affairs. After Shang Rong finished speaking, it was Bi Gan, followed by Du Yuanrong, and then Wei Zi Qi and others one after another accompanied King Zhou in playing the wheel game, no one knew when King Zhou would next hold court.

  At this time, the guard reported that a Taoist claiming to be Yun Zhongzi had come to see him outside the palace. Emperor Xin was getting annoyed at this moment, and when he heard someone asking to see him, he immediately became interested and said to the guard: "Let him in."

  Then Yun Zhongzi came with the escort, arrived at the Grand Temple, after both sides had paid their respects, Yun Zhongzi left a wooden sword and drifted away alone, without taking a single cloud.

  Afterwards, Emperor Xin followed Yun Zhongzi's instructions and placed the wooden sword above the palace gate. Emperor Xin was already exhausted, so he took the opportunity to retire from court. As soon as he retired, he came to Shouxian Palace and saw that Daji had not come to greet him. He felt uneasy in his heart and asked a nearby maid, who said: "Su Niangniang has contracted a serious illness and is now bedridden, so she cannot come to greet you."

  King Zhou was shocked to hear the news and rushed to the palace, where he saw Daji's face as pale as gold paper, her complexion like white paper, looking dull and weak. He exclaimed in shock: "My beauty, you were fine when we parted this morning, why have you suffered such a great calamity now?"

  "Her Majesty said: 'I saw that the king had not eaten breakfast, so I thought of going to the imperial kitchen to prepare some food and send it to the king. Unexpectedly, in front of the palace building, I saw a precious sword hanging high, and I was startled and broke out in cold sweat, and thus contracted this illness. It seems that my fortune is thin, and I am unable to serve the king by his side. After my death, Your Majesty must not be sad, and I will guarantee the dragon body.'"

  Di Xin heard this and became enraged: "The evil Dao has harmed people greatly. Come, go to the front of the Fen Palace and take down the precious sword to burn it. Also, send someone to capture the evil Dao. The lonely king wants revenge with the beauty."

  Daji immediately understood what was going on and secretly thought it was a close call. She pretended to be ill for several more days before recovering.