Chapter 382: The Punishment of the Queen Mother, The Bitterness of the Jade Emperor

The thin screen reflected shadows as clouds veiled the moon, and the warm pavilion housed the phoenix with jade's fragrance.

In the depths of this ethereal immortal realm, on the island of Yaochi with its most stringent prohibitions, within the immortal pavilion where Wangmu Niangniang resided.

Li Changshou and Dongmu Gong stood one on each side of the screen, standing quietly with their heads bowed, not uttering a word...

Behind the screen, Wangmu raised her hand to her forehead, clearly a bit agitated—cough, a bit angered by these two silent pillars of the Heavenly Court.

But there was no way around it; Li Changshou knew that in this moment, saying less was better than saying more, and saying nothing was better than saying less.

As for Dongmu Gong...

'Why won't the Water God let me speak? Isn't His Majesty Yu Di in the Lingxiao Treasure Hall? What's going on here?'

“Hmph!”

A cold hum came from behind the screen, and Li Changshou and Dongmu Gong bowed their heads even lower.

Meanwhile, Princess Longji, standing quietly by the soft couch, furrowed her brow in thought, calculating just how many layers her 'strategist' teacher had considered in this matter...

Several hours earlier.

A beam of golden light suddenly descended on Xiaoqiong Peak, the merit granted by the Heavenly Dao to Li Changshou.

At that time, the great array on the peak opened on its own, working with the surrounding illusion arrays to create the illusion of the golden light shooting toward the sky, while also releasing wisps of spiritual and immortal energy toward various parts of the mountain gate.

It resembled the scene of spiritual energy leaking uncontrollably during array setup.

—To receive this merit quietly and smoothly, Li Changshou had truly gone to great lengths.

Having unexpectedly gained this merit, Li Changshou was in a good mood. But at the same time, through his paper effigies placed throughout the realms, he detected the auspicious omens appearing in the Three Realms.

He realized right then:

The small trouble had grown to eighteen times over—it was a big problem.

Such large-scale heavenly phenomena could be deduced by almost any expert in the Great Desolation skilled in divination...

The Yu Di of the Heavenly Court had descended to the mortal world.

This undoubtedly placed greater pressure on the Heavenly Court, and Li Changshou would have to pay extra attention to the safety of Yu Di's reincarnated self. There was no way to hide this from Wangmu's side.

Although, logically speaking, Yu Di's reincarnated self would be protected by the Heavenly Dao,

Yet in this world, variables existed, and even the Heavenly Dao couldn't control the 'escaped one'!

When Li Changshou returned to the Heavenly Court, he thought Wangmu Niangniang would summon him at the earliest in seven or eight months, once Yu Di's reincarnated self had truly been born.

Little did he expect that no sooner had he set foot in the Water God's residence than Longji had already 'arrived'...

Ah, in the Great Desolation, anyone with 'niangniang' in their title was truly no easy opponent!

Well... excluding Shiji Niangniang, who was bullied to death by the unreasonable Taiyi Zhenren in the early Fengshen Tribulation—let's count that separately.

Fortunately, Li Changshou had prepared several countermeasures in advance, such as taking Ao Yi and the heavenly soldiers to the underworld.

This showed that he, the Water God, was handling official business, matters assigned by Yu Di. If Wangmu Niangniang learned of this and came after him, he could deflect it smoothly.

He had also recorded those heavenly phenomena with a shadow orb. If Yu Di held him accountable later, he could hand over the shadow orb and say:

Your Majesty, your descent to the mortal world caused quite a stir.

Naturally, it would no longer be his concern.

But the most important preparation was right here, in this place and moment—regardless of whether Wangmu Niangniang confronted him directly or advised him earnestly, he absolutely could not speak easily!

He would stand firm with the Heavenly Court's male deity faction for ten thousand years without wavering!

“Has His Majesty truly only gone into seclusion?”

Wangmu Niangniang's voice from behind the screen grew colder, and Li Changshou and Dongmu Gong lowered their heads even further, almost bowing.

Li Changshou could clearly feel the immortal energy surging around Wangmu Niangniang, as if for a moment she had wanted to slap these two old immortals out of Yaochi.

“You two, have you both gone mute today?”

Dongmu Gong stole a glance at Li Changshou, and their eyes met in secret. The two responded in unison:

“No.”

Wangmu flung the jade fan in her hand onto the couch and scolded:

“You two—one is a key minister of the Heavenly Court from its very founding, the other is deeply trusted by His Majesty, a wise and capable fountain of strategy for the Heavenly Court!

How is it that you've both gone silent in Yaochi?

Where's that bold and commanding presence you usually have, looking down on the heavens?

Where's that effortless demeanor of slaying demons and upholding the Dao?”

Dongmu Gong and Li Changshou buried their heads even deeper and responded together:

“Ah.”

“Outrageous!”

Wangmu Niangniang shouted angrily, and the screen shattered with a crack. The fairy attendants in the corner of the warm pavilion were so frightened they bowed their heads, not daring to breathe.

Wangmu, adorned in a phoenix crown and rosy robes, stood up. The golden light swayed gently, and the phoenix hairpins chimed softly, her stunning face radiating full authority.

“Dongmu Gong, tell me, has His Majesty descended to the mortal world!”

Dongmu Gong trembled all over, performed a dao salute toward Wangmu Niangniang, and kept his head lowered as he shouted:

“This old minister truly doesn't know!”

“Water God!”

Wangmu's gaze swept over, and Li Changshou felt immense pressure.

She said coldly, “This matter—was it planned by you and His Majesty?”

“Niangniang,” Li Changshou looked up at Wangmu, hesitating just right, showing a touch of bitter smile, and then a hint of resolve!

“This humble god is willing to accept punishment.”

Dongmu Gong, standing nearby... felt like he had been inexplicably outshone once again.

The anger on Wangmu Niangniang's face faded considerably. She lightly huffed and sat back on the soft couch, saying, “Since you say you're willing to accept punishment, how could I not oblige?

Come here!”

The fairy attendants beside her responded in unison: “Yes!”

“Take the Water God to the Tianfa Hall for twenty lashes with the thunder whip!”

“Mother!” Longji stepped forward to block Li Changshou. “How could the teacher defy Father's orders? Mother, please calm your anger!”

“Your Highness,” Li Changshou called out.

Longji turned to look, seeing Li Changshou cup his hands in a gesture of thanks, a faint smile on his lips. He turned and walked toward the approaching fairies, saying little, and strode forward.

For a moment, the fairies of Yaochi looked at him with various expressions, watching the back of this 'old immortal' as he rode the clouds toward the Tianfa Hall, not knowing quite how to describe him.

Longji's eyes reddened, while Wangmu merely huffed softly and closed her eyes to rest.

Dongmu Gong, on the other hand, had several question marks on his forehead. After thinking carefully, he quickly realized...

Wasn't the Water God here just a paper effigy? What use was the thunder whip?

Hey? Why does it feel like there's a lot of scheming here, as if Wangmu and the Water God brother had reached some tacit understanding?

Come to think of it, had His Majesty Yu Di truly descended? How come I knew nothing about it...

Ah, indeed, I'm just an outdated old god.

In the Tianfa Hall, four fairies deliberately waited outside the hall.

Inside, Li Changshou's paper effigy stood between two ten-zhang-tall stone pillars brimming with thunder light, struck by bolts of lightning.

Yet the heavenly generals nearby were carefully controlling the intensity of the thunder whip, trying to make Li Changshou feel only a slight sting without actually harming the Water God...

Even so, these generals were still quite uneasy.

What a joke—who dared to truly injure the Water God?

“Water God, do you think... this level is appropriate?”

“Please use a bit more force, everyone,” Li Changshou said sincerely.

The generals exchanged glances and increased the thunder whip's power by three or four levels, filling the two stone pillars with azure-white light. But the actual lightning striking Li Changshou's body was reduced by ninety percent from before...

Li Changshou sighed inwardly, 'Alright then,' and deliberately disrupted the immortal energy in his paper effigy's body, putting on a heavily injured appearance.

Wangmu Niangniang knew what she was doing;

With just a few words, she had upheld his image as the Water God—loyal and steadfast.

One could lose their head, spill blood, or even mess up their hair, but one must always have a clear sense of their own position—otherwise, doing more often leads to more mistakes.

Yu Di and Wangmu were dao companions and senior-sister-junior-brother, childhood sweethearts who cultivated together, serving as the model of heavenly marriage among the Three Marriages.

But serving Yu Di was not the same as serving Wangmu—there were many twists and turns involved.

Yu Di's descent had caused too much commotion; hiding it was impossible.

Yet Li Changshou absolutely could not speak of it first, or it would be a betrayal of Yu Di's trust, making it harder to gain merit in the future.

The most stable way to handle it was like this—

To be severely punished by Wangmu, play the victim for all in the Heavenly Court to see, thereby strengthening Wangmu's authority while giving himself a proper opening to speak.

In this way, he, the Water God, would gain a good reputation. When Yu Di returned, not only would there be no blame, but likely a reward; Wangmu could also use it to establish her prestige and stabilize the Heavenly Court's divine foundations.

The basic moves of a powerful minister—don't overthink it, folks.

After the lightning flashed twenty times, Li Changshou slumped to his knees on the ground, his entire body exuding weakness.

The generals rushed over, supporting Li Changshou and speaking with trembling voices.

“Sir, are you alright?”

“It's nothing,” Li Changshou sighed slowly, nodding at them with a smile and saying warmly, “Thank you, generals, for holding back. Please escort me out of the hall.”

The generals quickly agreed and carried Li Changshou out of the Tianfa Hall.

Outside, the four fairies formed a cloud stretcher with their immortal energy, carrying Li Changshou through the Heavenly Court in a procession, back to Yaochi.

Back in the warm pavilion, Li Changshou lay on a cloud, his breath faint, his white robe covered in scorch marks...

Longji was nearly in tears, kneeling beside Li Changshou, her eyes full of worry.

Dongmu Gong hurriedly said:

“Niangniang! The Water God is both a minister and a close friend to His Majesty!

Please show mercy, or it will be hard to explain if His Majesty questions it!”

“Dongmu Gong, no need to worry. I have my own sense of measure.”

Wangmu Niangniang's expression softened slightly as she said calmly:

“Water God, why put yourself through this?

His Majesty's descent to the mortal world has shaken the Three Realms and can no longer be hidden.

Since the Heavenly Dao has manifested it, and this action benefits both the Heavenly Dao and His Majesty, it's fundamentally a good thing.

I'm just angry that you two plotted it out, and His Majesty hid it even from me!”

Li Changshou let out a long sigh and said softly:

“A promise to one's ruler must be upheld to the end.”

“Good,” Wangmu Niangniang said. “Then let me ask you—if His Majesty Yu Di falls victim to someone else's scheme, what should your punishment be?”

“Niangniang, please rest assured,” Li Changshou said. “His Majesty has only sent a wisp of his divine soul to the mortal world; his true self is in seclusion in the Lingxiao Treasure Hall. What he experiences in the mortal realm is like the most vivid dream, so His Majesty faces no real danger.”

“Oh?”

A glint flashed in Wangmu's phoenix eyes as she said softly, “In that case, I might go down for a tribulation myself. What do you think, Water God?”

Just as I expected!

Dongmu Gong quickly said: “Niangniang, you still need to oversee the Heavenly Court...”

Wangmu huffed lightly and said, “I haven't managed Heavenly Court affairs on a daily basis anyway. Mortal lives are only a few decades; it won't delay much.

Handle the Heavenly Court's trivial matters by discussing with the Water God and Dongmu Gong.

If anything urgent arises, come to Yaochi and wake me.”

Dongmu Gong and Li Changshou tried to advise her twice more, but Wangmu's mind was set, so they could only bow and accept the order.

Then, Li Changshou raised a key question:

“Niangniang, will you follow His Majesty or undergo the tribulation separately?”

“Of course, I will follow His Majesty.”

Wangmu understood the implication in Li Changshou's words and said seriously:

“Water God, I hear you have good relations with the underworld's Yan Jun and judges.

Before His Majesty set out, he must have given you many instructions, asking you to find the underworld's Yan Jun and use the Book of Life and Death to set his life's path, right?”

Li Changshou lowered his head and said: “This humble god dares not hide it from Niangniang; it is indeed so.

But this wasn't at His Majesty's request—it was my own initiative, fearing His Majesty's trials might be too harsh...”

“Change it.”

Ch-change it?

Wangmu said: “Since it's a tribulation, how can it count without suffering? More hardship will only temper His Majesty's character.

Water God, rest assured; I will bear all the consequences of this.”

Li Changshou was quite taken aback by Wangmu.

Wangmu said seriously: “Why, Water God, you look troubled—is this difficult?”

“Niangniang, the Book of Life and Death has already been set...”

“Do you think I don't know what the Judge's Pen is for?

Moreover, His Majesty Yu Di's divine soul is still in the womb and hasn't been born yet, so how can it not be changed?”

Li Changshou had no choice but to say: “This matter still needs to be discussed with the underworld's Yan Jun before I can report back to Niangniang.”

“No need to ask. In the Heavenly Court right now, I can make the decisions. Let's settle it this way.”

Wangmu continued to order calmly:

“Water God, you must arrange for my reincarnated soul's life path to be that of Yu Di His Majesty's childhood sweetheart. Let us continue our bond in this life, remaining faithful to each other till the end.

Let him endure a thousand hardships in his mortal life; I will be born into wealth, unconcerned with poverty, and take him as my husband. Then, together, we'll face family decline, retreat to the mountains, and be buried together.

Heh, since it's a tribulation, it should look like one.”

Li Changshou and Dongmu Gong exchanged glances, and the latter made a small gesture of 'please.'

Nearby, Longji had come to her senses. She looked at Li Changshou lying on the ground, then at her mother, as if she understood something.

She asked softly: “Mother, what about me...?”

“Focus on your cultivation,” Wangmu said, her gaze sweeping over, making Longji tremble slightly as she lowered her head and said no more.

Li Changshou sighed inwardly, thinking of how Yu Di had spoken of this 'wonderful plan' earlier, his eyes full of stars and eager anticipation.

Suddenly, he felt deep sympathy for this supreme ruler of the Three Realms, the Heavenly Dao's favored son, the 'general manager' of the Three Realms...

Three days later, in the underworld.

Li Changshou and the Ten Yan Jun stood before the Six Paths of Reincarnation disk, which had been cleared again. From a jade box in front of them, a faint glow emerged. Li Changshou flicked his finger, sending the glow into the disk.

Soon after, various auspicious signs appeared in the Three Realms once more. In the skies above Nanzhanbuzhou, dragons and phoenixes soared together, and beams of golden light enveloped the ten Yan Jun. The Heavenly Dao granted another wave of merit, though much less than before.

Naturally, a beam of merit golden light also headed toward Xiaoqiong Peak, and Li Changshou urgently activated the great array to handle it.

What was this merit for?

Li Changshou calculated with his fingers, his heart full of confusion. This had nothing to do with 'completing the Heavenly Dao.'

Oh well, the secrets of heaven are hard to fathom, and his divination skills weren't advanced enough.

It couldn't possibly be that Daozu thought this family drama was good and casually rewarded the 'director' and 'scriptwriter' with some production funds.

In just two or three days, news of Yu Di His Majesty's descent to the mortal world for trials spread like wildfire throughout the Great Desolation.

And the story of the Heavenly Court Water God being punished by Wangmu Niangniang and whipped in the Tianfa Hall became a topic of jest among the cultivators...

On the Three Immortal Islands, deep in the immortal forests, in a secluded pavilion, a graceful figure pushed open the wooden window and stood quietly for a while.

As a breeze rustled through the woods, she vanished in an instant, leaving only the empty window and a soft sigh that lingered, tinged with a hint of concern.