Chapter 1306: Chapter 451: Restoration of Status and Identity
Not only did Yang Jian come, but the high officials from the Heavenly Court also arrived.
They walked over from Lady Houtu’s side, their expressions somewhat complex.
Zhang Daoling went over, sighed, and said, “Lady, you could easily live in seclusion, so why choose to appear now.”
He was somewhat worried, as he once served as a minister under the Jade Emperor.
Besides, Zhang Daoling felt that apart from helping the Jade Emperor, Lady Houtu hadn’t done anything bad—in fact, her merits outweighed her mistakes.
If she could continue to live in seclusion, it would be best.
Lady Houtu smiled faintly, and said, “Since there is a mistake, it must be admitted. I will bear whatever consequences there are.”
Zhang Daoling sighed again and said nothing more.
He went inside, waiting for the Great Emperor Ziwei to summon Lady Houtu.
Before long, most of the Immortal Officials had arrived.
In Huaguo Mountain, Sun Wukong received a message relayed by Yang Jian.
“Oh?”
Sun Wukong showed a surprised expression.
Nu Ba asked curiously, “Husband, what’s the matter?”
“Brother Yang Jian sent a message to me saying Lady Houtu has entered the Heavenly Court and is now outside Ziwei Hall,” Sun Wukong replied.
This statement surprised even Nu Ba, clearly unexpected.
“Why did she decide to do this?” Nu Ba asked curiously.
Sun Wukong shook his head, then said, “I will make a trip to the Heavenly Court, and I’ll be back soon.”
“Hm.”
Sun Wukong left for the Heavenly Court, speeding along swiftly, arriving quickly.
Upon seeing Lady Houtu, Sun Wukong slowed down and walked over.
“Lady, long time no see,” Sun Wukong greeted.
Glancing at Sun Wukong, Lady Houtu nodded slightly, saying, “The Three-legged Golden Toad has already told me. Thank you, Great Saint, for sparing me.”
Clearly, Lady Houtu knew about Sun Wukong capturing the Three-legged Golden Toad and releasing him.
Sun Wukong responded solemnly, “No need to thank me, Lady. Although I, Old Sun, am a ruffian, I know that even though Lady was deceived by the Jade Emperor and helped him for a time, your contributions to the Three Realms are significant. If it weren’t absolutely necessary, Old Sun naturally wouldn’t want to harm you.”
“Great Saint discerns right from wrong, sees clearly in all things. If I had been able to do the same, I wouldn’t have made the mistakes of the past,” Lady Houtu sighed.
She suddenly felt that she had underestimated Sun Wukong before.
Sun Wukong smiled faintly and said, “Lady, rest assured. Since you came to admit your mistakes, Ziwei is not a muddled person; he will naturally make a correct judgment.”
With that, Sun Wukong also entered Ziwei Hall.
Inside Ziwei Hall, the Immortal Officials were somewhat surprised at Sun Wukong’s arrival.
However, considering Lady Houtu’s identity, they also felt it was understandable. Such an event was indeed worthy of alerting Sun Wukong.
Sun Wukong nodded slightly towards the Great Emperor Ziwei and then stood aside.
The Great Emperor Ziwei smiled faintly, indifferent to his presence.
Everyone in the Heavenly Court knew that Sun Wukong need not adhere to those formalities in the Heavenly Court.
“Please summon the Earthly Sovereign to emulate Houtu and enter,” the Great Emperor Ziwei announced, finally inviting Lady Houtu inside.
Immediately, guards communicated and invited Lady Houtu inside.
Amid the gaze of the Immortal Officials, Lady Houtu entered.
In the hall, eighty percent of the Immortal Officials harbored animosity towards Lady Houtu, while the remaining had complex expressions, with very few worrying about her.
“Greetings, Great Emperor Ziwei,” Lady Houtu slightly bowed, as a gesture of courtesy.
The Great Emperor Ziwei said indifferently, “Lady, you may dispense with formalities. You are one of the Four Heavenly Kings, to me you need not bow. What is your purpose in visiting the Heavenly Court this time?”
“To confess my guilt.”
Lady Houtu uttered two words.
“Lady Houtu is indeed guilty. She orchestrated chaos with the Jade Emperor intending to harm all beings in the Three Realms; for this crime, she should be slain,” one Immortal Official stood forward, stating loudly.
He was naturally one of those who detested Lady Houtu, and his hostility was apparent.
The Great Emperor Ziwei withheld judgment, for even if Houtu deserved execution it would not be so simple to carry it out.
Not to mention her relationship with Haotian, this matter required careful consideration.
It’s not that the Heavenly Court feared Haotian, but they needed to consider how to maximize the benefits of this situation.
Glancing at the Immortal Official, Sun Wukong reprimanded, “Stand down. This is no place for you to speak.”
The Immortal Official’s face reddened with anger, wanting to retort but upon seeing Sun Wukong’s gaze, he subdued his fury. Of all people, one couldn’t direct anger toward that monkey. Sun Wukong truly dared to wield a staff in Ziwei Hall.
The main issue was that being struck by that monkey was to admit defeat.
He had no interest in power whatsoever, only helping the Great Emperor Ziwei out of friendship.
The Great Emperor Ziwei naturally couldn’t treat Sun Wukong as a subordinate, using the Heavenly Court’s rules to restrain him.
The other Immortal Officials also wanted to speak, but seeing Sun Wukong’s attitude, they immediately fell silent.
Clearly, the Great Emperor Ziwei and Sun Wukong had already made their calculations, speaking further would be invoking unnecessary trouble.
“Wukong, do you think Lady Houtu is guilty?” the Great Emperor Ziwei asked.
All eyes focused on Sun Wukong, waiting for him to speak.
“Indeed, guilty,” Sun Wukong spoke, his words surprising everyone.
Hadn’t he just defended Lady Houtu? How did he now say she was guilty?
The Great Emperor Ziwei’s face showed a trace of a smile, and he laughingly asked, “What is her crime?”
“She was deceived into attempting harm upon the common people, and nearly succeeded,” Sun Wukong continued.
The immortals were speechless; this wasn’t so much an admission of guilt but rather a defense.
The crucial point was his last words—’nearly succeeded,’ meaning she did not.
Thus, what crime did Lady Houtu commit then?
“However, considering the one who deceived her was her husband, with the husband being the head of the wife, Lady Houtu had no choice but to act. Her crimes may thus be mitigated,” Sun Wukong continued.
“How should she be punished?” the Great Emperor Ziwei persisted.
Sun Wukong did not immediately answer but asked Lady Houtu, “Lady, I have a question for you.”
“Great Saint, please ask,” Lady Houtu replied calmly.
“If Haotian God were to oppose the Heavenly Court, what would you do?” Sun Wukong asked, his eyes sharply focused on Lady Houtu.
Lady Houtu paused in silence before answering, “If Haotian betrays the Three Realms and colludes with external enemies, he would be the enemy of the Three Realms and thus my enemy. Naturally, I would aid the Three Realms in opposing Haotian.”
“Since that is the case, then you shall have a chance for redemption. Restore your status as the Earthly Sovereign emulating Houtu among the Four Heavenly Kings, second only to the Heavenly Emperor, and refrain from making such mistakes again. Meanwhile, remember the words you spoke today,” Sun Wukong stated.
Lady Houtu was somewhat shocked, knowing Sun Wukong intended to protect her, but not expecting him to offer no punishment and even restore her previous status.
“Regarding Wukong’s suggestion, does anyone present have dissenting opinions?” the Great Emperor Ziwei asked.
Ziwei Hall remained silent.
Who dared to speak? Unless they were tired of living.
That monkey’s Jingu Bang was not to be trifled with.
Finding no one speaking, the Great Emperor Ziwei said calmly, “In that case, according to Wukong’s proposal, Lady Houtu’s status among the Four Heavenly Kings is reinstated. Her role as the Earthly Sovereign emulating Houtu is restored, and today’s proceedings are concluded. Everyone may disperse.”
Saying this, without allowing time for court officials to react, the Great Emperor Ziwei turned and departed.
The matter was settled.