Chapter 1306: Chapter 1304: Counting a Loss as a Win
Within the Lingxiao Hall, all the Immortal Gods already had a rather clear understanding of the circumstances surrounding the death of the Dragon King of Jing River. Ultimately, everyone’s gaze fell upon the Jade Emperor, with a hint of questioning in their eyes.
At the same time, these Immortal Gods also understood why Xuanzang and his group had arrived.
This matter, upon careful consideration, indeed implicates the Jade Emperor beyond escape.
The method of divination is somewhat known among the Immortal Gods. To calculate matters regarding great figures like the Jade Emperor and the Tathagata is far more challenging than calculating matters of others.
After all, each decision they hold with immense power can affect the interests or even the life and death circumstances of countless living beings.
However, someone was able to calculate the Jade Emperor’s decree a day in advance?
More importantly, the information published under the Jade Emperor’s decree was entirely accurate without the slightest error?
To analyze this matter in detail is indeed terrifying upon careful consideration.
There are only two possibilities!
First, Yuan Shoucheng’s capability has indeed reached a startling level, where he can preemptively calculate even the Jade Emperor’s undeclared edict with precise accuracy.
Second, the Jade Emperor played an unsavory role within this matter.
So, which of these two possibilities is greater?
After a brief contemplation, these Immortal Gods had to admit that the second possibility seems more likely!
Not to mention how tremendously challenging it is to calculate the undecided decrees of the Jade Emperor, even the most powerful diviner, Human Emperor Fuxi, might possess this capability.
Speaking of the diviner, Xuanzang’s group is aware that it is a mortal from Chang’an City named Yuan Shoucheng.
Moreover, after an investigation, Yuan Shoucheng is found to be not proficient in the arts of divination, merely a charlatan!
Thus, upon close consideration, it seems highly possible that the Jade Emperor is manipulating this from the shadows? This seems to be the greatest likelihood.
No wonder Xuanzang’s group would come to the Lingxiao Hall to cause a commotion!
The Jade Emperor sat firmly on his throne, looking at Jiang Liu’s group with an unpleasant expression. After a long silence, he spoke, “All of this is just your one-sided account, after all. It’s been nearly ten years since the incident, you might’ve mistaken the dates?”
“Your Majesty, it’s impossible to mistake the dates!”
Upon hearing this, Little White Dragon Aolie seriously said, “My uncle remembers clearly. The date he went to Chang’an City to consult Yuan Shoucheng was July 12th, but Spirit Official Li went to Jing River to announce the Jade Emperor’s decree on July 13th!”
Having said that, Little White Dragon Aolie raised his hand, and the Immortal Register obtained from the Heavenly Court appeared in his hand. He said, “Your Majesty the Jade Emperor, this is the Heavenly Court’s Treasure Book. It clearly records the date when Spirit Official Li announced the Jade Emperor’s decree that year!”
Alright, this is not just a one-sided statement, it even comes with corresponding evidence.
Everyone in the Lingxiao Hall understood that the Little White Dragon and his group came well-prepared for this challenge in the Heavenly Court.
Unconsciously, the credibility of their words increased significantly.
Seeing that Little White Dragon even obtained the corresponding Immortal Register, the Jade Emperor, of course, understood that the Journey to the West Pilgrimage Team came fully prepared this time, and his face turned considerably grim.
Feeling the gaze of the Immortal Gods fall upon him, the Jade Emperor’s expression grew even more sullen.
After a brief silence, he argued unreasonably, “Even the records of the Immortal Register might have errors. After all, people occasionally forget things and might record them again a few days later, which is a common occurrence!”
“As expected, fortunately, Master anticipated you would respond this way!” Hearing the Jade Emperor’s unreasonable words, Little White Dragon Aolie secretly murmured to himself.
At the same time, his admiration for Jiang Liu’s arrangements increased.
Indeed, he’s worthy of being called Master, truly foreseeing with accuracy.
“Your Majesty the Jade Emperor!”
What thoughts were in the heart were naturally not shown on his face. With a solemn expression, Little White Dragon spoke, “Since the material evidence cannot convince Your Majesty of its credibility, what about testimonial evidence?”
“Testimonial evidence? Do you have any such evidence?” Hearing these words from Little White Dragon, the Jade Emperor’s eyebrows slightly raised.
“May I ask Spirit Official Li…”
At this moment, Little White Dragon Aolie turned his head, his gaze falling on Spirit Official Li, and said, “Is what is recorded on the Immortal Register true?”
“This is indeed true…” Spirit Official Li took two steps forward, slightly lowering his head, not daring to look at the Great Jade Emperor’s face, and nodded in affirmation.
“Is that so? Can you be sure?” Little White Dragon then earnestly asked Spirit Official Li.
“I am sure. I’ve been doing this job for thousands of years and have never made a mistake. I can naturally guarantee it!” Since the words had already been spoken, Spirit Official Li wouldn’t backtrack at this point and nodded earnestly.
“Very well!”
After receiving the definite answer from Spirit Official Li, Little White Dragon’s gaze returned to the Jade Emperor, earnestly saying, “Your Majesty the Jade Emperor, Spirit Official Li has followed you for thousands of years. Almost all the decrees were delivered by Spirit Official Li as per your orders, so you must trust him a lot, don’t you? Therefore, his words are naturally very credible!”
The Jade Emperor stared at Spirit Official Li with a hint of coldness. Trust him? That was the truth!
But it was precisely because of this trust that seeing Spirit Official Li step forward to testify made the Jade Emperor’s mood even worse. No one could like the feeling of being betrayed.
However, to deny the trust in Spirit Official Li? If he said that, no one would believe it.
After all, after following him for thousands of years and delivering decrees on his behalf, saying today that he doesn’t trust him would be a slap on his own face, wouldn’t it?
The Jade Emperor, in a foul mood, gave Spirit Official Li a fierce look.
Unfortunately, Spirit Official Li, with his head lowered, did not dare to look at the Jade Emperor, so he naturally could not feel that look.
“I ask the Jade Emperor to give me justice, give my uncle justice!” Little White Dragon spoke again to the Jade Emperor.
The Jade Emperor’s expression was grave, and he remained silent. At this point, the Jade Emperor really did not know how to respond.
Any further defense would be powerless.
The Dragon King of Jing River’s unauthorized alteration of the decree was indeed a great crime.
However, similarly, the early leak of his own decree was undoubtedly his own fault.
If there were indeed a mistake, it would naturally be his responsibility to bear it.
The gazes of all the Immortal Gods fixed on the Jade Emperor, each with different expressions. At this point, these Immortal Gods understood that the death of the Dragon King of Jing River seemed to have been the Jade Emperor’s scheme in the dark, right?
No one anticipated that the Jade Emperor would also plot such a matter in secret.
Now, the Journey to the West Pilgrimage Team had come to the Lingxiao Hall en masse, and Little White Dragon Aolie’s argument was logical and even had testimonials and physical evidence. At this time, the Jade Emperor indeed had no room for argument.
“At this point, no matter how much I argue, it’s useless. For this matter, do I also have to take responsibility?” The Jade Emperor’s face was gloomy, staying silent, but his mind was active, secretly pondering.
Since he couldn’t escape the responsibility for his decree leaking early, he would just have to accept it openly.
But was this matter something he plotted in the dark?
The Jade Emperor was very clear that this he definitely could not admit!
Otherwise, the reputation he had painstakingly built recently would surely fall dramatically.
As the saying goes, “To lose less is to win,” which was exactly his situation now.
Therefore, with a gloomy face and remaining silent, the Jade Emperor quickly devised a strategy to minimize his losses.
“Sigh…”
After making a decision, the Jade Emperor finally spoke, letting out a long sigh, showing a helpless demeanor, then said, “As the Dragon Third Prince said, if that’s the case, then the premature leak of my decree, indeed, I bear undeniable responsibility for this matter!”
Stopping slightly, the Jade Emperor continued, “However, regarding that Yuan Shoucheng in Chang’an City, who could predict my decree in advance, this matter is too significant and must be thoroughly investigated! Come here!”
The Jade Emperor’s words made the Immortal Gods in the Lingxiao Hall slightly stunned. Was he clearly trying to pass the buck and imply that this matter had nothing to do with him?
“Thousand-Mile Eye, Wind-Listening Ear?” Seeing the Immortal Gods staring at him doubtfully, the Jade Emperor was inwardly annoyed and directly named them.
“Your Majesty!” As the Jade Emperor personally called their names, Thousand-Mile Eye and Wind-Listening Ear stepped forward and respectfully saluted the Jade Emperor.
“You both have heard what I just said, right? As for the matter of Yuan Shoucheng, I command you two to get to the bottom of it!” The Jade Emperor spoke, with a righteous demeanor, to Thousand-Mile Eye and Wind-Listening Ear.
“Yes, Your Majesty! This minor deity complies with the decree!” Whatever thoughts they had, they wouldn’t refuse since the Jade Emperor issued the decree earnestly.
After Thousand-Mile Eye and Wind-Listening Ear nodded, they turned and left to investigate the matter of Yuan Shoucheng.
After issuing his decree, the Jade Emperor’s gaze fell on Little White Dragon Aolie.
Without waiting for Little White Dragon to speak, the Jade Emperor took the initiative, earnestly promising, “Little White Dragon Aolie, rest assured, concerning the matter of Yuan Shoucheng predicting my decree in advance, I will indeed investigate it thoroughly!”