Claiming the Throne of Gods, Starting from the Rebirth of Nezha
Chapter 144 Ziya Enters the Palace

Chapter 144: Chapter 144 Ziya Enters the Palace

Thus, King Zhou issued an edict summoning Jiang Ziya to the palace.

Daji came up with this plan, originally intending to harm Jiang Ziya, so as long as he accepted it, regardless of whether he did well or not, it would mean death.

But could he not accept it?

King Zhou summoned Jiang Ziya to the Star Pick Building. After Jiang Ziya looked over the designs, he smiled and said, "My dear minister, what do you think of this high platform?"

"It is truly an Immortal Palace, unlike mortal places in the Human World."

Upon hearing this, King Zhou was even more delighted, waved his hand grandly, and said, "Then this matter is entrusted to you. When the Deer Platform is built, I will promote you without fail!"

Jiang Ziya sighed in his heart, knowing that whether he accepted the task or not, it would mean death.

He thought to himself, Nezha was right; indeed, within this palace, Daji is a seductive demon. Ever since he burned the Jade Pipa Spirit, he had thoroughly offended her.

"Though Zhaoge is good, it is not where I will rise to power. I can’t stay here long. However, the Emperor had treated me with favor. I will try to persuade him once. If that fails, I will escape."

With this thought, he glanced at Mo Lishou standing on the high side, thinking that with him there, flying away with tunnel light might not be possible.

Without waiting for Jiang Ziya to agree, King Zhou asked, "Jiang Shang, I am very fond of this tower. If you supervise it, how long will it take to complete?"

Jiang Ziya replied respectfully, "This platform is four zhang nine chi high, constructing the Jade Pavilion with azure railings and carved fences. It is a grand project. If I supervise it, it will take thirty-five years to complete."

After he said that, King Zhou walked on the Star Pick Building for a moment, with all eyes around focusing on this tall man.

After a while, King Zhou suddenly looked up at Daji next to him and said, "My beloved concubine, time flies like an arrow, and the years flow like water. In one’s youth, one should enjoy life in time. Since this Deer Platform takes thirty-five years to complete, by then, you and I would be old. Why build it?"

Daji smiled slightly, ignoring the Empress’s dignity, twisted her slender waist step by step to reach King Zhou’s side, and whispered, "Your Majesty, you are wealthy and rule the Four Seas, only seeking a pavilion. With the power of the entire country, how could it take thirty-five years to complete? Jiang Shang is an outsider magician, arrogant and deceitful. In my opinion, he deserves roasting on a grill."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shang’s scalp tingled, thinking, good heavens, before he even spoke a couple of words, now he was to be grilled?

Before King Zhou could issue an order, Jiang Shang hastily said, "Your humble servant implores Your Majesty, the construction of the Deer Platform would exhaust the people and drain the treasury; it should not be done. Today, the world is in chaos, with frequent droughts and floods, the treasury is empty, and people’s lives are becoming increasingly difficult. Your Majesty should not neglect state essentials, but instead, nurture peace and happiness with the people, refraining from indulgence in pleasures, distancing wise men, approaching sycophants, causing chaos in the state, and slaughtering the loyal and virtuous, leading to public grievances and heavenly sorrow.

Although so, Your Majesty not only does not reflect and change, but now listens to the words of a seductress, recklessly launching construction projects, endangering the people, the consequences are unimaginable. Having received Your Majesty’s favor, I must speak frankly and risk my life to report. If you do not listen to my words, the people of the world will witness the story of King Jie building the Jade Palace again."

After finishing, Jiang Shang lowered his head, prostrating on the ground, ready to face death.

He certainly did not want to die, only waiting for King Zhou to issue an order so he could make a run for it.

He remembered underneath the Star Pick Building towards the main palace, there was an arch bridge he passed by, below which was a stream introduced from outside the palace...

As expected, after Jiang Ziya finished these words, King Zhou’s head buzzed, and in his mind flashed Jiao Ge, who had previously scolded him. He immediately roared, "You old fool, dare to defame the Emperor! Somebody! Seize him and hack him to pieces, feed him to the dogs!"

"Feed the dogs, to hell with that!"

Ziya was surprised at himself for not being afraid but rather having a strange thought that, at least it was not roasting nor biting, which was novel.

The armored soldiers beside him were fierce like tigers and wolves, about to step forward. Jiang Ziya, having cursed, sprang up and dashed towards the stairs.

These guards, clad in heavy armor, naturally could not run as fast as him, and for a moment, he truly managed to dart down the stairs.

This escape, on the contrary, amused King Zhou, who had ordered the killing of many people in this Star Pick Building but saw such a scene for the first time.

He turned to Daji and said, "Beloved wife, look at this old man, hearing ’seize him’ and fleeing, having no regard for propriety and etiquette. Not even understanding the principle of ’when the Emperor wants a minister dead, the minister must die,’ how could anyone escape once they are here."

The guards in the palace chased Jiang Ziya past the Longde Palace and Nine Room Palace.

When Jiang Ziya reached the Nine Dragon Bridge, looking back and seeing that only a group of armored soldiers was pursuing him, not Mo Lishou with his spirit beast, he was overjoyed and shouted, "Official, no need to chase me. In the end, it’s just a matter of death after all."

Having said this, he pressed against the railing of the Nine Dragon Bridge, plunged downwards, opened a hole in the water, slipped into its depths like a swimming fish, and escaped using Water Style.

The palace guards, meanwhile, could only press against the railing of the bridge and look down, not seeing any water splash for a long time and assuming Jiang Shang had already drowned, so they returned to report.

After Jiang Ziya left, he directly went to Song’s Village outside the city.

Being mindful, he did not forget to bring his wife along with him even as he fled.

But before he saw Ma, he first saw Nezha leading a dog with Lv Zhu’er, waiting at the door for him.

"Damn, how did you get here."

"Well, Uncle Master, forgetting loyalty at the sight of beauty, only thinking of your wife when fleeing, so I, your nephew, mean nothing to you, eh."

"Nonsense, get lost, I am in a hurry here." Jiang Ziya pushed the door open and saw his wife hanging clothes at home.

Ma also saw Jiang Ziya, quickly went up to him, and said with a smile, "My lord, you found the time to come home today."

Nezha outside, seeing this scene, lazily looked on, and took Lv Zhu’er elsewhere.

Lv Zhu’er asked, "Young master, what’s going on?"

Nezha said, "Nothing, it’s just the time to part ways."

No banquet in the world lasts forever.

At this parting moment, Nezha didn’t know how it would be when he met this Uncle Master again.

Unwilling to mimic others’ real tearful farewells, he opened the golden gate and hid in the Outer World Town.

And on Jiang Ziya’s side, after explaining things to Ma, as expected, the two who hadn’t quarreled in a long time started again.

"Oh dear, why don’t you understand? I’ve already said, this King Zhou is not a wise ruler. My dear wife, you come with me to Xiqi, await the time of destiny, when my fortunes change, and I hold a high rank, the first minister of the court, your title as First Lady, wearing a cloud coat with a pearl crown, will bring glory to Xiqi. What a great thing that would be."

"You are not from a civil servant background, merely a magician wandering the rivers and lakes. By luck, you became an Upper Doctor. Not only are you not grateful for the Emperor’s benevolence, now the Emperor orders you to build the Deer Platform, appointing you as a supervisor with plenty of money and grain. Regardless of what it is, earn something there. How high an official position could you get, raising advice? Or do you just not have the fortune, destined to be nothing more than a magician in this life?"

Before Jiang Ziya could speak, Ma continued, "You don’t want a ready official position but choose to abandon the near for the far, seeking luck elsewhere. I see you, cultivating to the point of becoming a muddle-headed old man."

​"My master always said, the fate is set, and the time is bound to come. You return with me to Xiqi, and there will be blessings. When the time comes, wealth will naturally be abundant."

Ma snorted coldly: "Jiang Ziya, our fate as husband and wife ends here. I was born in Zhaoge and will not go to foreign lands. Today, if you must go, give me a written divorce. From now on, you go your way, and I go mine, we will not interfere in each other’s matters."

In his old age, Jiang Ziya finally had this marriage and was unwilling to let it end like that. But as Ma refused to go with him, he had no choice.

The couple’s hearts turned against each other as they quarreled and fought in the courtyard.

Hearing the commotion, Song Yiren and his wife hurried over. After Song Yiren’s persuasion, Jiang Ziya finally agreed to write the divorce paper.

However, not long after the brothers reunited, they had to part again. Nezha quietly left, while they truly parted in tears.

As the saying goes:

A long send-off for Yiren, separated, lonely thoughts surge. For the bond of brothers, pondering and hesitating many times.

Having left Zhaoge, Jiang Ziya headed to Xiqi, encountering many events along the way, but let’s not delve into that yet.

Let’s first talk about his escape through water within the Zhaoge Palace.

The official chasing him was a loyal one, but unfortunately, with little say, he dared not report, so he went to the document room to find Upper Doctor Yang Ren.

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