Journey to the West: Starting from Changing Sun Wukong’s fate
Chapter 444 - 413: Two Xuanzangs, Almost Exposed_2

Chapter 444: Chapter 413: Two Xuanzangs, Almost Exposed_2

Sun Wukong also followed, but was stopped by the Imperial Guards’ General, furrowing his brows, he asked, "Why are you stopping me? We are together."

Zhu Bajie, hearing this, halted his steps, turned around, and scolded the Imperial Guards, "What are you trying to do? This is my attendant."

Hearing this, Sun Wukong couldn’t help but give Zhu Bajie a glare. This fool really knows how to seize the moment. Now he dares to call him an attendant? But for the time being, he could only swallow his anger and let the idiot bask in his moment of glory.

The Imperial Guards’ General quickly said, "Your Excellency, please calm your anger. Her Highness the Princess specifically instructed that only Your Excellency may enter the palace to report this matter to His Majesty the Emperor. After His Majesty has granted his permission, all arrangements will be properly made for Your Excellency to summon the others into the palace. I am merely following orders, and I hope Your Excellency will understand."

"This is..." Zhu Bajie couldn’t help frowning and looked up at Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong nodded slightly and said, "If that’s the case, just you go into the palace. But remember the things I’ve told you, and don’t forget them."

Zhu Bajie nodded joyfully and agreed, "Rest assured, after I report to father the emperor, I’ll come back to bring you all into the palace to enjoy ourselves."

Sun Wukong was somewhat amused and frustrated. Zhu Bajie was really getting into the role, even bringing up "father the emperor." He had seen shameless before, but never someone this shameless! He really thinks he’s become the Prince Consort.

However, Sun Wukong, faced with so many onlookers and with the demon watching from the elegant building above, naturally didn’t think it appropriate to say much, just giving a slight nod of his head.

Afterward, Zhu Bajie, with joy in his heart, arrived under the elegant building under the escort of the Imperial Guards. By this time, the Fake Princess had already come down from the elegant building and quickly approached, extending her delicate hand to stop Zhu Bajie, saying with a radiant smile, "Your Excellency, follow me quickly into the palace to see the emperor father."

With that, she took Zhu Bajie’s hand and boarded the palanquin. The procession was set, and they majestically returned to the palace.

Zhu Bajie didn’t quite know what to do and could only pretend to be smitten.

After all, with a beauty in his arms, if he showed no feeling at all, wouldn’t that make the Fake Princess suspicious? He therefore smilingly stretched forth a hand and reached for the princess’s veil, chuckling, "My beauty, let me first see how peerless your visage is."

The Jade Rabbit spirit purposefully put on a coy demeanor, turning her head away and said softly, "Why must Your Excellency be so impatient."

The Jade Rabbit spirit couldn’t help but mutter to herself—everyone says Xuanzang is a virtuous man, a saintly monk from ten lifetimes of cultivation, yet his eagerness upon seeing her was so unseemly.

Seeing the Jade Rabbit spirit behave like this, Zhu Bajie thought she was just being coy.

By this time, his hand had already caught the veil, and with a gentle tug, he pulled it down, revealing that indeed the princess was exquisitely beautiful, enough to topple cities and kingdoms.

However, compared to Chang’e, she still fell a bit short.

But to avoid letting the demon catch on, Zhu Bajie acted as if his eyes couldn’t leave her face and he couldn’t stop his drool from flowing.

...

Meanwhile, Sun Wukong watched Zhu Bajie leave, and couldn’t help but worry. Now his master Xuanzang had gone into the Imperial Palace, and the Fake Princess had taken Zhu Bajie with her too. If any problem arose, it would be quite troublesome.

Sun Wukong immediately transformed into a beam of light and headed towards the Imperial Palace.

At this time, Xuanzang, accompanied by the Sand Monk, bypassed the crossroads and arrived outside the palace gate. After explaining their purpose, the Imperial Palace Official hurried into the palace to report to the Emperor of Tianzhu. The Emperor, upon hearing that it was Xuanzang from the Great Tang of the Eastern Land, was curious and promptly commanded Xuanzang to enter the hall.

Xuanzang entered the hall and paid his respects to the Emperor, explaining his intentions. The Emperor readily changed Xuanzang’s travel documents. Afterward, he did not let Xuanzang leave straight away but kept him to inquire about the customs and culture of Great Tang.

The two of them conversed very happily, when an official came in and reported, "Your Majesty, Her Highness the Princess is leading a monk, presumably the one chosen by the embroidered ball, and is now waiting outside the Wumen for Your Majesty’s command."

"A monk?"

The Emperor frowned upon hearing this, turned to glance at Xuanzang, and said with some displeasure, "Why another monk?"

This Emperor didn’t really dislike monks. However, the Princess went to fetch Imperial Son-in-law Zhao and brought back a monk. Could it be that the Princess intended to marry a monk? What a disgrace! No wonder the Emperor was unhappy.

Hearing this, Xuanzang instantly understood the situation and quickly stood up, saying, "In that case, this humble monk will take his leave."

The Emperor, feeling displeased, naturally was no longer in the mood to chat with Xuanzang and waved dismissively, saying, "We have other matters to attend to, so we won’t keep the Holy Monk any longer."

"I take my leave," Xuanzang sighed with relief and hastily spoke, then respectfully retreated. Before he even left the room, he heard the Emperor’s decree calling for the Princess to enter the palace.

After leaving the hall, Xuanzang whispered, "Junior Brother Sand, the Princess brought back a monk and now wants to make Bajie her Prince Consort?"

The Sand Monk beside him chuckled and said, "If that’s true, then our Second Senior Brother is truly fortunate!"

"I’m just curious," Xuanzang frowned, "with Bajie’s appearance, how could the Princess agree to marry him?"

Xuanzang said, frowning.

With a laugh, the Sand Monk responded, "Master, as the saying goes, ’Different strokes for different folks.’ Maybe the Princess likes the look of Bajie and not the handsome ones!"

"Amitabha, the taste of this Fake Princess is indeed quite unique," Xuanzang shook his head helplessly.

At that moment, from a distance, the Sand Monk, who was the Great General Who Lifts the Curtain with exceptional vision, saw the Princess’s procession enter the palace.

He immediately noticed Bajie, who was sitting on the palanquin and had transformed to look like Xuanzang, and could not help but laugh, "So that’s it."

"What ’so that’s it’?" Xuanzang asked with a frown.

"Turns out, that goof transformed into Master’s appearance to snatch the Embroidered Ball, no wonder the Princess agreed to marry him. It seems the Princess is actually after you, Master!" the Sand Monk explained with a smile.

"What?" Xuanzang’s face paled at the words, "It’s for me again?"

However, Xuanzang now had another concern, Bajie had transformed into his appearance, and now facing each other, the presence of two Xuanzangs would give them away. Xuanzang was a bit lost on what to do.

"Master, you don’t need to worry!"

Just then, Sun Wukong had already arrived nearby, transforming into a small insect on Xuanzang’s shoulder.

"Wukong, what should we do?"

"Master, don’t be anxious. You just need to keep your head down and walk forward, don’t mind anything else, leave the rest to Old Sun," Wukong said with a smile.

Upon hearing Wukong’s words, Xuanzang continued walking with his head down.

At this time, a strong Monster Energy emanated from Sun Wukong, concealing both the Sand Monk and Xuanzang.

Even if people nearby saw them, they could not discern their faces.

As the Princess’s procession drew near, Xuanzang hurriedly stood to the side with his head bowed, waiting for the procession to pass.

Although assured by Sun Wukong, Xuanzang and the Sand Monk could not help but worry, burying their heads into their chests and assuming an utterly respectful posture, lest they be found out.

Zhu Bajie accidentally spotted Xuanzang and, despite his dim-witted face, was shrewd enough to fear that the Princess would spot the flaw. To divert her attention, the oaf took the opportunity to tease the Princess, touching her here and there.

The Princess’s entourage moved slowly past, and she, busy fending off Bajie’s advances, indeed did not notice Xuanzang standing by the road. Only then did Xuanzang let out a long sigh of relief, afterwards hurrying away from the Royal Palace, heading back to the Posthouse.

Before long, the Fake Princess, supporting Zhu Bajie, arrived at the great hall. Both of them quickly bowed in respect, and after their salute, the Emperor of Tianzhu asked, "Where do you come from, monk? How did you manage to catch the Embroidered Ball my daughter threw?"

Bajie hastened to say, "Reporting to Father Emperor, I am but a monk from the Great Tang in the Southern Continent Jambudvipa, dispatched to the Western Great Thunderclap Monastery to pay respects and seek scriptures. I have a travel document for the journey, which I came to exchange at the Paying Respects to the King post. It just so happened that I encountered the Princess at the Crossroads where she was casting the Embroidered Ball, so I caught it."

The Emperor knitted his brow and snorted coldly, "Such insolence from a monk, who is your father?"