Outside the Meridian Gate, Sun Wukong and his two disciples, Zhu Bajie and Sha Seng, followed the herald into the palace. The Yellow Gate Officer immediately reported their arrival, and the three stood tall without bowing. The king, curious, asked, “You are the esteemed disciples of the Holy Monk, what are your names and where do you come from? Why did you become monks, and what scriptures do you practice?” Seeing this, Wukong wanted to step forward, but a guard quickly stopped him, saying, “Don’t move! You must report your business first.” Wukong chuckled, “As monks, we take one step at a time.” So, Bajie and Sha Seng followed him as they approached.
Seeing this, Old Tang felt a bit nervous and quickly called out, “Disciple, the emperor is asking you why you’re here, hurry and say something!” Wukong, noticing his master nearby, couldn’t help but shout, “Your Majesty, you need to respect yourself! Since you’ve invited my master to be the prince, how can you let him stand? The noble ones in this world always sit!” The king’s face changed in shock; he wanted to retreat to his dragon bed but feared losing face, so he had to grit his teeth and order a cushion to be brought for Tang Seng to sit on.
At this moment, Wukong began to introduce himself: “I, Old Sun, hail from the Flower-Fruit Mountain in the Eastern Victory Divine Continent. My parents are Heaven and Earth, and I was born when a stone cracked open. I learned my skills from a master and returned to the celestial realm, where I subdued dragons and tigers, gaining fame and the title of Great Sage Equal to Heaven.” He then mentioned how he caused a ruckus at the Peach Banquet and was pressed under the Five Elements Mountain for five hundred years. Fortunately, his master came to the East, paid homage in the West, and received Avalokiteshvara’s help to escape suffering. Finally, he proudly declared, “I am called Wukong, known as the Traveler.”
The king, upon hearing this, was so astonished that he jumped down from his dragon bed and personally held Tang Seng’s hand, saying, “Prince, you are indeed my destiny; it’s a true encounter with the immortal.” Tang Seng quickly expressed his gratitude and then asked, “And who is the second esteemed disciple?” Bajie, puffed up with pride, replied, “I, Old Pig, was once a mere mortal, fond of play and food, just passing the days. Later, I met a true immortal, listened to a few words, suddenly understood the truth, and immediately devoted myself to cultivation, eventually ascending to become Marshal Tianpeng.”
The king was so startled he couldn’t bear to look directly at him. But Bajie grew more excited, shaking his head and swaying, which made Tang Seng anxious, yelling, “Bajie, tone it down!” Only then did he obediently stand straight and pretend to be refined. The king then asked, “And what about the third esteemed disciple? Why did he become a monk?” Sha Seng joined his palms and said, “I, Old Sha, was originally a common man, afraid of reincarnation, wandering aimlessly. Later, I encountered a Bodhisattva who guided me to take refuge and follow Tang Seng to the West to seek scriptures.”
The king was filled with mixed emotions, delighted that his daughter had found a living Buddha, yet astonished that all three were supernatural beings. Just then, the Yin-Yang Officer stepped forward and announced, “The wedding date is set for the twelfth day of this month, a fine day for marriage.” The king, excited, asked, “What day is today?” The Yin-Yang Officer replied, “Today is the eighth, a good day indeed, suitable for noble affairs.” The king was overjoyed and immediately ordered the royal garden to be cleaned up, preparing a banquet and arranging the marriage between the princess and the prince. Everyone complied, and as the king dismissed the court, the officials scattered, the lively atmosphere continuing to build.
Meanwhile, the Tang Seng and his disciples arrived at the royal garden, as the sky gradually darkened, and a vegetarian meal was prepared. Upon seeing the food, Bajie exclaimed, “It’s time to eat!” The steward promptly brought out rice, noodles, and more. Bajie dug in happily, and after eating to his heart's content, he stuffed himself until he could barely move. After a while, they lit lamps, set up beds, and each went to sleep.
Seeing no one around, the elder was furious and shouted, “Wukong! You monkey, you’ve really caused me trouble! I only wanted to exchange the official document; why did you lead me to the colorful building? Look at the mess we’ve stirred up, what are we going to do?” Wukong smiled and explained, “Master, think about it, the princess also threw a silk ball to find her old flame. I just wanted you to see and check the authenticity. I noticed the king looked a bit gloomy, but I couldn’t tell anything about the princess yet.”
The elder asked, “What did you see of the princess?” Wukong replied confidently, “With my fiery golden eyes, I can easily distinguish between truth and falsehood, good and evil, wealth and poverty!” Sha Seng and Bajie couldn’t help but laugh, “Brother has recently learned to read faces again!” Wukong, feeling proud, said, “Of course, I, Sun Wukong, am the master of face-reading!” However, Tang Seng was not pleased and said sternly, “Don’t joke around! If she wants to marry me, what will we do?”
After thinking for a moment, Wukong suggested, “On the day of the wedding banquet on the twelfth, the princess will surely come out to greet her parents. We can observe from the side. If she is a true woman, you can become the prince and enjoy wealth and honor.” Upon hearing this, Tang Seng grew even angrier and scolded, “You troublesome monkey! You’re still putting me in danger! We’re almost at the tenth watch, and you’re here babbling! If you disrespect me again, I’ll chant a spell so you won’t have a good death!” Wukong, startled, quickly knelt down, “Don’t chant! If she truly is a woman, when it’s time for the wedding, we’ll create a ruckus in the palace and take you away!”
As the master and disciples discussed, they didn’t realize how late it had become. The night was deep, the palace clock ticked, and the fragrance of flowers filled the air. Finally, everyone quieted down and prepared to rest.
The next morning, with the golden rooster announcing dawn, the king rose early and entered the palace to hold court. As the palace doors opened, purple mist flowed in from the east, the wind swayed the imperial tower, and sunlight glinted off the jade ornaments. The king announced, “Starting today, we will hold a continuous twelve-day wedding banquet, preparing the spring jars for the prince to enjoy in the royal garden.” He also ordered the Department of Rites to prepare a vegetarian feast to welcome the three esteemed disciples.
Upon hearing this, Bajie immediately responded, “Your Majesty, my master and I cannot be apart for even a moment. Today, let us feast in the royal garden for two days and teach our master how to be a prince; otherwise, this business won’t work out!” The king, seeing his ugly appearance and crude speech, felt a bit worried but still agreed, “Arrange two tables in the Yongzhen Huayi Pavilion, where I will sit with the prince. Set three tables in the Spring Pavilion, but please do not sit there, to avoid any seating issues.”
Bajie quickly expressed his gratitude, and everyone withdrew. The king then issued orders for the inner palace officials to prepare the banquet, getting the six palaces and the princess ready, busying themselves with makeup in anticipation of the wedding after the twelfth day’s banquet.
As the day approached the hour of Si, the king invited Tang Seng and his disciples to stroll in the royal garden. This place was truly splendid, with paths paved with colorful stones and intricately carved railings on either side, resembling a fairyland. Strange flowers and rare herbs lined the paths, with vibrant peach blossoms and swaying willows, making one feel as if they were drifting in a sea of fragrance, lifting their spirits.
The Phoenix Terrace and Dragon Pool were even more breathtaking, with someone playing the flute on the terrace and fish that were said to be able to transform into dragons swimming in the pool. There were poems in the bamboo pavilion and collections of literature in the pine pavilion, a true paradise for scholars and poets. Rockeries, winding streams, peonies, and roses filled the garden, and with the spring breeze blowing, the entire area competed to showcase its beauty.
The king and several ministers enjoyed the scenery for quite a while. An official from the ceremonial department invited Wukong and the others to the Spring Pavilion, while the king took Tang Seng to the Huayi Pavilion, where they began the banquet. After a few rounds of drinks and the sounds of singing and dancing, it was a lively occasion, as if they were part of an immortal feast. At this moment, although Tang Seng felt a bit anxious, he could only force himself to join in the merriment, especially since the king treated him with great respect.
The elder noticed four golden screens hanging on the wall, depicting scenes of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, along with verses. Seeing that Tang Seng had a fondness for poetry, the king proposed, “Prince, why not share a verse with me?” Tang Seng, feeling inspired, began composing: “As the sun warms and the ice melts, the earth aligns.” The king was delighted and immediately ordered a guard to fetch writing supplies for Tang Seng to record his poem.
As Tang Seng became engrossed in writing, he composed several verses, vividly depicting the scenes of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The king was overjoyed, praising, “What a splendid high song leaning against the green railing!” He then commanded the music department to play, and everyone enjoyed this wonderful time to the fullest.
Wukong, Bajie, and Sha Seng were also drinking heavily in the Spring Pavilion and were just about to look for Tang Seng when they realized the elder was already inside the pavilion with the king. Bajie, feeling tipsy, exclaimed, “What a joy! So carefree! After eating, it’s time to sleep!” Sha Seng couldn’t help but laugh, “Second Brother, that’s uncultured! How can you sleep after a meal?”
Bajie dismissed it, saying, “You don’t know, there’s a saying: ‘After eating, one should not lie down.’ How can you not have a full belly?” At that moment, Tang Seng and the king finished their conversation and returned to the pavilion. Seeing the three of them making a racket, he angrily scolded, “You fools, stop shouting here! If you annoy the king, it will be disastrous!”
Bajie, unfazed, replied, “It’s fine! We’re practically family; the king won’t be angry. You can’t break family ties, and you can’t ruin neighborly relations!” Hearing this, Tang Seng was so furious he wanted to hit him: “Catch this fool and give him twenty strokes!” Wukong quickly grabbed Bajie, and as Tang Seng raised his staff, Bajie hurriedly shouted, “Grandpa Prince, spare me!”
The accompanying banquet officials quickly intervened, and Bajie got up, muttering, “What a nobleman! We’re not even family yet, and you’re already acting like a king!” Wukong looked at him and laughed, “Stop talking nonsense, go to sleep!” So, they spent another night in the Spring Pavilion, continuing to enjoy the festivities.
As the days passed, everyone was having a great time, and soon it was the twelfth, a good day. The officials from the Department of Rites reported that the prince’s residence had been renovated, and the wedding banquet was ready, with over five hundred seats for both meat and vegetarian dishes! The king was overjoyed and was about to summon the prince to the banquet when suddenly, an official from the inner palace reported, “Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager requests your presence.” The king had no choice but to retreat to the inner palace, which was bustling with activity. The concubines from the three palaces and six courtyards were chatting and laughing in the Zhaoyang Palace, making it feel like a fairyland.
The luxurious surroundings were adorned with flowers, resembling the Moon Palace in the sky. There were also four new verses titled “Joyful Union,” each praising the beauty of the wedding. The characters for joy, union, beauty, and marriage combined were truly heartwarming, as if each character was dancing in celebration of this grand event.
When the king finally arrived at Zhaoyang Palace and took his seat, the concubines completed their bows, and the king smiled, saying, “Princess, since the eighth day when you threw the ball and encountered the holy monk, your wish has been fulfilled. The officials from all departments have done well; today is the auspicious day, so let’s go to the wedding banquet!” Upon hearing this, the princess hurriedly stepped forward and respectfully said, “Father, I have a small request. I’ve heard that Tang Seng has three disciples, and they are quite ugly. I’m afraid to meet them.”
The king laughed heartily, “Indeed, they are a bit ugly; it seems we should send them out of the city!”
Thus, the king issued orders for the prince and the three disciples to come to the hall. Meanwhile, Tang Seng was counting the days, eagerly awaiting the twelfth, thinking about how to arrange things. Wukong, hearing this, laughed and said, “The king must want to send us out of the city. No problem, I’ll check if the princess is genuine.” Just then, the officials came to invite them, and Wukong excitedly said, “Let’s go; they’re definitely sending us out of the city!”
Bajie’s eyes lit up, “There must be gold and silver for the send-off. We can take it back and gather at my father-in-law’s house!” However, Sha Seng cautioned, “Second Brother, don’t speak carelessly; let’s listen to Big Brother.” So, everyone packed their belongings and followed the officials to the steps of the hall.
Seeing them arrive, the king smiled and said, “Bring the travel documents; I’ll give you the precious flower seal. There’s also money prepared outside to send you to Ling Mountain to see the Buddha, and when you return, there will be generous rewards!” Wukong quickly expressed his gratitude, and Sha Seng handed over the travel documents. The king reviewed them, stamped them, and then gave them ten ingots of gold and twenty ingots of silver as parting gifts.
Upon hearing this, Bajie immediately took the gifts, his heart filled with joy. Wukong cupped his hands to the king, preparing to leave, but Tang Seng, feeling anxious, scrambled up and grabbed Wukong, gritting his teeth, “Are you going to leave me behind?” Wukong exchanged a glance with Tang Seng and said, “You stay here and enjoy yourself; we’ll bring back the scriptures and come to see you.” The elder, half-convinced, refused to let go, while the nearby officials watched, thinking they were truly about to part ways.
At this moment, the king invited the prince to the hall and arranged for many officials to escort Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Seng out of the city. Tang Seng saw this and, with no other choice, had to let go and returned to the hall himself.
Wukong, Bajie, and Sha Seng walked out of the court gate together, bidding farewell to each other. Bajie looked puzzled and asked, “Are we really leaving?” Wukong didn’t respond and headed straight for the post station. The stationmaster welcomed them warmly, serving tea and meals. Wukong said to Bajie and Sha Seng, “You two, don’t draw attention here. Just give vague answers to any questions the stationmaster asks, and don’t speak to me. I need to protect Master!” After saying this, he plucked a hair from his body, blew a bit of magical breath on it, and shouted, “Transform!” Immediately, he transformed into his own appearance and stayed with Bajie and Sha Seng in the station, while his true self turned into a small bee in mid-air.
This little bee was quite nimble, with yellow wings, a sweet mouth, and a sharp tail, fluttering in the wind like a little sprite. It buzzed around happily, and after flying for a while, it finally arrived at the court. From a distance, it saw Tang Seng sitting on an embroidered cushion to the left of the king, looking worried and anxious.
The little bee gently landed on Tang Seng’s Pilu hat, quietly crawled to his ear, and whispered, “Master, I’m here; don’t worry!” Only Tang Seng heard this, while others remained unaware. Upon hearing this, Tang Seng felt much more at ease. Soon after, a palace official came to announce, “Your Majesty, the wedding banquet is ready in the Queque Palace, and the Empress and the princess are waiting for you!” The king was overjoyed and immediately took the prince into the palace.
This was indeed a moment of chaos caused by the king's infatuation, while Tang Seng remained troubled in the inner palace, seeking liberation. The following story is even more exciting; we’ll talk about it next time!
