However,
amidst all this cheering, there was bound to be someone who had to sing a different tune.
"Preposterous! This is utterly preposterous!"
In a corner of the crowd, a Middle-aged Scholar in a long gown stamped his feet and beat his chest, his face filled with indignation.
He pointed at the slowly passing golden statue, spittle flying as he spoke.
"Since ancient times, only sages and martyrs could be enshrined in the Ancestral Temple after death, receiving the reverence of the masses."
"Although the Grand Princess has great achievements, she is merely a woman. Yet, while still alive, she dares to be so presumptuous, to usurp heaven's merits, and receive the incense offerings of the living!"
"This... this disrupts the natural order and goes against the Heavenly Dao!"
His words were spoken quite loudly.
The previously lively atmosphere in the surrounding area instantly cooled by several degrees.
Everyone glared at him angrily.
The Butcher, his face flushed red with anger, pulled a Butcher's knife from his waistband and was about to charge over: "You Sour Scholar! What filth are you spewing from your mouth?!"
"Don't you believe I'll sew your stinking mouth shut?!"
Just as that gleaming knife was about to descend.
The scholar's face turned deathly pale with fright, but he still stiffened his neck, stubbornly refusing to yield.
"You... what do you intend to do?!"
"In broad daylight, are you going to commit violence? I... I am merely arguing based on reason, speaking the principles of the Sages!"
"This humble one does not disrespect Her Highness the Grand Princess, but rules cannot be discarded, and rites cannot be disordered..."
"To hell with your rites!"
The Butcher roared and was about to strike.
Just at that moment.
A hand suddenly reached out from the side and grabbed the scholar's sleeve.
The scholar turned his head to look.
He saw a Middle-aged Man with a kindly face gently shaking his head at him.
"Brother, say a few less words."
The Middle-aged Man sighed, pulling the scholar aside to avoid the Butcher's fury.
Seeing someone intervene, the scholar felt slightly reassured but was still somewhat resentful.
"Brother, you judge as well."
"Is what I said not reasonable? Although the Great Tang is in turmoil, the rules still stand. If everyone were like this..."
"Sigh..."
The Middle-aged Man interrupted him, his gaze fixed on the distant golden statue, a meaningful, bitter smile appearing on his face: "In this world, people's hearts are the hardest to fathom. In this world, as long as someone does something, there will always be others pointing fingers from the sidelines."
"Even if you tear out your heart to show them, proving it's red and warm."
"There will still be people who dislike the blood on the heart, finding it dirty to look at and foul to smell... Don't you agree?"
Upon hearing this, the scholar was momentarily stunned.
Was this... referring to him?
Yes!
The world is drunk, I alone am sober!
What do these foolish men and women filling the streets know about propriety, righteousness, integrity, and honor?
Only this brother before him was his true soulmate!
The scholar let out a long sigh and straightened his somewhat disheveled attire: "Brother, your insight is profound."
"Just as you said, this world... ultimately cannot tolerate a few words of truth."
"Although I am unwilling, I can only... sigh helplessly."
After speaking.
He cupped his hands towards the Middle-aged Man, intending to say a few more words of mutual admiration to befriend this rare confidant.
But then he saw the Middle-aged Man suddenly release his hand.
The Middle-aged Man abruptly turned around, took a deep breath, and sank his Qi into his Dantian.
Then, towards a distant squad of officers maintaining order, he let out a furious roar at the top of his lungs.
"Official Sirs!!"
"Quick, someone come over!!"
"There's a rebel here!!"
"He's publicly insulting Her Highness the Grand Princess in front of everyone! He's even inciting the commoners to rebel!!"
This shout.
was full of vigor, piercing through the clouds and cracking stones.
Not only did it stun the surrounding commoners.
It also terrified the scholar to the point of his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, leaving him standing there dumbfounded.
Before he could even react.
"What?! Such a thing happened?!"
Hearing this, the distant squad of officers immediately rushed over, gripping their scabbards.
"It's him!"
The Middle-aged Man pointed at the scholar, his face filled with righteous indignation, spittle spraying onto the scholar's face.
"This humble one heard it clearly just now!"
"This scoundrel said something about a mere woman being unworthy of this, it's simply treasonous and his heart deserves execution!"
"I... I didn't..."
Terrified, the scholar's legs went weak, and he plopped to his knees on the ground, wanting to defend himself.
But who would listen to his nonsense now?
"What immense audacity!"
The leading Captain angrily shouted, stepped forward, and kicked the scholar, sending him sprawling to the ground.
Immediately, several fierce officers swarmed over, some pinning his arms, others his legs.
In the blink of an eye.
they had the scholar trussed up like a hog and dragged him away like a dead dog.
"Take him away! Lock him up in the Imperial Prison! Interrogate him thoroughly!"
Only after the scholar's mournful and piercing screams faded into the distance.
did the Middle-aged Man leisurely clap his hands.
Looking in the direction where the scholar disappeared, he snorted lightly and shook his head: "Another one who's read books until he's become a fool..."
After speaking.
He turned around, faced the direction where the golden statue had gone, and respectfully bowed.
Then he blended into the crowd and, following the rising waves of cheers, began shouting vigorously.
"Long live Her Highness the Grand Princess! Long live! Long, long live!"
...East of Chang'an City.
Originally, this was the site of a former Prince's Mansion from a previous dynasty, covering an extremely vast area.
Pavilions, towers, and halls were all present, but it had been abandoned for a long time, usually sparsely populated.
But now, this place was bustling with activity.
Vermilion walls and yellow tiles, all completely refurbished.
Looking at the temple's specifications.
It was five courtyards deep, with majestic halls. Just the square in front of the main hall was large enough to accommodate tens of thousands of people kneeling in worship simultaneously.
If not premeditated, how could the Emperor be willing to allocate such a huge plot of land in this land-scarce Chang'an City?
Long before Jiang Yuechu had returned to the capital, even earlier.
that young His Majesty the Emperor had already reserved a place in his heart for his own sister.
At this very moment.
In front of the great hall, ceremonial guards were lined up.
Deputy Commander Zhao and the rest of the Demon Suppression Division personnel, along with Civil and Military Officials, all had radiant faces, eagerly looking forward.
Not long after.
Several figures were seen entering through a side door, pulling and tugging.
Walking at the very front was that Girl in Black Robes.
But at this moment, Jiang Yuechu's face was filled with resistance, absolutely refusing to move towards the main hall.
"I'm not going."
The girl said with a stern face, her voice cold.
"We can just look from the outside, why must we go in to suffer that ordeal?"
"Aiya! My dear sister!"
The Emperor would not relent, pulling her sleeve as he dragged her inside.
"This temple was built for you. You're the main honoree, how can you not go in and take a look?"
"I'm not going."
Jiang Yuechu rolled her eyes and turned to leave.
Watching a large crowd kowtow to herself?
That was just too embarrassing!
Lu Changfeng smiled and said: "The Incense Path is originally about gathering the thoughts of the masses to cultivate one's own results."
As he spoke, he looked at Jiang Yuechu's stiff expression and comforted her gently: "Even if one doesn't specialize in the Incense Path,"
"outside the Great Tang, in places where mortals gather, it's also common to erect golden statues and build temples to worship powerful Cultivators who protect a region."
"As long as one has a clear conscience and feels deserving of it, what's wrong with accepting it?"
Wang Ziyu, standing to the side, also nodded in agreement.
"Exactly."
"Take our Xuanzhen Grotto-Heaven for example. Many of our Junior Martial Uncles and Aunts, while training outside, have slain demons and monsters, protecting the local land and people."
"Those mortals don't understand cultivation, their knowledge is shallow. They view us as celestial immortals, erecting monuments and building temples out of sincere hearts."
The two of them, one singing and the other harmonizing, spoke with compelling logic.
"Exactly! Exactly!"
Running Ox, who had been following behind, couldn't help but interject.
"I think it's mighty impressive!"
"If I, Old Ox, could have such a day, being worshipped like that, how majestic would that be?"
Just talking about it.
this simpleton seemed to have already imagined that scene.
Himself sitting upright on a high platform, a dark mass of people kneeling below, shouting "Long live Ox Grandpa".
That feeling... tsk tsk tsk.
His pair of ears, not yet fully transformed into human form, were now flapping excitedly.
His dark, swarthy face also flushed with a strange redness.
He was clearly getting a bit too excited.
"..."
Jiang Yuechu looked helplessly at this worthless ox demon.
In the end, she couldn't withstand the Emperor's wheedling and pestering, plus the Old Scarlet Flood Dragon chiming in from the side.
"Your Highness, just go in and take a look."
"Yes, yes, you're already here..."
Jiang Yuechu let out a helpless long sigh.
She had no choice but to half-heartedly comply, being ushered by the crowd as she stepped over the high threshold.