Surrounded by the crowd, Jiang Yuechu had no choice but to start walking.
As soon as she entered, her vision suddenly opened up.
A solemn and dignified aura rushed toward her.
What a magnificent treasure hall!
Look at that—
The towering hall pierces the clouds, and thousands of auspicious Qi lock away the silence.
Agate-paved railings wind around, and glazed tiles form the upturned eaves of mythical beasts.
Seventy-two coiled Dragon pillars, every single one traced in pure gold.
Furthermore, there are shark-silk treasure curtains and high-hanging pearls; though there is no sunlight, it is as bright as day, with light and shadows swaying.
How could this still be a mundane temple?
Even the legendary treasure halls where the heavenly immortals reside would probably be nothing more than this.
Jiang Yuechu looked up slightly.
She saw the dome was extremely high, painted with the sun, moon, stars, and drifting cloud Qi.
Standing within it, she felt as small as a grain of millet, and a sense of awe involuntarily welled up in her heart.
In the center of the main hall.
A nine-layered white jade platform stood tall.
But at this moment, the platform was empty, with only the curling scent of sandalwood rising from several half-person-tall purple-gold incense burners around it, lingering and never dispersing.
"How is it?"
The Emperor leaned in, pointing around like he was showing off a treasure, his face full of pride.
"I had people search through the entire imperial secret treasury and tasked the Minister of Works to personally supervise the construction, rushing it out day and night."
He pointed at the massive pillars supporting the hall.
"These pillars are made from thousand-year ironwood from the South Sea. They are impervious to fire and water, and a single one weighs ten thousand catties. Just transporting them back took a great deal of effort."
Then he pointed at the floor tiles.
"These tiles are called Golden Bricks. Each one has to go through forty-nine processes. When struck, they sound like metal and stone, yet they are as warm and smooth as jade."
"..."
Prodigal.
Truly a spendthrift.
Jiang Yuechu was about to open her mouth to scold him a bit.
The Emperor pulled Jiang Yuechu along again, pointing at the empty high platform with the same treasure-showing expression: "Lonely Moon, what do you think of this position?"
"I specifically had the hall height increased by thirty feet, for fear that your Golden Statue would feel cramped living here."
"And this jade platform is carved from a single piece of Hetian Warm Jade. It's warm in winter and cool in summer—comfortable to sit on!"
Jiang Yuechu's eyelid twitched.
That is a Golden Statue.
An inanimate object.
Where would it get the sense of hot or cold?
Warm in winter and cool in summer... did this cheap imperial brother of hers really think he was building a residence for a living person?
Seeing that Jiang Yuechu didn't speak, the Emperor was not discouraged.
He pointed at the empty shrines on both sides and smiled: "I have also reserved spots here."
"In the future, if there are subordinate deities or Protector Divine Beasts, they can be settled here to enjoy some incense in the side halls."
Hearing the four words 'Protector Divine Beast.'
Running Ox, who had been pondering other things, suddenly perked up his ears.
The dark fellow's eyes lit up, and he lunged to the Emperor's side in a few steps, pointing at his own black face and grinning, revealing a row of large white teeth.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
"What do you think of me?"
The Emperor was startled by the sudden large black face and instinctively took half a step back: "What... what about you?"
Running Ox patted his chest, making his muscles thud loudly: "The Protector Divine Beast!"
"I, Old Ox, am at least at the Ascending the Tower cultivation level and can endure hardships. The key is..."
He pointed at the shrine with a look of longing: "I'm not picky about the spot! Any place will do."
"If I could be enshrined up there and have people kowtow to me a few times..."
Running Ox chuckled, looking as wretched as could be: "Hehehehehehehe..."
"Go away, go away!"
Before the Emperor could speak, the Old Scarlet Flood Dragon kicked him.
"You stupid ox, why don't you take a look at yourself in a mirror! A stupid ox like you thinks he's worthy of receiving incense?"
"If you were enshrined up there, the commoners would probably be scared away by that black face of yours!"
Running Ox looked indignant: "Why wouldn't I be worthy?"
"I've been following Her Highness for some time now. Even if I don't have great merits... I've at least worked hard. As the saying goes, when one person attains the Dao, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. Why can't I, an ox, get a bit of the reflected glory?"
"You..."
The Old Scarlet Flood Dragon was choked with rage and was about to curse again.
But then Jiang Yuechu spoke up calmly.
"Enough."
Two simple words instantly made the two demons shut their mouths.
Jiang Yuechu's gaze swept across the two empty shrines, then looked at the expectant Running Ox.
"If your performance is acceptable in the future..."
She paused, her tone calm: "It wouldn't be impossible to leave a spot for you."
"Moo—!!!"
Hearing this, Running Ox let out an excited roar toward the sky.
If he hadn't been concerned about the hall's expensive cost, he might have revealed his true form and run three laps around it.
"Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness! I, Old Ox, will definitely work hard from now on!"
Jiang Yuechu shook her head and ignored him.
Afterward.
She raised her head, her gaze falling once more upon the tall jade platform in the center.
Here.
This would be the place where the faith of the Great Tang's millions would reside in the future.
It was also the final trump card she was leaving for this land.
It had to be said.
Although this cheap imperial brother of hers usually seemed unreliable, he never faltered in such major matters.
Whether it was the site selection, the materials used, or the layout and furnishings within the hall.
Everything was extremely luxurious yet did not lose its majesty.
Even someone like her, who was usually indifferent to external possessions, had to admit it now.
It was indeed... very grand.
"How is it?"
The Emperor leaned over, carefully observing her expression: "Are you satisfied?"
Jiang Yuechu withdrew her gaze and looked at the expectant young monarch.
After a long while.
She nodded slightly and said softly: "It is acceptable."
Upon hearing those two words.
The smile on the Emperor's face instantly bloomed like a flower.
"As long as you're satisfied! As long as you're satisfied!"
"I'll send someone right away to check where the Golden Statue has reached!"
Just as he spoke.
The sound of thunderous drums and gongs suddenly came from outside the hall.
Immediately following.
The Old Eunuch's distinctive duck-like voice, trembling with excitement to the point of cracking, penetrated the heavy doors.
"Respectfully welcoming the True Monarch's Golden Statue into the hall—!!!"
Everyone's spirits were jolted.
The Emperor instinctively looked toward the young girl.
Jiang Yuechu nodded slightly and turned around.
Her black robes swayed lightly as she took the lead.
The group, led by Jiang Yuechu, strode out of the hall... onto the plaza outside.
The sun was at its peak, casting ten thousand golden rays.
It was already a sea of people, shoulder to shoulder.
A dense crowd stretched from the nine-layered white jade steps all the way to the end of the hall's plaza.
The commoners had already been waiting for a long time.
Seeing the black-robed figure appear.
The plaza, which had been as noisy as boiling porridge, suddenly fell into a dead silence in an instant.
Countless gazes, filled with awe, expectation, and fervor, converged simultaneously on a single person.
At this moment.
An old man dressed in a vermilion official robe, with white hair and beard, stepped out slowly.
This person was the Minister of Imperial Sacrifices, specifically in charge of ritual music and sacrificial duties.
He had a solemn expression and held a scroll of bright yellow silk as he walked to the edge of the high platform.
Taking a deep breath, he sank his breath into his Dantian.
His aged but resonant voice, like an evening drum or morning bell, echoed over the plaza.