Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 510: The Jade Emperor Looking for Trouble

Chapter 510: Chapter 510: The Jade Emperor Looking for Trouble

"Marshal Tian Peng, follow Yang Jian. We will wait here for your return," Chen Nuo looked at Tian Peng.

Now that Yang Jian had arrived with the heavenly soldiers, they could not follow them.

This was an interrogation, not an invitation to socialize. If they all followed, it would appear as a show of force, and the Jade Emperor, who might originally have planned only a minor punishment, could very likely become furious if they all went together.

Although Chen Nuo knew that the harshest punishment for Tian Peng would surely be banishment to the mortal realm,

Tian Peng, though he worked as his shop assistant, held the rank of Marshal in charge of managing the Milky Way.

In such affairs, if the Jade Emperor was truly set on punishing him, they really should not intervene, lest they inadvertently turn against the Heavenly Court.

Sun Wukong and Chen Nuo watched Yang Jian leading Tian Peng away and then asked, "Master, why aren’t you getting involved? Didn’t you say earlier that the Jade Emperor is very likely to join forces with Buddhism? Now that they are taking Tian Peng away, it’s quite possible they intend to cast him down to the mortal realm."

"Yes, but we still cannot intervene," Chen Nuo said.

"Why?" Sun Wukong asked.

"We currently have a friendly relationship with Heavenly Court, but it’s too fragile. If we now object to the Jade Emperor’s treatment of Tian Peng, we place him in an awkward position between two sides. In the end, he will choose the side that benefits him most."

Hearing Chen Nuo’s explanation, Sun Wukong gradually understood, "Master, I get your point. You’re saying if we intervene now, we might not only fail to prevent it, but we could also fall out with the Heavenly Court."

"Correct, that’s the case," Chen Nuo affirmed, "Let’s just wait and see how things unfold."

Sun Wukong felt helpless, but there was nothing he could do, so he could only wait at the milk tea shop for Tian Peng’s return.

Following Yang Jian, Tian Peng eventually arrived at the Palace of the Polestar, where the Jade Emperor and a crowd of divine officials stood by. Upon seeing Tian Peng approach, the Jade Emperor commanded, "Audacious Tian Peng, kneel down at once!"

"Your Majesty, what offense have I committed?" Tian Peng was well aware of the issue but still hoped to buy himself some leeway.

"Do you truly not know your own transgressions, or do you need me to explain them to you?" the Jade Emperor, seated aloft, looked down at Tian Peng.

Tian Peng stood upright, believing he had reason on his side, "I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness; honestly, I am unaware of what wrong I have done."

"You don’t know your wrongdoings?" the Jade Emperor’s eyes bulged, staring straight at Tian Peng, trying to intimidate him into fear.

But Tian Peng, confident in his integrity, did not show the slightest weakness and just stood firm, waiting for the Jade Emperor to speak.

"Do you truly not realize the mistake you’ve made?" the Jade Emperor pressed the question once more, this time with added pressure that would have overwhelmed any lesser official.

Tian Peng knew the truth in his heart but didn’t show it outwardly, bowing slightly, "I truly do not, I ask Your Majesty to enlighten me."

"Good, very good," the Jade Emperor, rather than angry, laughed, a laugh that was far from kind and all the more frightening.

Tian Peng quietly listened as the Jade Emperor uttered three goods in a row. Was there any doubt about the matter? Chang’e had already said she would not hold the issue against him and that it should be resolved privately between the two of them.

Since he had already laid everything bare to Chang’e and been rejected, that rejection was already the greatest punishment for him.

He had not expected someone would actually go to the Jade Emperor to make an accusation. If he found out who was so reckless, determined to strip his skin, they wouldn’t live to see another day!

"Alright, since you really don’t know, then let me tell you," the Jade Emperor leaned back slightly and looked down at Tian Peng through his nostrils, "Where were you last night?"

"In Guanghan Palace."

"If I remember correctly, you almost got convicted for harassing Chang’e last time. It was only because Chang’e herself forgave you that you managed to escape punishment," said the Jade Emperor.

Tian Peng didn’t deny the incident, "Indeed, I have not forgotten."

"Then why did you go to Guanghan Palace yesterday?"

"Yesterday, Chang’e invited us to a banquet at her palace."

"So soon after you harassed her, she invited you to a banquet at her palace?" The Jade Emperor smiled, then immediately straightened his expression, "Do you think that’s possible?"

"Why would Your Majesty think that way?" Tian Peng explained, "The banquet was organized by myself. Guanghan Palace has ample space, while my residence doesn’t, and Fairy Chang’e, being kind-hearted, allowed me to temporarily use Guanghan Palace for the banquet. I am very grateful to her."

"The banquet was organized by you?" the Jade Emperor raised an eyebrow. "How could such a thing happen?"

"The rabbits in Chang’e’s palace were becoming an infestation, and she hadn’t found a solution for a hundred years. Surely the Jade Emperor would not be unaware of this matter?" Tian Peng countered.

The Jade Emperor snorted through his nose, "Hmph, who in Heavenly Court doesn’t know about that? Do I need reminding from you?"

"Right, everyone knows about it. Shopkeeper Chen’s cooking skills are unparalleled. He turned all those rabbits into spicy rabbit heads and cold rabbit slices, selling them cheap and unlimited. In just a few days, more than half of the rabbits were dealt with."

Tian Peng reminisced with a satisfied expression upon recalling Chen Nuo’s culinary skills, "Your unawareness is due to Your Majesty’s busy schedule handling endless affairs, but the other Immortal Officials should all be aware of this, shouldn’t they? I recognize your faces; you’ve all bought from Chaos Residence."

Tian Peng looked around at the circle of divine officials, each of whom bowed their heads.

Indeed, they had all bought some. The rabbit meat was both affordable and unlimited, and Shopkeeper Chen himself prepared it.

Normally, no one had much money, and they couldn’t afford Shopkeeper Chen’s dishes. But this was different, the price of Shopkeeper Chen’s cold rabbit slices was just two cups of milk tea, and no test with the Crystal Ball was required. Who wouldn’t be tempted by that?

The Jade Emperor was well aware of this, as he was someone who bought it five times a day. He was simply feigning ignorance to question Tian Peng on purpose.

Who would have thought that Tian Peng, since becoming Chen Nuo’s assistant, would grow bolder? Originally, Tian Peng heeded his every command without question, but now he even dared to argue so much with him.

"How does that matter? It wasn’t you who solved Chang’e’s problem; it was Shopkeeper Chen. What does it have to do with you?" The Jade Emperor continued his fallacious argument, "And why would Chang’e lend Guanghan Palace to you for a banquet? Surely, it can’t be because of Shopkeeper Chen’s face, can it?"

It truly was because of Chen Nuo’s face.

Though Tian Peng knew the Jade Emperor was being deliberately difficult, he couldn’t just retort every time he spoke. If the Jade Emperor became annoyed and imposed a more severe punishment, that wouldn’t work out well.

The Jade Emperor was waiting for Tian Peng to snap back at him as he had done before. That way, he would have a better opportunity to punish Tian Peng.

Unexpectedly, Tian Peng chose to remain silent, simply bowing his head as if ready to admit guilt.

The Jade Emperor couldn’t really let Tian Peng admit guilt.

In fact, Chang’e had no intention of pursuing the matter; he had made up an excuse to demote Tian Peng to the mortal realm.

He had already carefully considered the interrogation, and Tian Peng initially followed his plan. But now, unexpectedly remaining quiet seriously frustrated the Jade Emperor.

"Tian Peng, I’m asking you a question. Why don’t you answer?" The Jade Emperor had to find another way to question him.