The Red-Robed Daoist Nun

The explosion rang out loudly, startling nearly the entire Royal Palace.

Daji hurried out of Shouxian Palace at the sound and gazed toward the explosion. Her expression shifted repeatedly as she recognized the place: the Imperial Study.

What she didn't know was that Di Xin had been there when the explosion occurred.

She was also full of doubts now, unsure whether the meteorite incident had anything to do with Goddess Nuwa.

Someone from the harem couldn't possibly go watch the commotion, so she patiently waited and watched, hoping someone would come from that direction so she could ask what had happened.

She was beginning to regret having sent Gun Juan away so hastily. Otherwise, she'd have had another errand runner.

The other palace maids could be ordered around, but none was as quick-witted, obedient, and articulate as Gun Juan.

But Gun Juan's presence was a threat to her, and she simply couldn't afford to keep her around.

As she waited, no one came from the direction of the Imperial Study. Instead, a palace maid she had sent to drive Gun Juan away came running over.

"Look at yourself! What kind of behavior is that? If someone sees you, they'll think there are no rules in Shouxian Palace!"

Daji's face darkened at the sight, and she scolded the maid sharply.

"Your Highness, the Noble Consort, I have something important to report."

The maid slowed to a stop, panting. "There's a female Daoist at the palace gate who says she's a relative of yours and wants to see you. Oh, she said her name is Hu Ximei."

"Ah, Xi Mei..."

Daji froze for a moment, then ordered the maid, "Then why haven't you invited her in?"

The maid looked troubled. "Your Highness, the imperial guards won't let her pass. They said no one may enter the Royal Palace without the Great King's command, so this servant hurried back to report to you."

"Go back to the palace gate and tell them I've agreed to let Hu Ximei in. I'd like to see whether my word as Noble Consort carries any weight." Daji raised an eyebrow and pointed toward the gate, her authority suddenly on full display.

"Yes, this servant will go at once." The maid didn't dare say another word. She hurriedly answered, lifted her skirt, and ran off again.

Daji didn't return to her quarters. Instead, she waited outside Shouxian Palace.

After a while, she spotted a red-robed Daoist nun approaching from afar, surrounded by several palace maids. Daji hurried forward and warmly took the nun's hand.

"Sister, it's been so long. I thought that once you entered the palace, we'd never see each other again. What brings you here? I've missed you so much!"

The Daoist nun was stunningly alluring, and in terms of beauty alone, she even surpassed Daji by a little. She affectionately linked arms with Daji and said with a laugh, "I heard you'd become wealthy and powerful. I happened to be passing through Chaoge, so I came to visit. Sister, you look every bit the noble lady!"

"Don't tease me, little sister. It's all thanks to the Great King's favor. Come, come inside, and we can talk."

Daji gave a charming laugh, and the two entered Shouxian Palace arm in arm. The palace maids were left waiting outside.

Once they reached the bedroom, Daji glanced outside. Seeing no one nearby, she closed the door and asked softly, "Little sister, did the goddess have some instructions for you?"

The smile vanished from the red-robed Daoist nun's face. She nodded slightly. "The goddess observed Yin Shang's fortune today and saw that it hadn't diminished. It had actually increased. She was greatly puzzled, so she sent me to find out why. Has your plan not been going smoothly, sister?"

Daji hurriedly shook her head. "That's not it. Everything is going according to plan. I've already won the Great King's favor, and he even agreed on the spot to build the Star Picking Tower. I've only been in the palace for four or five days. Isn't the goddess being a little too impatient?"

The red-robed Daoist nun looked just as puzzled. "Then what could be happening? According to the goddess, even if you've made no progress, Yin Shang's fortune should simply be declining more slowly. There's no way it should be increasing instead. The goddess is certain there must be a reason. Tell me what's happened in the palace over the past few days, as much as you know. I'll see if I can make sense of it, and if I can't, I'll report back to the goddess."

Su Daji fell silent for a moment. Then she turned to the red-robed Daoist nun and asked, "Did the goddess intend to send you into the palace too? If not, she wouldn't have sent you here."

The red-robed Daoist nun laughed. "The goddess didn't say so outright, but anything is possible. Sister, let me tell you something from the heart: it doesn't matter who enters the palace. What matters is that we carry out the goddess's orders. Otherwise, neither of us will come to a good end."

"You're right, little sister. Quite a few things have happened in the palace over the past few days..."

It seemed that the red-robed Daoist nun had persuaded Su Daji, and she began speaking softly.

She told her everything: how Di Xin had asked his ministers for powerful tonics in court, allowed his ministers to fight one another, beaten Fei Zhong to death, received a visit from Yun Zhongzi, had a huge rock fall from the sky and crush the Imperial Study, and had an ambiguous relationship with the palace maid Gun Juan.

She left out only the fact that she hadn't shared a bed with King Zhou.

She didn't want Goddess Nuwa to find out. If the goddess did, it would at least show that she had failed in her task, and Hu Ximei might really be brought in to replace her.

As for the Daoist nun, she was none other than the Jade Pipa Spirit, one of the Three Demons of Xuanyuan Tomb.

They had cultivated together in Xuanyuan Grave, far from the sights of the mortal world. It was dark and cold there, nothing like the splendor of the Royal Palace. Daji wanted to enjoy the comforts of this place a little longer!

"So much has happened! That Great King is truly outrageous. With so many foolish things done, Yin Shang's fortune should have weakened considerably!"

Hu Ximei sighed after hearing Daji's account.

Su Daji pondered. "In my view, the turning point may have been Yun Zhongzi's visit or the huge rock that fell from the sky. Yun Zhongzi intended to get rid of me, while the Great King narrowly escaped the falling rock by sheer chance. Little sister, please hurry back and report the truth to Goddess Nuwa."

Hu Ximei shook her head slightly. "There's no rush. The goddess said I should meet the Great King before I leave."

Daji's expression changed slightly, and she sighed. "Very well. We'll do as you say."

Then Su Daji took Hu Ximei to the main hall of the sleeping quarters and had the palace maids serve tea and fresh fruit. The two chatted about home.

A good while later, a palace attendant called out from the gate, "The Great King has returned!"

"Little sister, wait here a moment. I'll go greet him!"

After speaking, Daji rose and put on a smile, then glided toward the palace gate with a fragrant breeze.

"Beloved Consort, everything for the Star Picking Tower has been prepared. All the materials will enter the palace at once, and construction will begin today." When Di Xin saw Daji approaching, he immediately wrapped an arm around her slender waist. As he spoke, he swept her up in a bridal carry and headed inside.

"Great King, we have a guest!" Daji said in a coquettish voice, pointing toward the main hall.

"What guest? Is it one of your relatives?" Di Xin chuckled and set Daji down, then peered through the beaded curtains toward the hall.