A debate at court

A crime for taking a step?

The courtiers understood. This was King Zhou's show of force, making it clear that he thought little of Yun Zhongzi.

Fei Zhong stepped forward, looking somewhat uneasy. "Since the days of our ancestor Cheng Tang, the left has held precedence for court officials, while the right holds precedence at banquets, funerals, and military affairs. Today, bells and drums have summoned the Civil and Martial officials for a grand court assembly, not a military affair, so the left should naturally take precedence. Yet Yun Zhongzi stepped forward with his right foot first. That is a crime. Moreover, he bowed his head without prostrating himself, showing great contempt for his sovereign and adding crime upon crime. Under the Tang Punishments, he should have an arm severed."

He could even make that sound so cogent?

It actually sounded quite reasonable.

Below the throne, however, Yun Zhongzi laughed three times. "The Son of Heaven knows only his own exalted station; among the Three Teachings, the Way and its virtue have ever been supreme."

Zi Shou asked, "Wherein lies that supremacy?"

Yun Zhongzi replied, "Consider the Three Teachings: the Dao alone is supreme. Above, we need not attend the Son of Heaven's court; below, we need not pay homage to dukes and ministers. Those who cultivate immortality possess bones of strength and grace; those who attain the Way possess spirits of utmost perception. We judge good fortune and ill through mastery of the hexagrams, determine blessings and calamities through close scrutiny of human hearts. We expound Daoist arts, spread Taishang's orthodox teachings, inscribe talismans, and dispel the demonic miasma of the mortal world."

"We pay homage to soaring divinities at the celestial palace, tread the astral currents at the Thunder Gate. We knock upon the Mysterious Gate, and heaven and earth darken; we strike the Earth Portal, and ghosts weep while gods bow in awe. We seize the exquisite breath of heaven and earth, gather the essence of sun and moon, circulate Yin-Yang to refine our nature, nourish water and fire to condense the embryo. At twice eight, yin wanes, hazy and elusive; at thrice nine, yang waxes, distant and obscure. We gather according to the four seasons and refine through nine cycles until the elixir forms. Astride an Azure Luan, we soar straight into the Purple Palace; riding white cranes, we roam throughout the Jade Capital. We comprehend Qiankun's wondrous workings and demonstrate our devotion to the Way and virtue. Compared with officials of lofty rank and eminent office, wealth and honor are mere floating clouds; compared with the Interception Sect's arts of the five punishments, true attainment is hard to achieve. Speak of the Three Teachings, and the Dao alone reigns supreme."

Zi Shou listened attentively for quite some time. Unfortunately, it was far too literary for him to understand.

The dukes and ministers at court were learned enough to understand, but their expressions soured. Everyone knew Yun Zhongzi was an accomplished immortal, but did cultivating the Dao place him a cut above mortals?

And that line about officials of lofty rank and eminent office!

We ministers safeguard the state, consider the people's livelihoods, and establish rites and laws, bringing prosperity to the nation and peace throughout the land. Are we inferior to cultivators who spend all day refining elixirs and sightseeing on Azure Luans and white cranes?

An elixir or a talisman might save one person, ten, or a hundred, but court ministers govern all the people under heaven. How does that make us a rank below Daoist cultivators?

Yun Zhongzi saw nothing wrong with it. Yuanshi Tianzun's disciples had always stood aloof. How could mere mortals compare with true immortals who had cultivated for a thousand years, could summon wind and rain, and could scatter beans to make soldiers?

Bi Gan stepped in to smooth things over. "May I ask what brings you here to seek an audience with His Majesty, Daoist? It will not be too late to determine your punishment after you explain."

Yun Zhongzi said, "While gathering herbs on a lofty peak, I suddenly saw demonic energy piercing Chaoge and an uncanny miasma rising within the palace. My Daoist heart remains whole, and benevolent thoughts ever accompany me. Thus, I came especially to seek an audience with Your Majesty and remove this demon."

Zi Shou was delighted. "The inner palace is secluded and heavily guarded, not some mountain forest in the mortal world. Where could a demon come from? Slandering the palace adds another degree to your crimes!"

Another crime? Yun Zhongzi was not angered. He continued, "If Your Majesty knew there was a demon, the demon would naturally not dare approach. But because Your Majesty cannot recognize her, she can seize the opportunity to bewitch you. Left unchecked, she will surely bring great disaster. I have a poem as proof: enchanting beauty most beguiles the heart, secretly seeping into flesh and bone to destroy the primal spirit. If all knew this was truly a demon, the world would have far more undying souls."

Zi Shou merely shook his head.

Seeing this, Yun Zhongzi uncovered his flower basket, took out a wooden sword, and held it in his hand. "I have another poem: carved from pine, its name is Giant Gateway; few know the wondrous workings held within. Though no precious radiance pierces the Ox and Dipper, in three days it turns to ash and demonic energy departs."

Zi Shou wondered why Yun Zhongzi liked reciting poems so much.

Was it just because he had cultivated for a thousand years and lived so long?

Zi Shou thought it over. Not only must he stop Yun Zhongzi from removing Daji, he also had to let everyone know that he held immortal Daoists in contempt. Thus, he said, "You Daoist merely covet high office, generous stipends, wealth, silver, and gold, so you falsely claim there is a demon in the palace. I am magnanimous and shall pardon your three crimes. Someone bring a tray each of gold and silver. Chaoge is far from Mount Zhongnan. Consider it payment for your poetry and travel expenses."

His unspoken meaning was simple: Yun Zhongzi, you're a fraud. I'm generous enough not to hold it against you. Here's some money. Hurry home!

The ministers frowned at his words. Though they disliked Yun Zhongzi's superior attitude, he was indeed an accomplished cultivator who commanded immortal arts. Otherwise, they would not have gone to such lengths to create an opportunity for him to meet King Zhou and enter the palace to expel the demon.

Zi Shou was very satisfied with their reaction.

In the novel, when Jiang Ziya listed King Zhou's crimes, one charge was his disrespect for spirits and gods and his neglect of sacrifices.

Superstition was rampant in this era. After all, immortals and Buddhas truly existed in the world of the Investiture of the Gods. By charging Yun Zhongzi with crimes and insulting him with gold and silver, Zi Shou would surely earn a reputation for disrespecting immortals and gods.

He had no intention of currying favor with the Chan Sect or the Sages anyway. According to their schemes, he would have to die, lose his kingdom, and bear eternal infamy before going to the Heavenly Court as the Heavenly Joy Star, a post inferior even to Matchmaker Yue's, subject to everyone's control. What kind of nonsense was that?

Yun Zhongzi remained calm. "Your Majesty must not speak rashly, and must never be beguiled by those clad in fur and crowned with horns, born of dampness or hatched from eggs. Even if chance allows them to glimpse a scale or claw of the Great Dao, their origins remain impure, their foundations unstable, and their savage nature unpurged. They cannot be called beings of the Way and virtue."

Zi Shou snorted coldly. "In the Primordial Era, many Giant Gods bore unusual forms. Their descendants multiplied, some becoming humans and others beasts, collectively known as the hundred spirits. There was no distinction of high and low among them. For instance, the Sage King Fuxi and Empress Nuwa both have human heads and serpent bodies."

Yun Zhongzi's expression shifted slightly. He had never expected King Zhou to react like this.

If an ordinary king heard that there was a demon in his palace, he would be desperate to have it removed. Who would defend it with all his might?

Yet this King Zhou was anything but ordinary. From his words, he sounded positively delighted to have a demon in his palace.

Who behaved like that?

Yun Zhongzi argued, "The Sage King Fuxi and Empress Nuwa are both ancient divinities. How can they be spoken of in the same breath as demons from the wilderness?"

"Who am I?" Zi Shou suddenly shouted. "The ancestor of our Great Shang was born of the Dark Phoenix, and I too am its descendant. Look at me, then! Am I also a demon?"

The assembled courtiers immediately sensed trouble. They had clearly invited Yun Zhongzi to expel a demon today. How had he ended up at odds with King Zhou?

Judging by King Zhou's tone, he would certainly not let the matter rest. If word of today's events spread, how many people would criticize him for rejecting an immortal's frank counsel and instead trusting demons to throw the court into chaos?

Disaster was coming!

Zi Shou did not stop. This was precisely the effect he wanted: openly opposing Yun Zhongzi at court and defending demons. The bigger the uproar, the better. His only fear was that people would fail to learn what a benighted ruler he was!

"The sages of old taught us how to govern the country and bring peace to the people. They spoke only of good and evil, right and wrong, never of distinctions between humans and demons. I rule all within the four seas, and naturally, the hundred spirits admire me and come to offer their service. Among them are many loyal and capable individuals. If I ask only about their origins, not their abilities or intentions, I fear I would wound their hearts and tarnish my own discernment!"

To become a foolish tyrant, to cultivate immortality, and to smash his way through the Investiture of the Gods, Zi Shou resolved to clash head-on with Yun Zhongzi to the bitter end.

Yun Zhongzi swept his sleeve. "Expelling demons upholds the righteous Way. This is the Mandate of Heaven!"

The Mandate of Heaven? Zi Shou thought at those words.

Was the Mandate of Heaven that the House of Zhou must rise and Yin Shang must fall?

Was the Mandate of Heaven to draw up the Investiture List and plunge the world into war just to fill the Heavenly Court's vacancies?

Was the Mandate of Heaven that the Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Sect, facing their tribulations in the mortal dust, should walk among humanity and make humans bear those calamities for them?

Was the Mandate of Heaven that the Interception Sect should reestablish Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind and replace the world, while the assembled immortals applauded, treating mortals within the Three Realms and Five Elements as empty air?

Was the Mandate of Heaven that I was destined to burn myself to death on the Deer Terrace?

That last one was the most intolerable. They were all transmigrators. Others feasted on delicacies, enjoyed every luxury, became Sages and patriarchs, while he was supposed to burn to death?

Zi Shou was so angry he laughed. He immediately rose from his throne, took several steps forward, and stood at the front of the hall, meeting Yun Zhongzi's gaze.

"What is the Mandate of Heaven?"

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