India Captures the Jade Rabbit (XII)

Meanwhile, the Tianzhu Kingdom Crown Prince of India obtained the medicine from the Imperial Medical Bureau, prepared it, and hurriedly delivered it to Ao Tu.

Ao Tu said, "Put it down!"

The Crown Prince, puzzled, put the medicine down.

Ao Tu said, "Your Crown Prince, though steady, are rather simple-minded. I am not ill, but there are some things I must say to you behind the backs of the court officials."

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince immediately knelt down and listened attentively to the teachings.

Ao Tu said, "I know a little about the doctrines of that ' Great Sect.' It teaches people to do good and obey the Law, which is no threat to our royal family. I've also heard a few stories about ' True Lord.' He has great power, and he has no enmity with you. You've provoked him for no reason, and he can kill you with a single incantation. Wouldn't it be easier for the State Altars to be without a ruler?"

The Crown Prince said, "But that ' Great Sect ' is harming the Monks. My father is a devout Buddhist and makes offerings to Spirit Mountain every year. I am also a Buddhist. How can we ignore this?"

Ao Tu said, "Foolish! Foolish! You are not young, yet you don't even understand this principle. Even if I explain it to you, you still won't understand. I will leave you a will: after I die, when you become emperor, you are not allowed to interfere in sectarian disputes, but only to make offerings to Spirit Mountain every year."

The Crown Prince said, "Father, I truly do not understand. Since we are to offer sacrifices to the Buddha of Spirit Mountain every year, why must we still condone that heretical religion?"

Ao Tu said, "I only instruct you to make offerings to Spirit Mountain. As for matters concerning gods and Buddhas, you and I are merely Mortal; how dare we overstep our bounds? Get out! Get out!"

The Crown Prince left.

Meanwhile, Bajie, Sha Wujing, Wukong returned to the Courier Station and divided the luggage there.

When Tang Sanzang Ao Tu Belongings them away, all three of them had taken their belongings with them: the Buddhist Staff, Alms Bowl, and Passbook. Only the Brocade Kasaya that Tang Sanzang was wearing was still there, and now it was being taken back.

The old clothes and worn-out monk's shoes included are not mentioned in detail. Bajie had already divided them into three bundles of the same size, one for each of the three brothers.

The remaining Brocade Kasaya, Nine-Ringed Monk's Staff, and Purple Gold Alms Bowl were also given to each of the three people.

The Kasaya was the most valuable item, and since it was Bajie who had asked for it back, it was given to Bajie.

The Buddhist Staff was given to Wukong.

Sha Wujing took the Alms Bowl.

There was also a White Horse tied up outside.

Bajie said, "The White Horse is difficult to divide. Let's take it to the market and sell it, then split the Silver Taels equally."

Sha Wujing said, "Alright, I'll take it to sell."

Bajie said, "Don't go. You don't know horses, and you'll only confuse people. Elder Brother should go instead! We'll give him an extra ten percent of the silver!"

Sha Wujing agreed upon hearing this.

Wukong was troubled and didn't answer. He simply led the White Horse to the market.

The White Dragon Horse, led by Wukong, wept all the way. As they approached the market, it cried out, "Brother, are you really going to sell me?"

Wukong snapped out of his daze, looked at the White Dragon Horse, and repeatedly apologized:

"You've gone mad! You've gone mad! You've forgotten you're the Third Prince of the West Sea Dragon King! That idiot divided up all the luggage, leaving you with hardly anything. That saddle and bridle were a gift from the Bodhisattva; take them and sell them, then return them to the West Sea Dragon Palace!"

The Little White Dragon said, "I won't go! I won't go! I've been guided by the Bodhisattva to accompany my master on his Journey to the West scriptures. Our great mission is not yet complete; how can I abandon it halfway?"

Wukong said, "It's not that we don't want to follow, but now that Master has become someone's son-in-law, how can we go on the Journey to the West?"

The Little White Dragon said, "Master is a good monk and would never do such a thing lightly. Senior Brother, please investigate further. If you see Master and he truly says he wants to be my son-in-law, then I will leave."

After listening, Wukong pondered for a moment, agreed, and led the White Dragon Horse back.

Upon arriving at the Courier Station, Bajie asked, "Brother! Why are we back again? Such fine horses, do these foreigners not know their value?"

Wukong said, "Fool, how could you forget? This is the Third Prince of the West Sea Dragon Palace!"

Bajie suddenly realized, "I forgot! I forgot! He hasn't spoken for decades, and he's been feeding the horses. How could I possibly remember him?"

Wukong said, "He and I discussed it and decided to go see Master again to get to the bottom of things."

Bajie said, "Older Brother have no shame. Master has become the Imperial Son-in-Law and has already sent someone to say that he will not see us. He is in the palace having sex with the emperor's daughter. Why do you insist on asking him about it? He is so old, how could he not know what happens in bed? Why do you need to help him?"

Enraged, Wukong grabbed his ear and punched him, yelling, "You Clod! What am I supposed to help you with! It was the Little White Dragon who told me to go and find out more!"

Bajie said, "That Little White Dragon is too loyal. He gave up being a proper Crown Prince of the Dragon Palace to carry the old monk. He's already become Imperial Son-in-Law, yet he still keeps pestering him! Does he really have to go all the way to Spirit Mountain?"

The White Dragon Horse said, "Second Senior Brother, what are you saying? I do have somewhere to go. If the Journey to the West fails, I'll ask my cousin for help. With a few kind words, I can find a job anywhere. It's just that I didn't dare to betray the kindness of Guanyin Bodhisattva who saved my life back then, so I'm asking you for clarification, Senior Brother!"

Upon hearing this, Bajie remembered the Little White Dragon's family background and agreed. He was no longer in a hurry to disband the group and continued to wait for Wukong to go and investigate.

Wukong then flew into the Imperial Palace to investigate.

Ao Tu hid Tang Sanzang very well; how could Wukong possibly find him?

They couldn't find it during the day, and when they went again at night, they still couldn't find it.

Wukong said, "Is Master deliberately avoiding me?"

He went back and told everyone what had happened.

Sha Wujing said, "I heard that Master is getting married on the twelfth of next month. He's been avoiding us, but he can't hide from us when the wedding happens. We'll go see him on that day!"

Wukong said, "Then let's stay a few more days."

Bajie said, "Stay! Stay! There's no charge for the room! But let me make this clear beforehand."

Wukong asked, "What do you want to say?"

Bajie said, "We monks have the rule of observing the five pungent vegetables and three forbidden foods, and of fasting and being vegetarian, which is common knowledge. But after searching through all the scriptures, there is no mention of how disciples should give gifts when their master gets married. Since there is no such rule, don't expect me, Old Pig, to scrape together money for a wedding gift on the wedding day!"

Wukong laughed and said, "That makes sense! That makes sense!"

The group then settled the matter and waited for the wedding day.

Time flew by, and the wedding day was fast approaching.

When Ao Tu heard from the Courier Station Official in the palace that Wukong and the other two were still staying at the Courier Station and had not left, he knew that the three of them were still not giving up and wanted to explore again.

After dismissing the Courier Station Official, Ao Tu returned to his room, where the Jade Rabbit Spirit was trying on her new makeup again.

Yesterday she changed into a new set of wedding clothes and showed them to her Ao Tu. Today she changed into a new set. The clothes weren't revealing; they were just thin fabric clinging to her skin, showing only a little bit of skin.

The Jade Rabbit was skilled at swaying and dancing. Seeing Ao Tu approaching, it went up to him and said with a smile:

"What is Father thinking now? He doesn't even glance at his daughter! I was hoping that if Father would just say a word of praise for my new look, I would be overjoyed all night!"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "It's nothing, it's just that Sun Wukong hasn't left yet. I'm thinking of some idea to get rid of him."

Upon hearing Jade Rabbit Spirit's bright eyes darted around. She wrapped her arms around Ao Tu's and buried her face in his, saying, "Father, your daughter has an idea."

Ao Tu asked, "What idea?"

The Jade Rabbit Spirit said, "Just say that your daughter is pregnant, and that Monkey will surely give up! But..."

Ao Tu asked, "But what?"

The Jade Rabbit Spirit said, "I've only heard that the Monkey has Supernatural Ability in his eyes. If I tell a lie, I'm afraid he'll see through it."