Journey to the West: Man in heaven, working nine to five

#1998 - The Jade Emperor wants to take the main position

Seeing the Buddha so happy, Guanyin and the others beside him naturally asked, puzzled.

"I wonder, Buddha, what brilliant idea do you have?"

The Buddha put his hands together, striking a profound pose, and then spoke to Guanyin and the others beside him.

"If it's just a Heaven Worship Ceremony to make the people believe in my Buddha's compassion, it would be a bit too monotonous.

Why don't we invite the Jade Emperor and the Heavenly Court gods to attend the Heaven Worship Ceremony as well? When the time comes, we can have that Marquis accuse the Heavenly Court of its crimes. Wouldn't that better highlight the great compassion of our Western Paradise?"

Guanyin and the others were seasoned flatterers. Regardless of the Buddha's idea, they would have to fawn over him.

"Buddha is truly wise."

"Using the Heavenly Court to set off the Western Paradise, brilliant, truly brilliant."

"Buddha's move will surely make the Heavenly Court lose face completely and make the prestige of our Western Paradise prominent."

Guanyin and the others' flattery made the Buddha even more pleased.

"Guanyin, go to the Heavenly Court and invite the Jade Emperor. You must get them to go."

"I obey the Buddha's decree."

Guanyin bowed and acknowledged, then rode a cloud towards the Heavenly Court.

At this time in the Heavenly Court, the Jade Emperor was naturally also paying attention to the progress of the situation, and Taibai Jinxing was reporting to the Jade Emperor.

"Your Majesty, Fengxian County has already begun preparations for the Heaven Worship Ceremony. The Prison God has arranged everything properly and is expected to obtain evidence soon."

"Well, with the Prison God in charge, I am naturally relieved, but thinking about the actions of the Western Paradise, it really enrages me."

The Western Paradise slandered the Jade Emperor so much. As the Lord of the Heavenly Court and the Chief Executive Officer of the Three Realms, how could he not be angry?

If it weren't for the sake of the overall situation, the Jade Emperor really wanted to mobilize the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals to fight the Western Paradise. Only then could he eliminate the malice in his heart.

Just at this moment, Guanyin arrived at the Heavenly Court to meet the Jade Emperor.

"Guanyin, what business do you have coming to my Heavenly Court?"

The Jade Emperor didn't have the slightest affection for Guanyin. As the Western Paradise's number one lackey, Guanyin often gesticulated in the Heavenly Court.

Because she carried the banner of the Western Paradise's envoy, the Jade Emperor and the Heavenly Court gods had to be superficially polite to her, but in fact, they deeply resented her behind their backs.

"Has the Jade Emperor heard about the Heaven Worship Ceremony to be held in Fengxian County? The Buddha is grateful for the sincerity of the people of Fengxian County and wishes to personally go there to save them, eliminate disasters, and bestow blessings.

However, Fengxian County also belongs to the jurisdiction of the Three Realms, so the Buddha feels that it is inappropriate for the Western Paradise to act alone and specially invites the Jade Emperor and the Heavenly Court gods to go together."

Although Guanyin spoke very politely, a cunning intention was already revealed in her words.

The Jade Emperor was not a fool, and he already knew the situation in Fengxian County. This Guanyin was clearly here with a conspiracy and calculation.

"Guanyin, what you said is not right. How can the Buddha invite me to this matter?"

The Jade Emperor shook his head and said to Guanyin with an unhappy expression.

"Why is the Jade Emperor angry? Is there something wrong?"

Guanyin was puzzled, not knowing what the Jade Emperor meant.

"My Heavenly Court controls the Three Realms, and the Five Continents and Four Seas are all under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Court. That Fengxian County is naturally no exception.

When the people of Fengxian County hold the Heaven Worship Ceremony, the Heaven they are worshiping is not your Western Paradise, but our Heavenly Court."

The Jade Emperor's words were already very clear.

The Heavenly Court is an official institution, while the Western Paradise is at best a powerful religious force. These two have essential differences.

The Heaven that the people of Fengxian County worship should be the Heavenly Court and the Jade Emperor, not the Western Paradise and the Buddha. This is the correct interpretation.

Therefore, for the Heaven Worship Ceremony, it is justified and natural for the Jade Emperor and the Heavenly Court gods to attend, because they are the protagonists.

For the Western Paradise and the Buddha to go, it would be improper and unreasonable. If they take the initiative to go, they would be suspected of overstepping their authority and acting beyond their power.

Taibai Jinxing also understood the meaning in the Jade Emperor's words and immediately echoed the Jade Emperor.

"Guanyin, it should be the Jade Emperor inviting your Western Paradise to go, not the Western Paradise inviting our Heavenly Court. Whether your Western Paradise should go or not depends on the meaning of our Heavenly Court."

Guanyin looked very embarrassed after hearing what the Jade Emperor and Taibai Jinxing said, because according to the rules, it should indeed be so.

"Jade Emperor is wise, but I think this seems to be a small matter."

In fact, the Western Paradise's control of Xiniu Hezhou is a default fact, so although the Jade Emperor can pick out the reason in this regard, it is actually not a big deal.

"Not so, the Heavenly Dao has its own rules, and everything has its own laws, so everything still needs to be explained clearly.

At the Heaven Worship Ceremony, the Jade Emperor and the Heavenly Court gods must occupy the main seats, and your Western Paradise is only a guest listening in."

Taibai Jinxing then said clearly to Guanyin. In fact, this was of course the Jade Emperor's intention, but he himself did not want to say it explicitly. Taibai Jinxing understood and said it for him.

"This…"

Hearing Taibai Jinxing's request, Guanyin immediately felt troubled.

If the Jade Emperor and the Heavenly Court gods are allowed to occupy the main seats as the protagonists at the Heaven Worship Ceremony, and the Western Paradise is only listening in, then the Buddha will probably not be able to save face, and he may not agree.

"If it does not follow the rules, then such a Heaven Worship Ceremony is invalid. Not only will we not participate, but we will also immediately order them to stop this irregular Heaven Worship."

Seeing Guanyin hesitating, the Jade Emperor immediately said with a gloomy face.

"Jade Emperor, please don't be angry. We agree."

Guanyin immediately persuaded the Jade Emperor and agreed to the Jade Emperor's request when she heard the Jade Emperor say this.

Because this Heaven Worship Ceremony is related to the outcome of the Fengxian County tribulation and directly affects the Journey to the West tribulation, there must be no accidents.

If the Jade Emperor and the Heavenly Court take action, the Heaven Worship Ceremony may not be held. Compared with the face of the Buddha and the Western Paradise, it is more important to hold the Heaven Worship Ceremony.

"That's right. When the time comes, I will definitely bring the Heavenly Court gods to participate."

Hearing Guanyin agree to the conditions, the Jade Emperor nodded and replied with satisfaction.

It's just that now Guanyin's face has become ugly, and she will not be able to explain to the Buddha when she goes back.

Guanyin returned to the Western Paradise and reported the process of her trip to the Heavenly Court.

"How unreasonable! Why should our Western Paradise be below the Heavenly Court? Isn't this embarrassing us?"

The Buddha naturally did not want to be wronged and lose face, and shook his head angrily.

"Buddha, please understand, it's just a matter of primary and secondary importance, it's not that important. Besides, what if they occupy the main seats?

In the end, they will only be scolded by the Marquis and accused by the people, losing face and prestige."

Guanyin had no choice but to persuade the Buddha to focus on the overall situation.

"Alright, let them stand better, so they can fall more miserably."

The Buddha reluctantly agreed, but his heart was still a little uneasy.