A strange light flashed in Wen Jiao's eyes. Ignoring what she had just said, she involuntarily threw the embroidered ball in her hand toward Chen Guangrui, which hit Chen Guangrui's official hat.
This single throw stirred up a huge wave, instantly igniting a frenzy throughout the entire scene.
A talented man and a beautiful woman, truly a perfect match.
The sound of delicate music filled the air, and a dozen maids came down the stairs in a row, holding the horse's head to welcome the new top scholar into the mansion.
At this moment, a smile appeared on Chen Guangrui's lips. If he hadn't already taken a liking to Wen Jiao's beauty and the power of the Prime Minister's mansion, how could he have happened to be here at this time?
With her talent, good looks, and strategic planning, Chen Guangrui unsurprisingly entered the Prime Minister's mansion and became Yin Kaishan's son-in-law.
A red cloth was laid on the ground, and Wen Jiao's head was covered with a red cloth. Amidst the blessings and praises of the guests, Chen Guangrui and Wen Jiao bowed to heaven and earth.
Yin Kaishan was overjoyed and held a grand banquet that day, drinking and reveling all night. He had already taken a liking to Chen Guangrui, and now that his daughter had found a good husband, everything was as he wished.
After the banquet, Chen Guangrui and Wen Jiao, the couple, went to their bridal chamber.
At dawn the following day, Emperor Taizong of Tang, seated in the Golden Palace, asked his court officials, "What official position should the newly appointed top scholar, Chen Guangrui, be granted?"
Wei Zheng replied, "I have investigated the prefectures and counties under my jurisdiction and found that there is a vacancy in Jiangzhou. Why does Your Majesty not appoint him to this position?"
"Very good." Emperor Taizong immediately appointed Chen Guangrui as the governor of Jiangzhou and ordered him to set off immediately without delay.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yun, hidden in the shadows, smiled mysteriously. Everything was going according to plan. Now, it was time to meet with the monk Faming of Jinshan Temple.
"I wonder what brings the Buddha here?"
As the monk Faming gazed at Zhang Yun, who was making a grand entrance amidst the radiant Buddhist light surrounding him, he knelt in devout worship and asked a question.
"Ahem." Zhang Yun coughed lightly, his voice becoming rough, and said, "This humble monk has come to give you a task."
The monk Faming, who had spent his life in seclusion, was seeing the true Buddha for the first time and dared not be negligent: "Please invite my Buddha to come."
"Nine months later, an infant in swaddling clothes will come along the river on a wooden plank. You should wait by the river and adopt him. Call him Jiang Liu by his childhood name. You must raise him with utmost care. When he turns eighteen, have him convert to Buddhism, shave his head and practice, take the Dharma name Xuanzang, receive the precepts, and firmly cultivate the Way."
"May Buddha have mercy, Amitabha Buddha." Abbot Faming clasped his hands together and chanted the Buddha's name.
It is said that Chen Guangrui took his wife and mother to Jiangzhou. They traveled through mountains and rivers, enduring hardships along the way, traveling by day and resting by night.
However, Chen Guangrui and his wife found joy amidst hardship, enjoying each other's company and showing great affection throughout the journey.
What more could one ask for in life than to have a partner?
The couple was a perfect match, both handsome and beautiful, making them the envy of many.
One day, Chen Guangrui saw a fishmonger selling a golden carp in front of the inn. To please Wen Jiao, Chen Guangrui immediately bought it for one string of cash. Just as he was about to cook it, Wen Jiao secretly gave him a big bear hug from behind.
"My husband, thank you for all your hard work, cooking for me and my mother every day." A look of happiness filled Wenjiao's pretty face.
"What's a little hardship compared to what you're going through? You're pregnant, so you shouldn't move around too much and should rest more."
Chen Guangrui affectionately pinched Wen Jiao's little cheek and said softly, "My body contains countless worlds."
------------
Chapter 278 Showing off your love will lead to a quick demise.
"Oh, how did you know we'd won so quickly?" Wen Jiao said shyly, her pretty face as red as an apple.
"Huh?" Wen Jiao suddenly noticed the carp in the bamboo basket blinking and occasionally revealing a glint of light.
Those eyes, just like human eyes, were staring at her, which immediately terrified her so much that she turned pale and almost fainted, collapsing into Chen Guangrui's arms.
"Jiao'er, what's wrong?" Chen Guangrui gently patted Wen Jiao's back, wondering why his wife had suddenly become like this.
Wen Jiao pointed at the golden carp in the bamboo basket and said in a trembling voice, "That carp is a demon. It was looking at me just now, and it had a fierce look in its eyes."
"A fairy?" Chen Guangrui frowned slightly, looked in the direction Wen Jiao pointed, and couldn't help but laugh, "Where did this fairy come from? It's clearly just an ordinary carp."
As soon as he finished speaking, the golden carp blinked again, as if it were speaking.
"This..." Chen Guangrui was also startled. He quickly picked up his bamboo basket and went to ask the fishmonger, "Boss, where did you catch these fish?"
The fishmonger replied, "They were caught from the Hongjiang River. What's wrong?"
"It's nothing." Chen Guangrui quickly picked up the basket and left, cold sweat dripping from his forehead as he muttered to himself.
"Fish spirit, oh fish spirit, I absolutely did not intend to eat you. Please, for the sake of me, I have just gotten married and taken office, and I haven't even had a few good days yet. After I release you, please don't come looking for trouble."
With a mix of fear, worry, and anxiety, Chen Guangrui ran all the way to release the golden carp back into the river.
Back at the shop, his mother, Zhang, already knew about the matter and came to inquire about it.
"It's nothing. I thought the carp had a spirit, so I released it," Chen Guangrui said calmly.
Zhang nodded slowly and said, "Releasing animals is a good thing, and I am very pleased."
Chen Guangrui was still afraid and just wanted to leave as soon as possible: "Mother, I have been staying at the inn for three days. The Emperor is urging me to leave. I want to set off tomorrow. I wonder if Mother is feeling any better?"
Knowing that the Emperor's decree could not be disobeyed, Madam Zhang said, "I am not fully recovered yet, and the weather is hot this season. I may fall ill on the road. So, you and Wen Jiao should set off first. You just need to give me some travel expenses and stay here for the time being."
Chen Guangrui thought to himself that if the fish spirit really wanted to take revenge, it wouldn't be so vengeful as to target his seventy- or eighty-year-old mother. He immediately agreed, paid his mother's travel expenses, and then he and his wife set off to bid farewell.
On the riverbank, the sun was high in the sky, and Liu Hong and Li Biao were dozing and chatting on the boat.
Li Biao lay on the deck with a reed in his mouth, legs crossed, watching the pedestrians and women passing by the dock, and couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy.