North of Chang'an City, on the banks of the Wei River, lies the site of the Daming Palace. This place was originally the head of the dragon vein of Fanchuan. Later, during the Sui Dynasty, the Guande Hall was built here, and it has been used ever since.

Before they knew it, the sun was setting and the moon was appearing. All they could see were red walls and green tiles, and the palace was brightly lit, as if it were daytime.

Before the hall stood majestic golden-armored warriors, flanked by elegant palace maids. A peacock screen shone brightly, and a qilin incense burner emitted a wisp of mist from the beast's mouth, resembling a white crane spreading its wings, while sandalwood incense lingered in the air.

The candlelight illuminated the hall, where two people were playing chess behind a screen. Their attendants and maids stood by with lowered eyes, waiting quietly. For a moment, the only sound in the large hall was the tapping of chess pieces.

"despair."

"clatter."

A short while later, the man playing the black pieces suddenly stopped, stroked his beard, and smiled, saying:

"I remember playing chess with you before. When you were alive, you were helping the country and were so tired that you fell asleep at your desk. Later, you slew a dragon in your dream. Now that you are dead and have become a judge in the underworld, are you so sleepy that you faint?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a cold wind blew in from outside the hall as dusk fell. The candlelight flickered three times, but only the shadow of the person who had spoken could be seen on the screen, giving rise to an eerie feeling.

"Please forgive my negligence, Your Majesty."

The man playing chess was thin and dressed in white with a blue turban on his head. He had the air of a scholar and was none other than Wei Zheng, the judge of the Department of Punishment in the underworld.

Although Wei Zheng's face had a ghostly air about him, his demeanor was completely devoid of any ghostly quality. Though he spoke with feigned fear, his attitude towards the Tang Emperor was more like that of someone treating a long-time friend.

"So that Your Majesty may know that my children and grandchildren are unfilial. I was preoccupied with trivial matters and that's why I look a little tired. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

"It is only natural for parents to worry about their family members even after they die. If you are so distressed, why not show yourself to me? It will ease your worries."

Under the candlelight, the Tang emperor wore a yellow robe and jade belt, with open sleeves and loose clothing. Although he was already in his fifties, his hair was still jet black, and he had dragon eyes and phoenix eyes, exuding extraordinary majesty.

Wei Zheng pretended not to know and sighed, saying, "'Yin and Yang should not interfere with each other' is the greatest principle in the underworld. Your Majesty is a wise ruler of this era, with dragon energy and the blessing of the Ziwei star, which is why I was able to appear in person. My son is just an ordinary person, and I must not let him break the rules."

"You are upright and incorruptible, and you won't even take care of your family and relatives. Your character hasn't changed at all."

The Tang King smiled and casually remarked as if catching up with an old friend: "Back when I was wandering in the underworld, Cui Jue said that my lifespan was not yet over and that I was destined to die in the thirty-third year of Zhenguan. Now that the Crown Prince has been established and there are important ministers in the court to assist me, I can also go on my way safely. At that time, I would like you, my dear minister, to accompany me."

The Tang Emperor spoke lightly, but the atmosphere in the hall suddenly froze, followed by a deathly silence. The concubines attending him immediately lowered their heads, pretending to have their ears stuffed with donkey hair, and the eunuchs and palace maids also lowered their heads and held their breath, afraid of making the slightest sound.

It is now the twenty-ninth year of the Zhenguan era.

If what the Tang Emperor said is true, then he only has four years left to live.

“Then I should scout out the way for my lord and wait for Your Majesty.”

Wei Zheng seemed completely unconcerned, and said with a smile:

"Recently, there has been quite a bit of excitement in Chang'an. Some time ago, I even received an invitation to some 'Peach Blossom Banquet.' The host of the banquet was the grand-disciple of my Great Tang Emperor's younger brother, a lay disciple of the Victorious Fighting Buddha, whom everyone in Chang'an calls 'Lady Xu.' This person has great supernatural powers and makes many friends. Not to mention the underworld messengers, fox spirits, mountain spirits, and foreign immortals, even many people who have ascended to the ranks of immortals are on good terms with her."

"Oh? I've heard of this person before. I thought he was just a cultivator, but I didn't expect him to have such a background?"

The Tang king, somewhat curious, put down the black chess piece in his hand:

"When I was in the underworld, I attended the banquet of the Ten Kings of Hell. Although it was eerie and full of ghostly atmosphere, the fruits and wines were no different from those in the human world. I have heard that the celestial palace has a Peach Banquet with fine wines and delicacies. I wonder what the Peach Blossom Banquet prepared by Lady Xu is like?"

After pondering for a while, Wei Zheng dared not hide anything from the King of Tang and slowly recounted what he had seen and learned at the banquet that day.

Hearing the Dragon Girl pour wine and the Fox Girl play music, the Tang Emperor remained composed. When Wei Zheng described the strange beings with human faces, snake bodies, pointed ears, golden hair, and ten-inch-tall stature, a slight interest appeared in the Tang Emperor's eyes. However, upon hearing of the giant turtle blocking the road, the fragrant waterfall, and the winding stream of the Peach Blossom River, a hint of surprise rose in the Tang Emperor's eyes. It wasn't until Wei Zheng mentioned the novel fruits and vegetables and the unusual grains that the Tang Emperor finally sat up straight, a smile on his face as he waved to the person beside him.

"My dear minister, come and see, is this the spiritual fruit you speak of?"

Zhang Anan walked in with a perfectly timed smile, carrying a golden platter. On the platter was half a large, fast-growing polar tomato, its red skin displaying a strange, vibrant color, and its flesh inside plump and juicy pink flesh, emitting a fragrant aroma even from afar.

"This is the fruit, but where did it come from?"

Wei Zheng was taken aback at first, then laughed and said:

"Could it be that His Majesty sent someone to buy these fruits from Madam Xu's restaurant? Your Majesty is wise. These fruits contain spiritual energy, and long-term consumption is beneficial to the body. Although they are not as good as ginseng or polygonatum, their spiritual energy is very nourishing. These fruits can be found nowhere else in the world; they are truly precious."

"I originally thought this man had tricked my Left Gatekeeper General into buying a basket of rare fruits for a thousand strings of cash, but I didn't expect even you, my lord, to say the same thing."

The Tang Emperor smiled gently and said:

"Now that you mention it, this Madam Xu is quite an interesting character. Others would rather hide the spiritual fruit from everyone, but she openly sells it. That shows she's a remarkable person."

The emperor and his minister tasted the fruit, and the Tang emperor even distributed the remaining tomatoes to the eunuchs around him, and even the young concubines waiting on the side received a slice.

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