Chapter 781: Go Big, Go Grand
Zhu Cunji smirked. "Hmph, this heir carries the Emperor's bloodline, you know. Strictly speaking, I am also a descendant of the celestial immortals! If I ask my venerable ancestors for a small favor, wouldn't it be easier for me to succeed than for ordinary folk?"
His personal guards considered this. *Hmm? It's rare to hear His Highness utter something so reasonable.*
Zhu Cunji wasted no more words. Clasping his hands together, in a gesture that could have been either Buddhist or Daoist, he bowed deeply towards the sky. "Zhu Cunji is here, I humbly ask my heavenly ancestors for a favor, might you bestow upon us a celestial bridge?"
As he made his plea, the guards thought to themselves, *He's just talking nonsense!*
However, in the very next moment, the sky actually responded.
Though the sky was clear and cloudless, a low cloud suddenly materialized.
This was Li Daoxuan adjusting his field of view. Wherever his perspective shifted, a low cloud would appear at an altitude of about sixty-seven zhang (roughly 200 meters) in the sky above that location.
Naturally, to the people of Gao Family Village, this meant: "Dao Xuan Tian Zun has arrived, riding on a celestial cloud!"
This was far more solemn and formal than his appearances through a statue.
Seeing them retreat, Wu Shen and Shi Kefa also grasped the situation and quickly followed suit.
Zhu Cunji was completely bewildered. "What? What are you all doing?"
No sooner had he finished speaking than the clouds in the sky parted, and a colossal bridge slowly descended.
Zhu Cunji gasped, "Wow! Wow! Wow!"
He had lost the ability to form coherent sentences; all he could manage was "wow."
Shi Kefa, however, had witnessed such a sight before. He let out a long sigh, then glanced meaningfully at Zhu Cunji. "It's here! Dao Xuan Tian Zun actually bestowed a celestial bridge in person. Is the Emperor's bloodline truly favored more by the heavens?"
Wu Shen, however, whispered, "Perhaps it isn't solely due to the Emperor's bloodline? This official believes that Dao Xuan Tian Zun simply wishes to expedite the construction of the bridge and clear the path. This is a benevolent act that benefits all living beings, not just for the Prince of Qin's heir. Just look at the Prince of Qin's heir's foolish expression..."
Zhu Cunji was still in a daze. "Wow! Wow! Wow!"
His personal guards were equally stunned. *Could our master really be this formidable?*
Meanwhile, the people from Gao Family Village smiled and shook their heads, thinking, *Dao Xuan Tian Zun is teasing Zhu Cunji again!*
The enormous bridge slowly settled over the Wei River, the land on both banks flattened and compacted by an unseen force. The bridge swayed continuously as it was manipulated by that invisible, immense power.
After quite some time, the bridge finally stabilized.
And the southern end of the bridge aligned perfectly with the already completed railway track.
Zhu Cunji continued, "Wow! Wow! Wow!"
Wu Shen sighed, "Your Highness, you've been saying 'wow' since earlier. Can you say something else?"
Zhu Cunji could only repeat, "Wow! Wow! Wow!"
There was no reasoning with this eccentric heir.
The Blue Hats from Gao Family Village measured the southern approach of the bridge, then compared it to the railway tracks. They quickly marked a line on the ground and directed the laborers. "Lay the tracks from here onto the bridge!"
The laborers collectively exclaimed, "Wow! Wow! Wow!"
The Blue Hat shook his head. "Why are you all acting like this too? You're making yourselves look as foolish as the Prince of Qin's heir. Snap out of it, everyone, get to work!"
The laborers slowly came to their senses, picking up their tools and resuming work. But as they toiled, they couldn't help but silently chant the name of Dao Xuan Tian Zun in their hearts. Those who had believed in Dao Xuan Tian Zun before now held even stronger faith.
And those who had harbored doubts about this deity instantly became loyal devotees.
Wu Shen watched, a little stunned himself.
Shi Kefa had told him about the Yellow River Dragon Gate Bridge many times, but for various reasons, he hadn't seen it with his own eyes. Now, witnessing such a spectacle over the Wei River, he felt truly awestruck.
Regardless, he decided he had to walk across it.
Wu Shen cautiously stepped onto the bridge, initially maintaining his composure. But after a few more steps, a refreshing breeze invigorated him. He suddenly felt a surge of excitement, let out a joyous shout, spread his arms wide, and began running across the bridge.
Shi Kefa saw this scene and knew trouble was brewing. "Minister Wu, don't do that! It will be on Gaojia News! On Gaojia News, I tell you!"
Wu Shen laughed heartily. "Hahaha, running on the bridge feels wonderful! I suddenly feel inspired to write a poem... I want to write a poem..."
Shi Kefa quickly chased after him. "No, please! It really will be on Gaojia News!"
That evening, Zhu Cunji returned to his Qin King's Manor in a daze.
The spectacle he had witnessed during the day was so overwhelming that he still hadn't fully recovered, his mind floating as if detached from his body, unaware of his surroundings.
It wasn't until someone splashed cold water on his face that he jolted awake. "Huh? How am I in the manor? When did I get back?"
He turned his head and realized it was his Princess Consort who had washed his face.
"Ah!" Zhu Cunji remembered his guards mentioning earlier that his Princess Consort had offered incense to Dao Xuan Tian Zun. He quickly grabbed her by the shoulders, shaking her vigorously. "My dear, you know about Dao Xuan Tian Zun, don't you? You must know all about it!"
The Princess Consort was surprised. "Indeed, my lord. This concubine often goes to the Heavenly Lord Daoist Temple in the city to offer incense. Just yesterday, I donated some Daoist robes and incense to the Daoist priests and performed a ritual, praying for your wishes to come true."
Zhu Cunji exclaimed, "So that's it! So that's it! Hahahaha! My dear, you've rendered a great service this time! I was still wondering why, when I made a plea to Dao Xuan Tian Zun today, he immediately bestowed a celestial bridge upon me. It turns out you performed a ritual yesterday and made a wish for me! Hahahaha, my dear, you've rendered a great service!"
The Princess Consort was utterly bewildered. "???"
Zhu Cunji quickly recounted, in vivid detail, everything that had happened by the Wei River that day.
After listening, the Princess Consort was also stunned. Although she was a devout follower of the Heavenly Lord Daoist Sect, her level of devotion was similar to that of other noblewomen who believed in Buddhism or Daoism—simply burning incense, making wishes; if it happened, good, if not, then so be it. Her faith was not intensely fervent.
Who would have thought that this time, her wish actually came true, helping her husband receive a celestial bridge and open up the railway line? This was... truly an unexpected joy.
The Princess Consort immediately said, "Since that is the case, this concubine must go and fulfill her vow tomorrow."
"Yes, yes, you must go and fulfill your vow," Zhu Cunji hummed, waving his hand. "This time, we'll spend a fortune to build a magnificent Heavenly Lord Daoist Temple, a grand one! One that the entire city of Xi'an can see! Three grand halls, five courtyards, an eight-story pagoda... Go big, go grand!"
The Princess Consort demurred, "Ah? My lord, didn't you use all your money to build the railway?"
Zhu Cunji declared, "The railway must be built, and the Heavenly Lord Daoist Temple must also be built! Hmph! It's rare to have a deity favoring this heir, how can I not cling tightly to his divine leg?"
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