Tang Seng is a cook

When Tang Sanzang left Chang'an when he left Chang'an, he once said to the old disciples of Hongfu Temple, "After I go, maybe three to five years, or six or seven years, but if the pine branches are facing east, I will return."

Therefore, before Zhuang Fan set foot on the old land of Chang'an, and before everyone knew that he had returned, the pine trees in the temple had already sensed his breath and turned their branches eastward.

The speed of the green leaf boat is very fast. It is only a short meal from Daleiyin Temple in Hezhou, Xiniu, to Chang'an, the capital of emperors in Zhanbuzhou, so it is only after noon at this time. It is a courtyard of Hongye's Chang'an mansion, which is very spacious, and it is specially set up for the lifting and lowering of green boats.

Zhuang Fan got off the green boat, stretched his waist, loosened his muscles and bones, and said to Hongye: "Let's eat first, the children are hungry too."

After hearing this, Hongye nodded and took everyone to the flower hall in the backyard.

Several people chatted and laughed all the way, and went straight to the flower hall. The servants and Zhenyuan's disciples who stayed behind had listened to the order and ran away to arrange a banquet in the flower hall.

Seeing that the holy monk didn't go to deliver the scriptures, the four kings in the air looked like they were going to take a rest, they couldn't help feeling anxious, they looked at each other, but they had no choice but to show up together, blocked the way, bowed down and said: "I will see the ancestors later." , Bodhisattva, holy monk!"

Seeing these four people appearing, Guanyin knew that Hongye and Zhuang Fan were not easy to talk to, so she took a step forward and asked, "You suddenly appeared in front of people, is there something wrong?"

Ever since Hongye met with Guanyin and Tang Monk and his disciples, the four great Vajras hadn't heard their conversations clearly. Even chasing them all the way was exhausting, and they were running out of breath in the clouds. I couldn't care less, seeing Guanyin's inquiry at this time, I bite the bullet and said: "Qi Bodhisattva, today is three days before the September 15th year of Zhenguan, and the day when the holy monk set off in the 13th year of Zhenguan, the disciple showed up. As a reminder, I am afraid that the holy monk will lose his progress and miss today's opportunity."

Zhuang Fan was taken aback, and asked Guanyin, "It's the twelfth day of the ninth lunar month today?"

Guanyin pinched his fingers and said with a smile: "No, it's a coincidence, you can't eat today's meal!"

Zhuang Fan chuckled and said, "It's nothing, let's eat first, and then go to deliver the scriptures."

Hong Ye also said: "That's right, what's the hurry, it's not dark yet!"

Wukong hugged the caramel cake and urged: "Master, my apprentice is hungry, let's go!"

The faces of the Four Vajras turned green when they heard this, and they didn't dare to persuade them. They just frowned, looked at Guanyin bitterly, and said, "Bodhisattva, we have already brought our words, so we are leaving..."

Guanyin wished for them to leave quickly, but he still said: "Are you done with your errands? If you can meet with the Buddha, you can go back to Lingshan. I will take the holy monk, and after delivering the scriptures, I will also go back to Leiyin Temple. It's a big deal, nothing to worry about."

The King Kongs complained silently in their hearts, who was so worried!Just thinking about it, the Buddha asked them to look around the holy monk, and once they found the body, they would take the opportunity to destroy it, but now that the ancestor Hongye is not far from the holy monk, how do they do it?

I'm afraid they were crushed to death by Hongye Patriarch's two fingers before they could even think about it.

So I had no choice but to salute: "Since that's the case, I will turn back to Lingshan. Everything here is due to Bodhisattva!"

Saying goodbye for a few seconds, Zhuang Fan watched King Kong's figure disappear into the air, and asked Hongye, "Are you really gone?"

Hong Ye chuckled, and said, "Let's go! If you don't go, you'll be fine! Let's go, let's eat!"

Zhenyuan's apprentices and family servants were very helpful. When they arrived at the flower hall, they saw that the banquet had been set up, so they sat down one by one.

Of all the people present, only Guanyin, Zhuang Fan and Caramel Cake came here for the first time, and the others came and went frequently.

Caramel Cake didn't know how to use chopsticks very well, even if Wukong brought him a spoon, he used it crookedly, spilling the soup all over his body.

The monkey was hard-hearted and asked his apprentice to eat by himself, but the caramel cake was too good at acting like a baby. Zhuang Fan couldn't see that he couldn't eat it and was hungry, so he planned to hug him and feed him. Master Yan's idea, holding the little apprentice in his arms and feeding him.

After eating for a while and digesting the food, Zhuang Fan said to Wukong: "Where are all the scriptures?"

Wukong said: "The ones carrying the caramel cake are all here with me, and some of them are with Bajie."

Zhuang Fan nodded and asked Hongye, "Do you have any horses at home? Lend us two!"

But Hongye didn't know about it. Fortunately, Zhen Yuan's big apprentice was there, and he had dinner with them just now. He heard the words: "Master Uncle, if you have a horse at home, you also have a carriage! Do you use a horse or a carriage? "

After thinking about it, Zhuang Fan said: "It's better to be a horse. Let the horses carry these scriptures. Later, we will go out in a green boat and set them down in the wilderness far from the west gate. We can run a few miles, so that we can return from afar. look!"

Everyone laughed when they heard this, Guanyin also laughed and said: "You are indeed returning from afar, so you don't need to put on a show."

Zhuang Fan had lingering fears, and said: "You don't know, the emperor's family has always been greedy. If they are told to know too many miracles, they will be afraid that they will not be enough, and they will keep pestering them. If they know that I flew back, I don't know how much chaos will arise!" Especially the members of the old Li's family are all shrewd, and Taizong Li Er can be regarded as the emperor on horseback, let alone be ignored.

Guanyin nodded and said: "It's better to be more careful, the emperor's house has its own luck, let's not get involved easily."

Zhuang Fan hummed and said, "That's exactly what I mean."

While everyone was talking, the horses were already ready, Wukong and Bajie took out the scriptures, and the four children put the scriptures on the horses together, seeing that there were still a few empty horses, Zhuang Fan said: " You don’t need this much, it’s just enough to carry the scriptures.”

Zhenyuan's senior apprentice smiled and said: "Uncle Master, you and your uncles are walking while the horses are carrying the scriptures. What does that sound like? One person, one rider, running into the city, looks like a hurry."

Zhuang Fan couldn't help laughing, seeing that the child had arranged everything properly since they entered the door, he patted him and said: "Good boy, you are also careful, Cheng! Master uncle will listen to you!"

Hongye also said happily: "This kid is really careful, he is the only one in my family who needs to use some now!"

After hearing this, Guanyin said: "Old Ancestor, you also tell Zhenyuan, such a good child, what does it look like to stay at home all the time, you should take it out to practice and practice, and when you return to Lingshan next time, you can take it with you Already!"

Hong Ye nodded, and said: "I also think this is the reason," turned around, and said: "Kaiyang, pack up, and go to Lingshan with me later!"

When Kai Yang heard this, he was both surprised and happy, and wanted to go very much, but he remembered Master's order, and said hesitantly, "Uncle, when Master was leaving, he told me and my younger brothers to take good care of the house..."

Hong Ye clicked her tongue and said: "What's so good about this house? Can you run away with long legs in this house? Stop talking nonsense, go and gather your juniors together, change into neat clothes, and walk together later ! Your master has me there."

Kai Yang was overjoyed, and hurriedly said: "Thank you, uncle!" Turning around, he thanked Guanyin and Zhuang Fan, and ran away happily.

Zhuang Fan said to Avalokitesvara: "Then I will take the children to deliver the scriptures, and you will wait for me here?"

Hongye said: "What are you waiting for, let's go together later, uncle, you throw the scriptures to the Emperor Tang, and tell him to deal with it himself, Guanyin and I are waiting for you in mid-air!"

Zhuang Fan laughed and said, "You are more impatient than I am! I still have some things to explain to the Emperor Tang, I'm afraid it will take some time to talk, don't worry."

Hong Ye grinned, and said: "Okay, then we will wait at home, but uncle, please don't dawdle."

Zhuang Fan smiled and said, "No!"

He led his apprentices, led a dozen horses, boarded a green boat, and headed straight for the west gate of Chang'an.

In the wilderness, a column of horses headed straight for Chang'an at full speed, and in Hongfu Temple, some monks had already noticed the strangeness of the pine tree, so the news that "the holy monk has returned" has been conveyed layer by layer. At the desk of Emperor Tang Li Shimin.

Li Shimin went west from his imperial brother, and ordered people to build a Sutra-watching building at the west gate, but two years have passed, the Sutra-watching building has not been repaired, and the holy monk has turned around, he couldn't help being surprised and suspicious, Can't help asking: "Is the news true?"

The servant who came to report said: "Your Majesty, that's what the monk of Hongfu Temple said, and when the slaves came in from the outside, they looked at the west side, and there was a faint auspicious cloud shrouded in them. Your Majesty can't help but look outside!"

Hearing this, Emperor Taizong was surprised, walked out of the hall quickly, and looked to the west. Sure enough, the sky was full of auspicious mist in the distance, and there were bursts of fragrant wind, which was completely different from the general scene of burning clouds.

Li Shimin was overjoyed immediately, and said: "Hurry up, bring the horse! I want to personally welcome the holy monk back to the east!"

All the ministers hurriedly dissuaded them: "Your Majesty, I don't know where the holy monk is at this time. Your majesty hastily went to meet him. What if you miss him? How about your majesty just wait at ease in the hall? How can you not come to see your majesty when the holy monk returns! "

Taizong said: "In this case, the prince and the princes will also be invited. I and the family of the Qings are here, waiting for the holy monk."

Since then, the court has been full of turmoil, and the courtiers who had returned home got the letter, and they also walked out of the house and re-entered the court, intending to meet the royal brother who had returned from the west.

Zhuang Fan led his apprentices to the west gate of Chang'an. The gatekeeper had heard the news long ago and was waiting here. He saw a horse team galloping proudly, leading one of them, wearing a gold-topped Pilu hat, and wearing a golden brocade Lan cassock, holding a tin rod with nine rings, white and beardless, clear and handsome eyes, and an extraordinary demeanor, she shouted loudly: "Is this Sanzang holy monk here?"

Zhuang Fan reined in the reins and jumped off his horse. Behind him, his disciples got off their horses one after another. They took the horses loaded with scriptures and walked towards the city gate. Zhuang Fan chanted the Buddha's name and said, "It's the poor monk! I want to enter the city to meet His Majesty, is it possible?"

The city gate official smiled all over his face, and said: "Ke Ke Ke! The holy monk can just come straight in. Just now, the servant delivered the decree. Your Majesty is waiting for the holy monk to return in the palace! The holy monk has worked hard all the way!"

Zhuang Fan smiled and said, "Do you want to check the clearance document?"

The city gate officer waved his hands again and again and said: "The holy monk is just joking, you have returned home, what documents do you want!"

Zhuang Fan pointed backwards and said: "These are some of my disciples, can you come into the city with me? The horses behind are enough to carry the scriptures given by the Buddha of Leiyin Temple!"

The city gate officer jumped, and said: "Oh, these high-ranking disciples, you look so heroic! Please please please! It's just that this scripture should not be ignored, holy monk, it's good to send some soldiers to escort you, don't be afraid In addition, I am afraid that when you come back, the people in the city will be excited and rush towards you!"

Zhuang Fan thought for a while, and said, "Tanyue, please worry! Then let the soldiers have a hard time, but will it miss the defense of the city?"

The city gate officer smiled happily, and said: "No, no, the holy monk just came back just in time for the changing of the guard. I will take the boys from the previous shift for a walk. It's just right."

Zhuang Fan was having a hard time again, the city gate officer waved his hand, and a small group of soldiers ran out, sandwiched Zhuang Fan's master and disciples and the horses, and ran towards the Tai Chi Palace together.

The city gate officer knew that he had no qualifications to enter the palace, and there were two streets away from Taiji Palace, so he resigned from Zhuang Fan and left with his soldiers.

Zhuang Fan led the horse, looked up at this splendid palace in modern times, which had long since disappeared in the long river of history, and sighed in his heart, secretly thinking that one day, he would be able to see this palace that is said to be three times larger than the Forbidden City with his own eyes. royal palace.

Seeing the master standing still, looking at the emperor and sighing, Wukong led the horse and came over and said, "Master, are you too timid to be close to the hometown?"

Zhuang Fan said with a smile, "This is not the hometown of Master." He thought in his heart that it would be a taboo to say it, so he didn't explain it to Wukong, and led the horse and continued to walk forward.

At the gate of Taiji Palace, there were servants waiting for a long time, seeing Zhuang Fan and his party at a glance, he was overjoyed, some came to greet him, and some were introverted.

The servant respectfully led Zhuang Fan's master and apprentice to walk in, and passed the words one by one in front of him, and soon another servant ran over and said: "Your Majesty Xuan Yudi enters the hall to face the king, there is no need to wait outside the hall. !"

When he was about to see Li Er, the first emperor through the ages, Zhuang Fan's heart trembled, but he thought, after all, this place is not the same as the official history, so why should he be afraid?

While comforting himself, leaning on a ring stick, he led the apprentices forward. Those horses had already been led down, and only the man carrying the scriptures was still following behind the master and apprentice.

Coming to the hall, Zhuang Fan handed the ring stick to the servant, but he didn't raise his head, thinking, he has the right to pay respects to the old man's birthday, and he wants to bow down to Li Shimin.

Who knows that Emperor Taizong knew the opportunity and came to help him in person, saying: "Your brother Yu has worked hard, so I am excused!" He also sent someone to give him a seat.

Zhuang Fan breathed a sigh of relief, and he was not polite, sat down firmly, raised his eyes and looked around, drinking, the hall was full of people.

Everyone in His Highness looked at Zhuang Fan, and then at his Highness.

Zhuang Fan and his apprentices were very calm, they just watched, but Zhuang Fan felt that some of them were extremely hot, which made him vigilant and secretly on guard.

Tang Taizong Li Shimin was in full bloom, with a good appearance, returned to the dragon chair, and said with a smile: "Yudi, since you left Chang'an three days ago in September of the 13th year of Zhenguan, it has been two full years now. , traveling far to the west, how many miles have I traveled?"

Zhuang Fandao: "What Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva told me is a total distance of one hundred and eight thousand miles. In the past two years, there has not been a single day of delay. The mountains, rivers and rivers have gone through tens of thousands of times. The official seals along the way are all recorded on the documents. .”

He called again: "Wukong, and I have inherited the document from Your Majesty!"

I had my own servant to pick it up. Seeing the monkey's fur, I couldn't help but look twice more curiously. Seeing that Wukong was still holding a little black child, I couldn't help but look at it a few more times. Then I accepted the document and presented myself to the king. .

The monkey is impatient to be looked at by others, but the master is in front of him and the apprentice is in his arms, so he has to put on a serious face and stand solemnly, so that people can take a look at him, which should not be underestimated.

Emperor Taizong carefully looked at the document for customs clearance, and said, "I never imagined that there are so many countries outside my Great Tang Dynasty."

Zhuang Fan thought, the emperor sees it differently, smiled slightly, and said: "The poor monk traveled west all the way, although he visited many countries, but there is no country that can compare with my Tang Dynasty. No matter the population , the size of the country, the degree of prosperity, my Tang Dynasty, can be regarded as first-class!"

After hearing this, Li Shimin stroked his beard and said with a smile: "Brother Yu didn't say that to ease my heart, did he?"

Just as Zhuang Fan was about to speak, a fat man stood up next to him, bowed his hands and saluted, "Aye, I don't understand something, I want to ask the holy monk face to face!"

Zhuang Fan turned his head to take a look, and saw this strangely fat man with a huge waist and belly, his face was full of flesh, his eyes were almost squeezed out, and he heard Li Shimin say: "Qing Que, don't be rude!" This must be the beloved fourth son Li Tai.

As expected, Li Tai was very favored in front of Li Shimin, and when Taizong scolded him, he was not afraid at all, he just said: "Aye! I came forward to ask the question because I have doubts in my heart! If you don't let this doubt go, my heart is not at ease!"

Zhuang Fanxin said that this kid seems to be here to find fault, and he is not afraid of him, he just smiled and said: "I don't know what questions your Highness has, but it's okay." There was a prince sitting there, with a gloomy face and abnormal dullness. He guessed in his heart that this might be the famous deposed prince Li Chengqian.

Seeing Zhuang Fan's voice, Li Shimin sat back and didn't speak anymore, just looked at his son with a smile, to see what he had to say.

Then Li Tai has already made the king of Wei at this time, the emperor is very favored, and it is the time when he is domineering. Hearing what Zhuang Fan said, he said very bluntly: "Tang Sanzang, you just deceived the king. If I point it out, you can Plead guilty?"

It was too late to look at the others carefully, and seeing that Li Tai was very rude, Zhuang Fan concentrated on dealing with him, only smiled calmly, and said, "I don't know His Royal Highness Wei, do you think the poor monk's words are not true, and you are suspected of deceiving the emperor?"

Li Tai snorted coldly and said, "Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva said back then that Lingshan Mountain is one hundred and eight thousand miles away from here, but you set off from Chang'an and turned back today, but it will only take two years. Until eight hundred days, this is just eight hundred days, I don’t know how you, a holy monk, can run these two hundred and eight thousand miles? You are not deceiving the emperor, what is it?”

Li Tai said triumphantly: "There is news from the front. In the autumn of the 13th year of Zhenguan, you, a holy monk, just left Liangjie Mountain and crossed the border of our Tang Dynasty, but you talked about how you traveled two to three hundred miles a day. The way? Even the top cavalry soldiers in my Tang Dynasty can do nothing like this! You are not deceiving the emperor, or what!"

He pointed to the horses outside the hall, and said loudly, "Tell me honestly! Are these scriptures fake!"

Hearing what his son said, Li Shimin frowned, stroked his beard and said nothing, and his loyal ministers also whispered. At this moment, a senior minister came out with his robes lifted, knelt down and said verbally: "Your Majesty, this Jiang Liu My son, I have never grown up by my minister's side since I was a child, I really don't know that he has such a character! Here, I beg your Majesty to severely punish these rebellious ministers and thieves who deceive the king, and set the court order!"

Zhuang Fan clicked his tongue in his heart, without even looking, he knew that this was Chen Xuanzang's biological father, Chen Guangrui, and ignored him, he just smiled at Li Shimin and said: "When the poor monk was in Chang'an, he often heard about His Majesty's first son. The fourth son is extremely intelligent, especially superior to the others, seeing him today, what he said is true."

After hearing this, Li Tai raised his fat chin triumphantly, snorted coldly, and said, "Even if I see through, why don't you kneel down and accept the crime!"

Zhuang Fan sat steadily, and only said to Li Shimin: "Your Majesty also knows that when the poor monk went west, it was enlightened by Guanyin Bodhisattva, and he received the decree of the Tathagata Buddha from the Great Leiyin Temple in Lingshan. Your Majesty would not think that the poor monk went west. I just wandered around Chang'an, brought some fake scriptures, and then came back to reply to the decree? Not to mention, how can the poor monk copy the official seal?"

Li Shimin was taken aback when he heard this, and said in a deep thought: "This..."

Seeing that Zhuang Fan was calm and calm, Li Tai was furious, and shouted in a high voice: "Who knows if that Bodhisattva is a fake! Maybe it's because you all worked together to deceive me! "

Even if Li Shimin doted on Li Tai again, his face sank when he heard this, and he shouted: "Qingque!"

Zhuang Fan only said: "Your Majesty, I'll wait for adults to talk, but children like this are too noisy." After saying this, with a wave of his hand, Li Taideng was immediately fixed on the spot, his whole body stiffened, unable to speak, just The two eyeballs were spinning around.

Li Shimin was shocked, stood up suddenly, and said, "Brother Yu! What are you doing!"

Zhuang Fan smiled slightly and said: "Your Majesty, don't panic. Your Highness is fine. It's just that the poor monk is watching. He is too agitated, and he is afraid of being angry and hurting himself. Therefore, I ask Your Highness to calm down a little. It will be fine in a while!"

Li Shimin frowned tightly, and said coldly: "Unexpectedly, Yudi's trip to the west is quite different from that of the past!"

Zhuang Fan sighed, and said: "To be honest, Your Majesty, the poor monk passed Lingyun Ferry on Lingshan Mountain and got rid of his mortal body. Now he is no longer a human being in this world!"

As soon as this statement came out, there was an uproar in the hall!

Chen Guangrui, who was kneeling in the hall and ignored, also trembled.