The Days of a Small Kingdom’s Ruler in the Tang Dynasty [Journey to the West]

Lin Weixi transmigrated to ancient times and became a princess.

The good news: She had transmigrated to the Zhenguan era, when peace had settled across the land and everything was ready to be rebuilt. The early signs of the prosperous Tang dynasty were emerging.

The bad news: That had little to do with her. She had become a princess of a small country bordering the Tang. Her land was buried in yellow sand, her people were gaunt, and the treasury was empty. The Turks lay to the north, the Tang to the east, and Tubo to the west.

Lin Weixi: Is this right?

With no other choice, she rolled up her sleeves and set about figuring out how to feed the whole country and survive between the great powers.

Not long into her efforts, Lin Weixi discovered that her father's death seemed suspicious, and that her missing elder brother, the crown prince, might not simply be missing. Her investigation eventually led her to a giant centipede demon who ruled the mountains and commanded the wind and rain.

...Wait, is this world setting even serious? Why are there demons?

*

Just as she was fretting over what to do, a wild, monkey-faced figure with a thunder-god's beak dropped from the sky and beat the centipede demon to death with a staff.

Lin Weixi: ...Brother Monkey! This must be the Monkey King before he wreaked havoc in Heaven! Brother Monkey, please save me!

She coaxed him gently, offered him fine tea and fruit, and begged him for protection. Brother Monkey did his job, bashing every demon that came to bother her until their heads were covered in bumps.

Until one day, a villager came to report that four monks from the east wanted a travel permit. The monk at their head wore a golden headband and carried a staff.

Lin Weixi: ...This is bad. If that's the real Brother Monkey, then who was the one helping me fight demons the other day?

"Reader's Notes"

1. Set in an alternate early Tang dynasty, with a touch of fantasy and elements from Journey to the West and tales of ghosts and spirits. The worldbuilding is a jumble, with extensive original additions and adaptations based on the source material.

2. CP: Six-Eared Macaque. A slice-of-life, sweet farming and development story.

Theme: All things in the world have a spirit.