Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Practice of Accumulating Good Deeds Can Prolong Life

Liaochen found his time in the Eastern Palace with the Crown Prince quite pleasant. People claimed that Emperor Wuzong was a devout Buddhist, but that was hardly the case; it was more likely that slander had colored his reputation. The Zhengde Emperor, after all, was always a child at heart—curious and playful, perhaps, but never truly devout. At least, when Liaochen discussed metaphysics and philosophy with the Crown Prince, Zhu, the eldest son, could readily engage in such discourse. Was the Crown Prince then a devotee of Daoism? He seemed quite fascinated by the matter of cultivating immortality. Unable to escape the Prince’s persistent inquiries, Liaochen could only begin to explain the ways of immortal cultivation.

As he pondered where to start, a crowd of eunuchs and palace maids bustled into the main hall: Liu Jin, Zhang Yong, Ma Yongcheng, Gao Feng, Luo Xiang, Wei Bin, Qiu Ju, Gu Dayong, and others. Well then, the Eight Tigers of Zhengde were all present. But as Zhu Houzhao had yet to ascend the throne, their fame had not yet spread. Liaochen did not shy away from their presence. Clearing his throat, he said, “To pursue true cultivation, one must forsake all earthly ties—kinship, power, wealth, even life itself. Once you embark on this path, all connections to the mortal world are severed. I wonder, could any of you truly let go?”

No one spoke. Zhu Houzhao asked, “May I ask why entering the gate of immortality requires abandoning everything? Must one forsake parents, wife, and children as well? What then of loyalty, filial piety, integrity, and righteousness?”

Liaochen thought to himself that the Crown Prince was indeed a clever child, immediately getting to the heart of the matter. “In cultivation, there is neither age nor time. If one succeeds, one’s years are prolonged. But how many years can your parents, wife, and children accompany you? You will watch each of them leave you, one by one; can you remain indifferent? If your heart is moved, your resolve will falter, and inner demons will break your spirit. You may fall into evil ways, or perish in madness. In the end, you are left with nothing, so it is better to sever mortal ties and keep your heart singular. Those who wield power are constantly busy, always defending against rivals. How could they find the calm to cultivate? Those outside the world seek nothing but spiritual advancement. Greed for wealth—can that be the mark of a true immortal? Where there is desire, the heart is distracted. The flaw remains, and inner demons rise. Thus, those who cultivate should avoid entanglements and refrain from stirring the dust of the mortal world.”

“So that’s how it is! It seems those who seek gold and silver are just swindlers,” Zhu Houzhao exclaimed, enlightened.

Liaochen smiled. “Not entirely so. The path to immortality is arduous and endless. Not everyone can keep their resolve unwavering. If hope for immortality is lost, naturally, they will seek worldly riches. Yet those who truly cultivate raise their hearts to heaven and would not sully themselves with power or profit.”

“Oh, then why do masters, after attaining achievement, return to the mundane world?” Zhu Houzhao asked, puzzled.

“For nothing but tempering, karma, merit, and fulfilling wishes,” Liaochen replied.

“Could you explain in detail?” Zhu Houzhao pressed.

“Solitary cultivation can hone magical power, but not deepen one’s mind. Without the proper state of mind, one is prone to backlash. So, coming and going in the world offers tempering. If one’s resolve remains, then the heart becomes complete. I came to this world, nourished by heaven and earth, so naturally I must repay the debt of karma. Nowadays, spiritual energy is sparse; through solitary cultivation, the path is hard to advance. Only by accumulating merit and borrowing the power of heaven can one reach fulfillment. Moreover, I have my late master’s wish, to bring glory to the Xuangong Bureau. Thus, I must come.”

“Oh,” Zhu Houzhao nodded. “If I have the chance, I will surely ask Father to grant you a title, to help you fulfill your master’s wish.”

“Blessings and longevity to the Heavenly Lord, this humble priest thanks Your Highness,” Liaochen replied.

“If I abandon everything, can I become an immortal?” Zhu Houzhao asked.

Liaochen was startled—was the Crown Prince trying to be led astray? Would he still be allowed to remain in Ming? He hurriedly said, “No.”

“Why not?” Zhu Houzhao was dissatisfied.

“Your Highness bears the fate of the realm and the legacy of Ming. You are entrusted with a great mandate; the karma involved is extraordinary. Whoever seeks to draw Your Highness into cultivation will suffer heavenly punishment—unless they are frauds. Otherwise, no one would dare such a thing.” Liaochen considered his words and added, “Throughout history, has there ever been a crown prince or emperor who succeeded in cultivation?”

“That’s true. Back in the days, Emperor Qin, Emperor Wu of Han, the founders of Tang and Song—all tried hard to seek immortality, but none succeeded,” Zhu Houzhao said, clearly disappointed. “There was even Emperor Wu of Liang, Xiao Yan, who wanted to be a monk instead of a ruler, spent so much wealth, yet it all came to nothing.”

“To be sovereign, the supreme ruler of the world, is already the pinnacle of humanity. Bearing the fortune of the realm, one should strive to repay it—benefit the people, not seek immortality and lose the favor of heaven and earth. Emperor Wu of Liang, Xiao Yan, faced chaos in his later years; perhaps that was heaven’s punishment for failing in his duties. It is better to follow the example of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. As emperor, one benefits the people and accumulates merit, achieving great deeds in the world. Then heaven may look upon favorably, and after death, one may be enshrined as a deity,” Liaochen finished.

Zhu Houzhao’s eyes brightened; he was clearly delighted. “Thank you, master. Why did I only think of the Emperor Qin and not the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors?”

“Your Highness is deeply insightful. With diligence, you will surely become a great ruler,” Liaochen praised.

“Hahaha!” Zhu Houzhao laughed without a hint of embarrassment.

Little did Liaochen expect that this conversation with Zhu Houzhao would be recorded in the chronicles. As Liaochen’s cultivation progressed and his renown grew, this exchange became public, serving as an answer to the relationship between the metaphysical tradition and the throne. Countless officials used it as a powerful argument to check the emperor’s inclination toward Buddhism or Daoism.

That very day, Liaochen’s words were sent to Emperor Hongzhi. After reading them, the emperor breathed a long sigh of relief and said with satisfaction, “Excellent, truly worthy of a genuine cultivator. Why has no one thought of this reasoning before?” Although the ministers could not stop the emperor from summoning Liaochen, their words had made Hongzhi wary, fearing Liaochen harbored ulterior motives. Now, he felt reassured and asked Liaochen for ways to prolong his own life.

Meanwhile, Yunhua was happily distracted at the Empress’s side, forgetting her master altogether. When Liaochen and the Crown Prince arrived at Kunning Palace, Yunhua and the Empress, in a burst of childlike enthusiasm, were trying hard to coax a fox into spinning in circles with candied fruit. The Empress seemed, for the moment, to have forgotten her worries about the Emperor’s illness, and a smile had returned to her face after so long.

The Crown Prince was pleased to see this. “Mother hasn’t been this happy in ages,” he remarked.

Liaochen nodded. There were rumors outside that the Crown Prince and the Empress were distant, but it seemed they were indeed just rumors. After all, they were mother and son. The rumors were likely intended to first deny the relationship, then use that denial to prove Zhu Houzhao was truly Emperor Hongzhi’s son. The motive was clear to anyone who looked.

“My son and the master are here—why didn’t the maids announce your arrival?” asked the Empress.

“It was I who asked them not to disturb you, Mother,” Zhu Houzhao quickly explained.

“Master, your disciple is truly adorable, and this little fox—white foxes are auspicious in ancient times. How did you acquire it?” the Empress asked Liaochen.

Liaochen broke out in a sweat. Was the Empress hoping for one herself? He could only tell her the story of the little fox. Upon hearing it, the Empress was moved to tears. “Ah, the hearts of parents everywhere. Poor white fox, poor little one.” She then scooped up the fox, which was still spinning mindlessly on the table, into her arms. The fox, whether it had grown accustomed to the Empress or was simply perceptive, did not struggle, lying quietly in her arms. Ordinarily, it would not let anyone but Liaochen and Yunhua touch it and would bite anyone else.

“I have always wanted a daughter but never fulfilled that wish. Now I feel a special bond with Yunhua. I wish to adopt her as my goddaughter, so she can keep me company in the capital. Master, what do you think?” the Empress asked.

If the Empress adopted Yunhua as her goddaughter, she would become a princess. The Empress surely intended to win Liaochen’s loyalty, hoping he would earnestly help prolong the Emperor’s life, and she genuinely liked Yunhua as well.

Liaochen thought carefully and bowed, saying, “On behalf of my disciple, I thank Your Majesty.” Then he looked at Yunhua. “Why don’t you thank Her Majesty?” Yunhua quickly stood and respectfully knelt, saying, “Thank you, Your Majesty.” The Empress smiled, “You thank the Empress, but who should you really thank?” Yunhua, quick-witted, immediately changed her address, saying, “Thank you, Mother.” The words were sweet and soft, making the Empress laugh. She quickly pulled Yunhua up and placed her at her side.

After the casual conversation, the Empress replaced her smile with a grave expression. “The realm is the legacy of our ancestors; the Emperor would never trade it away. He is a deeply affectionate man. Master, do you have any other methods?”

Liaochen thought with difficulty and replied, “There is another way, but the conditions are stringent and the results uncertain.”

The Empress and Crown Prince were overjoyed. “What method is that?”

Liaochen enunciated clearly, “A household that accumulates virtue may lengthen its years.”