Chapter Thirty-One: The Emperor Offers Sacrifice to the Stars, and the People Pray for Blessings

Appeasing the stars and praying for life required one’s personal presence; if even this measure of sincerity was lacking, why would the Grand Director of Fate bother extending your years? So, no matter how gravely ill the Emperor was, he had to go to the Temple of Heaven in person.

On that day, Liachen rose early to don the Seven-Star ceremonial robe, crowned his head with the Seven-Star Daoist cap, and slung the peachwood sword across his back. Dressed and ready, he accompanied the Crown Prince to the Palace of Heavenly Purity. The Empress and Yunhua had already arrived. Yunhua's eyes brightened at the sight of Liachen, and the little fox, heedless of propriety, leapt from Yunhua’s arms and sprang onto Liachen, leaving him awkward and flustered. The fox’s meaning was clear: “I haven’t seen you for days—I missed you.” Liachen didn’t know whether to hold on or let go. Both the Crown Prince and the Empress covered their mouths, unable to suppress their laughter. Even the Emperor, who had not smiled in some time, revealed a faint hint of amusement.

“Your Majesty, the ritual of appeasing the stars lasts seven days. You must be seated on the altar yourself. I have here seven elixirs, one for each day, to sustain you.” Liachen knew well that the Emperor's health would never withstand seven days of rites, so he had prepared seven pills in advance. Though they could not cure the Emperor’s illness, they would prevent any attack for those seven days, allowing him to eat, sleep, and move as though he were perfectly healthy. Liachen produced a jade bottle. At the sight of it, the Chief Eunuch’s face changed drastically; he was about to rebuke Liachen for his insolence—every item the Emperor consumed had to be approved by the Imperial Medical Bureau and managed by the Household Department. How could such unknown pills be given to His Majesty indiscriminately? But before he could speak, the Emperor interjected, “Oh, Immortal, if you had such wondrous medicine, why did you not bring it sooner? It could have spared me these days of suffering.” Liachen was momentarily taken aback, then replied, “Your Majesty, these medicines are not to be taken lightly. Elixirs made from herbs are gentle and harmless enough, but those containing metals must be administered with utmost caution. These seven pills were formed by gathering spiritual energy over the past few days—merely concentrated essence, not meant to cure, but to nourish and sustain.” With that, he handed the jade bottle to the Chief Eunuch, who, seeing no alternative, presented it to the Emperor.

Emperor Hongzhi, impatient, opened the bottle and poured out the pills. Each was no larger than a pinky nail, yet shimmered with the five-colored aura of the Five Elements’ spiritual energy. The Emperor picked one and placed it in his mouth; it dissolved instantly, its essence coursing through his body. In moments, he felt a surge of warmth flow through every limb, breaking forth a light sweat. Instantly, he felt much lighter. When the sweat had dried, the Emperor, delighted, found his pain utterly gone and, to everyone’s astonishment, sat up at once. The Empress, Crown Prince, and eunuchs nearby were all taken aback.

“Haha! Immortal Liachen’s elixir is truly magical. I haven’t felt so light in my body for ages.” Free from pain, the Emperor’s spirits soared, and he grew all the more confident about the coming ritual.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty!” the Empress and Crown Prince led the chorus, and all the eunuchs and maids in the chamber fell to their knees in celebration. The Emperor waved them off with a smile, “It’s too soon to celebrate. Save it for seven days hence.” With that, he rose from his couch, startling all around him. “Your Majesty, please be careful!” the Empress hurried to support her husband. “No need to worry; I feel perfectly well now.” The Emperor turned to Liachen, “If you succeed, Immortal, you shall be handsomely rewarded.”

With those words, the Emperor and his retinue departed the Palace of Heavenly Purity. Outside, the courtyard was already packed with ministers, all astonished to see the Emperor walking out unaided—wasn’t it said he was too ill to rise from bed? Had the rumors been false? It took a moment for them to gather their wits and kneel in salute.

The Emperor stood there smiling, quite pleased with their astonishment. He turned to the chief eunuch, “Announce the decree.”

“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: I go to the Temple of Heaven to pray for blessings, undisturbed by affairs of state. During my seclusion, the Empress and Crown Prince shall act as regents. The Grand Secretariat and all ministries are to govern diligently, following established protocols. If any matter cannot be resolved, it shall be submitted to the Secretariat, the Empress, and the Crown Prince for joint deliberation. Thus decreed.” At the eunuch’s recitation, all ministers bowed to receive the order. The Emperor took the hands of the Empress and Crown Prince, “While I am away, I must trouble you both with state matters.”

“We dare not fail in our duty,” they quickly replied.

“Prepare the carriage.” The Emperor boarded his imperial litter, followed by Liachen and the rest—eunuchs, maids, the Imperial Guard, and Palace Guards—a grand procession of several thousand, making its way toward the Temple of Heaven.

With such a display, there was no one in the capital who did not know the Emperor was leaving the palace. People crowded the roadsides, eager for a glimpse of the sovereign. Seeing the throngs, Liachen was suddenly inspired. He hurried to the Emperor’s chief eunuch and whispered a few words, who then immediately reported to the Emperor. The Emperor, finding no objection, agreed at once. The eunuch received the command and departed for the Shuntian Prefecture office.

That very day, a public notice was issued: during the Emperor’s prayers at the Temple of Heaven, any citizen who recited three Daoist scriptures morning and evening would receive a reward of one hundred coins. There was no stipulation as to how the recitations were to be proved—no evidence was required, nor would the authorities check. Who could tell whether you recited or not? It was, in effect, a citywide windfall. The news spread rapidly, and before long, many began to sincerely pray for the Emperor’s health and long life.

By the time they arrived at the Temple of Heaven, all preparations were complete. The Emperor first entered the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, where he offered sacrifices to the Supreme Heaven. Then, under Liachen’s guidance, he respectfully lit three sticks of incense before the seven Star Lords’ tablets, seeking their protection. When all was done, Liachen left Yunhua there; she and two other Daoist acolytes were to keep the incense burning day and night, never letting the flame die.

After the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, they proceeded to the Circular Mound Altar, where the Seven-Star Lamps had been arranged. The area was draped with heavy curtains, and bundles of oilcloth were kept on hand to shield the lamps from wind or rain. Before the lamps was a meditation mat, where the Emperor would sit in stillness each night for seven days, rising only when the stars faded and dawn approached.

Along the way, Liachen explained each step of the appeasement ritual to the Emperor, then withdrew to the side of the Seven-Star Stones. There, he set down a meditation cushion and sat in silence, eyes closed, waiting for sunset and the rising of the stars when the Seven Stars would blaze in the northern sky.