Chapter Thirty-Two: Seven Stars Shine Bright, The Fate Keeper of the Northern Dipper

The starry sky was as pristine as a wash, the stars themselves glittering brilliantly. The Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper presided over the northern heavens, gazing down upon the mortal realm.

Emperor Hongzhi sat solemnly before the Seven-Star Lamps, his breath held in quiet concentration, watching Master Liaochan recite scriptures before the sacred lights.

"Illuminating the torch of enlightenment, diffusing the auspicious fragrance, the dust of the world returns to the Purple Pole, primordial energy merges with the Celestial Sovereign." When the recitation ended, Liaochan uttered a soft command. His feet traced the Seven-Star Steps as he inclined the peachwood ritual sword downward, lifting his head to gaze at the northern sky, silently praying within his heart.

"The throne radiates triple brilliance, the astral light shines in seven rays; at the place of true destiny, blessings and longevity come naturally," Liaochan intoned, thus commencing the second verse of the Seven Stars.

The Northern Dipper shines over the center of heaven,
The stars revolve, inscribing the scroll of fortune and longevity.
The natal star deity descends,
Destiny held by the Celestial Court, dispelling calamities.
Heaven begets earth, and earth begets immortals,
Extending blessings, lengthening years, furthering life.
These true texts, inscribed by imperial hand,
Are golden words, every character a proclamation.
Fragrant offerings presented, long life and protection bestowed by the Celestial Lord.

When Liaochan finished chanting the scripture of the Northern Dipper for warding off misfortune, he pointed the peachwood sword skyward and, with the Seven-Star Steps, approached the lamps. As he paused before each lamp, they burst into flame without need of fire, each illuminating in turn. Once all seven star lamps shone brightly, Liaochan returned to his altar. Using the wooden sword, he lifted three talisman scrolls from the table, commanding in a clear voice, "By decree!" The talismans, without wind, soared upward, rising straight into the clouds. Midair, they ignited, transforming into blazing orbs of light that soared ever higher until they vanished beyond the horizon, their glow still lingering as if burning on.

"We humbly hear: the Supreme Lord bestows instruction, the True Sage proclaims the teachings, the Imperial Elder declares the will of the Jade Bureau, the Northern Dipper descends with the Book of Mystical Spirit. Profound beyond words, the sacred merit unfathomable. Now a faithful disciple, born on such-and-such year, month, day, and hour, of such-and-such age, whose fate lies under the star lords, is afflicted with chronic illness; medicine has availed nothing, fearing unlucky years and stagnant fortune. Let it be remembered that those under the Northern Dipper, whose destinies are held by the Celestial Court, when facing hardship, need only appeal to the Dipper and peace will follow. Therefore, we reverently invoke the natal star lord forty-nine times, hoping to dispel boundless misfortunes and trespasses, trusting in the compassionate celestial hosts, and performing the ritual in accordance."

Liaochan continued the ritual, reciting scriptures without pause, his wooden sword never still. He sent forth talismans one after another, each flying out beyond the altar to the banners of the Stars of Heaven's Might and Earth's Fury. Upon arriving, the banners danced of their own accord. Liaochan observed each, then at last lifted a golden talisman from the table and intoned, "Beseeching the star lord to ward off misfortune, extend fortune and life; thrice we implore the star lord for mercy beyond the prescribed law. May the karmic fruits of all beings be balanced by virtuous deeds." With these words, the talisman dissolved into a ray of light, entering the first of the Seven-Star Lamps, which immediately erupted in dazzling brilliance.

"Your Majesty, please make your vow," Liaochan urged the emperor as the light soared.

"I, as Son of Heaven, sincerely pray for life and beseech the Northern Dipper to dispel disaster. I bow my head to the heavens above. I vow to fulfill Heaven’s will and succor the common people; to aid the lonely and the poor, so none suffer from cold or hunger; to foster learning among the young, provide purpose for the grown, and ensure every man a home. That the old may find solace at the end. To revere Heaven and love the people, to honor the ancestors and practice the rites. Should I break this vow, may the earth perish and Heaven exact retribution." Emperor Hongzhi knelt and bowed three times to the sky, solemnly swearing his oath.

As his words fell, the star lamps of Alkaid, Mizar, Phecda, Megrez, Merak, and Dubhe all blazed forth in turn. Seeing this, Liaochan informed the emperor, "The ritual is complete; now we must await Heaven’s will." The emperor replied with understanding, "Indeed, everything hinges on Heaven’s will."

Liaochan conjured a handful of copper coins seemingly out of thin air and offered them to the emperor. "Your Majesty, the lifespan granted by this ritual extends up to sixty years. Here are sixty copper coins. Please pray silently to Heaven, then cast the coins to the ground. Each coin that lands face-up grants a year of life."

The emperor took the coins with grave countenance, praying quietly before casting the handful to the ground. The coins clinked and tumbled across the white jade stones of the Heaven Altar, ringing out until all lay still. Anxiously, Emperor Hongzhi bent to examine them, counting and recounting: reverse, reverse, reverse, obverse, reverse… After several careful inspections, disappointment settled upon him. Of the sixty coins, only three had landed face-up. One year per coin—thus, his plea for life would grant him at most three more years.

Seeing the emperor’s obvious dejection, Liaochan hurried forward to console him, saying, "Your Majesty, Heaven’s will is immutable. To gain three additional years is a feat unmatched among all emperors past or present." Yet, Liaochan was not adept at comfort, and the emperor managed a wry smile. "There’s little reason for dissatisfaction—though even these three years are not assured." With that, he rallied his spirit, resumed his seat upon his meditation mat, and took up the scripture once more.

Liaochan, momentarily stunned, found himself admiring the emperor’s breadth of mind and composure. No wonder the court scholars praised him so ardently; he was indeed a man of uncommon magnanimity.

Having completed all that was required, Liaochan likewise returned to his mat before the Seven-Star Lamps and sat facing the emperor. Gazing at the Northern Dipper, his spirit drifted into the boundless night, journeying amidst the heavens.

As the rooster crowed and dawn broke, the Seven-Star Lamps still burned bright. Liaochan breathed a deep sigh of relief—the first day had passed smoothly. So long as the star lamps remained alight for seven days, the emperor’s ritual would be deemed a success, and Liaochan would have fulfilled his duty to the Empress and Crown Prince. The emperor, seeing all was well, rose to thank Liaochan, saying, "All this has been a burden to the immortal master." Liaochan replied quickly, "Your Majesty’s fortune is not one I can claim credit for."

"Ha, there’s no need for modesty. I speak from the heart," the emperor responded, then made his way from the altar to rest. Liaochan remained seated on his mat, continuing his meditation.

On the second day, a gentle night breeze rose, causing the hanging draperies to flap and the star lamps to flicker. The emperor grew anxious, but Liaochan suspended the peachwood sword in midair, uttered a string of incantations, and instantly, within a hundred paces, the wind ceased and all stilled. The emperor was greatly astonished.

On the third day, the weather suddenly shifted and a light rain began to fall at midnight. Liaochan was forced to invoke a spell of shelter, ensuring a hundred paces around the star lamps remained untouched by wind or rain. When the star lamps returned to normal, Liaochan let out a breath of relief, though worry crept in—wind and rain had both challenged them in succession; clearly, Heaven was testing them. The days ahead would not be peaceful.

Indeed, on the fourth day, just as Liaochan feared, an imperial censor forced his way into the Temple of Heaven, his manner unyielding. The imperial guards failed to stop him, allowing him to reach the threshold of the Scarlet Steps Bridge. Sensing the intrusion, Liaochan appeared in a flash and struck the censor to the ground with a single blow, whereupon the emperor’s personal guards subdued and bound him. The outer garrison soldiers, however, remained inert throughout. Liaochan shook his head—so the capital garrison had already decayed to this point; no wonder Li Zicheng had captured the city without a fight. If a single censor could terrify them so, what could one expect? The power of the scholars was on full display.

Returning to the altar, Liaochan sat in silence, gazing at the Northern Dipper. The emperor asked nothing of the incident. At dawn, an edict was issued: the offending censor was taken to the imperial prison for trial, together with the commander of the capital garrison and Zhu Chao, the acting adjutant and son of the Marquis of Chengguo, for abandoning their posts that night. Clearly, the emperor was furious over the previous night’s events, though he remained in seclusion and thus could only order temporary detention for later judgment. That same day, the capital garrison was withdrawn and replaced with five thousand troops from the Imperial Stables to guard the Temple of Heaven. The emperor’s trust in the capital garrison was lost, and panic swept its ranks as officers and soldiers sought means to escape reassignment.

On the fifth day, hail fell in the dead of night. Fortunately, thick tarpaulins had been drawn over the altar in advance, shielding it from harm. Nevertheless, as Liaochan and Emperor Hongzhi listened to the hailstones pelting from outside, their hearts grew heavier. Two days remained—what further unforeseen events might yet occur?