The news that the Crown Princess had been ordered by the Emperor to perform the Great Yu Sacrifice struck like a thunderbolt throughout the capital.
The entire city was instantly in an uproar.
In a tavern, an old man with grizzled whiskers, overcome with emotion, wept as he exclaimed, “Letting a woman represent the imperial family in the Great Yu Sacrifice—the Great Zhou is doomed—”
As soon as these words were uttered, the still-sober people around him hurriedly covered his mouth: “Old uncle, you’ve had too much to drink!”
The old man, despite his age, was quite strong. He pushed away the hand and said with a hiccup, “I’m not drunk… An evil consort has descended upon the world, the Great Zhou is truly doomed!”
A squad of Jinlin Guards appeared, and their leader coldly ordered, “Take him away!”
The old man, who had been pointing to the sky, froze for a moment, then suddenly hugged the Jinlin Guard who came to arrest him and cried, “I’m drunk—”
The Jinlin Guard looked disgusted: “Move!”
In the blink of an eye, the old man was pushed out of the tavern. The remaining Jinlin Guard glanced around at the patrons, sneered, and turned to leave.
The tavern fell silent for a moment. After a while, the slightly tipsy patrons came to their senses, covered their mouths, and scattered.
They had truly forgotten themselves. Although the current Emperor was a benevolent ruler who wouldn’t let the Jinlin Guards harm the people over trivial matters, openly shouting that the Great Zhou was doomed was asking for death. Even the most benevolent emperor couldn’t tolerate such talk.
The old man was thrown into jail, his drunkenness completely gone. He rushed to the iron bars, crying and begging, “Let me out, I was drunk and talking nonsense, let me out—”
A cool voice behind him said, “Save your strength, old uncle. Everyone in here was drunk and talking nonsense.”
The old man turned stiffly, facing a sea of blank or pained faces. He even spotted a drinking buddy among them.
“Brother Wang, why are you here too?”
His friend smiled bitterly, “Had too much to drink, of course.”
The old man deflated, sitting down among his fellow sufferers. His eyes glazed over as he mumbled, “When will we be able to get out? I have two pigs at home waiting to be fed.”
Others sighed, “Just wait. Maybe when it gets too crowded, they’ll let us early arrivals go.”
Something about these words triggered the old man’s nerves, and he suddenly shouted, “The Crown Princess has always been an evil consort—”
Several hands quickly covered his mouth.
His drinking buddy cursed, “If you want to go mad, don’t drag us all down with you. Do you think the Jinlin Guards won’t kill people now?”
Outside the cell, a Jinlin Guard sighed, “There are too many people spouting nonsense now. We can’t arrest them all.”
Another Jinlin Guard laughed, “Why worry so much? Just arrest them for now. After the Great Yu Sacrifice, they’ll probably be released regardless of the outcome.”
“Do you think the Crown Princess can succeed in praying for rain?”
“Who knows? It’s not for us to worry about. Let’s go, we need to keep arresting people. These folks will have to pay to be released, and I heard that old man we just brought in has two pigs at home.”
“You’re interested in just two pigs?”
“Even a mosquito’s leg is meat.”
The two Jinlin Guards walked away, laughing.
For a time, the entire city was filled with discussions about the Great Yu Sacrifice. Even the sight of grim-faced Jinlin Guards arresting people couldn’t dampen the people’s enthusiasm for gossip.
The 18th day of the fourth month arrived in the blink of an eye.
The early morning sky was white, with the sun already showing signs of intense heat. There wasn’t a single cloud in sight.
Without a doubt, it was another scorching day that could dry up rivers.
On this day, the entire capital rose early, following the procession for the heaven-worshipping ceremony towards the outskirts of the city.
On Cuilo Mountain in the suburbs, there was an imperial palace, with a rain-praying altar built to the east. The long procession set out from the imperial city, heading straight for Cuilo Mountain.
Cuilo Mountain had already been cleaned and prepared under the Ministry of Rites’ supervision. All ceremonial preparations were ready, waiting only for the Crown Princess’s arrival.
Jiang Si walked to the front of the procession. When they reached the foot of the mountain, the commoners who had followed were stopped by the imperial guards and left to watch longingly as the procession slowly ascended the mountain.
To show her sincerity, Jiang Si chose to walk on foot. By the time she reached the summit, she was out of breath.
“The auspicious time approaches. We respectfully invite the Crown Princess to ascend the altar and pray for rain,” the ceremonial officer announced loudly.
Following the solemn music, Jiang Si climbed the high altar step by step.
Rows of young boys and girls appeared, dressed in dark robes and holding feather fans. A total of 64 of them surrounded the high altar and began to perform the Eight Rows Dance, dancing and singing.
“Vast is the Milky Way, shining and revolving in the sky. The King says: Alas! What crimes have the present people committed? Heaven sends down confusion and calamity, famine comes again and again. There is no spirit I have not sacrificed to, no victim I have not offered. The jade discs and scepters have been exhausted, why does no one listen to me?”
“The drought is very severe, insects swarm in great numbers. We have not neglected the sacrifices, from the outskirts to the ancestral temple. We have buried offerings to all the spirits above and below, there is no spirit we have not worshipped. Houji cannot help us, the Lord on High does not come to us. The earth below is being destroyed, how long will my people suffer?”
“The drought is so severe that it cannot be driven away. We are diligent and cautious, like thunder and lightning. Among all my black-haired people, none are left unaffected. August Heaven and Lord on High, do not forsake us. Why do you not fear? Our ancestors will be overthrown.”
…
Jiang Si knelt on the high altar, her expression solemn, eyes closed in prayer.
The scene was one of reverence. Apart from the young boys and girls focused on performing the Eight Rows Dance, everyone was thinking the same thing: Could the Crown Princess successfully pray for rain?
The answer was almost unanimously negative.
There had been no rain for months. The once lush greenery of Cuilo Mountain now looked listless, much like the people affected by the drought.
The sky was cloudless, the sun scorching. How could it possibly rain?
As the Eight Rows Dance neared its end, the chanting of the young performers gradually faded.
“We look up to the vast Heaven, its stars twinkling. The great officers and nobles, clearly offer their assistance without excess. The great mandate is near its end, do not abandon your achievements. What do you seek from me? To correct the multitudes. We look up to the vast Heaven, when will it grant us peace?”
At the foot of Cuilo Mountain, countless people knelt on the ground, crying out in unison: “August Heaven and Lord on High, please send down sweet rain and restore our peace!”
Cuilo Mountain wasn’t particularly tall, allowing those at its foot to see the dark-robed figure on the high altar, as well as the solemn dance and music.
But under the scorching sun, people’s hearts gradually filled with despair.
Someone suddenly stood up, their expression a mix of laughter and tears, on the verge of breakdown: “Rain can’t fall. The capital’s drought is because of the evil consort’s appearance in the world. Heaven has sent this great drought as a warning. How can it rain if the evil consort isn’t removed?”
The crowd at the mountain’s foot grew restless, with many people quickly agreeing.
At this point, the imperial guards holding silver spears and golden swords could only barely maintain order. They couldn’t do anything to these ordinary people uttering such shocking words.
This was the age-old headache for those in power: guarding against the people’s mouths is harder than guarding against flood waters.
As the scene grew chaotic, a sudden boom resounded.
“What was that sound?”
People were momentarily stunned.
Another thunderclap followed, and people finally came to their senses.
“Did you hear that? It’s thunder, it’s thunder!”
Soon, lightning streaked across the blue sky, and raindrops as big as beans began to fall.
On the high altar, Jiang Si slowly opened her eyes, a smile playing on her lips.
The rain came with a gust of wind, making her dark robe flutter wildly, giving her an otherworldly appearance.
Below the high altar and at the foot of the mountain, countless people knelt, looking up at the sky with expressions of wild joy, shouting: “It’s raining, it’s raining!”
Jiang Si smiled, exchanging a glance with Yu Jin on the jade steps.
Yes, the rain had come.