Like in the saying "Talking on the road, someone's in the grass.", there was a yaksha patrolling the waters of Jing River.
They overheard the whole conversation, dashed off to the Crystal Palace, and anxiously reported to the Dragon King, "Trouble's brewing! Trouble's brewing!"
The Dragon King asked, "What kind of trouble?"
The yaksha said, "Your servant was patrolling the waters by the riverbank, and I overheard a fisherman and woodsman chatting. When they were parting ways, their words were quite serious. The fisherman said, in Chang'an city, on West Gate Street, there's a fortune teller who's incredibly accurate. Every day, he sends him a carp, and in return, he whispers a lesson in his ear, guiding him to make a hundred successful casts. If they follow his predictions, won't all our water creatures be caught? How can we maintain the splendor of our water palace? How can we make waves dance and show your majesty's might?"
The Dragon King became angry and quickly grabbed his sword. He was about to head to Chang'an city to wipe out this fortune teller.
By his side, Dragon Princes, Dragon Grandchildren, Shrimp Ministers, Crab Officers, Shad Strategists, Carp Officials, and Chief Carps all spoke up together, saying, "Your Majesty, please calm down for a moment. There's a saying: 'Don't believe everything you hear.' If Your Majesty goes there, it's bound to cause a commotion. It might even bring rain and clouds, disturbing the people of Chang'an and attracting the heavens' attention. Your Majesty's abilities are beyond comprehension, for example, you can change forms at will. How about transforming into a scholar and visiting Chang'an City for an inquiry? If there truly is such a person, we won't delay dealing with them. And if not, it would avoid causing harm to innocent people, right?"
Upon hearing the Dragon King's report, he put away his precious sword. He didn't summon clouds or rain either. He stepped onto the shore, transformed himself into an elegant young scholar, appearing like:
Majestic in bearing, stature reaching high,
Astride the peaks, touching the distant sky.
Gaits composed, in harmony they move,
Following the path, in order they prove.
Words like sages, with wisdom they converse,
Manners reflecting ancient arts in each verse.
Attired in robes of jade hue so fair,
Crowned with a hat, free spirit they wear.
Setting out on his way, he strode through the clouds and arrived directly at the bustling West Gate Street of Chang'an City. His path led him to a lively gathering of people, their voices and conversations filling the air.
Among them, a voice was discussing intently, "Those born in the Year of the Dragon clash with those born in the Year of the Tiger. Even though the Years of the Tiger, Dragon, Snake, and Boar are said to form a harmonious combination, we must be wary of the Day clashing with the Year Lord."
Hearing this, the Dragon King knew it was a place for fortune telling. He walked forward, parting the crowd, and peered inside. What he saw was:
The walls were adorned with pearls and jewels, and the hall blazed with intricate embroidery. The fragrance of precious incense wafted endlessly, while the water in the ceramic vase remained crystal clear. On either side hung portraits of kings and noble figures, and above, the mystical form of the Ghost Valley loomed high. A delicate inkstone rested by the side, where golden, smoke-like ink complemented the frosty brush. Rows of fire pearls shone, and Guo Pu's calculations proved precise, aligning with the new policy on the desk.
Having understood six lines and eight trigrams, he became a master of the esoteric arts. His knowledge extended to the heavens and the earth's design, and he was adept at deciphering the moods of spirits. The divination tray was meticulously arranged, with stars and constellations carefully set in place. Indeed, the future and the past appeared like moonlit mirrors, reflecting the rise and fall of many households as if through divine insight. He foretold the ominous and determined the auspicious, predicting death and proclaiming life. Swiftly, he spoke of storms and tempests, writing down incantations that even astonished the spirits. His signboard bore the name and surname of the divine tutor, Yuan Shoucheng.
Who was this person? It turned out to be the uncle of Yuan Tiangan, the esteemed official of the imperial observatory in the current court. His name was Yuan Shoucheng. The man indeed had a unique and attractive appearance, with a graceful demeanor. His reputation spread throughout the country, and he was renowned in Chang'an for his expertise.
When the Dragon King entered the premises, he met with the gentleman. After the formalities were exchanged, he invited the Dragon King to take a seat, and a young attendant served tea.
The scholar asked, "What brings you here, sir?"
The Dragon King replied, "I would like to divine the weather conditions in the heavens."
The scholar then discreetly employed a divination technique. "Clouds obscure the mountaintops, mist shrouds the treetops. If it's rain you seek, tomorrow's forecast holds true.”
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The Dragon King asked, "When will it rain tomorrow, and how much rainfall are we talking about?"
The scholar replied, "Clouds will gather around the morning hour, thunder will rumble by midday, rain will fall around noon, and by the late afternoon, it will have rained a total of three feet and three inches, plus forty-eight points."
The Dragon King chuckled and said, "This is not a joke. If your prediction comes true tomorrow and it does rain, as per your timing and measurements, I will offer you fifty taels of gold in gratitude. But if it doesn't rain, or your timing and measurements are off, let me be clear: I will not hold back in tarnishing your reputation, tearing down your signboard, and promptly escorting you out of Chang'an. You won't be allowed to deceive the public here any longer."
The scholar responded with a contented smile, "I accept your terms. It's a deal. Rain will indeed come after dawn tomorrow."
After bidding farewell to the scholar, the Dragon King left Chang'an and returned to his watery realm.
The water deities, both big and small, received him and inquired, "Great King, how did your visit to the fortune teller go?"
The Dragon King replied, "Oh, there was quite a character there. A self-proclaimed expert who talks a big game. I asked him about the rain, and he confidently proclaimed rain for tomorrow. When I pressed him for specifics, he went on about clouds in the morning, thunder by midday, rain at noon, and heavy rain by late afternoon, amounting to precisely three feet and three inches, plus forty-eight points. Well, I made a little wager with him: if his prediction comes true, I'll send him fifty taels of gratitude. But if he's a bit off, I'll expose his charade, kick him out of town, and put an end to his deceptive practices in Chang'an."
The water spirits burst into laughter and said, "Great King, you're the supreme overseer of the Eight Rivers, the master of rain dragons. Whether there's rain or not, only you truly know. How could you take his words seriously? That fortune teller must be regretting his bold claims. He's surely in for a loss."
At that moment, while the young dragons and aquatic attendants were still discussing the matter with laughter and joy, a voice echoed from above: "The Dragon King of the Jing River is summoned."
Everyone looked up and saw a golden-armored envoy descending from the sky, holding an imperial decree from the Jade Emperor.
In a hurry, the Dragon King straightened his attire and respectfully accepted the decree, offering incense in acknowledgment.
The golden-armored envoy departed as swiftly as he had arrived. With a sense of reverence, the Dragon King broke the seal and read the decree:
Commanded as the chief of the Eight Rivers,
Harnessing thunder and lightning to traverse the land.
Tomorrow bestow rain's blessings,
Bringing salvation to the city of Chang'an.
The specified timing and quantities in the decree matched the scholar's judgment precisely, leaving the Dragon King in utter shock. After a moment, he regained his composure and addressed the gathered aquatic beings. "In the mortal world, there exists such a remarkable individual who truly possesses the ability to comprehend the workings of heaven and earth. We can't underestimate him!"
The Chief Military Advisor, General Shad, reassured, "Your Majesty, no need to worry. Winning against him is not a challenge. I have a cunning plan that will surely silence his boasts."
Curious, the Dragon King inquired about the strategy, to which the advisor replied, "We'll simply adjust the timing of the rain and alter the figures slightly. Then, that scholar's divination won't hold true. What's there to fear about defeating him? At that point, we'll shatter his reputation, and he'll have no choice but to flee. It's as easy as that."
The Dragon King accepted the advisor's proposal and found himself relieved of his concerns.
On the following day, Wind Duke, Thunder Lord, Cloud Attendant, and Lightning Mistress were summoned. They soared high into the ninth heaven above Chang'an City.
Arriving at the appointed time, just as the snake hour approached, clouds began to gather. By noon, thunder rumbled, followed by rain that ceased at the hour of the monkey. In the end, only three feet and forty-eight points of water had fallen. After successfully changing the timing by one interval and decreasing the downpour by three inches and eight points, the generals were dismissed.
Transforming back into the guise of a scholar, the Dragon King made his way to the bustling streets of West Gate and barged into Yuan Shoucheng's divination booth without hesitation. Without a word, he shattered the signboard, pens, inkstones, and all.
Seated calmly in his chair, the scholar remained unfazed.
Enraged, the Dragon King lifted the booth's door plank to strike and berate him, exclaiming, "You deceitful charlatan, spreading false prophecies! You are a troublemaker who misleads the people! Your divination is ineffective. Your words are delusional. Your predictions for today's rainfall – the timing and quantities – were all incorrect. Yet, here you sit arrogantly. You'd better leave before you face dire consequences!"
Undaunted by the situation, Shoucheng tilted his head back and chuckled defiantly, "I'm not afraid, not one bit. I have no capital offense to answer for, but you might just find yourself facing one. Others might be fooled, but pulling one over on me is hard. I recognize you – you're no ordinary scholar. You're the Dragon King of the Jing River. You've defied the decree of the Jade Emperor, altered the timing, and manipulated the measurements in direct violation of heavenly laws. You might face the executioner's blade on the Dragon Subduing Platform. Yet here you are, berating me?"
The Dragon King's heart raced, and his nerves trembled at the words. Quickly dropping the door plank, he straightened his clothes and bowed reverently before the scholar. He knelt and pleaded, "Please don't hold it against me, esteemed scholar. My previous words were in jest. I never thought they'd come true, leading to such a transgression against heavenly laws. What can I do? I implore you to save me, or else I won't spare your life either."
Shoucheng replied, "I cannot save you, but I can point out a path for you to find redemption."
The Dragon King eagerly asked, "Please, tell me."
The scholar continued, "Tomorrow at the third quarter of noon, you are to present yourself to Wei Zheng, an official in the human realm. You're scheduled for execution. If you truly value your life, you must urgently seek an audience with Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. Wei Zheng serves as the Prime Minister under the Tang Emperor, and if you can plead your case with him, there might be a chance to avoid dire consequences."
The Dragon King bid his farewell with tears in his eyes and departed. Unbeknownst to him, the crimson sun had sunk below the western horizon, and the moonlit stars had emerged.