Emperor Xin addressed his ministers, saying, "Those who have matters to report, step forward; those who have nothing to report, dismiss the court." No sooner had he spoken than a man stepped forward from the right-hand court of civil officials, bowing and saying, "Your subject, Shang Rong, is the Prime Minister, in charge of the court. I dare not fail to report. Tomorrow is the fifteenth of the third month, the birthday of the Holy Father Xuan Tian and the Holy Mother Nuwa. I request Your Majesty to grace the Holy Father and Holy Mother's palace with your presence and offer incense." Emperor Xin asked, "What merits have these two possessed that I, the Emperor, would personally go to offer incense?" Upon hearing this, Xuan Tian, who was hidden to the side, was greatly alarmed. Although he did not stay by Emperor Xin's side day and night, he had often paid attention to Emperor Xin's changes. Since Wen Zhong went to the North Sea, Xuan Tian had closely observed Emperor Xin's condition, yet he had not noticed any changes in Emperor Xin. How could Emperor Xin not even know about him and Nuwa?
Although Shang Rong's expression also showed some change, he still reported, "The Holy Father, the Sage Xuantian, and the Holy Mother, the Goddess Nuwa, are ancient sages. All of humanity was created by them, and they are the parents of all people. In ancient times, the great god Gonggong knocked down Mount Buzhou, causing the sky to tilt to the northwest and the earth to sink to the southeast. The Sage Xuantian held up the heavens and collected the waters of the Milky Way, while the Goddess Nuwa refined five-colored divine stones to mend the sky, saving all people from fire and water. Therefore, the people established sacrifices to repay them. Moreover, the Holy Father and Holy Mother are the gods of blessing in Chaoge. Since Chaoge began to worship the two sages, the weather has been favorable and disasters have disappeared. These are the true gods who bless the country and protect the people. Your Majesty should go and offer incense. In that case, all of you may accompany me to offer incense tomorrow." After speaking, he rolled up the curtain and withdrew from the court.
In fact, Nuwa's birthday is not on this day. Of course, so many years have passed that no one remembers that this is Nuwa's birthday. It's just that the human race regards the day Nuwa created humans as the birthday of Xuantian and Nuwa.
On the second day, the emperor departed from the south gate of Chaoge. Every household burned incense and set off fires, and every shop was decorated with colorful banners. Three thousand iron cavalry, eight hundred imperial guards, and King Wu Cheng, Huang Feihu, escorted the emperor, along with all the civil and military officials, and proceeded to the Palace of the Holy Father and Holy Mother. The emperor left his imperial carriage and entered the main hall. Incense was burned in the censer, and the civil and military officials followed behind Emperor Xin to offer their congratulations. After offering incense, Emperor Xin began to tour the main hall, but inadvertently walked to the side of the statue of Nuwa (the statues of Xuantian and Nuwa are located on the left and right sides of the temple).
Before the palace, a magnificent sight unfolded, adorned with vibrant colors and gold. Pairs of golden boys held banners and canopies; pairs of jade maidens presented scepters. A jade hook hung askew, a crescent moon suspended in the air; jeweled curtains swayed, ten thousand pairs of colorful phoenixes swaying in the breeze. Beside the azure bed, cranes and phoenixes danced and soared; the sandalwood throne was adorned with dragons and phoenixes in flight. Extraordinary colors drifted in the air, auspicious clouds billowed from golden censers; wisps of purple mist rose, and silver candles shone brilliantly. As the emperor gazed upon the palace scenery, a sudden gust of wind chilled him to the bone.
This drew praise from Emperor Xin. After the tour, Emperor Xin paid homage to the Goddess Nuwa again and prepared to return to the palace.
Just as Di Xin finished his worship and stood up, a sudden gust of wind blew, lifting the curtain and revealing the image of the goddess Nuwa. Her appearance was beautiful, her auspicious light shone, and she possessed unparalleled beauty and grace, appearing lifelike. She was truly a fairy descended from the mortal realm, a Chang'e from the moon palace.
When Emperor Xin saw the statue of the goddess Nuwa, his mind suddenly went blank. He thought, "I am the Son of Heaven, possessing the wealth of the four seas, yet even with my six palaces and three halls, none possess such beauty." So he said, "Bring me the Four Treasures of the Study." The palace eunuchs hurriedly brought the Four Treasures of the Study and presented them to Emperor Xin.
Di Xin took the purple brush, dipped it in thick ink, and wrote a poem on the wall of the Nuwa Temple: "The phoenix and luan jeweled tent is a magnificent sight, adorned with exquisite gold leaf. Distant mountains curve in verdant hues; fluttering sleeves reflect the rosy clouds. Pear blossoms, glistening with rain, vie in beauty; peonies, shrouded in mist, display their alluring charm. If only such enchanting beauty could move, she could be brought back to Chang'an to serve the king." Prime Minister Shang Rong, having previously heard that Di Xin wanted the Four Treasures of the Study, assumed he intended to write a poem praising the goddess Nuwa. Unexpectedly, the emperor wrote a lewd poem, blaspheming the sage. He was terrified, his soul nearly leaving his body. He hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Nuwa is an ancient and righteous goddess, the patron saint of Chaoge. This old minister requests Your Majesty to offer incense and pray for blessings, for the people to live in peace and prosperity, for favorable weather, and for the cessation of war. Your Majesty's poem is blasphemous and devoid of any sincerity of piety, thus offending the divine and not in accordance with the proper etiquette for an emperor's tour of pilgrimage. I beg Your Majesty to wash it away with water. I fear that if the people see it, they will spread rumors that Your Majesty has no virtuous rule." Upon hearing this, Emperor Xin felt remorse and was about to order the lewd poem to be washed away when his mind went blank again. He said, "I saw that Nuwa's appearance was unparalleled, so I wrote a poem to praise her. What other intention did I have? You need not say more. Besides, I am the emperor, and leaving this for all the people to see will show the Empress's unparalleled beauty and also show my own writing." After saying this, he returned to the palace.
None of the civil or military officials dared to speak further, and they followed Emperor Xin into the palace. Prime Minister Shang Rong and his uncle, Bi Gan, exchanged a glance, both seeing fear in each other's eyes. They couldn't understand how Emperor Xin had become like this, committing such a blasphemous act against the sage. Bi Gan waved to the warrior behind him, pointing to the wall. The warrior understood, hid to the side, and after everyone had left, hurriedly stepped forward to wash away the lewd poem that Emperor Xin had recited.
After the warrior washed away the lewd poem written by Emperor Xin, he returned to Chaoge to report to Bigan. After the warrior left, the Daoist Zhunti, who had been hiding nearby, revealed himself. With a wave of his hand, the lewd poem reappeared on the wall. Then, Zhunti vanished amidst a wicked laugh.
All of this was witnessed by Xuan Tian. Zhun Ti had been plotting this all along, and had secretly used magic to bewitch Di Xin some time ago. However, Xuan Tian happened to be away at the time, so he was unaware of it. The strange gust of wind during the incense offering was also Zhun Ti's doing, and his subsequent actions were all under Xuan Tian's observation. Only now did Xuan Tian realize that Zhun Ti had come to the Eastern Land by sheer bad luck, and even more unfortunately, he had been seen by him.
However, seeing it doesn't mean Xuan Tian will stop him. The Investiture of the Gods was predetermined by fate, and he couldn't stop it. Even if he could, he wouldn't do it, as it wouldn't benefit him. Di Xin was just a mortal, but he was a wise ruler, and he wouldn't interfere. At most, Xuan Tian might save him later, but Xuan Tian couldn't do anything about things predetermined by fate.
The heavens intend to use Emperor Xin to initiate the Investiture of the Gods, while Zhunti intends to use the Investiture of the Gods to throw the Eastern Land into chaos, allowing the Western Lands to reap the benefits. With Xuantian present, it is natural that he will not be allowed to accomplish this so easily.
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