After the emperor, accompanied by his civil and military officials and guards, entered the Temple of Heaven, the disaster victims who had been occupying the temple refused to leave. They insisted on following the emperor inside to watch him pray for rain.
Emperor Kangxi had not expected these people to follow him in. He had intended to have the Fourth Prince pray for rain on his behalf, but with these people following him in, it would be obvious that they were not the emperor himself!
However, the emotions of the disaster victims were easily stirred up. Emperor Kangxi did not want to cause a real conflict between officials and the people because of the natural disaster, so he had no choice but to let them in. However, he specifically ordered the Prefect of the Capital to lead his yamen runners to keep the disaster victims on the perimeter, preventing them from getting close to the Prayer for Rain Terrace at the Temple of Heaven. They could only watch from a distance of 100 meters away.
After the emperor entered the resting area inside the Temple of Heaven, officials from the Ministry of Rites began arranging the site for the rain-praying ceremony. Officials of all ranks who had accompanied the emperor also took their positions below the rain-praying platform. Several princes and close advisors of Kangxi followed him into the inner chamber.
"Your Majesty, everything outside is ready, just waiting for you to begin your rainmaking prayers," Liang Jiugong reported as he entered from outside.
“Those people are still standing outside; they’re watching. Father, if you want Fourth Brother to go out and pray for rain in your place, I’m afraid the disaster victims will complain,” said Fourteenth Brother.
Only Fourteen dared to say such a thing; no one else present would dare to.
The sun was blazing outside, and Emperor Kangxi was nearly sixty years old. His health wasn't very good either, and going out for two hours to pray for rain was truly exhausting for him. But now, the disaster victims outside were all watching him closely; how could he let his fourth son go out to pray for rain in his place?
"Father, I think it would be better to talk to those people first. I believe that those disaster victims have only lost their minds because of the disaster. As long as we explain it to them, they should be able to understand. Besides, Father has come, which shows that Father cares about the people," said the Fourth Prince.
“No, those disaster victims are extremely agitated right now. They’re likely to cause trouble if provoked. Father Emperor, I think you should go back. Let me deal with these disaster victims!” said Prince Yinqi.
"No! Father Emperor came to pray for rain, to pray for rain for the people. How can we go back on our word and even use force to drive them away!" Fourth Prince said immediately.
"Father, why don't you pray for rain for a while first, and then come in to let Fourth Brother go out? Those people are just looking around; they might disperse after a while," said Eighth Prince.
Kangxi listened to his sons talking all at once, but he himself remained silent.
“Your Majesty, the heat outside remains unbearable. If you go out, I fear you will not be able to withstand it for even half an hour. This servant believes that we should follow the Fourth Prince's advice and explain the situation to the people to try and gain their understanding,” Liang Jiugong said.
The Fourth Prince nodded and said, "Father, those people aren't unreasonable troublemakers. They just don't have water to drink. As long as I explain it to them, they will understand."
Kangxi finally seemed to have made up his mind and said, "No need. I'm already here, there's no reason for me to turn back. Liang Jiugong, help me change out of these clothes first. Praying for rain from Heaven isn't about how good the clothes look."
Emperor Kangxi stood up, opened his arms, and said, "Help me change my clothes. You all go outside and wait immediately. Begin the rain-praying ceremony!"
With Liang Jiugong's assistance, Kangxi removed his dragon robe and changed into a light, bright yellow satin casual robe. Everyone else also went out and took their places.
Under the blazing sun, Emperor Kangxi personally carried his robe and, supported by Liang Jiugong, walked up to the Rain Prayer Platform.
The crowd gathered outside the platform fell silent when they saw the emperor himself emerge and ascend the rain-praying platform. They had initially begun to whisper among themselves, saying the emperor was seeking comfort and refusing to come out. Some had even started spreading rumors that the disaster was caused by the offspring of the Aisin Gioro clan, specifically the child of the Fourth Prince's concubine, who was the culprit. But no one believed this now; they preferred to believe the emperor could pray for rain from heaven.
To the opening drum music from the Ministry of Rites, Kangxi began to kneel before Heaven, silently reciting scriptures, praying for divine intervention to send down rain and save the people. All the officials and their relatives followed suit, kneeling as well. The disaster victims on the outskirts also knelt. There was no reason for anyone else to remain standing when the emperor was kneeling.
Within moments, some of the people kneeling on the rooftop began to give way. This was understandable; the weather was simply too hot. Even the older people couldn't bear it.
Time was slowly devoured by the scorching heat. It was as if the heavens were playing a cruel joke on the kneeling people below. The sky was cloudless; there wasn't a single sign of rain!
"Look, even the emperor himself came to pray for rain, but it was no use. There must be a jinx that caused this prolonged drought." Some people began to spread such rumors among the disaster victims.
Meanwhile, Emperor Kangxi had been kneeling for over an hour, and his knees were aching so badly they felt like they didn't belong to him anymore. Liang Jiugong knelt beside Kangxi; he knew Kangxi's body all too well. It had been so long since the Emperor had done this; naturally, he couldn't take it anymore.
"Your Majesty, let this old servant help you down to rest," Liang Jiugong said.
"If it doesn't rain, how can I go down?" Kangxi said.
"Your Majesty, you can't push yourself too hard with your health like this!" Liang Jiugong said.
"Quickly bring Ji Changming over!" Kangxi said in a deep voice.
Liang Jiugong dared not delay and quickly went down to call over Ji Changming, who was kneeling in the ranks of ministers.
"Ji Changming, when will it rain? I have been praying for so long, but the sky has not changed at all," Kangxi said angrily.
“Your Majesty, the time has not yet come. I have already calculated that it will rain today,” Ji Changming said.
“But look at the sky, it’s cloudless, there’s not a trace of rain,” Kangxi said.
“Your Majesty, I only made the calculations based on the Yin-Yang calendar. But if the Wenwu Star descends to earth, it might change the course of fate,” Ji Changming said.
"So, does this mean that my prayers for rain here today might not be answered?" Kangxi said angrily. He didn't want to kneel here like this, not knowing what the outcome would be.
"Your Majesty, all I can say is to do my best and leave the rest to fate," Ji Changming said.
Emperor Kangxi sighed and silently recited prayers for rain to the heavens, but he was simply too old to bear it.
"Quickly help Father Emperor inside to rest." The Fourth Prince also came over, seeing that Kangxi looked like he couldn't hold on any longer.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
