As the drought continued, the people of the capital could no longer bear it. Although Emperor Kangxi ordered magistrates and governors throughout North China to set up tea stalls and provide the local people with a basic daily supply of drinking water, preventing any deaths from thirst, the prolonged drought led to reduced yields in various regions, resulting in famine.
It's unclear when it started, but people from all around the capital began flocking to Beijing. They came to the capital with their children, seeking water and food from their emperor.
Soon, a group of disaster victims who had come from all directions gathered, seemingly out of nowhere. They began to scramble for water.
Upon learning of this, Emperor Kangxi immediately dispatched ministers to persuade the refugees to return home. However, the group surrounded the ministers, preventing them from leaving. Furthermore, the sudden influx of these refugees stirred up the previously peaceful populace of the capital. Normally, they would collect their daily water from tea stalls, but the refugees' instigation escalated their emotions, leading to violent water-grabbing incidents. Some even went to the imperial water source to steal water, clashing with the garrison stationed there.
The incident happened so suddenly that even Emperor Kangxi had no time to react. The famine victims across the country were enraged by the water-grabbing incident. Water-grabbing incidents broke out in many parts of Beijing, and even armed clashes occurred.
A rumor even began circulating among the disaster victims, claiming that a malevolent star had descended from the heavens, causing the prolonged drought. The frenzied crowd even began gathering in front of the Temple of Heaven, demanding an explanation from the emperor!
Ji Changming was kneeling on the cold stone bricks of the Qianqing Palace, and he felt that his back was almost soaked with cold sweat.
"Didn't I say that the celestial phenomena you saw that day should not be spread? Why are the disaster victims outside already spreading rumors about some ominous star?" Kangxi said angrily.
"Your Majesty, I absolutely did not mention it to anyone. I have been calculating the person corresponding to the Wenwu Star these past few days. I would never mention the star chart of that day to outsiders!" Ji Changming knelt on the ground and pleaded. His two disciples had been with him in the Imperial Observatory the whole time and had not gone anywhere else, so there was no way they could have leaked anything to outsiders.
"Then how do you explain the evil star outside? What's going on?" Kangxi stared at Ji Changming and asked.
"That...that might be because His Majesty's conversation with me that day was overheard. Or perhaps someone outside also noticed this astrological sign," Ji Changming said anxiously, his forehead covered in sweat.
Kangxi fell silent at this moment. After all, Ji Changming had been a close advisor to him for more than ten years, and he knew that Ji Changming would not joke about his own life and fortune. Therefore, he asked, "So, have you figured it out or not?"
Ji Changming said, "Your Majesty, I am still calculating, but I believe I will be able to calculate it soon."
Emperor Kangxi waved his hand impatiently, signaling him to leave.
After Ji Changming left, Liang Jiugong threw down his whisk and said to Kangxi, "Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince outside requests an audience!"
Emperor Kangxi was quite annoyed by the severe drought. He had just finished his beating and wanted to recuperate for a while, but the drought had intensified the conflict between officials and the people.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty!" The Fourth Prince was dressed in the court robes of a prince.
"Fourth Prince, you've come at the right time! Are you aware of the situation outside?" Kangxi asked. These days, he liked to consult the Fourth Prince on everything. Even he himself didn't realize that he had developed this habit.
"Your Majesty, I am aware of the situation. The disaster victims are irritable and easily incited by those with ulterior motives to cause trouble. I believe the so-called 'evil star' is purely fictitious. I think that in the face of such an unpredictable natural disaster, people are looking for an excuse to vent their frustrations," said the Fourth Prince.
Kangxi nodded and said, "Hmm, what you said is very much to my liking. So, how can we quell this situation as quickly as possible?"
The Fourth Prince clasped his hands and said, "Your subject believes that it would be better to have the Imperial Observatory observe the celestial phenomena to see when the clouds and rain will arrive. If the clouds and rain are approaching, all these questions will be answered as soon as it rains."
“But we don’t know when it will rain. What if it doesn’t rain at all?” Kangxi said.
"Heaven will surely send rain; it's just a matter of time. If Father Emperor could personally pray for rain, it would help stabilize people's hearts," the Fourth Prince said.
"Praying for rain?" Kangxi knew how arduous that was. He could have done it before, but now he was almost sixty and might not be able to endure such strenuous activities anymore.
"Father Emperor can assign someone to do it, and then personally oversee things at the Temple of Heaven!" Fourth Prince said hastily, knowing Kangxi's concerns.
This time, Kangxi felt it was acceptable. After all, he didn't need to kneel under the scorching sun to pray for rain; he could quell the drought and public anger simply by sitting indoors. The problem was, who could do it in his place? In the past, the Crown Prince would have been fine, and if there were still a Crown Prince, he could simply appoint him. But now the Crown Prince was deposed; who should take his place?
"Fourth Prince, you shall do it! Since this idea came from you, you shall pray for rain on my behalf!" After a moment's thought, Kangxi said to the Fourth Prince.
The Fourth Prince was startled and quickly patted his sleeves. He bowed deeply to Emperor Kangxi and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your trust. I will certainly comfort the disaster victims. If the prayer for rain is successful, this protracted drought will end, and all the rumors will be dispelled."
"Indeed, this rain-praying ceremony is of great importance. I will order the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to carefully observe the nebulae and strive to pray for rain on a day when it is about to rain, as this will be more conducive to the dignity of the imperial family," Kangxi said.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will go and discuss this matter with Lord Ji," said the Fourth Prince.
Kangxi then discussed the specifics of the rain-praying ceremony with the Fourth Prince, even specifying which ceremonial guards from the Ministry of Rites should be used. To demonstrate the emperor's importance, all the necessary rituals and ceremonial arrangements were to be observed. Since the Fourth Prince was merely acting on behalf of Kangxi, who was the one actually praying for rain, the corresponding ceremonial arrangements had to be conducted according to the emperor's standards.
When the other princes, especially the Prince of Heshuo, the Third Prince, and the Eighth and Ninth Princes, heard that Emperor Kangxi was preparing to pray for rain, but that it was actually the Fourth Prince who would do it, they were all displeased. They all wondered if Kangxi's action was hinting at something. The Fourth Prince, however, had no time to concern himself with these matters. He spent his days with Ji Changming of the Imperial Observatory, waiting for celestial phenomena. Sure enough, a nebula of heavy rain had formed and was slowly approaching North China.
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