Now we will return to the ruler of Min, who had dispatched Minister of War Zou Huai to lead three thousand imperial guards to surround and arrest Xue Wenjie and his entire family to punish them. The Daoist priest Sheng Tao had warned Madame Song in advance. The mutual love of the couple was without compare: one hoping to be husband and wife forever, and the other willing to follow unreservedly. For this reason, Sheng Tao first informed Madame Song of the news, and told her to flee early in the morning to the Baohuang Palace to hide. At this time Madame Song was having an illicit love affair with him, and had no consideration for her husband. In her heart she thought to herself, “Although I must follow my love and secretly leave to follow my lover to live happily ever after, still what will it be like to have absolutely nothing?”

When she saw the Xue family’s gold, silver, money, and valuables piled as high as a mountain, she thought, “I must secretly pack it all up.” She made up two bundles, and she and her trusted female servant were about to run away together. Who could know that Heaven will not tolerate adultery? Just when they were packing up the treasure, unexpectedly the ruler of Min was in the Baohuang Palace at that very moment. When he had heard the speech of the god who had been invited down, he was enraged. Without waiting for his carriage at Nine Immortals Mountain, he sent troops to surround and arrest Xue Wenjie, as time was of the essence. Madame Song, the mistress of the house, accompanied by her servant, was just about to flee, but before they could escape they heard the sound of shouting without cease. Bang, bang! Crash, crash! The imperial soldiers rushed in and surrounded them, seizing everyone they saw, so in the end Madame Song did not manage to escape.

All 117 members of Xue Wenjie’s family were taken into custody to the execution ground and their heads cut off. What a pity! Xue Wenjie was treacherous his whole life, cruelly maltreating the wealthy households among the commoners, always causing trouble by harming people, and confiscating families’ property. To his surprise, he suffered a wanton wife who secretly used the words of the medium and, because of her debauchery, destroyed the entire family. There’s no need to pity him.

Having executed all of Xue Wenjie’s family, the ruler of Min thought to himself, “Thanks to the god’s instructions, I eliminated the traitorous minister. There will be no trouble in future.” Then he proclaimed that the year name should be changed to the second year of the Yonghe reign period.¹

It happened that in the fourth month of the summer season the spring rain had been excessive, so that when it reached the seventh month of the autumn season there was a severe drought with no rain. The pitiful sprouts in the fields were scorched and withering, craving timely rain like thirsty people. The red sun filled the sky, and the farmers were worried and bewildered. Of the five grains, there was no harvest. Trees withered and grass died. The common people were deeply distraught and everywhere prayed for rain. The local officials put out official notices prohibiting the slaughter of animals and the performance of music, and they themselves went on foot to the dragon god, wind god, and city god temples to pray for rain, but there was no response. At this time the province of Min and the capital suffered drought. There is a poem as evidence, which says:

Summer heat and autumn desolation, long without rain.

Laboring in vain at agriculture, all the people were frightened.

Ponds dried up, all the seedlings without fruit.

Trees and flowers scorched, the fruit didn’t set.

The sun’s redness became more intense; it struck the eye.

The sound of carts everywhere caused everyone to grieve.

The farmers suffered, it was difficult to work.

The withered grass produced smoke that filled the distance.

Now we will speak of the great drought of Fuzhou. The common people of the whole province were panic-stricken. The officials prayed for rain without result, while the farmers grieved and suffered. When the ruler of Min heard this, he felt extremely worried, so the following day he sent down a decree saying, “I order the Daoist master of the Baohuang Palace, Chen Shouyuan, to build an altar, perform the jiao sacrifice, and pray for rain.” When Chen Shouyuan received the order, he conveyed it to 128 Daoist priests, whom he gathered at the Three Pure Ones Hall in front of the Baohuang Palace, where they set up an altar to pray for rain. He and Sheng Tao presided at the altar, with each Daoist priest taking charge of his own work. From dawn to dusk they produced talismans and recited magic spells, struck bells and beat drums, burned incense and lit candles, and prayed for timely rain to fall.

The ruler of Min sent down a decree ordering the Ministry of Rites to put up a notice: “Inside and outside the city, slaughter, purification, and cleansing [as a preparation for ritual] are banned. In front of the doors of the common people’s houses, official yamens, and shops, all are to set up altars to the Dragon King God of the Four Seas.”

Daoist official Chen Shouyuan received the decree. In accordance with Daoist teaching, he had to arrange for sincere prayers three times a day—morning, noon, and evening—and keep watch for a supernatural response in order to gladden the heart of the king.² Who could have known that during the more than ten days of praying, the more they prayed, the clearer the sky? All they got for their prayers was a red sun rising, with not a sliver of cloud appearing.

When the ruler of Min saw that there was no response to the prayers, he sent a decree summoning the Daoist official Chen Shouyuan to come to the hall in order to give him a command in person. “Why is there is no rain? Each Daoist priest has set up an altar and performed the jiao sacrifice for more than half a month but, in the end, not a single drop of rain has fallen. I think that you all wasted money and grain. You have eaten food you didn’t earn and chanted false scriptures. All day long you have occupied yourselves with child’s play, so you could not move Supreme Heaven, with the result that it is like this. I now set a limit of seven more days for you to pray for rain. If there is no rain within seven days, I will send down a decree ordering the Three Judicial Offices to go to the foot of Nine Immortals Mountain to prepare a tower of kindling. Then all 128 Daoist officials and priests who have prayed for rain will be burned to death.”³ When he finished speaking, he angrily retired to the empress’s palace.

When Chen Shouyuan heard the edict, he withdrew. He had to cause rain to fall within seven days! He was terror-stricken! In great haste he returned to the Baohuang Palace. When all the Daoist priests and Sheng Tao came to meet him, they saw that his face had lost its color. Over and over he cried, “We’re doomed! We’re doomed!”

The Daoist priests asked, “What did the proclamation say?”

Chen Shouyuan wept and said, “Calamity is here! Just now the ruler summoned me. He angrily blamed us for praying for rain for half a month, and asked why there is no rain. He thought you were not sincere and were playing like children. Moreover, we were eating food we hadn’t earned and were reciting false scriptures. And he personally set a limit of seven more days: if we pray for rain and there is none, at the foot of the mountain he will have prepared in advance a tower of kindling, and he will have all the Daoist officials and priests burned to death together. I think that a living person tied onto this pile of kindling and burned to death is a truly ghastly way to die.”

When they heard this, they figured it would be difficult to avoid this disaster. Suddenly an old Daoist priest called out in a loud voice, “Don’t despair! There is still a savior.”

Everyone stopped wailing and asked, “How can we be saved?” That Daoist said to Chen Shouyuan, “We Daoist priests were all taught by ordinary people, so the most we can do is set up purifying jiao religious services for people. We get some of the promised penitence money and eat some of the promised vegetarian dishes, and that’s all. How can we issue our own summons that would reach to the steps of the Jade Emperor Hall to pray for rain? How could we compare to your cousin Chen Jinggu? She is the best student of Perfected Lord Xu of Mount Lü, who taught her the marvelous arts and the true magic. She is ten thousand times more powerful than we are. Making a plan for this present moment, you must hurry to Gutian to beg your cousin to come pray for rain. I guarantee that the rain will immediately fall, and, when it falls, we won’t be burned to death. What need is there to uselessly weep?”

When Chen Shouyuan heard this, the idea filled his heart with joy. He wiped his eyes and said, “What you say is absolutely right!” He rushed into the bedroom to gather his traveling expenses, came out with a small bundle on his back, and instructed Sheng Tao, “As before, take care of the management of the ruler’s altar.” He then rushed off to Gutian.

On the very same day, Chen Shouyuan arrived at Linshui Palace. He knocked on the door and went in. Madame Chen saw that her cousin Shouyuan had come, and asked, “What family matter is there? Are my parents well?”

Shouyuan replied, “The family is fine, and the two old people are safe and sound. There’s no need to worry. It’s just that your foolish cousin has expressly hurried to Linshui Palace on a special matter, to beg you to save my life and the lives of all the Daoist priests.”

Madame Chen quickly asked, “Cousin, what urgent matter is it? If I can save you, naturally I will do my utmost.”

When Shouyuan heard this, he was very happy. He related in detail the directive sent down by the king of Min ordering him to pray for timely rain. “All the Daoist priests set up altars at the Three Pure Ones Hall and prayed for rain for half a month without effect,” he told her. “The ruler of Min is very angry, and personally has set a limit for us of seven more days to pray for rain. If there is still no rain, at the foot of Nine Immortals Mountain he will erect a tower of kindling and burn to death all 128 Daoist priests. This matter is urgent and I have no way of dealing with it. I had no alternative but to especially come to Gutian to beg you to remember that we are of the same family, so saving my life is essential. Could I trouble you to hurry to Fuzhou? You will save me and all the Daoist priests, and rescue the people. The merit could not be greater.”

After Madame Chen heard what he said, she muttered to herself for a long time. Then she said, “I don’t know what the matter is. You asked me to pray for rain in your stead. Praying for timely rain, this matter is really difficult to comply with. When I left Mount Lü the first time the magic master exhorted me over and over, telling me that when I reached twenty-four years of age, a great calamity would threaten me. He solemnly warned me that I would not be permitted to use my magic implements, recite scripture, or write talismans. So, I really cannot go.”

When Shouyuan saw his cousin flatly decline to go, he was panic-stricken. Tearfully he said, “Worthy cousin, if you aren’t willing to pray for rain in my stead, then right before your eyes you will see me burn to death. To suffer this bitter calamity while alive will be a very cruel death. Worthy cousin, I absolutely hope that you will remember our familial affection and save me in this emergency.”

Madame Chen changed color and said, “Out of sibling affection, how could I not feel pity? It’s not that I don’t want to save you. But the magic master repeatedly prohibited me, warning that I, too, will be threatened by a great calamity if I dare to act contrary to his instructions.”

Shouyuan saw his cousin change countenance and adamantly decline to consent. He was frightened to death. He wiped his tears and said angrily, “Worthy cousin, you say that your master prohibited and warned you. To be as resolute as this, you are completely forgetting that in former times when you were carried off to Mount Lü by Liangnü to study magic for three years, from the time you disappeared your parents were seriously ill. Day and night they cried out in pain. Both in and out of the house it was entirely up to me to call the doctor to treat them. Day and night I didn’t leave, waiting on them at their bedside. Are they my parents that I should be so filial? You don’t remember these ties of affection, but you remember what prohibitions your master stated. With your own eyes to see me, your cousin, burned alive, how can your sisterly heart bear it? It’s as if I, Shouyuan, am in a dream, hoping my life will be saved. Just forget it! Such is my fate!” Deeply hurt, he burst into tears. Taking up his bundle and umbrella, angrily he was about to leave.

When Madame Chen heard what her cousin said, she felt duty-bound by their family ties. “Cousin,” she said, “there’s no need to worry. I’ll certainly go pray for rain in your stead.” When Shouyuan heard that she had agreed to pray for rain, his despair turned to joy.

He said, “Since you, worthy cousin, have consented, only now can I feel relief. But just now I have offended you with my hasty words, and I hope you won’t bear a grudge.”

Madame Chen said, “We are cousins of the same family, so how could I bear a grudge? Cousin, you return first, and order all the Daoist priests in the Baohuang Palace to sincerely pray, while I will go work magic. Of course there will be a response.”

On his departure, he exhorted her repeatedly, and only then did he leave Linshui and hurry back to Fuzhou, where he went to the Baohuang Palace. All the Daoist priests welcomed him, asking, “Is your cousin coming or not?” Shouyuan told them the whole story about how his cousin had to observe her master’s prohibition and absolutely would not come, and that he had implored her piteously and only then had she agreed to come, and that she had ordered them to pray at the jiao altars while she went to work magic. When the Daoist priests heard this, they all exclaimed, “What good luck! We don’t have to die! We’re saved!” Then they all went to pray and recite scripture.

Now we will return to Madame Chen. Now that she had promised Shouyuan that she would go to Fuzhou to pray for rain, she returned home to inform her husband’s parents. Then she went to Linshui Palace to fetch her magic implements, and instructed the thirty-six palace concubines to keep watch over the palace and hall. Shrinking into an earth vein, she went to Fuzhou and entered the Baohuang Palace. To Shouyuan she said, “You order all the Daoist priests to pray, while I go to White Dragon River to work magic.”

When she finished speaking, she used the earth method to first return to Xiadu. When her old mother, Madame Ge, saw that her daughter had returned, she asked her where she was going. Madame Chen told her about Shouyuan requesting her to save him by praying for rain in his stead, explaining everything in detail. But since she was now three months pregnant, she was not in a position to work magic. She first had to come home to remove her fetus and leave it there, and only then would she be able to work magic.⁴ But fearing that her demon enemy would find out and harm her fetus, she said, “Then my life will come to an end. If I don’t pray for rain in my cousin’s stead, then his life will come to an end. I just need you, Mother, to be willing to listen to my instructions. Then our two lives will both be preserved.”

Madame Ge asked, “What are your instructions? Today, for you, of course I will do as you say. How could I not listen to you?”

Madame Chen said, “Mother, since you will do as I say, today you must stay in the house. Absolutely do not open your mouth and speak, and don’t have anything to do with outsiders. Wait for me to work my magic and return home before you talk again. Then I will be all right.”

Madame Ge said, “What difficulty could there be in that? Your father has gone out, so today I am the only one at home. What would I have to say? Daughter, put your mind at rest and go. If there is anything to say, I will wait for you to return and then say it.”

When Madame Chen heard this, she was very happy. She went inside, removed her fetus, and stored it in the birthing basin.⁵ She turned the basin upside down, covering the fetus, and closed the door tight. With her hand she formed a mudra that she waved over the door of the house, covering it with a magic hexagram.⁶ She took a straw rope and placed it at the back door, and with a spray of talismanic water it turned into a great python. Finally, she took a chamber pot and placed it at the front door. Another spray of talismanic water turned it into a fierce, multicolored tiger lying outside the door.⁷

Taking her magic implements, she again instructed her mother, “Don’t pay attention to other people’s business, and absolutely do not open your mouth and speak.” Her mother assented, and Madame Chen firmly closed the door. In front of the door she recited the true words and magic spells, and, with a spray of talismanic water, the house was transformed into a lake of lotuses. In the middle she planted lotus roots, which entirely concealed the house with a thick growth of lotus leaves. When Madame Chen had hidden the house from view, she figured there was nothing more to do. Her mind at ease, she departed.

Madame Chen went alone to White Dragon River. (This is under the present-day great Nantai Bridge.) She spread out a duckweed mat to float on the surface of the water, shook out her black hair, put on her magic cap, and tied on her magic skirt. In her left hand she held a spirit horn and in her right hand a magic sword. She stepped onto the mat floating on the river, brandished the sword, and blew the horn. She paced the Big Dipper, performed the true magic of Mount Lü, and recited magic spells. She commanded the Tally Messenger of the Minister of Personnel to go up to Heaven. She also issued orders to her two bodyguards, Wang and Yang: she commanded bodyguard Wang to quickly go to the bureau of the Dragon King of the Four Seas to summon the Rain Dragon Spirit to bring water and cause rain to fall, while bodyguard Yang was to go to Mount Lü to inform the magic master Perfected Lord Xu that she was there praying for rain, both to rescue the people and to save the lives of her cousin and all the Daoist priests. The two bodyguards received their orders and departed.

In a short time black clouds filled the sky, and the sun no longer shone. There was violent wind and thunder and lightning; fog rose up and clouds soared. With a clap of thunder torrential rain fell, the timely rain falling straight down, and saving innumerable living souls. Madame Chen herself couldn’t escape the streaming rain. Alone on the mat in the middle of the river she performed magic and danced. She felt that because the drought had lasted so long, there must be more rain, and only then would it be beneficial.

Now we will return to the Ravine Demon. He had freed the head segment of the White Snake from its chains in Dragon Pool Gully and hidden her at Great Ravine Mountain Grotto to recuperate. Because the White Snake’s body was incomplete, she could no longer transform herself into a beautiful woman. Nonetheless, her desire to seek young men for carnal pleasure, thereby harming people, was unchanged.

When the Ravine Demon learned that Madame Chen was at White Dragon River praying for rain, he thought of a plan to kill her. He said to himself, “I heard that Madame Chen is three months pregnant, so how can she perform magic and pray for rain?” He thought and thought. “That’s it! Can it be that she first went to her parents’ home and removed the fetus, leaving it in her mother’s house for safekeeping? After she prays for rain, then she will go back to get it. What could be better than taking it to the White Snake to show her who is superior and who is inferior? If her fetus is harmed then she will not be able to perform magic, and even preserving her life will be difficult.”

The Ravine Demon talked it over with the White Snake. Then, he and the White Snake’s head segment used escape magic to go to Xiadu. They searched everywhere, but there was no Chen Chang house. As the Ravine Demon searched, he said, “This is very strange! This Xiadu is a place I often come, so I know everyone’s business. How is it that I can’t find the Chens’ house?” Searching all morning, he scrutinized every corner minutely. Clearly this was the place! He said suspiciously, “The Chens’ house has disappeared, and this pond wasn’t always here.” Suddenly he realized what had happened. “That’s it! Chen Jinggu used magic to conceal it!” The Ravine Demon then turned himself into a magpie, hopped onto a lotus flower, and there he called without cease.

After her daughter gave her instructions and left, Madame Ge closed the door and sat in silence, her spirits low. Sitting in front of the stove, all she could hear was a magpie on the roof endlessly calling. The longer she listened, the more annoyed she became, and she couldn’t help opening her mouth to chase it away. The Ravine Demon heard a human voice underneath the lotuses, and knew that it was magic worked by Madame Chen. Now that he had seen through it, when he took another look, there was no pond. Knowing that he was not mistaken, the Ravine Demon, elated, danced on the roof tiles. He said to the White Snake, “Madame, you wait here. I’m going to go steal her fetus and bring it to you as nourishing food to build up your strength. Once you have eaten it, you will have your revenge for having been beheaded, and the wrong done to you will be erased.” The White Snake happily assented.

The Ravine Demon proceeded to transform himself into a village boy, went to the Chens’ house, and knocked on the door. From the time her daughter left, Madame Ge had been sitting in the house not daring to speak. Suddenly she heard someone outside knocking on the door, and she burst out, “Who’s there?”

The reply came, “It’s me.” She opened the door and saw a boy.

“Who are you?” she asked.

The Ravine Demon laughed and said, “Old lady, your eyes are so bad you don’t recognize me. I am the son of the third wife of the eldest son of the Lin family at the front of the village. My name is Kui Ge. Now do you recognize me?”⁸

Madame Ge said, “So it’s Kui Ge, the son of Lin Sansao. Where has your father gone? Why did he send you here?”

The Ravine Demon said, “My mother is at home. Today I am coming back from taking the ox to pasture. I’m so thirsty! I came especially to ask you for a cup of tea to drink.”

Madame Ge said, “Of course there’s tea. Come in and have some.”

The Ravine Demon followed her into the living room, where he saw a fierce tiger lying behind the door. Greatly alarmed, he cried out, “The tiger frightens me!”

Madame Ge said, “You must have seen a ghost. Where is there a tiger?”

The Ravine Demon said, “That’s not a tiger?”

Madame Ge looked at it, saw a chamber pot, laughed, and said, “It’s a chamber pot! What tiger are you talking about?” The Ravine Demon looked again, and, sure enough, it was a chamber pot.

He followed Madame Ge to the stove, where he saw a huge white python at the back door, coiled on the ground. Again he was frightened, and cried out, “What a big snake! What a big snake!”

Madame Ge said, “Where is there a snake?”

The Ravine Demon said, “That’s not a snake?”

She looked at it, saw a straw rope, and said, “That’s a straw rope! Why do you say it’s a snake?” The Ravine Demon took another look and, sure enough, it was a straw rope.

Then he said, “Old lady, right in front of you is a Nine-Palace Eight-Hexagram chart.”

Madame Ge said, “Right in front is the bedchamber. What Nine-Palace Eight-Hexagram chart are you talking about?” The Ravine Demon looked again and, sure enough, it was the bedchamber. One by one, all of Madame Chen’s magic concealments had been revealed by Madame Ge and appeared in their original form. This was Madame Chen’s fate.

Madame Ge said, “You wait for me here while I get you something to drink. Absolutely don’t go into my bedchamber.” The Ravine Demon was very happy.

He replied that he understood, but thought to himself, “The concealment magic is already broken, and the fetus must be stored in the bedroom.” Using magic to make himself invisible, he slipped into the room. In front of the bed he saw a basin covering something. He quickly lifted the lid of the birthing basin and saw that the fetus was stored inside it. The Ravine Demon was happy beyond measure. He stole the fetus and gave it to the White Snake, who immediately ate it. Thereupon the two of them went together to White Dragon River to kill Chen Jinggu.

When Madame Ge came out carrying a bowl of tea, she didn’t see Kui Ge. She looked all around for him, but he had disappeared. She called his name, but he didn’t answer. She said to herself, “That child was so impatient. He came in asking for tea but couldn’t wait for even a moment.” Then she closed the front door and went inside.

Now we will speak of the Ravine Demon and the White Snake, who had eaten the fetus. They hurried to the riverbank, concealed themselves in the water, and waited for Chen Jinggu to complete her third prayer for rain. The water rose to her feet. She was about to collect her magic implements and mat and return to the bank, when suddenly, with the fetus from her belly destroyed, her blood poured out in a flood, as if her belly had been cut open with a knife. The pain was unbearable. In an instant her spirit had dispersed in all directions, and her limbs had no strength. Her face turned pale, and she was drenched in foul blood.⁹

Her body sank along with the duckweed mat into the water, where she saw the White Snake’s head segment on the left and the Ravine Demon on the right pulling the magic mat under the water. Madame Chen looked down and calculated. Realizing that her magic spells had been broken and her fetus destroyed, she said, “My demon nemesis is secretly killing me, and my life will surely come to an end.”

She wanted to take her sword and enter the water to seize and decapitate the snake and demon, but her own spirit was scattering, her limbs had no strength, and her body was as soft as cotton. Although she was conscious, having magic, she could not perform it; having a sword, she couldn’t cut. She could only sigh, “It’s finished! It’s all over!” The mat was dragged from her under the water and she sank. We won’t speak of this anymore.

Now we will return to Perfected Lord Xu, the magic master of Mount Lü. When he saw bodyguard Yang bearing Jinggu’s order coming to inform him that she was performing magic to pray for rain at White Dragon River in order to save her cousin and the people, he did a quick calculation on his fingers. Very alarmed, he said, “It’s not good. My disciple did not heed my warning, so it is impossible to escape this calamity.” To bodyguard Yang he said, “A terrible calamity is threatening Jinggu at this very moment, and you are not at her side to protect her. You two generals were both sent far away from her. What is the best thing to do? I will now exit the mountain to see what the situation is.” Quickly he flew to the top of the mountain and, gazing into the distance with his eye of wisdom, saw his disciple sinking into the water. From the ground the magic master picked up three stone eggs, sent them flying into the sky, and dispatched bodyguard Yang to hurry back to rescue Jinggu from this moment of crisis.

Now we will speak of Madame Chen, who was standing on the mat, her spirit dispersing, and, drenched in foul blood, her body weakening. Her magic no longer worked. The snake and demon had already pulled the mat down into the water, and she supposed that she would surely suffer this murderous treachery and inevitably die. Suddenly she saw three mother ducks flying down from Heaven. Together they dove into the water and, each taking a corner of the mat in its mouth, they pulled the mat back to the surface of the water.

Madame Chen, who had been sinking, once again floated. All of the foul blood was washed away and she was at peace, her spirit again whole, and her strength returning little by little. When the Ravine Demon saw Madame Chen sink and then float again and try to perform her magic as before, he was afraid of being killed or captured by her. Unable to take care of the White Snake, he tried to save himself, and made his escape using the Water Method.

The White Snake saw that the Ravine Demon was already fleeing. She figured that as her own body was incomplete, she could not save herself. But if she didn’t quickly escape, she would certainly be killed. Letting Chen Jinggu go, she fled. Madame Chen’s spirit was as before. She saw the snake escaping and, leaving the mat, set off in pursuit. The White Snake’s body after all was not whole, so she couldn’t easily flee, and she was closely pursued by Chen Jinggu who, at the edge of Gutian, seized her. The Ravine Demon, however, had craftily slipped away without a trace. Who knows which of the five methods he used to hide where? For the time being he was impossible to catch.

Madame Chen climbed astride the White Snake’s head and, soaring into the sky, rode a cloud to Linshui. At this time Madame Chen had lost her fetus and sunk in the water, after having done her utmost. Rage filled her bosom, and cold permeated her five organs and six entrails. When she encountered calamity in childbirth, she could not save herself because she had earlier adamantly refused to learn the arts of saving women in childbirth. Sitting astride the White Snake’s head, she attained the Way, and died at twenty-four years of age.

Because she had died, the thirty-six palace concubines in the palace were all without protection, and had no magic arts. Unable to establish themselves in human form, together they disintegrated, reverting into thirty-six piles of white bones in the various palaces along the two halls. Each soul still followed Madame Chen in her retinue and did not leave Linshui Palace.

When old Mr. Liu and his son heard that Madame Chen had died, they were greatly shocked. Together with Liu Qi’s mother they hurried to Linshui Palace, where they saw that, although Madame Chen had died, she looked exactly as she had in life. There was no change at all! She sat astride her mount, the White Snake’s head. Their grief was unbearable, and they all burst into unceasing tears. Liu Qi sent a servant to Xiadu in Fuzhou to inform Chen Jinggu’s parents of her death. When her parents heard the news, they nearly died of grief. Together they set out to travel to Gutian.

Now we will speak of Madame Chen, who had died. While her body had perished, her soul did not fade at all, neither dispersing nor forgetting Mount Lü.¹⁰ Just as if she were still alive, it returned to Mount Lü and had an audience with the master, Perfected Lord Xu. It kowtowed on the ground. Perfected Lord Xu was amazed. He sighed and said, “You brought this calamity on yourself. What cause for complaint do you have? That year, as your teacher, I repeatedly implored and urged you, but in the end, you went against your teacher’s wishes and were unwilling to learn the arts of saving women in childbirth. For this reason, now at the age of twenty-four you have suffered this calamity. Furthermore, you didn’t heed my prohibitions. If you had hidden yourself away, you could perhaps have avoided this calamity. We can’t know for certain. Who foresaw that you would not have faith and would turn your back on my teaching? It’s too late for regrets now.”

Madame Chen only then recalled that in former days at Mount Lü when she had taken leave of the master to return home, and had walked twenty-four steps and turned to see if the master had gone back into the grotto, he had called her back and repeatedly urged her to stay for a time to learn the arts of protecting the fetus and saving women in childbirth. She said to herself, “It was I who refused to learn. Now, sure enough, I’m twenty-four years old, I’ve suffered this misfortune in childbirth, and I wasn’t able to save myself.” Only then did she understand that her body had died and her soul had returned to Mount Lü to see the master. Indeed, it was too late for regrets, and so she felt heartbroken, bitterly regretting that she had not been able to protect to adulthood the child of her first pregnancy.

She knelt and prostrated herself in front of the magic master’s throne. Weeping, she said, “I am good for nothing. I didn’t listen to my master’s teaching, and I disobeyed your injunctions. For this reason I suffered the calamity of losing my body. Now although I have lost my life, I want to beg you, master, to teach me the arts of saving women in childbirth, protecting the fetus, and sending children into the world, in order to fill up the void of the regrets left from my life.”

She kowtowed and begged the master to teach her. The magic master said, “If you had been like this earlier, how would you have come to this today?” Then from a bundle he took out a volume and gave it to Jinggu, saying, “Thoroughly read this until you have mastered the marvelous magic.” Madame Chen knelt to receive the volume. thanked the magic master, and took her leave. Then in the grotto, as before, she studied deeply.

Now we will speak of the ruler of Min. He heard that Madame Chen had gone to Fuzhou to work magic to pray for rain on White Dragon River. Sure enough, in a short while there was wind and thunder, and a heavy rain poured down. It truly was not something that an ordinary person could have done. The common people everywhere, inside the city and out, cherished Madame Chen’s magic power, and were boundlessly grateful for her kindness. Three times her rain fell. High and low, near and far, the mountains and fields all had a sufficiency. Beside himself with joy, the ruler of Min praised Chen Jinggu’s great kindness and virtue.

That night, as the ruler of Min slept peacefully in the dragon bed, he saw a beautiful young woman dressed in red clothing. She knelt before the bed, her eyes brimming with tears. The ruler of Min was greatly alarmed. Astounded, he sat up and asked, “Who are you? What matter do you have to report in the dead of night?”

The woman answered, “I am none other than the one whom you have twice decreed be enfeoffed as Respected and Blessed Lady of Linshui, whose virtue is like a mountain and kindness like the ocean. I had no way to repay my debt to the state. For this reason, when Min suffered a severe drought and longed for rain like a person dying of thirst, it was I who prayed for rain on White Dragon River. Because I was three months pregnant, I first removed my fetus and left it for safekeeping in my mother’s house, and only then did I go to perform magic. To my surprise, my demon enemies, the White Snake and the Ravine Demon, went to my mother’s house and took the fetus and destroyed it. Then they went to White Dragon River to kill me. Three times they pulled my mat under the water. I saw the snake and the demon, and wielding my sword I left the mat to pursue and seize the White Snake. Astride her head, I returned to Linshui. Unexpectedly, cold entered my organs and entrails, wind entered my spleen and lungs, and in the end I died from a calamitous childbirth.”

When the ruler of Min heard Madame Chen say that she had died from a calamitous childbirth, he was so shocked that he collapsed and burst into tears. He said, “Alone you repeatedly protected the state, saving me and all the people of the city, and freeing us from disaster. You killed the White Snake and exerted yourself praying for rain. In saving the people you lost your own life. Your merit is great. I am deeply saddened.” Again and again he stamped his feet in grief. Unaware, he awoke Empress Chen Jinfeng with one of his kicks. When she heard the ruler weeping without cease, she asked why he was so grief-stricken.

When the ruler of Min heard her calling him, only then did he awaken. It had been a “Dream under the Southern Bough,” unusual in the extreme.¹¹ Then he told the empress how Madame Chen had appeared in a dream and explained to him how she had prayed for rain and died as a consequence of a calamitous childbirth, and so on. When the empress heard this, she couldn’t help weeping. She said, “Your dream was exactly like mine. Last night I also dreamed that Madame Chen came here, and not even half a sentence differed. I think Madame Chen must have a reason, so I implore you tomorrow to send down a decree to thoroughly investigate this matter.”

When it got to be light in the east, the ruler of Min and Empress Chen put on their robes and caps and went to the court. After the civil and military officials had each paid their respects, Vice Minister Gao Teng of the Ministry of Rites had an audience. Clutching an audience tablet to his chest, he prostrated himself and reported, “I, Gao Teng, have a message here to report to my ruler. There is a local official here now from Gutian. He reports that the person called Madame Chen of Linshui Palace in Gutian removed her fetus because she was going to White Dragon River to pray for rain. She caught cold and wind and suffered a calamitous childbirth. Astride the White Snake’s head, she returned to Linshui Palace and died there. Now he sincerely reports, and begs you to pass judgment.”

The ruler of Min pounded the table and wept bitter tears. “Last night I dreamed that I saw Madame Chen,” he said. “She came up to the dragon bed and told me about losing her life. I have always said that dreams are evanescent, and it’s hard to believe that they are true, but, to my surprise, sure enough, this really happened.” In the court there wasn’t a single civil or military official who was not sick at heart. The ruler of Min wiped his tears and decreed, “I am giving the Inner Palace Manager Gui Shouming a decree that he should go to Gutian and offer sacrifices.” Once again he sent down a decree to enfeoff her. There’s no need to speak of this.

Now we will turn to the Liu family at Linshui Palace, father and son and mother, who, of course, were deeply grief-stricken. When the people of the area, near and far, heard that Madame Chen had died, there wasn’t one who did not weep. Liu Qi was about to prepare the clothing for the body, as well as the inner and outer coffins, when a Daoist priest arrived at the palace. To Liu Tong, father and son, he said, “Your daughter-in-law’s achievements have attained the true fruits. She must be enthroned here. You must use charcoal, cloth, and lacquer to preserve her fleshly body to guard Linshui Palace in Gutian and receive incense offerings for ten thousand years. She will ward off evil and bless and protect. To preserve her remains, you must not use a coffin or prepare her body for the coffin.”

No sooner had he spoken than he vanished. Surprised and bewildered, the people said, “This man surely was a heavenly immortal sent by the magic master of Mount Lü especially to give instructions.” Both inside and outside Linshui Palace there was an extraordinary fragrance. Liu Qi didn’t dare prepare the body for the coffin. Instead, he invited in an expert painting and lacquer artist, who used charcoal and cloth on the fleshly body. On the outside he used a thick layer of earth to sculpt the fleshly body, and dressed it up as the Lady. Then she was placed astride the White Snake’s head in a niche, where sacrifices were offered.

On the fourth day the parents of Madame Chen of Fuzhou arrived in Gutian. Weeping, they entered the palace. All they saw was their daughter’s body, exactly as it was when she was still alive. The two old people wept bitterly, almost to the point of death. Nearly dead of sorrow, the husband, Liu Qi, regained consciousness, his liver and entrails torn to pieces by grief. Everyone was heartbroken.

That very day Gui Shouming brought to the palace the edict to offer sacrifices and the letter conferring additional titles. The local official welcomed the edict and together they went into the palace and set out imperial sacrifices.¹² When the sacrifices were complete, he asked about the thirty-six palace concubines. Only then did he learn that they had turned back into white bones after Chen Jinggu died, and each had returned to her palace chamber. On the lintel over each palace chamber in the two halls there was a tablet on which was written the palace concubine’s name. In accordance with the tablets, Gui Shouming had the thirty-six palace concubines’ home administrative divisions and counties and their names copied into a register.¹³ Then he returned to the court and reported on the results of what he had been ordered to do.

When the ruler of Min was informed, he was amazed. He decreed that the thirty-six palace concubines should have conferred on them the titles of the thirty-six palace Poguan. He also said that he was moved by Madame Chen’s repeated achieving of outstanding services, protecting the country and bringing peace to the people, praying for rain, and sacrificing her own life. In addition, he granted Madame Chen the title of Exalted and Blessed Lady of Linshui Palace Who Illuminates and Grants Favors.¹⁴ This was the third occasion on which he decreed a title for her.

Old Liu Tong and Chen Jinggu’s husband, Liu Qi, both had already resigned their official posts and gone to live in retirement. They received titles of Grand Master Who Illuminates and Grants Favors, while Madame Zhu, her mother-in-law, was given the title of Grand Mistress. The ruler granted a title to Madame Chen’s grandfather, Chen Yu, as a second rank official, and her father, Chen Chang, as a second rank noble. Her grandmother and her mother, Madame Ge, were also given the title of Grand Mistress.

He again ordered the Inner Hall Manager, Gui Shouming, to go to Linshui Palace in Gutian. Shouming received the summons and again went to Gutian to confer a title. When he had expressed his thanks and gratitude, he returned to Min and reported the completion of the decree. Linshui Palace at Gutian, where Madame Chen’s body was dressed and set up to complete the correct Way astride the White Snake’s head, was the ancestral hall. Now the name Linshui Palace was changed to Dragon King Temple. What is more, her mother’s house at Xiadu and Black Stone Mountain were both branch palaces.

The Empress Chen Jinfeng also made offerings in the palace to Madame Chen’s image, giving her the title of Great Nurturess Chen. She dedicated her life to the cult of Chen Jinggu, to be a follower in life and death. On the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month she made offerings to the Great Lady’s sacred tablet, when all things were offered, except for duck. Because of the affection felt for the mother ducks that on that fatal day seized the mat in their mouths, they vow not to eat duck, and, consequently, their offerings never include duck. In the Ming dynasty, Xu Zhi, because he visited Dragon King Temple, wrote a poem praising it.¹⁵ The poems says:

At the abandoned temple overlooking the river

They sacrificed to the beauty,

The young girl who became an exalted spirit in the Five Dynasties.

Tadpoles come out from under the steps.

The Snake Demon who submitted sleeps in the well.

Spring and Autumn, the old peasants change their headcloths.

At the New Year season youths burn paper money.

Moss fills in the old tablet and travelers mourn it.

The adornment tower has no caretaker.

It seals in the smoke from dead fires.

Now we will speak of Madame Chen. Although she died, her body was at Dragon King Temple. With the spirit of a heroine, her heart did not dim, and she was exactly as in life.¹⁶ But she still regretted that the Ravine Demon had escaped and not been captured, and that she had not yet avenged herself on this enemy. She ordered her two bodyguards, Wang and Yang, to bring the Shadow Soldiers to guard Dragon King Temple. Her own spirit undimmed, it traveled everywhere searching for the Ravine Demon.

Before Heaven she again made a vow, saying, “Today I suffered death in childbirth and could not save myself. I vow that if anywhere in the mortal world there is difficulty or sickness before or after childbirth, as well as prayers for children, or young children at the malevolent passes of childhood, no matter whether it is near or far, if it is a stormy day or rainy night, if there is a call, I will invariably respond. I renounce my life to save those suffering difficulty in childbirth and to protect young children. I will recover the spirit of my male fetus that was eaten by the White Snake, and refine it.” Then she practiced a Liandu Ritual of salvation through refinement, transmuting it into a human form that she named Liu Cong. This is the present Ling Tong San Sheren.

We will now set aside Madame Chen seeking to catch the demon, and turn our attention to Miss Gao and Miss Zou. Because Madame Chen banned magic implements, did not recite scriptures and imprecations, closed the door and left no trace of herself in the world, all the sisters went back to their homes. When they heard that Madame Chen had died at Linshui Palace, they wept bitterly without cease. Their parents exhorted them without success. They rejected food and drink; all day they wept and would not speak. Their parents tried to persuade them in every possible way, but it was as if they were drunk or crazy. They said that all they wanted was to see Madame Chen. That night Miss Gao waited till her parents had gone to sleep, hanged herself, and died. The next night, when Miss Zou heard about it, she, too, hanged herself in her bedchamber. The souls of the two Daoist girls, still companions, went to Linshui Palace in Gutian to join Madame Chen. Truly it was:

Although they were not born together, they wished to die together.

They rid themselves of their previous regret and went to take revenge on their former enemy.

We don’t yet know how things turned out. Read the next chapter to find out.