When Yang Jian was young, the prevailing climate had made him a devout believer in Buddhism. He also believed in the existence of deities. Since ancient times, the emperors recorded in history had always been extraordinary from birth.
The Five Emperors had been like gods, many conceived through divine dragons or descended from deities.
When the Sage King descended, purple qi had come thirty thousand li from the east.
When Xi Shi, mother of the Luo River Goddess, was pregnant, she had once dreamed of a phoenix entering her embrace. When the child descended, purple radiance had filled the room.
The Emperor of Qin had had a great sun enter his embrace.
Emperor Gao of Han had the tale of his birth from a dragon.
Legends from ancient times had emerged without end. Posthumous titles were submitted to Supreme Heaven, and the Great Oath at the Luo River had exterminated the entire Sima clan. He could not help believing.
But all that lasted only until he became the Son of Heaven.
He was certain there had been no unusual signs at his birth, nor had there been any supernatural manifestations during his rise to the throne.
But the people of the realm did not think so, because, whether actively or passively, he had been spreading certain claims.
And so these voices had arisen among the common people-
"The emperor was born at Bore Temple. At his birth, purple qi filled the courtyard."
"An eminent monk came from the Western Regions and said, 'This qilin child is extraordinary. He should not grow up in the mundane world.'"
"The Imperial Mother once held the emperor and suddenly saw horns emerging from his head, like a deer's, then saw scales growing. The Imperial Mother was greatly alarmed. These were the signs of a