The story concerned a small temple with a statue of a goddess seated inside.
As for which goddess she was, no one could say, because the statue had no head.
Although the goddess's temple had fallen into such disrepair and no one had restored the statue, prayers offered there with a sincere heart still proved remarkably effective.
Later, a reigning dynasty's top scholar was sent out to serve as a prefectural official and passed this Temple of the Headless Lady. Top scholars were incarnations of the celestial Star of Literature, and he saw through the mystery of the temple at a glance.
Without betraying anything, he asked his attendants about the history of the Temple of the Headless Lady, then finally said:
"Since this temple answers prayers so readily, it is truly disrespectful to leave its statue in such a sorry state. Judging by the statue's clothing and adornments, I believe it appears to be Bixia Yuanjun. Hurry and fetch a craftsman to replace the goddess's head. Then I will offer a few sticks of incense to pray for blessings for the local people."
His attendants readily agreed, praising the Top Scholar as a man blessed with great fortune and a good official who loved the people like his own children. That very night, they fetched a craftsman to make a head of Bixia Yuanjun and complete the statue.
The Top Scholar lit three sticks of incense and placed them before the statue, then left the temple, laughed three times, and went to take up his post.
That night, travelers passing beneath the mountain where the temple stood heard waves of ghostly wailing from above, weeping as though pouring out grievances.
Afterward, however much incense people burned, the goddess's temple never answered prayers again.
Later, someone curious asked the Top