The Emperor remarked that his prayers serve the purpose of saving human lives; how could he even consider sacrificing one? But if there had to be a living sacrifice, he thought he had to be the one.
Then he went outdoors with his entourage to pray to the gods. He reflected on his politics and personal life, and asked the heavenly deities questions: "Did I carry out my duties properly? Is my palace built too lavishly? Did I err in my encounters with women? Or did my misguided political decisions harm the populace?"
He had barely finished his prayers when a deluge soaked the whole nation and the drought was over.
