Cheng Tang was a descendant of the Yellow Emperor and had the surname Zi. Initially, Emperor Ku's concubine Jian Di from the Gao Xin clan bathed in the river in the spring. She found a mystical bird's egg, picked it up, and consumed it, leading to her pregnancy and the birth of a son named Qi. Emperor Ku appointed him as the Chief of Fire and tasked him with observing the movements of the stars. As this place faced the planet Shang, it was named Shang.
Qi's lineage continued for thirteen generations, leading to Tai Yi, who became Cheng Tang. The last ruler of the Xia Dynasty, King Jie of Xia, was known for his debauchery and cruelty. Tang defeated Jie, establishing the Shang Dynasty. When it reached Pan Geng, the capital was moved to Yin, hence the Shang Dynasty is also known as Yin or Shang-Tang. Tang's lineage continued for twenty-seven generations, spanning over six hundred years, until Emperor Yi.
Emperor Yi had three sons: the eldest was Weizi Qi, the second was Weizi Yan, and the youngest was named Shou. One spring, while Emperor Yi and his ministers were admiring peonies in the Imperial Flower Garden, the Cloud Pavilion suddenly collapsed. Shou bravely stepped forward and supported the beam, replacing the pillar. When Emperor Yi needed to choose a crown prince, he heeded the advice of his Prime Minister Shang Rong, the Grand Minister Mei Bo, Zhao Qi, and others and designated Shou as the Crown Prince. After Emperor Yi's thirty-year reign, he passed away, and Shou was proclaimed as the King Zhou of Shang.
Within King Zhou's court, there was Grand Tutor Wen Zhong, and the military was led by General Huang Fei Hu, ensuring peace and prosperity in the realm. At that time, the country was divided into four regions, each under the leadership of eight hundred minor lords. The Eastern Lord was Jiang Huan Chu, the Southern Lord was E Chong Yu, the Western Lord was Ji Chang, and the Northern Lord was Chong Hou Hu. They all paid homage to the Shang court.
King Zhou's primary consort was Lady Jiang, the daughter of Jiang Huan Chu, the Western Palace was inhabited by Lady Huang, the sister of Huang Fei Hu, and the Xinqing Palace concubine was Lady Yang. These three consorts were known for their virtuous and gentle natures, contributing to the tranquility and harmony within the kingdom.
In the seventh year of King Zhou's reign, in the month of February, seventy-two regional lords led by Yuan Futong of Beihai launched a rebellion. In response, the Grand Tutor Wen Zhong was tasked with suppressing the uprising in the north, while the matters of the court were entrusted to ministers such as Shang Rong and Huang Fei Hu.
On the fourteenth day of the third month, King Zhou held court, and Prime Minister Shang Rong stepped forward to report, 'Your Majesty, the fifteenth day of the third month marks the birthday of Nuwa, the Goddess. Nuwa once mended the sky with five-colored stones and saved all living beings. I beseech Your Majesty to visit the Temple of Nuwa and offer incense to seek her blessings, ensuring the well-being of our kingdom throughout the four seasons, prosperity that lasts for generations, and favorable weather with vanishing calamities.' King Zhou agreed to the proposal.
The following day, the Emperor rode in a carriage with officials from both civil and military ranks. Huang Fei Hu led three thousand cavalry and eight hundred Imperial Guards to protect the Emperor. They left the city through the south gate and arrived at the Temple of Nuwa. King Zhou ascended the grand hall, lit incense, and paid his respects, followed by all the officials who kowtowed in unison. After the ceremony, a sudden gust of wind swept in, lifting the curtains to reveal the likeness of Nuwa. King Zhou saw Nuwa's divine and beautiful countenance, which captivated his senses. Lust overcame him, and he composed a poem on the palace wall:
'In the Phoenix and Dragon's boudoir, the scenery is extraordinary, All adorned with intricate makeup of golden mud. Curving, distant mountains dance with emerald hues, Graceful sleeves flutter, embellishing rosy attire. Pear blossoms, adorned with rain, vie for coquettish charm, Peonies enshrouded in mist, exuding beguiling elegance. As long as her allure is in motion, I shall bring back eternal joy to serve the King.'"
Prime Minister Shang Rong spoke with a solemn expression, "Your Majesty, Nuwa is an ancient deity, and your poem has defiled her sanctity. It is an offense against the divine. I implore Your Majesty to cleanse this poem with water to avoid the people speaking ill of your virtue." King Zhou dismissed the matter, saying, "I admired her beauty and composed a poem in praise. There was no other intention. Let us not speak further."
No one among the civil and military officials dared to say more, so they silently followed King Zhou back to the court.
On the birthday of the Goddess Nuwa, the true deity paid visits to the Fire Cloud Palace to offer her respects to Fuxi, Yan Emperor, and Xuanyuan. Upon her return to her palace, she suddenly noticed the poem composed by King Zhou. She was infuriated and scolded, "Yin Shou, the inept ruler, dares to disrespect the heavens and compose a poem that defiles me. This is abhorrent! The Shang Dynasty's fate has run its course. If I don't bring retribution upon him, my divine intuition will be in vain!"
She calculated the king's remaining fate and ordered her Rainbow Child to fetch a gourd-shaped vessel filled with gold coins and place it on the palace steps. She uncovered the lid, and from within the gourd, a beam of white light shot forth, reaching a height of four to five zhang, bearing a flag with the name "Bewitching Banner." Shortly after, a cold wind howled, and a dense fog spread. All the demons and spirits from throughout the world gathered at the palace.
The Goddess instructed, "All you demons, retreat to your respective abodes, leaving only the three demons in Xuanyuan's tomb waiting." The three demons were a thousand-year-old nine-tailed fox spirit, a nine-headed pheasant spirit, and a jade and stone pipa spirit, all prostrating themselves on the palace steps.
The Goddess said, "Cheng Tang's fate has run its course, and the Zhou Dynasty has given birth to its saintly ruler. You must now conceal your demon forms, go to the harem, bewitch the king's heart, and aid King Zhou's downfall against King Wu of Zhou. You must not harm the common people. Once the task is accomplished, you will all achieve your righteous rewards." The three demons kowtowed to express their gratitude, transformed into clear winds, and departed.