Addressing himself to Lu Ch’i, he asked:  “Do you wish to live in the Crystal Palace?” The latter did not reply.  T’ai Yin urged him to give his answer, but he persisted in keeping silent.  The Princess in despair retired to her apartment, and brought out five pieces of precious cloth, which she presented to the divine envoy, begging him to have patience a little longer and wait for the answer.  After some time, Chu I repeated his question.  Then Lu Ch’i in a firm voice answered:  “I have consecrated my life to the hard labour of study, and wish to attain to the dignity of minister on this earth.”

T’ai Yin ordered Ma P’o to conduct Lu Ch’i from the palace.  From that day his face became transformed:  he acquired the lips of a dragon, the head of a panther, the green face of an Immortal, etc.  He took his degree, and was promoted to be Director of the Censorate.  The Emperor, appreciating the good sense shown in his advice, appointed him a minister of the Empire.

From this legend it would seem that Chu I is the purveyor of official posts; however, in practice, he is more generally regarded as the protector of weak candidates, as the God of Good Luck for those who present themselves at the examinations with a somewhat light equipment of literary knowledge.  The special legend relating to this role is known everywhere in China.  It is as follows: 

Mr Redcoat nods his Head

An examiner, engaged in correcting the essays of the candidates, after a superficial scrutiny of one of the essays, put it on one side as manifestly inferior, being quite determined not to pass the candidate who had composed it.  The essay, moved by some mysterious power, was replaced in front of his eyes, as if to invite him to examine it more attentively.  At the same time a reverend old man, clothed in a red garment, suddenly appeared before him, and by a nod of his head gave him to understand that he should pass the essay.  The examiner, surprised at the novelty of the incident, and fortified by the approval of his supernatural visitor, admitted the author of the essay to the literary degree.

Chu I, like K’uei Hsing, is invoked by the literati as a powerful protector and aid to success.  When anyone with but a poor chance of passing presents himself at an examination, his friends encourage him by the popular saying:  “Who knows but that Mr Redcoat will nod his head?”

Mr Golden Cuirass

Chu I is sometimes accompanied by another personage, named Chin Chia, ‘Mr Golden Cuirass.’  Like K’uei Hsing and Chu I he has charge of the interests of scholars, but differs from them in that he holds a flag, which he has only to wave in front of a house for the family inhabiting it to be assured that among their descendants will be some who will win literary honours and be promoted to high offices under the State.