長山王公子瑞亭，能以乩卜。乩神自稱何仙，為純陽弟子，或謂是呂祖所跨鶴云。每降，輒與人論文作詩。李太史質君師事之，丹黃課藝，理緒明切；太史揣摩成，賴何仙力居多焉，因之文學士多皈依之。然為人決疑難事，多憑理，不甚言休咎。辛未歲，朱文宗案臨濟南，試後，諸友請決等第。何仙索試藝，悉月旦之。座中有與樂陵李忭相善者，李固好學深思之士，眾屬望之，因出其文，代為之請。乩註云：「一等。」少間，又書云：「適評李生，據文為斷。然此生運氣大晦，應犯夏楚。異哉！文與數適不相符，豈文宗不論文耶？諸公少待，試一往探之。」少頃，又書云：「我適至提學署中，見文宗公事旁午，所焦慮者殊不在文也。一切置付幕客六七人，粟生、例監，都在其中，前世全無根氣，大半餓鬼道中游魂，乞食於四方者也。曾在黑暗獄中八百年，損其目之精氣，如人久在洞中，乍出，則天地異色，無正明也。中有一二為人身所化者，閱卷分曹，恐不能適相值耳。」眾問挽回之術。書云：「其術至實，人所共曉，何必問？」眾會其意，以告李。李懼，以文質孫太史子未，且訴以兆。太史贊其文，因解其惑。李以太史海內宗匠，心益壯，乩語不復置懷。後案發，竟居四等。太史大駭，取其文復閱之，殊無疵摘。評云：「石門公祖，素有文名，必不悠謬至此。是必幕中醉漢，不識句讀者所為。」於是眾益服何仙之神，共焚香祝謝之。乩書曰：「李生勿以暫時之屈，遂懷慚怍。當多寫試卷，益暴之，明歲可得優等。」李如其教。久之署中頗聞，懸牌特慰之。次歲果列前名，其靈應如此。
長山的王公子瑞亭，會用扶乩的方法佔卜。乩神自稱何仙，是純陽的弟子，也有人說，他就是呂祖騎過的那隻鶴。每次降臨，他總要與人談論文章、吟詩作詩。李太史質君拜他為師，請他用紅黃兩色筆批改習作，他講解的思路清楚，切中要點。李太史後來揣摩掌握了應試文章的寫法，多半靠的是何仙的指點，因此許多讀書人都信奉他。不過，他替人判斷疑難事情，大多依據道理，很少談吉凶。辛未年，朱文宗來到濟南主持考試。考試結束後，幾位朋友請何仙判斷各人的等第。何仙要來他們的應試文章，一一作了評判。在座有個人與樂陵的李忭交好。李忭本是個勤學而善於深思的讀書人，大家都對他寄予厚望，那人便拿出他的文章，代他請問。乩筆寫道：「一等。」過了一會兒，又寫道：「剛才評判李生，是根據文章作出的判斷。不過，這個人的運氣十分不好，恐怕要挨責打。真奇怪！文章的好壞與命運竟不相合，難道文宗不按文章評判嗎？諸位稍等，讓我去探看一下。」不久，又寫道：「我剛才到了提學署，見文宗忙著處理紛雜的公務，他焦慮的事情根本不在文章上。他把閱卷的事情全交給了六七個幕客，其中還有粟生、例監。這些人前世全沒有修行的根基，大半是餓鬼道里的遊魂，曾經四處乞食。他們在黑暗地獄中待過八百年，眼睛的精氣受到損傷，就像一個人在洞裡待得太久，突然出來，看見的天地顏色都變了，不能看清事物的本來面目。其中也有一兩個是由人轉生的，但試卷分給各人批閱，恐怕李生的卷子不能恰好分到他們手裡。」大家問有沒有挽回的辦法。乩筆寫道：「辦法再實在不過，人人都知道，何必問呢？」大家領會了他的意思，便告訴李忭。李忭害怕起來，拿著文章去請孫太史子未評判，又把扶乩得到的預兆告訴他。孫太史稱讚他的文章，替他解除了疑慮。李忭覺得孫太史是天下公認的文章宗師，膽氣更加壯了，便不再把乩神的話放在心上。後來成績公佈，他竟然被列為四等。孫太史大吃一驚，拿來他的文章重新審閱，實在找不出什麼毛病。他評論說：「石門公祖向來以文章聞名，絕不會荒謬到這種地步。這一定是幕中某個連句子都讀不明白的醉漢乾的。」於是，大家更加信服何仙的神通，一同焚香禱告，向他致謝。乩筆寫道：「李生不要因為一時受到委屈，就覺得羞愧。應當多抄幾份試卷，把文章更廣泛地拿給人看，明年就能取得優等。」李忭照他的話做了。過了一段時間，提學署也聽到了不少議論，特意掛出告示安慰他。第二年，他果然名列前茅，何仙的預言就是這樣靈驗。
长山王公子瑞亭，能以乩卜。乩神自称何仙，为纯阳弟子，或谓是吕祖所跨鹤云。每降，辄与人论文作诗。李太史质君师事之，丹黄课艺，理绪明切；太史揣摩成，赖何仙力居多焉，因之文学士多皈依之。然为人决疑难事，多凭理，不甚言休咎。辛未岁，朱文宗案临济南，试后，诸友请决等第。何仙索试艺，悉月旦之。座中有与乐陵李忭相善者，李固好学深思之士，众属望之，因出其文，代为之请。乩注云：「一等。」少间，又书云：「适评李生，据文为断。然此生运气大晦，应犯夏楚。异哉！文与数适不相符，岂文宗不论文耶？诸公少待，试一往探之。」少顷，又书云：「我适至提学署中，见文宗公事旁午，所焦虑者殊不在文也。一切置付幕客六七人，粟生、例监，都在其中，前世全无根气，大半饿鬼道中游魂，乞食于四方者也。曾在黑暗狱中八百年，损其目之精气，如人久在洞中，乍出，则天地异色，无正明也。中有一二为人身所化者，阅卷分曹，恐不能适相值耳。」众问挽回之术。书云：「其术至实，人所共晓，何必问？」众会其意，以告李。李惧，以文质孙太史子未，且诉以兆。太史赞其文，因解其惑。李以太史海内宗匠，心益壮，乩语不复置怀。后案发，竟居四等。太史大骇，取其文复阅之，殊无疵摘。评云：「石门公祖，素有文名，必不悠谬至此。是必幕中醉汉，不识句读者所为。」于是众益服何仙之神，共焚香祝谢之。乩书曰：「李生勿以暂时之屈，遂怀惭怍。当多写试卷，益暴之，明岁可得优等。」李如其教。久之署中颇闻，悬牌特慰之。次岁果列前名，其灵应如此。
长山的王公子瑞亭，会用扶乩的方法占卜。乩神自称何仙，是纯阳的弟子，也有人说，他就是吕祖骑过的那只鹤。每次降临，他总要与人谈论文章、吟诗作诗。李太史质君拜他为师，请他用红黄两色笔批改习作，他讲解的思路清楚，切中要点。李太史后来揣摩掌握了应试文章的写法，多半靠的是何仙的指点，因此许多读书人都信奉他。不过，他替人判断疑难事情，大多依据道理，很少谈吉凶。辛未年，朱文宗来到济南主持考试。考试结束后，几位朋友请何仙判断各人的等第。何仙要来他们的应试文章，一一作了评判。在座有个人与乐陵的李忭交好。李忭本是个勤学而善于深思的读书人，大家都对他寄予厚望，那人便拿出他的文章，代他请问。乩笔写道：“一等。”过了一会儿，又写道：“刚才评判李生，是根据文章作出的判断。不过，这个人的运气十分不好，恐怕要挨责打。真奇怪！文章的好坏与命运竟不相合，难道文宗不按文章评判吗？诸位稍等，让我去探看一下。”不久，又写道：“我刚才到了提学署，见文宗忙着处理纷杂的公务，他焦虑的事情根本不在文章上。他把阅卷的事情全交给了六七个幕客，其中还有粟生、例监。这些人前世全没有修行的根基，大半是饿鬼道里的游魂，曾经四处乞食。他们在黑暗地狱中待过八百年，眼睛的精气受到损伤，就像一个人在洞里待得太久，突然出来，看见的天地颜色都变了，不能看清事物的本来面目。其中也有一两个是由人转生的，但试卷分给各人批阅，恐怕李生的卷子不能恰好分到他们手里。”大家问有没有挽回的办法。乩笔写道：“办法再实在不过，人人都知道，何必问呢？”大家领会了他的意思，便告诉李忭。李忭害怕起来，拿着文章去请孙太史子未评判，又把扶乩得到的预兆告诉他。孙太史称赞他的文章，替他解除了疑虑。李忭觉得孙太史是天下公认的文章宗师，胆气更加壮了，便不再把乩神的话放在心上。后来成绩公布，他竟然被列为四等。孙太史大吃一惊，拿来他的文章重新审阅，实在找不出什么毛病。他评论说：“石门公祖向来以文章闻名，绝不会荒谬到这种地步。这一定是幕中某个连句子都读不明白的醉汉干的。”于是，大家更加信服何仙的神通，一同焚香祷告，向他致谢。乩笔写道：“李生不要因为一时受到委屈，就觉得羞愧。应当多抄几份试卷，把文章更广泛地拿给人看，明年就能取得优等。”李忭照他的话做了。过了一段时间，提学署也听到了不少议论，特意挂出告示安慰他。第二年，他果然名列前茅，何仙的预言就是这样灵验。
Young Master Wang Ruiting of Changshan could divine with the planchette. The spirit of his planchette called itself Immortal He and said it was a disciple of Chunyang. Some said it was the crane that Patriarch Lü used to ride. Whenever it came down, it would discuss essays and compose poems with people. Academician Li Zhijun served it as his teacher. It marked his practice essays in red and yellow ink, its reasoning clear and to the point. When the academician had mastered the examination style, he owed most of it to Immortal He, and so many men of letters became its devotees. But when it settled doubtful matters for people, it mostly went by reason and said little about good or bad fortune. In the xinwei year, Examiner Zhu came to Jinan to hold the examinations. Afterwards a group of friends asked Immortal He to tell them their grades. It asked for their examination essays and passed judgment on every one. Among those present was a good friend of Li Bian of Leling. Li was a studious, deep-thinking scholar, and everyone had high hopes for him, so the friend brought out Li’s essay and asked on his behalf. The planchette wrote: “First grade.” A little later it wrote again: “Just now I judged Licentiate Li by his essay. But this scholar’s luck is under a heavy cloud. He is due for the rod. Strange! His essay and his fate do not agree. Can it be that the Examiner does not judge by essays? Wait a little, gentlemen. I will go and see.” After a short while it wrote: “I have just been to the Examiner’s office. The Examiner is buried in official business, and what worries him is not essays at all. He has handed everything over to six or seven private secretaries. There are men among them who bought their rank with grain, and men who bought places in the Imperial Academy. They have no roots of merit at all from former lives. Most of them are wandering souls from the path of hungry ghosts, who once begged for food in every direction. They spent eight hundred years in the Hell of Darkness, and it ruined the vital essence of their eyes. Like a man who has been long in a cave and suddenly comes out, they see heaven and earth in strange colours, and nothing in its true light. One or two of them were men in their past lives, but the papers are divided among them in batches, and I fear his may not happen to fall to those.” They asked how the thing could be put right. The planchette wrote: “The method is as solid as can be. Everyone knows it. Why ask?” They understood what it meant and told Li. Li was frightened. He took his essay to Academician Sun Ziwei for an opinion and told him of the omen. The academician praised the essay and so cleared away his doubts. Since the academician was a master of letters known throughout the land, Li took heart and paid the planchette’s words no more mind. When the results were posted, Li was placed in the fourth grade after all. The academician was astounded. He took the essay and read it again, but could find nothing whatever to fault. “His Excellency the Examiner from Shimen has always had a name for letters,” he said. “He would never be so absurd. This must be the work of some drunkard among his secretaries who cannot tell where a sentence ends.” At this everyone was all the more convinced of Immortal He’s divine powers, and together they burned incense and gave thanks. The planchette wrote: “Licentiate Li should not feel ashamed over a passing setback. He ought to make many copies of his examination paper and show it about even more widely. Next year he can win a high grade.” Li did as it said. In time the Examiner’s office heard a good deal about it, and a notice was posted especially to console him. The next year, sure enough, he was ranked near the top. Such was the power of its oracles.