Chang E was easily the most beautiful goddess in the Heavenly Realm and I, Marshal Tianpeng, was also smitten by her. According to the laws, immortals were supposed to be chaste beings and weren’t allowed to fall in love. But everyone knew that the law had been broken many times over and the immortals had paid the consequences—eternal reincarnation and suffering as mortals.
Chang E floated, never really touching the marbled floor of the heavenly palace. The gauzy shawl around her shoulders floated as well, revealing her lovely sculpted shoulders. Her eyelashes fluttered in the glow of the palace as she gave her report to the Jade Emperor.
“Your Majesty,” she bowed, “everything is in order. The flood will swallow the nearest village of Fu An tomorrow. These ingrates won’t know what hit them.”
She smirked. No one wanted to be on Chang E’s bad books. She could be cruel if she wanted. We had all heard what she had done to her husband, Hou Yi. The tale was told so many times that we could not decide what was true or false. Some say that Hou Yi had cheated on her and she had exacted her revenge, while others told that Hou Yi had neglected her. Some told of her burning desire to be immortal and how she had tricked Hou Yi to give her the elixir of life. Whatever the case may be, I was mesmerised by her beauty. No matter what, I had to talk to her.
After the meeting, I saw that so many immortals were approaching her. Many of the minor ones—the guardians of doors, caves, and passageways were all fawning over her. It was sick. I tried to squeeze past them to go up to her, but there was no point. But what would I say to her? That she was the most beautiful immortal to ever float across the heavens? Everyone had told her that. I had to come up with something different.
I did not realise that my chance would come in the Peach Garden. That day, we all sat in the heavenly pavillions, waiting to feast on our immortal peaches. They never came. I got up to investigate and ventured into the Peach Gardens. It was filled with frantic fairies rushed about the trees. I could see why. All of them were empty. I ventured deeper into the gardens to find who the culprit was and I saw that there was this monkey lying on top of a branch, eating peaches lazily.
“You took the peaches,” I said.
“So? What are you going to do about it?”
“It’s an offense! You will be punished!”
“Hah! I am the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. Can any of these so-called warriors even catch me or even defeat me? Hah!”
“I can try.”
The monkey eyed me and snorted.
“I wouldn’t even waste my time on you!”
“Why you—” I’d raised my sword at him but he’d leapt to another tree. I followed. Each time I saw his shadow, I’d rush forward, but he would disappear. What a tricky fellow.
But someone was also tracking him too. I felt cold—like I was being swallowed up by a tidal wave—and I saw her. Clad in ice blue robes, Chang E was staring at the tree. She had come, too.
“I saw him following you,” she said. “He makes so much noise.”
I laughed.
“Back on the moon, all is silent. That is where I find peace.”
“I see. Don’t you have any companions? I can’t imagine being there alone,” I said.
“A rabbit that does my bidding. She is useful.”
“Ah.”
“And you? What do you do?”
“I’m in charge of some of the Jade Emperor’s troops.”
“You must be responsible, then.”
Some shrieks erupted from behind and Chang E and I exchanged looks. We ran to the commotion and saw the monkey brandishing his cudgel in front of the other fairies.
“No one invited me to the party! I, the Protector of Horses, was snubbed!”
“I—it was official orders!” the Chrysanthemum Fairy protested, ducking in time as the monkey swung his cudgel.
Wait. Did he steal a pillar from the Dragon King’s Palace? This… miscreant was out of hand!
“This isn’t over!” he screamed, jumping away. Chang E and I looked at each other and we gave chase. If I caught him, would she be impressed?
I only had to try to find out.
“So what happened next?” Ruyi asked, stuffing her face with chips.
“I don’t even like telling this story. There was–”
“Shhh! No spoilers! Just continue,” she said, gesturing at me to go on. I sighed. She was so impatient!