I understood what the Jade Rabbit had said. I understood celestial laws. But I still waited for her to wake, anyway. Sure, I fertilised the trees in the Peach Garden, hoping that the trees would continue growing the peaches, but all of the fairies were raking the leaves a little sluggishly. To cheer them up, I picked up the rake and wielded it.
“Hah! You stupid ape! You have insulted me for the last time!”
Titters emerged from the fairies. I spun the sword around again.
“Blithering ape!” I yelled, and in one swoop, I pointed it at the tree. I knew that the fairies loved their trees and had to show that I was only playing the fool. That seemed to lighten the mood up, a little.
“Tianpeng, we appreciate the help,” the Peach Blossom Fairy said.
“And the entertainment,” the Chrysanthemum Fairy added.
“But what happened to Chang E? You were together, right?” the Peony Fairy asked.
“She got injured. She’s recovering.”
At this, all the fairies grew quiet and the trees seemed to rustle in sympathy. I didn’t know they could do that.
“You really like her, huh?” the Peony Fairy said. The other fairies murmured in agreement.
“Immortals aren’t supposed to—”
“Fraternise with each other. We get it,” the Peach Blossom Fairy said, “but do you think the Jade Emperor is watching us so closely?”
“He’s got more than enough matters to worry about,” chimed the Peony Fairy.
“Sisters, why are you encouraging him?” Chrysanthemum protested. “This is bad. Very bad.”
“Oh, shush,” the Peach Blossom Fairy said. “He’s in love.”
“But the Jade Rabbit told me that she was suffering on her own because of what happened. No one can fix her.”
“You’re not ‘fixing’ her, you’re dating her. And if she’s not ready, then so be it,” the Peony Fairy said.
“Besides, we have something that will help,” the Peach Blossom Fairy said. She produced a small poultice from her pouch and gave it to me.
“Apply this on her bruises,” she instructed.
I knew what to do.
*
I flew on a somersault cloud as quickly as I could and arrived at the Moon Palace. The Jade Rabbit was there to greet me and we hurried to her chamber. She was still sleeping very still on the kang. The Jade Rabbit bade me to leave while she changed the poultice. I stood outside the room and looked at the view of the stars from the nearby window. I didn’t know how long this book but eventually the Jade Rabbit peered in.
“I don’t know what the fairies gave you, but it worked. She’s awake.”
With my heart beating a million times a minute, I walked back into the room and grinned at her sheepishly. She was worse for wear, sure, but still beautiful.
“My assistant told me you waited,” she said. “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it,” I grinned. Why was I sweating? The moon was cold. There was no reason for me to sweat!
She patted the bed and I sat down next to her. Gently, she held my hands.
“Thank you.”
I’m not going to tell you what happened after that. In my long life, as a deity and later as a pig-like demon and now as an almost regular human, I know that there isn’t such a thing as “happily ever after”. But whatever I had with Chang E, I will never forget. As best as I could, I loved her and I think she knew it, too. But for every beginning there’s an ending, and I can tell you that if I were to do this again, I wouldn’t regret a thing at all.
Love doesn’t have to last forever, not if you made the time between the both of you count and I think I did.
Featured image by Shelley Low