Red Strings Chapter 2

Disclaimer: Image was found on google, artist is unknown (all rights to artist).

II.

Shengyuan Festival passed, Yue Lao in the Heavenly Realm/Palace can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Yue Lao's palace sits on a pile of clouds tinged with sunset hues creating a typhoon above, here it's not like the hustle and bustle of the human world and its confusing and unpredictable wind and rain, but clouds' mist that hovers, peaceful and tranquil, and blue sky that is always clean and clear.

In the palace the immortal children/helpers are unoccupied, they gathered in one place to chat.

Immortals in the heavenly realm are no short of gossips to talk about. Lately the biggest gossip is Qian Tang *Dragon queen and East Sea Dragon king are getting a divorce.

* Curvy river around Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province

“To me, it does not matter who is right.” Qing Ming slowly said, “Qian Tian Dragon queen is beautiful, East Sea Dragon king is paranoid, has an irritable temper, and every time he gets angry he would carry seawater back to Qian Tang River making the mouth of Qian Tang River like a trumpet (flare up). “

Another immortal child/helper Hong Luo listened, and nodded in agreement, “What you said is correct. Qian Tang Dragon queen always speaks softly and is gentle. It's no fault and wonder that every time she would come running home to her family.”

A Chan listened to what they said, puzzlingly asked, “Didn't Yue Lao determine their marriage for them?”

Qing Ming and Hong Luo glanced at each other, they don't know whether they should cry or laugh.

“How can it be Yue Lao's turn to make such arrangement?” Qing Ming said, “Yue Lao overlooks the mortals, Long zi *and Long nu *are immortals!"

*Gentleman and lady Long (long meaning Dragon) respectively

“But having to say this, I heard originally Yue Lao was in charge of fates between the immortals.” Hong Luo said, “Later found out it was too troublesome thus push it away.”

“I heard that before.” Qing Ming smiles (hehe), “Before would determine several couples that cause trouble, there's Chang E, there's Zhi Nu (the weaver girl), seventh fairy and so on, Yue Lao has a very aching headache.”

Hong Luo sighed: “Being Yue Lao is not easy, you see how Niu Lang and Zhi Nu

(Cowherd and Weaver girl) forever separated by the Silver River, in fact Queen Mother of the West went overboard a bit right? Yet who dares to criticize Queen Mother of the West thus the whole resentments rest all upon Yue Lao! Also there was ; it was due to the Heaven/Jade Emperor being drunk and weaving out a story, Yue Lao follow along, but seventh fairy did not want it to be so!" Finish speaking, his face appears to be disappointed,” You see these stories have passed so many years already, the Jade lake is close, but seventh fairy refuse to visit/bathe… ” *

*The basic issue is that Jade emperor have asked for her return home and threaten to smash Dong Yong but she refuse to visit… there's variations in this story, sometimes people associated this with Weaver girl and Cowherd, but there is a distinction between the two stories/tales.

Qing Ming “ze ze (click his tongue)” shook his head and concluded: “Looking at it wasn't really immortal's/god's fault!”

A Chan listen to them talk so attentively as if her soul is part of it, her eyes wide opened.

“Hey A Chan,” Hong Luo turned his head to look at her, “You’re a rabbit that recently became an immortal, how come you came to Yue Lao's palace?”

“I…” A Chan thought and thought, her face blanked out.

The problem is that she did not know. A Chan from a rabbit demon turn into an immortal, enter immortal/fairy register will have the Heavenly Realm assign placement/level of duty. The immortal official in charge of immortal memberships looks at A Chan for a very long time, again a long time, a long stroke of the brush ends, she was assigned to as an immortal child/helper of Yue Lao's palace.

Yue Lao's palace is solely responsible for human marriages, at the lower bound it's a well-known place. But A Chan is a rabbit, at first her greatest desire is not to go to Yue Lao's palace, but go to the Moon palace to become a jade rabbit*.

*Basically jade rabbit assists Chang E.

Of course it's a good job. Before cultivating, rabbit clan elder told A Chan that the jade rabbit always eat until full, food is provided directly from the chef of the Heavenly Realm, if one wants as many radishes/carrots in the heavenly garden then will get as many as possible.

When she heard this, A Chan's heart yearns for it. But when she came to heaven she sorrowfully discovers that there is only one Chang E and only one jade rabbit. Million of years passed, numerous bunnies become elder rabbits, but before they become that they breathe their last breath, thus the jade rabbit in the Moon palace was never replaced…

“Has no one ever told you?” After A Chan told the whole story, Hong Luo looks at her incredulously, “Immortals/fairies do not starve, and in heavenly garden precious plants of every kinds exist, except radishes/carrots. “

“No one told me,” A Chan grieved, “Beside me are rabbits.”

Hong Luo: “…”

“A Chan becoming a jade rabbit is not bad,” Qing Ming said, “Coat is pure white, head is small, indeed the type of rabbit that Chang E likes…"

“A Chan! Where is A Chan?” Just then a sudden rushed movement came along with sound, an immortal child came rushing towards A Chan while waving, “Quickly come to the palace! You are in trouble!”

In Yue Lao's palace, clouds hovering about, the atmosphere is somewhat grave.

A Chan came to the palace hall, saw immortal official* speaking with Yue Lao, his brows furrow.

*Immortal Li (minor government official) Zheng (first month of lunar year) Tong… I prefer to keep it simple.

“Immortal lord (sir) A Chan stepped forward to salute Yue Lao.

“This is that immortal child/helper?” Did not wait for Yue Lao to speak, official judged A chan.

“It is.” Yue Lao nodded, when he finished he turned to A Chan, “This immortal official has something to ask you, answer truthfully.”

A Chan's heart became anxious, promised so in response.

Official was not polite, looked at her seriously: “This immortal child/helper, I ask you Shengyuan night, have you ever tied the red string for Duke Guang Ling in the mortal realm?”

A Chan's heart beats rapidly.

“Yes.” She anxiously looks to Yue Lao and admittedly said, ” I see the duke and a lady does not have a love fate, so conveniently did so…”

“Conveniently?” Immortal official glares, “Do you know who is Duke Guang Ling? He’s Ling Xiaojun (heaven lord)! How dare you tamper with Ling Xiaojun's immortal fate?!”

Ling Xiaojun?

A Chan find it difficult to understand. Of course she knows Ling Xiaojun, his reputation is well-known and is the youngest son of Queen Mother (of heavenly world and West), and is the god of seasons. It is said that when he was born, glorious sun rays shone through nine layers of clouds, millions of hanging garden flowers blossom, highest wave rises, sun and moon crystal clear, the immortals/gods all honor/praise … Of course all of these are words of nonsense, what A Chan does not understand is how Duke Guang Ling became Ling Xiaojun?

“Immortal official please calm down.” Yue Lao calmly said, “This immortal child/helper just came here, does not know the affairs/reasons (or logic). In this story I do not understand, Ling Xiaojun is a god/immortal, cast to lower round and reborn to do what?"

“Stuff from the higher ups how can I know!” Immortal official glares: “Anyway Ling Xiaojun's love fate/marriage in the book of life does not have one (the destined other half), the woman dies young, but this immortal child/helper arbitrarily cause trouble, their two lifetimes were almost changed!”

A Chan's face turned pale.

“Almost?” Yue Lao can hear the holes in it, chuckled: “Having said that, it did not lead to chaos yet though.”

Immortal official knew his mouth slipped out the words, glared at Yue Lao, snapped: “Fortunately, the underworld found it early, temporarily hid the matter. For now the red string from the woman's hands have been lowered/solved, but Ling Xiaojun has the soul of a god, the underworld soul immortal helpers cannot get close to it! “

Yue Lao puzzlingly said: “So…"

Immortal official glances at A Chan: “Officials have said, this small issue should not be a bigger issue, whoever tied the red string has to be the one to untie it!”

Chapter end