Half City Of Love - Chapter 2
Chapter 2: A Girl Named Xuan Yi
It was a clear spring day when two sudden pieces of news shattered the many years of calm in the divine realm.
First, in the Flower Emperor’s rear garden, the Posuo Peony—a flower said to bloom only once every thirty thousand years, unexpectedly sprouted buds in less than ten thousand.
Second, a rumor began to circulate: the Heavenly Emperor intended to act as a matchmaker between the little princess of the Zhongshan Dragon God, of the Zhuyin clan, and the only son of the Huaxu clan’s of Emperor Qing—Lord Fucang.
Coincidentally, with the Posuo Peony blooming, and to avoid an awkward first meeting, the Heavenly Emperor arranged for the young deities to meet in the Flower Emperor’s rear garden. With a multitude of other deities present to enjoy the blossoms, the pair wouldn’t be left staring awkwardly at each other.
As soon as the news got out, deities flooded in to admire the flowers, their numbers so great that the garden’s threshold was worn down by inches.
Years ago, when Emperor Zhongshan’s wife, fairy Cuihe perished on the Great Wilderness Plain, the emperor had sealed off Mount Zhong, rarely interacting with other deities.
To this day, no one had seen what the god’s only son and daughter looked like.
As for the little princess, rumors called her the “Mudfish Princess,” suggesting she was nothing more than a mediocre little god.
But even if she were plain, her lineage remained extraordinarily noble.
Now at nine thousand seven hundred years old, she had just reached the age of marriage.
For her to move even the Heavenly Emperor to personally arrange a match, and for Emperor Qing to offer up his only son…such a grand gesture left ordinary gods sighing in admiration.
Yet many goddesses were heartbroken.
Why, of all matches, did the Heavenly Emperor choose Lord Fucang?
It was hard to forget that scene years ago, when Lord Fucang was just twenty-two thousand years old.
It was during a grand wedding feast for the Heavenly Emperor’s daughter, which lasted five full days.
All the gods gathered to celebrate.
First, the dragon goddesses of the Four Seas sang and danced.
Then Lady Xiang joined in, playing the flute; the Crown Prince Changqin harmonized with his zither; and Lady Xihe beat the drums in rhythm.
Perhaps feeling the effects of the wine, the Heavenly Emperor suddenly turned to a young god seated alone in the southeast corner and laughed, “Fucang, why not grace us with a sword dance?”
The young god rose, his movements as graceful as a crane.
With his long sword in hand, he danced with a fluid, unrestrained elegance.
His dance concluded with a final movement called “Pale Moon and Frost,” the sword drawing a clean, elegant line.
The young god stood proudly, his face was perfectly sculpted and beautiful, from the curve of his nose to his jaw.
He raised his hand, returning the sword to the dragon maidens, and as he lifted his gaze, his eyes were as clear and cool as moonlight.
He was the epitome of grace.
That sword dance made Lord Fucang’s name echo across the realm, setting countless goddesses’s hearts aflame.
The thought that this heavenly being might soon fall into the clutches of the Mudfish Princess of the Zhuyin clan was enough to break spirits.
By the third quarter of the Hour of the Goat (1:00 PM – 3:00 PM), the wind suddenly picked up.
The layered sea of clouds above seemed torn apart by enormous invisible hands.
A nine-headed azure lion flew down through the wind, landing in a flash among the dazzling pear blossoms.
Amid the snowy-white petals, a young god leapt gently from the lion’s back.
His broad sleeves billowed as he descended with the elegance of a startled swan.
He was none other than Lord Fucang, the sole son of Emperor Qing.
He had come alone, without attendants, and without a single accompanying celestial maid.
He was leading the nine-headed lion leisurely toward the Flower Emperor’s garden.
By the time he reached the courtyard gate, the Flower Emperor’s servants had already stepped out to greet him, respectfully taking the reins.
“Does the Flower Emperor have any particular arrangements?” Fucang asked in a low voice.
In contrast to his cold, moonlike appearance, his voice was unexpectedly alluring.
It was deep and magnetic, flowing like velvet, brushing softly across the heart like a feather, enough to make anyone go weak at the knees.
The attendants blushed involuntarily, momentarily at a loss for words.
Suddenly, a thunderous hum echoed through the sea of clouds.
The layered sky was mercilessly torn apart, and a magnificently ornate carriage streaked through the heavens.
It bore the emblem of the Zhongshan Dragon God, its golden body wrapped in radiant light.
No fewer than a hundred retainers followed in its wake, forming an imposing procession.
As this majestic retinue descended into the pear blossom grove, the small forest instantly felt overcrowded.
The assembled gods quickly moved aside to make way.
At the front, thirty attendants carried bronze pails, scooping water with jade ladles to sprinkle along the path.
Behind them, thirty celestial maids held purple-gold incense burners, from which wisps of pale blue smoke rose, releasing a refined, cooling fragrance that overpowered even the sweet scent of the blossoms.
A third group of thirty attendants unfurled a path of snow-white celestial cloud carpet.
This carpet was woven from drifting mist by the Weaver Maidens of the Milky Way and adorned with gems from the river itself.
Just a foot of this cloth was already extravagant, and to use it as a road covering was decadence beyond compare.
Trailing behind were thirty more celestial maids, each holding feathered fans, fly-whisks, jeweled bottles, or jade boxes.
Two attendants carried enormous parasols of brocade and silk.
Though great in number, the procession was silent as it advanced, stately and awe-inspiring, until the carriage came to a halt right before Fucang.
“Even the Heavenly Emperor’s daughter doesn’t receive such treatment…”
The gods whispered discontentedly among themselves.
For a mere debut, the princess of the Zhongshan Dragon God appeared with a hundred attendants in tow.
She was trying to flaunt her untouchable status.
The carriage door creaked open.
The parasol bearers instantly raised their brocade umbrellas.
A waiting celestial maid bent her arm in a respectful posture.
Resting on it was a slender, fair hand, each fingertip painted a vivid red.
The vibrant polish stood out against the soft yellow of the maid’s sleeve, making her pale skin look as flawless as freshly fallen snow.
All eyes turned to that delicate hand.
Everyone waited for the daughter of the Zhongshan Dragon God to come out so they could see what kind of beauty justified such arrogance and luxury.
From within the dazzling carriage, a slim figure descended slowly.
The princess wore a long gown the color of frost, densely embroidered with closed-eyed dragons in threads of dark gold.
Her jet-black hair was adorned only with simple golden rings, with no other ornaments.
Yet in her understatement, she exuded a quiet, majestic opulence.
Her face remained lowered beneath the shadow of the brocade parasol, but the occasional glimpse of her cheek revealed soft, full contours.
Supported by the waiting celestial maid, she walked with an unhurried grace.
Each step she took was perfectly measured, poised, and elegant.
When she reached the front of the Flower Emperor’s courtyard, the parasol bearers and attendant maids stepped back and knelt in a ceremonial salute.
Only then did the gathered gods catch their first full glimpse of the Zhongshan Dragon God’s young daughter.
In that moment, many of the young goddess onlookers quietly deflated.
The princess’s skin was exceptionally pale, which made her eyes and brows appear all the more strikingly dark and her lips vividly delicate.
Perhaps it was her noble lineage, or perhaps the overwhelming grandeur of her entrance, but there was an ineffable quality about her. It was a blend of innocent charm and serene dignity. She would never be mistaken for just another gods face in the crowd.
Beyond all that, she was truly radiant, graceful, flawless, and untouched by the dust of the world.
Though she was only nine thousand years old, the roundness in her cheeks still carried a trace of youthful softness.
Her expression, however, remained calm and composed, betraying no emotion as she met Fucang’s gaze.
It was as if the young and strikingly handsome god before her were merely a faceless statue.
With a sweep of her sleeves, she bowed gracefully.
A cool, elegant fragrance filled the entire Flower Emperor’s celestial island.
“I am Xuan Yi, of the Zhongshan Dragon God clan, daughter of Zhuyin clan. I greet the Honorable Lord Fucang.”
Her voice was soft and gentle, like a cool breeze on a summer night.
