That night, Xiao Zhu lay curled on her side, arms loosely wrapped around Yuebao's soft, snow-white fur. She stroked his silky back absentmindedly, her thoughts drifting like scattered petals on a quiet lake.
She couldn't sleep.
Unlike her Master or the ancient gods, whose cultivation had long surpassed the need for food or rest, who ate only for pleasure, and slept only when weary of thought, Xiao Zhu, still young in immortal years, still needed both.
In the heavenly realm, it was said that once an immortal reached a certain threshold, the body transcended mortal needs. Sleep became meditation. Hunger became choice. And time... time became little more than background music.
But tonight, no rest would come.
Excitement swirled through her like stirred moonwater. Her first grand event. Her first appearance as a proper fairy.
For ten years, she had lived quietly within Ling Yuan Palace—her world confined to Qinghui Courtyard, Wenlan's soothing voice, her Master's silent gaze, and the occasional chaos that was Yanxia.
Aside from a brief stay in Xingyun Palace, she had never stepped beyond.
Now, she would be walking into the heart of the heavens.
She hugged Yuebao closer, pressing her cheek into his soft fur..
Would she speak too quietly? Trip over her sleeves? What if no one wanted to talk to her?
As if sensing her thoughts, Yuebao gave a soft bark and licked her cheek.
Xiao Zhu blinked, then giggled.
"Don't worry," she whispered, patting his head gently. "I'll be fine."
With that, she closed her eyes, tension slowly ebbing from her body. Yuebao curled into the crook of her arm, and sleep came at last, deep and dreamless.
Outside, snow continued to fall over Ling Yuan Palace, as it had done for millennia—soft, silent, eternal.
___
At dawn, Yuebao woke her, nosing her cheek insistently until she stirred.
Usually, she would meditate at first light, drawing in qi from the snow-laden air. But today was different.
Today was the day of the Celestial Banquet.
Sitting before the polished bronze mirror, Xiao Zhu frowned slightly at her reflection.
"…How am I supposed to do my hair?" she muttered. "What even is fashionable in the heavens?"
The only women she saw regularly were Wenlan and Yanxia—both beautiful, yes, but entirely different in style. She couldn't possibly copy either one.
As if summoned by her floundering thoughts, the doors to Qinghui Courtyard burst open in a swirl of red silk and glittering beads.
"I'M HERE!" Yanxia's voice rang out like firecrackers. "Little Pearl, let Big Sister dress you up!"
She swept into the room, arms full of silks, sashes, and jewelry, her smile dazzling as ever.
Trailing behind her, Wenlan arrived with a quiet grace, carrying a slender wooden box of glass bottles and silk combs.
She set it down with care. "We brought a few things."
Xiao Zhu blinked. "What are those?"
"Fragrances," Wenlan replied. "Made from herbs, fruits, and flowers I grow in my own palace."
One by one, she lifted the lids—soft floral scents drifted through the air.
"Plum blossom mist," Wenlan murmured. "Gentle, clean, with a touch of sweetness. Suits you best."
Yanxia scoffed. "No way! She should wear something more exotic! Like moonfire nectar—spicy and bold! Or passion lotus bloom! That'll turn heads!"
"She's not trying to start a scandal, Yanxia," Wenlan replied mildly. "She's a guest, not a firework."
As the two bickered, Xiao Zhu could only smile.
Yanxia attempted to wrangle her into a vivid crimson robe embroidered with a thousand blooming roses.
"No!" Wenlan said flatly. "She'll look like a walking lantern."
Yanxia huffed and pulled out another equally extravagant ensemble. "Fine, this one has phoenix feathers—"
Before the argument could escalate, Xiao Zhu shyly stepped forward with a silk-wrapped box in her arms.
"I already have something…" she said softly, unwrapping it.
Inside lay the gown sent by Xingyao.
The room fell into silence.
The two goddesses leaned in—then gasped in unison.
The robe shimmered like starlight distilled into cloth.
Dyed in soft twilight silver that deepened into midnight blue at the hem, it rippled with a subtle glow that danced like constellations in motion. Tiny pearls traced the collar like morning dew, and moon-petal embroidery spiraled along the sleeves, so fine it seemed to float.
"…This is…" Wenlan breathed. "Moonloom silk. Woven in the Celestial Weaving Hall. Nearly impossible to find."
Yanxia stared. "Is that starlight thread in the hem?!"
Xiao Zhu traced the delicate stitching with her fingers, pausing for a breath before whispering softly, "It was a gift… from Lord Xingyao."
Yanxia's jaw dropped. "You—what—he sent you a robe?!"
Even Wenlan blinked, expression unreadable. "That's… rare."
No one questioned it further.
In the end, they agreed on an elegant yet simple style:
Half of Xiao Zhu's hair was left down, the other half swept up and secured with a silver silk ribbon woven from moonlight thread, shimmering softly against her dark locks.
For fragrance, Wenlan dabbed behind her ears the lightest touch of plum blossom mist—airy and subtle, with a fresh floral heart that lingered like snow melting into spring.
Around her neck, they chose a delicate necklace—a single drop of white jade resting on a silver chain shaped like flowing water. Simple, graceful. A gift from Wenlan, long kept for the right moment.
Her cheeks were brushed with the faintest rose tint, and a touch of vermilion graced her lips. Nothing more was needed.
When all was done, the two goddesses fell silent.
Xiao Zhu stood still, fingers folded shyly in front of her.
She looked like something born from moonlight—enchanting, yet untouched.
The faint glow of her skin, the gentle curve of her smile, the vermilion mole beneath her right eye—
All these details, along with her silver, shimmering robe, formed a picture of perfect harmony.
Yanxia blinked, pausing for a beat.
Then—
"You're too beautiful," she murmured, voice softer than before. "This might cause trouble."
Wenlan chuckled softly. "Let them see. It's her first banquet, after all."
Xiao Zhu flushed, ducking her head shyly.
Somewhere outside, the wind stirred and the snow continued to fall.