Choices

8 - Retreat

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The Biyinao clan of Fanyin Valley, led by the current monarch, Queen Junuo, had long prided themselves with being honored recipients of regular visits from His Majesty Donghua Dijun.  For some reason, the venerated immortal had chosen their humble abode as a place for his retreats, held every ten years, usually lasting two weeks to a month each time.

As such, the Biyinaos had perfected the art of knowing Dijun's exact preferences, such as good food, no fanfare, and quiet solitude, as well as those he detests, such as bad tea, noisy people, and useless formalities.  They are also aware of when and what to expect from Dijun when he arrives, and hence can prepare for it accordingly.

This time, however, Dijun came two months ahead of schedule, and without any sort of notice.  He simply phased into the palace's main hall, just as the Queen was in the middle of morning court, caught everyone unawares and caused all souls present to fall all over their feet in supplication.  What's more, he arrived without his trusted retainer, Zhonglin, or his other personal servant, the demon princess Ji Heng, and came instead with a sleeping bundle of something soft, furry and red partly hidden in his sleeves.

As it was, the Queen dismissed court at once and furtively ordered the servants to run ahead and prepare the courtyard reserved for Dijun's use, while she accompanied the emperor to his residence in a more laidback manner.  Once everything was settled - or as well as it could given the suddenness of Dijun's arrival - the Queen and the servants moved out of the courtyard to give His Majesty the privacy he preferred.

When evening rolled around, a palace retainer was sent along as usual with a beautiful Biyinao maid to inquire about Dijun's dinner preferences and evening entertainment.  It could be said that the Biyinaos are also very discreet and sensible -- when the retainer Zhonglin is here, a beauty is sent for His Majesty's appraisal and possible amusement; if it was the demon princess who accompanied him, then only male servants are dispatched to relay and receive orders.  This time, since Dijun came with neither his retainer nor a woman, both a male and female Biyinao were sent.

The male and female Biyinao returned half an hour later, vibrating with excitement, and reported to the Queen: "The door to Dijun's room was closed, so we knocked and waited for a long time.  Then a beautiful fairy came to answer it, and she said we don't need to trouble about dinner or any of His Majesty's needs, as she will be taking care of them during their stay here."

By this time everyone in the remote and isolated Fanyin Valley had heard the rumor about the young and exquisite goddess whom Dijun had taken a great fancy of and was keeping inside his domain in the demon realm.  But since no one saw her arrive in the valley, speculations flew as to how she came to be inside Dijun's room at this very moment.  It couldn't be that she magically phased into Fanyin -- it's very hard to enter this place, even for the most powerful immortals.  Unless, Dijun brought her in? But she was not present when he arrived, and the doors to His Majesty's residence had remained firmly closed all afternoon.  Could it be that she was just the poor servants' imagination?

The next day, however, all doubts about the servants' states of sanity were quashed when a beautiful maiden, vibrant in red robes, was spotted in the courtyard of Dijun's residence as she attempted to catch one of the carps that thrived in the pond there. There was a phoenix blossom birthmark on her forehead, her lips were the same crimson as the Saha-Manjusaka, and her laughter rang across the courtyard like the pealing of tiny bells, pleasing to the ears and so very much alive.