My Little Shifu

Preparations

Scurrying through the Celestial Heavens, the maids frantically aimed to complete the decorations by the end of the day in order to allow the caterers, wine makers, gift bearers and gardeners in to finish their jobs.  Haode was sparing no expense for this festival now that he knew with absolute certainty that the worlds first High Goddess would be attending.  Though keeping it quiet had been a real headache for him, because rather than using the usual white roses to decoate the podiums that were the Celestials flower, he instead had the majority removed and replaced with peach blossoms which did cause a little gossip as to what he was up to.

Though some white roses remained where he himself would sit while the staff would also wear their white rose pins, it was just enough to add the right balance between two very strong fragrances.  In fact, a quick walk about the lotus pond area where the gardeners were busy working on the lotuses and mandarin ducks that had been released for the special day, saw his mind going back to a much younger time when Mo Yuan had been visiting the Palace grounds.

Women the world over fought mini battles just to get a front row seat at all gatherings that Mo Yuan was attending in the hope that he would notice them, maybe smile a little or even better, greet them.  It became such a common occurrence, that Haode, Di Jun and Lord Pua placed bets on which Goddess would run from the event crying first.

Chuckling softly at the memory, he couldn't help but wonder what kind of entertainment they were in for this time.  Because not only had he suddenly received an urgent request for a change of seating by one particular Goddess from the East that would see her seated next to Mo Yuan, but Zhe Yan and Donghu had both insisted that the Queen of Qing Qiu be placed at a completely different pdium to where Mo Yuan would be.

As the ruler of Heaven, Haode was not known for mischief, in fact, should anyone dare to suggest he had a michievous bone in his body, they would be immediately beaten before being thrown out of the Palace.  Only he couldn't help but chuckle in excitement at what this would do to a stone faced War God whose reputation as a cold hearted and callous God, if he saw her placed at the only table where she was the only female, and not only that, they were all young, handsome and just as highly coveted as Mo Yuan was.

Though Di Juns suggestion that the Queen of the South be placed beside Mo Yuan, did give him pause to ponder.  He was not aiming for a war here, just a little fun that they could place bets on, and having learned that the Queen of Qing Qiu was also no push over, he couldn't help but wonder if Wang Jiu would be the first to run away crying.

After a little consideration, he thought it prudent not to push the boundaries too far.  Mo Yuan could be diabolical if he thought he was being manipulated in any way.  So deciding to keep Queen Wang Jiu at his table but seated several chairs away, he then had the entire seating area decorated with peach blossoms.

Watching on as the maids rushed to obey, he couldn't help but laugh at his own little mischief.  It was well known that after Queen Wang Jius run in with Queen Bai Qian,  she had ordered every peach blossom tree on her estate ripped out and destroyed.  Even a beautiful painting of a peach tree scene which had bee gifted to her by Lord Pua, was destroyed.  So he couldn't help but laugh at what her imagined response to the large  peach blossoms arrangements being erected all over the tables, would look like.

Now hurrying back to his meeting with Di Jun and Lord Pua, he wondered once again, which Goddess would leave Mo Yuans side crying first.  He had a bet to place, and seeing as there was now an extra Goddess added to the mix, he quietly contemplated on each one.

The young Goddess who was granted her wish for a reaarrangement in the place settings, was given a quick thought, before dismissing her.  She was nowhere near in the same league as his two queens, in fact, she would probably die of happiness if Mo Yuan even knew her name, but she would not run away crying, she would just be happy enough just to be seated next to him.