As we strode deeper into the clearing, heads swung toward Liwei like flowers to the sun. Even without his regal attire, his bearing and looks commanded attention. When he paid them no regard, their eyes slid to me—narrowed with speculation, widened in surprise. We were an incongruous pair, but what did I care for the opinions they wore as plainly as the ornaments in their hair? Nothing could dampen my excitement today, my exhilaration at being here with him.
As we walked past the stalls, merchants called out loudly to entice prospective customers:
“Enchanted amulets!”
“Lychees from the Mortal Realm!”
“Rubies from the Fire Valley!”
Customers purchased items by trading goods of their own—from sparkling gems and pearls the size of my thumb, to sachets of fragrant herbs and rings of precious metal. I would have lingered at every stall, but Liwei hastened me along.
“We only have a couple of hours until the market closes. The rarer items are farther down, toward the center,” he explained.
“Tea from Kunlun Mountain!” called a young lady as she offered cups to those passing by. The aroma from her tea was so fragrant, she soon attracted a long line of customers—Liwei and I among them.
Kunlun was a mountain range of great mystical energy in the world below. It was the only place in the Mortal Realm where immortals were permitted to reside, as long as they kept themselves hidden from sight. The rarest plants and flowers grew there, cultivated by the unique harmony of mortal and immortal energy. Sipping the tea, I found it wonderful—rich and aromatic, with a hint of bitterness that only enhanced its flavor. Liwei pulled out a jade ring and exchanged it for several silk bags of tea.
“Why the ring?” I asked. “Why the jewels, herbs, and such?”
“Some are for ornamentation, while the rest possess special properties or power. These rings”—he lifted his pouch—“each contain a fragment of energy which can aid in the casting of enchantments.”
A stall caught my attention, one piled with shells. Some were as large as my fist, and others, the size of my nail. Their colors ranged from pure white to azure, and a few with the blush of a lotus petal.
“These shells are enchanted to capture your favorite sound, melody, or even a loved one’s voice. They were picked from the deepest waters in the Southern Sea,” the merchant said with pride.
The Southern Sea, Ping’er’s home. I picked up a beautiful white shell, tracing my finger along its curve. However, with nothing to trade, I laid it down again. Beside me, Liwei dug out a ring of red jade, offering it to the vendor. I pulled his arm back, not wanting him to buy it for me.
“Will you trade the shell for a song?” I asked the merchant. “I could play you a tune to capture into these shells which might enhance their value.”
“How well do you play?” His gaze shifted, skimming the crowd for less troublesome customers.
Before I lost his attention completely, I drew out my flute and played a lively melody. One of my mother’s favorites, of the rain trickling through a bamboo forest. When the song finished, I was startled to find a small group of people around me, some holding out a colored stone or a silver ring. Before I could refuse, the shell vendor swooped in and took all the items. With deft hands, he wrapped up the white shell I wanted, placing it into my palm along with half the items I had earned. The rest, he dropped into his own pouch.
“A pleasure doing business with you,” the merchant said, winking at me.
My mouth fell open as Liwei clapped me on my back. “You should set up a stall here next time,” he suggested, in an amused tone.
I grinned. “And what would you do? Sit beside me and sell your paintings?”
He tilted his head to one side, his eyes bright. “Perhaps. We could travel the realm, stopping where we choose and leaving when we grow bored. It would be a good life.”
“Yes, it would.”
The words leapt out before I could stifle them. Impossible, a voice whispered in my mind, telling me nothing I did not know. The Celestial Crown Prince was not destined for such a life, unfettered by responsibility or duty. And how would such aimless wanderings help my mother? How could I leave her, alone and trapped, while I indulged my selfish impulses?
A pulse of silence beat through us, the air thick with sudden tension. To distract him, I lifted my palm to show him my earnings—a couple of silver rings, two drops of amber and a small blue stone.
“Let’s find some breakfast,” I said, pretending our earlier words had been forgotten.