A bank of cloud and mist descended from the sky outside Fishmulberry Village, beside a tributary of the Kaiyang Grand Canal.
In the central weaving room, Zhuo Qing guided a slender Golden Shuttle with red silk wound around its handle, weaving a bolt of silk as radiant as rosy clouds.
Several silkworms with translucent bodies shimmering with rainbow light surrounded the loom, spinning silk and continually shifting position with the weaving woman's movements.
The moment the cloud and mist descended, all the silkworms suddenly darted back into the woven bamboo basket.
Zhuo Qing paused. The Golden Shuttle flew back into her hand and shrank into a slender hairpin, which she slipped into her hair. Then she rose and went outside, where she saw Du Xiaolin, Shi Wei, and four other female immortals from Taiyin Palace descending. Smiling, she went out to welcome them.
Their greetings and explanation of their visit were indistinct. The silkworms stealthily poked their heads out of the bamboo basket again, only to see Zhuo Qing return without her guests.
This time, Zhuo Qing did not return to the weaving room, but went into another room. She stood there for a long while. The racks inside held many beautiful outfits, some made years ago, others in recent years.
Sometimes she wanted to make them for herself, but more often they were for others. She would imagine how those people might look wearing them. At such moments, Zhuo Qing occasionally thought that perhaps things would be quite nice without the Rosy Cloud Feather Garment...
"Aunt Zhuo~~~"
Du Xiaolin's voice drifted over. Zhuo Qing gathered her thoughts and answered.
"Coming!"
Taking a deep breath, Zhuo Qing walked over to a cabinet, opened it, and took out the special outfit inside. Then she left the room and closed the door.