Azure Heaven Pavilion was naturally a tower, yet when Qiongqiong followed Princess Zixia inside, she saw that it was actually a grotto-heaven. Above her stretched a cloudless sky for thousands of miles; beneath her rolled boundless azure waves. Blossoms glittering with golden light bloomed and withered with every breath she took. How could she not know this was a wondrous sight of the Peach Blossom Banquet, a method of the Immortal Palace? Qiongqiong was not surprised. She merely lowered her head carefully and followed at Princess Zixia's side.
Once Empress Dongmian had taken her high seat and Princess Zixia stood beside her, Empress Dongmian raised a hand and pointed. A seat like a flower bud appeared out of thin air. Smiling, she said, "Xin... Zixia, now that you have received a title, you have a place in Azure Heaven Pavilion. Sit."
Tears welled in Princess Zixia's eyes as she looked at Empress Dongmian's picturesque features. She knew that although the Empress's face had never aged, her heart had weathered countless vicissitudes. For Zixia's sake alone, Empress Dongmian had worried herself beyond measure. Had Empress Dongmian not banished Qiongqiong from the Immortal Palace, she did not know when she would have seen daylight again. Of course, Princess Zixia also knew that besides Empress Dongmian, she had Xiao Hua, a man whose word was worth a thousand pieces of gold. Once he learned of her whereabouts, he would search the blue vault above and the Yellow Springs below. With Xiao Hua's strength, she would certainly escape her predicament. Yet before the mother who had borne and raised her, Princess Zixia rarely felt such tenderness. She lowered her head and said, "Yes, Your Majesty!"
As Princess Zixia sat down, Qiongqiong carefully stood behind her. Empress Dongmian smiled. "Xin Xin, now that we are