“Because His Celestial Majesty’s position is no longer unassailable. Too many eyes are upon him, and voices that were long silent have been roused to question.” General Jianyun paused, rubbing his chin contemplatively. “The gods among us bear an additional burden—the desire to be worshipped, whether through fear or love. While they might believe themselves above such things, they dread its loss. Other immortals, such as us, have fewer concerns. We care less how our actions appear to the world, and whether we will be maligned or adulated.”

“Too jarring a move might also alert our enemies,” Liwei observed. “If they descend upon the moon, it might cause an unwanted tussle. My father’s hands are tied for now, unless he has just cause.”

I would not give it to him. While the laurel’s power seemed benign, to heal instead of harm—I did not trust the emperor’s intentions.

A clang reverberated through the air, a gong struck by a mallet. Everyone turned toward the thrones where the empress had risen, raising her jade cup high. “A toast to His Celestial Majesty, the Emperor of the Immortal Heavens. To ten thousand years more of his glorious reign. Tonight, the moon shines brightly in his honor.”

With a sweep of the empress’s hand, the malachite roof disintegrated into shards—scattering into the night like emerald fireflies. Yet where the moon should have glowed in its full glory was a void of darkness.

As I searched the sky frantically, gasps erupted from the guests, their upturned faces taut with shock and foreboding. Whispers swirled through the air like a pestilent wind.

“Where is the moon? It should have risen long before.”

“An eclipse, on His Celestial Majesty’s birthday? An ill omen indeed!”

“What does Chang’e intend with this insult?”

At the last, ice seeped into my bones. My mother … what had happened to her? Never had she abandoned her task of illuminating the moon—not through heartbreak, grief, or loss. I spun to the entrance but my feet would not move, as though they were embedded in stone.

“Daughter of the Moon Goddess, what do you and your mother mean by this?” The empress’s fingers were clenched around her cup.

“I must go to my mother. She might be in danger!” Again, I tried to move, struggling against her enchantment. I gathered my energy to break it but caught Liwei’s eye, that slight shake of his head in warning. To use my magic here would be in blatant defiance of Their Celestial Majesties’ command. I had to tread carefully, at least for now.

General Wu stepped forward, his features arranged into a veneer of solemnity. “Chang’e is daring indeed to bring about such an ominous omen, this terrible insult to our beloved emperor. Unsurprising, as we are all aware of the Moon Goddess’s grudge against Their Celestial Majesties.”