The minister sniffed as he surveyed her through narrowed eyes. My fingers curled at his lack of civility, even as foreboding plunged through me at the sight of the imperial yellow brocade scroll cradled in his palms. A pattern of twin dragons circling the sun was embroidered across it, the design favored by the Celestial Emperor.

He brandished the scroll with an exaggerated flourish. “I bear an edict from His Celestial Majesty, the Supreme Emperor of the Celestial Kingdom, Protector of the Mortal Realm, Lord over the Sun, Moon, and Stars. May he govern us for another ten thousand years.”

As was customary, we sank to our knees upon the ground, pressing our palms and foreheads to the floor. Minister Ruibing took an inordinately long time to unravel the scroll, likely savoring the sight of us kneeling before him. He possessed the pompous air of one who relished the authority ceded to him.

“All present, hear and obey,” he recited in ringing tones. “The goddess Chang’e is hereby removed from her guardianship of the moon for the shameful neglect of her duties and the grave insult to His Celestial Majesty. She, and all the moon’s inhabitants, will await their punishment here. None of them are permitted to leave its grounds. Defiance of these commands will be considered an act of hostility against the Celestial Kingdom.”

His gaze slid toward Liwei, thinned with malice. “Your Highness, if I found you here, I was instructed to convey a message to you. His Celestial Majesty commands that you return to the Jade Palace without delay to await his judgment on your conduct.”

A void gaped in my chest, my protest spilling from my lips. “He did nothing wrong, nor did my mother. She meant no harm; this was her first lapse in all these decades. I request an audience with His Celestial Majesty. Let me explain—”

“Thank you, Minister Ruibing,” Liwei interjected as he rose to his feet. “I will leave with you in a moment.”

Liwei drew me to the far end of the hall. He stood before me, his body blocking out the rest of the room, including the minister’s odious presence. “Don’t do this. My father will not grant you an audience. Your demand would be seen as a challenge to his authority and will only infuriate him more. He is already angry enough to imprison all of you without hope of release.”

I swallowed hard, hating this weight of impending disaster, this numbing futility. I did not want Liwei to go, yet the moon was no longer a haven but the most dangerous place in the realm. I bit down hard on my tongue, relishing the sting. Blood was preferable to tears in moments as these.

“Don’t return with the minister.” Rash words, ringed in selfishness.