She surveyed the Servant's quarters once more, looking for any speck of dust that might have been missed and finding nothing. 

The floors had been swept and mopped, the wood gleaming. The bedding was already aired out and the beds remade. The laundry was hanging on a line behind the quarters. The buckets near the rear of the large room were emptied and fresh water now resided within them. 

It was still another hour before she would be required to retrieve lunch and tea from the kitchens and her tasks were already complete. 

It wasn't nearly as hard as farm work. She was quick and thorough and now, utterly bored. 

Several of the pillows on the beds were in need of mending, as well as a few blankets, she had noticed earlier. Although it wasn't on the list of tasks, it would at least fill the time.

She turned toward the door, surely someone in this Realm could assist her in finding some thread and a needle.

As she walked, she couldn't help but notice the few people she encountered staring at her openly before averting their eyes when they made contact with hers. 

Servants bustled from Palace to Palace, carrying food, laundry, and other items as others walked leisurely in fine dress, seemingly unaware of the workers around them.

Immortals, fairies...who knew what they did all day. It had to be a tedious existence, she surmised as she scanned for a servant that wasn't rushing around.

A man in light blue robes was walking carefully, balancing a teapot and cups on an ornate tray, heading for the entrance of one of the Palaces lining either side of the common walkway. She diverted her course toward him.

"Sir! Sir!" she started as she neared. He stopped and tipped his head, perusing her.

"Hello. Could you tell me where I could find a needle and thread?"

He scanned her from head to toe and back up to her face.

"To take in your uniform? You're practically swimming in that thing," he stated critically.

"No. Not for me, although...you do have a point," she responded, holding her arms out and looking down on the excess fabric before looking up at him.

"Seamstress Quarters. Down this walkway, to the end, turn left and over the bridge," he said with a slight jerk of his head in the direction behind him.

"Thank you."

"You're new here," he commented as she stepped aside to let him pass.

"I am," she turned to see him looking at her carefully.

"Which Palace?"

"None. The servants quarters."

"Oh..." he seemed to consider for a moment. "I've heard about you," he stated in a hushed tone.

"Yes. I'm sure everyone has heard by now," she muttered.

"They say it was the most sensational assembly at Qiwu Palace, at least in the last six centuries," he whispered after looking around.

"I'm sure it was. I'll be paying for it for the next hundred years," she whispered back and it caused a small smile to appear on his face.

"Word of advice. Stay away from the Emperor. He never shows his anger or any emotion, really. Well, at least since -" he started but ended abruptly. "A very long time," he finally finished, but she could tell that was not what he wanted to say.

"You have no need to tell me this. He is the last person I plan on encountering, I assure you," she stated with a smile.

"Well, I better get this tea served before it becomes cold. My name is Li Phen, if you ever need anything. I work in this Palace," he said, indicating the plaque above the ornate doors.

"Annchi," she replied and gave a quick bow.

"Annchi. Welcome Annchi," he said with a nod of his head. She started to turn before a thought interrupted.

"Oh! The kitchens!" she said with wide eyes. Could you tell me how to get there? I have to get food and tea for the servant's break," she asked. The woman didn't mention where it was located before rushing away this morning to complete her own tasks.

"Instead of turning left at the end of the walkway, turn right and it is a few buildings down."

She gave a quick bow and a smile before walking hastily in the direction he indicated.

*****

"What are you doing?" she heard the accusatory tone before her eyes glanced from the stitch she was completing to the servant before her later in the day.

"My job. What are you doing?" Annchi asked before looking back down to her work.

"That's my pillow."

"So?"

"What are you doing with my pillow?" she asked in an escalating voice.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" Annchi asked in monotone as she continued to stitch.

"You...you're hands are filthy! Don't touch my pillow!" the girl screeched before it was yanked from Annchi's lap, the needle and thread still attached.

"What is going on?" The older servant asked as she entered the room.

"She took my pillow!"

"I was mending your pillow," Annchi corrected in a calm voice.

"Her hands are filthy," the girl yelled, pointing at the offending digits.

"They're clean, they're just stained, but who cares? Sleep with a hole in your pillow, it doesn't matter to me," she said as she stood up.  The girl was hugging the pillow to her, causing Annchi's lips to lift in a smirk. 

"By the way, the needle -"

"Ahhh!" the girl screamed, dropping the pillow and cradling her hand, blood was seeping between her fingers.

"- is still in it," Annchi finished.

Her eyes switched to the older woman. "Is there anything else you need done? I've finished everything you wanted this morning."

"No. Go to your quarters. Stay there," she ordered in a hard voice as she walked to the whimpering girl.

She didn't need to be told twice. Annchi swept from the room after grabbing the small basket the kindly seamstress gave her earlier. Outside, a few more servants were rushing toward the sound coming from inside the quarters as she walked past them and toward the bridge.  She stood before it, summoning her magic to transport her from one side to another, but again, nothing. 

She had tried every spell, every incantation she could think of this morning and nothing. Not a spark, not a drip of anything came from her fingers.

Her magic was sealed somehow and she was certain she knew who did it. 

Annchi backed up a few steps before sprinting across half of the bridge and jumping from the center to the other side.

As soon as she stepped into the shack, she removed her uniform and changed into the gown her mother made. It wouldn't do to soil her servant's attire, she mused. Her hands were already 'filthy' according to them, her clothing should at least be clean.

Her charming visitor from last night had better make good on his promise, she thought as she knelt in the clearing and began to till the dirt with her hands. It was hard, and dry, but the more she dug, the darker it became. It made her sit back and survey her surroundings. Somehow, there was some moisture to this soil, but this outcropping of land was surrounded by huge rocks. 

Her eyes scanned the border before settling on a darker stained set of boulders near the far end of the parcel.

Standing up, she dusted her hands together before wandering toward the area, noticing the darkened surfaces were actually glistening with moisture. A small gasp sounded before her feet quickly carried her to the area, touching the cool wet surface and pulling her fingers back to view and sniff the wetness on her fingers. 

No smell. It was definitely water. Immediately, her hands wrapped around a rock, and lifted it before placing it to the side. Rock after rock were pulled and removed, small boulders that made her back strain were pushed to the side before the water was free to shoot up, bubbling and gurgling to the surface.

A spring! 

She stood up, wiping her brow as she watched the water flow and disappear within the rocks below. Suddenly, her mind was full of plans as she turned to view the discarded wood planks still lying beside the dwelling.

"I'm back. Did you miss me?" 

She jumped at the voice behind her before turning to see the man from last night and another man standing a bit behind him.

"Could you not do that?" she breathed out, holding her hand to her quickly beating heart.

"What?"

"Scare me half to death?" she answered before her eyes shifted to the young man dressed in white with vibrant red accents behind him.

"I brought you some things. And a visitor," her eyes traveled back to him before shifting back to the man behind him.

"This is Dan Zhu. The Moon Immortal," he said as the other man stepped forward. 

"And you are Annchi, it is my pleasure to make your acquaintance," he said with a small bow and a delighted look upon his face for some reason.

An Immortal? An Immortal came to visit me? How strange, she thought as she took in his almost frivolous appearance.

"It's...thank you?" she asked with a confused expression on her face.

"And I apologize, but I don't think I had the opportunity to introduce myself. I am Yanyou, your savior and ever ready servant, my love," he said with an exaggerated bow that made her head shake and her eyes roll at him.

"Stop that," she scolded lightly before focusing on the Immortal.

"Why would you want to visit me?" she asked in confusion.

"Are you serious?!" he exclaimed. "I was there, I saw the whole thing. It was...fantastic! You were...so...oh, I don't know. I've never seen anything like it and I had to meet you. And so cute up close! We'll have you married in no time," he commented with a firm nod of his head.

"What?! No! I -"

"Dan Zhu runs the House of Marriage," Yanyou explained.

"I have no idea what that is, but no. No marriage. No thank you," she said seriously looking from one face to the other.

Yanyou smiled brightly, Dan Zhu gave an exaggerated pout.

"So...did you bring me the grass?" she asked toward Yanyou with a hopeful expression.

"Did I bring you the grass? I would give her anything she desires and she picks this," he said as his palm raised and a clump of bright green grass, roots and all flashed into view.

Her hands clapped excitedly before she held her own hands out. 

"Thank you. It's perfect! Is it from Nóngchǎng Province?" she asked as he placed it in her hands.

"Yes. Yes. Horribly boring place," he said with a tsk.

She walked toward the spot she dug earlier, settling the small clump into the freshly turned dirt, gently scooping and patting the dirt around it before standing up and dusting her hands.

"I have to show you something!" she remarked with a beaming smile before wandering over the the spring and pointing at it excitedly.

Both men walked over, heads tilted as they followed her pointing finger.

"It's...water," Yanyou commented flatly as he looked down. "Wow," he added in an equally bored tone.

"Isn't it wonderful? I'm going to build an irrigation system and divert some for a wash basin and maybe a little pool!"

His eyebrows raised and a small quirk of his lips indicated he did not share her enthusiasm.

"Well, anyway, I appreciate the grass, I'll have this dirt turned into the most beautiful lawn. You'll see," she said as her eyes twinkled.

"I look forward to it," he stated noncommittedly. 

"So, Annchi, would you like to have tea? Maybe a meal? You can come to the House of Marriage, I could show you around," Dan Zhu said as he stepped up.

"Oh. Mmm," she seemed to consider for a moment. "I don't think so. I was ordered to stay here. My first day and already I'm in trouble," she commented. "Maybe when I've finished my chores some day I could come and visit?"

"What trouble? What did you do?" Yanyou asked.

"It...well, it was a needle and really it wasn't my fault. There wasn't that much blood. She'll be fine," she answered before clamping her lips shut and shrugging again.

A look passed between the two men and back at her.

"Please be careful. I wasn't sure what my nephew was going to do with you, he's been...inconsistent lately. Please don't do anything to upset him further. I would hate to lose my new friend," Dan Zhu stated with a somber expression.

"Your...nephew?" she asked in a small voice.

He nodded.

"Your nephew is the Emperor," she stated with disbelief etched on her face.

"Yes."

"That's impossible. You're too young! How can that be?" she exclaimed.

"I'm extremely well preserved, don't you think?" he asked as he twirled the two red balls hanging from his hair adornment.

"Yes, actually you are," she said as she perused his face closely.

"What about me? I'm thousands of years old, too!" Yanyou stepped up with a charming smile.

"Certainly. Yes, you too," she commented with a smirk.

"Good. I have some more things for you, then," he said as his palm extended and a clump of grass appeared. His other palm reached out and another clump flashed into view.

"What? Oh you're wonderful!" she gasped out as she reached for them.

"There's more," he added with a pleased expression. Clump after clump appeared and before long, a small pile lay next to him.

"And...here," he finally stated, handing her a small satchel that jingled when she took it.

"What is it?" she asked as she opened the drawstring and peered inside.

"Nails!" she stated with unrestrained glee.

"She is an easy woman to please," Yanyou said as he smiled at her.

"I am simple. That's for certain. I have to plant these right away," she said as she gazed at the grass.

"Well then, here," he responded, holding both hands out before a small shovel appeared.

"Oh! No. No, we dig with our hands. We use no implements."

"Why ever not? It would seem much easier," he said with confusion.

"Where I come from, we have a saying: If you love the land, it will love you back."

"How does one love dirt?" Dan Zhu asked with a strange expression.

"Easy. When you are gentle with it, it will provide and provide well. If you hack at it, you take advantage and it becomes stingy. It's true!" she emphasized with widened eyes at their obvious disbelief.

"Think about this. Every Realm is different, correct? Different purposes, different environments, but you know what they all have in common? Dirt," she answered without waiting for a response.

"Even this Realm, where no flower or vegetation will grow. Everyone knows the curse The Great Floral Goddess has bestowed on the Heavenly Realm, and yet, there is dirt. Just waiting for someone to care for it. I believe I may be that person."

"Interesting," Dan Zhu remarked, tapping his finger at the side of his mouth.

"Yes. We'll see if my assumption is correct. I'd better start now before it gets dark," she said as she reached down to gather the grass in her arms.

"Well, I'd offer to help, but..." Yanyou started, looking down at the dirt and the grass in her arms with a mildly disgusted expression.

"It's fine. I need to establish a connection with it myself anyway."

"Well, you go on and connect with your dirt. Dan Zhu and I will play Go and drink wine. Maybe someday you can join us?" he said with a hopeful expression.

"Yes. I should like to learn how to play. I've heard of it, but there was never time for that."

"Stay out of trouble," Dan Zhu piped up. "You shouldn't be confined to this place. You should be free to do what you want. I expect a visit to the House of Marriage very soon."

"I look forward to it," she said with a genuine smile.

"See you soon, then," he said before vanishing in a pink whirl of smoke.

"Oh, here," Yanyou said as he held out a small red string to her as soon as Dan Zhu was gone.

"What's that for?" she asked.

"You tie it around your ankle. If you need me, just touch the string."

"Really?"

"Sure. I have one too. It will sort of...connect us. I mean, if you need anything," he added quickly.

"This?" she asked, holding the limp red string up for a better view.

"Trust me."