The easy camaraderie of the library needed testing in the wider world. Xue Lian decided it was time for another field trip.
"You've seen the capital, you've seen a disaster zone," she announced one morning, appearing in the doorway of Lan Yue's room. Lan Yue was, for once, not buried in a scroll but practicing a slow, meditative form that required minimal spiritual energy, her movements a study in controlled grace. "Today, you see the breadbasket. Well, the… multi legged protein and glow berry basket. We're going to the farms."
Lan Yue finished her movement, coming to rest with a slow exhale. The idea of leaving the palace grounds was both intriguing and daunting. "Is that… wise?"
"Probably not," Xue Lian said cheerfully. "But it's interesting. And I need to check on the progress for the Festival of Twin Moons in a few days. Come on. Wear something you don't mind getting dirty." She tossed a bundle of simple, sturdy dark linen at Lan Yue. "Farmer chic. It's all the rage."
The clothes were plain but well made. As Lan Yue changed, she realized this was another calculated gesture. Not opulent silks, but practical gear. An invitation to participate, not just observe.
They left the palace not by palanquin, but on foot, with a minimal, discreet guard following at a distance. The air outside was different still tinged with the Netherworld's unique energy, but fresher, carrying the scent of damp earth and growing things.
The farms on the outskirts of the capital were a revelation. Under vast, shimmering domes of protective energy, rows of vibrant, strange crops grew in neat lines. There were fungi that glowed with soft blue light, vines heavy with pulsating purple fruit, and patches of a dark, leafy green that seemed to drink the light.
But nestled amongst the alien flora were familiar sights plots of mortal world vegetables Xue Lian's agricultural raids had introduced. Lan Yue saw demon farmers with hoes and watering cans, tending to rows of cabbages and… were those pumpkins?
"It's a work in progress," Xue Lian said, following her gaze. She pointed to a particularly large, orange pumpkin. "The pumpkins are doing surprisingly well. They seem to enjoy the hell ash soil. They get… aggressive, though. We lost a scarecrow last week. A complete massacre. Straw everywhere."
Lan Yue stared at her, trying to decide if she was joking. The Empress's face was perfectly serious.
Demons of all kinds worked the fields. A large, rocky Golem demon was carefully pollinating night blooming flowers with fingers surprisingly delicate for their size. A family of smaller, furry demons was harvesting the glowing blue mushrooms, placing them gently into baskets.
Everyone stopped to bow or nod as the Empress passed, but there was no fear. A demon with skin like bark and hair of moss actually approached to show Xue Lian a particularly large tuber he'd dug up, and they had a brief, technical discussion about soil acidity.
"It's… peaceful," Lan Yue observed, the word feeling inadequate.
"It's efficient," Xue Lian corrected, though she looked pleased. "Peace is a byproduct of full bellies and a sense of purpose." She led Lan Yue to a long, low building a barn, but built from the same dark, elegant material as the palace. Inside, the air was cool and smelled of hay and milk. The cows Lan Yue had heard about were there large, placid beasts with shaggy black fur and six horns each, contentedly chewing their cud.
"And here are the ladies responsible for the new cheese selection," Xue Lian said, patting the flank of the nearest beast. It lowed softly in response. "Their milk is richer. Makes for a fantastic brie. Don't tell the Northern Wastes; they're still obsessed with their artisanal ice."
As they walked back towards the main fields, Lan Yue noticed signs of preparation that had nothing to do with farming. Strings of paper lanterns were being hung between posts, their paper dyed in deep violets and silvers. A group of younger demons was practicing a dance in a cleared area, their movements involving a lot of dramatic leaping and playful snarling.
"What is all this for?" Lan Yue asked.
"The Festival of Twin Moons," Xue Lian said, her eyes lighting up. "It's in three days. It's one of our biggest celebrations. The two largest moons of the Netherworld align, and it's a night for… well, for not being so serious. There's feasting, dancing, storytelling. The demons get to let their hair down. Or scales. Or fur. Depending."
She gestured to a pile of large, orange spheres near a festive stall that was being constructed. "We're even having a new event this year. A… what did they call it?" She snapped her fingers. "A 'pumpkin thump.' Apparently, it's a mortal tradition. You take a large, overgrown pumpkin and see how far you can throw it. I'm sponsoring the prize. I'm thinking a year's supply of artisanal cheese."
The image of demons competitively throwing the aggressive pumpkins was so absurd, so utterly normal, that Lan Yue couldn't help but laugh. "You're making that up."
"I am not!" Xue Lian protested, though her eyes were sparkling. "It promotes community engagement and utilizes oversized produce. It's good governance!"
They continued their tour, Xue Lian pointing out the preparations with a proprietor's pride. Lan Yue watched her, this woman who could debate high policy one moment and the merits of pumpkin based athletics the next. The weight of the crown was still there, but here, among her people and their festival preparations, it seemed lighter.
For the first time, Lan Yue felt a flicker of something other than curiosity or reluctant attraction. It was a sense of… belonging. Not to this place, not yet. But to the possibility of it. To the strange, vibrant, and oddly wholesome world this infuriating, brilliant woman was building.
As they walked back towards the palace in the dimming light, the sounds of construction and laughter fading behind them, Xue Lian glanced at her.
"So," she said, her voice casual. "You'll come? To the festival?"
It wasn't a command. It was an invitation.
Lan Yue looked at the palace ahead, her gilded cage that was starting to feel strangely like a home, and then at the woman beside her, who was watching her with a hesitant hope she couldn't quite hide.
"Yes," Lan Yue said, surprising herself with how much she meant it. "I think I will."
The slow burn was now a steady glow, illuminated by the promise of paper lanterns and thrown pumpkins.