Who are other princesses in the world, I wonder? Do they all wait as eagerly as I do to see the moon at night? Or is it only I, the Imperial Princess of China, who longs to be part of moon viewings?
Today was the first time I was thought old enough for this special rite. I waited impatiently all day for darkness to fall and the moon to show itself!
In the afternoon, Shang-i came to teach me. She is the Assistant Chief-of-Rites, a teacher who knows so much about becoming a woman. “Shall we have our writing and philosophy lesson in the moon-viewing garden?” she asked me. I was happy to be there. We turned the garden into a study room with our lap-desk, books, and ink. I wrote a story about seeing the garden in daytime and then again at night.
In between lessons, I sat on the smooth bench and teased my little dog, Huang. When it was time to work again, I shooed Huang through the archway to my rooms and listened to my lesson.
I heard “SPLASH!” A puppy whimpering. Then Shang-i scolding. I turned to see Huang. He had been stalking the gold fish in the pond, as always, trying to catch just one (he's never managed!) . He hopped right out—but he looked so surprised I had to hug him. Shang-i didn't mind. She simply asked me to change into dry robes.
After lessons, I skipped to my room to put on my newest robe for the occasion. It is heavy silk that falls in long, even folds from my shoulders to my ankles. My robe's embroidered chrysanthemums remind me of the flowers at the temple.
Finally the hour came when we could gather in the garden. And yes, the moon was as bright as a candle flame—and just as yellow. The stars were specks of glowing glass lighting the night sky. And everyone in our garden looked different: their faces were turned upwards to the sky. Even Huang was on his hind legs so that he could see the moon as well! Father and the others called me Ti-i . That means “Deified Beauty”—someone who is worshipped for being special. It was a great honor, as I always knew it would be.
