"Ahhh—!"
As Jiang Lin approached the Guanghan Palace, he saw a large white rabbit standing half-upright, its front paws covering its face, looking at him in horror.
It was as if it had seen something terrifying.
Before he could ask what was going on, the rabbit shot back into the courtyard behind it.
In the courtyard, under the Osmanthus tree—
A woman with a graceful figure and delicate features was sleeping soundly, holding a small white rabbit.
"Number 13, Number 13, stop sleeping."
The large white rabbit quickly shook the woman, then shook the small white rabbit that looked just like it.
"Someone's here, hurry up and get to your post!"
"Huh? What?"
The woman groggily opened her eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings.
She unconsciously wiped the corner of her mouth, and after hearing the large white rabbit, she didn't even look.
She nimbly climbed the Osmanthus tree and assumed a sitting posture.
Then she quickly tugged at the beautiful, ethereal gauze skirt that seemed woven from the Milky Way.
Leaning back against a branch, she adjusted the expression on her face.
In an instant, a portrait of a melancholic beauty appeared.
Paired with the scenery of Guanghan Palace, the scene was dreamlike and ethereal.
"Rabbit, the rabbit forgot!"
The large white rabbit jumped below, reminding her in a small voice.
"?" Rabbit?
The woman looked at her hands and quickly pulled up the small white rabbit that was still groggy at the base of the tree.
Adjusting her breathing, she once again put on a melancholic face.
Her long eyelashes drooped slightly, casting a shadow beneath her eyes.
Seeing this, the anxious large white rabbit below breathed a sigh of relief.
It then nimbly ran back to Jiang Lin and stood up straight.
Placing its front paws in front of it, it politely asked:
"Hello, are you here to buy specialties from Guanghan Palace?"
It opened its cute, round eyes, looking obedient and adorable.
As if the rabbit that had just screamed in terror and fled wasn't it.
Jiang Lin: "..."
Although he didn't know what was going on with Guanghan Palace, it seemed to be quite eventful.
It deviated somewhat from the descriptions in the stories.
He asked curiously, "Specialties from Guanghan Palace?"
"Mhm, mhm!"
The large white rabbit nodded and instructed, "Please wait a moment."
Then, it turned its head and shouted towards Guanghan Palace:
"Bring out the specialties!"
The next moment, the gates of Guanghan Palace opened wide, and rabbits carrying baskets ran out.
Behind them, two women, identical to the one under the Osmanthus tree, also emerged carrying baskets.
"We have a guest?"
"Number 2, can you be a little quieter next time? You're almost deafening me."
The two women, also with graceful figures and delicate features, spoke one after another.
The large white rabbit: "Stop the nonsense."
Was it easy for it to attract customers?
As the rabbits and the two women approached, they lifted the cloth covering the baskets, revealing the specialties inside.
They were round and golden mooncakes!
They varied in size.
The small ones could be eaten in one bite, while the large ones were as big as a dinner plate.
Accompanied by a fragrant aroma, they evoked a sense of home.
"Guest, look, these are our specialties," the large white rabbit beckoned.
"..."
Jiang Lin was stunned, not expecting Guanghan Palace to be selling mooncakes.
It was like setting up a stall...
Seeing him look over, the large white rabbit introduced:
"Don't let their appearance fool you; they are very different inside."
It hopped to the basket and pointed with its paw, "This is five-nut flavor, this is candied date flavor, this is osmanthus flavor..."
"And this big one, the one as big as a dinner plate, is actually made with the unique morning dew from Guanghan Palace. It's sweet and delicious."
"One bite and you won't stop. It will not only bring back memories of home but also let you relive the beautiful scenery of Guanghan Palace."
After the large white rabbit finished its spiel, Jiang Lin asked, "How much are they?"
He didn't have Heavenly Palace currency.
Was there an exchange point nearby?
Upon hearing this, the large white rabbit extended a front paw, a smile appearing at the corner of its mouth:
"Affordable price, only five points of merit!"
"Understood."
Jiang Lin nodded, then turned to leave.
Merit was a good thing.
Although he had obtained quite a bit through the system, one could never have too much.
For advancing realms, changing luck, dealing with the Heavenly Dao...
It was useful in many ways.
Using it to buy food was simply too extravagant.
"Eh?"
The large white rabbit raised a front paw, its large eyes wide with confusion.
This turning away...
Was it too sudden?
Five points of merit... wasn't that expensive?
"Aren't you going to reconsider? Our Guanghan Palace mooncakes are famous in the Heavenly Palace!"
"Five points of merit, you can't buy loss, you can't buy deception!"
"..."
Jiang Lin continued walking without stopping.
Although he didn't get to see Chang'e's true form, Jiang Lin was greatly impressed.
So there really were beauties holding rabbits on the Osmanthus tree.
However, they were all clones created by Chang'e.
One day in the Heavenly Palace is one year on Earth.
For 365 days, rabbits and 'Chang'es' took turns on the Osmanthus tree of Guanghan Palace.
He had broadened his horizons.
...
Afterward, Jiang Lin took a general tour of the Heavenly Palace.
He passed by many palaces.
Some were open, some were closed.
Compared to before, there were many new palaces and divine officials, but many familiar faces were also gone.
Even Jiang Lin's former residence was now just an empty space.
He didn't know if it had been demolished, but a scenic Heavenly Pool had been built on the ground.
In the Heavenly Pool, there were two or three unknown red flowers and floating green leaves.
White fish swam around in it.
As if in a daze, he heard someone ask:
"Who are you looking for?"
Jiang Lin looked over and saw a person in plain clothes sitting at a corner of the Heavenly Pool, a conical hat hanging on their back.
The person appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with an ordinary face.
They were holding a fishing rod, and a water bucket was placed beside them, already containing a white fish the size of a palm.
The God of Fishing?
Or perhaps a deity who enjoyed a pastoral life?
Jiang Lin pondered, wondering if it was Shen Nong.
He replied, "I heard... the Divine Official Jiang, who proposed the reincarnation of divine officials, lives here."
"I've heard of him for a long time, so I wanted to come and see."
"You mean Jiang Lin?"
The person fishing cast out a baited hook and said casually.
"He's no longer here. Sacrificed deities are all unified and placed above the old library."
He glanced at Jiang Lin, "However, you don't have a waist token, so you can't get in."
The library was old, but its value remained irreplaceable.
"Thank you for letting me know."
Jiang Lin nodded, not too disappointed, as he had only intended to take a look.
Just as he was about to take his leave, he heard the person say, "I haven't seen you before, is this your first time in the Heavenly Palace?"
Jiang Lin: "Yes."
"Then what do you think of the Heavenly Palace?"
What did he think?
Jiang Lin couldn't discern the person's strength, nor could he figure out the meaning behind their words.
After thinking for a moment, he replied cautiously, "This is my first visit, and I've learned a lot."
"You young people love to speak in riddles."
The angler shook his head. "If it's good, it's good. If it's bad, it's bad. Saying it won't do anything to you."
The fishing rod moved in his hand.
He waited for a moment, then raised his hand. A red fish was reeled in by the hook.
Seeing the other person unhurriedly place the fish into the bucket, Jiang Lin replied:
"The Heavenly Palace has many differences from the Underworld. Seeing it for the first time, I think it's quite good."
"Mm."
Upon hearing this, the angler responded with a light, unhurried "Mm": "If you think it's good, then explore more."
"Okay."
Jiang Lin watched for a while, and seeing that the angler, who was suspected to be a senior divine official, said no more, he took his leave.
Not long after he walked away, the person's voice suddenly came from behind him.
"Don't underestimate your identity as a propagator. Whatever status you have in the Underworld, you will receive the same treatment in the Heavenly Palace."
Jiang Lin's steps faltered.
He turned back to look and saw that the person was still sitting at the corner of the Heavenly Pool.
Holding a fishing rod, quietly waiting for a fish to bite.
...