Daughter of the Moon Goddess

These chapters center around The Influence of Romantic Love. Xingyin is torn between Liwei and Wenzhi, who remain jealous of each other. Wenzhi’s invitation to go home with him offers the hope of new love, as well as the freedom to tell him her secrets. However, her lingering feelings for Liwei—especially clear through her jealously of Fengmei—hold her back. Though Xingyin has rebounded enough to start looking toward a new future, she still remains tied to the past, a lingering influence of her mother’s romance as well as the last of her naivete. She now understands herself well enough to set boundaries—although she sympathizes with the disaster of Fengmei’s abduction, she still refuses to help, noting that there are other soldiers who could do the job just as well (284). When Liwei begs her to help, she insists that he maintain the appropriate social boundaries as well, firmly delineating their new roles in life (287-88). He agrees, albeit reluctantly.

As Xingyin tries to mature, Liwei and Wenzhi grow increasingly childish with their expressions of jealousy. Both lash out at her and apologize, but each elicits different reactions from her. Liwei’s repeated confession shocks her into a kiss, while Wenzhi’s concerns over the rescue mission reveal his insecurities about her feelings for him, persuading her to agree to go home with him. Their subsequent behavior differs as well: During the mission, Liwei attempts to politely ask about her future with Wenzhi (295), indicating an attempt to accept the situation like an adult. On the other hand, when Xingyin insists on joining the rescue mission, Wenzhi reluctantly acquiesces, but his responses indicate his willingness to emotionally manipulate Xingyin and deny her freedom of choice. Still, his concerns for Xingyin’s safety and wellbeing increase her trust in him, to the point that she considers telling him who she truly is.

Most importantly, the villain of this plot arc, Lady Hualing, is an example of the dangers of being controlled by emotion. Xingyin understands this on a cognitive level, though she, too, remains driven by her emotions, albeit to a lesser degree. Hualing observes the similarities between Xingyin’s relationship with Liwei and her own love for the emperor, but Xingyin rejects this, insisting that she could never wish harm upon a loved one. Xingyin learns to acknowledge her own repressed emotions: the fight to the death forces her to recognize her love for Liwei, even though it is impossible to act upon. This love is once again symbolized by their Sky Drop Tassels, which guides her to Liwei just as they guided Liwei to her in Chapter 21. Even Fengmei observes that they are “[a] matched pair” (326), though Xingyin denies any romantic meaning.

Shuxiao dreams of love to a lesser degree, but doesn’t believe she’ll find it. Instead, her dilemma centers around The Value of Freedom. If she was free to live her domestic dreams, she would be with her loved ones, perhaps starting a family of her own (270). However, she must fulfill her duty to protect her family through her connections in the military, and is thus restricted by her own success. While she values her family, they can also be a metaphorical burden—a concept to which Liwei and Xingyin can relate.

The theme of freedom is also explored when Hualing uses Mind Talent on Liwei. Xingyin is slow to accept that Lady Hualing, a Celestial, would do such a thing (316), revealing both her internalized prejudice toward Mind Talents and the belief that no Celestial would disobey the emperor regardless of their feelings about him. She is forced to acknowledge the reality of Hualing’s actions when Liwei is unable to stop himself from stabbing her, and when he nearly dies in order to break the spell (323). This is Xingyin’s second negative experience with Mind Talent, and it teaches her the dangers of a lack of freedom. While she understands enough to reject such restrictions of freedom, she is still only capable of sympathizing, rather than fully empathizing with victims of compulsion or imprisonment.

Important symbols reappear in this section. The flute is further associated with Liwei, who often listens to Xingyin’s song for him through the magic seashell she gave him. While its mention is only an aside, it reminds the reader that Xingyin hasn’t played her flute since his birthday banquet. She has only played the flute in his presence since leaving the moon, so she is naturally hesitant of any reminders of him when she is trying to move on. Like she wouldn’t truly abandon the flute, she also cannot fully forget Liwei, even as she considers her second choice: a life with Wenzhi.

The moon makes its appearance as a symbol of family and comfort in conjunction with memories of Chang’e (292). However, its presence, while constant, becomes more of an afterthought—an instinct rather than a conscious choice. In this way it reflects Xingyin’s flagging hope of achieving her goal of freeing her mother: Despite all her efforts and dangerous missions, she still hasn’t received the Crimson Lion Talisman, and she is beginning to feel it is impossible to acquire. While she never forgets her family, she is also beginning to consider other options. Rather than be tied down to a hopeless task like Shuxiao or Liwei, she could create a new future—with no secrets—with Wenzhi. By doing so, she would have to sacrifice her family, but it would allow her to live for herself.