The story, told in the first-person point of view, opens with a brief introduction of the myth of Chang’e and its many variations. It also introduces the protagonist, Xingyin, Chang’e’s daughter, who has a happy, sheltered childhood on the moon with her mother and their servant, Ping’er. Xingyin is proficient in music: Her instruments of choice are the flute and qin (a seven-stringed, ancient Chinese instrument). One day she finds the story of Houyi, the archer who shot down nine sunbirds from the sky. Chang’e catches her with the book and reveals that Houyi is Xingyin’s father, who was left behind in the Mortal Realm when Chang’e (and Xingyin) became immortal. They loved each other, and Chang’e misses him still.

Time passes. Xingyin notices specks of silver light in her consciousness. Chang’e warns her away from them, but Xingyin touches them one day out of boredom. Soon after, the Celestial Empress arrives with her loyal Minister Wu to investigate the unusual energy fluctuation on the moon. Xingyin hides, as her existence is a secret for which Chang’e and Ping’er could be dreadfully punished. She observes the

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