The Matchmaker Immortal Wants to Return to the Celestial Court - Chapter 6

As soon as she returned to the Matchmaker Pavilion, she opened the Book of Fate and resumed recording mortal love pairings.

Just as she uncapped the ink bottle, a wave of dizziness surged to her head, causing her hands to falter and overturn the bottle.

She hurriedly picked it up, but the damage was done. Staring at the ink-stained Book of Fate, her mind went blank as droplets of ink continued to fall from the bottle in her trembling hands.

Outside the pavilion, the bright moon vanished, the sky darkened, and thunder rumbled ominously.

Fear gripped her, and there was only one thought in her mind.

I’m doomed.

Just then, footsteps echoed from outside the hall. For a moment, she thought the Celestial Soldiers had arrived to arrest her.

“Moon Matchmaker!” Siming rushed into the pavilion, his expression frantic. “Are you alright? Why has the sky darkened like this?”

“I… I…” She stammered, her eyes brimming with tears.

When Siming saw the ink-stained Book of Fate, his face also paled in shock.

“What… what do we do?” she choked out.

Without a word, Siming stepped forward, placing his hand over the book, attempting to cast a spell to restore it.

However, before he could finish, more footsteps approached from outside. This time, she could clearly hear the armored clatter of the Celestial Soldiers. As they stormed into the pavilion,Siming swiftly moved to shield her behind him.

“Greetings, Lord Siming,” the leading general saluted him respectfully. “By decree of the Heavenly Emperor, we are here to arrest the Moon Matchmaker. We ask for your cooperation.”

“On what grounds?” Siming questioned, his voice firm.

The general remained polite but unwavering. “As you can see, the Moon Matchmaker has made a grave mistake. The Jade Emperor has issued an order for her detainment. As for the final judgment, that will be up to His Majesty.”

Without giving Siming a chance to argue further, the general turned to his subordinates. “Take the Moon Matchmaker away. Be careful—do not harm her.”

She did not resist. She knew she had brought this upon herself. Her only concern now was whether the ink-stained Book of Fate could still be salvaged.

In the grand celestial hall, the Jade Emperor sat on his high throne, surrounded by esteemed elders.

She kept her head bowed, staring at her bound hands in shame, unable to meet the Emperor’s gaze.

“Moon Matchmaker, do you realize the gravity of your mistake?”

“I… I spilled ink on the Book of Fates…” Her tears finally spilled over.

“When you took on this role, did I not remind you to conduct yourself with the utmost diligence?” The Jade Emperor sighed. “You are a deity, not a mortal. Gods possess far more than mortals do, and thus, they must have even greater compassion for all beings. It is because of your unstable emotions—your distracted mind—that you forgot your kindness, your vow, and brought about this consequence.”

She sobbed uncontrollably.

“Your Majesty,” Siming spoke up. She hadn’t even realized he was present.

“The matter of the Book of Fate—I can still rectify it.”

The Jade Emperor shook his head. “Fate Star Lord, you of all people should understand that writing in the Book of Fates is not mere clerical work. Every stroke and dot influences the very destiny of mortals. Time flows differently between the heavens and the mortal realm. Even if you restore the book this instant, the ink’s corruption has already altered their fates. As we speak, the mortals affected by the ink have already reached the age of five.”

Siming lowered his head in silence.

“Your Majesty…” she gathered her courage and asked, “Is there any way I can make amends?”

The Jade Emperor, who had initially looked upon her with sorrow, now adopted a sterner expression.

“Moon Matchmaker, I order you to descend into the mortal realm. You must personally mend the fates of those affected by the ink. Until you have successfully reunited all forty of them with their destined partners, you are forbidden from returning to the Celestial Court.”

She had cried so much that her eyes were swollen, yet the tears still would not stop. She lay sprawled over the desk in the Matchmaker Pavilion, unmoved by the gentle consolations of the Queen Mother of the West and the Seven-Star Goddess.

She had never imagined that her punishment would be reincarnation into the mortal realm.

Being forced to reincarnate was one of the most severe punishments a deity could face. A single misstep, and she might never return to the Celestial Court. Many before her had been banished in the same manner, only to remain trapped in the mortal world forever.

“Queen Mother, did you plead with the Jade Emperor?” Seven-Star Goddess asked desperately.

“I did,” the Queen Mother sighed, “but he remains firm in his decision. There is no changing his mind now.”

She turned to Seven-Star Goddess. “Your best option is to collaborate with Siming and create a favorable fate for Moon Matchmaker. I believe the Jade Emperor will turn a blind eye and allow you two to arrange this much.”

Seven-Star Goddess wiped her tears and nodded.

“Time is running short. She must be reincarnated within the hour. Work quickly.”

As soon as the Queen Mother finished speaking, Siming entered the pavilion, his face serious.

She had cried herself into exhaustion and could only sit up weakly.

“Moon Matchmaker,” he gently patted her shoulder and knelt beside her, speaking softly, “I’ve brought the fate records of the forty individuals affected. Please review them carefully. I believe memorizing their destinies before you reincarnate will help you.”

She looked at him with sorrow. “You’re helping me so much… Aren’t you afraid of being punished by the Jade Emperor?”

“Oh, stop overthinking,” Seven-Star Goddess interrupted. “Didn’t the Queen Mother just say that the Jade Emperor will turn a blind eye? Hurry up and memorize them.”

She nodded, taking the records and using celestial magic to etch their fates into her memory.

Siming nodded and continued, “Fortunately, the page affected by the ink spill only contained records of mortals born on the island of Taiwan, without being scattered across various countries. Thanks to Seven-Star Goddess’s meticulous classification, creating a fate for you will be much simpler.”

Seven-Star Goddess nodded in agreement, “Yes, we don’t have to design a destiny that involves traveling all over the world. From what the previous Fate Lords have said, such fates are highly unstable and difficult to write.”

“I have already calculated it,” Siming continued. “If everything goes smoothly and you complete your mission, your lifespan will end precisely at thirty. However, if unexpected circumstances arise, you may finish at an older age. Therefore, I intend to set your lifespan at ninety-two to ensure you have enough time—”

“No!” She grabbed Siming’s sleeve, interrupting him in a raised voice. “Don’t set it so high—please just give me thirty-two years!”

Siming and Seven-Star Goddess exchanged worried glances.

She stood up, knelt, and bowed. “I do not wish to live so long. I only want to complete my mission as quickly as possible and return to the Celestial Court. I promise I will finish the task by the age of thirty and return to reunite with you both when my time is up.”

“But—”

“It’s fine, Siming,” Seven-Star Goddess interjected. “Just follow Moon Matchmaker’s wishes.” She then lowered her voice and urged, “Time is running out. There’s no room for debate.”

Siming reluctantly nodded.

“Siming, will Moon Matchmaker still be able to use her celestial powers after descending to the mortal world?” Seven-Star Goddess asked urgently.

“I am not certain,” Siming replied, still looking worriedly at her. “It depends on her own cultivation.”

“The details of the mortal fate will be up to you, Siming,” she said weakly, bowing. “I have no other special requests.”

Once again, the Celestial Soldiers arrived at the Matchmaker Pavilion. This time, she was not only bound by the hands but completely restrained.

“Moon Matchmaker, please.” The leading general spoke with a hint of sympathy.

She followed them out of the pavilion. As a small concession, the general allowed Siming and Seven-Star Goddess to escort her on either side.

Outside, a crowd of immortals had gathered to see her off. These were the celestial beings she was once close to, yet all she felt now was shame. She dared not meet their eyes. Siming and Seven-Star Goddess stood protectively in front of her, shielding her from their gazes.

“Sister! Sister! Sister!”

Halfway through their procession, a familiar voice called out to her repeatedly. Curiosity made her lift her head slightly—only to see Hundred Flowers Fairy rushing out from the crowd, trying to catch up with them.

“We’ll wait for you to return!” Hundred Flowers Fairy shouted, her voice carrying as she ran after them.

Tears welled up again.

The Celestial Soldiers blocked Hundred Flowers Fairy from getting any closer, and her cries grew more distant.

Finally, they reached the gates of the Celestial Court.

She was sobbing uncontrollably.

“Matchmaker, being reborn into the mortal world is not necessarily a bad thing,” Seven Star Goddess comforted her. “Though life will not be as comfortable as in the heavens, as long as you remain steadfast and abide by the divine path, you will be safe and at peace.” She then pulled her aside slightly, away from Siming, and whispered, “Remember—do not marry or have relations with a man in the mortal world. If you do, you will be bound by fate and unable to return to the Celestial Court.”

She sniffled and nodded.

Then she turned to Siming, meeting his gaze.

She adored this gentle celestial who had always been kind to her, but soon, she would no longer be able to see him.

“Siming, thank you for taking care of me. Please take care of yourself.”

Siming’s expression was solemn and serious.

“I will accompany you. I will never let you be alone.”