Chapter Text
Chapter 1
Rumors begun circulating around Ghost City, that Hua Cheng had taken a wife. The residents of the city were more than happy with the arrival of this news, to be bestowed upon by a royal consort. Hua Cheng seemed disinterested from an outside perspective by the stirring commotion, as such, he delayed giving his attention to the rumors.
The residents of Ghost City were surprised at first, hearing of such news. Their King was thin faced when it came to the mention of courting. Of course the populace had often asked him, mostly prying aunties, about a future royal consort but he brushed them off.
Hua Cheng himself had never thought it possible to bring a bride into his manor. He had devoted his entire being into one individual, he would undoubtedly be unable to marry anybody other than his untouchable God. He had also thought it impossible to ever get as close to this such God as he had, so his belief in the unlikelihood of taking a bride wavered if ever so slightly.
Xie Lian was vastly more intrigued by the commotion than his counterpart. He felt himself grow excited by the notion of introduction. Of course, the Ghost City residents knew of Xie Lian. Xie Lian was known to them as their grand uncle, or daozhang-gege. Hed also been known as the honoured guest of their Hua Chengzhu.
Hua Cheng knew he couldn't keep Xie Lian to himself forever, though he wishes he could. Keeping his wife far away from prying eyes, only to be looked at by him. Although Hua Cheng knew himself selfish, he wasn't so selfish as to keep Xie Lian from his new found royalty.
As such, the day of introduction arrived. The introduction was not sprung upon the residents by surprise. They had received prior announcement and a stern warning to not act like idiots in front of the consort, in Hua Cheng's words.
The streets busted at the foot of the manor, every vendor adorned in their best dress and the people howled in excitement. Most of the populace crowded the steps at the very bottom of Paradise Manor's doors, hoping to catch the first glimpse of the mystery bride as soon as they opened.
Inside the doors, Xie Lian was sat in front of a glass vanity. In recent years, it was a luxury for him to catch a sight of himself in a copper mirror, to look at himself in such clarity was both jarring and novel in equal parts.
He'd been assisted in robing by a couple of quiet maids, as per Hua Cheng's instruction for such an important occasion.
After a short while, rustling was heard faintly behind the doors of the vast manor and all the chatter on the busy streets came to a screeching halt.
Silence ensued the streets as anticipation built. Nobody would bare to miss the sight of this first introduction.
"Is Dianxia ready?" Hua Cheng glanced down as he spoke, not quite yet meeting Xie Lian's gaze. He seemed much more anxious than his other half.
Xie Lian squeezed Hua Cheng's hand once, eliciting eye contact. He smiled in response to his question and begun their approach to the grand wooden doors. Hand in cold hand, they reached their final steps before the doors swung open. They stood there together, in view of all the inhabitants of their city and Xie Lian took in a much needed deep breath. He stared down at the city, his city, with a small dignified curve of his lips.
Residents of all shapes, sizes and species gaped at the sight of the two of them. Dressed in matching red and black, aswell as silver finery, it seemed as if they'd been taken back to the day of their wedding. However, unlike a bride, the figure stood at the side of the ghost king was wearing no veil. Delicate, elegant featured stared down at the colourful crowd. The still curved lips painted with a slight blush, huadian sitting pristinely between the brows. Atop the head of this royal figure was a silver crown, the tips and edges all encrusted in rubies. The regal crown enveloped a slick, shining, high ponytail that reached well below the waist of this ever elegant consort. Dragging ever so slightly on the ground was the hem of crimson robes, glittering silver hems at the edge of the robes not yet facing the consequences of meeting the floor. The robe was multilayered, it tugged at every corner of the body it adorned with ease, highlighting the beauty of the wearer. Expansive sleeves hung in front of their chest where their arms crossed, a sheer outer robe draping atop the thick fabric and flooding over the hips of this silent figure. The most eye catching part about this person was the silver jewellery they wore, dripping in small butterflies.
Hua Chengzhu was well known for his butterflies, a silver clasped butterfly necklace was a near permanent fixture on his collarbones. Seeing that next to Hua Cheng was a person ever so diligently matched to him was a clear sign, there was no doubt in any of their minds. This was their royal consort.
An ethereal air eminated from where the two of them stood, their smiles shimmering with radiance.
"Who is she?!"
"Who has Lord Chenzhu brought into his manor?!"
Statements as such berated hua Cheng's ears by the ghosts too far back in the crowd to see the face of the new addition clearly.
The yelling from the front however, "Xie Daozhang?"
"Grand uncle!"
"Isn't he the one who told that wretch he couldn't get it up?! Ha!"
Laughter ensued at this last comment. Xie Lian has indeed told Jian Lan thus in a previous moment of desperation to flee.
However, in this moment, Xie Lian felt no shame or embarrassment. He stood proud next to his husband, sneaking the occasional loving glance and slight chesty giggle at the realisation that, though they were surrounded by a city of crazy idiots, it was their city. Together, Hua Cheng and Xie Lian, it was their city.
The appearance of Xie Lian in Ghost City was not a rare occurrence. Though he was welcomed there, the vast majority of people - and the like- did find it strange. How did this poor cultivator manage to get to favourably close to their Lord Chengzhu?
Surely, they thought, he couldn't be a regular cultivator. Dressed raggedly and bashful in his demeanor, many would simply call him humble.
This wasn't the case in Ghost City. Every being here was anything but simple in their thoughts.
Xie Lian was still looked upon highly as the esteemed and favoured guest of their Lord, this didnt lay to rest the wake of their growing suspicion of the man.
"Lord Chengzhu!" A low level Ghost calls from the crowd.
"That man–" the ghost continues, catching the attention of the other surrounding ghosts. "He– he is a God! Does pur lord know of this, bringing a God to his manor as his wife–"
The mouths of people in the crowd hung open, some jaws on the floor– quite literally. The arrival of a God here never meant good news for their people. Many stood still, astonished. That once dormant suspicion was roused once again.
"A God.. "
The heavens coming into our territory —"
These comments were quickly put to rest by a thundering voice atop the stairs of the manor they stood before.
"You dare question your King? You think me a fool?" Hua Cheng annunciated the last word of his question especially clearly.
The tone of his voice wasn't so much anger as it was disdain.
His beloved stood next to him, being asked questions insinuating ulterior motives. Hua Cheng shook. He would do anything to protect his beloved, no matter if it was his own city he had to teach a lesson.
Just as Hua Cheng sucked in an unnecessary breath to speak. A gentle hand pressed into the small of his back. He looked beside him to see Xie Lian smiling up at him.
"San Lang" Xie Lians smile stayed persistent through each character. He nodded at Hua Cheng, it was his turn to stick up for himself.
Xie Lian took a step in front of Hua Cheng, his chin held high and hands clasped together inside his sleeves. "This consort stands before you in impropriety to speak and ease your worries. Your speculations are correct, I am a god-"
There was a number of gasps heard at the bottom of the steps. It was not commonplace for a King, nor his consort, to address the city like this. The shock however, was from the admission of godhood. Before the crowd could start up their questioning again, Xie Lian continued,
"I have spent days among you, it is only now that you find my presence unwelcome? Tell me, not once have I sought to bring harm while I have resided here?"
Many in attendance dipped their heads at this. It was true. All the time Xie Lian had spent at Ghost City he was only ever more than cordial. It hadn't even been known to more than a handful of them that he was a God. It wasn't that Xie Lian was hiding it, he just never thought it important enough to share with others.
A quiet giggle left Xie Lian's lips. How easy it was to win the favour of the crows with so little words and only a small glare from their king.
Hua Cheng had watched his wife quiet the crowd with ease, wide eyed. Never had his citizens be won over with such delicate words. He smiled behind Xie Lian and Xie Lian turned at just the right moment to catch a glimpse of it.
They both retreated to their earlier positions and took each other's hands once again, giving a grounding squeeze before letting go.
The two of them clasped their own hands in front of their chest before giving an all-too-polite bow to the city. They begun their descent down the steps.
After a short stroll through ever staring eyes, Xie Lian and Lord Chengzhu reached rows and rows of stalls and vendors selling all sorts of other worldly produce.
Xie Lian had once been the crown Prince of another city, but life had humbled him one too many times for him to act just as the royalty he once was.
He was now a consort, this would not change his demeanor more than slightly. Prying eyes and thick faces were always a discomfort for him as a prince but hundreds of years being named 'the scrap god' chips away at your dignity in a way that makes it hard for you to feel much shame or embarrassment at all.
Xie Lians head was high but his demeanor was ever the same, kind and open minded, willing to spare a moment for anyone that opened their mouth to him.
At first, hearing the new royal consort was a God made the entire undead city feel quite pensive, this didnt last long. Xie Lian's persistent warmth that followed throughout the city in his every stride set out to warm every cold body he spoke to aswell as every person he merely glanced at with his crescented eyes.
"Madam Hua!"
Xie Lians eyes squinted with smiling amusement at this new title gifted to him by a street vendor.
"Madam Hua– come try this! Free of charge, on the house!"
Xie Lian saw the shop owner holding a bowl of something seemingly dripping in blood and shook his hands pensively "No, no, really no need! And Xie Daozhang is fine haha—"
Hua Cheng lowered his gaze bashfully as a crimson veil covered his usually bloodless cheeks.
"San Lang?" Xie Lian quizzed and reaches a gentle hand up to graze the top of Hua Cheng's arm.
"Its nothing gege." Hua Cheng replies in an uncharacteristically quiet voice.
"San Lang knows he can tell this one anything, hm?"
"This one.. liked–" Hua Cheng looked away, a pout plaguing his lips as he refuses to finish his sentence.
Xie Lian caresses the arm his hand still rests on as if in comfort and urges him to continue with a small "Go on"
"This one– liked hearing Dianxia addressed as Madam Hua–"
Xie Lian froze for a second, eyes widened and fixated on Hua Cheng's unrelenting pout before he lets out a resounding laugh.
"Does Dianxia really find it so funny?"
"Haha! Of course San Lang! Of course my husband wishes to share a name with this one"
Xie Lian turns once again to look at the shop keeper who stood silently during their exchange "This Madam Hua thanks you for your offer, but I'm afraid I must decline."
The red flush covering Hua Cheng's cheeks spreads to his entire face and ears. He whips around to grip Xie Lian's hand and marches swiftly away from the stall.
"San Lang! Slow down!" A pleased Xie Lian yelps, trailing behind his flustered husband "This Madam Hua can't keep up!"
Hua Cheng stopped still right there in his tracks, not letting go of Xie Lian's hand. This earns Hua Cheng another laugh.
Xie Lian was really fine with being addressed as he always had been, but this new title was truly growing on him. That paired with the adorable reaction it pried out of his husband.
"Oh San Lang, what am I going to do with you–
"You will react this way every time somebody calls me in my new title? How will we ever leave the manor, hm?"
Hua Cheng finally looks at his teasing wife, beaming through his singular wide eye "Dianxia will.. He really doesn't mind being called that?" He says, sheepishly.
Xie Lian lifts his hand from his husband's cold one, warmed by the heat from his own and rests it gingerly on Hua Cheng's cheek. He flashes him an adoring smile, eyes sparkling with love and genuine happiness.
"San Lang, of course this one doesn't mind. Im actually starting to quite like the idea
"Come now, this Madam Hua hasnt finished looking through all of the stalls. Perhaps there will be a new weapon I can purchase for my armoury" with this, Xie Lian grips both hands around Hua Cheng's upper arm and draws himself closer, urging them to keep walking.
While they walk through Ghost City once again, many of their undead citizens make some sorry of surprised remark about how they've never seen their Lord with such an obvious smile plastered on his face.
Hua Cheng is walking down the road, glittering with crimson red lanterns, on a beautiful and perfectly tempered evening. Attached firmly at his arm is his beautiful God, his taizi dianxia, his wedded wife, his Madam Hua. How could he not smile? Filled with such pure bliss and adoration, all for his Madam Hua.