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The garden was peaceful, the light beamed warmly, and the soft scent of various flowers and plant life drifted gently in the cool breeze. It was a perfect place to rest, as silver butterflies fluttered about, their wings illuminated by the gentle light illuminating the small paradise.
A woman lay amongst the smaller flowers, surrounded as if they made the perfect final resting place. Within the distance, a muted chime rang in the natural silence of the garden, growing clearer in the soft jingle. Soon, the chiming disappeared, replaced by the light pitter-patter of small footfalls.
“A-naing…” a small voice of a child whispers, sitting themself near the woman dressed in a simple black top with a skirt to match, with patterns of butterflies and flowers, her neck adorned with large silver jewelry pieces. The child poked the woman’s cheek to check her state of being.
“Mmm…” she mumbles, turning to the side, readjusting herself after being poked. A smile softly grows on her lips as she continues to sleep without waking.
“Mama.” the child continues, this time a bit louder moving closer, followed by a squeal as the small child was gathered quickly in the woman’s arms as they were ambushed into a hug.
Giggles erupt, disturbing the once quiet of the garden, as the mother tickles and peppers kisses to the child trapped in a fierce hug, rolling them back and forth together. Butterflies flew off to avoid the two ruckusing about.
“MA-HAHA- MAMA-HAHAA!” the child laughs out, ceding in his mother’s loving assault. She allows the child to calm as she, herself does the same.
“My Hong’er, what brings this visit?” she says, loosening her hold to allow her son to move if he so desired. Hua Cheng, no, Hong’er cups his mother’s face in his small hands as he lies on top of her, resting his head upon her unbeaten chest. How he missed the sound of a heartbeat. He grew too used to his beloved’s strong beating heart to ground him.
“To make sure I’m not dreaming.”
It was the same excuse he gave his husband when he felt things felt too perfect, too real to be true. What more could a ghost king want. He had his beloved, his savior, his god by his side who loved him back just as strongly, and now, recently, his very mother, whom he lost at a young age. His heart could hold no room for another: one beloved mother, that woman who claimed to be his step-mother, could never hold a candle to the warmth and love his mother gave him. She pailed in comparison in all attempts never made to make him feel accepted, just like the scum that called himself his father. She was just like him in attitude, verbally and mentally abusive. His brothers lost their rights the moment they abandoned him to the abuses of their guardians. And his highness, no one could ever challenge his glory and benevolence. The love he felt was something that grew with every interaction. Seeing someone as holy and precious as Xie Lian go through hell and still find the good in everything, he could never be like him, but that did not mean he could not find inspiration in his example.
“Hmm,” she hummed, “I feel the same.” Such relief to believe that over eight centuries her search came to it’s own end and yet she stubbornly refused to move on. She smoothed her hand through he son’s hair, just as she’d used to when he was alive. Soothing unruly locks as they conversed. Hua Cheng readjusted himself more comfortably, clinging to his mother and she in return, cradled him close to her as she continued to rake her fingers through his raven hair. The peaceful atmosphere rocked them both to rest as she began to sing:
“白雲飄 飄過樹梢(The white cloud lingers about the tree branches)
白雲下藏著 誰的笑(Underneath the clouds hides a smile I wish to behold)
天邊的太陽 紅哦(The sun shines brightly red)
天邊的微風 吹哦(And the soft wind blows on;)
我的情郎呀 想你(Oh, my dear, I miss you so much)
想的心焦(until my heart burns)
等到稻花 開了(I've been waiting for the rice flowers to bloom for your return)
等到稻穀 都黄了(Waiting until all the crops have turned golden;)
我用彩雲 編織一條(I shall weave a long and large)
長長的花帶(flower belt from the colorful clouds,)
等到米酒 香飄(And wait until the musky fragrance of the rice wine lingers in the air,)
等到酒歌 唱來春宵(Waiting until the song accompanying the dawn is over;)
用花帶搭一道(When the spring afternoon arrives, I will sing,)
去看你(As I wear the flower belt)
看你的橋(and build a bridge to come to see you)”
Hours passed as they drifted to comfortable sleep. Wraith butterflies continued drifting upon the gentile breeze as if nothing was amiss.
“San Lang?” Xie Lian called out, following his aerial guide to his husband’s whereabouts. What he discovered was a bundled mother and child in a bed of flowers. A picturesque serenity he would keep with him always. The child form of his husband was just as adorable as he remembered him. Xie Lian debated on waking the two, only to decide against it. As if sensing his significant other, Hua Cheng awoken. “Gege… “ he said groggily, hand reaching out for his beloved to come near. Xie Lian smiled with a smile unable to resist such an adorable charm of his needy husband. Obviously, he refuses to leave his spot on the plush garden floor, unwilling to waken his mother beside him. In a blink, gone is the child but replaced by the man he deeply loves. How could he refuse the outstretched arm of his husband, luring him to join them in a sweet nap amongst nature.