Chapter Text
“This is a terrible plan.”
“You’re going to get yourself killed.”
Xie Lian sighs inside the palanquin. They’ve had this same conversation at least six times on the way from Puqi Shrine to Ghost City.
“What else would you have me do? No matter what I suggest you say I’ll end up dead–”
Mu Qing and Feng Xin start to argue,
“–at least this way gets straight to the point.”
“You don’t understand Your Highness, this isn’t your Hua Cheng. He’s insane! Have you ever noticed how he treats others? To him, you're nothing more than a heavenly pest sent to spy on him. Even if he lets you in, at most you’ll be a toy to throw away when it’s no longer entertaining.”
“Have some faith–”
Mu Qing interrupts, “Worse, he’s unpredictable. What if he throws you straight to the dungeons without ever seeing your face! And he won’t even let rot in peace, you won’t get a single moment without those torturous wraith butterflies swarming you.”
Even through the gauzy curtains Xie Lian saw Feng Xin shudder.
“Mu Qing, Feng Xin, has San Lang ever locked you two up?”
The silence stretched.
“Your highness shut up, we’re at Ghost City.”
You two were the ones yelling!
🎎🍁
The last thing Xie Lian expected was for Pei Ming to show up in the middle of the night on his doorstep claiming that Hua Cheng had forgotten him.
Earlier that morning Pei Ming had visited Ghost City’s red light district and he had tried to pick up a woman by bragging that he had once rescued the celebrated Grand Uncle from a wrath–Xie Lian couldn’t recall this event but he’d been too caught up in the absurdity of it all to question it–the woman had no idea who this uncle was but she was still charmed enough to bed him. Afterwards, Pei Ming asked many others in the city if they knew who Xie Lian was but everybody looked at him as if he was crazy. Their Chengzhu having a bride? Who was this lunatic!
Pei Ming had even brought Quan Yizhen in to question Yin Yu, but the officer, and his lord, had no recollection of ever encountering Xie Lian, or his very existence.
Xie Lian had spent the next two days tracking down the memory loss demon, and another three dispersing it.
Truthfully he was still in shock.
To think that his husband–the one who swore “I won’t forget, I’ll never forget!” – forgot him was a cruel joke, something he would’ve expected before his third ascension, and laughed about in the aftermath. But now, two years into his blissful marriage and three without his cursed shackles, Xie Lian had hoped his luck would’ve been overpowered by Hua Cheng’s by now.
But it seems it takes more than a few years of bliss to erase eight hundred years of suffering.
🎎🍁
“COME JOIN THE GHOST CITY CIRCUS! WE’RE LOOKING FOR TIGERS, DOLPHINS, AND–”
“RESTAURANT GRAND OPENING! SELLING NORMAL AND HUMAN FOOD! TABLES ARE FILLING UP QUICK, FIRST COME FIRST–”
“FRESH LIVERS! FRESH LIVERS FOR SALE! GET IT HERE, FRESH LIVERS–”
“HEY AREN’T THESE THE SAME ONES FROM LAST MONTH?!”
“YOU ASSHOLE! MY PRODUCE IS ALWAYS FRESH!”
“I LITERALLY DROPPED THIS ONE A MONTH AGO, IT STILL HAS MY CLAW MARKS ON IT!”
“YOU-!”
“Ma, who are those people carrying that pretty box?”
“Ehh, let’s stay away from them Ning Ning…”
Ghost City was as rambunctious as ever. Mu Qing, Feng Xin, and their two volunteer deputy officials had to constantly shove ghosts to get through. Xie Lian jostled around with every couple of steps. A crowd had formed behind them, most of them stopping to point and jeer at them.
Sure weird things happened in Ghost City, but a bridal procession heading straight towards Paradise Manor? That didn’t happen everyday.
Perhaps if Xie Lian had let his palanquin bearers conceal their heavenly aura the group would’ve gotten less attention, but Xie Lian needed this.
Mu Qing is right. There is a chance that Hua Cheng will throw Xie Lian a dungeon without even seeing his face, and the chance of breaking the curse by getting Hua Cheng to say “I love you” while truly meaning it when Xie Lian rotted in a dungeon were low.
But now, Hua Cheng would surely be curious to see who caused such ruckus in his city!
Xie Lian keeps up his optimism. Hua Cheng had fallen in love with Xie Lian through a handful of sporadic interactions in his childhood, this time, Xie Lian will actually try to get him to fall for him.
This will be a breeze.
🎎🍁
Xie Lian stared at the floor from his position, kowtowing in Paradise Manor’s great hall, surrounded by their servants.
Hua Cheng will be furious when he gets his memories back, but Xie Lian thinks his position is quite sweet–romantic even. Kneeling here, in wedding robes for his husband, reminds Xie Lian of their meeting on Mount Yu Jun and their actual wedding. Last week Hua Cheng had actually brought up holding a second wedding to celebrate their three-year anniversary. Perhaps they should start planning it after he gets his memories back…
“Tell me,” Hua Cheng leaned back on the divan, “what a dumb little lamb like you doing in my city?”
Isn’t that line a bit cliche San Lang? Xie Lian thought helplessly.
“Hello, Chengzhu. Apologies for the commotion,” Xie Lian said. He made eye contact with Hua Cheng and froze.
His husband was staring at him, appraising Xie Lian piece by piece. His eyes were cold, no trace of the fond loving look Xie Lian was used to.
In front of Hua Cheng’s piercing stare– a marvel for him but customary to others– Xie Lian truly understood what his friends were warning him. It’s not as if Hua Cheng simply forgot him, he lacks any of his previous emotions towards him as well. When Hua Cheng sees Xie Lian he sees nothing more than an annoying nuisance.
He is nothing to Hua Cheng.
With that realization Xie Lian found himself floundering.
“Oh, uhm, well you see, the heavens…well, actually–I’ve–”
“Hurry up,” Hua Cheng commanded, looking bored.
Xie Lian started to sweat under Hua Cheng’s heavy stare.
He takes a deep breath, “The heavens–well–after what happened with the previous emperor, they’ve decided they want a more favorable relationship with the ghost realm. And–well,” his face grew hot, “I’ve been sent as a peace offering. A gift.”
This is so stupid! What did he think would happen? Hua Cheng would see him, fall in love, and they’d get married on the spot? Why didn’t he listen to his friends!?
“A gift,” Hua Cheng repeated.
And because he can’t keep his mouth shut, Xie Lian corrected, “well, a bride really.”
Nobody spoke for a moment.
A long moment.
Then, someone started laughing,
Then another,
And another,
Even Hua Cheng threw his head back and laughed.
Soon the hall was filled with boisterous cackles.
“A WIFE FROM THE HEAVENS? YOU THINK OUR LORD IS STUPID ENOUGH TO ACCEPT YOU?”
“HE HAS A PRETTY FACE THOUGH. CHENGZHU WE COULD MAKE SOME GOOD USE OUT OF HIM!”
“MOVE!! YOU FAT ASS IS BLOCKING MY VIEW!”
“YOU RAT ASS–!”
“HEY! You know I’m sensitive about that…”
“Quiet,” Hua Cheng said. He smiled dangerously and crouched down to Xie Lian’s level.
To anyone else Hua Cheng's deadly scrutiny would've had them shaking in their boots, but to Xie Lian–despite his fear–his husband's formidable glare is just so handsome! Xie Lian felt his face grow even hotter. His face must be as red as Hua Cheng's robes!
“A bride you say?”
Xie Lian nodded.
Xie Lian jumped as Hua Cheng grabbed him by the collar of his robes, “I can’t deal with this right now.” He flings Xie Lian to a pair of guards.
Xie Lian landed at their feet with a quiet Oof
“Take him to his room.”
San Lang, please don't remember any of this when you get your memories back!
🎎🍁
The guards were two broad boulder-like figures nearly double the height of Xie Lian. They dragged him around Paradise Manor by the scruff of his collar–like a kitten.
His bridal robes weren’t particularly elaborate, but they were expensive to get so last minute, and Mu Qing spent a couple of hours mending them to suit Xie Lian better. With the way everyone was handling him all of his hard work must be completely ruined by now!
“How long do you think till Chengzhu kills him?”
“A week. I’d fuck him before though,” he lifted Xie Lian up and they locked eyes. “He looks so innocent though. It’d be a shame to ruin that.”
Xie Lian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Can you guys talk about this when I’m not here?
“Yeah, but the heavens gifted him. He knows what he’s up for.”
They entered another hallway, “I bet he’ll tear this one up with Eming.”
“Nah, he won’t ruin a pretty thing like this.”
“But he hates the heavens so much. He’ll want to make an example.”
Xie Lian stopped listening after that.
Half an incense time later they arrived at Xie Lian’s new bedroom. Xie Lian was promptly shoved inside with a decisive click of the lock.
He takes a look in the mirror. Surprisingly his robes had minimal wear and tear, and his make up had stayed the same. Pleased, Xie Lian sat on the bed and waited for his husband.
And waited.
And waited.
And waited.
🎎🍁
Hua Cheng appeared three days later.
Xie Lian jolted awake when he heard the door open. Hua Cheng loomed over him and looked him up and down coldly, his gaze lingering on Xie Lian's chapped lips before moving on to his the cheap coarse robes he had found in the closest. “You're still here.”
Xie Lian quickly sat up and tried to make himself look presentable. Truthfully, when Hua Cheng hadn't arrived on the first night, Xie Lian was grateful. He didn't know how much the curse changed Hua Cheng's personality, and the thought of his husband taking someone he just met to bed brought out a bitter feeling in Xie Lian.
But by the second night Xie Lian started panicking. Did his husband forget about him? Was he to be stuck in this small windowless room forever? But thankfully Xie Lian interested Hua Cheng enough to at least be curious about him. For the first time in a week Xie Lian felt pleased.
“Did Sa-Chengzhu sleep well?”
Hua Cheng’s eyebrow arches sharply, and his voice comes low, incredulous. "I lock you up for three days with no food or water and you ask me if I slept well?”
Xie Lian blinks a few times and nervously looks up at Hua Cheng. “Isn't it a wife's duty to look after her husband?”
A silence falls between them.
“…”
“…”
Xie Lian winces, and if it were at all possible, he would have folded himself into the floor right then and there. His face burns so fiercely it could light a lantern.
He wants to crawl back into his coffin, wallow in his misery for the rest of eternity. The only person he’d ever tried to flirt with was his husband—and Hua Cheng had already been hopelessly in love with him back then! There had been no stakes, no pressure. This… this was like diving headfirst into a pit of swords with no spiritual energy and no plan.
Why didn’t I practice my lines? Why did I think this was a good idea?!
Instead of collapsing into dust, he lets out a strained, awkward laugh that sounds more like a whimper dressed up as comedy.
“Ha… haha…”
Hua Cheng just kept staring at him, blankly. Xie Lian couldn't tell whether it was in shock or horror.
“…Ha… ha…” he tries again, weaker this time.
Hua Cheng turns to the door, “leave.”
Panic claws its way up to Xie Lian’s throat. Without thinking, he rushes after him. “Chengzhu I'm sorry–I don't know why I said that.”
Hua Cheng didn’t stop walking. His words came out flat and cold. “At first I thought heavens had sent you involuntary–thats why I gave you three days to find a way to kill yourself–but now,” he pauses in disgust, “I realise you want to be here.”
Xie Lian darted in front, blocking the door. “Yes I volunteered–”
Hua Cheng raised two fingers. “Then there are two possibilities.”
Xie Lian’s heart thudded, his breath shallow.
“One,” Hua Cheng said, holding up a finger, “you're an assassin sent to get rid of me.”
Xie Lian frantically shook his head.
“Or two,” he raised the second finger, his voice sharp as a knife, “you’re some deranged freak who wants to be wed to a ghost king–”
Xie Lian frantically nodded.
“‘–and frankly I don't want either in my city.” Hua Cheng finished. Turning his face away like the sight of Xie Lian personally offended him. “So scram.”
A few wraith butterflies surrounded Xie Lian. Their light gave Hua Cheng's face an ominous glow. A chill went up Xie Lian’s spine. Despite his efforts, Xie Lian couldn’t continue to ignore his husband's expression.
Hua Cheng towered over him, looking at him as if he's some plague ridden rat unfit to stand in his presence. His current skin had the same height and build as his true form. But he was as pale as bone, and his eyes were pitch black. Two sharp slits that narrowed whenever they landed on Xie Lian like blades measuring where to cut first.
Whatever hope Xie Lian had it was crumbling fast. His plan wasn't working.
Xie Lian switched tactics.
“Just because I'm a freak,” he said quickly, trying to keep the panic from his voice, “doesn't mean that you should throw me out. Even if you don’t want me—keeping me around is still smarter. Heaven wants to increase their favorability. And if it doesn’t work with me… they’ll just send someone else. Again. And again. Isn’t it better to end it here, with me?”
Hua Cheng didn’t answer. His eyes didn’t blink. But something behind them flickered—calculating.
Xie Lian took that sliver of hope and kept going.
“And freaks can be useful too! I was sent as your bride but I can do a little bit of everything! I can sing, dance, and play seven instruments. Do you have any repairs you need to fix? I heard the gardening shed leaks. And the signs outside the Gambler’s Den—those were your calligraphy, weren’t they?” He rushed forward, words tumbling over themselves.
“We both know you can do better. I was once the most gifted calligrapher in my kingdom. I can tutor you.”
Hua Cheng stared at Xie Lian. But this time, it was deeper. Darker. He looked like he was trying to strip Xie Lian’s soul out through his eyes.
“You’re a god,” he said coldly.
Xie Lian faltered, all of his previous ferocity dissipated. He did have a couple of temples, mostly in the villages surrounding Puqi. Hua Cheng had urged Xie Lian to let him build more but Xie Lian knew if he let Hua Cheng build any he’d end up with thousands, and that was just a sour reminder of his first ascension. Either way, if Hua Cheng were to step into any of them all he’d see now would be an empty building with an abandoned god.
“Yes,” he said quietly, “but I’m forgotten. I have no temples, no offerings, no believers,” Xie Lian then raised both hands, palms up. “No spiritual powers.”
Hua Cheng smiled. But not the smile Xie Lian missed—not the warm, lopsided one full of teasing and tenderness. This was the cold one. It’s a smile he gives to those causing trouble in Ghost City, or to Mu Qing and Feng Xin when he’s about to say something particularly cruel. Xie Lian’s never been the target, and the difference between Hua Cheng and his husband becomes stark.
“Funny,” Hua Cheng murmured. ‘Heaven usually gets rid of useless things faster. Why do they still keep you?”
Xie Lian scratches his neck. “Uhm… I’m… entertaining?”
“A tutor. A dancer. A musician. And now a clown.”
Xie Lian laughs awkwardly, “I can cook as well.”
Hua Cheng tilts his head. “You can cook as well.” More butterflies alight behind Hua Cheng.
Xie Lian withers into himself. “En.”
Then Hua Cheng leaned in—slow, deliberate. His face hovered mere inches from Xie Lian’s. He reached out and curled a lock of Xie Lian’s hair around his gloved finger, almost mockingly.
“What do you get if I keep you?” Hua Cheng asked suspiciously. This close, Xie Lian can see the smudged kohl lining his eyes, count the thick lashes curtaining his iris’. If he leans forward even slightly, their lips will meet.
Xie Lian heart jackrabbits. He hasn’t had his beloved this close in so long. So much time without Hua Cheng has left Xie Lian needy. It’s been eight whole days without Hua Cheng’s mischievous grin, without his calloused fingers, without his velvet voice. He wants to lean forward, he yearns to kiss those soft lips. To touch him. To feel him.
Instead, he smiles–soft and distant.
“It’ll help someone I care about.”
For a long second, Hua Cheng says nothing. His eyes filled with judgement and pity. Then he makes a quiet, disinterested sound and turns away without another word.
And Xie Lian—loyal, patient—dutifully followed.