They made their way to the temple. Two processions lead by a covered cart each. In one cart was a white clad man with pearls in his robes, gripping a hardened old hand in his and taking last minute advise from a woman that was not even a tenth of the age of the man that had warmed his way into her heart as the grandson she never had, despite a happy marriage that lasted twenty years.

In the other in deep red silks and grinning from ear to ear was a handsome young man who was a little pale. There had been no way for him to drink, no one leaving him alone to take care of himself for the entire day. Together with him was an angel and a dead man. But only the man knew that. To everyone else it was his two new in-laws. Basil and Bjorn, husbands from faraway Troy. Uncles to the bride.

The carts stopped in front of the temple, more a shrine really, at the same time. And rugs were pulled out and the path of the happy couple was covered so they didn’t have to walk in the mud and dirty their silks. The women ushered the bride inside and the only thing Wei Caihong saw of his lover was something white amid the crowd of women. He burned with the desire to see Nikola but knew that the women would have put him in a veil, as was the custom. And Wei Caihong will have to wait for the magistrate to finish his long speech before he was allowed to remove the veil. He groaned.

“Second thoughts?” Said Azazel next to him and Wei Caihong turned to him to show him a smile full of teeth.

“I was just hoping I won’t faint when I see him.” He joked and grandpa Cao, who also rode with them in the cart, nodded in approval.

“And your hands can’t be sweaty when you remove the vail, least they slip and you botch it up. My treasure, may she rest in peace, never let me forget that too.”

Wei Caihong smirked at the image of a little granny harping on about her wedding day on her death bed and then he looked down at the old man. His clothes looked threadbare. Sure, he said he had grandchildren but…People like grandpa Cao deserved to spend their old age in peace, without having to worry about where their next bite to eat came from. He should have built an elderly home for the poor with some of the tax money instead of spending it all for magic. But it wasn’t too late to change this man’s fortune now.

“Grandpa Cao, it would be my honor if you come to live with my family and I from today onwards.”

The crowd burst into cheers as the old man teared up. Two women came and kowtowed to Wei Caihong. There were children behind them and Wei Caihong could understand that the family didn’t have much to spare for their grandfather. All of them wore the same threadbare robes as him.

“We thank you, Wei Caihong!” Said one of the women with tears in her eyes. “Grandpa Cao keeps giving his meals away to the children. We feared he won’t survive to see the next spring.”

The other woman didn’t say anything but she didn’t raise her head either. Then grandpa Cao hit his cane on the ground. It was muffled by the rugs that covered the ground but everyone still turned to him.

“You’d fill one belly, but what of the rest?” Said the old man as he clutched Wei Caihong’s arm tighter. “I am not the only old man here! And every old person will tell you not to waste your money on us. You help the children, if you really want to help! You can’t have any so adopt one or two. My treasure is waiting for me; I can’t make her do so forever!”

“I can’t let you starve to death!” Snapped back Wei Caihong. He was new to this helping people thing. It was hard. Some people didn’t want to be helped and he didn’t want to develop a bleeding heart. But he had an Emerald for a lover. He needed to be noble not just in status. To be deserving of the title of Consort to the Emerald Emperor. Even if no one knew to call him by it.

“You’d separate me from my granddaughter?” Asked grandpa Cao and he pointed at the still kowtowing woman on the ground. “She keeps me warm and fed. I don’t ask for more. But there are old people on the streets and in the woods. You want to help us useless sacks of skin and bones? Start with them. And I eat a steamed bun a day thanks to you. I won’t starve!”

Just that? Wei Caihong noted that there was horror raising in him. Just a steamed bun? His pittance? But there were so many steamed buns to go around per day.

“You lie. You don’t eat every day.” He said sternly at the old man and he scratched the back of his head.

“You coughed me. Sometimes I give my turn to someone who looks ready to fall. Poor Nuo Nuying sometimes cries when she can’t feed us all. But I don’t pocket the cooper, young man. I keep it for the next day and if I can’t get a bun then for the next. I am an honest man.”

Wei Caihong looked at his red silks with their golden thread. He suddenly felt sick with himself. How had he lived so long letting this people suffer? They, who would take turns with days between them for a single steam bun? His taxes had made things hard on them. How was he going to face Nikola at the alter knowing his hands, which he knew for a fact were stained with blood, were in fact drenched in the stuff?

He lowered his head in shame and stepped off the rug, his slippers sinking in the mud. Then Bjorn put a hand on his shoulders and turned him around to face him.

“I don’t really know you.” Said the blonde as he looked Wei Caihong straight in the eyes. “But what you did was noble. Misguided as it may be. You can’t help everyone, Wei Caihong, and you will have to teach them how to help themselves. You won’t make Niki happy if you spend all your fortune feeding and helping these people and then do the same with his. Even love can turn bitter in poverty.”

“What do you know about poverty?” Snapped Wei Caihong. This was a prince of Atlantis. The soulmate of an angel. He must have never gone hungry. Just like Wei Caihong himself.

“Nothing.” Said Bjorn, but there was a fire in his eyes now. “But think. What can you do?”

What could he do? His fortune was a relic of the time when the Wei family were the overseers of China. It was already running out. He had sold his manor in the capital in secret. But even if his money ran out there was one thing he could still do.

“I know medicine. I can still heal even when my money runs out.” Grateful outcries were heard from the gathered crowd and Bjorn squeezed Wei Caihong’s shoulder until it was uncomfortable.

“You can teach others medicine, you mean. For a price.” Said the Atlantean and when Wei Caihong wanted to oppose him Bjorn sighed.

“I’m not asking you to immediately take the money. You can think of it as an investment. And since it would be time you would be investing you will get a full profit. What else?”

Wei Caihong felt grandpa Cao’s grip on his arm tighten.

“You listen to him, young man. He knows more about the world than you do.”

“My calligraphy is excellent.” Then Wei Caihong blushed. These two things and magic were his only skills. He truly was just a rotten noble, wasn’t he?

“And is there a teacher in this village?” Asked Bjorn and many people perked up at the prospect. They had a school but no teacher was sent in their entire valley since the last one died two years ago.

“No, there is not. Just shows where our taxes go.” Said one woman and Wei Caihong winced. When he fixed up the school he petitioned for a teacher as well but the Emperor had shot him down on principle.

“So, you can teach. In which subjects?” Pressed on Bjorn and Wei Caihong raised his head to look at him with resolve blazing in his eyes.

“Calligraphy, mathematics, history, geography and medicine.” He said and Bjorn nodded at him with approval.

“Seems like you can teach a new generation of scholars, doctors, magistrates and most importantly merchants. Not bad.” Bjorn took his hands off of Wei Caihong. “Do you still think you are undeserving of being married to Nikola? Because you are a few steps above Pen with what you are attempting to do for those around you. And I dare say I approve of you more than I do of her.”

That was all the encouragement Wei Caihong needed to take off his now dirty sleepers and to start the slow walk towards the temple. Nikola’s only living grandson approved of him! Bjorn had seen value in him when even Wei Caihong had failed to see it himself! Had given him a way to keep helping the people. To keep redeeming himself.

Inside the men found their places on his side of the temple but Wei Caihong wasn’t seeing them. He was seeing a vision in white, with glistening pearls, clutching Nuo Nuying’s hand as the old woman smiled brightly. There was indeed a veil over Nikola, a see through white one. He should have been in red, his Nikola. But granny had still put him in white and Wei Caihong decided that he appreciated this breach in tradition. The white made Nikola’s frame look tender. Like he was made of porcelain. A precious doll. Grandpa Cao nudged him and then moved to whisper to him.

“Remember, don’t faint!” Said the old man in all his wisdom. Wei Caihong chuckled. He could imagine his hands undoing the intricate braid that Nikola’s hair was in tonight. How he would talk to his husband all the while, cracking a joke after the other and making him laugh. Or maybe he would mutter his way through the process. Or worse yet this was all an act on Nikola’s part and the Atlantean wouldn’t really recognize their marriage and…No! He couldn’t think like this!

With unsure steps he made his way to his bride and when he finally reached him grandpa Cao let go of him to go and stand next to granny Nuo Nuying. The two old people grabbed each other’s hands and begun to tear up. Wei Caihong reached out and took Nikola’s hand in his. Nikola was staring at his bare feet.

“Didn’t they at least let you get some boots?” Asked Nikola finally, head still lowered.

“I had on silk sleepers. Same as you.” Then Wei Caihong smiled and squeezed Nikola’s hand gently. “But I stepped in the mud trying to get away from here.”

Nikola finally raised his head then. His beautiful green eyes were even more mesmerizing from behind a bridal veil, Wei Caihong could stare at this sight for a thousand years and he would be happy.

“You don’t want this?” Wei Caihong was happy when he didn’t hear the word either. It would have broken his heart if Nikola had said it.

“I just thought I wasn’t worthy. I still think so.” Nikola looked at him with guild written all over his face. He made a step forward then lowered his head again.

“Why didn’t you tell me about all the charity work you have been doing?” Asked the Atlantean and Wei Caihong send a glare at granny Nuo Nuying who had the decency to look sheepish.

“It wouldn’t have been very noble of me if I had.” Said Wei Caihong. He placed two fingers beneath Nikola’s chin and made him look at him. “You don’t flaunt the good you do either.”

“I’ve misjudged you.” Said Nikola softly. Wei Caihong hummed and removed his fingers. Something told him that Nikola won’t lower his gaze again.

“No, you judged me right.” Wei Caihong had been nothing but demanding towards Nikola. Possessive and with a bad reputation, well deserved one, to start with. He didn’t even know what made him change when he moved in with Nikola. Perhaps it was the loneliness of being cursed to remain inside during the day? But he had continued even after that particular curse had been lifted. It was easy to do things similar to what Nikola did or would do. Even more so when they were done in secret.

“I did not.” Said Nikola stubbornly, he tried to tug at his veil, clearly annoyed at it, but the magistrate cleared his throat. “I’m sorry for not giving you a chance.” Said Nikola finally, hands resting at his side.

“But you will give me one now?” Asked Wei Caihong and he watched as Nikola blushed, the red looking even lovelier from behind the see-through veil.

“Just one. You did lie and trick me in the past. But you deserve at least one chance, Wei Caihong.” Wei Caihong’s heart soared when he heard that. This was all he needed to hear. He looked at the magistrate and nodded.

“We are gathered here today…” Begun his long speech the magistrate. And it was long. Wei Caihong’s feet were freezing by the time the magistrate finally said. “You may now kiss the bride.”

Wei Caihong’s palms were sweaty. His hands shook. He remembered grandpa Cao’s words about the veil and he gulped. He hovered his hands over the white fabric and hesitated. People begun to mutter all around him and then he deiced to go ahead and do it, even if his fingers slipped. He pulled up the veil with one swift movement and then closed his eyes, leaning in and capturing Nikola’s lips, hands still gripping the veil.

Nikola was smiling into the kiss and Wei Caihong relaxed. He fixed up the veil so he no longer needed to hold it and hugged his husband close to himself. Then something small hit his head and he opened his eyes to see grandpa Cao and granny Nuo Nuying holding small bags of rice in their hands and sprinkling the two newlyweds with the stuff. Nikola giggled and placed his hands on Wei Caihong’s chest. The noble didn’t want to break the kiss but he wanted to see Nikola’s happy face more. So, he moved his head back and looked at the smiling man in his arms.

Nikola had dimples. Why hadn’t Wei Caihong noticed it by now? His eyes twinkled when he was happy and they shined now like true emeralds. Nikola tilted his head to the side and Wei Caihong saw a bite mark on his pale neck. How he wished to kiss it but everyone was watching. He leaned in to nuzzle their noses together and to tickle Nikola’s sides. He was rewarded by a laugh who put bell chimes to shame. More rice was sprinkled on them and people begun to shout their congratulations.

“What are you, a ruffian? Carry him out to the cart!”

“Silly Wei Caihong, holding us all up here in the temple!”

“If you don’t make me laugh at our wedding, I will be cross with you!” Said Mei Ying to the rice farmer who immediately begun to shower her with compliments. Wei Caihong let go of Nikola long enough to pick him up. Nikola was a lithe thing that fit perfectly in Wei Caihong’s arms. He wasn’t hard to carry and people kept trying to touch both groom and bride as Wei Caihong walked down the aisle. Wei Caihong jumped and dodged expertly. He allowed for people to touch his clothes but not Nikola. They made it to the cart and Wei Caihong got in with his prize still in his hands. He wanted for Nikola to sit on his lap but the Atlantean moved out of his arms and to the other bench. They stared at each other for some time and then Nikola broke the silence.

“So…”

“Yes?” Asked Wei Caihong. He wondered what Nikola could ask of him or tell him. He hoped to all of his ancestors it had nothing to do with Penemue.

“We’re married and…”

Nikola gulped at his own words and remained silent. Wei Caihong took his hands and begun to kiss them.

“I should get you a ring. To be unprepared for my own wedding.” Wei Caihong knew that this was not probably what Nikola wanted to speak about. But he needed to fill the silence with something.

“I promised you my love back in the temple and I’ll deliver.” Said Nikola and Wei Caihong stopped to look at him. Nikola looked uncertain but there was a small smile playing on his lips. And the twinkle was still in his eyes.

“For nine hundred years?” Asked Wei Caihong. He didn’t mean to be spiteful but he wanted to find out what he meant to Nikola. Now that they were married, he should be a step above Penemue. He hoped he was. Nikola looked torn at his words.

“I…this is my second marriage.” Wei Caihong has figured as much. All of Nikola’s grandchildren had to have come from somewhere. “If my wife hadn’t died during the famine that spread in Atlantis in my youth, I wouldn’t have taken Penemue’s deal. I am putting you in the same light I used to put Maria, now that we are married.”

And that meant the world to Wei Caihong. He wasn’t cruel. He didn’t need for Nikola to tell him that their marriage would last until Wei Caihong’s death did them part. The cart moved and Nikola stared at the procession of people behind it.

“Where are they taking us?” He said and Wei Caihong shrugged.

“Back home, most like. Many of the men that ambushed me at Nuo Nuying’s remained at our house. And I think I saw carts with food moving that way too.”

Nikola looked at Wei Caihong with urgency.

“But you can’t eat or drink! They’ll want to see you do so! How are we…”

Wei Caihong placed his finger over Nikola’s lips to calm him down.

“We’ll eat from the same plate and I’ll feed you every bite. No one will notice that I am not eating or drinking anything. I’ll raise the cup to my mouth so often than people will think I am drinking to still my nerves.”

Nikola leaned back inside the cart and closed his eyes.

“We are going to be exposed one of these days.” Wei Caihong agreed with Nikola. In ten or twenty years when they haven’t aged a day the people would start to whisper of witchcraft and dark rituals. Then it won’t matter that they had done good work in the village. But today was not such a day.

“Don’t worry about a thing. By the way, I won’t be able to help you with the shop.” Nikola looked at Wei Caihong. Before granny had told him of all the things Wei Caihong did for the villagers, he would have thought that the noble was just being spoiled. But now it was different.

“Why?” He asked and was rewarded with a smile.

“Bjorn opened my eyes to the flaws of charity work. I’ll still do it but not until I sink in complete ruin. That won’t help these people. I will be starting as a teacher in the school from tomorrow onward and before we leave here, I will make sure I have thought enough people that I will have at least one replacement.”

“That’s wonderful!” Said Nikola and then he leaned in as if to conspire with his new husband. “I can even help you. I had to learn quite a lot before Samyaza proclaimed I can take the title of Emperor. I kept building on the knowledge during the years. Perhaps I can lead night classes in agriculture and anatomy as well as smiting for the adults of the village?”

“We could get Azazel to teach smiting, he’ll hate it.” They both grinned at each other and in the other cart Azazel sneezed. He looked at the cart with the newlyweds suspiciously and then he sneaked his arm around Bjorn who was speaking with grandpa Cao. Or rather, who was complaining to the elderly man.

“And he keeps smiting in the dead of night. Basil’s work takes up all of his thoughts.”

Of course, Bjorn had kept the gory details of their relationship hidden. Which left only small transgressions on Azazel’s part. Annoyances, really.

“I had to put bread on the table.” Defended himself Azazel and grandpa Cao nodded. The old man looked at Azazel and he reached out to grab his shoulder.

“It’s good that you are a hard worker. But why don’t you include your husband in your work more? Is he any good at smiting?”

Bjorn and smiting? That was a waste of metal. He had tried to teach him and had been much more patient with him than he had been with the man’s grandfather but Bjorn was a lost cause.

“No, he can make a noodle out of even the hardest of metals.”

“Yes, well, you can’t brew mead to save your life!” Snapped Bjorn at him and then grandpa Cao looked at Bjorn.

“What is mead?” He asked and Azazel groaned. Not this again.

“You don’t know what mead is? It’s an alcoholic beverage! The best there is. Sweet as the honey it was made from and with a nice brown color.” Then Bjorn leaned over to whisper in grandpa Cao’s ear. “I make it with a special recipe. It makes you warm and relaxed after a single bottle. And it takes longer to get one drunk too.”

Grandpa Cao licked his lips.

“Yes, but how does it smell? Like sake?” Bjorn adopted a thinking pose.

“Well, it depends on the herbs and spices. Personally, I add ginger. It makes the brew taste like candy.”

A smile spread over grandpa Cao’s face but then his face fell.

“You probably don’t have the ingredients here to brew it. It being a Trojan brew.”

“Oh, no. I do!” Said Bjorn and he already imagined a section of their house being remodeled as a brewery. Azazel knew this look. It was the same look that he had seen minutes before the best sex in his life when Bjorn had made his case why there should be a brewery in the palace and not in a workshop in the city instead. Azazel knew what was coming.

“The house is Niki’s. But he won’t mind, I’m sure. Az…Basil, will you smith me everything I need for the brewery?” Asked Bjorn hopefully. It would be so easy to ask for a kiss in exchange but Azazel had just gotten his soulmate back. He didn’t want the man to feel used ever again.

“Anything you wish. Stinking bees and their stinking honey. I’ll be waking up in ungodly hours again just because you wanted to check on your one true love.”

“Caramel candy, don’t be like that. I don’t love mead more than you!” Azazel grinned at the admittance of love from Bjorn. It was good he wasn’t depressed and could still joke in his presence. He had missed this back and forth in the last year of Bjorn’s life.

They began to mock argue about whatever mead was more important to Bjorn and if smiting would fill up all of Azazel’s time. The two elderly people ended up looking at the young couple with wonder. Being infected with their childishness and adding fuel to the fire every so often.

The carts made a stop in front of Nikola’s house and the newlyweds jumped down first, then Bjorn and Azazel helped the two elderly people down from their cart and let them walk behind the newlyweds. The first thing Wei Caihong did once inside was to make a beeline for the bedroom to put on some socks. Nikola was left to be pushed to the head of a table as he waited and to have women place food before him. He told them to place only one plate and cup for both Wei Caihong and he and they began to tease him that he was a very dutiful wife.

When Wei Caihong came in, feet clad in socks, Nikola was arguing that he was a husband, not a wife.

“You are my husband.” Said Wei Caihong as the women booed him and Nikola looked at him with appreciation. “But you are also my bride.” Nikola sighed and blushed and then, not being able to help himself, Wei Caihong added. “My nymph of a blushing bride.” He then picked up a rice cake and brought it to Nikola’s lips who took a small bite.

“It’s good.” Said the Atlantean and a woman moved forward, a proud smile on her face.

“I can give you the recipe, if you liked it. It’s quite easy. First you wash the rice…” Wei Caihong watched as Nikola looked at the woman with interest. The noble knew that his husband could cook. He had been born royalty in a time when that didn’t mean much. How he wished he could taste Nikola’s cooking.

The woman finished with her rice cake recipe and more and more women begun to “subtly” push food towards Wei Caihong so that they could be praised for their cooking. Wei Caihong sat down and made sure that Nikola finished every morsel he took a bite out of. No food will be thrown away today. This Wei Caihong swore.

“I can’t eat another bite.” Complained Nikola and the women began to scatter with disappointment, some of them not being able to give away their recipes.

“I think you broke their hearts.” Said Wei Caihong amused as Nikola leaned back in his chair. The guests had pillows underneath them and everyone was eating happily on tables taken from who knows where. Wei Caihong wondered from where did all this food come from. Then the magistrate raised his cup and that answered his question.

“He is not a bad man.” Nikola had followed Wei Caihong’s gaze and had raised their cup back at the magistrate who grinned wider.

“A better official than me, at any rate.” Said Wei Caihong. Then he brought the small sake cup to Nikola’s lips. Nikola drank it up and when Wei Caihong tried to fill it up again Nikola put a hand over Wei Caihong’s.

“I want to be sober for tonight. You deserve as much.” He said and Wei Caihong grinned. He was going to get to consummate his marriage! Nikola must have seen his excitement because he groaned.

“Is that all you can think about?”

Wei Caihong looked down but he was still grinning from ear to ear. Nikola sighed and leaned into him.

“Everyone looks so happy.” He said, looking at the gathered people.

“Are you?” Asked Wei Caihong and he waited with bated breath for the answer.

“I am content. It was a wonderful ceremony. And so is the reception.” He finished as he entwined his fingers with Wei Caihong’s.

“I will make you happy.” And Wei Caihong meant it when he said it.

“So will I.” Said Nikola and Wei Caihong felt like he could fly in this moment. Then they both saw that Bjorn and Azazel were coming towards them. Azazel looked positively agitated but Bjorn was smiling happily.

“Niki!” The Atlantean yelled and people turned to stare at him. “How would you like to become the co-owner of my very own brewery?”

Nikola grinned. He did like a cool bottle of mead in a hot afternoon. If Bjorn took a couple of months to collect everything he needed for the brewing process, then Nikola himself would be lazing with a bottle of mead on the beach next summer.

“Do you need a start up capital?” He asked his grandson who grinned.

“For the metals and wood for the devices, as well as the grain and honey. Basil had agreed to smith everything so it won’t take long. But you will end up without a garden.” Said Bjorn. Nikola’s garden was very ordered and the Atlantean had seen more than one rare herb growing in it. But his grandfather just waved a hand.

“I’ll repot the herbs and bring them inside. This will make you happy and so it would make me happy as well.” Finished Nikola and Bjorn looked at the table before him. He reached out towards the little sake bottle and drank it dry, then he smashed it on the ground. People begun to mutter and Nikola stood up to wave his hands around.

“My uncle is from the Scandinavian peninsula. This is the custom there. It means he liked the sake.” A woman came and gave a broom to Bjorn. Looking at him darkly. After Bjorn cleaned his own mess he looked at his grandfather.

“It will take some getting used to living here.” Said Bjorn as he gave the broom back to the expectant woman. “But this is a nice place. The women are beautiful…”

The woman threw her hands in the air, still clutching the broom.

“The entire family is the same! Poor Wei Caihong will be wearing horns by the end of the year!”

Azazel too looked insulted at Bjorn’s words. He stormed off to go sit with grandpa Cao and Nuo Nuying and to complain about Bjorn’s observation. Bjorn looked like he regretted his words and he turned to his grandfather who leveled him with a gaze.

“If you are going to leave Basil then do so without toying with him!” Snapped Nikola.

“I’m not going to leave him. It was just an observation.” Defended himself Bjorn and Nikola pointed at Azazel.

“Then go make it up to him. He actually loves you. You chose him, when you were four-years-old, true, but you still choose him. Now go.”

Bjorn spend the whole day apologizing to Azazel who milked it for all it was worth. By the time Nikola and Wei Caihong retired for the night Azazel had managed to extract from his husband the promise that they would be sharing a bed. Which Bjorn found unfair, seeing as he had only made a small comment.