At the end of a long red carpet, placed on the stone walkways, the groom stood between two garden ornaments. The carved marble lanterns had tiny, chiseled lotus flowers all over to further impress admirers. Legend stated they were relics from the first emperor. Behind the fake screening and deep inside, incense burned. It smelt like petrichor combined with dewy floral fragrance.

This did nothing to calm Disung while he waited. The rush back to the palace, undetected, sent his blood rushing like a flood. In the city, he had painted buildings, avoided screaming people and jumped across roofs near the emperor. The danger of the situation caused a thrill to tingle his bones and the effects still weakened him. However, as the minutes ticked by, he became uncertain which caused this sensation: the morning adventure or the wedding.

He was getting married to someone who shared his romantic feelings, although she denied it well. It felt impossible to accept. It all appeared too perfect, which caused him to anxiously await for the plan to fail. Yet, the emperor did not appear. No one stopped the bride as she walked down the carpet, dressed in predominantly red and heavy material. The musicians from the local tavern didn’t mess the songs. Everything went smoothly.

The couple performed the marital tea ceremony and kneeled to offer Chunhua — the only family — a drink after kowtowing thrice. Chunhua grinned the whole time, unable to contain her obvious excitement and delight. The couple repeated their kowtow and tea offer to each other, then to the shrine, or in this case, the marble lanterns. Throughout this process, Disung kept trying to see through the red veil which hid Mingzhu’s face. He hoped to find comfort in her expression but instead, remained lost from nervousness.

The last part of the ceremony remained strict to Shanhe traditions. Disung and Mingzhu held small lotus flowers and to have a good marriage, these could not fall while a strand of blue and red fabric – blue symbolic for Shanhe, while red reflected marriage prosperity — were tied to their wrists. This bound them together and would be braided to form bracelets.

Finally, they spoke their vow. “We promise to live together and become grey-haired together. As spirits, our souls will unite in another place and we will continue to let the love guide us.”

This concluded the public display and the stray visitors, along with Linlong royalty, left. This signalled Disung and Mingzhu to part and meet again in the matrimonial room, where the couple were expected to remain until morning. Despite their plans, Disung worried this would happen because when he entered, Mingzhu already finished a cup of wine.

“Slow down,” he said and took the goblet from her reaching grasp.

“No.”

Disung smiled and lifted the red veil so it tangled on the golden hair jewellery. His wife glared at his gawking expression. She looked radiant; her skin turned creamier from the days inside, the makeup flattered her lean face and her wild eyes stared into the deep parts of his soul. It all sent Disung’s heart soaring.

“If you keep drinking, shall we complete the wedding traditions then?” He blurted, hoping his cheekiness disguised his eagerness and infatuation.

Mingzhu laughed humourlessly and lifted her head in an angry rush to cause the headdress to hit him. Fortunately for Disung, he dodged the impulsive movement by mere millimetres.

“We should practice for tonight instead,” Mingzhu countered.

A hand flew piercingly at Disung’s neck but he blocked it. To encourage her to continue, he took several steps back to give his opponent room to move. Mingzhu raised herself onto her toes, ready to fight in her preferred style. She ran up and as always, did three quick jabs. These hit near his left shoulder and Disung backed away to avoid serious harm. Then, before she attacked again, he faked a punch and kicked her side. This caused her to wince and handstand-flip back to regain space.

The couple stalked each other in a circle to contemplate their next moves. Mingzhu leapt to attack but Disung predicted this and yanked her hand forward. Before toppling, she manoeuvred to dive into a roll. However, Disung pounced as soon as she found her feet; he lightly punched, kicked and tripped her. Unwilling to fuel her anger any further, he pinned her back against a wall.

“I let you win,” Mingzhu responded. “I can’t hurt you too much before we begin our mission.”

“We might not see each other again. Shall we savour this moment?”

“I will savour my fist in your—”

He kissed her to cut off the threat. The feeling of their touching bodies and lips made him turn into a crazed animal. For weeks, he wanted to do this and judging her submissive response, she shared his desire. Yet, if he didn’t stop now, he wouldn’t be able to stop at all. So, he pulled back despite the beast inside him growl in fury.

“Are you ready for tonight?” He asked in a gruff voice. “Our guests will be arriving soon.”

Pain radiated through Disung’s stomach. He looked down to see Mingzhu’s retracting fist; she punched him. As he bent over, he saw her wicked smile and a fox mask in her other hand.

“May the Foxes outwit all.”