TIAN GUAN CI FU Fan fic stories

POST-CANON OF MARRIED LIFE

THE BEGINNINGS OF FOREVER

Xie Lian sat at the foot of the bed inside the only bedroom chamber of Paradise Manor. Hua Cheng's bedroom. Their bedroom, now. He shouldn't have felt as shy as he did, considering everything the two had done since Hua Cheng's return. And especially not since they were officially married.

Husband. Xie Lian blushed at the word again. Hua Cheng had gone to bring the two of them tea, and left Xie Lian waiting idly in the large and opulent bedroom. He curiously eyed the plush bed with red silken sheets and pillows soft to the touch. The entire room was painted red, with gold and black accenting it in a way that made the room feel all the more imperial. Fine furniture lined the walls — a large armory housed what Xie Lian discovered were an array of robes, some of which were now in fact white. For Xie Lian, of course.

It felt like a bedroom that had hardly been slept in, but still smelled faintly of Hua Cheng and the incense he burned at Xie Lian's temples. Paradise Manor, as Hua Cheng had once said, had for centuries been a mere place that Hua Cheng inhabited. With the two of them finally being reunited, they had promised to make Paradise Manor a home.

Xie Lian's fine robes were heavy and slightly difficult to walk in, but he maneuvered around the room with the grace of a former prince. When something glinted from the corner of his eyes, he turned towards an ornate silver jewelry box sat in the center of the vanity. At closer inspection, Xie Lian could finally admire the intricate carvings of blossoms and maple — so detailed were they that Xie Lian could trace over the pistils of each beautifully-made flower.

"Does gege like it?" That familiar voice came from the doorway.

Xie Lian turned his attention to Hua Cheng, who was carrying a tray with tea, a few osmanthus cakes, and warm bowl of hong dou tang. The perfect way to end what was their marriage ceremony.

"It's beautiful, San Lang. You have many exquisite pieces." Xie Lian admired. He could tell everything was likely priceless and some even ancient.

Hua Cheng placed everything down on the tea table near the window before moving to stand behind Xie Lian and wrapping his arms around Xie Lian's waist. It was particularly hard with all the adornments of Xie Lian's robes, but they still managed to settle comfortably in each other's embrace.

"It's for you, gege." Hua Cheng whispered in Xie Lian's ear. "A wedding gift, shall we say."

Xie Lian felt his cheeks heat at the words. "You didn't have to get me anything, San Lang..."

"Mm, but I wanted to." Hua Cheng hummed as he kissed Xie Lian's blushing cheek. Hua Cheng's lips, by then increasingly familiar to Xie Lian, still felt warm against his skin, and a pleasant shiver traveled down Xie Lian's spine at the intimate touch. He sighed contently before leaning further into Hua Cheng's arms.

"But I don't have anything prepared in return."

"Your happiness is all I ask for, beloved." Hua Cheng kissed Xie Lian's jaw.

"San Lang~" Whether it were a lifetime or mere seconds, Xie Lian couldn't envision himself reacting any differently to Hua Cheng's absolute adoration. It made Xie Lian's heart warm, his body light — risking to float away out of sheer joy at any moment — and soul at ease. He felt Hua Cheng's love warp around Xie Lian like vines upon an ancient ruin, there to make it all the more beautiful; flowers blossoming where cracks upon stone once gave way to decay.

"Open it, gege." Hua Cheng instructed. He leaned his chin against Xie Lian's shoulder. Xie Lian could feel the excitement emanating from the ghost king, and he smiled warmly.