By Imperial Decree, Slay Demons—Vortex Palace Is at Hand! The lotus flowers on the pond had withered away, leaving only dry, blackened yellow stalks tangled across the water's surface. The bleak autumn wind stirred ripples over the lake. Ta Ta Kai tugged the rope and leaped out from the lookout post, swung a wide arc in mid-air, landed on the deck, and raised a paw to direct the crew as crate after crate of treasures was loaded into the hold.
The clerks crossed the gangplank at an unhurried pace, everything orderly and well-arranged.
Naturally, that was not Ta Ta Kai's doing.
On the other side of the hauling crew.
An eunuch waved his fly whisk and pulled open the hold doors, speaking in an affected tone. "Walk slowly, walk slowly. Don't knock anything about. These are His Majesty's rewards for Earl Xingyi. Do well and there will be rewards; make a mess of it, and this servant cannot bear the responsibility."
"By imperial grace, this marriage is bestowed; I come to deliver word of it. If the immortal gentleman is willing to join in tender affection, this happy union shall surely be fulfilled today..."
Leaning against the ship's railing, Liang Qu hummed a little tune.
The eighth and ninth months he had spent in the Imperial Capital had absolutely been the finest days of his life, past or present.
A dreamlike journey.
A rest that left him wholly restored in body and spirit.
When idle, he cultivated at Moon Gazing Tower. When busy, his household held grand banquets.
No worries, no urging.
At the beginning of September, Sky Vessel Tower hosted a grand feast. Several smaller banquets followed. Just as the celebrations were meant to end, Liang Qu and Long E Ying received their legal marriage certificate at the end