On the morning of the Dragon Saliva Festival, the sky above the Dragon Palace looked utterly different from usual.
The seawater outside the golden barrier had turned a rare shade of azure.
Light pierced through the sea's surface, refracting into countless tiny flecks across the barrier.
The entire Purple Sky Dragon Palace was bathed in a warm, solemn golden halo.
Even the shadows between the corridor pillars looked a little softer.
Lin Shisan stood at the side courtyard's window, looking out at the deep sea illuminated by the morning light.
He had changed out of his blue cloth shirt, washed pale with wear, and put on the ceremonial consort's robes sent by the Dragon Palace.
The deep purple brocade robe had clouds and dragon patterns embroidered in silver thread along its cuffs and hem, with a white jade belt fastened at the waist.
The fabric was fine merfolk silk, soft yet crisp, and it felt unfamiliar and heavy on him.
It was far more luxurious than the outfit he had worn when he bowed with Bai Youyou at their wedding in Little Fishing Village.
Soft footsteps sounded outside the courtyard, and Zi Yuner's voice came from the doorway.
It was a little softer than usual, as though she, too, had put on an outfit unlike anything she normally wore.
"Shisan, it's time."
Lin Shisan pushed open the door.
Zi Yuner stood in the morning light, radiant as a fairy from the highest heavens, her beauty beyond compare.
She wore deep purple ceremonial attire, its skirt trailing along the ground, embroidered with nine coiling golden dragons.
A pearl the size of a grain of rice was set into each dragon's eye, gleaming softly in the light. Her long hair was secured with a purple-gold crown, and fine golden threads wound around