Moonlit Reunion

Wu Zhen held the pipa with one hand while plucking its strings with the other, the silk scarf draped over her elbow swaying gently with her movements. The bright lanterns illuminated half of her face, her skin glowing softly. The dancers and musicians had all stopped to gather around, gazing up at her—she stood out like the most striking bloom amidst a lavish bouquet of flowers.

After playing a slightly modified version of Wan Niang’s tune, Wu Zhen glanced up and caught her husband’s gaze from nearby, momentarily stunned. Her husband sat with impeccable posture, his expression unreadable, yet his eyes seemed to shimmer with light, fixed solely on her as if no one else in the world existed.

Her heart stirred as she suddenly thought, His eyes are truly captivating—usually they seem ordinary, but when they gleam like this, they’re utterly mesmerizing.

She had intended to set the pipa aside after finishing the piece, but now she changed her mind. With a flick of her wrist, the pipa’s melody resumed. This time, she didn’t just play—she also began to sing softly.

*"My young lord, with jade tree and jasper branches, so elegant and talented,

Jasper swallows and fragrant grass, the orchid pavilion stretches far..."*

*"...Who cares for the immortals’ bliss?

I only wish to grow old with you..."*

Mei Zhuyu was taken aback, his ears tinged faintly red, yet his bright eyes remained fixed on Wu Zhen. Unlike before, when she had kept her gaze lowered while playing, now she occasionally lifted her eyes to meet his, her glances so bewitching they left him spellbound. He clenched his hands tightly to steady his racing heart.

The songs and dances of their time were often bold and unrestrained, and Wu Zhen’s tune was a widely popular one titled "Celebrating the Groom." The moment she began singing, the crowd couldn’t help but glance at Mei Zhuyu, exchanging knowing smirks and teasing looks.

"Is Sister Zhen flirting with her little husband?"

"Oh my, I can hardly listen—she keeps looking at Mei Jia Dalang while singing! Isn’t she deliberately trying to embarrass him?"

"I can’t even watch—why do I suddenly feel a bit envious?"

After exchanging these silent jests, the crowd still wasn’t satisfied. Once Wu Zhen finished her song, several people coughed exaggeratedly, while others clapped and cheered, "Did you hear that, Dalang? You’ve got quite the honor—Sister Zhen rarely sings, but she performed this one just for you!"

"Ah, ah, so many people are watching—Wu Er Niang, tone it down a little!" someone else teased with a laugh.

Wu Zhen set down the pipa and returned to Mei Zhuyu’s side. After sweeping a glance over the gleeful crowd, she pointed and said, "Go on, each of you sing a song for me. Since I’ve sung today, none of you are getting out of it."

Another voice chimed in, "What about Brother Mei? Will he sing?"

Wu Zhen raised an eyebrow. "Of course not. My husband will sing for me at home—don’t even think about it." She knew without a doubt that her husband would never sing such a tune in public. She had brought him here to enjoy himself, not to be made a spectacle.

Her protective stance earned her everyone’s respect, and no one dared to push further. Amid laughter and banter, people took turns singing—some well, some poorly—but since they were all familiar with one another, the teasing and merriment never ceased. Though the gathering was small, it was lively and warm.

After spending time together like this, Mei Zhuyu grew closer to the group. The next day, Wu Zhen stayed at Mei Zhuyu’s residence, sleeping until late morning before rising and chatting with him about the people she knew."I don't know many officials from the Ministry of Justice, but I'm acquainted with both the Minister's son and nephew. We used to play together, so I have some influence there. And I know your Assistant Minister Xu too—I once did him a great favor. If you encounter any trouble, you can seek him out. I've already spoken to him..."

Though Mei Zhuyu didn't understand why Wu Zhen thought he might be bullied at the Ministry of Justice, her genuine concern warmed his heart. Too pleased to question it, he simply gazed at her tenderly, murmuring quiet acknowledgments so as not to reject her kindness.

As for Wu Zhen, this was the first time she'd ever gone to such lengths to care for someone. Sometimes she found it strange herself—she'd initially thought nothing of taking on another husband, yet now she'd unconsciously become protective of him. No wonder her close friends teased that she'd been bewitched by a fox spirit. Suddenly, Wu Zhen reached up to cup Mei Zhuyu's face, studying it closely. His features were distinctly masculine—ordinary at best, merely presentable, certainly not handsome.

What kind of fox spirit could be this unremarkable in appearance?

She idly scratched his chin, watching his Adam's apple bob slightly before the scholar set down his brush. He caught her hand, drawing her near to press a restrained kiss to her forehead. With one hand still clasped in his, feeling the searing touch on her brow, Wu Zhen grinned and reached to tease his throat again. Mei Zhuyu exhaled sharply, capturing her other wrist. Undeterred, she playfully leaned in to nip his chin.

Young men—especially young men in love—had little resistance to such provocations, particularly when the temptress was his lawfully wedded wife. Had Mei Zhuyu not possessed exceptional self-control, they would have already tumbled into intimacy.

But the sunlight outside was glaringly bright, and Wu Zhen clearly had no such intentions—her eyes sparkled with mischief, merely amused by his reactions. Powerless against her yet increasingly distrustful of his own restraint, Mei Zhuyu suddenly stood, gathering his scrolls to retreat to the shaded steps beneath the rear window where he resumed copying texts alone.

Left by herself, Wu Zhen soon grew bored. Strangely, though her young husband wasn't one for play, his mere presence kept ennui at bay. Though older than Mei Zhuyu by several years, her temperament made her willful with those she'd grown close to. She rose and followed him to the bamboo-fringed steps.

Dappled sunlight danced through the bamboo leaves, casting flecks of gold across Mei Zhuyu's face as he sat on the mossy steps. His silhouette against the emerald foliage made a striking picture. Wu Zhen strolled over, plucking a tender young bamboo shoot before draping herself across his back.

The unexpected weight made Mei Zhuyu hunch forward slightly. He could feel her soft form pressed against him but kept his head bowed, silently continuing his transcription. In truth, these documents weren't important—the copying was merely pretense. Without something to occupy his hands, his attention would fixate unbearably on Wu Zhen. In company he could manage, but alone together... darker thoughts surfaced. As an ascetic, he'd practiced detachment for years, yet now... his discipline was failing spectacularly.From realizing he had desires to facing and accepting these uncontrollable urges, Mei Zhuyu was still struggling. For now, he only hoped not to be too abrupt with her—at the very least, to avoid constantly thinking about those unspeakable matters.

Wu Zhen leaned over her husband's shoulder to look at the characters he was writing. She found the calligraphy quite different from the man himself. To her, Mei Zhuyu was calm and upright, with few expressions but a kind and generous nature. Yet his handwriting was sharp and imposing, almost incongruent with his demeanor. If Wu Zhen had only seen the writing, she might have assumed it belonged to a cold, dangerous man with a cutting edge.

They say handwriting reflects personality, but it seems that isn’t always the case. With this thought, Wu Zhen tugged playfully at Mei Zhuyu’s earlobe. "Come on, let’s go back to the study to write. Aren’t you uncomfortable here?"

Seeing his hesitation, she laughed. "I won’t tease you anymore."

She pulled him back to the study and casually placed the emerald-green bamboo branch she had been fiddling with into a small water-filled jar on the desk. Then she stood up to leave. Noticing her movement, Mei Zhuyu instinctively asked, "Where are you going?"

Wu Zhen had originally intended to go out, but seeing the faint reluctance in his expression—quickly concealed—her heart softened, and she changed her mind. "Nowhere. I’ll just take a nap here. Don’t mind me."

True to her word, she settled by the open window for an afternoon nap. The spot was shaded and cool, with a breeze carrying the fragrance of grass from the nearby pond—a perfect place for a midday rest.

Days passed lazily, filled with idle hours and nights spent in intimate company until late. Wu Zhen teased Mei Zhuyu, joking that he became a different person at night. But after two days of this, she was summoned back to the Demon Market by a message from Snake Lord Liu Taizhen.

"What now? Something else happened?"

Liu Taizhen handed her a red-papered letter, gesturing for her to read it herself. Wu Zhen skimmed the politely worded message and clicked her tongue. "Rare indeed. A whole family moving into the Chang'an Demon Market—over forty demons at once. No wonder you called me."

Setting the letter aside, she asked, "Have you looked into it? Why would this family of fox spirits suddenly relocate to Chang'an? Is it really as they say?"

Liu Taizhen nodded. "Pretty much. They used to live in Quzhou, supported by a human family that’s since fallen. Without their patrons and with some troublesome demon stirring up chaos in Quzhou, these fox spirits—who aren’t particularly strong—decided to move here for protection. After all, under our watch, most demons can live peacefully as long as they don’t cause trouble."

Wu Zhen: "So you agreed to let them in?"

Liu Taizhen pointed with her brush handle to a sandalwood chest nearby. Wu Zhen opened it, glanced inside, and nodded. "Not bad. They’ve got sincerity. Let them move in, then."

As the most prosperous city in the land, Chang'an was densely populated—not just with humans but also demons. With Cat Official and Snake Lord overseeing the Demon Market, not just any demon could settle in. They had to ensure they wouldn’t harm ordinary people or stir up trouble, and of course, it didn’t hurt to be tactful and observant.

This small fox spirit family from Quzhou—forty-some demons—had traveled a long way to Chang'an. Given the contents of the chest, Wu Zhen and Liu Taizhen were in a good mood and personally escorted them into the Demon Market.To reside in the Demon Market, one must have two treasure seals stamped upon their person. These seals are held by the Cat Official and the Snake Lord. Once marked with these seals, one may freely enter and exit the East and West Demon Markets without being mistaken for an intruder. Moreover, bearing these seals ensures that if they are harmed within Chang'an, both the Cat Official and the Snake Lord will be alerted, serving as a protective charm.

Under the silent night sky of Chang'an, a red lantern illuminated a small patch of darkness. It was carried by a yellow-furred fox clad in a white outer robe. Behind him, four slightly smaller foxes bore a sedan chair, within which sat a white fox with three tails. Following the sedan were more foxes of varying sizes, some carrying boxes and others lifting chests. Though they appeared as foxes, their movements and demeanor were indistinguishable from humans.

The procession halted before the dark gates of the East and West Markets. The three-tailed fox emerged from the sedan and bowed toward the gate. In a flash of light, the group vanished, only to reappear amidst the lively scene of the East and West Demon Markets, bustling with non-human entities. Beneath the market gates stood two tall figures.

"Welcome to the Chang'an Demon Market," Wu Zhen greeted with a smile, dressed in a crimson Hu-style robe with a turned-down collar. Beside her, Liu Taizhen, clad in a moon-white ruqun, gave them a faint nod of acknowledgment.

Seeing them waiting there, the three-tailed fox was both flustered and honored. Bowing deeply, it spoke in a soft, androgynous voice, "We are deeply grateful for the presence of the Cat Official and Snake Lord. We humbly request your guidance in the days to come."