The lion dance, as Song Chang had called it, was something Yue Xing had never even heard of in his life. Back at the village, the Mid-Autumn Festival only really consisted of the community coming together on the streets, sharing a few bites of food and some drinks, then each family releasing precisely one lantern before heading home.

  The crowd gathered neatly near the Southern Pavilion. Yue Xing quietly pushed to the front of the group, neatly slipping in the small gaps people left between each other. He noticed Song Chang standing on the edge of the opposing side. The man was smiling widely with Feng Jiaying at his side.

  From the ground where no one stood, tall, wooden poles stretched towards the sky. Yue Xing had no idea what they were there for. Were they part of the lion dance as well?

  A drumbeat sounded first, deep and startling, like a steady thrum of a heart. The reedy screech of a suona followed close behind, then the thundering of the cymbals. Then, something dazzling, something big and colorful leaped onto the stage.

  At a glance it looked alive; a great, bright beast with a snapping mouth and big eyes that snapped open and closed with deliberate precision. It surged forward in a blur of red and blue, its head tossing wildly, its body rippling like the silk that it was made out of.

  Yue Xing couldn't help a startled noise from escaping his lips, his eyes pulled wide in awe. As the drums quickened, the creature seemed to grow curious. It cocked its head, ears twitching, eyes rolling with exaggerated intent, as if it were studying the world for the first time.

  Every movement was inherently playful. One moment the lion writhed proudly, the next it stumbled over its own feet and shook itself in a childlike manner. The crowd cheered.

  The cymbals crashed, sharp and bright, and with each clash the lion sprang, crouched, or spun, its tail flicking behind it in a flash of color. The creature leaped up one of the wooden beams, and Yue Xing couldn't believe his eyes when it moved around the narrow pillars with such ease, dancing and jumping. Yue Xing caught himself in an excited laugh.

  With a final trick, the lion descended from the heights, landing in front of the people. The guests seemed thoroughly amazed. But the lion was not done yet. With a playful tilt of his head and a quick few snaps of his big mouth, the lion ran around the edge of the crowd curiously.

  It sniffed around on the heads of little children, wiggling around like a puppy, and when the chosen member of the audience reached out to pat its big, glittering head, the lion happily shook its body and wagged its tail. Yue Xing had no idea how the dancers were doing so much at once.

  The lion ran around happily, receiving praise and lots of cheers from the crowd. Even Feng Jiaying herself reached out to gleefully play with the creature. Once the lion received its fair share of encouragement, it danced around giddily, wriggling and jingling.

  When the music crescendoed, it leaped upon the beams once more, striking a pose and snapping its mouth and eyes just in time as the instruments gave their final calling.

  The crowd cheered loudly. Yue Xing was completely blown away. He couldn't stop smiling. Whoever the performers were, they seemed infinitely talented.

  After the performance ended, Song Chang toasted the guests and the crowd slowly began to saunter back towards the garden to begin feasting on whatever delicacies the kitchen prepared on Song Chang’s command.

  Yue Xing remained bolted in place, still staring at the colorful creature who had descended from its little peak in the meantime. It was still playfully circling around the stage, blinking its glowing eyes and snapping its mouth at the audience as they left, leaving the kids giggling in their parents’ grasps.

  The performers sure were dedicated to their act. Song Chang must’ve paid them a fortune to keep the magic alive for so long. Or maybe they just really loved their jobs.

  The yard slowly cleared of the guests, only the lion and Yue Xing remained. He left like one of those little kids who laughed and squealed at the prospect of the lion coming near them. Again, he should’ve been ashamed to entertain such silly prospects as getting to see the dancers just a little longer.

  The lion turned its head towards him, wiggling its body and wagging its tail, running towards Yue Xing with a shake. When it halted just a few steps short of bumping into him, Yue Xing couldn't restrain his laugh.

  Slowly, the lion’s head lifted, held by two hands as it revealed the puppeteer below. “How was that?” the man asked, his lips pulling into a cheesy smile. Yue Xing’s eyes widened for only a moment before he let out a soft chuckle.

  “It was very nice. I’ve never seen anything like this before.” Yue Xing said. Su Yan emerged fully from the head of the costume, along with his partner in the back. “I never knew you were into this kind of thing though. You’ve never mentioned it.”

  The young guard ran a hand through his messed up locks, sweat beading down the back of his neck. “I never thought you’d be interested. I used to be a lion dancer before I joined the guards. Lord Song must’ve heard about it in Yan’an Town, and he asked me if I could help him put together a performance for tonight.” Su Yan explained as he carefully settled the lion’s head on one of the decorative stones.

  “He was very adamant. Apparently there were some guests in attendance that he wanted to impress, or something like that.” the young man continued, untying the ribbon in his hair and letting his inky hair flow messily down his shoulders. Yue Xing hummed thoughtfully in answer.

  Song Chang’s reasoning wasn’t hard to get behind. There were quite a few people attending tonight’s celebration, and there were surely some who weren’t just showing off and actually had some power in the area. It wasn’t uncalled for for the magistrate to try and gain some favor.

  A head peaked out from behind Su Yan’s form. A head of fluffy brown curls and two dark, mischievous eyes. “Ah, Yanyan? Care to introduce me to your friend?” the young man grinned, jutting his elbow into Su Yan’s side, who grumbled at the intrusion.

  “Oh. Yeah, uh… Mo Ling, this is Yue Xing. Yue Xing, this is Mo Ling, my, uh, friend.” Su Yan motioned between his fluffy haired companion and Yue Xing.

  “Best friend.” Mo Ling grinned widely, hooking an arm around Su Yan’s shoulder, which only earned him an eyeroll.

  “Not even close.” But even Yue Xing could see the small hints of a smile hiding in the corners of Su Yan’s lips as he said that.

  Yue Xing could feel Mo Ling’s eyes on him, stopping on his face and giving a noncommittal hum. He couldn't tell if he was supposed to be offended or pleased at the notion.

  When Mo Ling noticed his staring had been caught onto, he merely gave Yue Xing a wiggle of his brows. Su Yan elbowed him hard for it, causing a small chuckle to slip from Yue Xing's lips as the young man keeled over dramatically, looking at his best friend betrayed.

  “Ass.” Mo Ling grimaced, rubbing the sore spot on the side of his ribs. Su Yan didn’t deign him with a retort of his own. Mo Ling stuck his tongue out. Su Yan turned back to Yue Xing.

  “The feast has already started. Aren’t you missing out?” he asked, his tone considerably softer than when he was talking to Mo Ling. Yue Xing only shrugged his shoulders meekly.

  “Well, I’m hungry.” Mo Ling butted in, having seemingly recovered quickly from his grave injury. “The magistrate promised me free food for my services, and I’m not one to pass up on opportunities. Who am I to deprive Lord Song of his hospitality, am I right?”

  Mo Ling grinned at Yue Xing, and he couldn't help but smile at the young man’s carefree attitude. “We can’t have that.” Yue Xing said. Mo Ling appeared delighted that somebody was finally playing along with him.

  “All right, then it’s settled.” Mo Ling said triumphantly. “If you need me, I’ll be in the garden. There’s food waiting to be eaten and noble lords and ladies waiting to be chatted up by yours truly.” he winked at Yue Xing.

  “You don’t stand a chance against them, A-Ling. And don’t make a fool of yourself! Lord Song is still my boss!” Su Yan called after him, but Mo Ling seemed to be a hopeless cause as he only gave a gleeful laugh before disappearing from view.

  Su Yan rubbed the back of his neck, looking at Yue Xing a little embarrassed. “Don’t mind him. He’s not usually this unbearable. He just always wants to show off his ‘great personality’ to every person he meets.”

  Yue Xing chuckled, light and airy. “It’s all right. He’s kinda fun.” he admitted.

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  “You’re easy to impress.” Su Yan commented with a smile. Yue Xing couldn't tell if that was supposed to be good or bad.

  “Shall we… get going too?” Su Yan asked and Yue Xing nodded in response. The two of them left the courtyard side-by-side.

  Under the golden lanternlight, Yue Xing got himself a seat with the other scholars of Liming Manor. This time, it was his rightful place. As he bit into his mooncake, letting the sweet taste dissolve on his tongue. He couldn't help but let out a pleased sigh.

  Though when he caught one of the servers giving him a dirty glare, he couldn't help the taste souring in his mouth. He knew that girl, she was one of the attendants from the kitchen who worked under Auntie Ye just like he did.

  Suddenly, Yue Xing was reminded of where he was supposed to be; tucked away in an outer courtyard with the other staff, eating a far less exquisite meal, cramped around a small table. Auntie Ye must’ve been so disappointed in him.

  Around him, the scribes spoke in verses, their laughter light and unguarded. One of the juniors was reciting a couplet, while a different one nudged a cup of tea Yue Xing’s way. Yue Xing blinked away his sour feelings. He accepted the teacup with a shy smile.

  Across the courtyard, the server looked away, her expression tight. Yue Xing didn’t look her way again.

  He stared down into his cup, watching the light green liquid ripple every time the table was jostled in the slightest. In the murky light he couldn't make out his own face, but he did notice the great, silvery disc of the Moon reflecting right above where his face was supposed to form.

  If his name was the Moon and the stars, then Yue Xing aspired to be most like the Moon. Something bright, something ethereal and respected. The tea slipped down his throat, and with it went the reflection of the Moon.

  After the feast had ended, Yue Xing reunited with Su Yan near the koi pond. Su Yan was amply chewing Mo Ling out for going around chatting up noble young ladies, and not seeing that they were laughing at him, and not with him.

  Yue Xing stopped a couple paces away from the pair of friends. When Su Yan noticed his presence, he paused his tirade. “You’re back. Come, let’s get you a lantern.”

  They settled into the backdrop of the crowd, each with their small paper lantern at hand. Yue Xing stared at the empty sheet of paper, and then at the inky brush between Su Yan’s fingers as the young man deftly wrote down his own wish.

  Yue Xing’s mind blanked at the thought of a wish. What would he even wish for? There were so many and so few things he wanted, at the same time. Was he supposed to write every one of them, or would that be too greedy? Would the Heavens condemn him for asking too much?

  Laughter caught his attention from somewhere nearby. Yue Xing turned his attention towards the sound to find Song Chang and Feng Jiaying messing around with their respective lanterns.

  Song Chang was writing something on his and Feng Jiaying was trying her best to peek over his shoulder, but due to their differing heights, Song Chang could easily shield his wish from his sister’s curious gaze.

  They were like two little kids. Feng Jiaying would push Song Chang’s shoulder, causing the man to shield his lantern ever harder, all with a smile on his face. Feng Jiaying huffed in retort, using her folded fan to beat at her little brother’s shoulder, but she herself wasn’t smiling any less.

  He used to mess around with siblings a lot too. Dage would always use the same trick on them that Song Chang did now, using his height advantage to keep things away from their grasps. Erge would chase him around the streets, both of them giggling when they were just little kids.

  Even Huan-jie, before she became all sour towards Yue Xing, would often get up to no good with him. He could still clearly remember that one instance when their father found them both covered in charcoal after they decided that under the stove was the best hiding place from their mother’s wrath. And though he didn’t get many years with little A-Qiao, he would still play with her any chance he got.

  Yue Xing wondered, if wherever his family ended up over the years, if they were looking up at the same dark night sky as he was. He wondered if back at the village his mother and sisters were surrounded by the community. Were they grieving his presence or not as they released their own lantern?

  Were his father and Dage peering up at the stars and thinking of a family they never returned to, or were they unable to appreciate the stars from where the dirt of the empty battlefield buried them? And wherever Erge went, was he content to release his wishes to the Heavens there, or did he long for a home back at the village, regretting his decision to abandon them after all?“

  Yue Xing?” Su Yan’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. The guard extended the brush towards him and Yue Xing took it with a coy smile. After a few moments spent in silence, Yue Xing wrote down a single word on the small empty paper.

  Family.

  Yue Xing watched the lantern float away slowly, joining the others in a wonderful array of tiny golden spots that illuminated the night sky. There had to be hundreds of wishes all floating towards the stars, carrying people’s deepest desires they only dared share with the Heavens themselves.

  Yue Xing watched with a wordless smile until his tiny lantern disappeared in the vast abyss of the night. He hoped that at least one immortal would spare a glance at his simple request.

  When he glanced back towards his surroundings, he found that the real feast had only begun. People began retaking their seats, and this time they didn’t spare the alcohol from flowing.

  Yue Xing sighed. As Mo Ling had put it earlier, who was he to deprive Song Chang of his hospitality?

  ○ ? ○

  Song Chang was barely able to pull his sister away from the festivities. Dragging Feng Jiaying behind him, the drunk woman was complaining the whole way through the manor, up until Song Chang was finally able to yank her into his chambers, depositing her unceremoniously into one of the daybeds by the window.

  “Aiya, Chang-er, why so rough with your jiejie?” Feng Jiaying complained, pursing her lower lip in a pathetic manner. Song Chang only scoffed.

  “You’re drunk, Jiaying. Get some rest.” he huffed, throwing himself down on the other daybed, letting his tired body sink against the pillows.

  “Why’d you drag me back here anyway? Wouldn't you rather be with your A-Xing?” Feng Jiaying stretched out over the cushion, her hair beginning to come undone even under all those pointy pins holding it in place. Song Chang was mildly worried one would pierce through Feng Jiaying’s head. Though she did happen to have a pretty thick skull.

  Song Chang furrowed his eyebrows tightly, a dark shadow flashing across his face. “A-Xing? Who’s A-Xing?”

  “Yue Xing. Who else, Chang-er?” Feng Jiaying pouted, acting as if whatever she was saying was supposed to make any sense.

  Yue Xing? Why would Song Chang want to be with him more than take care of his clearly drunk-out-of-her-mind sister? And why in the world would he call him A-Xing?! They weren’t even remotely that familiar!

  Song Chang’s jaw clenched. “Ever since you arrived you’ve been asking strange questions about him. Why are you so desperately trying to make me admit something that doesn’t exist? Jiaying, out with it! Why are you really here?!” Song Chang angrily asked, pointing a finger at his sister.

  Suddenly, as if possessed by the spirit of sobriety, Feng Jiaying sat up straight, her gaze clearer than ever before. Those piercing dark eyes stared right at Song Chang. After a couple moments of a heated staring contest, Feng Jiaying’s lips pulled into a satisfied smile.

  The woman let out a laugh, sounding almost relieved. “Chang-er, I don’t believe you’re sleeping with that boy.”

  “What?! Of course I’m not! Jiaying, what are you talking about?! Tell me already!” Song Chang roared. Even the accusation was too much to listen to!

  “Come now, what’s the rush?” Feng Jiaying smiled, cruelly teasing Song Chang.

  “Jiaying, I will actually kill you if you don’t tell me.”

  “So mean, Chang-er.” Feng Jiaying rolled her eyes. She patted the cushioned seat next to herself, and Song Chang begrudgingly got up from his own to accompany her.

  “Ah, where shall I start?” she tapped the tip of her finger to her chin. Song Chang was ready to explode.

  “Jiaying!”

  “All right, all right.” Feng Jiaying batted him off, leveling him with a glare for so rudely rushing her. “I’ve only been living in Tianhai City for a couple months, so I only know so much. But from what I’ve heard it is an absolutely scandalous story.”

  Song Chang listened to her with rapt attention.

  “A few weeks after I arrived in the city, I overheard my neighbors talking about some absolutely shameless lord in the county who kidnapped a young man from his poor family and began having intimate relations with him, keeping the boy in his manor against his will.”

  “Chang-er, you know I live for some good gossip, so I simply had to dig deeper. As I found out, this shameless lord already has quite the bad reputation around the county, people accusing him of overcollecting taxes and bleeding the county dry of its expenditures, while living in a lavish manor and, apparently, kidnapping young men. I also found out that his name just so happens to be Song Chang, and his little concubine Yue Xing.”

  Song Chang began to shake his head, his eyes furious yet desperate. “It’s not true. Jiaying, you know none of it is true!” Feng Jiaying looked at him, her eyes scanning Song Chang’s face for deceit. She’d known Song Chang since he was literally born, surely she didn’t believe he’d do anything of that sort.

  Purposefully exploiting the county and kidnapping boys— Well, okay.

  If one wanted to get technical, Song Chang did technically take Yue Xing away against his will. But he also technically wasn't keeping him from leaving either! Song Chang wasn't keeping Yue Xing locked up or anything of that sort.

  And in any case, wasn’t someone who was held against his will supposed to be fighting against their captor? Wasn’t Yue Xing supposed to be begging to be let go? Yue Xing wasn’t doing any of those things, because he knew he wasn’t a captive. Song Chang had made it abundantly clear with both his actions and words.

  Song Chang even offered him a new position, which Yue Xing happily took. Truly, happily. Yue Xing looked as if he was ready to jump out of his skin at the prospect. So either he was the greatest actor Song Chang had ever seen, or he simply wished to stay in Liming Manor.

  What bugged him about the situation was how any version of this story even made it as far as Tianhai City. The rumor had to have started from inside the manor itself, seeing as Yue Xing’s actual name was mentioned and hasn’t gotten warped into anything else as the rumor spread from mouth to mouth. It was as if someone was meticulously making sure it caused as much damage to their reputation as possible.

  “If that’s not the truth, then what is?” Feng Jiaying pressed. Song Chang let out a weary sigh. Shamefully, he told her the truth.

  Everything that went down in No-name Village, that he was being petty when taking in Yue Xing, but later growing a soft-spot for him and wanting to give him a better life. Song Chang told his sister how he began to teach Yue Xing how to read and write, and how he saw the potential in him. He also told her of his concerns.

  Feng Jiaying listened wordlessly, her lips pressed closed. There wasn’t even a single hint of tipsiness present in her gaze anymore. When Song Chang finished, she stayed silent for a couple more moments, letting the words sink in.

  Song Chang was beginning to get afraid she wouldn't believe him at all, instead choosing to trust the rumors she had heard and deem Song Chang a sexual deviant who preyed on young and helpless men.

  “Someone is actively trying to ruin your reputation.” Feng Jiaying spoke up, her voice low. “And from what I’ve heard, they’ve been trying to for as long as you’ve been in this position.”