Xiao Tong’s kiss was scalding and all-consuming. Jiang Wumei felt a tremor in her brow, her long, raven-feather lashes fluttering before drifting shut.
As the wind rose, the dragon and phoenix robes swirled and tangled together. Jiang Wumei tightened her grip on Xiao Tong’s neck, her voice scattering into the breeze, barely audible: "May your heart be as mine, and never shall I fail our mutual yearning."
A searing light blossomed in Xiao Tong’s eyes. Under the gaze of thousands, he performed an act that left the crowd stunned. Standing upon the eternal stone steps of the altar, the young Emperor of Dasheng, amidst the howling wind and the eyes of the multitude, bowed his head to kiss the red lips of his new Empress.
Chapter 477