The days began to blur in the way only safe days could.
Morning sunlight filtered through carved screens, warming woven floor mats and coaxing early blossoms from the plum trees. Fox kits tumbled across the courtyard at all hours, their laughter bright as chimes. Breakfasts were noisy, affectionate, overwhelming. Mingxi arrived every morning with that composed grace that never hid the warmth in his eyes when he saw her. Yunlian always set extra tea in front of Poppy. Mingjun stole dumplings until Minghua smacked him with her chopsticks. Mingzhao watched everything quietly, gaze deep and unreadable.
Afternoons were slow and soft—Yunlian teaching her how to ground her magic under the plum blossoms, how to breathe with moonlight instead of against it. Kits crawled into her lap. Mingxi watched more often than he pretended. Evenings were walks along the perimeter, lanterns flickering awake one by one.
The days passed in warmth and routine, and then Minghua began practically vibrating with excitement.
“Tomorrow!” she squealed. “The first full moon with you here. We’re having a feast. A proper one. Lanterns, music, everything. You’ll love it.”
“A feast?” Poppy echoed.
“Oh yes.” Minghua bounced on the balls of her feet. “We celebrate the full moon anyway, but this one’s special. It’s your first in Huoyáo Jìng.”
Poppy laughed despite herself. “That sounds like a lot of attention.”
Minghua grinned. “You’d better get used to it.”
Chapter 43
The day of the full moon arrived, carrying a sense of anticipation so tangible Poppy felt it the moment she woke: the hum in the air, the foxfire trails glowing brighter, the river reflecting a sky not yet dark.
By sunset, the estate was transformed. Lanterns shaped like foxes, moons, and flowers hung from every archway. Long red banners rippled in the wind. Tables stretched across the inner courtyard, laden with stewed pork, sweet buns, river greens, firecracker dumplings, and moon-salted rice. Musicians tuned flutes and small drums. Kits zoomed underfoot in half-shifted forms, tails flicking in excitement.
Poppy stepped out wearing a soft shawl Yunlian had draped over her shoulders, embroidered with subtle pale threads that shimmered in the lantern light.
Mingxi was waiting. He stood near the courtyard entrance speaking with Mingzhao, dressed in deep cerulean with foxfire embroidery at the cuffs. Mingxi’s hair caught the lantern glow, and for a moment, she forgot to breathe.
He turned. He saw her, and something in his chest visibly stilled. Before she could decipher the look in his eyes, Minghua swooped in, grabbing her arm.
“Come on! We’re sitting with the fun people!”
Poppy barely had a moment to protest before she was pulled toward a long table where young fox spirits were already arguing about who had the prettiest lantern.
As soon as she sat, plates of food and cups of pear wine appeared. Someone placed a flower crown of plum blossoms on her head. One of the kits presented her with a paper lantern painted with a fox curled around a moon.
“Is this… normal?” Poppy whispered to Minghua.
“Absolutely not,” Minghua whispered back. “They love you.”
Then she shouted, “She’s glowing already!”
Poppy blinked. “I’m what?”
But it wasn’t Minghua’s imagination. A soft silver radiance shimmered along her skin, gentle and warm, like moonlight turned to breath.
The table fell quiet for half a second and then erupted into delighted gasps.
“She’s moon-touched!”
“Look how bright!”
“Kits, don’t touch, she might not like… Oh, never mind, she likes it, go ahead.”
“Look at her eyes!”
“The moon favors her.”
Kits rushed to her side, making excited chirps, touching her hands, patting her sleeves. Elders leaned forward with wonder. Yunlian clapped softly. Even Mingzhao smiled.
