Chapter Text
“Will you stop squirming? Do you need me to paralyze you with needles?”
Wei Wuxian lets out a huff as Jiang Cheng mercilessly tugs at the measuring tape wrapped around his waist.
“And where would you have gotten the needles from?”
“Not where. Who.” Jiang Cheng corrects him. “And you can think that out yourself, can’t you? Did you permanently lose your brain cells and never recover them from last time?”
“So harsh!” Wei Wuxian whines. “Did Qing-jie really give you needles? How come?”
“Why else? To force you to behave. She told me it was efficient.” He pauses. “She was right.”
“Shijie! Jiang Cheng is bullying me!” Wei Wuxian lets out a small yelp as Jiang Cheng pinches him in the arm.
“Don’t bother calling for her. She’s out at the marketplace with Wen Qing and Wen Ning.”
“Are we planning double weddings?” Wei Wuxian gasps.
“Of course not, you idiot! That’s not appropriate!”
“Young Master Wei.” A voice comes from the door. “You have several packages from Gusu.”
“Packages? Lan Zhan must have sent gifts!” Wei Wuxian reaches to touch the silver hairpin on his head.
“More gifts?” Jiang Cheng sighs in exasperation. “Where did Gusu get all that money from?”
“Well…” Wei Wuxian snickers. “Jin Guangshan’s personal treasury was distributed by Pea-, Sect leader Jin himself. He gave plenty of it to the Jiang sect as well. How else do you think the Lans were able to offer the bride price?”
“Oh right.” Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes. “Anyways, we’re done here. I’ll have someone bring out the measurements to the tailor.”
Wei Wuxian jumps up, eager to stop sitting around.
“Spar with me!”
“Why?” Jiang Cheng scowls at him. “Didn’t Wen Qing tell you to take it easy?”
“Not with Suibian.” Wei Wuxian sighs. His core had been growing at a steadier rate ever since he was told that Zidian’s energy is a literal part of his core now. It had taken only two weeks for his injuries to fully recover.
“If you want to use Suibian, I think you are ready.”
Wei Wuxian spins around so fast he nearly loses balance.
“Qing-jie! You mean it?” His voice trembles. “I’m really ready?”
“Yes.” Her voice is steady.
“I…” His eyes drift over to where Suibian is propped up against the wall. Something in hsi core stirs as if the sword’s spirit is calling for him.
“A-Xian…” His sister smiles at him with glistening eyes. Wei Wuxian swallows and exchanges a look with Jiang Cheng who has a myriad of emotions on his face.
“Let’s go outside for this.” He picks up Suibian, running his hands over the hilt.
“Did you want to invite Lan Wangji?
“Hmm. I should surprise him.” Wei Wuxian smiles. Besides, he wants this special moment to be with the family he grew up with. He knows that this meant as much to him as it meant to Jiang Cheng. Sneaking a glance at him, Wei Wuxian can see his brother hiding his face.
“Aw, Jiang Cheng.” Wei Wuxian reaches over to pull him close, his own eyes filling with tears.
“Shut up!” Jiang Cheng doesn’t push him away.
“I can’t wait to spar with you again. And knock you flat on your ass!”
“Oh, you just wait and see who’s going to get knocked on their ass. Now get off me!”
They break apart and Wei Wuxian reaches for the sword on his belt again. Even within the sheathe, he can feel its energy humming. In the past, if he had even been near the sword, it would hurt so much. He had been a little too confident after finding out about what happened with Zidian and had tried to unsheathe it a few days after he first regained consciousness, which had turned out to be a major mistake. The second Suibian moved out from its sheath by an inch, the pain that exploded in his lower dantian had taken him completely off guard. The next thing he knew, he was lying back on his bed where both Wen Qing and Jiang Cheng were yelling at him for being an idiot while Yanli had his hand clamped in his as she tried to soothe them. Lan Wangji had heard about the incident soon after and had been very upset.
“A-Xian?” Yanli’s voice snaps him out of his thoughts. “Whenever you’re ready.”
Wei Wuxian swallows, his fingers opening and closing over the hilt of the sword. He feels another hand on his and turns to meet Jiang Cheng’s eyes who nods at him. Wei Wuxian closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. There’s a loud shing as the blade of Suibian is finally released. The energy from the sword flows through him, warming his body all the way down to the tip of his toes. Even when he had first unsheathed Suibian in Mo Xuanyu’s body, it had not felt like this. Next to him, Zidian seems to hum softly on Jiang Cheng’s wrist, purple energy glowing faintly.
“A-Xian.” A soft voice calls to him and he opens his eyes again.
“Everyone…” Wei Wuxian trails off, unable to say any more as his eyes sting with happy tears. His sister comes close and gathers him in her arms. Wen Ning hesitates, but comes closer to them. Jiang Cheng and Wen Qing scoff, but join the circle.
“I can’t wait to spar with you again. Just like old times.” Jiang Cheng’s voice is quiet, but enough for Wei Wuxian to hear it.
“Me too.”
~
During the preparations, Wei Wuxian still hears gossip around about how Lan Wangji is a cutsleeve and would be marrying the head disciple of Yunmeng Jiang, a former demonic cultivator. Most of the people in Yunmeng had been accepting of it, having known Wei Wuxian for so many years. Others in Qinghe, Gusu and LanLing had not been as open-minded. The Nie disciples dared not talk bad about him whenever their sect leader or Huaisang was around, but Wei Wuxian has a feeling they still gossiped about it when his back had been turned. He didn’t mind it, knowing that people would definitely talk about a cutsleeve wedding. Eventually the news would die down, just like every piece of gossip in the cultivation world.
“Wei-xiong, you’re really going to love the gift I made for you!”
“Nie-xiong, don’t spoil it!”
“But I’m giving it to you now!” Huaisang shoves a wrapped package into his arms. “Take it, take it!”
“Just put it over here with the other gifts,” Wei Wuxian sighs. He leads his friend to the room where all of the gifts had been organized.
“Wah! Did Hanguang-jun really give you this many gifts?”
“Why are you surprised?
“I’m not! I’m just jealous! Even San-ge doesn’t give me these many gifts!”
“How can it be the same?” Wei Wuxian laughs. “These are wedding gifts.” He goes quiet and looks around before leaning towards his friend.
“Are you really okay with him now? Truly?”
“Wei-xiong.” Huiasang’s expression turns serious. “Why do you ask me this?”
“Your resentment towards Meng Yao was strong. I was unsure if you could let go of this grudge.”
“If that was true, I would have chosen to have him killed in the very beginning. But I believe in second chances. And you did a good job, Wei-xiong. In this life, the grudges between me and him do not exist. My brother is alive and well, even more so thanks to Lady Wen’s treatment of him. Our main problem is gone as well.”
Main problem. He means Jin Guangshan.
“Anyways, Wei-xiong. Did Jiang-xiong tell you when his own wedding would be?”
“Let’s think about one wedding at the time, Nie-xiong,” Wei Wuxian laughs.
“Right right. Now, let me apply makeup for you. You promised you’d let me!” Before Wei Wuxian can protest, he’s dragged back to his own room by his friend by surprising force.
~
The procession from Yunmeng to Gusu is a long journey, but still as glamorous as any other wedding procession. A-Yuan had tried to sit in the pavilion with Wei Wuxian and after a lot of crying and pouting, they decide to allow it since in traditional weddings, the child would often sit with the groom. Wei Wuxian runs his hands over the delicate silk of his red and gold embroidered wedding robes.
His siblings had both contributed in how the robes would be tailored and designed, making sure it was glamorous and unique, the same way he and Jiang Cheng did while helping their sister with her own wedding robes. Instead of the standard gold pattern, his robes had patterns of clouds and lotus flowers. He had also worn a golden hairpiece and the jade rabbit hairpin that Lan Zhan had gifted to him. He wears several other jewelry pieces that his siblings had given him, among them a lotus hairpin. Wen Qing and Wen Ning had scrapped together money from their family’s farming and apothecary business to buy him a pair of butterfly earrings. Even A-Yuan had contributed to his outfit by tucking a lotus flower behind his ears.
When they finally reach Gusu, Wei Wuxian is escorted to the inner courtyard while everyone else is led to a private guest quarters, much different than the one they had stayed in during their studies.
“Zewu-jun, Master Lan.” Wei Wuxian greets them. Lan Qiren gives a slight shake of his head.
“You should call me ‘Shufu’ now, shouldn’t you?”
Wei Wuxian looks at him with a surprised and uncertain look but eventually nods.
“Shufu.” It feels strange saying it to his former teacher. It’s even stranger coming from someone who had condemned his use of resentful energy and would have wanted to punish him. But once Lan Qiren had learned about his circumstances, Wei Wuxian had received unexpected support from not only him but many of the Lan elders as well. After all, they had played a role in accepting the marriage between him and Lan Wangji.
“You may call me ‘Xichen-ge’,” Lan Xichen tells him with a smile. “Get a good rest. Tomorrow is an important day. The hair combing ceremony will be conducted in the early morning.”
For once, Wei Wuxian goes to bed early that night. He doesn’t know if it was because of his excitement for the next day or just his general exhaustion from the journey to Gusu. As soon as he lays down on the bed, he falls asleep at once. It felt like only a minute had passed before he hears the knocking at the door. As he sits up, he sighs when he sees that it’s barely daybreak; he can still catch a glimpse of the moon behind a cloud in the sky. He allows the servants inside to help him to bathe and get dressed in his wedding robes. The bath water is infused with pomelo leaves, which is believed to ward off evil spirits. Soon after the Hair Combing Ceremony was finished, it’s finally time for the official ceremony. He’s led across the courtyard where Lan Wangji is waiting for him.
“Lan Zhan…”
“Wei Ying.”
“Are you ready?” Wei Wuxian swallows.
Why is he nervous? It’s not like this is the first time they’ve done this, yet…it felt so unfamiliar. Was it because everyone he loved was here?
“Mn.” Lan Wangji holds out his arm and Wei Wuxian takes it. Everyone is waiting for them in the main hall. A-Yuan waves excitedly from his grandmother’s arms, throwing out petals of lotus flowers over them as they pass by. His sister smiles at him with the sweetest smile, her husband at her side and MianMian on the other. Lan Qiren, Lan Xichen, and Jiang Cheng stand near the front, where a table with the tablets of Lan Wangji’s and Wei Wuxian’s parents sit before them. Glancing over at his brother, Wei Wuxian swears he can see the other’s eyes watering.
The ceremony begins with the three bows. Their first bow is to the heaven and earth. Their second bow is to their parents; together, they face their parents’ tablets and bow. Finally, the third bow is to one another.
After they perform their final bow, instead of lifting his head, Lan Wangji entwines his finger with his and pulls him in for a kiss under the veil Wei Wuxian leans into it, barely able to hear the noise coming from his brother and Lan Qiren. They would be going to the bridal chambers soon, but of course, Wei Wuxian knows his huband wouldn’t be able to wait.
Their walk to the bridal chamber is a little too fast-paced, but once Lan Wangji helps him to sits on the bed, he immediately unveils him.
“Ah, my husband is impatient, isn’t he?” Wei Wuxian smiles.
“Mn.”
“Are we drinking wine? Or will it be tea?” Wei Wuxian asks him as Lan Wangji brings over two cups filled with liquid.
“Only on a wedding will shufu make the exception. It is ceremonial wine,” Lan Wangji explains, holding out a cup to him.
“So the rules aren’t as rigid as they seem to be, huh?” Wei Wuxian laughs, taking the cup. Lan Wangji crosses arms with him and Wei Wuxian tilts the cup into his mouth. Wei Wuxian waits, watching Lan Wangji’s eye droop before he slumps forward against his chest.
“Aiya, Lan Zhan. It was such a small cup yet you are still like this.” Wei Wuxian keeps him there in his lap for a while, tracing a finger along his face, neck and hair. Then he finally lays him back down onto the bed. Wei Wuxian removes his jewelry pieces, leaving the bunny hairpin in here before laying down next to him.
He’s only closed his eyes for a while when he wakes up to something being tied around his wrists.
“Lan Zhan?” Wei Wuxian sits up, blinking awy sleep and looks down at his wrist to see his husband’s head ribbon!
“Lan Zhan, you’re giving me your ribbon again?” Wei Wuxian holds it up and Lan Wangji blinks at him with half-closed eyes before nodding.
“It is tradition to tie knots on one another. To signify a united a heart.”
“In that case…” Wei Wuxian removes his red ribbon from his hair and takes hold of his husband’s wrist. “I should do it too, shouldn’t I?”
“Wei Ying.” Lan Wangji’s face and ears turn pink as Wei Wuxian finishes the knot. “Wei Ying, you have your own ribbon as well.”
Wei Wuxian freezes and Lan Wangji produces a box from under the pillow.
“I requested one. Shufu allowed it.”
“But..” Wei Wuxian begins. Lan Wangji doesn’t let him finish as he uncovers the box and takes the ribbon out. Wei Wuxian notices that the ribbon is embroidered with lotuses as well as clouds and the color of the ribbon is a more purple-ish blue color than the normal pale blue.
“Turn around.”
Wei Wuxian turns and allows his husband to tie the ribbon around his forehead. Then finally, Lan Wangji flips him onto his back in one smooth motion and leans in. Wei Wuxian closes his eyes as their lips collide, sinking into each other. He leans further into the kiss as his husband runs his hands down his waist. He smiles softly in content.
“Lan Zhan, I love you.”
“Love Wei Ying too.”
And the night continues.
Nine months later…
The dinner banquet that night for Jin Ling’s one month celebration only had close family members and friends. Yanli and Jin Zixuan had decided to have their own celebration first before having a bigger celebration with the other four clans.
“Jiang Cheng! Let me hold him, it’s my turn!” Wei Wuxian reaches over for the infant in his brother’s arms but Jiang Cheng casually steps to one side.
“Boys, let’s not argue okay? Who’s going to be responsible if A-Ling starts crying? He’s not going anywhere. You will have your turn if you are patient.”
Jiang Cheng passes over Jin Ling eventually and Wei Wuxian holds him carefully while his husband watches from his side, a soft expression on his face.
“Lan Zhan, we should have more,” Wei Wuxian mutters under his breath. “Let Jiang Cheng have a few more nephews or nieces and have them keep him company in Lotus Pier.”
“Have more? You mean adopt?” Jiang Cheng glances over him and Wei Wuxian looks at him with a toothy grin.
“Birth more like I did with A-Yuan of course!”
“ Wei Wuxian! ”
“A-Ling will have more cousins too!”
“Being married didn’t make you any more mature, did it?” Wen Qing snorts.
“It made you more harsh,” Wei Wuxian whines in response, but shifts his gaze away as Wen Qing’s glare sharpens.
“Well..having Jiang-xiong as a husband would do that, wouldn’t it?” Huaisang laughs. “No offense to Madam Wen, of course.”
“Nie Huaisang, you be quiet!” Jiang Cheng practically growls at him. Jiang Cheng and Wen Qing had only been married a month ago, but Wei Wuxian had felt a shift in Lotus Pier after Wen Qing became lady of Lotus Pier. Although, it had given him sense of almost deja-vu, it had not been a bad change. Wen Qing always made sure the disciples were never too exhausted by Jiang Cheng’s strict training, ordering them to take water breaks and forcing the training to end early on days that were too hot. Jiang Cheng had not protested.
“A-Yuan’s turn!” Wei Wuxian feels a tug at his robes, distracting him from their bickering.
“Okay, A-Yuan can hold him.” Yanli smiles. She crouches down and carefully passes the baby into the other child’s arm. “Hold him near the head, okay?”
“Mn!”
Jin Ling coos loudly as he’s held in A-Yuan’s arms, his eyes wide and curious.
“No, but I’m serious,” Wei Wuxian continues. “Why don’t we adopt more, Lan Zhan?”
“We have some orphans from Meishan Yu here too,” Jiang Cheng says, clearing his throat. “They’re children of distant relatives. Wen Qing and I…” He glances over at his wife. “We were thinking about it as well.”
“You’re going to adopt, Jiejie?” Wen Ning asks with a surprised expression on his face.
“We have orphans from Qishan too, A-Ning. Either way…it will extend our family,” Wen Qing says with a smile. “And the Wens…we will restore the reputation of our surname and the Jiangs, our clan will grow stronger than ever with the alliances we’ve made.”
“To family.” Jiang Cheng’s voice rings out over the room. Everyone stands with their cup. There are so many faces Wei Wuxian didn’t think he would see at the banquet hall: some are new faces, others are faces of those he thought he’d lost forever, and then others he’d cherished for many many years.
“To family,” Wei Wuxian echoes with a beaming smile. He looks over at Jiang Cheng who gives him a small smile back, his face full of unspoken emotions.
We did it. Everything will be okay now.
The end
Bonus scenes down below :)))
Five years later…
Wei Wuxian holds true to his promise of adopting more children; war orphans from all four regions. Either way, they all adopted the surname ‘Wei’ after the adoptions became official. Little Wei Zhu, Wei Qi, and Wei Xiang only extend Jiang Cheng’s family further. Unfortunately for Jiang Cheng, that also means the chances of getting tackled by one of his adopted nephews or nieces are higher.
“Lan Sizhui, Jin Rulan,” Jiang Cheng speaks as sternly as possible. “I know you’re there.”
“But Uncle, we’re just trying to have fun!” Jin Ling whines as he comes out from behind his hiding space. Sizhui follows close behind, his head ducked.
“You're supposed to be training.” Jiang Cheng shakes his head at him. “A-Yuan, as the older one here, please set a good example.”
“Of course, Uncle.” Sizhui bows politely, but Jiang Cheng doesn’t miss the mischievous glint in his eyes. “Jin Ling, let’s go train for a while longer! Then we can join Zizhen and Jingyi on the lake!”
“Okay!”
“Let’s have a competition then?”
“Yeah!” Jin Ling’s eyes light up with excitement and he runs ahead. “I’ll get there first!”
“Hey, not fair!” Sizhui rushes after him.
“Look at the two of them. Don’t they remind you of us?” Wei Wuxian appears at his side, resting his elbows on Jiang Cheng’s shoulders.
“You’re not comparing yourself to Sizhui, are you? He’s polite and well-mannered.”
“Hey! My manners have gotten better since I started living in Gusu!” Wei Wuxian protests.
“Yet your cooking skills haven’t changed one bit despite being subjected to Gusu’s bland food.”
“You really think Lan Zhan will let me eat bland food?” Wei Wuxian sticks his tongue out.
“Whatever. Where are the other kids?”
“They’re with Wen Ning on the lake picking lotus pods. What about A-Yan? Is she with Qing-jie again?”
“She always is. She always insists on being with A-Qing and never wants to train with a sword.” Jiang Cheng huffs. “But inheriting Wen Qing’s medical skills will be a valuable asset to the clan as well.”
“What about LiFeng? Doesn’t she love training with you?”
LiFeng and LiPing were both from Meishan Yu, the children of Jiang Cheng’s mother’s distant cousin that had been orphaned after the war.
“She’s feisty and stubborn.” Jiang Cheng replies. “But she works hard, just like her brother. She’s already been trained with Meishan Yu sword forms so adapting to our clan’s hasn’t been difficult.”
“That’s because she has a good mentor.” Wei Wuxian elbows him softly. “Now, are we going to stand around and chat or are we going to spar?”
Jiang Cheng smirks at him as he unsheathes Sandu, waiting for Wei Wuxian to unsheathe Suibian first before engaging into the fight.
Over the sound of clashing blades, there’s the sound of laughter of children, the soft melody of a guqin, and the croaking of frogs. The sounds of home.