Chapter Text
Lan Zhan stood in front of his uncle feeling lost and confused. He wasn’t familiar with such feelings and trying to understand them was just making him more upset and unstable. He wasn’t someone who failed to control urges and indulge in emotional outbursts. So now that the moment had come to a pause, he felt ashamed. He’d put his hands on this boy and all but dragged him in disgrace through the serene walkways of his home. He’d broken so many rules with his behaviour, that he didn’t even know where to start assigning himself punishment. As he stood in silence his mind began to list his crimes.
Do not raise your voice unnecessarily.
Do not put your hands on another in unprovoked anger.
Do not accuse others without just cause.
Do not look upon others with impure thoughts…
Lan Zhan stopped himself. He didn’t know why he had suddenly recalled that one and began avoiding looking the boy in the eye.
But that was his ribbon. His mother had designed that pattern for him . It was his childhood ribbon . How was it now in the dirt covered hands of this boy from Yunmeng? A dirty grubby hand with ink under the nails, a day-old cut on a finger, and dust from the road in the creases of his palm. Lan Zhan turned his head away in disgust, unsure where to direct it. Should he turn it on himself for being distracted, or at the boy for having annoying hands?
“Good afternoon Young Master Wei,” Lan Qiren said, getting to his feet and bowing.
Lan Qiren wondered whether he was to be continually cursed in life? It certainly felt that way, where he’d been handed two young boys and then the fates had also begun to throw challenge after challenge his way. This business with Wangji however, was by far the worst he’d encountered.
Wei Ying stared in stunned silence before remembering that he needed to respond. He returned the greeting and then stood waiting for someone to explain what was happening. He knew full well who he was standing before and couldn’t believe that he’d needed to meet Grandmaster Lan Qiren in such an awful way. He hadn’t even done anything to warrant it.
Not only that, but he could feel Lan Wangji’s eyes on him, and the gaze wasn’t particularly friendly. He wasn’t sure what he’d done to deserve such a hostile welcome, but apparently it was something terrible.
His only mistake was to leave the invitation behind, and anyone could’ve done that. It was an honest error. Then he’d just so happened to have that ribbon in his sleeve, the one that he’d always had, and no one could explain why. He had it on him today because he took it everywhere he went. And when Jiang Cheng asked why he kept taking it everywhere, it was just another frustration. Because Wei Ying wasn’t particularly sure, and like everybody else, he didn't actually have an answer.
However, apparently this ribbon was a particular trigger for this young man before him, and now he wished he’d never waved it around in the first place. Especially since this boy next to him was particularly scary looking, and really really obviously didn’t like him at all.
“I’m sorry I didn’t know the ribbon would upset you. But it matched your robes and I thought you might let us in if you saw it. But it’s mine and I wish I hadn’t shown it to you,” Wei Ying said, wrapping it more firmly in his hand. “If I’d known you were going to react like this, I’d rather have walked back and searched for the invitation!”
Lan Zhan felt himself bristle. The boy wasn’t even going to apologise for the obvious theft?
“It isn’t your ribbon. It is my ribbon. And you shouldn’t have it,” Lan Zhan said. He inwardly cringed at his emotional response to the boy. He sounded petulant to his own ears, and nothing like himself at all. He saw his uncle look at him with a confused expression on his face, as if he were surprised by his words also.
Wei Ying took a step back and Lan Qiren quickly called their attention back to himself.
“Wangji, this is not how we treat guests in the Cloud Recesses. Especially not a guest who has your ribbon,” he said, with absolutely no explanation to his cryptic wording.
Wei Ying looked at Lan Wangji, and frowned. Maybe the nephew was used to this sort of nonsense talk, but it was making no sense to him.
“I apologise,” Lan Zhan said, forcing himself to be calm. If his uncle was not shocked at the ribbon, then there must be an explanation to this, which meant he had sorely overreacted and upset everyone.
Lan Qiren took another deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. He had no idea how to start explaining things, and regretted instantly that he had not done more to dissolve this situation when it had first begun. Although that was a pointless wish, as he and Jiang Fengmian had spent years looking for answers, and whenever they tried to seek a solution to the issue, a reminder had arrived to prevent them continuing.
Trees would start to grow in strange places, which failed to be removed. Trees now grew in the middle of homes, walkways, rivers, in odd shapes and at odd angles. They would flower with pink and white blossoms in the summer, which appeared attractive, but Lan Qiren was sure these were actually threats. For extra alarm, the trees would sing in the wind, with words only Lan Qiren or Jiang Fengmian could hear. Promises cannot be broken. Vows cannot be set aside. You are not more powerful than fate. Deny us and we will seek revenge. It was so incessant, the growing of trees and the singing that eventually Lan Qiren realised he couldn’t fight what was coming. His nephew was married, and unless he wanted to destroy the Cloud Recesses with trees and suspicious blossoms, he had to accept it.
He’d kept a close eye on the Jiang disciple over the years. Jiang Fengmian had kept him updated with reports of the young man’s progress, which was by all scales of comparison, very impressive. So while this wasn’t a path he’d wanted Lan Wangji to take, it was not the worst match in the world. Many men had taken a male cultivation partner throughout history. His nephew would not be the first. It was not considered the correct way of things, but if it were a man’s choice, then these unions tended to produce extremely powerful cultivators.
Lan Wangji was a dedicated student, and maybe this unconventional life would suit him? Lan Qiren had no idea. He had led a single life, through choice and by circumstance, so his knowledge was limited.
“Wei Wuxian, I will ask for your understanding and patience during this interesting time,” Lan Qiren said. But it seemed in the pause, the Yunmeng boy had wound himself up into a state of anxiety.
“It’s only studying! I think I can manage to study without it being a big performance. I don’t understand why he is getting so upset over nothing? I just arrived and I haven’t done anything!” Wei Ying exclaimed. He refused to be punished over nothing. When he was wrong he always took the consequences without protest, but this was unfair and he refused.
“You will hand that ribbon over to me now,” Lan Wangji suddenly demanded. It seemed it wasn’t only Wei Wuxian who had been silently seething.
“I will not,” Wei Ying replied sharply. No way was he giving his ribbon over to this miserable boy.
“You will. It is mine,” Lan Zhan told him.
“I will not!”
“Boys please be calm,” Lan Qiren cut across their arguing. “We shall discuss all things this evening. Wangji, I will ask you brother to accompany us, and Wei Wuxian, I shall ask that your sister stand by you. This was not the meeting that I had envisioned for you both,” Lan Qiren said.
He hoped that both boys had finished with all this emotional turmoil now, because if it continued any further it would definitely no longer be proportionate to the circumstance.
Lan Zhan immediately bowed, but inside he had absolutely no idea what his uncle was talking about. Why did this boy have his ribbon, and why was his uncle not upset about that? Clearly, this Jiang boy was a thief. He’d stolen something so intimate and he refused to give it back! And the absolute audacity that it happened to be Lan Zhan’s own forehead ribbon. Did he not understand what that meant? Was nobody outraged but him? Was it now perfectly acceptable for strangers to walk into the Cloud Recesses and declare to everybody that they were special enough to touch another’s ribbon? The shame.
“I do not know this boy, and I have not given him my ribbon,” Lan Zhan said. His voice was suddenly cold and Wei Ying scowled.
“Okay, I’ve never met you before either,” Wei Ying retorted, feeling irritated by the harsh declaration. “I don’t even know who you are.” Of course he did know, he just felt like giving back as good as he got.
“This is my youngest nephew Lan Wangji,” Lan Qiren said calmly. “Wangji, you will know already that this is Wei Wuxian, the head disciple of the Jiang sect. I assure you both that I will explain what has happened later this evening, but you two have in fact met one another before. Until now I did not know how much you both would remember… Now I know how to proceed.”
Clearly, the boys did not recognise each other and had no memory of what had occurred in the past. His nephew obviously had no idea why this boy would be holding his ribbon, and if that was the case, then the rest of the day would likely be extremely shocking for everybody involved. Clearly the Jiang disciple also had no idea what the ribbon meant, and what waving around it might entail. Lan Qiren would be working from a basis of zero understanding.
Few members of the Lan clan were privy to the secret that the young Jade was in fact already married, depending on how seriously you took the threat from the magical trees. Lan Qiren was not about to test the patience of such powerful yao anymore. He had no doubt that there would be serious consequences if he interfered. There were already so many blossom trees everywhere, no doubt poised to attack if they didn’t get their way. The pollen from the blossom was very sweet, but it was likely to turn very poisonous too.
The boy’s union would have to be acknowledged by all and respected as true. Forces beyond him and his control had chosen these two as a pairing. He had to trust that fate would not choose two persons who could not stand the sight of each other, and who would lead a life of misery. The trees had stated that they needed a loving couple to provide them with power and continue their cultivation. Surely in that case, they would have not chosen wrongly. Lan Qiren had to put his faith in the fact that this had already occurred and there was nothing he could do about it. All that remained was convincing these two young persons that they might actually find some happiness in each other if they were to accept the road that fate had laid before them.
It was unbelievable even to his own sensibilities, and he could hardly believe he was taking such steps now to ensure a successful relationship.
But he had the sense that Wei Wuxian was likely to be more open to this suggestion than his nephew. Lan Qiren had never broached the subject of cultivation partners before, and had never dared to pry into Lan Wangji’s heart. His younger nephew was a closed book when it came to these sorts of matters, and had never shown an interest in anything pertaining to the opposite sex, or as it was apparently the case, the same sex. Even his brother had at times, made remarks about his future, and when his wedding might be. He’d been interested in who he may one day marry. But from Lan Wangji, there had only been silence.
So, one was likely to be easily persuaded, and the other was likely to be extremely resistant. Lan Qiren hoped he could hand this challenge over to fate also and stay out of it.
“Wangji, you will take young master Wei to the Jingshi, where he will unpack his belongings and he will stay for the remainder of this summer. You will not question this, you will do it,” Lan Qiren said, standing with his hands behind his back, and avoiding Wangji’s eye. He might as well give fate a helping hand, it wasn't like things could get any worse. Besides, where else should Wangji’s husband stay?
“Uncle!”
“You will not question this. You will do as I have asked you,” he repeated.
Lan Wangji said nothing more, but bowed repentantly, then straightened and looked at Wei Ying. His eyes narrowed with suspicion.
“Wei Wuxian will follow,” Lan Qiren added. “You will not question this. You will do as I say.”
Wei Ying nodded, bowed, but continued to wear the same bemused expression he’d had the entire time. He however, did not look angry about this, which Lan Qiren considered as something positive. The same couldn’t be said about Wangji.
***
“Do not touch anything,” Lan Zhan said as they arrived at the Jingshi.
Wei Ying looked around. The room was objectively beautiful, if not a bit plain, but everything inside was well chosen, well decorated and calming. In response to the beautifully clean and tidy room, Wei Ying dropped his bags on the floor, immediately making a mess, and stood in silence.
“I won’t touch your things if you don’t want me to touch your things,” he said. “But can’t you stop looking at me as if it’s all my fault? I didn’t ask to come stay with you.”
“It is your fault.” Lan Zhan told him. If it wasn’t Wei Wuxian’s fault, then whose was it? It certainly wasn't his.
“I haven’t done anything! I just arrived here and you attacked me. You forced me to go and see your uncle, and now I’m in your bedroom. It is not my fault.”
Lan Zhan watched in alarm as Wei Ying suddenly picked up one of his bags and made to walk to his bedroom.
“You’re not sleeping with me!” he said in a panic. What was this boy thinking? That they would get into bed together later? Was he insane?
“So where am I supposed to sleep? On the floor?” Wei Ying asked, looking hurt.
“You can sleep over there,” Lan Zhan said, pointing to a cold bit of floor near the door. It was a bit cruel of him, and it would be the very worst place to put a bed, but he felt like being cruel to this boy.
“That is not very kind of you,” Wei Ying said, looking outraged. “I thought the Lans were supposed to be wonderful hosts. So far you've all been either insane or rough.”
“I am not sharing with you,” Lan Zhan said. He felt as if he really had gone insane, just like the boy said he was. He must be, because none of this was making sense.
“Oh, let me guess,” Wei Ying said, rolling his eyes and folding his arms. His bag dropped to the floor once again. “Sharing is forbidden? If you came to Lotus Pier and had to stay with me, I would let you share.”
“Yes, it is forbidden, except with one’s own brother or one’s own spouse,” Lan Zhan said, this time with a little more grace. The boy didn't know the Lan precepts, so Wangji shouldn’t be so harsh.
“Well, in that case, then, I guess it’s forbidden,” Wei Ying said sadly.
Lan Zhan stood feeling uneasy. When he’d been angry it had been easy to look at Wei Wuxian, but now that his anger was ebbing away, he was finding it hard to hold the boy’s gaze. Wei Wuxian’s eyes were so bright and full of joy, and even though he hadn’t been treated well so far, he looked so happy to be here. It was infuriating.
“Why do you look like that?” Lan Zhan asked. It was such a sudden question that even Lan Zhan seemed surprised.
“Look like what?”
Lan Zhan seemed to realise that what he just asked was extremely rude, and there was a slight flush across his cheeks and up his ears. He said nothing more, and began getting out the items he would need to serve tea. He couldn’t answer, ‘look so pretty’ so he said nothing.
It was a bizarre series of actions from this Lan boy. Wei Ying watched him work in silence. Lan Wangji had accused him aggressively, dragged him across the compound to throw him in front of his uncle, then dragged him back to his bedroom. Now he was asking weird questions and apparently all of that was a prelude to serving tea. Lan Wangji was odd, but he was also pretty and fascinating. Wei Ying liked odd people, they made him feel a little more included in the world, when often all that he was, was frowned upon. Although so far he’d yet to gain a smile or anything friendly from this boy, so it might be a long time before Wei Ying was welcomed here.
Lan Zhan felt Wei Wuxian’s eyes on him, watching everything that he did with a puzzled expression. He felt extremely ashamed of himself for his overreaction to everything, but he was still very confused and angry. He hadn’t meant to ask the boy so rudely why he had this appearance. But at the same time, he didn’t even believe this boy could be real. Who was this boy, and why upon seeing him had Lan Zhan reacted in such a strange and outrageous way? His whole being felt as if it were being pulled towards Wei Wuxian, and his heart was racing. His mind was swirling in circles of absolute nonsense and making him flush. It was unfair to force him to stay near this boy, because Wei Wuxian was without any doubt the most beautiful person he had ever seen in his whole life. It was hard not to look at him and even harder to look at him. Every time their eyes had met so far, his heart had done a little flip. His stomach felt a little bit unsteady and his legs a little bit weak. At first he thought he was just angry, then confused, and now he didn't know what he was.
Had this boy put some sort of spell upon him? Why was his uncle so relaxed about this? Did he know? Did he know what Wei Wuxian was? Had he been brought here especially to torment him? But that question in itself was weird, what could Wei Wuxian be brought here for? What was Lan Zhan lacking that Wei Wuxian could give him? Lan Zhan was the best of students and the most dutiful nephew. What had he failed in that he should be punished with this creature? A creature that kept staring at him and made him feel all weird inside? Because Wei Wuxian was without a doubt the most beautiful person he’d ever seen, and the more Lan Zhan stood near him the more flustered he became.
How was he supposed to share a space with him? Share a bed too? It was outrageous. Lan Zhan knew he would have to tell his uncle of his feelings and Wei Ying would have to be moved elsewhere.
***
Despite his promise not to touch anything, after Wei Wuxian had drunk his tea, he began to play with the cup, tapping it against the table. Lan Zhan watched him, feeling himself growing agitated again. He watched Wei Wuxian’s slender fingers pluck at the cushion he sat on and swallowed hard. Lan Zhan worried at the inside of his mouth the more the threads of the cushion were pulled, he watched it fray a litte. Finally he could take it no more and put down his own cup, ready to reprimand him. But before he could speak, Wei Wuxian stood.
Wei Ying looked around the room, and walked around to inspect everything Lan Zhan kept there. He tried not to touch anything, but there were some things that were just so tempting that he couldn’t stop himself.
Lan Zhan jumped to his feet to make the boy stop, but then his feet couldn’t move, and his mouth couldn’t work. His hands felt itchy, like he wanted to touch something too, and it wasn’t the objects in his room that he wanted to touch. Afraid of his sudden desire that made no sense to him, Lan Zhan put his hands behind his back and remained silent. But his fingers didn’t stay still, and they scratched against each other impatiently.
“You have so many beautiful things,” Wei Ying said.
“Thank you.”
“Did you choose them, or were they given to you?” Wei Ying asked.
The particular items Wei Wuxian happened to be admiring were easily explained. “Those belonged to my mother,” Lan Zhan said.
“I know the story of your mother, or at least, I know that she’s no longer here. I don’t have any parents either,” Wei Ying said. He shared that information far too casually to fool Lan Zhan. It was likely a defence of some kind, to speak about it before someone else commented on it. Lan Zhan knew all about being defensive. He had been called spoiled and undeserving, all because of his rank in life. Because of his blessings, many felt free to comment upon his life. Wei Wuxian maybe shared everything about himself too freely, whereas Lan Zhan was aware he shared nothing.
“It was a long time ago,” Lan Zhan said, eager to move on.
“Yeah me too. Doesn’t mean we can’t still feel sorry for each other,” Wei Ying said, offhandedly. He looked back at Lan Wangji, who appeared confused for a moment.
“Feeling sorry for oneself is forbidden,” Lan Zhan said at last.
Wei Ying laughed. Short and disbelieving.
“Oh, I see, no feelings allowed! Right, got it,” he told the stony faced boy.
“That is not one of the rules,” Lan Zhan replied.
Wei Ying turned away and muttered to himself, “Well, it might as well be. Considering nothing is allowed here.” He felt Lan Wangji looking his way, and maybe he’d heard, but Wei Ying didn’t want to start an argument.
***
Wei Ying tried to make himself as inconspicuous as possible, sitting as still as he possibly could, and trying to read. All the while he felt the annoyance from the other boy pouring off him like a wave. Lan Wangji could sit extraordinarily still, to the point that sometimes Wei Ying would look at him and wonder if he were still alive. Lan Wangji didn’t make any noise either. Even when he turned a page of his book, it was silent. In comparison, Wei Ying felt as if he was the loudest person in the whole world, and everything he did made the other boy annoyed.
Eventually, when it seemed that neither could ignore the other for much longer and the tension had built to an uncomfortable level, there was a knock at the door. Wei Ying sighed in relief.
*
Lan Wangji gracefully stood to answer it, and a young man that looked remarkably like the Second Jade and Wei Ying’s shijie were on the other side.
“Good afternoon Didi, good afternoon Young Master Wei. Uncle would like you both to come with us. There are many things that need to be discussed,” Lan Wangji’s twin said. Wei Ying supposed this to be the elder brother, The First Jade. He was serene and smiled at them both, and overall seemed a lot more friendly than the younger.
Jiang Yanli looked past Lan Wangji to where Wei Ying was standing, and gave him a small and reassuring smile. Immediately Wei Ying felt better and less anxious. If Jiang Yanli said things were okay, then things were indeed okay.
“Do you know why we are being summoned?” Lan Zhan asked.
“Yes I do didi, uncle has just informed me. I am sorry to say that uncle has not done a very good job to prepare you for this knowledge. But I wonder when you do know, in a moment, if things might make a little more sense for you? For you both perhaps?”
So his brother wasn’t about to explain anything, but he wasn’t distressed or angry, so Lan Zhan considered that whatever the explanation, it would indeed make sense. But, the walk back to his uncle's home felt extremely long and all the while people looked at them. Lan Zhan could feel the questioning in every eye. He knew what people were thinking. The story of him dragging Wei Wuxian through the Cloud Recesses was likely to be already well known by now. Speculation and gossiping was forbidden, but it did not mean that it did not continue to take place.
Wei Ying followed behind Lan Wangji, all the while looking at his tall figure, his long stride, straight back and perfectly silky black hair. He looked without thinking, just listing in his mind what caught his eye. Lan Wangji’s robes were pristine and beautiful, and they moved in soft sways around his legs as he walked. Wei Ying wondered why he’d been given the privilege of staying with the Second Jade. Yes, he was the Jiang’s first disciple, but being a first disciple here at the guest lectures was not something unusual. He was here amongst other first disciples and sect heirs and many, if not all, outranked him in family status. If anything, his position in the world was fairly low, compared to the company he was keeping.
As they walked, a weird and aching feeling overcame him, that he ought to take the Second Jade’s hand. That holding hands would make him feel better, and there might be comfort there, and in some way, that comfort belonged to him. It was such an overpowering feeling that Wei Ying was forced to place his hands in the sleeves of his robes and walk in a strange fashion, with his hands folded across his chest. Lan Zhan looked back at him, looked at his hands and his posture and said nothing. Wei Ying wanted to tell him that this wasn’t intentional. He didn’t mean to be rude. He was just having trouble keeping his hands to himself.
Besides, what could the Second Jade say? His own hands kept making their way behind his back, one, then the other. His fingers would twitch, his hands would shake, and although the rest of him was perfectly poised, his hands couldn’t stay still. Wei Ying watched his hands with great interest, and his own twitched in response. Eventually he couldn’t keep it controlled any longer. He doubled his step beside Lan Wangji and tentatively touched the boy’s nervous fingers. Lan Wangji flinched as if someone had poured boiling water over his hands and retracted them back. As if Wei Ying was covered in something disgusting, and looked at him with such outrage that Wei Ying felt like laughing.
Wei Ying purposely knocked against his hand again and said, “You looked nervous.”
“Ridiculous,” Lan Wangji replied.
“How is it ridiculous? Are you not allowed to feel nervous? Is that one of the rules as well?”
Lan Wangji scowled. “Don’t be…”
“Ridiculous?” Wei Ying finished with a grin.
Then stoked by the flames of his own mischievousness, grabbed hold of the other boy's hand and held it tightly. The outraged expression on Lan Wangji’s face caused Wei Ying smile even harder, which in turn made Lan Wangji even angrier, and the two paused in the middle of the path. In front of them, the two chaperones looked back, observing the scene of one boy grabbing hold and the other desperately trying to get away.
“What are you doing?” Lan Zhan demanded to know.
“I’m just holding your hand.”
“Please stop,” Lan Zhan said, still failing to get free. Then giving up and hoping the lack of reaction would make Wei Wuxian let go.
“Why?”
“It is inappropriate,” Lan Zhan said. He could hardly believe he was having to point this out.
“Didi?” His brother asked with a slight smirk on his face. He then very clearly wiped his expression clean when Lan Wangji met his eye. “Forgive me I shouldn’t be smiling. Especially as I am in possession of knowledge that you both don’t yet have. But your playing here makes me feel a little better.”
“We are not playing,” Lan Zhan replied sternly.
“Oh that’s wonderful!” Lan Xichen said,
completely misunderstanding and smiling once again. “Have you already come to an accord? That was very fast! I’m surprised. But I suppose that’s how these things work? Uncle thought there would be more resistance and perhaps a period of adjustment, but I’m very happy to know that’s not the case.”
Wei Ying looked at Lan Xichen and wondered if all the Lans were mad. But then to his surprise, his shijie joined in.
“I am also very pleased A-Xian,” Jiang Yanli said smiling. Her expression was genuinely happy, and for a moment Wei Ying immediately felt placated. Whatever he’d done, it had made his shijie happy. But he still had absolutely no clue what they were talking about.
To Lan Zhan however, Wei Wuxian’s grip was vice-like and not a cause for celebration. Clearly, nobody was going to say anything and obviously everybody had lost their mind. At this point, Lan Zhan considered that maybe he was the one that had gone crazy. If everybody was in on this joke, then maybe he was the one that was behaving unreasonably? Was he supposed to hold this boy's hand? Was he supposed to be happy about this?
But as Wei Wuxian’s touch on his skin seemed to inflame him with further agitation and comfort in turn, a little voice spoke into his mind. The voice of Lan Zhan’s deep dark self surfaced and said yes, holding this boy's hand was actually quite nice. And so he didn’t pull his hand away, but continued to walk with Wei Wuxian, feeling the gaze of spectators remain upon them all.
***
His uncle's eyes widened as they walked through the door hand-in-hand. Lan Zhan could feel Wei Wuxian hesitate slightly, the grip faltered and in response Lan Zhan tightened his.
“Things have progressed in the last few hours,” Lan Qiren observed. “Much quicker than I anticipated.”
He touched his beard in thought.
“Isn’t it lovely?” Jiang Yanli said suddenly. “I was so worried when you told me. I thought this can’t be true, this can’t be right! But I have been convinced.”
Lan Zhan snatched his hand back, suddenly self conscious, and gave Wei Wuxian such a scathing look that Wei Ying immediately felt like he’d shrunk down to the floorboards.
Ignoring the disappointment, Wei Ying joined the others in bowing towards Lan Qiren and took a seat at the table. It was filled with tea and snacks, which were welcome to Wei Ying’s eyes, as he realised he was very hungry.
“Young master Wei, I owe you an apology for the shocked reaction of my nephew. I did not explain things to Wangji either, and that was my error. The intention was to never allow this to happen, but there was no way to break the vows. Therefore, although it has been years, I declined to prepare appropriately,” Lan Qiren said. “You both ought to have met again before this day, and I now see my mistake.”
A blossom tree in the corner of the room made a little shake, and some of the white petals fell to the ground.
“Uncle, you are being too hard on yourself, for a situation that was not your fault,” Lan Xichen said.
“Xichen, thank you. But I will accept my faults,” Lan Qiren said before closing his eyes and hoping his next words did not cause disaster. “It falls to me to inform you both that you are married.”
Wei Ying immediately laughed, but quickly stopped when he realised he was the only one.
“What sort of place is this?” He asked. “Nice joke.”
“It isn’t funny,” Lan Zhan told him, looking at him sternly.
“Sure it is,” Wei Ying argued. “Who would want to marry you ? You’ve scared me to my very bones, with all your rules and your miserable face. But your uncle has great humour, I’ll allow you Lans that!”
“This is not a joke, Young Master Wei,” Lan Xichen said.
“What?”
“A-Xian, please listen,” Jiang Yanli said. “I know this sounds untrue, but this isn’t a lie. I saw a letter from father confirming it. Please listen.”
Wei Ying looked at her with despair. “I’m not married! And if I were, I wouldn’t pick him.”
“A-Xian! Be kind. Second Young Master Lan is a fine match and you should be happy to have such a wonderful husband.”
Wei Ying blinked at her hard. Had they all gone crazy?
“Why are you all in on this scam? I don’t want to be here anymore. I don’t care about the lectures, I just want to go home.”
“Good,” Lan Zhan said.
“Didi!” Lan Xichen said, outraged. “Listen to our uncle.”
“Please, everyone calm,” Lan Qiren said.
Wei Ying did as he was told and stayed quiet.
“Some six years ago, myself and Jiang Fengmian were on a night hunt with our juniors,” Lan Qiren said. “We were suddenly attacked by Yao. It was because of you boys that we all survived and were able to return home.”
Wei Ying frowned. He didn’t remember this.
“It was romance Yao. They bound you both together as a fated pair and you made your wedding bows,” Lan Qiren added after a deep breath. “I promise I have done all I could to try and break your marriage, but I fear there is no way out of the promises you two made to each other that day. So, now that you have met as young men, you must begin your lives together. Starting from today.”
“Uncle, no….” Lan Wangji said.
But it was Wei Ying who cut him off. “ You don’t get to say no. You’re the one who was all grabby and demanding I do this and that. I should be the one who gets to say no!”
Everyone was silent for a while, as everything sank in and reality settled.
“Is there really no attraction here?” Lan Xichen asked with mild interest. “You are both young and well matched. Young Master Wei is considered a handsome young man… Wangji you have no interest in females…”
Lan Zhan looked at his brother with the most betrayed expression, but as he opened his no mouth to refute it, he found different words came out instead. The truth came out against his will.
“There is,” Lan Zhan confessed. “Now it makes sense.”
“There is?” Wei Yung spluttered.
“There isn’t?” Lan Zhan asked, genuinely curious. If he was feeling it, surely Wei Wuxian must also be affected? His heart was racing from the confession and he didn’t know what had caused him to do it.
“Look I think you’re cute but I don’t want to be married… ” Wei Ying found himself saying. “But sure, I guess.”
Sense suddenly returned to Lan Zhan and he stopped staring at Wei Wuxian.
“This is a spell, we can break it,” he said.
“Right…” Wei Ying agreed. Although if Lan Qiren couldn’t break it in six years, Wei Ying didn’t really fancy their chances. Besides, this was a marriage, apparently, so how did one break that?
However for Lan Zhan, he felt immediately at ease. He wasn’t losing his mind, he was being controlled by a force bigger than himself! All he needed to do was find the Yao and eliminate it. Everything would be fixed and he could have his ribbon back.
***
But Lan Zhan couldn’t break the spell today, and in the middle of the night when something warm and soft touched his leg, and a hand felt for his shoulder, before resting against him, he bolted out of the bed
“Wei Wuxian!” He shouted.
Wei Ying started and sat up half asleep.
“What’s the matter? Is it time to get up? I’m tired,” the Jiang disciple mumbled.
“You were touching me.”
“Be quiet, stop shouting,” Wei Wuxian told him dreamily, before he flopped back on the bed and was asleep again in seconds.
Lan Zhan stormed out and headed to his uncle's house. He knocked on the door and it was opened to reveal a disgruntled looking Lan Qiren.
“Uncle I cannot share with him,” Lan Zhan told him.
Lan Qiren ushered him inside in a hurry.
“Wangji this is a forbidden hour.”
“This situation is forbidden!”
“You are married Wangji! Who else should share your bed with, but your own husband? Go back, I shall forgive this rule breaking on account of your confusion. But it must not happen again,” Lan Qiren told him.
He couldn’t take this. His nephew was at the right age to be married now. Many had had less notice than this, and other couples managed. They met at their wedding and that was that. Was his nephew too spoiled?
“I cannot.”
Lan Qiren considered that he was not the right man for this task and promptly began to run through the options of better qualified candidates. But he knew his nephew would never confess anything sensitive to a stranger or even a doctor, and so he sighed and resolved to do his best.
“We will speak in the morning,” he said.
Lan Wangji looked anxious, but he nodded then bowed.
“Wangji… I do not know what you feel,” Lan Qiren paused. “But, you have been tied to this boy since you were children. I believe your feelings, although maybe magnified by the Yao, are in fact genuine.”
“No.”
“Wangji go back, go to sleep. We can speak in the morning. Bring your husband to the lectures.”
Husband. Lan Zhan turned the word over his mind as he returned as ordered to the Jingshi.
Wei Wuxian hadn’t moved. He seemed to be in a deep sleep. Lan Zhan slid back under the covers and lay still, his ears picked up on the boy’s soft breathing, and he eventually relaxed. He couldn’t fight this tonight, and so he finally fell asleep.
*
Something poked him in the cheek.
“My husband is being lazy,” Wei Ying joked as he poked him in the cheek. There wasn’t much softness to Lan Wangji, but his cheek was a little bit tempting. “Good job he’s so cute.”
Lan Zhan slapped his hand away and sat up outraged.
“What are you doing?”
“I was bored,” Wei Ying replied. “So are we going to lectures or not?”
Lectures. Lan Zhan shot up out of bed. The sun was up already and he was late. His outrageous husband had allowed him to sleep in. He’d been far too comfortable there, having someone next to him, feeling warm and safe. He looked at Wei Wuxian with horror.
“We are late.”
“Oh well… these things happen,” Wei Ying said, lying back down. “You might as well come back here then.”
Lan Zhan froze. What did he mean by that? Was he joking? Teasing him because Lan Zhan had confessed to feeling some sort of attraction? It caused him to take a step back and close himself off.
“Get up. You will attend with me and ask for forgiveness.”
Wei Wuxian made an unimpressed face, but dutifully got up and started getting himself ready. When he was finished he followed Lan Wangji out and towards the lecture pavilion.
Lan Zhan ignored the urge to look at him, and they both bowed low to his uncle as they arrived. Lan Qiren mercifully said nothing, and simply nodded in acknowledgment of their arrival, and Lan Zhan took a seat, with Wei Wuxian beside him.
As his uncle spoke, Lan Zhan kept his focus ahead, and tried to ignore the tug on his heart, as the presence of Wei Wuxian continued to demand his attention.
Eventually when his hands began to itch again, and they twitched with a need, something touched him. Over his left hand a small paper man climbed, before being flicked off by Lan Zhan’s surprise. The paper man floated in the air before returning, climbing back over his hand and sitting on his palm. It’s little head turned upwards and Lan Zhan was certain that if it had a face, it would have been smiling. His eyes drifted to Wei Wuxian, who grinned at him, blushed, and then looked away. The paperman also looked away, a little shiver ran through it and it remained sitting nicely. Occasionally, when it thought Lan Zhan wasn’t paying attention to it, the paperman would look back up at him. Eventually it lounged back against him and listened to the lecture too.