Chapter Text
Epilogue
Loud Peace
"What's wrong?" Jiang Cheng asked anxiously. His wife had been watching the training of new Jiang disciples, but suddenly she was waving him over, a strange look on her face.
She took his hand and pressed it against her belly, which, even though she still had five months to go, was quite round.
Jiang Cheng went completely still as something fluttered against his hand. And then a harder motion, like a kick.
Our child.
Hello.
Wei Wuxian burst into laughter. His brother's face had drained of blood; he looked rather like a corpse. "Can I feel the baby too?"
Meishi nodded, and her brother-in-law skipped over.
He giggled, poking her. "Ahhh, it's so mischievous already."
Jiang Cheng harrumphed. "If you show our child stealing or drinking or –"
"You'll never find out," Wei Wuxian interrupted.
Lan Wangji approached, shaking his head in amusement. Wei Wuxian grabbed his hand. "Want one of our own, Lan Zhan?"
"Not possible," he replied, but his eyes softened as soon as he felt Mei's belly. "Besides, we have Sizhui."
Wen Ning smiled across the field.
"You can come over, too," she called.
Life still felt so strange for him. Especially new life. He touched her stomach gently.
A frown appeared on his face, and suddenly, he began feeling around her stomach.
"What are you doing?" asked Jiang Cheng. Something medical, no doubt. His anxiety rose.
"Is something wrong?" Meishi asked nervously.
Wen Ning poked again, on the other side this time. "No. But there is … I think I feel there is a second baby in there."
Meishi now looked like a corpse herself.
"I – what – no – this – how can you – this is – " Jiang Cheng sputtered.
"How sure are you?" asked Lan Wangji.
"Eighty percent?"
Wei Wuxian was grinning from ear to ear. "Jiang Cheng, ooooh, making up for lost time? You just had to outdo me and Lan Zhan?"
"You!" Jiang Cheng punched him lightly in the shoulder. He turned around to face Meishi. "Um … we're …"
"Labor is going to suck," Meishi replied, erasing her fear with a joke.
"Wait, which one did I – I have to let both know I love them – " Jiang Cheng began prodding her stomach.
"Maybe they're sleeping!"
Wei Wuxian looked closer. "Jiang Cheng? I knew it. Lan Zhan, he's crying."
"He's happy. Right?" Meishi lifted his arms to put them around her shoulders.
Jiang Cheng buried his face in her shoulder so that Wei Wuxian wouldn't see his tears actually spill onto his cheeks. "Yes."
Not Quite Five Months Later
"Are you still getting those contractions?" Jiang Cheng watched his wife try to cover a grimace. He halted their boat in the middle of the moonlit lake.
"Wen Ning said they're pre-labor. I'm fine." She plucked a lotus petal and blew it towards him.
"So…yes."
"What can I say? Maybe like their father, they have no patience." Meishi grinned.
"You're right; I don't," he said easily. Too easily.
Meishi narrowed her eyes.
Jiang Cheng swept her in his arms.
"Jiang Cheng – right here? Really?" Meishi laughed as he pressed her against the bottom of the boat and fumbled for her robes. Sure, it was nighttime. But still.
"I see, you're collecting for when you have to go without me once the two watermelons come," she teased.
"I don't think you're complaining," he retorted, to which she responded by silencing him with a kiss.
She would like to get through just one session without thinking of Master He. But at least she could remain present now. Maybe eventually, she would succeed.
He rolled over, allowing her atop him. That position seemed to help her, too. "Let me know if you need to stop, Mei."
Meishi smirked. "You better not."
"Madame Jiang," he growled, appreciating how she shivered when he called her that name. "Maiden Wen –"
Meishi felt him harden. "You know, I think you like hearing your enemy's name."
Jiang Cheng scowled. "You're not my enemy! I – Wen Mingxia, Wen Meishi, A-Shi, Tao Meishi, Mei, Mei, Mei – "
When he had called every combination of names for her he could think of, he lay gasping against the wood. She – she was the only one he would ever be so vulnerable with.
"I like that," Meishi said, snuggling against him. "Hearing you call my name."
"Does it help you? Stay…with the present?"
She nodded, and he planted a kiss on her belly.
After they had re-clothed themselves, they finally set out for what they had meant to do: fulfill Mei's childhood dream of swimming under the lotus plants.
"Is it as fun as you thought?" he asked, treading water.
"It is." Meishi plucked another flower and placed it in his hair. "Here you go, Lotus King."
"You and your silly names –!" He was cut off a splash of water. "How dare you!"
"Come and drown me, then." She blinked innocently. "If you dare drown your pregnant wife."
"Don't play innocent with me!" he raged, diving towards her.
In the end, they both lay back in the boat, laughing.
Suddenly Jiang Cheng swore. "Is the boat leaking?"
"No, I'm sure it's because we were just swimming –" Meishi frowned at the water. Was there – blood?
She realized a second later that water was running down her leg. "Um."
"What?"
"I might be in labor."
Jiang Cheng turned green. "Might?!"
"I'm pretty sure that is my water. Or really, the two watermelons'."
"Okay. Okay." Jiang Cheng had never looked so panicked. "I'll get us back to Lotus Pier. You won't have them on the way, will you?"
"I think it takes longer than that. But honestly, I've no idea."
"Well, please don't," he ordered as he turned the boat around.
"You think I can control your children?" she exclaimed.
His hands were shaking. But so long as she was laughing, she wasn't actively pushing out a baby in the middle of the lake, and that was good. "Someone has to!"
"Oh, because it won't be you, huh?"
By noon the next day, Jiang Cheng was not exactly a pleasant person to be around. He paced outside the birthing room, listening for any cries. The fact that his wife wasn't screaming worried him all the more.
Fortunately, Wei Wuxian was not afraid of his brother.
"We flew here directly for you. You don't have to talk to us, but it might help you, right, Lan Zhan?" Wei Wuxian looked to his husband for approval.
Lan Wangji nodded.
"He's afraid something terrible will happen," Wen Ning summarized.
Jiang Cheng stopped his pacing to glower at him. "Maybe I will kick you out."
"You won't," said Wei Wuxian. "But, Jiang Cheng, Wen Meishi is strong. Besides, Luo Qingyang has already been through this herself. She's in good hands."
Jiang Cheng said nothing. Most women would have multiple midwives. But Meishi was not comfortable with many people, even if they were women, surrounding her. So they had asked her friend, and kept the midwives nearby but not with her. Still, it made him more anxious.
The door burst open. Jin Ling stalked in.
"You're here?" Jiang Cheng was surprised.
"Sizhui told me. I wasn't going to miss meeting my cousin, even for a day," retorted his nephew.
Meishi had not really known pain like this. She knelt on straw, a cloth tethered above her to cling to. "What…how do people do this, and then still have sex? Why do people have sex? Luo Qingyang, did you just refuse your husband after this?"
"We agreed that I could start taking herbs after MianMian's birth," replied the woman with some amusement.
"Good. I'm definitely doing that. Fuck. You know what? Father! Wen Ruohan! I figured out the best torture method around. Simulate this." Meishi groaned.
Luo Qingyang wiped a damp cloth on Meishi's forehead. "I'm going to take a look, if that is okay."
Meishi didn't really want anyone besides Jiang Cheng seeing that part of her – it felt too frightening, with too many reminders.
But she didn't really have a choice, did she?
"I think you can start pushing," said Luo Qingyang after a moment.
"Really?" She gasped in relief.
"Yes. Grab the cloth." Luo Qingyang wrapped her hands around Meishi's waist, supporting her.
Half an hour later, Luo Qingyang stepped back. "Take a rest."
Meishi laid back and moaned every curse word she could imagine. "This pain is so unnecessary."
"You're close."
Meishi whimpered.
After a few minutes, Luo Qingyang tapped her on the shoulder. "Again."
This time, Meishi felt something different. A burning, and then… "Is that?"
"The baby's head," confirmed Luo Qingyang.
"One of them." Meishi ground her teeth and pushed harder.
Luo Qingyang knelt down to catch the baby that slid from her womb.
"B – baby?" Meishi panted. She felt better, even if just for a moment.
"A boy." Luo Qingyang quickly wrapped it and, wiping its smeared face, showed the squirming infant to Meishi.
She let out a cry. "He's so quiet."
"Not like his parents, I presume?" Luo Qingyang was beaming.
Meishi's expression changed to agony again.
"Hold on. I'm going to give him to Wen Ning." She pushed the door open. "Here's the firstborn."
Luo Qingyang sprang back to Meishi's side in an instant. "You're doing so well. One more, and then the placenta, and you're done."
Wei Wuxian had, frankly, relied entirely on Lan Wangi to restrain Jiang Cheng when the door opened.
"Here's the firstborn." The door shut again, and Wen Ning held a small bundle.
Lan Wangji sheathed Bichen, allowing Jiang Cheng to scramble towards Wen Ning.
"Congratulations. You have a son." Wen Ning was already crying.
Wei Wuxian began to sob against Wangji, prompting Jin Ling to roll his eyes, as if he weren't emotional himself.
"He needs to be cleaned up, but, first, I think you should hold him." Wen Ning passed the baby to his dumbfounded father.
The baby squealed. Jiang Cheng brightened immediately.
"He knows you," Jin Ling said.
Jiang Cheng stared at the child in his hands. Its little blue eyes, staring at him without comprehension. The tuft of hair on its head. The mouth that kept opening, but didn't really cry.
My baby.
There were so many things he needed to say. That he didn't know how to be a good dad, but he was going to try, that neither he nor his twin would feel favored, that he loved you, loved you, loved you.
"What's his name?"
"Jiang Guozhi." A wish, for peace among the cultivation world.
A hearty wail soared through the air. The door opened again as Wen Ning reached for their firstborn.
"Meet your daughter." Luo Qingyang was grinning.
Jiang Cheng gasped with delight. Both?!
"Jiang Jingfei," he whispered. They'd been back and forth on names for girls, but, in the midst of her wails, he was certain this was perfect.
"You really named your daughter not quiet?" Wei Wuxian doubled over.
"I couldn't very well name her Wei Wuxian!" He hoped she would quiet in his arms, but no. She continued to shriek.
"Why not?"
"You…" Jiang Cheng decided to ignore him, to focus on the squalling girl in his arms. "Don't you recognize me, A-Fei?"
"Here. Allow me to care for both right now." Wen Ning scooped the baby. "You have something else to do. Go tend to your wife."
Meishi, finally, finally, lay in bed, but she couldn't even enjoy that it was over, because she desperately wanted to see her children.
What do they look like? The girl is loud and the boy is quiet; is that their personalities or just a coincidence right now? Do they know Jiang Cheng's voice?
She was a mother now. Since she'd never had one, that was a frightening concept to ponder.
The door opened. Her husband, with two purple watermelons in his arm.
He caught her gaze and smiled. His eyes were red and swollen. "They seem healthy."
Mei sat up with a groan. "Then let me see them!"
He hurried to the bed, handing her first Guozhi, followed by Jingfei. He perched on the edge, watching her expression morph from curious to fascinated to tearful. "I didn't think you'd mind that I chose her name."
"It does suit her, doesn't it?" Even while calm, Jingfei was squirming and whimpering, while Guozhi slept peacefully. Definitely personality.
"She's going to raise hell," Meishi declared proudly. "And drag Guozhi along with her."
"We'll be prepared." Jiang Cheng touched her forehead.
Meishi noted that Jingfei's eyes were as dark as hers, while Guozhi's were as light as Jiang Cheng's. "They're so beautiful. Our babies."
"Just – don't let me hurt them, please." Jiang Cheng looked at her.
She puckered her lips, inviting him to kiss her. "You? You're not the Wen-dog."
He hovered over her and their twins. "Don't use such language around our children."
"Pfft."
"Don't think I don't know that the first word Guozhi even heard was 'fuck. I heard you when the door opened," he added.
"I was in pain."
"I wish I could have done it instead." Jiang Cheng blew out a breath.
"Now, that'd be an interesting concept. I wonder where it would come out –"
"You're corrupting our children!" he mock-hissed.
The door opened.
Sect Leader Tao and his wife.
"Father. Mother." Meishi's eyes widened.
"You have a grandson and a granddaughter," said Jiang Cheng, nervous, as if he feared they wouldn't approve.
Madame Tao gasped with delight, while Sect Leader Tao blinked hard, as if trying not to cry.
"Here." Meishi handed Guozhi to her mother, Jingfei. to her father. Jiang Cheng hovered, as if afraid their precious children would be droppd.
"They're beautiful," said Madame Tao, cooing towards her grandson.
The door flew open again. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, and Wen Ning, followed by Jin Ling.
"I suppose almost the whole family is here," said Meishi, smiling at the happiness that arose on Jin Ling's face.
"If you think I'm going to forget you, brat, you're wrong," Jiang Cheng said to his nephew.
"I wouldn't let you if you tried, fellow Sect Leader Jiang," snapped Jin Ling. He peered at the babies. "We'll have them night hunting with Wen Ning in no time."
"I know I said I wouldn't say it again, but I will break your legs," Jiang Cheng replied.
Meishi stared past him.
Nie Huaisang and Lan Xichen, newly engaged, entered.
"Hi, Mei." Nie Huaisang nervously held out a painting. "Xichen and I have been working on art for their rooms."
Jiang Cheng waited to see how she would respond.
To his relief, she smiled. "Then I'm sure it's beautiful."
Nie Huaisang beamed.
Her father eyed Nie Huaisang.
"Father, give him Jingfei," suggested Mei. Huaisang was her friend, and she didn't like her father's resentment of him.
With a sigh, Sect Leader Tao obeyed.
"Ai-ya." Nie Huaisang held up the gurgling baby. "Am I doing this right?"
"Support her head," barked Jiang Cheng, hurrying to assist.
"Wen Ning taught him that ten minutes ago," whispered Wei Wuxian, drawing a sour look from his brother.
Meishi laughed.
"So beautiful," whispered Lan Xichen, expertly cradling Guozhi.
"Just like their mother," said Jiang Cheng, giving her an affectionate glance.
Meishi gulped down the lump in her throat. "How dare you make me cry!"
Once everyone was gone, Jiang Cheng lay besides his wife. Jingfei slept on his chest, while Meishi nursed Guozhi. Dragonfly nestled at the foot of the bed, not caring much for her human siblings.
"Does it hurt?" He watched curiously.
"A little. Luo Qingyang said I'll get used to it." Meishi winked. "Would you still love me if I have callouses on –"
"You know the answer is yes," he muttered. His eyes swept his daughter. "She's quiet, for now."
Meishi smirked. "For now."
Jiang Cheng frowned.
"What are you thinking about?"
"My father," he admitted. "I don't know why…he favored Wei Wuxian. These two…when I held them – first Guozhi and then Jingfei – I love them both, just as much as Jin Ling, and I would never choose between them."
"Your father was a good man in most ways. Just not fatherhood," Mei observed softly. "Meanwhile, mine was a wicked man…but he was a good father, to me at least."
"I can't believe I'm going to have to learn parenting from Wen Ruohan," Jiang Cheng muttered.
"Who else? Jin Guangshan? Huaisang's father, who died from qi deviation? Lan Wangji's, who hid for years?"
Jiang Cheng considered. "I suppose my father might have been the best out of those…"
"The important thing is we won't be perfect, but we'll be better than the generation before us."
"Are you quoting Wen Ruohan?"
"Pffft. No. Wen Mao." Meishi shifted Guozhi in her arm. "It's a pity, don't you think? So many great ancestors, and look at their corrupt descendants."
"I think he'd be proud of you. It's like a cyclic renewal, like spring." That's more poetry than Jiang Cheng has ever spoken in his life. He feels a twinge of embarrassment.
"Here, switch with me." Meishi handed him Guozhi and grinned at Jingfei's immediate mews. "Aw, she wants her daddy back."
"Don't make her cry! Give her back!"
"Are you hording our children? She needs to eat." Meishi stifled a laugh as Jiang Cheng clutched their children, one in each arm. Indeed, their daughter was quiet again in his arms.
"She wants me," he said stubbornly. His children…loved him? They loved him! "You can sleep. I'll wake you up when our daughter decides she's hungry."
"You're going to spoil them," she complained, but her eyes smiled.
Meishi lay down on the bed and closed her eyes. Jiang Cheng sat besides her, his gaze darting from his beautiful wife, the mother of his children, dashing daughter of the most feared Wen cultivator, to his chubby-cheeked daughter, to his son, whose lips made smacking noises as if he still wanted to eat.
He was somewhat relieved Mei slept, because tears were running freely down his cheeks. Right here, right now, he didn't feel lonely at all.
Thank you all sooooo much for reading, and for all your comments! They made me so happy to read. :)