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It has been precisely seven weeks and two days since Lan Wangji saw Wei Wuxian last. The fact alone that he knows this is shameful and embarrassing, and he has spent many hours meditating about it – and yet, he cannot bring himself to stop counting.

“Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian had said to him, the day of his departure, his eyes twinkling, “the next time we see each other, I’m going to be an uncle!”

Lan Wangji had wanted to tell him any number of things, but found that he could say none. Before he could even begin to think of an adequate response, Wei Wuxian had laughed and the moment had been over.

It’s been seven weeks and two days, and Jiang Yanli surely will have given birth by now. Lan Wangji has no opinion on this either way; he can’t remember if he ever interacted with her in Cloud Recesses. Perhaps he did, but all interactions of that year are a blur, paling in comparison to the memory of Wei Wuxian. That, too, should require meditation, but at this point Lan Wangji has so committed so many sins that one more hardly matters.

He wonders if it’s a boy or a girl. “A girl would be better,” Wei Wuxian had mused, “our family doesn’t need more boys. A boy might turn out like his father, can you imagine? Or like Jiang Cheng. I shudder just thinking about it.” But as soon as he’d said the words, he’d laughed and, throwing a friendly arm around Lan Wangji’s shoulders, had said, “Either way, I’m sure the child won’t turn out too terrible, even if they do take after Jin Zixuan. We’ll be around enough to make sure they’ll be okay, won’t we, Lan Zhan?”

Lan Wangji hadn’t replied to this either, too confused by how easily Wei Wuxian had included him. Of course Wei Wuxian will be around his niece or nephew, but why on earth would Lan Wangji spend any time at all with the Jin Sect heir?

It doesn’t matter. Wei Wuxian will do what he wants, has he has done for the past five years, and Lan Wangji will go along with it, as he has done for the past five years. (Uncle, presumably, will continue his own five-year streak of destroying a lot of teacups by tightening his grip on them whenever Wei Wuxian comes to Cloud Recesses, is mentioned in conversation, or, sometimes, when no one is doing or saying anything at all and Uncle sees something in Lan Wangji’s face that apparently displeases him anyway.)

For now, he follows his daily routine in Cloud Recesses, he goes on night hunts and has tea with his brother, and he counts.

***

No one told Jin Zixuan that being a parent would be hard. He feels faintly betrayed by this – surely, someone should have warned him of this. Then again, if people went about warning others, then probably no one would have kids.

Not that Jin Zixuan regrets having A-Ling. Of course not. It’s entirely possible that A-Ling is the greatest, most adorable baby that has ever graced this earth, which makes sense, because his mother is the greatest, prettiest, most clever woman that has ever graced this earth.

If only he didn’t scream quite so much.

And if only he didn’t have two uncles who – no, actually, the sentence might as well end there. If only A-Ling didn’t have two uncles.

At least, Jin Zixuan muses, bouncing A-Ling up and down on his arm, at least Jiang Cheng actually has a sect to lead. That keeps him not only busy, but also far away from Carp Tower most of the time.

Regrettably, the same cannot be said for Wei Wuxian.

He isn’t totally sure on whatever it is that Wei Wuxian usually does with his life, but thus far, it had ensured that his brother-in-law would only come visit a few times a year, never for long and always on the go.

Now, Wei Wuxian has been in Carp Tower for six weeks. Six weeks, as far as Jin Zixuan is concerned, is overstaying his welcome by five weeks and six days. And yet Wei Wuxian has shown zero indication of leaving.

“A-Li,” Jin Zixuan said to Jiang Yanli just yesterday, “I’m sure if we use our connections, we can find a job for your brother. Baling is always looking for more cultivators.”

“But Baling is so far away,” Jiang Yanli had said, missing the point entirely. “Besides, it’s nice having him here, isn’t it? He’s so good with A-Ling.”

Wei Wuxian is good with A-Ling. That makes him redeemable. It would make him even more redeemable if he stopped disappearing mysteriously whenever the subject of changing diapers comes up.

It also still doesn’t mean that Jin Zixuan is ready for Wei Wuxian to be a permanent fixture in his life. So he needs to do something about it.

Since finding him a job didn’t work – does Wei Wuxian already have one? Is he even still part of the Jiang Sect? –, Jin Zixuan will settle for the next best thing.

He’s going to find Wei Wuxian a spouse.

***

“Wangji,” Lan Xichen says once Lan Wangji has poured tea for them both, “Gusu Lan has been invited to attend Jin Ling’s two-month-celebration in Carp Tower. We will need to send a representative.”

“Yes,” Lan Wangji agrees, unsure what this has to do with him. Gusu Lan gets invited to any number of conferences and celebrations; usually Uncle and Brother split the attendances between the two of them.

Lan Xichen smiles at him benevolently. “I thought we might send you,” he says.

Lan Wangji can’t quite stop himself from asking, “Why?” He shouldn’t talk to his elders like this, and he especially shouldn’t question their decisions, but this seems a bewildering choice at best and a downright impolitic one at worst. His brother is excellent at small talk, at making people feel at ease, at saying the right thing at the right time. Lan Wangji, for his part, is excellent at silence, at staring at people until they feel uncomfortable enough to leave the room, and at reciting rules – in short, he is a model member of Gusu Lan and as such definitely not fit for public appearances. He cannot think of a single reason why Gusu Lan would want him to represent anything, anywhere.

Apparently, his brother disagrees.

“I believe it will be educational for all parties involved,” Lan Xichen says, smirking at a joke only he is privy to. “Besides,” he adds, his smirk widening ever so slightly, “I heard Wei-gongzi will be there.”

Of course Wei Wuxian will be there. The celebration is, after all, for his nephew. Nothing could stop him from attending.

“So it’s settled, then,” Lan Xichen says, like they’ve had an agreement, like Lan Wangji has contributed anything at all to this conversaction. “You will leave next week.”

Lan Wangji nods, acknowledging the order for what it is. The matter has clearly been decided long before Lan Xichen brought it up; there is nothing he can do now but obey. He will go to Carp Tower to celebrate the birth of the Lanling Jin heir, and he will see Wei Wuxian again. One of these things he is entirely indifferent about, and the other – the other makes something burn in his chest. The sensation is not altogether unpleasant.

***

Is it shameless to use his firstborn’s two-month-celebration for his own purposes? Perhaps. But just yesterday, Jin Ling let out a piercing scream and Wei Wuxian literally elbowed Jin Zixuan in order to get to him first. The day before that, Wei Wuxian proudly presented a self-drawn family portrait to his sister, who was thrilled and promised to hang it up in the main reception hall. When Jin Zixuan walked past it hours later, he saw that the picture showed his beautiful wife, their beautiful son, his two brothers in law, and a peacock. The peacock had a vermillion dot between its eyes.

Words cannot begin to describe just how much Jin Zixuan wants Wei Wuxian to leave. If it were possible to get him to do that without abusing the celebration for his son’s continued state of being in this world, he would. But he knows Wei Wuxian. He knows that if he doesn’t act now, before he knows it Wei Wuxian will have moved in for good and raised Jin Zixuan’s son as some kind of criminal. He can’t let that happen.

So he gathered information, and he made a plan. In the end, it’s pretty straight-forward: Wei Wuxian needs to be far away from Carp Tower. If he marries into another sect, chances are good that he will go live with them. But Jin Zixuan didn’t go into this to take chances, so he’s had a second realisation: If Wei Wuxian marries a sect leader, there is absolutely zero chance that he will be allowed to hang around in Lanling all the time.

Right now, there are two unmarried sect leaders who are at least kind of the same age. So Jin Zixuan sent personal invites to Gusu Lan and Qinghe Nie. Does he feel somewhat bad about that? Sure. He has nothing against Zewu-jun or Nie Mingjue on a personal level, and he has no desire to wish them ill. It’s just that if he has the choice between making Wei Wuxian someone else’s problem, and having him as a housemate indefinitely, Jin Zixuan knows which option he prefers. And besides, it’s not like he is arranging a marriage here. He’s just making sure that Wei Wuxian will someday have the same kind of happiness that Jin Zixuan shares with Jiang Yanli.

“What are you smiling about?” Jiang Yanli asks, joining him on the balcony that overlooks the vast estate of the Jin clan. Jin Zixuan kisses her cheek and allows himself to be drawn back inside.

“Nothing,” he says. “Let’s go back to bed.”

***

Lan Wangji arrives in Carp Tower at the same time as Nie Mingjue and Nie Huaisang, who both appear slightly surprised to see him.

“Wangji,” Nie Mingjue says, returning his bow, “did Xichen and you travel separately?”

“Brother will not join us.”

“Is he sick?”

“He is of adequate health,” Lan Wangji says stiffly. “He opted to stay in Cloud Recesses.”

“And he sent you in his stead?” Nie Huaisang asks sceptically, which is perhaps the largest number of words he’s ever said to Lan Wangji in all of their acquaintance. He freezes when both Lan Wangji and his brother turn to look at him.

“I apologise for my brother,” Nie Mingjue says, bowing again. “We welcome your presence.”

Lan Wangji nods, accepting this for the half-truth that it is. Nie Mingjue likes him just fine, he merely prefers his brother, and Lan Wangji doesn’t blame him.

To his knowledge, Lan Xichen and Nie Mingjue met in Cloud Recesses as teenagers at a guest lecture, and ever since then Nie Mingjue has been a steady presence in Lan Xichen’s life, and Lan Wangji’s own life by extension. Lan Xichen might have been the one who first taught him how to ride a sword, but Nie Mingjue was the one who caught him when he fell. He thinks that probably they were expecting their little brothers to become equally good friends; instead, Nie Huaisang has always been afraid of him, and Lan Wangji in turn has never bothered to hide his irritation.

The three of them go inside together and pay their respects to Sect Leader Jin and his wife, and afterwards, Nie Huaisang announces his intentions to go find Wei Wuxian.

Wei Ying. Naturally Lan Wangji expected to see him, has been thinking about it for the entire journey, but he would never be so bold as to openly search for him, let alone speak about it so publicly. It is a mystery to him how Nie Huaisang can be so casual about the matter. For perhaps the first time in his life, he envies him.

“I’ll see you at the banquet tonight,” Nie Huaisang says airily, and would have run off if his brother hadn’t grabbed his arm.

“Take Wangji with you,” he says.

Nie Huaisang and Lan Wangji both turn to stare at him. Nie Mingjue has always been kind to him; how could he betray him now?

Judging by Nie Huaisang’s face, he must be having similar thoughts. Nevertheless, he says politely, “Do you want to come?”

He has never wanted anything more. He wants to see Wei Wuxian. Maybe he just wants.

He says, “No.”

“Great,” Nie Huaisang says, and is gone before anyone can stop him again.

He can’t shake the suspicion that everything he says here can and will be mentioned in the next letter Nie Mingjue sends to Lan Xichen, so instead of saying anything more incriminating, he bows and takes his leave. On his way to his assigned quarters he tells himself that this is for the best.

***

“Say da-jiu. Can you say da-jiu? Da-jiu. Da-jiu. No? Let’s try Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian. Really, nothing? Aiyo, we’ve been at this for so long now and you still insist on staying silent? I’m very disappointed in you. Hey, say Lan Zhan. Lan Zhan. Say Lan Zhan. Think of his face when he hears you say that. Think of Jin Zixuan’s face when he hears you say that! Do it for da-jiu. Look how simple it is. Lan Zhan!”

“What,” Jin Zixuan says, feeling a headache approaching, “are you doing?”

Wei Wuxian looks up from where he’s holding Jin Ling – harassing Jin Ling – whatever it is that’s going on here. Whoever left him unsupervised is going to regret it, Jin Zixuan thinks darkly.

“Just teaching him words,” Wei Wuxian says. “He’s very stubborn though. Can you believe he hasn’t said a single word yet?”

“He’s two months old,” Jin Zixuan bites out.

“Shijie was already speaking in full sentences at that age,” Wei Wuxian says with the confidence of someone who hasn’t actually met Jiang Yanli until she was eleven. “Must be your side of the family, I suppose.”

Soon, Jin Zixuan promises himself. Wei Wuxian is going to be out of here soon. He’s going to be stuck in Qinghe or Gusu, two of the most depressing places in the realm, and he’s never going to come back. Soon.

“If you’re finished,” he says, taking great pains to unclench his teeth, “then maybe you don’t mind handing me my son and greeting our guests.”

“I do mind,” Wei Wuxian says, smiles sunnily at him, and bops Jin Ling’s nose. Jin Ling immediately starts crying.

“Actually,” Jin Zixuan says, taking a step back, “if you want to-“

“I’ve changed my mind,” Wei Wuxian interrupts, handing over the screaming baby and slowly backing out the door, “you’re right, I’m going to just, go greet some of your guests. You two have fun!”

“Your uncle,” Jin Zixuan tells A-Ling once Wei Wuxian has left, “is a terrible person, and you shouldn’t listen to a word he says.”

Jin Ling takes a break from crying to chortle and spit on Jin Zixuan’s expensive robes. Two months ago Jin Zixuan would have wiped it away, but really, what’s the point? It’s just going to get dirty again anyway. Instead, he lets Jin Ling wrap his tiny hand around one of his fingers, and says, “If you spit like that on your da-jiu, I’m going to give you so much money when you grow up. I’ll double it if you hit his face.”

Jin Ling makes no promises, but he does put Jin Zixuan’s finger in his mouth. That’s basically agreement.

***

At the banquet, Lan Wangji is seated between Nie Huaisang and Wei Wuxian. To Wei Wuxian’s other side sits Nie Mingjue, a long-suffering look on his face that Lan Wangji sympathises with but also couldn’t care less about. It’s been almost three months now since he saw Wei Wuxian last. Suddenly being this close to him again feels dangerous. If he moved his cushion just a little towards the left, their shoulders would touch.

“I’m an uncle now,” Wei Wuxian tells him as their first course is served. “Do you want to go see Jin Ling after dinner? Just to say hello?”

“Yes,” Lan Wangji says, breaking the no-talk rule during meals and giving in to his own weakness with an ease that scares him a little. From the corner of his eye, he can see Nie Mingjue look at him sharply. That, too, will surely make its way into the letter.

“You’re going to love him,” Wei Wuxian promises and, spotting Nie Huaisang, leans over to ask, “Nie Huaisang! Do you want to come too?”

He’s so close now that his hair is falling on Lan Wangji’s robes, his ribbon tickling Lan Wangji’s chin, and it takes all of his self-control not to move.

“I don’t really like babies,” Nie Huaisang says, to Wei Wuxian’s outraged yelp. “They all look like potatoes, and they smell.”

“Ah, Nie Huaisang,” Wei Wuxian pouts, “you’re too cruel. Lan Zhan likes babies. Don’t you?“

Surprised at being addressed, Lan Wangji is startled into saying the truth. “Yes.”

Wei Wuxian laughs, finally moving back to his own cushion, but not before reaching out like he wants to touch Lan Wangji’s arm. He withdraws at the last second, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly and downing the remainder of his wine in one go. It’s a painful reminder that Wei Wuxian, who’s as free with his touches as he is with his smiles, rarely touches Lan Wangji in such a casual manner. Lan Wangji knows he is not a person who invites touch, has taken care to ensure that Wei Wuxian knows it too, so he has no right to feel hurt about this. Absolutely no right.

The banquet goes on for hours, way longer than Lan Wangji feels comfortable being around a large, progressively more intoxicated crowd. His brother, he knows, would make amiable small talk with both his seatmates; instead, Nie Huaisang flinches every time Lan Wangji so much as shifts, and Wei Wuxian is currently engaged in a conversation with Nie Mingjue. Every so often he will turn to Lan Wangji, as if inviting him in on the joke, and then pretend like it’s nothing out of the ordinary when Lan Wangji doesn’t reply.

At one point Nie Huaisang excuses himself, and he can’t have been longer than thirty seconds when Jin Zixuan takes his seat.

“Hanguang-jun,” he says, “welcome to Carp Tower.”

Lan Wangji inclines his head, feeling lost. He already greeted Jin Zixuan earlier, what more is there to say?

“I will admit that I expected to see Zewu-jun. Is he well?” Jin Zixuan asks, and Lan Wangji thinks, Ah.

“You need not concern yourself,” he says. He means it as polite assurance, but judging by Jin Zixuan’s frown, it does not come across that way.

“Well, anyway,” Jin Zixuan says, “I hope you enjoy your stay. Tomorrow-“ He interrupts himself, gaze fixed on Wei Wuxian, who is laughing at something Nie Mingjue said. For some reason, he looks faintly pleased. Lan Wangji recognises the expression from their days in Cloud Recesses, when Wei Wuxian used to make fun of it for hours.

“Forgive me,” Jin Zixuan says. “I meant to say, Lanling Jin will host a night hunt tomorrow.” This, too, is something Lan Wangji already knows, because Jin Zixuan announced it earlier. It wouldn’t be anything out of the ordinary, if not for the fact that there won’t be sects competing, but teams. Officially this is to lower the stakes. Unofficially, Lan Wangji suspects that it’s for the benefit of Jiang Yanli, who can’t side with one sect without offending another.

“Have you picked a team yet?” Jin Zixuan inquires politely.

Lan Wangji opens his mouth to say no – who would he ask? – when Wei Wuxian breaks off his own conversation mid-sentence to say, “Lan Zhan and I are going to do it together! We’ll be the best team, so don’t bother recruiting him for yours!”

It’s forward, presumptuous and offensive, and unbelievably typical. Lan Wangji’s heart burns with how much he’s missed Wei Wuxian these past few months.

Instead of reacting to the insult, Jin Zixuan merely smiles what looks like a very forced smile. “Very well,” he says. “Good luck tomorrow.”

“He’s up to something,” Wei Wuxian says the minute his brother in law has left. “Don’t you think he’s up to something?”

“No,” Lan Wangji tells him truthfully. Wei Wuxian’s face falls.

“You’re not going to make it far in the world with that attitude, you know,” he says. But he stops sulking as soon as he’s started, brightening again. “Don’t worry about it! I’m just gonna look out for the both of us.”

He turns back to Nie Mingjue, and Nie Huaisang finally returns just as the next course is served. Lan Wangji eats the first spoon of soup, and wonders.

***

So Zewu-jun sent his little brother instead. This is fine. It wasn’t the plan, but Jin Zixuan can adapt as much as the next person – after all, he managed to adapt to his brothers in law. Sort of.

The only problem with Lan Wangji taking Zewu-jun’s place is the history he and Wei Wuxian already share.

Naturally, as with anyone who has been exposed to Wei Wuxian for any prolonged amount of time, the history is not a pleasant one. Jin Zixuan’s days in Cloud Recesses are not so far in the past that he wouldn’t remember this. Half a decade, perhaps, nothing more. Definitely recent enough to recall how Wei Wuxian had bothered Lan Wangji for six months. They used to make bets, back then, on when Lan Wangji would finally snap. But while they crossed swords and Lan Wangji must have assigned Wei Wuxian hundreds of hours of punishment, it never got any worse than that. The bet had been collectively lost by everyone.

Jin Zixuan has no idea if they have even seen each other since the graduation, but he doubts it. Wei Wuxian, however he occupies his time these days, wouldn’t have any business in Cloud Recesses, and Lan Wangji wouldn’t seek out the company of a man who used to brag about how fast he could get a rise out of him.

The truth of the matter is simply this: there is absolutely no way that Jin Zixuan sees these two marrying.

It’s really just a small setback, nothing more. Maybe he can invite Zewu-jun another time, if the opportunity presents itself. Jin Zixuan is sure that it will. Jin Ling’s birth is a joyous occasion, after all. Why celebrate it only once?

Also, Nie Mingjue is still in the game. At the banquet they seemed to get along well, which Jin Zixuan knows because he watched them from afar. And Wei Wuxian is already friends with Nie Mingjue’s little brother, so really, this union would be pleasing to all parties.

“What do you think about Chifeng-zun?” Jin Zixuan asks his wife later that night when the banquet is over and they’re lying in bed together, too exhausted to do anything but sleep.

“He’s a very accomplished cultivator,” Jiang Yanli says, lips pursed in thought. “He became Sect Leader at a very young age, even earlier than A-Cheng, and he already has an excellent reputation.”

“So would you say that you like him?” Jin Zixuan asks, getting straight to the point of it and ignoring the rest. Nie Mingjue’s reputation is indeed spotless, and he’s celebrated as being hard but fair, but what matters here is whether or not he would fit in at family meetings.

Jiang Yanli blinks. “I have not spoken to him in many years. We played together as kids, I believe.”

“With Wei Wuxian?”

“No, he wouldn’t have lived with us at that time. A-Xuan, why are you asking?”

“No reason,” Jin Zixuan says. He made a vow to never lie to his wife, but this, he reasons, hardly qualifies as such. And he will tell her eventually. Preferably when Wei Wuxian is wearing wedding red.

***

It’s nearing midnight by the time that Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian enter the room where Jin Ling is kept. They had to bribe the wet nurse to get in, but Wei Wuxian did it so casually that it seems like he’s used to it, and really, Lan Wangji doesn’t mind paying.

He does, however, mind offending his hosts. “It is late,” he points out, while Wei Wuxian lights some candles. “We could come back tomorrow.”

“Babies have no concept of time,” Wei Wuxian says dismissively. Finally satisfied with the amount of lighting in this room, he goes to the crib; a wave of his hand has Lan Wangji following suit. “Look, he’s awake! A-Ling, do you want to say hello? Let’s introduce you to Lan Zhan.”

Wei Wuxian takes out the baby and, cradling him gently, he takes one of Jin Ling’s tiny fists and starts waving it in Lan Wangji’s direction. “Nice to meet you, gege,” he says, voice high-pitched, and then suddenly he’s shoving the baby at Lan Wangji, who takes it automatically.

“Yes!” Wei Wuxian exclaims, thrilled like he’s tricked Lan Wangji and completely unaware that Lan Wangji doesn’t need to be tricked into holding babies, he’ll do it willingly. He likes babies; they don’t want to talk to you and mostly just nap all day. “Lan Zhan, look at you! So handsome! Hanguang-jun will make a great father one day.”

“Perhaps,” Lan Wangji says, not really listening. Jin Ling is beaming up at him, showing his toothless mouth as he laughs, and grabbing a fistful of Lan Wangji’s hair. Lan Wangji winces, but lets him.

“Such a great father,” Wei Wuxian goes on, “and an amazing husband too, I bet. It’s such a shame you’re still without partner. But your uncle probably tells you that all the time, right?”

“Mn.” Lan Qiren has indeed made his displeasure at Lan Wangji’s continued unmarried state known in the past. Recently, though, he seems to have given up, focusing his efforts on Lan Xichen instead. Lan Wangji feels bad for his brother, but not enough that he would intervene.

“Jiang Cheng is on my case about getting married, too. Says I’m shaming the family with my unwed lifestyle more with every day.”

Lan Wangji looks up from where Jin Ling is now groping his face. “I had not realised Jiang Wanyin has entered a union.”

“Oh, he hasn’t,” Wei Wuxian says dismissively. “When I do it, I’m shaming the family. When he does it, it’s a prudent political move. Do you want me to take A-Ling again?” He moves to lift him from Lan Wangji’s arms; Lan Wangji takes a small step back.

“I do not mind.” Then, a second later as he realises what just happened, he obediently holds Jin Ling out, his ears burning. “You should put him to bed. It’s late.”

“For a minute there, I thought I would have to fight you over him,” Wei Wuxian says, laughing as he returns his nephew to the crib. “No need to look so sad, we can come see him tomorrow. I tried to teach him your name, but he’s such a stubborn child. Late bloomer, too. At this rate, it will be a whole year before he starts talking!”

There are any number of things to reply here; Lan Wangji opts for, “Will I see you at the night hunt tomorrow?”

“Of course!” Wei Wuxian says on their way out the room. The wet nurse outside gives them a pointed look, but says nothing. “I told you we’d be a team, didn’t I? We haven’t been on a night hunt together in over three months. Jiang Cheng and I defeated a water ghoul last week, but Suibian never works as well as when Bichen is near.”

“I look forward to it,” Lan Wangji says. It comes out stiffer than intended, but Wei Wuxian just laughs.

“Don’t flatter me like that, I’ll become insufferable.”

They part for the night, but only after Wei Wuxian escorts him to his room.  

***

Technically, as the host, Jin Zixuan isn’t supposed to participate in the night hunt. He should stay and entertain the guests that aren’t joining in, like Jiang Yanli is doing. But if he stays behind, then how can he know for sure that this event serves as the romantic bonding time he has planned?

He knows that Wei Wuxian is a skilled cultivator; he had been in their youth and has only improved since. His attention won’t be captured by someone with lesser skills, he needs a match, someone who can keep the ever-fleeting interest of someone as scatter-brained as Wei Wuxian. Zewu-jun would have provided a pool of calm to Wei Wuxian’s restlessness, but even Nie Mingjue, for all his anger and intensity, has something solid about him. People look at him and see a man who will not yield for anyone.

Jin Zixuan hopes that Wei Wuxian will look at him slay monsters today and see a man who will make for a good husband and a demanding, yet gentle lover.

“I don’t really understand why I had to come along,” Nie Huaisang whines. They’re in the forest, waiting for the horns to signal the begin of the hunt, and Nie Huaisang has pulled Jin Zixuan a bit further away from the group to ensure they won’t be overheard – not that anyone is paying attention. Wei Wuxian is sitting cross-legged on the mossy grass and appears to be weaving together the stems of several dandelions, occasionally throwing some of the petals in Lan Wangji’s direction, who steadfastly ignores him in his muted conversation with Nie Mingjue.

“Why wouldn’t I have just stayed behind and watched?” Nie Huaisang continues mournfully. “Night hunting is not for me, you know that.”

Jin Zixuan does know that. He wouldn’t normally spend any time with Nie Huaisang if he could help it, but when Wei Wuxian announced his intentions of teaming up with Lan Wangji, something had to be done. So Jin Zixuan ensured that Nie Mingjue would join the team as well, which meant that all there was left to do was to find a decoy to entertain Lan Wangji during Wei Wuxian’s bonding time with Nie Mingjue. Jin Zixuan, who can count the conversations he’s had with Lan Wangji on one hand, decided that help was needed. Today, help comes with expensive robes and a beautifully-painted paper fan.

“I need a favour,” Jin Zixuan says, for perhaps the first time in his live. His father must be turning in his grave right now. Jins don’t ask for favours, they collect them, and then they make you pay up. With interest. “When the night hunt starts, you need to stick with Lan Wangji. Make sure he gives Wei Wuxian some space.”

They both look over at the rest of their group, where Wei Wuxian has finished his flower crown and is presenting it to Lan Wangji with a little flourish. Lan Wangji gazes down at it, then turns back to Nie Mingjue, who’s watching this display intently. Physically incapable of accepting defeat, Wei Wuxian now tries to deposit the dandelion crown on Lan Wangji’s head anyway; Lan Wangji takes one step to the side. Wei Wuxian changes tactics and makes a grab for Lan Wangji’s hand, equally unsuccessful.

“Make sure Wei Wuxian gives Lan Wangji some space,” Jin Zixuan corrects himself.

“That’s impossible!” Nie Huaisang cries. “Look at them! Wei Wuxian hasn’t given Lan Wangji space since Cloud Recesses.”

“You need to try,” Jin Zixuan says firmly, while Wei Wuxian has finally given up and lets the wreath drop to the ground between them, his sulk visible even several metres away. He starts walking over to them, and in the background, Jin Zixuan sees Lan Wangji bow down to pick the crown back up, tucking it into his sleeve, before three gongs echo through the forest to signal that the night hunt has started, and he forgets all about it.

***

They’ve just killed a group of water ghouls, and the last one is barely dead before Wei Wuxian announces his intentions to go ahead of the group and find their next prey. Lan Wangji moves without thinking, ready to accompany him like they have done for the last five years, when Nie Huaisang sidles up to him and grabs his arm. By the time that Lan Wangji has stared at it for long enough to ensure removal, Wei Wuxian is already gone, and Nie Mingjue has followed him instead.

“Stay a minute, Wangji-xiong,” Nie Huaisang says. “Wasn’t it great how my brother killed that last one? Did you see how he beheaded it?”

“It was very impressive,” Lan Wangji says. It has been years since he night hunted with Nie Mingjue, but he still remembers what a revelation it had been, to see a fighting style so uniquely different from Gusu Lan.

“Hanguang-jun performed admirably as well, of course,” Nie Huaisang says, and Lan Wangji inclines his head. He has no need of praise, and besides, Wei Wuxian has already complimented him earlier.

They walk in silence for a few seconds, and it has Lan Wangji wondering if maybe Nie Huaisang is afraid. He’s not a strong cultivator, and his sword skills are abysmal; this is the first night hunt that Lan Wangji can ever remember him attending. It would have been more prudent to stay behind, but then again, one of his sect’s precepts demand that one should always strive for self-betterment. If Nie Huaisang wants to better himself, then that should be encouraged. And if he is afraid, then it’s Lan Wangji’s responsibility to make sure that there is no cause for concern.

Wei Wuxian would probably offer words of assurance here, so Lan Wangji tries his best to do the same.

“There is no shame in weakness,” he says, vaguely recalling his uncle’s advice. “There is only shame in failing to try.”

“Um,” Nie Huaisang says.

Already he can see that his words are falling flat. Part of growing up has been the realisation that the rules of Gusu Lan are not blindly applicably in every situation, and here, with someone as undisciplined as Nie Huaisang, they have no effect whatsoever. So instead, he tries to imagine what Wei Wuxian would say. He’d laugh, probably, initiate some sort of physical contact, and then he’d come up with a solution. Lan Wangji can do that, at least, even if he can’t do the rest.

“I will be in Carp Tower for a week,” he says. “I practice the sword every morning. You may join.”

Nie Huaisang stays silent for so long that Lan Wangji glances at him to make sure he hasn’t accidentally used the silence spell. The eye contact makes Nie Huaisang break out of it; he jumps and hastily says, “That’s a very generous offer, and I would love to take it, provided that I’m awake so early, of course. Really, very generous. Training with Hanguang-jun is a privilege. Hey, did you hear something just now?”

He walks off in the direction of the supposed sound with an enthusiasm that seems uncharacteristic, and Lan Wangji follows him, satisfied that for once, his words have had their intended effect.

***

The plan is going well. The plan is going well! Jin Zixuan hasn’t slept in what feels like weeks now, and this morning Jin Ling vomited on him right after he got changed, and Jiang Yanli, the light of his life, has already mentioned how fortunate growing up with siblings is and how they shouldn’t deprive A-Ling of that experience, which strikes Jin Zixuan as wildly optimistic when it comes to their parenting skills, but all of that doesn’t matter, because the plan is going well. This morning’s night hunt saw Nie Mingjue and Wei Wuxian tied as the victors, with Jiang Wanyin coming in a close second, and Lan Wangji, for some reason, falling far behind – Nie Huaisang must have taken his job as a distraction very seriously indeed. Doesn’t matter; if Lan Wangji isn’t showing off his skills to impress potential spouses, then that’s not Jin Zixuan’s problem.

With Nie Mingjue and Wei Wuxian winning, this gave him an excellent excuse to seat them at their own secluded table tonight, and from what he can see, they’re going along great. But, and here Jin Zixuan must admit (in a very un-Jin-like fashion) that there might be a small flaw in the plan, it’s still not good enough yet. They’re talking, and when he looked over earlier Wei Wuxian was touching and admiring Nie Mingjue’s biceps for reasons that make Jin Zixuan blush just thinking about. But they’re still in the middle of the banquet, amongst a group of loud cultivators, and none of it screams romance. So naturally the thing to do next is to get them alone.

He makes his move shortly before the dances start. There will be a combination of traditional Lanling and Yunmeng dances, to celebrate the unity of their sects, and participation isn’t mandatory, but expected. It’s the perfect opportunity to suggest a romantic walk in the moonlight.

Before he can declare his intentions to make his way over there, however, his wife puts one hand on his arm and says quietly, “Chifeng-zun doesn’t look like he’s enjoying himself, is he?”

They look over; Nie Mingjue does indeed appear less than thrilled by the announcement of the upstarting dances. Sensing an opening, Jin Zixuan says, “I did hear that Nie Mingjue isn’t much for dancing.”

“We should have thought of an alternate entertainment,” Jiang Yanli says guiltily, like it’s a crime that they’re only providing one entertainment option at their own son’s celebration.

Jin Zixuan smiles and nods towards Wei Wuxian, who is currently using his chopsticks to demonstrate some sort of sword motion to Nie Mingjue. “Perhaps we could convince your brother to take a walk with him outside? It’s a nice night out, Wei Wuxian could show him the gardens.”

“I don’t think A-Xian even knows where the gardens are,” Jiang Yanli says, but absently so, like she’s thinking about it. After a small pause, she shakes her head slightly, and stands on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his cheek. “It’s a nice idea. I’ll ask.”

This is going better than he hoped. Jin Zixuan allows himself a few moments of quiet triumph while Jiang Yanli goes over right after Nie Mingjue excuses himself, before he realises that for maybe the first time ever, Wei Wuxian isn’t instantly agreeing with what his sister asks him to.

He arrives there just as Wei Wuxian is saying, “-Lan Zhan supposed to do?”

Jiang Yanli doesn’t turn towards him at his approach, but she does shift slightly, making space for him at her side automatically, and Jin Zixuan gladly takes it. “A-Xuan could do it,” she suggests, and alarm bells instantly start shrilling in Jin Zixuan’s head.

“I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.”

Wei Wuxian narrows his eyes at him, his gaze is derisive as it wanders over him. Soon, Jin Zixuan repeats his mantra to himself. Soon.

“Him? Shijie, are you really going to subject Hanguang-jun to that?”

“Excuse me,” Jin Zixuan says, offended.

“A-Xian,” Jiang Yanli says, her tone chiding. Instantly, Wei Wuxian deflates.

“I’m just trying to look out for Lan Zhan,” he pouts, his face the picture of injured pride. Predictably, Jiang Yanli falls for it as her expression instantly softens, which is either due to her benevolent nature or the curse of siblings; Jin Zixuan wouldn’t know either way.

She looks at him, and even though her smile is as gentle as always, Jin Zixuan can tell from the way that Wei Wuxian grimaces at him from behind her back that he’s not going to like what he hears next.

“A-Xian has agreed to show Chifeng-zun around when he gets back,” Jiang Yanli says. “But he’s already promised Hanguang-jun to go see A-Ling.” She stops there, like he knows what will follow.

Sadly, he does.

It's for a good cause, he reminds himself.

“If Lan Wangji wishes, then I could visit A-Ling with him,” he says, taking care to smile so no one knows he’s clenching his teeth. “Although I’m sure that he’ll prefer to-“

“Excellent,” Wei Wuxian says loudly. “You’ve got to do it right, though. Lan Zhan loves babies. If he wants to hold A-Ling, let him. If he wants to kidnap him and raise him as his own in a faraway tower somewhere, let him do that, too. Aiyo, shijie,” he says, dispirited, “I can’t believe you’re making me miss out on seeing Lan Zhan with a kid.”

Luckily, Nie Mingjue returns before anyone can reply to that, and he gamely accepts Wei Wuxian’s offer to go outside. Mission accomplished, thinks Jin Zixuan, very pleased with himself.

Then Jiang Yanli nudges him in the direction of where Lan Wangji is sitting, and he remembers the second part of the mission: keep Lan Wangji away from Wei Wuxian so to not alienate Nie Mingjue with this weird animosity. Seeing Lan Zhan with a kid, really?

As far as mockery goes, it’s a strange one.

But if this is what he has to do to get Wei Wuxian out of his house, then so be it.

***

Lan Wangji has long since given up on understanding the thoughts, actions and intentions of others. He’s not self-conscious; he knows his own strengths, and he can acknowledge that communication is one of his weaknesses. It’s not something that often comes up: in Cloud Recesses, he’s among like-minded people who all adhere by the same rules and share the same goals, and when he’s night hunting with Wei Wuxian, then Wei Wuxian will gladly talk for both of them.

But he’s been in Carp Tower for two days, and already he can feel himself fraying at the edges with all the talking to strangers and the unfamiliar situations and the constant underlying suspicion that he’s missing something. Yesterday night, Wei Wuxian changed his mind about spending time with Lan Wangji, which in itself wouldn’t be enough to warrant annoyance. Even when they travel together they’re not together constantly, and Lan Wangji is not going to get upset over a change of plans. Then again, these changes of plans don’t usually involve Wei Wuxian asking other people to take his place.

Lan Wangji doesn’t have anything against Jin Zixuan personally, not like Wei Wuxian does, but after spending a very uncomfortable hour with him yesterday while they were watching his infant son, he can’t help but wonder if he’s being punished for something. If he is, then Lan Wangji would much prefer copying rules a thousand times than watching Jin Zixuan get spit on by a baby and awkwardly question him about the health of his brother.

The fact that yesterday was the last day of the big celebration is somewhat of a consolidation, if lessened by Lan Wangji’s knowing that what follows will be two more days where it’s just friends and family – and, apparently, Lan Wangji.

That’s not quite fair; Nie Mingjue and Nie Huaisang are staying as well, though for what reason, Lan Wangji can’t quite discern. He knows that his invitation was supposed to be for Lan Xichen, but even so, he’s unaware of any noteworthy friendship between his brother and the Jin Sect, and the same goes for Nie Mingjue. Nie Huaisang, at least, went to school with both Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli, and he’s friends with Wei Wuxian, so maybe that’s why.

Whatever it is, Lan Wangji is tired of attempting to understand what he cannot. Two more days before he returns to Cloud Recesses. Maybe Wei Wuxian will come with him, although he probably won’t, not with his nephew here. Lan Wangji should probably get used to the fact that this is how it’s going to be from now on.

He uses the quiet hours of the morning to practice with Bichen on the Jin Sect’s vast estate. The sun rises in his back as he moves through his forms, picking up the pace. At some point he hears quiet footsteps behind him, but he already knows before turning that it won’t be Nie Huaisang who’s joined him.

“I can’t believe you didn’t invite me,” Wei Wuxian says, pulling out his own sword to counter Lan Wangji’s move against shadow attackers.

They fall into their sparring routine easily, even though it’s been months that they’ve last practiced together like this.

“Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian says, “Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, slow down a bit, will you? I think I’m getting too old for this.”

It’s such an obvious lie that Lan Wangji raises an eyebrow at him and performs an intricate series of attacks that would draw blood if Wei Wuxian hadn’t blocked them all with swift efficiency.

“Lying is forbidden,” he says once Wei Wuxian has skipped a few steps back, revaluating his strategy.

Wei Wuxian grins at him, and this time Lan Wangji is the one who’s forced to retreat under the sudden onslaught. “Are you gonna make me copy lines, Hanguang-jun?”

“No.”

“No?” Wei Wuxian repeats, beaming even as he uses Suibian for a move that’s designed to spill out one’s opponent’s guts. “Is it because you like me so much?”

“It’s because copying lines have had no effect,” Lan Wangji says and jumps back just in time. “Stricter measures need to be taken.” With that, he ducks abruptly, avoiding another attack by Suibian and aiming his blade at Wei Wuxian’s legs. Wei Wuxian steps aside, but his eyes widen; Lan Wangji has caught him off-guard. Using that split second of surprise to his advantage, Lan Wangji spins and, in a move that he’s perfected in the time they were apart, lands behind Wei Wuxian, holding a blade against his neck.

A tense second passes, another one, and then Wei Wuxian laughs and shakes his head. “Of course you won,” he says, sheathing his sword as Lan Wangji does the same, “you’re the best. I can hardly compare.”

“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji says, drawing another laugh from Wei Wuxian.

“No, you’re right,” he says, “I designed this new talisman that would have beat you for sure. Are you going to thank me for going easy on you?”

Lan Wangji waits until Wei Wuxian is looking at him, and says, “Thank you.”

He’s rewarded with a smile and a touch on his arm as they go back, feather-light and gone as quick as it appeared. “I’m joking, I forgot the talisman in my room. Hey, Lan Zhan?”

“Mn.”

“I miss your uncle’s disapproving glares. Let’s go back to Gusu soon, okay?”

Lan Wangji opens his mouth, but finds that he has no words. Let’s go back to Gusu, Wei Wuxian said. Like he plans to – like he’s not going to – like he really does want to return to Gusu. Like he wants to do so with Lan Wangji.

“Let’s go back,” he agrees at last. His chest feels so light all of a sudden that he thinks he could win a hundred fights against Wei Ying now.

***

They’re at breakfast, the sun is shining brightly, and the world has never seemed happier, because just now, Wei Wuxian agreed to come to Qinghe for a visit soon.

Granted, it was Nie Huaisang who extended the invitation, but that’s probably just because he realises what Jin Zixuan has been trying to do these past few days and wants to show his support. And granted, Wei Wuxian still doesn’t understand boundaries, because he immediately invites Lan Wangji along – and, of course, he’s really obnoxious about it.

“Of course, I’ll come to Qinghe,” Wei Wuxian says, eyes bright with the promise of adventure. “It’ll be nice, won’t it, Lan Zhan? Get a bit of a break from everyday sect life.”

No one points out that Wei Wuxian has ‘taken a break’ for two months and, on a much larger scale, ever since they graduated from Cloud Recesses, and that he hasn’t been part of ‘everyday sect life’ in just as long.

“Hanguang-jun is welcome too, of course,” Nie Huaisang adds, not sounding very sincere about it.

To Jin Zixuan’s surprise, it’s Nie Mingjue who jumps in with, “You haven’t been to visit in a while, Wangji. You should join Xichen next time.”

Belatedly, Jin Zixuan remembers that Nie Mingjue and Lan Xichen are friends, and by the time that he recalls it, the conversation has moved on and the damage is done.

“We’ll do it in autumn,” Wei Wuxian decides, pouring coffee for Lan Wangji without being asked. “We can go to Lotus Pier afterwards, say hello to Jiang Cheng before we go back to Gusu!”

“Wei Wuxian,” Jiang Wanyin hisses, “don’t just invite yourself into other people’s homes like that! Have you no manners?”

“Lotus Pier isn’t other people’s home, it’s my home,” Wei Wuxian says at the same time that Lan Wangji says, “Gusu will always welcome Wei Ying.”

From what Jin Zixuan remembers of his days in Cloud Recesses, he highly doubts this. Jiang Wanyin’s thoughts must be running along those same lines, because he raises an eyebrow and takes a judgemental sip of tea.

Wei Wuxian, naturally, laughs and bumps his shoulders into Lan Wangji’s, making him spill some of his coffee. “Don’t let Old Man Lan hear you say that! Thinks of his blood pressure, Lan Zhan. I hate to think that Hanguang-jun has no respect for his elders.”

Lan Wangji seems to consider this, and amends, “I will welcome Wei Ying, then.”

“Lan Zhan!”

“I think I’m going to be sick,” Jiang Wanyin says to no one in particular. Nie Huaisang, who is sitting next to him, looks at him in alarm and inches away from him. Once he’s safely out of puking distance, he says, “Jiang-xiong, you should try some of that coffee I brought from Qinghe. It’s the latest trend! Wangji-xiong, do you like it?”

“No,” Lan Wangji says immediately.

“Oh.” Nie Huaisang sounds uncertain. “I mean, you don’t have to- Wangji-xiong, if you don’t like it, you don’t have to drink it, of course.”

“Wei Ying poured it for me,” Lan Wangji says, and drains the cup. To his left, Wei Wuxian is staring at him, his mouth falling open.

“Oh,” he says.

“Mn,” Lan Wangji agrees. There’s an odd vibe at the table now, one that makes Jin Zixuan deeply uncomfortable for reasons he can’t quite explain. When he glances at Nie Mingjue, he finds that Chifeng-zun’s gaze is darting between Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian, a faint frown etched on his face. Probably he’s wondering what the hell is wrong with Wei Wuxian; Jin Zixuan sympathises, but he also can’t let it stand in the way of his – of Wei Wuxian’s – of Jin Zixuan’s happiness.

It’s clear that Jin Zixuan needs to step up his game, if he ever wants this to work out.

***

Lan Wangji is just about to leave his quarters when someone knocks and, without waiting for his reply, barges inside.

He expects it to be Wei Wuxian, early for their walk to the nearby market or announcing that actually, he’s changed his mind about it, and they should go do something else. Depending on his mood, he might ask Lan Wangji three times over if he’s sure that the change of plan is acceptable to him, or he might simply drag him along with no room for protests.

It’s not Wei Wuxian.

It’s Luo Qingyang – Mianmian, his ever-present memory of Wei Wuxian cheerfully corrects him.

Lan Wangji’s relationship with Mianmian is a complicated one. Rationally, he knows there is no cause for resentment; after all, she was always a diligent student, complimented Lan Wangji’s hairpiece once, and defended Wei Wuxian to Lan Qiren. More than once. So Lan Wangji has absolutely no reason to dislike her, at least not one he can freely admit to.

The truth, of course, is almost to shameful to examine, and he can never, ever tell anyone, least of all Wei Wuxian.

And now she’s here, in his quarters, and Lan Wangji doesn’t quite know what to do. They bow, and Lan Wangji waits, sure that whatever it is, he’ll find out soon enough.

He doesn’t have to wait long. Mianmian bows again and says, “Hanguang-jun, there is something you should know, and you can’t tell anyone that I told you.”

“Go on.”

“You can’t tell anyone,” Mianmian repeats. “Do you promise?”

“It will not leave this room,” Lan Wangji tells her.

“Good,” Mianmian says, in that slightly surprised way that people often adopt when Lan Wangji proves himself to be not quite as cold as they expected him to be. “And please remember that I’m just the messenger and that I’m really not at all involved in any of this. I wanted to visit my parents this week, you know. But Jin-zonghzu insisted that I stay and- doesn’t matter. So. Here it goes. It’s- no, gods, I can’t say it.”

“Is it about Wei Ying?” Lan Wangji asks, his stomach sinking when Mianmian nods. His first thought is that she’s here to announce that they eloped, but he recognises this as irrational jealousy. Wei Ying is the most open person Lan Wangji has ever met, and he may be impulsive enough to elope, but he would never be able to hide his feelings for someone. If Wei Ying was truly infatuated with someone to the point of marriage, then Lan Wangji feels sure he would know.

“Tell me,” he demands. He says it with authority, like he has any right to private information about Wei Wuxian. It’s almost a lie, but it seems to strengthen Mianmian’s resolve. She gives another sharp nod, this one more to herself. When she speaks again, her voice is steady.

“Jin-zongzhu is arranging a betrothal between Wei Wuxian and Chifeng-zun. I thought you would want to know.”

“A betrothal?” Lan Wangji repeats. It’s a warm day in summer, and yet he feels cold, like he’s taken a bath in the Cold Pond. It’s the strangest thing.

“It won’t be formalised for a while yet,” Mianmian says. “Jin-zongzhu can only set it up, the rest needs to be done by Jiang Wanyin. There’s still time.”

Lan Wangji isn’t sure what’s going on, why she is telling him this, or what he’s supposed to reply. He only knows that he can’t stay in this room for a second longer. “Excuse me,” Lan Wangji says, bows, and takes his leave, distantly aware that this is rude and yet entire incapable of caring.

***

Nie Mingjue hasn’t raised his little brother all by himself to not know when Something is Going On. As brother and guardian to Nie Huaisang, he now prides himself on his ability to smell bullshit from a mile away. It’s why, when Lan Wangji walks past him in the courtyard with nothing but a nod, Nie Mingjue is instantly on high alert. No one looks away that quickly when they have nothing to hide.

If it was Nie Huaisang, Nie Mingjue would demand a search of his quarters immediately. But this is Xichen’s little brother, whom he taught how to make snowballs and how to sucker-punch people, and who let Nie Mingjue pat his head and once came to Qinghe to play guqin for him after an injury. There is no way a search of his quarters would bring up anything useful. Lan Wangji isn’t the kind of person to store porn or liquor under his bed; the trouble now is that Nie Mingjue isn’t totally sure what person Lan Wangji is instead, not when it comes to a guilty conscience.

He decides to let it slide for now. He has lunch with his brother and afterwards goes to the market with him, Jiang Wanyin, and Wei Wuxian, who’s sulking throughout the entire trip. And that evening, Lan Wangji passes him in the corridor and avoids his gaze, and Nie Mingjue thinks, that’s it.

“Wangji!”

Ever so slowly, Lan Wangji turns to face him, his expression impassive. But Nie Mingjue remembers that this exact expression also crossed his face when one of the other disciples accidentally shot him in the arm, more than a decade ago now. Wangji’s usually flawless white robes had been stained red, and still he had remained perfectly serene. It had unnerved Nie Mingjue back then, and he isn’t happy about it now, but he can work with it.

“Wangji,” he says again, “let’s go for a walk.” He doesn’t give Lan Wangji a chance to protest, marching in the direction of the gardens in the certain knowledge that Lan Wangji is too polite to do anything but follow.

They walk in silence for some time, past cherry blossom trees and peony bushes, until Nie Mingjue is sure that they won’t be overheard. “Tell me what’s going on,” he says bluntly, and watches a quick flash of something cross Lan Wangji’s face.

“I do not understand the question,” Lan Wangji says in what is such an obvious lie that Nie Mingjue almost laughs. He should’ve pushed harder for Nie Huaisang to befriend Lan Wangji; if nothing else, it would have made Lan Wangji a better liar.

“You understood me just fine. Look,” he adds, gentler now, “we don’t have to turn this into a big thing. But if something is bothering you, then I want to know.”

“It is,” Lan Wangji says quietly, “none of your concern, Chifeng-zun.”

The words are intended to make him back off, to leave Lan Wangji the hell alone and to not come back. Nie Mingjue knows this, he’s intimately familiar with this trick, and yet, he can’t help but be hurt. But Lan Wangji made a mistake. He assumed that because this sort of thing works with Xichen, it will work with Nie Mingjue. And Nie Mingjue won’t back off if it kills him.

“I’m making it my concern.”

There’s that flicker of something again, yet to be identified. Still, Lan Wangji stays silent.

“Xichen would be worried,” Nie Mingjue says, and is rewarded with the first crack in Lan Wangji’s mask: pure shock, closely followed by betrayal.

“You would tell him?”

“So there’s something to tell?”

“I-“ Lan Wangji starts, and stops again, looking pained. “It is not prudent to speak of it. Nor necessary. The matter is settled.”

Nie Mingjue thinks about the past few days, about everything he’s seen and heard, and casually says, “Is it to do with Wei-gongzi?”

He would have missed the flinch if he hadn’t been looking for it, gone so quickly that it’s almost imperceptible.

Suddenly, Lan Wangji stops walking, and by the time that Nie Mingjue turns, he’s bowing. “Congratulations on your engagement,” he says stiffly, and walks before Nie Mingjue has processed this. He watches Lan Wangji’s retreating back until Lan Wangji disappears behind a hedge, too shocked to call him back.

***

Sometimes, Lan Wangji worries that there is something wrong with him. When Wei Wuxian first came to the Cloud Recesses, Lan Wangji used to agonise over whether there was some fatal character flaw that Wei Wuxian’s presence would lay open for the world to see. That feeling lessened over time, but occasionally he’s still hit with overwhelming waves of fear that if people – if Wei Wuxian, if his brother – just look closely enough, they will know all his most shameful secrets.

These days, he seems to be revealing them more and more, until soon there will be nothing left at all.

He meditates, or at least attempts to, his thoughts a storm in his mind that won’t calm. Wei Wuxian is engaged, or will be. It’s impossible to think that just this morning, they sparred together and planned visits to Qinghe.

On some level, Lan Wangji realises that he’s being petty, that he has no right to feel hurt, just like he had no right to dislike Mianmian. But this is the kind of person he is, the kind of person he has no choice being, and all things considered, it’s probably fortunate that Wei Wuxian’s future spouse is Lan Wangji’s opposite in every way.

He spends the rest of the day hiding away in one of the outer gardens, skipping the midday meal as well as the trip to the market; if Wei Wuxian comes searching for him, he won’t think to check the entire residence, and the Jins’ estate is too vast anyway.

Running into Nie Mingjue is Lan Wangji’s first mistake, running into him again is his second, and then from that point on, the mistakes are too many to count.

Lan Wangji must have broken at least six rules today, but it’s not the disregard of his sect’s precepts that worries him. He can copy lines until his hands bleed, but how is he supposed to atone for sins that the wall of rules doesn’t cover?

To make matters worse, he’s been back in his quarters for less than two minutes, getting ready for bed in the certain knowledge that it’s going to be a sleepless night, before Wei Wuxian barges in, pointing an accusing finger at him. “Lan Zhan! I cannot believe you betrayed me like this. Me! Your best friend, your beloved cultivation partner, the light of your life! We waited for you and I told Jiang Cheng, no, Lan Zhan wouldn’t stand me up like this. Now Jiang Cheng will be insufferable.”

“I apologise,” Lan Wangji says, unable to meet his eyes. He has no excuse, so he doesn’t offer one, and the words hang in the air for a few seconds until Wei Wuxian comes closer. Normally this is where Lan Wangji would step back, quick to put some distance between them. Today, he stands his ground, because it’s the only thing he still knows how to do.

“Lan-er-gongzi should make it up to me,” Wei Wuxian says, coming closer still. “To soothe my broken heart.”

“What would you like?”

Wei Wuxian smiles, delighted that Lan Wangji is playing along. “So many options! Let’s see. Can I touch your forehead ribbon?”

“No.”

“Can I tell Jiang Cheng that you named one of your rabbits Whiskers?”

“No.”

“Can I have a strand of your hair?”

“No,” Lan Wangji says, one protective hand flying up to touch his hair despite himself. Wei Wuxian’s eyes trail the motion, his smile widening at the thought of having broken Lan Wangji’s composure.

“Your guqin, then,” Wei Wuxian suggests, and laughs at whatever he sees in Lan Wangji’s face. “Ah, no need to say anything, I can tell that it’s going to be another No. You’re so boring, declining me every little joy I have left in life now that Hanguang-jun has broken my trust like this. If you’re going to just say no to everything, maybe I should just leave, and-“

“No!” The word escapes Lan Wangji’s mouth before he can help it, and now that they’re out, he presses his lips firmly together, unable to take them back, unable to elaborate.

“No?” Wei Wuxian repeats. He seems to be on the verge of laughing, but then, he always is, like he spends his entire life waiting for the right joke to come along. “You don’t want me to leave? Are you sure? If I stay, I’m going to annoy you unbearably.”

“Stay,” Lan Wangji manages.

“What if I don’t want to? Are you going to stop me? Are you going to tie me up? You should use your ribbon for that. Can I touch it?”

“You already asked that,” Lan Wangji reminds him.

“So, can I?”

“No.”

“Lan Zhan! So mean,” Wei Wuxian whines, and then, finally, he appears to realise that he’s interrupted Lan Wangji’s nightly routine. “Were you taking off your headpiece? Wait, is it past your bedtime?”

It is, but Lan Wangji is reluctant to say so and put a stop to this evening. Seeing Wei Ying since the revelation of his upcoming betrothal hurts, but now that he’s had an entire day to get used to it, he finds that not seeing him at all hurts worse. Still, his sect’s rules are ingrained too deply, and Lan Wangji is too much of himself, to actually lie. He compromises by saying nothing.

Luckily, Wei Wuxian has never met a silence he didn’t at least attempt to fill. “I can’t believe you let me keep you up! Well, there’s nothing for it now. Let’s get you to bed, eh, Lan Zhan? Come on, I will help you take that thing off.”

“There is no need,” Lan Wangji says, not entirely sure what it is that he’s declining.

“Of course there is,” Wei Wuxian says confidently. He reaches for Lan Wangji and, in an uncharacteristic display of restraint, stops the motion halfway through, looking at him questioningly. “Will you let me?”

Lan Wangji should say no. Wei Wuxian clearly expects him to.

He says, “Yes.” And then he turns his head, so that Wei Wuxian can reach him better, so that Lan Wangji doesn’t have to meet his eyes.

There’s a shocked silence, but it lasts barely a second or two before Wei Wuxian, apparently rendered speechless, starts removing the ornament and the dozen tiny pins holding Lan Wangji’s hair in place. It takes a while. Lan Wangji wears his hair in the traditional style of Gusu Lan, which means: complicated to put up and even more complicated to remove, and Wei Wuxian doesn’t have the same kind of experience. But he gives it his best attempt, and besides, Lan Wangji doesn’t mind waiting. Every so often, Wei Wuxian’s fingers will brush his neck or the shell of his ear, and Lan Wangji shivers every time.

“Are you cold?” Wei Wuxian asks eventually. “I can get you a blanket.”

“I’m fine,” Lan Wangji says, aware that his voice comes out slightly strangled.

“Are you sure? We can’t have you running cold, your uncle would kill me. He’d ask me, where’s Lan Zhan, and I’d say, oh he’s sick, and Old Master Lan would have me publicly whipped for not taking care of his favourite nephew.”

Lan Wangji resents the implication that he needs anyone to take care of him, but he also has to acknowledge that this course of events does not sound unlikely. He settles on, “No favourite.”

Wei Wuxian has finally managed to take off all the pins, and is now brushing Lan Wangji’s hair with his fingers. There’s a perfectly good comb somewhere in the room, but if Wei Wuxian hasn’t discovered it yet, then Lan Wangji won’t tell him.

“Of course you’re his favourite! Although that’s not fair to Zewu-jun, is it? I feel very sorry for him. But he’ll just have to realise that it can’t be helped, with a little brother like that.”

“Ridiculous,” Lan Wangji says, because if he doesn’t, he might combust from the warmth those words have ignited in him. It occurs to him that Wei Wuxian might be the only person alive who prefers him to his brother.

“Humble as always, I see! You’re all done now, by the way.” Despite his words, Wei Wuxian continues running his fingers through Lan Wangji’s hair. Lan Wangji is sure that were he to turn around, he’d find Wei Wuxian smiling. “How do you get your hair to be so silky?”

“Plenty of care.”

“That doesn’t sound right. It must be some kind of ancient Gusu Lan magic,” Wei Wuxian decides. “How could you conceal it from me? Don’t you want me to be pretty? That’s so selfish of you. And definitely against the precepts!”

“You’re pretty,” Lan Wangji says, and regrets it immediately. It’s not even accurate, way too casual to describe what the sight of Wei Wuxian does to him, how it lights up any room. Also, it’s highly inappropriate, maybe the most wanton thing he’s ever said.
Wei Wuxian must agree, because he finally drops his hands. This leaves Lan Wangji with no more excuses not to look at him, so he does. Wei Wuxian is staring, a blush high on his cheeks, which Lan Wangji supposes is only fair. It seems oddly fitting that of all things, this is what finally causes Wei Wuxian to develop a sense of shame.

“Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian says and, incredibly, he laughs, shaking his head. Lan Wangji, who has become an expert at Wei Wuxian’s laughter, recognises this one as insincere. “Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan. Sometimes you say these things, and you sound so serious that I almost believe you. Sometimes I think you might- but I know you’re not. What am I supposed to do with that?”

“Wei Ying.”

“Don’t,” Wei Wuxian says. He smiles at Lan Wangji but that, too, looks artificial. “If you say my name like that, I’m not going to- Don’t worry about it, alright? I’m handling it. Or, well, I’m trying to.”

“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji says, even though he’s just been told not to. It seems the only thing left to say.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Wei Wuxian yells, like making noise will help with the awkwardness, and flees.

Lan Wangji thinks about what just happened, but can’t come up with any reason for Wei Wuxian’s behaviour, so he goes to bed.

The next morning, his brother is there.

***

Nie Mingjue knows that Lan Wangji would have preferred not to get Lan Xichen involved. And that’s exactly why Lan Xichen had to be involved, because in Nie Mingjue’s experience, anything worthy of being kept a secret should immediately be disclosed to your big brother without hesitation. He basically owes it to Lan Xichen.

Lan Xichen, naturally, follows his emergency butterfly at once and arrives in Lanling within a day. He embraces Nie Mingjue with long familiarity, and doesn’t question it when Nie Mingjue drags him to one of the unused drawing rooms without letting him greet Sect Leader Jin and his wife.

“You know,” Lan Xichen says, taking a sip from his tea and grimacing almost imperceptibly at the taste, “I believe this is the first time I’ve ever been called to deal with Wangji’s behaviour.” He pauses to sip his tea again, a twinkle in his eyes. “It is very thrilling.”

Nie Mingjue, who has been called to deal with Nie Huaisang’s behaviour more times than he can count, can’t relate. But Xichen looks so honestly pleased that he can’t begrudge him this, even though Gusu Lan Sect is a mystery.

“So what has my brother done?” Lan Xichen asks, and Nie Mingjue takes a moment to think about what a difficult question this is. Then he thinks, screw it. Lan Wangji lost his right to privacy the moment he was born as a sibling.

“Oh,” Lan Xichen says, much later, his tea long grown cold. “Oh, my. That’s – that is rather unfortunate, isn’t it?”

“Don’t take it too hard,” Nie Mingjue advises. “At least Wangji only thinks Wei-gongzi is engaged.”

“Engaged to you,” Lan Xichen points out politely.

“Yes, but look at it this way: you’ve never caught your brother writing explicit love letters, have you?”

There’s a pause. Lan Xichen looks faintly pained. “There have been –songs.”

Another pause. Nie Mingjue feels an abrupt wave of second-hand embarrassment wash over him.

“Anyway,” he says, deciding that he’s going to delete this information from his mind immediately, “I know what we should do.”

“Of course.” Lan Xichen nods. “Talk to all the people involved and resolve the matter immediately.”

Nie Mingjue’s heart weeps for Lan Xichen. “No,” he says, and points at Lan Xichen with Baxia for emphasis. “No! Wrong!”

“So we should-“

“What we should do,” Nie Mingjue tells Lan Xichen pointedly, “is beat the emotional vulnerability out of Wangji with force.”

Lan Xichen stares at him.

“With love,” Nie Mingjue amends.

Lan Xichen looks uncertain.

“Oh for – Xichen, wake up! You have no idea what agony this past week has been for me. All that pining, and now this? No. I refuse. What if the next betrothal is for real? Is Wangji going to lock himself away in seclusion and write sad poetry for fifty years?”

“Music,” Lan Xichen corrects delicately.

“That’s insane,” Nie Mingjue says diplomatically. “No. Your brother prefers pining over manning up? He better be prepared for some jealousy then.”

“Mingjue,” Lan Xichen says, ever so careful. “What is your plan?”

Nie Mingjue tells him.

***

Zewu-jun has visited Carp Tower a number of times in the years that have passed since Jin Zixuan became sect leader, and of course, they see each other every few months at cultivation conferences, shared night hunts, and whenever Lan Xichen is “in the area” and drops by to visit Jiang Yanli, Jin Zixuan’s 27 half-siblings, and some random townspeople he befriended. Last time, he brought them a stray cat he picked up. It still sleeps in their bed at night. Jin Zixuan is allergic to cats.

When Lan Xichen comes this time, it’s without explanation and only barely with an invitation – after all, he’d already sent Lan Wangji instead. But maybe Lan Xichen realised that his younger brother prefers stony silence over idle chitchat, or maybe he heard that Nie Mingjue is about to get engaged and wanted to get in there first. If it’s the latter, then he’s too late, because simultaneous with his arrival, sparks between Nie Mingjue and Wei Wuxian have finally flown.

“Does he need a reason?” the best and kindest wife of all time asks, that night at the spontaneous welcoming banquet that they organised to celebrate Zewu-jun’s arrival. Everyone is ignoring the fact that this was supposed to be a celebration for Jin Ling, which Jin Zixuan can’t be too annoyed by, because he, too, kind of forgot about this fact in the past week. Luckily Jin Ling is too young to notice, and if he does, he’ll get over it. “Maybe he just wanted to congratulate us on the birth.”

“Maybe,” Jin Zixuan says, barely listening. He’s too busy trying to eavesdrop on the conversation between Nie Mingjue and his terrible brother-in-law. They’re sitting very closely together, and just now, Nie Mingjue put a hand on Wei Wuxian’s arm.

“-visit me in Qinghe,” Nie Mingjue is saying. “I can show you my blade collection.”

“You should,” Zewu-jun jumps in, like he’s been waiting for a reason to. “I’ve seen it. It’s very impressive. Quite big, too.”

“The biggest,” Nie Mingjue says.

At the other end of the table, Lan Wangji breaks a glass.

“I would love to! I already promised your brother a visit, so we can combine the two! I’m looking forward to it, Chifeng-zun.”

“Please,” Nie Mingjue says, and lets his hand travel further up, until it lands on Wei Wuxian’s shoulder. “Call me Mingjue.”

From the corner of his eye, Jin Zixuan can see that Lan Wangji has just walked out, but there are more important things to focus on.

The next step, he knows, is to get Jiang Wanyin in on this plan.

He waits until the next day, and asks Jiang Wanyin to join him for a private breakfast. Jiang Wanyin is clearly sceptical of this, presumably because Jin Zixuan has never asked him for a private anything in their lives. But he agrees, which is a start.

“I wanted to talk to you about Wei Wuxian,” Jin Zixuan says, and attempts a benevolent smile. It falls flat in the face of Jiang Wanyin’s blank stare.

“Whatever he’s done, just make him fix it. Or pay for it. Possibly in hard labour. Don’t try to get him to apologise, because he won’t, and don’t come whining to me about it, either.”

“I assure you that Wei Wuxian hasn’t done anything,” Jin Zixuan says, and adds, “I know. I’m surprised, too.”

Jiang Wanyin pours chili oil on his rice noodles and manages to make the gesture look unimpressed. “This food is terrible,” he says, even though he’s on his second bowl. “I thought Lanling Jin would have enough money to hire a decent cook. My sister has always had a sensitive stomach.”

“As a matter of fact,” Jin Zixuan says, “it was A-Li who did us the honour of making breakfast today.”

“Of course she did,” Jiang Wanyin says without missing a beat, “it’s probably because she’s tired of whatever crap you serve her. I can’t believe you’re making her work in the kitchen.”
Jin Zixuan wonders if this is punishment for some atrocious sins he’s committed in a previous life. “The reason I asked you here,” he says pointedly, “is to talk about Wei Wuxian’s marital prospects.” Then he politely waits until Jiang Wanyin is finished coughing.

“Prospects?” Jiang Wanyin asks finally. “What prospects? What are you talking about?”

“So you have received no marriage offers on his behalf?”

“Well, of course I did,” Jiang Wanyin snaps. “But he’s declined them all, so I don’t bother him with it anymore. He’ll marry when he wants to. Which will be never.” He sounds frustrated about it, which serves Jin Zixuan well.

“What if,” he says, “I were to tell you that the opportunity of a match has presented itself?”

“Then I’d tell you that you’re slow on the uptake. That match isn’t going to happen until either of them gets their heads out of their asses. Which will also be never.”

Jin Zixuan sips his tea to hide his surprise that Jiang Wanyin already knows. Then again, after he’s spent so much effort on orchestrating this romance, why shouldn’t other people notice? Love is hard to miss, after all.

“And what if,” Jin Zixuan continues smoothly, “I were to tell you that we could make it happen? They both seem open to the idea. I’m sure that if we were to arrange something on Wei Wuxian’s behalf, he’d welcome it.”

“Hmph,” Jiang Wanyin says, and leaves it at that.

Jin Zixuan is so close, he can feel it. So he uses his last weapon. “I suppose you’re right,” he says. “It’d be such a shame to see your brother moving so far away. He’d be so out of reach. There would be no more surprise visits to either of us. I would hate for that to happen.”

Jiang Wanyin says nothing for what feels like a very long time. Then, “Fine. But if this blows up in our faces, you’ll be the one to fix it.”

“Don’t worry,” Jin Zixuan says with confidence. “I have it under control. There is no way this can go wrong.”

***

Not far from Carp Tower lies the bustling market in the centre of Lanling City. The crowd, the street musicians and the pushy vendors could all be straight from Gusu, and Lan Wangji loses interest within minutes. But he’s here because he’s been invited, and

Wei Wuxian, who has surely been to hundreds of markets in his life, seems so excited that Lan Wangji can’t begrudge him this.

This week is special, a merchant tells them after Lan Wangji has purchased steamed buns for them both, because they’re all here for Jin Ling’s two-month-celebration. That’s why all the stalls are dressed in gold and purple, the colours of Lanling Jin and Yunmeng Jiang, and it’s why there’s local food and wares from both places.

“Look, Lan Zhan, there’s lotus flowers everywhere,” Wei Wuxian says.

“Rumour has it that Sect Leader Jin built a lotus pond for Jiang Yanli in Carp Tower to show his devotion,” the merchant confides. As expected, Wei Wuxian’s face darkens at the mention of Jin Zixuan.

“So eager to please,” he mutters, before brightening. He nudges Lan Wangji. “Hey, you should build one in Cloud Recesses. It’d be great for morale.”

“Whose morale?”

“Mine, probably,” Wei Wuxian says, the merchant forgotten as he steers Lan Wangji in the direction of another stall. “Yours, too. Gardening is very relaxing, and you need a new hobby. You’re so boring, it makes me want to cry.”

“If it improves morale,” Lan Wangji says gravely, “then I will plant lotuses.”

“It’s impossible to tease you,” Wei Wuxian sulks, “it just slides off you like- hey, where are you going?”

Lan Wangji has already taken out his purse. It’s a bright purple, a splash of colour among his wardrobe, and he’s gotten more than one strange look for it. But Wei Wuxian gave it to him after they defeated a water spirit last year, and Lan Wangji doesn’t want any other. “I’m buying seeds,” Lan Wangji informs him. “For your lotus pond.”

They buy seeds, and a truly atrocious tea service set that Wei Wuxian claims will make the perfect birthday gift for Jiang Wanyin, and some sort of card game for Jin Ling that he won’t be able to play for several years. Then Wei Wuxian accidentally walks backwards into a food stall, which causes hot grease to spatter everywhere and also makes the big pot of soup empty its contents to the ground. Lan Wangji, long-practiced in the art of accompanying Wei Wuxian to public places, pays for the damage before Wei Wuxian can make any attempts at fixing the situation, and buys him sugar-coated haws to distract him.

Then Wei Wuxian spots a shooting gallery, where customers pay a copper coin for the chance to hit targets with an arrow. Predictably, Wei Wuxian wants to try it.

“You are a cultivator,” Lan Wangji argues. “It would be an unfair advantage.”

“Fair, what’s fair? Is life fair?” Wei Wuxian asks, and makes a grand hand gesture that’s either meant to encompass the market, or life in total. Because he’s still holding the jar of wine they bought earlier, some of it gets spilled on Lan Wangji’s clothes. Lan Wangji sighs, but doesn’t make any attempt to wipe it off; his robes are already full of grease. “Lan Zhan, you never let me have any fun. I’ll tell you what – if I win, I’ll give my prize to you, how about that?”

“You will win,” Lan Wangji says flatly, and Wei Wuxian lets out a laugh.

“So is that a no? Doesn’t matter, it’s too late. Sir! This humble servant would like to try his hand at your shooting challenge.”

He’s already walking over, so Lan Wangji has no choice but to follow. But when he attempts to hand the stall owner some copper, Wei Wuxian stops him with a hand on his wrist. If he notices Lan Wangji freezing beneath the touch, he doesn’t comment on it.

Instead, he says, “No, what kind of gift would it be if you just paid for it yourself? Don’t worry, I got this. Think about what you want!”

“You’re very confident, young master,” the stallholder says as he hands Wei Wuxian a bow and three arrows. “I’ll have you know that not many people manage to hit my targets!”

Wei Wuxian draws the bowstring, his eyes narrowing. “Is that so? Fascinating. You must not get many archers, then.”

“Well,” the stallholder says, but Wei Wuxian isn’t done. The polished tip arrowhead is pointed straight at one of the targets, a wooden sheep with peeling white paint, but he doesn’t let go.

“This is a very curious bow,” Wei Wuxian comments idly, like he’s talking about the weather. “Curious arrows, too. They must have been hard to acquire. Have many people complimented you on this?”

“Take the shot,” the man snaps at him. By now, they’ve drawn the attention of some spectators, and Lan Wangji notes a slowly increasing crowd forming at his back.

Wei Wuxian doesn’t take the shot. He says, “You know, on second thought, your targets do seem hard to hit. I’m sure you don’t mind if I use my own equipment for this?”

By the time he’s turned around, Lan Wangji has already summoned his bow and arrows. He’s not an archer, not the way Wei Ying is, but he comes prepared, and Wei Ying knows it.

Wei Wuxian takes them from him, winks, and loudly exclaims, “I’m terribly sorry for the inconvenience. But an untalented archer such as myself has to take every advantage he can get.”

“Take the shot,” the stallholder repeats, fuming. Wei Wuxian performs what might at best be called a half-hearted nod, and shoots.

All three arrows hit their targets.

“What an unexpected  turn of events,” Wei Wuxian says, humbly accepting a smattering applause from the crowd. “Lan Zhan, are you impressed?”

“Mn.”

“Alright, now you get to pick something. This is how it works, right?” he says to the merchant, faux-innocent. “I win, I get to pick a prize? Did I understand that correctly?”

“Yes,” the man grits out.

“Excellent,” Wei Wuxian says magnanimously. “Lan Zhan?”

Lan Wangji surveys the display. There are a few toys, a dusty bottle of wine, some stuffed animals. Nothing he particularly needs, nor desires.

While Lan Wangji is inspecting a chipped mug, Wei Wuxian holds something up and says, “We’d like this one.”

They wait until they’re out of earshot, and then Wei Wuxian laughs quietly to himself, shaking his head.

“Are you not going to alert the market owners of this?” Lan Wangji inquires, as they take a turn down one of the smaller, less busy streets.

“Of how he’s cheating people? Why would I?”

“It is,” Lan Wangji says, thinks, and ends on, “unjust.”

“These games always are,” Wei Wuxian says, shrugging. “That’s part of the fun.”

Lan Wangji doesn’t reply. Something must show on his face, because Wei Wuxian grips his elbow urgently, saying, “Don’t be mad at me! And don’t be sad, either. You’ve looked sad all day.”

Has he? Perhaps he has. If Wei Wuxian has noticed, have other people? The thought alone is enough to make Lan Wangji’s insides fill with dread.

“Here, I’ve got something to cheer you up,” Wei Wuxian says. “Give me your hand. No, stop looking suspicious. Just give it to me. Okay, good.” He presses something into Lan Wangji’s hand. When Lan Wangji opens it, he finds a silver hairpin, shaped like a lotus flower.

“For your hair,” Wei Wuxian explains unnecessarily. “We can put it in tomorrow. I thought – maybe you’ll let me style it. I did an alright job last night, didn’t I?”

“Yes,” Lan Wangji says once he feels he can speak again. “Wei Ying. Thank you.”

“It’s shaped like a lotus,” Wei Wuxian says, like Lan Wangji somehow hasn’t realised it. “So when you wear it, it will remind you of me.”

Lan Wangji has handed it back before he’s fully thought it through. He just knows that first he’s holding the pin, and then he’s given it to Wei Wuxian, closing his hand around it. Wei Wuxian looks at him, surprised, and also slightly hurt. “You don’t like it? It’s okay if you don’t! You probably have so many pins already.”

“No,” Lan Wangji says, the words feeling like they’re ripped from some previously unknown place inside him. “If I will need a reminder, it means you’re gone.” As always, it’s not what he really means to say. But it’s no use trying again, because Wei Wuxian is already frowning.

“Who says I’m gone? Gone where?”

“Qinghe.”

“Qinghe,” Wei Wuxian repeats slowly. “We’re going to Qinghe together, aren’t we? Nie Huaisang invited us.”

“Nie Mingjue invited you,” Lan Wangji says, emphasising the last word.

“Yeah, to look at his blade collection or something. Did you hear how weird about it he was? He kept telling me that you need to polish the blades every night, and then your brother said that it’s okay if I don’t feel like polishing them because consent is important, and then Chifeng-zun dragged him out of the room. I hope they’re both alright.”

“To look at his blade collection,” Lan Wangji agrees, doing his best to keep his voice steady, “and to marry.”

Wei Wuxian laughs, long and hard, until he has tears in his eyes. “Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, you can’t just spring a sense of humour on me without warning. I can’t believe Jiang Cheng isn’t here. I’ve been telling him you’re funny for years now.”

“It’s not a joke,” Lan Wangji says.

Wei Wuxian laughs again. Lan Wangji looks at him. Wei Wuxian stops laughing, and drops the hairpin. Then he says, “Shit,” and immediately drops down to his knees to search for it in the dirt. Lan Wangji joins him, and together they sift through the mud until finally, Wei Wuxian makes a triumphant noise. “Found it! Oh no, it’s all dirty now. Lan Zhan, I ruined it. I’m sorry.”

“It is of no consequence.”

“Yes, it is,” Wei Wuxian protests. They’ve both risen again, and he’s trying to clean the pin with the hem of his robes. “It was a gift! I suppose I could win you a new one, but I don’t think the shopkeeper will let me have another go.”

“Wei Ying.”

“Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian says, giving up on the hairpin in favour of looking at Lan Wangji with a new urgency in his eyes. “Who told you I’m getting married to Chifeng-zun?”

Lan Wangji hesitates. He did promise Mianmian not to tell anyone.

“Well,” Wei Wuxian says once it becomes clear that Lan Wangji won’t answer, “it doesn’t matter, anyway, because it’s not true. Do you understand? I’m not getting married. I’m definitely not getting married to Chifeng-zun.”

“I wasn’t deceived,” Lan Wangji says stiffly. “It was…a reliable source.”

“Maybe they weren’t trying to deceive you,” Wei Wuxian says. “Maybe they got it wrong. It happens.”

Maybe they got it wrong.

“And anyway,” Wei Wuxian continues, “no one told me about it. Surely that’s bad manners, keeping news of a marriage from one of the grooms?”

“You’re not getting married,” Lan Wangji says, mostly to hear it out loud. Wei Ying isn’t getting married. Maybe they got it wrong.

“I’m really not.” Wei Wuxian solemny holds up three fingers. “I’ll swear it right now. I, Wei Wuxian, have no plans to marry any time soon. So,” he says, and presses the lotus hairpin back into Lan Wangji’s hand, “that means you can keep this, because you don’t have to miss me. I’ll be with you always, right, Lan Zhan?”

Lan Wangji has never been this torn in his life. His heart is mending, his heart is breaking. And in between it all, Wei Wuxian, smiling at him like it means nothing, like it means everything. Lan Wangji cannot stand it, but he also wants to stay like this forever.

“Lying is forbidden,” he says, and watches Wei Wuxian’s smile flicker and fall.

“I’m not lying.”

Lan Wangji has already used up all his words today, but he must try. “Not always. You – with other people,” he says, faintly despairing at himself. “You will find someone else. A spouse,” he adds, because someone else has implications Wei Wuxian might not appreciate.

Wei Wuxian makes a face. “Aiyo, Lan Zhan, don’t remind me. I’m too young! We’re both too young. We can still enjoy our freedom for a few years. And when we’re ready to settle down, don’t worry about that, either. I’ll find us a nice pair of sisters to marry, and we can move in next to each other, and our kids can play together.”

Lan Wangji closes his eyes, very briefly. When he opens them, Wei Wuxian is standing very close, and Lan Wangji definitely cannot deal with this. He knows he has no right to be hurt, and that this kind of petty behaviour brings shame to his clan, but he can’t stop a bitter note from creeping into his tone when he says, “You may keep the sisters. I’m not interested.”

“Not interested? How could you not be interested! You haven’t even met them yet. If you tell me your preferences, I’ll make sure to pay attention to that! Go on, what are they? They can’t be worse than Jiang Cheng’s.”

Lan Wangji waits until he can’t stand the silence any longer. “Male.”

Wei Wuxian stares at him. Wei Wuxian stares at him for so long that even Lan Wangji starts to get uncomfortable. He’s fairly sure that this is the longest Wei Wuxian has ever gone without talking in his life.

“I will leave,” Lan Wangji says, after another few seconds have passed. He makes to do so, but then Wei Wuxian grabs his arm, tight enough to leave finger-shaped bruises.

“Wait, no! Lan Zhan, you can’t leave now. How long have you known? Who else knows? Does Zewu-jun know? I can’t believe you didn’t tell me. What about that time I tried to set you up with Mianmian? She has a brother! I could have set you up with him instead! Lan Zhan, stop walking so fast, I can’t keep up. Okay, that’s better, thank you. I have so many questions for you, you have no idea. We’ll grow old and on my death bed I will still have questions. Do you want me to introduce you to Mianmian’s brother? Wait, but I can’t marry Mianmian, so how will we stay together? We need to stay together, Lan Zhan, or how else will we get our two houses by the river? Wait.” Wei Wuxian looks smug, like he always does when he’s had a particularly brilliant thought. “I’ve got it. Lan Zhan! Are you listening? Let’s just get married. That would solve the problem, right? We’ll get married and then I don’t need to find us a handsome pair of siblings, and we save rent on the houses because it will only be one house, and I can see you every day, like I do now, but it will be better because husbands are legally obligated to not get annoyed with their spouses. This is so simple!”

Lan Wangji stops walking, so abruptly that Wei Wuxian runs into his back. “This is a joke to you.”

Wei Wuxian blithely says, “Lying is forbidden.”

The past twenty minutes or so have been some of the most confusing in his life. One revelation has been chasing the other, and Lan Wangji struggles to keep up. “You mean it?”

“I’ll elope with you right now,” Wei Wuxian declares. “Like, actually right now. Let’s go find a magistrate.” He cranes his neck, like a magistrate will magically appear out of thin air.

Lan Wangji gives up. “I do not understand,” he admits.

Wei Wuxian stops looking for magistrates, and gently plucks the lotus pin from Lan Wangji’s unresisting hands. “May I?”

“Yes,” Lan Wangji says, unsure what he’s agreeing to.

Wei Wuxian fastens the pin to Lan Wangji’s hair, and takes a step back to examine his work. Then he comes closer again, one hand reaching out to cup Lan Wangji’s cheek. “Lan Zhan,” he says. Lan Wangji thinks it sounds like a promise. “Do you want to get married?”

Lan Wangji smiles.

***

Nie Huaisang shakes his head forcefully, though not enough to loosen his artful braids. “No, no, no. Jin-xiong, you can’t ask this of me. You can’t!”

“Please,” Jin Zixuan says for the fourth time since he entered the room, his eye twitching. “I’m not asking you to hand over your sword. I’m asking you for advice on how to best convince your brother to propose marriage.”

“No, no,” Nie Huaisang says again, his eyes wide and distressed. “It’s too much! And Brother and I don’t have that kind of relationship.”

There is a headache building up behind his eyes, Jin Zixuan can feel it. “What kind of relationship?”

“The kind where you talk about things! No. Jin-xiong, I can’t. Ask someone else!”

“And who would I ask?” Jin Zixuan demands.

Nie Huaisang stops hiding behind his fan, and steeples his fingers against his chin, all traces of panic gone in an instant. “I don’t know anyone, of course. But have you considered asking Wei-xiong? They’ve grown so close this past week.”

“I can’t ask Wei Wuxian,” Jin Zixuan says patiently, “because it’s Wei Wuxian your brother is supposed to marry.”

Whatever reaction Nie Huaisang has to that, it’s hidden behind the safety of his fan. “Who else knows about this?” he asks, his voice slightly muffled behind the fabric. Overcome by emotion, probably, at the thought of his big brother marrying his good friend.

“Jiang Wanyin,” Jin Zixuan says. “Some inner disciples. That’s it.”

“Not Wei Wuxian?”

“You know how he is,” Jin Zixuan says, cajoling his tone into something approaching friendly companionship. They’ve never been friends, but maybe Nie Huaisang needs to be shown that Jin Zixuan is to be trusted. “He’d get overexcited. No, Chifeng-zun needs to make the first step. That’s why I need your help.”

“Not mine,” Nie Huaisang says immediately. “No, you should trust your instincts on this. Just go with your gut!”

“I went with my gut when I came to talk to you.”

“Oh,” Nie Huaisang laments, “oh no, oh, I feel dizzy…”

He faints.

Jin Zixuan watches his unconscious form for a second before deciding that someone else can deal with it. He has a job to do – and that job involves spending the evening with his wife and child, and then waking up tomorrow bright and early to talk to Nie Mingjue about his betrothal.

***

So here’s the thing. Nie Mingjue has been friends with Lan Xichen for well over a decade, has known Lan Wangji for almost as long, has had years when he spent as much time in Cloud Recesses as at home. Basically, all of this goes to say that by now, he’s intimately familiar with the Lan brothers’ shortcomings.

“I’m telling you,” he says to Xichen, “I’ve tried to make Wangji jealous in every way I know.”

“And it worked,” Lan Xichen says mildly.

“Yes! A little too well! Didn’t you see how Wei Wuxian was flirting back? He should have been politely refusing me, not responding to my advances! No, it’s no use. Wangji needs to pick someone else.”

“Wangji is not going to.” Lan Xichen frowns slightly. “But what gave you the impression that Wei-gongzi has been flirting with you?”

Nie Mingjue looks at him incredulously. “You were there!” What is it with the Lans, he wonders desperately. It only goes to show that a sheltered childhood doesn’t do you in the favours in the long run. Nie Mingjue took great care to raise Huaisang into a tough, strong cultivator, and look at him now! He’d never let someone get the better of him like that! “Xichen, you can’t tell me you didn’t notice anything. He asked if he could touch Baxia! He said I’m so strong he bets I could pick him up like he weighs nothing!”

“Well. You could.”

“Xichen!”

“Mingjue,” Lan Xichen says, sharper than Nie Mingjue is used to. “Wei-gongzi once told me the cut of my robes could bring down a dynasty. I believe this is just how he is. It does not indicate attraction.”

“That’s worse,” Nie Mingjue snaps. “Wangji needs someone steady. Someone reliable. Not someone who’s flighty.”

Lan Xichen smiles, but tightly, the same way he smiled after Nie Mingjue watched Wangji for an afternoon and let him break his arm. “Oh? And who would you suggest instead?”

“Someone,” Nie Mingjue says irritably. “Anyone. Someone from your own sect, maybe. How about Su She?”

Lan Xichen blinks, his face perfectly blank. “Who?”

“That guy.” Nie Mingjue waves his hand around. “The one who’s dressed exactly like Wangji.”

“Ah.” A beat. “Perhaps not him.”

“Someone else, then. Wangji can pick for himself, once we’ve knocked some sense into him.”

Abruptly, Lan Xichen stands up, brushing non-existent dirt from his robes. “Sometimes,” he says, “you sound like Uncle.” He pauses. “I wish you wouldn’t.”

“Where are you going?” Nie Mingjue calls after him. Already at the door, Lan Xichen stops, but doesn’t turn around.

“I’m doing what we should have done in the first place. I’m going to talk to my brother, and then we’re going to leave.”

He goes, and Nie Mingjue can only stare helplessly after him.

Then he, too, goes. He has a brother of his own to talk to.

***

For the first time in over a week, Jin Zixuan feels truly content. A-Ling’s two-month-celebration went over without a hitch, no major conflict between any sects has been started, Jiang Wanyin only threatened to punch him twice, and very, very soon, Wei Wuxian will be 7000 miles away. Tomorrow, he’ll talk to Nie Mingjue. It’s early spring now; if all goes well, then maybe there can be a summer wedding.

“You’re in a good mood,” Jiang Yanli says. She’s in a good mood too, and has been this whole evening. It was Jiang Yanli who suggested that they skip tonight’s banquet and spend the evening with just the two of them. The two of them, and Jin Ling, who’s been fed and diapered and who’s now sleeping soundly in Jin Zixuan’s arms.

“I have every reason to.” Jin Zixuan smiles at his wife, then at his son, then to himself. At this moment, anything seems possible. “I’ve been thinking. Maybe we should have a six-month-celebration, too.” A-Ling deserves one for being such a good baby, after all.

Jiang Yanli’s smile is bright. “You sound like A-Xian. He said we should have one every month.”

They might have found the one thing Jin Zixuan and his brother in law agree on, which is nothing short of a miracle. Jin Zixuan gently trails a finger down A-Ling’s cheek and thinks, 7000 miles.

“Actually,” Jiang Yanli continues, “I’ve been meaning to talk to you. A-Xian came by earlier to-“ She halts when there’s a sharp knock on the door. They trade confused looks, because this is Jin Ling’s nursery, and they’ve sent the wet nurse away for the evening.

“Probably Wei Wuxian,” Jin Zixuan says. He doesn’t roll his eyes, because that would make Jiang Yanli sad, but it’s really hard.

“About that-“

“Come in,” Jin Zixuan calls loudly. It’s not like Wei Wuxian won’t just kick down the door if necessary.

No kicking takes place. The door swings open normally, and reveals the intruder to be Lan Xichen instead.

They bow, which is somewhat difficult when holding a baby, but Jin Zixuan manages. “Zewu-jun,” he says politely. “What brings you here at this hour?”

On second glance, Lan Xichen appears rather more disheveled than his usual composed self. “I apologise for the interruption. I wouldn’t disturb you if it wasn’t urg- oh, is that A-Ling?”

“Yes,” Jin Zixuan says proudly.

“May I-“ Lan Xichen starts, before catching himself, shaking his head self-deprecatingly. But Jiang Yanli has already spotted the aborted movement, and her voice is warm when she says, “Of course you can hold him. A-Xuan?”

Jin Zixuan dutifully hands over the baby. He might be more concerned about this, if Lan Xichen wasn’t literally the most reliable person on earth, and if he hadn’t spent the past three months having nightmares about how Wei Wuxian gets to hold the baby with alarming frequency. If Wei Wuxian hasn’t managed to drop him yet, then Lan Xichen will manage.

Lan Xichen gently rocks A-Ling and says something that sounds like, “Bah bah bah.” This goes on for a couple of minutes, until Jin Zixuan can’t stand it any longer.

“Zewu-jun,” he says, “did you want to talk to us?”

Looking up from where he’s been waving his hand in front of the baby’s face, Lan Xichen turns faintly pink. “Ah. Yes. It’s a most troubling matter. I went looking for my brother today, and I discovered-“

There’s another knock, this one infinitely louder than the first. It makes the door rattle in its hinges, and Jin Ling starts to cry. Lan Xichen looks alarmed, and starts rocking him again.

This time, the person outside doesn’t wait for Jin Zixuan’s permission.

“Jin Zixuan!” Nie Mingjue yells, entering the room with an intensity that makes Jin Zixuan want to take a step back. “We need to- is that your son?”

“He’s the sweetest,” Lan Xichen says happily. “Would you like to hold him?”

Only now does Nie Mingjue seem to realise that Lan Xichen is also present. His eyebrows do something complicated, and then he caves, like anyone would when confronted with the combined power of Zewu-jun and a small child. A-Ling is transferred to Nie Mingjue’s arms. He’s stopped crying, which just goes to show what an excellent baby he is.

Sensing an opportunity, Jin Zixuan decides that he might as well make his move now, when Nie Mingjue is sufficiently charmed by A-Ling. “Chifeng-zun, I’m glad you came. I actually wanted to talk to you about something.”

“I’ll bet you do,” Nie Mingjue says, which makes no sense. “In the Nie clan we have one saying. Can you guess what it is?”

Everyone briefly considers this.

“We like our blades?” Jin Zixuan suggests.

“No peace without war?” Jiang Yanli muses.  

“Something about tough love?” Lan Xichen ponders.

“Honesty before life!” Nie Mingjue roars. “Jin Zixuan, we have three witnesses. Tell us now if you’ve been honest.”

Abruptly, Jin Zixuan remembers that he, too, is a sect leader, and an important one at that. Drawing his shoulders back, his head held high, he says, “I have absolutely no idea what Chifeng-zun is implying.”

“LIES,” Nie Mingjue shouts, and flinches when, once more, A-Ling bursts into tears. He interrupts his shouting to coo at the baby, and Lan Xichen helpfully says, “It’s best to not pay him any mind. Let him cry himself out until he gets tired. We did it with Wangji, and it worked wonders.”

It takes Jin Zixuan several seconds to realise that Lan Xichen is not, in fact, referring to Nie Mingjue.

Nie Mingjue, for his part, stares at Lan Xichen incredulously. Voice raised, so that he can be heard over the wailing, he says, “I saw your brother get stabbed and not mention anything until he fainted from blood loss. That’s the kind of miracle parenting you’re talking about?”

Delicately, Lan Xichen quotes, “Be stoic in the face of pain.”

“He was nine.”

“Stoicism knows no age.”

“I can’t take this,” Nie Mingjue says. “Someone take this baby. Not Xichen!”

Looking injured, Lan Xichen drops his hands, and Jiang Yanli takes A-Ling instead. It doesn’t help with the crying, but Jin Zixuan likes to imagine that the presence of his mother makes A-Ling calm down a bit.

Regretfully, the fact that he’s now baby-less means Nie Mingjue is absolutely free to take a short, very threatening step towards Jin Zixuan. “Tell them what you did,” he demands. “And don’t bother lying, because my brother told me everything! Wait- Wei Wuxian should be here for this. Who’s seen Wei Wuxian?”

Jiang Yanli opens her mouth, but gets distracted by Jin Ling spitting on her robes. Lan Xichen opens his mouth too, but gets distracted by the door opening yet again. No knock this time. Because it’s Jiang Cheng who storms in, Jin Zixuan supposes they shouldn’t have expected one. He also notices Nie Huaisang sidling into the room right behind him. Considering this for a second, Jin Zixuan then decides to focus on the bigger problem.

“A-Jie!” Jiang Cheng yells. Unlike Nie Mingjue, whose yelling promises pain, Jiang Cheng’s yelling is nothing to get alarmed about. Jin Zixuan doesn’t remember a time when his second-most stupid brother in law hasn’t approached life with a truly worrying amount of anger, so he’s used to it now. “Cover your eyes. Wait, cover A-Ling’s eyes, and close your own!”

Jiang Yanli dutifully covers the baby’s eyes, but keeps her own eyes open and fixed on her brother. “A-Cheng, what-“

“Zewu-jun,” Jiang Cheng says now, rounding on Lan Xichen, “have you ever been punched before?”
Hearing this, Nie Mingjue steps in front of Lan Xichen, unsheathing Baxia. Lan Xichen’s hands twitch by his sides, like he can’t decide whether to take out his sword, or Liebing, and he settles on raising an eyebrow questioningly, while Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli share another look.

From somewhere in the room, Nie Huaisang lets out a low whistle. No one pays it any mind.

“I can’t say that I have,” Lan Xichen says amiably.

“Care to change that?”

“A-Cheng,” Jiang Yanli says again, and yet again: “A-Cheng!” When her brother proceeds to ignore her, she sighs, and looks around the room for someone to hand the baby to. With everyone either in the process of threatening, being threatened, or possibly about to interfere, the only person left is Nie Huaisang, who gets A-Ling unceremoniously dropped into his arms, and looks like he doesn’t know how he feels about this turn of events.

Her hands free and her son semi-safe, Jiang Yanli puts a hand on Jiang Cheng’s arm. “Stop making trouble.”

Jiang Cheng seems conflicted, torn between the urge to obey his sister, and the wish to, for whatever reason, physically assault Lan Xichen. “Don’t defend him, not when it’s our brother who’s being offended.”

“Offended?” Jiang Yanli echoes.

“Offended?” Lan Xichen echoes too, and it’s this what makes Jiang Cheng round in on him again.

“Yes! Offended! You think you can just let your brother treat Wei Wuxian like this? Living in sin, without even a marriage offer? Tell me that’s not against your precepts.”

What, Jin Zixuan thinks.

Nie Mingjue produces a sound that might, under different circumstances, be called a laugh, except that he makes it sound angry. “A marriage offer! Ask Sect Leader Jin what he thinks about marriage offers!”

Before Jin Zixuan can say anything, Jiang Cheng has already spoken up. “What right does Qinge Nie Sect have to question me? To question Lanling Jin? It’s not any of your business what Jin Zixuan thinks about this. But we’ve talked about it, and agreed.”

Jin Zixuan feels a surge of warmth at this glowing defence of him.

Nie Mingjue shouts, “You speak of rights, and yet you make agreements that aren’t yours to consider! But let me absolve you of one notion right this instant. I’m not getting married to Wei Wuxian!”

Silence.

Whatever warmth Jin Zixuan had been feeling mere seconds ago evaporates, and gives way to a crushing sense of disappointment. “You’re not?”

“What,” Jiang Cheng says, “of course you’re not.”

“Please think about this,” Jin Zixuan says quickly, seeing his carefully crafted plan fall apart and trying desperately to salvage it. “Wei Wuxian is an excellent match.”

“Of course he’s an excellent match,” says Jiang Cheng, impressively offended for someone who had a public shouting match with Wei Wuxian just last week. “That’s why Gusu Lan has greatly insulted my sect by taking this long to make us an offer. I demand an apology.”

“Would it help if I were to tell you that I went to speak with Wangji just this afternoon?” Lan Xichen asks.

“I suppose,” Jiang Cheng admits grudgingly.

“Of course,” Lan Xichen goes on, his tone stricken, “I didn’t actually manage to find him. I went into his quarters, and found them empty. Which is what I wanted to speak to you about.” He nods at Jin Zixuan, who can only watch this scene play out in bewilderment. This must be what going mad feels like.

And then, because fate has excellent timing, a servant enters, bows, and says, “Sect Leader Jin, your two fastest horses were stolen from the stable earlier. We’ve only just discovered the theft.”

And Jiang Yanli says, “Oh, that wasn’t theft. They were a wedding present.”

With the unshakable sense that somewhere along the line, he’s missed something, Jin Zixuan asks his wife, “Wedding present for whom?”

His wife smiles at him, open and happy, and says, “A-Xian and Hanguang-jun came by to see me earlier. To tell me they were eloping.”

***

“Well,” Jin Zixuan says, much, much later, when everyone has finally gone home, “we can probably say goodbye to that six-month-celebration, after all. If we had one, who would come?”

“No one is angry,” Jiang Yanli says, displaying what Jin Zixuan perceives to be an almost worrying amount of obliviousness to the world at large. “They’re just slightly distressed.”

Slightly distressed is not how Jin Zixuan would describe the way Nie Mingjue stormed off, or the way Jiang Cheng did the same thing, only in the other direction. And Lan Xichen…Jin Zixuan kind of feels bad about Lan Xichen.

“It’s not your fault,” his wife tells him. “And I did give him the letter Hanguang-jun left with us.”

Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, it turns out, haven’t just eloped. They wanted to elope with their older siblings’ blessing. But while A-Li was quickly discovered and happy to meet with them, Zewu-jun, they were told by a servant, was busy. Busy with what? Busy having a private discussion with Chifeng-zun.

“We didn’t want to disturb him,” Wei Wuxian had apparently said. Jiang Yanli had ended the story there, but Jin Zixuan has the sneaking, horrible suspicion that Wei Wuxian had also winked.

So instead they left Lan Xichen a letter, received Jiang Yanli’s well-wishes, and were off. They have yet to be heard from again.

Jin Zixuan absent-mindedly kisses Jiang Yanli’s cheek. “At least Gusu is far away, too,” he says, more to himself.

“Oh, no,” Jiang Yanli says happily, and returns the kiss. “Hanguang-jun said he wants A-Xian to be close to his family. Maybe they’ll move to Lanling. Wouldn’t that be nice?”