Work Text:
A knock at the door. Wangji, waiting patiently as only he can on this auspicious day. You wish you had half of his composure. You feel as if you could explode outward like a signal flare if you so much as breathe the wrong way.
"Brother," Wangji says. "It's time."
You stand and walk out of the chambers you were given, your head held high, your back straight so as not to topple your headdress. You follow him down the steps, along the gravel path, where the rest of your escort stands at attention, blue ribbons and lilac over-robes dancing in the light breeze.
The eyes of all the attendant guests and the crowd from the villages are heavy on you as you exit the courtyard of the guesthouse where you have stayed these last few days. There is a murmur which follows you along the road to Lotus Pier; no one here has seen such splendor in many years. Your wedding, you know, is as much about healing the hurts of a deadly, devastating war as it is about binding ties with another sect.
At last, you reach the gate of Lotus Pier itself, the warm honey of its wood glowing in the morning light. Wangji knocks, and you await the answer.
"Go away! We don't want any!" It is Wei Wuxian, his voice high and laughing, beyond the gate.
Your brother frowns and knocks again.
The gate opens a tiny fraction. You can see Wei Wuxian's gray eyes peering out. "Ah, Lan Zhan," he says. His teeth flash in a smile. "What brings you to Lotus Pier today? Don't you know we're closed for my sister's wedding?"
"Wei Ying," Wangji says, always a little too stern when it comes to young Master Wei. He presents you to him. "My brother is here."
The door opens another fraction. Wei Wuxian looks you over, head to toe and back again. "Zewu Jun, you appear overdressed. I didn't know Lans were allowed to do that."
You huff in amusement despite yourself but say nothing.
"If you are here for my sister's wedding," Wei Wuxian says, smile turning a little sharp, a little sly, "I hope you brought your invitations." He holds out a hand, wiggling his fingers at Wangji.
"We do not have invitations," Wangji answers. There's a tinge of irritation in his voice, and now you have to smother a laugh.
Wangji flicks his glare to you before turning back to Wei Wuxian. He has taken all of this with far more gravity than you have, from the earliest overtures of a marriage alliance with the Jiang to today's ceremonies. Had it been up to you—and to Jiang Yanli—most of the pomp and ceremony would have been disposed of, the money spent instead on the rebuilding of both of your homes. But Jiang Wanyin and Wei Wuxian had insisted, and to your surprise, Uncle and Wangji had agreed.
"Aiyou, no invitations?" Wei Wuxian is saying, pulling your attention back to the present. "For shame! I'm afraid you'll have to go back to town to get them. We lock the gates at six, goodbye!" Wei Wuxian pulls his arm back behind the gate and begins to close it, stopping when Wangji shoves Bichen into the gap between the doors.
"Wei Ying," he says. "My brother is not a guest for this wedding. He is the groom. Step aside."
"Has your brother forgotten how to speak, Lan Zhan?" Wei Wuxian opens the door a little wider again so he can crane his neck to look at you.
"I have not," you say, attempting to forestall Wangji from doing something he'll regret, like skewering Wei Wuxian with his sword.
"Oh good. I would hate to have to tell my sister her husband has lost his tongue."
"So you will let us in?" you ask, shifting forward in anticipation.
"Ah, ah, ah." Wei Wuxian wags his finger at you. "You may not need an invitation, but your brother forgot his. I'm afraid I can't let that pass. To make up for it, you will have to..." He trails off, tapping a finger on his chin before turning his mischievous grin on you. "Recite the 3,000 rules of the Lan Sect. In order, please."
"Wei. Ying." Wangji's irritation is on full display now. You tap his wrist, the way you used to when you were young and he couldn't seem to relax. He takes a deep breath and lets it out, his temper subsiding as quickly as it rose.
"Fine, fine," Wei Wuxian says, pouting at Wangji, though his eyes dance merrily. "If the 3,000 rules are too much for you, Zewu Jun, then tell me the most important one."
You nearly let "Do not befriend evil" spill from your lips automatically, but you stop just in time. It's a trick question—it has to be, knowing Wei Wuxian. You think for a moment, considering all of the rules you know so well, their edges worn smooth in your memory like an often-walked path.
"Cherish your spouse, and honor them in all that you do," you say finally, the words barely trembling.
Wei Wuxian does not say anything as he steps aside and lets the gate swing open. He bows to you as you enter Lotus Pier at last.
Wangji walks beside you, the other guests and attendants left at the gate for Wei Wuxian to direct.
You make it into the courtyard when you are stopped by Jiang Wanyin. "Zewu Jun," he says with an immaculate bow. "Hanguang Jun." His characteristic scowl is on full display. "I'm glad you're here. I was just looking for someone to play a round of xiangqi. Shall we?"
Wangji makes a sound of protest next to you, but you smile politely and incline your head. "Certainly, Sandu Shengshou. I have nothing else to do with my time today than a round of xiangqi."
Jiang Wanyin doesn't even try to hide his snort. "The table is already set. Follow me."
He turns on his heel and marches to a pavilion overlooking one of the lotus ponds. It's a distance from the main courtyard, along the same boardwalk you know goes to the family residences. You wonder for half a moment what Jiang Wanyin would do if you made a run for it, bypassing his challenge to find his sister on your own. Tie you up with Zidian and drop you in the lotus pond, most likely.
You sit at the table with Jiang Wanyin, eyeing the board. He's given you the red pieces; you start. Wangji sits at the railing, apparently resigning himself to waiting while you play.
"I did not know you played," you say to Jiang Wanyin as you move your first piece.
"I dabble."
His actions belie his statement. You are decent at xiangqi, taught by Nie Mingjue during the campaign, but Jiang Wanyin has a tactician's eye. It isn't long before you are down to your last elephant and your general.
"Again?" Jiang Wanyin asks.
Wangji makes a noise behind you. You keep your eyes on Jiang Wanyin.
"You know, I think Hanguang Jun is more impatient for this than you are," he says, voice a little too casual.
"I have the rest of my life to spend with your sister," you say placidly. "How often will I have an opportunity to be embarrassed at xiangqi by you?"
Jiang Wanyin laughs, his entire demeanor changing. "Always so diplomatic, Zewu Jun." He tilts his head toward the residences. "Third door on the left. She's probably convinced we've decided to dump you in the lake to see if you can swim in all those fancy robes after all." He grins. "Wei Wuxian's idea. You'll be glad to know he was vetoed."
You stand and bow. "Sandu Shengshou."
Jiang Wanyin waves you off. "Go," he says, already sweeping the xiangi pieces into their little box.
The walk from the pavilion down the boardwalk to the residences seems interminably long, though it can't take more than a minute. You count as you go: one, two, three. The third door has an elaborate lotus motif carved into it which matches the one on the main gate. The carving is threaded with bronze and silver, buffed to a warm shine. You stare at it, more nervous now than you've been all morning.
Wangji leaves you at the steps leading up to it with a hug, careful not to upset your robes. "Ge," he says, but he cannot seem to say anything else. Tears prick at his eyes, and you smile against the sudden salt in your own. You squeeze his arms as he lets you go.
You turn toward the chamber where your bride awaits you. You take the steps slowly, heart pounding.
A knock at the door. "Jiang-guniang?" you say. It sounds wrong in your mouth, standing here at the threshold of your future. "Yanli?" you try instead.
A sound of movement behind the door. It opens silently. "Zewu Jun." A pause. "Xichen. Come in."
You cross the threshold, and there she is, in red and gold and deep indigo splendor beneath her veil, a smile on her lips to match your own.