Chapter Text
Wei Ning backed away from the cave entrance, smiling as much as his stiff muscles would allow him. He settled just off to the side of the path and steered the others away whenever they came near. It would be best to allow Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian time together without the prying eyes of others. He sent Xue Yang to tell Sixth Auntie that he had an important mission for the sect leader and that he would take over for her tomorrow, if she could cover for him today. He might have bribed the boy with sweets to make sure he actually did it.
His sister showed up around midday. She glanced at his face and up to the shadowed entrance of the cave and smiled, shaking her head slowly. "About time." She said before she turned back down the path.
No one else showed up for the rest of the day.
Late afternoon Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian emerged from the cave, Wei Wuxian had a spot of dark purple high on his neck, under his jaw. It looked like a shadow, if Wei Ning didn't know better. He adjusted his collar, seeing where Wei Ning was looking and stuck his tongue out. Wei Ning laughed softly.
"Everything good?" Wei Wuxian asked, trying for casual. Wei Ning could see that he was over the moon.
"Mhm." He stood. "Are you staying for another day, Hanguang Jun?"
Lan Wangji shook his head. "I must accompany Nie Huaisang to Qinghe."
Wei Ning nodded. "We'll have a celebratory banquet next time then!"
Wei Wuxian blinked. "For what?"
Wei Ning stared at him; blank faced with surprise. "For your betrothal, of course!"
Wei Wuxian rubbed his nose. "What betrothal?"
Lan Wangji exchanged looks with Wei Ning."Did you not accept Lan Wangji's bid to court you?" Wei Ning was confused.
Wei Wuxian's face split into a huge grin. "Are we really that obvious?!" He laughed, patting Wei Ning on the shoulder. Wei Ning followed them down to the settlement and watched everyone interact with them. Luo Qingyang slapped Wei Wuxian on the back, her face split by a delighted smile. Everyone who saw them smiled. Except Zhu Ruyin. He didn't exactly frown, but his face took on a very careful blankness. Wei Ning did frown then and noted the reaction for later.
Wei Popo stepped next to him, watching Zhu Ruyin as well. "Ah. I hadn't foreseen that." She sighed as she patted Wei Ning's arm. "A crush unrequited can sting."
Wei Ning watched quietly for a while and then turned to Wei Popo. "Should we keep an eye on him? Do you think he will cause trouble?"
Wei Popo shrugged slightly. "Perhaps. It never hurts to watch over people." She sighed and started walking, complaining softly to herself about her old bones. She stopped before Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji and pinched the sect leader's cheek. She patted Lan Wangji on the forearm and then wandered off.
Wei Ning walked the guests to the boundary with Wei Wuxian and Zhu Ruyin, who kept glancing furtively at Nie Huaisang.
The sect settled into their usual rhythm after the two great sect heirs had left. Wei Ning watched Zhu Ruyin. He offered his subdued smiles whenever the man looked at him. Wei Wuxian did not change the way he treated the man at all, which seemed to be good. If anything changed, it was that Zhu Ruyin was even more attentive to the sect leader.
Wei Ning caught him in the kitchen with a tray. "How are you, Zhu Ruyin?"
The man stared at him for a moment and then nodded. "I am well." He continued to place food on the tray. "Sect Leader Wei forgot to eat again. I thought I would bring him a tray."
"That is very considerate of you!" Wei Ning smiled as much as he could. "You have been working late hours recently. Are you sure you don't need anything for yourself?"
Zhu Ruyin looked at his overburdened arms and shook his head. "I'm fine, thank you."
"Okay." Wei Ning watched the man carry the heavy tray back to the office. He sighed in relief. Maybe they had all been wrong about him. Maybe he wasn't as bad as they had thought. He seemed to be settling into the sect well enough.
Wei Ning settled in the middle of the circle of children, baby a-Hua in a sling against his chest, asleep. He had been surprised at how often the baby would sleep for him. His attention was redirected to the older children soon enough.
"Tell us a story, Ning-ge!" Xiao Qing said, cheerfully. The smaller children squealed and clapped at the thought. Xue Yang acted like he didn't care either way, which was as good as a plea.
"Hm." He thought about it. "I'll tell you about the time jiejie fought a cat yao." He launched into the story, which involved himself, about the age of A-Yuan, and Wei Qing, who was a little older than Xue Yang, going out into a meadow to look for medicinal plants. He wove a tale of how the yao had been stalking him and Wei Qing had beat it about the face with her basket, yelling at it until it had run away and then they had breathlessly run back to their village. He smiled at the memory.
"See. I told you she was scary. She didn't even have a sword and was trained as a healer and still beat up a yao when she was our age." Xue Yang hissed at Xiao Qing who laughed. Wei Ning laughed as well.
"Jiejie can be scary, but she is also very caring."
Xue Yang snorted in disbelief. But he didn't argue with Wei Ning. Life was good in the sect. It could be better, if he could just get Jiang Wanyin and his sister to commit to courting.