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Chapter Text

There was no quelling the noise of the gallery in the courthouse. Even with people mostly called to order, a constant low buzz of sound reverberated through the room. The three judges had given up calling them to order, seeming to accept this clamoring thrum as their new norm. Wei Wuxian hadn’t been excused from his testimonial, so he’d gotten to witness the wave of shock ripple through the audience and crash against the walls.

Bailiffs were refusing to allow anyone to exit the hall and cell phones weren’t allowed inside. It was still an open session and public hearing, but it wasn’t via live feed. That meant the only people in the world who knew about Wei Wuxian’s heritage all resided together in this one singular room. 

“Mr. Wei…” The defense attorney that had been grilling him was hesitant now. He glanced out into the gallery at the royals in attendance. The man’s face was ashen. “Can you provide proof of your claim?”

“Yes.” He had to work hard to hide the smile of victory. Madam Yu looked positively green!

“Counsel, please refer to the item submitted into evidence. Article 12A-2D. The item was previously redacted, it has been released in its entirety.” Judge number one intoned, which set the crowd off again and had Judge number two banging on a gavel to settle them down.

“Your honors, this was previously examined. It only denoted Wei Wuxian as the son of Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze.” The defense was scrambling.

“The Imperial Family consented to providing DNA from the remains of the recently recovered Crown Princess. It is a match for the woman previously known only as Cangse Sanren. She is the confirmed biological parent of His Imperial Highness, Wei Wuxian. This information was previously redacted in the report and is now available for counsel to review.” There was more that was said. Wei Wuxian only half listened while he watched his family.

“Order! The court will detain anyone who creates further disruptions!” Judge number three seemed tired of the noise.

“Your Honors. We have sworn testimony that Yu Ziyuan and Jiang Fengmian were both aware of the true identity of the Crown Princess prior to the dispute on the evening in question. We would like to give this opportunity for the accused to confirm this point prior to proceeding. This now involves the treasonous act of murder, assault and abuse toward members of the Imperial Family.” Lawyer Shi looked particularly confident at that moment.

Somehow, despite the constant gavel banging and low hum of noise, everyone in the room heard that request and the crowd went remarkably silent. The air had become still, as if the entire gallery’s occupants were collectively holding their breaths. Wei Wuxian was doing his best to not freak out. A whole lot of people were staring at him right now. He opted to focus on the individuals who mattered; Lan Zhan, A-Yuan, and his family. All of them.

“Yu Ziyuan, do you deny this statement?” Judge three asked archly.

“I deny it!” She hissed with venomous rage.

“Jiang Fengmian, do you deny this statement?” No one allowed for any rebuttal or chance to argue.

Unlike Yu Ziyuan, the elderly Jiang was staring at Wei Wuxian with true remorse and sorrow. He sighed and shook his head. “I do not. We both knew who she was.”

“How dare you!?” Yu Ziyuan seethed indignantly. She looked unhinged and a vein pulsed in her forehead. Someone physically covered her mouth and a guard moved to lock her manacled wrists to the top of the table on a hook Wei Wuxian hadn’t realized was there until now.

“Your statement contradicts your wife.” Wei Wuxian wasn’t paying attention to which judge had spoken. He was busy trying to not feel ill and upset at the revelation that uncle Jiang was admitting to knowing who his parents really were.

This was harder than he wanted to believe it would be. Throughout his formative years, Uncle Jiang had been a kind man for the most part. He and Yu Ziyuan fought often, and that was hell. However when he wasn’t fighting with her, it was good. Honestly, there were a lot of moments in his childhood that were absolutely fantastic. Some of Wei Wuxian’s fondest memories with his siblings involved Uncle Jiang in some fashion. 

He was the only father Wei Wuxian had clear memories of. The last shred of faith in that man had been shattered today. Not only was Jiang Fengmian admitting to knowing about his Mama and everything, but he’d also apparently drugged Wei Wuxian with the intention to get him raped for some god forsaken reason!

Deep rooted sorrow was clawing up his throat. Why weren’t they letting him leave the stand yet? In his head, Wei Wuxian had figured that his revelation would end the trial then and there. In his naivete, there’d been no consideration as to what would happen immediately after. Of course they’d want to debate and inquire and argue about it.

“Am I done here?” He asked, finally at the end of his limit. If he was some royal prince, he could demand to be done, couldn’t he?

“Not yet, Your Imperial Highness.” Judge number one answered, a hint of compassion in the man’s voice. The weird new title jarred Wei Wuxian and he had to bite his lip so he didn’t giggle in disbelief.

“You’re calling that whelp royalty just like that!?” Yu Ziuyan snarled, a streak of crimson smeared across her lips. Whomever had put their hand over her mouth was probably regretting it right now.

“You will refrain from speaking or be held in contempt and removed.” Judge one spoke sharply “Counsel, contain your client.”

“Your Honors, our sworn testimony from the neighbor of the Wei household, Madam Wen Diayu, clearly indicates that this act of murder is an act of treason. The Crown Princess was still the named heir to the Lord of Yiling’s title of Emperor at the time of the incident.” Lawyer Shi pressed on. Wei Wuxian looked out into the crowd at Wen Popo in surprise. She had given a statement as well? He was suddenly worried for her.

Wen Popo didn’t deserve to get dragged into this just because she knew. Wei Wuxian had forgiven her for withholding it all those years. The woman clearly had her reasons! It wasn’t fair! She’d taken care of him, maybe that’d be enough to keep her safe. Was it still treason to withhold information?

“Is Wen Daiyu in attendance today?” The lead judge asked suddenly.

From the gallery, Wen Popo stood. “I am, your Honors.”

“Madam Wen, did you knowingly withhold information about the murder of a member of the Imperial Family?” Judge three asked quickly. They were beyond formalities at this point.

“I couldn’t directly reveal anything I learned in my later years, your Honors. I was being forced into silence by my nephew, Wen Ruohan.” Popo answered with ease.

Shocked shouts of outrage bubbled up around Wen Popo and Wei Wuxian made a distressed little sound. “Can..Hey, she’s gonna get hurt!”

“Order!” Judge two was shouting and banging that stupid useless gavel.

Wen Xu had risen to his feet to stand behind Wen Popo, as had Wen Qing and Wen Ning. Two of them looked fierce while A-Ning looked nervous and startled. Fuck, were they all going to suffer because of him? He didn’t want that! They were his friends! Hell, they were like family!

“My nephew used his influence and power to force my silence after I learned the truth. My son and his wife were casualties of my attempt to stop him and I knew he was more than capable of doing worse. I feared for the lives of my grandchildren. I did not know of the abuses to His Imperial Highness until it was far too late. As soon as I did, I left a tip for the Imperial Family to find evidence of the Crown Prince’s existence. It was all I could safely do.”

Wei Wuxian stared at the sweet old woman in shock. Yeah, he knew about this. He really did. They’d talked about it. He’d been so stressed out at the time that he hadn’t really made all these connections before now. Wen Popo had been threatened? A-Qing and A-Ning’s parents paid the price? She tipped off Uncle Xingchen on the wild goose hunt for him?

“Why are you willing to testify now if you’ve been under duress all this time?” Judge two asked evenly.

Wen Popo’s eyes flashed with some strange mix of emotion and she held her head high. “Ever since the tragic incident at Baifeng Square, I realized my silence could not protect my grandchildren. I would rather risk the truth for their sake, even if it costs me my own life.”

“Did Wen Ruohan kill Wei Changze?” Judge one demanded.

“No.” Wen Popo didn’t even hesitate. “He would never get his hands dirty like that.”

“Your honors,” Wen Xu spoke up immediately. “My father, Wen Ruohan, is not the good man he portrays to the public. I have lived in fear for my life and my husband’s life as well. I was a child when this incident happened, so I can’t testify on the details, however, I can confirm my father was nigh untouchable until recently. My Gunainai would have acted if she’d been able to without risking anyone’s lives.”

“What changed? Wen Xu I presume?” The lead judge asked.

“Your honors! Are we taking anyone’s word from the gallery now?! This is grossly inappropriate!” Sputtered the defense attorney. Wei Wuxian had no sympathy for him, he’d called Lan Zhan a rapist.

“This case is unconventional. We will hear these testimonials.” Judge Two was still smacking the gavel while he spoke.

“It is unconventional.” Judge three agreed, yet they didn’t stop the proceedings either.

“They aren’t even under oath! Anything they say will be to the detriment of my clients!” The argument was going to start up, Wei Wuxian could see it coming a mile off. He felt himself hunching down in an attempt to become smaller and less noticeable under the glare of Madam Yu. It took effort to ignore that instinct and remain upright, sitting straight and proud before the people who starred in his every nightmare.

“Leave it alone.” Jiang Fengmian growled. “She’s a murdering poisonous bitch. She stabbed Cangse Sanren and got Lao Wei killed in the process. We’ve been blackmailed by Wen Ruohan for decades and Ziyuan took it all out on A-Ying.”

The revelations were coming hot and heavy now and Wei Wuxian flinched when Uncle Jiang used his name. “Don’t call me that.”

His voice was tiny. He didn’t want to feel affection toward Uncle Jiang anymore. How could he care for the man that willingly admitted he drugged Wei Wuxian to be a plaything for alphas? If the angry words of Jiang Cheng were to be believed, Wei Wuxian was supposed to have been found by Wen Chao that day on the train. A wave of nausea swept through him.

Wen Xu cleared his throat. “I give my solemn oath, nothing I say now is false. It has taken me years to have enough influence to attempt to bring my father down. I am working with a member of the Ministry of State Security to apprehend Wen Ruohan for several corporate crimes. I honestly believe he had a hand in my brother’s death and I fear for the safety of my unborn children.”

“A-Xu!” Nie Huaisang’s voice rose three octaves and squeaked with a shrill pinch of shock.

“Newbie, they gotta know. It’s time.” Where was Wei Wuxian’s popcorn when he needed it!?

“Mister Wen. Madam Wen. You are both giving sworn testimonials in court. Perjury will have severe consequences. Do you want to obtain legal counsel before proceeding?” The lead judge intoned.

“I have nothing to hide, your honors.” Wen Xu spoke smoothly

“I should have spoken a long time ago. I do not need legal counsel.” Wen Popo agreed.

The three judges turned to one another to confer. Wei Wuxian could hear snippets of it. Things like already guilty and concerned mutterings involving Wen Ruohan and Qishan Industries in general. It was really hard to miss the mentions of royal this and royal that. Wei Wuxian squirmed in his seat. How much longer was he going to have to sit there?!

The noise of the courthouse also started to pick up again. Wei Wuxian felt his attention pulled in so many directions! He wanted to hold his baby and hide in the embrace of his husband. At the same time, there was this constant bubbling worry for Wen Popo and all the good Wens that had him staring at them anxiously. The voices of the judges discussing stuff blended in with the noise and he could hear Madam Yu cussing out Jiang Fengmian as quietly as she could muster while also calling her lawyers incompetent. All this seemed to just wash over the row of royals leaving them untouched for now.

Judge two was going to break the gavel if he kept banging it so hard. “Order!”

Wei Wuxian suddenly realized there was a lot more security inside the room than there had been a few minutes before. Were they preparing for a riot? His anxiety spiked again. The scent patches he had on were saturated and next to useless by this point. A-Yuan started to make a fuss and he frowned, standing up.

“Sit down, Prince Wuxian. We have not concluded your testimony yet.” Judge three was terse, yet respectful. What the hell kind of name was that!? Wait! Was he calling Wei Wuxian that?! Justice or not, he wanted out of that damn seat.

—---------

This trial was beginning to look more and more like a kangaroo court than an actual house of law. Baoshan Sanren was reaching her limit. When the Wen contingent stood, she lifted a hand and Yanling Daoren appeared at her side, bending down so she hardly had to shift to speak.

“Find Wen Ruohan and detain the man.” Under the cacophony of noise, her command went unheard by others, except for her son. He cast a grim look at Daoren and nodded curtly.

Her trusted aide inclined his head, bowing before disappearing out the side entrance they’d used to avoid causing a ruckus earlier. The guards posted there did not stop him. Even though she now had the missing pieces for the tale of what had happened to her precious granddaughter, hearing it out loud in public was difficult. She wanted to enact justice with her own two hands.

“A-Xian is handling this quite well.” Xiao Muchen spoke in a low tone, eyes still forward. His calm was not working on Baoshan Sanren.

“He wants justice, father.” Hearing her grandson’s voice echoing the sentiment had her humming in agreement. Meiying’s boy was stronger than he first appeared. He was truly one of them.

“Sit down, Prince Wuxian…” The jarring command from the arrogant judge slapped Baoshan Sanren in the face and she stiffened. That was too far.

The noise of the courtroom had risen considerably. The judges were losing control of the situation. No matter how difficult it was, protocol should still have been adhered to. These were men of law, respectable individuals who knew the minutiae of protocol and custom. No one told her family to sit down.

All it took was a single action. She stood up, elegance and grace an ingrained part of every movement. Her sharp eyes locked on her still-standing great-grandson first, then to the judges as silence descended. Next to her, Muchen, Xingchen and even Song Lan all stood as well.

“This is a court of law.” Baoshan Sanren’s voice was cold with disdain yet loud enough to carry. “You will be mindful of that and hold your tongues.”

As soon as she was done speaking, the most precious soul in the entire room squealed with delight. Lan Yuan, her sweet great, great grandchild - a generation she never would have thought she’d ever have the fortune to meet; was making his presence known. Chubby little fingers stretched out over his alpha father’s shoulder, reaching for Xingchen. Her heart melted and she nearly smiled indulgently, which would have destroyed her command of the room.

To make matters even more difficult on her composure, Xingchen smiled and wiggled his brows at the little angelic baby. Lan Yuan let out a peal of sweet baby giggles. The row of seats between them had been vacated when the Wen contingent stood and had moved into the aisle. It did not go unnoticed that all four of them bowed respectfully toward the Imperial family. It was a mark in their favor, despite the fact that one of their own had committed treasonous and deplorable acts against Baoshan Sanren’s family.

“I can hold him if you don’t mind, Lan Wangji?” In the silence of the courthouse, everyone could hear her grandson ask to hold the newest royal generation.

Doing her best to continue without getting distracted by the handing over of the child, Baoshan Sanren kept her focus forward. Once they sat again, she could get her turn with A-Yuan. Lan Wangji had risen to his feet to hand over her great, great grandchild and she waited for him to be seated again before continuing. A-Yuan’s happy babble of sound was music to her ears, it helped to contain her temper.

Muchen made a soft huff of amusement next to her while A-Yuan started to pat and grab at Xingchen’s face. Her grandson’s focus was on the baby, gently bouncing and whispering to him while he stood in place with the rest of the family. Her icy facade cracked infinitesimally with a ghost of a smile.

“The Imperial Family formally confirms that what has been revealed today is true.” Baoshan Sanren continued, determined to make her point clear. “The Crown Princess, Xiao Meiying, had a son. He sits before you as His Imperial Highness, Prince Wei Wuxian; second in line for the crown after his uncle, the Crown Prince, Xiao Xingchen. Be mindful of that in your form of address.”

“The Imperial family respects the rule of law and abides by it, just as any member of our society would.” Xiao Muchen’s voice was easily heard within the room. “Given our position of authority, should the court request it, we will assist in maintaining order so you may proceed with the trial. We ask only that you do continue so that the truth can be discerned and justice delivered.”

A murmur of whispers tickled Baoshan Sanren’s ears. Being present today would divide the people. Some were going to say they pressured the court. Others will say their restraint and insistence on proceeding with the trial was admirable. There was no pleasing everyone and she was far too old to care for that. Her family had been grievously harmed by the actions of a single spiteful woman and all the people she dragged into that mess with her. Before this day was done, there would be judgement, her heart demanded it.

“Not to be rude, but could we get on with it?” Wei Wuxian’s inquiry was full of tension. 

Oh how she wanted to be a grandmother to the boy right then! She wanted to reassure him and smile with promises of everything working out just fine, but she couldn’t. This was the price she paid for being who she was. It was the price they all paid. In public they had to be above reproach. She could not smile at his antics, she could not answer for him or the courts. It galled her.

“The court is honored by the offer of the Imperial Family. We respectfully ask that you allow us to continue without assistance at this time. Order will be maintained. Any who cannot remain silent will be removed and held in contempt. This is the final warning to the gallery.” The lead judge was a reasonable and respectful man. Baoshan Sanren liked how he handled this situation. She inclined her head.

“Please proceed, my great grandson is anxious to return to his family.” With that final dig, she smoothly sat, prompting the rest of her family to follow suit. Only Muchen remained on his feet, a tired sigh imperceptibly slipping past barely parted lips.

“As stout believers in the rule of law, we cede this matter to the court. Proceed with the trial.” It was the voice her son often used to enforce his position of power. She inwardly tutted her lapse. 

Xiao Muchen resumed his seat and gave her a glance. They all had long learned to school their expressions, yet she could see his irritation in those stormy eyes. Fortunately, their newest family member was adept at breaking tension. Lan Yuan squawked and batted a hand against Xingchen’s chin. Song Lan chuckled softly and Muchen was distracted with the baby next to him. 

Baoshan Sanren craved to join in. She couldn’t, not with her sweet A-Ying’s boy up on the witness stand. Her focus remained forward as things slowly began to resume. They were recording Wei Wuxian’s formal titles for the court record and confirming the new evidence submitted for examination. It left Wei Wuxian watching anxiously from the stand. She did what she could with a confident look and small, reassuring nod. Hopefully that precious young man would know what it meant. She was there for him.

“The court recognizes the testimonies of both Wen Daiyu and Wen Xu will need to be heard. Please resume your seats and await to be called upon.” Such a statement had her gaze flitting to the quartet standing stiffly in the aisle. The elderly woman gave all three of her grandchildren a comforting squeeze and thanked the judges before resuming her seat. 

The Wen family was wealthy and powerful. In high society, there were many who wondered at how they’d not yet achieved titles to match their financial status. Until now, Baoshan Sanren had yet to meet a member of that family deserving of such honors. These four, however, were willing to stand up for justice and take responsibility for their family involvement. It earned them an additional modicum of respect in her eyes.

The aggressive defense attorney had changed his tune now that Wei Wuxian’s status was confirmed. Inquiries about his time after arriving in the Wen household were brief. The arrival, living conditions, and reason for moving in with the Jiangs were the focal point. When it came to Wei Wuxian’s formative years at Lotus Pier, Baoshan Sanren was seething with anger.

“You have a tattoo on your right hip, is that correct?” Lawyer Shi asked gently. They hadn’t formally met, but she was aware this was her great grandson’s attorney.

“Yes. It’s a pair of rabbits.” Wei Wuxian kept glancing into the crowd as if he were searching. A-Yuan made a cooing sound from Muchen’s lap.

“Why did you get this tattoo?”

“I wanted to hide the scar from one of my punishments. I hoped to change that scary reminder and make it cute and cuddly.” Wei Wuxian’s hand had migrated to the silver pendant around his neck.

“You received a scar from your punishment? How?” Lawyer Shi asked pointedly.

She wasn’t sure if she was ready to hear this. Knowing someone in her family had become a victim was difficult. Hearing details about what had gone on was something else entirely. Baoshan Sanren had several images in her head of what could have happened to result in such a sweet young man being permanently marked like that. None of them were pleasant. How could any mother inflict that kind of pain on a child? She just could not fathom the reasoning.

Wei Wuxian took a breath and let it out. “I was chained to the floor in the nursery and whipped. I had knocked over a vase I think? Yu Ziyuan told me she’d take its worth out of my flesh.”

“Over a vase?” Baoshan Sanren had no idea she’d muttered it aloud until her son grunted in agreement.

“Your honors, we submit into evidence the following medical records corroborating His Imperial Highness, Prince Wei Wuxian’s statement. These injuries were tended in secret against Yu Ziyuan’s wishes by the Prince’s childhood friend, Wen Qing. There are photos and medical notes for perusal.”

Muchen leaned in toward her. “We cannot interfere, mother.”

Politically, he was very right. Personally, she didn’t give a flying fuck about propriety and politics. Sanren wanted to take a whip to the woman who’d harmed one of her own. Why hadn’t anyone stopped this? How did it go on for so long? She frowned, letting out a calming exhale and nodded her understanding. If they were going to learn the why of it, patience was required.

“Your Imperial Highness, if the conditions were that horrific, wouldn’t you have been better off moving away? The fact that you stayed makes me wonder if perhaps you might be embellishing slightly?” The defense attorney was merely doing his job, she knew that, but she didn’t have to like it.

Wei Wuxian snorted and had this odd amused look on his face. “I feared for the safety of my adopted siblings. If I left, who would shield them from their mother? I was sick with the thought of either of them being taken to the nursery.”

“Do you truly believe they would have been victims the way you had been?” She wasn’t sure what this attorney hoped to prove with the line of questioning.

“I know they would have been. It took…a couple weeks after I left for Yu Ziyuan to whip my shijie.” Startled gasps rattled through the room.

“Counsel, is there a point to your line of questioning?” The lead judge interrupted with annoyance.

“Your Honors, I’m doing my best to establish the mindset of His Imperial Highness. An omega that has experienced as much trauma as he has claimed should be catatonic and stuck in the throes of a horrific drop, yet here he is, whole and quite healthy.” It was a shrewd way to call her great grandson mentally incompetent. She scoffed in irritation.

In the seconds it would have taken her to rise to her feet once more, Baoshan Sanren found a baby placed in her lap. A-Yuan looked up at her with beautifully bright eyes. They were a mix of stormy amber with flecks of silver and gold glittering in their depths. His cherubic face was all smiles and the baby cooed with joy at yet another new person to investigate. Her heart melted and she was briefly distracted from the disturbing revelations of the trial.

—---------

Lan Wangji hated feeling so restricted. The notes of his husband’s distressed pheromones were wafting through the room. Wei Ying’s scent patches had failed and everyone within range was getting a taste of his emotional responses. He ached to go to him. The want to bomb the room with his own scent and comfort his mate was so strong that Shufu ended up jabbing him in the ribs to snap him out of it. 

“You’re growling, Wangji.” Shufu spoke softly so as not to interrupt the proceedings.

“Wei Ying needs me.” His stubborn rebuttal was equally quiet. There was no force in this world or the next that would have him removed from this room.

Thinning his lips, he shifted slightly to look back for his son instead. The Imperials would never harm A-Yuan, but the tension of the situation was making it difficult to focus on only one thing. He should have been thankful for their presence and A-Yuan was indeed happy and less upset now that he had an audience. Wen Daiyu sat behind him and shifted slightly to comfortingly press a hand on his shoulder.

“I’ll keep an eye on him, you focus on your mate.” The judges scowled in their direction, even though the words were quiet, it seemed they were fed up with noisy interruptions of any sort.

Even with the promise from the grandmotherly Wen, Lan Wangji still kept his focus back until he could reassure himself that A-Yuan was fine. His son. His child born from an act of rape. Anguish lanced through his gut, forcing Wangji to concentrate so he didn’t broadcast his distress to Wei Ying through their bond.

He should have realized it back then on the train. No omega would willingly get on public transit like that when they were so close to going into heat. The only logical conclusion either of them could muster was that Wei Ying’s cycle had come early. His casual acceptance had allowed Lan Wangji to accept that his heats had an irregular cycle and that this was par for the course. Now, however, he was learning a horrific truth.

Lan Wangji had taken advantage of a person who had been drugged and not in control of his rational faculties. He’d raped the love of his life. He was no different from his father after all. There had been an undeniable tension between his parents when Wangji was merely a child. He’d been too young at the time to understand, however as he’d gotten older, it had been safe to surmise that the partnering had not been a consensual act.

It led to hard feelings and mild resentment. Even knowing all of that, he also couldn’t ignore the evidence that said they had cared for one another in their own way. He and Xichen were products of that caring. No one in his family ever really spoke of it. Mother was gone first, then father wasted away until his passing was simply inevitable. No matter which way he looked at it, the start of his parents’ lives together had not been…good.

The same could be said for Wei Ying and himself. He’d ignored any possible warning signs and had taken the innocence of a vulnerable omega. It was inexcusable. Wangji would have gone further with his self recrimination, however Jiang Wanyin was the next to jab him sharply in the side. 

“Fucking asshole!” The voice was a mere angry hiss to his left. “Do you know how many times Wei Wuxian promised me it wasn’t rape? Don’t get dumb on him. Idiot!”

“Baobei, I’d be upset too if I was in his position.” Mingjue’s voice carried a little too much and one of the new bailiffs glowered in their direction.

“Do you seriously think A-Xian would have stuck around if you were a rapist, Lan Wangji?” Wen Qing growled gently behind him.

“Mn. They have a point, Wangji.” Even Xichen was adding his two cents.

“A-Ying told me he initiated it. He said so here too.” Jiang Yanli was not to be left out of the discussion. 

More scowls were being sent their way. The only reason they weren’t being escorted out and reprimanded had to do with whom they were there with. Wangji shifted in his seat and exhaled slowly. They should let him shoulder this blame. He was the alpha, he had responsibilities.

“Wangji. You would never harm your mate. He’s your fated love. You are not your father.” Lan Qiren’s gentle words were right next to him. “Trust in your husband. Talk to him before you beat yourself up.”

“We are being disruptive.” His reply was brusque, a strange burr in his tone that spoke of his repressed and confused emotional state. 

Wangji let his eyes focus on the man in the witness stand. His husband, his omega, his one true love. Wei Ying was extraordinary. He had taken this horrific revelation and had clapped back with snark and sass so fast it’d been amusing in the moment. All he could feel through their bond was love and a longing need for comfort. What else could he do but focus on providing what he could through that silent connection they shared? 

The inquiries had progressed to Wei Ying’s life in Lotus Pier. Having witnessed the horrific truths hidden in plain sight there himself, Wangji inched forward slightly in his seat. If Wei Ying called for him, guards be damned, he would go to him.

“Can you describe what the ‘nursery’ is for the court, Your Imperial Highness?” Lawyer Shi asked gently, taking his turn in the inquisition about Lotus Pier.

Wangji watched and felt Wei Ying steel himself before replying. “It was a room that Yu Ziyuan took me to to be disciplined. She took each of us there, but after a while, it was only me.”

“Why only you?” Pressed the lawyer. Wangji understood why he was asking, he didn’t like it, but he understood.

“I made sure I took the blame for the big stuff so I was the only one. It didn’t seem right for my shijie or didi to get beaten for little things. I healed fast, I could take it, so I did.” Hushed whispers echoed in the room, but it wasn’t enough to be disruptive.

“If it was a disciplinary room, why did you call it the nursery?” Lawyer Shi persisted.

Wei Ying had a wry look on his face. “I guess because that’s what the room started out as. It had a connecting door or hall or something to the master bedroom too. It got remodeled when I was a kid and things…changed.”

“Are these images from the nursery in question?” The buildup had been made and now images were being displayed on large screens.

The first was from the entry into that horrific chamber. This was prior to all of the items being removed. It sickened Lan Wangji to see implements of torture hanging on the walls next to those permanently affixed chains. The cabinet of whips, canes and other devices he had no true name for, flashed brightly on the screen, as did the corner with the open shower space. The dark stain on the carpet, rumpled fabric on a wrought iron futon, a marked up table with sharp corners…it was all on display.

“Yes, that is the nursery.” Wei Ying confirmed with that calm steady voice that had shocked Wangji the first time he’d been exposed to this nightmare room.

“You don’t seem upset?” Lawyer Shi inquired.

“I spent a lot of time in that room. If I was in there, then that meant my siblings weren’t and that was for the best.” Wei Ying was staring at Yu Ziyuan as he said this part.

“No one ever questioned it?”

“It’s all we kids ever knew. We didn’t have a lot of outside friends, it wasn’t encouraged.” Next to Wangji he could hear a sharp sniffle. Jiang Wanyin was moved to tears and clearly upset, to his right, he could hear Xichen comforting Yanli as well.

“How often was this room used?” Lawyer Shi asked, his voice gentle despite asking hard questions.

Wei Ying exhaled heavily and really looked like he was considering the question seriously. “Every couple weeks? Sometimes more, sometimes less.”

“When did it stop getting used?”

That made Wei Ying bark with a sharp laugh and he shook his head. “When we all moved out I suppose? You would have to ask Jiang Wanyin and Jiang Yanli if they were taken in there after I left Lotus Pier.”

Shocked murmurs raced through the room. It hurt Wangji’s heart and soul to sit by so quietly while Wei Ying detailed what he’d suffered. 

“Your Honors, referring back to the material supplied in the medical treatment records, we can corroborate this statement to be factual. His Imperial Highness frequently visited Wen Qing for aid with injuries, both minor and major up to and including two months prior to his leaving Lotus Pier.” Lawyer Shi went on to detail various treatments, highlighting the more severe.

They’d gone through this together at the Jingshi. He was aware of the broken bones and the lacerations and all the rest. It still stung to hear it detailed all over again. Even Wei Ying seemed to be withdrawing into himself. He looked smaller, as if his body had started to fold in to hide from the reality of this very public description of his weakest moments. Lan Wangji poured his comfort into their bond, leaning forward ever so slightly more, gripping the back of the seat in front of him so he would be ready to stand the moment it was acceptable.

He didn’t have to wait long. No one on the defense wanted to rebut or contradict what had been discussed. It seemed their attack against his husband had come to an end with the revelation of his royal titles. Wangji had never been so relieved by that as he was then. He wanted to spare Wei Ying further pain in having to lay his soul bare like this.

“One more thing. Are you afraid of dogs?”

Wei Ying froze for a beat, the anxiety spiking sharply in their bond and his scent soured. Wangji was halfway to his feet when restraining hands reached for him on both sides. 

“I am.” Wei Ying’s voice was steady and cool.

“So you would not have vandalized your room with canine paraphernalia upon your departure from Lotus Pier?” Lawyer Shi was suddenly treading a very thin line in Wangji’s world.

“Absolutely not.”

“No more questions, your honors.” Lawyer Shi moved to sit back at the prosecution’s table to confer with the other lawyers.

“We thank His Imperial Highness for his testimony. We will take a short recess and resume with the testimonies of Wen Daiyu and Wen Xu at one in the afternoon.” The lead judge smacked the gavel and Wangji shrugged off the hands to stand straight, ready to collect his son and Wei Ying both.

—---------

Nie Huaisang was silently panicking. He had been holding in his scent as much as possible while his brain went on a tailspin fritz of doom. Once the recess was called for, everyone stood up and waited. Wei Wuxian walked straight to the Empress sitting right behind him, and collected up his son, hugging and kissing the little baby. Lan Wangji appeared out of nowhere to put an arm around his husband. Seriously, did he jump over Da-ge to get there so fast?

Huaisang was so mad at Wen Xu right now. 

They hadn’t discussed this! Now his husband could go to jail. There was SO MUCH that A-Xu knew and had done! If they asked Huaisang, how was he supposed to lie without giving it away? His scent patches were starting to fail, sour honeysuckle began wafting up to his nose and he whined, shifting on his feet while waiting for the royal contingent to leave.

“Shhh, relax A-Sang. Everything’s going to be fine.” Wen Xu’s voice warmed his ear and Nie Huaisang sniffed indignantly, turning his face away slightly.

He knew it was childish, but this was huge. Massive! They should have talked! Their babies…He was going to end up raising their babies alone because his dumb husband got arrested for life! A-Xu’s hand settled on the small of his back and he bit back his more dramatic response, opting to ignore it as best he could.

The room was buzzing with energy from Wei Wuxian’s testimony. There were a plethora of security types surrounding the royals who were exiting the room. Judges were now vacating their seats and Yu Ziyuan, along with Jiang Fengmian, were being escorted out a side door - away from the general public. Likely for their own safety, although he couldn’t fathom why they were worried. Let the mob at them, it’d be what they deserved!

Before their row could begin to exit, bailiffs showed up, blocking the way. Nie Huaisang’s heart dropped like a stone, then launched up his throat so he choked and wheezed in pure hysterical terror. No! They were going to take A-Xu! He needed his stupid dumb alpha!

“Wen Daiyu, Wen Xu. Please come with us.” The more ominous of the bailiffs spoke up and Huaisang swooned.

“A-Xu!” He wailed, his theatrics hardly noticed at first because of the clamor within the room.

“What the hell Newbie! I said it was going to be okay!” His perfect alpha husband wrapped strong arms around him and Huaisang’s feet left the ground as he was swept up in bridal style.

“Oh dear! The stress must be getting to him.” Gunainai fretted from in front of him. Huaisang was pretty sure he heard Wen Qing snort with derision. 

He didn’t care. If this was how he stayed glued to A-Xu’s side, this was what he was gonna do. Huaisang began to sob, perhaps a bit too theatrically, but he coped by burying his face against the warmth of Wen Xu’s neck. Clinging to his man with a death grip got Da-ge swearing at Wen Xu, but people were being filed out of the room.

“A-Sang!” Mingjue’s shout made him flinch, Nie Huaisang was not letting go. Nope. He wasn’t gonna be separated! They’d put A-Xu in some deplorable holding cell with heathens! God, what if they put him in the same room as Yu Ziyuan!? He had to protect his alpha!

No one tried to separate them and in no time, he felt the gentle sway of movement. Wen Xu didn’t say a word. He just kept on nosing the crown of Huaisang’s head to plant a kiss there while they were escorted to who knew where! Honestly, this was kind of nice. It might have been Wei Wuxian’s moment; and all the power to his friend for that. Huaisang was glad that it wasn’t the Wen contingent that was being focused on.

Surprisingly the noise of the lobby never assailed Huaisang’s ears. When he finally deigned to look up, they were moving down a quiet hallway lined with doors. A-Xu made a huff of sound above his head.

“Feel better yet?” Wen Xu asked, genuine concern laced in the alpha’s voice.

“They’re going to lock you up, A-Xu! I can feel it!” He whispered harshly, eyes following their escort ahead of them.

“No they won’t. It’s going to be just fine. Promise.” Another kiss found its way to Huaisang’s forehead and he made a pathetic little mewling sound.

“You better not.” To say he was pouting might have been an understatement.

“I won’t.”

“I’m so mad at you!”

“I’ll make it up to you. Promise, Newbie.” Wen Xu was walking through a door now.

They were in a comfortable room with a sizable table and chairs. There were also a couple sofas and a counter with cups lining it off to the side. It was a meeting room? Wen Daiyu was using her elegant cane as she walked, taking a seat in one of the conference room chairs at the table. Wen Xu just stood there, holding Huaisang as if he were as light as a feather.

Before the door could close, the three judges from earlier swept into the room. All pretense of being a drama queen went out the window and Nie Huaisang froze with concern. The three honorable judges scrutinized the trio and each had a pinched expression.

“Wen Daiyu, Wen Xu. Is this your husband?” The nicer of the three judges asked.

“Yes, allow me to introduce my husband, Nie Huaisang.” A-Xu didn’t make any move to put him down.

“I see.” The three of them looked at one another and nodded. “Very well, have a seat please.”

“A-Xu…” The second he was out of his alpha’s arms someone was going to shoot him with a taser or something! He could feel it in his bones!

“It’s fine, you’re not being sent away.” Wen Xu spoke evenly, yet loud enough to make sure everyone heard him. He bent down to set Huaisang in one of the conference chairs and took a seat next to him. Wen Xu held Huaisang’s hand the entire time, which was immensely comforting all things considered.

“Your confessions in court today, while eye opening, present a bit of a conundrum.” The nice judge spoke first.

“Surely you can understand our concern. You are accusing Wen Ruohan of hefty crimes while admitting that he is under investigation.” The judge who had smacked the gavel the most added.

“It’s highly irregular. News of that allegation will reach him quickly.” Agreed the third.

Wen Xu seemed unconcerned while his thumb slid over the back of Huaisang’s hand. This was where they charged A-Xu with treason, right? He was so worried! There were things that A-Xu had done! Things that Huaisang was not only privy to, but had also had a hand in! Like how they actively planned to remove Wen Chao! He glanced nervously at his alpha, then at Madam Wen.

“You’ve called us to testify. So what do you want us to do?” Huaisang wanted to groan with his frustration! This wasn’t how A-Xu negotiated, was it?

“Madam Wen, the sworn testimony we have clearly identifies yourself as knowing not only the identity of the Crown Princess but also who killed her and Wei Changze. Is that correct?”

Before that sweet little old woman could speak, Nie Huaisang shot to his feet. “Wait!”

Everyone looked at him. Fuck! Now what!? He cleared his throat, a rotting stench of composting honeysuckle clinging around his immediate person. 

“It’s going to be alright, A-Sang. C’mon. Sit down.” A-Xu was giving him that calm gentle smile that promised all kinds of wonderful things if he listened, but there was no way! They were going to admit to everything these judges said! Didn’t they know judges twisted things however they wanted!?

“I demand a lawyer be present!” The fact that none of them were remotely concerned about this fact seriously worried Huaisang more than he cared to admit.

“A-Sang…” Wen Xu had that placating tone.

“No! You’re being held to what you say A-Xu, you too, Gunainai! You both need to consult someone, especially because of the investigation!” His voice was slightly high-pitched from his anxiety riddled state but he was adamant.

The kinder judge of the three chuckled with amusement. “That’s why we’re here, Mister Nie. We were going to ask both your husband and the madam to stick to facts pertaining to the Jiangs and the charges at hand. I do agree that consulting with a legal professional is a good idea, you should also consult with the Ministry to clarify what can and cannot be spoken about.”

The more impatient judge nodded his head, a begrudging expression on his face. “We aren’t here to try new charges. Wen Ruohan is clearly in a lot of trouble if what we heard today is any indication.”

“Yes, are you and your family members safe? You feared for your grandchildren, is that correct Madam Wen?” The gavel banging judge asked. 

Huaisang sat there, mouth slightly agape as he listened to all this. The judges were on their side? They weren’t here to haul his husband off to jail? There was no hangman’s noose waiting for any of them? Had he wasted all that energy losing his shit for nothing?!

“Oh.” The wind was knocked out of his sails.

Wen Xu chuckled and reached up to grab Huaisang’s wrist, pulling him steadily closer until he had no choice but to sit in his alpha’s lap. The soured rotten scent of compost started to give way to warm peppery embarrassment. Huaisang felt the heat on his face. 

“It’s good that you’re concerned, however our goal here today is to finalize testimonies so sentencing can begin.” The lead judge seemed relaxed and they weren’t giving anyone the side eye.

“I can’t say much about what happened to the Crown Princess, but I can tell you about the blackmail against the Jiangs and about the man who aided Yu Ziyuan.” Wen Xu replied and Huaisang hissed in annoyance.

“LAWYER, A-Xu! Lawyer!” 

The elderly Wen matron had been quiet this entire time and she let out a melodious little laugh. “Ahhh, I do love your husband’s spirit, A-Xu! Why didn’t you tell me there were babies on the way? I heard that right, didn’t I?”

Oh hell!

Nie Huaisang’s face was practically beet red now and he groaned, ignoring the embarrassment of being in his husband’s lap in favor of hiding his face against the crook of A-Xu’s neck! This was not how he pictured word getting out about his transition! What if someone came at them again? They had no clue what had happened to Xue Yang ever since the night he’d attacked. All Huaisang knew was that A-Xu had been doting on him hand and foot while simultaneously looking peeved every time he tried to find out about the missing psychopath.

Of the people who knew about Wen Xu’s more illicit dealings, Xue Yang was the only unaccounted one. Would anyone believe him? Probably not. The guy was unhinged. He’d attacked them for the fun of it. Maybe Jiang Cheng had really done a number on the guy and Xue Yang was catatonic. If they were really lucky, the deranged killer was in some insane asylum and would be left to rot there.

That left Huaisang, Gao Junlai, Lu Yutao and Wen Daiyu as the only other people who knew about what Wen Xu had done. From the way that the Wen matriarch behaved, she wasn’t going to flip on A-Xu anytime soon, nor would the two men who worked for his husband. It helped that they were A-Xu’s friends. They could control this.

“Lunch will be provided, we ask you to remain here for your safety. Madam, if you are concerned about your grandchildren, they may also stay with you here. In fact, we recommend it. Mister Wen, please speak with the Ministry to understand what can and cannot be discussed. Take your husband’s advice and contact your lawyer as well.”

Huaisang watched as the judges stood, waving off the need for them to rise as well, and soon the three of them were alone in the room. Wen Daiyu turned her attention on the pair of them and Nie Huaisang could feel the interrogation on the way.

“A-Xu…” He braved peeking out toward the elderly woman.

“My dear Huaisang, the last time we spoke, I was sure you were a beta.” She had a sweet smile on her face. “If my darling nephew forced you, I’ll tan his hide for you.”

“Awww! It wasn’t like that!” Wen Xu defended himself all while he soothed Huaisang with a hand sliding up and down his back.

“No? You’re sure, A-Xu? You didn’t mistake something in the…heat of the moment?” She pressed and Nie Huaisang felt his whole soul burn up to ash with mortification!

“Oh! God! No! He didn’t force me, G-Gunainai! I swear!” There was no hiding when the kindly, yet wholly terrifying, Wen matriarch started talking like that! “I begged him for months to do it!”

“Hmmm…He’s treating you well, Huaisang? I can call you that, right? We are family after all.” Why did it seem like she was testing him???

“Sure! I mean! Yes, of course! A-Sang’s fine too! Or…whatever…anything you like, G-Gunainai.” Why wasn’t A-Xu stepping in? He pinched his husband’s side so he’d grunt and do something.

“Mmph! Where’s the runt and A-Qing? The trial has been in recess long enough for Baba to have heard the news by now.” Huaisang noticed that whenever they were with Wen Daiyu, A-Xu spoke of his father in familiar terms. It was the only time it ever happened.

“I’m not sure, dear. You shouldn’t be mean to A-Ning. He can’t help it. He was cheated just like A-Qing was and you know it.” The chastisement was a little bit of a surprise. What did she mean by that?

Nie Huaisang was still in A-Xu’s lap, so he felt more than saw his husband shrug. A whisper of sure fingers against his neck left a trail of goosebumps in their wake, then there was the distinct sound of adhesive giving way. It felt like pulling off a nasty band-aid, which sort of stung.

“Ow!” He cried out, clapping his hand over his neck.

“Baby.” Wen Xu teased gently, kissing Nie Huaisang’s shoulder. “You’ve soaked through these, we need to change them, Newbie.”

Wen Daiyu just laughed softly before pulling a phone out of some hidden pocket on her stylish outfit. The woman had dressed in dark scarlets with shocks of white whorling through it in a mystifying pattern. It looked amazing on her and suited the frame of an elderly woman, hiding the stooped frailty to make her look more vibrant and youthful in the process. The second adhesive strip came off while the grandmotherly woman connected a call.

“A-Qing? Yes we’re in a room. No, everything is fine. Ask one of those handsome bailiffs to bring you back. Mhm. A-Ning too. Yes dear. No…No everything is fine.” There was a lengthy pause. “Reporters? Already? Hmmm…How’d Wei Ying do?”

It didn’t seem right that they were so goddamn calm! Huaisang frowned, tipping his head slightly while Wen Xu affixed new patches to his neck. The scent patches were a strange phenomenon. They worked remarkably well. 

Considering there were several scent glands on a person, the patches just needed to cover the glands on the neck. Those were the big ones. They had some sort of medical type stuff that got into the glands and suppressed scent production. The neck was always where it slipped out first, which was why that’s where patches were used.

Huaisang had gotten used to A-Xu doing this for him. Every time he tried to do it himself, he would falter or ruin the patch and complain bitterly. It was amazing that his alpha hadn’t gotten sick of him yet. Maybe now that the world knew about his secret, he could finally seal the bond between them and mark A-Xu?

His eyes invariably slid to his husband’s neck, which hindered the man’s ability to help him with the patches. If they had been alone…he would have suggested they do it right then and there. A sweet warmth made the honeysuckle scent blossom deliciously. Wen Daiyu was a beta, she couldn’t smell it…right? He peeked her way, and she was still talking to Wen Qing about what was going on. He was in the clear. Nie Huaisang wriggled his ass on Wen Xu’s lap.

“So…no more hiding?” he asked in that tone he used when he wanted something.

Wen Xu froze. “No more hiding.” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Tip your head Newbie, the runt can’t handle your pheromones.”

Huaisang huffed, but tipped his head away to expose his neck. It was the marked scent gland. He always got a little excited when A-Xu touched it. “That means I can mark you…right A-Xu?”

Wen Xu inhaled sharply and warm hands settled on Nie Huaisang’s hip, squeezing a little. “Newbie…we can’t…”

Hurt washed through him before he could hide the expression. “Oh.” 

Maybe A-Xu didn’t like it. His stupid emotional responses were getting a little weird these days. Huaisang was easily upset over the dumbest things. Mood swings be damned, he wasn’t going to cry. Not here. No.

Wen Xu swore and tugged at Huaisang’s waist again, pulling his ass along the alpha’s lap. “I want to…” The obvious ridge of his alpha’s excited arousal was made very evident with that motion. “We don’t exactly have privacy, I mean we can’t right now.”

Realization hit Nie Huaisang smack in the face and he choked on air. “I didn’t mean right now!” His voice squeaked.

Wen Xu seemed to relax a little, glancing over at the elderly woman with them, then back to Huaisang. “Good, ‘cause we would both get our hides tanned if you did.”

A devastatingly charming wink followed up Wen Xu’s words right around the same time the door to the room swung open and four new people arrived. Wen Qing, Wen Ning, Jiang Yanli and some stranger all marched into the room. He understood why the Wen siblings were there, but why was Jiang Yanli? The fourth was an aging gentleman with a brusque attitude. He had a pursed expression, which was probably his normal face.

“Oh! Hello!” What the fuck else was he supposed to say?!

Jiang Yanli had a patient little smile on her face. “Wen Xu, Madam Wen, A-Xian is very worried about both of you. He asked that I introduce you to Mister Gong Xiang. He’s an excellent attorney that comes highly recommended.”

—---------

Shocking new developments in the trial of the decade. This morning’s session was attended by the Imperial family. Today’s key witness testified to witnessing the murder of Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze. They also revealed that Cangse Sanren is actually the Crown Princess, Her Imperial Highness, Xiao Meiying. The Crown Princess’ body was discovered earlier this year, allowing for DNA to confirm that this witness is indeed her child. He has been identified as His Imperial Highness, The Crown Prince, Wei Wuxian. 

The Crown Prince is the adopted son of Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan following the murder of the Crown Princess and her Consort. His Imperial Highness also states that Yu Ziyuan murdered The Crown Princess, Xiao Meiying, in cold blood. It is a shocking testimony that has surely turned the tides against the power couple. The Crown Prince and the Imperial family have issued a statement confirming these details. Currently, the trial is in recess…

Qishan Industries’ televisions were all tuned in to the news broadcast. It was being televised on every major network and streamed online by influencers and media conglomerates. It had completely interrupted Wen Ruohan’s meeting and now he felt a certain kind of dread. Had the old bag turned him in? He scowled, arms folded, standing in front of the large screen in the conference room.

This afternoon’s trial will include testimonies from another shocking source. Wen Diayu, the former head of Qishan Industries, has come forward stating she was coerced into not revealing these appalling events by the current head of the corporate giant, Wen Ruohan. Wen Xu, the son of Wen Ruohan, also stated that his father has frequently abused his wealth and power to exert influence over others. This afternoon’s trial could potentially be damning for the business mogul. Stocks have already taken a sharp dip with investors reacting immediately…

The droning of the news anchor continued, but he wasn’t listening. The wolves were descending. They’d all waited for him to suffer loss after loss. Did they think he was weak? Betrayed by his own flesh and blood! The snarl that escaped him had his employees shrinking away nervously. That old woman hadn’t been bluffing.

Authorities are stating that Wen Ruohan will be detained for questioning. Charges of treason are now being added to the long list of crimes Yu Ziyuan and Jiang Fengmian stand accused of. Experts believe that these sorts of allegations could be applied to members of the Wen family depending on their level of involvement…

“Sir.” One of his legal aides had materialised next to him. “We need to get ahead of this.”

He barked with a sharp laugh and glared down at the smaller man. “How do you propose we do that?”

“We can state that we plan to fully cooperate and have no knowledge of the heinous accusations made against us. Qishan Industries is…”

“You think my son and that bitch would stand up without having proof?” He snapped, turning from the television.

“Sir! Where are you going!?” 

“How long has this been televised for?” His demand was sharp, the air had the cutting bite of highly angered pheromones.

“T-Ten minutes, sir!” Scrambling footsteps behind him was more than enough to inform Wen Ruohan that it wasn’t just the aide following him.

“Have security block the lobby, shut down the elevators. Get the helicopter on standby.” He had that no-nonsense tone and grimly marched into his office. The stark walls and open space had been a haven of sorts for him, right now it felt very exposed. Damn that bitch. She’d turned A-Xu against him!

Purposeful steps took him to his desk and he keyed in a code on one of the locking mechanisms to a large lower drawer. It clicked smoothly open and he yanked on the handle. Inside a gun sat next to an old flip-phone. He grabbed both, checking the magazine and grabbing a box of bullets, just in case. The weapon was tucked under his suit jacket and he glowered at the employees milling about in his space.

“Destroy all information on Qi Pharmaceuticals, have IT wipe the drives.” Why were they all just standing there?! “Go get my travel documents from the safe.”

“Sir!” Someone shouted in shock. “There are important documents!”

“We have off-site servers don’t we? It’s all backed up, wipe the drives!” Wen Ruohan snapped furiously.

“I advise against doing that.” A strange voice spoke up, quelling the protests of the useless people around him.

Wen Ruohan looked over and glowered at this stranger. The man was confident and tall with dark short hair and darker intense eyes. They were predatory in their focus. His countenance was stern and it was obvious this was not a person to be trifled with. It took a moment to notice a contingent of security behind him.

“Who are you?” He demanded angrily.

“Wen Ruohan, His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Xiao Muchen and Her Imperial Majesty, Baoshan Sanren, the Empress Dowager, have called for your detainment. Do not resist.” The man had a hand tucked behind his back, posture straight and arrogant.

Detained?!? The group behind the speaker were all uniformed in matching suits with the crest of the royal house on the breast of their jackets. Was this it then? Was he going to go down without a fight at all?

“Name yourself!” He motioned to his own people to form a shield.

They all stood there, wide eyed and clearly terrified. He missed Zhao Zhuliu so much at that moment. Blind obedience was a rare thing and hard to come by. At least if Zhuliu had been there, Ruohan would have had a chance to slip out while chaos reigned.

“I am Her Imperial Majesty’s aide, Yanling Daoren. I’ve been sent to make sure you do not try running. A man of your calibre clearly can understand why we would be so cautious.” The sheer audacity had his temper spiking dangerously. 

Had the elders turned on him? Was that why that bitch had finally done something? She’d been warning him for ages now. It was such a long-standing threat that he thought she didn’t have claws anymore. How wrong he’d been!

He had very few choices remaining. He could fight. There were easily a half dozen in the contingent this Yanling fellow had brought. Chances were Wen Ruohan wouldn’t get far before being subdued. He could open fire. The gun weighed heavily beneath the suit jacket. None of them looked like they would anticipate it, but then he’d never be able to recover. Surrendering had better chances, however that was also akin to admitting defeat. 

“You may tell the Empress Dowager and Emperor that their concerns are unfounded.” Stalling was his best option right now. 

“Surely you realize that the authorities are on their way?” Yanling Daoren replied, that frigid calm radiating off him like a second skin.

Of course the authorities were coming! That’s why he’d called for the helicopter. No one in his employ seemed willing to lay down their lives to help him, it was irritating. Why the hell did he pay these people if they were so useless!? 

Tearing his gaze away from the contingent of imperial security, Wen Ruohan glanced toward the door along the wall. It was practically hidden from sight, blending seamlessly with the stone texture of the walls. The door was secured shut. He would have to swipe a card to get through it, that took time, probably too much time.

As if the heavens themselves had answered his prayers, the assistant he’d sent off mere moments before Yanling Daoren had appeared, was pushing open that seamlessly hidden door. The attention of the security and their leader was pulled toward that movement. Wen Ruohan didn’t hesitate, rushing toward his escape and the bewildered assistant standing in the way.

There was no warning and no sound of movement. Wen Ruohan simply went from being upright and in motion to having pain lance down his right arm while the world flipped around him. A sickening feeling of the delicate bones in his wrist being ground together ripped a groan out of him, but Wen Ruohan’s protest was lost to the fact that the wind had been knocked out of him. He had landed heavily on his back.

Looming above him was Yanling Daoren. His tight hold on Wen Ruohan’s wrist absolute and the man twisted slightly to reinforce how easy it would be to snap bone. It was some of the worst pain he’d experienced in decades! The man above him twisted more, pulling Wen Ruohan onto his side with a cry of shock, then he was on his stomach, face pressed against the floor he’d only ever walked across before.

No one had ever treated him like this! Cool metal encased his wrist and his other arm was easily pulled back. In mere moments, Wen Ruohan went from trying to escape to being restrained and in handcuffs on the floor of his office.

“I’m amazed that so many people were afraid of you.” The tone was gratingly calm and unflappable. “Wen Ruohan, the charges laid upon you are vast. Chief among them is treason. Pray the courts judge you and not the Emperor himself.”

Intrusive hands worked down his body and the hidden gun was taken away, as was the burner phone. Every item they found added a new charge to the running list that Yanling Daoren had started with. No one would pick Wen Ruohan up off the floor. His employees were questioned in front of him while he lay there, helpless and contained. Some were held for further questioning, while the rest were dismissed. Soon, the authorities had arrived and were talking to Yanling Daoren seriously. 

When it was all said and done, Wen Ruohan was bodily escorted out of Qishan industries, arms manacled behind his back. Security personnel surrounded him and the ones to either side had a firm grip on his aching limbs. They wouldn’t cover his face and there was a shockingly large crowd already outside of the building, complete with cameras and microphones. It had been less than an hour since news of his involvement with the Jiangs had hit the airwaves.

That fucking spiteful woman had been his downfall after all.

If it weren’t for Yu Ziyuan, he would have had his chance to win over the princess decades earlier. That fool husband could have been dealt with, he had planned it all. Then that awful bitch had gotten into the mud and made a mess. It was one of the few times that he’d been cautioned about his choices. The radio crackled obnoxiously in the car he’d been unceremoniously deposited into. It loudly broadcasted the news in that dark confined space. 

An official statement has been released by the Imperial family praising the integrity of the judges presiding over the highly controversial Jiang Trial. They express their full confidence that justice will prevail and have no intentions of intervening. A request has also been issued by the Emperor asking that the public and media respect the privacy of His Imperial Highness, Prince Wei Wuxian while he takes this time to connect with his long lost family. The Crown Prince, Xiao Xingchen remains the direct heir to the Imperial throne with Prince Wei Wuxian becoming second in line…

It was a fairytale ending for that foolish boy. The last bargaining tool Wen Ruohan had was well and truly out of his grasp.

—---------

“Do you think they’re gonna tell us to change A-Yuan’s name?” Wei Wuxian asked suddenly while he relaxed with Lan Zhan that evening.

Their son was enthralled with his stuffed donkey toy while he enjoyed some tummy time on a knitted baby blanket that had appeared out of nowhere one day. It smelled like fresh baby, sandalwood and spicy citrus all in one. That made it the best damn blanket in the world.

Today was a rough day. A lot of information had come out - more than any of them had anticipated. The shock of the drugging news had taken a little talking once both Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan had gotten a second alone. Some bookish looking woman had followed them home, announcing her credentials to the Imperial guards stationed at the Lan Estates. She was Bai Lihua, Wei Wuxian’s new aide and royal liaison.

Miss Bai asked for some statements, a few pictures - assuring them it didn’t have to be super formal, and for the official name of A-Yuan. Wei Wuxian could tell she was privately scandalized to learn that A-Yuan didn’t have a plethora of titles or honorifics to work with. He wasn’t even two months old yet!

“They have not demanded we do anything different as of yet. I doubt they will start now.” Lan Zhan murmured gently. 

His alpha had been a lot more attentive this afternoon than usual. Even though they’d talked about the elephant in the room - that being a lawyer calling Lan Zhan a rapist, Wei Wuxian could tell it was still bugging him.

They hadn’t done anything wrong. Both he and Lan Zhan knew that in their hearts. It was more the shock of being betrayed that had hurt the most. Uncle Jiang…no…Jiang Fengmian, he was no uncle, not after what he’d confessed to doing. For whatever reason, be it coercion or some other twisted excuse, Jiang Fengmian had plotted to turn Wei Wuxian into a goddamn victim. It hurt.

Thankfully, fate decided to intervene. It was the only real answer Wei Wuxian had. He’d slept in, his phone had been dead and the dozen alarms hadn’t gone off to wake him in time. It made him miss the original train, and he hadn’t wanted to upset Madam Yu, so he’d taken care of it himself - quietly. That’s the only reason he hadn’t ended up trapped by Wen Chao. This evening, Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen both had come together to apologize. They had known. 

Their reason for not giving a heads up had been simple, they thought the only other people who knew were either dead or would never talk about it. They had no clue that Jiang Fengmian would roll over the way he had. It didn’t matter, as A-Cheng had put it. Wei Wuxian tended to agree. It was in the past, they had to leave it there otherwise it would eat them alive.

A-Yuan squawked and struggled trying to wriggle closer toward the Donkey he’d inadvertently tossed out of reach. Wei Wuxian laughed and stretched out his arm, snagging the stuffed doll and bringing it closer. 

“Don’t lose little Apple! Your jiujiu gave that to you.” Wei Wuxian was choosing to live in the moment.

They were all on the blanket in the living room. A-Yuan was between them and both Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan were stretched out, facing one another on either side. Their son made happy little giggles and stuffed the ear of the donkey into his mouth. 

“Jiang Wanyin gets quite red when you call him jiujiu.” Lan Zhan observed.

“That’s just because he’s silly. He wants to be shushu but I told him, I’m the Mama. Isn’t that right, A-Yuan?!” He brought his hand down to tickle his little baby, laughing along with these new peals of giggles and squeals that made his heart sing.

The gentle clearing of a throat from the direction of the foyer interrupted their moment. Bai Lihua was standing there, a warm smile on her face as she took in the scene. “Apologies for interrupting, Your Highness. You wanted an update once the trial had concluded.” 

As much as Wei Wuxian had wanted to stay for the rest of the proceedings, he had been convinced it wasn’t proper. Somehow, his presence could be taken as an Imperial family member trying to influence the court. Honestly, all Wei Wuxian had been worried about was Wen Popo. He wanted to make sure she didn’t take on all the blame. A-Li promised to handle it and had marched off with some lawyer looking type in tow.

That had been all it took to encourage Wei Wuxian to return home. There had been a lot of fussing about when he’d come to the palace in his first official visit. None of his rather royal family members wanted to say goodbye to him or A-Yuan, so their farewell had taken a bit of time. Lan Zhan took it all in stride, supporting and just being there for him. It felt kind of unfair in a lot of ways. 

His alpha deserved to be doted upon just as much as he did. Lan Zhan would officially become known as a royal consort or something now. Probably? It was hard to figure out all the rules and titles that people started to sling around him. All he knew was that he’d asked Bai Lihua to use his name with no titles about a dozen times now. She was being stubborn about it.

“Is Wen Popo safe?” He asked, sitting up on the floor.

“Yes, sir. Both Wen Daifu and Wen Xu gave clear statements that exonerated them of any wrongdoing. Wen Ruohan has also been taken into custody and his assets have been seized. Wen Xu has been a great benefit in making the process happen quickly.” The one good thing about this lady happened to be that she didn’t balk with delivering news.

“Oh thank God!” Wei Wuxian let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.

“Have they announced the verdict?” Lan Zhan asked seriously. 

A-Yuan started kicking up a fuss as he ceased to be the center of attention, so Wei Wuxian picked him up and nuzzled his face into that adorable little tummy. It was a great way to hide his expression while Miss Bai spoke.

“It has. Yu Ziyuan has been found guilty on all counts. Jiang Fengmian has been found guilty as well, though his involvement has been downgraded to accomplice in some areas. They have been served four consecutive life sentences as well as the death penalty without reprieve.” Somehow, even though Wei Wuxian knew it was coming, it was still a kick to the gut.

“I see.” Lan Zhan spoke for him. “Do you require another statement?”

“No, the Emperor will provide a blanket statement for the entire family. There’s nothing you need to do right now.” Bai Lihua’s voice was sweet and gentle. She was a very nice lady.

The sting of tears burned in Wei Wuxian’s eyes and he kept teasing A-Yuan, huffing and making noises against his son’s belly. He didn’t want a stranger seeing him fall apart, not over this. A-Yuan squealed and wriggled in Wei Wuxian’s hands, clearly over the moon from all the attention. 

“Thank you, Miss Bai. It is getting late, are you planning to remain nearby?” Lan Zhan stood smoothly, giving Wei Wuxian some privacy by blocking the woman’s direct line of sight.

The offer for her to stay at the Yashi had been made hours ago. Jiang Yanli had moved into the Hanshi with Xichen-ge so the guest house was once again empty. New personal liaison or not, Wei Wuxian had been wholly against having some random person staying in the Jingshi just so they could be close at hand. He didn’t need all that garbage and he’d told his grandfather as much.

“If there’s no other pressing matters, I’ll take my leave for the day. I’ve left my contact details in the kitchen and the security personnel also know how to get a hold of me. Please add my number into your phones as well when you get a moment.” Bai Lihua’s polite reply had a surge of relief washing through Wei Wuxian.

“Of course. I believe we will be able to manage on our own. Thank you for your dedicated work, Miss Bai.” Lan Zhan started guiding her out of the living room and toward the foyer. Wei Wuxian didn’t even get the chance to give his farewells. He didn’t want to anyway. His throat was closing up with all sorts of dumb emotions.

A-Yuan grabbed the long hair right in front of his face, tugging and squealing. “Ahh! You little monster!”

Wei Wuxian choked out a laugh at his son’s antics and carefully pried the little fingers loose so he could save his scalp from further torment. He kissed A-Yuan’s nose before pulling his baby close and cradling him against his chest. The ache in Wei Wuxian’s heart was profound.

Sandalwood teased his nose, the earthy notes soothing around Wei Wuxian while he sat on the floor. It pulled his attention to the entry. Lan Zhan was already halfway across the living room. He wasn’t alone either. Lan Xichen and Jiang Yanli were with him.

“We’ll watch A-Yuan for a bit.” Yanli announced by way of greeting.

A gentle hand had come to cup Wei Wuxian’s cheek and then she started talking to his baby. It took mere seconds for Yanli to lift A-Yuan out of his arms and carry him around, cooing and smiling at him. That left Wei Wuxian empty and bereft of warmth. 

Without saying a word, Lan Zhan bent down and scooped his arms under Wei Wuxian’s knees and back. The world tipped and swayed. 

“Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian gave a half-hearted protest.

“Wei Ying.” The stoic answer held immeasurable gentleness with love suffusing their bond.

They were headed upstairs to their room. Lan Zhan didn’t stop or say a damn word. The door closed behind them with a soft click, shutting out the happy sounds A-Yuan playing with Shijie and Xichen-ge. The world dipped again and Wei Wuxian found himself nestled in his husband’s lap in their nest. It had long since migrated in front of the fireplace in the bedroom, giving a cozy feel to the space. Comforting scents and familiar things surrounded him, soothing his confused emotions.

“Why are we here?” He asked timidly. The privacy was great, but he felt afraid all the same.

It wasn't because of Lan Zhan or anything like that. Wei Wuxian was terrified of letting all these feelings out. Everything would be so real if he did. His alpha’s lips pressed softly against his own.

“Wei Ying. You need to breathe.” The gentle reminder startled him. When had he started gasping anyway?

Pain and grief bubbled up with a hiccuped little whimper. “I…They…”

Wei Wuxian didn’t have words. The verdict was in. It was over. His Mama and Baba finally were getting justice. He had made it happen. He had condemned the people who had raised him. They were going to die because of him. Oh God! He was killing his adopted parents!

A sob tore out of him, the painful sorrow in his heart exploding outward. “Lan Zhan!”

“I know. I am here.” Those comforting strong arms cradled Wei Wuxian close and another broken sob tore up his throat.

At long last, Wei Wuxian let out all the things he’d held onto. The misery, the fear, and the longing. All his remorse flowed into the tears and he clung tightly to Lan Zhan, mourning a loss he didn’t entirely understand.

—---------

As far as lounges went, this one was pretty nice. It had that old money feel to it with lots of dark wood and rich leather seats. The interior boasted a warm, intimate lighting, making it easy to forget what time of day it was outside. There weren’t any real windows to speak of, and the ones that did exist had heavy drapes. Old cigar and woodsmoke permeated the essence of the building, lending credence to this being a long-standing establishment.

Jin Zixuan sat opposite of Meng Yao. They were waiting for two others. “I wasn’t sure about you in the beginning. You looked like you were clinging instead of trying to get away from the zoo.”

Meng Yao cracked a bit of a wry smile and leaned back into the cushioned chair. “I just wanted to know about my family, and it wasn’t like I could just leave after everything that happened.”

“Learned your lesson about being a hero yet?” Zixuan asked dryly. He was only ribbing him, Meng Yao knew that, but it still made him roll his eyes.

“Next time I’ll wear a mask.” The dry retort pulled a chuckle out of his half-brother.

Things were pretty good between them these days. Meng Yao had a new understanding of the way the ‘golden boy’ operated. They both held disdain for their mutual sperm donor of a father and did what they had to in order to protect themselves and those around them. Whereas Zixuan embraced his status as the heir and used it as a shield, Meng Yao remained humble and tried to blend in as best he could. They both wanted the same thing in the end, and that’s what mattered most.

“So why are we here?” He asked casually, glancing once toward the single television screen over the bar along the back wall of the building.

Unsurprisingly, the program being televised was a prominent news network. The volume had been muted but the captions were scrolling along the bottom. For the past week, the only news worth reporting on involved the new prince and the Jiang trial. A picture of Prince Wuxian and his family remained fixed up in the corner of the screen throughout the report. They looked happy, all things considered.

At least the trial hadn’t totally derailed his investigation into Jin Guangshan. Wen Xu’s statement had scared the hell out of him at the time, yet somehow, that asshole had managed to not utter a single word about Lanling or anything the Ministry was doing. Every time questioning had strayed in a tenuous direction, Wen Xu had shot them down, citing he was not at liberty to discuss anything other than Wen Ruohan’s involvement in Lotus Enterprises and the Jiang family. 

Meng Yao’s superiors had credited him with coaching the younger Wen. Honestly, all he’d done was swear vehemently at the guy over the phone for twenty minutes. Who in their right might got involved with a Ministry investigation only to turn around mere days later and proclaim to the entire world that he was indeed working with the Ministry?! As far as Meng Yao was concerned, Wen Xu couldn’t keep a secret to save his soul.

Sadly, it meant that Meng Yao was indeed still investigating his father and Lanling. 

“Since you’ve stuck around,” Jin Zixuan broke through his private musings, “it’s time you meet the rest of the known outcasts.” 

The rest of the who? Meng Yao’s confused frown made his half-brother chuckle at least.

“You wanted to get to know your family, didn’t you?” Jin Zixuan asked archly. “You know we’re kind of fucked up, right?”

Meng Yao shrugged. “Nobody is perfect, A-Xuan.”

“Who isn’t perfect?” A lovely woman’s voice asked from behind Meng Yao. 

Jin Zixuan smirked and stood up, moving to hug the newcomer. “Definitely not me! How are you A-Su?”

“Ugh, you two always do the hugging.” A second voice complained, this one belonged to a young man.

Meng Yao watched with a polite smile while Jin Zixuan whipped out a quick answer. “That’s ‘cause we’re family and that’s what a normal family does.”

A-Su smiled over to Meng Yao. “You must be the new half-brother I haven’t met yet. I’m Qin Su, this is Mo Xuanyu.” 

“Crap! Yeah,” Jin Zixuan muttered. “Meng Yao, meet your half-sister and half-brother. There are more, I just haven’t found them all yet.”

The shocking part was that Meng Yao already knew of Qin Su. She had been one of the names from his dossier of people in CRI as part of Su Minshan’s investigation. The woman was enchanting and had an easy-going personality. She rolled her eyes at Zixuan and moved to sit, beckoning Mo Xuanyu to do the same.

“Nice to meet you.” He smiled, putting his best face forward. “So…we’re all related?”

“Yep, I warned you.” Zixuan replied easily, opening a bottle of baijiu before settling in to fill the cups waiting on the table.

“Don’t worry, A-Yu had the same reaction you did. It’s a lot.” Qin Su added easily.

“Since you aren’t a nutjob, we’re welcoming you into the sibling circle.” Mo Xuanyu smirked, flopping down on a seat and picking up one of the cups of liquor. 

“Qin Su’s the nice one. A-Yu’s the baby, he’s a little spoiled.” Zixuan added.

“You call dealing with my crazy aunt being spoiled?” Mo Xuanyu sputtered indignantly.

“Not like you live there anymore. How’s university going?” Meng Yao just listened as the three of them caught up.

An easy camaraderie existed between the trio. They asked Meng Yao questions, sticking to his birth name instead of the ridiculous Jin name that their father had given him. He actually really appreciated that. Everyone was genuine. Qin Su talked about her work and how she was a numbers girl. She gushed over all the tea she had about the Lans and the new prince, including some altercation months ago with a security guard.

It didn’t seem like Mo Xuanyu really cared for the royal talk and kept dragging the topic back to what he found interesting - that being athletics and the latest new VR tech. He currently attended university, working toward a computer sciences degree. Meng Yao wanted to tell them about his position with the Ministry so very badly. He had to keep reminding himself that his work was confidential. Maybe after he’d finished this assignment he could tell them. 

Perhaps he could confide in A-Xuan at the very least. His half-brother happened to be in the best position to help and they both disliked how their father operated. At least he’d have a source to work with and then he could find what he needed that much more easily. 

“So you work in accounting as well? A-Xuan said that’s where you started.” Qin Su pulled him into the conversation again.

“Yes, I actually like research and data entry. Accounting is kind of like that. It all went sideways after the Dragon Boat Festival though.” He felt the contrite expression pinching his face just perfectly. 

Mo Xuanyu snorted. “Stupid Wen asshole. Honestly, you did the world a favor.” 

“A-Yu! It’s not that simple.” Qin Su reprimanded him and Jin Zixuan swatted the back of the younger man’s head.

“Ow! Hey!” Mo Xuanyu exclaimed.

“It’s alright! I didn’t have much of a choice. Honestly, it’s not that big of a thing - it just sucks how it turned out in the end.” He tried to placate them with his usual humble bullshit.

“Then you caught our father’s eye and life’s been a PR nightmare for you.” Zixuan concluded.

“Better than being ripped off the eligible bachelor list for being a jackass, don’t ya think?” Qin Su’s dry voice targeted Jin Zixuan.

“You know why I did that!” Zixuan defended.

“This is why I work for CRI, you know. The Lans are good people and respectful.” Qin Su sighed. “I tried applying for the finance department at Lanling. Father was more than keen to hire me on, but he wanted…perks. I told him we were related and for a second, I think the idea excited him. That was my big red flag moment. I turned down the job offer and came to CRI. Best decision I ever made.”

Jin Guangshan had hit on his own daughter?! Meng Yao felt the baijiu in his gut threatening to make a comeback. Mo Xuanyu laughed while staring at him. It seemed to be one of those commiserating sounds. Zixuan looked properly green and he sputtered.

“Well at least he spoke to you. I tried and the fucker just sent me hush money and refused to even look at me.” Mo Xuanyu sounded rather smug. “It’s paid for my entire education so I suppose I should be thankful.”

“Does it bother you?” Meng Yao asked as a lull came over the group.

“You mean father being a whore? Yeah of course it does.” Zixuan spoke first, the other two nodded. “I wish my mother would divorce his ass. At least then maybe he’d learn a lesson.”

“She knows about us and she hasn’t gotten rid of him yet.” Mo Xuanyu muttered.

“Maybe she needs some evidence?” Meng Yao suggested carefully.

The others all seemed to consider this and each one nodded after a minute or two. Before he knew it, Meng Yao was in the midst of discussing operation ‘get the dirt on dad’ with his half-siblings. His superiors would kill him if he jeopardized the investigation, but he felt he was a good judge of character. All four of them had the same goal in this at least.

“I have a confession.” Meng Yao announced it suddenly before he could change his mind. His half siblings all stopped to stare at him. “I work for the Ministry of State Security.” 

—---------

Four months later…

“Are you sure you’re going to be alright with him?” Wei Wuxian asked for maybe the hundredth time.

Yanli gave him a patient smile and ruffled his hair. “A-Xian, we’re fine. A-Yuan’s no trouble and he’s having so much fun with the other children.”

“Yes, we’ll be able to handle it no problem and we’re flying home in a few days.” Lan Xichen added. A-Yuan had just finished his breakfast bottle and Xichen-ge had volunteered to burp him. 

His son was a cheerful baby and very active during the day. Ever since A-Yuan had learned how to get his hands and knees under him, he’d been a terror of mobility. Uncle Lan kept on warning them that it’d only get worse once he started to walk. Apparently babies went from crawling to running, completely bypassing the actual walking stage. 

They were in Gusu for the Lan family gathering. Yanli was heavily pregnant and due within the next month or two. Saddling her with A-Yuan almost seemed cruel. Shijie was glowing and radiant with her pregnancy, and Xichen-ge continued to dote on her at every chance. Lan Qiren was also there, it wasn’t like A-Yuan would be a burden, right?

“Wei Ying, we will be late.” Lan Zhan’s warm voice teased his senses and he whined looking from his baby to his husband and back again. 

Over the past few months, he’d done a ton of stuff, often asking family to babysit for a day here and there. This would be the first multiple day sleepover without him though! Maybe he should just take A-Yuan home with him now. The indecision was killing him! Bai Lihua stood off to the side, talking into a phone and glancing their way occasionally. She went wherever Wei Wuxian did most days. She volunteered to stay in Gusu with A-Yuan. Hell, there were bodyguards that were staying here too!

His baby had an army looking out for him.

“Lan Zhan! Aren’t you worried at all!?” The pouting tone might have been a touch overdramatic.

“Of course I am, however I also trust our family and friends implicitly.” Lan Zhan’s molten gold eyes were warm and gentle as he leaned in to kiss Wei Wuxian.

“Maybe I should stay…” It was saying something that he hadn’t gotten all frisky with that kiss.

“Mn. If you wish to, we will stay.” Lan Zhan agreed easily. The peppery tinge to his sandalwood scent had started to become more obvious to Wei Wuxian. Making his alpha take a plane back to the city would be cruel. Lan Zhan hated flying and they were on a tight schedule.

Wei Wuxian had been looking forward to this trip quite a bit. The Gusu gathering had been his first real break from official duties as a member of the Imperial family and his own charity work since everything had gone public. Not only that, but this trip marked an important milestone. It had been just over a year since he and Lan Zhan first met…on a train…the same train that they were about to catch to head back home on.

“A-Xian!” Shijie’s voice became slightly snappy and impatient. “You deserve a break. Go, have fun.”

Wei Wuxian hesitated. He really had been looking forward to this. A-Yuan would be fine…he wasn’t abandoning him. Trains were safe and nothing awful was going to happen. It would only be for a few days! 

“Guys! This is the first sleepover! I’m just…I…” He huffed, tugging at his own hair.

“I know, it’s hard, but A-Yuan is having so much fun and he’s perfectly safe with us.” Yanli coaxed, smiling warmly.

“If we wait much longer, our trip will be canceled.” Lan Zhan cautioned.

Through their bond, he could sense the hesitancy in his alpha. Leaving their baby with others for a few hours was one thing, overnight was a whole different ball of wax! Even so, Lan Zhan remained confident and calm about the whole ordeal. That could have been for Wei Wuxian’s benefit, but there was a thread of sincere faith in the depths of his emotions.

It’d be fine. They deserved this.

“Argh! Ok we’re going!” Wei Wuxian suddenly announced. “Be good, A-Yuan! I love you sooo much!”

He scooped his son out of Lan Xichen’s arms just long enough to hug and nuzzle against him, scent-marking his child as he often did before leaving him in anyone’s care. Lan Zhan came close, adding to the whole moment, each of them murmuring words of love and showering their baby in kisses before handing him back to Xichen-ge. They were doing this!

“Your Highness, the car is waiting.” Bai Lihua’s voice interrupted their moment and Wei Wuxian sighed. No matter how many times he tried to get her to not use titles, the woman insisted.

Having a personal aide had its advantages. Wei Wuxian was no longer late for anything. He gave her a nod and grinned. “You’re still staying, right?”

“Yes your Highness, so are the twins.” A-Yuan’s bodyguards weren’t actually related. Wu Xinyi and Jai Ming just looked really similar and Wei Wuxian had struggled to remember their names at first. He had taken to calling them the twins and the nickname stuck. They even seemed a little proud about it, opting to take on the title as a badge of honor instead of any sort of insult. He liked that about them.

“Okay…”

“Wei Ying…” Lan Zhan gently pulled at his arm.

“Right! See you in a few days!” He called, heading for the car.

The trip down the mountain to Caiyi would take nearly an hour, giving both Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan time to relax. They’d spent the last couple weeks in the Lan Clan ancestral grounds up in the mountain for the annual gathering. It had been a bit more over the top than previous years. Lan Zhan blamed it on Shufu getting into the royal protocol stuff a little too much. It seemed like the old man wanted to make a good impression on Bai Lihua. Those two had clashed once or twice over seemingly random things, but it was all in good nature. Honestly, Wei Wuxian was pretty convinced that good old Uncle Lan had a bit of a crush on the composed royal advisor.

The snowy covered trees flashed outside the window as they made their way closer to town and the train station. Wei Wuxian’s mind started to wander. Lan Zhan sat next to him, reading quietly, enjoying the first moment of peace either of them had known in weeks.

Li Yize sat up front with the driver, he was Wei Wuxian’s personal bodyguard. At first, the idea of having someone like that had not gone over well. Lan Zhan had been more than capable of protecting him! Why did he need a damn guardian at all?

As time wore on, the man had proven himself invaluable. The first occasion in which Wei Wuxian had gone out without Lan Zhan to a park with A-Yuan had been eye opening. Li Yize had gone above and beyond the call of duty - along with the twins. The other parents at the park had gotten a little too excited about the Crown Prince and his son being amongst them. It had been intense.

There’d only been one mother with her child there that hadn’t gotten into the thick of things. When the dust settled, Wei Wuxian approached her to apologize. He’d been the cause of all the chaos, it seemed only right. She had a son about the same age as A-Yuan and before he knew it, A-Yuan had made his first friend. Ouyang Zizhen was a cute little boy who had the hawk-like features of his father and the sweet gentleness of his mother.

They’d spent the entire afternoon in the park watching their kids get along and have fun. It wasn’t like babies were running on playground equipment or anything wild, it was just nice to have them out in the fresh air and this park had these cool spongey play areas with harnessed swings.

After that, Wei Wuxian had made a few playdates with the Ouyang family. Of course, Baoshan Sanren insisted they have a security check done on them. Wei Wuxian only agreed if they did it discreetly. He didn’t want to scare off a new friend just because of his damn status. 

Taking on all of his newfound royal duties had been a huge challenge. Even though he wasn’t the direct heir to the title of Emperor and all the crap that went with it, Wei Wuxian found his days filled with learning about protocol and his responsibilities. He got to spend a lot of time at the palace and had come to know his relatives a lot better. The best part was learning about his parents.

Uncle Xingchen had plenty of stories to tell him about his Mama and Baba after they’d met. Wei Wuxian even learned that Wei Changze had been an architect and worked on all sorts of projects. His passion had been restoring ancient buildings, temples and homes using traditional methods. Every year, his Baba had made Mama a new hair pin with his own two hands, but the bunny pin Wei Wuxian still had was her favorite.

Xiao Muchen spent a lot of time with him as well and he came to know his grandfather as more than just the serious and slightly terrifying Emperor. Muchen had a soft spot for family and doted on those he had as much as possible. Wei Wuxian’s grandmother had passed years previous, but Baoshan Sanren had filled that void seamlessly. She was a mischievous sort and often stepped on Xiao Muchen’s toes when it came to official business, but they still all loved one another and they never used violence to resolve their disputes. That alone had been so foreign to Wei Wuxian it took a while before he relaxed around them.

The rows of homes at the edges of Caiyi started to blink past them while the car progressed along the town’s outskirts. A building had signs on makeshift boards condemning traitors. It had become a thing at the end of the trial. People took one of two distinct stances; they were in a frenzy for the execution of Yu Ziyuan and Jiang Fengmian, or they didn’t care, or want to be known to care, and remained silent. Some of them were wild fanatics who had gone overboard with signage and marches. He’d thought it had all been cleaned up by now, but some people were just hung up on it.

A month after the trial had ended, Wen Ruohan was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without reprieve as well for his involvement in everything that happened. Wen Xu immediately assumed control of Qishan Industries, seizing all of his father’s assets with the blessings of the entire board behind him. Nie Huaisang frequently claimed they’d all dodged a bullet with how that all went down. Wei Wuxian figured he was just being dramatic - it was Huaisang’s thing. His friend was so pregnant right now that he’d been put on forced bed rest by doctor Chang, just like Wei Wuxian had. 

Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan’s execution had been carried out around the same time Wen Ruohan had been imprisoned. Shijie had taken it better than Jiang Cheng had. For a month or so afterward, Wei Wuxian’s brother had withdrawn entirely and stayed away. He claimed he didn’t want to deal with the media frenzy. Everyone knew the real reason, and they just waited for him to come around.

Jiang Cheng wasn’t alone through it at least. He had Nie Mingjue at his side. The big man threw himself into planning their impending wedding, doing what he could to keep Jiang Cheng’s spirits up. During his time away from family, Jiang Cheng hurled himself into restoring Lotus Enterprises while Shijie had taken a step back due to her advancing pregnancy. The company now rivaled the success of Prism and Cloud Recesses Incorporated. Jiang Cheng was being lauded with accolades and business of the year awards - something he also hated but reluctantly accepted.

In time, his brother had started to visit more often. Jiang Cheng realized he had some catching up to do in the favorite uncle department, volunteering to spend time with A-Yuan as often as he could. Just thinking about it made Wei Wuxian grin. Jiang Cheng frequently liked to tell everyone that A-Yuan’s favorite toy was still little Apple, the stuffed donkey he’d gotten for him when he was born. Wei Wuxian had started to worry that a real donkey was going to show up one day.

The car rolled to a stop outside of the sleepy train station and Lan Zhan tucked his phone away. It pulled Wei Wuxian out of his internal musings and he smiled at his handsome alpha. Sometimes it boggled his mind that Lan Zhan really was all his. A little over a year ago, they’d met here for the first time. So much has changed since then. 

“Ready?” He asked softly, peeking to see if there was a crowd out there. Somehow, people always seemed to know where he was going, it’d made Wei Wuxian a little paranoid.

“Mn.” Succinct as ever, Lan Zhan gave his hand a squeeze and pushed the door open before Li Yize could get around the car to open it for them.

Cool crisp air kissed Wei Wuxian’s face and he scooted out, shivering in his warm coat and tugging the scarf more securely around his neck. “Why is Gusu so cold!?”

“The mountains are always a little cooler. I like it.” Lan Zhan answered easily, one arm coming down to the small of Wei Wuxian’s back. 

They walked unimpeded into the station, through security and onto the platform in record time. Royalty had its perks! Li Yize remained a constant presence, giving them space while still doing his job. There were curious faces and a few exclamations, but Wei Ying had learned to ignore it. He linked his arm in Lan Zhan’s. 

“It all started here, gege.” His voice had a wistful quality to it.

“It did.” A small smile pulled at his alpha’s lips. It made Wei Wuxian swoon.

The peppery warmth in Lan Zhan’s scent became more pronounced and it pulled a grin from Wei Wuxian. They were heading home a few days early for two reasons. The foundation Wei Wuxian had established to help less fortunate people and victims know their rights, was holding an event and he needed to be there - especially since Baoshan Sanren had insisted on being a guest of honor. The other reason focused on the fact that Lan Zhan’s rut was coming up. 

If they’d flown, they could have left with everyone else, but Lan Zhan hated planes and it’d involve a lot of suppressants to stay in control. He refused to call it a phobia, however the fear always spiked through their shared bond before his husband could stamp it down. Wei Wuxian began to entertain the idea of having a repeat of their first time on a train together.

“How are you feeling, Lan Zhan?” Wei Wuxian tucked his hand into his alpha’s long coat pocket so he could cop a feel without being noticed. 

“Wei Ying!” Lan Zhan’s golden eyes were wide, the pupils over-large. Wei Wuxian snickered.

“Yes, Zhan-er? Gege? Lan Zhannnn?” Ok, he might have been laying it on thick, but they were about to get on a train. It was exactly the same trip as before and they would be spending a few days in a private car. 

Sexy time in this circumstance was practically a given, and Wei Wuxian had become wholly motivated to try for baby number two. He had plans to spend Lan Zhan’s rut with him and he’d even gotten the tea that would trigger his heat too. Just in case. It was all stuff he planned to discuss with his husband, of course, but teasing was way more fun!

Lan Zhan’s answering growl thrilled Wei Wuxian to no end. “Do not start what you cannot finish.”

Oh! That was such a challenge!

“You think I’m gonna back out, Lan er-gege?” The coy tone of his voice was accentuated by him batting his lashes and letting his spicy citrus scent surround them. He was excited, surely Lan Zhan had picked up on it.

“Mark your words, Wei Ying. Mark your words.” Lan Zhan suddenly moved, scooping Wei Wuxian up into his arms, much to his delight. 

He let out a little whoop of joy, laughing and clinging to Lan Zhan. Li Yize took it in stride, moving in behind them as he often did in these scenarios. Thank God the man wasn’t sharing the private car with Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan! It would have put a serious crimp in all of his plans!

“I love you, Lan Zhan.” Wei Wuxian kissed his alpha’s neck, right over the bite mark.

Arms squeezed a bit more tightly as they held him and Lan Zhan paused, halfway up the steps onto the train just to stare into his eyes. “I love you, Wei Ying. Always.”

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