Chapter Text
There are complications, of course. Firstly, midwives who've aided a man through delivery are in exceedingly short supply - and most of those pregnancies had been the result of a cultivation accident or strange concoction; not exactly reassuring, given the oddness of Lan Wangji's particular circumstances.
There is said to be a woman living in the immortal realm who specialises in such strange matters - apparently, it is more common there for a cutsleeve union to bear fruit - but she is as easy to contact as Baoshan Sanren, and twice as stubborn about setting foot on the mortal plane.
However, before a decision can even be reached regarding what to do and who will do it, there is the little matter of how the child will come into the world to consider.
At first, Wei Wuxian worries his husband will have to be cut open to facilitate the babe's birth, but late in the second month, relief comes in the form of a new discovery from Wen Qing.
"A vine's unfurled from the flower," she says. "It's connected to…well," - she clears her throat - "the area children traditionally are birthed from."
Wei Wuxian is fairly certain Lan Wangji doesn't have that particular sort of anatomy, but the point is conveyed. The vine is long and thick; hollow inside like the birthing passage of a woman - and from a thorough inspection, seems to act just the same as one.
As to where it leads… Lan Wangji turns alarmingly pale when he realises where the child will emerge from - that is, exactly the same place the seed that allowed its conception entered.
Wen Qing pats his arm consolingly. "Most are frightened, the first time. But with a capable midwife, there's no need for a cultivator as experienced as you to fret."
Lan Wangji looks at her askance.
"We do not have a midwife," he reminds her.
Wen Qing blinks once, seeming to shrug without moving a muscle. "Nevertheless. You'll do well."
Lan Wangji tosses in his sleep that night, much unlike his usual self. Wei Wuxian holds him till he calms, muttering lowly about any little thing that comes to his mind, until his husband at last finds peace.
"Listen to Wen Qing," he whispers against Lan Wangji's crown. "It'll all turn out well, and our babe will be the healthiest little creature you've ever seen."
But inside he worries, and it is only many hours later that sleep finally finds him.
Of course, there is also the matter of propriety to consider - according to Lan Qiren, at least.
"I do not care who sees what, so long as the babe is delivered well." There is a determined crease between Lan Wangji's brow as he argues with his uncle, though his ears burn bright with embarrassment.
Wei Wuxian finds his resolve charming. Lan Qiren, however, does not. He is more concerned with preserving his nephew's dignity than rewarding his persistence.
"You are a man! How could you allow a woman to look upon you so intimately?!" Lan Qiren's face is red with indignation just thinking of it.
Lan Wangji's brow ticks down further. "My life and that of my child's may depend upon it, Uncle."
He's truly upset now, Wei Wuxian can tell. There is a slight edge to his voice, and though he does not yell, Wei Wuxian knows his husband well enough to say that without the rules holding him back, he would be.
Which means it's his turn to step in.
"With respect, Uncle, he's hardly a maiden," he jokes, knowing it will tick the old man off. "There's nothing there that hasn't been seen many times before."
Under the low table, Lan Wangji pinches his leg, though he feels nought but satisfaction watching Lan Qiren splutter. Wei Wuxian doesn't think the old man has ever forgiven him for deflowering his precious nephew - though how he was meant to resist with Lan Wangji acting so flirtatiously, he's never understood.
Even knowing the doting and closeness had initially been an act, or borne of fear, Wei Wuxian couldn't help but fall for it. And oh, how eager he had been once that beautiful body fell into his possession.
It had been an ill-thought out plan, in retrospect, to take Lan Wangji as his own. Depending on his mood, Wen Ruohan was just as likely to have had him whipped for even suggesting he part with one of his favoured pets.
But Wei Wuxian had already tasted the sweetness of Lan Wangji's kiss; felt the tender warmth of their bodies intertwined, and become slave to it.
Even as he cursed himself for taking advantage after, believing Lan Wangji incapable of resisting his advances, he couldn't help but return to his concubine's arms after each battle and strategy meeting - each mockery of justice he had to bite his tongue to endure.
And each time, he found Lan Wangji waiting - his body wanting, even as his expression grew ever more distant. Wei Wuxian worried one day he just might lock himself away so deeply within himself no one could reach him anymore.
The fear of being separated had turned his heart desperate, and he'd done much he'd later regretted in the hopes of keeping even a little of the spark in Lan Wangji's eyes alive; just the smallest moan from his lips, or flushing of his pale skin.
He'd been so selfishly invested in keeping Lan Wangji's eyes on him, that he missed the yearning in them; the pain.
Wei Wuxian sighs, and Lan Wangji shoots him a complex look - something caught between annoyance at his uncle, and concern - as if knowing exactly which memories his mind had strayed to.
Shooting a reassuring smile his love's way, he turns back to the conversational hand. "This is Lan Zhan's birth. Shouldn't he be the one to decide how it happens?"
Lan Qiren refuses to relent. "What is there to decide? A babe can only be born so many ways! He should consider his dignity!"
Wen Qing, who has thus far remained a silent observer, settles the matter with a gruff rebuke. "There is little room for dignity in birth-giving, Lan xiansheng. There is only life and death."
Something about the severity of her tone or expression seems to break through to the man, who presses his lips together firmly, but argues no more.
Wei Wuxian knows he only worries for Lan Wangji, as Wei Wuxian himself does. But Wen Qing is right. He'd rather his husband face the discomfort of being seen in a compromising position whilst birthing their little one, than go through all that alone. And that is what Lan Wangji wants, too.
"Very well," Lan Qiren finally relents when Wen Qing announces she'll supervise the birth herself. She has consulted with the immortal midwife - with the aid of Wei Wuxian's soul-seeking messenger talismans, invented solely for this purpose - and learned all she can about the process of male birth possible for one who's yet to experience it.
But she has her own worries.
"You are old for this to be your first," she says, not unkindly. "Perhaps not for a cultivator, or a man - though most men are siring their offspring, not bearing them."
It is true. Even female disciples with high potential usually married and had their first child by the age of thirty, at the eldest - a tradition carried over from the mortals the clans intermingled so closely with.
Lan Wangji nods in understanding. His body had not been born with the ability to bear a child, but shaped into it against his knowledge. What for a woman of his age and cultivation might be a minor inconvenience, could turn into something much more sinister for him.
Still, he is happy to be with child - radiant with it, and so evidently awed by the shape of his changing body. More than once, Wei Wuxian stumbles upon him simply holding his swollen belly and humming, or speaking softly with that darling slight smile upon his lips.
Their child will be very loved, he thinks fondly. Though of course, with Lan Wangji as a parent, how could they not be? There is more love in that man's heart than there is water in all the seas in all the world.
Wei Wuxian continues to worry about the concerns Wen Qing brought to light, but seeing how Lan Wangji takes to pregnancy as he does everything else - with grace and ease - calms him greatly.
"How unfair," he catches one of the women from Lan Wangji's birthing classes grumble - for of course, the Lan would create theory for even the most instinctual of things. "Wei furen doesn't even suffer from bloating. Is he truly pregnant?"
Wei Wuxian jumps out onto the path before her, a thread of mischief curling his lips. "My lady," he salutes her deeply. "I assure you, my dear husband is most certainly with child."
When he winks, her face flushes red and she makes to scamper back down the path to the women's pavilion, before Wei Wuxian catches her around the elbow.
"Do you need help getting back home?" he asks, having noted the slight limp she'd been nursing as she walked. After a moment of stunned silence, the woman nods.
"I would be most grateful for your assistance, Wei Wuxian." She hesitates, worrying her bottom lip. "However, as a lone woman..."
"Not to worry," he assures her, nodding at the sight of his beloved finally leaving the pavilion. "My dearest furen will be accompanying us."
Some of the tension drains from the woman's limbs then, though Lan Wangji's eyes flash with something dangerous when he catches sight of Wei Wuxian's hand around her arm.
Wei Wuxian almost grins. It's so cute when his Lan Zhan acts jealous, as if it isn't Wei Wuxian's babe in his belly, and heart in his hands.
"Lan Zhan!" He calls too loud for the dignified halls of the Cloud Recesses, his arm waving with too much enthusiasm. "Fang Yici mentioned how nice the weather is today. Would you like to take a turn of the compound with us?"
It's a flimsy excuse, but Lan Wangji doesn't call him on it. He merely nods and strides towards them - as much as one can, when thrown off balance by the life growing inside their body. Wei Wuxian is reminded viscerally of the waddle of a mother duck, and has to bite down on a low snicker.
Lan Wangji would probably appreciate the joke, but lately his appreciation for Wei Wuxian's humour has strayed into dangerous territory - for Wei Wuxian, that is. Lan Wangji himself leaves each encounter practically purring like a cat sated by a large helping of its favourite fish. Wei Wuxian often feels like the scraps left over - picked clean and tender from hours of gnawing.
A shiver runs up his spine at the mere thought of it - being completely at his husband's disposal - when Lan Wangji hooks his arm through his own, having reached them at last. To his chagrin, Wei Wuxian jumps a little at the contact, feeling caught out.
Lan Wangji gracefully ignores his husband's slip up, giving his arm a light squeeze as he turns to face Fang Yici.
"You are tired?" he asks, completely trampling any attempt Wei Wuxian had made at protecting the woman's pride.
Fang Yici, however, only seems to take the question as an invitation to resume complaining.
"It's unfair!" she repeats, to Lan Wangji's face this time. "You're glowing while I suffer. I can't even walk straight..."
Lan Wangji looks at her very seriously before replying, "Nor can I."
"Yes, but it looks good on you. I limp like an invalid, and it feels like something's pressing on my spine..." She sighs. "Not to mention that idiot husband of mine keeps taking on night-hunts!"
Lan Wangji hums, sounding amused to his husband's ears. Fang Yici is his elder cousin's wife - and, Wei Wuxian has come to realise, one of his favourites within the clan.
"It will pass soon," Lan Wangji assures her.
"Yes, and then we'll both have little screaming brats running about," she agrees with an air of mourning.
"Untrue," Lan Wangji replies. "They will not be able to run at first."
Fang Yici laughs, throwing her head back so far she almost loses balance.
"This damned belly," she laments, patting it as if in chastisement. "I can't do anything with it."
The pair continue to converse as they make their way to the family quarters, where Fang Yici's home is located.
"Thanks for walking me back," she says before bidding them farewell. "I've missed having company these past weeks."
Lan Wangji nods and Wei Wuxian waves, and then they both turn to walk the path back out into the back hills, where the jingshi awaits them.
"Is it too far for you to walk?" Wei Wuxian asks, just in case his husband's been hiding his pain. "I can carry you if you'd like."
Lan Wangji's eyes flash with interest, but he shakes his head. "I am well."
"Maybe later?" Wei Wuxian smiles at him coyly.
This time, his husband's gaze is practically scalding. "It shall be considered."
Wei Wuxian laughs, and they travel together in silence for a time, before he thinks to ask, "Why would Lan Sizheng leave his wife alone in this state? Hasn't he been bragging about how spoiled Fang Yici is since marrying her?"
Lan Wangji glances at his husband out of the corner of his eye.
"What?" Wei Wuxian asks, feeling suddenly as if he's being judged. "What is it?"
Again, his husband lets out a quiet hum. "I believe he became so overbearing, she chased him out of their house to get some peace."
Wei Wuxian nearly stumbles over a root. "Fang Yici threw him out?"
"Brother heard Sizheng sobbing to be let back in several nights ago." A small smile graces his lips as he walks. "When he arrived at their residence to mediate, Fang Yici said to get 'that man' out of her sight before she committed a crime."
Wei Wuxian bursts out into laughter. "Poor man."
Lan Wangji hums - neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Wei Wuxian bumps their shoulders together. "Well, I'm glad my darling husband is willing to put up with me, even when I'm being overbearing."
Lan Wangji comes to an abrupt standstill, pulling his husband along with him.
"You could never be overbearing," he says so sincerely, Wei Wuxian feels his heart jolt in his chest. "Also..." - he leans in so close, his breath gusts against Wei Wuxian's neck - "I thought I was your furen?"
Another little shiver runs up Wei Wuxian's spine. "You heard that, did you?"
"Mn."
Wei Wuxian chuckles, knowing he's in for a long, hard night when they reach home. Yet, against every survival instinct honed into him throughout the years, he finds he can't wait to face this particular challenge head-on.
He'd face the fires of the underworld itself for Lan Wangji. A little post-coital soreness is nothing in comparison.
What was an easy pregnancy turns into a hard labour one dark night, deep in the heart of winter.
After thirteen hours, and a steady transfusion of qi to prevent the womb grown inside Lan Wangji from spearing him through with thorns, A-Yuan is born - small and pale, with the same light eyes as his diedie, and Wei Wuxian's nose.
He is perfect. So perfect he remains silent long enough to concern Wen Qing.
"He should be crying," she says, sticking his heel with a needle to make him scream. All A-Yuan does is scrunch his little face up and let out a soft huff.
She pricks him again, causing Lan Wangji to grip the sheets under him in an effort to keep from ripping his child out of her arms.
"Is that necessary?" he asks. His voice is hoarse from crying out, and the area between his legs throbs badly enough to make him crave the embrace of oblivion.
He just wants to feel his child safe in his arms, and go straight to sleep. Even with his cultivation strengthened from the exercises taught in his birthing class, he is more tired than he's ever been, and oh-so sore.
But fate - and Wen Qing - is against him.
"Quite so," she says. "Some babes are born with diseases of the blood that cause them to bleed out from the smallest cut."
Lan Wangji's hands grip tighter into the sheets, as he fights back a rising wave of panic.
"Give him to me," he demands, holding out his arms for A-Yuan.
"Just a moment longer, Lan Wangji. I need to examine his-"
"Give him to me!" he shouts, the outburst causing the aching muscles of his stomach to cramp terribly. Any other day, his reaction would have shocked him, but now, all he can think about is A-Yuan, and how he isn't in his arms as he should be - safe from harm.
Wen Qing, too, appears shocked by his behaviour, and hesitates where she stands.
At Lan Wangji's side, Wei Wuxian stirs. He has been a great source of comfort throughout the birthing process - one Lan Wangji knows he is lucky to receive, given that fathers typically aren't allowed within the birthing chamber - and continues to be so now. "Can the examinations be carried out while Lan Zhan holds him?"
Wen Qing blinks slowly back to life.
"I suppose..." she murmurs, finally - finally - handing A-Yuan back to Lan Wangji, where he belongs. "It won't take too long. Just a few more moments."
Lan Wangji watches eagle-eyed as Wen Qing measures A-Yuan's heart rate and the flow of his meridians. True to her word, it is a swift process, and soon she returns her attention back to Lan Wangji.
"Not bad," she murmurs under her breath, rubbing a soothing salve into the torn skin of Lan Wangji's rear. "It's healing already, albeit very slowly."
What she doesn't say then is that Wei Wuxian has saved his life, offering up enough qi to prevent Lan Wangji from completely depleting his own - and with it, any ability to withstand the injuries he's sustained.
But Lan Wangji knows how close to death he was - could feel the call of it - and from the way Wei Wuxian's hand clenches around his own, he must realise too.
His body truly was not made for childbirth, yet it has weathered the task and come out in one piece. That is all Lan Wangji would hope to ask for.
"Alright," Wen Qing says after cleaning and inspecting Lan Wangji a bit more. "I'm happy to leave you to your husband's care." She nods to Wei Wuxian. "He's still very low on spiritual energy, so I'd advise not moving him too much for the meantime. Straight to bed, and send for me if anything seems unusual."
And then, as suddenly as she'd burst into the chamber earlier, she exits, leaving Wei Wuxian to pick Lan Wangji up under his knees and return him to their marital bed. Gentle as his husband is, each step makes something inside Lan Wangji ache.
He tries not to let his discomfort show, but it must, for Wei Wuxian kisses his brow as he tucks him under the covers. "You did well, Wei furen." One of his hands strokes over the downy softness of A-Yuan's hair. "What a wonderful little son you've granted me."
Usually, such words would set Lan Wangji's belly aflame with desire, but as his stomach already burns from agony, it only manages to spark a warm feeling in his heart.
"Anything for my husband," he says, his eyes drifting closed against his will.
Wei Wuxian kisses him again, upon his brow. "Not anything. I need my furen happy and well above all else."
"Mn," he agrees, too tired to recall what he's agreeing to. All he can feel are the conflicting sensations of pain, and the softness of the bed under him; the child - his son - so small, yet warm in his arms.
He holds A-Yuan with a gentleness he'd never before known himself capable of, his grip remaining firm even as his consciousness wanders.
"Wei Ying," he whispers, before the last thread of wakefulness frays completely.
"Mn?"
Struggling against exhaustion, he opens one sleepy eye to look directly into his husband's face. "Tell Wen Qing she is a liar. This was not simple."
Were it not for the babe sleeping close by, Wei Wuxian would have laughed.
"I will, furen." He presses one last kiss to Lan Wangji's brow and takes A-Yuan into his own arms. "But she might just kill me for it."
Lan Wangji mumbles an unintelligible response, already drifting off again, and Wei Wuxian can't help but smile.
Looking down at the child in his embrace, he whispers, "Such a cute little face. Just like your diedie."