Our Happily Ever After A Wangxian Story
Ps: The image above is supposed to be Jiang Yuelian. Jiang Cheng's baby girl😭💙 Whoever made this image is amazing. Saw it and I was like, Bam! This is our little lotus seedpod😹🥲****************************************************************************************
The family was in a state of disunity after Lan YongMing's disappearance. Wei Ying did his best to keep it together but it could not stop him from breaking down. Lan Wangji had forbidden everyone in the household from going after Xing. "He will come home when he learns his lesson," that's how he wanted to correct Second Young Master Lan. A point his third son strongly disagreed with. YongZheng did a lot of pleading on his brother's behalf and when it went with the wind, it made him uneasy. Unfortunately, Lan Sizhui was not on his side either. Soon their home was divided between those who understood Xing and those who did not. Wei Ying could not sleep. He took a stroll around the compound, feasting on unsettling thoughts. When he passed by the children's quarters, the lights in MingXia's room were off as they should be. Going by the twins', it was the same but he heard a ruckus coming from Xiang's room when he turned to leave. Wei Ying realized that the door was partly open, which was odd."Lan Xiang," He entered with a sense of urgency. His instincts did not deceive him, the third master was not in his room. Panicking, Wei Ying sounds an alarm and searches for his son. YongZheng was caught before he could flee the town and that made Lan Wangji furious. He was given some days in isolation as punishment. "Is this how you're going to welcome your children into adulthood?" Wei Ying stood against it vehemently, storming their room with blind rage. "...""Their birthday is in two weeks Lan Zhan, can you not put your ego aside for that at least?""...""Hah, so you won't speak to me? Fine, if you're not going to look for our son then I will. And Lan Xiang is coming with me," Wei Ying declared war on Wangji's authority. "You are not going anywhere, my love," Lan Wangji said. "Hah! I'd like to see you stop me," Wei Ying frowned. He had made it to the door when Lan Wangji's zither suddenly aired. Wangji was a Master at manipulating his abilities because Wei Ying allowed it back when he had a tough time controlling his core. Like a rope bound to his soul, Wei Ying was tugged by that force. But this Wei Ying did not need protection. He wasn't going to hold back, Wangji would have to try harder. At the next attempt, Wei Ying yanked out his sword and struck, nearly cutting the zither in half had Wangji not shifted it out of the way. "I'm going to find YongMing and bring him home Lan Zhan, if you're not going to help me, then it's best you get out of my way," Wei Ying said.Lan Wangji chased after his spouse. Perhaps talking like normal adults might get Wei Ying to see his point. But Wei Ying was not interested in who was right or wrong and gave Wangji an ultimatum. "This house is equally mine, just us our children. You don't get to decide on your own how their lives should turn out. If Xing is not found by the eve of his birthday, you will not like what I'll do," he warned. Lan Wangji approached him with a cool head regardless of that threat but it was too late to convince Wei Ying. ***YunmengJiang.Lan Xing took shelter at the Lotus Pier when he left home. His uncle Cheng happened to be one of the few people he idolized, and he did not hide the reason for his sudden appearance from him. "Can I stay here for a few days, till I figure out what I want to do?" Xing said to his uncle. Jiang Cheng was the only relative aside from his mother that would protect him without thinking or making up rules. "Do you have to ask?" Jiang Cheng raised a brow. "This is your maternal home, you are welcome to stay forever," he was understanding of the difficulties of having fathers with high standards and expectations."Can I also trust Uncle Cheng not to tell anyone where I am? Not even Zewujun.""That last bit might be hard... Tch! Sure, you have my word," Jiang crossed his heart. He preferred it this way: that the boy came to him instead of wandering off into the unknown. If he could cheer Lan Xing up, he may be open to patching things up with Lan Wangji. One person who was not thrilled about having Master Lan around was Yuelian. She was polite in her father's presence but turned hostile when he was out of sight. Lan Xing was not bothered by this, given that he knew the origin of her contempt towards him. He let her be. Unfortunately, they had to see each other often because Muyun was at the Cloud Recesses and Jiang Cheng organized many family activities to keep Lan Xing distracted. Yuelian saw how hard her father wanted to impress Lan Xing and that became another reason to be annoyed. Jiang Cheng would take Xing out on short hunting trips and praise him to the other disciples. Then there was the time Xing and her father sparred on the training grounds. It looked as if the clan leader was going easy on the young man but he truly wasn't. Lan Xing happened to be that good with a sword. "You're a lot like your father. Lan Wangji was an excellent swordsman at your age," Jiang Cheng said over dinner.Yuelian was expecting Xing to refute that claim as he did every time MingXia compared him to Hanguangjun. "How do you know, father?" Yuelian said, already getting bored with seeing Xing take more credit. "That's because his parents used to fight all the time, like cat and mouse. Hahaha. I avoided sparring with Hanguangjun to save myself the ridicule," Jiang Cheng made jokes. "Come to think of it, both your fathers have a good handle on the sword.""My mother hardly touches Suibian," Lan Xing was only eating because he did not want to bother his Uncle. He had long lost his appetite at the mention of his father's name."That is a story for another day," Jiang Cheng said. Soon the young miss noticed the distant look in her cousin's eyes when no one was watching. Xing was a rowdy character, seeing him so humbled and wistful made her feel ridiculous for staying mad at him. "YongMing, you should train with my Purple Spider sometime. She could learn a thing or two from you," Jiang Cheng smiled at his daughter and she lowered her head bashfully. ********Wei Ying showed up at the Lotus Pier in search of his son. Jiang Cheng did feel heavy for lying about Xing's whereabouts, given that his brother was devasted, but he was bent on keeping his word to his nephew. What if Wei Ying took the boy away and he absconded again? Xing would not trust him enough to return to the Pier and that would bring trouble."Your mother is at the pier," Yuelian found Xing in his room. "He seems to be looking for you, did you run from home?" she did not know the full story."It's nothing you should be concerned about. I will be out of here in a day or two," Lan Xing was sitting quietly on his own."Why? Did you get into trouble? You are the problem child afterall," Yuelian said. "Cousin Lian, I would like to meditate in silence," Lan Xing avoided eye contact, indirectly telling her to leave. Xing's reaction was not what Yuelian expected. Usually, Yongzheng laughed at such comments. She stayed mute about Xing's presence when she met her uncle. Wei Ying did not want to rest if his son was not there and was gone by sundown. Yuelian took that chance to ask her father about Xing. "I have never seen him this quiet," she told Jiang Cheng. "Your cousin is upset, A'Lian. We have to do whatever it takes to cheer him up, or your uncles will never be at peace," Jiang Cheng explained. He wanted to be there for his nephew because he did not have anyone to turn to when he felt out of place during his teenage years."Oh," Yuelian understood her cousin's change of attitude. She simmers down beside her father brooding over the conversation. Then suddenly something clicked. "Father, I believe I know how we can make Lan Yongming feel better.""Are you sure about this?" Jiang Cheng said. "Yes, but it's going to cost you a lot," Yuelian's face lit up. "How much are we talking about here?" Jiang Cheng blinked in anticipation of the big idea. "A fortune. There's a lot we have to do but I promise it will be worth it," Yuelian took out a paper from his father's desk and sat down to grind ink. ***Lan Wangji was in a difficult position. Wei Ying was upset and his only way of remedying that was to produce their second son. Wangji did give in, but he got no positive feedback from his search. He checked in with Lan Xichen and asked Sizhui to check any spots they missed but that did not help. Five days to the boys' birthday, Wangji visited his daughter's quarters. Suyin reported that MingXia was unwell and it had everyone worried. Lan Wangji sat by MingXia's bed and felt her forehead. She was asleep when he entered but when the young lady opened her eyes what followed was a string of tears. MingXia turned to the other side of the bed. "I'm fine, I want to be alone," she said."What's wrong, daughter, let me ease your pain," Wangji was soft-spoken. "You do not care about my pain," MingXia said with a groggy voice. Her face was warm from crying for days and her head continued to throb. Her eyelids were swollen and she could barely open her mouth wide enough. "MingXia, I'm not leaving until we talk about this," Wangji leaned his zither by the bedpost and pulled up his sleeves. He reaches for MingXia's hands and sat her up to give her energy. Lan Wangji wipes the girl's face, "Tell me, where do you feel sick?"MingXia shook her head sluggishly. "My heart hurts," she said. Lan Wangji's Adam's apple bobs, that is not a condition he could wand away with spirit energy. "YongMing was excited about coming home and you ruined everything."
"A'Xia, your brother needs to learn that he cannot always have his way. I only want the best for him," Wangji said.
"How is he going to learn that when you want everything to be done how you want it?" MingXia hardened her heart to say what she truly felt. "My brother deserves to be happy too. He is good to me and everyone he meets. Yes, he can get out of hand sometimes but he always means well, and he is an exceptional cultivator. A'Xing is right, you are mean to him, father... Because of you, I may never see him again," she cried.Lan Wangji sat up. "MingXia, did your brother tell you where he was headed?" Suddenly Wangji felt inadequate for not seeing this earlier. Lan Xing loved MingXia too much to leave her troubled at his disappearance, of course, he would tell her to put her at ease. "A Lan does not make promises they cannot keep. A Lan does not speak behind people's backs. I am not telling you where my brother plans to go," MingXia frowned at her father, showing her rebellious side... Wei Ying was home by nightfall with no news. He had searched every nook and cranny he could think of in the past few days. For now, the best he could do was try to track YongMing through estranged methods. When YongZheng insisted on helping Wei Ying had an idea of how deep the boy's foot was in dark art. "Use my blood, it has a deeper bond with my brother's," YongZheng said when he began to draw a spell on the ground. "It's too dangerous," Wei Ying turned him down. Thank heavens Wangji showed up to interrupt them and YongZheng was forced to leave. Wei Ying had stayed at the workshop to save himself the trouble of dealing with his partner in cultivation yet it was Lan Wangji that came to him. "Wei Ying, Im sorry," Wangji threw in the towel. It was not uncommon that they had disagreements in parenting, so long as they braved through it together. "Sorry will not bring my son home, Lan Zhan," Wei Ying was drawing a circle on the floor in his blood."Our son, he is our son," Lan Wangji said. " Lan Xing wants to move out of his home because of you, not me," Wei Ying gave him the stink eye. "Never, I won't let him go.""How? How will you possibly stop a mastermind like him?" Wei Ying hopped up, his fingertips painted red. "My son has written books about me and I didn't even know. I read one during the search and my heart broke. It felt like he was speaking to me, wanting me to change all that I did in the past... Yet at the same time, he wrote in his way that he understands me- that I'm blameless in his eyes. Where does he get those ideas, Lan Zhan? How is he able to show how much he loves me with mere ink whereas all you do is push him away."Lan Wangji was pushed to a corner. Sure, he smiled less at the boy but it was never his intention to make Xing feel like an outcast. He only wanted to discipline his son for breaking some of the spells they put up to make their community corpse free. Not to talk of that odd glare in his eyes that night. Lan Wangji followed his partner to the long table. "Wei Ying, do you remember the first time I felt our son kick inside you?""Of course, I do. You were frightened because we nearly lost him the night before and you couldn't sleep," Wei Ying leaned on a foot as Lan Wangji drew near, his face solemn. "That fear never left, Wei Ying. Lan Xing wants to change the world and it frightens me that I will lose him like I almost did that night. Like I lost you," Wangji had not felt Wei Ying's arms in weeks. " The day our sons were born, it felt as if my heart was now grasping the concept of beating. Lan Xing was perfect in every way," Lan Wangji said. His partner just stood there with folded arms. " I loved my son not just because is mine. Lan Xing was born in my image, but everything else was you. His smile, his personality, his passion. Fine, he has his father's jealousy," Wangji clarified, knowing Wei Ying would bring that up. "He stands out amongst his siblings Wei Ying. You may not see this but there is a disadvantage that comes with intelligence, knowledge, and power. It is easy to corrupt, and easy for one to lose their way. The more Xing grows in that light, the more uneasy I became.""So your idea is to suppress him? Do not give me that excuse Lan Zhan," Wei Ying went back to the circle, fidgeting with spells to complete what he started. He makes a tiny mistake and has to go back to the table."Our son is too much like you Wei Ying. You can't imagine what went through my mind when he lied for the sake of others, took the Cloud Recesses by storm and now he writes books?""See, that's the problem. You've been doing this since he was little and when I bring it up, you say that I'm overreacting. I raised that boy, and he would never hide anything from me Lan Wangji. You made him feel like he has to lie to me, to us!" Wei Ying stabbed a carving knife into the table. "I will fix this," Lan Wangji said."No, you won't! You'll make it worse... If you paid attention to nurturing your son's talents instead of fearing them, you would know that he is as stubborn as you Lan Zhan. Once YongZheng sets his mind on a task, he never goes back until it's complete. I have to finish this spell so if you have nothing useful for me, the door is the other way," Wei Ying did not have mercy on him. Wangji did not want him to flare up, so he did not challenge that request."MingXia knows where he is," Lan Wangji remembered why he came when he got to the exit. "She won't tell me but I know you'll have better luck," he gained Wei Ying's attention. Wangji said nothing more. He simply went through the door and closed it behind him.*****
YunmengJiangLan Xing was not up for it when Yuelian invaded his privacy yet again. "I'm going to the market, wanna come?"
"No, I have no business there," Lan Xing had his head in a book, something he used to scream was depressing in Gusu. "Well, I insist. My father is not happy you're often cooped in this room.""Why are you being nice to me?" Lan Xing raised his eyes at her. "You made yourself clear about hating my guts," his stoic expression gave him an intimidating aura. "Hmph! Who says I'm being nice to you? I'm just being a proper host to please my father," Yuelian snorted."Thank you, but I want to stay in," Xing ignored her."Tch! Hey, Second Master Lan, have you forgotten who you are? Isn't it against your rules or something to be rude to your hosts?" Yuelian said. How interesting it was to have their roles reversed. "You're coming with me, whether you feel like it or not," said the lady of the Lotus Pier."Women," Lan Xing sighed to himself as they went out of the Manor in the company of disciples. "What is your favourite meal? I can prepare it for you," Yuelian goes out once in a while to buy fresh produce for the house. They had enough in stock but she needed an excuse to get YongMing out of his room."As long as it's not too spicy, is okay," Lan Xing walked closely by her side, hands tucked at his back. He did not rush in his strides, and he is always a step behind when Yuelian is making a purchase. "Oh right, you like bland food," A smirk formed on the lady's lips. She handpicks a few items and tells the disciples to go ahead of them. "Are we not done yet?" Xing did not get why they were taking a different route from the disciples. Yuelian shrugs at his complaints and keeps moving forward. Along a daisy-covered path, they come across a still lake. Without warning, Yuelian drops her sword and removes the knots on her dress. Lan Xing spun around instantly when she pushed a sleeve down. "Cousin, what are we doing here?" "I want to swim," said Yuelian."Not like this, it's inappropriate to expose yourself.""I am not Lan MingXia. This is my body, only I decide what to do with it... You should turn around, I am not naked you know," Yuelian waited. Xing turned in bits, peeking to make sure he was not doing anything that dishonor the lady. There was some relief when his eyes first fell on the ground. MingXia was wearing long pants underneath her dress. Looking up he averted his eyes once again. Her chest area was only wrapped tightly with strips of cloth and it was difficult to miss the small flesh highlighting her cleavage. "Pff!" Yuelian found it amusing that Xing could be so well-behaved. She digs her hand into her hair and pulls out the hairpins. "Is this better?" She calls out to Xing after dropping those long strands of hair over her chest. "Mn," YongMing trained himself to keep his eyes above her neck area at all times. "Why are you dressed, hurry and get in," Yuelian helped herself by going in. Suddenly Xing had reservations about swimming alone with a girl. But Yuelian orders him to be wet in the next few seconds or be forced in with his robes. The water was cool. The sun had been kind that day. "How about a race?" MingXia circled an uncomfortable Xing, splashing him a couple of times till he gave up on being stiff. "If you win, I'll let you go back to your room," she said."That offer is good enough," Lan Xing accepted the challenge. He lost on all three rounds and Yuelian got the last laugh. "You cheated," Lan Xing wiped his face. "Haha, no, you're just not as good as you think," Yuelian engaged in carefree backstrokes, enjoying the soft sunlight on her face. She made a breezy turn and dived gracefully. "Yuelian, you should come up," Lan Xing worried when she stayed under the water for some time. He flinched when a hand touches his abdomen and Yuelian emerges in front of him. Her hair was slicked back and wet. Her face was decorated with sparkling drops as her mouth breathes in air and her grey eyes are not hidden from him. "Do you know how to float? Let's float on the surface," She said. Lan Xing was too distracted to worry about her chest sticking to his. Arms wide open they are like dandelion seeds sleeping on water. "Are you relaxed?" Yuelian said. "Was that your aim all along?" Xing spied on her briefly. "Yes, I am relaxed.""Good. Do you want to talk about why you're upset?""Probably not, but it doesn't seem like you'll give up anytime soon if I don't tell you," Lan Xing sighed. "I got into a huge fight with my father.""Who do you think was right?" Yuelian had a different method of getting into his thought."I don't know...my father? Everybody looks up to him, so he has to be right. I am an abomination in his eyes. It would have been better if I were never born.""Hehe... Okay, now you're just saying words to hurt yourself.""Am I? Would you not want to feel hurt if your father believed you were a failure in the making? A lawless, mannerless villain?""Is that what he said to you?""No...not entirely. But that is the meaning I get from his words. He thinks that I am evil because I am different.""Pfft! You're not different. YongZheng, you're a carbon copy of your father and you've been behaving like him since you got here.""I am not like him," Lan Xing broke from his position with a frown. Yuelian blocks his path when he attempts to leave. "Are you sure? You're awfully quiet, reading instead of waking all the animals in hibernation with your annoying voice. You are not the type who finds meditation attractive YongMing, and I haven't seen you laugh. Tell me, who else does all those things?""...""You are rowdy, energetic, smarter than anyone I know, strong and very annoying...but there is nothing evil about you.""You don't know what you're saying," Xing tried to get around Yuelian yet she holds him hostage by locking his cheeks with her hands. "You are not evil YongMing. That is a lie I will never accept," Yuelian looked him straight in the eye. A small smile grew on YongMing's face. "Cousin, you can let go of me now," he said. "What, are you still embarrassed by me?""Let's just say I'm imagining MingXia swimming in a lake with a man. In my vision that only ends with me committing murder and I want to save cousin Muyun from doing the same to me.""Pfff! See what I mean by you're just like your old man? Let your sister breathe sometimes.""MingXia can breathe when I'm dead, and I am not like my father," Lan Xing stretched into the water, swimming toward the bank. As he gets closer to the shallow parts, Yuelian surprises him with another ambush. She jumps on Xing's back, coiling her hands around his neck. "Hey! Let go," Lan Xing struggled like a hooked fish."Why, you carried MingXia out of the water like this before.""Yeah but she's my sister...and she did not weigh a ton," Yongming feared exerting too much force, lest he hurts the lady with his grip. "What? Did you just call me fat?" Yuelian stretched her neck, eyes bulging at Xing."No, Im saying you're heavy! Seriously Yuelian, I'll drown if you keep this up.""Tch! Why should I care?" Yuelian continued to pester him to her heart's content.Days LaterLan YongMing was up before daybreak. He prepared a bath and immersed himself in the tub till the water lost all its heat. He wore one of Wei Ying's robes. They fit perfectly for his age. Xing then contrasts that bright red and black outfit by putting on his forehead ribbon. He sits down to meditate for the remaining hours of dawn. YongZheng would have been the first to wish him a happy birthday if things went according to plan. The day was supposed to be about both of them crossing into a new age but now he has to spend it alone. There was nothing joyful about that. His Uncle was at the door a few minutes before breakfast. "How is the birthday boy?" Clan Leader Jiang made him feel wanted with that broad grin. Jiang Cheng compliments his choice of clothing, saying it was going to be a messy day with what he had planned. Since there was no longer going to be a birthday party for the twins, Jiang Cheng did not have to go over to Wei Ying's. They went to the ancestral hall to offer prayers that morning. Yuelian was lighting up incense when they entered. She knelt beside her father and performed the necessary rights. From there they had breakfast and got on their horses. "We will be spending the afternoon at the lakehouse," Yuelian disclosed. Jiang Cheng agreed to plant trees before lunch. It turned out to be fun. Giving back to nature on such an important occasion."You were so tiny the first time you came here. If I could put a silver coin down for every time you tried to crawl into that lake, I would have built more houses," Jiang Cheng wiped the sweat off his forehead. "You're a child of the earth, you loved rolling in the dirt.""Hahaha, I still do," Lan Xing pressed down the tilled soil to hold down the seedlings. "I see you have just three more seedlings to plant. How about some rice wine?" Yuelian came around with some refreshments. "Um, I can't drink," Lan Xing said. "Does Wei Wuxian know about this?" Jiang Cheng was blown away. Sure the boy did not try to drink whenever they ate but he did not think it was this serious. "Why has that madman not forced ten jars down your throat? You're not a lightweight like your father, are you.""He is, I forgot about that," Yuelian said.In the afternoon they fed Xing a big bowl of longevity noodles prepared by Yuelian herself. "I don't want to see a single straw of noodles in there," she commanded. "Yes, Cousin" Xing chuckled. Jiang Cheng was lost in the party for a moment but he enjoyed watching the kids interact. His nephew was laughing and making jokes, to him it was a good sign. Lan Xing helped his cousin saddle her horse before sundown. He figured that the celebration had not ended since they were eager to take him home. When they reached the Lotus Cove, Jiang Cheng gave them an hour and a half to wash down and get ready for dinner. YongMing walked the lady to her quarters before returning to his room. He was not big on favours but Yuelian did her best to make his day count and he appreciated that. Minutes after his bath, some disciples knocked at his door. "Master Jiang wants you to wear this," they brought him a long blue robe with bold red stripes on the lapel and belt. Second Master Lan suited up. He had just stepped out when the lady of the pier approached with her entourage. "Cousin, you wore your hair down," Lan Xing's eyes smiled along with the corners of his mouth. "Do you like it?" Yuelian twirled in her purple dress. "I even burrowed Zidian to complete the look. Grandmother often had this kind of ensemble in her paintings.""It suits you, Purple Spider," Yongming bowed respectfully. "Hehe, Second Master Lan," Yuelian curtseyed. "I came so we could walk together," It was not like her to be so kind to him. Lan Xing's smile grew wider, a fulfilling sight to behold. Yuelian spied on Xing from time to time. There was a maturity about his demeanour that fascinated her. Yesterday he was just a boy but now she saw the difference. Lan Xing was like a tree next to her. As they reach the small footbridge leading to the courtyard, he offers his hand. The back of his palm was marked with veins that bulged slightly at simple motions. Against her hands, his palm felt like the bark of a young cypress plant. It was a long silent walk but she wished it was longer. "We're eating at the banquet hall?" Lan Xing turned to her with arched brows. "It's your birthday, my father wants it to be special. So yes, we're eating here tonight," Yuelian led him up the broad stairs. She was about to push the large gates when Xing stood in her way. "Please, allow me," he said politely. With a little nudge, the gates parted. YongMing was unmoving after the doors were wide open. His face gradually morphed into a frown when he looked at what was on the other side of the door. His friends, his family and above all...his father.
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Thanks for reading, sorry for the length and any grammatical errors. I try to make chapters short but the words multiply like bugs😭😭❤️💙. See you in the next update dear WangXian baby.
The family was in a state of disunity after Lan YongMing's disappearance. Wei Ying did his best to keep it together but it could not stop him from breaking down. Lan Wangji had forbidden everyone in the household from going after Xing. "He will come home when he learns his lesson," that's how he wanted to correct Second Young Master Lan. A point his third son strongly disagreed with. YongZheng did a lot of pleading on his brother's behalf and when it went with the wind, it made him uneasy. Unfortunately, Lan Sizhui was not on his side either. Soon their home was divided between those who understood Xing and those who did not. Wei Ying could not sleep. He took a stroll around the compound, feasting on unsettling thoughts. When he passed by the children's quarters, the lights in MingXia's room were off as they should be. Going by the twins', it was the same but he heard a ruckus coming from Xiang's room when he turned to leave. Wei Ying realized that the door was partly open, which was odd."Lan Xiang," He entered with a sense of urgency. His instincts did not deceive him, the third master was not in his room. Panicking, Wei Ying sounds an alarm and searches for his son. YongZheng was caught before he could flee the town and that made Lan Wangji furious. He was given some days in isolation as punishment. "Is this how you're going to welcome your children into adulthood?" Wei Ying stood against it vehemently, storming their room with blind rage. "...""Their birthday is in two weeks Lan Zhan, can you not put your ego aside for that at least?""...""Hah, so you won't speak to me? Fine, if you're not going to look for our son then I will. And Lan Xiang is coming with me," Wei Ying declared war on Wangji's authority. "You are not going anywhere, my love," Lan Wangji said. "Hah! I'd like to see you stop me," Wei Ying frowned. He had made it to the door when Lan Wangji's zither suddenly aired. Wangji was a Master at manipulating his abilities because Wei Ying allowed it back when he had a tough time controlling his core. Like a rope bound to his soul, Wei Ying was tugged by that force. But this Wei Ying did not need protection. He wasn't going to hold back, Wangji would have to try harder. At the next attempt, Wei Ying yanked out his sword and struck, nearly cutting the zither in half had Wangji not shifted it out of the way. "I'm going to find YongMing and bring him home Lan Zhan, if you're not going to help me, then it's best you get out of my way," Wei Ying said.Lan Wangji chased after his spouse. Perhaps talking like normal adults might get Wei Ying to see his point. But Wei Ying was not interested in who was right or wrong and gave Wangji an ultimatum. "This house is equally mine, just us our children. You don't get to decide on your own how their lives should turn out. If Xing is not found by the eve of his birthday, you will not like what I'll do," he warned. Lan Wangji approached him with a cool head regardless of that threat but it was too late to convince Wei Ying. ***YunmengJiang.Lan Xing took shelter at the Lotus Pier when he left home. His uncle Cheng happened to be one of the few people he idolized, and he did not hide the reason for his sudden appearance from him. "Can I stay here for a few days, till I figure out what I want to do?" Xing said to his uncle. Jiang Cheng was the only relative aside from his mother that would protect him without thinking or making up rules. "Do you have to ask?" Jiang Cheng raised a brow. "This is your maternal home, you are welcome to stay forever," he was understanding of the difficulties of having fathers with high standards and expectations."Can I also trust Uncle Cheng not to tell anyone where I am? Not even Zewujun.""That last bit might be hard... Tch! Sure, you have my word," Jiang crossed his heart. He preferred it this way: that the boy came to him instead of wandering off into the unknown. If he could cheer Lan Xing up, he may be open to patching things up with Lan Wangji. One person who was not thrilled about having Master Lan around was Yuelian. She was polite in her father's presence but turned hostile when he was out of sight. Lan Xing was not bothered by this, given that he knew the origin of her contempt towards him. He let her be. Unfortunately, they had to see each other often because Muyun was at the Cloud Recesses and Jiang Cheng organized many family activities to keep Lan Xing distracted. Yuelian saw how hard her father wanted to impress Lan Xing and that became another reason to be annoyed. Jiang Cheng would take Xing out on short hunting trips and praise him to the other disciples. Then there was the time Xing and her father sparred on the training grounds. It looked as if the clan leader was going easy on the young man but he truly wasn't. Lan Xing happened to be that good with a sword. "You're a lot like your father. Lan Wangji was an excellent swordsman at your age," Jiang Cheng said over dinner.Yuelian was expecting Xing to refute that claim as he did every time MingXia compared him to Hanguangjun. "How do you know, father?" Yuelian said, already getting bored with seeing Xing take more credit. "That's because his parents used to fight all the time, like cat and mouse. Hahaha. I avoided sparring with Hanguangjun to save myself the ridicule," Jiang Cheng made jokes. "Come to think of it, both your fathers have a good handle on the sword.""My mother hardly touches Suibian," Lan Xing was only eating because he did not want to bother his Uncle. He had long lost his appetite at the mention of his father's name."That is a story for another day," Jiang Cheng said. Soon the young miss noticed the distant look in her cousin's eyes when no one was watching. Xing was a rowdy character, seeing him so humbled and wistful made her feel ridiculous for staying mad at him. "YongMing, you should train with my Purple Spider sometime. She could learn a thing or two from you," Jiang Cheng smiled at his daughter and she lowered her head bashfully. ********Wei Ying showed up at the Lotus Pier in search of his son. Jiang Cheng did feel heavy for lying about Xing's whereabouts, given that his brother was devasted, but he was bent on keeping his word to his nephew. What if Wei Ying took the boy away and he absconded again? Xing would not trust him enough to return to the Pier and that would bring trouble."Your mother is at the pier," Yuelian found Xing in his room. "He seems to be looking for you, did you run from home?" she did not know the full story."It's nothing you should be concerned about. I will be out of here in a day or two," Lan Xing was sitting quietly on his own."Why? Did you get into trouble? You are the problem child afterall," Yuelian said. "Cousin Lian, I would like to meditate in silence," Lan Xing avoided eye contact, indirectly telling her to leave. Xing's reaction was not what Yuelian expected. Usually, Yongzheng laughed at such comments. She stayed mute about Xing's presence when she met her uncle. Wei Ying did not want to rest if his son was not there and was gone by sundown. Yuelian took that chance to ask her father about Xing. "I have never seen him this quiet," she told Jiang Cheng. "Your cousin is upset, A'Lian. We have to do whatever it takes to cheer him up, or your uncles will never be at peace," Jiang Cheng explained. He wanted to be there for his nephew because he did not have anyone to turn to when he felt out of place during his teenage years."Oh," Yuelian understood her cousin's change of attitude. She simmers down beside her father brooding over the conversation. Then suddenly something clicked. "Father, I believe I know how we can make Lan Yongming feel better.""Are you sure about this?" Jiang Cheng said. "Yes, but it's going to cost you a lot," Yuelian's face lit up. "How much are we talking about here?" Jiang Cheng blinked in anticipation of the big idea. "A fortune. There's a lot we have to do but I promise it will be worth it," Yuelian took out a paper from his father's desk and sat down to grind ink. ***Lan Wangji was in a difficult position. Wei Ying was upset and his only way of remedying that was to produce their second son. Wangji did give in, but he got no positive feedback from his search. He checked in with Lan Xichen and asked Sizhui to check any spots they missed but that did not help. Five days to the boys' birthday, Wangji visited his daughter's quarters. Suyin reported that MingXia was unwell and it had everyone worried. Lan Wangji sat by MingXia's bed and felt her forehead. She was asleep when he entered but when the young lady opened her eyes what followed was a string of tears. MingXia turned to the other side of the bed. "I'm fine, I want to be alone," she said."What's wrong, daughter, let me ease your pain," Wangji was soft-spoken. "You do not care about my pain," MingXia said with a groggy voice. Her face was warm from crying for days and her head continued to throb. Her eyelids were swollen and she could barely open her mouth wide enough. "MingXia, I'm not leaving until we talk about this," Wangji leaned his zither by the bedpost and pulled up his sleeves. He reaches for MingXia's hands and sat her up to give her energy. Lan Wangji wipes the girl's face, "Tell me, where do you feel sick?"MingXia shook her head sluggishly. "My heart hurts," she said. Lan Wangji's Adam's apple bobs, that is not a condition he could wand away with spirit energy. "YongMing was excited about coming home and you ruined everything."
"A'Xia, your brother needs to learn that he cannot always have his way. I only want the best for him," Wangji said.
"How is he going to learn that when you want everything to be done how you want it?" MingXia hardened her heart to say what she truly felt. "My brother deserves to be happy too. He is good to me and everyone he meets. Yes, he can get out of hand sometimes but he always means well, and he is an exceptional cultivator. A'Xing is right, you are mean to him, father... Because of you, I may never see him again," she cried.Lan Wangji sat up. "MingXia, did your brother tell you where he was headed?" Suddenly Wangji felt inadequate for not seeing this earlier. Lan Xing loved MingXia too much to leave her troubled at his disappearance, of course, he would tell her to put her at ease. "A Lan does not make promises they cannot keep. A Lan does not speak behind people's backs. I am not telling you where my brother plans to go," MingXia frowned at her father, showing her rebellious side... Wei Ying was home by nightfall with no news. He had searched every nook and cranny he could think of in the past few days. For now, the best he could do was try to track YongMing through estranged methods. When YongZheng insisted on helping Wei Ying had an idea of how deep the boy's foot was in dark art. "Use my blood, it has a deeper bond with my brother's," YongZheng said when he began to draw a spell on the ground. "It's too dangerous," Wei Ying turned him down. Thank heavens Wangji showed up to interrupt them and YongZheng was forced to leave. Wei Ying had stayed at the workshop to save himself the trouble of dealing with his partner in cultivation yet it was Lan Wangji that came to him. "Wei Ying, Im sorry," Wangji threw in the towel. It was not uncommon that they had disagreements in parenting, so long as they braved through it together. "Sorry will not bring my son home, Lan Zhan," Wei Ying was drawing a circle on the floor in his blood."Our son, he is our son," Lan Wangji said. " Lan Xing wants to move out of his home because of you, not me," Wei Ying gave him the stink eye. "Never, I won't let him go.""How? How will you possibly stop a mastermind like him?" Wei Ying hopped up, his fingertips painted red. "My son has written books about me and I didn't even know. I read one during the search and my heart broke. It felt like he was speaking to me, wanting me to change all that I did in the past... Yet at the same time, he wrote in his way that he understands me- that I'm blameless in his eyes. Where does he get those ideas, Lan Zhan? How is he able to show how much he loves me with mere ink whereas all you do is push him away."Lan Wangji was pushed to a corner. Sure, he smiled less at the boy but it was never his intention to make Xing feel like an outcast. He only wanted to discipline his son for breaking some of the spells they put up to make their community corpse free. Not to talk of that odd glare in his eyes that night. Lan Wangji followed his partner to the long table. "Wei Ying, do you remember the first time I felt our son kick inside you?""Of course, I do. You were frightened because we nearly lost him the night before and you couldn't sleep," Wei Ying leaned on a foot as Lan Wangji drew near, his face solemn. "That fear never left, Wei Ying. Lan Xing wants to change the world and it frightens me that I will lose him like I almost did that night. Like I lost you," Wangji had not felt Wei Ying's arms in weeks. " The day our sons were born, it felt as if my heart was now grasping the concept of beating. Lan Xing was perfect in every way," Lan Wangji said. His partner just stood there with folded arms. " I loved my son not just because is mine. Lan Xing was born in my image, but everything else was you. His smile, his personality, his passion. Fine, he has his father's jealousy," Wangji clarified, knowing Wei Ying would bring that up. "He stands out amongst his siblings Wei Ying. You may not see this but there is a disadvantage that comes with intelligence, knowledge, and power. It is easy to corrupt, and easy for one to lose their way. The more Xing grows in that light, the more uneasy I became.""So your idea is to suppress him? Do not give me that excuse Lan Zhan," Wei Ying went back to the circle, fidgeting with spells to complete what he started. He makes a tiny mistake and has to go back to the table."Our son is too much like you Wei Ying. You can't imagine what went through my mind when he lied for the sake of others, took the Cloud Recesses by storm and now he writes books?""See, that's the problem. You've been doing this since he was little and when I bring it up, you say that I'm overreacting. I raised that boy, and he would never hide anything from me Lan Wangji. You made him feel like he has to lie to me, to us!" Wei Ying stabbed a carving knife into the table. "I will fix this," Lan Wangji said."No, you won't! You'll make it worse... If you paid attention to nurturing your son's talents instead of fearing them, you would know that he is as stubborn as you Lan Zhan. Once YongZheng sets his mind on a task, he never goes back until it's complete. I have to finish this spell so if you have nothing useful for me, the door is the other way," Wei Ying did not have mercy on him. Wangji did not want him to flare up, so he did not challenge that request."MingXia knows where he is," Lan Wangji remembered why he came when he got to the exit. "She won't tell me but I know you'll have better luck," he gained Wei Ying's attention. Wangji said nothing more. He simply went through the door and closed it behind him.*****
YunmengJiangLan Xing was not up for it when Yuelian invaded his privacy yet again. "I'm going to the market, wanna come?"
"No, I have no business there," Lan Xing had his head in a book, something he used to scream was depressing in Gusu. "Well, I insist. My father is not happy you're often cooped in this room.""Why are you being nice to me?" Lan Xing raised his eyes at her. "You made yourself clear about hating my guts," his stoic expression gave him an intimidating aura. "Hmph! Who says I'm being nice to you? I'm just being a proper host to please my father," Yuelian snorted."Thank you, but I want to stay in," Xing ignored her."Tch! Hey, Second Master Lan, have you forgotten who you are? Isn't it against your rules or something to be rude to your hosts?" Yuelian said. How interesting it was to have their roles reversed. "You're coming with me, whether you feel like it or not," said the lady of the Lotus Pier."Women," Lan Xing sighed to himself as they went out of the Manor in the company of disciples. "What is your favourite meal? I can prepare it for you," Yuelian goes out once in a while to buy fresh produce for the house. They had enough in stock but she needed an excuse to get YongMing out of his room."As long as it's not too spicy, is okay," Lan Xing walked closely by her side, hands tucked at his back. He did not rush in his strides, and he is always a step behind when Yuelian is making a purchase. "Oh right, you like bland food," A smirk formed on the lady's lips. She handpicks a few items and tells the disciples to go ahead of them. "Are we not done yet?" Xing did not get why they were taking a different route from the disciples. Yuelian shrugs at his complaints and keeps moving forward. Along a daisy-covered path, they come across a still lake. Without warning, Yuelian drops her sword and removes the knots on her dress. Lan Xing spun around instantly when she pushed a sleeve down. "Cousin, what are we doing here?" "I want to swim," said Yuelian."Not like this, it's inappropriate to expose yourself.""I am not Lan MingXia. This is my body, only I decide what to do with it... You should turn around, I am not naked you know," Yuelian waited. Xing turned in bits, peeking to make sure he was not doing anything that dishonor the lady. There was some relief when his eyes first fell on the ground. MingXia was wearing long pants underneath her dress. Looking up he averted his eyes once again. Her chest area was only wrapped tightly with strips of cloth and it was difficult to miss the small flesh highlighting her cleavage. "Pff!" Yuelian found it amusing that Xing could be so well-behaved. She digs her hand into her hair and pulls out the hairpins. "Is this better?" She calls out to Xing after dropping those long strands of hair over her chest. "Mn," YongMing trained himself to keep his eyes above her neck area at all times. "Why are you dressed, hurry and get in," Yuelian helped herself by going in. Suddenly Xing had reservations about swimming alone with a girl. But Yuelian orders him to be wet in the next few seconds or be forced in with his robes. The water was cool. The sun had been kind that day. "How about a race?" MingXia circled an uncomfortable Xing, splashing him a couple of times till he gave up on being stiff. "If you win, I'll let you go back to your room," she said."That offer is good enough," Lan Xing accepted the challenge. He lost on all three rounds and Yuelian got the last laugh. "You cheated," Lan Xing wiped his face. "Haha, no, you're just not as good as you think," Yuelian engaged in carefree backstrokes, enjoying the soft sunlight on her face. She made a breezy turn and dived gracefully. "Yuelian, you should come up," Lan Xing worried when she stayed under the water for some time. He flinched when a hand touches his abdomen and Yuelian emerges in front of him. Her hair was slicked back and wet. Her face was decorated with sparkling drops as her mouth breathes in air and her grey eyes are not hidden from him. "Do you know how to float? Let's float on the surface," She said. Lan Xing was too distracted to worry about her chest sticking to his. Arms wide open they are like dandelion seeds sleeping on water. "Are you relaxed?" Yuelian said. "Was that your aim all along?" Xing spied on her briefly. "Yes, I am relaxed.""Good. Do you want to talk about why you're upset?""Probably not, but it doesn't seem like you'll give up anytime soon if I don't tell you," Lan Xing sighed. "I got into a huge fight with my father.""Who do you think was right?" Yuelian had a different method of getting into his thought."I don't know...my father? Everybody looks up to him, so he has to be right. I am an abomination in his eyes. It would have been better if I were never born.""Hehe... Okay, now you're just saying words to hurt yourself.""Am I? Would you not want to feel hurt if your father believed you were a failure in the making? A lawless, mannerless villain?""Is that what he said to you?""No...not entirely. But that is the meaning I get from his words. He thinks that I am evil because I am different.""Pfft! You're not different. YongZheng, you're a carbon copy of your father and you've been behaving like him since you got here.""I am not like him," Lan Xing broke from his position with a frown. Yuelian blocks his path when he attempts to leave. "Are you sure? You're awfully quiet, reading instead of waking all the animals in hibernation with your annoying voice. You are not the type who finds meditation attractive YongMing, and I haven't seen you laugh. Tell me, who else does all those things?""...""You are rowdy, energetic, smarter than anyone I know, strong and very annoying...but there is nothing evil about you.""You don't know what you're saying," Xing tried to get around Yuelian yet she holds him hostage by locking his cheeks with her hands. "You are not evil YongMing. That is a lie I will never accept," Yuelian looked him straight in the eye. A small smile grew on YongMing's face. "Cousin, you can let go of me now," he said. "What, are you still embarrassed by me?""Let's just say I'm imagining MingXia swimming in a lake with a man. In my vision that only ends with me committing murder and I want to save cousin Muyun from doing the same to me.""Pfff! See what I mean by you're just like your old man? Let your sister breathe sometimes.""MingXia can breathe when I'm dead, and I am not like my father," Lan Xing stretched into the water, swimming toward the bank. As he gets closer to the shallow parts, Yuelian surprises him with another ambush. She jumps on Xing's back, coiling her hands around his neck. "Hey! Let go," Lan Xing struggled like a hooked fish."Why, you carried MingXia out of the water like this before.""Yeah but she's my sister...and she did not weigh a ton," Yongming feared exerting too much force, lest he hurts the lady with his grip. "What? Did you just call me fat?" Yuelian stretched her neck, eyes bulging at Xing."No, Im saying you're heavy! Seriously Yuelian, I'll drown if you keep this up.""Tch! Why should I care?" Yuelian continued to pester him to her heart's content.Days LaterLan YongMing was up before daybreak. He prepared a bath and immersed himself in the tub till the water lost all its heat. He wore one of Wei Ying's robes. They fit perfectly for his age. Xing then contrasts that bright red and black outfit by putting on his forehead ribbon. He sits down to meditate for the remaining hours of dawn. YongZheng would have been the first to wish him a happy birthday if things went according to plan. The day was supposed to be about both of them crossing into a new age but now he has to spend it alone. There was nothing joyful about that. His Uncle was at the door a few minutes before breakfast. "How is the birthday boy?" Clan Leader Jiang made him feel wanted with that broad grin. Jiang Cheng compliments his choice of clothing, saying it was going to be a messy day with what he had planned. Since there was no longer going to be a birthday party for the twins, Jiang Cheng did not have to go over to Wei Ying's. They went to the ancestral hall to offer prayers that morning. Yuelian was lighting up incense when they entered. She knelt beside her father and performed the necessary rights. From there they had breakfast and got on their horses. "We will be spending the afternoon at the lakehouse," Yuelian disclosed. Jiang Cheng agreed to plant trees before lunch. It turned out to be fun. Giving back to nature on such an important occasion."You were so tiny the first time you came here. If I could put a silver coin down for every time you tried to crawl into that lake, I would have built more houses," Jiang Cheng wiped the sweat off his forehead. "You're a child of the earth, you loved rolling in the dirt.""Hahaha, I still do," Lan Xing pressed down the tilled soil to hold down the seedlings. "I see you have just three more seedlings to plant. How about some rice wine?" Yuelian came around with some refreshments. "Um, I can't drink," Lan Xing said. "Does Wei Wuxian know about this?" Jiang Cheng was blown away. Sure the boy did not try to drink whenever they ate but he did not think it was this serious. "Why has that madman not forced ten jars down your throat? You're not a lightweight like your father, are you.""He is, I forgot about that," Yuelian said.In the afternoon they fed Xing a big bowl of longevity noodles prepared by Yuelian herself. "I don't want to see a single straw of noodles in there," she commanded. "Yes, Cousin" Xing chuckled. Jiang Cheng was lost in the party for a moment but he enjoyed watching the kids interact. His nephew was laughing and making jokes, to him it was a good sign. Lan Xing helped his cousin saddle her horse before sundown. He figured that the celebration had not ended since they were eager to take him home. When they reached the Lotus Cove, Jiang Cheng gave them an hour and a half to wash down and get ready for dinner. YongMing walked the lady to her quarters before returning to his room. He was not big on favours but Yuelian did her best to make his day count and he appreciated that. Minutes after his bath, some disciples knocked at his door. "Master Jiang wants you to wear this," they brought him a long blue robe with bold red stripes on the lapel and belt. Second Master Lan suited up. He had just stepped out when the lady of the pier approached with her entourage. "Cousin, you wore your hair down," Lan Xing's eyes smiled along with the corners of his mouth. "Do you like it?" Yuelian twirled in her purple dress. "I even burrowed Zidian to complete the look. Grandmother often had this kind of ensemble in her paintings.""It suits you, Purple Spider," Yongming bowed respectfully. "Hehe, Second Master Lan," Yuelian curtseyed. "I came so we could walk together," It was not like her to be so kind to him. Lan Xing's smile grew wider, a fulfilling sight to behold. Yuelian spied on Xing from time to time. There was a maturity about his demeanour that fascinated her. Yesterday he was just a boy but now she saw the difference. Lan Xing was like a tree next to her. As they reach the small footbridge leading to the courtyard, he offers his hand. The back of his palm was marked with veins that bulged slightly at simple motions. Against her hands, his palm felt like the bark of a young cypress plant. It was a long silent walk but she wished it was longer. "We're eating at the banquet hall?" Lan Xing turned to her with arched brows. "It's your birthday, my father wants it to be special. So yes, we're eating here tonight," Yuelian led him up the broad stairs. She was about to push the large gates when Xing stood in her way. "Please, allow me," he said politely. With a little nudge, the gates parted. YongMing was unmoving after the doors were wide open. His face gradually morphed into a frown when he looked at what was on the other side of the door. His friends, his family and above all...his father.
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Thanks for reading, sorry for the length and any grammatical errors. I try to make chapters short but the words multiply like bugs😭😭❤️💙. See you in the next update dear WangXian baby.
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