Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Winter did not bring with it the calm and quiet it usually did. The Cloud Recesses were filled with much chatter and speculations regarding the heir Zewu-jun and Gusu Lingzhu were expecting without any question as to how this was possible or who the mother might be. At least that was true for the younger disciples. Some of the Elders were a different story altogether.

On the day of the Winter Solstice, Meng Yao groaned as he closed the doors to the Hanshi behind himself. His head was pounding after yet another interrogation by one of the most conservative Elders, and he had been about to snap at the woman when Lan Qiren of all people had come to his rescue. He had to smirk to himself as he recalled his words.

"The child's father should be all you care about, Elder Huian. Wen Qing has kindly agreed to help Zewu-jun and his husband, and I don't think anything else needs to be said." The woman had bristled, but had kept her mouth shut for once. "Very well, now if you do not mind I would speak to you about the teaching rota for next spring. Your name is decidedly absent from it." Turning to Meng Yao, Lan Qiren had slightly inclined his head. "Forgive me from interrupting your conversation, Gusu Lingzhu, but I am sure you have better things to do than have the same conversation ten times a day."

Meng Yao had fled to the library then, all but barricading himself in the forbidden section below the main library and had not come out for the rest of the day. Still, his head was pounding even now, and despite his best efforts, he had not been able to make much leeway with the secret research he and Zixuan had begun.

"Gusu Lingzhu?" a young disciple's voice broke through his daze, and Meng Yao blinked. "I believe much progress has been made today on the new nursery. Zewu-jun was very clear in his instructions and I hope everything meets with your approval." The young man bowed lowly and then motioned for Meng Yao to follow him.

The nursery was situated next to their bed chamber, but where the rest of the Hanshi was following the same designs as the rest of the Cloud Recesses, the nursery was ... quite different. Each of the other great sects was represented in some way, which had been the first thing Xichen had been having arguments with the Elders over. Yes, even the Wen Sect.

Wen Qing had gifted them with animal figures carved out of beautiful red jade, and Meng Yao had to admit that he loved them the most out of all the gifts. Zixuan had contributed some beautiful rugs covered in the design of the Jin Sect's peony while Jiang Yanli had painted wall hangings of lotuses and the countryside around Lotus Pier. The Nie Sect's gifts had clearly been chosen by Nie Huaisang, a fact that Meng Yao was beyond grateful for. The small fan was beautifully painted, and the jade token showed the younger Nie brother's attention to detail ... where the arts were concerned.

"Zewu-jun asked us to create some shelves for all of your child's gifts, so he or she can properly treasure them. Though the wall hangings and carpets..." The young disciple looked conflicted. Clearly he wanted to follow Xichen's orders to the letter, but he also didn't think he would be able to.

Meng Yao smiled, his headache all but forgotten. "I am sure my husband did not mean those. You have done very well, and I would thank you on behalf of the two of us." The young disciple smiled shyly. "Could I trouble you with one more thing before you go and have your well deserved dinner?" The young man nodded eagerly. "Find Lan Jiao and tell her that as far as the Elders are concerned, I am in seclusion for the foreseeable future only excepting Lan Qiren." The disciple grinned and nodded before turning on his heels and leaving Meng Yao to his thoughts.

Meng Yao would have to find out the young disciple's name. He had only recently joined the Lan Sect after Wangji and Xichen had travelled around Gusu to find children and youngsters with enough spiritual energy to learn to grow their Golden Core. The Lan Sect, just like the others, needed to grow once more after the lives that were lost during the Sunshot Campaign. This young man in particular though was of special interest to Meng Yao. Xichen had spoken about him before in passing, remarking on how quick he was on picking up new things, and how his learning speed could rival that of anyone Xichen knew. Well, except for Meng Yao himself.

Sitting down on one of the beautiful Lanling carpets, Meng Yao allowed his mind to drift and clearly lost himself in his musings as the next thing he knew was Xichen's laughter as he asked, "So I hear you are in seclusion? Have I done something to displease you, Ah Yao, or is it a ... selective seclusion?" Glancing up at his husband, Meng Yao could see the smirk to accompany the laughter gracing Xichen's face. His gaze softened as he knelt in front of Meng Yao, gently stroking the back of his hand. "Uncle told me of your run in with Elder Huian. I fear she still has not forgiven you for the argument you had with her last year..."

Meng Yao shrugged. "It's not my fault that she is so stuck in her ways. Wei Wuxian is like a fresh breeze..."

"Or a tornado, yes, but I see what you mean," Xichen chuckled. "Seeing as she really does not like Wei Wuxian, do you think it was wrong of me to send a message to Lotus Pier requesting a visit?"

"You did not!" Meng Yao laughed.

"Oh, I most certainly did. I ran into little Lan Yuan the other day and he was very sad because his Uncle Xian had promised to visit him, but he still has not done so."

"You are using a child for your own gains, Zewu-jun! Do you know no shame?"

Xichen's eyes were sparkling happily as he shrugged and leaned closer to kiss the tip of Meng Yao's nose. "His presence will hopefully get you out of this self-imposed seclusion of yours and will most definitely keep all but the more forward thinking Elders away from you. Besides..." He pursed his lips. "I think it is time we take a closer interest in Wei Wuxian's relationship with Wangji. Brother will never speak to him unless we make him do so, and he will not unless he can be relatively certain that Wei Wuxian feels the same way. Which means that we, or rather you will have to get to the bottom of the endless well that is Wei Wuxian. I do not envy you, Xinling ."

Nearly choking on the next breath he took, Meng Yao blinked. "You expect me to get Ah Xian to admit his feelings for Wangji? As in the feelings we believe he has, not just those of friendship and gratitude?"

Rising to his feet, Xichen pulled Meng Yao up as well, their hands now twined. "There is no doubt in my mind that they feel the same way about each other as we do. However, while Wei Wuxian is quite similar to you in that he would never think himself worthy, Wangji is unfortunately..."

"A high functioning semi-mute, I know." Eyes widening, Meng Yao caught Xichen's gaze. "Did I really just call Wangji that?"

"It is the truth. He would never simply admit his feelings." Xichen sighed. "I have to confess that I have been trying to push Wangji into doing just that since the first day they met. In a roundabout way, that is. First, I simply wanted Wangji to make friends, and Wei Wuxian seemed to be the best candidate as they were so very different. But over the months of watching them, I realised that Wangji's feelings started to run deeper, and the glances I saw them share during the Sunshot Campaign cemented my belief that they are both in love with each other. Unless friends glance at one another quite differently these days..."

"Does that mean you and I are really just very good friends?" Meng Yao asked with a raised eyebrow ... and found himself pressed to the nearest wall and kissed thoroughly for his troubles. "Hmmm," he eventually smiled. "I do believe we are still more. Friends most certainly do not kiss each other quite in this way."

"That they do not," Xichen breathed before stepping away and straightening his robes ever so slightly. Meng Yao grinned. Clearly his husband found himself in a similar state after that kiss as he did. "Now, I believe Lan Jiao has all the daily business of the Cloud Recesses well in hand by now, so what shall you be doing with all the free time you now have until our guest from Yunmeng arrives?"

Meng Yao's cheeks began to hurt from smiling as much as he did, and he lowered his gaze and whispered, "I wonder if I could steal my husband away for a few days and visit one of the houses higher up on the mountain? I am, after all, in seclusion..."

"A last chance to be alone before the new year and all that it will bring?" Xichen cupped Meng Yao's face gently and brought their foreheads together. "I know it cannot be easy to go up against your father no matter what you say. A part of you will always be his son after all. Zhao Zhuliu's missives leave very little doubt though, and now that Xue Yang has found a way to send us messages as well, thanks to you and your eyes and ears, we all know that something has to be done."

Meng Yao nodded. "I guess I simply wish that he could be the father I always longed for, the man my mother spoke of. But that man never existed. Zhao Zhuliu spoke to me only yesterday of the things they are doing in that manor under the guise of conducting research. Yiling's poorest are being used as test subjects, and there is nothing we can do to stop it. Not yet at least."

"He has returned then? Mianmian will be happy about that."

Meng Yao shrugged, "You know that he doesn't believe he is worthy of her affections. After all he has done in the name of the Wen Sect ... all based on a lie he thinks he should have been able to see through. Luckily, she is not easily deterred, and she has clearly made up her mind."

They made their way back to the main room where a tray of food had appeared and fresh tea was waiting for them. "Lan Peizhi truly is remarkable. I do believe he has taken to you quite a bit, Ah Yao, which is no surprise to me as you are both the most studious people I know. Once he has concluded his preliminary studies, I would like to place him in your care. While Lan Jiao is all but running the Cloud Recesses, I am sure there are areas that might need a more gentle approach than hers? The library mayhap?"

"He would require Teacher Lan's permission to enter the Forbidden Library..."

"I am certain that could be arranged. With all the scrolls and books that are even now arriving from Qishan, I am sure you would appreciate all the help you can get. Truth be told, sometimes I feel you are moving into the Library Pavilion." Pouring the tea for both of them, Xichen smiled as Meng Yao inspected the rice and vegetables. There were tiny sprinkles of chili flakes. "I admit that I am slowly getting used to the food you like so much. It is true that our food before was at least a bit bland."

Meng Yao raised an eyebrow. "That is like saying water is a bit wet, Ah Huan. I do understand why Ah Xian was trying to sneak alcohol into the Cloud Recesses all the time. To drown his sorrows."

"I will not complain as it brought him and Wangji close. Though at first maybe not for the best of reasons. Where I might have let him off with a warning and maybe a punishment of copying our rules once, Wangji did not see the funny side in Wei Wuxian's actions. Though I do believe he does now. What he doesn't know is how to react."

Meng Yao shook his head, "He does. I think he is just not allowing himself to truly show his feelings. Which is not surprising given he was practically raised by your uncle. It is truly remarkable that you are as warm and kind as you are..."

"Only to those who deserve such kindness," Xichen said with a smile before picking up his chopsticks. "Like you."

Blushing, Meng Yao focused on his food, and they passed a short while in companionable silence that was nothing like the rigid quiet that descended on the main dining hall whenever a meal was taken in company. Like a funeral as Wei Wuxian always put it and Meng Yao had to agree that his friend had a point. He was glad that his position enabled him to take his meals alone or in the company of people of his own choosing where rules and regulations were not applied.

Setting down his chopsticks suddenly, Xichen cocked his head, eyes widening as he glanced out of the windows at the snow that was falling softly. "I just remembered something from when I was still little. One of the few memories I have of father actually spending time with Wangji and I. It is something I would love to share with you, and with our child when the time comes." Meng Yao sat up straight and nodded, motioning for Xichen to continue. "Tonight is the longest night of the year, is it not?" Another nod as Meng Yao forgot all about his food, realising that Xichen was sharing something truly precious with him.

"I was eight then, and I doubt Wangji would remember much of it as he was still shaken by mother's ... passing. Father said that we would go up the mountain to drive away the darkness, only now I realise that what he was truly doing was saying his goodbyes to us." Xichen sighed and rose to his feet, turning his back to Meng Yao. "He had finally learned why our mother had killed his teacher, with mother's help I imagined, but she had been … murdered before they could present their findings to anyone."

Meng Yao had risen to his feet as well and was now walking up to his husband to touch his arm. "So his seclusion?"

"I believe at first it was real, but I don't think I have to explain to you that Wangji would not exist if he had never visited our mother again." A slight smirk appeared on Xichen's lips, but was gone as quickly as it had come. "No, I believe he wished to find out what had driven her to such a heinous crime, and what he found..." Xichen shook his head. "Her brother, my uncle, was killed in a monster attack. Or so she had been told. The truth is that he saw father's teacher in a rather compromising position it seems and he got rid of the only witness. He was a traitor, secretly in league with Wen Ruohan. And there were more, or mother would not have been killed."

"Ah Huan..." Meng Yao didn't know what to do to help his beloved.

"I only figured out the truth recently due to your admirable work in the library. Father died revealing the rest of the traitors to uncle, who then removed them from Gusu. But at least ... at least I know that there were a few moments that our parents were happy together, in love. I am the child of duty, Wangji one of love." Turning to Meng Yao, Xichen now smiled. "At any rate, it was the Solstice that year, and father gave us lanterns to light our way as we climbed through the snow, our only witnesses the moon and stars, up to the house you wish to go to as well. That was where he lived. That was the Hanshi in those days..."

"He ... he died soon after?"

Xichen nodded, "Before Wangji's sixth birthday. We lost both our parents within the span of three months, but I like to think that they are together now. Wherever they might be." He chuckled. "I am sorry, I did not mean to sour the mood. I simply ... for me, it is still my happiest memory of my father, and it is something I wish to share with you, if you are willing."

"I would do anything for you, Ah Huan," Meng Yao whispered. "And to share in something so special? You do not even have to ask."

Xichen smiled. "I should ask Wangji to join us, and yet ... I find myself wanting to be alone with you this time."

"Let me write a note to Lan Jiao and we can go. You know how much I love the quiet calm of the Cloud Recesses, and the snow makes it appear all the more magical. At night, it seems like a blanket was placed over the mountain to warm it until spring comes again." Meng Yao chuckled at himself. "Listen to me. If Wei Wuxian was around right now he would say I was a poet and didn't even know it."

That made Xichen snort. "I shall get a basket of food from the kitchen for us. There is a fire and a small stove up on the mountain, and we can stay there until Wei Wuxian's arrival in two days or so. Let us enjoy our short seclusion together." Meng Yao nodded and Xichen smiled as he turned to leave.

Meng Yao cleaned up the remainders of their meal, setting the tray outside the doors. Then he quickly wrote a note to Lan Jiao and packed up some of their favourite tea. Even though the cold of the mountain would not affect them too much, a warm cup of tea never went amiss. Stepping outside the Hanshi, he smiled at some late disciples walking very fast towards the dining hall ... walking, not running. He would not miss the hustle and bustle of the main sect buildings for a day or two, especially not when it meant he would have Xichen all to himself, something that had not been the case since ... since Madame Lee's.

He was blushing softly as Xichen returned with a small basket and two lanterns. "I wonder what it is that makes the great Gusu Lingzhu blush like a fair maiden," he chuckled. Holding out one of the lanterns, Xichen pointed to one of the paths that lead into the woods. "Shall we?"

Meng Yao nodded and they set off into the dark. The snow was crunching underneath their feet, and the younger man lifted his head and smiled as snow flakes landed on his face. He had not felt this carefree in a long while and silently thanked his husband for this idea of leaving the main part of the Cloud Recesses behind for a short while. Being alone with Xichen made him think of how far they had both come since the day he had found Xichen lying in the grass, wounded and cradling the bundle of books to his chest. It seemed ages ago now, though it had barely been more than eighteen months.

"Did you know," Xichen whispered into the night that was only lit up by their lanterns and the full moon. "I have wanted to steal you away from your duties for a while now, but you seem to enjoy them so much that I felt rather selfish. Maybe I should thank the Elders for driving you to this point?"

Meng Yao could hear his husband's smirk more than he could see it and huffed. "You should know that I am always willing to leave everything behind to spend time with you, no matter how irresponsible this makes me."

"The Cloud Recesses are in good hands with Lan Jiao, you know that. Besides, you are a better leader when you are happy, don't you think? And before you argue the point, you are a leader. Not of a sect, but of a household. Which is why I am now telling you a secret. You are the only one here who is not only allowed to but entitled to smile and turn your backs on any Elder that annoys you. I have tried to make you understand this before, but I guess you needed to hear it spelled out. There is nothing they can do. They can come to me and complain, yes, but I will tell them that you are Gusu Lingzhu, and that you stand on the same level as they do. If not higher. At least when it comes to the day to day dealings within the Cloud Recesses."

Meng Yao swallowed, "As much as I would love to do just that, it simply is not how I want to behave. I am aware of what I could and could not do, Teacher Lan has instructed me, and I feel he was purposefully thorough. But I ... I want them to work with you, not against you. Having said that, I have spoken to Lan Qiren just the other day and we have come to an understanding I believe. The Elders of the Lan Sect are far too powerful for the sect itself, blocking progress left, right and centre. You are the sect leader, and yet you have to bow to them and do as they order you. That is not how it should be."

"And Uncle agreed with you?" Xichen sounded quite surprised.

"Things have changed over the past year, not just for the Gusu Lan Sect, but almost all the others as well. While Lan Qiren still firmly believes in keeping tradition alive, he knows that regrowing a sect cannot be done by looking at the past. You need to have the ability to make changes, even to the sect rules if need be. And so do I." There were quite a few rules that interfered with his duties after all.

"So he will support this notion if it were to be raised at a council meeting?"

"He will raise it himself. Given his station, no one will truly dare to go against him."

Xichen stopped and turned to Meng Yao. "The greatest Gusu Lingzhu the Lan Sect has ever seen. And not only that, but also a strong Cultivator in his own right. I do not know what I did to deserve a Cultivation Partner like you, but I am very grateful that you are by my side."

Meng Yao blushed and remained silent for a while until they stopped again to admire the view from one of the cliffs. Overlooking the entirety of the main complex of the Cloud Recesses, it was like looking down at a sea of flickering lights, the falling snow only increasing the ethereal glow of both candles and lanterns. His heart seemed to expand as the truth of what he was looking upon sank in. His home. A home where he was loved and wanted. A home where no one would ever make snide remarks about him or who his mother had been. Meng Shi was honoured here, just like her son.

Turning to Xichen, Meng Yao whispered, "When I found you that day, I could not have imagined a day when the Cloud Recesses would be my home. When I would have a family here. When you would call me..."

"My husband?" Xichen asked and Meng Yao nodded. "I admit that I thought I was dreaming when I first saw you that day. A delirious vision of my heart’s greatest desire. But you were real, and I knew that somehow I would have to try and find out if you ... felt anything even remotely akin to what I was feeling for you. Brother Mingjue told me what you said to Xue Yang, and I have to admit that I do agree. It is thanks to his machinations that you ended up seeking me, saving me. In more ways than one."

Meng Yao shook his head. "It is you who saved me. I do not think I would have been able to resist my father's offer to join him in Carp Tower without you by my side. And given what we learned about his exploits, I wonder just how much I would have done for him, to garner his affections. How deep would I be entwined in his crimes by now?"

"You are no longer the man who found me that day. You have grown so very much, Xinling . And if this is because of me, I am honoured to have played a part in it."

"Not just a part. The main part," Meng Yao smiled. "Shall we continue? I admit that the climb has made me hungry again, and I would like to know what you have gotten out of the cooks." The small house was always prepared for guests and Lan Sect disciples alike, so the regular staples would be there. Rice, tea and the like, but also some fresh fruit and vegetables. Smiling to himself, Meng Yao realised that he would finally be able to cook for his beloved as he had wanted to for so long.

Xichen nodded and pointed at a path that had obviously been cleared that day for it was only lightly covered by the freshly fallen snow. "We are almost there."

In all his months of living in the Cloud Recesses, Meng Yao had never made the climb up here and he very nearly gasped as he saw the size of the little house. It was almost the same size as the Jingshi where Wangji lived, and Meng Yao blinked. "If it was not such a long walk to get up here, I would almost be tempted to ask to move the Hanshi here. I understand why your father secluded himself here. It is beautiful and so very peaceful." He was beaming up at Xichen, and the other man simply shook his head.

"Do you know that your smile is a most dangerous weapon? Not to mention your dimples, and the sparkle in your eyes. I admit that I fell for you the moment you first glanced at me, your smile the most radiant thing I had ever seen."

Meng Yao blushed and averted his gaze, "Just like it had happened for your father... Only that there was one difference, a very important one. Where your mother had not fallen in love with your father, I most certainly did. With you, before you tease me, not with your father."

Xichen smirked, "You have to take the fun out of everything, don't you?" He chuckled as he shook his head, walking up to the small house. And blinked. A fire had been lit, there was tea already waiting for them on the table and the smell of dumplings and some kind of soup filled the air. Lan Peizhi was almost colliding with Xichen and was now bowing and apologising for his tardiness. "I wanted to prepare the house for you, Zewu-jun, Gusu Lingzhu. Forgive me for not being faster."

"How did you even..."

"Lan Jiao, Gusu Lingzhu. I passed on your message to her, and she seemed to know exactly where you would go. And when I saw Zewu-jun in the kitchen just as I was leaving, I knew I had to hurry. I hope everything meets with your approval?" He stepped out of the way, allowing Xichen and Meng Yao to pass.

"Truly you did not have to do all of this. We do appreciate your hard work though, once again. Thank you, Peizhi." Meng Yao smiled at the young man, and Lan Peizhi blushed.

"I shall get back to Orchid Hall now. There is another lecture tonight, and Teacher Lan will not allow any latecomers. Zewu-jun, Gusu Lingzhu." He bowed quickly and then rushed out into the night, a small lantern in his hands.

Xichen smiled at Meng Yao. "I told you he would be well suited to assisting you. Clearly he just proved me right. But still he is diligent in his studies, even though he is able to do things of his own accord. We need more disciples like him. It is also good that he grew up outside of the sect. It gives him the same unique perspective on the world that you and Lan Jiao possess. You can see our shortcomings in ways we cannot."

Placing a gentle hand on Xichen's arm, Meng Yao shook his head. "You can. Ever since we arrived here, I have seen you work tirelessly to better the lives of everyone in Gusu, not just those of our fellow Cultivators. I know that you wish you could change the past, but no one can do that. What is important is that you are willing to make changes now. Even Lan Qiren can see the need for it. So much was lost..."

"And so much gained." Xichen lowered his head to rest his forehead against Meng Yao's. "And I don't speak only of you now. All the knowledge you have discovered in Heavenly Nightless City ... without it, Wei Wuxian would still be without a Golden Core, and I dread to think what the eventual outcome of this might have been. The big three sects are now in agreement that Wei Wuxian is one of us even if he can utilise other means of Cultivation. Having Xue Yang on our side helps in a way since he is also able to use the Yin Metal without losing his mind. Or soul. But I do not think the Jin Sect would be so understanding, not to mention the smaller sects."

Meng Yao knew only too well what Xichen was talking about. He could still hear the Yao Sect’s Leader complain about the lives lost because of Wei Wuxian. Not because of the Ghost Puppets, no. Because of Wei Wuxian and his Stygian Tiger Seal. How blind could a man be? Sighing, he glanced at his husband and stepped back a little to place his hand on Xichen's chest. "Soon, my brother will lead the Jin Sect if we have anything to say about it. And Zixuan does care for Wei Wuxian, no matter what he might say."

"I feel that you may have had a hand in that budding friendship, Ah Yao," Xichen stated in an amused tone of voice and Meng Yao shrugged. "During the week leading up to our wedding if I am not very much mistaken. You made them work together to keep you somewhat sane, didn't you? How much of your nerves was an act, Xinling ? You can tell me..."

Meng Yao smirked, "Aside from the actual day of our wedding when I was sure I would empty my stomach?" He shrugged, "Almost all of it? I simply saw my chance to make both of them realise that the other wasn't as bad as they thought. It worked, didn't it? Wei Wuxian is now in favour of Zixuan marrying his sister, Jiang Cheng as well. Though I do understand that they both are in agreement that the decision will have to be hers. Therein lies yet another problem. You know how Zixuan gets around her..."

"Normally I would advise against getting involved in other people's relationships, but given that I'm just as invested in Wangji and Wei Wuxian's nonexistent one, I really cannot say a thing, can I?"

Meng Yao snickered, "Oh, I don't think I will have to get involved in this one. I believe Wen Qing will ensure that her sister gets what she wants in the end. And given that Wen Qing employs rather mean objects of torture at times, I would rather stay clear of that one."

"Her needles truly are formidable," Xichen agreed with a chuckle. "Did you know that Jiang Cheng has been trying to find excuses to leave Lotus Pier for a while now? I think the bigger she gets, the more ... unreasonable she becomes as well. It is good that Lan Yuan is not around to witness this, or he might be frightened of his little cousin when he or she is born. After all, it is the child that makes her act this way."

"I'm not surprised. She is formidable at the best of times and the baby will make her more hormonal than normally." Moving over to where the food was sitting ready for them, Meng Yao quickly set the table and then motioned for his husband to sit while he served him. Xichen bristled ever so slightly, and Meng Yao shrugged. "I know you say that I am no longer a lowly servant, and I know I am not, but allow me to do this. It makes me happy to do things for you, and tomorrow I intend to show you what Madame Lee taught me in the kitchen."

"As long as this is not some sort of code for ... more intimate things, I should like to see your cookery." Meng Yao snorted and Xichen's eyes sparkled with mirth. "And I do not mind you caring for me when we are alone or among our friends. As long as you allow me to reciprocate." Meng Yao nodded and sat as well, watching with a smile as Xichen filled his tea cup and prepared a bowl of soup for him.

The soup turned out to be a mushroom one, beautiful and tasty, and the buns were filled with a mushroom ragout as well that was so delicious the two lovers nearly came to blows over who would have the last one. Xichen cut it in half in the end and quickly ate his half before Meng Yao could steal it. Then he rose to clean their dishes, sending his husband off to explore the house and its surroundings.

The house itself truly was almost a copy of the Jingshi, except that there was a bed large enough for two where Wangji only had a single. The kitchen area and bath chamber were small but well furnished, and when Meng Yao saw the big bathtub, he grinned to himself. Maybe they could share a bath later? It had at least been a month since they last ... shared each other in their own tub after all. Swallowing to suppress his stirring desires, he stepped out into the cold of the night.

Standing on the small porch, Meng Yao leaned against one of the wooden pillars and simply gazed out into the dark woods around him and the stars above. It was truly peaceful and he closed his eyes to take a deep breath. Sensing more than hearing Xichen approach behind him, he wasn't startled when strong arms pulled him against a warm body, his back to Xichen's chest. He could feel one of his husband's hands come up to brush aside his hair and then soft lips were pressed to the nape of Meng Yao's neck, making him shiver in delight.

"I should have brought you here after our wedding," Xichen breathed into Meng Yao's ear. "Not only could we have been truly alone, but up here there is also no need to hold back." Meng Yao's mind was still trying to fully comprehend what his husband meant by that when a long-fingered hand touched his chin and turned his face towards Xichen's. "Ah Yao..." Xichen leaned in then, kissing the shorter man gently at first, but in the end Meng Yao was pushed against the pillar as Xichen was apparently trying to consume him utterly. Not that Meng Yao minded.

It still was astounding to see how different his Ah Huan was to the serene Zewu-jun everyone else knew. The Lan Sect Leader was bound by the rules and regulations of his sect, but Lan Huan was free to be his true self around Meng Yao. It was an honour to behold the more passionate side of Xichen, though Meng Yao had never expected his beloved to be so ... fervent at times.

Pulling away, Xichen's pupils were blown wide, and his lips were swollen from their kisses. Smiling, he took Meng Yao's hand and pulled him back into the house and to the bed. Meng Yao knew he was blushing like a young bride and even giggled nervously. There was an air of danger around Xichen that he had never witnessed before, as if his beloved was about to truly let go of everything that was holding him back.

Smiling, Xichen set to disrobing his husband, worshiping each and every new expanse of skin as it was revealed. Before long, Meng Yao was fully naked, whereas Xichen was still completely dressed. Swallowing, Meng Yao blinked up at his lover who simply smiled mysteriously. "You are the most beautiful being I have ever laid eyes on, Ah Yao." Xichen's fingers strayed to first his own and then Meng Yao's hair clasps, gently removing them until their hair fell in waves across their shoulders and down their backs.

Pushing the shorter man onto the bed, Xichen crawled over him, trailing kisses as he went. When finally he came face to face with Meng Yao, he hovered over him, the same smile once again on his fair countenance. "Do you trust me, Xinling ?"

Meng Yao nodded immediately. "With everything that I am. My life, heart and soul."

Xichen leaned down to place a tender kiss on Meng Yao's lips in lieu of a reply even as he quickly untied his forehead ribbon. Still holding it, he clasped Meng Yao's hand, pushing it above his head before doing the same with the other. It was then that Meng Yao realised what Xichen was planning and his eyes widened as he gasped. Xichen caught his gaze, a silent question hanging in the air between them and eventually Meng Yao nodded with a shy smile.

Within moments, the ribbon wound itself around Meng Yao's wrists, binding them tightly, and yet still lose enough to not limit the circulation to his hands. "It responds to you as it does to me. If you wish to stop, simply..."

"I don't. I do not want to stop." A surge of courage filled his heart, and he smirked. "I want to see just what it is that the pure Zewu-jun wishes to do to me. Do with me. I am yours, Ah Huan. Always."

He had thought he was ready for whatever Xichen would do. He had been wrong. Kissing a path down Meng Yao's chest, paying special attention to his scar as always, he drew closer and closer to the part of his body Meng Yao longed to feel those lips the most, only for Xichen to bypass his already weeping length to place feathery kisses on Meng Yao's thighs and the backs of his knees. Then, to Meng Yao's great surprise, he rose to his feet and gazed down at the shorter man.

Meng Yao had never felt this exposed, so at the mercy of his beloved. But instead of feeling self-conscious, he felt strangely empowered by it. Stretching his bound hands, he raised an eyebrow in challenge. "Does my husband like what he sees?" he asked in a husky voice that made Xichen blink. "I take that as a yes then," he chuckled. "Do you know what I would like to see? You ... garbed as I am. I want to see just how much you are affected by a humble servant like me." Xichen gritted his teeth, fists balled so tensely at his sides that Meng Yao could almost hear the joints pop. Smiling innocently, Meng Yao placed his feet onto the mattress and spread his legs in a silent invitation. "Don't make me beg, great Zewu-jun..."

That was the moment Xichen snapped. Whatever control he'd still maintained over himself disappeared into nothingness as he just about managed to take off his robes without ripping them to shreds. But just as he was about to join Meng Yao on the bed, the shorter man shook his head. "Oh no. You took your time gazing at me, surely I am entitled to the same?" Xichen swallowed hard but remained rooted to the spot as Meng Yao drank in the sight before him. No one else would ever see Lan Xichen this way; pupils blown wide, hair open and falling in waves down his back, lips kiss swollen, and a hard need that was brick red and made Meng Yao salivate at the thought of what was to come.

Eventually, Meng Yao nodded and had to suppress his laughter as Xichen breathed a relieved sigh. Bending down to fish a small bottle of oil out of his robes, he crawled up the bed, coming to rest between Meng Yao's thighs as he opened the bottle and coated his fingers liberally. But then, just when he felt the first two fingers press into his body, Meng Yao's mind almost imploded as Xichen's lips wrapped around his own length. It was not as if this was a first time, but the dual assault on his senses made him very nearly black out right then and there.

Once he was able to think again, difficult though it was as Xichen was now working three fingers into his tight heat, scissoring them just so and grazing that special spot within every so often, he blinked down at his beloved. And very nearly regretted it. The man who was pleasuring him so expertly could not possibly be the same as the great leader of the Gusu Lan Sect. The serene and pure Zewu-jun would never look this debauched, this ... carnal as his lover. Swallowing, Meng Yao bit back a moan, or maybe it had been a sob.

Xichen chuckled around him, sending ripples of pleasure throughout his body. Then their eyes locked fully, and Meng Yao was lost. Xichen found that place again, and the shorter man bucked off the bed, his husband following his movements with ease. Wrists straining against their bonds, Meng Yao contemplated loosening the ribbon so he could touch Xichen, but then decided against it.

Smiling around his mouthful, Xichen redoubled his efforts, and within only a few minutes, Meng Yao was writhing on the bed, and so close to the edge he could barely hold himself back. Xichen could clearly tell since it was just then that he didn't simply brush over that spot deep within, but he pressed down upon it. Meng Yao saw stars and was only narrowly aware of the fact that he spilled his essence down his lover's throat.

He had clearly blacked out for a moment for when he came to, Xichen was hovering above him, smiling rather happily as he licked his lips. "You are so beautiful in your bliss, the most exquisite being I have ever beheld. And you are mine. The Light clearly smiled upon me when it sent you into my life."

Meng Yao blushed. "Stop saying things like that..."

Xichen shook his head. "That is precisely why I shall not stop. You need to hear it, and hear it often. You make me happy, Ah Yao. Happier than I ever thought I could be. You have opened my eyes to the world as it truly is, and you have shown me that letting go can be rather ... fulfilling at times." The last he said with a smirk as his fingers trailed down Meng Yao's stomach to wrap around his once again hardening length. "Let me show you just how much I love you. Let my body say what I cannot find the words to express."

Meng Yao could only nod, his legs coming up around his husband's hips as he pleaded with his eyes. He felt empty somehow, only now realising how much he missed the feeling of those fingers... He blushed again and then chuckled at himself. "Look at me, Ah Huan," he explained as Xichen cocked his head in question. "No one would believe I grew up in a house of pleasure given how much I am blushing. And it's not even our first time together. But in a way, every time we are together feels new to me, like a gift to be cherished and never taken for granted."

Xichen nodded as he moved into position and then slowly pushed into Meng Yao's body, both gasping as they became one once again. "Ah Yao," Xichen breathed as he stretched an arm above Meng Yao's head to twine his fingers with his husband's. "My beloved soulmate. My love..."

Xichen's hair was falling to either side of his face, creating a sort of secret haven for the two lovers, and Meng Yao smiled up at his husband adoringly. "My Ah Huan. My husband... Would you ... would you move please? I want to feel you as you claim my body as you have already claimed my soul."

The older man nodded and followed Meng Yao's wishes, slowly increasing the strength of his thrusts as they gave themselves over to pleasure once more. Yet again did Meng Yao realise just how perfect they were for each other, fitting perfectly together even in this. He threw back his head, Xichen's lips immediately latching on to the now exposed skin of his throat. Moans were drawn from him, and he could feel Xichen's chuckle as a rumble against his chest.

When Xichen lifted himself up on his free arm again, Meng Yao could see sweat beading on his lover's forehead, his breathing uneven as his movements became erratic. Meng Yao was drawing closer to his own peak as well. It wouldn't take much longer now, and Meng Yao squeezed his lover's fingers as he inched closer and closer to the abyss, knowing that when he fell, Xichen would be there to catch him. Just as Xichen would always be there.

It were those thoughts that pushed him over the edge in the end, with Xichen following only moments later with a drawn out cry of Meng Yao's name. He then slumped onto Meng Yao's chest as they both tried to catch their breath. After long minutes, Xichen managed to push himself up again, sighing as he slipped from his husband's body as he reached for a cloth to clean up at least a little. Then his hands went to the forehead ribbon, gently untying it before bringing Meng Yao's wrists to his lips to kiss them gently.

"Ah Yao," Xichen said with a warm smile. "I have to admit that I never thought seclusion could be this exhilarating. Maybe we should seclude ourselves more often?"

Meng Yao snorted and slapped his husband's arm. "You are impossible. And you accuse me of spending too much time with Wei Wuxian! As your brother would say: shameless, Xichen. Absolutely shameless."

"I don't hear you saying that we can't do it though," Xichen grinned and Meng Yao sighed. It was true. He hadn't said that for the very reason that he thought the idea was quite good. "Once we have our child, maybe we should take a few weeks away from everything to get used to parenthood? Something I still cannot believe is in our future, and so soon." There was a gleam in Xichen's eyes that made Meng Yao's heart skip a beat. His husband was happy, truly happy, and if Meng Yao was honest with himself, so was he. At least for the time being.

Chapter Text

"She is scarier than Madame Yu ... the Light protect her soul ... ever was even when I truly irked her. And trust me, I can be quite irksome." Wei Wuxian sounded ridiculously proud of that fact, and beamed happily. "Anyway, the moment I saw Jiang Cheng run from their bedchamber with her waddling after him angrily waving her needles, I knew that a change of scenery was in order. So I guess I should thank you, Zewu-jun, for your lovely and oh so timely invitation. I don't think I will ever take a wife after this. And who needs children anyway. You did the right thing, you two..."

Xichen glanced at Meng Yao and sighed. "And yet we are quite happy to have a child of our own. Maybe your opinion will change once you find the right person?"

Wei Wuxian shrugged, "Would have to be a really special someone for me to change my mind about this. I have seen things, Zewu-jun. Terrible things. I'm sure Jiang Cheng will never ever touch Wen Qing again after this."

Meng Yao snickered. "You don't really believe that, do you, Ah Xian?" Wei Wuxian shrugged again. "And they will dote on their little one just as we will on ours. And so will you. You will be the best uncle to both of them." His friend's eyes lit up and he nodded. "See? Not to mention that young Ah Yuan looks up to you like one would to a father with the weirdest ideas. He does love you, you know that, right?"

"I admit that I do miss him, and I do thank you, Zewu-jun, for inviting me to see him. It was a reason for a visit even Wen Qing could not do anything about for she too dotes on her little nephew." His smile was bright as he turned to Xichen, bowing his head slightly. Out of the corner of his eye, Meng Yao could see Wangji and only just managed to keep from smirking at the almost jealous expression in Wangji's eyes. He wanted to forcefully turn Wei Wuxian's head in Wangji's direction, but he knew that his friend would probably not even realise what was going on. This would be a difficult task indeed, but he would do his utmost to ascertain how Wei Wuxian felt about his brother-in-law.

"You are always welcome in the Cloud Recesses, you know this I hope?." Xichen asked with a smile of his own, which turned into a smirk as he added, "I have to admit that my brother is always happiest when you are around, though he would never admit it." If looks could kill, Xichen would have toppled over at that point for Wangji shot him a glare that was filled with so much rage, Meng Yao did dissolve into giggles. Which made Wangji glare at him as well.

Wei Wuxian, oblivious as ever, smiled sweetly at Wangji. "Aww, of course you're happy when I'm here. The Cloud Recesses must be so boring without me breaking all the rules and you telling me off because of it. Besides, I do like it here as well. Very much. There's no crazy pregnant ladies here, with needles that really hurt when she gets you with them. Luckily, she's getting slower as the baby grows, so I can avoid her most of the time. Though she did catch me that one time when I showed her brother one of the books I got from Brother Huaisang..."

"You gave her brother one of those books?" Wangji asked incredulously.

"Well yes," Wei Wuxian replied with a grin. "I think they are very educational and I believe that one day Wen Ning will thank me for it. Besides, can you imagine him asking his sister for advice regarding the ... topics discussed in those books? Because I can't."

That piqued Meng Yao's interest even more than Wangji's reaction had and he inquired, "Educational books? Would you mind sharing them with me? You know I am always seeking new knowledge..."

Wangji, who had been taking a sip of his tea apparently to calm his nerves now choked and blinked at Meng Yao in utter horror while Wei Wuxian giggled. "I ... I don't think you need any help when it comes to the topic of those books. Or at least I hope you don't. For both your and Zewu-jun's sake. If you see what I mean..."

At that moment, Meng Yao did realise what his former protégé's books were all about. His eyes widened and he coughed. "Huaisang has ... a collection of..."

Wei Wuxian nodded and beamed. "Really tasteful pictures too. There's a bit for everyone, he doesn't discriminate. So if you ever need to spice things up, I'm sure he could ... hmmmm? Hmmmmmm!" He turned to Wangji and glared.

"Wei Wuxian! You are absolutely shameless! How dare you speak of such vile things in front of Ah Yao and older brother?! I ... I..." He rose, his face a crimson red both because of anger and embarrassment. "Forgive me, but I will take my leave before I might strangle our guest." Wangji rose to his feet and, shooting one more murderous glare at Wei Wuxian, left the Hanshi.

Wei Wuxian shrugged and batted his lashes at Meng Yao who sighed as he removed the muting spell. "Your brother is such a prude, Zewu-jun. I dread to think of how things would stand between the two of you if you were anything like Lan Zhan. I warned him before that, with his sunny demeanor, he'll never find a wife. Come to think of it, he actually gets even grumpier when I mention it. I wonder why. You don't think he was really interested in Mianmian, do you? That would be such a shame."

Meng Yao had to fight the impulse to slam his head into the table. Repeatedly. Or Wei Wuxian's. Xichen looked as if he was in the same predicament, but the older man gathered his faculties faster and shook his head. "I do not think Wangji is truly interested in someone like Mianmian. And before you come to her defence, I mean that my brother is not interested in women."

Wei Wuxian wiggled his eyebrows. "Oh? So it runs in the family, does it? Well, then I really don't understand why he got so upset in that cave." Xichen and Meng Yao exchanged a glance, and Wei Wuxian exclaimed, "What? If you know why he's so upset with me, then please tell me. It can't be just the whole porn issue, can it?"

"Let me ask you a question, Ah Xian," Meng Yao began. "Who is the one person you care about the most? The one person who is not part of your family, that is."

"Oh that's easy," Wei Wuxian beamed. "Lan Zhan of course. He's my ... my soulmate and my best friend." He turned to Xichen and bowed his head slightly, "I would do anything for your brother, Zewu-jun, I really would. I still can't quite believe what he did to give me back a Golden Core. I was fine without it, and he ... I know what he went through. I don't deserve such loyalty, especially not after the way I treated him right after I returned from the Burial Mounds. I promise I will do whatever it takes to make him happy. Or at least less annoyed..."

Xichen sighed, "You care for him deeply, do you not?"

Wei Wuxian frowned and then quickly shook his head, his eyes wide. "Not like that. I promise you, it's not like that. I'd never get in the way of him finding his happiness. I mean ... I don't know what I mean. I..." He rose to his feet, quickly bowing to both Meng Yao and Xichen. "Please excuse me. I think I may have had too much Emperor's Smile on my way here. I seem to be talking more nonsense than normally. Forgive me. I'll just go outside for a bit to clear my head..." He was practically running from the Hanshi as if a hundred monsters were hard on his heels.

"I do believe he might have realised just now how much he cares for Wangji, don't you think?" Xichen asked with a raised eyebrow.

Meng Yao nodded, "This is not going to make it any easier though. You heard him, he is just like me, believing himself unworthy of your brother's affections. But Wangji is not like you. He cannot read his friend the way you could read me, nor would he be willing to risk everything just to try and see where bravery might lead."

"Should we speak with my brother?"

Meng Yao shook his head. "Not now. Ah Xian clearly was unaware of his own feelings, and he will need a while to truly come to terms with them. Loving someone and being close to them while believing nothing will ever come of it ... it is difficult. However, it could be even worse to act on feelings only just discovered. Speaking to Wangji might force Ah Xian to react, and knowing him, it would not be in a way we wish. He would never believe it if we told him that your brother cares for him as well, and Wangji..."

"...does not speak at the best of times," Xichen said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "He would believe us though, I would hope."

"Not now. Give it some time. Give them both some time to settle down again. Besides..." Meng Yao smirked, "I think I want to send a letter to Huaisang to tell him that I finally understand why he had to return to the Cloud Recesses numerous times to finish his education. And inquire if there is anything in his library that might be of use to us... We might not need the help, but a little inspiration never hurt anyone, did it?"

---

It was a few hours later, and night was slowly settling on the Cloud Recesses that Wangji returned to the Hanshi in a state close to panic. Well, it would have been slight worry in most people, but Meng Yao knew his brother-in-law well enough to read his expression.

Xichen had left after they had further ... discussed Nie Huaisang's library, and Meng Yao was now sitting somewhat gingerly in front of piles of reports his brother had sent from Carp Tower. Looking up, he immediately set down the scroll he had been reading and rose to his feet. "Wangji? What is the matter?"

"Have you seen Wei Ying? I returned to the Jingshi to ... apologise to him for my outburst, but he was not there. I cannot seem to find him in any of the places he normally visits, and I will admit that I am worried he might have ... simply left."

Meng Yao shook his head. Wei Wuxian was many things, but a coward he was not. He would not simply flee the Cloud Recesses because of what he had only just realised, would he? A thought occurred to him and he suddenly believed he knew exactly where his friend had wandered off to. Wei Wuxian knew of the house at the top of the mountain since he had been needling Meng Yao until he had told the other man where he and Xichen had secluded themselves.

"I think I might know where he has disappeared off to. I think I also know what you can do to show him that you regret your words..." Wiggling his eyebrows, Meng Yao whispered, " Emperor's Smile . You know he will be unable to remain mad at you if you give him a bottle or two of his favourite drink."

"I am to ply him with alcohol?" Wangji asked incredulously before his expression shifted and he nodded slowly. "I do see what you mean though. It will show him that I am not as ... prude as he believes me to be. That I am able to break the rules if the situation calls for it." Coming from Wangji, that was like a declaration of love. Not that Meng Yao needed one to know where the other man's heart lay.

Meng Yao smiled. "Splendid. You get some wine and maybe some of those lovely steamed buns and scallops they do by the pier for Xichen and myself?" He batted his lashes and Wanji shook his head. "I know. I am shameless as well. Using your kindness for my own gain. Quite despicable of me, is it not?"

"Shameless indeed. And yet you make Older Brother happy. Not to mention that you are a friend to me as well. You will get your buns, and the scallops." Wangji bowed and then turned to leave. But before he stepped outside, he glanced back at Meng Yao. "Thank you, Ah Yao. I truly appreciate your help."

The moment the doors to the Hanshi slid shut behind Wangji, Meng Yao pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. Penning a quick note to his husband, he picked up a lantern and walked out into the cold. The snow was falling heavier than it had before, and Meng Yao cursed his friend under his breath. There were nicer places to be than a path up the mountain in weather like this.

By the time he had reached the small house he had only left the morning before, night had truly fallen and the weather had turned from gently falling snow to almost blizzard-like conditions. However, Meng Yao knew that he had been right to face the elements when he saw the lone black-clad form sitting forlornly on the porch. Stepping closer, he could see how pale his friend was, and not only because of the cold.

"Ah Xian?" he whispered and Wei Wuxian blinked up at him.

"Please don't," Wei Wuxian muttered and averted his gaze. "You ... you shouldn't be here. I don't ... I'm not worthy."

Meng Yao very nearly glared. "Well, I am here now. And as I am here, I am not going to allow you to freeze while you are a guest of my sect. So if it's alright with you, we are going to go inside and I will get a fire started." Not giving Wei Wuxian an option to say no, Meng Yao pulled the taller man to his feet and then all but pushed him into the house.

Luckily there were still embers in the small fireplace, and within moments a fire was roaring and spread warmth throughout the building while Meng Yao sent some of his healing energy into his almost catatonic friend. Wei Wuxian sat at the small table, staring into space. What had happened between him and Xichen forcing his friend to acknowledge his true feelings and now? It had only been a few hours after all.

For a moment, Meng Yao contemplated making some tea, but that was unimportant for the time being. What was truly important was his friend. Kneeling next to Wei Wuxian, Meng Yao gathered an icy hand in his, and Wei Wuxian blinked at him in surprise. "It's all my fault. Everything is my fault, Ah Yao. I'm like a ... like a scourge, even though I try my utmost to be good... Just look at what I can do. Demonic Cultivation... And I've tainted Lan Zhan... I always end up hurting those I love..."

"Ah Xian?" No, that was not right. Not now. "Ah Ying... What are you talking about?"

Wei Wuxian laughed harshly and pulled his hand away. "He is the purest person I know, the most sincere and honest, upstanding and righteous. I guess it's not surprising that I ... that I love him. Not just as a friend. But I swear I would never..." He shook his head. "He has lost enough because of me. Half of his Golden Core! Why did he do that, Ah Yao? Why would he..." Jaw tightening, he squeezed his eyes shut. "He will not lose anything else because of me. Whoever he will choose to be with in the end, I will envy them, but I will wish them well..."

"Ah Ying ... what if the person he chooses..."

Shaking his head, Wei Wuxian smiled sadly. "No. I don't deserve even his friendship. Or yours for that matter. I won't drag him down with me, because it's inevitable that I ... screw up again. Majorly. Just look at what I did last time. What I caused..." Meng Yao could tell the precise moment when his friend broke. Fat tears fell from his eyes as he seemed to shrink in on himself.

"What you caused, Ah Ying?" Meng Yao shook his head in disbelief. "If it wasn't for you, the Sunshot Campaign would have failed! I don't even want to think of what might have happened to Xichen and everyone else I hold dear! You saved the day. More than I did. If it hadn't been for you..."

"If it hadn't been for me, Jiang Cheng never would have needed a new Golden Core. If it hadn't been for me, Lotus Pier wouldn't have been destroyed and Madame Yu and Jiang Fengmian would still be alive..."

Sitting back, Meng Yao was torn between laughter and tears. Opting for sarcasm, he bowed in front of his friend. "I never knew how great a Cultivator you truly are, Wei Wuxian. Forgive my ignorance." Wei Wuxian blinked at him. "Well, you clearly controlled Wen Ruohan the whole time, did you not? You made him order his men to attack Lotus Pier, and probably the other sects as well. Are you also behind my father's actions then? Surely a powerful man such as you..."

"What are you talking about?" Wei Wuxian asked in confusion and Meng Yao sighed.

"You are not responsible for what happened at Lotus Pier, Ah Ying..."

Shaking his head, Wei Wuxian whispered, "But I am. Madame Yu said so. It's all my fault. Jiang Cheng was right. If only I had kept my head down at Qishan, if I hadn't been ... myself if you will, Wen Chao wouldn't have been so angry with me and the Jiang Sect. I ... I brought misfortune upon my adoptive family, just as she said I would. It's all my fault... She ... the last thing she said to me was that she hated me, that she wished I had never come to Lotus Pier. And she told me to protect Jiang Cheng ... with my life if need be. I couldn't even do that right..."

Meng Yao cocked his head. "So she hated you so much that she entrusted her beloved son to you. She trusted you, Ah Ying! And it's not you who she hated, not really. It's ... it's the rumours about your mother and Jiang Fengmian. Rumours that I know were false. Jiang Fengmian loved his wife, and he loved his friend, your father. It was only natural that he would take you in after your parents untimely death." His eyes widened suddenly. "Oh no. Those rumours ... I would not put it past Jin Guangshan to give birth to them. He was friends with Jiang Fengmian, and he might have mentioned something to his wife ... a lie, no doubt, and she spoke to Madame Yu and..."

If this was true, it would only add another heinous crime to his father's already long list of misdeeds. "But why would he?" Wei Wuxian's mouth formed a silent 'oh'. Now that Meng Yao thought of it, it was plain to see. Jiang Fengmian and Madame Yu had been a powerful couple, and Jin Guangshan did not like anyone to be in a position where they might challenge him. Thus, he had driven a wedge between them, a wedge in the form of a lie, and a young boy who would become a scapegoat for everything.

"Ah Ying..." Meng Yao touched the other man's shoulder and this time, Wei Wuxian did not move away. "You are not a scourge. You do not taint those around you. How could the laughter and joy you bring when you enter a room be a taint? How could the love you kindled in young Ah Yuan's heart be wrong? As for the Demonic Cultivation ... I am beginning to believe the reason it is frowned upon so very much is because it is not very well known. Not many can use the darkness in our world to create light out of it. You can. That is nothing bad, Ah Ying. Quite the opposite. Any Cultivator would be lucky to call you their Cultivation Partner..."

Wei Wuxian shook his head again. "Not Lan Zhan. I can't. Even if what you say is right, most of the Cultivation World won't see it that way. Besides, he deserves the best, and even the best will not be good enough."

"Doesn't he deserve someone he cares for?"

"Are you going to tell me now that he's in love with me? Lan Zhan?" Wei Wuxian wiped away his tears and chuckled. "Oh, Ah Yao. I think you misunderstand my dear Lan Zhan. He likes me well enough, but love? I don't think he'd know love if it hit him on the head and then gave a big speech about how love is the greatest thing in the world and all that. No. I already have more than I ever deserved to have from him. His friendship and half of his Golden Core... I could not ask for more."

"Ah Ying..."

"No, Ah Yao. Maybe you're right about Madame Yu not really hating me, but I still brought harm to Lotus Pier. It's still my fault..."

"Qinghe was taken, the smaller sects were almost destroyed ... do you really think the Wen Sect would have stopped at Yunmeng Jiang? If anything, I could blame myself for not acting sooner. For being so incredibly selfish when I knew what I had to do at least a full month before I infiltrated Wen Ruohan's inner circle. So if you wish to blame someone, blame me." Meng Yao's eyes were stern, his gaze unwavering.

"But Ah Yao! How could anyone blame you when you helped so many, when you saved so many lives, and..." Meng Yao raised an eyebrow. "I see..."

"Do you? Wen Ruohan was a mad tyrant, and ultimately even Carp Tower would have fallen to him. Lotus Pier was not singled out, Ah Ying, and it was not attacked because of you. You might be willing to take all the blame onto yourself, but the truth is, you are wrong in doing so."

"You are my friend, Ah Yao. You are meant to say things like that. You are meant to tell me that I am not responsible for what happened in the past, and that I am worthy of someone like Lan Zhan. But I'm not. Did you know that he is still worried about my Demonic Cultivation? He still believes it will eventually corrupt my heart. Maybe he's right, maybe not. But just in case he is, I would not dream of repaying his friendship and kindness by ... throwing myself at him only to hurt him later on." Wei Wuxian smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I love him, yes. But I love him enough to not force him to endure more because of me. And that, Ah Yao, is final."

Meng Yao wanted to argue, but knew that once his friend had made up his mind, there was no swaying him. Besides, given what he had just heard from Wei Wuxian's own lips, he was not the person who needed to speak with his friend. It would have to be Jiang Cheng, the brother Wei Wuxian had been willing to give up his Golden Core for. The brother who meant the world to Wei Wuxian...

Thus, Meng Yao simply nodded and smiled as he rose once again. "Just remember that you have friends who truly care for you. You can lean on us if ever you need to." Wei Wuxian nodded. "Now, shall we brave the storm outside and make our way back, or shall we stay here for the night. I should tell you that Wangji is getting a certain wine for you so you are no longer mad at him for acting in such a childish way earlier."

"Lan Zhan is getting Emperor's Smile for me?" Wei Wuxian asked, eyes finally sparkling again. "Wait, Lan Zhan is breaking the rules for me? Because he thinks I'm mad at him? Oh, I should get him to explode like this more often if that means I get something decent to drink..." Meng Yao nearly sighed. Once again, Wei Wuxian was completely oblivious. "Come come. Let's go! There's no time like the present." He held out Suibian. "Ever rode a sword in a snowstorm? I have and it's fun!"

It turned out that Meng Yao's idea of fun was very different from Wei Wuxian's and as he nearly fell into Xichen's arms, Meng Yao shot a glare at his friend. "Fun?! We nearly died!"

Wei Wuxian shrugged. "Only because you don't know how to properly ride a sword." Then he pouted. "Besides, I thought you were my good friend. Good friends trust each other not to let them fall to their deaths. I would have caught you. Like I caught Wen Ning back then, do you remember, Lan Zhan? Zewu-jun?" The two brothers nodded though neither of them looked particularly happy. "And I'm sorry, maybe it would have been safer to walk down the mountain, but that would have taken ages ! Besides, snow is pretty, but it's also cold and wet. And there is something else that's cold and wet that I like much more."

He all but grabbed the two bottles Wangji held in his hand and ran off in the direction of the Jingshi with them. "I only hope he doesn't run into Uncle with them," Xichen commented and then pushed Meng Yao into the Hanshi. "Into the bath with you. You look more like an icicle than my beloved husband." Turning to his brother, Xichen added, "As for you, you better ensure our guest also partakes in some solid food to complement the liquid food you so graciously provided him with. And before you think you need punishment for it, I believe that we can be more relaxed amongst family and friends, don't you agree, Ah Yao?"

Meng Yao's teeth were chattering, but he managed a nod. "To quote a wise man, rules are made to be broken."

Wangji raised an eyebrow. "Did you just call Wei Ying a wise man?" He almost smiled, and even Meng Yao had to admit that he was beautiful. How could Wei Wuxian not see just how much Wangji loved him? "Be that as it may, I shall follow your advice. Ah Yao? Your buns and fried scallops are waiting for you on the table. Enjoy them." Bowing first to Meng Yao and then to Xichen, Wangji left them, and Meng Yao nearly stumbled at Xichen's suddenly rather angry expression.

"Care to explain what you were doing on top of the mountain in a blizzard?" Pushing Meng Yao further into their home, Xichen closed the doors behind himself with a loud snap. "All I find is a note that you are looking for Wei Wuxian. Nothing else. And by your own admission now, you very nearly fell off the sword! Which firstly reminds me yet again that you will be given a second sword that you can actually use to travel, and secondly ... what were you thinking?"

Meng Yao sighed. "He blames himself, Ah Huan. For everything under the sun and moon. He thinks he's unworthy because he sees himself as some sort of ... scourge. He won't act on his feelings, and will hear nothing of Wangji's. I think ... I think it is time he and his brother truly talked about what happened at Lotus Pier and later in Yiling. They clearly haven't so far, or Wei Wuxian would not feel this guilty still."

Xichen frowned. "He does sound like you indeed. At least ... at least he is smiling once more."

"He wasn't when I found him. Ah Huan? I have never seen him like this. All this guilt ... it's going to consume him eventually. We have to help him."

"I will write to Jiang Cheng. And to his wife. If he will not come of his own volition because he feels he cannot leave her alone now that she is so close to giving birth, she will ensure that he does travel. This is no longer about bringing Wangji and Wei Wuxian together, but about showing a friend that..."

"...that he's not some sort of monster..."

Chapter Text

Wen Qing did not have to force her husband to travel to the Cloud Recesses in the end. Jiang Cheng, whether it was because of his love and concern for his brother or his fear of his wife, arrived only three days after Xichen had sent his missive, under the pretense of requiring a certain book Meng Yao had brought back from Qishan. For his wife that was.

Wei Wuxian had simply shrugged and thanked Jiang Cheng for not asking him to bring the book back to Lotus Pier and had gone off on a hunt with Wangji. There had been monster sightings in the mountains again, which was particularly bad in winter as the people of Gusu needed to go out into the woods to find the firewood they required.

Now Jiang Cheng was sitting in the Hanshi, hands steepled as he glanced at Meng Yao and Xichen expectantly. "You called me here because Ah Xian is, and I quote, suffering in silence and blames himself for things that were beyond his control. What happened this time? Unfortunately my brother is wont to do so and there is very little anyone can do to stop it. Only the other week he apologised to me again because I had to send my puppies away when he first arrived at Lotus Pier. That's over a decade ago."

"Is he afraid of dogs?" Meng Yao asked, somewhat puzzled. He had not known that about his friend.

"Afraid? No," Jiang Cheng shook his head. "He is terrified of them. As far as I understand it, he was cast out of their home after his parents died, and I still do not quite understand how that happened. At any rate, he was living in the streets for a while before father found him and brought him back to Lotus Pier to live with us. While fending for himself, he was chased away by shopkeepers and normal townsfolk thinking he was just another thief, and they set their dogs on him. Thus, chased from the better parts of town, he found himself in the slums if you will, and the wild dogs there ... I don't think they saw him as food, or at least I hope they didn't, but they did chase him. He was petrified when he saw Jasmine, Princess and Little Love, so father sent them away. I ... I didn't react well."

"Understandable given that you were still young and had grown fond of them," Xichen explained. "It is one of the reasons we do not officially allow pets. Not that this stopped your brother from feeding the rabbits from Cold Pool Cave and keeping them at the back of the mountain. They now have a small house of their own so they don't get too cold in winter and we can find them easier as they truly blend in with the snow. However, I do believe something could be done about Wei Wuxian's fear, don't you think?" He turned to Meng Yao who nodded.

"I was thinking of a little friend for your child once he or she is big enough anyway, Sect Leader Jiang. A small puppy that is as adorable as the rabbits Ah Xian loves so much might be a good way to introduce your child to animals, but also could help Ah Xian get more used to having a dog around."

"Though maybe it would be even better to gift the puppy to Wei Wuxian himself?" Xichen frowned, deep in thought. "An innocent and defenseless creature that will show him that dogs are not vicious to start off with."

Jiang Cheng smiled, "I think you might be correct, Zewu-jun. We can share the burden of taking care of a small baby and then relax with a little fluffy bundle of joy. Just don't let my wife know I said this. Though if she knew it was more for Ah Xian's benefit than mine..." He scratched his chin. "I think it is a good idea at any rate."

Meng Yao smiled. "Then I shall look out for a puppy for Ah Xian. However, this is of course not what we asked you here for. Though it does confirm what I already suspected. Ah Xian blames himself for everything he possibly can. Even something that truly was beyond his control." Sighing, Meng Yao glanced at Xichen who nodded. "He still blames himself for what happened ... at Lotus Pier. He feels responsible for it all."

The colour drained from Jiang Cheng's face, his eyes widening. "But it..." He shook his head and swallowed. "I should have stopped mother. I should have told her that she was wrong, even before we travelled to Qishan. She was always so angry at him, so mad because he was stronger than me and better at his Cultivation. It wasn't his fault. He and I ... we were always going to be together anyway, so it didn't matter, did it? The Twin Heroes of Yunmeng Jiang just like you and Lan Wangji are the Twin Jades of Gusu Lan, Zewu-jun."

Sighing, he rose to his feet and began pacing. "It's my fault, not his. I loved him like a brother, but I never told my mother as much. All I ever did was complain about how Ah Xian was better at archery, or that he had learned this new sword move on first try whereas I had to practice for an hour. Now I understand why Ah Li was always cross with me when I did so. I simply did not think that it would instill such a dislike for Ah Xian in mother..."

Glancing at Xichen, Jiang Cheng suddenly bowed, "I owe you an apology, Zewu-jun. When we went to Qishan, I wanted to stop Ah Xian from helping Hanguang-jun. I am glad he did not listen to me, even if it might have brought Wen Chao's ire down upon him." A lone tear ran down Jiang Cheng's cheek as he went on. "I blamed him too. I blamed him for helping Lan Wangji and Jin Zixuan in the cave of the Xuanwu. It wasn't just our mother who told him that it was all his fault, but I did as well. When we returned to Lotus Pier and saw..." He nodded to himself. "I blamed him. I could not deal with the pain and the grief and I lashed out at him. As I always did. Never did I consider the hurt I was causing him. Or the pain he felt himself."

Xichen rose and placed a comforting hand on Jiang Cheng's shoulder, "You were grieving. While you did hurt others in the process, those circumstances ... they are extenuating. What I propose is this ... speak to him. Work through the grief with him..."

Jiang Cheng nodded, "There ... there is something I never told him. I am uncertain whether I should, even now. It is about how I was captured by the Wen Sect, how I came to be at Lotus Pier again and how I lost my Golden Core. I ... I could not face it. The reality of my parents' death. I completely withdrew, barely responded to anything and most certainly was of no help to Ah Xian who was doing his utmost to look after both myself and our sister. After all, he had sworn he would. He'd given his word to a woman who told him that she hated him."

"He would do anything for those he loves," Meng Yao whispered, smiling sadly at Xichen who glanced at him.

"Yes," Jiang Cheng agreed quietly. "I think I only now truly understand it that I ... that I have Ah Qing and the baby. It also makes me realise that I would do anything for my brother and sister, and for those who are now part of our family. I think that day when I got caught, I grasped the concept for the first time. You see, Ah Xian went out for medicine as Ah Li was burning up. I ... I followed him, and I saw some of the Wen soldiers close in on Ah Xian..."

"You let them catch you..." Meng Yao exclaimed, his hand coming up to cover his mouth.

Jiang Cheng nodded, "I was in no fit state to take care of our sister, and he was. And I ... I knew he would come for me. Just like mother entrusted him with my welfare, so did I. But in the end I shouted at him for saving me. He couldn't have known ... I couldn't have known..." Sinking to his seat again, Jiang Cheng took a sip of his tea and then began to play with Zidian nervously. "Will he blame himself for what happened to me, or will he accept that I was the one who made that decision. Will he allow me to truly thank him for his sacrifice ... a sacrifice that landed him in the Burial Mounds no less ... or will he still blame himself for everything?"

"There is only one way to find out. But I agree with Ah Huan. You two need to work through all the things you never spoke of because of the Sunshot Campaign and..." Meng Yao shrugged.

"My unwillingness to speak of my feelings and Ah Xian's ability to pretend everything is alright?" Jiang Cheng smirked and then nodded. "Once he and Hanguang-jun return, I will talk to him." He cocked his head then, his smirk growing. "There is a reason for all this, isn't there? As I said, my brother has an amazing talent when it comes to hiding his true feelings. Something happened that made him ... crack, didn't it? Please tell me it has to do with his oh so obvious love for Lan Wangji..."

Xichen snickered, actually snickered. "I think we may have forced him to acknowledge his feelings, which unfortunately sent him into self flagellation. He doesn't feel worthy..." He glanced at Meng Yao and raised an eyebrow.

"I fear whatever I might achieve when I do speak to Ah Xian, it will still fall to Hanguang-jun to make the first step. Ah Xian is clearly blind as a bat when it comes to seeing love when it's directed at him." Jiang Cheng shook his head and sighed. "And once he does realise he is loved, he will find reasons why it's wrong and somehow his fault."

"He is not the only one to act that way..." Xichen murmured and Meng Yao blushed.

"I was the same, yes. I believed that I had somehow bewitched Ah Huan, and that I was tainted simply because of where I grew up and ... who my mother was."

"If anything it's your father who might give you a bad name, not your mother," Jiang Cheng said with a slight smile. "Jin Zixuan will have a rather difficult time convincing everyone that he's nothing like the current Jin Sect Leader once we have exposed Jin Guangshan. He will need your help especially ... and possibly that of my sister. If he ever works up the courage to approach her again."

"He will, I am sure of it. He is no longer the young man he once was." Pointing at a stack of reports, Meng Yao continued, "We have been conducting some research into father's ... exploits." He shook his head. "Even my mother would not be able to forgive him for this. How many women did he force into relations? How many brothers and sisters will we still discover?"

"A truly despicable man," Xichen muttered angrily, his eyes flashing. "To think that he expected you to simply join the Jin Sect..."

"I admit that I still find it hard to believe that he even voiced such a suggestion..." Jiang Cheng sighed. "As if your robes had not been a big enough indication that you were not just a normal disciple of Gusu Lan. I have to say you looked regal that day, and the way you spoke to your father... You and Ah Xian both ... I do not mean to sound patronising, so forgive me if I do, but I felt proud of the both of you."

Xichen nodded even as Meng Yao blushed and averted his gaze. "I fear this is one of Jin Guangshan's biggest flaws. He underestimates those around him. Look at Xue Yang. He is so sure of Xue Yang's loyalty that he cannot see the changes in our newest ally. I understand he is sending messages to Lotus Pier on a regular basis?"

Jiang Cheng nodded, "We are hosting Song Lan and Xiao Xingchen at present while Ah Qing is trying to find a way to restore Xiao Xingchen's eyes and sight. If there is a way, she will find it."

They sat in silence for a while before Jiang Cheng and Xichen began discussing the future of the Wen Sect and Wei Wuxian's plans regarding Wen Ning. It was then that Wei Wuxian and Wangji returned from their hunt, deep in conversation ... or rather Wei Wuxian was busy gloating and Wangji was ... allowing him.

"Did you see what happened though? Using Suibian and the Seal together was literally killing two flies with one stone. Not only did I kill the monsters much faster, but I also cleansed the area of resentful energy. Not bad, if I say so myself." Wei Wuxian was preening, and Wangji shook his head.

"Pathetic. Not to mention that you are in breach of several of our rules..."

"Says the person who got me Emperor's Smile the other day." Holding up his hand to move his index finger back and forth in front of Wangji's nose, Wei Wuxian grinned. "How the mighty have fallen. The great Hanguang-jun is breaking the rules for his dearest friend. How very sweet."

"Shameless," Wangji muttered before bowing to Jiang Cheng and the other two men. "The mountainside is cleared for now, Older Brother. Ah Yao? The village might need some help though with firewood and provisions. I fear the villagers are still too afraid to go out themselves."

Meng Yao nodded, "Xichen? Would you mind joining Wangji and I while we discuss what needs to be sent to the villagers? I'm sure the two brothers wouldn't mind catching up without the danger of needles." He grinned at Wei Wuxian and then bowed to Jiang Cheng as he rose to his feet. "Ah Xian, I put you in charge of hosting your brother. Oh, and don't forget that Ah Yuan would love to see the both of you once he is done with his lessons today. Bring Jinyi along as well. Or he will get into trouble with our newest disciples. He feels like he is in charge of them, which always leads to disaster..."

Xichen nodded and got to his feet as well. "Forgive us, Sect Leader Jiang, but I fear duty calls even when we are entertaining guests. Though I am sure you will find a way to pass the time, as Ah Yao says, away from Wen Qing and her needles. I admit that I am glad to be married to a man so the danger of pregnancy is ... non existent."

"Ah, but it means you had to find another way to have a child, even though I still don't see what the fuss is all about..." Wei Wuxian settled down next to his brother and grinned up at first Xichen and then Meng Yao. "But you do what you have to do. And now have fun with your terribly boring discussion. Ah Cheng and I are going to have far more fun here. Especially since I..." he reached into his robes and revealed two white bottles, "have these. Eh Jiang Cheng? For old times sake?" He nudged his brother who chuckled as he emptied his tea cup and held it out to Wei Wuxian.

Well, maybe it wasn't such a bad idea that they had alcohol for the talk they were about to have, Meng Yao mused as he led the other two men to his study where both Lan Jiao and Lan Peizhi were going over various reports. They would be busy for a while, which would give Jiang Cheng enough time to have a heart to heart with his brother.

---

"You made Jiang Cheng talk to me, didn't you? About his feelings no less!" Wei Wuxian was leaning against one of the open doors of the Jingshi, a fresh bottle of Emperor's Smile in his hands. Clearly rules didn't mean a thing anymore to Wangji, at least not where Wei Wuxian was concerned. Which was ... good. "You know that he drank a bottle all by himself? A whole bottle. And now he's pretty much passed out. Unfortunately not before he all but shouted at me for taking on all the blame for everything in the world. He is quite frightening when he wants to be."

"I'm sorry, Ah Xian, but..."

Wei Wuxian shook his head. "You were right. We ... we needed to talk." A shy smile spread across his features and he whispered, "He said that he could not have asked for a better brother than me. That he's ... grateful for everything I have done, and that he ... he loves me." There were tears in Wei Wuxian's eyes, and he blinked them away as he took another drink. "He said that I did the right thing at Qishan back then, and that he'd been in the wrong when he tried to stop me. He also said that he ... he let them catch him. Did you know that?"

Meng Yao sighed and nodded, "He revealed as much to us earlier, yes."

"He trusted me to look after Senior Sister ... and he forbade me from blaming myself for what happened to him at Lotus Pier. Or for what happened at Lotus Pier to begin with. He ... he said that if he ever believes I was blaming myself for it again, he'd send Wen Qing my way. With her needles." Pursing his lips, Wei Wuxian stared at the snow covered grounds. "Is it true, Ah Yao? Is it true that Lotus Pier would have fallen even without my ... antagonising of Wei Chao?" He turned to Meng Yao then, eye wide and innocent. "Do you really believe so?"

"I know it to be so. Ah Xian..." Meng Yao walked up to his friend, grateful that Xichen had pulled Wangji away to check on Ah Yuan and his friend, and the rabbits. "What happened, all of it, it had nothing to do with you. Wen Ruohan's lust for power was the reason for all of the atrocities that were committed by his sect, so unless you were indeed able to control him..."

Wei Wuxian nodded slowly. "It is a lot to take in after so long... I ... I guess it was always easier to blame myself when things went wrong... Jiang Cheng has promised that he will help me. The Twin Heroes of Jiang will stand side by side and weather this storm just like any other. That's what he said. Though..." Pursing his lips, he snickered. "He was quite drunk at that point already." Raising an eyebrow at Meng Yao, he added, "However, this doesn't mean that I think I am worthy of whatever it is you believe Lan Zhan feels for me."

Meng Yao wanted to groan. "Ah Xian..."

"No. I will not be swayed. If what you say is true, things will work out eventually, right? But I will not ... throw myself at him like one of the many maidens who swoon over Hanguang-jun would. And should he choose one of them despite what you and Zewu-jun think then I shall support him wholeheartedly." An evil smirk appeared on his lips, his eyes sparkling. "Just like you would have done for Zewu-jun, wouldn't you? That's what loving someone is all about after all..." He raised his bottle to Meng Yao and then threw him a second. "Come. I find that drinking alone is far less entertaining than it used to be. Do you think I can convince Lan Zhan to try again?"

"I think you first have to convince Ah Huan to teach his little trick to his brother. He ... he can choose to be inebriated, and I admit that it can be quite entertaining when he is." Blushing, Meng Yao quickly added, "I mean ... that is to say..."

But it was too late. Wei Wuxian already chuckled and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. "Let me guess. Zewu-jun knows how to let loose in private?"

Meng Yao didn't even reply but unstoppered his own bottle and took a long drink from it. "At least I have a lovelife. You need to contend yourself with Nie Huaisang's books..." It was a low blow, true, but Wei Wuxian still giggled at Meng Yao's words and grinned.

"Just admit that you asked him for a few already. To add some more spice..."

"To add some more spice to what?" Wangji enquired as he and Xichen ushered two half frozen boys up the steps of the Jingshi. "Please tell me you have not been cooking again." Wei Wuxian burst out laughing and almost dropped his bottle, and Meng Yao didn't know whether to join his friend, or cry.

Eventually Wei Wuxian managed to control his laughter and pouted, "But I thought you liked my spicy food. Were you lying to me, Lan Zhan?" Glancing at Lan Yuan, he winked. "I know you love my food, don't you?"

"I love it, yes!" the little boy professed, rubbing his belly. "Can you make Auntie Yanli's soup? Uncle Cheng said he brought some lotus root and ribs. Then we can all share it." He clapped excitedly and grinned at Lan Jingyi. "It's the best soup ever, trust me."

"I'm afraid your Uncle Cheng is currently asleep in the Hanshi, but if Zewu-jun and Gusu Lingzhu don't mind, we can cook the soup. If you two will help me?" The two boys nodded and already ran off in the direction of the main buildings and the Hanshi. Wei Wuxian sauntered after them, dragging Wangji along. "Come, Lan Zhan, give the two lovebirds some privacy. We have been imposing on them for long enough today, not to mention Jiang Cheng's arrival." Winking at Meng Yao over his shoulder, he snickered at the glare he received in return. Then they were gone, leaving Xichen and Meng Yao alone on the Jingshi's porch.

"I would wager, if it was not against our rules that is, that you and Wei Wuxian were not speaking of food... Certain books mayhap?" Xichen's eyes were merry and he reached for the bottle Meng Yao held in some sort of death grip. "Did they talk?" he asked as he took a sip of the wine, humming as his cheeks changed colour.

"They did. Though I fear we are still no further along with our little plan than we were before. Not that I regret easing Ah Xian's worries. The two of them had to talk, but he still will not even contemplate that Wangji..." Meng Yao sighed. "It will fall to your brother to take the first step, though maybe we can hasten it along somehow. Maybe the grand night hunt at Mount Baifeng? The invitation reached us only last week and it will be held once the snows have melted and we can safely travel to Yunmeng and then take a boat from there."

"As if we cannot ride our swords all the way," Xichen muttered darkly and Meng Yao placed a hand on his husband's arm.

"It will be over soon, Linghun . Only a short while longer, and my father will no longer be in a position to insult anyone. Be patient." Taking back the bottle, he moved it around with a smirk. "And don't forget that patience will always be rewarded. Maybe even tonight..."

Chapter Text

Jiang Cheng had left after staying for a week, carrying at least half of the books and scrolls the library had to offer on not only alleviating the strains of pregnancy and giving birth, but also on restoring eyesight. Things had settled back into a routine where Meng Yao wanted to tear his hair out over Wei Wuxian's oblivious nature where Wangji was concerned, and Xichen had to keep reminding him that patience was, allegedly, a virtue.

That evening, Wei Wuxian was sitting opposite of him in the Hanshi as they worked through some of the reports Xue Yang had sent by way of Xiao Xingchen. At least those two seemed to have overcome their problems if the letter Song Zichen had sent was anything to go by. Wei Wuxian was just perusing it again, chuckling to himself. "Who would have thought when we first took Xue Yang hostage that he would be betrothed to Uncle Chen before long? Or even before, when we found him at Chang Manor."

"They went through a lot to get to this point and I am happy for them. Though, once the truth comes out, they will still face a lot of anger from the smaller sects Xue Yang attacked."

"We will stand with them," Wei Wuxian smiled. "We were at war after all, and let us not forget that Zhao Zhuliu has been accepted as the leader of his own sect..."

"That is because everyone is afraid of his abilities. Not to mention that he has founded his sect under the protection of both the Lan and the Jiang Sects." Wei Wuxian snickered and Meng Yao smiled and wiggled his eyebrows. "Then again, we will do the same for Xue Yang if necessary. Though given the danger he currently puts himself into for all our sakes, I would think that even the most narrow minded sect leaders will see that he is a changed man."

"Once all this is over, I want to work with him. He ... he has the same abilities as I do, though unrefined in one way, and far surpassing my own in another. After all, he mastered the Yin Metal when I was still ... fighting Jiang Cheng over Senior Sister's soup. I had to figure things out rather quickly, but he had books and all the time in the world to truly learn its secrets. Some of the shortcuts I took might have truly been as dangerous as Lan Zhan kept saying... Well, luckily having a Golden Core again helps me ward against the effects of the Demonic Cultivation, though Lan Zhan is still cross with me whenever I use those powers."

"Given that you were fighting with Jiang Cheng over that soup only recently, that truly gave Xue Yang quite the head start," Meng Yao chuckled before turning serious. "Wangji simply worries. He cares for you, and as such he does not want you to lose yourself over this. Though I admit that what you can achieve now is quite impressive. Maybe ... do you think he would be willing to try and use the Seal himself? So he can see that it is not an evil thing in and of itself?"

Wei Wuxian shrugged, "You think he'd try? I mean, just think what he could do aided by the Seal... He'd be even more amazing than he already is." Sighing almost dreamily, Wei Wuxian quickly caught himself and shook his head. "Don't even think it, Ah Yao. I'm still very firm in my conviction that I will not make a move. At all. On that note, Ah Yao..." He leaned across the table and smirked. "How did you and Zewu-jun actually get together? You never told me and I admit I've always been curious. Ever since I heard Lan Zhan call you 'Brother Yao' before I completely passed out that day at Heavenly Nightless City."

Meng Yao sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. Wei Wuxian wouldn't leave it alone until he had answered him, and answered truthfully at that. "You know that I found him here, well, in the rabbit glade really. I took him to Madame Lee's, you know that as well." Wei Wuxian nodded. "I ... I was in love with him all that time, ever since I met him..."

"Love at first sight? How very romantic," Wei Wuxian sing-songed and Meng Yao shot him a glare. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." The black clad man held up his hands as if to fend off an attack. "Do continue."

"I was helping Madame Lee with her business transactions and deals she was making with local merchants and the like, and one day she decreed we would all celebrate. Ah Huan ... he was drinking, and allowed it to affect him." Meng Yao swallowed. "He kissed me."

"So he took the first step... As I had thought." Wei Wuxian smiled gently now. "Let me guess, you tried to push him away at first. Given all that had happened at the Unclean Realm, you must have felt ... I don't know ... the way I do at times? Like I'm not good enough..." He sighed and then shook his head, "I owe you by the way. For getting Jiang Cheng to get drunk with me. And talk about the things we normally never would. I guess I'm not always at fault, huh?"

"You're not," Meng Yao whispered as he reached out to touch Wei Wuxian's hand. "You're not. But you are right. I didn't react very well to Ah Huan's advances. I thought I had ... bewitched him somehow." Wei Wuxian blinked and then started laughing, and it was so infectious that Meng Yao joined him before long. "Yes," he chuckled. "I had bewitched the great Zewu-jun and made him think that I was worth his attention. His love. He very quickly cured me of those thoughts." Cocking his head, Meng Yao pursed his lips, eyes narrowed. "If I recall correctly, he was using rather underhanded tactics and involved my mother in it."

"I always suspected that Zewu-jun had a mischievous streak ... ever since he told me what my mother did to Lan Qiren. Did you know that when they were at the Cloud Recesses together, she shaved off his beard. And not just once. Zewu-jun was somewhat gleeful I have to say."

Meng Yao, who had heard the story of course, smirked. "I do wonder... Ah Huan said she did it to give him more of a chance with the female Cultivators, did he tell you that? Could it be that he was not unhappy over the loss of his beard, but more the fact that his newly found attractiveness did not work on the one person he..."

Wei Wuxian blinked and then shook his head. "You don't think that Lan Qiren was in love with my mother, do you? By the Light! That means he doesn't hate me as such, but the fact that I remind him of my mother!" Suddenly he grinned. "I like that idea. It means I'm just like my mother." He preened, his eyes almost closing in his joy, but moments later, they shot open. "Ah Yao! I can think of someone else who might be more attractive to the ladies once a certain part of his face has been altered. You know who I speak of, don't you?" Wei Wuxian's grin was almost scary.

"You cannot mean... He would kill you if he found out it was you! Not to mention that you would have to find a reason to stay at Qinghe!"

"Ah, but do I? You're forgetting, Ah Yao, that we've all been invited to Carp Tower. Being beardless in Qinghe wouldn't help him, but such a massive change during a festival of sorts? I'm sure there will be many ladies who would take notice of such a thing." He wiggled his eyebrows. "I am counting on your help, Ah Yao. Instead of focusing on me and my non existent love life, let us try and see if we can't get Nie Mingjue, the self-proclaimed eternal bachelor, to fall in love."

"You are impossible, Ah Xian!" Meng Yao lamented and Wei Wuxian shook his head.

"Improbably, my dearest Ah Yao. If I was impossible, I couldn't exist. I thought someone as smart as you would know the difference..."

Meng Yao glared daggers at his friend and was about to give him a piece of his mind when someone knocked at the doors and Zhao Zhuliu entered the Hanshi, a broad smile on his normally so stoic face. "Forgive the interruption, Gusu Lingzhu, Master Wei, but I come bearing the best of news. Ah Yang has finally agreed to join me in rebuilding our sect officially..."

"Ah Yang? You don't mean Xue Yang, do you? I mean, I do believe Uncle Chen might have a word or two to say about that." Wei Wuxian blinked up at Huadan shou who looked as if he had bitten into a lemon.

"Luo Qingyang..."

"Who?" Wei Wuxian's face was now a picture of confusion.

Zhao Zhuliu sighed and shook his head. "You know her as Mianmian..."

"Wait, she actually has a name? Who'd have thought." Wei Wuxian beamed then and stood to bow to Zhao Zhuliu. "Congratulations to you and the future Lady Zhao. If she will take your name, that is."

Meng Yao followed suit, echoing Wei Wuxian's words. "I admit that we were waiting for these news for a while now, Sect Leader Zhao."

Zhao Zhuliu bowed to Meng Yao, "We will travel with you to Carp Tower if you will allow it. We know what you are planning after all, and I ... after all that you did for me, I wish to be there to defend you should the need to do so arise. Ah Yang feels the same way about both you and Jin Zixuan. She wishes to let him know before our betrothal is made public knowledge."

"I would be honoured to have you both at my side, and I know that my brother will be pleased to see Lady Luo again. We should send him a message though so he can prevent our dear father from attacking you the moment we arrive. After all, he is still somewhat displeased that you removed Xue Yang from Carp Tower. Though he seems more content again now that his protégé has returned to him."

"Only he doesn't know that Xue Yang now works with us and against him," Wei Wuxian smirked. "I cannot wait to see the look on his face when he finds out..."

Meng Yao had to swallow. "You know that you are truly terrifying at times, Ah Xian? Not that I don't feel the same way about this, but you ... you are..."

"Scary? Oh, I hope I am," Wei Wuxian grinned happily. "After all, I am using evil tricks and all that. I hope I get a chance to show Jin Guangshan just how evil I can truly be before the end. Even without the Stygian Tiger Seal. He's hurt too many people I care about, and especially you. I ... I want you to know that I am more than grateful for your friendship, Ah Yao. I don't think I would be where I am today if it wasn't for you. No, scratch that. I know I wouldn't be." He turned to Zhao Zhuliu and added, "A lot of us would not be. I think Sect Leader Zhao would probably be dead without your interference, and I would not have a Core. Not to mention that Jiang Cheng would not be a father soon."

Zhao Zhuliu bowed to Meng Yao. "Master Wei is correct. The fact that Sect Leader Jiang does not wish to kill me for what I did to him is entirely because of you, Gusu Lingzhu. You opened my eyes to the truth and made me realise what was really happening around me. Wen Qing and her family ... they used to look at me with disgust in their eyes, and now..." He smiled. "Not to mention that I found Ah Yang because of you."

"Yeah, please don't call her that," Wei Wuxian whined. "I keep thinking of Xue Yang, and then of Uncle Chen, and then things get really weird in my head. But you and Mianmian... I'm happy for you. Just please don't get jealous of me. I will always hold that special place in her heart after all. I mean, it was me after all who saved her from disfigurement in that cave while you..." He pursed his lips and grinned, "What were you doing at the time anyway? Brushing your hair?"

Zhao Zhuliu huffed, but then he bowed to Wei Wuxian. "I thank you for saving Ah Yang from Wang Lingjiao. She was a detestable woman, and I am glad that she is gone. I hear that she was no longer as beautiful as she used to be in her death ... I do hope you had something to do with that." Wei Wuxian shrugged. "I truly am grateful to you, and do not worry, Ah Yang has not forgotten you, and she never will. That place in her heart? It will always be yours."

Wei Wuxian smiled coldly, "She wanted Madame Yu to take my hand ... I guess it was only fair of me to take her mind, wasn't it?" He turned to Meng Yao. "I'm still saying that's a valid course of action for dealing with Jin Guangshan. Make him go crazy and then..."

"He will face us with his mind intact, Ah Xian. Both Ah Xuan and I want to see his reaction when he realises that his two sons are not only working together, but that we discovered what he has been up in secret. That his pawn of a son is actually a strong Cultivator and that even his protégé has turned against him. Do not take that away from me. Maybe it is wrong to want this, to wish to be there when he learns that he has been outmaneuvered, but I cannot bring myself to care. And I'm not doing this for myself. I no longer require vengeance, no. I do this for every woman he hurt, every child he neglected, every man he was seeking to destroy or bring under his yoke..."

Wei Wuxian blinked at him. "Ah Yao ... please promise me to never get this mad at me, alright? Because I think you could annihilate me without batting an eye, Demonic Cultivation or not." Then, Wei Wuxian being Wei Wuxian, he grinned. "Has Zewu-jun ever seen this rage in you? I bet he was melting like butter and ... hmmm? Hmmmm!"

The look of utter betrayal on Wei Wuxian's face made both Meng Yao and Zhao Zhuliu chuckle. "You are forgetting, Ah Xian, that I am a disciple of the Lan Sect and thus I learned a thing or two..." He then waved his hand again to lift the muting spell, chuckling, "The look on your face though ... worth it."

"Not fair," Wei Wuxian pouted. "It's bad enough Lan Zhan does it all the time. And I do mean that. All the time. Or at least it feels like that."

"I'm sure Hanguang-jun has his reasons for it," Zhao Zhuliu smiled before he bowed to Meng Yao again. "I shall leave you again. Have a pleasant evening, Gusu Lingzhu, Master Wei." Then he turned and left the Hanshi, very nearly colliding with Xichen who was just returning, Wangji walking next to him. "Forgive me, Zewu-jun. Hanguang-jun."

Xichen simply smiled and shook his head to forestall any further apologies. "No worries, Sect Leader Zhao. I believe we already know why you have come to see my husband. Lady Luo came to see us earlier. Let me congratulate you on behalf of the Lan Sect and tell you that we would be honoured to host your wedding. These are stressful times for you as you are rebuilding your family and sect, and I would take the wedding preparations off your shoulders. Not that you truly have a say in this. I fear once Lan Jiao heard of it, she started planning already. She is taking after her master in this." Xichen winked at Meng Yao from where he now stood in the doorway, and Meng Yao blushed.

"Thank you, Zewu-jun. I admit that I was hoping the Lan Sect would aid us in this." Zhao Zhuliu bowed again.

"Weddings are a joyous occasion, and as we rebuild the Cloud Recesses and our two sects, I do believe that we need far more joyful times. Given all that the two of you have done for us, allow us now to repay you. This is the least we can do, and I am sure once Sect Leader Jiang and his wife hear the good news, they, too, will wish to aid you. After Lady Wen has given birth that is."

Zhao Zhuliu swallowed and then slowly nodded. "I shall take my leave. And thank you, thank you all." He passed Xichen and disappeared into the evening. Xichen glanced after him before stepping into the Hanshi, his brother right behind him.

"The Cloud Recesses have not seen a wedding in decades, and now there will be two in as many years." Xichen smiled at Meng Yao as he sat at the table, his husband already pouring a cup of tea for him. "Truly, despite all the terrors of the war with the Wen Sect and the usage of the Yin Metal, we seem to live in rather fortuitous times."

"I mean, half of the great sects were destroyed, but who's counting," Wei Wuxian grinned. "But I know what you mean. I don't think Jiang Cheng has ever been as happy as he is now, and you and Ah Yao seem quite thrilled with your relationship as well, huh? And to celebrate, I have decided to cook Senior Sister's soup for you again, with less chili for Lan Zhan because last time he was drinking a whole jug of water in one go to put himself out." Glancing at Wangji, Wei Wuxian shook his head. "And here I thought you liked spicy food."

Wangji remained silent, and Meng Yao wanted to speak up and reveal that he was simply eating spicy foods because Wei Wuxian loved it so much. But he bit his tongue. Instead, he rose to his feet as his friend did. "May I help you? There are a few bits of the recipe I need to go over again, and you promised you would show me what substitutes I could use. After all, lotus does not grow here all that well..."

"Which is a shame, I tell you. Come, Ah Yao. Let the two Jades relax after whatever meeting they had to attend today. I'm so glad Ah Cheng doesn't drag me to most of them, I think I'd fall asleep in all of two minutes..." He trailed off as they entered the small kitchen and then indoctrinated Meng Yao once more and explained the ins and outs of Lotus Pier cuisine.

Chapter Text

Spring had brought with it the first flowers, a gentle breeze, and an invitation to Lotus Pier for the most joyous of occasions: the birth of the next heir of the Jiang Sect. It was almost exactly a year since their wedding celebration that Jiang Cheng and a heavily pregnant Wen Qing welcomed Xichen and Meng Yao at Yunmeng Dock with bright smiles. "We thought you might miss the big event," Jiang Cheng chuckled, earning himself an elbow to his ribs. "What I meant to say is ... welcome, Zewu-jun, Gusu Lingzhu. Though I admit I was confused when I heard you would come by river..."

"We had to travel to Qishan before coming here, please forgive our lateness," Meng Yao bowed. "But there was something I believe Wen Qing wishes to have for the birth of her first child." He held out a small bundle to her and when she looked at him quizzically, he smiled. "It is something I found in one of the storage houses when I lived in Qishan. It is a small blanket, I believe to wrap up babies, but it does not bear the symbols of the main branch of the Wen Sect, but that of yours. I believe it is the very blanket you and your brother..."

Wen Qing began to weep, and Jiang Cheng quickly took her into his arms, sending an apologetic look towards Xichen and Meng Yao. "I am afraid my beloved has been very ... emotional these past few weeks. I assure you she is happy..."

Wen Qing nodded, angrily wiping away her tears. "I am ... I am..." A smile spread across her face and she pulled herself from her husband's embrace and all but threw herself at Meng Yao. "Thank you, Ah Yao. I thought it was gone for good."

Meng Yao rubbed her back gently, "It is the least I can do, Ah Qing, truly. After everything you have done for us..."

Sniffing, Wen Qing stepped away. "It is nothing, truly. Everything is going well with your child, and before long, you will hold your own bundle of joy in your arms. On that note..." She bit her bottom lip. "We should return to Lotus Pier as I do have a small announcement to make before, as Ah Cheng put it, the big event..."

Jiang Cheng frowned, but stepped up to his wife to help her back to their home, Meng Yao and Xichen following at a leisurely pace. Once they had arrived, all guests were ushered into the main hall and Wen Qing was all but forced to sit in the chair of the sect leader. "You cannot stand, Ah Qing, so sit down," Jiang Cheng told her firmly and she sighed and nodded much to everyone's surprise.

Wei Wuxian, who had returned to Lotus pier a month before, leaned closer to Meng Yao to whisper, "My brother has grown a backbone it seems. He doesn't even flinch when she threatens him with the needles anymore. Though I bet that's a temporary thing. At the moment, she can't catch any of us, but once the baby's here..." He winked.

"Senseless," Wangji muttered where he stood on Wei Wuxian's other side, but his voice was fond and a slight smile graced his face. "It is good that you are finally here, Older Brother, Ah Yao. I was beginning to run out of excuses for your delay."

Meng Yao chuckled and was about to speak when Wen Qing clapped her hands. "Dearest friends. Ah Cheng and I would like to thank you for coming to Lotus Pier to bear witness to this joyous occasion, that frankly I am not really looking forward to." Chuckles could be heard around the room, both at Wen Qing's sullen expression and in sympathy for who would ever look forward to being in excruciating pain? "There is, however, something I have not told you so far, not even my beloved Ah Cheng." She took her husband's hand and squeezed it. "I didn't want you to completely freak out, and you were close to it when first I told you of my ... condition. But I'm afraid I am running out of time now..."

Jiang Cheng knelt by her side, his face a mask of worry and fear. "Is everything alright, Ah Qing? The baby..."

Wen Qing shook her head and grinned. "Everything is alright with ... the babies . I'm not expecting one child, but twins..."

Wei Wuxian whistled. "Well done, little brother! Two for the price of one." Grinning at his sister-in-law, he added, "I understand where you're coming from, but I think Ah Cheng still has enough time to freak out. Just look at him!"

Jiang Cheng had turned white as a sheet, blinking at his wife owlishly. "You ... but ... twins?" Wen Qing gently patted his shoulder. "How?!"

Wen Qing looked up at her husband incredulously and Wei Wuxian burst out laughing. "I'm sure you know how, Ah Cheng," he chuckled. "Or you wouldn't be in this situation to begin with." Glancing at Wen Qing, he added, "Ah Qing? Maybe you need to teach my dearest baby brother about the birds and the bees again. You know? Just so he really understands what's what and how babies are made..."

"Shameless," came Wangji's rather predictable comment, and everyone, including Nie Mingjue, laughed.

---

Wen Qing gave birth to a healthy boy and girl, and little Jiang Ying and Jiang Zhen were doted on by all. Especially Wei Wuxian would not part with them, half the times in tears over his brother's decision to name his son after him, half the time smiling so broadly Meng Yao and others feared his face might break in two. Not that Jiang Cheng was any better. His sister confided in Meng Yao one day that she was afraid something might be wrong with her brother. "Honestly, Ah Yao, he's never smiled this much before. He is utterly besotted with the little ones, not that I blame him."

However, the peaceful days came to an end when Xue Yang arrived in time to travel to Lanling for the night hunt. He, too, was instantly taken with the two babies, and surprisingly Jiang Cheng did not stop him when he tried to hold little Zhen while Ying was trying to grasp Xiao Xingchen's hair.

Xue Yang's face contorted suddenly and he sighed. "I dread to think of it now, but I know that there was a time when I would have been able to simply snuff out the tiny little light of a babe, feeling no remorse. The thought of the man I was then sickens me, but what does so even more is the fact that the Cultivators I left only a day ago would still do it. Whether to further their research or not." He turned to his partner and Song Zichen. "As much as I would like you to journey with us to Carp Tower and see the end of the old bastard, and I still cannot believe I once thought of him as my saviour, I also wish I could come with you and destroy that little manor of malevolence they have in Yiling."

"Ah, but that wouldn't do," Nie Mingjue commented as he strolled into the gazebo. "After all, I need my little brother with me, don't I?" He smirked and placed a bundle next to Xue Yang. "Robes and everything else you might need. I even got Huaisang to make you a fan that's identical to his own. Nobody will be any the wiser ... as long as you act like the little coward who calls himself my brother."

"Please tell me I don't have to pretend to be utterly incompetent during the hunt. That would be dreadful..." Xue Yang complained and Meng Yao had to snicker. He truly was very much like Wei Wuxian in certain ways.

"No. Huaisang would never take part in the hunts himself. Brother Mingjue has been trying, but..."

"You can say it, Ah Yao. Huaisang is afraid to hit himself with his own saber." Holding out his hand, Nie Mingjue took hold of Jiang Zhen while Xue Yang opened the bundle of clothes and sighed.

"Why can't he wear black. You said grey, Meng Yao, this is practically silver. If I didn't know better, I'd say these are Gusu Lan robes." Xue Yang smirked at Nie Mingjue who glared at him. "Now, now, Sect Leader Nie. You don't want to scare little Zhen, do you?" The little girl didn't look afraid at all. She had somehow gotten hold of one of the two small braids to either side of Chifeng-zun's head and was now ... gnawing the end of it.

Meng Yao and Xichen exchanged a look, both nodding. Nie Mingjue, despite his constant professions that he would never marry, would be a wonderful father, that much was clear. His face softened the moment he glanced down at the little girl and he touched her face reverently. Wei Wuxian's plan suddenly seemed like a good idea after all, though Meng Yao was never going to admit as much to his friend. He even had an idea who to introduce Nie Mingjue to once his mustache had been taken care of.

Zixuan and his investigations had found yet another rather damning incident in their father's past. Meng Yao still had to shudder when he thought about it. Apparently he had forced himself on the wife of one of his stoutest supporters, Qin Cangye. It was only thanks to Meng Yao's eyes and ears that they had found out the truth for Madame Qin had only ever confided in one person; her maid Bicao. Who once in a while tried to convince her mistress to reveal the truth to her husband, who loved his daughter Qin Su more than anything. One of those exchanges between maid and mistress had been overheard by one of the little girls Meng Yao had installed in most sects by now as scullery maids, and she had quickly sent a message to Madame Lee about it.

Qin Su was beautiful and charming, and just as quick witted as Meng Yao. Or at least almost. It had been hard for her to learn the truth after Zixuan had invited her to one of the tea houses in Lanling under the pretence of wanting to enlist her so she would assist him in winning over Lady Jiang's heart. The truth had been far from it.

Qin Su had been shattered, but she had believed them after only a few minutes. After all, Gusu Lingzhu would not lie about something like this, she had said when they had admitted their surprise. "Besides, there is nothing you gain by revealing the truth to me. Unless of course you wish to weaken your father's ... no, that's our father's position. Which wouldn't be very filial of you." When they had revealed their plans, Qin Su had smiled, her eyes glittering dangerously. "Even if I was not related to you, it would be my pleasure to help you. I can see how my true father is getting passed over by Jin Guangshan time and again when he dishes out his ... generosities. I will speak to my mother and convince her to talk to my father. He needs to know the truth..."

She had only recently sent a message to Meng Yao telling him that not only had her mother admitted the truth, but that Qin Cangye would be only too happy to see the rapist of his wife brought to justice. The Qin Sect was theirs to command. Given how smart and fast thinking she was, she would be perfect for Nie Mingjue, who was neither slow nor dumb, but he was a warrior at heart and not a diplomat.

Xue Yang was by now inspecting the fan and grinned. "You don't mind if I keep this after, do you? I'm sure Ah Chen and I can find ways to entertain ourselves with it..." Song Zichen groaned as Xiao Xingchen blushed and stood, coughing. "What? Was it something I said, Ah Lan? I'm sorry." His tone of voice made clear that he was not sorry at all.

"If it wasn't for Xingchen, I swear I would strangle you here and now," Song Zichen grit out between grinding teeth. "You are lucky he loves you for I cannot see how anyone else ever could." Xue Yang looked up at him with his best beaten puppy expression and Song Zichen sighed. "Don't. Just don't..."

"Is he using his big eyes on you again," Xiao Xingchen asked with a chuckle. "Maybe being blind does have its advantages after all. Ah Yang will never be able to do this to me now."

"Ah, but I can do other things to you, my love," Xue Yang whispered and kissed his beloved's cheek, which coloured once more at the younger man's words. "For example I can ask you in front of the people who found it in their hearts to give me another chance to ... to take three bows with me..." He lowered his gaze, suddenly fidgeting with the fan. "I ... I would understand it if you didn't..."

Xiao Xingchen pursed his lips, "Zichen?" He held out Jiang Ying and once his friend had taken hold of the babe, he turned to his beloved, gently cupping his face. "Once all of this is over and you return to me, it would be an honour to become more than just your Cultivation Partner. And if anyone has anything to say about it, they can come to me. I might be blind, but I am not without power."

"And given all that you have done in the last six months, Xue Yang, Qinghe Nie will stand with you as well," Nie Mingjue said much to Meng Yao's surprise. Maybe he was underestimating his former master? Then again, the Nie Sect would make up the main part of the attack force that would strike at Jin Guangshan's manor, with both the Lan and Jiang Sects providing Cultivators as well. It was no surprise that Chifeng-zun's opinion of Xue Yang had changed since he had provided them with a lot of valuable information not only about the manor itself and its defences, but also the Cultivators present.

Xue Yang smiled, leaning in to his partner's touch. "When it is over. When Jin Guangshan finally got his just desserts." He turned to the rest of them. "Thank you once again for believing in me when I did not. For trusting that I would not ... turn coat again."

"Had you done so, you would no longer be amongst the living," Jiang Cheng muttered darkly, his wife nodding. "We are trusting you enough to let you near our children, I do believe nothing else needs to be said regarding the support of the Jiang Sect, right?"

Wen Qing chuckled and smiled. "What my dearest husband is trying to say is that you are always welcome at Lotus Pier. The scrolls you managed to retrieve for me are invaluable, and I dread to think what those Cultivators in Jin Guangshan's service seek to do with this knowledge. Healing can, unfortunately, be reversed ... and something what can mend wounds can also bring them forth if changed just the slightest bit..."

"It truly is a travesty," Xichen agreed before bestowing a smile upon Xue Yang. "I do not think I have to speak of the Lan Sect's thoughts where you are concerned. After all, it was my husband who came up with the whole idea in the first place. Besides, we bore witness to your change of heart, not that it was a change of heart as much as a change of perception."

Xue Yang smirked and leaned closer to his now betrothed whispering loud enough for everyone else to hear. "I think Zewu-jun truly spent too much time with his husband. The silver tongue seems to be rubbing off on him for what he just said is almost like saying my killing people was simply changing their state of being."

"I would not go that far, but I also will not deny that I may have learned a thing or two from Ah Yao." Smiling at his blushing husband, Xichen continued, "The truth is that you have proven yourself capable of doing good, and as long as you follow that path, you will have our support. Should that ever change..." There was an unspoken threat in Xichen's voice and Xue Yang nodded in understanding.

Whatever else Xichen had been about to say was cut off by a loud shout of "Lan Zhan! I said I was sorry!" followed by a groan from Jiang Cheng and a snicker from Wen Qing. She shook her head and rose to her feet. "I think I better go and see what my dearest brother-in-law has done this time before Hanguang-jun accidentally murders him..."

Chapter Text

Stands had been erected at the foot of Mount Baifeng, the banners of the four remaining great sects flying proudly above in a mild spring breeze. As it was custom for the sect leaders themselves not to take part in the archery challenge that would inform each sects path up the mountain, they and their spouses took their seats to watch their disciples compete. Jin Guangshan's sour expression did not escape Meng Yao as he smiled and bowed to Madame Jin who sat with both Wen Qing and Jiang Yanli, gushing over the two adorable babes.

"He looks like he bit into an unripe lemon," Nie Mingjue whispered as he leaned closer to Meng Yao, smirking. "I wonder why..."

Meng Yao shrugged, "It is either because of Wen Qing who is, after all, a member of the dreaded Wen Sect, or, and this is by far more likely, because of me. Don’t forget that I had the audacity to deny him. And not only that, I am in a position of power that he cannot control. Given that I am just the son of a lowlife prostitute, I believe he thinks he was the only one with the right to raise me from the squalor, and for me to find love?" He shook his head. "How very dare I!"

Xichen bit his lower lip on Meng Yao's other side to stop from laughing out loud. "Maybe I should apologise to your father? I seem to have interfered with a lot of his joys in life and as the leader of the Lan Sect, I know that I should always apologise for my wrongdoings..." Xichen's eyes sparkled merrily when Meng Yao turned to him and the younger man shook his head. "I know, I have been spending too much time with Wei Wuxian. Though are we not planning to have him around ... even more?"

"Please tell me you intend to do something about Wangji's silent pining," Nie Mingjue huffed. "It is very distracting, and if I notice it, surely everyone else has as well."

Meng Yao smiled mysteriously. "Maybe we are, maybe we are not. Would you care to help us out, Chifeng-zun?"

"If it means we no longer have to watch Hanguang-jun make a fool of himself acting like a lost puppy around Wei Wuxian then count me in. While at first I was somewhat shocked that the two of you were suddenly ... a thing ... I dread to think what the alternative might have been." Nie Mingjue shook his head then. "No. I don't even want to think about it. You might be in the place of him over there." He pointed at Jin Zixun, now Lianfang-zun, and glowered. "He is so much like his uncle that I do wonder if he is in fact..."

Meng Yao shuddered. "Don't even put that thought into my head. Zixuan and I did look into it and we are quite certain that he is, in fact, our cousin. Not our sibling!"

"And thank the Light for that," Xichen muttered under his breath as Zixun took his place after bowing to his uncle.

"My dearest friends," Jin Zixun began, and Meng Yao's gaze drifted over to the disciples of the various sects. Wei Wuxian looked utterly bored where he stood next to Wangji, and Zixuan was torn between glancing at Jiang Yanli and glaring at his cousin. Huaisang, who was in fact Xue Yang, looked as terrified with the whole situation as the real Huaisang would. "It has been far too long since my gracious uncle invited us all here to Mount Baifeng for the great night hunt, and we would like to assure you that it will not be so long again until the next hunt."

"If it hadn't been for you and Zixuan putting that idea into Jin Guangshan's head, there would be no hunt even now," Nie Mingjue muttered, and both Meng Yao and Xichen nodded. But suddenly Xichen tensed, his gaze focused on a man Meng Yao had only ever heard of, but had never met. Su She, who was sitting on the far side of the stands in his position as Moling Sect Leader.

"Traitor," Xichen grit out, his jaws clenched and Meng Yao gently took his husband's hand, squeezing it. "The fact that he was invited to this gathering... I know that he is working for your father, but this is a slap in the face to the entire Lan Sect."

"I think that is the point," Jiang Cheng muttered. "Do not rise to it, Zewu-jun. It will be over before long."

Xichen balled his hand into a fist, knuckles cracking, but then he glanced at Meng Yao and took a steadying breath. "One day he will pay for his betrayal. One day..."

"Now," Jin Zixun went on, pointing at a row of targets that had been set up. "As is customary, the archery competition is going to be your final barrier before you enter the mountain proper and the hunt itself. Only those of you who hit a target will gain entry, but I am sure all of you will manage at least that. As you can see, the targets have seven rings upon them. The closer you hit to the bullseye, the better and easier your path will be. However," he turned to Wen Qing, smirking, "this year we have designed a special surprise, and I must apologise to you, Lady Wen, but you will have to allow us to treat those in our ... care ... as we see fit."

He waved a hand and a group of Jin Cultivators pushed a line of prisoners out into the open, instructing them to stand in front of the targets. Meng Yao's heart nearly stopped and he glanced at Wen Qing who had turned white as a sheet, Jiang Yanli's hand on her arm.

"Prisoners of war, the lot of them," Jin Zixun explained impassively. "And, I can assure Lady Wen, not part of the branch family.”

Xichen took a deep breath next to Meng Yao, and on his other side he could feel the anger roll off of Nie Mingjue. Glancing at the line of disciples who would take the challenge, he could see that Wei Wuxian only barely reigned himself in and Jin Zixuan looked ready to strangle his cousin. As for Xue Yang ... Meng Yao was certain that the shocked expression on Huaisang's face was not an act.

"Someone standing in front of the targets will make it more difficult to hit them, isn't that so?" Jin Zixun smirked, his eyes fastened on Wei Wuxian, willing him to speak up. "A true test of your skill..."

Zixuan rolled his eyes and shook his head, "You call this difficult, Cousin? It's not difficult at all." Stepping up, he shrugged and turned to walk to the point where they were to shoot from. Handing over Suihua and picking up a bow and arrow from one of the Jin Sect's disciples. Without delay, he nocked the arrow and jumped into the air, hovering as he let the arrow fly. It found its mark dead on, standing proudly in the centre of the middle target. Dropping to the ground, he smirked as he reclaimed his sword and walked back to the others. Stopping in front of Wei Wuxian, he smirked, "Think you can beat that, oh great hero?"

They had decided that, at least for the time being, Zixuan and Wei Wuxian should still act as they had the whole time towards each other. With barely veiled animosity. Thus, Wei Wuxian smirked and cocked his head, "You really think that this pitiful display scares me, you flower peacock? Please..."

"Well done, Cousin Zixuan," Jin Zixun said smarmily. "Whosoever wishes to take up my cousin's challenge, please step forward. I truly am looking forward to see who has a better shot than that." Glancing up and down the line of Cultivators, he grinned. "Anyone?"

Zixuan smiled proudly, preening almost and playing his part perfectly. His father would have no idea that his son had not only grown a backbone, but was about to confront him about all of his misdeeds.

Eventually, Wei Wuxian turned to Wangji, smiling. "Hey Lan Zhan? Can I borrow your forehead ribbon?" Wangji glared and Meng Yao sighed. Did Wei Wuxian still not understand the importance of those ribbons to the Lan Sect? "Aww, but why must you always be such a spoilsport, Lan Zhan? Fine!" He pouted as he stepped out of line after handing Suibian to his friend and started to undo the wrappings on his left wrist. "Don't worry, I won't strip off entirely," he chuckled looking around.

"Shameless," Wangji muttered, and for a moment Zixuan's face contorted into a smirk before he schooled it back to annoyed impassiveness. Xue Yang managed to hide his own smirk behind his fan, though that was something the real Huaisang might have done as well.

Meng Yao's eyes widened as he saw what Wei Wuxian was up to, and gasps went around the stands and the line of Cultivators before them as Wei Wuxian blindfolded himself. Holding out his hand to take the bow that was handed to him, he then picked up five arrows and, whirling around his own axis once, he released them. Each of them found the bullseye of one of the targets. Nie Mingjue began to clap his hands, and soon everyone had joined him ... with three notable exceptions. Jin Zixun was glaring daggers at Wei Wuxian, Jin Guangshan's jaw was clenched and Su Shu's eyes were narrowed in disgust.

Wei Wuxian grinned and nodded his head as he walked back, straightening his sleeve as he went. "Thank you, everyone. That is Jiang Sect archery training for you." Smirking as he came to a stop in front of Zixuan, he added, "I believe you could learn a thing or two from us still." Turning to Jiang Cheng, he called, "I think we should open up Lotus Pier to the disciples of other sects just like the Lan Sect has done. We seem to be the only ones who truly know what to do with bow and arrow."

"Yes, yes, yes, we are all suitably impressed, Master Wei," Jin Zixun interrupted. "Of course this archery contest was just a warmup for all of you. Everyone is qualified to join the hunt itself. So I would suggest we simply forgo the opening ceremony and begin the hunt now, yes?" He turned to Jin Guangshan who nodded. "Oh, and Master Wei? If you are so much better than the rest of us, how about a wager? Why don't you cover your eyes for the entire hunt if you are so capable? I'm curious if you will survive..."

Wei Wuxian touched his chest and sighed. "I didn't know you cared that much about my welfare, Jin Zixun. Truly, I am touched." Eyes narrowing, he nodded. "It's a deal. Though I must warn you. I might have to resort to my, how shall I put this?" He turned to Wangji. "Lan Zhan? What should I call it when I use Chenqing? My darker tricks?" Smirking, he turned back to Jin Zixun. "Yes, that. I may have to resort to my darker tricks if I cannot see. Is that alright with you?"

Jin Zixun glared. "Be my guest if you wish to reveal your true colours to the world." Wei Wuxian chuckled and shook his head and then walked towards the mountain, Wangji at his side while Huaisang peeled himself away from the others and disappeared.

Wen Qing got to her feet then, pointing at the Wen Sect prisoners. "I demand that these men and women are handed over to me. I know most of them and they were not supporting Wen Ruohan. They were forced to work for him just as I was and as such..."

"My dear Lady Wen, I fear it is your word against that of my own Cultivators," Jin Guangshan smirked as he, too, rose to his feet. "They have seen each and every one of these people commit crimes against my sect. However, as a gesture of our goodwill, I will let you have them. As a token of our friendship with the Jiang Sect and in memory of my dear friend Jiang Fengmian..."

Jiang Cheng, who had risen as well, made to speak, but Meng Yao quickly caught his eye and shook his head. Glaring at the back of the Jin Sect Leader's head, Jiang Cheng nodded and shifted his gaze to his wife. "Ah Qing? I will join our sect on the mountain. I am certain Madame Jin will take good care of you and the babes." He bowed to the Lady of Carp Tower, who beamed in turn.

"Rest assured, Sect Leader Jiang, that both your wife and children will be safe with me. And your dearest sister. Good luck to you during the hunt." Jiang Cheng nodded and then followed the rest of the Cultivators up the mountain as Meng Yao pinched the bridge of his nose. It would be a long day indeed.

Various mirroring charms were placed so that those who remained behind on the stand could see what was happening on the mountain and Meng Yao, Xichen and Nie Mingjue stood to one side, enjoying the food and drink that was offered. Eventually though, one of the mirroring charms caught Meng Yao's eye and he frowned. "Someone seems to be rather upset with a few trees over there... Wait..." It was Wangji who had just felled a rather tall beech tree with one fell swipe of Bichen. "I think ... I think we should find out what happened to make him so angry..." Wangji's face was stoic as ever, but his actions spoke loudly.

"Go," Nie Mingjue said. "Just ensure you two don't ... get lost." He smirked. "We still have a plan that requires especially your presence, Ah Yao." Meng Yao nodded and took Xichen's hand as he was pulled onto Shuoyue.

It did not take them long to find Wangji, now sitting on the stump of the tree he had just felled. "Wangji?" Xichen asked the moment he and Meng Yao jumped off Shuoyue as he rushed to his brother's side. "What is wrong?"

Wangji looked up at Xichen, anger and sorrow now warring on his face. "I ... I am. When we return to the Cloud Recesses, I will ask Uncle to use the ... the Discipline Whip on me. I did something unspeakable, and I cannot find it in my heart to regret it. But I swear it will never happen again. I swear..." Wangji's eyes were sparkling, and it took Meng Yao a moment to realise that his brother-in-law was ... crying.

Sitting down on the stump next to Wangji, Meng Yao gently touched the other man's arm. "What happened, Ah Ji?"

Wangji turned to him and shook his head. "I can't ... you will hate me for it. I think it might be best if I left this instant or else..."

"Brother!" Xichen's voice was filled with authority now and Meng Yao found himself shivering involuntarily. "Whatever you did, I am sure we could never hate you for it." Voice softening, he asked, "Won't you tell us? Sharing one’s sorrows makes it easier to bear them..."

"I kissed Wei Ying!" Wangji blurted out suddenly before blinking. His eyes were wide as if he only now truly realised what he had done. "He ... he followed Jin Zixun's challenge to the letter and was leaning against a tree, blindfolded, when I chanced upon him." Squeezing his eyes shut, he clenched his fists. "I knew it was wrong, but I could not stop myself. It was almost as if I was watching myself move without being able to do anything about it. I ... I walked up to him, almost silently, and then I ... I kissed him. I took advantage of him and betrayed his trust. I betrayed his friendship, not to mention the at least handful of Lan Sect rules that I broke in doing so. I..."

Meng Yao blinked and then slowly turned to Xichen, both of them smiling. Finally! Only Wangji's reaction was not at all how they had imagined it would be. "Ah Ji?" Meng Yao asked softly. "First of all, we do not hate you for this. On the contrary. We are proud of you for allowing your heart to speak louder than your brilliant mind for once."

"You ... you knew?" Wangji's eyes flew open.

"That you care more for him than a friend or even a close confidant might? Yes. And there is no shame in that. Besides, did you truly force yourself on Ah Xian? I highly doubt it. He is strong enough even without either Suibian or Chenqing to fight off anyone."

"Ah Yao is right," Xichen agreed. "Master Wei would have pushed you away if your kiss had been unwanted."

Wangji's face fell even more. "He truly is a womaniser, is he not?"

Meng Yao crunched up his face. Of course. That was what Wangji took from their words. Now he was even more convinced that Wei Wuxian would not really be interested in him. However... "Wangji? I admit there is something I wanted to ask you to assist me with. I ... I worry about someone. A friend of mine. Would you help?" Wangji looked at him incredulously, but slowly he nodded. "You see, your situations are quite similar, and so I wonder if you could help me advise him properly. He has only recently found out that he is head over heels for his best friend, but he thinks he is unworthy of him... What should I tell my friend?"

Frowning, Wangji took a deep breath. "I know I should follow my own advice, but I simply cannot. However, your friend should ... he should speak with his friend. Honesty is the basis of any friendship after all..." Snorting, he shook his head. "What a good friend I am to Wei Ying..."

Meng Yao nodded thoughtfully. "Honesty? Yes, that is what I would suggest as well. But you see, there is another difficulty. I know that my friend’s feelings are reciprocated, but I fear that neither of the two will take the first step. My friend will not speak of his feelings, no matter how often I tell him to do so, and the other party involved..."

"You are speaking of Nie Huaisang and Wen Ning, don't you?" Wangji asked with a sigh and shrugged. "Wei Wuxian once told me that locking two lovers in a room together can solve a lot of issues. I was not fast enough with the muting spell that day..."

Meng Yao raised an eyebrow at Xichen. So Wangji had seen the small gazes between those two as well, had he? "While I am sure those two could benefit from such tactics, I did not speak of Huaisang... Ah Ji?" He waited for Wangji to turn his head towards him again. "I am speaking of my dearest friend, Ah Xian. Do you remember the day we could not find him and I sent you to get some Emperor's Smile for him? That was the day he finally realised that he was in love. With you. All you have to do is tell him that it was you who kissed him. And then possibly do it again just to make him believe."

Xichen nodded and Wangji jumped to his feet, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "You two ... you have been planning this. You ... Wei Ying and I ... you..."

"We do admit that we had certain intentions, yes," Xichen smiled smugly as he rose to his feet, pulling Meng Yao up as well. "But thankfully you already did half our work for us."

Wangji shook his head. "I have no words to describe just how ... deceitful the two of you truly are. And yet..." he bowed to the both of them. "I also have no words to tell you how grateful I am. A few minutes ago I believed that my wishes could never come to fruition and now... I will find Wei Ying before he manages to ensnare all of the demons on the mountain and we will talk. But worry not. We will both be at the banquet." Wangji bent to pick up Bichen and then disappeared into the forest.

Meng Yao slumped against his husband's broad chest. "Thank the Light that is over. Ah Xian will be furious that I divulged his feelings, but eventually I'm sure he will forgive me." Xichen's arms pulled him closer and he sighed. "I wish we could stay here, but I guess we cannot hide away from our responsibilities. Or our plans."

"That does not mean we have to return straight away. Let us enjoy the mountain for a while and walk the paths through the woods. After all, we have a right to take part in the hunt just like every other Cultivator here. Though I think we should not ... stray the way Brother Mingjue suggested we might. As much as I would love to, the danger of being seen..." Xichen chuckled softly. "And as I told you, I will not share you with anyone. Not even in that way."

Stepping back, Meng Yao smiled. "You are lucky that I love this possessive side of you," he told his husband and took his hand. "Having said that, I do like your idea. A walk through the woods potentially with a few dead spectres thrown into the mix? What could be more romantic than that?"

Unfortunately their romantic stroll was short-lived as before long they chanced upon Wei Wuxian and Jin Zixun glaring at each other. Wangji stood next to Wei Wuxian, a hand on the black clad man's arm, while Zixuan was trying to calm down his cousin. What made the situation even more awkward was the presence of Madame Jin, Sect Leader Yao and Sect Leader Ouyang. The two sect leaders were firmly in Jin Guangshan's pocket, so would clearly support Jin Zixun in whatever was going on here, leaving only Madame Jin as a potential ally of Wei Wuxian.

"Thirty percent of all the demons, Wei Wuxian! Surely even you know the word restraint, do you not?" Jin Zixun spat and Meng Yao could see his friend's grip on Suibian tightening.

"Did I not tell you that I would be using Chenqing when I accepted your challenge? I can't use bow and arrow to hunt if my eyes are covered after all." He shrugged.

"Using unorthodox tricks is one thing, but stealing almost a third of the entire prey is quite another," Sect Leader Yao piped up, stepping close to Jin Zixun. "There were not enough demons on the mountain to begin with, not for all the Cultivators who have come to this most glorious night hunt, but you..."

"Forgive me for interrupting, Sect Leader Yao," Xichen said, his voice calm as he moved to stand next to Wei Wuxian. "But I do recall Wei Wuxian telling Jin Zixun that he was going to use his ... darker tricks was it? While you may think this reveals his true colours, Master Wei's Demonic Cultivation is just another skill that he has been working on. Both his flute and the Stygian Tiger Seal have been inspected by Teacher Lan and Gusu Lingzhu, and they are not items of evil. As I understand it, you cannot even call what Wei Wuxian has done today Demonic Cultivation, can you? Or would you say that my using Liebing is unorthodox?"

Jin Zixun swallowed, "Be that as it may, he still took more than his share."

Now it was Meng Yao's time to intervene and he smiled brightly as he joined the other men. "Forgive me, Lianfang-zun, but correct me if I am wrong. A night hunt such as this is meant to measure the skill of its participants, is it not?" Jin Zixun glared at him but nodded eventually. "Very well then. Ah Xian was using his skill to catch demons on behalf of the Jiang Sect, yes? Not for his own benefit but the glory of Lotus Pier. Which, given their losses in the Sunshot Campaign, surely isn't a bad thing, is it? So I do not see what the problem is. I am sure Lianfang-zun is prepared to deal with this situation in a timely manner? More prey could be sent out onto the mountain? Perhaps?"

"And surely no one can be blamed for being ... too good," Xichen suggested with a smile.

Madame Jin nodded, "Gusu Lingzhu is right, Zixun. Make preparations and ask everyone to stay on the mountain. Zixuan, you're with me. And as for Master Wei ... surely you have shown up these fine Cultivators enough today and would much rather join us on the stands for some refreshments? I would also like to extend this invitation to you, Zewu-jun, Hanguang-jun, and my dear Gusu Lingzhu." She dismissed Jin Zixun with a gesture and then glanced at the two older sect leaders. "I am certain you will find your way down the mountain alone."

With that, Madame Jin turned towards the path, Zixuan falling into step beside her. Wangji's hand was still on Wei Wuxian's arm, and Meng Yao grinned. "Maybe the two of you could go ahead to Carp Tower already? Freshen up before the banquet?"

"Yes, I ... I guess that would be for the best," Wangji muttered, glancing at Wei Wuxian imploringly. "Wei Ying?"

Wei Wuxian blinked. "You all came to my defence... I didn't think..." He swallowed. "Yes, I think it would be best to go to Carp Tower straight away. You wished to speak with me anyway, Lan Zhan, didn't you? You said something like that just before Jin Zixun showed up..."

Ah, so they had not spoken yet. Wangji flushed a bright red and this time it was Xichen who smirked. "Very well then. You two go ahead and we shall keep Madame Jin company. Ah Yao? Let us catch up with them." Bowing to the two other sect leaders, Xichen smiled, "We will see you later at the banquet."

With that, they left, Meng Yao smirking at his husband. "I do hope Ah Xian and Wangji do join us at the banquet and aren't ... indisposed. I know the two of us would be under similar circumstances..."

"Are you saying that you and I cannot contain ourselves?" Xichen chuckled, pulling the shorter man closer as they walked side by side. "I suppose you might be right, but I am far more willing than Wangji to ... ignore certain rules. That day at Madame Lee's I knew that there would never be another for me, and in my heart I pledged myself to you. Making love to you, sin though it was in the eyes of our sect, was the natural thing for us to do. You needed to know that I loved you, that I was not disgusted by you ... quite the contrary. Our situation, while similar to that of Wangji and Wei Wuxian, was still quite different."

"I guess ... I guess you are correct. You made me see myself in a different light, and you still do the same each and every day. Ah Xian's whole outlook will change just by knowing that his love is reciprocated. And it will finally end Wangji's pining, which can only be a good thing, don't you think?"

Xichen nodded. "Though I fear Uncle might not be too pleased. While he no longer thinks Wei Wuxian is ... the wickedest man alive, he is still his mother's son..."

Meng Yao grinned at that, "Now that you mention it ... I fear that Brother Mingjue will soon find himself in a similar situation as your uncle did all those years ago."

"What are you... The two of you are planning something, don't you. You and Wei Wuxian?" Xichen stopped and halted Meng Yao as well. "You are trying to set Mingjue up, is that it?" Meng Yao grinned innocently. "I'm afraid that no longer works on me. So tell me. What are you planning?"

Chapter Text

Meng Yao had revealed his plans regarding Nie Mingjue to Xichen eventually, and his husband had beamed brightly at him, berating himself for not thinking of something similar before. They had spent the rest of their hunt exchanging pleasantries with Madame Jin who was very obviously ignoring her husband and took turns at taking care of Jiang Ying and Jiang Zhen. After all, they would be parents soon themselves, and Wen Qing believed in preparing them as much as she was able.

"Your child will be blessed," Madame Jin said at one point, and Meng Yao nearly dropped little Jiang Ying. "Or maybe not so much," she chuckled and steadied his hands holding the babe. "I thought Ah Xuan had told you that I do not blame you for ... your lineage shall we say? Quite the contrary. Seeing you and Zewu-jun is truly a delight for me, and makes me wonder why my good for nothing son still has not been able to truly apologise to Jiang Yanli. She clearly still cares about him, but young men can be so stubborn."

Jin Guangshan glanced at her and then huffed at her glare as he rose to his feet and motion for Su She to join him as he stalked from the stands.

"I think my husband doesn't agree with my opinions very much," she shrugged, cooing at Jiang Ying. "Would you mind taking a stroll with me, gentlemen?" she looked from Meng Yao to Xichen, then at her own son. "Now that we can speak more openly." The three of them nodded and before long they were sitting in a small pavilion at the base of one of the mountain paths enjoying some tea and sweet treats.

It was Zixuan who first spoke up, smiling at his mother. "I think you have both already figured out why Mother wished to speak with you in private. I fear she cornered me not long after my last visit to Lotus Pier. Where father believes that I am truly only journeying there to win back Lady Jiang's heart..."

"I was not fooled. Not then and not today. Truly, Ah Xuan, I do not understand how anyone can believe that you and Wei Wuxian are still at each other's throats given how friendly you were once you reached the mountain itself. At any rate, I believe you are looking to do something about my husband's plans ... whatever they might be? All I ask is that you take care. He is dangerous, more than you believe..."

She turned to smile at Meng Yao then. "Now, let me reiterate my previous words. I am glad that Ah Xuan has you for a brother. I might have been wary of you had you accepted your father's offer to come to Carp Tower, but when you didn't... It showed me not only that you are a man of integrity and morals, but that you know the value of love and family. And I knew you most definitely did not inherit those traits from my dearest husband. Your mother must have been a great woman with just one flaw as I understand it. Her belief in Jin Guangshan."

Meng Yao had expected something quite different and openly gaped at her, making her chuckle. "So what if she made her money in a manner that is frowned upon by most. At least you are not the product of ... him forcing himself on yet another woman. I am not a fool, at least not now. But to think that he would seek out someone else even as we were courting..." She shook her head. "I must have been blind back then." Her face softened as she gazed at her son. "Then again, I got you out of it, Ah Xuan, and while I feared you would become just like your father for the longest time, now I see that it is not so."

"Realising that the son he denied was one of the reasons we had succeeded during the Sunshot Campaign truly opened my eyes. I could not believe that our father did not see the potential in Ah Yao back then, and I was beyond proud of him when he turned father's offer down." Zixuan was smiling and Meng Yao chuckled.

"You could barely contain your mirth. The fact that our father could not see it still astounds me."

"He can be very blind when he wants to be," Madame Jin sighed. "Or else how would you explain his trust in Xue Yang after he was so clearly changed upon his return?" She smirked as three sets of eyes stared at her. "Oh yes, I knew of his little project ever since he found the boy. And I wish I had done something to stop him from turning a child into a ruthless killer, but I didn't know how."

"You knew?!" Zixuan asked, and Madame Jin patted his hand.

"Please, Ah Xuan. Your brother is not the only one who realised that employing children is the best way to spy on people. Children and servants. After all, servants are invisible, aren't they? And certain guards you can buy." She smirked and took a sip of tea before continuing. "It was not your father who ensured Xue Yang was always well fed, he simply took it for granted. And when you liberated him from his so called prison, which I am assuming was orchestrated by you, Gusu Lingzhu, Mianmian and Huadan shou clearly had aid within Carp Tower..." She glanced at her son again. "I'm guessing you were the one who helped them?"

Zixuan nodded slowly. "I hope I was not being too obvious about it?"

"Not at all. I am just not as blind as most seem to think I am. So? How did you change Xue Yang's frame of mind then? Or shall I guess? He cares for someone, doesn't he? There was a time a few years ago when he was travelling around the sects, but when he returned he seemed almost ... broken. The few times I had seen him before, there had been a light in his eyes, as if my dearest husband had not been able to snuff out the hope in his heart. But then suddenly, that light was gone. And now ... now it is back. I can only think of one reason for this..."

It was Xichen who responded this time, but not after shaking his head clearly berating himself for not realising just how smart Madame Jin was sooner. "You have heard of Xiao Xingchen, have you not?"

"The ... bright moon and gentle breeze? Surely you jest, Zewu-jun!" When Xichen simply nodded, Madame Jin gasped. "How did the little scoundrel worm his way into Xiao Xingchen's heart?" She suddenly shook her head at herself. "No. That is me being unkind to him. I am sure there is a side to him that I have never seen. There must be, if an upstanding Cultivator like Xiao Xingchen cares for him. But he didn't always, did he?"

"He did," Meng Yao sighed. "But he ... he believed a bond between them would be wrong and so he, as you put it, snuffed out the hope that was still within Xue Yang's heart. But now it has been rekindled and more. The two of them are betrothed to be married."

"Pardon me?" Madame Jin turned to Zixuan. "Xue Yang is betrothed to be married and you still have not made any attempts at reconciling with Yanli? What is wrong with you, boy?"

"Mother..."

"Do not 'Mother' me! Explain yourself. You've been in and out of Lotus Pier ever since the Sunshot Campaign, and were a regular visitor of the Cloud Recesses as well. What in the Light's name is stopping you..."

"I insulted her, alright!" Zixuan snapped. Clearly embarrassed at his outburst, he glanced from side to side, not really meeting anyone's gaze. "During the Sunshot Campaign. I made a complete fool of myself. I know you will say there is nothing new about that, but I ... she ... she was making food for a great many soldiers in our camp, but every day she made an extra bowl of soup for her brothers. And myself."

"Sparerib and Lotus Root Soup?" Meng Yao asked and Zixuan nodded.

"I should have realised. I just ... I was a fool. She had a maiden of the Jin Sect bring it to me, but the one day she did it herself, I thought she was trying to claim someone else's laurels and I berated her for it. Don't worry, Mother, Wei Wuxian already beat me up for it. I ... I cannot face her and still act the way I did then. I want to be worthy of her, and while I allow father's misdeeds to continue, I am not. I can only hope that she has not moved on..."

Madame Jin huffed, "Given the way she was glancing at you earlier, I think you're safe on that count." Her face turned serious then and she sighed. "I think I ... owe you an apology, Ah Xuan. While we were right in thinking that you and Yanli would be perfectly suited for each other, my dearest friend Ah Yuan and I should not have forced you into an engagement at such a young age. You should have been able follow your hearts without us pushing you. Will you forgive your foolish mother?" Zixuan nodded and both Meng Yao and Xichen were about to rise to give mother and son some space when Madame Jin reached out to touch Meng Yao's arm. "And I would apologise to you as well. When my husband threw you out of Carp Tower, I should have intervened and I didn't. Back then I ... I still did not know the depth of my husband's depravity and I blamed you and your mother... Will you forgive me?"

Meng Yao swallowed hard and blinked. This wasn't really happening, was it? But the hand on his arm was warm and real, and when he glanced at Xichen seeking help, his husband only smiled and nodded. Turning back to Madame Jin, he pursed his lips and slowly inclined his head. "You would be well within your right to still insist I leave this place simply because of what I am. Not to mention who I am. The son of a prostitute, the bastard of Jin Guangshan..."

"You mean the son of a great woman interred in the Cloud Recesses and a most brilliant diplomat and ... dare I say it ... spymaster? I would be a fool if I sent you away. Quite the contrary. Whatever it is that Xue Yang has been able to get for you and that will hopefully spell my husband's downfall, I would have you stand at Ah Xuan's side when he takes up the mantle of the sect leader. Hopefully sooner rather than later."

"Mother!"

"What? You don't really think I want your father to turn Carp Tower into a second Heavenly Nightless City, do you? That's what he's after, isn't he? The Yin Metal. That's why Zixun has been watching Wei Wuxian so closely. Zixun and that little weasel Su She. A former disciple of your sect, isn't he, Zewu-jun?" Xichen nodded and grit his teeth. "A traitor at that, if I'm not very much mistaken and the reason one of the pieces of the Yin Metal fell into the hands of the Wen Sect."

"Your spies are almost better than my own," Meng Yao chuckled and Madame Jin smiled.

"We will have to exchange notes, my dear ... Ah Yao. If you do not mind me calling you that. But you are Ah Xuan's brother, so it would be foolish of me to call you Gusu Lingzhu day in, day out."

"Oh, do not ask my husband's opinion, my Lady. He will be more than happy to allow you to address him as Ah Yao. Isn't that right?" Xichen smirked at him, and Meng Yao shot him a dirty look.

But when he turned to Madame Jin, Meng Yao was blushing and fumbling with his hands. "I ... of course you may, Lady Jin. I ... it would be an honour."

"The honour is all mine," Madame Jin smiled. "I hope that we will see you and Zewu-jun much more here in Lanling, especially once your little one is born. I'm so tempted to steal one of Wen Qing's babes, but I fear that might end up with the Jiang Sect declaring war upon us, and I still wish for Zixuan and Yanli to be married one day. So I shall have to wait. And do not worry, I shan't steal your child either. I shall however treat it as a grandchild if I may. Maybe not by blood, but I do not think that matters. After all, seeing as you are Ah Xuan's brother, I might as well consider you my son, isn't that right, Ah Yao?"

Meng Yao could not form words, all of his eloquence having disappeared into thin air at Madame Jin's words. Xichen came to his rescue as always, squeezing his husband's hand tightly as he smiled at Madame Jin. "We would be more than happy to oblige. Our child will wish to know their uncle after all, and if you were willing to take on the part of their grandmother, I would be relieved indeed. Unfortunately neither Meng Shi nor my mother are alive anymore..."

"While your child will not have a worthy grandfather, it will have me. I promise you, he or she will be loved here in Carp Tower. And be always welcome here. Just like their parents."

Tears clouded Meng Yao's eyes, but he could see Zixuan's bright smile even as one of Madame Jin's maids came up to them. "Forgive me, Lady Jin, but it is time for you to return to Carp Tower to prepare for the banquet."

"Thank you. Please ensure everything is ready for us in my rooms. I think I shall retire with the ladies soon after whatever ceremony I am required to attend." The maid bowed and disappeared again and Madame Jin turned to them. "Not that my husband wishes me to be there anyway. Or any other females. Though today I will be loath to leave for I would love to see what you have planned for him. Alas, it is not to be. Though I expect details afterwards. It is not every day that a man almost as devious as Wen Ruohan is disposed of. And knowing you, you will do just that."

Chapter Text

Flanked by his husband on one side and Nie Mingjue on the other, Meng Yao climbed the stairs to the main part of Carp Tower, remembering in clear detail the day he had been cast from the very top. Were anyone to try to touch him now, they would have two great Cultivators to answer to, and Meng Yao felt his heart swell at the knowledge that not only was he beloved to Xichen, but also a friend to Nie Mingjue. The bond his father had tried to destroy by using Xue Yang and the Yin Metal was now stronger than it had ever been and built not only on admiration but also trust.

But Meng Yao was not only protected by the two men beside him. Zhao Zhuliu and his bride were walking behind them, and Meng Yao could already see Wei Wuxian and Wangji standing at the top of the stairs. Wei Wuxian was waving to them, and the closer Meng Yao drew to his friend, the clearer he could tell that Wei Wuxian was not only smiling ... he was beaming. Wangji seemed unable to take his eyes off the black clad man, and had to visibly tear his gaze away when Meng Yao and the others reached the landing.

Before Meng Yao could greet his friend and brother, Wei Wuxian pulled him away, trying to glare, but failing. "You told Lan Zhan!" he snapped, but within moments he started to giggle and pulled Meng Yao into a hug. "I should be so mad at you for breaking my confidence, but I... He kissed me. The moment we were alone, he pushed me against a wall and kissed me. And I knew it had been him in the woods, and then he said that you'd only told him about my feelings after... He loves me. Lan Zhan loves ... loves me." Now Wei Wuxian's voice was filled with tears, and when Meng Yao pulled back he could see them gleam in Wei Wuxian's eyes.

"He thought he had taken advantage of you, Ah Xian. I couldn't let him believe that."

Wei Wuxian shook his head. "I hoped it was him. Despite what I told you, I did hope that ... that you might be right. That Lan Zhan..." Tears forgotten as soon as they had appeared, Wei Wuxian beamed again. "He loves me. And I believe he is currently informing Zewu-jun of this change in circumstances. You and I need to discuss all the ins and outs of the Lan Sect, Ah Yao. Tomorrow? After we're done with ... what we came here for."

Meng Yao sighed and nodded even as Nie Huisang wandered over to them. "Everything is set," Xue Yang muttered, doing his best to imitate Huisang's voice and just narrowly missing the mark. "I have the plans, and I overheard Jin Guangshan send Su She away. Jin Zixun is to follow him after the banquet while he keeps us busy under some false pretense. Zixun will be watched, don't worry about that, and whatever this false pretense might be, it will spell out your father's downfall."

He nodded and then turned to bow at Nie Mingjue, now sounding exactly like Huaisang would. "Older Brother, the Jin Sect has outdone itself today. I ... I'm sorry I didn't do so well in the hunt..."

Nie Mingjue sighed and shook his head. "I hope the wine and food were worth leaving the mountain early..."

Xue Yang blushed and lowered his gaze before turning and walking back towards the banqueting hall. Meng Yao and Xichen followed him before long after greeting Zixuan and Jin Zixun once again. They had been given seats of honour, closest to Jin Guangshan but for Nie Mingjue's, but Meng Yao knew that this was just for show and not a sign of anything more. Or maybe it was. Wasn't there a saying stating to keep one's friends close, but one's enemies closer?

Nie Mingjue joined them before long, as did Wangji and Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian insisted that now that they had admitted their love for each other, he and Wangji should share a table as well, and the Jin Sect servants rushed this way and that to see it done. "Besides, this way we can sit behind you two," he pointed out when Meng Yao shook his head at his friend's antics. "Takes up less space, don't you think?" His eyes were twinkling merrily, and Wangji smiled in a way Meng Yao had never before seen. Contented. Happy.

Jiang Cheng and his wife took the small table next to Meng Yao, and he smiled at the two of them. "I hear you won the hunt by a long shot?" he teased much to Wen Qing's delight and Jiang Cheng's displeasure. "Oh please, all Ah Xian did was use his skills, there's nothing wrong with that. And if his skills are so much better than those of everyone else, that's not his fault either, is it?"

"That's what I've been telling him," Wen Qing smirked. "Thank you for agreeing with me, Ah Yao. My dearest husband can be an idiot at times." Jiang Cheng's expression turned sheepish. "Now, a little birdie told me that Ah Xian and Hanguang-jun finally stopped being utterly dumb idiots..."

"Ah Qing! I'm sitting right here," Wei Wuxian whined. "And while it's true that I was being foolish, Lan Zhan always knew that he ... cared for me..." He smiled at Wangji at the end and leaned closer to him to rest his head on Wangji's shoulder. "I'm the one who couldn't see it. Or my own feelings."

"Which means that you are a dumb idiot," Jiang Yanli commented as she took a seat behind her brother and sister-in-law and next to Wei Wuxian. "And forgive me, Hanguang-jun, but you could have said something a long time ago. So I fear Ah Qing's comment stands. You are both dumb idiots. But I am very happy for you two. Ah Cheng? That's how many new dresses for me?"

Meng Yao was quick enough in turning to Wei Wuxian to see realisation dawn upon his face. "You were betting on my ... my love life?" Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng exchanged a glance and simply nodded. "What sort of siblings would do that?"

"Only the best," Xichen commented as he leaned back to also catch Jiang Cheng's gaze. "How many bottles of wine did we say again?"

"Older Brother!" Wangji exclaimed, which sent Xue Yang into hysterical giggles. Just like it would have Huaisang...

"I am simply concerned about your happiness, and to be honest the two of you were so very obviously in love with each other that it was painful to see you not act upon your feelings. Something had to be done. Though in the end, it only took the slightest of nudges." Meng Yao nodded, though he was secretly shocked to learn that even Xichen had joined in on this bet between the two Jiang siblings.

"At least I will not have to admit defeat to Jiang Zixuan. The Flower Peacock was certain that even here you would not find the courage to admit your feelings. He will be so disappointed to learn that my brother managed to admit his love before..." Jiang Cheng suddenly blinked, clearly realising that his sister was there, listening rather intently.

"Ah Qing?" Jiang Yanli muttered. "What Ah Cheng is trying to not reveal ... is it what we have been speaking of on our journey here?"

Wen Qing nodded. "And I swear if he doesn't make a move while we are here, I will use my needles on him!"

Meng Yao could guess what, or rather who the two women were talking about, and he felt sorry for his brother. Though maybe that meant that Jiang Yanli had enough of waiting for Zixuan to make the first move ... or Wen Qing would force him to do so. With her needles if the need arose. Glancing over to where Zixuan was taking a seat opposite of Nie Mingjue, Meng Yao sighed. It would all be over soon and the two of them could reveal their bond to the world. A bond of true brothers, allies, and, maybe most importantly, friends.

Zixun, who was standing next to Jin Guangshan, nodded to the Jin Sect Leader and then walked to stand in the centre of the hall. "Dear friends. I hope you enjoyed today's hunt, though I would once again offer my apologies for the lack of worthy prey. And I would personally like to congratulate the Yunmeng Jiang Sect for catching the most monsters and fiends. A true display of skill." His words, kind though they were, were laced with venom.

Jiang Cheng glanced at his brother and then nodded to himself. "I fear that I myself have done very little to deserve such praise, but my brother has truly excelled ... and he held true to the dare you two made earlier today. So if you will allow me, may I raise a cup to Wei Wuxian? The second Hero of the Sunshot!"

Zixun glared daggers at Jiang Cheng, but when Madame Jin rose to her feet, cup in hand, most of the room followed suit. Even Jin Guangshan, though he was the last to do so. "To Wei Wuxian," Madame Jin smiled as she raised her cup. "And may I add my congratulations to Master Wei and Hanguang-jun while we are at it? It seems our hunt was not only advantageous for Master Wei's sect, but for him as well." Meng Yao turned around to see Wei Wuxian blush and Wangji appeared to have bitten into a lemon.

That expression didn't change for quite some time, and only became more pronounced the more Wei Wuxian touched him and flirted. Eventually, Xichen took pity on him and turned to Meng Yao, pulling the slighter man close enough to kiss him. Thoroughly. In front of the highest ranking Cultivators of the world. At the very back of his mind, Meng Yao could already hear Lan Qiren berate his nephew for being so ... shameless, but then he was melting into his husband's arms and the world faded away for brief moments.

Until Jin Guangshan cleared his throat rather noisily, and, when Meng Yao blinked open his eyes again, he could see the glare on his father's face. Of course, he was not allowed to be happy, was he? "I was wondering if I could draw you away for a short while Sect Leaders Nie, Lan and Jiang? There are things I would discuss with you in a more private setting." His gaze settled on Meng Yao and if looks had the power to kill a person, Meng Yao was certain he would be dead by now. "You may bring along who you deem necessary."

He then turned to Zixun and nodded, his nephew rising and bowing to the other side of the room where Sect Leader Yao and Sect Leader Ouyang were seated. Though Meng Yao's eyes did not linger on them but caught the gaze of Qin Cangye. No one noticed the way the Qin Sect Leader briefly inclined his head, but it was clear that he would keep any of Jin Guangshan's supporters away from their meeting.

"My friends, you will excuse Sect Leader Jin. But even on a joyous day such as this, his worries do not cease. Forgive him for leaving you for the time being, I shall remain to see to your every need." He bowed deeply to them even as Jin Guangshan motioned for Zixuan to join him. "Your study has been readied for you, Uncle," Zixun muttered and then turned to glare at Xichen, Nie Mingjue and Jiang Cheng as if he was daring them to deny Jin Guangshan's request.

As one, the three sect leaders rose, and with them Xue Yang, stuffing his face with another pastry as Huaisang might, Meng Yao, Wangji, Wei Wuxian and Zhao Zhuliu. Huadan shou's presence had led to more than a few raised eyebrows and timid whispers, but since he was clearly not only under the protection of Zewu-jun, but also of Chifeng-zun, no one dared to raise any objections.

Jin Guangshan glared again, but did not speak as he rose and stalked from the hall, Zixuan beside him. The rest of them followed and before long were seated in a rather overwhelmingly gilded room that served as Jin Guangshan's study of sorts. There was gold everywhere, and where it was not, bright colours seemed to try to blind everyone who beheld them. This was not a room of work, this was a room to impress and cow one's opponents. It would not work that day, Meng Yao was certain of that.

Jin Guangshan was almost slouching in his seat, lazily swirling the wine in his cup. But his eyes were alert and filled with barely veiled contempt. "I believe I have not yet congratulated you on the birth of your heirs, Sect Leader Jiang, forgive me for my tardiness. It always is a joyful day when children are born, is it not?"

Meng Yao did not miss the brief glance in his direction, and he found himself swallowing hard. This was going to be more difficult than he had expected. The man before them, this despicable man... Xichen had been right. Jin Guangshan was still his father and part of him had still longed for his approval. It was foolish of course, and Meng Yao hand long distanced himself from such wishes, but part of it had survived...

"My thanks, Sect Leader Jin," Jiang Cheng replied, a smile on his face. "I could not imagine life without them anymore." His face hardened after that though, and he added, "I cannot understand any parent who would deny their own children..."

Jin Guangshan sat up, eyes narrowing. "Yes ... well, one should also remember not to comment on things that are not any of one's business, am I not correct?" Straightening, he smiled smarmily at Wei Wuxian. "Now, the reason I have asked you here is... Firstly, I would thank you for your aid in taking control of Qishan and defending the Burial Mounds. You have shown a surprising resourcefulness since all three of your sects suffered greatly in the Sunshot Campaign."

Xichen nodded, "Thank you. I do believe we have all done extremely well under the circumstances, especially the Nie Sect under Brother Mingjue's leadership..."

"Not to mention Ah Yao's brilliant mind. Without him, I do not think the three sects would be where they are now." Nie Mingjue smiled at Meng Yao, and it was obvious that this came as a shock to Jin Guangshan, and displeased him greatly. "Though some might say that our forces were stretched purposefully thin, especially when it comes to the protection of the Burial Mounds. It really is not needed, is it Master Wei?"

Wei Wuxian shook his head. "Not really, no. I am strengthening the wards all the time, though it is needed only rarely when ... some fools seem to try and break through them. I'm afraid, and forgive me Zewu-jun, Ah Yao, my wards are far stronger than those around the Cloud Recesses. And breaking through them, even were anyone to manage it ... let me just say it would not be very good for the person doing so. You see, I used the Stygian Tiger Seal, and I didn't hold back on the resentful energy I placed into each and every ring of wards. So worry not, the Yin Metal shards are safe as a babe. Or maybe even more so, if we consider Jiang Cheng’s parenting skills..." He giggled and Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes.

Jin Guangshan though ... he could barely contain his rage. "I still think it is best to be safe, even if it's not necessary as you say. Do not forget that the last Yin Metal piece has still not been found." Meng Yao barely stopped his snort, and Wei Wuxian clearly had to bite his lower lip to keep from pointing out what they knew. "At any rate, there is something else I wish to discuss. The presence of a man who so clearly went against my sect and now you have brought him back here. I know that Zixuan spoke for him, but still..."

Zhao Zhuliu bowed to Jin Guangshan. "Please accept my apologies. I believed, wrongly, that Xue Yang was involved in Wen Ruohan's deceit and his lies about my family. Once I learned that I was mistaken..."

"Xue Yang managed to escape, yes. You are lucky that we caught him again and he is once again in our custody." Xue Yang snorted and covered it by coughing and appearing all meek and terrified. "Yes, I believe you had your own encounter with him, did you not, Nie Huaisang?"

"It was truly dreadful, and I would thank Sect Leader Jin for keeping him under lock and key. I feel so much safer knowing he has been caught again." Out of the corner of his eye, Meng Yao could see the smirk on Xue Yang's face, but to Jin Guangshan he clearly looked like a pathetic little weasel. Which Huaisang was not even though everyone seemed to believe so.

"Yes, yes. There is no need to thank me. After all, the Jin Sect was the only one who did not suffer terrible losses in the Sunshot Campaign, so it is only natural that we would take on such things. As for you, Sect Leader Zhao ... you will forgive us for being somewhat wary of you, but now that I know why you took Xue Yang captive, I understand your motivations better. There is much we would do for our family, is there not?"

He rose to his feet then and smiled benevolently. "The main reason I have asked you here is that I was wondering if you would be prepared to support me if I were to strive for the position of Chief Cultivator..."

Nie Mingjue rose as well and bowed to Jin Guangshan. This was a far better opening for them than they had anticipated. "We would, of course we would, Jin Sect Leader. Without you and your help, the Sunshot Campaign would surely have faltered, which is why at least to me you were always one of its greatest heroes as well." Jin Guangshan smiled brightly. However, Nie Mingjue then raised his gaze to the Jin Sect Leader, his smile fading. "But wait, it was not you who joined us in battle, but your son. Jin Zixuan truly showed strength in our war against the Wen Sect while you remained here ... in safety." He scratched his chin. "I wonder..."

Jiang Cheng joined Nie Mingjue, but shook his head. "At the same time we cannot underestimate the role you have played behind the scenes. Carp Tower was a haven for those who's sects had been attacked either by the Wen Sect itself or its pawn Xue Yang. Not to mention all the aid the Jin Sect provided to those of us who had to rebuild our sects from the ground up. Then again ... a lot of help also came from the Gusu Lan Sect and Gusu Lingzhu in particular, not to mention my beloved wife and the remainder of the Wen Sect. On that note, Sect Leader Jin, I would hope that you are willing to speak with us about your prisoners of war. Ah Qing understands that the followers of Wen Ruohan need to face justice, but not every Wen Sect disciple was a follower..."

Jin Guangshan had been smiling up to a certain point, but his face had darkened and he was clearly grinding his teeth in anger. He had to swallow to control himself, but then he nodded and smiled once more. "I do believe that we may have been overly hasty in making our judgements regarding the remaining members of the Wen Sect, as you say. I would be more than happy to speak with Lady Wen and allow those she identifies as harmless to leave Lanling. Truly, there is no reason for us to fight about this. I am certain that once we come to an understanding about this trivial matter, you will be more willing to support my claim?"

Jiang Cheng shrugged. "I certainly could be persuaded, though as I said, I feel Zewu-jun would also be a great Chief Cultivator..."

Xichen smiled and shook his head as he stood, pulling Meng Yao to his feet with him. "I fear you overestimate me now, my dear Jiang Cheng. It was not only me who aided the sects in their rebuilding efforts. As you said yourself. I fear Ah Yao would never be willing to become the Chief Cultivator, and while I would not be opposed to taking on such duties, you would know that it would be the both of us who lead the Cultivation World. And while you, our friends, would support such an arrangement, I do not think everyone else would." Turning to Jin Guangshan, Xichen sighed. "I would be very much in favour of having a new Chief Cultivator sooner rather than later, though I do have a few questions and worries..."

Meng Yao could feel his father's eyes on him, and on the way he and Xichen stood close together, hands twined, their robes matching but for the colour. Xichen's outer robes were lighter while Meng Yao's were almost midnight blue with silver embroidery. Their inner robes, however, were identical, marking them as the leaders of the Gusu Lan Sect. It had been Xichen's idea to wear these, to show the world exactly what status the Lan Sect had granted Meng Yao. Not simply because he was Xichen's husband and Cultivation Partner, but because of his tireless work for the Lan Sect and the people of Gusu.

Jin Guangshan had clearly seen it and, if he had not realised it before, Xichen's words would have also made it abundantly clear that the people in this room all cared for Meng Yao. Anger was flashing across his father's face as he turned back to his seat. "Worries? Surely there is nothing more troubling to you at this point than the happy arrival of an heir to the Lan Sect? I do admit though that I am curious as to who the mother is. Given that your partner cannot give you children..."

So Jin Guangshan was no longer going to even pretend to be kind and paternal towards Meng Yao. At least he was showing his true colours. Meng Yao simply smiled, but Xichen ... Xichen had noticed the blatant insult and was slowly but surely turning visibly angry. "Even though, as you yourself stated before, this is none of your business, Jin Sect Leader, but I have you know that it was my husband's idea in the first place to try for a child. All I will say on the topic of the mother is this: she is a great woman who was kind enough to carry our child for us."

"Ah ... great women truly are a rarity. Are you certain you made the right choice then, Zewu-jun? We wouldn't want the leader of the Lan Sect to come to regret a rather rash decision further down the line..." Jin Guangshan smiled benevolently, but his eyes were cold as he glanced at Meng Yao.

Xichen was about to speak up, but it was Wei Wuxian who got there first. "I am sorry, Jin Sect Leader, but are you suggesting that Ah Yao and Zewu-jun did not marry for the right reasons? In that case, I do wonder if you are blind or simply unable to see love when it's presented to you. Those two are almost sickeningly sweet together, and have been ever since I first realised that they were together. Which was on the day after we won the final battle of the Sunshot Campaign. So I think they waited long enough before taking their bows. Unless you believe that half a year is not enough time to figure out one's true feelings?" He smiled sweetly before adding, "At any rate, Ah Yao is Zewu-jun's husband, and I'm sure that is what you meant to call him earlier, is it not?"

"I am sure Father meant no disrespect," Zixuan quickly intervened. "No one would ever doubt the value of Gusu Lingzhu both to the Cultivation World in general, and to Zewu-jun and the Lan Sect in particular. It is indeed quite obvious that the two of them are deeply in love, and no one with any sense at all would ever suggest anything else." Jin Guangshan glanced at his son, eyes narrowing, but eventually he nodded.

"Yes, yes. I fear I overstepped." He glanced at Meng Yao, and the shorter man felt shivers go up and down his spine. "Of course you are the honourable husband of Zewu-jun, my son. I guess part of me still wishes for you to come and join the Jin Sect instead, though I can see that will never happen." He inclined his head and then turned back to Xichen. "What worries and questions were you speaking of before, Zewu-jun? I fear we went off topic somehow."

Xichen, still tense and angry, had to swallow a few times before he was once again in control of his actions. Squeezing Meng Yao's hand, he smiled slightly. "The situation at the Burial Mounds and further afield. It seems that there have been attempts to break down the barriers that Wei Wuxian put in place, though not in any of the areas guarded by the Lan, Jiang or Nie Sects. Without wanting to make accusations, Jin Sect Leader, I fear that maybe some of your Cultivators have been ... tardy in guarding the Mounds..."

Jin Guangshan sighed and nodded. "I fear you are right, and by all means, do make accusations as much as you wish. We have had some ... Wen Sect sympathisers in our midst, or rather Wen Ruohan sympathisers." His gaze shifted to Jiang Cheng and he sighed once more. "I assure you I do grasp the difference even though your wife seems to believe I do not."

Xichen nodded in feigned understanding. "I see. It is difficult to accept that at times we  have harboured traitors, is it not? We had to deal with the same during the Wen Sect's aggression, and I admit that I am somewhat surprised that you seem to have taken the man in question under your wings." Jin Guangshan cocked his head and frowned. "Su She? He was a disciple of the Lan Sect and betrayed our secrets to save his life. I am sure you did not know for you would certainly not invite someone like this to Carp Tower had you been aware..."

Jin Guangshan shook his head, "I had no idea..." Whether that was the truth or not, Meng Yao could not say. Not that it mattered.

"Yes, as I thought. Now ... there is another matter..." Xichen frowned. "The Yin Metal, or rather the final piece. We still believe that it was held by Xue Yang, or rather we did up to last autumn. You see, there have been a great many monster and spectre sightings near Yiling, more than can normally be attributed to the proximity to the Burial Mounds. Wei Wuxian was able to trace some of the resentful energy back to a manor not far from the border to Qishan, and while we initially believed that the Cultivators there were of the Wen Sect, we were startled to find at least some wearing Jin Sect robes..."

Nie Mingjue spoke up before Jin Guangshan could respond. "The Cultivators there seem to be conducting experiments ... on live subjects. Prisoners of war ... who had previously been taken by the Jin Sect..."

"I am sure I do not know what you mean," Jin Guangshan practically sneered. "Surely you are not insinuating that I had a hand in this? I already admitted that some of my Cultivators were..."

"Sympathisers of Wen Ruohan, yes," Jiang Cheng muttered. "But that does not explain the fact that we know the manor belongs to none other than ... you, Jin Sect Leader. Of course, it might be a property that is yours in name only, and this is why we are coming to you with this now for we fear that there might be more sympathisers of the former Chief Cultivator both within the Jin Sect and in the Cultivation World as a whole."

Jin Guangshan shrugged, "I'm afraid you might be correct. I ... I do not recall anything about this manor you speak of, but yes, I do own a lot of property that I am not even aware of. Besides, you say it is close to Qishan? Surely that would mean it is rather likely that this was Wen Ruohan's doing and not mine."

"That is exactly what I thought as well, Father," Meng Yao nodded before sighing loudly. "Alas I was provided with evidence that points at something else entirely. Orders, in your hand, to those at the manor and a deed that was only recently updated. Once again, it does bear your signature. Please, Father, tell me that I am wrong in my interpretation of these documents..."

"You would believe such slanderous accusations?" Jin Guangshan spat, not in the least bit worried ... yet. After all, as far as he was concerned any such letters were safely stored in his hidden vault. "Were you part of the Jin Sect I would consider stripping you of your titles, and I would hope that the Lan Sect also disciplines those who spread lies. Is this why you are worried, Zewu-jun? Because your dearest husband is whispering lies into your ears?"

"Not only would you accuse your own son of treachery, but you would also deny the truth?" Wei Wuxian muttered. "I have seen those documents as well..."

"Forgeries!" Jin Guangshan's eyes were sparkling dangerously. "Probably forged by none other than Meng Yao himself. To get back at me for some imagined slight after I was so generous as to offer him a place within the sect. As my son!"

"Oh please," Xue Yang interrupted, rising and stepping forward as he found himself the subject of Jin Guangshan glares. "Let's stop this charade and the lies, shall we?" Gripping at his face, at Huaisang's face, he pulled off his masking spell and smirked. "Master Jin ... I do apologise, but I simply cannot bear all this badmouthing any longer. And that comes from me..."

Jin Guangshan suddenly smiled, clearly believing that Xue Yang had been spying on them.  "Xue Yang... I admit that I am almost glad to see you."

"Are you? I fear you won't feel that way for much longer. First of all, did you not say that I was one again in your dungeons?" He gestured at himself and the fine robes he was wearing. "We both know that was never the case." He turned to Nie Mingjue, "Sorry, brother . Sect Leader Jin never believed that my little killing spree warranted punishment. Quite the contrary. How long has it been, Master Jin? How many years have I been in your service?"

Jin Guangshan's smile slipped, his face twisting into a mask of rage. "And this is how you would betray me?! By feeding them lies?"

"Betray you? Oh yes, of course. That is what I am doing, isn't it?" Xue Yang's smirk was taunting Jin Guangshan, his eyes sparkling merrily. "And I believe it is slowly sinking in what my betrayal means to you, doesn't it? Don't worry, the evidence Gusu Lingzhu spoke of? I have it right here." He reached into his sleeve to reveal the papers before hiding them again just as quickly before Jin Guangshan could do anything to them. "Also, just to make it clear, there was a witness who saw these papers in your hidden vault. You see, your biggest mistake was to allow me free access even after my miraculous return. You were so certain that I was utterly enthralled by you..."

"You are insane!" Jin Guangshan spat, and Xue Yang shrugged.

"Sanity is a bit overrated, don't you think? And you are correct of course, I was insane, past tense. Insane to believe the lies you fed me, the lies I was raised on. Do you know what it was that opened my eyes? Or rather who?" He looked around at the men present and smiled. "These fine gentlemen." Zixuan caught his gaze and nodded. "All of them. Including your son. The one that you actually acknowledge and, in a manner of speaking, trust. He was the one who came with me to your vault, though not in his human form. Wei Wuxian taught him a rather nifty little trick, and I still hope you will tell me how it's done as well..." He wiggled his eyebrows at Wei Wuxian before smirking at Jin Guangshan again.

"Pathetic ... you are all pathetic for believing a word this miscreant says. He clearly planted evidence to turn even my own sons against me. And after I raised you after finding you that day in the street, your fingers crushed..."

"You would still maintain your innocence, Father ? I saw the papers and everything else in your vault. Ah Xian was able to determine that they were, indeed, by your hand... And as for Xue Yang ... I remember you stopping me from befriending him and now I understand why. You could not allow him to know friendship or even love, could you? Or he would have seen right through you." Zixuan moved away from Jin Guangshan's side to stand by Meng Yao. "I have only one question. Why? Why would you go to such lengths to destroy the lives of so many people? Why make Xue Yang into a weapon and use him to kill those who might oppose you? Why, Father?!"

"Zixuan, Zixuan, Zixuan..." Jin Guangshan shook his head. "You are such a disappointment. I think I made a grave mistake when I banished your brother, for he seems to be the one who is at the core of this. Isn't that right ... Ah Yao ? You figured all of this out by yourself, didn't you? But I fear the thing you are after so very clearly ... it is no longer in my possession. Or why do you think I sent Su She away? Even if you manage to convince the Cultivation World of my wrongdoings, which I doubt, I will simply say that I was ... influenced by the very person who possessed the shard from the very beginning." He sneered at Xue Yang.

Meng Yao moved towards Jin Guangshan and cocked his head. "That is a possibility of course. After all, he did the same to myself and Brother Mingjue at the Unclean Realm. However, for Xue Yang to influence you from the time he was but seven years old..." He turned and glanced at Xue Yang who giggled to himself. "It is a long stretch, but yes, I could see how it would be feasible. Or rather, I could if I was still inclined to believe anything coming from your lips. There was a time ... a time when I would have done anything for you. Beyond what Xue Yang has done even." Tears clouded his vision as he stepped closer to his father. "Had you accepted me all these years ago..."

He shook his head sadly. "I have to thank you for pushing me away, for forcing me to find a different place of my own. Even for setting Xue Yang up to drive a wedge between Nie Mingjue and myself, for while it might have ended the way you wished, it actually led me to Xichen's side. To my husband, whom I love more than you could ever understand. I do wonder if you even know what love truly is. You have the most wonderful wife and yet you go around each and every brothel known to men, and even force yourself on your supporters' wives. Qin Cangye's wife for example? Do you even remember her?"

Jin Guangshan slowly rose to his feet, but Meng Yao was unable to stop the flow of words now that he had begun. "My mother adored you, but to you all she was ... was someone to warm your bed and sate your hunger. There is only one language you speak. Power. It's all you know and all you strive for. It took me until now to fully grasp that the man my mother told me of, the man I hoped to meet one day ... he did never exist, did he? All you care for is the title of Chief Cultivator, and you were willing to burn down the Cultivation World to achieve your goals. You were willing to use the single-most evil items that were ever created..."

"I truly did underestimate you, my dearest Ah Yao..." Jin Guangshan's eyes were like ice, and a sneer was on his face as he moved to stand in front of the shorter man. "You think you have won, don't you? You think you have proven my guilt beyond the shred of a doubt, but you have not. I am no fool and I have my ways to get out of this situation ... practically unscathed. You, on the other hand ... I fear your sects, all three of them, won't survive for much longer." His gaze briefly shifted to Xue Yang. "You are the biggest disappointment of my life. You were a razor-sharp weapon, and now? What happened to you? You, and the rest of you are, and forgive me for repeating myself, pathetic."

"I would rather be pathetic than stand by your side as Jin Guangyao! You would have turned me into someone I wouldn't even recognise myself. Someone so completely at your beck and call..." Meng Yao shook his head angrily. "It's over, Father . There is no way out. Not this time. Not with Ah Xuan here, listening to every word that is being said. Unless you would erase him as well?"

Jin Guangshan's face became a mask of fury, "I should have ended your miserable existence when I had you in my grasp. Or later..." A smirk spread across his features, and it was the most terrifying thing Meng Yao had ever seen. "The things you were able to endure, I'm truly astounded. You are just as perverted as your mother was, aren't you. Tell me, at the Undying Realm, did you enjoy the way you were treated by the guards? Did you mewl under then like your mother moaned for me? Did you find pleasure in them ravaging your scrawny little form over and over again? Did you?"

He threw his head back and laughed even as his words slowly permeated Meng Yao's mind. He had known ... how had he known? "You didn't really believe that they acted on their own, did you? Oh no. They were paid, and paid well to put you in your place time and again. You say you love Lan Xichen? That might be so, but can he still love you once he fully understands just how depraved you are? The son of a whore is little more than his mother. Do you remember those words? That is what you truly are. A pitiful excuse for a human being, depraved and soiled beyond all recognition. You are not my son. You are a worm and if it's the last thing I do, I will crush you!"

With that, Jin Guangshan pushed Meng Yao away, his hand colliding with his chest at such speed and with such force that Meng Yao could feel ribs crack even as he was launched into the air ... only to be caught by Xichen and Nie Mingjue. He was gasping for air, and groaned at the pain that filled his entire being. Glancing down at Xichen's hand on his arm, he shied away. Jin Guangshan was right. Xichen couldn't possibly love him ... not after realising the extent of Meng Yao's depravity...

"Ah Yao?" the pain in Xichen's voice though, that beloved voice... "Wangji, please see to Ah Yao. I fear he may be injured." Then he turned to Jin Guangshan, straightening to his full height and thus towering over the Jin Sect Leader. "You would dare to attack my husband?! You would dare insult him and call him all those things that could not be further from the truth?! Who do you think you are, Sect Leader Jin? Ah Yao is the kindest person I have ever known, and he has brought me nothing but the greatest happiness. I will always love him, and your words only made me love him more. All the things that he endured, because of you, have made him stronger. And ultimately they brought him to me."

Meng Yao's hands were shaking, and even though his mind was telling him that there was no way Xichen would still want him now, his heart was screaming at him to reach out and touch his beloved. It was Xichen's hand that found his, and the taller man twined their fingers even as Wangji was slowly sending healing energy into his body.

"There is only one person in this room who is depraved, and that is you, Jin Guangshan. I have to wonder if you take pleasure in humiliating others, in hurting them until they can no longer feel or tell wrong from right. The Lan Sect might stand for righteousness, but the moment you lifted a finger against the man I love, you forfeited your life as far as I am concerned." Now that Meng Yao was standing next to Xichen once more, he could see the dangerous glint in his husband's eyes and shuddered involuntarily.

Jin Guangshan smirked, "You would not dare, Zewu-jun. None of you would dare to lift a hand against me..."

"And that is where you are wrong." Zhao Zhuliu moved quietly as a panther, his face a blank mask. "I have once made the mistake of allowing a madman to live. I supported him without realising that he was abusing those I hold dear. Those I care for." He shook his head. "I will not do the same again. Ah Yang has told me just how lecherous you truly are, and how happy she was to remove your hands off of her shoulder when you made advances. For that alone I would challenge you. But now you attacked one of the best men I ever had the pleasure of knowing, and you dare to question what is between him and his husband."

He glanced down at his hand, and Meng Yao could see Jin Guangshan following suit, his eyes filling with horror. "You would not dare..."

"I would not dare to do what? Rid the world of a monster? Use this horrible power I have been given for good? Oh, Jin Sect Leader, I fear that I would dare indeed." His hand flashed forward, and only a moment later, he was holding Jin Guangshan up by his neck, the older man writhing and kicking even as he screamed. "I fear no one can hear you, or anything else that was said here since Zewu-jun erected a barrier to keep eavesdroppers away. A shame really, isn't it?"

Zixuan, instead of lifting a finger to help his father, was gently touching Meng Yao's shoulder. "The things he did ... I am so very sorry, Ah Yao. It changes nothing though. I am proud to have you as my older brother, and I wouldn't change it for anything in the world. You are the strongest person I know, and the more I learn of what has been done to you, the more I realise the extent of your strength..."

Meng Yao blinked. "Your brother is correct, Ah Yao," Wei Wuxian whispered. "You're like ... the very best of us. And we're all so very happy to have you in our lives, aren't we Lan Zhan?" He elbowed Wangji even as Xichen's arm came around Meng Yao's waist and he was pulled into his husband's side. Wangji nodded, still focusing on healing Meng Yao. "Well, there you have it. And that old coot who was your so called father, well he can just go and die. No offence, Zixuan."

Zixuan shrugged, "After what he just revealed, I think that might be almost too kind. Though I do not think he will survive Zhao Zhuliu's treatment for long. Unlike you, Jiang Cheng..." Jin Guangshan had gone limp and as Zhao Zhuliu released him, he all but fell onto his seat. "Zewu-jun? Would you lift the spell you placed on the room? Xue Yang? You might want to become Nie Huaisang again, and Ah Xian? Could you cover up the scarring on my f..., on Jin Guangshan's neck?" Wei Wuxian grinned as he nodded, and the moment Xue Yang was once again wearing Nie Huaisang's face, Zixuan walked over to his father and sighed. "I fear my father had too much to drink. Sect Leader Jiang? Would you please ask your wife to look after him? I would ask the best physician to take care of my father after all..."

Jiang Cheng nodded and bowed, "I am certain she will be delighted to ... help." Before he left though, he turned to Meng Yao. "He was wrong about you, Meng Yao. Depraved is the last word I would use to describe you. Do not let the words of a madman make you doubt yourself or your worth. The people who care for you ... their lives are enriched because of you, and I'm not only saying that because of Ah Qing. Look at my idiot brother. He knows his heart now because of you. Look at the people of Gusu. They love you, Gusu Lingzhu. One day, I hope the folk of Yunmeng will feel the same way about me..."

Then he was gone, and Meng Yao began to shake again. "Oh do stop, Ah Yao," Nie Mingjue said, his voice a low rumble. "That creature over there was a monster, and if anything I should clearly rethink the way I chose my guards. What Jin Zixuan and Jiang Cheng said is true. You are the strongest in this room as far as I'm concerned, and I admit I'm almost jealous of you." Meng Yao blinked up at the other man. "Yes. Me. Jealous of you. The things you endured, both in the past and just now ... I'm uncertain I could have born all that and come out unscathed. Or relatively unscathed. At any rate, you are not dirty or depraved or whatever else he would have you believe. So stop shaking and just accept the truth."

Nie Mingjue's words were almost harsh and abrupt, but his tone of voice was kind and he even smiled at the shorter man. "I..." Meng Yao swallowed. "I will try."

"I truly am sorry for what happened to you while you were in my care," Nie Mingjue sighed. "I wish I could somehow undo the hurt and pain, but then again ... would we be where we are now without it? Whatever might be the case, I stand by your side now. As your friend and your brother. And I would remind you of one very important fact. I have known Xichen for a long time, but only since he has been with you has he been this happy. You make him happy. No one else can. Only you. So whatever it is you are thinking in that smart head of yours, don't forget that."

"Brother Mingjue is correct, Ah Yao," Xichen whispered before placing a kiss on Meng Yao's temple. "I love you, and nothing will ever change that."

"And given how very lovey-dovey you are over here, I think it's time for Lan Zhan and I to ... um ... have another little chat. Don't you think so, Lan Zhan?" Wei Wuxian wiggled his eyebrows at Wangji who simply shook his head. The corners of his lips though ... they were definitely lifting upwards. Wei Wuxian dragged him away and out of the room then, Zhao Zhuliu following them momentarily even as Wen Qing arrived with Jiang Cheng in tow.

"So you drag me away from a really nice conversation Ah Li and I had with Madame Jin for this?" She winked at Meng Yao. "Alcohol poisoning is not to be trifled with, so let me see here." She walked up to Jin Guangshan and sighed, taking out her needles. "Now what’s to be done about this?" She placed them on Jin Guangshan's neck and then sighed. "Oh dear me. The pregnancy must have done something to my healing skills for I do believe I may have sent him into a healing coma even though... Jin Zixuan? I fear this isn't just the alcohol. Your father suffered a stroke. I do not think he will wake again." Her smile belied her words and Zixuan was seemingly hard pressed to keep a straight face.

"I will inform my mother... Thank you, Lady Wen."

Wen Qing shrugged. "I'm afraid there is nothing I can do to even ease any pain he might still feel. It ... it won't be long." She rose and moved up to Zixuan. "Use the time you still have before you will be expected to be in mourning wisely... Or my needles might slip, if you get my meaning..."

"Ah Qing!" Jiang Cheng exclaimed, but Wen Qing held up her hand to silence him.

"No. This whole thing has been going on for long enough and Ah Li..."

"Do you think I still stand a chance with her, Lady Wen? After my disgraceful conduct..." Zixuan sighed. "I still do not know that I am worthy of her, and yet..."

Wen Qing threw her hands in the air. "Men are dumb, it's official. Just do ... something! Anything really. Just make a move!" With that she stormed off, dragging Jiang Cheng along.

"Huaisang and I will assist Jin Zixuan," Nie Mingjue declared then. "You and Ah Yao should return to your rooms and leave the rest to us. You need to rest, Brother Yao, and let me say again that you are nothing if not strong and well loved. And not just by Xichen. Think of your babe that will be born before long, and the beautiful future that is ahead of you. Of the three of you. Don't dwell on the ramblings of a bloody lunatic."

Meng Yao was still shaken up, but he smiled shyly. "I'm too scared of your wrath to go against your wishes, so I shall try my very best to think of the future. Thank you, Brother Mingjue."

Chapter Text

Meng Yao was staring at his tea, his mind unable to settle on one thought at a time. His head was aching, and so was his chest for despite Wangji's healing, he could still feel his father's hand pushing him away with so much force... No. He would not think of that. Jin Guangshan had truly been a madman ... maybe even more so than Wen Ruohan had ever been. But his words ... his words had hurt nonetheless.

Could he truly believe that he was not tainted, not depraved in so many ways that he could not possibly be loved by anyone? Xichen was smiling at him, and Meng Yao took a deep breath and nodded. His husband had the rare ability of being able to read his mind somehow, especially when he was beating himself up.

"Ah Yao? Please talk to me?" Xichen's voice was gentle and warm, his eyes shining with love. Had truly nothing changed?

"I ... I cannot believe that he ... that he was the one behind what the guards did to me. I didn't think he hated me that much, and it makes me wonder how, if even my father hated me, anyone could ever truly love me. But in my heart I know that you do. I can see it. But my brain will not listen..." His chest constricted as tears filled his vision, and he struggled to breathe. "What did I ever do to make him so angry at me? All I wanted was for him to accept me..."

"He was a fool in the past, Ah Yao. He could not see the beautiful person that I'm sure you were even back then. Or maybe he couldn't. He ... he cannot feel affection I think, or see it in others. Today though ... today he was a snake. A snake spewing poison. He knew exactly what to do to hurt you, Ah Yao, in the hopes of destroying everything you worked so hard on building. Do not let him succeed. Do not allow him to sow doubt within your heart. You heard Brother Mingjue and Wei Wuxian. And you know my heart. I love you. I have loved you from the day we first met, Ah Yao, and I will love you until the end of our days, or forever should we choose to ascend."

Xichen rose then and walked over to a small desk that now held their hair ornaments and an item that had not left Meng Yao's side ever since he had received it. The blue jade charm. Xichen now picked it up and moved back to Meng Yao's side, kneeling in front of him. "Do you remember how this got to you? I ... I simply needed you to have something to remember me by, to maybe hold in your hands and think of the happier times that we would share in the future. And I envied the charm, so very much. For it would be where I longed to be as well."

Placing the jade into Meng Yao's shaking hands, Xichen continued. "The night of our first kiss ... it was the happiest moment of my life up until then. Holding you again after the Sunshot Campaign ... I can still remember just how relieved I felt to be able to hold you close again. Our wedding day when you looked so radiant and we finally became each other's equals in every way." He smirked and Meng Yao blushed at the memories of their wedding night. "But while those moments stand out in my mind, each and every day I fall in love with you all over again, my feelings deepening more and more. You are the only one who truly knows me, and I know you. Your light ... it is almost blinding. There is no taint, and there never has been."

Meng Yao was unable to speak, to even attempt to articulate his feelings. So he did the only thing he could do. He threw himself into Xichen's arms, tears running down his cheeks as he held onto his husband as if he were the only rock in a tempest. The only anchor in the turmoil of his thoughts. Xichen loved him. Still and always. Forever even, if Meng Yao wished it. Heart pounding, he slowly sat back to gaze at his beloved. "My light ... is but a reflection of your own. Without you, I would be nothing. I would be lost. There would be no light within me, not without your love."

Xichen's hand was warm as it came up to cup his face and Meng Yao leaned into the touch, needing the affirmation now more than ever. "You underestimate yourself, Ah Yao. You always do. Look at all the people around you, the people who love you. You have a family, Xinling , and that will never change. With or without me. Though you never will be without me anyway, so it's really a moot point. Having said that, do you truly believe that, given all that has happened, you would have chosen Jin Guangshan's side when he offered you the chance to do so?"

"I ... I do not know..."

"Yes, you do, Ah Yao. Think back to the first days we spent at Lady Lee's. Even had I only given you my friendship, you would have been strong enough..." Meng Yao covered his husband's lips with his hand.

"Can we not speak of him?" Xichen nodded and kissed the tips of his fingers. "I ... I do not know if I would have been strong enough, Ah Huan. But at the same time I did make a choice at the Unclean Realm. That I would not give in to darkness again. Having said that, I do not want to think of a life without you in it. By my side. As my husband." Removing his hand from Xichen's lips, he replaced it with his own lips, tenderly kissing his beloved before pulling away. "My love and my lover... My lover who is far too pure to ever touch anyone depraved. As such, I cannot be what my father said I was." He nodded to himself. "Yes, I think you are right. He was trying to hurt me, and I let him. But you were there to catch me ... and ... and Brother Mingjue..."

"Indeed, and you heard what Mingjue said. You would not want to upset him, would you?" Meng Yao shook his head and chuckled, his hand still clutching the jade.

Glancing down at the charm, he sighed. "The jade ... it was like a lifeline for me. I would remember the happy days we spent at Madame Lee's, and the promises we made to each other. But it also reminded me of the day we first met. Of you playing Liebing to stop the Wen Sect and everyone else from fighting right in the Orchid Room. I remembered how you took the Nie Sect's gift from me, and the touch of your fingers..." Meng Yao blushed. "No one had ever touched me in such a way outside of Madame Lee's. Gentle and kind..."

"And terribly confused about all the things I was feeling all of a sudden. Your smile, Ah Yao, your smile drew me in, and I wanted nothing more than to touch you, to pull you into my arms and never let you go. It was undoubtedly love at first sight for me, but I was so afraid..."

"Of becoming like your father?" Xichen nodded and Meng Yao shook his head. "Would it help if I reminded you of the fact that it was the same for me? There were many nights after my return to Qinghe when I dreamt of what might have happened had I stayed at the Cloud Recesses for a while longer." He smirked at Xichen suddenly, his previous worries and fears forgotten as he thought of those dreams. "What ... what would have happened, Zewu-jun?"

Xichen cocked his head. "I fear I may have broken a few of our rules. I would have insisted on showing you around the Cloud Recesses, of having tea with you... And I don't think I would have been able to stop myself from touching you, one day I would have been so forward as to kiss you. Just as I was at Lady Lee's..."

"I wonder ... if we would be here right now had I stayed with you then. At any rate," Meng Yao pursed his lips, "I am glad that things have turned out the way they did. I believe in you more than I believe in myself, and I know that when you say that you will love me ... forever, then that is the truth. I wish I could go back to see Father now and tell him that he lost. That while I swayed for a moment, I am not broken. I am Meng Yao, the son of a prostitute, illegitimate child of a seemingly great Cultivator, and I am happy. Happy to have found a home and a family, to have love in my life. All that is worth so much more than an upbringing in a grand Cultivation family."

"I would have you no other way, Ah Yao. My beloved husband..." Xichen leaned in to claim Meng Yao's lips again, gentle and loving. When he pulled back, he glanced down at the charm. "I never told you what this truly means, did I?"

"Ah Xian did, and I'm glad I didn't know it wasn't just a normal charm when I first received it. It's ... it's what allows me entry into the Cloud Recesses at all times, isn't it? Without having to break down the wards as Ah Xian once did himself."

"Oh yes, the very night Wangji and Wei Wuxian began their little dance around one another. I am rather glad that it's all over now. Though I do worry about Uncle's reaction. He might ... implode once he learns that Wangji has chosen him as his Cultivation Partner. Then again, is it really such a big surprise?"

Meng Yao shook his head. "The last time I spoke about Ah Xian with Lan Qiren, he seemed more accepting. Maybe that is because of my friendship with him, but I don't think your uncle would mince his words just to spare my feelings." Subtlety was not something Lan Qiren was capable of. "I think he might surprise us all. As long as Ah Xian stays clear of his beard..."

Xichen chuckled, "Let us agree not to mention the beard business, alright?" Meng Yao flushed a brilliant red and Xichen frowned. "What are you planning, Xinling ? I know that expression and it means you are up to something. You and Wei Wuxian..."

"It is nothing bad, I promise. Just ... don't be surprised if Brother Mingjue looks somewhat ... different in the morning. Or if I introduce him to Qin Su suddenly."

"You and Wei Wuxian are planning to ... match make?" Xichen suddenly threw back his head and laughed for a good while until he could control himself again. Still giggling, he asked, "Why was I not included in this, Ah Yao? I have always thought that Mingjue would benefit greatly from having a partner in life, and for you to choose your sister... Does she know of your plans? Or will she be just as surprised as our dearest brother will be?"

Meng Yao smiled shyly and shrugged. "She deserves happiness after all the things Zixuan and I revealed to her. Besides, she is very much like me when it comes to being quick witted and smart. Both are qualities Brother Mingjue needs in a spouse."

"Because he cannot have his brilliant assistant back," Xichen smirked and rose to his feet. Holding out his hand to Meng Yao, he pulled the other man up as well and then pursed his lips. "I might have kept you at the Cloud Recesses had you stayed, asking Mingjue to release you from your bonds to the Nie Sect by message. Spending but a few moments with you had already made it far too hard to let you go, but had you stayed..."

"It was hard?" Meng Yao grinned even as he blushed. "How hard was it, Zewu-jun? And had I stayed ... would you have invited me to the Hanshi to have your wicked way with me?"

Xichen's breath caught in his throat and he swallowed. "Would you have allowed me to? Would you have allowed the great Zewu-jun to break a myriad of his own sect rules? And would you have allowed Lan Huan to call you his beloved?"

Meng Yao shrugged, "I do not know. But I know that I would allow Zewu-jun to break all the rules now. And as for calling me your beloved... I need to hear such sweet words like the air that I breathe..."

Leaning closer, Xichen whispered, "Well then, my beloved Ah Yao, would you come to bed with me so I may show you just how hard it is right now... And all because of you. Only because of you..."

Chapter Text

Sunlight was streaming into the room when Meng Yao's eyelids fluttered open, the sight greeting him enough to put a smile on his face. He remembered his father's words of the evening before, but at the sight of Xichen, they faded into obscurity. His husband's eyes were studying him already, thanks to the waking schedule of the Lan Sect that seemed to be ingrained into Xichen despite them ... staying up past nine in the evening.

Trailing his elegant fingers down Meng Yao's side, Xichen asked, "Did you sleep well? Or have I not been thorough enough in my endeavours last night?" He wiggled his eyebrows and chuckled ... and Meng Yao felt as if his heart might burst with love. Briefly his mind flashed back to his father's words yet again, but somehow they no longer hurt. He only felt ... sorry for Jin Guangshan. He'd very clearly never known the joy of waking next to the person he loved and who loved him, simply because he wasn't able to love anyone but himself.

Meng Yao smiled and nodded, "You were quite thorough, Linghun . I cannot remember the last time I slept this well when we were not in our own bed in the Hanshi." Leaning closer to place a kiss on his husband's chest right above his heart, Meng Yao had to giggle at Xichen's breath hitching. "While I wish to find out if you can be just as thorough this morning, I fear we need to get up ... if only to see Brother Mingjue's reaction to his changed appearance. If Ah Xian remembered that is. Given that he and Wangji were probably..."

"Talking," Xichen interrupted. "They were talking. That's what you were going to say, right?"

Rolling onto his back, Meng Yao laughed. "So you wanted them to stop dancing around each other, but you also don't want to think of what they might get up to? Truly Zewu-jun, you are far to prim and proper for your own good at times..."

"He's my brother," Xichen explained, sitting up and gazing down at the shorter man. "It is difficult seeing him in the same setting as I see you, Ah Yao." Meng Yao raised an eyebrow at Xichen and shook his head, his hand searching for his husband's before lacing their fingers. Xichen smiled down at their interlaced hands, and whispered, "I am happy for them, I truly am. I just never thought of Wangji in such a way before. It will take some time for me to get used to the fact that he and Wei Wuxian..."

"Are quite possibly lovers by now?" Meng Yao smiled at the slight shiver that even reached Xichen's fingers. "Though I do admit, the idea of Wangji even kissing Ah Xian..." Meng Yao shrugged. "You are right. It will take some time getting used to it. Though part of me wonders if you are alike when it comes to ... the matters of the heart. Once you give yourself, you give yourself completely. I might have been fearful at first, and almost certain you would realise you were making a mistake by being with me, but the truth is ... I knew it was not so in my heart of hearts. And I ... I felt the same way. That there would never be anyone else for me."

"Well, it is good to hear that given the fact that we are married and will soon have a child," Xichen chuckled as he slowly pulled his hand away and rose, the sheet that had previously covered his lower body falling away, granting Meng Yao a perfect view of his husband's back. Smirking at Meng Yao over his shoulder, Xichen admonished the younger man, "Stop ogling me this way or we will never make it out of our rooms. And while I see no real problem with that, I believe your brother will ask for your help sooner or later, not to mention that there is some matchmaking that needs to be done."

Meng Yao sighed but rose as well. It did not take long for him to freshen up and get dressed, and then he was more than happy to sit for Xichen to take care of his hair and the clasps that would go into it before he would do the same for his husband. This had become their routine and even though he had touched Xichen's forehead ribbon more times than he could count by now, tying it to his beloved's head every morning still made his heart skip a beat. Xichen had commented on it a few times, rather thrilled to see just how much it meant to Meng Yao.

That morning as he was waiting for Meng Yao to tie the ribbon again, he chuckled, "You still blush like a newlywed maiden whenever you do this, Ah Yao. It has almost been a year since our official ceremony, and even longer since the private one. Not to mention that you have been wearing my ribbon for almost a whole two years now. Though I admit I do take pride in your blushes. Just as I take pride in placing your clasps into your hair. Only I am allowed to do so ... at least when I'm around..."

"You are impossible, Ah Huan. The great Zewu-jun ... takes pride in such unimportant things?"

"Oh, they might be of little import in the great scheme of things, but to Lan Huan they mean everything. Being with you has simply reminded me of the man that I am ... besides Zewu-jun and the Lan Sect Leader. I do not think I ever allowed myself to simply be. And then you came along and smiled at me."

"You can talk," Meng Yao chuckled as he stepped back to observe his handiwork. "You smiled at me so tenderly and touched me in a rather inappropriate way, and while you may say that it was by accident, we both know that it was not so."

Xichen shrugged as he rose to his feet, moving towards the doors of their quarters. "Can you prove that your wild accusations are the truth though? As you said, I was simply trying to spare you more embarrassment and in my haste may have brushed your fingers. An honest mistake."

"A mistake that I dreamt of for many a night afterwards," Meng Yao smirked and joined his husband at the doors. Before Xichen could pull them open, however, someone was rapping at them rather loudly, and Meng Yao blinked before mouthing, "Brother Mingjue?"

He was right. The moment Xichen opened the door ever so slightly, Nie Mingjue pushed into their rooms as if a horde of Ghost Puppets was hounding him and he had forgotten to bring Baxia. Meng Yao only barely stopped from giggling as he beheld his friend's face. Clearly Wei Wuxian had not forgotten his duties and the removal of the moustache had taken years of Chifeng-zun. But he did not seem to be very happy about it. Quite the contrary.

"That little miscreant Xue Yang! I bet it was him! Just look at me!" He pointed at his face and Meng Yao was rather proud of the fact that both he and Xichen somehow managed to keep a straight face. "He must have slipped into my rooms when I was asleep and ... and... Well, you can see what he did! And now he's nowhere to be found and all I can get out of the servants is that young Master Nie has left Carp Tower early this morning. Xue Yang is probably both running away from me and running towards Xiao Xingchen! How ... how could this happen to me?!"

"To be honest," Xichen began, and Meng Yao was astounded at his bravery. "You look rather ... handsome this way. I never thought that could be the case, but now... Whether you want it or not, I do believe you might rise in the ranking of most handsome bachelors. Given that both Wangji and I are quite happily taken. Not to mention Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng. The list is growing shorter by the minute it seems, and soon Jin Zixuan will be spoken for as well..."

"I have told you before I have no interest in this list or in finding a wife. It's enough watching all the couples around me to cure me of any desires to have the same." He shrugged and flopped down on one of the small stools next to the table. "That being said, you are almost sickeningly sweet this morning." He glanced at their laced hands pointedly. Meng Yao had not even realised that they were holding hands and blushed. Xichen though ... Xichen was smirking. "Which might be even worse than love-sickness. Though I will admit that I am glad to see you smiling, Ah Yao. I was worried that you would allow Jin Guangshan's words to fester..."

Meng Yao shook his head and nudged Xichen towards the tea pot, indicating that it might be a good idea to make something to drink. After all, it was too early for anything alcoholic. "I admit that I was worried at first that he might be right, but I have come to realise that I was wrong to fear or to even entertain the idea. I should ... I should thank you, Brother Mingjue. For believing in me. Not just yesterday, but ever since the Sunshot Campaign. Given how we parted ways before..."

Nie Mingjue reached out to touch Meng Yao's hand. "Between Xichen and yourself, you made me realise that seeing the world in black and white might not be such a good thing. The things that were done to you, the things you had to endure without having anyone you could confide in ... and to now learn that it was all at the behest of Jin Guangshan... It makes me feel sick. You, above all, deserved so much better, and I almost wish you had stayed back at the Cloud Recesses." He grinned at Xichen. "I fear your husband did confide in me before your wedding and told me that he longed for you to stay. And yet..."

"It doesn't matter anymore, Brother..." Meng Yao swallowed. "Ah Jue." Nie Mingjue had asked him to call him that for a long time, but somehow Meng Yao had never felt truly worthy of it. Until now. "If I look at myself back then and now, I know that whatever I had to endure, whatever we all had to suffer, it was for the best. I only wish that those who perished were still alive. I wish I could make Madame Yu see the true worth of Ah Xian and tell him as much. I wish that your father..."

Squeezing Meng Yao's hand, Nie Mingjue shook his head. "Father is once again with mother, I do believe that. As for Jiang Fengmian and Lady Yu ... maybe it is for the best that they never have to learn just how devious their former friend truly was."

Meng Yao sighed, "This may be a time for mourning soon, but the truth is that it is also a time for joy and happiness. Maybe even for you, Ah Jue. Though you bemoan the loss of your moustache..."

Nie Mingjue grumbled again and muttered, "The next time I see him, he will pay for what he's done. It is a shame I cannot do permanent damage to him now without earning the wrath of both Xiao Xingchen and Song Zichen. Now love is even preventing me from taking my revenge on the little delinquent. This is why I will have nothing to do with it." Taking a sip of his tea, he nodded at Xichen. "The Lan family's special blend, I see. I guess I should feel honoured, huh?"

Xichen shook his head, "As far as I am concerned, you are like a brother to both Ah Yao and myself. So there is no need to feel honoured at all." He had just taken a seat as well when someone else rapped at the doors. "I think we are rather popular this morning ... or maybe your friends simply wish to ensure you are alright, Ah Yao." Xichen winked as he rose to his feet again, and Meng Yao blushed.

The opening doors revealed Wangji and Wei Wuxian, the latter walking rather ... stiffly and Meng Yao chuckled. "Ah Yao!" the black clad man whined. "Why didn't you tell me that it would be so painful." He turned to Wangji and began to beam. "Pleasantly so." Nie Mingjue nearly choked on his tea and was coughing, his hands shaking where they held onto his cup. "Chifeng-zun! Are you alright? Did I say something wrong?" Giggling, Wei Wuxian added, "Oh, I see you finally decided to get rid of that horrible moustache. I promise you that it was a good choice. The ladies will be forming queues just to meet you..."

"I thank you for not speaking of what that little delinquent did last night!" Wei Wuxian blinked and then grinned at Meng Yao. "Furthermore, I for one do not need to know the specifics of what you and Hanguang-jun got up to when you left us yesterday evening." Wangji's ears were bright red, and he stared into space as stoically as possible. Xichen's face had also turned rather pale at Wei Wuxian's words, but he had quickly provided him with an extra pillow to sit on.

"Ah, thank you, Zewu-jun," he muttered as he sank down onto his stool. "Or should I call you Xichen now that Lan Zhan and I ... have stopped being utter fools?"

"I do believe that since you two seem to have already ... consummated your union, you should call me by my name and I will call you Ah Xian." Meng Yao could see how difficult it was for Xichen to speak of Wangji and Wei Wuxian in that way, but at the same time he was also rather proud of his husband.

Nie Mingjue, on the other hand, was visibly uncomfortable, much like Wangji who was still hovering close to the doors, his face an unreadable mask. Nodding to himself, Meng Yao rose to his feet. "Ah Xian, Wangji, you must forgive me for leaving you without properly congratulating you, but I would go and speak to Zixuan, and Brother Mingjue could possibly help him with some of the preparations for his future as Jin Sect Leader. After all, Lady Wen was quite clear in her prognosis for Father."

Nie Mingjue nearly pushed over the table in his haste to get to his feet and moments later, he and Meng Yao found themselves in the large square in front of the grand banqueting hall. "News has travelled fast, and Madame Jin is rather pragmatic about her beloved husband's state of health," Nie Mingjue explained once he was certain no one was near enough to overhear them. Not that it would have been possible anyway as Meng Yao had used the spell to keep eavesdroppers away the moment they had stepped out of their guestrooms. "She is truly heartbroken ... or at least pretends to be in front of the leaders of the smaller sects. I fear some have their suspicions, but given that Jin Zixuan was with us yesterday..."

"He would never go against his father, or so they think, yes," Meng Yao chuckled. "Still, it will not be easy for him to become the new sect leader, no matter the blood that courses through his veins. Or rather, he will need help undoing the wrongs his father has wrought, which is partly why I wished to speak to you in private. You had to do the same, and at a rather young age as well. Ah Xuan would never ask for your help, but if you offered it... If the Nie Sect publicly supported him as the new sect leader..."

Cocking his head, Nie Mingjue nodded, "It cannot be the Lan Sect because of your relationship with Jin Zixuan. Nor the Jiang Sect due to the bonds of marriage that will soon tie the two sects together. After all, it is now a question between pursuing Lady Jiang or facing Lady Wen's needles, and even I would not be foolish enough to choose the second option. I will admit that there was a time when I would have been reluctant to support your brother, but now... He has done what he set out to do, and more. He has proven his worth several times over, and he has grown ... and grown up. I do wish Huaisang would do the same..."

Meng Yao chuckled, "Maybe send him to us again? Or even to Lotus Pier? His interests and yours have never aligned, but I know that he is far more cunning and smarter than you give him credit for."

"You are still defending him, even now." Nie Mingjue shook his head. "Though come to think of it, he defended you as well, or at least tried to. The day when I cast you from the Unclean Realm, Huaisang, Wei Wuxian and Sect Leader Jiang spoke in your defence, but I simply wouldn't listen. And I am glad I did not. Or you and Xichen..."

"We always come to the same conclusion, don't we?" Meng Yao asked, glancing down the grand staircase with a smile. Zixuan was there with Qin Cangye, who was smiling at his future liege, and Qin Su. Perfect. "Things had to happen the way they did for us to end up where we are now. I would not risk changing the past even if I could for fear of losing the happiness I have found now, in the present." Starting to descend the stairs, Meng Yao remembered the first time he had walked down these steps, in a manner of speaking, and sighed. "I recall the day Jin Guangshan sent me away. I felt like such a failure, and yet I now know that it was for the best. Or I might have been turned into a second Xue Yang..."

"Shaving off people's beards while they are asleep you mean?" Nie Mingjue chuckled. "You were a good advisor to me, and I have missed your help greatly. However, I will admit that Huaisang has, at least at times, been able to make me listen to him. He is very much like you in the way he looks at the bigger picture when I cannot." Meng Yao smiled at that, secretly proud of both Nie brothers.

They had reached the landing in the middle of the two staircases, and Zixuan and his two guests were moving up to meet them. Meng Yao's gaze went to Qin Su and then Nie Mingjue, and once his eyes settled on his brother, he saw the twinkle in Zixuan's eyes. "Ah Yao. Chifeng-zun. I am so glad to meet you here, away from everyone else. Brother, Nie Sect Leader, you know Qin Sect Leader of course. This is his daughter, Qin Su." Qin Su bowed, and much to Meng Yao's surprise, Nie Mingjue bow was far deeper than it would normally be.

"My daughter," Qin Cangye smiled at Qin Su, "in all but blood. Ah Su is in fact a sister to both Jin Zixuan and Gusu Lingzhu. It is not something we wish to share publicly, but I know that the Nie Sect was as vital to the removal of Jin Guangshan as were the Jiang and Lan Sects. So there will be no secrets between us. After all, it is thanks to you that my eyes were opened to the deviant behaviour of my ... friend ." Zixuan nodded as did Meng Yao, but Nie Mingjue's attention was caught elsewhere. At least for a moment.

Pulling his gaze away from a blushing Qin Su, he muttered something about having to speak to Jiang Cheng before turning and climbing the stairs again. Qin Su chuckled, "And that is the man you wanted me to meet, Ah Yao? I would ask if it's something I said that drove him off, but I don't think I said even a word." She grinned and then turned to your father. "Would it be very forward of me if I followed Sect Leader Nie under some ... pretence, Father?"

Qin Cangye glanced at Meng Yao and then shook his head. "Did you know about this, Jin Zixuan?"

Zixuan shrugged, "Ah Yao may have mentioned something about ... something in passing. As Ah Su's brothers, is it not our duty to ensure she is happy? We both believe that she could be with Nie Mingjue."

"And it's not as if I'm being forced into anything, Father. His reaction ... it was exactly as Ah Yao anticipated. Also, you were correct. He looks so much better now. It's like day and night."

"Ah Su!" Qin Cangye exclaimed, but his daughter just laughed.

"These two are important men for you, I know, but to me they are my brothers. My older brothers at that, so they have to look out for me. And clearly they made a very good choice." Qin Su's eyes were sparkling merrily. "He doesn't believe in love, does he? Well, we shall see about that."

Qin Cangye glanced from Zixuan to Meng Yao, clearly seeking the help of either of them and finding none. "You would agree with Ah Su pursuing Nie Sect Leader?"

Meng Yao shrugged, "First of all, I don't think he could do better than our sister really. Secondly, some men have to be forced into happiness. Just look at Jiang Cheng. And thirdly, I believe this should be Ah Su's decision in the end, and not that of anyone else."

"Which is why I am going to ask him to escort me somewhere. No Cultivator of substance would decline a lady's request after all. So if you will excuse me, Ah Yao, Ah Xuan." She smirked at Zixuan and wiggled her eyes. "Lady Wen told me of what she said to you yesterday. I think you better start doing something or she will get you with those needles of hers..." With that she turned and followed Nie Mingjue and Qin Cangye sighed as he looked after her.

"As much as it pains me to admit it, knowing the truth has set us all free, especially Ah Su. She always longed for a bigger family, and I think she has gained the best brothers she could have asked for. You honour the Qin Sect."

"The honour is ours, Qin Sect Leader," Zixuan smiled before catching Meng Yao's gaze. "Though I fear your daughter has reminded me of something I need to speak to my brother about. Would you excuse us for the time being? Though rest assured that I will not forget the role you have played yesterday. I will see the Qin Sect rise to greater independence again, linked to the Jin Sect in friendship and not in servitude. As it should have been all along."

Qin Cangye bowed to them both before Zixuan pulled Meng Yao back up the stairs. "I ... I do not know what to do, Ah Yao," Zixuan muttered. "Lady Jiang ... I have wronged her so badly, and on a number of occasions. And even though Mother tells me that she is still interested in me, I do not feel..."

"Ah Xuan?" Meng Yao interrupted and gently touched his brother's shoulder. "Stop panicking. Do you truly think Lady Wen would have threatened you as she did if there was no chance for you to win Jiang Yanli's heart? Or rather her hand in marriage. I can see how she keeps glancing at you and I know that she is only waiting for you to, well, give her a sign if you will? As for what you should do, how about apologising to her? Or show her somehow that you do care?"

Zixuan worried his lower lip and then suddenly his eyes lit up. "The Paper People! I could visit her as ... Paper Zixuan, and then, once I know that she will not run away from me, I can..." Zixuan's eyes were filled with so much hope that Meng Yao felt his heart go out to his brother. Even though his idea was rather ... silly to say the least. "Would you help me? Watch over me while I become the Paper Person?"

Meng Yao nodded. "Let me have something to eat first, and then we can find Lady Jiang, and..."

"Ah Yao! Ah Xuan! I've been looking all over for you." That loud voice could only belong to Wei Wuxian. Meng Yao turned and yes, there his friend was, still walking gingerly, but with a big smile on his face. That turned into a pout as he drew close to the other two men. "Your husband and my very own Cultivation Partner kicked me out. Can you believe that?" His expression switched again, and his smile now was dreamy. "My ... Cultivation Partner... I can't believe I can call Lan Zhan that now. Ah Yao! Ah Xuan! I have a Cultivation Partner! Me! Wei Wuxian ... Wei Ying..."

"Two year old Xian Xian..." Meng Yao laughed and Wei Wuxian elbowed him in the side playfully.

"I think I'm at least old enough for ... certain things now," Wei Wuxian wiggled his eyebrows and Zixuan groaned. "What? You're just jealous because you still haven't..." Pressing his lips together, Wei Wuxian shook his head. "No. I'm not thinking about Senior Sister that way! Anyway, Ah Xuan? When are you going to do something about Ah Li? I understand that Ah Qing has threatened you with her needles, and believe me, she is serious about those threats. So? You obviously already roped Ah Yao into helping you, but don't worry, I'm available as well. Lan Zhan told me to go away for at least half a day so he can ... discuss his punishment with his brother. What punishment?"

It was Meng Yao's turn to groan. "You remember the family rules? While Ah Huan does not see them as binding outside of the Cloud Recesses, Wangji will follow all of them even away from our home. As you might have noticed..."

"You mean like the 'don't talk while eating' business?" Wei Wuxian's eyes widened. "Oh... There are rules against ... certain things before marriage, aren't there?"

Meng Yao nodded, "As I said, Ah Huan was far more at ease when it came to breaking certain rules in the past, and even now. I am hoping that he can make Wangji see reason. Though I will warn you. The next time you visit the Cloud Recesses you will either have to stay at one of the guesthouses or you will have to take three bows with Wangji. Otherwise Lan Qiren might just die of shock."

"Marriage?!" Wei Wuxian squeaked, and turned his head from Meng Yao to Zixuan and back again in a rather comical way. "You really think Lan Zhan would want to..."

"Ah Xian ... he is your Cultivation Partner. He has been in love with you forever," Meng Yao sighed. "Do you truly think he would want to marry anyone else but you? It is true that I felt the same way when it comes to Ah Huan, but please, Ah Xian... Don't be like me in this. You and Wangji are perfectly matched."

"You're my friend. You're meant to say things like that. At any rate, I'll speak to Lan Zhan about it later. Anyway..." Reaching into his robes, he threw a warm steamed bun at Meng Yao. "Xichen said you hadn't eaten yet. And we have places to be and things to do, and some more matchmaking to put into action." Hooking his arm around Zixuan's neck, Wei Wuxian grinned. "So you and Senior Sister. You better treat her well or I will set all of the Ghost Puppets of the Burial Mounds on you. But first, you have to win her over after doing such a spectacular job of hurting her. Now, she's in the gardens right now I believe. What were you planning to do?"

Zixuan explained his idea of using a Paper Person while Meng Yao ate his bun, and by the time they reached the gardens, Wei Wuxian was nodding happily while Zixuan turned paler by the step. "Maybe now is not the right time after all. She probably wants to be left alone after spending her morning with Mother..."

Both Meng Yao and Wei Wuxian glared at Zixuan. Pointing at a bench, Wei Wuxian waited until Zixuan was seated before speaking. "You will sit here like a good boy and listen to me. I will go over to my sister and hand Paper Zixuan to her. The rest is up to you. You know how to turn the Paper Person more ... Jin Sect, yes?"

Jin Zixuan nodded and pulled a Paper Person out of his robes. It was golden and almost glowing, the emblem of the Jin Sect emblazoned on its stomach. "You will sit with me, won't you, Ah Yao?" Meng Yao was already sitting beside his brother. "Alright then." Taking a deep breath, he brought two fingers to his forehead and then sent spiritual energy into the small paper figure that glowed for a moment before it began to move. Hopping into Wei Wuxian's hand, it was scratching its chin, and Wei Wuxian smiled even as the real Zixuan slumped against Meng Yao.

"You'll be fine, Ah Xuan. Senior Sister has been waiting for a long time for this after all. So you better not screw it up." With that, he turned and walked down the path that would lead him to his sister.

Meng Yao held Zixuan up as well as he could, looking around the gardens and smiling at the Koi that were swimming in the small pond they were sitting next to. Before long however Zixuan stirred again and sighed deeply. "Ah Xian truly did help," he whispered. "I ... I may owe my happiness to the both of you. Excuse me while I ... I should go and give a true apology to Lady Jiang. All I could do was bow to her as Ah Xian explained what I wanted to tell her. Better than I could have done myself. I ... Ah Yao? I think I will need your help with a wedding celebration before the year is out. Or so I hope. She ... she smiled at me. Or at Paper Zixuan as Ah Xian put it." He stood, and bowed deeply to Meng Yao. "Thank you for all your help, Ah Yao. Thank you for being the brother I never had in the past..."

Meng Yao tried to get to his feet, but Zixuan shook his head. Sighing, Meng Yao simply replied, "I could say the exact same thing, Ah Xuan. There were times when I longed to have a brother so very much, and now ... now I have not only a brother, but also a sister and quite possibly a much larger family still. Thank you for not turning away from me when you could have..."

"While this is all very nice and good, Ah Xuan has somewhere else to be." Wei Wuxian was strolling up to them again, his smirk as always firmly in place. "Hurry before Senior Sister changes her mind again."

Zixuan blinked and quickly brushed past Wei Wuxian, the black-clad man grinning at his retreating back. Once he was out of sight though, Wei Wuxian grabbed Meng Yao's arm and pulled him up and with him. "And where, pray tell, are we going?"

"Where else? We have to watch that Ah Xuan doesn't screw things up again. Else I'll be forced to summon Ghost Puppets, and that's just tedious work. People think Demonic Cultivation is so awesome and evil ... it really is just hard work." He was half pouting, half still grinning as he pushed Meng Yao into the bushes lining the paths and moments later, they were not only near enough to hear Jiang Yanli and Zixuan, but they could also see them. Meng Yao felt both immensely uncomfortable, but at the same time, curiosity was about to get the better of him. Especially when he saw his friend's bright smile.

"I know you were helping Ah Cheng and Ah Xian, and judging by how Ah Xian was actually bringing you to me earlier, and the way he has been speaking of you of late, you have clearly come to an understanding. I guess that is why ... you waited until now? Given what Ah Qing has told me about your father..." She shook her head. "I will of course never repeat the things I have heard, you have my word. I simply..." It was quite obvious that she wanted to reach out and touch Zixuan's arm.

Zixuan was worrying his lips, eyes averted where he stood in front of Jiang Yanli. "I ... I admit that I was afraid I might have lost my chance. Chances really. The way I spoke to you in our camp is unforgivable, truly, and I would understand it if you never wished to speak to me again. But I wanted you to know that I ... I would be honoured if you would allow me to ... to care for you, to protect and look after you. Here, in Lanling. I know that you will miss your home, but I am certain Ah Xian would help me plant a lotus pond or two for you. I would..."

Jiang Yanli chuckled, the sound happy and carefree. "Ah Qing was right. Men can be very foolish. Zixuan ... I would be more than delighted to remain here in Carp Tower. With ... with you." She moved closer then, and Wei Wuxian gasped softly. Touching Zixuan's cheek, she leaned closer to place a tender kiss on his lips before turning to the bush they were hiding in and calling, "You two can come out now. While I do appreciate that you wished to ensure things would work out, I also feel that you have no faith at all in your siblings. Truly Ah Xian ... Ah Yao." The two men scrambled out of their hiding spot, and Jiang Yanli belied her words by hugging both of them.

"Given Ah Xuan's track record, we simply wanted to ensure that you would be fine. Both of you." Wei Wuxian was pouting for a moment before pulling Zixuan into a hug as well. "Remember what I said would happen if you hurt Ah Li again? You better believe that I meant it. I think Jiang Cheng will simply break your legs, but Ah Qing... Those needles are truly terrifying."

"Xian Xian, stop scaring Zixuan," Jiang Yanli admonished Wei Wuxian, but he just shrugged and grinned. "At any rate, I am guessing that ... that we are betrothed again?" She lowered her eyes and blushed as she seemed to study to ground rather intently.

Zixuan clasped her hands in his and nodded, "It is my greatest wish. If you are willing to forgive me for my ... foolishness in the past. I fear I believe that the only reason you wished to marry me was to fulfil our parents' wishes, and when I finally figured out the truth, it was too late..."

Jiang Yanli shook her head as she raised her gaze to Zixuan. "It is not too late. And I ... I did not wish to marry you just because of our parents. Not after meeting you during your coming of age celebrations. I..."

"Alright, alright. So you are engaged. Again. Old news. Ah Yao? Shall we go tell Jiang Cheng? And more importantly Ah Qing so she puts away those dreadful instruments of turture!" Wei Wuxian grinned. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do you two. Though come to think of it, that leaves you a lot to do..." He scratched his chin and smirked.

Zixuan groaned and Jiang Yanli giggled. "While we are all happy for you, and we are, you do not have to tell us the details of what you and Hanguang-jun..." Zixuan shivered and turned to Jiang Yanli. "I may not be able to inform Father anymore, but will you come with me to see Mother? She will be overjoyed to hear our news, and it will allow her to ... not worry all day..."

"She's a good actress, I give her that," Wei Wuxian commented and Meng Yao nodded in agreement. "Especially given the fact that it was plain to see that there was no love lost between your parents. Maybe some day in the past, but now?"

Zixuan glanced at Meng Yao. "Given that you were born a full year before me, I would say that Father never considered Mother's feelings. It was a marriage of politics, not love. At least for him. Which is why I am glad that ... that our betrothal was called off at first." He turned to Jiang Yanli and smiled gently. "This way you and the world will know that I am not like him. I would never ... I would never do to you what he did to Mother. I ... I love you, Lady Jiang." She glanced up at him with something close to a frown. "Yanli... And I am not afraid to say so in front of my brother and yours. I do love you. It pains me to know just how much I wronged you..."

"That's in the past," Jiang Yanli smiled as she touched his cheek once more. "Let us go see Lady Jin. If you will allow it, I would stay here to help you during the time of ... sorrow that is clearly about to begin."

"Because everyone is so sad to see Jin Guangshan get his just desserts, right..." Wei Wuxian grumbled, rolling his eyes as he caught Meng Yao's gaze.

"And yet there are happier days on the horizon as well, Ah Xian," Meng Yao whispered. "I ... I feel sorry for him. He's never known what the four of us clearly have found. A sense of belonging that comes with loving someone and being loved in return." Wei Wuxian nodded, and Zixuan and Jiang Yanli soon joined in.

"You will excuse us then, Ah Yao? Ah Xian? And please, do not tell your brother yet, Ah Xian. I think we would like to tell him and Lady Wen ourselves. We will not be able to make our betrothal public given the circumstances, but..."

"You can still have a private ceremony," Wei Wuxian winked and Jiang Yanli glared at him. "Just like Ah Cheng and Ah Qing did. Though you might want to speak to sister-in-law about taking something so you don't..."

"Ah Xian!" Jiang Yanli glared daggers at her brother. "As Hanguang-jun always says, you truly are shameless." Turning to Zixuan, she motioned towards the path. "Shall we? I think my brother is incapable of saying anything of import today, clearly far too occupied with certain new developments in his own life.” Zixuan nodded and slowly reached out to take her hand, making Jiang Yanli beam happily. Hand in hand, they turned, leaving Wei Wuxian and Meng Yao behind, the two men smiling at each other. That morning had indeed been very successful.

Chapter Text

Jin Guangshan passed away four days after the unfortunate stroke that had been brought on by too much drink at the banquet, and Carp Tower turned from golden to black and white. Paper money was being burned for him, but while Madame Jin had sat with her late husband's coffin for a day, afterwards she had allowed servants to take her place while she made the necessary arrangements for Jin Zixuan's ascension to the rank of Jin Sect Leader.

Most of the smaller sects' leaders had commiserated with both Madame Jin and Zixuan, but Sect Leaders Yao and Ouyang voiced their concerns about the circumstances of Jin Guangshan's stroke and subsequent death, both suspecting some sort of foul play. The only thing that kept them from accusing the Lan, Jiang and Nie Sects was the fact that Jin Zixuan had also attended the meeting with Jin Guangshan the day of the hunt and banquet. It was obvious though that they would keep a very close eye not only on the new Jin Sect Leader, but also on the heads of the other three great sects.

As if that wasn't troubling enough though, neither Meng Yao's little spy network nor Madame Jin's had been able to find any clues as to the whereabouts of Jin Zixun or Su She. The two men seemed to have disappeared off the face of the earth, and what was worse was the news that had come from the manor near Yiling. While many of the Cultivators had been killed or captured, the leaders of each of the research groups had evaporated into thin air as well ... using Portal Talismans.

Now, three months after the death of Meng Yao's father, and near the end of the mourning period, Meng Yao found himself at Madame Lee's in the rooms he had shared with Lan Xichen so many moons ago; his brother, Wei Wuxian and Xue Yang sitting with him as he served them tea. Xichen had been called away to where their child was about to be born, and Meng Yao had been torn between joining him and speaking with the other three men.

Zixuan, draped in white, was officially still at Carp Tower and had used a Portal Talisman of his own to make the initial part of his journey to Yiling. He would do the same on his way back, painfully aware that his every move was being watched. "Yanli is doing her best to entertain the sect leaders Yao and Ouyang, and Mother ensured that a rumour was spread that Yanli and I entered into a renewed betrothal on the day of the hunt, before Father fell ill. That way, she is allowed to fulfil certain duties that would otherwise all fall to Mother. However, we all simply wish to throw them out of Carp Tower and Lanling."

It was unheard of for guests to overstay their welcome in such a way, and yet, the funeral and mourning period had given both of them the perfect opportunity. The two men and their sects had clearly benefited far more from Jin Guangshan than anyone had so far known, and now they worried that they would lose whatever influence they had garnered. It did not help that the leaders of the great sects did not particularly like them, nor that they didn't even attempt to hide this. Even Xichen saw them as nothing but opportunists and fair weather friends. For Jiang Cheng, especially Sect Leader Yao was something even worse. The Jiang Sect had saved the man after all, and now? What thanks did they get?

"I could see to them having an accident of sorts," Xue Yang suggested with a smirk, and Wei Wuxian nodded in agreement. "Just an accident that will send them home, nothing permanent. I fear Ah Chen would not appreciate it, and we only just got married, I don't want to upset him too much just yet." Zixuan looked at both black clad men as if he was close to accepting whatever they could come up with to rid him of the two sect leaders, but Meng Yao knew he would not agree ultimately.

"As much as I would love to be rid of them, it is only another week or so at most. After that, they won't have an excuse anymore since Ah Li and I have not even decided on a date for the wedding yet." Smiling at Wei Wuxian, Zixuan added, "Besides, I was hoping Lotus Pier might host us? Ah Li misses her old home, and it will also demonstrate that our two sects are truly close. That it is not a marriage of politics..."

"Anyone seeing the two of you together will realise that," Meng Yao winked at his brother before turning to the other two men. They had been working together over the past three months, in secret and hiding, in the very place their opponents so desperately wished to get to. "Have you been able to find out where the Yin Metal Piece is?"

Xue Yang shook his head, grumbling, "They know how to mask it. I fear that's thanks to me. But we did find a way to trace unnaturally large concentrations of resentful energy. Not that it is of great help at present. After all the fighting and the deaths the Sunshot Campaign brought with it, there is resentful energy nearly everywhere. However, Wei Ying here and his dearly beloved or as I like to call him 'I have no sense of humour at all' Lan Wangji will be travelling the land to inspect each of the places we have found, so eventually we will be able to say where our dearest friends are."

Wei Wuxian snorted, "You pretended to be possessed by the Yin Metal. All he was trying to do was calm your mind."

"While you knew exactly what I was doing and very nearly rolled on the floor laughing. That's why he extended that bloody Muting Spell to a whole hour! And placed it on me! When you were the one..."

"As his Cultivation Partner I have certain privileges that you do not. He simply felt that the two of us should not always be able to communicate." Shrugging, Wei Wuxian added, "He doesn't know about the sign language Ah Yao has come up with." Eyes suddenly wide, he turned to glare at Zixuan. "You didn't hear that. It's information that's shared on a need to know basis..."

"And I do not need to know," Zixuan smirked. "Nor do I want to know the details of what the three of you get up to when you're in the Burial Mounds. The thought of having the three most brilliant minds in the Cultivation World working together would normally be comforting, but then I remember just who Ah Xian and Xue Yang are, and I begin to worry."

"Don't worry your pretty little head," Xue Yang bestowed his most evil smile upon Zixuan. "I never wanted power or world domination. I thought I wanted revenge, but it turns out having Ah Chen is so much better. And candy. Candy is a must. So you better keep providing me with it, future Jin Sect Leader, or who knows?" He shrugged, eyes sparkling menacingly. "I might go insane again. And we wouldn't want that, would we?"

Wei Wuxian chuckled and then turned to Meng Yao again, his face turning serious. "It would be best if you and Xichen gave us a reason to travel the world, an official one that is. Like finding more disciples for the Lan and Jiang Sects for example. Most of the sects are still looking to rebuild after all, so that would be a perfect ruse. Besides, I have been rather shameless in showing my affections for Lan Zhan, in public no less, so maybe the people who would normally spy on us will simply think that we are off to ... entertain ourselves away from the strict rules of the Cloud Recesses. After all, they don't know that we ... that..." Wei Wuxian suddenly blushed.

Xue Yang shook his head and giggled, "You took three bows, so what? It's a common thing around these parts at the moment. Though when are you going to have your official ‘look we're getting married’ wedding? I know Ah Chen and I didn't make a big thing of it, but that's because we can't have Jin Zixun and Su She know about it and figure out that I am working against them now. But you two? The great Hero of the Sunshot and Master of both Sword and Demonic Cultivation and the upstanding second Jade of Lan, Hanguang-jun? The public live for stuff like that, shallow as they are. I should have killed a few more of them when I had the chance, just to show them what I think of them."

"Except you never killed anyone who wasn't a Cultivator," Meng Yao pointed out, and Xue Yang shrugged.

"Minor details, Gusu Lingzhu. Minor details. Anyway, there is another way I could try to get in contact with my dearest friends." Xue Yang's expression became sober. "I ... I could cast a curse on one of them, and use that to track them. It would have to be a fairly bad one though, like the Hundred Holes Curse. I know it will have a backlash onto me, which means once I cast it, I cannot go anywhere near Ah Chen or he will know exactly what I've done. And he won't be happy, which isn't something I ever want to see. I can mask the fact that it was me who cast the curse, and I'm sure I can come up with an explanation for how I found them."

Meng Yao shook his head and was about to point out how dangerous such a move would be when Wei Wuxian hummed, "That might actually work. As long as you're careful. They will be suspicious, though at the same time I'm guessing it was you who taught them all they know about Demonic Cultivation, right?" Xue Yang nodded. "I think they will be glad to see you then, and not ask too many questions. As for the curse, how about you make them believe that it was me? I'm unpredictable after all and might still take offence to either Su She's betrayal of the Lan Sect, or even better, Jin Zixun's insults during the hunt. Let's curse him."

Glancing at Zixuan, Meng Yao shook his head. They were seriously considering cursing another Cultivator? No matter what Jin Zixun had done in the past and was planning to do in the future, surely there had to be another way? Zixuan sighed eventually and shrugged, "We need to find them, Ah Yao. And as much as I would like to not stoop to Father's level, we have to consider the fact that they still possess one shard of the Yin Metal. Given what Xue Yang has told us regarding its uses, I fear it is far more important to find my cousin and Su She, not to mention the other Cultivators from the manor. We can think of the moral implications of our deeds after it is all over."

"I hope you don't think there's any moral implication when it comes to the late Jin Sect Leader's passing, Master Jin. Your father was ... a monster. I say this as one of his finest creations. Trust me, given what I know of his plans, what Zhao Zhuliu did to him was almost merciful. He deserved far worse than simply having his Core melted, believe me. I know he was your father, but at the same time, was he ever truly a father to either of you? I know he wasn't to Gusu Lingzhu..."

Zixuan shook his head. "There was a time when I thought he cared for me, but I know that was never true. I was a pawn for him, just as Ah Yao would have been had he become Jin Guangyao. No. He was no father to any of his children. Though I still cannot think of what might have been worse than having his Core melted..."

"Oh, I don't know," Xue Yang grinned. "Wake him up again after losing his Core and then perform Lingchi on him? I'd have loved to be the executioner. Though of course then we couldn't have told everyone that his death was a tragic accident..." Meng Yao shuddered. Lingchi was the worst way to kill anyone, and he was firm in his opinion that no one, not even the worst criminal, deserved to die in such a brutal way. Xue Yang clearly realised that this talk of Lingchi made him uncomfortable though and relented, "I'm sorry. I guess as always things turned out for the best. Though I do wish we could have captured Su She and Jin Zixun at the same time. We wouldn't be in this pickle if we had."

"I still cannot believe that you are willing to cast such a dark curse... Just to find them." Meng Yao sighed. "Though I guess Ah Xuan is right. Our hands are tied in ways they weren't before. While Qin Cangye might be able to help keep the smaller sects' leaders at least somewhat calm and quiet, we know that the Yao and Ouyang Sects will not be cowed. As deep as they must have been in Jin Guangshan's pockets, does it truly explain their actions? What if they were involved in ... all of this. The Yin Metal, the experiments..." That would be particularly strange for the oh so upstanding Sect Leader Yao, but anyone could tell themselves that what they were doing was just and the right thing to do. His father surely had done so and never questioned his methods.

Zixuan nodded, "While Sect Leader Yao always says the world is black and white, I do believe that he deems himself the person who can say what is black and what is white. Who knows what he and his sect were promised in exchange for him signing over his soul..." He turned to Xue Yang. "You would know of this, wouldn't you?"

"I wish I did. All I was ever told was that he had allies. Having said that though, at least Jin Zixun would know more. He was, after all, Lianfang-zun. Not to mention all the coded papers that were liberated from the manor. With my help, I'm sure we can decode them. I know that Wei Ying and Gusu Lingzhu," he nodded at both of them, "have already tried to get to the bottom of the lot of them, but you might need the eyes of someone who's ... well ... a known good-for-nothing hooligan. One who was involved in most of Jin Guangshan's deeds..."

"Be my guest," Wei Wuxian sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I've been cooped up with Ah Yao for way too long already. People will start to talk that the two Jades of Lan are far more liberal than previously assumed and that they share their lovers and don't even mind if said lovers... Hmmmm!"

Meng Yao smiled sweetly. "Firstly, dearest Ah Xian, we are their husbands, and secondly, as much as I like you, and I do like you, you cannot even begin to compare to Ah Huan in my eyes. Not to mention that Ah Huan would do more than silence you for a while if he heard what you just said. I would imagine Wangji might feel the same as well." Then he waved his hand and took immense pleasure from watching Wei Wuxian open and close his mouth like a fish, not uttering a word.

Xue Yang, however, was not so easily silenced. "Jealous, huh? Oh, I like that in a guy. You wouldn't believe just how possessive Ah Chen can be when he wants to. You both are truly lucky." He winked and wiggled his eyebrows. "Anyway, those papers... I guess here is as good a spot as anywhere else to work on them? Not to mention that Madame Lee seems to adore me, not that I blame her. And it's close enough to Lotus Pier for Ah Chen to visit me..." His smirk grew. "The bed in the room I had here last time was rather comfortable after all."

Zixuan rose to his feet. "I think this is the moment for me to take my leave. Ah Yao, Ah Xian, I will see you in a week's time, I am sure. Xue Yang ... please keep your lovelife to yourself next time we meet. Thank you." Turning to Meng Yao and Wei Wuxian, he bowed briefly. "If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know. And brother, I do expect to meet my nephew or niece as soon as possible." He smiled before moving to the doors, nearly colliding with an excited Madame Lee.

"Oh? Are you already leaving us, Ah Xuan? Such a shame. Give my regards to Madame Jin and tell her that she is far better off without the lecherous bastard that was your father."

Zixuan chuckled and nodded. "She knows. She wishes to visit with you once everything has settled somewhat. But for now, yes, I'm afraid I have to leave again. Even though I regret it given your state of excitement which must mean that..."

She nodded. "Ah Yao. It is time. Wen Qing just sent a message that you better hurry or your son or daughter will arrive without you. Not that you will be there in the room with Meili." Meng Yao and the other two men rose and Madame Lee beamed. "And do not worry, Meili will not cause you any trouble. She has already booked passage on a ship to take her to Dongying. The money you provided her with will allow her to start a new life there and she eais only too happy to help Meng Shi's son before she does so. Now come, we have to go."

Both Xue Yang and Wei Wuxian had to practically drag Meng Yao along for suddenly his feet had seemingly forgotten how to work. He would be a ... a father. What had he been thinking when he suggested this to Xichen? How was he to be a father when he had never had one. When the man who had sired him had stooped so low and hired men to torment him? He shuddered as he was pulled down this street and that alleyway until they reached the town house Meili had been living in for the past few months.

Stepping into the main reception room, Madame Lee excusing herself as she went to see to Meili and Wen Qing, Meng Yao's eyes settled on a pacing Xichen, and his own worries disappeared. "Ah Huan? Is everything alright?" Xichen's eyes snapped up as he heard his name, and he sighed, holding out his hands to Meng Yao who moved to his husband's side immediately and took them. "You look as if you have seen a ghost..."

Xichen shook his head, forcing a smile. "I am simply nervous. And happy. At the same time. A child. Before long you and I will be able to hold our daughter or son in our arms and we will truly be a family. Even the most stubborn of the Elders will not be able to fault our bond then." Yes, there had still been talk about how Xichen should have married the daughter of one of the nearby smaller sects and not an illegitimate son of Jin Guangshan. A man who would never be able to provide Xichen with an heir nor the Lan Sect with influence. Elder Huian was the worst when it came to pointing out Meng Yao's flaws, and while he managed to remain aloof around her, her words did hurt.

"They are just unhappy with all the changes Ah Yao has already put into place," Wei Wuxian said as he shrugged. "But don't let that discourage you. You are doing the best for the Lan Sect and for Gusu. Last time I visited, I did stop at an inn in Caiyi Town and overheard the locals speak of the great Gusu Lingzhu. They love you. They've always been rather glad to have the Cloud Recesses nearby of course, but you, Ah Yao, you have truly made a difference to their daily lives. One might get the feeling that you grew up amongst the common folk and know of their needs and dreams..." He winked and patted Meng Yao's shoulder.

"I'd say the Elders are probably far more upset about Wei Ying and Lan Zhan being a thing now," Xue Yang grinned and Wei Wuxian nodded, punching his own chest with his fist a few times.

"And don't you forget it. I think Lan Qiren had a bit of a fit when he found out, especially when Lan Zhan told him that we had already taken three bows in private before coming to the Cloud Recesses. I bet he would have loved to see me sleep in one of the guesthouses and not the Jingshi..."

Meng Yao shook his head, "You are..."

"Shameless? Yes, I am well aware of it. Though..." Wei Wuxian's smile faded as his expression turned pensive. "Shouldn't we contact Lan Zhan? He will want to be around for the birth of our second niece or nephew."

Xichen blinked. "I sent a Paper Butterfly to him earlier this morning. I hope he will make it in time. Wen Qing says it won't take much longer..." He lowered his head and rested it against Meng Yao's forehead. "I do not think I have ever been this nervous except for on our wedding day. Could ... could your brother not stay?"

Meng Yao shook his head, but it was Xue Yang who replied, "He had to return to Carp Tower since for all intents and purposes he was still there. I should return to my little hiding place as well before Ah Chen sends someone to rescue me. Wei Ying? You're staying yes? Send word to Lotus Pier when the babe arrives. I know that Lady Wen will do so anyway, but I'd love to know before your brother does."

"As long as you tell Jiang Cheng that it was I who sent the message then by all means. I think I have a few of Lan Zhan's Paper Butterflies still, so keep an eye out." Wei Wuxian wiggled his eyebrows and Xue Yang nodded happily and then waved and used one of the many Portal Talismans he kept on himself. He was getting better at using them, all of them were. They had to.

"I do love how other people decide who learns about our child at what point. I thought it was the parent's call, but clearly I was mistaken." Xichen was chuckling and pulled away only to replace his forehead with his lips. "Both Ah Xian and Xue Yang were right though. You are truly loved by the people of Gusu, so do not worry about anything. Not now. Not when we are about to meet our child..."

It did not take long for Wangji to arrive, and Meng Yao glanced up from where Wei Wuxian had all but forced him to sit and drink some tea to calm his nerves. At least he had followed his friend's orders quietly, Xichen had been far harder to calm. Wei Wuxian had been forced to pull out Chenqing to play a Spirit Calming Tune before Xichen had finally sat down next to his husband, a cup of tea in his hands and a frown on his face.

"Older brother, second brother," Wangji bowed to both Xichen and Meng Yao before smiling at Wei Wuxian. In his hands were two white bottles. Emperor's Smile . Holding them up, he inclined his head. "I thought today called for some celebrations..."

"Great," Wei Wuxian smirked as he grabbed both bottles. "What did you bring for Ah Yao and Xichen?"

Wangji just glanced at his ... husband and shook his head. It was then that they heard a scream of agony followed by... Wei Wuxian's eyes lit up. "The baby! I hope it's a girl because if it is, Jiang Cheng owes me quite a bit of money. If it's a boy... Lan Zhan? Now that we're married, we do share things, right? Like money as well..."

"I cannot believe that you placed a bet on the gender of our child!" Meng Yao exclaimed as he struggled to his feet, even though the truth was that he could believe it very well. Wei Wuxian would bet on anything that he could to gain a few bottles here, a bit of money there ... he had even tried to do so at the Cloud Recesses and Lan Qiren had given him quite the tongue lashing afterwards. Not that it had stopped Wei Wuxian from trying again the next day.

"Well, all of your betting and guessing days are over for now," came Wen Qing's somewhat tired voice from the doorway. Meng Yao and Xichen were by her side within moments, staring at the small bundle in her arms. "May I present you with your heiress, Zewu-jun?" she bowed formally as she held out their ... their daughter to Xichen. "She is perfectly healthy as is Meili. She wishes you both all the best with your daughter. Yours. She was adamant I say it this way. The only thing she wanted me to make arrangements for was a wet nurse, but I fear I was beaten to that by none other but Teacher Lan."

Xichen's hands were shaking as he took hold of their daughter, and once she was in his arms he moved to Meng Yao's side so they could both glance at her. Her face was red and crunched up somehow, and there was a rather large patch of dark hair already on her head. Her eyes were open, and if Meng Yao wasn't very much mistaken, she was smiling at them. She was... "She's perfect," Xichen whispered as if he could read Meng Yao's mind. "You are perfect, Lan Shi..." He turned his head to Meng Yao and smiled. "Forgive me for naming her without you, but I knew you would not think it ... necessary to name her after your mother, and I... She is our daughter, Ah Yao. Our dearest little Ah Shi...."

Eyes filling with tears, Meng Yao reached out to touch their daughter's cheek, hand sliding down to a perfect little hand that latched onto his index finger like a vise. "Ah Shi..." He could scarcely believe that Xichen had wished to do this, to name their daughter...

Xichen gently passed the babe into Meng Yao's arms and then touched his husband's cheek. "Your mother has, in a way, brought us together and I know she has been watching over us ever since. It is only befitting that she should once again be a part of our family. I would have dearly loved to meet her, but in little Ah Shi, she will live on. Just as she does in you, Ah Yao." Xichen then took Meng Yao and Lan Shi into his arms, holding them close and yet being gentle and careful not to squish the baby. "My family..."

"And ours," Wei Wuxian smiled and nudged Wangji to move closer. "She is truly beautiful." Leaning close enough for the babe to be able to make out his face, he pitched his voice to be more childlike and grinned, "Hello, Ah Shi. I'm your Uncle Wei, and I brought you something that all of my nieces and nephews will receive without fail." Wen Qing gasped, clearly already aware what Wei Wuxian was talking about. Reaching into his robes, he pulled out a small box and handed it to Xichen. "Go on, open it. She can't do so yet, but let this be the first thing you do for her as her father. Open her first ever gift."

Xichen inclined his head and took the box. Opening revealed a bracelet made up of twelve intricately carved beads that gave off a strong aura of protection. "I might have known," Wen Qing whispered. "This is why you wanted those herbs that would keep you awake and refresh you so you wouldn't have to sleep so much. It's the same you made for Ah Zhen and Ah Ying, isn't it?"

Wei Wuxian nodded, "If Ah Shi wears this, lesser hob-goblins, demons, ghosts and monsters will give her a rather wide berth. Xue Yang helped me with this one since he wished to give you something as a thank you for being so, and I quote, 'bloody persistent about getting him to come around'. Both of you." Reaching into his robes again, he held out another box, "Two charms. Not as powerful, but they will keep little Ah Shi's parents safe." Smirking at Wen Qing, he grinned, "Don't worry, Ah Qing, he made the same for you and my idiot brother. And for Senior Sister and the Flower Peacock ... also known as Ah Xuan."

Meng Yao, still trying to contain his emotions, had to chuckle. "I think I will worry if ever you stop insulting my brother in this way. You are friends, and yet ... this strange rivalry between you two will quite possibly never die down."

"I mean, I won on practically every front. I got married before him, and even have a child or rather two before him. In a manner of speaking." Wei Wuxian beamed at Wangji who simply took a deep breath. Wei Wuxian was of course speaking of both Lan Yuan, now Lan Sizhui, and Lan Jingyi who he had been doting on at every opportunity. This too had landed him in quite a pickle with Lan Qiren, but once again Teacher Lan's lecture had resulted in very little. Jingyi had started to favour Wei Wuxian as a teacher while Sizhui still glanced at Wangji as if he was the sun and the moon all rolled into one.

"Elder brother, Ah Yao," Wangji said in his usual calm tone, but the smile upon his lips extended to his eyes as he glanced down at his little niece, "Ah Shi. I promise that I will watch over you and guard you with my life. You are a blessing for the Lan Sect, and for our family." Glancing straight at Meng Yao, he bowed, "Thank you, Brother Yao, Gusu Lingzhu ... Ah Yao. You have brought happiness into my brother's heart and into all of our lives. I will never forget what you have done for Xichen ... and for me. If there is anything I can ever do to repay you..."

The babe began to cry just then, and Xichen chuckled, "You could start by watching over her for us? Right this second maybe?" Wei Wuxian's expression was truly priceless even though Meng Yao knew his beloved would never hand over their daughter, not this early on. Turning to Wen Qing, Xichen enquired, "The wet nurse, is she here? Ah Shi might be hungry after the ordeal of being born."

"Or she is simply sleepy. Just look at her..." The physician cooed. "Just like my little Ah Zhen, aren't you? You are tired, but the world is so big and so interesting, not to mention that you just met your parents." Pointing at first Meng Yao and then Xichen, she smiled at the little girl. "This is your first father, Meng Yao, who is truly one of the best people I know in this whole wide world. He is also utterly cute, but don't let him hear that I said so." Meng Yao blushed, lowering his gaze to look at the now only sniffling babe. "And this here is your second father, Lan Xichen. He's very important as he's a great sect leader, and quite possibly will become the Chief Cultivator before long. So if you see him frown, just assume it's because of all the idiots he had to deal with on a regular basis. Like your Uncle Wei..."

"Excuse me?" Wei Wuxian piped up as Meng Yao had known he would. "Don't listen to your Auntie Qing, she's spreading lies of the most vicious kind. Just ask Ah Zhen and Ah Ying, they adore me and they will be your friends, don't worry about that. Truly though, I am the best uncle you can wish for, so don't let such slanderous words fool you. Not that you would, you're far too clever for that. I mean, you are Ah Yao's daughter after all, and he's the smartest man I know. And the kindest. And yes also the cutest, right after my Lan Zhan. Who's your uncle as well, by the way, the boring one. He will teach you all about the Lan Sect's rules, whereas I will show you how to climb trees and the like..."

Wangji muttered "Shameless" even as Meng Yao shook his head. "You know that she is not really my daughter, right? She is Ah Huan's..."

"Poppycock!" came Wen Qing's reply moments before Xichen had been able to complain. "Did you not hear me? She is your daughter just as much as Zewu-jun's, Ah Yao. And the sooner you get that fact into this thick head of yours, the better." Smirking at Wei Wuxian then, she added, "Though I do feel like betting on what she will call her two parents. Zewu-jun will be Father for anything else might cause Lan Qiren to have a heart attack, and Ah Yao will be Papa . What odds are you willing to give me on that?" She dragged Wei Wuxian away and Meng Yao couldn't help but chuckle again.

"I have a feeling that Wen Qing might be correct in that assessment, and we would not want to cause Uncle such a grievous injury, would we?" He began to gently rock the babe in his arms, Xichen's gaze shifting between watching their daughter and watching him. "You have so many people who love you already, and who will protect you against anything and everything. My beloved little Ah Shi..." Unable to hold back his tears any longer, Meng Yao allowed them to fall even as the baby fell asleep with a happy noise of contentment. Xichen's arms were warm around his waist, and he felt his beloved's lips at his temple. Love filled his heart to the brim, and he felt himself smiling despite his tears. A family. He had a true family now.

Chapter Text

A week later found them all in Carp Tower to celebrate the end of the mourning period for Jin Guangshan. Madame Jin looked resplendent in her golden gown, and Zixuan was unable to stop smiling as he walked into the banqueting hall, Jiang Yanli at his side. Their renewed betrothal had been announced officially that very morning and all the sect leaders had been falling over themselves to congratulate the young couple. Except for Sect Leader Yao who had stayed behind after expressing his discontentment at the betrothal's announcement this soon after the former sect leader's death. He had left Carp Tower after greeting the leaders of the great three sects for not doing so would have been beyond insulting.

Sect Leader Ouyang was now sitting next to Qin Cangye, and it only took a few words to figure out just why he had been so reluctant to leave Lanling before. His wife, it turned out, had been in the last stages of a secret pregnancy, secret since she had miscarried several times and her husband had become rather paranoid about making her condition known to the world. Now though, now he was beaming and informed everyone who wanted to know, and also those that did not, that he was finally a father of a beautiful little boy who had been named Zizhen.

It also turned out that while he had admired Jin Guangshan, his loyalties still lay firmly with the Yunmeng Jiang Sect and that he had simply been afraid of what the remnants of the Wen Sect might get up to. Seeing Wen Qing with her children had cured him of such worries, but then he had fallen prey to Sect Leader Yao's words.

"Qin Cangye said that Sect Leader Yao laid most of the blame for Jin Guangshan's untimely death with the two of us, Ah Yao," Wei Wuxian giggled and leaned closer to Meng Yao to lower his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Apparently we used some sort of Demonic Cultivation techniques that cannot be traced. He expressed his concerns for the two Jades of Lan for we clearly ensnared them somehow as well. Or ... beguiled them. I mean, the son of a mere servant and of a..."

"Prostitute. You can say it. I can just imagine what Sect Leader Yao has to say about my ... charms." Meng Yao shuddered, remembering his father's comments that had gone along the same lines. "Though I admit that I feel somewhat flattered that he thinks so highly of my Cultivation. I could scarcely even begin to do anything that comes so very easily to you and Xue Yang after all..." He shrugged, but his smile did not reach his eyes ... which clearly wasn't lost on Wei Wuxian.

"Ah Yao? Don't. We both know the truth. The entire world does. You and Xichen ... it's plain to see that you are in love with each other. Just like me and Lan Zhan, though I admit that I was rather blind to it initially." He held up his hand to forestall Meng Yao's possible comments to the opposite. "Yes, I know, I was foolish for longer than that. But that's beside the point. What I'm trying to say is that you very clearly did not bewitch Xichen. I mean, really... I remember the Welcoming Ceremony at the Cloud Recesses and the way he was gazing at you. And then he touched your hand so gently ... I thought he was going to kiss you right then and there."

Swallowing, Meng Yao took a sip of his tea, glancing up as Xichen walked into the hall, deep in conversation with Jiang Cheng, their daughter in his arms as if a baby was the most natural accessory for a sect leader. "Were we that obvious even back then?"

"Given how no one who was at the Cloud Recesses that day bat so much as an eye when you two revealed your relationship, I'd say yes. Lan Zhan told me that when he first saw the two of you at Madame Lee's, he was not really surprised. Maybe a bit about the fact that you were wearing his headband around your wrist, but nothing else. You and Xichen were meant to be together, and you were meant to have Ah Shi and be so sickeningly sweet and happy that the rest of all turn green with envy. That's a fact. So whatever you're thinking about your idiot father or stupid Sect Leader Yao's words, don't."

Wei Wuxian was right, of course, but that didn't stop Meng Yao's mind from turning in circles. Just as it had for the past week. However, when Xichen sat down beside him, handing Ah Shi to Meng Yao, his mind cleared of everything but his love for their daughter who was gurgling happily, clearly having just been fed. Xichen caught Wei Wuxian's gaze and inclined his head. "Your brother has shared some tips with me, though I feel that some of his advice is contradicting what Wen Qing and our wet nurse have told us..."

"Do not listen to Jiang Cheng's advice. As in ever . I know he means well, but he thinks that the twins are old enough to eat Senior Sister's Sparerib and Lotus Root Soup. Ah Qing only barely managed to stop him from feeding it to them. The broth. He's smart enough to realise that one needs teeth to eat the meat and lotus root. Or he wanted it all for himself, which, come to think of it, seems more likely." Scratching his chin, he shrugged. "At least you won't be doing things like that. After all, you don't have the soup in the Cloud Recesses..." He leaned closer to inspect Ah Shi, gently cooing to the babe.

"Given what you just said, I shall disregard anything your brother tells us unless it is confirmed by either Lady Wen or someone else who knows what they are talking about," Xichen chuckled and, ignoring everyone around, leaned in to kiss Meng Yao's cheek. "It seems everyone is having children ... I spoke to Sect Leader Ouyang earlier, and I am glad that we were wrong at least about his motivations for staying here. Sect Leader Yao on the other hand..."

"Is an idiot, isn't he, Ah Shi? Can you believe the things he said about your Papa and myself? As if your dearest Ah Xian would use Demonic Cultivation to kill someone..."

Wangji was taking a seat next to his husband and muttered, "You have done so in the past, Wei Ying."

Wei Wuxian's eyes widened almost comically as he blinked at Ah Shi. "Do you hear that? My very own husband is throwing me to the wolves. Let this be a warning to you, my sweet Ah Shi. Never fall in love and most definitely never get married. It is all downhill from here. Excepting the Everyday , that's amazing."

Meng Yao groaned. It hadn't taken him long to figure out what his friend was referring to with Everyday , and he wished wholeheartedly that he could forget it again. Especially given how often Wei Wuxian dropped it into conversation. "I am sure married life becomes you, even though you still have not even set a date for a public wedding."

Wei Wuxian shrugged, "Let Senior Sister marry her peacock fiancé first. We can wait." Glancing over his shoulder, he smiled at Wangji. "We can, right? I mean, we sort of have the blessing of your sect, and I know Senior Sister and Ah Cheng are happy for us, and that's all that matters to me." Wangji simply nodded and took a sip of his tea, and Wei Wuxian returned to playing with Ah Shi.

Slowly, everyone was settling into their seats to not only end the mourning period, but also celebrate the betrothal of Zixuan and Jiang Yanli when none other than Huaisang burst into the hall, clearly in distress as he almost stumbled over his feet. "Zewu-jun, Sect Leaders Jiang and Jin... Please, you ... you have to help me. Help us..." Tears were running down his cheeks and both Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng were at his side in mere seconds. "Brother Wei ... Brother Jiang. It's Mingjue and Ah Su..."

Zixuan rose to his feet at the same time as Xichen while Qin Cangye nearly fell over his own feet to do so as well, and Jiang Yanli sent a servant for some calming tea. Huaisang was shaking, his eyes landing on Meng Yao. The pain was palpable, and Meng Yao knew that this was not like Huaisang's little escapade a month prior when he had thought that Nie Mingjue was sick because he had not yelled at anyone in a few weeks. In the end, all that had come out of that incident was that Qin Su could be very tenacious if she wanted something, and that Nie Mingjue had clearly left the days of being an eternal bachelor behind him. No, this was serious.

"They were supposed to travel here by boat from Yunmeng as you know, but the boat ... it never arrived. But I know it left Yunmeng because Wen Ning told me as much."

Wen Ning himself had walked in behind Huaisang and was now slowly stepping up to the distraught man. "They left before Zewu-jun and Gusu Lingzhu did, and Sister, Ah Cheng and I were travelling even later. They wanted to visit Qin Su's family before today's banquet..." There was no need to explain why they had wanted to do so. Clearly they, too, had entered an engagement or were about to and Chifeng-zun had wished to ask Qin Su's parents for their blessing.

An icy hand was closing around Meng Yao's heart when Wei Wuxian suddenly gasped. "I knew something was odd on our way here. Didn't I say so, Lan Zhan? We were flying just above the river on our way here as I wanted Lan Zhan to see a small cove that's halfway between Yunmeng Pier and Lanling... When we landed, I could feel an overwhelming presence of resentful energy, but at the time I didn't think much of it. I mean, the Wen Sect killed people all over, so..." He shrugged. "Besides, I was maybe a bit too focused on showing Lan Zhan how romantic ... err ... anyway..."

"There was a boat there, wasn't there, Wei Ying?" Wangji enquired as he stood, already reaching for Bichen. Wei Wuxian caught his gaze and nodded. "Then we will go back and take a closer look."

"I should have known something was wrong..." Wei Wuxian lowered his head and turned back to Huaisang. "I'm sorry. I will find them, I promise."

Wen Qing shook her head as she stepped up to them as well. "I do not think they were the target. The truth is that it was I who told Qin Su about the cove, and the little hut that I fear I will now have to be burnt down and built again after you and Hanguang-jun..." She shuddered for a moment before sobering again quickly. "Ah Cheng and I ... we travel there frequently to simply be alone for an evening or so. With the babes of course. I cannot believe I was so foolish as to think no one would find out about our little hideaway. No, I am certain Nie Mingjue and Qin Su were not the planned victims of whatever or whoever attacked. It was us."

"We do not know for certain there was an attack," Zixuan tried to put in, but Wen Qing and, surprisingly, Huaisang gave him a look.

"Mingjue would not simply disappear like this. And most assuredly not with Ah Su. He is rather protective of her after all." Turning back to Wei Wuxian, Huaisang bowed, "I know I'm no fighter and probably will be more in the way than anything else but ... please let me come with you."

"I will join you as well if you will allow it," Qin Cangye requested. "I shall keep an eye on young Master Nie, but I think we are both equally invested in finding them again. So I can ... I can give them my blessing. Not that Ah Su would let me stop her even if I withheld it." He sighed and smiled at Wen Qing, "Do not blame yourself, Lady Wen. You have every right to feel safe in Yunmeng for it is your home. It is this war we seem to be still fighting that needs to be brought to an end. Before more lives are lost..."

Jiang Cheng took his wife's hand in his, "If we were the target, I will not rest before we find out who is behind this, even though I believe we all have a rather good hunch already. I will go with Ah Xian and I need you to promise me that you will look after our precious Ah Zhen and Ah Ying. If anything happens..."

"If you get yourself killed," Wen Qing threatened even though tears were falling from her eyes. "I will personally bring you back and then make you learn just what I can do with my needles." She glanced at Wei Wuxian, "Whatever you do, keep my stupid husband alive. I know I can't stop him from going with you, not that I would want to, but I'm not ready yet to explain to our children that their father won't be coming back. I can't ... not again..." She looked at her brother briefly, sorrow written all over her face.

"I should come with you as well..." Zixuan muttered, but it was Yanli who almost flew to his side, eyes wide and ... angry?

"It is enough that my two dumb brothers are going out there into whatever dangers might lie ahead. I'm not going to let all those I hold dear take this risk. Besides, it's enough for one sect leader to take this chance. If I understand any of this, any of what you think is going on, then you are the one person who should stay in the safety of Carp Tower. Or do you truly think your cousin would not jump at the chance to ... replace you?" Her gaze settled on Meng Yao and she sighed. "Or you for that matter, Ah Yao. If there are more of Jin Guangshan's children out there, you need to bring them here. They could either be in danger as well as Qin Su, or they could pose a thread."

"Senior Sister..." Wei Wuxian whispered and Yanli huffed.

"What? Do you really think that because I normally remain quiet and only smile that I'm too stupid to realise what's going on around me? Or that Ah Qing and I have been sitting around at Lotus Pier without even attempting to find out what is happening?" She turned back to Meng Yao, frowning, "Though whatever hold you have on Lan Jiao seems to be unbreakable for she would not divulge anything. The Light bless Ah Yang for she was more willing to tell us what she knew. At any rate, we know enough to maybe be told the full story. Something you, Ah Xuan, could see to. With your brother and Zewu-jun that is."

Zixuan could do nothing but blink, and Meng Yao couldn't help a smile that started to creep across his face. Eventually, Zixuan regained some semblance of decorum and bowed to his guests, those that had not yet risen to their feet that was. "Forgive me, but as you can see an emergency has arisen. Please do stay behind and enjoy yourselves while we deal with this." He turned to his mother who was nodding at him as she was already busy directing servants this way and that. "You will want for nothing, rest assuredly." With that, he led Yanli out of the hall, closely followed by Wei Wuxian and the others.

Xichen, on the other hand, returned to Meng Yao's side to help him to his feet while still holding onto Ah Shi. "I admit that while I worry for Brother Mingjue and Qin Su, I am somewhat more afraid of Wen Qing and Jiang Yanli. We ... underestimated them terribly. A lesson I should have already learned when finding out more about your mother and not to mention meeting Lady Lee. We made them more vulnerable in our attempts to shield them from the truth... Something we should make up for now that we have the opportunity."

Meng Yao nodded as he followed his husband out of the hall to find Zixuan, Wen Qing and Jiang Yanli waiting for them at the top of the grand staircase. Wen Qing was gently cradling Jiang Zhen while Jiang Yanli held her little nephew. "They've gone," Zixuan commented and sighed. "I understand why I could not go with them, but I feel somewhat ... useless here. We are all in this together after all, and now we remain behind while our friends fly into whatever dangers they might encounter..."

"But if resentful energy is involved in some way," Jiang Yanli interrupted her betrothed, "Ah Xian is the best and most qualified person to deal with it." She turned and grinned at Wen Qing. "Well, him and Xue Yang, am I right?" They knew of Xue Yang of course and had met him several times at Lotus Pier, but for Jiang Yanli and Wen Qing to have figured out that he was able to use the same Demonic Cultivation techniques as Wei Wuxian... "Ah Yao? Close your mouth. You look like a fish out of water." Snapping his mouth shut, Meng Yao blinked at the normally so gentle woman.

"Anyway, we should move this conversation somewhere we can ensure no one will listen. How about your father's old study? I believe both Ah Li and your mother changed things around a bit in there since we last saw it?" Zixuan nodded and offered his arm to his bride who took it with a smile.

The study was only a short walk away, but even those few minutes were enough to bring back the memories of the evening only just over three months ago, his father's poisonous words once again resounding inside his head. He cradled Ah Shi closer, but even looking at his sweet little girl could not keep his thoughts from racing. His hands were close to shaking when Zixuan opened the doors to the room where their father had finally been made to pay for his deeds ... and a wave of calmness washed over him.

Gone were the gaudy furnishings and much of the golden decor, replaced with far more practical furniture that was not there to intimidate those who entered the room. And yet... "Ah Yao? Is everything alright?" Xichen whispered and Meng Yao swallowed before nodding. This was neither the time nor the place for him to be falling apart over the words of a dead man no matter how much they were hurting him. Or how much they made doubts creep into his mind even after the man who had uttered them had breathed his last.

Squeezing his eyes shut, he forced a smile onto his features. "It is just ... this place brings back memories. It's nothing really." Xichen's eyes were unconvinced and his gaze was filled with the promise that they would speak of this further. Later. For now though he simply inclined his head and took a seat once Zixuan invited them to sit.

"I would call for tea to be brought, but ... I think this conversation calls for something stronger. We have some of the wine Ah Xian likes so much. Well, the two wines. Lotus Wind Wine and your Emperor's Smile . Ah Yao?"

Meng Yao shook his head, but Xichen requested a cup of Lotus Wind Wine, earning himself a raised eyebrow from Wen Qing. "What? We are only forbidden from drinking inside the Cloud Recesses. A rule Ah Yao is still trying to get the Elders to relax somewhat, if only to please Wei Wuxian. I could make a ruling myself as sect leader, but I fear the Elders would take such a thing as a precedence, and I would rather my first direct opposition of their opinions be over something less ... frivolous."

Wen Qing, never one to mince her words, nodded and took a deep breath. "Jin Zixun and Su She ... they have the last piece of the Yin Metal, do they not? And they know that you all know this. Though they are still unaware of their former brother in arm's new ... role. Xue Yang was the deciding factor, wasn't he?" She looked at Zixuan and shook her head. "As much as you trusted Ah Yang, you never realised just how bright and attentive she was. She ... she saw him here before anyone ever knew who he was. Only briefly, but when she was asked to liberate him from the dungeons here, she remembered. She remembered him as Jin Guangshan's little protege..."

Meng Yao lowered his gaze to his daughter and shook his head. He had grown up amongst women and yet he had not even considered that a member of the fairer sex might know something he and his co-conspirators did not. His mother would have him by the ears for this, and rightly so.

Sitting down beside Meng Yao, Wen Qing gently bumped his side. "Don't feel bad, Ah Yao. We didn't figure all of this out ourselves. Ah Li and I may have threatened a certain someone with needles and he spilled far more than we could have figured out ourselves with the limited information we had. Don't be mad at Ah Cheng though." She looked around at the other two men. "I only ... I wish I had seen that we are all in danger now, especially after Jin Guangshan's death. Telling Qin Su about the cove was foolish of me, as was travelling there on a regular basis myself. Maybe Ah Xian can place some barriers around the area..."

"I would like to apologise to the both of you, Lady Wen, Lady Jiang." Xichen sat up somewhat and bowed to them. "I admit that I was considering involving you both since you are entangled in all of this whether you want to be or not, but it would have been impossible I fear given..."

"Given that I was around," Zixuan nodded and sighed. "I ... I asked to be given time to prove myself worthy of you, Ah Li, and in so doing, I may have made things more difficult for us than they needed to be. I can see that now."

"Worthy of me? Why does everyone around here feel they are not worthy of the one who clearly loves them and who they love as well? This reminds me of Ah Xian and the way he was moping around the day before he was supposed to travel to the Cloud Recesses the last time. Honestly, Zewu-jun, between your brother and mine, I do not know who is the most idiotic. Is it true Hanguang-jun asked for punishment after..." She blushed and bit her lower lip.

"He asked, yes," Xichen chuckled. "But I did not feel inclined to punish him for being happy. All I did was suggest taking precautions before travelling to the Cloud Recesses with Wei Wuxian." He shrugged, "Three bows. Something like that. After all, I know how Uncle can be."

Jiang Yanli nodded. "That was precisely what Ah Xian was panicking over. To learn that you were also feeling as if you had to prove your worth, and without even talking to me about it, it makes me almost wish I could..." Zixuan's face fell. "I wouldn't, but I almost wish I could. Don't you know that a simple word of apology would have been all that was needed. If that. I ... I admit that the way I went about getting the soup to you was not the smartest move on my part. You were right to admonish me. I could have cleared up the misunderstanding but I simply couldn't find the right words..."

Wen Qing sighed, "I'm glad you don't have that problem anymore, Ah Li. All that was needed was, well, me." She smiled at the other woman before sobering. "All we are asking is for you to not keep everything you do to yourselves, especially since it could and will affect us as well. Besides ... remember how useful I was back in Sunburst Palace? I might not know about Demonic Cultivation, but I do know about medicine. And poisons..." She smiled sweetly, but Meng Yao could see the cold calculation in her eyes. "If anything happens to Sect Leader Mingjue and Qin Su, I swear Jin Zixun and Su She will rue the day they were born."

"I am certain they will be fine. Brother Mingjue is one of the strongest fighters I have ever known if not the strongest." Meng Yao glanced at Xichen who nodded. "Wangji might be better with his blade, but Mingjue doesn't need finesse, not when he simply uses brute force. He wouldn't let anything happen to Ah Su, not after she's shown such perseverance to get him to accept that being in love is maybe not as bad as he always thought it was. Besides, she is not defenceless either. There is only one thing that could be used against Mingjue..."

Xichen nodded even as three sets of eyes focused on the two of them. "I think it is time for you to understand a few differences between our sects and the Nie Sect," Xichen began and took a sip of his wine. "While our swords can become heirlooms of our sects, Baxia will never have another master. None of their sabers ever did. The blades harbour spirits who will only ever allow one person to wield them. When that person dies..." He sighed. "But there is more. The Blade Spirits are not innately evil, but after years of service in destroying evildoers, they become ... very similar to the resentful energy Xue Yang and Wei Wuxian can control. And it begins to influence their master."

"That would mean that..." Wen Qing frowned. "If someone were to control resentful energy around Chifeng-zun, they could control Baxia to an extent and possibly him as well?"

Meng Yao nodded. "Ultimately, most disciples of the Nie Sect and especially of the main family die rather horrific deaths brought about by the Blade Spirits. Qi Deviation being the ... least terrible. The late sect leader ... his saber was broken in two by his enemies and sent back to the Unclean Realm. That very day, he died of rage. I know Mingjue would never admit it, but I am certain he worries that this will be his fate as well. One day. I am certain such a fate can be prevented, and the curse upon his line broken, if it truly is a curse."

"This of course is a secret the Nie Sect would not wish the world to find out about, for if it ever did..." Xichen glanced down at Ah Shi, a sad smile on his face. "Were Jin Zixun and Su She to learn of it, they would try to use the knowledge against Brother Mingjue and against us. Against the world. There is ... a myth. A legend of a man-eating bunker of sorts on Walker Ridge. I only learned of it because Huaisang ... he sometimes doesn't know when to be silent. His brother was beyond angry with him and made me swear to never divulge this information. And yet here I am, but you need to understand the full extent of the danger this might pose. It was shortly after their father had passed, and so ... Mingjue took me there. To the ridge. And the tomb."

"That's where the blade was taken." Meng Yao blinked, puzzle pieces suddenly falling into place before his very eyes. "The bunker is the burial site not of the Nie Sect leaders, but of their blades!"

"Blades that hunger for evil energy, but that could be turned into weapons against us." Xichen pursed his lips and gently rested his hand on Meng Yao's shoulder. "I am sorry, Ah Yao. It was not my secret to share with you, and even now I feel that I have betrayed the trust of a friend and of an entire sect. But at the same time..."

Wen Qing raised her hand after settling Ah Zhen into a more comfortable position. "He was around when you were discussing what can be done with the Yin Metal pieces, yes?" The three men nodded in unison. "Just making sure. So how is it that he never considered Baxia and those other blades as a possible weakness? Or were you so sure that you would be able to get control of the Yin Metal Jin Guangshan possessed? If that is the case, I would like to ask just one thing. How could you be so naive?"

"We were hoping Xue Yang..." Zixuan began, but Wen Qing was not about to listen to his explanations.

"No you were not. You didn't even consider the whereabouts of the Yin Metal, did you? Or rather, you didn't think Jin Guangshan would let it out of his sight. Well, he did. Because he was not the madman Wen Ruohan was. He was calculating and cold, not burning with an unholy fire. You know exactly what his goal was, what he wished to achieve. Only he was trying to do so with political maneuvering, not by enslaving the world. Even I could see that he was attempting to become Chief Cultivator, or do you truly think he never tried to reach out to me, to Ah Ning? He was promising his help should we wish to rebuild the Wen Sect if only we supported him."

Meng Yao turned fully to face the physician, and it was as if he was seeing her for the first time. She wasn't a simple courtier, or even a gifted Cultivator, no. She was a natural leader, someone who had been just as close to Wen Ruohan as he had been. How had he been so blind? "I ... I am sorry, Lady Wen." He bowed his head, but could practically feel her glare at him for the use of such a formal address. "I fear we all forgot..."

"Who I am, yes. I admit that I was behaving rather ... strangely before the wedding and then after, during my pregnancy. But Ah Li and I ... we could have helped." She shook her head. "It doesn't matter anymore. We cannot change the past, even though I dearly wish we could at this moment." Meng Yao raised his eyes just in time to see the most terrifying of smiles cross her features. "I could have drawn so much information out of Jin Guangshan before his passing if only I had known that it might be needed..."

Zixuan nearly downed his entire cup at once, somewhat shaken by Wen Qing's words. "I ... I can only say that I am glad that we are on the same side in this. And I wish to add my own apologies once again for not including you..."

Wen Qing winked at Jiang Yanli who nodded. "Apology accepted. Now, instead of simply waiting around, why don't you tell us everything that has been going on because, while we could piece together much of it, there are still some things we are unsure of. Starting with Xue Yang's role in all of this..."