Chapter Text
The sect leaders were still murmuring outside the ruined threshold when Nie Mingjue fixed his gaze on Wei WuXian—sharp, assessing, utterly unamused.
"Wei WuXian, before proceeding with anything else—when, exactly, did you and Lan WangJi get married?"
The Nie leader is still wondering, and to a lesser degree feeling hurt for being excluded from a joyous occasion starring his best friend and sworn brother's didi.
"What—what?? Sect Leader Nie, what are you talking about?"
Wei WuXian paused in his inner musings on how those 'righteous' cultivators actually came to him to investigate the actual reasons for his actions. - Albeit, they still used entitled language.- and regarded Chifeng-zun as if he is either loosing his intelligence all of a sudden for some reason (maybe the resentful energy of this place didn’t agree with his health) or he is on the verge of Qi deviation. Wei WuXian cannot afford that, he would be blamed for it somehow.
"There's no need for you to claim ignorance. Everyone here already knows. So spare us the act and answer plainly: when did the marriage take place?"
Privately Wei WuXian thought, Even if the nonsense he's spewing held some truth, that's awfully none of his business to demand in that tone. Outwardly he just expressed his genuine confusion
"Marriage? With Lan Zhan? I—wait—what marriage? Who married whom? You are mixing me with someone else—"
"Wei WuXian, enough. If you wished to hide it earlier, fine. But now that the truth is out, there is no need for this performance. We all know you used to reside with Lan WangJi, that he publicly defended you, and that the child is under both of your care."
Well technically it was Lan XiChen, but if Lan Wangji didn't want it to be known, his Er-di wouldn't have said anything earlier, mistakenly thought Nie Mingjue.
Wei WuXian stared at him, mouth slightly open, looking as if someone had just informed him he had nine heads.
"Sect Leader Nie, I swear on every lotus in Lotus Pier—Lan Zhan and I are not married! We didn’t— I didn't—"
He pointed vaguely at the air, as if a proper sentence might eventually materialize.
"So the two of you took vows privately, then? A Gusu-style oath? Hmph. Very fitting. But if that is the case, are you intending to move to the Cloud Recesses? Or will the Lan move to Lotus Pier?"
Yes, he is being over meddling, but he's just looking after Lan WangJi, he's no different from Huaisang to him.. which come to think about it, wouldn't A-Sang have some prior knowledge of this, considering he's close friends with Wei WuXian?
Wei WuXian in question:
"What vows?? I didn’t take any vows! I don’t even remember agreeing to marry—Lan Zhan would never just—he would at least tell me!"
Someone in the crowd in the back loudly declared then hid behind another spectator
"He told us."
Wei WuXian froze.
Wei WuXian:
"…Lan Zhan told—you? Told all of you? Told everyone what?"
Nie Mingjue is done with this whole conversation, he came here to know what happened, not hear this Wei boy denying his marriage.. wait, what was it that Xichen said, something about Wangji angering his spouse to the point he left? Maybe Wei WuXian is just speaking out of anger at Lan WangJi, huh! So even that reserved boy can be unsensetive at times.
"That the two of you were already married. That your bond was legitimate. That your alliance with the Wen was due to the child you both protect, your debt. And that any man who insulted that child was inviting his sword."
To be precise, neither Lan said that to the assembly behind him, but Nie Mingjue does remember something about Lan WangJi clutching his sword and defending Wei WuXian to Jin guangyao.
Wei WuXian blinked. Once. Twice. His soul slowly left his body.
"Lan… Zhan… said… WHAT?"
Nie Mingjue watched him pale dramatically. "If you intend to hold a proper ceremony between the Gusu Lan and Yunmeng Jiang this time, inform us. I would prefer to avoid another political disaster."
"Ceremony?? I—Lan Zhan—wedding—what?"
His knees buckled.
"Wei WuXian—!"
Wei WuXian swayed, eyes glassy. "Lan Zhan… just what did you… say…"
His voice faded to a whisper as he collapsed forward.
Nie Mingjue barely managed to catch him with one arm while securing Lan Yuan with the other. His face tightened—equal parts alarm and exasperation.
Nie Mingjue (muttering) "Unbelievable. Fainting now of all times."
He shifted his hold, steady and unyielding, protecting both unconscious man and child as the sect leaders stared in stunned silence.
"You're in no condition to discuss this now. Let's focus on your child and the situation at hand. We can sort out the details later."
'Maybe they were still courting at the time when they produced a child, and with the war breaking out and all, there was no wedding, no marriage' , Nie Zongzhu thought as Wei WuXian teetered on the edge of unconsciousness,
After all, Lan WangJi is XiChen's brother, which makes him like another younger brother to him, which in turn, makes Wei WuXian his brother in law, and Lan Yuan, his nephew..
And Nie Mingjue cannot accept the shame of not gifting the couple the respectable gifts, especially not gifting his nephew the beautiful presents.
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After the other sect leaders left, and Wei WuXian was moved to Wen Qing's tent to rest (Wen Qing was of course nervous and scared at the sight of Nie Mingjue carrying both Wei Ying and A-Yuan in his arms),
Jiang Cheng stormed into the tent where Wei WuXian was resting, eyes ablaze with a mixture of anger and concern. "Wei Wuxian, what in the hell is going on? Why didn't you tell me about all of this?" he demanded, gesturing wildly at Wei WuXian and the child.
Wei WuXian winced at the intensity of his brother's entrance but tried to compose himself. "Jiang Cheng, it's a long story. I didn't have a chance to tell you everything."
"A long story? You got married, you had a child, and you had a miscarriage! Why wasn't I informed about any of this? I'm your brother, for the sake of the heavens!" Jiang Cheng's voice rose, echoing his frustration.
Wei WuXian sighed, exhaustion evident in his eyes. "I didn't know either. I just found out about all this mess myself. I woke up here with everyone telling me things that I can't remember happening."
Jiang Cheng's eyes narrowed, suspicion coloring his tone, "Can't remember? Did Lan Wangji do something to you? Did he force you into all of this without your consent?"
Wei WuXian's eyes widened in shock at the accusation, "What? No! Lan Zhan would never do something like that. Jiang Cheng, it's not what you think."
Jiang Cheng, however, wasn't convinced. "Then why didn't you tell me? If everything is so perfect, why keep it a secret? Are you afraid I'll beat up your precious Lan Wangji?"
Wei WuXian, feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, couldn't hold back his frustration any longer. "No, Jiang Cheng! I didn't tell you because I didn't know! I woke up, and suddenly I have a child, and people are talking about a miscarriage, and I have a husband? I'm just as confused as you are!"
Jiang Cheng's anger shifted to concern, watching as Wei WuXian's frustration turned into tears. "Wei Wuxian, what do you mean? You're not making any sense. Did Lan Wangji hurt you? Tell me the truth!"
"No, Jiang Cheng! Lan Zhan didn't hurt me. I just don't understand what's happening. I don't remember any of this. I don't remember getting married or having a child or a miscarriage. I'm just as lost as you are," Wei WuXian confessed, tears streaming down his face.
Jiang Cheng, caught off guard by Wei WuXian's emotional outburst, softened his tone. "Wei Wuxian, if you're really not lying, then what happened?"
"I don't know, Jiang Cheng. I really don't know," Wei WuXian sobbed, feeling a mixture of frustration, confusion, and sorrow.
Jiang Cheng, torn between his brother's distress and his suspicions, sat down beside Wei WuXian, a heavy silence settling between them as they both grappled with the inexplicable situation.
..
Jiang Cheng, seeing the vulnerable state of his brother, decided to change the topic, trying to bring a moment of levity into the heavy atmosphere. "So, Wei Wuxian, do you... I mean, do you want to get married to Lan Wangji?"
Wei WuXian's eyes widened at the unexpected question, cheeks flushing slightly. "Well, I... I don't think I deserve someone as high in social standing as Lan Zhan. I mean, I'm just Wei Wuxian, right?"
Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes, annoyed at Wei WuXian's self-deprecating tone. "Wei Wuxian, you're my brother. You deserve happiness, and if Lan Wangji makes you happy, then that's all that matters. You're not some lowly beggar. You're worthy of love and a good life."
Wei WuXian looked up at Jiang Cheng, a small smile playing on his lips, "Jiang Cheng, you really think so?"
Jiang Cheng scoffed, "Of course, you idiot. Why would I want you to be unhappy? Lan Wangji may be all stoic, but he's got a kind and soft heart. If anyone deserves you, it's him. And you deserve someone who will treat you well."
Wei WuXian's smile widened, a genuine warmth entering his eyes. "Thank you, Jiang Cheng. It means a lot."
Jiang WanYin couldn't stay gruff for long when faced with his brother's sincerity. "Don't mention it. Now, get some rest. We'll figure out this mess together. And for the record, you and Lan Wangji deserve all the happiness in the world."
Wei WuXian chuckled, "Thanks, Jiang Cheng. You're not as terrible as you want people to think."
Jiang Cheng huffed but couldn't hide a small smirk. "Well, don't spread it around. I have a reputation to maintain."
The two brothers shared a moment of laughter, the weight of the situation temporarily lifted. In that instant, the bond between them felt stronger, and the prospect of reconciliation brought a sense of joy to the air.
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Jiang Cheng, still in the tent with Wei WuXian and little A-Yuan, couldn't resist the adorable sight of the child. "So, this is my nephew, huh?" he remarked, peering down at the sleeping child with a soft smile.
Wei WuXian nodded, a fond look in his eyes. "Yeah, this is A-Yuan. He's a handful, but he's my handful."
Jiang Cheng chuckled, "He looks more like you than Lan Wangji, you know. A little mischievous troublemaker in the making."
Wei WuXian grinned, "Mischievous? Like someone I know?"
Jiang Cheng mock-glared at him, "Don't push it, Wei Wuxian. Anyway, can I hold him?"
Wei WuXian carefully handed A-Yuan over to Jiang Cheng, who cradled the child in his arms. A-Yuan stirred but didn't wake up, letting out a soft giggle in his sleep.
"He's adorable," Jiang Cheng admitted, a rare smile tugging at his lips.
Wei WuXian chuckled, "Told you. He's got his uncle wrapped around his little finger already."
As Jiang Cheng played with A-Yuan, making funny faces and causing more giggles, he couldn't help but notice the resemblance. "You know," he said, a touch of sentiment in his voice, "he looks more like you. Definitely has Wei Wuxian written all over his features. Only a little bit of Lan Wangji in there."
Wei WuXian watched the scene with a warm heart, "Well, that's the best of both worlds, isn't it?"
Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes, but the affection in his gaze couldn't be hidden. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't spoil him too much."
Wei WuXian laughed, "No promises, Jiang Cheng. He's already spoiled rotten by Lan Zhan and me."
As A-Yuan continued to sleep peacefully in Jiang Cheng's arms, the tent filled with laughter and a sense of newfound warmth, the bond between the brothers growing stronger with each passing moment.
The End.