Chapter Text
It was very much not typical for students to get into this much trouble. There was the odd occasion in which a student had caused a bit of mischief, but after the first few punishments they would calm themselves enough that there was no further action to be taken. This was the case in the Cloud Recesses for many years, even when Lan Qiren was a child himself.
Then there was the case of Wei Wuxian.
That child was as insolent as any child of a servant could be. Perhaps even worse than most.
The stories he told were worst of all his bouts of trickery and mischief. Did he really think that he could fool Lan Qiren into believing he was a child of a Ghost King? A God? How ridiculous.
He knew Wei Ying was taken in by the Jiang sect as well as the sworn brother of the bastard Meng Yao. He knew what to do with liars in his sect and sent a letter of urgency to the Jiang sect, he knew Jiang Fengmian may not be the most reasonable about his charge, but Madame Yu would be rational about this and would agree to his conditions.
The days went on, and Lan Qiren almost forgot about the letter he wrote and sent in a fit of frustration.
That is until the day that two strangers walked right past the wards of protection like they weren’t even there.
This, of course, caused quite a stir among the residents, both disciples and the students visiting. There were many whispers that day of the man in red with a missing eye and the man in white walking beside him. Many understood that the two could cause some distress among the students that two mysterious, possible, cultivators so the whispers swiftly reached Lan Qiren before a riot could start.
It was only once he was sat in his office with the two of them that he remembered the letter he had sent to the Jiang sect. He had requested to speak with Wei Wuxian’s parents, if they were available. If these two were speaking truthfully then these two were indeed the boy's parents and were indeed here to speak about his many misconducts.
And he had indeed recognized the two as exactly who Wei Wuxian claimed them to be. The great Ghost Calamity Crimson Rain Sought Flower and the God Pleasing Crowned Prince. Gods were not allowed to come down to earth and ghosts only did so when they had some unfinished business. The child was not lying. And, in layman's terms, Lan Qiren was in deep shit.
“Now, Madame Yu told us you had many things to discuss about A-Ying’s behaviour? Is he mocking other students?” His Highness asks, careful as if he were worried about offending Lan Qiren. The Ghost King at his side just glared silently.
As much as he could speak circles around many, being sat across from the two was as intimidating as one could imagine and the words were ripped from his throat. “Well, you see, we have many rules to be followed in the Cloud Recesses and your… charge has broken many of them. I wished to discuss the subject of punishment.”
“Of course, we are well aware of your rules. Has he… done anything particularly bad?”
“What kind of school would allow for children to be punished in order to learn?” The ghosts glare hardens, deepens at the question. It seems that the only thing keeping him from lunging across the table and attacking was the gods gentle hand on his arm. Xie Lian, His Highness, truly a god of mercy.
“Of course, we agree that children must learn better, but within reason!”
Of course, of course. But where to start?
He supposes he should start at the worst, to break the news quickly. Going through all the times he insisted on fighting his nephew beyond the bounds of the set time for sparring and that time with the water-borne abyss and going against everything they taught here. Of all the times he would disrupt classes by tapping his fingers or not sitting still enough or drawing all over his notes. Of how he went against every teaching of every sect.
“And your punishment for all those?” The Ghost King asked with a snarl.
“He was given twenty total strikes with the disciple whip to cover many of his misconducts–”
His Highness the crowned prince slams his hands down suddenly, standing from his seat in shock and horror.
“What kind of fucked up school are you running here!?” He accuses, a bright fury burning in his eyes. “You just abuse children for the sake of teaching them? Even my old teacher was a better one than you are now and he’s a gambling addicted, fortune believing old bastard who mistreated my own husband for his own self-righteous beliefs! I will not stand for the same kind of treatment of my son!” Perhaps he spoke too soon on His Highness being a god of mercy. The verbal smack-down Lan Qiren was receiving now was maddening. “Do you do this to all students?”
“Well, yes—”
“Even your own nephews?! What the fuck wrong with you?” The God truly does look like he wants to strike Lan Qiren dead on the spot, but a hand on his arm stops him from doing just that.
“Gege, that's enough.” Yes, Lan Qiren truly had spoken too soon on the matter. Perhaps neither were a being of any mercy. His Highness stands and begins to walk away as Hua Cheng continues to glare at him.
“I believe it would be ideal if we never heard of this happening again.”
“Ah, of course. My apologies.”
The second they are out of the room Xie Lian sighs and slumps into his husbands arms. He feels the tears of frustration and anger bubbling up. His husband lets him, holding him for a moment as the feeling fades.
“It’s alright, gege.”
“This was a mistake.” He mumbles. It’s a bit hard not to feel as though the two of them have failed. Their biggest role was to keep their son safe and yet…
“No, it wasn’t.” Hua Cheng reassures him with a quick pat to his head. “He needed to learn more from his fellow mortals. And what complaints has he brought to us so far?”
He takes a quick breath and settles his mind at the same time. His husband had a point, a very good point. It hadn’t been A-Ying who brought any meaningful complaints to them, certainly not about the punishments he faced.
“While we are here…” his husband pulls away, a slight smile on his face. “Perhaps a visit is in order?” The thought cheers him up a bit and they walk hand in hand with each other.
Most of the disciples don’t give them much trouble, Xie Lian probably blends in quite well with his similarly white robes. Hua Cheng garners some attention however, and he has to glare away a few stares and whispers directed at them. No one asks them to leave, however, and eventually classes let out for the day and students are wandering in thicker droves than before.
They watch as Wei Ying walks alongside a white clothed boy who seemed to be around his age. The two of them, well, one of them at least, talking happily. The other at least looks content.
Xie Lian is content to just be able to see his son but the boy's eyes meet his eventually and he gives a small smile and waves. It’s worth making the journey here just to see the smile that stretches across A-Yings lips.
“Baba! A-die!” Their A-Ying comes rushing towards them with a smile and a waving hand. They catch their child in their arms when he launches himself at them and they take a moment to just hold him.
“I’m really glad you’re here,” he sniffles out as he burrows closer.
The Lan boy stands back while their family reunites and when Xie Lian looks up to see golden eyes staring at them he smiles at the way the boy blushes and looks away. He lets go of his son to walk over to the Lan boy as his husband and son take a moment longer together.
“I suppose you would be Lan Wangji?” He questions, the boy's face lights up slightly with a faint blush and he nods shyly. It makes Xie Lian chuckle a bit. People were always so intimidated by his presence, that or his husbands.
Lan Wangji cups his hands and bows low as the other two join them, Xie Lian bowing back just as low as his husband gives a slightly smaller one. It’s still more than what he gives most people.
“It is good to meet the two of you.” He bows again, awkwardly. “It is an honour to know Wei Ying’s fathers.”
“This is the ‘Lan Zhan’ we’ve been hearing about?” Hua Cheng tilts his head and scrutinizes the boy for a moment, looking him up and down a few times. Xie Lian already likes him, but that isn’t saying much so he will trust what his husband says on the matter. “I approved of this courtship. However, if you hurt him in any way I swear I will—”
“Baba!” Wei Ying laughs, lighthearted as he gently slaps a hand against his baba’s chest. Lan Wangji looks a bit lost.
“We are not… romantically involved, Master Hua.”
“Ah, haha, and that’s okay too. We’re just glad our A-Ying can have such a wonderful friend, he tells us all about you.” Xie Lian perks up and says before he can feel too bad for misleading them or something. “Really, he cares a lot about you and it’s always good to have a friend who will stay by your side no matter what.”
Lan Wangji nods, staring right at Wei Ying with a fain blush on his ears.
“Now then, it's getting late isn’t it? How about some dinner!”
“Gege, I thought you liked this boy.” Hua Cheng teases.
They offer a place to Lan Wangji to eat with their family, Meng Yao included and he accepts.
Xie Lian is happy, at the very least, he has one person here to remain by his side.