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Chapter Text

It was exceedingly rare that Lan Wangji, the second jade, ever got sick. Even a stuffy nose or slight sniffle was rare, even in freezing winters. So when Wei WuXian woke up before his husband, he was obviously worried. Lan Zhans face was a light red, and there was a bead of sweat on his temple. His breathing was a bit labored, the usual deep breaths replaced with ragged ones instead. Wei WuXian leaned over, laying a hand lightly on the others forehead, and then his cheek. He stood up quickly, rushing to put on a robe and then walking swiftly to open the Jingshi windows ( the ones that weren’t permanently papered over) and then opening the Jingshi door. He tapped a passing Disciple on the shoulder, asking him to get a pail of water and a healer before leaving the Jingshi doors open a crack to let cool air in. He rushed back to his Lover, peeling him of his sweat soaked robes and just laying a paper-thin blanket over his more pale than normal body. He set about letting the tallers hair down, untying the forehead ribbon his hubby had forgotten to take off the night before, kissing the silver cloud on the front before folding it carefully as possible and Lying it on the floor next to the bed where he had set Lan Zhans clothes. They were folded neatly, in their usual square fashion. Usually he was in too much of a hurry to actually fold his clothes, but he had learned quickly after the second time of being yelled at by Madam Yu about leaving them all over his room.

He frowned as Lan Wangji started to make some small movements, his eyes and hands twitching. A few quiet grunts were let out as well, making Wei WuXian scoot towards his other half’s head, laying it on his thighs ang stroking his hair away from his thighs softly.

“W-Wei Ying?” Lan Zhan whispered, forcing his eyes open. Wei Wuxian frowned. HanGuang-Jun almost never whispered, so that meant a sore throat. Wei WuXian shushed him softly, looking the Second Jade in his bleary eyes and speaking to him in a much softer voice than usual. “quiet, Lan Zhan. You have a fever, and based on the twitches of your brow you have a headache too. Don’t worry about getting up, some one else can handle your responsibilities for at least a day,” He spoke,” the healer is on their way, and you can have water as soon as the disciple I sent gets back with the pail.” Lan Zhans eyes fell closed again, and nodded minutely. Wei WuXian smiled and kept stroking his husbands head. After a few minutes, he raised both hands to the others temples and massages them softly. Slowly, he released a small bit of spiritual energy to lessen his husbands pain and bring it to himself. Hmm..it was quite painful. If anything Wei WuXian suspected dehydration had lowered his husbands usually “impervious to illness” body.

His head jerked up to look at the Jingshi doors as they slid open, the healer and the disciple he had sent for water coming inside to help. The disciple set down the pail and ladle next to the bed, blushing at seeing such a blatant act of affection before bowing and leaving swiftly. The healer bowed to Wei WuXian and he bowed back as best as possible, with his husbands head in his lap. “May I examine him?” The man asked, kneeling down next to HanGuang-June body. Wei Wuxian nodded softly, continuing to massage Lan Zhans temples. The healer nodded back, raising a hand to feel softly at Lan Wangjis throat and applying pressure to his jaw to look at his tongue and throat. “What seems to be happening to him, other than Fever and a dry throat?” The man asked softly. “A headache, and he’s been sweating a lot. If it’s anything, I believe it to be dehydration.” Wei WuXian replied, shushing his husband softly when a stroke of pain ran through his head and made him inhale sharply. The doctor nodded, before standing. “Yes, I believe your right. Plenty of rest and water, and he should be back up to the strong Second Jade of Lan we all know by tonight, midday tomorrow at the latest.” The healer replied, giving the two of them one last glance before bowing at them and walking out. With that, Wei WuXian got to work, slowly moving his husband off of the bed and sitting him up against the wall to drink a few ladles of water before taking a rag from a drawer in another part of the Jingshi and wiping down his loves body, focusing on his forehead and chest. After dousing the rag in wet water and then ringing it out he laid Lan Wangji back down and placed it on his forehead softly.

Lan Zhan slowly awoke an hour later, at 11 in the morning. He sat up weakly, glancing around before moving to stand. Wei WuXian walked in at that moment, cursing softly before rushing to Lan Zhan and setting down the bowl of melon he had sliced. He softly pushed Lan Zhan back down, coaxing him with a soft voice and replacing the rag with a new one. “Quiet, Lan Zhan. You’re sick and need rest. Cloud Recesses hasn’t fallen apart just because you’re bed ridden for one day. Here,” he crawled back to the melon and grabbed the bowl before rushing back,” eat this. Plenty of nutrients and plenty of hydration.”

The taller just squinted, before opening his mouth. Wei WuXian raised a brow, before pouting. “Is the mighty HanGuang-Jun to sickly that he can’t even feed himself?” He joked. Silently, Lan Zhan nodded. The former patriarch scoffed, before picking up a piece of melon. “Then I, his humble yet absolutely stunning husband, will nurse him back to health.” He chuckled, placing the melon at his better half’s lips, watching as he bit into it softly and some juice ran down his mouth. “Ahh, messy HanGuang-Jun!” He exclaimed, wiping away the juice with a thumb. Lan Zhan said something softly, forcing Wei WuXian to lean into hear him better. “What was that Lan Zhan?” He asked softly. Lan WangJi repeated, in a soft tone. “Amazing husband” he said softly. Wei WuXian blushed softly, then cooed. He kissed his husbands flushed cheek softly before sitting up again. Even bedridden his husband could still make him blush like some newly-wed maiden.

A few hours later Lan Zhans headache had disappeared, and his bleary eyes were now easier to open and keep open. He watched with a full heart and looked his husband in the eyes as he continued to massage his temples, despite the harsh panging being washed away long ago. He could see the warmth in the purple eyes above him, and he was sure his eyes reflected the same love back like a polished mirror. He smiled minutely, feeling it widen when a soft pink tint came over his husbands cheeks and button nose. He heard a soft grumble about “too handsome, not supposed to be this handsome when you’re all sweaty” and chose to ignore it, instead turning his head to press a soft kiss to Wei Yings thigh. He listened to the soft inhale of suprise, before the light above his disappeared as the male above him leaned down to kiss him gently. He hummed when the other pulled away with another smile. Not his usual grin, but a close lipped smile that made Lan Zhans heart speed up as if he was sprinting. A few minutes later found them lying next to each other, Wei WuXians head laid on Lan Zhans chest to listen to his now steady heart beat and deep breathing. They both had their eyes closed, and their fingers clasped together.

A harsh yell outside had them both jerking up, Lan Zhans head feeling dizzy even with his rest. Wei WuXian pushes him down gently and gave him a look that screamed “Stay put” before getting up and creeping to the barely open door. He jumped back when it flew open, Lan Qiren walking in and giving him a scowl before continuing to stride into the room.
The younger just huffed and followed behind him, scowling back. Honestly, his husband was sick and Lan Qiren decides to just burst his way in? Rude.

He followed the man to where his husband was now sat up, and making his way to a stand before Wei WuXian scurried over and pushed him back down. Lan Zhan tried again, and received the same treatment. He made his way to sitting instead and bowed to his Uncle as best as he could. “Uncle, what seems to be the matter?” He questioned. The old man looked him up and down, before replying. “I heard you were Ill from some disciples as they passed. I came to make sure you were being well taken care of. Especially with your..husband, taking care of you.” He spat the word husband with a touch of distaste. It made Wei WuXian flinch the smallest bit, and Lan WangJi scowl. “With all due respect uncle, Wei Ying has been taking incredible care of me. Has given me everything I need and from what he’s told me even found out what was wrong before the healer did.” Lan Wangji replied, speaking with a tinge of annoyance. Lan Qiren scoffed. “As long as you’re back to full health tomorrow. We’re going to a diplomatic banquet in Yunmeng.” He gave Wei WuXian a quick scan. “Because of your marital status, And the clan leader requesting his presence, Wei WuXian has to accompany us. I expect him to behave, Lan Zhan.” The man said. Wei WuXian scowled. “I am right here, you know.” He spoke, crossing his arms. Lan Qiren just nodded, before turning back to his nephew. “Rest well Nephew. Send someone if you have questions on the banquet.” With those words, he turned sharply and left the Jingshi. Wei WuXian scoffed as soon as he left, flopping down next to his husband. “Honestly, it’s been years. One since we married. He should treat me with at least some kind or respect.” The brunette spat. Lan WangJi nodded, brushing some hair from his loves face. “If you’d like, I’ll speak to him about it.” Lan Zhan suggested. “No, that’ll just make him angry at you. Or think that I yelled at you for it. He pouted. “I hate seeing couples argue.” With that he frowned and sat up. “And you need more rest, lay back down!” He nagged.

Lan Zhan obeyed, laying back down with a soft sigh. Wei WuXian continued to nag for the rest of the evening, and it was anything but grating. It was comforting if anything. He watched him bustle around, going out for a few minutes to refill the pail before coming back and fussing over the way the blanket was bunched around his stomach. He smiled softly, before shutting his eyes to get the rest his lover had instructed him too.

Chapter Text

JingYi was a bit of a scaredy cat. He knew that, though he would never admit it. He was NOT however, a crybaby. But when you somehow rip the ‘invincible’ Gusu Lan Sect robes during a night hunt that the incredible “HanGuang-Jun” is accompanying you on, it’s understandable that he was a bit apprehensive. SiZhui was doing his best to calm his friend, but it was near impossible. The tear was quite large, from the left arms hem to his elbow. He hadn’t even noticed when it happened, but it was noticeable for sure! He ran through scenarios in his head, biting his lip and half listening to his friends reassurances. He jumped when a hand landed on his shoulder, whipping around and almost hitting the persons in the face with his ponytail. “Wei-ge- er..t-teacher Wei!” SiZhui exclaimed, looking up at the man in surprise. “Hello SiZhui, could you tell me why JingYi looks as if he’s about to collapse for lack of breath?” The elder questioned, smiling softly. “Ah..he ripped his sleeve, and thinks he’s going to be punished by HanGuang-Jun...” The disciple replied, looking at his friend with worry in his eyes. Wei WuXian raised an eyebrow, looking at JingYi with a hint of confusion. 

“That’s all? Here, hand me your robes!” With those words he undid the youngers robe and pulled it away, ignoring JingYis cry of surprise. He turned it inside out and pulled a qiankun pouch from his sleeve and rifling around with it, before kneeling on the ground with a spool and a thin needle. JingYis eyes widened, sputtering. “T-teacher Wei can sew?!” Wei WuXian just huffed, looking up at the few students now surrounding him. “Honestly, do all you students think I just sit around the JingShi all day? I’m not just a pretty face you know! Why else would Lan Zhan keep me around!” He pouted, muttering quietly that he didn’t know why Lan Zhan kept him around anyway. 

He threaded the needle silently, breaking the pale blue thread he usually used for practicing embroidery with his teeth. He began slowly, making sure to keep the stitches close together and tugging to make sure it was not going to fall apart as he continued. He smiled softly as the disciples crowded around him to watch, whispering softly and their eyes twinkling in interest. He spied Lan Zhan and a few other chaperones in the background talking quietly, probably discussing how the young ones did. Personally, Wei WuXian would pass them all but he knew he was biased. They were all just so adorable, crowding around him to watch closely. 

He knotted the thread twice and made sure it stayed when tugged before turning it right side out and showing it to JingYi, who’s eyes were shining in relief. The thread wasn’t even visible from the outside! He nearly tackled his teacher in a hug, before catching himself and bowing instead. Wei WuXian chuckled, before ruffling his hair and walking away to rant to Lan Zhan about how the disciples were so easily able to make his heart warm. 

If the thought closely, they were like Lan Zhans rabbits! They crowded him, always following him around in wonder or with questions and upset when he had to leave to go attend to his responsibilities. That, and they were scared if HanGuang-Jun like the rabbits were scared of him. He chuckled, his walk turning to more of a skip as he thought of the disciples with floppy ears and fluffy tails. 

“Lan Zhan, I’ve yet to find out what you did to make the disciples so scared of you!” He chuckled, lying his head on his husbands back. He pouted as he was tugged, his crown now placed on his husbands chest instead. He smiled before breathing deeply, the normal sandalwood now laced with a hint of pine from the forest they were in. “JingYi especially, was quite scared of you a few minutes ago. He managed to do something I’ve never been able to do and tore his robes! Sounded like he didn’t know how he did it either though! It was an easy fix though, so don’t punish him okay? It was so funny to see all the disciples crowding around me to see, like how your rabbits always crowd around you when you go to feed them! They’re my own rabbits, huh Lan Zhan!” 

His husband nodded, holding the former patriarch a bit tighter. “Kits.” The taller monotoned. Wei Ying looked up at his lover in confusion. “What was that Er-gege?” Lan Zhans ears grew pink ever so barely before he clarified; “young rabbits...kits.” Wei WuXians eyes widened; he suddenly keeled over in laughter, wiping his face of tears. He stood up soon after, and leaned up to kiss his husband. “ahhhh, I didn’t expect that Lan Zhan! Suprise me more often Er-gege! My chest feels so light! Hmm..kits huh? I like that! I wonder if they’ll understand if I begin to call them that!” He exclaimed, a light in his eyes sparking to life. Lan Zhan smiled ever so barely, leaning down to brush his nose against Wei Yings forehead. “Cute.” He whispered. Wei Ying chuckled, leaning up to kiss his love again. “Ah, maybe i can embroider rabbits on some thicker robes and give them to the disciples during the winter! I’ve heard a few of the thinner ones say they’re still chilled despite the winter robes they’re given. I know they’re probably told to tough it out more often than not, but how can they improve if they’re fingers are frozen straight?” He pouted, throwing his arms over the tallers shoulders. He mumbled to himself about cloth and thread, wandering off towards the youngers with sizes and colors and enchantments in his mind. It was spring now, and the new guest disciples had arrived just a few months ago and already had they’re place in Wei WuXians heart like all the guest disciples he had helped teach before in his few years since coming back. 

Yes, he should be done by late fall if he got the fabric and style preferences by the end of this month. Protective talismans needed to be drawn, thread acquired, and sketched made..he had plenty of work to do but it would be worth it too see their eyes light up and then their faces redden when they saw the bunnies stitched to the hems. The finger pricks would be quite worth it! 

Chapter Text

Lan Zhan tensed his jaw as he walked into the JingShi, holding a tray of food for his husband who was supposed to be sleeping. The cooler weather had brought with it a bought of sickness, and Wei WuXian had had the unfortunate opportunity of catching it. Lan WangJi had hoped to repay his husband for taking care of him not long ago, but his lover had refused the opportunity to stay in bed with his other half all day, something he usually begged for.

“Wei Ying should be resting.” The taller stated. The former patriarch barely looked up from his stitching, working on the outline of a rabbits tail. Ever since he had set his mind on making winter robes for the disciples he hadn’t wavered in us choice one bit, much to his Lan Er-Geges dismay. It was really no wonder why Wei WuXian had caught the illness that had spread around, staying up later to separate threads and waking earlier to head down the mountain to get more fabric; if they didn’t have the color he needed for one or the other he would come back with dye and spend his day airing out fabrics.

Wei Ying had even been forgoing a meal or two, due to moving constantly. Whether it was stitching, threading, dyeing, asking details about certain things or researching more types of embroidery however, he always smiling. Talking about how excited the disciples would be to see their robes, and how happy he would be too see them not shivering on their night hunts.

However, Wei Ying made sure to spend time with his lover everyday. Whether it be their everyday “routine” or just humming their song while he worked. He was busy, but never too busy to forget his better half.

~~

It was late fall before Wei WuXian was done with the thicker robes. He had embroidered near everyday for over 6 months to get these done and he couldn’t be happier. He had multiple bundles in his arms and Lan SiZhui and Lan JingYi right behind him, ready to help pass them out. They all had tags on them with each Disciples name and what sect they were from. Each one also had protection talismans sewn in and many other spells to keep them from staining, or being torn. He had worked hard in these, he wasn’t about to let teenage tomfoolery screw up some of his best work.

He had asked for Lan Zhan to call all of the disciples to the classroom and stood off to the side, ready to talk when he was given the signal. He was practically bouncing where he stood, unaware of the soft smiles that the two disciples behind him were wearing. He was quite aware of the one WangJi was shooting his way however, and grinned wider. Finally, the last disciple had made their way in and was kneeling in their usual spot. He dashed up next to his husband as soon as he heard “Wei.” He explained as fast as possible.

“This spring, when there was still a chill in the air I heard a few of you speaking of how numb your limbs got! So, this Gege decided to see and embroider a you youngsters new, thicker robes for the winter!” Wei WuXian cried, watching the disciples faces. Almost all of them lit up, but one disciple to the left of the room held a sour look on his face. The young teacher ignored him and called out the first name, a young man from the Yunmeng coming forward. Wei WuXian grinned as he passed the clothing to the teen, watching closely as he unfolded it. The teens face lit up at the sight of a rabbit and a kitten playing together near the bottom of the robes. Wei WuXian had asked him what was something he loved and he replied to kittens he had always seen on the streets, mewing and jumping excitedly near the fish and ribbon vendors. Lan WangJi waited a bit longer, before exiting the classroom to speak with his Uncle and Brother.

The other students quickly came forward after seeing the quality and heart that had went into the artwork, almost shoving to get to the front. He passed them out slowly but surely, watching some light up and others tear up as they were reminded of home or past memories incorporated permanently into a set of cloth. One disciple however, was quite the opposite. He grabbed them roughly from Wei WuXians bandaged hands, the pricks long since healed but too busy to unwrap them. He practically tossed them to unfold them, and scoffed at the design.

The other disciple had said he liked dumb cats and gotten a kitten and a rabbit on his, but this student had said he liked wolves and gotten a stupid looking rabbit looking at paw prints instead of a wolf! What kind of bullshit was that?! He very rudely tugged his teachers sleeve, and pointed to the paw prints when he received a questioning look rather than an apology.
Then, the dumbass smiled. “Yes? They’re paw prints..w-w-wolf prints.” The teacher gulped, his smile turning shaky.

Wei WuXian had had trouble with that one, and eventually decided prints would be better than an actual wolf. He could barely stitch the prints knowing they were from such a beast, but if it made the disciple happy he was willing to at least do that. He had worked hard in that one too; he had to redo the paws a few times also. He had spent awhile on that one truthfully, and had spent most of it sitting side to side with Lan Zhan.

The disciple scoffed, before throwing them on the ground and stepping on them. “Honestly, these are shit!” He looked around at all the disciples. Their grins were now scowls too, watching their fellow teen with hate.

They had all grown attached to their Wei-gege, with his sunny disposition and more hands-on teaching. It was nice to get out of the stuffy classroom and actually fight what they were taught about. Not to mention him stepping in when things got a bit tough, or just helping them in general when they were stressed over sudden tests or worrying about their family at home. Talking them down from anxiousness and checking in them every morning. For some of them, he was more of a mother than their blood mother.

A few of them stepped forward, ready to yell at the boy; until he was thrown to the ground by a punch, from none other than Jin Ling. The boy held his nose as he fell, drops of blood falling onto his robes. He cried out when he hit the ground, but no one rushed over to help him.

Lan SiZhui pulled Jin Ling away from where he was about to hit the disciple on the ground again, this time with a firm kick. “You piece of shit! He’s worked on these amazing robes for months and this is how you pay him back?! He helped you when you hurt your wrist doing a sword move and you call his art trash?!” Jin Ling yelled. Wei WuXian was stunned. He knew he had gotten closer to his nephew, but to have him defend him like this...he never saw it coming.

The man chuckled, before kneeling over laughing at a memory. Maybe he had influenced Jin Ling more than he thought!

He stoped laughing a few seconds later, before waltzing over to the angered teen and patting his head. “Aiya, I never thought I’d see the day when the mighty Jin Ling would stand up for little old me! I’m honered, really! Don’t worry nephew. I’ve got this.” Wei WuXian soothed, tapping the tip Jin Lings nose before crouching down next to the teen and giving him a cold stare. He pretended to tap his chin in thought, before giving the bleeding boy a grin. “Copy the Lan Sect rules 100 tunes while doing a handstand. No breaks.” He deadpanned. Maybe that would make the kid learn to respect elders.

The disciple froze, before sneering. “You dont have the authority to punish me.” Wei WuXian scoffed. “Honestly, does marriage mean nothing anymore? Fine, I’ll get HanGuang-Jun in here and see what he says,” he turned to a student on his left, ignoring the paling face of the one on the ground, “tell HanGuang-Jun it’s urgent.”
“H-he’s in a meeting with Lan Qiren and Z-zewu-Jun..” the teen stuttered. Wei WuXian sighed, before pulling the teen closer and whispering. “When you get there, say Wei WuXian sent you and that he told you to say “Lotus” okay?”

The teen nodded, before bowing quickly and speed-walking away.

Wei WuXian watched as the disciple stood up and opened his mouth to yell again. The elders ears perked up as he heard rushed footsteps. Quickly thinking,he put his sleeves to his face and rubbed his eyes harshly, making them red and watery before standing.

As soon as his lover opened the door he tackled him, hiding his face in a firm shoulder and choked on a fake sob. “L-Lan Zhan *hic!”

“Wei Ying!” Lan WangJi held his live tightly, shushing him softly. Golden eyes turned, freezing the students in their places. “What happened.” Lan SiZhui patted Jin Lings arm once, before letting go of him and stepping forward 100% ready to go along with his mothers act.

“When Teacher Wei presented is with the robes he had made for us, this,” The usually calm teen practically spat the word as he nodded his head in the jerks direction,” disciple was unhappy with his. Rather than calmly ask moth-..Teacher Wei to perhaps modify them a bit, he rudely tugged on teachers robes and yelled at him that they were, and I quote, “shit.”” Lan SiZhui recited. “Jin Ling was angered and punched him, and I think many of us would have done the same. Teacher Wei was extremely upset and began to cry so we sent for you. He continued to insult Teacher Wei until you showed up HanGuang-Jun.” Some of the his fellow disciples shifted, before nodding when Lan WangJis eyes turned to them.

The crude disciple however, wasn’t as calm. “What?! Liar! Jin Ling punched me for no reason!” He cried. Wei WuXian fake flinched at the teens voice, whimpering quietly. Lan WangJis face turned to a harsh scowl at the small sound from his wife, hugging the man tighter and kissing his crown before landing his sights on the teen. “Will contact his sect. Copy Lan Sect rules 150 times while doing handstand.” The jade deadpanned. With those words he grabbed his wife and carried him along, back to the JingShi. Wei WuXian quickly turned around and smiled at the disciples. “Hope the rest of you like them!” He called out. They all replied and said thank you. Someone shut the doors, and all the students simultaneously turned around to glare at the trash on the floor. If there was one thing their Wei-gege taught them, it was teamwork.

Chapter Text

Wei WuXian bit his lip as he paced, hand to his chin in thought. That was how Lan WangJi found him when he returned to the JingShi that evening, holding their dinner and a pot of tea.

He called out, “Wei Ying.” Said person looked up immediately, his slight frown instantly brightening to his usual wide smile. Still, the light wasn’t its usual 100 watts.

The shorter man rushed over, taking the pot and his portion into his own arms. He kissed his husbands cheek before floating away, kneeling in front of the table they normally ate at. “How has your day been Lan Zhan? Busy I bet! Such a hard working husband I have!” Wei WuXian spouted, looking anywhere but at his lover. Lan WangJi frowned, following his other half’s example and sitting across from him. He gently grabbed the former patriarchs chin and raised it, making Wei Ying look into his eyes. He titled his head ever so barely, asking a silent question. ‘Whats wrong?’

Wei WuXian was still, before he started laughing softly. “Aiya, and such a sensitive husband too! I can’t keep anything from you, darling!~” he purred. The tallers ears flushed pink, before he looked away shyly. Wei Ying coo’d in his head, before grabbing his HanGuang-Juns hand and lacing their fingers together. “It’s nothing too bad, Lan Zhan. This one promises he would tell you if it was. It’s just a small problem I’m having, nothing life threatening.” As he finished his statement he tugged his better half’s hand to his lips and kissed it gently. “I’ll show you after we eat, okay?”

Lan Zhan nodded, before pulling his hand away sadly and wrapping it around the pots handle. Wei WuXian grabbed it again as soon as he was done pouring their tea, making the blush return full force Their meal continued without interruption, Lan Zhan obeying his sects rules and Wei WuXian continuing the thought he had before Lan Zhan had returned, though he was often distracted by the golden eyes across from him.

They finished soon, and the silver eyed male stacked their bowls together to bring to the kitchen later. He traveled back to his lover and pulled him up, leaning on his chest for a few minutes before sighing happily and tugging him out of the JingShi and behind it. His shoulders slumped when his problem came into view, before raising them again when he remembered his husbands presence beside him. He let go of the warm hand holding his and stood in front of it, and off to the side a bit. “Ta-da! A vegetable garden!” Wei Ying exclaimed, shaking his hands erratically.

HanGuang-Juns eyes widened slightly, moving forward to get a better look. Wei WuXian stomped him instantly. “I..I don’t think you’ll want to see it Lan Zhan. It’s a bit of a mess, and the bugs won’t leave it alone. That’s what I was a bit upset about earlier. I can’t figure out how to get them to stay away!” He cried. Lan WangJi watched for a few minutes, before gently pulling Wei WuXian to his chest again. “Once read Cow dung was good for feeding plants and keeping away bugs.” The teacher said. Wei WuXians eyes opened to look up at husband, before grinning. “Really? Maybe I can use some from Lil’ Apple!” He suggested, hugging the chest he was buried in tighter.

Lan Zhan leaned down, burying his face into the man who owned his hearts hair and smiling. “Can go check tomorrow. For now, go back inside.” At that, he crouched and grabbed his husband under his thighs and carried him back into the warmth of their home, where they spent the night holding each other close, rocking and panting softly.

The next day found them walking together, a path traveled many times. They arrived at the shed holding the energetic animal and greeted it softly, Wei Ying patting the donkeys snout. Neither of them mentioned the graying hair on the donkeys back. “Less angry than usual, huh?” He asked. The burro snorted, moving his head up and down his owners body and sniffing heavily. “I don’t have any apples for you, but I’ll ask JingYi to bring you some later okay?” The donkey huffed, but turned it’s head away like it understood. Wei WuXian chuckled and opened the gate to let the donkey out before going inside once the creature had exited. He looked around, before nodding. There was plenty and it all looked normal, meaning his pet had no stomach issues that he could see. “Okay, there’s plenty! We just need a wheelbarrow and a shovel! We have those, right Lan Zhan?”
The man nodded, before making his way to the back of the shed. He returned moments later, the shovel resting inside the wheel barrow.

“Great! Hand me the shovel Lan Zhan, and I can get too it, and then you can attend to the stack of papers that I saw needed grading on your desk! I even went down to CaiYi town the other day and bought you some red ink to mark them with, since I saw you were running out!” Wei Ying voiced, taking the tool from his husband. “I’ll call you if I need help, okay?” The taller nodded in reply, moving forward to kiss his husbands cheek in goodbye before leaving, returning to the JingShi to grade the Juniors reports on their night hunt from 3 days prior.

Wei WuXian watched his lover go, before dropping the smile from his face. He had been working on this garden for months, but nothing had grown yet! He had asked some of the farmers yesterday when he went into Caiyi town, he had asked the Juniors if they had any ideas, even going to the library pavilion and staying there for over an hour researching farming techniques. Why wouldn’t his peppers and radishes grow?
It was obviously something he was doing, but what?!

He shook his head, before taking off his outer robe and rolling up his pant legs and sleeves. He would try this, but he didn’t have the usual hope he did for other things. He lowered the shovel towards the ground and got to work mucking it out.

~

A black sleeve wiped sweat from a pale forehead, shining with perspiration. “Well, that’s the whole garden. Not that there’s much here..” he lamented. The former patriarch stood, wiping his hands in his pants and straightening from his crouch. “Lan Zhan is probably done with his grading,” he looked up at the JingShi window, “I wonder why he hadn’t come out yet..usually he’d be by my side. Maybe there was more stuff he needed to grade.”

He walked to the JingShi door after picking up his robe from where he laid it.
He looked it over once more before smiling and skipping his way into their room. “Lan Zhaaaaan!~” He cried.
He froze when he opened the door, looking with wide eyes. “Is..is that a pepper plant?” He stumbled. Lan WangJi looked up, before nodding and standing with the pots in his hands. “Full garden is too big. Start in a small pot, then move it from pot to garden. Works better.” Lan Zhan quoted, softly closing the book he had been skimming. Wei WuXians mouth was open, before he teared up slightly and rushed to hug his husband. “Honestly Lan Zhan, you’re too good to me! What did I do to deserve you, huh?” He cried, wrapping his arms around his lovers neck. He kisses the taller softly, pulling away when he felt a nip on his lower lip. “Not now Lan Zhan, I wanna start planting the pepper seeds!” He grabbed the pot and rushed outside, gathering some water from the well outside the JingShi and sprinkling it over the soil. He dug into it just barely, placing two seeds in the dip and covering it again. He placed it in the ground before sitting next to it and watching it. He stood a few seconds later, turning around to hold his other half again. “I mean it Lan Zhan, you’re too good to me. I really must have don’t something great in a past life for me to deserve you! How can I thank you, husband?”He coo’d.

The taller frowned, placing his hands on slim hips. “Wei Ying is perfect. No need for thanks.” He recited. The smaller huffed, before laying his head on a firm shoulder. “M so excited! Once they start to grow I’ll barely be able to keep my hands off of them! Oh, maybe I can dry them out?! They’d be even more delicious then!” He ranted, turning in the arms holding it to look as the plant again. Lan WangJi nodded, laying his head on his wife’s shoulder. “Sichuan?” He asked

Wei Ying shook his head. “Nope! They’re from a remote village, the one we went to a few days ago! I ate one there and it make me almost cry! It was so delicious Lan Zhan! I need more!” Golden eyes narrowed at the word “cry.” “What kind of pepper.”

The former Jiang Disciple spun around again with a grin. “They’re called Ghost Peppers!”