Chapter Text
Lan Wangji was in Caiyi Town the second time he heard it, returning from a monster-hunting trip with Lan Sizhui. They sat across from each other in the inn, drinking tea, when a man a few tables over revealed, "They're saying the Cultivation Leader has him!"
"Has who?" Another asked.
"The Yiling Patriarch, Wei Wuxian!"
Lan Wangji forgot to breathe for a moment.
"Apparently, he's had him imprisoned the whole time, and someone must've let it slip. Just think though, what would Wei Wuxian have done if he was free to wreak whatever havoc he pleased? Who else would he have killed?"
"I'm glad he's locked up."
"Me too. I'd be scared to leave the house if he was roaming free. I'm sure Jin Guangyao is treating him like the dog he is."
Lan Wangji slammed his cup against the table, turning all heads his way. Lan Sizhui gave him a concerned look, not used to seeing a crack in his father's stoic expression. Without a word, Lan Wangji put payment on the table and stood to leave, gesturing that his son follow. They walked down the street in silence for a bit before Lan Sizhui dared to ask, "Is something wrong, Father?"
"Of course not." Lan Wangji's grip on his sword tightened.
"But you knew the Yiling Patriarch, didn't you? That's what Uncle said."
Lan Wangji's heart raced, no matter how much he willed it to calm. He didn't just know the Yiling Patriarch. That statement didn't do any justice to what they had. To what they could've been. The scarce hope that this news had given him was toxic, and he knew that. It was probably just gossip, just a lie, something he'd just coincidentally heard twice. Lan Wangji had searched for years before finally giving up. Before finally accepting that he was gone. This news couldn't possibly be true.
And it hurt.
"We should head home. It will be dark soon," he said instead of answering, and his son took that as his cue to not ask anymore.
The rest of the way back to Cloud Recesses, Lan Wangji's mind was a jumbled mess of half-formed theories and bittersweet memories. They were at the hanshi before he fully realized it.
It wasn't his brother that opened the door, but a six-year-old with braided hair that took one look at Lan Wangji before clutching his leg and bursting into tears. It tugged at his heart strings, as it always did, and he sighed, stroking the girl's head. "A-Lien, don't cry. I said we'd come back." She was old enough for the no-crying rule to apply, but Lan Wangji did nothing to chastise her for it. He just waited for her grip to lessen. Then, he knelt down, placing Bichen to the side before gathering his child in his arms. "I missed you." He kept his voice gentle. "Did you behave for Uncle? And attend all your lessons?"
"Yes, Father."
Lan Sizhui crouched down to meet his sister's eyes. "A-Lien, I'm here too. Did you miss me?"
The girl nodded against her father's robes and raised her arms, a clear indication for Lan Sizhui to pick her up.
They all entered the hanshi, where Lan Xichen was sitting with A-Xia sound asleep in his lap. Lan Wangji instantly relaxed. This had been his first time away since adopting the baby girl less than a year ago.
"How was the trip?" Lan Xichen asked quietly, for fear of waking the baby.
"Successful," Lan Wangji answered. "Brother, thank you for your assistance."
"It was my pleasure. I'd never say no to spending time with my favorite nieces." Lan Xichen saw the question in his brother's eyes and continued. "They cried the first day, but I got them to calm down. It was fine after that. I took them to see the rabbits as well." Lan Xichen stood carefully and placed A-Xia in his father's waiting arms. "They are lovely girls. You are lucky."
Lan Wangji knew that. He was extremely lucky to have three beautiful, well-behaved children, and he loved them dearly. But, a piece of him would always be missing. "Brother, there is a matter I wish to speak to you about."
"Let it wait until tomorrow. It's late, and you must be tired."
Lan Wangji would rather not wait, but he pushed that thought aside. "Yes, Brother. Thank you, again."
Since it was almost nine, there weren't many people out. A-Lien held her brother's hand as she talked quietly about what she did with Uncle. Lan Wangji nodded from time to time, but he wasn't entirely listening. He was focused on not waking A-Xia. He'd been worried about being away from her, so it was a relief that everything was well. He almost wished she were awake, so he could hear her laugh and see her bright smile.
It was quick work putting the girls to sleep, and after, Lan Wangji dismissed his son back to the dormitories. Lan Wangji wasn't in bed long before A-Lien climbed in next to him and snuggled against his chest. He was used to it and let her stay, running a hand through her hair.
She'd always been clingy. He'd found her on the streets when she was around three, orphaned and homeless. She'd won a fight with a stray dog for food and had been bitten in the process. Lan Wangji had stepped in, helping her calm down and getting her something substantial to eat.
She'd hardly talked, but she'd said enough that Lan Wangji knew she had no relations, nowhere to stay, and no real name. She'd reminded him of A-Yuan, but there was something else about her that made him feel responsible for her. No child should have to live like that. So, he adopted her. Since then, she'd grown to love him, and every time he had to leave, some part of her worried that she'd be abandoned again. Lan Wangji gave her a home, a family, and a new name: Lan Meilien.
As he lay there, for once unable to sleep, his thoughts drifted to Wei Wuxian. If only Lan Wangji had done more to help him, or to stop him from going down that path. He should've taken him to the Cloud Recesses like he'd wanted to, to hide him from everyone and everything that wanted to hurt him. He should've told him how he felt about him.
Wei Wuxian should've been here. He was meant to be by Lan Wangji's side forever. He was meant to raise A-Yuan. Lan Wangji could almost picture Wei Wuxian kneeling by the bed, looking at him as he touched A-Lien's cheek. Lan Wangji still remembered his smile, bright and pure. It was so clear in his memory that it hurt.
The next morning, he and A-Lien ate breakfast in silence before she went to play with a friend. She only had one friend, but it was better than none. She reminded him of himself in that way.
A-Xia was Lan Wangji's sole companion for the rest of the morning. His heart twisted as he watched her crawl around the jingshi, playing with her stuffed animal and other toys. She was adorable in the best ways. He had nothing to attend to that day, so for once, he could afford to sit around with her and relax.
When it was nap time, he hugged her to his chest and hummed his song for Wei Ying, rocking the child as her eyelids got heavy. He didn't use to be so comfortable with touching. It was by raising A-Yuan that he grew to expect such things, allowing the boy to cling to his leg and sit in his lap. Lan Wangji's touch-starved heart grew to enjoy it, and in private he worked his way to initiating them. A-Lien had been the opposite of A-Yuan, untrusting and shying away from affection. It was Lan Wangji that had to initiate a connection, to assure her that she was safe and loved, before she grew to adopt A-Yuan's leg-hugging habit and more.
And A-Xia knew nothing but love, so she was the easiest to interact with in some ways. With A-Yuan, Lan Wangji had long since resigned himself to little or no physical contact, to the point where an ignorant onlooker may think Lan Sizhui was just one of his students. With A-Lien, his touch was comfort when she needed it, existing in public only in necessity, because Lan Wangji still felt uncomfortable showing affection in general, much less with others watching. A-Xia was the one he was most generous with, both for her sake and his. When alone, he'd kiss her forehead or hold her tiny hand, caress her head or hold her close. She made him feel at-ease and unjudged, so if she fell asleep that day lying on Lan Wangji's chest, it was because he needed that touch as much as she did. Her weight on his chest was grounding, allowing his mind to go blank and his eyes to drift shut.
Lan Xichen came during A-Xia's nap, which was probably his plan. His heart warmed at seeing his brother so content, and he watched Lan Wangji gently maneuver A-Xia into her crib. He was offered tea and they sat at the table. He payed close attention to his brother's expression. "Something appeared to be troubling you last night. What was it?"
"It is probably nothing," Lan Wangji sighed, setting down his cup. "I heard a rumor that Jin Guangyao has Wei Ying imprisoned."
"And you believe him capable of such a thing," his brother deduced the rest. "I have never heard this rumor, or seen anything that would lead me to believe it. I thought Young Master Wei was confirmed dead?"
"I thought the same."
"You know it is most likely untrue."
Lan Wangji's throat was beginning to hurt. He tried to swallow. "I know. However, I heard it in two different towns."
"I understand. If you'd like to accompany me, I'll be visiting Lanling in the near future." Lan Xichen was well aware of his brother's pain. He didn't want to hurt him more, but dispelling this rumor was necessary. He knew Lan Wangji wouldn't let it go until he'd investigated for himself.
"Thank you, Brother."
Lan Xichen stayed until A-Xia woke up, to make sure his brother was alright enough to be alone. The First Jade was cautious with all things Wei Wuxian, studying his brother for signs of inner turmoil. He didn't see any.
But, that didn't mean they weren't there.