Chapter Text
Xi Chen
If he had been expecting Wei WuXian he certainly would not have been expecting her like this. She looked half dead. Her hair orderly but limp in a way he’d never seen. Her eyes were ringed with dark circles. Even her breathing seemed unsteady. In one hand she held subian and a little boy no older than five gripped her arm. With her other arm she gripped a basket tightly.
“Wei WuXian. You are welcome here. Wangji will certainly want to speak to you.” He states walking forward to greet her. The girls eyes flash worriedly and XiChen’s brows furrow. Does she not wish to see his brother? His brother wants more than anything to see her. When he had come back from the burial grounds after being denied entrance his brother had been defeated, perhaps is the right word. He had secluded himself in the jingshi for the past three months since and XiChen was starting to become worried.
“Can you. Can you not tell him I’m here? Can I speak to you instead?” The girl asks and he remembers suddenly how young she is only eighteen. Still a child.
“Of course.” He states smiling at her reaching out to take her burden. But the girl startles and pulls the basket closer to her fear in her eyes. What was in there? Should he allow her in? What if it was demonic? He had to let her in, Wangji would never forgive him if he didn’t. So he leads her to the meeting room. His uncle is teaching so it is empty. He wants to not meddle. He wants to no betray the girls trust but his loyalty to his brother comes first.
“Lady Wei. Let me tell my disciples that we are not to be disturbed.” He states moving from the room quickly. He is surprised that the girl doesn’t say anything. She doesn’t ask him not to send for Wangji. Her eyes are glazed and distracted. He looks around for a disciple and finds a young one.
“You will go to Lan Wangji and tell him Wei WuXian is here. If he isn’t in the jingshi he will be at the cold springs. As fast as you can do you understand?” He states and the boy looks at him his eyes wide and blank. “Run.” He states and he watches the boy take off. Hopefully Wangji will get here in time. But now he needs to re enter so as not to make the girl suspious he doesn’t want her to get spooked and leave. When he enters her looks to the girl but she is sitting her hand clinging to something within the basket.
“Lady Wei? What is it you wanted to speak about?” He asks and she comes out of her daze.
“This is Wen Yuan. His parents were killed. I wanted to adopt him myself. I already feel like he is my son. But the burial grounds is no place for a child.” The girl states her voice cracking and a feeling of dread runs through him. He knows where this is going and this is dangerous territory. This is a Wen child after all.
“I know Lan Zhan must be very angry with me. But I hope his anger wouldn’t transfer to the child and perhaps he would raise A Yuan here.” She half asks and XiChen wants to shake the girl. Wangji is not angry with her. He is terrified. He is sick with worry and pain. He cannot, even if he would do such a thing. The girl looks to frail, too sick he realizes. Is Wei WuXian very ill? Have the burial grounds done something to her? He wonders what Wangji will do once he sees her.
“Perhaps you should ask Wangji.” He replies and the girl shakes her head.
“I cannot…. I cannot see him.” The girl stutters out panicked and XiChen sees her eyes filled with fright and shame.
“Alright. If Wangji doesn’t want the child I will have him placed somewhere.” He responds and the girl looks relieved. The child however is clinging to her with vigor. He doesn’t know how he will separate the two.
“Thank you Lan XiChen.” She states bowing her head.
“Is that all you wanted to speak on?” He asks her and the girl looks to the basket biting her lip.
“Please don’t let Wangji take it out on the child. He would never hurt a child but he deserves to be loved.” The girl pleads and he doesn’t know how to respond. He already told her that he would take the boy. He is beyond confused but then Lady Wei pulls the top from the basket and he can’t help but gasp. Inside lays a child wrapped up in black fabric. The child couldn’t be more than a week old its eyes barely seeing. He cant make out their color from where he sits. He looks to the girl in front of him and he suddenly understands. Why she looks so sick and why she is so tormented. Why she had turned Wangji away months ago. She wants him, well Wangji to take her child. She is giving up her children. He cannot imagine how painful it would be to a mother. Why would she think Wangji wouldn’t want, would take something out on the little baby? So many questions swirl in his mind. Is the child another mans? Is the question that stands out from the rest. Could his brother take the idea of Wei WuXian carrying another man’s child? No it would ruin him. Tear his heart open. How could the girl do that to him? The girl must see something in his expression.
“A Zian is Wangji’s son.” She breathes out looking at his face looking for something in his gaze. Relief runs through him and he is sure she sees it because she looks down ashamed. He didn’t mean to shame her. Her and Wangji’s relationship it is complicated. He doesn’t know the details. He doesn’t know what they are to each other really. He knows Wangji would lay his life for her but as for her he doesn’t know.
“The cloud recesses will care for A Zian should Wangji choose not to I and Uncle will care for him.” He states, as if Wangji would turn away his child must less his child with the wife he adores, he doubts he will turn away the adopted boy either. He gives her a small bow and the girl smiles a tear falling from her eye.
“I just want them to grow happy. Can you do that?” She asks picking up the sleeping child and rocking it in her arms slightly. She doesn’t ask for a response and he has none to give. He cannot guarantee that. He knows what is was like to grow up without a mother. The girl kisses the baby’s head.
“Why do you not stay and raise them with Wangji?” He asks and the girl freezes settling the baby back in its basket. Her face is full of anguish and he doesn’t understand why. What is happening? What has happened between her and his brother?
“I cannot. The Wen’s need me.” She replies simply and he doesn’t want to argue but he cant help it.
“Your children need you to. Wangji and I’s mother died when we were young. We didn’t get to see her much only once a month. One day when it was time to go see her uncle told us there was no need. Our mother was no longer there. Wangji sat outside our mothers house all day and all night waiting for her on our scheduled day for a year.” He tells her and the girl is openly crying now. He had not meant to make her do so.
“I am sorry. Tell Wangji I am sorry. Please. I cannot. They cannot be in the darkness. It is too desolate a place for children.” She begs him. He sighs. Alright. She takes it as a yes and turns to the toddler beside her.
“A yuan. You are going to stay here with father alright?” The girl tells him and the boy shakes his head.
“A Yuan you like father. He bought you many toys remember. I am sure he will get more for you if you ask. I will come see you.” She tells him and XiChen knows that is a lie and he wants to punish the girl for lying to a child. He also tries not to flinch at her calling Wangji father. Wangji is only twenty just reaching his majority he should not be a father. He is too young.
“Alright A Yuan?” The girl states kissing the boys forehead. She untangles herself from the boys arms and he has to hand it to the child. It does not cry it just looks at her with sadness in his gaze. The girl keeps her chin up but the tears don’t stop falling. He cannot imagine. He shakes his head and sighs internally. This is a mess. Wangji will be destroyed when he learns. Wangji who apparently is not listening. He should be here by now. Lady Wei sways slightly on her feet and his arm darts out to catch her but she rights herself on her own.
“I will ask someone to watch the children.” He states leaving the room. He paces outside it. Who could take care of children? Not one of their disciples. His head is starting to ache when his uncle walks to him.
“What is it XiChen?” The man asks and he winces.
“I need you to watch some children. Just for a moment. Don’t ask questions please. I will answer everything as soon as I return.” He states ushering his uncle inside the room.
“What! What is she doing here?” His uncle spits out angrily as the girl bows to him respectfully.
“Just wait uncle.” He states with a pointed look and motioning to the babe in the basket. His uncle’s eyes widen and he goes pale. Oh no this is not what he needs. His uncle better not go into qi deprivation. “It isn’t what you think.” He states quickly and his uncles color returns slightly. He ushers the girl from the room then. He tries to walk slowly. To give Wangji more time. But quickly it becomes useless.
Walking the girl out of the cloud recesses is a somber affair. Her hand is clenched around her sword. They do not speak, for a reason he thinks that words would not be welcome. The guards bow as they come close. Oh Wangji where are you?
“Thank you.” The girl states with a bow starting to walk away slowly. He doesn’t know what to say. So he doesn’t say anything. Is this how pained his mother had been to give him and Wangji up? He doesn’t know. He turns walking back to his uncle quickly. He enters the room and his uncle is sitting at the table his eyes closed drinking tea. The young toddler has a brush in his hand and the babe still lays sleeping. At least it is a well behaved child it seems.
“Start explaining XiChen.” His uncle states his voice tense.
“Perhaps Wangji should explain it uncle it would be better.” He tells him. In other words he has no intention of doing this unforced.
“Wangji is not here. He is in the cold spring cave.” His uncle states and XiChen closes his eyes. That is why his brother has not come. Of all the times to do so why now.
“Uncle, Wangji he…..” The door opens abruptly and his brother walks in his face anxious his eyes darting around the room. His hair is still wet and ice clings to him.
“Where is she?” His brother asks quickly desperation in his gaze.
“She left.” XiChen states and he watches Wangji deflate. His expression so pained and contorted.
“Why didn’t she wait for me?” He asks his voice wavering and XiChen loathes what he is about to say.
“She didn’t want to see you.” He responds and Wangji looks destroyed. His icy features crumble and he stumbles sitting at the table not even looking at the children around him.
“Why.” He asks softly and XiChen has his theories but he cant tell Wangji those.
“I don’t know. But she left some things for you.” He states instead and Wangji looks at him hope in his gaze. This is as much as XiChen has ever been able to read him.
“This is Wen Yuan. Lady Wei adopted him, I think you’ve met. She doesn’t want her children growing up in the burial grounds. She asked we take him, you take him.” He states and Wangji looks at the child his eyes wide and the little thing scoots towards him.
“Father!” The little boy cries and Wangji’s eyes widen and his uncle chokes on his tea. The child grasps Wangji’s hand and it is obvious from his reaction that Wangji knows the boy.
“Things?” Wangji asks and XiChen points to the basket beside Wangji.
“Lan Zian.” He states and Wangji chokes out a sound that sounds startlingly like a sob. He touches the child so carefully that XiChen wonders how he can feel it.
“Mine?” Wangji asks looking at him and he nods. A tear runs down Wangji’s cheek and uncle looks like he might pass out.
“Wei the child is a Wei.” His uncle states hard. Wangji just shakes his head.
“Lan Zian.” He states an heir of finality in his tone. Uncle looks like he is about to burst so XiChen decides to intervene not that it will improve the situation.
“Wangji and Lady Wei are married.” He states and uncle sputters. He is about to say something else but a disciple hurries into the room.
“Yes?” He asks as the child bows to him.
“The woman outside fell from her sword. We took her to the healers.” The boy states and Wangji looks at him. He nods and his brother is off running.
“What are we going to do?” His uncle breathes out angrily.
“We are going to leave them alone. There is no way Wangji will allow her to leave now. He will tie her to the bed if he has to.” XiChen states and his uncle grows more pale. He understands it is hard to imagine their Wangji doing something like that but Wangji is more like their father than anyone would admit. There is no way he will let Wei WuXian go. His love borders on obsession. He has done well keeping it in check but knowing she has given him a child. He doubts that is something that Wangji can let go. He knows he wont let her leave her child. He wont allow them to become like his own parents.
“What do we do with the children?” He asks again and XiChen sighs.
“Take them to where the youngsters are cared for, for now and A Zian needs a headband.” He replies making his uncle scramble about the room. XiChen sighs. This is going to be a mess. There is no way Wangji will allow Lady Wei to leave and there is no way the girl will agree to stay. Something is wrong between them and he doubts Wangji is even aware of it. Something must have happened. The girl obviously loves him and Wangji has never loved anything like he loves Wei WuXian. He looks over to the babe and he can’t help but smile. Golden eyes. Yes, there is no mistaking who the child’s father is. Not when it holds the Lan eyes.