Chapter Text
Xie Lian was no stranger to helping children. He has a long history of offering food, shelter, and his own clothing to begging children in his 800 years in the human realm. It is second nature for him. When he sees a small ball, shivering in the alley he was picking out of, he can’t help his heart squeezing at the sight.
He drops everything and walks closer. It’s a small child in paper thin clothing that is just skin and bones. They barely were able to move from their spot against a wall, trying desperately to avoid the cold and changing winds.
Xie Lian came closer, letting his footsteps be heard. The child can barely flinch, staring warily at Xie Lian. He isn’t phased though as he bends down, sitting where he blocks the wind. He rummages into his sack and picks out a small bun that is still good.
“Would you like this?” Xie Lian asks, holding the bun out.
The child is barely able to move and just stares. It’s only with Xie Lian’s gentle prompting do they reach out with shaking hands and grasp the bun, hungrily biting into it. They couldn’t have been more than five or six.
“Do you have a name?” Xie Lian asks, his eyes soft but not holding back the pain at seeing this sight.
The child shakes their head and Xie Lian sighs.
“That won’t do. How about I pick one for you?”
The child looks up, but doesn’t protest. Xie Lian smiles, placing a finger against his chin as he thinks.
“How about...Ah...Ah Jian? Do you like that name?”
They look up shyly, nodding. Xie Lian’s smiling is comforting and soon Ah Jian has started becoming less hesitant.
“Do you have any parents? Anybody that takes care of you?”
“No...Said I’m ugly and mistake.”
Xie Lian feels a flare of anger and sadness, recognizing the scene. Ah Jian was most likely abandoned after their mother accidentally got pregnant.
He didn’t pry anymore. He takes off and shakes out his outer coat, holding it out for Ah Jian. “Please, it’s cold. It isn’t the warmest but it is better than nothing.”
After a small moment of hesitation, Ah Jian takes the coat. They wrap it around themselves and disappear into the fabric from how tiny they are. Xie Lian smiles a little warmer at the site.
“Do you really have no place for you to stay?”
“No...Sleep here a lot.”
“Would you like to come back to my monastery? It isn’t the biggest but it will keep you warm and I will help take care of you the best I can.”
Ah Jian looks skeptical, almost not wanting to believe that he would want to keep them. It’s only because of Xie Lian’s gentle and open smile that they nod.
“Please, I live outside of town in a village named Puqi Village. You are very weak right now so it would be best if I carry you back there over the path.”
Ah Jian nods, crawling forward, and letting himself be picked up. He clings to the front of Xie Lian’s robes.
Xie Lian hurries back to his monastery. He is quick in his pace, carrying the small child close to keep them warm as best as he can. He had left the Ghost City that morning to pick over the town, telling San Lang that he would be back in a few days. San Lang had to take care of small matters of mutiny and discipline around the city so couldn’t come with. He just gave Xie Lian a warm kiss goodbye before they went their separate ways.
It is because of this that when Xie Lian breezes into his monastery, he stops dead, dropping his bag in surprise with San Lang dusting the offering table. There’s a smell of food cooking in the kitchen.
“San Lang,” Xie Lian says, a bright smile forming. “Why are you here? I thought you were busy the next few days?”
San Lang looks up, giving a satisfied smirk. “It wasn’t much. Just some useless nobodies trying to take over the Ghost City. Thinking I wasn’t actually that much stronger than them.”
Xie Lian gave a small laugh as he walks over to the side where two bamboo mats were rolled up. Ah Jian is still clutching firmly onto Xie Lian’s chest, scared of the new man that was there.
“I’ll go get some water so you can have a bath and I can see if you’re hurt anywhere, okay?” Xie Lian says soothingly.
It’s only because of Xie Lian’s tone and gentleness does Ah Jian slowly loosen his hold, sitting in the pile of Xie Lian’s robes obediently.
San Lang follows as Xie Lian goes behind to the small stream to get water. “Did you pick up a child again?”
“Yes, I did. They were shivering in an alley I was looking through. I couldn’t leave them.”
“Do they have a name?”
“Now, they do. I asked but they didn’t have one so we decided on Ah Jian. They don’t have any family.” Xie lian looks up, pleading with San Lang. “I’ve seen it all too often”
San Lang doesn’t say anything against it. He shrugs, picking up the bucket full of water now. “If that’s what Your Highness wants to do, who am I to argue?”
“You’re my husband, you’re allowed to have an opinion.” Xie Lian knew he wouldn’t though, catching San Lang’s arm gently. He stands on his tip toes and pecks San Lang’s lips. “I also have not greeted you properly. I’m glad you’re home with me.”
San Lang smiles, eye crinkling in it as he places a longer kiss onto Xie Lian. “I can only stay away from Your Highness for so long before I get too lonely.”
Xie Lian snickers and pulls on San Lang’s braid. Both go back into the shrine, seeing that Ah Jian is wide eyed, staring around the entire building. They were pushed against the wall, still gently shivering on the mat but seemed more so from the cold than fear.
“This is San Lang, Ah Jian.” Xie Lian says, placing a hand on San Lang’s shoulder. “He’ll be with us a lot while you’re also here.”
“Is he mean?” Ah Jian asks, bringing the coat around him a little tighter.
“Of course not. If he’s mean to you, he’ll have me to answer to.”
“Nah, I’m mean. If you aren’t careful, I’ll get ur toes.” San Lang says, reaching out and pulling gently on Ah Jian’s toes. They laugh, giving a shy smile and gently kicking out the foot San Lang held.
Xie Lian helps bathe Ah Jian, chatting with San Lang as he did. Ah Jian was falling asleep from the warm water and Xie Lian scrubbing his hair. Soon, he is clutching Xie Lian again as he’s dried off and put into the robes Xie Lian still had from when he was taking care of Lang Ying. They’re a little big and Xie Lian can’t help smiling brightly at how much nicer they look after being cleaned up and no longer shivering in an alley.
Other than small scrapes and bruising, there isn’t anything serious on Ah Jian and Xie Lian immediately feels relief rush through him. He holds them against his chest, letting them doze. San Lang finishes dinner and motions for them to come over after it had simmered long enough.
“Are you still hungry? San Lang has made some stew if you would like some.” Xie Lian asks, gently rousing Ah Jian.
They rub at their eyes, barely able to keep them open but still nodding. The three of them sit around the offering table and eat. Xie Lian can’t help gently prodding Ah Jian to have more than one bowl, the concern for their well being evident.
After those two bowls, Xie Lian helps them back onto the bamboo mat, tucking his outer coat around Ah Jian. He stokes the fire, making sure it doesn’t die, nice and lively for Ah Jian to stay warm before he waves San Lang away from the dishes he is currently starting on.
“You already cleaned and cooked for us. How could I ask you to do anything more for me?” Xie Lian says. He slithers into San Lang’s lap, feeling San Lang wrap his arms around his waist as Xie Lian finishes the small pile of dishes.
“It’s because I love Your Highness that I’m willing to do all this for him.” San Lang says, burying his face into Xie Lian’s neck.
“It isn’t necessary but thank you.”
Xie Lian grows quiet, finishing up. San Lang is gently rocking the two and soon they are entangled together against the wall, just absorbing the other’s presence.
“Did you really have to pick him up?” Hua Cheng asks to almost nobody in particular.
“Ah Jian said his mother called him ugly and unwanted.” Xie Lian says softly.
It was that, that had San Lang stop, his hand clenching around Xie Lian’s waist. It relaxes a moment later but Xie Lian sits up straighter, looking San Lang in the eye.
“I remember a bandaged little boy that clung to me after getting hurt. But even with bandages all over him he wouldn’t let me look at him without his hands covering most of his face because he thought he was ugly.”
San Lang isn’t looking at him, gently running his thumb over Xie Lian’s knuckles. The memory wasn’t clear but Xie Lian had been reminded of it after Feng Xin angrily started talking about how it was no wonder Qi Rong was so scared of Hua Cheng. The memory made his heart hurt and face sad, realizing that little boy might not fully believe that he is beautiful still.
“I couldn’t leave Ah Jian just like I couldn’t leave that little boy all those years ago.” Xie Lian finally says.
Again, San Lang doesn’t say anything. Xie Lian doesn’t push because he can only guess this must be a sensitive topic for the two to share. It had been so long and so much had happened to Xie Lian he doesn’t remember being the Crown Prince any better than a poor ghost from his kingdom might. But San Lang had always been there and watched him, cared for him in his own way.
“What if…” San Lang finally says, making Xie Lian look up at him. “What if, because I was the same bandaged little boy before, that I won’t be a good influence for them. Spending years being called an ugly monster isn’t something easy to forget when you’re so young. What if I...make it worse…”
Xie Lian makes a noise, not quite sure how to answer at first. San Lang isn’t vulnerable easily. He pulls San lang against his neck, gently running his hands through San Lang’s hair as he chews on his words.
“I think because you know that it is so hard that...you could help them.” He pauses, fear clawing at him for a moment as he wonders if this is where San Lang finally draws the line and leaves. “But also this isn’t your responsibility. You never have to stay if it means this will be too much for you. If you do not want to take care of them with me, I will manage. It isn’t your-”
San Lang pulls back and presses a soft kiss against Xie Lian, stopping his ramble. He stays pressed against Xie Lian and it’s slow and relaxes Xie Lian, his hands coming to cup San Lang’s face.
“His Highness will do as he pleases but that doesn’t mean I will leave at one I am not sure about. I worry what I could be for Ah Jian because your influence will be infinitely better than mine could as raising them.”
There’s a small noise behind them and Ah Jian is looking at them, scared about something. Xie Lian whirls around, hurriedly coming over to comfort them and letting them cling around his neck.
“What’s wrong? Did you have a bad dream?” Xie Lian asks.
Ah Jian shakes their head. “Mad at me?”
“No! Of course not, no. Me and San Lang were talking. We didn’t mean to wake you up.”
San Lang comes over then and Ah Jian watches him. He flicks a small little butterfly out of his sleeve, just like he had done before with Guzi. The light made Ah Jian open their mouth in wonder, reaching out for it.
“Gege and I aren’t mad. I’m sad so he’s helping me.” San Lang says, a gentler smile tugging at his lips at the happy look Ah Jian has as the butterfly flies around their head.
“You sad?” Ah Jian asks. When San Lang nods, Ah Jian wiggles out of Xie Lian’s arms and quickly takes the small step between them to hold Hua Cheng’s middle. “When I sad, Mom holds me like this.”
The small action makes San Lang freeze but it isn’t for long as he places a gentle hand in Ah Jian’s hair. Xie Lian’s smile and face are brimming with love and affection at the scene and San Lang takes his hand. He uses his other arm to hoist Ah Jian up, letting them hold onto his neck.
“Thanks, kid,” he says.
It isn’t long until Ah Jian is back asleep and settles against San Lang. Xie Lian wishes he could keep this moment forever.
“Even with the other two kids we took in, you were never this nice.” he comments to San Lang.
“This one…” San Lang isn’t sure what’s changed but he feels like he could do better for them. He knew what it was like to be the brunt of so many mean comments and discarded like nothing. “If His Highness will be taking care of him, as your husband I should do the same.”