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Jiang Cheng is enjoying a nice cup of tea, light breeze making the summer heat a little bit more bearable, and the gleeful shrieks of a happy Jin Ling are the perfect background noise for a day like this.
Jin Ling has started to walk just a few days back, and by now he’s already attempting to run, clearly causing Jiang Mingli more than one headache with that, because Jin Ling seems to favour the edge of the piers.
Jiang Cheng’s own heart stopped more than once already, watching Jin Ling toddle too close to the edge for his comfort, but Jiang Mingli was always there, swiftly redirecting Jin Ling to safer ways or outright scooping him up.
Right now, Jiang Mingli is chasing Jin Ling all over the pier, always just a step behind the toddler, but close enough to sweep him away from the edge should the need arise.
Jiang Cheng can’t help the fond smile at seeing his nephew this happy and he relaxes even further into his cushion.
At least until Zhong Shanyuan comes to the pavilion, a stack of letters in his hands and a serious look on his face.
“Do I even want to know?” Jiang Cheng asks with a sigh, but he puts his cup down as he watches Zhong Shanyuan settle down opposite of him.
“It’s not as bad as you think,” Zhong Shanyuan gives back with a small smile and keeps his hand on the stack of papers, even though Jiang Cheng is already reaching out for it.
“Those are not important right now,” Zhong Shanyuan tells him and Jiang Cheng narrows his eyes at him.
“What happened?” Jiang Cheng demands to know, because now he’s curious and worried.
“The delegation from Qinghe is back,” Zhong Shanyuan says and Jiang Cheng immediately shakes his head.
“Do not tell me they managed to piss off Nie Mingjue,” he mutters, because a feud with Qinghe is the last thing Jiang Cheng needs right now.
“They didn’t,” Zhong Shanyuan reassures him immediately. “They barely had time to speak to Sect Leader Nie. He went into qi deviation two days into their visit.”
Jiang Cheng wants to ask if his people managed to piss off Nie Mingjue that badly that it resulted in this, but then it hits him.
It’s been two weeks since then. If the delegation returned without talking to Nie Mingjue, then chances are the deviation went on for a lot longer than it should have.
“Is he alright?” Jiang Cheng asks, and Zhong Shanyuan nods.
“He’s recovering. Sect Leader Lan came in when it was apparent the deviation wouldn’t stop any time soon and he and Jin Guangyao played for Nie Mingjue tirelessly for almost the entire time.”
“That’s good,” Jiang Cheng mutters, though he can’t help the new spark of worry that settles in his gut.
If Lan Xichen spent all his days playing for Nie Mingjue, then he will be in bad shape, too. Jiang Cheng knows that it always hits him hard when Nie Mingjue suffers such an episode, and frankly, Jiang Cheng is surprised that Lan Xichen left him alone at all.
“Lan Qiren was scheduled for a meeting with some smaller Sects, so Lan Xichen had to hurry back,” Zhong Shanyuan tells him, as if he can read his mind. “Word is, Lan Xichen looked worse than Nie Mingjue when he parted.”
Jiang Cheng works his jaw a few times, before he levels Zhong Shanyuan with a look.
“Why are you telling me this?” he wants to know and Zhon Shanyuan gives him a small smile.
“Maybe it’s time you visit the Cloud Recesses,” he suggests. “Sect Leader Lan has always come here. Why not change it up for once?”
Jiang Cheng can’t deny that he’s itching to go see Lan Xichen, to make sure that he’s doing okay after what happened to Nie Mingjue, but then his eyes fall on Jin Ling.
“He’s old enough to travel,” Zhong Shanyuan softly tells him, clearly following his gaze. “It would be good for him to see something different. And we didn’t make the harness for nothing,” he tacks on but Jiang Cheng shakes his head.
“I do not have an invitation,” he mutters.
“That never stopped Sect Leader Lan,” Zhong Shanyuan gives back without a pause and Jiang Cheng clicks his tongue.
“That’s different. He’s always welcome here. But you need an actual pass for the Cloud Recesses.”
“And you think you’re not always welcome there?” Zhong Shanyuan questions and Jiang Cheng can feel himself flush. “You think Sect Leader Lan didn’t make sure to inform everyone there that you’re welcome? I do remember him inviting you, you know.”
“You don’t know if that’s true,” Jiang Cheng tries but Zhong Shanyuan is clearly unimpressed.
“And you don’t know if it isn’t,” he shoots back. “What’s the worst that could happen? They tell you Sect Leader Lan is indisposed. And even then Jin Ling would still have his first flight.”
Jiang Cheng mulls that over but he knows that Zhong Shanyuan is right. And if he’s being honest with himself, he itches to see Lan Xichen, wants to know if there is anything he can do for him.
So far it’s always been Lan Xichen who helped him, and while Jiang Cheng has learned to accept that, he wants to return the favour, wants to be there for Lan Xichen, too.
“You really want me to go,” Jiang Cheng mutters.
“I think it’s time you visit him in his home, too,” Zhong Shanyuan gives back and Jiang Cheng sighs. “And I think he could use some help right now,” Zhong Shanyuan adds, and Jiang Cheng has already lost, he knows it.
“Fine,” he mumbles. “I’ll fly early tomorrow.”
It gives him enough time to make the trip there and back again in one day, should he be denied entrance, but it also gives him enough time to stop multiple times if Jin Ling does not enjoy flying.
“Good,” Zhong Shanyuan says with a firm nod, and only then does he slide the stack of letters over to Jiang Cheng. “Read them, sort them into piles of ‘can wait’ and ‘let Zhong Shanyuan deal with this’ and then enjoy the rest of your day.”
“You can’t just order me around and give me the day off,” Jiang Cheng huffs. “I am the Sect Leader.”
“And don’t we all know it,” Zhong Shanyuan gives back but he doesn’t budge from his stand.
They stare at each other for a few minutes, but in the end, Jiang Cheng slumps.
“Fine,” he says with an eyeroll and takes the latters. “You win.”
Zhong Shanyuan only gives him a very winning smile, but doesn’t actually say anything, for which Jiang Cheng is thankful.
That night, Jiang Cheng can‘t sleep. He has gotten gradually better at sleeping through the night, but he’s still almost worse at it than Jin Ling.
Once word of Jiang Cheng’s sleeping problems reached Jiang Mingli, he had insisted on taking Jin Ling into his own quarters every second night. The first few nights, Jiang Cheng didn’t sleep at all, too worried that something was wrong with Jin Ling but the more he saw Jiang Mingli interact with Jin Ling, the lesser his fear became.
He knows Jiang Mingli adores Jin Ling and would never let come harm to him.
But that only meant that Jiang Cheng’s own problems and fears managed to take a hold in his dreams and ever since then he hasn’t slept through a whole night.
Until Lan Xichen played for him.
Jiang Cheng refuses to acknowledge that ever since Lan Xichen played for him, Jiang Cheng’s nights have become more peaceful, but a tiny part of Jiang Cheng knows it to be true.
It even goes so far that Jiang Cheng just has to remember the song Lan Xichen first played on Liebing for him, and then the one he hummed after that, and Jiang Cheng gets instantly sleepy.
He would accuse Lan Xichen of using spiritual power on him even though he told him not to, but Jiang Cheng knows Lan Xichen would never do something like that.
But this night, not even the memory of the song helps. Jiang Cheng’s brain keeps working, conjuring images of how exhausted Lan Xichen must be, how shaken after this long qi deviation of his closest friend and Jiang Cheng worries for him.
He thinks he knows Lan Xichen well enough by now to know that he didn’t even rest once during the whole ordeal and he must be beyond exhausted and drained, especially if he played using his spiritual energy this whole time.
That thought turns into Jiang Cheng worrying if him going to the Cloud Recesses really is the best move—what if he just disturbs Lan Xichen in his deserved rest—but then he reminds himself that he was always grateful to see Lan Xichen, no matter how bad he was doing.
He just hopes he can do the same for Lan Xichen.
When Jiang Cheng finally makes it out of his room in the morning to get Jin Ling and some breakfast for them, Zhong Shanyuan gives him a very knowing look. Jiang Cheng silences him with a glare, before he can actually say anything and then Jiang Cheng busies himself with Jin Ling.
It seems like he slept through the night; he doesn’t do that often, but Jiang Cheng hopes that the times he does will get more now.
“He was just fine,” Jiang Mingli reassures Jiang Cheng again and Jiang Cheng nods his head in thanks.
“Do you think he’ll still fit into the harness?” Jiang Cheng asks him, critically eying Jin Ling, even though he can’t remember how small he was when they first fitted it.
“I had it adjusted,” Zhong Shanyuan chimes in and Jiang Cheng has yet again to admit that he is more than capable.
“Thank you,” he tells him honestly, and then quickly strips the harness on, before they settle Jin Ling into it.
It fits him perfectly.
“You really think he will be fine?” Jiang Cheng can’t help but to ask as he smoothes a hand over Jin Ling’s soft baby hair.
“Don’t fly too high or too fast and he should be just fine,” Jiang Mingli says, effectively easing Jiang Cheng’s worries.
“Alright, then,” he says and carefully mounts Sandu, staying low for now to find his balance and until he’s sure that a sudden movement from Jin Ling won’t knock them clean off his sword.
“Fly save,” Zhong Shanyuan tells him with a bow and Jiang Mingli falls into the same position.
“I’m entrusting Lotus Pier to you for the time I’m gone,” Jiang Cheng tells the two, even though everyone knows they are in charge if he’s gone, and they dutifully nod.
“We will keep it save,” Zhong Shanyuan promises and with one last nod Jiang Cheng flies off.
Jin Ling is quite for the first few minutes, looking around with huge eyes, and Jiang Cheng readies himself for a temper tantrum or big crocodile tears, and so he is entirely unprepared for the happy shriek Jin Ling lets out, before he starts to babble and laugh, kicking his little feet and unbalancing Jiang Cheng more than once.
Still, Jiang Cheng can’t help the responding smile on his own face, and he offers Jin Ling his finger when he keeps grabbing for something. Jin Ling latches onto him and then excitedly shakes his little hand whenever he sees something he doesn’t know.
Jiang Cheng takes care not to fly too high or too fast, and that gives Jin Ling the opportunity to see a whole lot of things he doesn’t know from Lotus Pier.
A few times Jiang Cheng even circles things that seem to particularly interest Jin Ling and the boy keeps his happy chatter going all the way until they reach the Cloud Recesses.
Jiang Cheng knows they don’t like it when someone approaches by sword, so he stops to climb off Sandu halfway up the stairs, much to Jin Ling’s dislike it seems, but as soon as Jiang Cheng starts walking he settles down.
They reach the top of the stairs in no time at all, and Jiang Cheng straightens up when the entrance comes into view. Two disciples are guarding it, and they fall into a greeting bow when they see him.
“Sect Leader Jiang,” they say in unison and then rise again. “We didn’t know you were coming.”
“It was a spontaneous decision,” Jiang Cheng tells them. “I would like to see Lan Xichen.”
The disciples exchange a look before they ask him to wait for a little bit.
They huddle together, whispering furiously to each other, and Jiang Cheng doesn’t mean to eavesdrop, but a few snippets like ‘is exhausted’, ‘not to be disturbed’ and ‘granted access’ reach his ears nonetheless.
“If it’s a bother, I’ll come back another time,” Jiang Cheng finds himself saying when the discussion goes on for longer than he is comfortable with even though now that he is here he wants nothing more than to see Lan Xichen, and that gets him the attention of them again.
“No, it’s fine,” one of the disciples says. “Sect Leader Lan explicitly stated that you were always welcome, so please if you would follow me, I’ll guide you to the hanshi.”
“Thank you,” Jiang Cheng says, as the tension that had seeped into him disperses.
He is guided towards a part of the Cloud Recesses he has never been in before, and he’s almost ashamed to admit that he looks around with eyes as big as Jin Ling’s.
“It’s there,” the disciple suddenly says and points towards a house which is still a little way off, but since it’s the only one in sight, there is really no danger of Jiang Cheng losing his way.
“Thank you,” he says with a nod of his head and then goes on alone.
Jin Ling is babbling again and Jiang Cheng can’t help but to smile at him, as he starts to take him out of the harness.
“You’re going to see your favourite hummer again,” he tells Jin Ling who stares up at him. “That has you all excited, huh?”
Jin Ling lets out a happy shriek, clearly proving Jiang Cheng’s point, and by the time he actually reaches the hanshi, he has Jin Ling perched on his hip, the harness dangling in his hand.
Jiang Cheng knocks at the door, but it’s a long time before he can hear a noise coming from the inside. It’s even longer before Lan Xichen opens the door.
“What is it—oh,” he breathes out and Jiang Cheng notes with a start that Lan Xichen looks like shit.
“You look like shit,” he promptly blurts out, and Jin Ling makes a sound at just that moment, so that it seems like he’s agreeing with Jiang Cheng.
“Is everything alright?” Lan Xichen asks immediately and while he seems ready to keel over at any moment now, he also seems prepared to give Jiang Cheng all the help he could need.
“I’m here for you,” Jiang Cheng says and steps into the hanshi when Lan Xichen moves to the side. “To check up on you,” he adds when Lan Xichen just stares quizzically at him. “I heard about Nie Mingjue.”
“Oh,” Lan Xichen breathes out and his shoulders fall, and he looks like he aged several decades in one go. “He’s doing fine now.”
“And how are you doing?” Jiang Cheng wants to know as he settles Jin Ling down on the floor.
The boy immediately moves to explore the new environment he finds himself in, and Jiang Cheng keeps half an eye on him.
“Me?” Lan Xichen parrots, blinking owlishly at Jiang Cheng who sighs.
“How are you doing?” Jiang Cheng asks again, and this time the meaning of his words seem to have made it to Lan Xichen.
“I’m doing perfectly fine,” Lan Xichen says, and even his voice sounds tired.
“Yeah, I can see that,” Jiang Cheng sarcastically gives back and then shakes his head. “You’re not fine, Xichen,” he says and then bites his tongue when the overly familiar name slips out, but Lan Xichen either doesn’t care or he didn’t notice.
The latter seems more plausible, Jiang Cheng thinks.
“No, really, I’m doing—,” Lan Xichen starts and then trails off, his eyes trained on Jin Ling, who has toddled over to grab Lan Xichen’s robes and who is now staring up at Lan Xichen before he starts to hum again.
“Is he not sleeping well?” Lan Xichen asks, already crouching down as if to pick him up, and Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes. “Are you not?”
“Xichen, that is not why I’m here,” Jiang Cheng says again, redirecting Jin Ling to another part of the hanshi, with more patience than he actually feels. Jiang Cheng is not sure Lan Xichen won’t actually crumble under Jin Ling’s weight. “I’m here to check up on you. Have you slept in the last two weeks?” Jiang Cheng wants to know.
“I—think so?” Lan Xichen asks and Jiang Cheng shakes his head.
“That’s something you should definitely know,” he tells Lan Xichen and reaches out to grab his hand. “Sit down.”
“I don’t have Liebing,” Lan Xichen protests and Jiang Cheng frowns at him.
“I told you, I’m not here for that. We have both been sleeping fine,” he says, even though in his case that’s only partially true, but Jiang Cheng is sure that both Jin Ling and he himself slept better in the last two weeks than Lan Xichen did.
“Good, that’s good,” Lan Xichen mutters, as he sits down next to Jiang Cheng.
“How is Nie Mingjue?” Jiang Cheng asks, and worry passes over Lan Xichen’s face.
“Better now, but it’s progressing so quickly,” Lan Xichen breathes out. “A-Yao and I played Clarity for him for almost the whole two weeks, and even now I’m not sure it actually helped. I don’t know what to do,” Lan Xichen admits, and he sounds suspiciously choked up.
“I’m sorry,” Jiang Cheng says, because it’s the only thing he can think of to say. “Do you need anything?”
Lan Xichen blinks at him a few times, before he shakes his head.
“Thank you, but I’m fine.”
“Xichen, you’re tired as hell,” Jiang Cheng gives back.
“I’m so exhausted, I don’t feel tired anymore,” Lan Xichen tells him and Jiang Cheng raises his eyebrow at him.
“That’s actually really worrying,” Jiang Cheng says and feels justified in his worry when Lan Xichen simply blinks at him.
“Come here,” Jiang Cheng finally says when Lan Xichen stays quiet for too long and he pats his thigh.
“What?” Lan Xichen says, clearly not understanding what Jiang Cheng wants from him, and Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes.
“Lay down,” Jiang Cheng tells him and pats his thigh again until Lan Xichen finally starts to move. “Let me repay the favour for once,” Jiang Cheng mutters when Lan Xichen rests his head in his lap, and he can’t help himself, he has to pat Lan Xichen’s head. “Let me help.”
“Fine,” Lan Xichen breathes out and closes his eyes.
Jiang Cheng thinks he doesn’t even have to sing, Lan Xichen is clearly tethering on the edge of sleep already, but he will still sing him to sleep.
“I’m warning you now, my voice is not like yours,” Jiang Cheng mumbles, as he continues to move his hand over Lan Xichen’s head whose lips twitch into a slight smile.
“No, it’s much better,” Lan Xichen whispers and then he blinks up at Jiang Cheng. “The first time I heard it, I thought a siren was calling out to me,” he tells him and Jiang Cheng can feel himself flush a bright red.
“Shut up, you’re sleep deprived,” he snaps at Lan Xichen, who doesn’t seem to find offence in his rough tone and instead snuggles further into Jiang Cheng’s lap.
“It’s the truth,” Lan Xichen slurs and then falls silent, much to Jiang Cheng’s relieve.
Instead of fighting with Lan Xichen over this, Jiang Cheng softly starts to sing, first barely audible, still too self-conscious about his voice even though Lan Xichen has heard him sing before, but when Lan Xichen relaxes into his lap, he gets progressively louder.
It’s not long before Jin Ling comes crawling over, a huge yawn signalling that he’s tired as well, and Jiang Cheng watches fondly as Jin Ling wriggles his way into Lan Xichen’s arms.
Lan Xichen makes space for him, though Jiang Cheng doubts it’s a conscious move, because Lan Xichen already seems deeply asleep by the time Jin Ling settles contentedly against Lan Xichen’s chest.
Jiang Cheng can’t help but to smile down at both of them, a warm happy feeling settling in his chest, as he continues to sing softly for the two and he keeps it up even long after they are both snoring.
For once, Jiang Cheng can do something for Lan Xichen and he is happy to sing for him until he wakes up again. He just hopes Lan Xichen can find even a little bit of rest like this.
And so Jiang Cheng sings.