Work Text:
Gusu is unnatural in red. Strikingly so. Elaborate lanterns and banners lace the buildings in elegant waves, painting the normal white and blue of the mountains with beautiful brushes of traditional wedding scarlet, a true nod to the union between the Yiling Patriarch and Hanguang-Jun. A wedding that would indeed mark the history books as a scandalous and unorthodox joining, fitting for a scandalous and unorthodox couple.
Li Mei isn’t quite sure how to feel about the whole ordeal. Unlike some of the other juniors, her encounters with Wei Wuxian are limited to brief glances as she flitters between duties, and she hasn’t had much time to put any thought to it.
The first couple times she saw him, he wore his signature red and black robes but after some months past, she noticed the ensemble had disappeared and, in its place were the typical Gusu robes with the only distinction being the sewn special insignias marking him as part of the inner clan. His hair was pulled into his usual high ponytail and tied off with a Gusu Lan forehead ribbon (whose she wasn’t sure). He walked around (a little too fast for Gusu rules she couldn’t help but add), twirling his flute between his fingers with a bright smile and laughter that could be heard from the other side of the mountain. He belonged to Gusu and didn’t at the same time.
Li Mei doesn’t attend any of the classes Wei Wuxian teaches either and rarely has him as an instructor on night hunts, so she’s left with a war of conflicting thoughts that battle between the admiration in some of Gusu’s eyes and the disgust in the other half.
She hears the whispers that spread throughout the cultivation world, preaching of the Yiling Patriarch’s innocence in his crimes and shifting their disdain onto the deceased Jin Guangyao. Mindless and bloodthirsty they are, moving blindingly after the crowd, quick to find their next scapegoat. Sometimes, when black and white merge into each other and perception becomes too blurred, Li Mei wishes she were the same. As cruel as it might be, it would certainly make life much easier to pass through.
Wei Wuxian is a mystery to her. A year is not that long of a way to go, and many still speak of his name with detestment. An abomination, they spit, a criminal ruined by his own corrupted path. They hate and hate and bathe in pools of their own deploration, suffocating with resentment. Li Mei wonders how worthy Wei Wuxian really is of this hatred, to be so detested and torn apart by the masses.
Yet, there were others that trail after him with surprising adoration. Mainly our generation, she observes. They cling onto his every word as if they’re delicate, jade jewels and the sweetest tanghulu candy. Senior Wei’s lectures are anticipated by the disciples and conversations with him are sought after. Despite some opposition, his presence in the Cloud Recesses is loved, just as he is loved.
Yes, Wei Wuxian is a mystery, one she doesn’t know how to solve. What to feel, what to say, what to think, she has no true answer to. However, one thing is certain to her. No matter what character Wei Wuxian is, Hanguang-Jun loves him. That’s for sure.
But, perhaps, Hanguang-Jun loves him a little too much. Li Mei really could live without seeing the two necking in the field. It’s like they can’t live without scandalizing the sect at least twice a day with their unrestrained affection, and it’s becoming really difficult to get around them.
Where Hanguang-Jun is, you could expect to find Wei Wuxian trailing after. They hold hands on strolls and kiss unabashedly and constantly, and not a moment goes by where she’s able to escape them doing something unseemly as hugging and exchanging endearments in broad public. They’re a disgustingly sweet couple, the aftertaste like Caiyi Town honey drops.
“Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian would beam, snuggling into Hanguang-Jun’s neck. “You flirt! I’m blushing!”
He smacks Hanguang-Jun on the arm playfully.
Li Mei shivers. Hanguang-Jun, a flirt? Unimaginable.
“Mn. Untrue,” Hanguang-Jun would reply, accepting the affection with a usual, blank face. “Wei Ying is the flirt.”
That bland response does nothing to quell Wei Wuxian from giggling and snuggling Hanguang-Jun even tighter, nuzzling his neck like some kind of spoiled consort.
This man really is strange, Li Mei thinks, covering her eyes.
Even so, it’s rather obvious how much Hanguang-Jun truly loves Wei Wuxian. Everyone in Gusu is an audience to how much Hanguang-Jun dotes on the younger man. From delivering sweets only made in Yunmeng to homemade dishes that burn Li Mei’s tongue just by looking at them, Hanguang-Jun treats his husband with never-ending devotion and gentleness.
Li Mei wonders what it is about Wei Wuxian that would make someone as noble but icy as Hanguang-Jun fall so deeply in love. It would have to be something special, indeed. Special enough for him to willingly tie himself to the Yiling Patriarch for the rest of their lives (and every other after that).
It was merely a few months ago when multiple parcels began appearing at the entrance of the Cloud Recesses. Alongside a few other juniors her age, Li Mei noticed their arrival and hurried to greet the Yunmeng Jiang Sect Leader and his disciples. Staring up at the tall, frowning sect leader, Li Mei couldn't help but shrink back with apprehension at the intimidating figure.
“Sect Leader Jiang, how may Gusu be of assistance?” Xiao Ju, a disciple a couple years her senior, inquired with a bow so proper Lan Qiren would have wept. He directs wide, bright eyes at the sect leader, hands crossed behind his back.
“Wei Wuxian,” Sect Leader Jiang said sharply, directing his disciples to place down the parcels. “I need to see him.”
“Ah, unfortunately, Senior Wei is currently unavailable right now,” Xiao Ju told him, smiling brightly at the mention of his senior. He was one of Wei Wuxian’s beloved juniors, after all, a loyal little duckling that enjoyed trailing after the man. “He’s occupied with a lecture. However, Hanguang-Jun is available if the matter is urgent.”
For some reason, at the mention of the Chief Cultivator, Li Mei noticed Sect Leader Jiang’s scowled further deepening.
“That’s unnecessary,” he said with a dismissive wave. “I need only Wei Wuxian. Get me him.”
“Senior Wei really isn’t available—” Xiao Ju tried to say but Sect Leader Jiang interrupted with another demand for Wei Wuxian. “But Hanguang-Jun—“
“I don’t want your Hanguang-Jun,” he said, his voice strict with clear, stubborn intention. “I want to see my brother. Get him! I don’t care whatever he’s doing!”
At this point, Li Mei stepped up and attempted to placate him but unfortunately, Sect Leader Jiang hadn’t ceased the down-curl of his lips and made such a ruckus, Xiao Ju was forced to leave and grab the man in question. Wei Wuxian followed him back with a slight, uncharacteristic frown, his lecturer robes rumpled and all and, for some reason, soot on his cheek. Li Mei stares.
As Wei Wuxian approached, the intensity of Sect Leader Jiang’s grimace increased, his eyes focused on Wei Wuxian’s white robes, staring at them as if they were the demon-incarnate themselves.
Interesting, Li Mei wondered and noticed Xiao Ju slowly creeping away. Coward.
Sect Leader Jiang crossed his arms behind his back and held his chin up high. “Wei Wuxian.”
At the sight of the sect leader, Wei Wuxian blinked in surprise and moved closer. “Jiang Cheng? What are you doing here?”
“I—” It seemed whatever original courage Sect Leader Jiang was slowly diminishing as his brother stopped a couple feet away from him. His lips were pulled tight in discomfort.
An expression of question and hope appeared on Wei Wuxian’s face.
“Your wedding,” Sect Leader Jiang started out before shifting his gaze away.
Forehead wrinkling slightly in confusion, Wei Wuxian rubbed his nose with his thumb. “Eh?”
“Your wedding. You didn’t hold one,” Sect Leader Jiang said, slowly turning red. Whether from anger or embarrassment, Li Mei didn’t know. Maybe both.
At that, Wei Wuxian startled and beamed. “Oh, that! Lan Zhan and I didn’t find it necessary. We eloped instead. We couldn’t wait any longer!”
“Ridiculous!” Sect Leader Jiang scoffed, turning his head back up to glare at Wei Wuxian. “How dare you make Yunmeng Jiang lose face! To marry into another sect without even a dowry to offer. Shameful!”
He swatted at his robes in irritation and glowered even harder at his brother. Li Mei wanted this whole thing to be over with.
Li Mei would think at this point conflict would have started, but Wei Wuxian’s face merely brightened with obvious joy. Whatever he had dissected in Sect Leader Jiang’s words seemed good enough for him, and he threw himself at the taller man as soon as he finished his sentence. “Awe, Jiang Cheng! You do care!”
“Wei Wuxian!” Sect Leader Jiang yelped, fighting off Wei Wuxian’s advances. He backed up. “Get off!”
Li Mei didn’t hear much after that, too occupied with eyeing the open packages holding colorful Yunmeng spices and bolts after bolts of red silk that rippled and shimmered under the afternoon sunlight. But it seemed like the rest of the conversation had gone well.
Wei Wuxian smiled up at his brother, clinging onto his hand and Sect Leader Jiang’s face seemed...softer? It was kind of sweet, really.
But, then Li Mei’s attention had then been redirected as more bundles of gifts were being brought through the entrance. More Lan disciples arrived at the scene and sighed as they watched parcel after parcel being carried in, knowing their afternoon would be spent carrying them to wherever dowries went.
Then, at that moment, Hanguang-Jun also arrived, this time in an obvious fury, and Li Mei immediately hurried away with one of the packages to avoid the showdown that would occur. As she walked off, she heard a distinct sound of Wei Wuxian yelping at Hanguang-Jun to calm down.
So, that’s why she barely paid any mind when a notice was sent to every sect with an announcement penning a very momentous occasion: an inner-sect wedding was to be held, and Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji were to be married. The cultivation world fell into a shocked uproar.
Having seen Wei Wuxian flouncing around frivariously in his white robes, no one in Gusu Lan was surprised to find out Wei Wuxian and Hanguang-Jun had already married, just as no one was surprised to hear a wedding was to occur although she heard some seniors sneer at Hanguang-Jun doing something as unbefitting of his station as eloping in secret and, of course, marrying the crooked Yiling Patriarch.
Rule Eleven: Do not judge people behind their back, she wanted to say when she unintentionally overheard. She was wise enough not too and merely turned away. The wedding would occur, no matter the scorn of others.
But everyone minded their own business, and plans went on as usual. While Li Mei didn’t take much part in the wedding planning itself, she was able to catch some of the details, and frankly, she thought everything occurring was well-deserved.
It’s going to be beautiful, she thought, staring up at a Junior struggling to hang up a banner. Very beautiful.
Now, seated amongst the other Lan disciples, Li Mei couldn’t help but gape as Wei Wuxian enters the hall with Sect Leader Jiang leading him (who seems to be frowning a little less today than usual). The skirts of his robes flow around his figure in a manner that seems as beautifully elegant as a god with wide, open sleeves that lie on his forearms gracefully. The delicate embroidery of the robes is decorated with red lotuses and rising phoenixes intertwined with golden dragons, each design obviously created with careful craftsmanship, and his hair is pulled up into a complicated, braided bun, topped off with red jade hairpins and a golden, lotus-engraved crown. No matter what hatred might be directed toward the wearer, the wedding attire is definitely fitting for the groom of Gusu Lan’s Second Young Master.
Sect Leader Jiang hands his brother off to Hanguang-Jun, who dressed similarly to Wei Wuxian. The only distinctions are that his hair is down and his forehead ribbon is replaced by a red one, decorated with golden clouds instead of blue ones. Hanguang-Jun accepts his groom with a brief nod toward Sect Leader Jiang before turning his complete attention to Wei Wuxian. Li Mei can’t see much from where she’s sitting, but she’s able to view the kiss exchanged between them. Even without being able to see so, she knows Lan Qiren is glowering at the act of affection.
Oh, well. What does he expect at this point?
Hanguang-Jun and Senior Wei definitely make a striking couple, Li Mei muses, tilting her head to better observe the two men.
From around her, Li Mei could see Ouyang Zizhen weeping against Lan Jingyi (who blows his nose into a handkerchief) with Sect Leader Ouyang exclaiming for his son to “get it together.” Sect Leader Jin sniffles and tries to pretend his eyes aren’t welling up with tears, while Lan Sizhui has a smile brighter than any attendant there as he watches his adoptive parents glide into the front of the room.
Hanguang-Jun and Wei Wuxian turn face to face and kneel before each other. Together, the two men complete their three bows: once to the heavens and earth, once to their late parents, and once to each other. At last, they are wed, bonded, and tied together for an eternity.
Throwing himself into his new husband’s arms, Wei Wuxian tugs Hanguang-Jun into a deep, long kiss, before pulling back and muttering something to him that has Hanguang-Jun bestowing him an uncharacteristic smile.
In the background, Li Mei hears Ouyang Zizhen sigh wistfully.
The banquet is held in the main hall where red and gold decorated every inch of the room and rows of dishes from both Yunmeng and Gusu cuisine covered the tables. A little after the guests settle and chat amongst themselves, Wei Wuxian and Hanguang-Jun enter the hall with their arms linked. They move around the room, attached to each other, greeting each guest.
The two men are a mesmerizing couple, their combined beauty gaining the attention of everyone as they glide from guest to guest. No matter what perceptions the attendees might have about them, Li Mei believes no one sane could deny how aesthetically fitting they were for each other.
Hanguang-Jun and Wei Wuxian began to move away from the crowd, looking ready enough to depart from the room. From her place near the entrance, she couldn’t help but overhear their conversation. (Rule 25. She’d copy them later).
“Fireworks?” Wei Wuxian gasps, looking up at his husband with joyous eyes.
Hanguang-Jun smiles, causing some cultivators to sigh longingly in the background. “Mn. For Wei Ying,” he said. “You wished for it.”
Wei Wuxian hugs Hanguang-Jun’s arm, playing with the end of his husband’s ribbon. “Lan Zhan, you’re the best.”
“No, Wei Ying is the best,” Hanguang-Jun said before pressing a soft kiss to Wei Wuxian’s forehead. The shorter man blushes and buries his face into Hanguang-Jun’s chest.
Li Mei hurriedly lowers her eyes back down to her food to avoid catching any more of the couple’s embarrassing displays of affection.
True enough, once the banquet ended, everyone’s led out into the fields. Li Mei settles against a tree and watches the fireworks bursting in golden sparks across the silvery sky. From her place, she has a clear view of the newly married couple cuddling on a blanket. Hanguang-Jun holds Wei Wuxian’s hand in a light grasp, gazing down at his husband so tenderly Li Mei feels her cheeks burning. Wei Wuxian smiles up at Hanguang-Jun and lays his head on his shoulder, curling into his side.
Li Mei sighs and resigns herself to her confusion. She doesn’t know much about what to think of Wei Wuxian but she understands enough to recognize the fated bond between him and Hanguang-Jun. Gusu is unnatural in red but the love between Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji is anything but that. That is enough for her.