Chapter Text
When Uncle Jiang tells him he needs a bigger house, Wei Ying laughs. “It’s true,” he says, “we didn’t plan to have so many children!”
They didn’t plan to have any children at all, but what can he say? He and Lan Zhan just love each other that much! They have to spread it around!
When Madam Yu tells him he needs a bigger house, Wei Ying doesn’t laugh. He pretends not to understand and escapes as fast as he can. There are always babies and Jiang disciples and baby Jiang disciples who need him.
(It’s slightly easier than it used to be. Madam Yu likes Lan Zhan and Lan Zhan’s mom and some of their children. Amazingly, some of this glow reflects on Wei Ying, and it’s possible she doesn’t hate him as much as she used to.)
“Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying hisses, when he finds Lan Zhan with Longhu and both of jiejie’s children in her favorite pavilion. Wei Ying has the fox twins frolicking in his wake, and he’s the only other adult in sight. “Madam Yu wants us to have a bigger house!”
“Mm,” Lan Zhan agrees. “Writing practice,” he tells the twins. They scramble to find places at the table, and he has to stand up to make room for them.
(Everyone likes writing with Lan Zhan, because he lets them copy things they understand. This makes the task much more interesting. Also the characters are easier.)
(Where was this Lan Zhan when Wei Ying was copying lines in the library, he wonders fondly?)
“Lan Zhan,” he says, briefly disappointed there isn’t more room at the table so he can demand his share of attention. “We can’t move! Our house is important!”
“I explained,” Lan Zhan says. He organizes brushes and paper and inksticks and water, and Wei Ying feels guilty that he’s taking care of everyone while Wei Ying’s attention is completely consumed by the Jiang disciples.
“She insists on additional construction,” Lan Zhan is saying. “Apparently sect leaders should have something more… ostentatious.”
That hesitation alone would have been enough; Wei Ying wants to turn around and find Madam Yu again right away. But Lan Zhan continues, “She also wants us to accept domestic aid.”
“No!” Wei Ying exclaims too loudly. Too upset, and Lan Zhan glances at the children. “You don’t want servants,” Wei Ying says, more calmly. “And I agree!” (A little more calmly.)
Little Jin Ling looks up from his paper, and Jin Qi follows his example. Wei Ying waves them back to work, which isn’t effective at all but he enjoys doing it. At least Chihu and Huohu aren’t paying attention to anyone else.
“I’ve resisted the assistance of strangers in the past,” Lan Zhan says. “But we were fortunate at Cloud Recesses, and later Moon Rabbit Palace. Without my brother or your parents, the children are reaching unsustainable levels of unsupervised activity.”
Wei Ying opens his mouth to protest, or to reassure him, and he stops himself just in time. “Are you saying we need help?” he asks instead.
Lan Zhan hums. He doesn’t say it again, but he does nod. And Wei Ying would be the worst husband in the world if he argued with that.
“Okay,” he says. “I mean, good! It’s convenient that we need help at exactly the time it’s being offered!”
Lan Zhan catches his eye again, and the relief there is unmistakable.