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It was morning and Jiang Cheng felt more tired that what is normal.
He did spend late night answering Sect letters but at this point it was completely normal for him so this tiredness was abnormal. As always with any sickness or other issue he brush it off and went to change on his normal daily robes.
At underdressing he noticed something shocking in front of his copper mirror making him gasp.
His hand drops the brush he was holding to tame his wild bed hair.
On his lower abdomen is a deep purple lotus mark, the swirls on the side resembling a heart. Quickly he touch it and tries to smudge it, thinking that maybe it was the result of a prank but no matter how much he rubbed, the mark didn't even moved.
He tried using his own cultivation and even Zidian sparks on the area but only caused for it to get bright, turning the dark purple into a shiny violet, just like his whip.
Quickly he shouted at his second in command to call the healers.
The woman as fast as she could returned with the healers and they entered his private quarters, at entering, they saw the mark and immediately they went to check their Sect Leader's meridians.
In surprise, the doctor looked at Jiang Cheng and asked his assistant to take a look at their Sect Leader. In the end the assistant had the same reaction.
"Then?!" Jiang Cheng roared in anger at the pair of healers who just looked that they were ready to faint.
"Sect Leader Jiang, could it be a curse mark?" his second in command asked but Jiang Cheng shook his head.
"Zidian or my cultivation didn't made anything to it."
"S-Sect Leader Jiang." the doctor finally spoke up. "You are pregnant."
Jiang Cheng and his second in command looked him in with their wide eyes but then Jiang Cheng laughed.
"Are you shitting me?" Jiang Cheng snorted. "Is impossible, I am a male!"
'And a virgin!' his mind provided.
"You know what, I have no time for this shit." He said while he pinched the bridge of his nose. "If is not a curse then whatever but I need to continue with my duties."
"But Sect Leader!" his second in command tried to speak more but Jiang Cheng's glare made her shut.
With that, the grumpy man kicked everyone out from his private quarters and continued changing.
He has shit to do and a dumb mark won't stop him.
And so, he lived in denial doing everything as normal always on the secret watch of his second in command -just in case-, until 2 months later he wakes up and groans when he sees on the mark's area an small bump.
"Fucking unbelievable." he rolled his eyes. "Seriously, you are real?"
He was going to try to punch it but something inside him made him stop on the last second.
Instead, his frown disappeared when he felt with his palm the small bump.
"Should I enter on seclusion?" he murmured to himself. If this pregnancy is real, it might be better to be out of watchful eyes and live for a time away until he can return with the baby (?).
While he was absorbed on his thoughts, Jin Ling arrives and open his door without any announcement.
"Jiujiu!"
"FUCK!" Jiang Cheng exclaims and quickly covers himself before his nephew could see his mark and bump. "Didn't I teach you to knock A-Ling?!"
"I have always done this, and you never complained Jiujiu!" The young boy pouts and crosses his arms.
Jiang Cheng groans and turns around fully and pushes him out.
"OUT. I need to change."
"But Jiujiu!"
"OUT."
Jin Ling blinks when his uncle closes the door on his face.
Huffing he goes back to his 3 friends and waits for his uncle to get ready. They need to convince him to join them on the nighthunt after all.
"What Mistress. Did he tell you no?" Lan Jingyi asked while he was happily munching his peanuts.
"Wasn't prohibited to talk while eating?!" he shouts back.
"Guys, please." Lan Sizhui sighs, already used to their banter.
"Yeah Jin Ling, normally your Jiujiu says yes to you to everything." Ouyang Zizhen says
Once again Jin Ling pouts and crosses his arms, looking at the side
"He kicked me out of the room." He mumbles. "He was changing but he acted weird."
"Sorry for telling you this Young Mistress, but normally people kick you out when they are changing." Lan Jingyi mocks.
"Not with me!" he shouts back and Fairy barks in agreement.
Instead of answering, the young Lan throws him a peanut to his vermillion mark and the yellow robed teen runs after him. They are so into their "fight" that they don't notice Jin Ling's uncle glaring at them.
"Are you two having fun?" he says, eyebrows twitching in annoyance.
The two teens squeak in shock while Lan Jingyi is on top of Jin Ling performing a arm lock. When they look up they see their two friends looking everywhere but them and the purple clothed man massaging his head.
"J-Jiujiu!", "Jiujiu!" both exclaim at the same time.
"HEY, HOW YOU DARE TO CALL JIUJIU, 'JIUJIU'!", Jin Ling pushes him away from him.
"It was unconscious! You always call him Jiujiu!" Lan Jingyi stands up and clean his robes. "Even Sizhui has even said it at least once and you never got angry at him."
Quickly Sizhui blushes and Ouyang Zizhen sneakers at him.
"G-guys..."
"It’s different! he is not as annoying as you!" Jin Ling shouts back, again forgetting about the people around them.
"Guys-"
Before Sizhui could try to convince them again, Jiang Cheng marched forward and took them from their back robes as if they were kittens and him the mother cat and throw them at the same time to the water on the pier.
"I will be on my office." he announced before leaving.
Jin Ling and Lan Jingyi merged out from the water and removed their bangs from their eyesight.
"Aww, my peanuts are now soaked..."
"Shut up Jingyi!"
"Have you two finally refreshed?" Jiang Cheng asked while he continued filling his documents.
"Yes Jiujiu." Jingyi and Jin Ling said at the same time while they were using some extra Yunmeng Jiang disciple robes. Quickly Jin Link slapped Jingyi's head but quickly straightened when they felt the glare of the grumpy man.
"So?" Jiang Cheng asked, brush not stopping.
"We want to ask Sect Leader Jiang's help for today's nighthunt." Lan Sizhui said before any of his two friends started to fight again.
Jiang Cheng looked up and put his brush down and crossed his arms.
"Why?"
"Well-"
"Zewu-Jun came out from his seclusion and we believe that Jiujiu's presence could make him feel more comfortable." Jin Ling says.
"Me?" he lifts his eyebrow and scoffs. "Why?"
"Both of you are Sect Leaders?" Jin Ling lies.
"So? Sect Leader Yao too and I detest him."
The 4 teens groan, yeah he has a good point.
"Please Jin Ling's Jiujiu?" Lan Jingyi bats his eyes while the 4 teens imitate him with puppy eyes.
"... Fine." Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes.
"Yeah!" they 4 celebrate but they are interrupted by him.
"What is the catch."
"E-eh?"
"Lan Sizhui, speak." the man glares at the oldest teen, making him fidget.
"... Master Wei and Hanguang-Jun will be there too." Lan Sizhui looks down while the rest groan, Jin Ling facepalming at the same time.
"... Thank you for being honest Young Master Lan, unlike my nephew."
"Jiujiu..."
"Shut it." Jiang Cheng sighs. "Fine, I will go, but I want them the fuck away from my disciples and me; do you understand?"
The 4 teens beam and nods.
"Yes, Jiujiu!" the 4 say back at the same time and Jin Ling slaps Jingyi's head only.
"Hey!"
"I regret this." Jiang Cheng says while glaring at the couple in front of him.
"They are quite inseparable, isn't it?" Lan Xichen laughs awkwardly and Jiang Cheng hums in agreement.
Is night and Jiang Cheng finally arrived with the quartet juniors and his own disciples.
Just as he steps down from Sandu, he was welcomed by a bunch of hopeful looking Lan disciples.
Why they looked hopeful, the hell does he knows.
What he does know is that their Sect Leader, who looks a little thin and pale, looks happy to see him there.
"I hate it here."
At that Lan Xichen gives him finally a sincere laugh.
"Let's do this before it gets more disgusting." He says and turns away, clearly going to another area away from them.
"Do you mind if I go with you Sect Leader Jiang?" Lan Xichen asks shyly and beams when he receives a nod.
Together with the Juniors and the Jiang disciples, go to their zone to hunt, not noticing the sad longing stare of Wei Wuxian.
"... Wei Ying." Lan Wangji calls him worried.
"I am fine Lan Zhan." he smile. "I might be able to talk to him later after the nighthunt"
"... Mn."
“Can you tell me about this beast, Zewu-Jun?” Jiang Cheng asked to the man who was walking beside him; if he turned around, he would see his ears bright red.
“Yes.” The oldest Lan starts. “It seems like is a corrupted feline like beast full of resentful energy.”
“... Shame,” he says with an almost undetectable hurt tone on his voice. “Animals in general are kind creatures on their own way.”
“Are you fond of animals?”
At that question Jiang Cheng finally smiles, taking of guard the first Jade, blush on the ears getting redder.
“Yes. Other than A-Ling, humans end leaving me behind.” He says in melancholy. “Animals have been kind to me. They don’t betray or leave me because they want.”
“...”
“Inside and outside of Lotus Pier are strays that keep me company from time to time; sometimes even wild fauna.”
Unconsciously he starts to softly caress the front of his sash, small growing belly hiding under it.
“May I be part of that too?” Lan Xichen speaks lowly but serious.
“Excuse me?” Jiang Cheng stops on his tracks and looks directly at the handsome man.
“I...” Lan Xichen grabs his hand “I want to know Sect- no, Jiang Wanyin more if you let me?”
Jiang Cheng blushes and suddenly feels flustered for an “unknown reason”. He pushes the hand away, but Lan Xichen beams at the answer of the blushing younger man.
“Do whatever you want.”
The Sect Leader Jiang stomps forward into the forest, meanwhile a very excited and happy Sect Leader Lan quickly followed him like the puppy in love he is.
Behind them a bunch of Jiang disciples and 4 juniors high five each other. Their plan is going as they wished and more.
That is, until they found the very feral beast.
"JIN LING!" Jiang Cheng shouted at his nephew when the creature jumps towards the distracted disciples and juniors.
Jin Ling and his friends were the closest prays for the feline creature.
It was so fast that they weren't able to run or protect themselves in time. Luckily for them Jiang Cheng carried a more powerful golden core and experience.
Without even thinking twice, the Sect Leader jumped in front of them and with his body, he absorbed the attack.
"Jiujiu!"
Lan Xichen, thr juniors and the Yunmeng Jiang disciple looked wide-eyed as how the strong Sandu Shengshou was thrown aside until his back hit a wall of rocks, making him faint on the spot.
The disciples and the junior quartet run in panic towards the Sect Leader.
Lan Xichen looked at the beast with a murderous glare.
With a hand sign, he sent Shuoyue to attack directly at the beast, meanwhile with his now free hands he took out Liebing and continued to attack. It took him longer than he wished but he was able to kill the beast.
"Xichen-ge!" Wei Wuxian shouts at him. His spouse, Lan disciples and him were on their designated area until their heard the beast roars.
As fast as they could, they run to help them, but it seems like they were too late.
Without looking at them, Lan Xichen run at the fallen man in panic.
"Jiujiu, jiujiu, jiujiu!" Jin Ling called for him in a panic state but the man whose hands laid on his sash protectively didn't answer.
His chest was marked with the claws of the beast, dripping with blood. The back of his head was no better after the strong hit with the stone wall.
"Excuse me." Lan Xichen moved away the poor young Jin. He quickly checked out his meridians and pulse.
Finally, he sighed when he saw that he was alive, but not out of danger.
"We need to go fast to the healers." he announced while carefully he carried Jiang Cheng on his arms, head staining the front of his robes.
"Gusu is closer but we need to move quickly."
With that he turned around and mounted his sword, flying as fast as he could to his sect. Behind him Jin Ling followed him and the other members of the nighthunt stay behind.
"Jiang Cheng." Wei Wuxian paled and grabbed Lan Wangji's arm in panic too. "We need to get going too, he- we need to get going!"
The last time he saw that hurt his shidi was after the Wens attacked Lotus Pier. Flashbacks of that time appeared to him worsening his panic attack.
"Lan Zhan, we need to go!"
His spouse nodded and took out Bichen, he carried Wei Wuxian and left the rest of disciples behind.
"How is he?!" Lan Xichen asked nervously at the healer.
The healer quickly removed the front of his ripped front robes and frowned when he removed the sash, feeling immediately the small bump.
"He is more stable that we thought but-"
She stopped talking when she finally opened the whole front open and saw the lotus mark and bump.
"W-what is that?!" Lan Xichen exclaimed worried.
The healer took Jiang Cheng's hand and gasped loudly, eyes going wide in disbelief.
"How is Jiujiu!?" Jin Ling run inside the room
"P-pregnant." the healer murmured.
"What?" Lan Xichen and Jin Ling asked at the same time.
"Sect Leader Jiang is pregnant." she repeated herself and pointed his trembling finger to the mark and bump.
"Impossible!" Jin Link glared at her. "Jiujiu is a man!"
She quickly shook her head and repeated herself.
"Y-yes that is correct, but he is indeed!".
Jin Ling not believing her went and touched the bump and an overwhelming feeling was transferred to him making hm faint on the spot.
"Young Master Jin!" Lan Xichen exclaimed.
He catches him before the boy could touch the floor and carried him to the bed besides his uncle.
"He is fine, just passed out" the doctor announced. "Zewu-Jun, please leave the room, I still need to take care of Sect Leader Jiang."
"Please don't tell anyone about this." Lan Xichen told her, and she nodded.
That night he would spend it outside the healing quarters, still processing the information given to him.
But before he could do that, Wei Wuxian arrived and tried to go inside but the Jade stopped him.
"Young Master Wei, you cannot go inside." he firmly said.
"I need to see him Xichen-ge." he said still scared for Jiang Cheng.
"Sorry, I can't." He continued firm. "The healer is treating him and only family can come inside."
"I am his brother!" the red-black clothed men shout
At that, Lan Xichen glared.
His memories are still fresh of what happened on the Guanyin Temple and not only about his sworn brother's betrayal, but also to the pain that his long time crush he had during that time and while he was dead.
"Young Master Wei doesn't belong to the Yunmeng Jiang sect anymore. Please leave until Sect Leader Jiang wishes for you to be visited."
Lan Wangji was shocked at the acid words of his brother.
"Brother-"
"Wangji, LEAVE." he stood in front of the door.
"We will talk when he wakes up."
The youngest of the Jades called his spouse and even without wanting both left to rest to their own private room.
For now, they just need to wait for Jiang Cheng to wake up
I was almost a week when Jiang Cheng finally wake up.
His heavy eyes opened, welcoming the bright sun rays of the early morning sun.
"Ugh." he groaned and tried to cover his eyes with his hands but there was something heavy restraining them.
When he looked at his side, he noticed that both hands were grasped by two individuals and said individuals were Jin Ling and Lan Xichen.
"... what the fuck?" he said in a raspy voice.
Just as if his voice was a rooster, both men shoot up and awakened.
"Wanyin!", "Jiujiu!"
Jiang Cheng groaned at the loud voice and the two culprits looked at his ashamed.
"S-sorry Wanyin!" he said now in a lower voice. "How are you feeling?"
Jin Ling meanwhile runs back and took a cup full of water and give it to his injured uncle.
With the help of the other Sect Leader, Jiang Cheng sat and drank the much-desired water. He was thirsty as hell!
"I feel like the paw of a corrupted beast hit me directly and then got smashed into a wall." he said without any tact and the two in front of him groaned.
Yes, he is better if he has the energy to sass.
"Wanyin." Lan Xichen called, and Jiang Cheng turned around. "I know this might not be the best of times but-"
"Why did the healer say that you were pregnant Jiujiu!" Jin Ling quickly interrupted.
The injured man rolled his eyes and flicked his finger to the center of his nephew's forehead.
"Ouch!"
"Manner’s you brat!" he scolded back, and the young teenager pouted.
The poor man took a deep breath and then let it out.
"Yes, I am aware that I am pregnant and no I don’t know how the fuck it happened." he said as if it was nothing serious.
Lan Xichen and Jin Ling looked at him with eyes of the size of a plate.
"H-how?" the first Jade asks but Jiang Cheng just shrugs.
"No fucking idea, I just woke up one day with that weird mark and after a few checkups, the healers in Yunmeng and I came to the conclusion that no, is not a curse and yes I am expecting a child."
"How long has you known that Jiujiu?!"
"Two months."
At that Jin Ling gasped.
"But why you didn't tell me?" he asked hurt, but Jiang Cheng shook his head.
"You are still a green sect leader A-Ling." he starts. "There is no need to worry about something so insignificant."
"Wanyin" Lan Xichen takes his hand on his. "Is normal for Young Master Jin to worry"
"You don't trust me Jiujiu?" Jin Ling started to tear, lips trembling. "You think I am not worth for that kind of serious secrets?"
"No Jin Ling is not that!" Jiang Cheng quickly cleaned his fallen tears with the bed sheets "I just think you are busier than worry about me"
"I will always worry about you! You are my only family!"
"Sorry, sorry A-Ling." he apologized and took his nephew on his arms to hug him. "Now stop crying brat."
"Do you want me to leave?" Lan Xichen asks seriously but Jiang Cheng’s tells him no so he stays.
"By the way." Jiang Cheng asks after Jin Ling calmed down. "Who also knows about this whole baby situation?"
"Just the healer and us" Lan Xichen says and the man lets out a relief sigh.
"You don't want to others to know?"
At the question Jiang Cheng groans.
"I don't know." he massages his forehead with his fingers. "The other sect leaders might throw a fit over this predicament."
Lan Xichen smiles and holds his hand tighter
"You have our support though." he smiles. "My sect, Young Master Jin and all Yunmeng Jiang is there to help"
"Yeah" Jin Ling cleans his nose. "Also, that one is my cousin so is my job to take care of them!"
"It hasn’t been born yet." Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes.
"I think is a wonderful idea" the other sect leader clap his hands excited.
"What?" Jiang Cheng asks confused.
"I will stay in Lotus Pier to help Wanyin during his pregnancy!" Lan Xichen announces proudly.
"What?!"
"Me too!" Jin Ling exclaims. "I will help Jiujiu with his paperwork while he rests so he could have a safe pregnancy!"
"WHAT?!" Jiang Cheng now shouts but is ignored.
"I will go and tell Shufu right away and prepare everything for my stay."
"WAIT!"
Lan Xichen exits the room and goes to announce his departure, meanwhile Jin Ling starts to murmur what kind of furniture he should get for his cousin.
Jiang Cheng blinks and then facepalms.
Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji saw a very excited Lan Xichen walk fast (just enough to not break rules).
“Xichen-ge looks happy.” Wei Wuxian notes out loud.
“... Brother does look better.” Lan Wangji agrees but he frowns while his fist closes.
“Is Lan Zhan not happy?” The red-black clothed man asks his husband confused.
“Yes.” He says in honestly, “But he is not good for him.”
The complete honesty make Wei Wuxian laugh awkwardly. He is fully aware that Jiang Cheng and his husband doesn’t like each other.
“Come on Lan Zhan” he hugs him, “Jiang Cheng is not that bad.”
“He hurt Wei Ying and he will hurt brother too.” He says while he hugs Wei Wuxian’s waist.
“He is abrasive, harsh and dangerous. Not a good person for him.”
Wei Wuxian couldn’t say anything back, so he let it go.
“Well, if he is away then it means that Jiang Cheng is already back, let’s go!”
Together they went to the healing room and didn’t bother to knock.
“Jiang Cheng are you awake?” He announced loudly while he saw Jin Ling walking around on the same spot vibrating with energy.
“Why the fuck are you here.” Jiang Cheng glared at the sudden intrusion.
Quickly Lan Wangji covered Wei Wuxian’s with his body as if he was trying to protect him from the glare.
“You are so fucking ridiculous, Hanguang-Jun.” He spat his name, glare getting harsher.
“Ayo, don’t get angry Jiang Cheng! We are just here to see how my favorite shidi is~” He peaks from his husband’s back.
“I am not your shidi, Young Master Wei.”
Wei Wuxian twitched at how he was called.
“J-Jiang Cheng, come on stop joking!” He gave a nervous laugh.
“I am not joking now get out!” He shouts at the unwanted couple and Lan Wangji gets Wei Wuxian now fully on his back but not stepping down.
“No.”
“NO?!” Jiang Cheng growls and tries to move but a sudden spam close to his bump makes him uneasy and barf on a basket at his side.
“Jiujiu!”, “Jiang Cheng!”
Jin Ling runs towards his uncle looking concerned at the paleness of his skin.
“Jiujiu, you shouldn’t move yet, the baby-!“
Quickly Jin Ling claps his mouth shout with his hands and turns around to see see the two other men with wide eyes.
“Baby?” Wei Wuxian asks but then bursts into a laughing fit “Baby?! A-Ling, your Jiujiu is a man”
“Mn”
“Get the FUCK-!” Before he could finish his sentence, a spike of pain surges from his lower abdomen making him shrink on himself
“Jiujiu!” Jin Ling once again shouts in panic
“H-healer NOW!” He finally shouts in panic and Jin Ling run quickly out of the room.
Wei Wuxian now looked at him slightly uneasy, the feeling of dread rising on his stomach.
“H-hey Jiang Cheng, this is not funny anymore.”
“Quick!” Jin Ling runs inside with the female healer.
The healer took his hand and gasped in alarm.
“The sudden stress is taking a stroll on him, putting in danger the baby and him.” She quickly took medicine and made him drink it. “Sect Leader Jin, I need for you to pass him constant spiritual energy on the bump to calm him down.”
“B-baby?” Wei Wuxian stuttered, now his face being the pale one.
Jin Ling quickly went to the other side and placed his hand on the small bump and went to do what the doctor instructed him.
Before both could say anything more, a hand grasped each of their back pulling them back
The couple was pushed out by a furious Lan Xichen who threw them to the ground.
Lan Wangji gaped at the out of character attack of his brother at him.
“I told you both to not bother Wanyin.” He glared at them.
“And now he and his baby are in danger because of your selfish attitude Young Master Wei.”
“Brother-“
“Quiet Wangji.” He said and his brother closed his mouth.
“B-but how is that possible!?” Wei Wuxian exclaimed and looked at the door. “Is not natural!”
“We don’t know, and I don’t care.” The first Jade glared at him. “I will take care of him from now on and if he lets me his baby too.”
“Brother, he is not good-“
“I will be the one who decides that, not you Wangji.” He interrupts him up.
“I already waited YEARS to finally have the guts to make my move and I will not stop after finally getting myself together.”
He turned his back to them.
“Wangji is already with his loved one, now is my turn to try to be with mine.”
The two men look at his broad back.
“After Wanyin is stable, Young Master Jin and me will leave for Lotus Pier with him to help him out during his pregnancy period.
“Don’t interfere or bother him because if not, instead of Jiang Wanyin’s fury you will know mine.”
At that he opens the door and shuts it hard.
The next time he wakes up, a hand is caressing his hair slowly and with a softness that he hasn’t felt in years. When it cups his cheek, he unconsciously moves to feel it more, making the owner of the hand chuckle.
Jiang Cheng felt very comfortable but had to open his eyes.
“How are you feeling?” Lan Xichen asked in a low voice.
“Tired and sore.” He mumbles. “Are they...”
“They are fine.” The first Jade bashfully smiles when the gray-blue eyes he adores so much finally open. “The healer told us that you will be ready to go by tomorrow morning.”
Lan Xichen chuckles when Jiang Cheng sighs in relief.
“I don’t want to be rude to your Sect but I prefer being at home.”
The Sect Leader shakes his head and takes Jiang Cheng’s hand.
“I should be the one apologizing for our member’s rudeness, not the other way around.”
Jiang Cheng hums. His free hand lowers and touches the small bump, for the first time, he finally acknowledges the small energy that he feels under his hand.
“I know I might be trespassing my boundaries, but can I ask how it might’ve happened?”
The younger of the two lifts his eyebrow sassily.
“You are already asking thought.”
He starts to chuckle when Lan Xichen’s face turn red. Finally, he sits down on the bed and starts to open his inner robe.
“Wanyin?!” The Jade removes his hand and places both on his eyes.
“You are covering your eyes buy one is peaking.” He says with a smile. “Stop being so prude and look down.”
The top of his ears feels impossibly warm for Jiang Cheng noticing him up but finally he lowers his sight and gasps when he sees the cutes bump with a mark on top.
Lan Xichen internally cooes at it; his heart fluttering is adoration at both the owner of the body and at the small bundle that is growing with life.
“One day, after I woken up in the morning, this mark appeared so I cannot say where it come from.” He sighs.
“I cannot even say that is from a past bed partner because... I have never had one.”
At that Lan Xichen quickly looks up and sees the blushing face of his beloved, clearly embarrassed about telling him that; is already rare for a man to still be pure, and more at his age.
“That can be solved later on.” He smiles brightly.
“Eh?”
“For now, we need for the little one to grow big and strong and to take care of the cutest mother ever.
“W-wait, could you repeat that first part? Also, what do you mean by ‘cutest mother’?!” Jiang Cheng’s face bright red.
Lan Xichen places the hand on top the naked bump, making Jiang Cheng shiver by the strange, but not uncomfortable contact.
“They will grow in a home with love”
The man turns his face at the blushing one and gives him a smile that he couldn’t know what it mean, but it makes his heart flutter and beat hard.
“That is a promise I make to you both.”
Jiang Cheng breaks the eye contact, his long hair and bangs hiding his blush, but nods.
Jin Ling and the 3 other Juniors were observing at the Sect Leader pair with too much interest.
Lan Jingyi and Ouyang Zizhen were vibrating at the thought that their plan was working wonders.
"OOF" Lan Jingyi let out after Jin Ling elbowed him on the stomach.
"Why did you you that Young Mistress!?"
"You two are too obvious!" Jin Ling hissed at him and Jingyi shooy his arms up.
"But why you only elbowed me?!"
"I am too cute to be elbowed." Ouyang Zizhen said smugly and Jingyi gasped dramatically.
"You think I am not cute?! RUDE."
"HUM!" Jin Ling looks away, but Sizhui was able to notice the light blush appearing on the Jin's face.
"Are you two going to finally stop fighting or should I throw you both again into the water?" Jiang Cheng glared at them while standing in front of the carriage.
"NO!" both teens exclaimed at the same time and the purple clothed sect leader snorted.
By the insistence of Lan Xichen, Jin Ling and even Lan Qiren, the pregnant sect leader is going to travel back to Lotus Pier on a carriage, same for his friend (?) and 4 juniors.
Behind their cart they were a bunch of gifts from Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren, mostly for him so he could use during his pregnancy, including comfortable clothes.
For some unknown reason for the young future mother, the oldest Lan seem way to happy about his weird predicament.
"Let’s get going." he grumbled, "I want to be at home fast, I still have a lot of work to do."
"No working for you Wanyin." Lan Xichen let his use his hand as a leverage. "I will personally help you with it."
Now inside, Jiang Cheng glared at the other happy man.
"And what the hell I am supposed to do during these resting months?!"
Lan Xichen smiled and pulled out a loquat.
Jiang Cheng pursed his lips but snatched the fruit from his hand and began to eat it.
The Jade chuckled.
These last days Jiang Cheng started to show some carvings.
When there was going to be any kind of discussion, the older sect leader would just take out from his sleeve some kind of fruit or pastry for the pregnant man.
So far it has been working wonders.
"You will have a short vacation, where you are going to relax while we pamper you"
"I don't need pampering." Jiang Chrng said back but pulled his hand forward so he could have more loquats.
Lan Xichen placed another one and smiled.
"Yes, you do and we will love to do it. Actually, I will start today."
Before Jiang Cheng could ask what, he meant, Lan Xichen removed his outer robe and placed it in front of the younger's body and then he took his feet and removed the black boots.
"What are you doing!?"
Jiang Cheng hissed embarrassed, but Lan Xichen only winked at him and began to massage his slightly swollen feet.
"Taking care of you of course." He said without any shame.
Jiang Cheng blushed, and his mouth opened and closed but didn't muster any sound.
At last, he huffed and looked at the side, not wanting to see directly at Lan Xichen but even if he didn't wanted to see him, he pulled the white warm robe closer to him and closed his eyes, "secretly" enjoying the hands on him
Slowly but surely, Lan Xichen is winning his heart.
One week passed but they finally arrived at Lotus Pier. At the front of the pier, it was Jiang Cheng’s second in command, the main healer and behind them the worried disciples that went with him to the nighthunt.
Lan Xichen starts to laugh when Jiang Cheng groans.
He is so close to facepalming after noticing the tears that his disciples were ready to unleash when they saw him. They were trying their best to hold themselves back and to hold back their loud cheers when they saw their leader in good health.
“Tch, why they are not doing their duties and practicing their sword forms.” He glares at them while Lan Xichen sneaks his hand on his waist. “HEY!”
“I think is cute how they worry about their stunning sect leader.” The Jade says while ignoring the shout caused by the contact.
On another boat behind them, Jin Ling is nodding his head is approval by how much the Lan leader is showering his dear Jiujiu with affection just as he promised to him after leaving seclusion.
Besides him, Lan Jingyi and Ouyang Zizhen are crying by seeing romance bloom.
Lan Sizhui covers his eyes and sighs when his best friend cleans his snot with Jin Ling’s high ponytail.
“JINGYI, YOU FUCKING ASS!” The yellow clothed teen shouts before throwing himself into Lan Jingyi, both falling into the lotus lake by the impact.
Jiang Cheng turns back just to see the 2 teenager fight on the water and now he really facepalms.
While his eyebrow ticks in annoyance, his palm is up waiting, a silent sign for Lan Xichen. Chuckling, the Jade places two small peaches hearts on the hand.
Immediately Jiang Cheng uses them as projectiles, hitting both teens directly on their forehead.
“Ouch! Jiujiu!” Both shout at the same time but Jin Ling glares at Lan Jingyi after hearing him call his Jiujiu “Jiujiu”, AGAIN.
“I will give each of you 10 seconds to be inside that boat before I kick both out of Yunmeng and back to their own sects.”
“Jiujiu!”
“10, 9, 8-“
Squeaking, both teens swim fast into their own boat. Both using their other 2 friends help to get inside.
“Aren’t our kids cute?” Lan Xichen asks him, body moving impossibly closer
Blushing, Jiang Cheng groans at the teasing and flicks his finger on top of the Jade’s forehead ribbon. The other just laughs and places one small lotus paste sweet on the hand he flicked him.
It works.
“Sect Leader Jiang!” Jiang Cheng’s second in command runs to his side after he finally gets out from his boat.
When she gets closer, she hears him whisper “Stop, I can get out by myself!” To Lan Xichen but clearly the other just nods and continues doing it anyways.
‘Brave man’
“Sect Leader is good to hear that you are better.” She bows at her leader and the lord of the Pier. “Our main healer is here to check sir again for... that.”
Jiang Cheng nods.
“Then I will see both at my quarters.”
“Yes Sir.”
“Also,” he looks back at the wet teens.
“Prepare a room for Sect Leader Lan and Jin Ling’s friends close to our family quarters.”
Just as he says that he starts to walk but not before Lan Xichen whispers some words to her that make her blush and nod in agreement.
After he does that, he steps fast to walk beside him.
“What did you tell her.” Jiang Cheng questioned him, and Lan Xichen beamed.
“I just told her to put me the room besides yours.” He says with a shameless sincerity making Jiang Cheng stumble on himself.
Before his face could touch the floor, Lan Xichen catches him and takes him.
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! LET ME DOWN!” Jiang Cheng screeches but the Jade continues walking as if it was nothing, asking one of the (very nervous) disciples nearby by the direction towards the purple clothed sect leader’s personal room.
“Cannot do~” He sings, huge smile plastered.
“I said that I would take care of A-Cheng and the baby and that is what I am going to do.”
“I CAN WALK, STOP!”
“Nope.”
All the Yunmeng Jiang disciples look away from the sect leader pair while behind them the equally blushing second in command and the healer follow them.
Lan Jingyi sobs at the same time as many Yunmeng Jiang disciples.
“They are going to become a family.” He cries out loud.
“If you are going to cry then do it but without using my hair you fucking ass!”
Jingyi takes the napkin that Lan Sizhui passes him and clean his nose.
“We will have the cutest family ever.” He continues to cry while he walks forward into the sect
“WE?!” Jin Ling march behind him. “HE IS MY UNCLE!”
“Our uncle~”
The two teens continue to bicker like a shameless couple while the other two teenagers just look at them helpless.
“The Gusu healers did a great job at stopping the miscarriage.” The healer sighed in relief while he has his hand on Jiang Cheng’s pulse. “But Sect Leader Jiang cannot strain himself or it could happen again, and this time even be fatal.”
“For the baby?” Lan Xichen asks worried.
“For both.” The young doctor sternly says. “No stressing, no harsh movements, no sword practice and no nighthunts.”
“WHAT?!” Jiang Cheng anger comes out. “I NEED to WORK.”
“And as I stated before, that is why me and the kids are here.” Lan Xichen grips his hand.
“Our healer in Gusu also told A-Cheng that.”
“But it has passed more than a week, I should be better!”
The healer and the second in command sigh. They knew that their sect leader is very stubborn.
“Sect Leader Jiang, this is a new case for us too.” The doctor started.
“Normally a female cultivator with a high and strong spiritual has no problems during their pregnancy but this is a special case since the one being magically pregnant is a male.”
“Are you saying that this baby is killing me?”
Quickly the doctor shakes his head. “NO!”
“The baby actually seems to be protecting Sect Leader Jiang, both bodies harmoniously coexisting even much better than a female body”
“But?” Jiang Cheng growls, fingers massaging his forehead
“But the creature who hit Sect Leader during the nighthunt made it a risky pregnancy.”
“And the agitation by Wangji and Young Master Wei might not help too.” Lan Xichen told Jiang Cheng, his hand massaging the pregnant man’s back to try to calm him down
“Actually, it made it worst.” The doctor agreed. “That is why no stress, no agitations and no harsh activities”
“Fuck me...” The poor purple clothed man said on his hands.
“Maybe later.” Lan Xichen hummed.
“WHAT?!”
“Miss, could you please show me where A-Cheng usually work? For today onwards I will take care of his usual tasks” he smiles while ignores the blushing mess besides him.
“S-sure.” The second in command stutters at the blunt shameless words of the First Jade. “This way, Zewu-Jun.”
“COME BACK HERE AND TELL ME WHAT YOU MEAN! XICHEN!”
The man leaves the room with a huge smile, once again ignoring the question.
The healer looks back at his sect leader who is now screaming into his pillow.
“Um... do Sect Leader Jiang wishes for some oil for later?” He asks carefully but Zidian’s purple sparkles of anger make him run for his life out of the room.
"This is the plan. I will take care of the baby, look at them when both parents are busy, give them some nice chicken wings and young mistress here will change their diapers." Lan Jingyi nodded to himself while telling his friends about his plan, obviously Jin Ling didn’t liked it
"HA?!" Jin Ling shouted and threw his chopsticks, but Jingyi skipped it gracefully. "Excuse ME? I AM the cousin, not you!"
"Yeah, yeah. Sure, we just see your Jiujiu as our Jiujiu too and Jiujiu doesn't mind being called Jiujiu too" he smirks smugly at him. Eyebrows wiggling.
"Now you are doing this on purpose!" Jin Ling shoots his hand up. "And if you really wish for the baby to be your "cousin", then YOU change the diapers!"
"Why? you seem excellent for the job!"
"Jingyi..." Sizhui sighs for the nth time that day, Ouyang Zizhen just laughs.
"I will be the cool cousin and you the not so cool one."
Jin Ling snorts. "Yeah sure, as if someone addicted to chicken wings vould be the 'cool' cousin" he says while showing the quotation marks with his fingers but Jingyi doesnt take the bait.
"Sobs, he would be as awesome as 'ld cousin Jingyi" he says while he wipes an imaginary tear
"YOU!-"
"OUCH!"
Both shout in pain after, once again that day, the heart of a peach is thrown at them
"I didn't know that I had two troublesome nephews" he said while frowning
Instead of feeling offended, Jingyi shoot his hand up with 4 fingers up.
"4 nephews, Jiujiu." he exclaimed out loud and for the first time that day he snorted in humor
"Well shit." He looks humorously at the 4 teenagers "It seems like in a short time I won a baby and 4 nephews"
"Nooooooo" Jin Ling whined.
"Yessssssss~" Jingyi shaked his fist in victory.
But both teenagers would scream into the void at the next words of the mighty Sect Leader Jiang.
"The wedding between you two will be funny. Totally not blood related cousins marrying each other."
Jiang Cheng smirk widened in a teasing manner while the yellow clothed teen and the younger white clothed teen cried at the same time. All that while their faces were bright red.
"Can I be the godfather at the wedding?" Lan Sizhui finally teased back.
"Yes."
"BETRAYAL!"
"Oh Gods! who will wear the veil? Jin Ling or Jingyi?" Ouyang Zizhen said out loud while he took out from his sleeve his personal writing notebook. "Sizhui-ge, who might use it?"
"Maybe Jingyi if he marries i to the Jin family." he says seriously and Jingyi shrieks.
"NOO!"
Jiang Cheng hums in agreement.
"Yellow and the vermillion dot will look good on him".
"JIUJIU NO!" Jin Ling and Jingyi shouted at the same time.
"They are even having the same wavelength. Perfect." Jiang Cheng continues to tease.
Both teased teens are now in a fetal position at the floor, burning in shame and embarrassment making Jiang Cheng snort louder.
"Sizhui, how long are you 4 going to stay?" he asks seriously, finally letting the pair suffer together.
"We were given permission by Grandmaster Lan to stay here and help until Sect Leader Jiang and Sect Leader Lan seems it fit." he smiles softly at him while answers.
"Hm, and you?" he looks at Ouyang Zizhen.
"Ah, I will need to go back home in a week" he laughs.
"Dad still wants me to work at something in the sect."
Jiang Cheng nods.
"Very well, just like those 2 buffoons," he points at Jin Ling and Jingyi. "You are welcome here while any of these 3 are here."
"Thank you!" the green clothed teen brightens.
"Well, now that I have nothing else to do I will go and get the gifts that Grandmaster Lan gave me." He says and then shouts to the outside "Since SOMEONE SMARTASS stole my job temporary!"
Seconds later a warm and humorous voice replied loudly.
"You are welcome, A-Cheng!"
Lan Sizhui covered his mouth with his sleeve, trying hard to not laugh out loud, but his shoulders were clearly betraying him.
After calming down enough, he coughed on his fist.
"May I help Sect Leader Jiang to carry the gifts?"
"Sure."
Together they exited the room, some young Yunmeng Jiang disciples following behind them like ducklings.
Ouyang looked down at his two silent red friends.
"Are you two dead or are you both imagining already your wedding?"
"SHUT UP!" Both groaned on their hands.
Jiang Cheng sighs, right hand on his face while the other one is on his hip.
"I cannot understand why Grandmaster Qiren took all that effort to get me all THIS."
Lan Sizhui laughs good heartily.
"Grandmaster Qiren has always been fond of Sect Leader Jiang"
"... I will almost believe you because unlike that other kiddo you are 100% honest."
"Jingyi even with his weirdness is a nice guy" he chuckles, he knows him best after all. "Also, I promise over my Lan ribbon that Grandmaster Qiren is happy for Sect Leader's Jiang new heir."
The frowning pregnant man takes out from one box a white maternity robe full of silver clouds and lotuses and pouts.
"Why the clouds?" he keeps admiring though the artsy. "Is it a Lan custom to gift everything with clouds on it?"
At that Sizhui laughs awkwardly to the side.
"L-let’s move the boxes" the poor boy tried to reason, carrying on his arm’s multiple heavy boxes.
Before Jiang Cheng could carry some, one of the female disciples who were following Sizhui and him went and took the box he was going to take.
When he tried again another male disciple took it and that process was repeated until there were no boxes nor luggage left.
Jiang Cheng pouted harder.
"Fuck."
Groaning and muttering swears he went back but this time walking to the training grounds.
There was his second in command and other older disciples training. He was going to command them so he could train them, but one senior disciple went running to him telling him that they got it, that there was no need for him to do it.
Once again groaned exasperated.
Now full pouting he went to his mother's favorite part of Lotus Pier and sat down there, feeling angry about how everyone was doing everything so HE COULDN'T WORK
He crossed his arms and sat on the pier's purple chaise longue
After a few minutes he finally laid down completely
Another few minutes passed until he finally fell asleep at the soft wind and the soft lotus fragrance in the air.
He doesn't know how long it passed but a sweet melody awakened his slumber.
It wasn't bad though; the melody makes him feel calm and not as angry as before.
The music stopped when he one playing it noticed his awakening.
Mr. grumpy pregnant man didn't appreciate the music stopping, frowning harder even with his eyes closed.
"A-Cheng is awake?" Lan Xichen whispered in case the man he adores is still sleeping.
"This A-Cheng doesn't appreciate the music stopping" he finally opens his sleepy eyes. "Also, since when from 'Sect Leader Jiang' go to 'Wanyin' to 'A-Cheng'?"
Jiang Cheng doesn't stand up but turns his body to where Lan Xichen is sitting, arms hugging the pillow under his head
"Since I finally decided to court you completely." Lan Xichen says and pulls his chair besides Jiang Cheng's sofa head.
"... Why?"
"Why what?" the Jade asks while he starts to massage softly the purple clothed head. "I thought I was being obvious of my advances."
"No shit." Jiang Cheng closes his eyes at the pleasure administrated to his scalp. "My healer wanted to give me fucking oil after your shameless answer at my room."
"Hmm... maybe we will need it in the future?" the man continued to say shamelessly.
"SERIOUSLY?"
Jiang Cheng opens one eye to glare at the smiling man who is looking at him with love.
"Yes!" he says happily. "And for your question-"
"OH, so you will finally answer one of my questions?"
Lan Xichen finally blushes, coughing on his fist.
"Yes, now answering A-Cheng..."
"Aham?"
"I... I have always been fond of you since we were teenagers."
"... Bullshit" Jiang Cheng finally stands enough to sit and look directly at Lan Xichen. "You have never talked to me other for Sect duties and meetings."
"I always thought that you might have never interested in men, so I decided at that time to just pin on the side." he sighs in a sad manner. "Only my uncle and my sworn brothers knew about my feelings."
"Wait, Grandmaster Qiren knows?!"
"Yes, and he always wanted for me to try persuade it; you are his favorite student and Sect Leader after all."
"Fuck... so that is what Lan Sizhui meant." he mumbles to himself.
"I might... have asked for the 4 juniors to help me after I came out of seclusion" he blushed.
"... have you always been this shameless? Is a Lan attitude after they like someone?"
"Probably? To be honest I don't know." his ears warmer now. "But I know that this time I will work harder to gain you."
"Are you aware that this one." Jiang Cheng touches the bump. "Is not yours, right?"
"Well, for me it will be mine if you let me."
Lan Xichen beams at Jiang Cheng and this time is his turn to turn away to blush.
"..."
"And my uncle already saw this as a signal from the Gods for the baby to be his grand-niece or grand-nephew, if you accept me of course."
"Now I see why he was so excited." he grumbles and lets his hand being taken by Lan Xichen who kisses it on the top.
"So will you let me officially court you and become be yours and your baby's father?"
Jiang Cheng starts to mumble some words, but Lan Xichen cannot listen to them.
"Pardon me?"
"I said that yes, I will let you."
Lan Xichen gives him a smile that can shame the sun and takes him so he could sit now on his lap
"I need to get used to this isn't it?" Jiang Cheng sighs but accepts the kiss shower on his face
"Yes, and more and more" the first Jade says between kisses, hands hugging his middle
"Very well, show me what can the mighty Zewu-Jun can do." Jiang Cheng whispers on his ear
"Yes darling!"
Lan Xichen stands and carries Jiang Cheng, running feet carrying both to Jiang Cheng's chambers.
Jiang Cheng mind tells him that he should've taken the healer's oil.