Chapter Text
Lan Wangji was an alpha. He was sure of it. He had to be, he had gone through ruts and mating runs, he had been to the healers many, many, many times. And they had confirmed he was an alpha!
So why, as the lashes burned on his back, did the healers say he was not only an omega, but a pregnant omega? Well, that was rhetorical, as he did know the reason, but… It was dishonorable, what he did to Wei Ying.
He could feel the freezing cold hands of the beta doctor spread on his nape, making him want to snarl and bite, but the sedatives kept him docile and unmoving. He felt a finger jab into the mating bite that sat on his neck, and a voice explaining something, presumably to Lan Xichen. He felt warm hands touch the mating bite once again before smoothing out his hair, and the doctor’s hands disappeared, leaving him to slip back into darkness with the warm hands still on his hair.
When the Elders had found him, he was cradling A-Yuan against his chest, talking in hushed, pleading tones to Wei Ying, who was curled up in the corner, repeating those two words again and again. He hadn’t noticed them approaching, and lashed out when he felt a hand on his shoulder. A-Yuan had given a cry when he was jostled, and Lan Wangji quickly moved to soothe him, glaring at the other Lans. That was their first hint of his dynamic change.
He had refused to let go of A-Yuan, hanging on until finally he had to receive the whip. He is my child, Wangji had told Lan Xichen, He is mine.
Lan Xichen had left A-Yuan in the Jingshi with a spare disciple. After, while Lan Haoyue had reported he was delightfully polite, he kept asking for a ‘Xian-gege’, a ‘Rich-gege’, and for his Granny, and Lan Haoyue hadn’t been able to tell the little boy who resembled her younger brother so much that his Xian-gege and Granny were likely dead.
In the wake of Lan Wangji’s newfound pregnancy, the doctors put all they could into healing him. Or, at least, they did when Lan Xichen was around. One morning, Lan Xichen woke up early, walking into the Healing Pavillion before pausing when he heard voices.
“But what will we do?” One elder said, “He’s already picked up one child, and with the whips he can hardly take care of a newborn . We’d be lucky if the child survived to birth, but if it did, what would we do?”
The group went silent, milling over the thought. It was a concerning situation, and everyone was avoiding thinking about Madam Lan. Finally, one well respected elder, one he had looked up to since he was young piped up, “We could give him an aborter. It’d get rid of that problem.”
Someone slammed their fist on the table, “Banish the thought!” Uncle yelled, “How- how could you even think that?! That’s against at least twenty rules!”
“It was just a suggestion,” The elder said evenly, scoffing.
Lan Xichen winced, practically hearing Uncle’s glare. Uncle breathed out, flicking his sleeves back, “Leave. I must speak to the doctors.”
The elders shuffled out, leaving Lan Qiren alone in the room except for Lan Wangji, asleep on his side. After a couple seconds, Lan Xichen knocked lightly on the door, entering silently.
He bowed lightly, “Shufu.”
“A-Huan.”
He walked towards the bed, settling quietly on his knees beside it, “How is he?”
Uncle sighed, running a hand over his face, “The scars are healing slowly. They’re knitted loosely together, Dingfeng-daifu is hesitant to send too much spiritual energy too quickly. The baby is fine, they seem to be about two or three months along.” Uncle looked up, tiredness etched on his face, “Be honest. Is the sire Wei Wuxian?”
He exhaled slowly, “I… Don’t know. Probably, he is a Lan.”
Uncle closed his eyes, shaking his head, “I thought so. Ai… Only about three months and already sireless. Their dame isn’t much better, is he? I’d be surprised if he wasn’t like your mother after… What a cursed lineage, the Lans.”
“Wangji is strong… I’m sure it’ll be okay.”
“He may be strong, but I fear he’s too strong. Too stubborn.”
—
The next time Lan Wangji woke up, his wounds didn’t hurt as much, a dull burning ache compared to hellfire. His mind was clearer too, he could distinguish what was being said in the background. From what he could gather, Lan Xichen was asking Dingfeng-daifu what to expect with his… His pregnancy.
He was on his side, and when he opened his eyes Uncle was sitting next to him, sipping tea while writing something. He gasped in pain, wincing at his back. Uncle looked over, moving towards him, “Wangji, stay awake, you need to eat something.”
“Shushu,” He rasped, tears springing to his eyes, “Gege.”
“Shhh,” Uncle shushed him, brushing his hair back, “It’ll be okay.”
He hiccuped, a hand coming to his stomach, “Is the baby okay?”
Uncle nodded, “Yes. They’re three months along, perfectly healthy. Now, eat, you need to regain strength for your golden core. Your child depends on you.”
Lan Wangji choked down some medicinal broth, one he didn’t recognize but had a strange aftertaste. Slowly, Uncle lowered him down, kneeling by his bedside along with Lan Xichen, whose face was pale.
“A-Yuan?” He asked, voice going hazy with tiredness.
“He’s alright. He’s being watched over by Lan Haoyue, she’s bringing him to meet her brother.” Lan Xichen supplied, “We’ll bring him over to visit next time you wake up.”
He nodded slowly, quickly falling back asleep.
—
The next time Lan Wangji woke up, he was alone. His wounds had turned to scabs, although he could feel his spiritual energy sluggishly coursing along his meridians, trying to heal it faster. He smoothed a hand over his belly, breathing out silently.
His bond felt empty, not nonexistent like it had before it had been made, but completely gone, like it had carved out a piece of him and left a gaping chasm. As he started to sink into the dark feelings of his mind, the door opened, revealing Lan Qiren.
Uncle looked at him and set off a messenger butterfly, coming over and sitting next to him, pouring a cup of tea and helping him drink. Soon, after he had drunk all of the tea, Lan Xichen walked in holding A-Yuan.
A-Yuan squirmed until Lan Xichen let him down, running to his bedside, “Rich-gege!!!” He placed his hands on his bed, standing on his tiptoes, “Rich-gege, are you okay?? You have so many bandages!!!”
Lan Wangji lifted his hand despite the pain, petting A-Yuan’s head slowly, smiling slightly when he leaned into the touch, “Do not worry. I’m fine.”
A-Yuan puffed up, “Good!”
He settled down on the floor, “Rich-gege, Bunny-jiejie made me a toy!” He showed off a little rabbit made of fabric stuffed with horsehair and feathers.
Lan Wangji watched him show it off, “Bunny-jiejie?”
“Mi- Misses Lan! Lan-jiejie! She made this toy!”
Lan Xichen stepped in, “Lan Haoyue, da-tangge’s daughter.”
“Ah,” He nodded, “Did you have fun with Bunny-jiejie?”
A-Yuan nodded vigorously, wiggling his legs, “She let me fly on her sword!! She intro- introduced me to her little brother!!”
“Mn?”
The evening continued like that, A-Yuan telling a riveted Lan Wangji about all the things he and his ‘Bunny-jiejie’ did. When he finally had to leave, as Lan Wangji was getting tired, A-Yuan gave his arm a careful hug, telling him enthusiastically to feel better.
—
One early morning, about two months after the death of the Yiling Laozu, Zewu-jun and Hanguang-jun were requested at the front gate. At this point, Hanguang-jun was still relearning how to walk in the wake of the lashes, so Zewu-jun went alone.
He was greeted with the sight of a cloaked man and woman, the woman leaning precariously on the man. They seemed to have disguise talismans on, scent blockers masking their dynamics, and the woman had a large blood spot on her stomach, covered by her hand which pressed firmly down on it.
When she saw him she inclined her head, “I’d bow, but I’m a bit indisposed. Zewu-jun, we request sanctuary and medical attention.”
He blinked rapidly, lifting his eyes from the blood, “Ah- of course, let’s get you healed up before we speak.”
The woman sagged against the man, who carefully helped her walk as they were led to the Healing Pavilion. Lan Dingfeng tutted at another patient, gesturing for the man to lay her on the table. Quickly he grabbed his supplies, asking her a question under his breath. She nodded, and he cut her robes, peeling the bloodied mess away from her torso. Quickly, he stitched her up, applying a salve once he was finished. He bandaged her up, and she went with the grace of someone who had dealt with this many times.
Finally, when she was slightly inclined in bed, the man sitting next to her, she took off her disguise talisman, revealing her face. She was fair featured, dark, piercing eyes and a small lovely mouth.
“Apologies for the deceit, Zewu-jun,” Wen Qing said, “We were afraid you wouldn’t let us in otherwise.”
He hardly looked surprised, bowing lightly, “Wen-guniang, am I correct in assuming the man is Wen-gongzi?”
She nodded, highlighting her unnaturally pale face and the bags under her eyes.
He glanced down at the bandages again and hesitated, “Wen-guniang…Would you like to rest and we can talk later?”
Wen Qing nodded, looking like she could barely keep her head up, “Please. Can we talk later?”
Lan Xichen gave a swift final nod, turning around and walking out, taking steady and even breaths as he walked to his uncle’s chambers to explain the situation.
—
A-Yuan was brave, okay?
He had been as brave as he could! He had woken up in a strange place with a bunch of people dressed like his Rich-gege, knowing not where any of his family was.
Bunny-jiejie was very fun, she made him a fun toy and threw him in the air and let him cling to her even after he promised he wouldn't be scared flying.
But, as fun as all the other stuff was, this was the thing he liked her most for. He had been throwing a fuss, begging to see Granny or Xian-gege or Rich-gege, and finally with panic in her eyes she agreed to bring him to Rich-gege!!
She scooped him up, letting him rest his head on her shoulder, and rushed to the Healing Pavilion, opening and closing the door behind her.
She tensed up, and when A-Yuan looked to see what was the matter, he squirmed until she let him down.
" Qing-jiejie!!!!!! " He shrieked, running to his cousin. Before he got to her, Ning-gege grabbed him, scooping him up and setting him on his knee. Qing-jiejie opened her eyes, smiling when she saw him, "A-Yuan?"
"Qing-jiejie!" He babbled, tears starting to fall. She took him from Ning-gege, setting him carefully on her lap.
"Ai, ai, Little Radish, what's the tears for?" She patted him on the head, smoothing back his hair, "It's okay."
"Jiejie, where's Xian-gege?"
Wen Qing sighed, pulling him closer until his face was pressed against her robes, "He's… Not here anymore. He didn't want to go, but he had to. I'm sorry."
A-Yuan sobbed, hiccupping, heaving sobs. At the worst moment, Lan Xichen walked in, seeing Lan Haoyue panicking, Wen Ning bowing his head, and Wen Qing comforting a crying A-Yuan. He hesitated, gripping the doorframe, "Is this a bad time?"
"Yes," Lan Haoyue despaired, "Yes."
Lan Xichen walked in, Lan Qiren following closely behind. The Wens and Lan Wangji happened to be in the same room, although they had more rooms available, Lan Xichen wanted to keep the Wens under wraps, so what better way to do that than keep them with his brother?
He sighed, glancing at the young girl who looked like her life was falling down in front of her, “Haoyue, would you bring us lunch?”
Her shoulders slumped and she ran out, not even replying to him.
The Lans sat at the table, Lan Xichen pouring tea for him and his uncle, “Wen-guniang, would you mind telling us what happened?”
She sipped her cup of tea, tapping one finger along the rim, the other hand on A-Yuan’s head, “Me and A-Ning were going to surrender to the Jins, in exchange for our family to be left alone,” She stared down at her lap, to A-Yuan, who’s cries were slowing down, “We had… We had immobilized Wei Wuxian, so he wouldn’t interfere. When we got to Jinlintai, we were taken to the dungeons and separated. Later we were told that they besieged the Burial Mounds anyways and our… our family was gone.”
Wen Qing looked up, “So me and A-Ning escaped.”
Lan Xichen hummed, “This… We were told you two were executed. Burned.”
“Not surprised they lied,” She muttered, “They’re Jins.”
He hesitated, glancing at Lan Qiren who nodded, “We’ll offer protection for you, your brother, and A-Yuan. In exchange for your medical services.”
She inclined her head, as much of a bow as she could with A-Yuan and her injury, “Thank you, Zewu-jun.”
Lan Xichen called in the doctor, asking, “How long should it take for her to heal?”
Lan Dingfeng bowed, “A week and a half at most, five days at least. She has strong spiritual energy but she was stabbed by a Jin sword.”
He nodded, hesitating once more before turning to Wen Qing, “I know you’ve done research on golden cores and how they’re affected by dynamics… Ah, do you know anything about pregnancy after a changed dynamic?” He sighed, shaking his head, “I didn’t want to ask, but I’m at wits end.”
She stared at him for a second before groaning, covering her eyes with one of her hands, “He got pregnant…? Of course .”
“Wen-guniang?” He startled, “You knew about this?”
Wen Qing thunked her head on the wall, staring up at the ceiling, “I ran into him after he had… Been mated, so to speak. He tried to leave quickly but I got him to let me put a salve on his mating gland, stopping bleeding and lessening the chance of infection,” She looked at the two Lans, “He refused to stay for long, told me he knew the risks.”
Finally, she sighed, patting the sleeping A-Yuan, “When Xian-di was out of rut- which took several days, his instincts were convinced someone had taken his mate from him -he didn’t remember anything. Didn’t even remember Hanguang-Jun was there.”
Lan Qiren took a sip of tea, face troubled, “One mating made Wangji’s dynamic change and got him pregnant?”
“In cases of extreme compatibility, it can happen. It’s more common in cultivators, but it has been observed in common folk.”
“Oh, Wangji…” Lan Xichen whispered.
—
Lan Wangji was meditating in the Jingshi when Lan Xichen led Wen Qing and Wen Ning in. His eyes widened considerably upon seeing the two Wens, now stripped of their scent blockers. Wen Qing, being a Wen omega, smelled of cinnamon and a light undercurrent of orange, with a soothing medicinal undertone of lavender. Wen Ning, being a dead beta, smelled of nothing but a small amount of rotting wood.
She sighed upon seeing his belly, being five months pregnant he was showing a fair amount. “Hanguang-Jun…”
“Wen-guniang,” He nodded, “I am glad to see you alive.”
The corners of her mouth lifted, “Glad to be alive.”
She tsked, glancing at his belly and his neck, sighing near silently and shooing out Lan Xichen and Wen Ning, “Have you been having any particularly bad symptoms recently?”
He shook his head silently.
“Can I check your meridians?” Upon his nod, she kneeled, taking her wrist in hand, “Make sure not to use your spiritual energy too intensely- your body will need it with your pregnancy. You may be a cultivator, but you aren’t immune to pregnancy complications.”
She exhaled, “I’ve seen too many cultivators overestimate their spiritual energy and rely on it, then have horrible pregnancies. Do you have any questions?”
He bowed his head, staying quiet for a couple seconds before asking in a soft voice, “Why did Wei Ying mate with me? Ruts usually aren’t… That intense.” It was true, usually during his own ruts it was over pretty quickly, spent mostly prowling around the Jingshi and scenting Lan Xichen. Those sex crazy ruts were a thing of fiction, made by non-cultivator writers with one hand down their robes, incorrectly thinking that cultivation made dynamics more intense.
She tapped her nails against the floor, wondering if she should risk Wei Wuxian’s undead wrath or make up some bullshit, “Ah… One of the reasons isn’t my secret to tell- the only person who could tell it is… Well… Dead. Basically, that and resentful energy lowered his inhibitions. He already had some…” Her face twisted to disgust, “Affection for you. With me and A-Ning it was fine, all that happened was he forced us into his nest and scented us. But you… Well, his rut overpowered him.”
He nodded slowly, absorbing this information.
She sighed, standing and dusting off her robes, “Well, send me a message if you need anything.”
Lan Wangji nodded, lost in thought, a hand resting on his belly.
—
They had decided that Lan Wangji would be A-Yuan’s father, that he’d adopt him officially. It couldn’t get out that there was a Wen in the Cloud Recesses, but if A-Yuan was just a boy orphaned in the war, that wouldn’t raise many eyebrows.
There’d probably be some rumors that A-Yuan was his biological son, since he was only two, almost three, but it’d be better than if they knew the beloved Hanguang-Jun was hiding a Wen , even if the Wen was a toddler.
A-Yuan wasn’t sure what the big deal was, but he was happy to call Lan Wangji baba. He had a baba, a jiejie, a gege, a jiujiu, a jiugong, and a bunny-jiejie! He may miss his Xian-gege and Granny, but he was sure they’d come back soon from wherever they were!
—
The first time he felt the baby kick, it was a week later when he was meeting for dinner with his Uncle, Lan Xichen, A-Yuan, Wen Qing, and Wen Ning.
They were eating simple congee in silence, A-Yuan silently nodding off after eating. Wen Ning, being a fierce corpse, was sitting silently with A-Yuan against his shoulder. After dinner, Uncle and Wen Qing were talking quietly, Lan Xichen adding a couple things.
He furrowed his brow, a hand going down to his stomach when he felt something. He gasped when he felt it again; a little flutter in his abdomen.
“Zhan-er? Are you alright?” Uncle asked.
Lan Wangji snapped his head up, “I felt it.” He held his breath as he felt it again, “The baby kicked.”
Lan Xichen’s face turned from confusion to lit up in excitement, “The baby kicked?”
He nodded, eyes wide and mouth slightly tilted up. A-Yuan, having woken up by the excitement of the others, peaked his head up, staring curiously at his belly.
Lan Xichen put his palm on Lan Wangji’s belly, expression moving to slight disappointment when it was too small to feel.
—
After the baby kicked for the first time, he was deemed ready to meet the fellow pregnant Lan disciples, all women since male omegas were rare. There were four others, living in the pregnancy dorms with their families, although only one had someone else living there.
First he met with the two aunties helping to take care of the rest, both previously pregnant women. Xiang Jing, courtesy Wenya was the one he was acquainted with, her husband had been one of his distant cousins. The other was Fa Xin, courtesy Gaoshang, the wife of a senior Lan disciple.
Xiang Wenya welcomed him enthusiastically, patting his cheek and shoulder, frowning lightly, “Aiyo, are you eating? Your baby needs fuel, Wangji!”
“Yes, auntie.” He said dutifully.
She ushered him in, sitting him down with a woman in mourning white on his left. She looked around seven months pregnant, her hair done up in a simple bun with a small hairpin through it, and a Lan forehead ribbon wrapped around her wrist. She was sewing a nappy with practiced movements that spoke of years of experience.
Next to her was a woman in dull green robes, hair done up extravagantly with a bright green ribbon. She looked to be as far along as he was, one hand never leaving her belly. Next to her was her mate, a beta woman dressed in pinks with her hair in a simple ponytail, closely cuddling with her.
On Lan Wangji’s right was one of his cousins, Lan Bing, courtesy Yusong, who was dressed in the Lan whites and blue with her hair done up, and her wife, Pei Hu, courtesy Yunwu, who was wearing gray and pink. They were somewhat of a spectacle within the inner Lans, both being omegas and becoming pregnant at the same time.
“Tangge,” Lan Yusong greeted him.
He nodded back, “Tangmei.”
The woman in pink stood and bowed to him, “Hanguang-Jun, welcome. This one is Tong Lu, courtesy Xiangshui. This is my wife, Chuan Ji, courtesy Aicao.”
The woman in white inclined her head, “Hua Xuan, courtesy Shengyi.”
“Mn,” He nodded, “Lan Wangji.”
Fa Gaoshang glanced at his belly, “How far along are you?”
“Six months.”
“Ahh,” She chuckled, “First pregnancy jitters?”
He ducked his head, ears slightly dusted pink.
Hua Shengyi took a look at his white clothing, humming, “Posthumous?”
“En,” The blush receded with the mood, “Their sire was killed three months ago.”
If anyone connected that with the Yiling Patriarch’s recent death, no one said a word.
“Ah,” She sighed, patting her belly, “This one’s sire passed away four months ago.”
“My condolences.” He found that he truly meant it.
She waved him off, “I’ve had my time to mourn.”
The rest of the meeting was spent with the aunties giving them advice, and the others speaking to Lan Wangji. He got along with them surprisingly well, especially Tong Xiangshui and Lan Yusong. They had made plans to raid Caiyi town the next day, Chuan Aicao in particular excited to force Lan Wangji into her favorite seamstress’s shop.
—
He was exhausted after visiting Caiyi with them, legs hurting and his arms packed with clothes, fabric, trinkets, and who knows what. When he came back to the Jingshi- where Uncle and Lan Xichen were sitting with A-Yuan, Uncle’s lips quirked up in amusement, and Lan Xichen smiled.
“Did you have fun, Wangji?” Lan Xichen asked sweetly, “It looks like you had fun.”
He glared lightly, but his relaxed mouth betrayed his emotions. Slowly, he put the stuff on a table, staring down at them for a minute. He gave the impression of wanting to sigh before sorting through the clothes and fabrics, folding them and setting them off to the side. Carefully, he put the trinkets on the shelves, setting the baby stuff in a trunk at the end of his bed.
“Baba!” A-Yuan cheered once he had nothing in his arms, running over and latching onto his legs.
“Yuan-er, were you good for jiujiu and jiugong?” Lan Wangji murmured, resting his hand on top of A-Yuan’s head. He looked up, nodding and smiling, “jiugong gave me candy!”
Lan Wangji side-eyed his uncle, but simply shook his head. He would’ve done the same faced with his son’s sad eyes. “Remember to thank jiugong.”
A-Yuan nodded again, running off and latching himself to Uncle’s leg, “Thank you, jiugong!”
Uncle chuckled, ruffling his hair. Uncle had always had a big soft spot for children, even when he and Lan Xichen were children he’d sneak them candy after doing well in classes. Him and Mother were united in that, both sneaking them enough candy that one of the elders took notice and stopped that.
“Uncle,” His lips twitched up, “Don’t spoil him too bad.”
“It’s nothing less than he deserves,” Uncle said primly.
—
Due to his little ‘seclusion’, Lan Wangji hadn’t had many visitors, especially ones from other sects. Not to say that he hadn’t had guests, his uncle and brother especially, but also the other pregnant Lans, especially Hua Shengyi.
Yet, he definitely hadn’t expected Nie Huaisang to bust down the door, squeaking when he actually damaged the door a bit. Still, he persevered, rushing towards Lan Wangji, who was sitting on his daybed, “ Lan! Wang! Ji! ”
He grabbed Lan Wangji’s lapels, about to shake him but thinking better of it, instead flapping his hands in the air, “Wangji! Why didn’t you tell your best friend in the whole wide world that you were pregnant ! Do you not trust me?! We’re both omegas now!”
He reached up, removing his hands from his clothes, “It’s been a busy couple months, Huaisang.”
He pouted, crossing his arms, “I’ll say!” He sat down next to him, “When am I going to meet my little niece or nephew?”
A rare smile bloomed on Lan Wangji’s face, “A couple minutes, I believe,” He said wryly.
“Huh?” Nie Huaisang blinked.
The door opened before he responded, Lan Xichen walking in with A-Yuan.
“Baba!” A-Yuan cheered, running and hugging Lan Wangji’s leg, looking shyly at Nie Huaisang.
Nie Huaisang gasped, covering his mouth with a hand and breathing out, “A baby!”
A-Yuan frowned, “I’m not a baby!”
“Lying is forbidden in the Cloud Recesses!”
A-Yuan scrunched up his face, “A-Yuan is three!”
He cooed, patting A-Yuan’s head, “Just an itty bitty toddler!”
“I see we have a visitor,” Lan Xichen laughed, “Should I get some tea?”
Lan Wangji nodded, ignoring Nie Huaisang’s proclamation that he wouldn’t be there long. When they all gathered around the table with tea, Nie Huaisang’s expression turned troubled, “Er-ge…?”
Lan Xichen tilted his head, “Yes?”
Nie Huaisang bit his cheek, suddenly looking strangely like a kicked, orphaned puppy, “Da-ge… Da-ge has been…”
“Has his Qi been off?”
He nodded a couple times, visibly nervous without his fan, “He’s been really angry lately.”
“Hasn’t A-Yao been over? Did he not play cleansing for him?”
“No, no,” He bowed his head, “He was, but… It didn’t last long! It only lasted like, at most a day !” He shook his hands out, tapping his foot, “And after he was so much more mad!” Nie Huaisang pouted, “San-ge’s cleansing isn’t as good as your cleansing, Er-ge! His sounds different and it’s less effective!”
“Sounds different?” Lan Xichen cocked his head to the side. Lan Wangji furrowed his brow in the background, A-Yuan on his knee.
“Yeah! He must use a different Cleansing than you, it’s bridge goes-” He hummed out a melody, similar to Cleansing but much different to those who were listening closely.
“There’s… Only one Cleansing, Huaisang.”
Lan Wangji piped up, “It sounds familiar.” He shook his head, “We should teach Huaisang Cleansing. It wouldn’t be as effective from a non-master but it’d work.”
Lan Xichen hummed his agreement, sipping his tea.
—
Nie Huaisang went home with a score of cleansing, a xiao, and an invite to come back soon. He also convinced A-Yuan to call him Si-jiu- fourth behind Nie Mingjue, Lan Xichen, and Jin Guangyao, even if Lan Wangji felt unsettled by the thought of a Jin being an ‘uncle’ to a Wen.
—
Sometimes, everything hurt worse.
Sometimes his back burned, throbbed to the beat of his heart on days when he missed his Wei Ying the most. On days like that, he’d lay in bed for as long as he could before either Lan Xichen, Uncle, or Wen Qing came to drag him out and force him to sit with the bunnies.
Whenever they came in, their noses would scrunch up with the soured scent filling the air, a tangible proof of his misery and thoughts. His scent gland ached , an inner robe pressed against his neck to catch the oil.
When Lan Xichen found him, he was in bed, hair in a loose bun on the top of his head, and surrounded by blankets he had pulled out from his closets. A red ribbon was tied around his wrist, a crude imitation of a betrothal binding. He was half curled into himself, as if he had gone to wrap around his belly but his back flared up before he fully hugged himself.
He laid there with dead eyes staring at the other wall, stuck in his own head. Lan Xichen walked in slowly, sitting carefully on the bed beside him, jostling Lan Wangji. Lan Xichen gestured to Wen Qing, who entered, pursing her lips at the smell and coming over, looking at him for ten seconds and turning to Lan Xichen, “He’s in a pseudo-heat.”
Lan Xichen blinked, “But he’s pregnant?”
She crossed her arms, glancing down at the motionless figure before looking back at Lan Xichen, “Yes, but pseudo-heats during pregnancy are possible. Usually it includes mood swings, strong emotions, nesting, lethargy, an intense urge to scent objects and people, and a strong urge to be around your mate.”
She nudged the bed lightly with her foot, “And, since Wuxian is dead-” A repressed sob came from the lump of blankets and her eyes softened, “He’s not… Having the best time.”
Muffled from his nest, Lan Wangji called out, “I want Wei Ying.”
Wen Qing and Lan Xichen exchanged a glance. Bring A-Yuan , Wen Qing mouthed.
Lan Xichen sent out a golden butterfly, patting Lan Wangji’s side. “Would you like food?” He asked, “We can get you food.”
In the cocoon, he sniffed, a hand coming up to wipe his cheek, “... Loquats. Lotus stem. Spicy congee. Craving spicy congee.”
Lan Xichen sent out another golden butterfly, “A disciple will be getting those now.”
The lump of blankets shifted, and he whispered, “I want Wei Ying.”
Carefully, Lan Xichen took the inner robes off of Lan Wangji’s neck, folding them and setting them on a table.
Soon, little footsteps came down the path, followed by the sound of Wen Ning running after A-Yuan, who must’ve escaped him at some point.
Quickly, A-Yuan ran in, clambering onto the bed, “Baba!”
“A-Yuan?” Lan Wangji shifted, an arm coming out and steadying him. He shuffled into the blankets, snuggling up to him.
A sweet smell of vanilla slowly shifted through the air the longer A-Yuan was in the room, a sign of Lan Wangji’s affection for his son. In the doorway, Wen Ning hesitated.
“A-Yuan,” Lan Wangji murmured, “Don’t run away from Wen Ning.”
“Okay, Baba!”
Soon, Wen Ning was ushered in, Lan Xichen and the Wens having tea at the table while A-Yuan was happily being scented by his father. Everyone jumped when the door slammed open, revealing Lan Haoyue armed with a basket, chili, and a bowl of congee.
She breathed heavily, placing them on the table, “You best be glad I have an in with the Yunmeng seller down in Caiyi!”
“Yunmeng seller?” Lan Xichen asked, amused.
“Yeah! He’s a traveling merchant.”
Lan Haoyue and Lan Xichen continued talking about whatever as Lan Xichen portioned out the food into a tray, going over and setting up the tray next to Lan Wangji’s bed.
“What about the rules?” Lan Wangji protested.
Lan Xichen shook his head with a smile, “Some rules are paused for those who are pregnant or in heat. And, well, you’re both.”
Lan Wangji sat up, hugging A-Yuan to his chest and picking up a loquat and biting down, closing his eyes at the sweet taste. He took one, passing it to Lan Xichen, “Gege. Try this.”
Lan Xichen took a bite, nodding pleasantly. He passed one to A-Yuan, who took it with two hands and devoured it. Lan Xichen watched them eat with a smile, shaking his head and saying, “Me and Wen-guniang have to leave. Uncle will be visiting later today.”
Lan Wangji nodded, stirring the congee with one hand then adding chili. He shoveled the orange congee in his mouth, barely noticing the horrifying amount of spice. Wen Ning looked at him with fear, watching as he finished the congee in less than a minute.
The pseudo-heat passed quickly, spent mostly curled up in bed sleeping.
—
Lan Wangji was very used to playing host to whoever or whatever Jin Guangyao had taken to the Cloud Recesses. Sometimes it was people, Jin guards or a stray cultivator who wanted to join a Lan class. Sometimes it was cursed trinkets, a teapot that turned water into fire, a silver hair pin that turned the wearer's hair a different shade, a jade bracelet that deafened the user, a ring that turned the wearer into stone, simple things like that.
However, he had never been host to a nine month old.
It had started out as any normal Jin Guangyao visit, Lan Xichen had just been leaving the Jingshi when he saw him.
“Ah, A-Yao, hello!” Lan Xichen called out, closing the door quickly behind him before his sworn brother could see Lan Wangji, “Is that the little Rulan?”
He assumed Jin Guangyao nodded, as Lan Xichen took a second before saying, “Would you like me to bring him to Wangji? Then we could talk in the Hanshi?”
“Ah, if Wangji doesn’t mind, of course.”
Lan Xichen shook his head, “Of course he doesn’t!”
There was the sound of rustling as Jin Guangyao presumably handed over the child, “Tell Wangji that he must feed him every three hours.”
Lan Xichen opened the door, going in and giving Lan Wangji the baby. He was small and rosy cheeked, although he seemed half asleep. Lan Xichen set down a bag next to him, and Lan Wangji gave him a look. Xiongzhang, are you really going to ditch me with a baby just to do heavens knows what with Jin Guangyao?
Wangji, it’s only going to be for a couple hours. You’re going to have to deal with your own for much longer, you know.
Lan Wangji looked away, conceding. Jin Ling blinked lazily, making a babbling noise as Lan Xichen smiled and left.
“Baba?” A-Yuan popped out of the blankets, staring at Jin Ling and tilting his head, “Who’s that?”
“This…” He hesitated as Jin Ling grabbed onto his finger. He thought about Jiang Yanli, how she acknowledged Wei Wuxian as her brother even at her death, “Your tangdi. Xian-gege’s nephew.”
A-Yuan made a small ‘o’ shape with his mouth, “Is he a secret? Like Xian-gege?”
“That he is your tangdi is, his existence is not.” Jin Ling waved his fist, lightly punching Lan Wangji until he let him stand.
“Ba! Babababa!” Jin Ling babbled, a hand grasping Lan Wangji’s hair.
A small smile quirked on his face as he lightly tugged his hair out of the baby’s grip, letting him hold onto his hand, “I am not your baba.”
“Baba!”
He shook his head lightly, leaving it. Jin Ling continued to babble, grabbing onto Lan Wangji’s jade token and putting it in his mouth. He was struck with the memory of A-Yuan biting his jade token when he met him at Yiling and he chuckled, taking it out and wiping it off. Jin Ling stared at him, face getting redder and redder, bald eyebrows furrowing together.
Lan Wangji stared in horror as Jin Ling started crying, babbling and pouting.
Lan Wangji rushed to give the baby his jade token, flushing when A-Yuan started laughing. Jin Ling calmed down quickly, biting down on the jade with quickly drying tears. Lan Wangji winced when his little one kicked hard, a sign of their signature Lan strength.
—
When Lan Xichen remembered to check up on his brother, he was faced with A-Yuan laughing so hard his face was redder than red, little Jin Ling giggling with Wangji’s jade token in his mouth, and Wangji himself looking completely panicked.
“Xiongzhang,” Wangji pleaded, “Help me.”
He smiled, “Are you having fun?”
He gave him a withering look, betrayed by his lips ticking up slightly.
Lan Xichen shook his head, “Ah, A-Yao will be staying the night, so will Jin Rulan. Haoyue will be bringing in a crib for him.”
Lan Wangji nodded slowly, wondering what exactly he did to make his brother do this to him. Lan Xichen adopted a small smile, “Remember that you can always call Qing-yishi for help.”
Lan Wangji nodded, looking very miserable.
The night was spent with Lan Wangji worrying and fidgeting over the Jin heir, the Jin heir in question sleeping soundly in his crib.
Early in the morning, a couple hours before he usually woke up, someone knocked furiously, waking both him and Jin Ling up. Jin Ling stared up at him as he stood and went over to the door, opening it to see a panicked Xiang Wenya.
“Auntie?” He blinked, surprised to see her out of all people at his door, especially looking so panicked.
“Wangji! Hua Shengyi is giving birth!”
He jolted, “What?”
“Dress! She’s requesting you there!”
Lan Wangji quickly turned around, throwing an outer robe on top of his sleeping robe, scooping up Jin Ling who was falling back asleep. He followed Xiang Wenya, who hurried through the Cloud Recesses to a Healing Pavilion.
She entered the main room, knocking at one of the doors and gesturing for him to sit and wait with her.
The rooms were soundproof, so they waited in silence, broken only by Jin Ling’s soft snores from where he rested in Lan Wangji’s arms. He felt underdressed, his forehead ribbon still in the Jingshi and his outer robe very messily put on.
An hour later, a doctor came out, gesturing for them to go in. Inside, an exhausted Hua Shengyi laid, holding a wrinkly, red newborn on her chest, breastfeeding.
She looked up, smiling at the two, “Wangji, come see your cousin.”
He stepped forward in a daze, barely noticing when Xiang Wenya took Jin Ling out of his arms. He sat at the chair next to Hua Shengyi, looking at the baby who seemed so small, so little. He heard himself ask, “What’s her name?”
The woman smiled down at her little one, “Lan Cui,” She looked up at him, “Her courtesy name will be Qingshi.”
“She’s beautiful.” Awe was clear in his voice, a hand coming up to trace Lan Cui’s hair. A grin lit up Hua Shengyi’s face and she shoved her baby into his arms, guiding him to a safe holding position.
He stared down at the heavy weight in his arms, at the blurry peach colored eyes blinking slowly up at him. Lan Cui mewled, a weak, small arm coming up.
“Let her hold your finger,” Hua Shengyi said, amusement in her voice.
Lan Wangji shifted his hold on her, a shaking hand coming up. The little Lan grabbed on, her grip weak yet stronger than he expected. A tear dropped down onto his hand, and he was surprised to realize he was crying. Hua Shengyi patted his knee, “You’ll have your turn soon,” She patted his belly, “Very soon.”
“Mn,” His lips turned up, “She has tangxiong’s eyes.”
She laughed quietly, “All Lans do, hm?”
“It’s a Lan trait, along with the arm strength,” he shook his head, “She’ll be a formidable cultivator.”
“Mm,” She hummed, a smile on her face, “Our children will be the new Twin Jades, hm? Or is that A-Yuan and your child?”
“Perhaps they’ll be the Jade Triad.” He pet Lan Cui’s hair silently as her eyes closed, opening slowly while letting out a mewl, Hua Shengyi gesturing to give her back.
—
A month later, he was hosting Hua Shengyi, little Lan Cui, A-Yuan, and Lan Xichen for the evening, sitting around the table and talking. A-Yuan stared at the month old, stars in his eyes.
“Baba?” A-Yuan called, “When will Xiao Cui be ready to play with me?”
“I don’t know,” Lan Wangji shook his head, a small smile on his face before he winced at the pain in his lower back.
“Are you okay?” Hua Shengyi asked, “You’re looking… A bit pale.”
“It…” He uncharacteristically hesitated, a hand resting on his belly, “It feels strange. Back hurts.” He shook his head once more, “It’s fine.”
“If you’re sure…” She said dubiously.
Little did he know, later that night he’d double over in pain when he went to say goodbye to the two, liquid splashing on the ground.
—
The night ended with Lan Wangi exhausted in bed, aching all over, staring down at the soft face of his daughter.
Lan Xichen sat at the edge of his bed, face white but visibly trying to put himself back together, “What will you name her?”
“Chang,” He looked at her blurry gold eyes, brighter than Lan Cui’s had been. She was the most beautiful thing on earth to him, his little one. Wei Ying’s little one.
“Flourishing?” He tilted his head.
“Mn,” He nodded, not taking his eyes off of the newborn bundled in his arms, “Flourishing.”
There was a polite knock on the door, before either of them could say anything Uncle barged in, breaking several rules. He hurried towards them, swaying slightly before sitting in the chair, practically falling.
"Wangji," He breathed, "She's born."
Finally, he looked up, raising an eyebrow as if saying, Clearly .
Uncle looked down at little Lan Chang, who's eyes were slipping closed, "She has your eyes…"
"Mn," Lan Wangji gave a rare smile, "She does."
"She has Wei-gongzi's eye shape and smile," Lan Xichen commented, eyes suspiciously wet.
He inhaled sharply, running a finger across the bridge of her nose, "Yes."
Lan Xichen sniffed, trying and failing to contain his tears.
“Bring A-Yuan in.”
He nodded, going out and leading A-Yuan in. Immediately, A-Yuan ran towards the bed, staring up at Lan Wangji.
He shifted his hold on the newborn, a hand coming down and petting A-Yuan’s hair, “A-Yuan, this is your sister.”
A-Yuan peered up, “She’s so small!”
“Mn, make sure to take good care of her.”