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Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian had always possessed an impressively high tolerance when it came to alcohol. So naturally he didn’t so much as hesitate when Fourth Uncle offered him some of his home brewed wine. After having gone so long without his preferred drink, the rich flavor of the wild fruit brew made his taste buds practically sing with delight. It couldn’t compare to the Gusu Emperor’s Smile, but then again very little could in his opinion.

And so he spent the evening in the cave’s hall, partaking of the good wine, as well as the excellent food that had been prepared. Who knew that Wen Ning could cook so well. He made a mental note to make sure the newly awakened ghost did all the cooking from now on. It would be a welcome change from all the bland radish dishes they had had up until that point. Of course, the food could still use more flavor for his tastes, but he wasn’t about to start complaining.

After a few rounds of drinks had been consumed, he found that the conversation started to flow more freely. People who had previously been too shy or intimidated started to open up to him. They started to treat him less like their savior and master, and more like their equal. He listened intently as they spoke about their lives before the war, as well as their hopes and dreams for the future.

"My wife and I have recently started trying for a baby," one of the younger men began. "We always wanted to start a family, and seeing as things are starting to look up for us here, we thought we might as well."

Everyone raised their drinks to toast to their happiness, breaking out into a chorus of well wishes.

Wei Wuxian couldn't help but grin at the news. It filled him with a mixture of relief and joy that these people were finally starting to prosper once more. Things might still be a bit rocky at times, but he couldn't deny that it would be nice to bring some new life to the formerly barren Burial Mound. Not to mention it would be nice for A Yuan to have someone closer to his own age to play with. Then he wouldn't have to keep burying him in the ground to try and grow him some siblings.

"What about you, Young Master Wei?" Fourth Uncle asked him. "Do you see yourself ever settling down and starting a family?"

He let out a small chuckle as he downed yet another bowl of wine. "I wouldn't mind, though I doubt I could find anyone willing to marry me."

As much as he would have liked to settle down into a simple, quiet life, he feared it just wasn't meant to be. He might have once been widely admired, with girls literally falling at his feet, but things had changed. The entire cultivation world knew him as the despicable Yiling Patriarch; the war hero who had turned against them in the end and joined forces with their enemies.

"It seems I'm fated to walk this narrow plank bridge alone."

"That's nonsense," Granny insisted across from him where she sat feeding a ravenous A Yuan in her lap. "We have a few young, unmarried women in our family who I'm sure would love to become your wife.

"A Qing would make a good match for you."

Both Wen Qing and Wei Ying broke out into a coughing fit at the mention of the idea. "Popo!" Wen Qing exclaimed.

"I appreciate the offer, but I'm pretty sure she would rather strangle me than marry me."

As if to prove his point further, Wen Qing glared at him, a hint of red still visible on her cheeks.

Thankfully the topic was quickly dropped and moved on from there. Eventually all conversations began to die off as some began to take their leave to head off to bed while others stayed and eventually passed out drunk. In the end, Wei Wuxian and Fourth Uncle were the last two remaining, and even then, it wasn't long until Fourth Uncle passed out as well.

By that point, Wei Wuxian was starting to feel the effects of the alcohol quite strongly, more so than he could ever remember before. Deep down he had this sinking suspicion that it had to do with his missing core, but he wasn't about to admit to anyone, let alone himself. With no one else awake to keep him company, he staggered over to where Wen Qing stood, gathering up all the dirty dishes from their celebration.

"How come you're not drunk like the rest of them?" he asked.

"I don't like to drink much," she stated. "Besides, someone needs to have a clear head in case something happens."

"Aiya, you sound like Lan Zhan," he complained. "he doesn't drink either, though that's probably because he's such a lightweight."

She just rolled her eyes at him, not saying anything as she finished cleaning off the one table before moving on to the next. Moments later, Wei Wuxian got up and followed after. It went on like this for several tables until it became increasingly clear that he wasn't about to leave her alone.

"Do you want something?" she snapped at him. "Spit it out, if so."

He didn't speak at first, seemingly staring off into space. Heaving a sigh, she started to turn to leave again, only to stop as she felt him reach out a hand to stop her. When she turned back, she was surprised to see him staring straight back at her, a rather miserable looking expression on his face.

"Do you really think someone in your family would want to marry me?"

"After all you've done for us, I'm sure you could find a wife. That is, if that's what you want."

He raised a brow. "What do you mean ‘if that's what I want’?"

She pinned him with a knowing look. "I just thought you might be more interested in a husband, specifically one from Gusu."

He opened his mouth to argue the claim, but decided against it and lowered his head. "Maybe, but that's never going to happen. He can't stand me the way I am now. Always telling me to come back to Gusu with him and forsake demonic cultivation." He couldn't help but scoff at the idea.

"He doesn't understand."

"No, he doesn't, but you do." At that, he looked back up, be it a bit hesitantly. "Truth be told, the only person I can imagine getting married to is you, but since you don't want me either-"

"When did I ever say that?"

He blinked at her. "I-I just thought that… Well, you glared at me when Granny Wen suggested it."

Wen Qing set the box full of dirty dishes down on the table with a thunk and turned to fully face him. "I was glaring at you because you insinuated that I'm a cruel woman who would kill any man who wanted to marry me."

"I was only joking," he said. "I don't think of you as cruel at all.

"A bit scary at times, but never cruel."

She crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Someone has to make sure you don't get yourself killed by your own recklessness."

It was true. She had witnessed him at his worst, forced him to eat and clean himself up when he got too carried away with his experiments. Honestly, it was nothing short of amazing how she put up with him. She had helped him so many times that he had lost count and continued to help him without hesitation. The only reason he was even still alive was because of her.

"Does that mean you do want to marry me?"

He could see the conflict in her eyes as she discreetly nibbled on her lower lip. "Ask me again when you're not drunk."

"I'm not that drunk," he pouted.

To try and prove his point, he stood up and started to take a step towards her. Unfortunately, such an attempt only proved Wen Qing right as he stumbled over his own feet and went toppling forward. Straight into the woman before him, who quickly reached out to catch him and haul him back to his feet.

"You were saying?"

"Ah, apologies A Qing." He made no attempt to get up, but rather lowered his head to rest on her shoulder, leaning into her as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "I'll ask you to marry me in the morning."

"If you even remember any of this by then."

"I'll definitely remember," he vowed.

Wrapping an arm around him in return, she started to help him across the cave and through the entrance that led to where his personal chambers were. Winding her way through the mess of failed talismans and other experiments that he had discarded onto the floor, she helped him onto the large flattened stone that served as his bed. She eyed it distastefully, as she always did whenever she came to deliver food or to try and convince him to rest, however thankfully didn't complain about it.

She often tried to convince him to let them make him a bed, but he always refused. Now, as she helped him to lay down, his sluggish body coming into contact with the barely cushioned surface, he couldn't help but regret that decision. Still, not enough to actually complain.

"Get some sleep," she bid him as she pulled the cover up over him.

Her hand lingered Overtop of his chest, and Wei Wuxian felt that the gentle weight of it was oddly soothing, not to mention warm. "Stay here and sleep with me," he begged her. "It gets so cold and lonely at night."

He saw as well as felt the way her body tensed at his admission. "I don't think that would be proper."

"Why not? We're getting married anyway."

"I never agreed to marry you."

"You didn't not agree to it."

She let out a deep breath, shaking her head as she turned to leave.

Wei Wuxian couldn't deny the feeling of disappointment that welled within his chest. Closing his eyes, he sought to ignore the cold, hollow feeling that had long taken up residence inside him, willing himself to fall asleep and hoping that he wouldn't be taken by the usual nightmares.

He had just started to drift off when he heard the sound of footsteps approaching, followed by the sound of rustling fabric. "Move over." Wen Qing's voice snapped him completely from sleep as he opened his eyes to find her standing once more beside him, now with a blanket in hand.

"What?"

"Do you want me to sleep here or not?" she asked. "Move over, or else I’m going back to my own bed."

It took him a moment to realize that she hadn't actually rejected him, but rather had left to go and get another blanket. And glancing down at his own, it dawned on him that while it was big enough for him, it wasn't big enough for both of them. He hurried to move over, just enough so that she could lay down beside him. It was a bit of a tight squeeze, with her having to use his shoulder in place of a pillow, but they made it work.

"Thank you for coming back," he muttered quietly as he snuggled into her, wrapping his arms around her to make sure she wouldn't fall over the edge of the bed at any time. It felt surprisingly good to have her in his arms. She was soft and warm, the latter of which seemed to quickly seep through him, warming that hollow spot that had previously been cold.

"Goodnight, Wei Ying."

He chuckled as he closed his eyes again, for once feeling optimistic of a good, full night's sleep. "Goodnight, A Qing."

Wei Wuxian awoke feeling as if he had been trampled over by a carriage and stomped repeatedly in the head by horses. It wasn't a great way to wake up, nor was it an experience that he was used to. More and more he was realizing that his tolerance level had dropped, and that he was going to have to start limiting how much he drank a bit more. Still, judging from what he remembered of the night previous, he had lasted longer than anyone else. Clearly his tolerance was still better than most.

Despite a massive headache, he actually felt surprisingly good. He hadn't had any nightmares, and his body actually felt warm and properly rested for once. Struggling to sit upright, he noticed that Wen Qing was no longer lying beside him. Her blanket was there but she herself was nowhere in sight. That didn't necessarily surprise him as he wasn't typically the earliest riser. Most days everyone was already awake and hard at work by the time he came to.

Getting to his feet proved to be a mistake as the world began to spin out of control around him, forcing him to sit back down until it stopped. He tried again, this time taking it a bit slower in his movements, as he started towards the cave entrance. There he was greeted by the usual sight of the Wen's out and about. Granny and the other women had already started washing the laundry for the day while the men were tending to their carefully planted crops.

A Yuan immediately ran towards him when he noticed he was awake, clinging to his thigh the way he always did. "Xian Gege play with me?" he asked, earning him an affectionate pat on the head.

"Maybe a bit later, A Yuan," he promised the boy. "First I need to get rid of this headache and find Wen Qing."

The boy pouted, obviously disappointed by this, hugging his leg even tighter.

Wei Wuxian heaved a sigh. A Yuan was in desperate need of someone to play with. Although, he couldn't be too hard on him, knowing all too well what it felt like to be all alone in the world. Luckily for him, that all changed when Jiang Fengmian took him in. Then he had Jiang Cheng and his Shijie to play with. With any luck, A Yuan would get some playmates in a few years.

He managed to coax the boy into letting go of his leg, letting the boy follow after him as he staggered out to look for Wen Qing. He encountered Fourth Uncle and some of the other men who had been drinking with him the night before. And remarkably, they too were hard at work, seemingly unphased by any hangover.

"Why are you all so energetic this morning?" he asked. "You passed out before me."

Fourth Uncle turned to grin at him. "It's all thanks to A Qing's special brew."

Of course she would have the thought to make a hangover brew in preparation for everyone. As much as she might come off as stern and hardhearted, Wen Qing undoubtedly cared for those close to her. And he was privileged enough to be one of those she cared for, as she had proven that last night.

"She's probably still in the dining hall if you want some."

Wei Wuxian nodded his head, which hurt a lot more than it should have for such a simple motion and turned to retrace his steps back to the cave.

Sure enough, Wen Qing was still there, dishing out the morning meal to a few lingering people. In addition to the usual pot of Congee, there was also a pitcher of what he could only imagine was the special hangover brew. Slowly he made his way over to where she was serving it, taking a seat as he waited his turn. A Yuan clambered up onto the stool beside him to wait as well.

"Good morning, A Qing," he greeted her with the biggest grin he could muster. "Did you sleep well?"

"I slept fine," she replied in a clipped tone. "How's your head?"

"It feels like there's a millstone grinding in there."

Grabbing his empty bowl, she poured him some congee before passing him a cup of the brew. No sooner had she placed it down in front of him then A Yuan held out his own bowl to her.

Wen Qing shook her head at him. "You already had a serving."

"I'm hungry!" A Yuan pouted, his face scrunched up as if he was about to cry.

In the end, even Wen Qing wasn't able to resist him and reluctantly poured him a second, smaller helping of the congee. "No more after this," she warned him, to which he nodded his head enthusiastically, all semblance of sadness gone in an instant.

Wei Wuxian shook his head. The kid was smart enough to know how to use his cuteness to his advantage. It was only a shame his own pouting didn't seem to have the same effect on her. He couldn't help but think about his shijie and how she always gave him second helpings when he pleaded with her. Of course then Jiang Cheng would want a second helping as well. Thankfully she always knew to make extras for them.

He recalled what Lan Zhan had told him back at the Inn in Yiling. His shijie was getting married to that peacock, and as much as he would have liked to think that she would send him an invitation, he knew that wouldn't happen. Him and the Jin's weren't exactly on the best of terms. Not ever since he had stolen off with the remnants of the Wen Clan.

No, he refused to let himself dwell too much on his own sorrows. He didn't regret the choice he had made, especially not when he saw A Yuan's smiling face. Or when he heard that some of the Wen's were feeling safe enough to start families of their own. Or whenever he saw Wen Qing give one of her rare smiles.

He didn't say a word as he ate the typically bland congee and downed the hangover blend, which didn't taste all that great either. Then again, he supposed it was medicine after all. Medicine rarely ever tasted good in his experience. However it soon proved to be effective as the pain in his skull dulled down to being barely noticeable.

"Is there anything you can't cure, A Qing?" he asked when he was done.

"Your stupidity."

Those surrounding them broke out into a fit of laughter, which Wei Wuxian couldn't help but join in on. "Well then, you'll have to marry me and make an honest man out of me."

The laughter came to a screeching halt as the full impact of what he had said washed over them.

Wen Qing's eyes were wide as they met his. "You…" She didn't have to finish her sentence for him to know what she was going to say.

"I remember our conversation last night. You told me to ask you again when I'm not drunk, so I'm asking you now.

"Will you marry me, Wen Qing?"

A beat passed in which no one spoke. And then…

"Are you sure you don't want to marry someone else?"

No doubt she was referring to their previous discussion about Lan Zhan. His feelings for the Second Jade of Lan were confusing at best. He never knew where he stood with the man. Which only made him all the more confident in his decision to ask Wen Qing to be his wife. He knew where he stood with her.

He shook his head. "There's nothing I want more than to wake up with you everyday, to argue with you over radishes and potatoes. I want to start a family with you someday, but most importantly, I want to spend every day proving how true my feelings for you are."

Another silence followed before she let out a huff of breath. "I will agree on one condition."

"What is it?" he raised a brow.

"We get an actual bed," she said bluntly. "I am not sleeping on that rock with you every night."

He chuckled. "Of course I wouldn't make my wife sleep on a rock."

"Then yes, of course I’ll marry you, you idiot."

Unable to contain himself, he jumped to his feet and hurried around to the other side of the table and swept her into his arms, lifting her off her feet as he spun them both around. A chorus of loud applause rang out from the entrance where the entirety of the Wen Clan had gathered somewhere along the line to witness the joyful occasion.

Remembering what little propriety had managed to stick with him over the years, he set his wife-to-be back down on the ground and took a step back. And turning towards the Wen's, he bowed to them respectfully.

"Would you be willing to allow this insignificant young master to marry his chosen one?"

They exchanged looks with each other briefly before turning back to face him. "We would be honored to have you join our family," Granny Wen said as she came over to give him an affectionate pat on the cheek.

"As far as I'm concerned, you're already one of us!" Fourth Uncle exclaimed.

The rest of the Wen's nodded their agreement as they crowded around the couple, already beginning to discuss preparations for the wedding. Obviously they wouldn't be able to marry at their family's altar, nor would it take place within the ancestral family lands, but they all agreed that a simple ceremony in the land they had made their own would be good enough.

And so, later that day, they all gathered once more in the cave’s hall, dressed in the finest clothes they had. Wen Qing wore her family's typical red robes, while Wei Wuxian dressed in his black and red. They performed their three kowtows, bowing first to heaven and earth, then to the parents whom Fourth Uncle and Granny Wen filled in for, before finally bowing to each other.

There was a brief tea ceremony that followed. Advice was given in place of the typical gifts, save for Granny Wen, who gifted her granddaughter with a family heirloom: a necklace that had been in their family for several generations.

"I gave it to your mother when she was married, and now I give it to you so that you may wear it with pride and one day pass it on to your own daughter."

"Thank you, Popo," Wen Qing accepted it with what looked like the start of tears in her eyes. It seemed that even she was capable of being moved to tears after all.

The grandmother and granddaughter shared a meaningful embrace before the elder woman turned to the groom. "I know that you will be a good husband to my A Qing and keep her safe."

"I will protect her until my dying breath," he vowed.

The next to congratulate them was none other than Wen Ning, who smiled from ear to ear. "I-I'm happy for you, sister. Y-Young Master Wei."

"None of that, A Ning," Wei Wuxian waved off the formality. "As your brother-in-law, it's only right that you start calling me A Xian."

The idea of being anything less than formal with him seemed to terrify Wen Ning. "A-A Xian."

"Xian Gege is my shufu?" A Yuan asked as he came up beside the ghost.

Wei Wuxian nodded his head as he knelt down to his level. "That's right, I'm your shufu now."

"Xian Gege is still Xian Gege," the child insisted.

They all laughed at that. Wei Wuxian relented and let him stick with his preferred way of addressing him. Either way, it didn't bother him.

Eventually the festivities came to a close, with the Wen's bidding the couple farewell as they headed off to their respective homes, leaving the newlyweds to be alone together for the first time. Wei Wuxian downed the last of his bowl of wine, having made sure not to over indulge as much this time.

"How does it feel to be married to the Yiling Patriarch?"

Wen Qing, or rather now Wei Qing, rolled her eyes at her new husband, a smile tugging at the corners of her lip. "I don't regret it, if that's what you're asking."

"Neither do I."

And then, without further delay, he reached out to sweep her off her feet and started to carry her back to their chambers where much to his new wife's relief, an actual decent bed made of straw and cloth was waiting for them.

"I suppose we should start working on giving Granny Wen that great-granddaughter she was talking about."

That earned him another glare. "I will strangle you if you get me with child within the first several months of our marriage!”

He shook his head. “Don’t worry, I don’t plan on giving up our marriage bed right away,” he assured her. “I need to show my wife just how much I love her, after all.”

“She already knows.”

“Good, because from now on I’m going to make sure she never doubts that.”

Chapter Text

For all that the world proclaimed him as a notorious womanizer, seducing virgins all across the countryside, the truth was that Wei Wuxian didn’t actually have any experience with romance. He had only ever been kissed one time, by an unknown female cultivator while he was blindfolded, no less. He had tried to look for her afterwards, but to no avail. To that day, the identity of the woman remained a mystery to him, though he had since given up on trying to find out.

His wedding night started off with both of them being surprisingly timid, fumbling in each other’s arms as they attempted to work out a rhythm that worked for them. Eventually as they grew more comfortable with one another and let themselves go, things started to get better, the flames of passion building between them, dowsing their bodies in sweat as they joined to become one.

They didn’t leave the cave much for the next several days as they furthered their exploration of each other’s bodies and learned more about each other. And when they did dare to venture outside for various reasons, it was for meals or work that needed to be done. The Wen’s would just smirk at them, muttering something about newlywed bliss.

Fourth Uncle made a few jokes at Wei Wuxian’s expense, stating his surprise that either of them were still capable of walking. Wen Qing happened to overhear that and after sending him a particularly nasty glare, threatened to take her needles to him. Needless to say, that shut him up almost immediately.

He could honestly say that all those erotic books he had borrowed from Nie Huaisang didn’t do the act justice. He had always thought that the act of love making would be wild and messy, and perhaps it was a bit, but it also had a strange sweetness to it. It was a surprisingly humbling experience, as you entrusted your body wholly into the care of someone else. In that case, there was no one he trusted more with his body than Wen Qing. The still visible scar that ran along his chest stood as proof.

As they laid together on their newly consummated wedding bed on one such night, tired but yet not quite willing to fall asleep, Wei Wuxian entertained himself by running his fingers through her long silky hair. Wen Qing was nestled into his side, her fingers tracing that very same scar.

“Does it still hurt?” she asked.

He shook his head. “Is the scar unsightly to you?”

“I’m a doctor.” She shot him a knowing look. “I’ve long since become immune to such things.”

That was true, however it didn’t take a genius to figure out what she was thinking about. If he had to guess, she was currently recalling how she herself had caused such a scar when she cut him open to perform the operation. She had tried to talk him out of it even to the last moment, but his mind was made up. Just as it always had been.

“I don’t regret my choice that day,” he assured her. “It might have caused me to lose that which I once held dear, but it also brought me something I cherish even more.”

She let out a small huff at the sentiment, shaking her head as if she thought him a delusional fool. And yet, what she did next completely contradicted such a notion. Craning her neck, she lowered her face so that she was level with the long incision scar and pressed her lips gently to the bumpy ridges.

“You’re lucky I like a man with scars,” she stated, her dark eyes staring deeply into his own. “Every scar speaks of a person’s strength, that and his own foolishness.”

Although still hot from their lovemaking, Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but feel a shiver of desire course through him at the gesture. A shiver that went straight to a certain part of him, which couldn’t help but stand on attention. It didn’t take his bewitching bride long to notice its presence, reaching out with her highly skilled hands to stroke its length.

“You’re insatiable,” she taunted him. “What will I do with you?”

“Whatever my wife wishes. I am hers to command.”

An all too pleased grin spread upon her face at his words. “Good answer.”

He couldn’t help but stare up at her in awe as she climbed on top of him and proceeded to pleasure him. Despite her inexperience, she caught on to what he preferred with remarkable ease. Of course, he supposed he shouldn’t have expected anything less from her. As for her, he had learned that his new wife liked to be in charge, but would still consent to letting him take over from time to time. She liked it when he was rough with her, and would actually chastise him for being too gentle.

And she certainly wasn’t gentle with him either.

By the time they were both fully satiated and collapsed back into each other’s arms, barely able to keep their eyes open as they were pulled down into sleep, their bodies were literally covered in bruises and bite marks.

Most of them could be properly hidden away behind the layers of their everyday clothing, but there were a few such marks littered across their necks that would still be at least partially visible. Fourth Uncle was likely to tease them about it, but Wei Wuxian couldn’t bring himself to care. He’d wear his wife’s marks as a badge of honor.

They soon settled into their new life together. Wen Qing moved what little belongings she had over from the hut she had previously shared with Granny Wen. And Wei Wuxian rearranged what little furniture he had, even commissioning a few new pieces to add to the place. Although it was still just a part of the cave, even Wen Qing had to admit that it was starting to feel like a home.

Their routine stayed much the same, with Wen Qing rising at least an hour before Wei Wuxian. Sometimes, if he was lucky, he would be able to coax her back into bed with him to cuddle with him. These sleepy mornings were what he loved the best, and over time he found that he started to both look and feel more healthy, no doubt because he could finally get some decent sleep. He regained a bit of the weight he had lost, no longer looking like a fierce ghost himself.

And of course, Wen Qing started every morning by taking the tonic she had specially brewed herself to prevent herself from conceiving a child. Meanwhile Wei Wuxian would watch her, dreaming of a day when she would stop taking it. A day when they could start a family of their own. Although he agreed with her that they weren’t quite ready to have a child at that moment in time, he still liked to think that it would happen in the not too distant future.

A month passed by as if in the blink of an eye for Wei Wuxian, and life seemed to be improving in the Burial Mounds by the day. The garden that they had toiled endlessly over was starting to produce enough crops that they weren’t quite so pressed for food. In fact, they even had extras, which they would load onto a cart and take them down to Yiling Village to sell.

Most days it was Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning who would make the trip down to the village, with Wen Qing tagging along occasionally as well to buy the necessary herbs she needed for healing. And sometimes, if he begged them enough, they would let A Yuan come with them. Wei Wuxian found himself rather torn over the decision. On one hand, he knew it was good for a child like him to get out and be among other people, but at the same time he couldn’t deny that he was worried that something might happen to him.
He remembered that one day when he had turned his back away momentarily to find that A Yuan had vanished from his side. The panic that had gripped his heart as he retraced his steps, searching the streets for any sight of him. Thankfully he had managed to find him in time, safe and sound no less. He never did tell Wen Qing about that incident, nor did he have any intention to, knowing that it would just earn him a lecture from her.

And so, he took extra care to make sure he kept a close eye on the boy as they made their way through the streets, holding his hand to make sure he wouldn’t wander off. He was also hoping to impress his wife, showing her just how responsible he could be.

Naturally, the boy didn’t make it any easier on him, as he was quickly distracted when he spotted the toy vendor. “Xian gege get me a toy?” A Yuan asked, tugging on the hem of his sleeve.

“What’s wrong with the toys you got last time?” Wei Wuxian asked.

A Yuan just shook his head, a pout forming across his face as he stared up at his gege. “Please!”

Wei Wuxian winced, forcing himself to look away from the little boy’s adorable face. He honestly didn’t know what to do or say. He hated telling the boy ‘no’, even if they couldn’t afford to be wasting what little money they had on things they didn’t really need.

Thankfully, he was saved from having to do so as Wen Qing stepped forward to do so for him. “The money we earn from selling our vegetables is going towards buying you some new clothes,” to which she glared at Wei Wuxian, seeing as he was the one who kept getting his clothes dirty, “ as well as buying herbs to make medicine.

“You wouldn’t want anyone to get sick, would you?”

A Yuan shook his head with a sniffle, but thankfully stopped pouting. And Wei Wuxian let out a breath of relief at the crisis having been averted. He silently vowed to make sure to play with the boy later when they got back to make up for it.

Coming upon their usual spot, they began the task of unloading the bags of vegetables from the cart. They didn’t have an actual stand like most of the vendors, but they had since made a sign, which A Yuan was tasked with holding. They found that it was much more effective to have a small, smiling child in charge of luring customers in rather than a stuttering, soft-spoken ghost. An arrangement that both A Yuan and Wen Ning were perfectly fine with.

It wasn’t long before they had a steady stream of customers lining up in front of them, with Wen Qing handling the money while the two men were tasked with handing over the vegetables. It was a big change from the early days when it was him and Wen Ning selling radishes.

“What an adorable boy you have,” one of the women cooed to Wen Qing as she was paying. “I’m sure he’ll grow up to be just as handsome as his father is.”

Wen Qing didn’t say a word to correct her. And though she rolled her eyes at the woman’s words, a small smile tugged at her lips as she took the money.

Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but smile at the sentiment as well. People had a habit of thinking that A Yuan was their son, and although technically untrue, they never bothered to correct them. When he stopped to think about it, it actually was true enough. The two of them had basically adopted the boy as their own in all but name.

“A Xian?”

Wei Wuxian had just turned to retrieve another bag of vegetables from the cart when he heard a soft voice call his name with such familiarity that it could only belong to one person. Turning slowly back around, his suspicions were confirmed when he saw Jiang Cheng standing there with a much shorter figure dressed in a big black cloak that covered everything except for the face.

“Shijie?” the words came out no louder than a whisper.

He wanted to drop what he was doing, run into her arms and embrace her tightly, but held off as he remembered not only where he was, but also who he was. If he were to run and embrace her now, everyone would know that he was the Yiling Patriarch, brother of the Jiang Sect Leader and Lady Yanli. And it wouldn’t take long for them to figure out who Wen Ning was, causing them to run away screaming.

No, they needed to keep a low profile if they wanted to continue being able to buy and sell from the people of Yiling.

Taking the bag, he handed it off to Wen Ning. Meanwhile, Wen Qing, who had since noticed their presence, nodded at him as if silently giving him the go-ahead to go to them. He nodded his head back to her in thanks before hurrying to lead them further away. Jiang Cheng glared at him in passing as he stepped in front of him to take the lead, clearly having some destination in mind as they started around the corner of another street.

None of them said a word until they reached the gates of a private residence that they must have rented out for the occasion as they entered freely without hesitation. Only once the gate had been closed behind them did they stop and turn to face each other. Giving him a tender smile, Jiang Yanli reached up to remove her hood before moving to untie the ribbons that held her cloak in place.

The sight of her threatened to take his breath away. She was dressed in a stunning gown of vibrant red and gold, with gold ruby earrings adorning her lobes. Her hair had been done up in an immaculate style, with a matching bridal crown set delicately atop. Her makeup had been done up to amplify her natural beauty even more, complimenting her fair skin with a bright red lipstick to match her gown.

“Shijie, you’re…” So overwhelmed with emotion, he struggled to come up with words to do her appearance justice.

“You’re overreacting,” Jiang Cheng butted in. “She’s not marrying you.”

He glared half-heartedly over at his brother. “Shut up.” As if he needed to be reminded of who she was marrying.

Jiang Cheng almost seemed surprised by his reaction. Though he supposed he could understand why. Typically it was his brother who was always telling him to shut up instead of the other way around. It was clear to see that their relationship had suffered. No doubt Jiang Cheng still held a grudge against him after their fight in which Wei Wuxian cut his own ties to the Jiang Clan of Yunmeng.

“A Xian, I’m getting married soon,” Jiang Yanli started to explain. “So, I came here to let you see me.”

He nodded his head, forcing a wobbly grin upon his face. “I know. I heard about it.”

“From whom?” Jiang Cheng asked.

“It’s none of your business,” he shot back.

“I came here alone. I’m sorry you can’t see the bridegroom.”

“I don’t want to see the bridegroom at all,” he muttered as he took a couple steps forward to get a closer look at his Shijie. She did a spin for him, allowing him to see every inch of her. She looked every inch the vision of a bride marrying into such an influential family as the Jin’s. And he couldn’t help but think that the Jin’s were undeserving of her. He had always thought that. In his eyes, no one was good enough for his Shijie.

“You look beautiful.”

On that both him and Jiang Cheng wholeheartedly agreed.

Jiang Yanli just shook her head. “It’s not for you two to decide.”

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes fondly at her. “You only believe what that man said, right?”

By that, he could only assume he meant the peacock that she was marrying. Wei Wuxian could see it written clearly across her face. She was deeply in love with Jin Zixuan. It made his heart clench just thinking about it, but he did his best to keep such feelings to himself. As long as he made his Shijie happy, he would just have to grin and bear it.

From there, they moved on to sit down at a table that had been prepared for them, where Yanli reached into the basket she had brought with her and took out a pot of what could only be her famous Lotus Root Soup. The smell had his mouth practically watering in anticipation.

“A Xian, can you give a name?”

He raised a brow. “For whom?”

Jiang Yanli smiled as she exchanged knowing looks with her youngest brother. “For my unborn nephew,” Jiang Cheng answered.

This caused his heart to skip a beat as he turned to stare at his beloved shijie with wide eyes. She was pregnant? Was that why she was getting married all of a sudden? From looking at her, it didn’t appear to be so, but he supposed she could still be early in her pregnancy.

She must have guessed what he was thinking as she shook her head to assure him such wasn’t the case.

A wave of relief washed over him as he realized she must have meant for her son that she would no doubt have in the near future. With his mind now set at ease, he began to mull over the options. “The first given name of the next generation of Jin Clan of Lanling is Ru.” He considered it carefully, keeping in mind that no matter whether the child would come from the Jin’s, it would still be his nephew. “How about Jin Rulan?”

“Jin Rulan.” Jiang Yanli tested the sound of the name on her lips, a smile tugging at their corners as she did so. “That’s a good name.”

“No, it’s not,” Jiang Cheng objected. “Jin Rulan. It sounds like a name of the Lan clan.”

He pouted at that. “What’s wrong with the Lan clan?” he asked. “Lan is for orchid, a gentleman of flowers.”

Jiang Cheng scoffed at that as he turned to look away.

In the end, Jiang Yanli gave her approval of the name, effectively putting an end to any and all future objections her brother might have had. As well as putting an end to any further arguments between them as she went on to explain that it was Jiang Cheng who had suggested she ask him to choose the name.

Wei Wuxian looked at him, for once without bitterness or regret over what had happened between them. Jiang Cheng pretended not to know what she was talking about, but he could easily see through his brother’s behavior. As angry as he might be with him, he still cared about him enough to bring their shijie to see him before the wedding and even let him pick the given name of their future nephew.

An idea came to mind just then.

“Then why don’t I let you two choose the name of my unborn child as well?”

Jiang Cheng, who had previously been in the process of swallowing a spoonful of his soup, began to cough violently as he choked over the broth. “You’re not even married, why should we do such a thing?”

Wei Wuxian scratched his neck nervously. “Ah, about that…”

Jiang Yanli’s eyes widened. “A Xian is married?”

“Who would be stupid enough to marry you?!”

He shot a fleeting glare over at his brother before turning to address his Shijie. “Do you remember Wen Qing?”

Jiang Yanli thought for several moments before her eyes lit up with recognition. “The doctor who took us in while A Cheng was recovering?”

He nodded his head. “We’ve been married a little over a month now.”

Jiang Yanli clamped a hand over her mouth, tears of joy glistening in her eyes. However, her joy was soon overshadowed by the sound of Jiang Cheng’s fist hitting the table, causing all of the dishes to rattle as a result. “You married Wen Qing?!” he exclaimed.

“What of it?” Wei Wuxian raised a brow in question.

“She’s a Wen!”

“Technically she’s a Wei now.”

That only proved to further anger Jiang Cheng. “Have you forgotten how they killed our parents and destroyed our home?!”

He gritted his teeth, feeling the flames of his own anger rise within. “I told you, she and her family had nothing to do with that.”

“They didn't try to stop it either!”

He didn't bother to argue with him any further, knowing that it was useless. Even though he had seen the remnants of the Wen's with his own eyes, and had witnessed how poor and defenseless they were, Jiang Cheng could not be reasoned with.

“You married into the Wen's, making yourself no better than them in my eyes!”

Heaving a sigh, he set his spoon down and reluctantly leaving the soup he so loved behind, stood to leave. “Very well then, if that's how you feel, I'll take my leave.”

He forced himself not to look back as he stepped through the gates back out onto the busy city streets. However, he didn't get far before he heard his Shijie calling out for him to stop. She alone had come after him, not at all to his surprise. He knew now that his relationship with his brother would never be the same. And as much as he might wish otherwise, he saw little chance of them mending their bond.

“I’m sorry for walking out on you like that, especially after you came all this way just to see me,” he apologized, lowering his head in guilt.
Jiang Yanli waved it off. “We both know how A Cheng can get sometimes.” she said as she crossed over to him and handed him a newly refilled soup bowl. “Why don’t you take this back with you and share it with your wife? And that little boy… Is he yours?”

He shook his head as he reached out to take the bowl from her. “His parents died. We’re all he has left.”

A wave of sympathy flooded her eyes. “I was watching you with them for a while. You looked so grown up, like a proper husband and father. I’m so proud of you, A Xian.”

Hearing his shijie’s praise, Wei Wuxian felt his heart swell with joy. “Thank you, Shijie, that means a lot.”

“I wish I could come and visit with your wife, but it would probably draw too much suspicion. Not to mention, A Cheng might cause a scene if I do.”

He nodded his head, feeling a bit disappointed by that. He would have liked nothing more than for his shijie to meet his wife. Technically they had already met once or twice before, but always under less than ideal circumstances. If they only got the chance to get to know each other better, he just knew they would be the best of friends. And A Yuan would have loved her. He could imagine his shijie spoiling the boy rotten.

“As for your unborn son, I think his name should be Wei Xiaodan. If his smile is as bright as yours, it’ll be like the coming of dawn.”

The fact that she had chosen a name related to the sun, which was known to be the symbol of the Wen Clan. “And if I have a daughter?”

Her grin grew even wider. “Her name should be Wei Jiayi. Any little girl would be lucky to have you as her father.”

“Wei Xiaodan and Wei Jiayi,” he tested the names on his tongue a couple of times before nodding his head in satisfaction. “Shijie always has the best taste.” Well, except for perhaps taste in suitors, but he wasn’t about to say that to her face.

That earned him an affectionate bop on the nose. “Be safe, A Xian,” she wished him well as she turned to return back to the house where A Cheng was no doubt still fuming. “I’ll try and visit again if I am able.”

He nodded his head as he watched her leave. Only after she was no longer within sight did he turn back to go and rejoin Wen Qing and the others, the bowl of soup held carefully in hand. And as he went, he thought that perhaps a time would yet come in which his shijie could come to visit him freely, and perhaps even he could go and freely visit her. In a few years, once everything had calmed down and tensions from the war had died, the two of them could bring their future children to meet each other.

It was a bright and prosperous dream, one that he sincerely hoped would come to pass.