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It was a beautiful day. Wei Wuxian rode on Little Apple, while Lan Wangji carried the reins, leading them on their wanderings. It was just like one of Wei Wuxian’s few precious early memories; Cangse Sanren rode while Wei Changze held the reins as they wandered the land. All that was missing was a little A-Yuan riding on Lan Wangji’s shoulders.
Wei Wuxian hummed a half-remembered tune, trying to echo Cangse Sanren in the memory. Wei Wuxian only wished to be able to sing quite so high—to be more like her.
“Lan-gege,” Wei Wuxian wheedled, breaking out of the memory. “I can ask you anything, even personal things, right?”
“Mn,” answered Lan Wangji, unperturbed and perhaps a little intrigued.
“Of course, you know it was first announced that the second child of Clan Leader Lan was born Lady Lan but obviously you’re the epitome in masculinity—in every way. How did you do it?”
Lan Wangji’s brow had furrowed as Wei Wuxian spoke, but when Wei Wuxian finished, he answered simply, “I cultivated it.”
“Oh, I should have guessed! It’s a shame Mo Xuanyu’s golden core is so weak.”
“Mn?”
Wei Wuxian shrugged. “I was just thinking about how nice it would be to be your wife.”
Lan Wangji looked thoughtful but said nothing.
In fact, Lan Wangji did not articulate a response until late that evening, when they were lying peacefully ensconced in bed at the local inn, the bath water cleaned away and the candles extinguished.
“Wei Ying should not feel obligated,” Lan Wangji murmured, his voice just loud enough to be heard by Wei Wuxian whose head rested upon Lan Wangji’s chest.
Wei Wuxian made a bleary sound in reply.
“At first, I was frustrated by my desire for you. I was taught that it was not properly masculine. But I understand now that it doesn’t matter. I would be honored to have you as my husband or wife.”
By the time Lan Wangji finished, Wei Wuxian was propped up on one arm to look at him properly, and when he fell silent, Wei Wuxian cooed, “Aw, Lan Zhan! You have to warn me before saying that kind of thing!”
Wei Wuxian squeezed Lan Wangji tight, snuggling back into his broad chest and Lan Wangji held Wei Wuxian close.
It was a lovely dress; flowing red and black silk layered with delicate gauze, and a ribbon around the waist to accentuate the feminine figure. Of course, Lan Wangji had noticed Wei Wuxian staring at it in the market, and to Wei Wuxian’s surprise, had purchased it without hesitation.
Now, wearing it, Wei Wuxian felt that thrill of delight again, magnified by how it shaped her body, in a way that was new, yet undeniably right. She twirled in front of the mirror again, just to see how it fell.
Her stomach fluttered with nerves as well as excitement at the thought of stepping out dressed as she was. There was only Lan Wangji waiting for her at the table, but there was no one else whose impression mattered to her more. She glanced one last time in the mirror, swallowed down her jittering nerves, and stepped out into the room, her steps pointedly slow and steady and her hands clasped over her stomach.
Lan Wangji stood at her entrance and greeted her with a subtle smile which was always enough to make Wei Wuxian’s heart melt. “Beautiful, Lady Wei.”
Wei Wuxian flushed and bit back her ordinary teasing response, which, lacking that, left her at a loss for words. She was only rescued from her own awkwardness by Lan Wangji, who graciously invited her to join him at the table, already set with some of her favorite foods, all covered in hot red pepper, the way Lan Wangji knew she liked them.
It was all too perfect; Lan Wangji even sat down at the table with his perfect gracefulness. Wei Wuxian could only flop down on the cushions in a most unladylike way, and leaned back against Lan Wangji’s shoulder.
“Why is everything so difficult?” Wei Wuxian lamented. “You know people would usually say I’m not self-conscious enough, but now nothing I do feels right. It’s so hard being a proper lady.”
Lan Wangji looked sympathetically on the pouting Wei Wuxian. “Mn. That is why I was so insistent upon following the rules. It was the only way I knew to be a proper man.”
“Exactly! I feel like I’m breaking all these secret rules about how to be a real lady!”
“It took me too long to learn, but the truth is that the rules do not matter. You are perfect as you are.”
“Oh, Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian flung her arms around Lan Wangji and burrowed into the crook of his neck. “I wish I had told you that when we were younger.”
“... I wish I would have believed you.”
Wei Wuxian pulled back just a little so she could look Lan Wangji in the eye, though they still held each other tight. “I’ll just have to make sure you believe it now.”
Lan Wangji did not articulate a response, instead he pulled Wei Wuxian close again and kissed her fiercely.