Chapter Text
Chapter One
Engagement of the Lan and Jiang Clans
“Come again?” Wei Wuxian blinked repeatedly at his uncle and aunt. Surely he heard them wrong.
Glancing across the hall to the three men sitting formally in their white robes that so resembled mourning clothes he couldn’t help but gape. This wasn’t happening. No way Lan Qiren agreed to this! The old man hated him.
“You and Lan Wangji are engaged,” his uncle, Jiang Fengmian, repeated.
“No!” Jiang Cheng shouted. “I don’t agree to this.”
“This isn’t for you to agree with,” Madam Yu replied coldly. “This is a matter between us, your guardians.”
“But… Lan Zhan did you agree to this?” Wei Wuxian looked at the youngest of the three men from the Lan clan present at Lotus Pier.
“Mnm,” was his usual one syllable response.
Wei Wuxian felt his head spin. How was this happening? Throughout the entire time he was at Cloud Recesses he’d tried everything to get Lan Zhan’s attention but he never seemed interested. Now they were to be engaged?
“Um… why?” Honestly it was the only thing he could think of.
Lan Qiren and Jiang Fengmian shared a looked that Wei Wuxian didn’t understand. What he did understand was he had no choice. His uncle had taken him in after his parents’ deaths, raised him, and made him first disciple. If him getting married into the Lan Clan was what was required of him for all that, then fine. At least he’d get to look at Lan Zhan every day! He’d always bragged he’d get the most beautiful cultivator as his wife, well guess its husband now.
“Young master Wei, are you entirely unaware?” Lan Xichen asked, his brows furrowed just the slightest amount.
Wei Wuxian blinked drawing a complete and utter blank. Sure they’d interacted with each other during night hunts and competitions, even exchanged letters over the last year since he’d studied at Cloud Recesses but…
Wait, had they been courting this entire time?
“Brother,” Lan Wangji spoke firmly.
Lan Xichen sighed and said nothing else.
What? What was going on? What wasn’t he aware of? Was that really them courting? Was he dating Lan Zhan this entire time and never noticed! Talk about wasted time!
“We shall hold the ceremony in a year’s time,” Madam Yu announced.
“So soon?” Jiang Cheng complained. “Yanli just got married. Must I lose my brother so soon as well?”
“He isn’t your brother!” Madam Yu scolded.
Wei Wuxian tried not to flinch at Madam Yu’s raised voice, but at this point it was ingrained in him.
“A-Cheng,” Wen Qing set her hand on Jiang Cheng’s. “It’ll be okay. I’m sure the Lan’s will treat Wei Wuxian with courtesy, right?” His sister-in-law shot the Lans a scathing look.
It was no secret Wei Wuxian was an absolute menace during his time studying under Lan Qiren. The old man deemed him entirely unteachable. Of course that wasn’t true, he just didn’t care for formal teaching situations, especially exceedingly stuffy ones like that at Cloud Recesses. The fact he’d now have to live in a place with over 3000 rules was going to be a nightmare!
Glancing to his uncle Wei Wuxian felt his heart lift a bit. He had no choice. This was for the sect. Surely there was some reason for their engagement. And it would get him away from Madam Yu, and perhaps improve his uncles and hers relationship.
“I’m sorry, I just remembered I promised to help the juniors with their training. I’m not needed for further talks, correct?” Standing Wei Wuxian bowed and left without waiting for an answer.
He didn’t realize Lan Wangji also got up and followed after him until he was some steps away and not heading to the sword training hall.
“Lying is against the rules,” Lan Wangji spoke startling Wei Wuxian out of his thoughts.
“Lan Zhan! Why are you following me?”
“You are not happy?”
Wei Wuxian just stared at him.
“About the engagement?”
“Are you? I thought you hated me? You never once responded to any of my invites or even my attempts to befriend you, aside from writing back to say no and what you were doing instead. Now we’re supposed to be getting married? Sure, I’m thrilled!” He couldn’t help but sound cold. It wasn’t that he didn’t like Lan Wangji, the opposite honestly. Out of everyone he’d ever met it was only him he saw as an equal. But, this? This was-
“I never hated you.”
Everything in Wei Wuxian’s brain froze. Every complaint. Every criticism of the current situation. Everything.
All he could do was stare at Lan Wangji taking in his absolutely immaculate appearance. Long black hair, clear eyes, and perfectly straight ribbon tied across his forehead. Just him.
“Wei Ying?”
“Um, you don’t?”
“No.”
“Ok then. Friends?” A small flutter took up in Wei Wuxian’s stomach.
“No.”
That flutter turned into a rock.
“Fiancés.”
And it was back.
Wei Wuxian beamed. Laughing he threw his arm over Lan Wangji’s shoulders. “How about I show you around Lotus Pier?”
“Mnm.”
XxXxX
Back at the hall Lan Xichen had watched Lan Wangji go with a secretive smile. It was probably insane to others that they were the ones to approach the Jiang clan with the proposal of marriage. But Lan Wangji was adamant that it had to be Wei Wuxian, plus there was that other issue.
He would’ve been happy to let things play out, and see where his brother’s relationship naturally lead –outside the small thing of their time in the ice cave – but an unsettling rumor had reached Lan Xichen’s ears during a night hunt.
Madam Yu was abusing Wei Wuxian, using the belief that her husband had slept with the boy’s mother. A rumor even his uncle when asked about found laughable.
Sure Cangse Senren and Wei Changze and Jiang Fengmian were all friends, and maybe Fengmian held some feelings for Cangse but she would’ve never allowed anything to happen. The wondering cultivator was entirely in love with her husband.
The rules of the sect said not to gossip, but this was something they couldn’t turn a blind eye to. Lan Wangji had declared he’d have no one but Wei Wuxian, and that very person was being mistreated within the one place he should’ve been safe. So, Lan Xichen proposed the public marriage.
“Are you sure you want that boy?” Madam Yu remarked. “If it was up to me he’d remain here for the rest of his life, repaying his family’s debt to our Sect.”
“I believe we’ve stated a fair bride price,” Lan Qiren replied calmly.
“And it isn’t your decision,” Fengmian reminded his wife. “I’ve decided, Wei Wuxian will go to the Gusu Lan Sect.” Anything to get him away from Lotus Pier and his wife. If he’d known what bringing the boy here would mean for Wei Wuxian, he’d have found a trusted subordinate to take him in, but he’d wanted to keep his promise to his childhood friend.
Forgive me Changze. I couldn’t entirely protect your boy. But at least now he can escape.
It seemed Madam Yu had enough sense to keep her mouth shut while guests were present.
“His things will be packed and he shall leave with you when you return.”
“What?!” Jiang Cheng shouted. “But the wedding isn’t for another year! Why make him leave now?!”
“Wei Wuxian is entering into our sect as a bride, as such there is much he needs to learn before the wedding,” Lan Qiren spoke resolutely. They weren’t leaving without him, and he was already a member of their sect. How dare this woman lay her hands on his nephew-in-law!
“Cheng,” Wen Qing squeezed his hand. “This is for the best.”
Jiang Cheng knew she was right. Letting Wei Wuxian go anywhere where his mother wasn’t was for the best. But, this was his sworn brother! He’d already lost his elder sister to that damn peacock. Why must he give up him too? And to such a cold person as Lan Wangji? At least Jin Zixuan showed his affection for his sister.
Wen Qing squeezed his hand again and he looked at her. Her firm smile made him melt. How did he get so lucky as to end up with someone so amazing?
Reaching over with his other hand he laid it over hers and held on. He hated seeing Wei Wuxian go, but at least he had Wen Qing, so he wasn’t entirely alone. His eyes moved to her stomach and he smiled. Besides soon they’d be welcoming their first born into the world. Perhaps they could use the extra room.
“Then we are in agreement?” Jiang Fengmian announced. “We shall hold a small banquet tonight to celebrate this momentous occasion.”
XxXxX
Lan Wangji watched as Wei Wuxian spoke animatedly about everything in regards to Lotus Pier. A small part of him felt guilty at the thought of taking him away from the home he so obviously loved. He’d hoped to give Wei Wuxian more time, to make him see their connection and maybe even properly confess.
He still needed to explain to him about what the engagement really meant, and how to the clan they were already married thanks to their time in the ice cave.
Despite everything he needed to do, Lan Wangji couldn’t bring himself to actually say anything. He could only watch as Wei Wuxian jumped from one location to the next talking about memories and activities. When a bun was thrust into his hands he accepted it as they continued along the pier.
“Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian grabbed his arm and pulled him close as he pointed toward the river, “this is where I fought my first water ghoul!”
The mention of water ghouls brought to mind their time at Cloud Recesses and their first hunt together. He’d only just started to realize his feelings, or more accurately his brother noticed.
“And here,” he spun around, his feet slipping in some water and Wei Wuxian started falling.
Rushing forward, Lan Wangji caught him, holding him closely.
“Wei Ying, are you okay?”
“Um,” Wei Wuxian looked up to him, their eyes locking. “Yeah, thanks.”
Lan Wangji’s arms remained locked around Wei Wuxian’s waist as they continued to stare at one another.
“Wei Ying, I-“
“Wei Wuxian! Where are you?”
It was Jiang Cheng.
Wei Wuxian’s head snapped in the direction of his brother’s voice and he raised his arm as he started to call out to him. Before he even got a syllable out Lan Wangji grabbed Wei Wuxian’s hand and pulled him deeper into the crowd and away from Jiang Cheng.
“Lan Zhan? Lan Zhan, Cheng-cheng is calling for me.”
“Don’t care. Don’t listen.”
Wei Wuxian laughed, his fingers moving within Lan Zhan’s hand until they were laced together with his. “Ok, I won’t.”
A small smile formed on Lan Zhan’s lips as they left the pier and headed to a more secluded place. They came to stop beneath a tree and Wei Wuxian smiled up at it.
“This is the first tree I climbed after coming to Lotus Pier.” Jumping up he came to land on a branch and looked down to Lan Wangji.
Lan Wangji watched him worriedly. He’d slipped a little bit ago, should he really be climbing a tree?
“I fell from here at that time, and Shijie caught me. We both got injured though,” Wei Wuxian laughed.
“Wei Ying.” Lan Wangji held out his arms, silently urging him to come down.
He wasn’t sure what made him do it, but Wei Wuxian jumped. If Lan Wangji caught him, he didn’t know what he’d do. The emotions running high through him right now were exhilarating and he wanted to enjoy them.
As he fell Lan Wangji raced forward and wrapped Wei Wuxian in his arms, barely stumbling backwards with the force of the impact.
“Thanks,” Wei Wuxian murmured before looking back up at him.
Their eyes locked and it was like the world faded into the background. All that existed as Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian.
“Zhan,” Wei Wuxian whispered, not entirely meaning to drop his surname.
“Ying,” Lan Wangji entirely meant to do so on the other hand.
Their faces drew closer, their eyes closing as their lips brushed together. Wei Wuxian didn’t know what possessed him to press in and deepen the kiss, but Lan Wangji wasn’t pushing him away either, if anything his arms tightened around Wei Wuxian. His feet still hadn’t touched the ground as their lips explored each other’s.
“Wei Wuxian!” It was Jiang Cheng again.
Irritation flashed in Lan Wangji’s mind as he nipped at Wei Wuxian’s bottom lip before breaking the kiss. He looked down to his beloved, gods it felt so good to think that without shame, and felt his heart ache. Wei Wuxian’s kiss bruised lips and glistening eyes filled with want stared back at him.
“There you are!” Jiang Cheng finally came into their sight. “Where… what is going on?”
“Oh, Cheng-cheng,” Wei Wuxian smiled at him, not moving from Lan Wangji’s arms. “Were you looking for me?”
Jiang Cheng glared daggers at Lan Wangji before moving to pull Wei Wuxian away from him. “Father wants to speak with you.”
“Okay, I’ll go find him. See you later, Lan Zhan.”
“Mmn.”
Jiang Cheng lingered behind his gaze fixed on Lan Wangji.
“Just because you’re engaged doesn’t mean you can be close to him,” Jiang Cheng warned.
“Wei Ying is mine,” Lan Wangji answered. “Stay out of it.”
“Lan Wangji!”
“Jiang Wanyin.”
He didn’t much like his future brother-in-law. The man was complacent in Wei Wuxian’s treatment at the hands of his mother. He also didn’t seem to cherish Wei Wuxian as much as Wei Wuxian cherished him.
“You still aren’t married yet, a lot can change in a year.”
Lan Wangji wanted to poor cold water over his head with the truth, but he couldn’t. Not now. Wei Wuxian needed to be told first. Not here though.
XxXxX
Wei Wuxian’s heart was still finding it hard to work right as he found his way back to the main house and his uncle’s study. Had that really happened? Lan Wangji and he kissed?
He felt his entire face flush as he pressed his finger tips to his lips. It was so rough and yet sweet.
And the feel of Lan Wangji’s arms wrapped around him? He’d felt safe, truly safe. Like nothing could hurt him while in his arms.
“A-xian.”
Stopping mid stride Wei Wuxian smiled at his uncle. “Cheng-cheng said you were looking for me.”
“Yes, let’s talk shall we?”
Nodding he followed his uncle as they walked along the hallways.
“Do you know why I agreed to this engagement?”
“Not really, but I’m okay with it.” If his uncle was to say he was going to take it back his heart would probably shatter. He wanted to be with Lan Wangji.
“You are? Even though you’re both men?”
Wei Wuxian blinked. That honestly hadn’t really occurred to him. All he could think about was it being Lan Wangji. Nothing else really mattered.
“No, never mind. I agreed to this, I’m the last one to say anything. Just know that this isn’t me sending you away. The Yunmeng Jiang Sect and Lotus Pier shall always be a home for you. There will always be a place here for you to return, should you need to.”
“Thank you Uncle,” Wei Wuxian bowed. Despite his uncle’s words, he just knew he wouldn’t be returning to Lotus Pier as a resident ever again. When he left with the Lans that would be good bye. Honestly, he was okay with that.