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The summit was an unusual one. Not that Wei Wuxian was there, he'd attended some back in the day. It wasn't even unusual to attend now as Lan Wanji's husband. He'd had a few to attend after his husband took over as Sect Leader and Chief Cultivator while his brother was in seclusion.

No, this one was unusual in that it had more people attending. With the crash of the Su of Moling and the backlash against the Jin, two new minor sects, Dai and Shi, had been able to climb enough to gain recognition and invitation to these events. And the young Sect Leader of the Lanling Jin, Jin Ling, had invited them to this event with the great Sects.

Each Sect brought their Sect leader, all of their children and the direct family of the heirs in addition to the standard retinue to these events. Some Sects were larger than others in the additional members brought. Some having only the Sect leader and a cousin or two who were their named heirs along with their standard group of elders and disciples, others brought many. The Lan presented Lan Xichen, out of seclusion and picking up his responsibilities again. His brother and heir, Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian, as Lan Wanji's husband; And of course the two juniors who were sect heirs after him. The first heir, Lan Wanji's own adopted son Lan Sizhui and the second heir, a cousin, Lan Jingyi. The fact that his brother-in-law and a cousin were there was less important than getting to watch Sizhui be the wonderful boy he is. It was also nice to see his nephew and to see the small patch of pink appear on his ears when his nephew spoke to Lan Jingyi. It was adorable.

He wasn't enjoying the politics side, but it was interesting. And what was most interesting was one of the new sects. One, the Dai, that had exploded in power and strength and influence recently. To the point that they might be considered among the great Sects if they continued on their path and could maintain and increase their status over years.

Rumor was that they had ties to the Qinghe Nie, that they had split a few generations back when a branch of the family had personal disagreements and decided that was the better option.

Rumor circulating the conference was that the founding clan members also suffered from the infamous Nie temper and short lifespan while using similar, though no longer identical, sabre techniques. That this had only been made worse when one of the few daughters of the main clan of Nie had married into this smaller sect before dying young leaving 4 children behind to be raised by their father.  

But none of that had captured his attention. What had captured it was the five children of the Dai sect leader. His four children with his wife and the one son he'd adopted. Specifically, the dynamic between the oldest son, the adopted son and one of the younger ones, he couldn't remember the exact position or any of their names. It was painfully reminiscent of a dynamic he was once part of. He could see it in Jiang Cheng's face when he saw the three of them interact. The interactions painfully reminiscent of their own with their sister as children.

The Dai sect and the smaller, though still rising, Shi sect, were both topics of gossip during this part of the summit. After all, anything new was something to talk about and gossiping too much about Jin while enjoying their hospitality was in poor taste. Thus that would be kept for the smaller groups that would retire together to drink later in the night and the newly invited sects would be the topic of conversation during the times when there was socializing and informal negotiations.

A passing comment from a group of gossips nearby about the Dai juniors catches the Lan group's ear. "I heard Sect leader Dai say he doesn't want that stray."

Wei Wuxian squeezes Lan Zhan's hand.  The comments were like ones he'd overheard or even been told to his face too often as a child. A reminder that while Jiang Fengmian may have treated him as a son, he wasn't really. And one he'd heard one person attempt to say about Lan Xichen and his acceptance of Lan Sizhui as his heir at the first conference out of seclusion. Both of the twin jades had been quick to shut that down, and make sure that such comments never reached the ears of their nephew and son. But it was still uncomfortable to hear.

But it seemed that in this case, it would not be a parent dealing with it. As the voice of a youth cut across the room and the younger of the three kids Wei Wuxian had taken notice of storms across the room, the three brothers right behind with the adopted brother walking protected between them. "Say that again to my face. What did you say about my brother? That’s not a stray, that is my brother!"

The others pop up with their own comments. The oldest stepping forward to look directly in the eye of the commenter, "You stay away from my brother." The challenge and the 'why should I?'  in the older man's face at the young man's aggressive stance is answered, though it never would have been stated. "Because I say so."

A laugh from the commenter's own son turns the groups ire to him. The younger son narrows his eyes as he offers a clear, plain spoken threat. "If you put a hand on my brother, you'll meet the blades of his brothers. Those are the laws for my brother."  The oldest allows for the statement to hang in the air for a moment before ushering the group away to their father's side again, resuming his position and participating where appropriate as the Dai sect heir. His father making the proper apologies and mitigations for his son’s behavior. Wuxian could almost hear Jiang Fengmian’s voice as the practiced phrases for angry teenagers left the man’s lips. The memory of such phrases being used for his and occasionally Jiang Cheng’s behavior as a reckless teens the first few events he was allowed to attend, struck him, bringing up a small wave of grief that he mercilessly crushed. He had let go of all of this from his past life.

The Dai sons make their way out to the side hall or one of the courtyards as most were starting to do before the more formal events started.

The younger one winds his arms through his adopted brothers as they walk out, a clear declaration of familial bonds.  As the group walks past, Wuxian notices Lan Sizhui has his eyes fixed on the youth, there wasn't much difference in their ages, two maybe three years at most. Likely less. The younger one, despite his smooth stride, that wouldn't look out of place in cloud recesses and the way he ignores everyone else as the four move out of the hall, lets his head turn slightly to keep his own eyes on Sizhui a few fractions of a second longer. Interesting. He'd have to watch that for more information.

Wei Wuxian draws his attention back to his own family. It's better than thinking too much on the interaction he'd just seen.

Also he's glad he did as Lan Zhan's straighter than humanly possible’ posture has moved to ‘spine made of iron and glass’. And that was usually a sign that he was uncomfortable with the crowd. It wasn't that Lan Wanji couldn't handle it, he'd proven over and over that he could. He just didn't enjoy it and since the formal events hadn't started yet, it was entirely Wei Wuxian's place as husband to whisk his spouse and son out of the hall for some fresh air in a side courtyard.

The courtyard was connected to some of the walkways but had a low interior wall that could serve as a bench, a number of trees and bushes creating a more private corner, a small pond with a fountain and was large enough that one could almost run back and forth a bit if one was inclined to. He walks his family to the sheltered corner where the disciplined Lans could let go a small amount and catch their breath before returning to the loud, gossiping environment of a cultivator sect summit.

It doesn't take long for his usual chatter to have Lan Zhan returning to his usual neutral expression and rigid posture instead of the pinched neutral that was him when he was uncomfortable and exerting great force of will to maintain his proper behavior.

Soon Lan Sizhui is laughing and Wei Wuxian is preparing to start teasing him about the subtle reaction to the Dai group. After all, It was his tried and true method for getting information out of those close to him.

But before he gets the chance, a series of raised voices get his attention. It's three of the Dai boys. Two of them holding the arms of the younger one and bustling him into the courtyard quickly. They glance around but seem to miss the small family tucked away and catching their breath from socializing. (Or Lan Zhan is, Wei Wuxian is staying close, for both personal and professional reasons, and Lan Sizhui is merely indulging his parents before he gets to spend most of the rest of the trip with his cousin and the other juniors brought by the sects.)

Seeing them close up, They're all kind of adorable, in the way Sizhui and Jingyi are adorable. These three are still young, They'll grow up well. All are tall and strong. But the older two have more of the build the adult men of their sect have, tall, broad-shouldered, strong. The younger one was still strong, that could be seen, but he was shorter and slimmer than his brothers. It might almost be said that he looked delicate next to his brothers if it wasn't for the way he moved, indicating that his lithe form hid strength, speed and a grace of movement that would not be expected of the clan he was born into. His sharp eyes and fine features indicated he would likely be an exceptionally beautiful man when fully grown. Perhaps almost as handsome as Wuxian's own husband. No one could be as gorgeous but this one might eventually come close.

But right now the boy seemed to be in some kind of distress based on how his brothers hold his arms to keep him moving, practically wrestling him into the courtyard and the rage seemingly contorting his face. As the brief glance 'confirms' they are 'alone' they release their brother, he stumbles a few steps before rapidly walking to the wall, turning and heading back to the other side where the brothers are standing with their arms folded, watching. Wuxian watches in amusement as Sizhui pulls himself behind a tree, glancing past it just enough to watch as they all go quiet, seeing what is going on.

The boy paces, never quite breaking into a run, but close to it before his steps gradually slow and he sighs, continuing to pace but with less urgency to his steps.

"feeling better didi?" One of the older ones asks, fondness and worry in his voice.

The younger one nods, sighing, the rage having dissipated, leaving a sadness to his voice. "Better. I'm sorry I made such a scene. I just get so angry when I hear that. Now more than ever"

The two older brothers aren't quite the same height and the shorter one wears a taller hairpiece as though to compensate. Lan Zhan leans over to whisper to him as he occasionally did at these events. indicating the shorter first than the taller. "Dai Rong, Dai Yijun."He glances over at Sizhui and gives him just enough of a tug to get him to bend and listen. "Dai Xinyue" Lan Zhan relaxes back to where he'd been sitting and allows the boys the space they clearly needed.

Dai Rong hums. "You've always been sensitive to Zhihao being insulted. But at this point, he's used to it. We all are."

Dai Yijun picks up from his brother.  "You can't let it bother you. You know better. It's never affected you like this before. What's going on didi?"

Xinyue sighs and starts to pace for a long moment in starts and stops before turning. "Sandu Sangshou and Wei Wuxian."

Both brothers and the small family and the mentioned man himself all look at the boy in confusion

Yijun is the one to ask. "hm?"

Xinyue folds his arms and looks away. "Everyone knows that Sandu Shengshou hates Wei-qianbei more than anyone else. But if the stories are right, before they were Jiang Sect Leader and Yiling Patriarch. They were adopted brothers. Like Zhihao is to us. And now they hate each other so much. And Sandu Shengshou killed him once and keeps trying to kill him again. And what if that happens to us. Or to da-ge and san-ge?"

Well, Wei Wuxian supposes, that answers the question of what position in the group the adopted son seems to hold and what positions these three held. The second, fourth and fifth sons. He's more shocked that these youngsters knew about his relationship to Jiang Cheng or at least an element of it.

"I'm leaving in a few years, I know that." Xinyue continues, seeming to finally break and bear all his worries to his brothers. "And I'll be all alone in a new place with no one. But at least all my brothers will be together and have each other. Unless one of those sniveling social climbers clinging to gossip as though it actually matters manages to come between you. And what if they do and Da-ge and San-ge start fighting or one of you starts fighting with him and tries to kick him out and then I have to choose which brothers to support and I can't do that." His voice was rising throughout his statement and it trembled as though he’s about to start crying. Clearly upset about the situation. 

Dai Rong sighs and chuckles, stepping forward to pull Xinyue into a hug. "First things first, didi. Calm yourself. You can't get this upset. None of us can afford to. We won't do that. We'll never do that. Zhihao is our brother and it doesn't matter how he ended up as such. Same as you are my brother or Yijun or Jaihao. Nothing can change that."

He pulls back from the hug and both brothers narrow their eyes at him. "Now, second, what exactly do you mean you're leaving in the next few years. Other than the Lan cultivation lecture that we were finally invited to, that you are attending with Yijun and Zhihao in a few months, where exactly do you plan on going?"

Xinyue tilts his head. "We'll all be old enough to marry eventually. And then it's a matter of politics. Fuqin doesn't have any daughters and there's way too many sons and male cousins among the sects currently."

Yijun nods but still looks confused. "So? Has fuqin said something weird to you? or What? Because you don't make sense. Why would his sons be the ones leaving home?"

Xinyue leans against the wall "He might have mentioned that there aren't enough girls with status. I mean, it's totally possible to marry a girl with lower status. But fuqin wants political alliances and I've apparently already received offers. Rejected ones. He said he won't allow me to be made a concubine to some married man. But look at me. I'm not you two. If any of us is getting married off in an unusual situation solely for political gain, to be pushed aside for a contractually mandated concubine, it'll end up being me. So I don't want you all to fight."

Yijun and Rong share a look and Wei Wuxian knows that they know their brother isn't exactly wrong. Jin Ling was still unmarried, as were the cousins he'd named as his heirs until he married and had his own children. Jiang Cheng and his heir and the junior he'd named too. Also Lan Xichen, Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi. Most of the juniors here were boys. There was a serious lack of daughters among the main clans of the established sects. possibly a residual effect from the purges and battles and losses of the Sunshot Campaign and its aftermath. Also possibly a protection against a certain dead Jin leader that hadn't yet gotten corrected. In fact, the rising Shi clan seemed to have the most girls and were uninterested in marriage for them. If marriage alliances were to still happen with any other sect, the families were going to have to start thinking outside the box and start either accepting the daughters of outer disciples instead of direct disciples, more alliances with the minor sects or cutsleeve political marriages with concubines for the next generation of heirs. Some sect leaders he could predict easily, some he wasn't so sure about. And in the case of the latter, the smaller stature of Dai Xinyue, (compared to his brothers) would lean to him being more likely of the five Dai sons to be picked for the role and married out.

His brothers knew it. They just didn't want to think about it and frankly, Wei Wuxian couldn't blame them for that. He would have been furious if he’d been in their situation back when Jiang Cheng still considered him a brother. 

"Offers?" Yijun manages to choke out.

Xinyue nods, folding his arms over his chest. "Yes. a few. Fuqin says he won't seriously consider anything until I'm older and we'll talk about it more then. But apparently there's been a few after the last night hunt. Mostly elders who are very old and bored with their spouses. He promised that no matter what he decides after we talk, he'll never do that to me. That's something at least."

"I'll talk to him." Yijun mutters. “And Jaihao. We'll convince him not to do that to you." Rong was quiet, studying him.

"So you don't mind the idea of being married off to a man too much then? Just that it might be an old man?" He moves over to lean on the wall next to his  younger brother quietly for a moment before that grin of an older brother giving their little sibling shit stretches over his face. "So... what kind of guy do you like then? Hmm?"

Xinyue's ears turned a frankly delightful shade of red and he yanks himself away from Rong to start pacing and scowling slightly again. If Wie Wuxian were younger, if this was his own youthful days he could see himself following this boy to get more of these entertaining reactions from him. He'd content himself with bothering his own husband. This boy was better suited to being teased by his own peers. He'd have to see if Sizhui wanted any tips. His strategy was perfection. He'd managed to win the heart of the great Hanguang-jun himself. So clearly, he needed to make sure his son knew the method. He'd find his own style, but a few tips never hurt.

He pinches Lan Zhan's side and grins up at him. Intentionally glancing between where Sizhui had straightened up and paying closer attention to their conversation and the boy pacing the other side of the courtyard. The glance he received in response almost made him burst out laughing and he had to cover his mouth to stay quiet and missed the teasing and pushing of the brothers to coax Xinyue to talk.

"...age." He hears as he tunes back in. "Or at least not more than a few years older. Some of the senior disciples from some of the clans are nice to look at but I wouldn't want to be stuck with them. I want someone I can relate to, talk to. Handsome, smart, kind. I don't really care about gentle. I'm not some girl, but I want someone who'll understand and help me without being cruel or dismissive about it. A good cultivator, you know, someone who can set a flag array or identify a problem or arrange the lines properly and not screw it up by being arrogant or stupid. Someone I can train with and maybe he'd appreciate my music."

Yijun is now leaning against the entry to the courtyard where the other two have appeared. The oldest, Jaihao, if Wuxian remembered from their conversation correctly, was standing behind him and grinning, all of them having just a bit of fun from teasing their brother. "So... someone like that Lan Sizhui?"

Xinyue's blush spreads from his ears to his neck and he turns away, refusing to further discuss anything with his brothers who burst out laughing. After a moment, they manage to pull themselves together. Jaihao steps over and loops an arm around Xinyue. "Better now?"

Xinyue sags as the red fades and he nods.

"Good. You can't let yourself get that upset. No matter what anyone says. It'll shorten your life. You already have to worry about qi deviation and horrible tempers just due to our family line and cultivation methods. It's almost worse than the Nie in some of us. You know this. You have to be more careful."

Xinyue leans into his brother and nods. "I'll get it under control da-ge. Promise."

The way that all four of the others relax suddenly makes it very clear what had happened and why the brothers had turned the conversation and asked the questions they had and pushed Xinyue to talk. A distraction, a way to calm him, and bring him through the rage and the emotional drop he'd had after and back to a more calm emotional place. A skillful display that spoke of experience managing each other and their emotions. They'd probably done this for each other more than once.

There was clearly more going on than just hot tempers. The way they talked… Wei Wuxian was familiar with the Nie clan curse now. But still, these boys, even the oldest, were too young to be concerned about qi deviation even if they had been Qianghe Nie. So this was something similar, but different. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to help his son out if he was interested in the Dai boy. He didn’t want him to experience the same things that his uncle had, losing someone to a violent qi deviation far too early. There had been enough loss in Sizhui’s short life. And the way all that stemmed from the relationship between the boys and their adopted brother. Those relationships could get so complicated so easily. It was bringing up memories of things he thought he’d put away. Perhaps he should talk to Jiang Cheng again. Maybe. Or maybe not. It wouldn’t go well anyways.

But then again, he thinks as he glances at his husband, he was beginning to learn how Lans loved. And Sizhui was very much a Lan. If he chose the boy and Wei Wuxian objected… Lan Qiren’s disapproval hadn’t changed Lan Zhan’s mind except to take away the ability to confide in him and receive support. So no, he was not going to do that. He just wouldn’t encourage it. Probably. Maybe. He needed more information.

The boys seemed to settle, Rong dipping a small cloth into the fountain and gently dabbing under Xinyue’s eyes and his temples as Jaihao straightens his hair with practiced movements. “We need to go back now. You’re going to go stand next to Fuqin and be perfectly polite and apologize where necessary. No more rages today. Save it for after the banquet when we go to our rooms if you must. We might have been invited to some of the smaller events before. But this is the first of this size for our sect. We need this.”

The adopted brother joins the group with his own teasing. “If you’re so sure that Fuqin wants to marry you off. And you want that Lan heir. Then you’d best impress their sect leader before the cultivation lecture. They like their manners. And you know you’re going to cause trouble there, you need a good impression to cancel that out.”

Xinyue shoves his brothers away. “I take it back. You are all awful and if we were allowed to lie, I would hate you.” There’s no venom in his voice as he straightens his robes from his pacing, assumes a cheerful if calmer demeanor more appropriate for the son of a sect leader and falls into his place in the line as the group heads back to the walkway and into the main hall.

Wuxian waits until they are out of earshot to say anything. There’s a lot of emotions and he feels that he should discuss his concerns with Lan Zhan when their son wasn’t right there and maybe he should mention the complicated feelings that seeing these kids interact with each other brought up and the memories. But that wasn’t a priority and this was not the place.

He grins. “Ah A-yuan, I had no idea you liked a boy.” He teases, hopping up to throw an arm around his son. “And hiding behind a tree to spy on him too. You are your father’s son. I absolutely might have done something similar from a rooftop once or twice. Cloud Recesses has very nice spying roofs.”

“Wasn’t spying, wasn’t hiding” Lan Sizhui states, clearly a bit embarrassed to have been caught by his parents.

“Where’d you meet the adorable Dai Xinyue anyways? He’s going to grow up to be very pretty. Pretty is excellent. I’ll help you out. And you get 3 whole months to win him over where he won’t be able to run away from you.”

Sizhui pushes at him halfheartedly. His ears flaming red as he coughs. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He continues his teasing. “Lying is forbidden A-Yuan. Silly Lan forgetting your rules because of a boy. Your baba knows all about that. And I know all the best ways to flirt. I’ll give you some tips. I am the best at that.”

Lan Zhan interrupts with a slight chuckle, barely audible and restrained the way he so often was. But obvious enough to those who know him. He pushes himself to his feet in a smooth motion that had Wuxian nearly swooning, most everything his husband did had that effect. He leans down to place a kiss on Wuxian’s cheek. “Let Yuan-er have his secrets. We didn’t run to the adults around us at that age. Lan Jingyi likely knows everything.”

Aiya he loved his husband. Keeping a balance between being the reliable father that Sizhui knows and giving Wuxian a chance to be the mischievous mother hen he was. Sizhui can rest uneasy knowing that Wuxian will try to tease information from his cousin should he decide it is necessary.

Wanji places a hand on Sizhui’s shoulder. “He seems a good brother. Would make a good friend.” How like him, to give their son approval and space. To tell him to do as he felt comfortable and his Fuqin would have his back. It’s important for a young man, Wuxian supposes. Though Jiang Fengmian had never said the like to him, warning him to treat the girls he mentioned with respect and he doubted Lan Qiren was all that supportive. But perhaps Lan Wanji had learned from Lan Xichen. Wei Wuxian can still remember being given that first set of directions to the cold pond when by usual standards, Lan Xichen should have been trying to keep the troublemaker away from his upstanding little brother.

Wanji gives his sleeves a tug and steps past both of them. “We should return. Lan Xichen is  busy and Sizhui should be learning.” It’s an unfortunate reminder that though they can escape a few minutes, this is a sect summit and there are always negotiations going on. The double standards and politicking required here is not something easily learned it6 and Xichen was only recently out of seclusion and getting used to it.

Sizhui falls in perfectly a step behind him, looking as precise and formal and Lan as he had the first time Wuxian had seen him in this new body, as disciplined as he had been on Defan Mountain when Wanji had directed him to settle things with Jin Ling. It was adorable and he’s hit with a sudden wave of pride that this was his son. Lan Wanji had done such a good job raising him. He was going to be incredible, no matter what his future held.

He follows them, jogging a few steps to catch up as they return to the main hall and Lan Xichen’s side. The annoying buzz of double speak that he’d always found obnoxious but was good at fills his ears again for a few minutes before he looks around the room again and notices Jiang Cheng looking back at him. They lock stares for a long moment before Jiang Cheng excuses himself and inclines his head towards one of the many doors, stepping out and into the late afternoon sun.

This is not the smart plan. Not here, not surrounded by all these people, not when they have to, well, mostly Jiang Cheng, has to try so hard and so carefully to help Jin Ling get established enough and confident and in control enough to host an event of this scale at Koi Tower again.

But Wei Wuxian is not known as a man who always does the smart thing. So he excuses himself and follows the man who was once his adopted brother out to a quieter space where they could speak. Maybe for once it wouldn’t be a few screaming sentences before they were interrupted

He finds Jiang Cheng leaning against a pillar and staring off at the surrounding gardens. This is not the first time that they’ve talked since he was told the truth of everything, nor was it the first time they spoke alone. “Those Dai boys. They have a lot to learn about how to do things. I don’t think I’ve seen that kind of disruption since one of your displays.”

He doesn’t even look at Wuxian as he comes to stand against his own pillar nearby. “I like them. They stick together.” He doesn’t deny that there were scenes from time to time that he’d intentionally caused. “Also open threats instead of political duplicity is nice. Clear. No hiding.”

“Bad for relations.” There’s a long heavy silence, both of them thinking of the days they’d stood side by side at Jiang Fengmian’s side, his heir and his first disciple. They’d been so proud, before the war, before Jiang Cheng learned to hold his head high whether he felt pride or not, before all of Wei Wuxian’s had been stripped from him. “Used to be us.”

Wei Wuxian turns his head. “Don’t. Let’s not go there.” 

Jiang Cheng looks at him with narrowed eyes, anger still glinting.

“It’s all done. It’s all the past. I paid for my mistakes with my life already. We don’t need to keep doing this. Tearing ourselves open and apart for nothing. And not while Jin Ling needs support and for this to go well.”

That got his attention and he settled. “You’re right on that matter only Wei Wuxian.” He somehow manages to sound bitter but for once not spitting out his name. “Only that Jin Ling                needs this to go perfectly to cement his authority. But it’s not nothing.”

Wei Wuxian looks away to the garden “No, not nothing.”

Jiang Cheng sighs. “I think I need to make a trip to that old fishing spot on the edge of Yunmeng Jiang territory. It’s quiet there, no disturbances, no need for weapons. Just the open water and the clear sky. Space to think, to settle things, to find pathways through, new ways to go forward. Spent time there when I could after the war.”

It’s an invitation, one Wei Wuxian thought he’d never get. He knew the spot. It was a place the two of them went to after some of their worst arguments where they’d always been able to patch things up, make their promises. No interruptions, no weapons, no listeners. Just them and the room to yell and argue and fight and do whatever they needed to do to– not get back to where they’d been– that would never happen– but to, as Jiang Cheng had said, find a new way forward. Did he want that? The weight uncurling in his gut and the twinges of grief watching the Dai boys stand up for each other and help each other, meant that yes, hesitant as he is, he wants this. “It’s a good place. I remember it fondly.” He accepts Jiang Cheng’s offer. “It was always particularly nice around midsummer.” three weeks, time for them both to get home, make arrangements, figure out what they might need to say and what they wanted.

“Midsummer.” Jiang Cheng mutters, still staring at the garden. It was enough. “Our nephew shouldn’t be left alone to that lot.” He growls in his characteristic style, pushing himself up and stalking back to the main hall.

Wei Wuxian was almost behind him before freezing as the weight of his words hit him. It takes him a long moment of staring before his lips stretch into a wide grin and he bounces back inside and to Lan Wanji’s side once again.  Before any of his family could ask what had happened, it was time for the banquet to start and everyone was moving to their seats, each person sitting with their own sect as was traditional. Jiang sitting closest to the Jin hosts so that Jiang Cheng could step in if anyone caused too much trouble for his nephew. Lan sitting across from them. It looked like it was to reiterate to anyone who still had doubts that there was no bitterness between the sects but in truth, Wei Wuxian suspected it was because of him, so he could back up Jiang Cheng as an uncle to Jin Ling if someone tried something.

Next to them sat the Nie delegation. It was hard, he could tell, for Lan Xichen to see Nie Huaisang now, with everything revealed. But this was still his sworn brother’s didi, someone he’d been helping and mentoring for years and despite everything, there was still fondness. So maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. And Wei Wuxian had a trick up his sleeve now in case Lan Xichen started to waver under the weight of his emotions and memories as across from the Nie was seated the Dai sect and the five sons of the sect leader.

It takes great effort but Wei Wuxian manages to hold to the Lan sect’s rule about eating during meals, mostly. He’s always trying very hard, especially in public, to be a good husband to his most beloved Lan. They might break the rules at home, but this was not the place for it. He wasn’t above using his chattiness and reputation as needed. Especially if anyone tried anything like trying to force them to drink again. His tolerance meant he could drink for the entire Lan delegation and not even be tipsy. No one was going to see how adorable his Lan Zhan was when he was drunk. It was too much. No one could resist a drunk Lan Zhan. He had to keep that secret for himself.

But partway through, he can see the insensitive comments that sometimes carried, the weight of the location, and the presence of Jin Ling where Jin Guangyao had once sat, was starting to get to his brother-in-law. He can’t have that. Lan Wanji didn’t like it when Lan Xichen was upset and in this situation there was little he could do to help his brother. But Wei Wuxian could. He could distract for a time. He was very good at that. “Forgive me Sizhui.” He whispers over towards his son before leaning slightly to whisper to Lan Xichen. “Don’t look now, but Sizhui has a crush on one of the Dai boys.”

He can see Lan Xichen’s eyes dart to him in a silent rebuke of his speaking during meals and spreading gossip. He’d pay for that later, probably. But it worked. Lan Xichen, glanced at Sizhui and then the Dai group. Trying to sort out which one he’d been referring to. It would be a puzzle for a few minutes until Sizhui could manage to look up from his plate. He could only hope that the young man would understand why he’d mentioned it to his uncle.

He turns and looks at the group himself. They were behaving now as a very polite group, neat table manners, sipping their wine and not chugging it as some members of some of the sects seemed to be doing. They would be no more than tipsy if that, while some other juniors would shame their sects by needing assistance to their rooms immediately after the banquet and not later in the night when they might be able to get away with it. Not that it was only juniors who would be doing so, but at least they had the excuse of youth and not having learned their own limits. 

While the group wasn’t loud, there was a bit of whispering and a touch of jostling here and there, a steadying hand on a shoulder when a comment heard nearby bothered one of them. But they were subdued and calm even among the calm restraint that a banquet created. Well-mannered, strong, loyal, smart enough to have some understanding of complex cultivation concepts. They seemed a good bunch And then there were the glances, subtle ones, or at least ones that were attempted to be subtle that were cut across the room to where the Lan Delegation sat. There were probably more glances that were actually subtle but the ones that Dai Xinyue couldn’t hide from Wei Wuxian’s sharp eyes were adorable. 

He couldn’t help but wonder how things would all play out as the two juniors sitting next to him, and the one sitting high on the dais at the front of the room grew and their interests settled and they started to make decisions on their life and if or when they would marry. It was going to be an interesting few years. He just needed to make sure that it was better than his own years at their age. 

Particularly interesting as he could see, a few delegations down, the young Ouyang Zizhen glancing around between the Lan and the Dai delegations and the Dais where Jin Ling sat. Whether he wanted to talk to his friends or interested in the newer arrivals or was interested in someone specific, it wasn’t clear. But it was good that he was here. He was good for the other boys. Hopefully there would be no messes that would end up tearing the small group of friends who’d been through so much together apart.

Eventually, the banquet ends and after some of the most annoying bits of business that had to be handled right away got dealt with. Jin Ling reminded everyone of the archery and night hunting contests the next day and everyone started to make their way back to their own rooms for the night. Wei Wuxian walks with Lan Xichen and Lan Wanji back to their group of rooms while the juniors head off to meet their friends. It makes him laugh and he spends the time retelling an old story of some of the things he used to get up to with Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng at these events, the sneaking around, the mischief the three of them caused and how they got away with it. It’s a good distraction, but he can tell that the long period of socializing and politics and the emotional weight are hard for them to carry. He kisses Lan Zhan softly and whispers that he’s going to check on the boys before they retire and he leaves the brothers.

The halls are quieter than he remembers, well they’re quieter when he passes. This place is still uncomfortable for him, as himself and in this body. But this time at least, no one harrasses him and he’s able to wander until he hears music and bursts of laughter. He follows the sound until he notices the group, Ouyang Zizhen, Lan Sizhui, Lan Jingyi a few of the Dai boys and few others from varying clans lounging around on benches or laying on the grass in a rough circle as they talked and laughed, the Lan boys and Dai Xinyue and two others he didn’t know quietly playing their instruments among the chatter and shared bottles of wine. He smiles softly as he watches. This is how it should be. He’d missed this, his opportunities for this had been destroyed by war. But these boys had this time to enjoy their youth and friendship and sneaky, unapproved drinking behind their parents backs. 

He watches as Jin Ling approaches, Zizhen and Jingyi calling to him. At first, it seems as though he’ll continue being sect leader, but after a pause he waves on his entourage and as they walk away, he joins the group, accepting a seat on the grass and a bottle of wine. He’d come a long way, at least with his friends. Wuxian turns and walks away, leaving them to their fun. He wouldn’t interrupt this. He’d mock the hangover tomorrow, but the boys should have their fun. They didn’t need an old man like him spoiling it. Besides, he had his own fun to get up to. It was always fun to rile up Lan Wanji and break that stubborn control he had. And everyday meant everyday. 

Maybe he could talk Lan Zhan into raising a few more kids. Three, maybe four would be fun. It was a bit sad that he couldn’t have any Little Lan Zhan babies himself. But there were other ways for them to have a few smiling babies running around. Ones that he would get to watch grow up. Ones that he could be there for, be present for every major event that he’d missed with his only son. He should make sure that isn’t going to be a problem. Maybe. Someday in the future he might, not tonight. No more bad dreams tonight. Just baby talk and trying for the babies. He couldn’t wait to get back to his husband.