Chapter Text
Standing hidden in the shrubs surrounding the simple yard, Qiao Ci stood bemusedly. He was carefully trying to make no sound, so any headscratching he was doing was in his head. The travelling companion turned horse thief he managed to track was kneeling in front of a figure, in all effect like a respectful underling reporting to his leader. But…
Qiao Ci seems to know this leader, and he was even… family? Granted, he could be wrong. The last time he saw this cousin, his person was dressed in simple yet elegant robes with hair tied in an immaculate top knot. Not grimy and dusty armor with hair in a messy and even dustier knot. Also, he definitely has normal eyesight. This man, though, has a swath of cloth tied over his eyes, making him effectively blind.
Deciding what to do became a moot point, though, when the man in question suddenly raised his voice, “Did you bring a friend, Qi Qiang?” looking pointedly at Qiao Ci’s shrub. Realizing his flimsy cover was beneath the man’s martial skill, eyes or no eyes, Qiao Ci gracefully conceded and stepped forward, making the horse thief Qi Qiang exclaim in guilt-tinged surprise, “Young Master!”
“I thought he was a friend, until he stole my horse,” he politely explained. “I am here to get my Leiguang back.” Qi Qiang hung his head, while the person in front of him tilted his head in a familiar manner.
“Have we… met before?” Wei Yan asked slowly. Because it was indeed him, the newly acquired cousin-by-marriage Qiao Ci last bid goodbye in Yujun. As to how a man-about-town ended up a blind soldier in some unknown border town being kowtowed by a horse thief, Qiao Ci would really like to know.
He watched Wei Yan wrinkling his forehead, obviously trying to place his voice as he murmured, “A young master with a fast horse…” It didn’t take long before a smile replaced his frown, and Wei Yan asked cheerfully, “Are you, by any chance, here to give me a lesson on using a spear?”
Qiao Ci gave an involuntary laugh. Of all the things he remembers, it was about that? He put his hands together in a respectful salute, even though it might well go unseen, “Cousin, Qiao Ci is happy to meet you again.”
“Picking up another stray, Young Master?” A man suddenly made his appearance known with a mock sigh, making Qiao Ci start, automatically brandishing his spear. Unperturbed, Wei Yan raised his hand in a placating gesture.
“This is no stray but a guest, be polite to my cousin Qiao Ci,” he scolded the newcomer. “This is General Zhong Ming of Bianzhou, he is merely here to natter me to death, so rest your spear,” he introduced, “And so are the rest of them. Bianzhou Generals, that is,” he clarified in an afterthought, "Not natterers."
Qiao Ci bit back a grin and obediently acknowledged Zhong Ming and the other three men who appeared behind him with a salute. “Generals of Bianzhou?” he wondered.
“Ah, yes, I am currently a Border Commander of Bianzhou,” Wei Yan waved his hand carelessly, “It’s a long story involving a birth secret, obsession of a perverted old man, and a forced position. I would explain, but I’m not sure it’s appropriate for young ears…” Qiao Ci nodded in confusion, watching Zhong Ming frown, somewhat helplessly, Qiao Ci thought. He racked his brain for any news regarding Wei Yan and Bianzhou. He couldn’t seem to remember his sister mentioning anything about this on her visit just a month or so back.
“But how did you end up at the border of Bianzhou?” Wei Yan continued with interest.
“I was on my way back to Kangjun after escorting my eldest cousin back to Boya,” Qiao Ci explained, “I, uh, got accidentally separated from the rest. I guess the route home I took is a bit roundabout.”
“Accidentally?” Wei Yan raised an eyebrow quizzically. Qiao Ci felt the tips of his ears warming.
“My sister and Lord Wei left Kangjun a little earlier,” he said by way of diversion.
“Indeed,” Wei Yan replied after a little pause, “I heard about their visit.” He was silent for a while more, before asking, “It’s a good visit, yes? No blood…” he stopped, frowning as if trying to find the right words, “I mean, everybody in Kangjun was safe and healthy when they left?”
“Of course,” Qiao Ci answered confusedly, blood? What blood? “My father, for one, was very relieved; he didn’t quite believe me about them being a doting couple until he saw it himself.”
“A doting couple?” Wei Yan smiled softly, “Good, I’m glad to hear that.” Despite saying that, Qiao Ci felt he suddenly looked a bit forlorn. It made him feel bad; maybe Wei Yan wanted to be there too, but couldn’t? He was about to remark that his cousin should visit Kangjun as well when Wei Yan deftly changed the subject.
“Anyway, the good news is, I believe we have your Leiguang here with our horses,” Wei Yan continued, “In fact, he was the cause of Qi Qiang repenting his choice to lead a life in crime.”
“Young Master, I wronged you,” Qi Qiang shuffled on his knees to face Qiao Ci, and Qiao Ci could see there was blood on his somewhat battered face before he bowed low, “But I took Leiguang back when they said he would be eaten!”
“Eaten!” Qiao Ci exclaimed indignantly, Kangjun all but forgotten. His Leiguang - the fastest horse trained by the General of Boya and Yanzhou’s once finest stablemaster (who happened to be his cousin-in-law too) - treated like food supply!
Wei Yan chuckled, “By happy coincidence, Qi Qiang happened to run to us when he was escaping, so here we are.”
“Happened?” Zhong Ming interjected, “We left you here to recuperate your eyes, not go willy-nilly saving some brat from his own mistake.” Making Qi Qiang shuffle back warily from him, he continued, “Fighting blind with a bunch of no-gooders, saying 'happened' when you jumped right into it. You know very well their buddies will come for revenge, right? Why do you have to do such an unnecessary thing, I really don't know."
Qiao Ci again had to hold his laughter back, absolutely sure that Wei Yan was rolling his eyes behind the covering cloth. His cousin wasn’t lying about the nattering, even though his general didn’t look that much older than Wei Yan himself.
“My eyes are already fine,” Wei Yan sighed exasperatedly, “I only did the 1-day-1-night wrap because you insist on your grandmother's rule about detoxifying that stupid plant.”
“Nothing like getting poisoned by a native plant to make you native,” Zhong Ming said complacently, motioning to one of the generals behind Wei Yan to undo the cloth. “A little rest won’t hurt you either, and now we can be sure there’s nothing wrong with your vision.”
“Just so you know, I’m doing this because I believe in your grandmother, not you,” Wei Yan grumbled some more, opening his eyes carefully. Blinking a few times, he let his eyes wander for a bit before stopping at Qiao Ci. The impish smile that Qiao Ci didn’t even realize he had already associated with Wei Yan appeared, making him smile back in response.
“A Ci, you surely are a sight for sore eyes.”