Chapter Text
Jiang Cheng, courtesy Wanyin, scrubbed at his face as he walked the path of the garden he found himself in. Bemoaning the fact his brother's shamelessness had clouded his mind enough he'd lost track of where exactly he was.
He had just wanted to get away from Wei Wuxian and his husband-a scoff left him at the thought. Wei Wuxian. Married, and to Lan Wanji of all people! Even three years after they'd eloped and nearly caused a political nightmare Jiang Cheng couldn't stand being around them for an extended length of time. They were just so… so shameless! Not to mention seeing the two fawning over each other always reminded Jiang Cheng of his mothers' lectures that he should be 'looking for a spouse' and considering 'how to strengthen Lotus Pier'.
Rubbing the back of his neck, he rounded a corner where he heard a squeak of 'Jiang-gongzi!?' that made him pause and look up, eyebrows furrowed into a scowl.
A young man dressed in Wen robes was staring at him with wide eyes, his hands clasped over his mouth.
They stared at each other for a moment, Jiang Cheng trying to remember if he'd met them before, they seemed about his age but aside from his lotus pond blue eyes there wasn't anything striking about his appearance. Releasing a silent, but frustrated, sigh he cupped his hands and politely bowed.
"My apologies, gongzi, but this Jiang Cheng, courtesy name Wanyin, fails to recall when we have previously met." As he straightened from his bow he watched as they seemed to startle before bowing back towards him.
"No-No apologies are needed!" was said in a rush. "This Wen Ning, cour-courtesy Qionglin, fist saw Jiang-gongzi during the- during the archery competition of the previous Discussion Conference held-" a clearing of the throat. "Held by QishenWen Sect. We did not have-did not have a chance for formal introductions."
Jiang Cheng blinked and tried to think back to that year. The only really noticeable things he recalled was Wen Zhuliu announcing his engagement and-
"You're the Wen boy Wei Wuxian vouched for!" Jiang Cheng exclaimed, internally wincing at his volume but outwardly scowling to hopefully cover his embarrassment.
Wen Qionglin blinked before looking at his now fidgeting hands. "Yes…Yes, that was me."
It had been right as the archery contest was about to being when Wen Chao had called out Wen Qionglin and asked if he could even hit a target, and of course Wei Wuxian had spoken up and boasted that the Wen youth was a great shot. Wen Ruohan had cut in before anything else could be said and stated that Qionglin was free to participate if his sister and doctor had agreed beforehand. Jiang Cheng didn't fully understand why that had mattered, but Wen Qionglin had bowed and withdrawn from the field before Wei Wuxian could open his mouth and make the situation worse.
Just as Jiang Cheng opened his mouth to apologize for Wie Wuxian's behavior that year a voice called out; "Who is there?"
Wen Qionglin's head snapped towards the direction of the voice the same second Jiang Cheng's mouth clicked shut. That had sounded like the current head of the QishanWen Sect, Wen Ruohan.
As, presumedly, Wen Qionglin's sect leader called out again he dashed forwards and grabbed Jiang Cheng's sleeve before pulling him towards a gazebo that Jiang Cheng hadn't noticed before due to it being overgrown and its entrance angled away from the main path they were on.
"What are you doing?" he hissed, attempting to pull his sleeve, and by extension arm, free.
"Shh!" Wen Qionglin responded while pulling Jiang Cheng into the gazebo.
Jiang Cheng planted his feet and held firm, scowling at the barely shorter than him man. "Unhand me," he growled.
He was met with a squeak and shake of the head before blue eyes stared into his. "This," Wen Qionglin began before taking a breath and speaking in a whisper "This garden is private, Jiang-gongzi! Only those with Wen-Zhongzu's express permi-" another deep breath. "Express permission can be in here!"
At the note of genuine panic in his voice, Jiang Cheng stopped pulling against Wen Qionglin and found himself quickly maneuvered so his back was against one of the enclosed walls, hands gently pressing against him in a silent plea for him to be still and quiet.
Wen Qionglin's gaze was trained on the gazebo's entrance despite the view of the rest of the garden being blocked off. Jiang Cheng followed his gaze and strained to hear if there were footsteps approaching. Several heartbeats passed with only the sound of bushes rustling and their mismatched breathing.
Irritated at the position he was in, Jiang Cheng turned his focus onto Wen Qionglin just as a pair of lips pressed against his.
A jolt of heat rushed down Jiang Cheng's spine and before he could think he was tilting his head to deepen the contact between them, his hand moving to cup the back to Wen Qionglin's head as his eyes fell closed. A gasp fell between them and Jiang Cheng took the opportunity to pull a bottom lip between his teeth, barely applying any pressure before releasing it.
Gods, but his lips were soft. If Jiang Cheng had known that kissing could be like this… Well, he probably wouldn't have gone looking for it, but he also wouldn't have avoided being around potential paramours nearly as much as he did. Then again, would any of them have matched this?
Placing his free hand at Wen Qionglin's waist, Jiang Cheng shifted them so that he was the one pressing the other into the wall, the hands at this chest moving up to cling at his shoulders instead, all the while their lips held contact.
"Well then," sounded from behind Jiang Cheng and he flinched away from Wen Qionglin as if burned, the memories of just moments before flooding to the forefront of his mind.
Wen Ruohan. Private garden. Fuck.
Wen Qionglin was breathing heavily, his hands still gripping at Jiang Cheng's shoulders while his gaze was fixed onto the newcomer, the flush in his cheeks quickly draining away and leaving him a sickly shade. His gaze quickly flicked to Jiang Cheng and away before he began speaking. "Ah, Zh-Zhongzu," so it really was Wen Ruohan then. "This-"
"Calm, Wen Qionglin, you know I only have one requirement for family members being able to marry." A rustle of fabric shifting. "With that said, I better not catch you two without a chaperone again."
Letting out a high-pitched squeak, Wen Qionglin nodded quickly before grabbing Jiang Cheng's sleeve again and pulling him away from the wall. Jiang Cheng allowed himself to follow, keeping his gaze lowered in hopes Wen Ruohan didn't already know who he was. They were just about to exit when Wen Ruohan called out again.
"You have until the conference ends to inform Wen Qing. Otherwise, I will tell her."
Wen Qionglin let out another undignified squeak before the tugging on Jiang Cheng's arm increased and he found himself led not towards the guest rooms for YungmengJiang, but a medical office where a young woman, maybe a few years older than Jiang Cheng, was grinding herbs.
She cut them a sharp, assessing look before jerking her head to the bed against the opposite wall from her. "A-Ning, where is he injured?"
Instead of answering, Wen Qionglin, Wen Ning? stepped mostly in front of Jiang Cheng, so close his back brushed against his chest. "Jiejie…"
She looked at them again, frown marring her face as she set down her work. "What is it? Spit it out," she demanded.
Jiang Cheng felt the deep breath Wen Qionglin took before he blurted out "Wen Zhongzu thinks we're courting!"