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Another day, another meeting. These things were vastly becoming annoying, always had been annoying, but it was that time of year where discussions were top priority in order to keep things secular, and peaceful in the cultivating world. Even though the Yunmeng clan leader didn't want another war, he was also slightly bored of all the peace. But right now peace was what was affording him the chance to relax, be at peace himself, and raise a family with his love. He sighed sitting down at the table pouring himself a cup of tea as he leaned back on his knees and turned slightly to look out the window, a few scrolls on his desk, either requests from the people, and cultivators of Yunmeng or invitations and invites, or letters from friends and family wanting to catch up. His ears alerted him to soft, yet intentional footsteps as he turned back in time to see the man that he had slowly fallen for and made his husband. He watched as the man clothed in white robes forehead ribbon sitting perfectly in the center of his forehead, lightly rubbing the grogginess from violet eyes as he gave a light stretch. By the heavens was his husband ever beautiful, and had been made even more beautiful with the little one that was growing inside him. He watched with great attention as the man before him gave a small smile and uttered an almost silent hm before moving his hands to cradle the large swell and rub it gently but with the utmost love, before sliding a hand towards his back to hopefully soothe some of the pain from the weight of the growing addition.
"Gods I made you so pregnant." The purple clan leader spoke in a half teasing manner, and moved to get up making his way over to his husband sharing a light kiss with him as he moved his hand to the large pregnant belly and looked down smiling as he knelt sliding his husband's robes to the side to expose the porcelain white soft flesh and placed soft gentle butterfly kisses against the skin of his husband.
"Mm." Lan Xichen shivered at the sudden coolness that met his skin once the Yunmeng clan leader opened his robes. he brought a finger to his lips to hide the noise he so desperately wanted to make. His Wangyin was always like this when he had returned home. Showing him the most loving affection to both him and their baby. Though some people may have seen the display just now as worrisome. The Lan Clan leader, knew it was just Jiang's way of showing affection and bonding with their unborn child, and it doubled as giving him a little bit of pleasure as well. Though Lan Xichen was still shy about openly showing what he described as bedroom feelings, outside of the bedroom, during moments like this when it was just the two of them he didn't mind showing them a little bit. He gave a light smile and rubbed the baby bump.
"Yes, yes you did my Zidian." He smiled a light blush forming on his cheeks. "Mm..not there, please it's sore." He winced when his husband touched a particularly sensitive spot on the bump.
Jiang Cheng frowned apologizing for causing his husband pain remembering that his husband had an appointment today. "That doctor was here wasn't he? Was he rough with you and the baby again?" He asked standing.
The elder Lan waved a hand and shook his head. "No no, he was fine. The little one got stuck in a rather unfortunate spot in my belly and was causing me quite a bit of pain, so the doctor had to move him. However our son seemed content where he was and when he kicked in retaliation it caused me a bit of pain, so that spot is a little sore."
"Huan, I still want to get you another doctor, I don't trust him, not with you, not with our baby. That bastard is always so rough with you, and your always so exhausted after appointments." He spoke feeling movement beneath his hand and bent placing a gentle kiss against the swell leaning back up. "and the baby's almost always irritated to hell, and having a tantrum after. That doctor only seems to behave if I'm here with you."
"Try not to swear." Lan Xi Chen said gently. "The baby can hear remember?" He reminded. "I would rather not such vulgarities be his first words." He frowned and removed the hair tie keeping his husband's hair up watching his fall to its full long length and gently ran his fingers through the silky strands. "It is fine. Besides he's due in just a month if not under that. We won't be able to find a doctor and have the time to settle them in the house before the baby is born. It is only a bit longer my Zidian, just bear with it. For us?" He asked almost pleading.
Jiang Cheng frowned feeling his husband's hand against his cheek, turning his head he placed a soft kiss against the palm frowning. "There's a well known doctor here in Yunmeng. I know you prefer someone from Gusu and within the Cloud Recesses so you have a bit of home here, but I can't in good faith, as clan and Sect leader, and your husband watch you be in high spirits, when you go to appointments with the baby settled, and come back feeling as if you haven't slept in days, with our son being so inconsolable in your belly and so upset that food won't even settle him and he just makes you nauseous until we can get him to settle. Never mind the fact the idiot won't hear of how we want things to be when you give birth. It won't be any trouble for them to come here." He assured.
"Wangyin." Lan Xichen frowned not willing to budge on the doctor topic.
This was a topic the two had talked about at length to the point where even as patient as he was, was prone to losing a minimal amount of it. Yes the doctor from Gusu was a little rough, but this doctor had been in their family for generations and though rough, the intention was never to bring him or the baby harm. However with this appointment, he did feel more exhausted than normal even sleeping longer than his normal after appointment naps. The elder Lan always made to sure to eat, and hydrate properly before his appointments, so their son would be well settled and behave in his belly otherwise he would be quite a terror to handle during the appointments. With the little one getting stuck today he knew some pressure would be needed to move him to a more comfortable spot but the fact that the baby retaliated that hard, enough for tears to grace the edge of his eyes and the doctor only able to provide a half sympathetic though well meaning apology. Lan Xichen frowned thinking his husband may have been right.
"How about this?" Jiang Cheng suggested. "I'll be here with you the next appointment. This doctor doesn't fear me and has taken care a lot of people here in Yunmeng. They are even the ones that give me the recipes for the tea that helps settle your belly and the baby when he's being restless." He said in an attempt to compromise. He wasn't outright forcing the elder Lan into switching doctors, but he did want to show him and he had a theory that what was left of the Gusu clan medically weren't supportive of the fact of his husband was even pregnant, let alone how he got pregnant in the first place. It was an anomaly, and he had the feeling this doctor looked at his husband, as more of a freak of nature, or an experiment rather than an actual human. He was well aware he wasn't one to talk when it came to seeing people as human, especially when it came to the dark arts, and those that practiced it. But he had done something he never thought he would and reconciled with Wei Wuxian, his husband, his violet jade had helped him most in putting his pride aside and encouraging him to get to a better path in life rather than the one of bitterness, pride and jealousy that he was formally on. He at least had to get the elder Lan to budge on this.
Lan Xichen sighed lightly and looked at his stomach and then looked at his husband. "Was this the one you introduced to me while we were in the market?" He asked remembering a somewhat elderly woman that all but exuded kindness, grace, and acceptance, even offering to fix his robes when they started to become tight due to the growing belly. They still saw her in the market occasionally always being so excited about seeing the two of them, asking how the baby was growing, and always asking to feel and giving bits of advice to help make life easier on Lan Xichen, even scolding Jiang Cheng on occasion for leaving him by himself in such a state, to which he would lightly blush and have to explain it was no trouble, and that Jiang Cheng, had sect business to attend to more often than not, and being in such a delicate position he couldn't often travel due to being pregnant as the boat rides often made him nauseous and he couldn't fly on a sword anymore due to the pregnancy.
"Not the one that dolts on you, her sister is the doctor." He smiled.
Lan Xichen thought for a moment and nodded. "Oh we had tea with her a few months ago and she commented on how uncomfortable I looked. the tea she made helped so much with the muscle tightness and got this little one to settle down from being so rambunctious." He said.
Jiang Cheng nodded and smiled. "Still unwilling? I won't have doctors no matter what clan they come from treat my husband and Baba to my son as if they're some experiment or freak of nature."
Lan Xichen frowned a bit and looked to the side absentmindedly rubbing his stomach as he thought about his choice and sighed looking at his stomach feeling the baby within him move and kick. Moving his hand to where he felt the movement he smiled lightly feeling the baby press against his hand and winced feeling him roll over and press what felt like his back against his hand, tears immediately springing to his eyes at how cute their son was being.
"Huan." Jiang Cheng said worried seeing the tears watching him hold up a finger to silence him and felt his hand moved to where their son was as his hand replaced his husbands and he felt his son press his back against his hand and smiled. "Hmm, always crying when he does something cute." He said the two sharing a brief kiss.
"I'll make arrangements with my clans doctor." Lan Xichen said. "Will yours be able to see me in such a short time frame?" He asked.
Jiang Cheng nodded. "I'll send word now, you only need to tell me when." He said, the two sharing a rather deep kiss.
The next week would see the sect leader busy with duties, with one of two of his down days being beside his husband to attend the appointment with him. Lan Xichen had been feeling miserable for most of the day and as such had stayed in their bedroom half in part thanks to the excited baby growing in his belly that wouldn't stop doing somersaults and acrobatics to the point where it made the pregnant parent nauseous and unable to keep much in the way of food down. He had tried unsuccessfully to get their son to calm down. Though there was cause for excitement and he swore the baby knew it, he didn't need the little one to be difficult for this new doctor. But his son apparently had other plans, and his own opinions on how he should behave.
"Shh my little bunny." He said softly bringing a hand to his mouth and breathed deeply to try and keep the need to vomit at bay. "Baby please." He sighed. "Your making me feel ill. Please settle down." He asked smiling lightly. "That's it, finally running out of steam?" He asked half afraid to touch his stomach in case it gave the babe another burst of energy as he slid into his inner robes, the outer robe of his clan folded neatly at the foot of the bed.
He could hear talking down the hall, along with quickly moving footsteps. Who knew the arrival of one doctor would cause such a fuss? The Pier was busy today, and here he was not being able to help. He always did his best to help where he could in the pier, helping the juniors in their cultivation, helping Jiang where he was needed, and if it weren't for the fact that he was pregnant, he'd be helping to move things about. The one thing he did love about the pier was that his and Wanyin's room was situated in such a way that he could open the window and look out at the lotuses blooming in their pinks and whites, the smell of the water on the wind and the light and comfortable breeze that came in the warmer months. But with the weather becoming cooler due to the winter months ahead, it was always a welcomed sight for him as winter in Yunmeng reminded him of the cool months back in Gusu, Sure there wasn't snow but it was cool, and crisp up in the mountains, Yunmeng's autumn and early winter where like Gusu's spring and he so enjoyed it.
His attention was drawn away from the view outside as he heard the voice of one of the servants noticing two shadows and carefully sat down on the bed to rest a moment as his son's antics had caused a small bout of fatigue. "Enter." He said in his normal gentle and patient tone seeing two of the younger men walk in as they greeted him and quickly turned their attention away as if he was still without clothes. The elder Lan tilted his head curiously and smirked a bit remembering he hadn't yet donned the headband of his clan. It was one of his husbands most heavily drilled into rules, no one was to look upon him when the Gusu Clan leader was without his headband, reaching for the white ribbon he quickly but carefully set the ribbon in place tying it as he had since he was a child in his uncle's care. "Apologies that Sect leader Jiang puts that restriction on all of you. I will speak with him about lessening that." He smiled.
"It's no trouble Zewu-jun." One of the servants expressed calling him by his title. "We brought some tea. Sect Leader Jiang mentioned the little prince was giving you some grief."
Though he could tell the vast majority of the servants, and junior officials were still very much afraid of Jiang Cheng and what a bad mood of his would entail along with the punishments that came with it, the junior officials and staff of Lotus Pier did seem a bit less tense around him and by proxy less tense around their leader now that the elder Lan had gotten him to calm down a fair bit and had gotten him to talk with the root that caused all the ire in the first place. He smiled lightly at how kind the servants were here and how accommodating they were to him. He was sure Jiang would have delivered it personally but with him waiting on the arrival of the doctor and training the juniors he most likely didn't have the time.
"Not really grief, per say. He's a rather excited little bunny today." He smiled gently testing his luck as he gently rubbed the large swell smiling when met with a rather lazy stretch from his son. "He seems to have settled but thank you for the tea." He smiled seeing them place it on a small table and pour him a cup as he took it with the utmost grace giving his thanks in return and drank from the cup smiling.
He spoke with the servants a while after finishing his tea and set about getting ready and joined two of the other junior officials returning their greeting. "Is all of the fuss just for this one doctor? I remember Jiang stating it was training day but it is quite lively today." He observed.
"Sect leader Jiang is expecting company later, outside of the doctor, so it's more livelier than normal." One of the officials commented.
"Where is my husband anyway?" He asked. The training grounds were able to be be seen from their bedroom and Jiang was never the type to just sit and watch his men train without being down there with them.
"Awaiting the doctor in the meeting room." The other stated.
The elder Lan brought a hand to his mouth to hide a laugh. Even though he had been in Yunmeng for close to a year now the other clan members were still so formal and spoke in such a militaristic way. It was endearing at this point, but he was very much glad of the respect. None the less he let the two guide him to the meeting room seeing Jiang sitting at the center table where his father would have once sat. He saw him working on some things that he probably didn't get to during the last week, perhaps the invitations and letters, much of his sect work seemed to be done, now it was just small civil matters and catching up with his martial brother.
"Zidian." Lan Xichen smiled and thanked the two watching them scurry off.
"Mmm." Jiang Cheng looked up seeing his husband standing at the end of the room and frowned a bit thinking he was still unwell, wondering what he was doing out of bed when he had told him expressly to stay in bed until the doctor arrived and then they could move to the room where he was normally seen by the Gusu doctor.
"Your supposed to be in bed. Are you still feeling unwell?" He asked and stood and walked over to him.
The elder Lan shook his head lightly. "I'm alright, it was only because someone wanted to be a bunny last night, and has finally settled down." He smiled gently moving his hand along the swell of his stomach. Feeling his husband's hand on the swell soon after the two shared a small but deep kiss, Lan Xichen moaning lightly and pulled away bringing a hand to his mouth and looked shyly off to the side. "Mmm, forgive me." He said shyly.
The Purple sect leader chuckled lightly at the fact that he had gotten one of his husbands genuine moans of pleasure loose from him. The man was so reserved, except for when they were in bed, then the guard came down. it was fun to tease him and get little moments of passion out of him like this. "Finally got one out of you." He smiled reaching and touched a finger to his cheek bringing his head to face him. "I've told you before my violet jade you don't have to be reserved here. No one will punish you you can feel here." He reminded him.
The elder lan smiled a bit taking his husbands hand and placed a light kiss against his fingers. "Such noises are meant for our bed, where you can hear them privately without additional ears around." He smiled. "I only make those noises for my destined someone."
"Oh?" Jiang Cheng smirked. "This little one hears it to I'm sure. Seems to kick a lot during our bedroom time." He said and knelt down placing gentle kisses against the baby bump. "Has my little warrior settled down finally? Making Baba feel so unwell wasn't nice." He said placing a few more kisses and stood. "do your robes need adjusting again?" He asked.
"Slightly, but I can bear with it, he won't be in there for much longer." He said and winced. "Mmm." He frowned.
Jiang frowned feeling along his husband's stomach feeling the muscles tighten. "False pains again?" He frowned worried.
Lan Xichen nodded breathing slowly. The doctors at Gusu had warned him that the practice pains would start around this time. They were sporadic at best, causing him minor discomfort, occasionally requiring him to sit and rest for a while while his body worked through the pain. But they never got any worse, and had different lengths in which they lasted. Jiang Cheng kept his hand where it was and rubbed his husband's stomach to help soothe the muscles and saw two of the servants watching them bow.
"Doctor Shuyi is here." They spoke.
Lan Xichen turned and smiled at them. "Bring her in. I'd hate for her to be waiting longer than necessary."
When the doctor was brought into the meeting room they all gave their greetings and talked for a bit about lighter things, the going ons in the pier, and the wider towns and sharing a meal then moved to the room where the elder Lan was normally seen by the Gusu doctor, Jiang Cheng opened the door letting his husband and the doctor walk through and looked at two of the junior officials. "This room is not to be disturbed for any reason." He ordered seeing the two nod and run off to deliver the message as he slid the door closed softly.
"Jiang." Lan Xichen frowned. "I'll understand if you need to be pulled away suddenly." He said hating to pull his husband from his duties.
"You and the baby are more important right now." He said. "If they can't handle things for an hour or two then they don't deserve to serve this clan." He said with such conviction Lan Xichen smiled a bit and kissed him allowing him to help him sit down.
"Never did I think I would see the day where our lord would have an heir." The doctor teased lightly and giggled. She could remember the days where she would see Jiang Cheng, Yanli along with the senior disciple Wei Wuxian himself out and about with the then former leaders Jiang Fengmian, and Madam Yu. She had watched the three of them grow up and go through the war, even grieved with the purple sect leader when she had gotten news of Yanli's unfortunate passing and leaving little Jing Ling an orphan. She knew not what went down between them or what caused the deaths of both boy's parents but she did enjoy seeing the boy in Yunmeng whenever he visited, he was always so respectful and brave, and had the most adorable dog as well.
Lan Xichen smiled sneaking a look at his husband seeing a light blush across his cheeks and chuckled. "Wei gunzhou isn't to far behind me in timeline so there will be three heirs to the Jiang Clan." He mentioned.
"Wei Wuxian is remaining with Gusu, so if anything his and Hanguang-Jun's twins will be the future of Gusu. Even if we reconciled, Gusu is where he wishes to stay."
The doctor smiled at their banter glad that everything seemed to be at least peaceful between the remaining two siblings. "How far along? If I were to judge by how big you are currently I'd put you around the 35th, or 36th week." She said trying to get a feel for how to best care for her new patient. She knew the teas she made helped as Jiang always had kind words and many thanks for her helping his husband when the pregnant clan leader was ailing.
The elder Lan thought for a moment and rubbed his belly. "That seems about right, but as much as he moves, and the early birth pains I've been having, I want to say it feels like I'm slightly further along than that." He said frowning. "But I've never been pregnant before. So this has been quite a journey to go through these past few months." He admitted.
"I remember Jiang coming to us for tea for morning sickness, as you had a terrible case of it. How long were you bedridden for? and have you been in our Yunmeng since you found out about the baby?" She asked.
The elder Lan shook his head. "When I arrived here, I was in bed for almost a month because I felt so weak, I had only intended to spend about a month or two here as the incense and familiar smells of the cloud recesses for some odd reason greatly upset my stomach. Even now though I won't be violently sick from it, our little bunny still doesn't like the smell of incense, it only seems to be certain ones now though."
"Jiang did mention you would be in high spirits, and then come back from appointments feeling drained, from the looks of the room, that doctor did seem fond of burning incense, i imagine that contributed to your tiredness and the baby's upset. I only half scolded Jiang Cheng for not being there with you, but I did also tell him its partially not his fault. If I may speak freely? I do not wish to offend you or your clan."
Lan Xichen nodded. "Please do, I harbor no ill will to those that speak highly or offense of my clan. Gusu has its fair share of righteous, and non righteous cultivators, just as the rest of the clans. I am not pressed with holding an all perfect image when we know we are not. I may lead the clan, but at the end of the day I can only hold myself accountable and hope that those under me follow my example."
"Gusu is safe with you, for someone so young to shoulder a whole clan. I only say I only half scolded Jiang because the doctor that was tasked to look after you is a bit unorthodox and known for not listening to those he treats, and sees his way of care as the only way, and if anyone tries to tell him otherwise." She sighed.
Lan Xichen thought for a moment. "I can see where the rumors arise, and truthfully there is some merit to it, Wanyin was worried at one point and was in the room with me as he is now while we were discussing the birth plan we came up with. Though the doctor didn't have a problem with it, I wanted to give birth to our son here in Yunmeng, considering how far along I am, I thought it a bit risky to travel back home in my current state. However the doctor thought it best I give birth at the Cloud Recesses, where I would be amongst family and fellow Cultivators. As comforting as that was, that would mean leaving Wanyin behind, and I want him to be there for the birth of our child as our custom in Gusu is for the father to wait outside the room as it is with many other clans. Wanyin surprised me with the news that that here in Yunmeng the fathers were allowed to be in the room if comfort was needed and they wanted to be part of the experience, I suppose is the proper word. That little revelation only further solidified my decision to want to stay here in Yunmeng to give birth."
"And he wouldn't hear nothing of it?" She asked tying her hair up into a bun so it stayed out of her way.
"Sadly." Lan Xichen frowned rubbing his belly. "So Wanyin stepped in, and the doctor seemed to behave after finding out he had caused such a great offense. Mmm." The elder Lan frowned and exhaled quite strongly.
"Is he kicking again?" Jiang Cheng asked feeling along the baby bump and smiled. "Shhh." He said gently feeling the baby settle. "Good boy."
"Thank you. That spot is still tender even now." He frowned.
"May I?" Shuyi asked seeing the elder Lan nod. "Do you need me to lay back?"
Shuyi shook her head. "As far along as you are, it would be uncomfortable for you to be on your back however if its more comfortable on your back I'll have you lean against a pillow, I don't burn incense as it is quite a strong smell and in my experience only seems to have an opposite calming effect on such active babies, like the little prince is. Tell me more about your birth plan." She asked.
Lan Xichen glanced at Jiang Cheng seeing him nod as he got him a pillow helping him lean back against it and made sure he was settled while letting the doctor work. "Huan was considering having a water birth, since both here and Gusu have quite a bit of water surrounding the area it only seems right to have our son born in the element. I have a room being set up so Huan will be comfortable with whatever he will need for the labor and birth to go smoothly. Gusu has many springs and rivers, but as far as having a room set up, that would be a bit of an issue, and as you heard, I wouldn't be able to be present."
"Even with you being Clan Leader?" She asked looking at the elder Lan.
"Though I am Clan Leader, the Cloud Recesses still teaches that the elders have the final say in a lot of things that go on." He frowned. "I have gotten them to become lax on some things, but as far as my giving birth and what my direction for that is and looks like they aren't willing to budge, Wanyin can't be with me. He would be seated in another room and brought to me once the baby is born, or if it turned out to be a difficult birth, the baby would be brought to him assuming he's healthy and I wouldn't be able to be seen until later once I had been resting for a time."
Shuyi's eyes widened in surprise a moment as she frowned. "Aiya such archaic beliefs." She said and felt him wince. "Sorry, did I press to hard? Or is it that tender?"
"Just that tender, it was worse last week. He got stuck there, so he had to be moved because it was causing me some discomfort and he was irritated at being moved so he decided to kick me and it created a sore spot."
Shuyi nodded in understanding. "There is some light bruising." She observed. "Before you go on the warpath." She said looking at Jiang Cheng. "It's almost healed, I'll leave you with some oil, it has a light smell and won't bother your stomach, it'll help heal the bruise. Will he move over to me or do I have to find him?" She asked.
"He likes to move about during appointments and be difficult. but since I had a meal, he should be quite agreeable, he hasn't moved from where he kicked last. so right about here." The Elder Lan pointed feeling where his son was pressing against his belly.
Shuyi smiled carefully moving her hand along where the baby was pressing to measure how long he was. "Be a good boy and stretch out a bit more for me." She smiled feeling him roll over. "That works to. He's got quite the little personality already." She chuckled.
"Mmm, that's what my brother said when he came to visit last." The elder Lan smiled and looked at Jiang Cheng sliding a hand over his as the two held hands a moment.
After the appointment and being given a few items to help with the remainder of the pregnancy the two stood at the front of their home and bowed giving their thanks to Shuyi inviting her to stay in the Lotus Pier until the baby arrived. Though she turned down the offer, she did tell them all they had to do was send one of the Juniors and she would be available at a moments notice and went on her way to head back to her office.
Jiang smiled bringing an arm around his husband's waist kissing him. "So?" He asked.
"I have to admit I feel so much more comfortable around her, she's a breath of fresh air." Lan Xichen admitted as Jiang Cheng smiled. "She even accepted the birth plan without a fuss. Want to keep her?" He asked. Lan Xichen nodded. "Thank you my Zidian for suggesting her. I feel a little less anxious about the labor and delivery now. Oh I heard there was company coming later." He asked.
"Mm, Your brother and Wei Wuxian." He smiled as the two went off to prepare for their arrival.