Chapter Text
Summer had come to an end in the Cloud Recesses. The evening breeze had grown crisp, carrying the first hint of autumn down from the mountains. The ginkgo trees scattered through the courtyards were beginning to yellow, creating bright splashes of gold against white walls and black-tiled roofs.
Wei Wuxian was wandering along one of the winding stone paths when he spotted Sizhui and Jingyi crossing the courtyard ahead of him, each carrying a large wooden platter piled high with round, pale pastries.
“What have you got there, children?”
“Mooncakes, for the Mid-Autumn Festival!” Sizhui replied cheerfully.
Wei Wuxian stopped. He looked at the pastries. Then he looked at Sizhui and Jingyi.
“Mooncakes?”
Jingyi frowned. “Yes?”
Wei Wuxian eyed the platter suspiciously.
“These look more like mantou than mooncakes.”
He plucked one from the top of the pile and tossed it lightly into the air.
“Would Wei-qianbei like to try one?” Sizhui asked.
Wei Wuxian caught it, turned it over once between his fingers, then took an enormous bite.
His brow lifted dramatically, furrowed, and then he spat the bite straight back out.
“What is this?”
Sizhui’s eyes widened. “A mooncake, sir?”
Wei Wuxian stared at the offending pastry in theatrical disbelief. “Is it filled with flowers?! Why would anyone fill a pastry with flowers?? It tastes like someone stuffed a perfume sachet into a bun.”
Jingyi burst out laughing.
Sizhui, torn between horror and amusement, valiantly attempted to remain polite. “It is flavored with rose petals. It is a local delicacy.”
“A local—” Wei Wuxian stared at him. “Where are the lotus seed ones?”
“The what?”
“Lotus seed paste. With salted egg yolks.”
Sizhui and Jingyi exchanged a glance.
“Lotus seed… paste?” Sizhui repeated carefully.
Wei Wuxian’s expression grew grave.
Jingyi asked, “Why would you put lotus seeds in a mooncake? Wouldn’t that be rather bland?”
For several long seconds, Wei Wuxian simply looked at them. At last, Wei Wuxian reached down, took another sad, pale, flower-filled mooncake from the platter, and tucked it into his sleeve.
“I see.”
Sizhui blinked. “Wei-qianbei?”
“This is more serious than I thought.”
He turned and strode away toward the Jingshi.
Behind him, Sizhui and Jingyi exchanged another glance.
“What just happened?” Jingyi asked.
“I’m not sure.”
They watched Wei Wuxian disappear around the corner, then continued carrying the mooncakes toward the banquet hall.
—
“Lan Zhan, I have terrible news.”
Lan Wangji looked up from the scrolls spread across his desk.
Wei Wuxian marched across the Jingshi and slapped the mooncake down before him. Crumbs scattered across the neatly stacked documents.
Lan Wangji looked at the crumbs. Then at Wei Wuxian.
“The juniors think this is a mooncake.”
“It is a mooncake.”
Wei Wuxian stared at him.
Lan Wangji returned his gaze calmly.
“This,” Wei Wuxian said, pointing accusingly at it, “is what you have been eating every Mid-Autumn Festival all these years?”
“Yes. They are a local delicacy.”
Wei Wuxian narrowed his eyes.
“The juniors have never even heard of lotus seed paste!”
“There are few lotus ponds in Gusu. Lotus seed paste is uncommon here.”
Wei Wuxian slowly lowered himself into the seat opposite him.
“A tragedy.”
Lan Wangji brushed a few stray crumbs from the edge of the desk.
Wei Wuxian picked up the mooncake again and regarded it mournfully.
“A true tragedy, Lan Zhan. We have to correct this before the Mid-Autumn Festival.”
“The festival is in two days.”
Wei Wuxian’s head snapped up. His eyes sparkled.
“Then we better hurry.”