Author Notes: Hello again, everyone! My muse balked at the idea of writing something explicit and could only be coaxed into something very, very soft. Please keep in mind that I'm basing my story off The Untamed drama rather than the MDZS novel. This chapter is unbetaed so please excuse any typos and enjoy :)

- Chapter Start -

Wei Ying was uncharacteristically silent on the walk back to the Jingshi. He was more relieved than he could express that the whole wedding ceremony was over at last. It had been an eventful week. He was tired, and his facial muscles ached with how much he had smiled today.

Not that he regretted it, of course. It was a life changing experience, but that didn't mean he was eager to repeat it.

Now that they had left the Main Hall behind them and there was no one else around, he perked up a bit. They were using the back paths so they wouldn't bump into any of the guests. There was no one else to smile at and be polite to. No more expectations than to get undressed and crash into bed with Lan Zhan. They hadn't gotten a chance to share a bed for the past three weeks or so!

Tipping his head back, Wei Ying looked at the bright full moon above them and pulled the cool and sweet night air into his lungs. Then he smiled and squeezed the hand of the man beside him. His best friend, soulmate and husband.

Lan Zhan turned to him with a tiny smile on his lips.

"Relieved all of that is over?" Wei Ying asked, already knowing the answer.

His reply was a single, emphatic nod. With a chuckle, Wei Ying moved closer to him.

"Me too. But we're officially husbands and cultivation partners now. At last."

"Mn." There was a world of contentment in that one syllable.

Wei Ying grinned again, feeling ridiculously happy as he started swinging their clasped hands to and fro.

"Lan Ming refused our request outright, but Lan Wu supported us," he commented.

"Uncle will see that neither are punished for their decisions."

Wei Ying sent him a fond look of which half was reserved for Uncle QiRen.

"He deserves to be recognised," he said.

"Lucky that Wei Ying noticed in the first place."

Wei Ying chuckled again.

"My distraction paid off for once, huh? Oh, here we are!"

And there was the Jingshi in front of them, with the little gate and the gravel path leading up to the low graceful building. A warm glow showed between the shutters at the windows, welcoming them home.

Wei Ying's smile widened. They were home.

The first thing he noticed when they entered were the two bottles of Emperor Smile on the low table. The second was the thicker mattress on the bed and a pile of folded blankets at the foot.

Turning to Lan Zhan, he tilted his head at the bed with a lift of his eyebrows. A curl of nerves and anticipation settled in his stomach - leftover butterflies maybe.

"Tea and and Emperor Smile first," Lan Zhan decided.

Wei Ying nodded. After such an eventful day, they needed a bit of time to unwind before... well, anything else. They sat down at adjacent sides of the table, Wei Ying with his elbow on a raised knee and head propped on hand as Lan Zhan got ready the tea things. The water in the kettle didn't take long to boil once set on the tiny stove.

Wei Ying found himself smiling foolishly again. This was something he could get used to, a nightly ritual for them at the end of a long day.

By the time Lan Zhan poured himself a cup of the fragrant tea, Wei Ying had drunk two cups of Emperor Smile and brought the bottle closer to himself. He wasn't sure if it was the silence or the liquor but-

"I'm nervous. Are you?" He blurted out.

Lan Zhan's cup wobbled a bit in his hand. Eyes snapping up to Wei Ying's, he gave a guarded nod. More relieved than he cared to admit, Wei Ying reached over to squeeze his free hand.

"Shall we take a look at HuaiSang's gift?"

"Mn."

Setting the teapot and cups aside, Lan Zhan brightened the oil lamp as Wei Ying pulled out not one, not two, but three erotic picture books from the qiankun pouch.

"These look familiar, don't they?" Wei Ying gave Lan Zhan a teasing smile as he spread the books on the table.

"The Library Pavilion during your punishment," Lan Zhan replied promptly.

"Yup! I still owe HuaiSang a book for the one you destroyed, yet he gave us three more," Wei Ying said, laughing.

"I will apologise when I see him next."

Scooting closer to Lan Zhan, Wei Ying opened the first book. The two males depicted still wore their robes but they were untied. The one pressed against the wall with his legs wrapped around his partner's waist wasn't wearing his trousers. They were both kissing.

"Oh."

It wasn't the first time Wei Ying had seen such images, but he found himself blushing all the same. There hadn't been much opportunity nor inclination to think of such things at the Burial Mounds. Glancing at Lan Zhan, he smiled at his pink tipped ears before turning the next page.

The same two men were depicted, still loosely robed and with both their trousers missing this time. One of them was bent over a desk and the other pressed up against his back.

"How much does Wei Ying know?" Lan Zhan asked in a low voice.

"More than Lan Zhan, I think?" Wei Ying gave another mischievous smile. "HuaiSang had quite the collection and insisted on sharing them with us during the Gusu lectures. Mostly to enjoy Jiang Cheng's shocked reactions, ahaha..."

Then he remembered something.

"What did Chen-yishi mean about his gifts?"

Lan Zhan's pretty ears turned a deeper pink as he nodded at a glass bottle of amber liquid on the small bedside table.

"Almond flower oil."

Wei Ying blinked and felt the heat in his cheeks flare.

"So the books and HuaiSang were right? It really does go... in... there?" His voice squeaked a bit at the end.

Lan Zhan nodded.

"How?!" Wei Ying burst out.

"With patience. And foreplay. And oil," Lan Zhan replied as if he were reciting.

"Did Chen-yishi say that?"

Lan Zhan nodded again.

"Last night when he presented his gifts to xiongzhang and myself. He explained about the sexual relations between two males. He said," his voice went even lower, "it wouldn't hurt if done properly. In fact, it would..."

"It would?" Wei Ying breathed, leaning towards him.

"It would feel good. For both parties."

"Oh."

Their gazes met and skittered away, both of them blushing.

"It seems Lan Zhan knows more than me after all," Wei Ying said after a moment.

"In theory only," Lan Zhan admitted and cleared his throat. "Wei Ying, we have the rest of our lives to be intimate. We don't have to start tonight."

Taking a deep breath, Wei Ying released it, feeling those butterflies subside again.

"You're right. Sharing a bed without Uncle Qiren breathing down our necks is already an improvement, isn't it?"

"Mn." Another heartfelt sound that made Wei Ying want to giggle.

"Take down Wei Ying's hair first," Lan Zhan suggested, drawing a comb from his sleeves.

"Right! Then I'll take down yours."

Turning around on his cushion, Wei Ying sat still as gentle fingers untied his forehead ribbon and placed it carefully in his hands before unpinning the heavy silver hairpiece, giving instant relief. The pins Wen Qing had ruthlessly stuck into his hair to hold his bun in place was next. Wei Ying couldn't help uttering a groan of relief when his freed hair tumbled down his back.

"Much better. My turn," he said and started to turn around.

"Comb Wei Ying's hair first."

Wei Ying settled back in place and smiled to himself. This was the second night in a row that someone was combing his hair for him - he was getting spoiled!

The stress of the day fell away as the silence enveloping them turned mellow and intimate. The only sounds he could hear were their soft breathing and the even, rhythmic slide of the comb through his hair, making him sleepy.

"Lan Zhan? Who did the hair combing ritual for you and XiChen-xiong last night?" He asked, absently rolling up his brand new ribbon.

"Uncle did while Chen-yishi recited the lines."

"I'm glad," Wei Ying said softly as he pictured the scene in his mind, wishing he could have seen it. Chen-yishi could very well have chuckled at that line about having lots of children, like Shijie had.

"What about Wei Ying?"

"Shijie did mine and GuangYao's, right here at this table. Jiang Cheng and Wen Qing were here too. So were the peacock and HuaiSang for GuangYao."

"Mn."

"There was, uhm, quite a crowd here last night," Wei Ying said, hunching a shoulder in apology.

"Family and friends," Lan Zhan corrected.

Wei Ying couldn't detect any annoyance in his voice at having the privacy of the Jingshi invaded or reprimand at having so many witness a private ritual. His smile turned even sappier. As soon as the comb was set on the table, he turned around.

"My turn," he said and rose onto his knees as Lan Zhan presented his back to him.

Wei Ying untied his ribbon with the same care, thrilled that he could now handle it with impunity. After the silver hairpiece and pins were removed, he slid reverent fingers through Lan Zhan's hair while combing it, marveling at the silky texture.

"Lan Zhan's hair is beautiful."

"Wei Ying's hair is more beautiful."

Wei Ying chuckled.

"My hair is a mess and you know it."

"Wei Ying's hair is a beautiful mess."

Laughing again, Wei Ying drew the comb through his husband's hair one final time and set it down on the table.

"There, all done," he said and pressed a kiss to the top of Lan Zhan's head.

Turning around, Lan Zhan rose to his knees and held out his hands to Wei Ying, getting to his feet in a graceful movement and pulling them up together. Wei Ying was about to suggest they start removing their wedding robes when Lan Zhan leaned forward and kissed him.

A kiss that started out chaste and closed mouthed, and ended up hungry and deep, tongues coming into play. When they parted out of the sheer need to breathe, Wei Ying stared at Lan Zhan.

"Looks like we're not going to sleep right away," he said, feeling giddy with anticipation as his body throbbed. Then reality crashed down on him, making him freeze on the spot.

Wait. They were both males so how would it go?

At least for their first time?

Who would take the other?

"Lan Zhan." Wei Ying placed a gentle palm to that smooth jade-like cheek. "How do you want to do this?"

Lan Zhan turned his face into his palm and pressed a kiss to it.

"Make Wei Ying happy," he said.

"That's it?"

"Mn."

"But that could mean so many things. What if I want to... to take you?"

Lan Zhan's flush spread from his ears to his cheeks, but he nodded, his gaze never wavering.

Wei Ying felt his eyes sting and swallowed.

"Well," he said with a smile, "since Chen-yishi gave you advice, maybe you should take me first? Show me how it's done?"

Lan Zhan's eyes glowed.

"Is Wei Ying sure?"

Wei Ying leaned forward.

"Yes," he said against Lan Zhan's lips.

- o -

Making love with Lan Zhan turned out to be something Wei Ying should have expected... if he had thought that far ahead. It wasn't an abrupt, rough and tumble coupling on the floor, both of them carried away by passion. It wasn't a clothes ripped off and arms pinned behind one's back affair either with one dominating the other. It wasn't rough or painful in any way.

It was... slow. Lan Zhan was determined to make it a good experience for both of them, moving with careful steps and pausing after each one to check on Wei Ying's reactions.

It was... instructive. Lan Zhan was adamant not to make any mistakes, recollecting and even reciting aloud Chen-yishi's advice from time to time.

It was... solemn. Lan Zhan kneeling between Wei Ying's legs on the bed, sporting a crinkled brow and an earnest expression, deaf to Wei Ying's subtle hints to go faster.

Even when they were still standing beside the table, he started with a systematic disrobing of Wei Ying's wedding robes, layer by layer, piece by piece. Pausing at each bit of pale skin uncovered, he conveyed his admiration through reverent kisses and caresses. Wei Ying who was at first, disarmed by such solicitude, soon grew impatient for more.

But none of his teasing or whini- uh, pleading could incite Lan Zhan into doing away with his gentle ministrations in favour of getting to the good bit no matter how many hints of 'Lan Er-gege, that's fine. I'm fine. You can go faster.'"

Even when they were mostly naked and on the bed with the perfumed silk sheets, Lan Zhan still proceeded to prepare him at the same steady pace.

Leaning against the head rail and squirming in place with two fingers inside him, Wei Ying tried to grab at Lan Zhan's arm. He was too far. He bolted upright halfway and gasped when that pushed those long fingers deeper inside him. A sudden burst of electrifying sensation sizzled through his spine and down his legs, turning them to jelly. He flopped back down.

"Oh!"

"Wei Ying?" Lan Zhan froze at once. "Are you alright?"

"Oh no, don't-"

"Are you in pain?" Lan Zhan's perfect forehead crinkled with worry.

"Yes, I'm-"

"I'm sorry!" Lan Zhan hastily pulled out his fingers, looking guilty.

"No! Gah!" With his half melted brain processing things at a slower rate, Wei Ying lurched upright again and grabbed Lan Zhan's retreating wrist.

"Yes, I'm alright. No, I'm not in pain. Don't apologise, but do that again."

Lan Zhan blinked at him and then the worry melted from his face.

"Ah. So that's where...?" Looking down, he carefully inserted his fingers again. Wei Ying canted his hips higher, even though they were already propped up on a pillow.

"... here?"

"Ngh... yes..."

"Again?"

"Yes!"

- o -

Their eventual joining did away with the remainder of their fears, both voiced and unvoiced. Lan Zhan was well endowed but Wei Ying's body accepted him with minimal discomfort, thanks to all the careful stretching and the silky, fragrant oil. Even when their hips were finally pressed together and Wei Ying felt full to bursting, Lan Zhan still paused, balanced over him on those impossibly strong arms.

"Wei Ying?" His voice trembled.

Wei Ying, clutching at his biceps, could feel the tremors rippling through his body, those lean hips giving aborted little jerks that Lan Zhan was desperately trying to suppress.

"I'm fine, Lan Zhan. Come on, make me feel good."

"Don't want to come too fast."

"It's fine, it's fine. Then we'll try again."

Breathing in, Lan Zhan drew back, both their breaths catching at the sensation, and then he slid forward again, biting back a groan.

"Ah! Again, Lan Zhan... again..."

They moved together after that, slowly at first until they found a rhythm. Wei Ying's hips rose to meet Lan Zhan's with their gazes locked on each other's. Their skin glowed and their hearts pounded in tandem as heat and friction built up between them until neither could hold back anymore.

They fell into release together with Lan Zhan's hand around Wei Ying's length, crying out each other's names as they came.

- o -

Lan Zhan was heavy, but Wei Ying was sated and exhausted enough to almost drift off, arms and legs loosely curled around Lan Zhan.

"We should clean up," Lan Zhan said and levered himself up, the wet squelch of their bodies separating making him look almost horrified.

Letting out a soft laugh, Wei Ying rubbed his eyes and raised up onto his elbows, wrinkling his nose at the small twinge between his legs. Lan Zhan had gotten off the bed, naked and magnificent. He disappeared around the screen and came back with a basin to which he added some hot water from the kettle.

Wringing out a clean cloth in the water, Lan Zhan wiped Wei Ying clean with tender thoroughness and then himself. By the time he laid the basin aside, Wei Ying had shrugged into his night robe and was handing out another robe for him.

Lan Zhan lay down on his back as usual and Wei Ying curled up beside him, throwing an arm and leg over his body.

"Ready for sleep already?" Lan Zhan asked.

"It's past your bedtime," Wei Ying replied, smothering a yawn. "Besides, I don't want to go limping around Cloud Recesses tomorrow."

"If Wei Ying claims me now, it could be me limping tomorrow."

Wei Ying blinked. Then he sat upright and frowned down at him.

"I wouldn't hurt Lan Zhan. Wen Qing would stick all her needles into me!"

When Lan Zhan just blinked up at him, Wei Ying smiled and shook his head. He lay down and pillowed his head on Lan Zhan's shoulder, enjoying the strong arm that wrapped around his own. Closing his eyes, he breathed out.

"We could both limp tomorrow," Lan Zhan suggested.

Eyes snapping open again, Wei Ying bolted upright once more to stare open mouthed down at Lan Zhan.

"Lan Er-gege, you-" was all he could manage before he started chuckling. The smile on Lan Zhan's lips made Wei Ying laugh even harder as he imagined the expressions on the others' faces when they met tomorrow, particularly Jiang Cheng's.

"No. Neither of us will limp tomorrow. Chen-yishi would be disappointed."

"Wei Ying is right."

"Of course I am."

Wei Ying lay down and curled up beside Lan Zhan again.

"Love Wei Ying."

"Love Lan Zhan too."

But it was a long while before Wei Ying stopped snickering enough to fall asleep.

- Chapter End -

A/N: Thank you for reading! Please leave a review if you enjoyed this chapter and take care :)