Author Notes: Hello again, everyone! FFN was on the blink a few days ago so if you haven't read Chap 61 yet, please do so. As the next SiRen scene needs some work let's see how ChengQing is doing at the moment. Enjoy :)
Beta: JeanGirlMY
- Chapter Start -
Jiang Cheng and Head Disciple Jiang Long arrived at Cloud Recesses earlier in the morning. Wen Qing, Granny Wen and A-Yuan were already waiting for them at the main courtyard.
Jiang Cheng was impressed at Wen Qing's time management and relieved not to find any delays bearing the name Wei WuXian. It really was too early in the morning for a barrage of nosy questions about his upcoming wedding when he hadn't even started to plan for it.
Unfortunately, he had forgotten about Wei WuXian's son.
"Qing-jiejie, we have to look for Xian-gege and Rich-gege. They're not here yet."
"They're not coming with us, A-Yuan."
"Why not?"
"They're busy doing... things."
"What things?"
"Aiya, things that married people do, of course." Granny Wen tried to spare Wen Qing from having to reply.
"Like what?"
They were both spared from having to reply - and Jiang Cheng from having to hear said reply - when Wen Ning walked up to them.
"Ning-gege, are you coming with us?"
"Ah, I'm afraid not, A-Yuan."
"Why not?"
"I have to take care of our new home. And the chickens."
"Oh." A-Yuan looked crestfallen.
"But you have a good time," Wen Ning added. "Tell me about the lakes when you return."
"And the houses floating on water?"
"Yes, so don't keep Sect Leader Jiang waiting."
"Who's that?"
"Uh... Angry-gege," Wen Ning mumbled, avoiding his future brother-in-law's scowl.
"Alright, that's enough questions. I'll carry you," Wen Qing told A-Yuan who shook his head, lower lip sticking out.
"I want Xian-gege to come with us! It's his old home, he told me. Rich-gege should come too!"
A few sharp words seemed imminent judging from Wen Qing's frown, which would no doubt be followed by tears judging from A-Yuan's mulish look. Both would have caused a delay and, knowing Jiang Cheng's luck, somehow caused Wei WuXian to manifest in a heartbeat if Jiang Long hadn't intervened. Stepping forward, the latter crouched down in front of A-Yuan and smiled at him.
"A-Yuan, is it? My name is Jiang Long. I have two sons who are about your age. If we leave now, you'll have time to go fishing with them at the lake."
A-Yuan who had hidden his face in Wen Ning's robes turned to look at him.
"You have sons?" He asked.
Jiang Long nodded and held up two fingers.
"Two of them."
"Fishing?" A-Yuan asked next.
Jiang Long nodded again.
"Fishing from a boat," he said, sweetening the deal.
A-Yuan brightened up and nodded.
"Alright, let's go," he agreed.
Jiang Cheng knew there was a reason why he had appointed Jiang Long as Head Disciple.
- o -
For the first half of the journey, Jiang Long carried A-Yuan who asked a great many questions about his sons and Lotus Pier. A-Yuan only kept quiet when Jiang Cheng carried him for the second half of the journey, to spare them all from further chatter.
A-Yuan perked up again at his first glimpse of the lakes of Yunmeng, glittering in the sunlight. He turned his head right and left, even leaning out as far as he could from the circle of Jiang Cheng's arms.
"Hold still or you'll fall," Jiang Cheng warned him.
"A-Yuan, what did I tell you about staying still when flying on swords?" Wen Qing asked over Jiang Cheng's shoulder.
"Sorry, Qing-jiejie." A-Yuan stopped squirming and hid his face in Jiang Cheng's shoulder. Then he peeped out again to look at the view below them.
"That's a good boy," Jiang Cheng praised.
He didn't see the wide smile Granny Wen, standing behind Jiang Long, exchanged with Wen Qing.
- o -
They arrived at Lotus Pier close to noon. There were fewer people around as the sun was overhead and the stalls were closed. Still, those who were there cheered and waved at them.
When they landed in the front courtyard of Lotus Pier, disciples and servants alike crowded around.
"Sect Leader Jiang, welcome back!"
"Head Disciple Jiang, welcome back!"
Jiang Mei and Jiang Xiu pushed their way to the front and bowed to Wen Qing in unison, beaming.
"Healer Wen, it's good to see you again! How was your trip?"
"We prepared a special lunch just for you!"
"Thank you, Jiang Mei, Jiang Xiu," Wen Qing said with a smile.
"Hey, I'm hungry too," Jiang Long said.
"Don't worry, you'll be fed," Jiang Xiu told him with an impudent grin before turning back to Wen Qing, "But Healer Wen is the future mistress of Lotus Pier!"
Jiang Cheng tried not to burst out grinning. He put A-Yuan down and rolled his shoulders. A-Yuan was small for his age, but carrying a constant weight was still a strain.
"And who's this sweet boy?" A-Xiu knelt down in front of A-Yuan who immediately turned to hug Jiang Cheng's leg.
It was the second time he had done so. Jiang Cheng felt both regret and relief that Wei WuXian wasn't here to see it.
"This is Wen Yuan, soon to be Lan Yuan," he introduced the boy.
"He's my late cousin's son," Wen Qing explained. "HanGuang Jun and Wei WuXian have decided to adopt him."
"He can sit with my sons for lunch," Jiang Long offered but A-Yuan shook his head and stuck to Jiang Cheng and Wen Qing throughout the meal.
- o -
In the end, the wedding discussion didn't take up much time.
Both Jiang Cheng and Wen Qing were pragmatic people who were not too bothered with the intricate and strict rules governing gifts, dowries and ceremonies. Neither had living parents to advise and insist on those either.
Since Granny Wen couldn't remember all the rituals she herself had gone through half a century ago, Wen Qing said that as long as her family could witness her and Jiang Cheng doing the three prostrations, she would be happy to consider herself married.
That got her a surprised look from Jiang Cheng and a horrified 'Aiya!' from Granny Wen. A-Yuan, who was starting to doze off, became all eyes and ears once more, looking from one to the other with renewed curiosity.
"Lady Wen, that's little more than an elopement!" Granny Wen protested. "Your parents would be rolling in their graves! Sect Leader Jiang's parents too!"
"Granny Wen is right," Jiang Cheng said firmly. "Yunmeng Jiang is one of the Four Great Sects. We may not be as wealthy as the other three, but we can afford a proper wedding ceremony. My sect members expect it. So do my siblings."
It was a toss up between who would kick up a bigger fuss if they didn't have a ceremony to attend - A-Jie or Wei WuXian.
"We also have to invite the Nie, Lan and Jin sects. And the smaller Yunmeng ones."
"Very well." Wen Qing gave a put upon sigh, but looked rather pleased. "Perhaps we could borrow Sect Leader Jin and Young Madam Jin's wedding robes."
Jiang Cheng shook his head at once, looking almost appalled.
"Those have huge peonies embroidered on the front and back! No, I will order new ones to be made, and that's that."
Seeing her about to object, Jiang Cheng raised his eyebrows at her and she closed her mouth again, smiling.
They decided on an auspicious date one month from today. Traditionally, the groom would travel to the bride's home to bring her to his. Granny Wen suggested that Wen Qing spent the eve in nearby Yiling town since it was at the foot of Burial Mounds which had been their home for the past two years.
Pleased to have the preliminary details finalised, Jiang Cheng grabbed Wen Qing's hand and raised it to his lips. She blushed as Granny Wen chuckled.
"Granny, why is Angry-gege kissing Qing-jiejie's hand?"
"Never mind that," Granny Wen told him when she saw Jiang Xiu entering the room. "It's time for your afternoon nap."
"What about fishing?" A-Yuan protested.
"It's too hot right now," Jiang Cheng told him. "Jiang Long and his sons are resting at their home so you should do the same."
"Madam Wen, I'll show you and the young master to your room," Jiang Xiu offered with a bow to Granny Wen.
"Qing-jiejie, are you coming with us?" A-Yuan asked, still delaying the inevitable.
"She'll be with Sect Leader Jiang," Granny Wen said, trying to usher him along.
"Oh. Will they be resting together?"
Jiang Xiu gave a snort which she tried to turn into a cough and ended up coughing for real.
"Xiu-jiejie, are you alright?"
"Ah. Ahem, I'm fine, A-Yuan. You're such a good boy for asking. Come along now."
Meanwhile, Jiang Cheng was staring out the window as he waited for the fire in his face to die down.
"Well, Sect Leader Jiang?"
He turned to see Wen Qing tipping her head at him, cheeks flushed pink.
"Will we be resting together?"
Jiang Cheng exhaled and ran a hand down his face.
"There's nothing I'd like more," he admitted and shook his head. "But we'd better not give A-Yuan anymore encouragement. He truly is Wei WuXian's son."
When Wen Qing laughed, Jiang Cheng felt his annoyance melting away.
"Let's go for a walk," he suggested.
- o -
The outer walkways were bathed in bright sunlight at this time so Jiang Cheng led the way to a pavilion at one end of Lotus Pier.
"This is A-Jie's favourite spot for practising calligraphy and drawing," he explained.
"It's a beautiful place," Wen Qing commented. She rested her hands on the painted railing and looked out at the water surrounding them from almost all sides.
Jiang Cheng stood beside her, close enough for their elbows to touch.
"More importantly, it faces the back of our home and is furthest from the main rooms."
"So it's nice and quiet here?" Wen Qing guessed.
Jiang Cheng snorted at that.
"Hardly if Wei WuXian and I were here. It was our favourite place too. A-Jie didn't mind. She could focus on her work just fine."
It wasn't until Wen Qing stared at him that he realised he had said too much.
"So that you couldn't hear your parents' voices."
Jiang Cheng nodded, feeling just a bit wretched now for bringing it up. He couldn't blame Wei WuXian if he had blabbed about his less than happy childhood thanks to the late Madam Yu.
"Wei WuXian was tight lipped about many things, but he missed the two of you very much," Wen Qing said and gave a wry smile. "Of course, he spoke more after a few cups of Fourth Uncle's fruit wine."
Jiang Cheng just gave a mirthless chuckle.
"At least your parents were with you for most of your life," Wen Qing continued in a matter of fact voice. "My parents were killed by the Goddess Statue on Dafan Mountain when A-Ning and I were still children."
Jiang Cheng blinked and straightened up. Right. No more feeling sorry for himself.
What did he even have to feel sorry for?
"You're amazing, have I told you that today?" He asked and reached for her hand.
Wen Qing smiled and shook her head, her eyes dancing.
"Not today."
"Well, you're amazing and I love you," Jiang Cheng told her before kissing her.
The aborted giggle had him whipping his head up and around so fast he almost gave himself whiplash.
"Ahh! I didn't see or hear anything, Sect Leader Jiang!" Jiang Mei set down a laden tray on the table. "Cook made pastries in honour of Healer Wen's visit."
Without waiting for a reply, she turned around and walked off. Jiang Cheng scowled at her back.
"I like her and Jiang Xiu in particular," Wen Qing couldn't resist commenting as she sat down at the table. "They think the world of you."
"Sure they do. That's why they bully me all the time," Jiang Cheng replied, deadpan.
When Wen Qing handed him a cup of tea with a smile, he accepted it with both hands and decided that cheeky servants or no, he was still the luckiest man on earth.
- Chapter End -
A/N: Thank you for reading and welcome to my new readers! Please leave a review if you're enjoying this story. So far I've only been hearing from one or two readers so it's been pretty lonesome. Thank you again and take care :)
