In Gusu, the Sect Leader took petitions shortly after breakfast. After his brother had gone into seclusion, Lan QiRen, with his nephew by his side, had taken on that role as regent and mentor and then later as advisor. Now that Lan WangJi had taken on the role if not actual title of Sect Leader, Lan QiRen sat by this nephew's side but did not feel welcome.

Lan WangJi had not changed noticeably in his demeanor. He had always been reserved, even as a child, but his shameless behavior with his husband, especially in contrast to his lack of emotions around Lan QiRen made him seem colder than ever before.

Lan QiRen could not complain. Lan WangJi had not abandoned his duty. He had merely brought a husband home. Said husband might be inappropriate beyond belief but there was nothing that could be done about that now. The news of the marriage, even with how discrete the marriage ceremony may have been, had spread like wildfire. Even if WangJi could be convinced to break his vows, the Lan Sect would lose face. QiRen suspected the loss of face might be worth it to get rid of Wei WuXian but WangJi would not disavow his husband so the point was moot.

The petitions were straightforward until the Ghost General entered with his wife. Lan QiRen, who had not been expecting the pair, glanced at Lan WangJi who without returning the glance, greeted the couple. Wen Ning, who had arrived a few months before Wei WuXian had returned from his meanderings, had quickly been paired with Lan Teegan, one of the more wild-minded cultivators. QiRen suspected collusion on Lan WangJi's part in setting up the pairing, but as Wen Ning had married into his Sect, there was nothing QiRen could do to remove him.

Lan QiRen had avoided Wen Ning as best he could, but he had noticed that Lan Teegan tended to speak for the two of them. She bowed before speaking. The bow was appropriate. Her request was not. "We seek permission to settle near the Burial Mounds in order to discover cultivation techniques that might dissipate its resentful energies."

Leaning forward, Lan QiRen slammed a hand on the table. "Are you mad? This has been tried before. It failed. The QiShan Wen may have been tyrants, but they were not fools. Their scholarship may not have been equal to ours, but they called on us, asked for our advice. If there were a way to clear the Burial Mounds, it would have already been found. What makes you believe you can succeed where our brightest scholars have failed?"

Wen Ning bowed his head as if embarrassed to have brought such nonsense to their attention, but Lan Teegan exchanged a glance with Lan WangJi. "We have been working with Wei WuXian on ideas," she said. When Lan WangJi nodded in agreement, and QiRen realized she'd been speaking to him alone. Lan WangJi already knew all about it. They'd already agreed, without his input, to let this doomed plan move forward.

Lan WangJi had never brought his troubles to him and now he was circumventing him on Sect business? No, it was too much. "You may proceed but I have on condition," Lan QiRen heard himself saying. "I will accompany you."

Lan Qiren did not look towards his nephew but he could feel Lan Wangji's scrutiny. "Uncle?"

Wen Ning bowed abruptly. "I beg you to reconsider. The conditions there are quite primitive. Nothing near what you are used to."

Lan Qiren hadn't thought of that but how could he stay when his nephews no longer respected him? "Who knows more about cultivation techniques? I've been teaching it for decades. Perhaps it's time to put my knowledge to a more practical use."

"Are you certain, uncle?"

And there it was. Lan WangJi wasn't trying to stop him. His nephew wanted him gone. "Yes." He kept his answer short, afraid a longer reply would reveal the breaking of his heart.