Chapter 21

Nie Mingjue woke at Maoshi the next morning as Lan Xichen had stirred in his arms. Unlike at the Unclean Realm, while he could sleep in due to being a guest, it would be unseemly while all the guest disciples awoke as well as the rest of the sect.

And while Cloud Recesses was not as ruly as his home, he did not like the idea of wasting away in bed while the rest of the sect was up and about.

"A-Jue," Lan Xichen murmured as he pressed a kiss to Nie Mingjue's head.

"I'm up," he sighed, as he released the man from his arms, "Good Morning."

Lan Xichen leaned in and kissed him tenderly on the lips, "Good Morning."

He groaned as Xichen pulled away from him and slipped away to start getting ready for the day. He sighed to himself, and followed suit, and finally, when they were both fully dressed, they left his chambers.

It was thankfully early enough that not too many people would notice him slipping out. While he'd stayed in his friend's room before, he had usually taken the floor after they'd passed out from drinking. Though Xichen usually burned off the alcohol without getting drunk, leaving him alone with the hangover.

He'd returned the forehead ribbon to A-Huan, unable to keep it without drawing suspicion. But he still remembered the feeling of the soft ribbon around his wrist, and the implications that Xichen had given it to him.

They were both sect leaders, and neither could give up their sect to move to the others. Then there was the matter of succession. Both of them had younger brothers, but they'd have to lay out a clear succession plan. And they would need to gain enough seniority that their marriage couldn't be protested; that it would be seen as a boon to both and not hindering either. Especially given Lan Xichen had not even taken over as Sect Leader yet.

"Da-ge," Nie Huaisang greeted him in the food hall, "You're still here!"

"I wasn't going to leave in the middle of the night," Nie Mingjue grumbled. "But that doesn't mean I'm taking you home with me either. Both of you still have your final exams. You can come home after those are done."

"Do you even love me?" Nie Huaisang sighed, as he leaned against Wei Wuxian, meanwhile the younger boy laughed. They both seemed better rested, despite not as much time seemingly having passed for Wei Wuxian.

"Of course I do," Nie Mingjue rolled his eyes, as he took his place beside them. "But that is precisely why I want you both to do well on your exams. Xichen told me that your musical cultivation has gotten quite good, Sang-er. I am proud of you."

Nie Huaisang looked thrown off at that, and he felt a sense of guilt. He frequently urged his brother to train harder so he could be better with a saber, despite knowing his brother's resistance to it. But he seemed to really be thriving and flourishing while using a fan and musical cultivation. So he made a note to praise his brother's progress as he learned both.

"And Lan Qiren mentioned you are taking extra lessons," Nie Mingjue said to Wei Wuxian, "Have you been enjoying that?"

"Yes!" Wei Wuxian said enthusiastically, "He's such a good teacher! He teaches me the method to do things, but allows me to see if I can find a better way to do them, and if I can prove my method can be safely applied to achieve the same or a better outcome, he accepts it as a possible solution! The hard part is finding a way for it to be done safely."

"Of course it is," Nie Mingjue looked at him fondly, "I trust A-Yao has been keeping you both out of trouble."

Meng Yao, who had been sitting close by to them, shot his head up in surprise at being addressed.

"He's the best," Nie Huaisang said with a grin, "Do you know he searched with me for hours while we looked for San-di? He helped organize all the disciples to search different areas, and was so meticulous about it!"

"Then I owe you my thanks, A-Yao," Nie Mingjue nodded at him, "Thank you for helping find my brother after he wandered off."

"It is my duty," Meng Yao said, looking a bit thrown off. Had they not been treating his disciple well while he was here? He felt a certain sense of anger at the thought of anyone treating any of his sect members poorly, especially when that disciple was Meng Yao who had been nothing but kind to him and his family.

"It is not," Nie Mingjue countered, "As a guest disciple, your duty here is to learn. As a Nie, you could say it was to help, but it seems you went above and beyond what was necessary. So thank you."

"Of course, Zongzhu," Meng Yao bowed his head humbly, "I am glad to see that you are looking well."

He hated to admit it, but Xichen playing for him when he came to visit had truly helped. And spending the night with him hadn't hurt either.

"Maybe it is something about Cloud Recesses, that seems to make Nies calmer and happier," Nie Huaisang said offhandedly, and Nie Mingjue narrowed his eyes at his brother.

Did his brother know something?

He was always far too clever for his own good, so it wouldn't surprise him.

After all, hadn't he been the first to realize that Wei Wuxian liked Lan Wangji all those years ago, back when he couldn't even see it himself, and just wrote it off to Wei Wuxian being Wei Wuxian?

"Perhaps," Meng Yao said, with a smile on his face, "Perhaps we can visit for sect business more often."

Nie Huaisang looked displeased at that.

"Or Lotus Pier as well," Meng Yao said, glancing at Nie Huaisang.

Nie Mingjue looked at Nie Huaisang then.

"It would be nice to see Jiang Cheng again," Nie Huaisang said, "He's a good friend. He stayed up all night without sleep to help me search for that idiot."

"Hey," Wei Ying protested weakly, as he ate his congee, but not before sneaking in copious amounts of chilli oil into it. He would need to remember to buy more for his brother, given how much of it he seemed to be using.

"Perhaps it could help to strengthen the bond between the Jiang sect," Nie Mingjue conceded. He had to admit, the younger boy wasn't as bad as his father. He had his mother's temper, and his fighting was often unrefined, but he had heart and he was earnest. He did not try and manipulate others like Jin Guangshan, and he did not lash out unfairly. He would be a good sect leader when he was older.

As breakfast ended, he stood, knowing he would need to head home. He'd left frantically when Nie Huaisang's letter arrived that Wei Wuxian had gone missing, and his brothers would be in lessons for the rest of the day, while Xichen had his duties, so there really wasn't a point of staying too much longer.

Despite how much he wanted to.

"Walk me out," he commanded his brothers, and they nodded quickly. Meng Yao and Xichen followed as well, walking close to each other, as Xichen said something to A-Yao and Nie Mingjue couldn't help but notice that they'd gotten close to each other.

Good. Both of them could use more friends, and it was nice to see people he cared about getting along.

He ignored the part of him that was slightly hopeful for something else.

"Study well," Nie Mingjue told his brothers, "And please stay out of trouble. I can't handle hearing of either of you being in danger from a letter. I'll see you soon, okay?"

"I can still come if you're lonely," Nie Huaisang offered, despite knowing fully well what Nie Mingjue would say. He pulled Sang-er in for a tight hug.

"I am proud of you, Sang-er. Never doubt that. You are my didi, and you have done fantastic here. I am glad to see you find something that you enjoy in and are flourishing in."

"Thank you, Da-ge," Huaisang held onto him, "Please take care of yourself. I don't want to lose you too. Don't leave me, Da-ge."

"I will try my best not to," Nie Mingjue promised him, "I don't want to leave you both either."

He released Huaisang, and pulled in Wei Wuxian into his own hug, "Please stay out of trouble."

"I don't mean to get into it," Wei Wuxian protested weakly, "How was I supposed to know what would happen if I went to the Cold Springs?"

"You never would have been in the Cold Springs if you didn't drink then throw Lan Wangji over the Cloud Recesses wall," Nie Mingjue shot him a look.

"Good point," Wei Wuxian conceded.

He released his youngest brother, before turning to Xichen, "I'll see you soon," he told him. He wanted to press a kiss to the man's lips, but they were in public, so he refrained. He used his eyes to convey how much he loved the man, and A-Huan nodded in understanding.

"Take care of yourself, A-Jue," Xichen grazed his hand ever so slightly.

"Thank you for keeping these two out of trouble," Nie Mingjue said to Meng Yao, "Xichen told me you've taken quite well to the lessons. Your mother and Sisi are both doing well, as I'm sure they've told you, and I'm glad you will be home soon. But I hope you enjoy the remaining time here. Xichen is a wonderful friend to have by your side, so I'm glad the two of you are getting on well."

"He is a wonderful person to have made a friend of," Xichen smiled at him in return, "You are quite lucky to have such a capable man in Qinghe by your side."

If only Xichen could also be by his side.

"I'll see you all soon," Nie Mingjue promised them, as he stood on his sword and headed home.

It was just a bit longer, then his brothers would be home.


Meng Yao found that he quite enjoyed Jiang Yanli's company. He hadn't had many friends, beyond Lan Xichen and the Nie brothers, which he knew were very powerful friends. But did it count if he felt admiration for both Lan Xichen and Nie Mingjue, and considered Nie Huaisang and Wei Wuxian to be his younger brothers? He did care about all of them very much.

It was why he'd been so worried when they hadn't known what happened to Wei Wuxian. He hadn't wanted to admit it to Huaisang, as the boy had enough fears to deal with himself, but he couldn't help but worry that something had happened to the boy as well.

And while he hadn't known what to make of Wei Wuxian when he first met him, he had come to care for him and his earnestness. He didn't care about his mother. Neither did either of his brothers. They treated him well, they freed his mother, and they freed his aunt.

And then he'd gone missing. It was terrifying, worrying something could happen to him and Meng Yao was powerless to do anything to save him.

But Jiang Yanli was not the sect that had taken him in. She cared about him simply out of the kindness of her heart.

He did not have the same affection to her as the others, but he liked studying by her side, liked knowing that neither judged the other for their weaker core, and liked that she not once made him feel lesser because of the circumstances of his birth.

He did not know Jin Zixuan, but he knew the man was a fool for how he treated her. How he ignored her. She truly was a kind woman, and she cared about his half brother, despite knowing the man did not want anything to do with her.

"I think I got it," Jiang Yanli said excitedly, as she channeled energy into the talisman, and they both watched in amazement as it lit up, setting off a small flare for just them to see.

"Congratulations!" Meng Yao said with a wide grin. They still were far behind most of their peers, but they had come a long way by studying together. It was nice, to have a companion that he felt like an equal to, cultivation wise. He knew he had many strengths, and he was well aware of the fact he was becoming integral to Nie Zongzhu's administrative work. But cultivation had never been something he'd succeeded at.

"I could not have done it without your help!" she said gleefully, as she clapped her hands together, "You are a wonderful study partner, A-Yao!"

"What is going on here?" he heard a sneer, and he felt his heart drop as their area of solace was breached. He looked up to see Jin Zixun approach them, followed by a few other Jin disciples, and Meng Yao knew that he was about to be in trouble.

"What do you mean, gongzi?" she asked the cousin of her intended, "We are simply studying the lecture material."

"Do you not know how inappropriate it is to study alone with a man?" Jin Zixun snapped at her, "You are supposed to be my cousin's wife! And instead, you are running around with the son of a whore! Did your mother not teach you better than that?"

"My mother has taught me many things to prepare for my marriage to your cousin," Jiang Yanli did not drop the smile from her face, "I apologise if you find my behaviour inappropriate, however it is not uncommon for guest disciples to study with members from other sects while they are attending lessons. My family is well acquainted with the Nie sect, as my younger brother is good friends with Nie gongzi. Meng xiong and I are simply studying together."

"Do not speak back to me!" Jin Zixun said annoyed at her, "It is clear the Jiang do not have proper manners, nor do they teach it to their family. Given the way your brother runs around all unseemly, it further proves my point. You are disrespecting my family by spending so much time with this whore's son. You are damaging your reputation. How do we know you truly are studying, as you claim to be? He most likely learned smooth words from his mother on how to seduce others. How can my cousin marry a woman who is so easily swayed by sweet words."

"What is going on here?" Lan Xichen cut in then, as he approached the scene, and Meng Yao felt grateful for the man's presence. Somehow, he did not think that his own words of reassurance would placate his cousin.

"Meng xiong and I were studying together," Jiang Yanli smiled at the man without the slightest flinch, "We were going over the materials Grand Master Lan taught us today."

She gestured to the table and the talismans she had been working on, clearly showing their work on it.

"Jin xiong came by, and started making accusations as to what we were doing," she said glancing at Jin Zixun without a flinch. She was every bit the daughter of a sect leader. "I was merely clearing up the misunderstandings between us."

"I highly doubt there is a misunderstanding," Jin Zixun scoffed, "You are dishonouring my cousin by spending so much time with another man alone."

"She is merely studying with her peer," Lan Xichen said, looking at Jin Zixun, "The point of these lectures is to encourage intersect relationships, gongzi. My own brother and Wei gongzi have formed a strong friendship, one which will benefit them in the future. That is why these lectures occur, in addition to helping teach the disciples from each sect. Jiang guniang has done that with Meng Yao. Please do not spread rumours of improper behaviour, as that is forbidden. I must insist you receive punishment for it, as rumours can lead to misunderstandings and can be detrimental. Please proceed to the discipline hall."

Jin Zixun huffed, as he walked away, leaving Jiang Yanli and Meng Yao alone with Lan Xichen.

"Are you okay?" Lan Xichen asked him gently.

"I have been called worse," he said simply, "Jiang guniang, are you okay?"

"I have met many men like them who seem to think they are capable of dictating my actions simply because of the gender I was born," she said with a sad smile, "I have been lucky that others, such as my brother, have cherished me regardless. I just hope my future husband will not treat me as such."

"You deserve to be treated with compassion and kindness," Lan Xichen told her, "Especially from a spouse. I hope you end up with someone who will treat you as such."

"Thank you," she smiled at him, "I will return to my dorms now. I would like to rest a bit before dinner. Thank you for your company A-Yao, and hopefully we can study tomorrow."

He nodded in agreement, leaving him alone with Lan Xichen.

"I'm okay," he told the other man again, but Lan Xichen did not look like he believed him.

"Does he often say such things to you?" Lan Xichen prodded.

Meng Yao shrugged, "He's made the off remark. Jin Zixuan leaves me alone, however, so it's bearable. It's nothing I haven't heard before. I'm grateful to Zongzhu that he and his brothers have shut down any attempts of people speaking poorly to me, but I cannot expect every sect to treat me as such."

"You do not deserve to be treated as such," Lan Xichen said, unhappily, "You are a kind person, A-Yao. I have enjoyed getting to know you better while you are here. I have enjoyed our discussions, and playing with you. And I know Mingjue misses you, but I find myself growing saddened by the idea that you will be leaving soon. You are a great man, and you deserve to be treated with respect."

"As long as the people I care about treat me well, then I will not want for anything else," Meng Yao said, smiling genuinely at the man.

"Come, let me get you some tea," Lan Xichen said, as he guided Meng Yao towards his chambers.


Wei Wuxian felt bad.

It was kind of his fault that everyone had gotten worried over him. Da-ge was right, if he hadn't thrown Lan Zhan over the wall, then neither of them would have been punished. And if neither of them were punished they wouldn't have gone to the Cold Springs, wouldn't have gotten dragged into it, and made everyone worry.

Da-ge had come all the way from Qinghe cause he'd been so worried.

Er-ge had cried, and he must have been so worried as he searched for him all night long.

Xichen-ge had been so happy to see him and Lan Zhan, and even Lan Qiren had looked relieved that they'd been found.

And Lan Zhan, who had never broken a single rule before him, had gone through so much because he had gotten drunk. Because Lan Zhan didn't want him to get hurt, and cradled him as he fell to the ground.

He was an awful friend.

He picked up the bunnies that had been in the Cold Springs, and carried them with him in a woven basket, as he proceeded towards Jingshi. He knew Lan Zhan was most likely studying inside, preparing for their lessons with Lan Qiren later that evening.

"Lan er-gege?" he asked, gently knocking on the door, and Lan Zhan opened it not a moment later.

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said, looking at him in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to ask you for your opinion on something," he asked as he set the basket down inside Lan Zhan's rooms. "I went back to the Cold Springs, and found these little guys there all alone. What should I do with them, Lan er-gege?"

He had noticed how Lan Zhan had eyed the bunnies in the cave, and he'd hoped it would be a sufficient apology.

The basket opened, and he took a bunny out, handing it to Lan Zhan.

He'd never seen the man soften so quickly.

"You went back?" Lan Zhan asked in confusion.

"They were all alone!" Wei Wuxian defended, "I wanted to make sure I could find them a home! You don't eat meat here, and if I take them to Caiyi Town I'm sure I could find someone to take them, but they'd probably be made into a stew or something! And these were Lan Yi's bunnies."

Lan Zhan's arms tightened around the bunny at the mention of stew, and Wei Wuxian knew he was getting closer.

"I will keep them," Lan Zhan said firmly, as Wei Wuxian allowed the remaining bunnies in the basket to leave. As Lan Zhan sat on the ground, Wei Wuxian placed another on his lap, and took one for himself to cuddle as well.

"I thought there were no pets allowed in Cloud Recesses?" Wei Wuxian asked innocently, as he stroked between his ears.

"They are not pets," Lan Zhan said defiantly, "These are Lan Yi's companions. We are honouring her memory by allowing them to stay. I will set them free in the back hills. Then they will be wild animals and not pets."

"Of course they will be," Wei Wuxian stifled a laugh. How was it possible for the man to look even cuter as he cuddled the bunnies? He wanted to pinch his cheeks and just wrap all of them in a delicate blanket so nothing happened to any of them – bunnies or Lan Zhan.

"They will have a good home here," Lan Zhan said, as he watched the other bunnies roam around his rooms. They seemed happy to be in it, and Wei Wuxian couldn't help but agree. Lan Zhan's rooms were just like him. Clean, organized, and everything one would expect of the Second Jade of Gusu.

"Beautiful," he remarked, looking at the bunnies, but he meant his comment for Lan Zhan. The boy flushed, and Wei Wuxian couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction at being the one to cause him to react like that.

"Thank you," Lan Zhan said, "For the present. You could have left them there."

"I know you like bunnies," Wei Wuxian told him, "You kept eyeing them softly in the cave. I wanted to apologise. Da-ge was right, I keep dragging you into my messes, and I caused you to get beaten for me. I caused your family to worry when we were gone. I'm sorry, Lan Zhan. I don't want you to get hurt because of me. I don't want you to be in pain because of me. I'm sorry."

"Wei Ying has nothing to apologise for," Lan Zhan insisted.

"I do! I told you I would do better, but I seem to be bringing you down. I know you were worried your Elders wouldn't allow us to be friends with each other, and I don't want to give them any reason to doubt you. To allow you to be in pain because of me. You mean too much to me and I don't want to lose you in my life, Lan Zhan," he said, meaning every word. "Please forgive me. I won't break any more rules while I'm here."

"There is nothing to forgive," Lan Zhan started, "But I trust Wei Ying will try his best to behave. He has already shown that he is a brilliant student. Uncle is very impressed by your work. He has shown some of your designs to the Elders, and they begrudgingly have accepted that you are a smart student."

"And Lans love learning," he said wryly.

"Mm," Lan Zhan confirmed, as the rabbit he was holding broke free of his arms. Wei Wuxian's bunny jumped out of his as well, and the two circled each other on the ground, before immediately going at it.

"Aren't they both male?" Wei Wuxian laughed, knowing it meant that they were doing it solely to enjoy each other's company over procreation purposes.

"Mm," Lan Zhan looked up at Wei Wuxian.

"Even in nature, the heart wants what the heart wants, I guess," Wei Wuxian said, as he covered the pair with the basket, wanting to give them some privacy. And because he wasn't sure his cheeks wouldn't redden if he looked at them any longer.

Besides, he didn't want Lan Zhan to have to see something like that and dirty his mind.

Except hadn't he been the one to show Lan Zhan porn not long ago?

Suddenly, he felt himself grow very warm.

"We should go to our lesson," Lan Zhan said, as he stood, "We do not want to keep Uncle waiting."

Wei Wuxian simply nodded, unable to say anything else.