Ch 27 – Light heart

SiZhui stood outside the door of the Jingshi wringing his hands, there was nothing in them of course and they were already dry, but it gave his nervous energy a place to go and himself something to do. His fathers had woken up a few hours previously and his Uncle XiChen had sent his Uncle Wen to find him and tell him the news. Of course he would only ever call 'Uncle XiChen' that in his head, baba himself wouldn't be THAT shameless to call the head of the Clan so informally in public…...or would he? Ugh he had to stop thinking about stupid things and standing outside of the door like he was being punished or something. He was just too nervous to go in, too nervous to face both his fathers now they were awake. Even though they had both asked for him. He took a faltering step forwards before pausing again, looking over his shoulder as if thinking about running back to his dorm room, and then facing forwards again.

Just then the JinShi's door opened and out stepped Lan XiChen. The Sect leader looked tired and worn out, something only those close to him would probably even notice, yet he still stood with an air of command that seemed natural to him and both SiZhui's fathers. Idly SiZhui wondered if that air of command was natural or had somehow been learned from the type of life they had all lead as teenagers. Lan XiChen seemed to straighten when when he saw him and a smile appeared on his tired face.

'Ahh good you finally turned up. I thought I was going to have tie them both down to stop them from going to look for you themselves.' He stood off to one side, leaving the doorway free. 'Go on in SiZhui, they have both been waiting for you.'

SiZhui could only nod politely as he walked past his uncle and into the JingShi. He had grown up here, laughed and giggled with baba and been taught by father, loved by them both. So why did it feel so alien to him this time. As he stepped through the doorway he felt rather than heard his uncle shut the door behind him, leaving the three of them alone. He knew where the bed was, he had curled up in it as a child plenty of times when he couldn't sleep due to nightmares, but he now he was alone with his fathers he couldn't force his feet to move around the privacy screen separating them.

'A-Yuan?' Came baba's voice, much quieter than normal, but then he guessed that was normal considering her had been unconscious for days. 'A-Yuan is that you?' Wei Ying spoke again, still a little uncertain. SiZhui remained quiet, uncertain what to say.

A rustle the other side of the screen, a slight groan and then some whispering between his parents before another rustle. SiZhui wasn't sure but he was sure one of them had just tried to get out of bed, unsuccessfully. It showed how much pain they both must be in that both men, who had always been towers of skill and strength in his life, couldn't even climb out their own bed at the moment.

'SiZhui come round here' Lan Zhan's voice sounded, full of that fatherly command but yet at the same time also quieter than normal. 'Wei Ying has been worrying about for hours, don't make him wait any longer.'

SiZhui couldn't disobey that tone, either as HanGuang Jun or as his father. His feet moved on their own round the screen, his hands wringing once again with nerves. His eyes naturally lowered to the floor, feeling unworthy of looking into the eyes of the two men who had given him so much. Instead he stood just, eyes downcast, as if waiting for the executioners axe to fall. Surprisingly it was Lan Zhan's voice that came again.

'Did I teach you to hide from your decisions?'

'No father!'

'Then look at us SiZhui'

With a force of will SiZhui forced himself to look up. Both his fathers where propped up on cushions in bed, wrapped in layers of robes and quilts. Despite this though he could see that they had both lost a lot of weight and their voices showed how tired they were. A little movement came from under the quilts and Lan Zhan looked back at Wei Ying before moving slightly. Wei Ying smiled, then turned the smile to SiZhui and patting the bed between the two of them.

'Come sit with us A-Yuan' He said in serious tone, but his eyes shone.

Not knowing what else to do, and with his voice failing him once again, SiZhui moved over to the bed and gently sat down in the gap between his his father and baba's legs. He hadn't sat on the bed with them for years, normally they sat at the table now he wasn't a child. This didn't stop him from imagining what life would had been like growing up with both his fathers, the room full of laughter. His father smiling instead of serious all the time and sitting like this on the bed as a toddler, maybe even snuggling in the protective arms of both these strong but loving men. Snapping back to reality he looked up and guessed they simply weren't well enough to move. Wei Ying spoke up breaking the silence.

'A-Yuan tell us honestly….who's idea was it to force Wen RouHan out by stabbing me?'

With the piercing gaze of both parents on him SiZhui could only tell the truth, although his words came out more of a garbled mess than an actual explanation.

'I remembered hearing about pain in class…...it could focus someone…..Wen RouHan was nasty…...Father looked ill….you….you were…..you going to kill father, baba…...Uncle Jiang couldn't hurt you, no one could…..I didn't want to either….I didn't know A-Ling would hurt you so seriously.'

Wei Ying only smiled and patted SiZhui on the shoulder as he spoke.

'You did it to save me, and save your father….I'm proud of you'

SiZhui looked up astonished, sure he had heard wrong. His eyes moved to his father, looking for help, wondering what was wrong with his baba. He was sure something had gone wrong with his mind while he was recovering. Lan Zhan just looked back at him, a small smile curving his lips. SiZhui was still stunned when he felt the pressure on his shoulder increase. Looking down he noticed Lan Zhan's hand resting atop Wei Ying's.

'SiZhui' Lan Zhan spoke getting his attention. 'You were faced with an almost impossible situation, one neither of us ever hoped you would face. We hoped you would always be innocent of the types of things we had to face growing up, but it seems fate had different plans. In the end though yours and Jin Ling's quick thinking and actions saved both your baba and myself' Lan Zhan paused as he reached up slightly running his fingers over his son's forehead ribbon with an air of finality. 'You have truly become a man we can both be proud of'

Lan Zhan's hand dropped from SiZhui's forehead ribbon as Wei Ying smiled brightly and nodded. Obviously a little too hard as he winced a second later. SiZhui himself couldn't stop the tears running down his cheeks, but this time it wasn't being hated by everyone else for what he'd done. It was that the only two people in the world who really mattered to him where proud of him.

When Jiang Cheng had received the message telling him both his brother and brother-in-law had woken up he was naturally happy at the news. Of course the message had only told him the bare minimum information, but each Sect kept its own secrets. Wei Ying had been a member of the Lan's for a long time now, and if he was honest with himself his elder brother wasn't even a member of YunMeng long before his marriage to Lan Zhan. He could remember Wei Ying's expulsion from the Sect like it was yesterday, as well as the look on YanLi's face as she had told him how disappointed their father would be and how she herself would never forgive him. He had long ago worked out that part of the reason he hated Wei Ying so much in those years they all though he had died was because YanLi had died without forgiving him for turning his back on their brother when he most needed them.

Despite their problems though, or possibly because of them, himself and Wei Ying had started to become closer over the last few years. Begun burying the hatchet, and for once not in each others backs. This relationship, and the desire to clean up the problem plaguing Jin Ling, had bought him back to Gusu as soon as he heard the news. Currently he was stood just outside the JingShi where both Wei Ying and Lan Zhan still were on strict bed rest. For once it was not Wen Ning keeping him stood outside the room but rather a visit from the healers checking up on his charges. Like all healers the man had said, in a voice that brooked no argument, that he didn't allow visitors in the room during his examinations. So Jiang Cheng was stood outside once again, with no protection against the excessive heat of the day and feeling a sense of deja-vous.

Eventually the healer left and he was allowed to go inside. By now the privacy screen was being removed in the day and the cushions were moved over closer to the bed so people could sit and speak to the two occupants without having to join them on it like SiZhui had. Both men were dressed properly in full robes, but still looked too thin, even though Wei Ying smiled at him as he walked through the door. His brothers smiles where infectious and even Lan Zhan, who normally behaved like he didn't exist (if he was lucky) gave him a small nod of welcome.

'Brother thank god' Wei Ying said in an over exaggerated tone 'I never thought I could be so bored, especially in Lan Zhan's company' he gave a wink to Lan Zhan next to him who smiled slightly and then closed his eyes, either sleeping, meditating or just going back to completely ignoring him. 'They are telling us next to nothing about what's happening outside this room, they just want us to sleep…..I'm bored of sleeping.'

Jiang Cheng couldn't help smiling. After all these years they obviously still hadn't worked out that, a bit like a child, if you wanted Wei Ying to lie still and get better the worst thing you could do was tell him nothing. He seated himself in one of the chairs and got comfortable, after all he had come here with a firm idea in mind. When Wei Ying looked at him with that look he knew from their childhood as meaning 'I'm being punished for something, help me get out of it before I do something even more stupid' he nodded and gave a very succinct account of what had gone on in the past week.

'Well the people you cured have gotten better, most have managed to cure the majority of their own Clans. However there still seem to be some that will need your help, we don't know why they aren't though. They are stable for now from what I know so you don't have to rush getting better. Although maybe ZeWu Jun knows more about that than me.' He paused and looked Wei Ying in the eyes.

'What's wrong?' Wei Ying asked concerned, knowing that look on his younger brothers face.

'Jin Ling' Jiang Cheng said firmly. Upon seeing the look of concern grow he quickly added. 'No he's fine, he's still healthy and well.' Wei Ying's panicked face relaxed but he continued to listen as he continued. 'Ever since him and SiZhui attacked you there have been rumours going around. At first I thought it was just YunMeng and LanLing but it's everywhere.'

'What rumours?' Wei Ying asked, the concern clearly back on his face but his voice blank.

Lan Zhan reached out with one hand and caught Wei Ying's wrist.

'Wei Ying calm down' He instructed gently.

How can he do that without opening his eyes? Jiang Cheng thought before giving himself a mental shake and answering his brothers question.

'Rumours that Jin Ling stabbed you near the heart on purpose. That he was trying to kill you. The reasons seem to differ, some say he was getting revenge for sister, some say it was a plan to get the Jin back on top by separating the Lan and Jiang. Others seem to think I put him up to it as I wish to be Excellency myself and would stoop so low as to use my nephew to kill my brother.'

He was going to continue but Wei Ying waved his hand and huffed out a breath. To be honest Wei Ying didn't know if he should be annoyed at the rumours or laugh. They were preposterous. He did however share Jiang Cheng's concern over Jin Ling and the effect such rumours could have on his nephews attempts to try and rebuild his Sects good name. Lan Zhan hadn't moved throughout the conversation and still remained with his eyes shut, but he spoke up.

'If I thought for a second any of those rumours where true Sect Leader Jiang, I would kill you here today!'

'AND ID LET YOU!' Jiang Cheng shouted. He had always given way to Lan Zhan's treatment of him because he knew deep down he deserved it. But now everyone was shoving that old behaviour in his face and he was being forced to confront the old choices he made decades ago, over and over again. Lan Zhan's comments where just the final straw. Wei Ying looked shocked and was about to speak but Lan Zhan squeezed his wrist gently before finally opening his eyes. The unblinking gaze of Lan Zhan made Jiang Cheng feel like he wanted to look away, instead he forced himself to continue, only this time the pure rage in his voice was replaced by heartfelt pain and regret.

'If you want to kill me then do it. I deserve it for what I did back then! I was more interested in my own position, what I looked like to other Sect leaders than the welfare of my own brother! When he needed me I wasn't there for him.' Again Wei Ying went to speak but Lan Zhan silently shook his head, Jiang Cheng didn't notice as he continued. 'Sister told me she would never forgive me for what I did, and that father would be disappointed. I didn't believe her! After all I was the hero and he was gone. I hadn't just not protected my brother I had actively killed him! You have no idea how many times I washed my hands afterwards, the skin almost came off I scrubbed them that much. But still I saw the blood, my own brothers blood, always there no matter what I did. Sister never did forgive me and I don't blame her, how could she forgive me when I don't forgive myself?. But Jin Ling is innocent of all this, what he did was completely different, you can't blame him!'

While he had been speaking Jiang Cheng's eyes had been firmly fixed on Lan Zhan's as if both of them had forgotten Wei Ying, the man they were talking about, was actually in the room. After what seemed like an eternity Lan Zhan nodded his head slightly.

'I don't blame Jin Ling, and I don't blame you' He said in a gentle tone. 'We have all done things we need to repent for, I share as much blame for Wei Ying's death as you do!'

''Wei Ying is in the room and he isn't deaf!' Wei Ying retorted pinning them both with a glare. 'Are you two really opening up these old wounds right now?'

'No' Lan Zhan said with a fierce certainty 'We are finally closing them.'

Jiang Cheng looked confused for a moment before he nodded towards to Lan Zhan who smiled back. Wei Ying muttered something, not quite under his breath, about the two's current IQ. Which had Lan Zhan rolling his eyes and Jiang Cheng trying not to laugh. When Jiang Cheng left the room an hour later, having been informed the two needed to sleep, he felt for the first time in many decades like a weight had been lifted off his heart. They had also thought out a plan which would help his nephew. He smiled as he walked back to his guest room, things where finally getting back on track with his family. Now all they had to do was sort out this poison/virus/thing, cure the people still infected, make sure no one else got infected and find out who was behind it all. Simple!