Ch 49 - Some things are overdue

The days after the execution were filled with the normal arguments, disguised as friendly banter, between the Sect Leaders. It seemed that now the problem that had been Jin GuanYao had been dealt with the Sects were going to go back to bickering over small things as if nothing had ever happened. While watching all the most powerful men in the Cultivation Community squabble like five year olds from his perch on the dais Wei Ying couldn't help but wonder if that's how these people had behaved when they thought he was dead. Maybe that was one reason they had come to hate him so much. If they needed a reason to be nice and civil to each other without acting like this then maybe he had just become an excuse, not that he really cared any more but he found it an interesting way to look at it.

Wei Ying's were, as always, on the man slightly in front of him. Lan Zhan hadn't spoken a word in the assemblies for two days now, although Lan Zhan being Lan Zhan he was sure only himself actually noticed. He simply sat up, back ramrod straight and looked straight ahead as if looking over the top of all those assembled. Despite their talk on that first night Lan Zhan had also been shying away from his touches in the privacy of their room, only allowing things like holding hands in public. Wei Ying was sure that although Lan Zhan was putting on his usual strong appearance, deep down inside he wasn't doing too well. The banter (arguing) in the room got louder and louder as Sect Leader Nie and some man he didn't recognise began 'discussing' a certain part of a territory so out of the way everyone had forgotten in even existed. To show how ludicrous this particular 'discussion' was, even some of the other Sect Leaders had switched off and begun having conversations amongst themselves.

Wei Ying sighed inwardly. Glad that this was the last day of the assemblies and after these men walked out the room this time they would all return to their own homes, himself included. He had enjoyed being back in his childhood home, especially now he was on good terms with his brother once again. What had made it better was that SiZhui had still been at Lotus Pier when they arrived and Wei Ying had been able to take his son around his favourite places growing up, let him eat the lotus seeds from the lake and even take him to meet his aunt YanLi. He was glad that Jiang Cheng had told SIZhui some stories of all three of them growing up and given his nephew his brothers old room in the family wing. SiZhui was raised as a Lan and born a Wen so he technically had no relations with the Jiang's of Lotus Pier, however Wei Ying had been happy that both his brother and son had made the effort to familiarise him with his fathers childhood home.

At last the final assembly came to close and everyone present stood and bowed in respect to Lan Zhan, who in turn stood and nodded politely. With that final response they all turned and left, Jiang Cheng following after to complete his duties as host. Wei Ying remained in his seat behind Lan Zhan who didn't move as Lan XiChen walked up to the dais and stood before his brothers table. He looked first at his brother and then at Wei Ying before speaking.

'Ok Wanji. I have waited until all the official business was over as I did not want to interrupt your duties as Chief Cultivator. However I am now asking you as your Elder brother, or Sect Leader, whichever you will respond to. What has been going on these past few days?'

Lan Zhan simply looked up at his brother, those glacial eyes revealing nothing as he spoke.

'Nothing brother'

'I am not blind! And neither is SiZhui!' Came Lan XiChen's exasperated response.

When no further response came from Lan Zhan he turned to face Wei Ying with a questioning look on his face. A look he obviously expected to be obeyed. Wei Ying tried not to grimace. After all he also thought Lan Zhan needed some help at the moment and if he refused to accept it from him maybe speaking to his own elder brother would help, however Lan Zhan could teach a stone how to be stubborn so the chances of him asking were zero. As Lan Zhan's spouse though he could hardly go telling Lan Xichen thing's Lan Zhan didn't want him to know….could he?…...The thoughts swum in his head as he tried to work out the correct thing to say without straight out lying to his brother-in-law.

'Lan Zhan hasn't been feeling well the last few days' he began slowly. 'so he hasn't been sleeping or eating properly either….'Now both jades where staring at him in a way that made him wish he had never opened his mouth. 'Personally I think the stress of the last few months, ever since the poison began affecting people really, he hasn't had time to slow down or relax properly. Although he will probably not appreciate me telling you this.'

Lan XiChen's gaze was nearly burning into him but Lan Zhan's voice appeared laced with determination.

'I do not need to slow down or relax Wei Ying!'

Wei Ying winced at the tone, it wasn't one Lan Zhan normally used with him. However at that moment Lan XiChen spoke.

'Wei Ying is right Wanji. Ever since this poison appeared both of you have been injured physically, spiritually and mentally with no time to fully heal. I may have been taking care of the political side of things but the fact Jin GuanYao was aiming at you two has forced you both to the front of battles time and time again. Now its all over I am not surprised recovery time is needed.'

Although Lan XiChen spoke gently Lan Zhan still spoke with a voice full of ice when he responded.

'I do not need to recover brother.'

Wei Ying sighed inwardly at the sheer stubbornness of his husband. Everyone thought HE was the stubborn one, well he could not compare to Lan Zhan when he wanted to act like little apple on a bad day. There was perhaps only one thing that might make him waver, Lan Zhan's own version of the 'apple'. Wei Ying tried to get some frustration onto his voice, something easily done, as he spoke up.

'Well I do!' He let himself nearly shout the words making Lan Zhan actually turn round and look at him. 'Since this whole mess started I have been sent to a dream realm…..again!…..and not the nice kind this time!…..' he added as he noticed Lan Zhan's face blush. 'I have been nearly killed by my own son, turned on by the cultivation community…...again!…..attacked in my home….twice!…..' He locked eyes with Lan Zhan, not allowing the other man to look down. 'Do I need to go on Er-ge or will you admit we have both earned some time to have some damn rest?'

Also….' Lan XiChen chimed in before Lan Zhan could respond. 'No one knows what prolonged stress on your new type of bond will be. Its uncharted waters. Better to be careful with it do you not think.'

Lan Zhan was not a fool he knew that between the two of them they had both the logical and emotional arguments covered. Also Wei Ying had told XiChen just enough to give him an idea of what was wrong without sharing the details. Lan Zhan hated his husbands ability with words at times like this, they always got him into trouble.

'Very well.' He conceded grudgingly. 'Wei Ying and Myself will take some time away from the Sects and go nighthunting. We can recover as we go.'

Wei Ying's smile nearly split his face in half at the idea of spending time with no one but Lan Zhan and even Lan XiChen seemed happy at the compromise. Nighthunting wasn't exactly relaxing but it was as close as his brother would get. A loud cough came from behind XiChen, getting all the men's attention. There stood Jiang Cheng looking a little uncomfortable at walking in on a private conversation but determined to remain in his own hall.

'I didn't mean to interrupt.' He said to all the men present.

'You didn't' Lan XiChen replied. 'It was never going to be a secret that they are leaving'

Jiang Cheng looked over at his brother who smiled back.

'When do you plan to leave' He asked to Wei Ying alone.

Wei Ying couldn't help laugh.

'We have only just worked out we are going…..so I guess the answer is….I have no clue!'

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes in the way he used to do when they were children and his elder brother had given a stupid answer to a question. This of course made Wei Ying want to laugh even more, and made Lan Zhan want to elbow him in the ribs to shut him up. Suddenly though Jiang Cheng seemed a lot less certain of himself as he looked up and spoke, again only to his brother.

'Wei Ying, before you go there is something I hope you will accompany me to do first!'

Wei Ying looked confused but something seemed to pass between Jiang Cheng and Lan Zhan, something he didn't quite understand. Then Lan Zhan turned to him and gave a small smile.

A few hours later Lan Zhan stood at the back of the Lotus Pier ancestral hall watching the two men kneel side by side, SiZhui stood beside him also watching but Lan Zhan wasn't sure the younger man understood the full gravity of what was happening at this moment. The four men were the only ones inside the room, two stood just inside the closed doors observing and two knelt on the mats in front of the family shrine. They had waited just long enough for both men to get washed up and changed before coming into the shrine. Jiang Cheng had put on his best Sect Leader robes while Lan Zhan had made sure Wei Ying wore the black and white outfit with the Lan cloud pattern that he only normally wore only when walking along side Lan Zhan in his role as the Chief Cultivators spouse. However Lan Zhan could not think of a more special occasion than this in which to wear such a thing.

The memorial tablets of Madam Yu and Sect Leader Jiang had already been presented and both men had performed their bows in unison. Jiang Cheng had spoken to his father promising he would do better by his family in future and asking his forgiveness for not standing by his brother. Wei Ying had spoken to Madam Yu stating that he had fulfilled his promise to her and she could be happy, causing more than one curious look from his brother. Now both brothers faced the memorial tablet of Jiang YanLi and both their faces where tear stained. However, unlike in the past, there was no raised voices, fights or arguments. After a while of reverential silence Wei Ying spoke first, his emotion obvious.

'I'm sorry sister. You protected me all those years and I couldn't even protect you. I am a worthless brother. But I promise this worthless brother will be a good Uncle to your son and help him know who both his parents really were. Maybe that way I can make it up to you, and make you proud of me again.'

'Sister! I'm sorry. You believed in Wei Ying so much, more than me often, and I got jealous. That jealously not only killed you but him. I failed you completely! You taught me that as a future leader I needed to be honest with myself and I let myself lie to myself for such a long time. ' He paused and looked over to Wei Ying who smiled back. 'without you to guide us we both have made some pretty stupid mistakes but we will put those behind us and walk forwards together sister we promise.'

'You don't have to worry about your stupid little brothers any more sister...we are finally adults now….you can find your peace.' Wei Ying said and then with a cheeky grin and that childish voice, he used to use around YanLi and now used around Lan Zhan, he added. 'Besides if either of us do anything stupid in the future we now have Lan Zhan to smack our heads together for you!'

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath about talking rubbish, but Wei Ying just continued to grin like a child. Jiang Cheng seemed get an epiphany from somewhere seeing his brother acting this way and turned to the two men stood at the door. He beckoned to SiZhui who looked over to Lan Zhan, unsure what to do. Both Lan Zhan and Wei Ying nodded gently and SiZhui walked over to his uncle, kneeling down between the two men at a signal. Jiang Cheng looked back at the memorial tablet.

'Sister this is Wei Ying's son...your nephew, Lan SiZhui. You don't have to worry though he takes more after his sensible father than his shameless one so he is a smart young man.'

At hearing his own introduction SiZhui bowed low from where he knelt towards the memorial tablet of the aunt he had heard so much about from both his parents, and more recently his uncle, but had sadly never got to meet. Because of this bow he missed the almost silent, and very childish, pushing and shoving that went on over the top of his back between the two brothers. Wei Ying mouthed silently 'Shameless one' as he shoved his brother nearly knocking him off his cushion, Jiang Cheng responded by mouthing 'Yes so what' as he regained his balance and pushed Wei Ying back just as hard. By the time SiZhui raised his head he only saw the two men beside him looking at each other and breathing heavily but had no clue what it was about. Lan Zhan decided it was time to 'smack their heads together' as Wei Ying had put it, so he walked forwards towards where the three knelt. Placing a hand on SiZhui's shoulder he signalled the young man to rise, he did so quickly and ended up stood next to his father and just behind his uncle. Wei Ying turned and smiled at his husband before turning back to the tablet in front of him.

'As you can see sister Lan Zhan and I eventually managed to sort ourselves out at get together. I know you are happy for me and I am very very happy. So please do not worry about us anymore.'

Wei Ying then turned to give another smile to his brother, who returned it with one of his own. Then both men performed a series of bows before rising from their mats and turning to exit the room. Silently Lan Zhan and SiZhui bowed once before following, closing the doors behind them.