CH 59 – Let the self judge

(I got this chapter heading from the TV show and novel 'Let the self judge what is right and wrong, let others decide praises and blames and let gains and losses go uncommented on.')

Wei Ying smiled at the groan coming from his husband as he stroked him to completion. Lan Zhan was still mostly asleep but something had woken him himself up, only to realise he was unable to get back to sleep because of a certain part of his husbands anatomy poking him every time he tried to snuggle back into those strong arms. In the past years it had become more normal to remain intimate through mouths or touches rather than physical sex. Oh they still had sex but as his body didn't recover as fast as it used to and Lan Zhan's libido and stamina had not been reduced even a little with age, it had been reduced to only a few times a week rather than a few times a night. Wei Ying actually enjoyed it when Lan Zhan was only half awake as he didn't try to hide or filter his responses and the noises he made were more honest and animalistic than at other times. The fact that Lan Zhan's body would respond to him while he was still mostly asleep never ceased to amaze Wei Ying either at the sheer amount of trust his husband had in him.

Wiping his hand on the outside of the blanket and sighing contentedly when he could finally cuddle up where he belonged. Another noise seemed to get his attention outside and he shifted once again, Lan Zhan's arms tightened around him though locking him in place.

'Ignore it' Came Lan Zhan's partly sated, partly tired voice from just behind his shoulder blade. 'Why are you so nervous tonight.'

'I don't know. I guess it's because of tomorrow' Wei Ying answered honestly.

Lan Zhan's arms tightened even more before he gently said.

'Sleep!'

Wei Ying curled up and tried to relax again but it seemed a long time before he drifted off to sleep. Lan Zhan was just dropping back to sleep himself when Wei Ying's broke the silence of the night.

'Lan Zhan I didn't really need...I mean you don't have to...Uncle said...'

'Wei Ying!' Lan Zhan broke through his husbands uncharacteristic stuttering and stammering as he tried to find a cohesive sentence. 'Sleep'

This time Wei Ying obviously gave up trying to explain himself and soon his breath evened out to show he had in-fact fallen asleep. I know you didn't ask for this, just like you never ask for anything....Lan Zhan thought to himself as he drifted to sleep himself...but I would never forgive myself if I didn't give it to you.

Lan Zhan opened his eyes to see in the new day, somewhere in the back of his mind he remembered Wei Ying's antics the night before and rolled over to speak to his mischievous husband only to find that side of the bed empty. Not just empty but cold, Wei Ying was not just awake but had apparently been gone for a while. Lan Zhan's hand stopped in its tracks, he could count on one hand the amount of times Wei Ying had woken up before him since they had gotten married and he could count on one finger the amount of times Wei Ying had gotten out of bed before he had. A smile curved at his lips as he pulled back the covers and reached for the house robe he always kept close to wrap around himself before moving out from behind the privacy screen. Whatever was wrong with Wei Ying the night before, he was obviously still nervous.

As Lan Zhan stepped out from having a wash and freshening up Wei Ying walked into the JingShi carrying a tray of food for breakfast which he placed on the centre table before turning and looking at his husband.

'You're awake!' He said happily as he glanced at Lan Zhan from the table. 'I made us some breakfast as I knew you would be waking up soon.'

'The surprising thing is that you are awake' Lan Zhan surprised, a little sarcastically.

Wei Ying just smiled back a little distracted before speaking.

'Come have some breakfast then I will help you get dressed and brush your hair'

'Wei Ying are you speaking to me or the table' Lan Zhan asked only partly joking.

Wei Ying bought his head up to look at his husband and smiled.

'To you of course my Er- ge' He replied grinning.

Finally happy Wei Ying was acting a lot more like his normal, troublesome, self Lan Zhan moved over to the table and began to eat. They had long ago got a storage shelf semi hidden in the JingShi which everyone else pretended they knew nothing about, even though some of the disciples had to restock it occasionally, which held Wei Ying's spicy sauces that he liked piling on everything he ate. Part of Lan Zhan was amazed that after this long eating such spicy food Wei Ying was still able to taste anything, but then again Wei Ying was just as amazed he was able to enjoy the bland food. The two had been able to come to agreements about a lot of things in their time together but he guessed food was something that they were never going to agree on.

After breakfast was done Lan Zhan sat on a small stool while Wei Ying slowly combed his long hair. This was a routine they both enjoyed whenever they had time. Once the long hair was combed to a shine Wei Ying chose one of the simple headpiece and pin in order to complete the style. Lan Zhan then tapping his husband on the shoulder in a silent signal, the two switched places and Lan Zhan combed and styled his husbands hair slowly and carefully. Both men took their time with it, enjoying the intimacy of such a simple action. Although Lan Zhan did have to correct his husbands posture a few times when he insisted on leaning back into the crook of his shoulder and destroying the hairstyle. He couldn't bring himself to growl at him though, Wei Ying was finally being his normal playful self.

The second part of the routine they enjoyed was dressing each other in the simple but full layers of the Lan robes. Lan Zhan enjoyed covering up his husbands body as he always got a selfish thrill that what lay under those robes was for his eyes only, something he was never going to share. Not even with their son. Wei Ying of course never made even such a simple thing easy. He wiggled and teased every time Lan Zhan's fingers got anywhere near skin, let alone touched, about the fact that Lan Zhan had a lot more practice removing his robes than actually putting them on. Such a comment Lan Zhan actually couldn't speak against as it was the truth, although he was the one who removed Wei Ying's robes almost on a nightly basis they very rarely had time to dress each other in a morning. Lan Zhan of course stood still and tried not to smile every time Wei Ying did something wrong and had to undo his inner robe in order to retie it because of some 'accident'.

An hour later the two made their way to the Lan Clan family temple. Outside the doors stood Lan XiChen, who as normal smiled when he saw the two approach, and the rest of the Elders of the Clan. Also though Jiang Cheng and Jin Ling stood off to one side, they had been invited to observe what was going to happen as special recognition to Wei Ying's early childhood and brotherhood. The two would not be involved in anything but felt very pleased to have at least been invited. No one else had been invited today, not even SiZhui. Today was an event that would have an impact on both the Sect and the Lan Clan itself. Such a thing had never been done before and as such only the Elders and those involved were present, the fact that they had given an invite to two other Sect Leaders to witness such an event showed how how sincere they were in correcting what they saw as a serious error on the part of both the Sect and Clan. As Wei Ying approached Jiang Cheng many to catch his eye and nod over to one side. Obviously Wei Ying understood his brothers not so subtle signal and whispered something to Lan Zhan before moving in the direction indicated. Once the two men got out of earshot of the others Jiang Cheng spoke quietly but in a voice filled with sincerity.

'Are you sure you want to do this?'

Wei Ying placed a reassuring hand on his brothers shoulder as he spoke.

'You sound like I'm getting married again'

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes as the only response to his brothers joke as Wei Ying continued.

'Didn't we have this conversation yesterday? I'm sure. I was never included in the Jiang's I know that…...your mother wouldn't allow it….. I was just another disciple that she didn't really want around.' Jiang Cheng winced but didn't refute the truth of the words as Wei Ying continued. 'Don't worry brother, what's happening today will not change anything between us. I will still be your brother. Neither you or Jin Ling can get rid of me that easily.'

Jiang Cheng seemed to relax at the statement and smiled as he nodded. It was true enough, Jiang Cheng had arrived the day before and Wei Ying had cleared his day to spend the time with his brother. Since Lan Zhan had become the Sect Leader and both Jiang Cheng and Jin Ling had gotten married the two had been finding it harder to find. Both of them, having finally found peace and trust amongst themselves once again, did not want to loose touch so they were finding every chance they could to speak or get together physically. Wei Ying had gone to both his brother and nephews weddings, had been present for the birth of Lin Jing's son and the one month anniversary celebrations. Although for both Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng, Wei Ying heading to Koi tower for the one month anniversary celebrations of his great nephew bought back some memories they wanted to forget. Jiang Cheng had also been present at the official betrothal of SiZhui to his future wife SuSu and wished them happiness with all his heart. The two men had come a long way since their younger days when one had been too proud and the other had been too sure of his own abilities.

Placing his hand atop Wei Ying's the two brothers looked at each other for a few moments before a low cough appeared from behind them. Two heads spun almost in sync and faced Lan Zhan who was stood just far enough back to give them privacy but still close enough to be heard.

'It's time' He said simply.

Lan XiChen walked into the Clan temple and beckoned for both Lan Zhan and Wei Ying to follow. As the two entered they knelt and bowed to the ancestors as they had many times before. Upon rising to their knees Lan XiChen opened a large book which had been placed on a pedestal just in front of Lan QiRen's memorial tablet. Inside were various names of all the Lan Clan members going back to its original founder. Lan XiChen found the page he wanted and rested the book so all present could see. On the page was Lan QiRen's name, that of his brother and his brother's wife, Lan XiChen and Lan Zhan, and under Lan Zhan's name was written Lan Sizhui. A list of the past, present and future leaders of the Sect. After reading out the names XiChen nodded to his brother who silently rose and left Wei Ying kneeling alone in the centre of the room.

'Today we fix an error we made years go. My uncle…...'XiChen began…..'Although he agreed to my younger brother marrying Wei WuXian he never agreed to adding him to our offical family record. He was of the belief that as Wei WuXian did not raise or give birth to Lan SiZhui then he does not need to be included. The Elders have spoken about this idea and we have decided that although though facts are true Wei WuXian is still the spouse of Lan Wanji and all spouses have been included before. Also Wei WuXian has done our Clan proud and we have no reason to exclude him.' He lifted up an elegant brush pen in one hand and small pot of ink in the other. 'If anyone has any reason why Wei WuXian should not be added to the Lan Clan family records please inform me now.'

Lan XiChen waited a moment but their was silence. The silence remained as he dipped the brush in the ink and slowly wrote the name next to Lan Zhan's…..Wei WuXian…...then linked it by the lines as spouse to Lan Zhan and parent to SiZhui for all future generations to be able to view.

There were tears in Jiang Cheng's eyes as all this happened. His brother had not only finally gotten the family he wished for but this final mark of acceptance would mean that no one in the future would be able to ignore the facts about him again. Something that he was ashamed to admit, his brother would have never gotten if he had remained at home in Lotus Pier.