the thread may stretch or tangle but it will never break
by Rose Thorne
Disclaimer: I don't own anything associated with The Untamed, and make no money writing fanfiction.
Chapter Fourteen
Wei Ying seems happy to be in town for the first time since his near-possession, cleared after nearly a week by Wen Qing. Lan Wangji is of the opinion that the surplus of radishes and need to sell them was more the reason for her clearance, along with the fact a bored Wei Ying was dangerous.
The musical acupuncture helped him heal rapidly for someone without a golden core, according to Wen Qing. And Wei Ying had started to theorize about ways this could potentially be adapted to help Wen Ning—apparently one of the concerns was whether spiritual energy used in such a way would hurt him, or if using resentful energy could damage Wen Ning's control. He didn't feel ready to experiment just yet.
There was only so much Lan Wangji could do to keep Wei Ying distracted once he was recovering, though the tidy rewritten notes thrilled his husband. After the third small explosion while he worked on the Compass of Evil, Wen Qing decided he'd do less damage selling radishes with Wen Ning in town, and insisted they take A-Yuan with them so Granny could rest.
Damage is a perhaps relative idea, when a fake Yiling Laozu disciple sets up shop next to them to hawk his counterfeit wares.
Lan Wangji is surprised when Wei Ying finds the whole thing amusing, and says nothing when he steals the charlatan's Compass of Evil, replacing it with a radish. Truthfully, the theft satisfies him; it grates on him to hear the lies gossips spew, to see people slander his zhiji for their own gain.
The day is otherwise long, with Wen Ning too shy to effectively call attention to their radishes. Adorably, A-Yuan is a bit of a help there, enthusiastically calling the attention of young women who find him adorable (but at least purchased radishes), but he grows bored easily and needs redirection.
It doesn't help that Wei Ying keeps rubbing his hand over his collar with a dreamy expression, which more than once leads Lan Wangji to recite the Lan precepts mentally lest he act inappropriately in public—Wei Ying is wearing his ribbon at his crown, so that restraint is absent.
Under his collar is the evidence of his lack of restraint—a bruise in the shape of Lan Wangji's teeth.
He is careful, on the whole, given Wei Ying bruises easily in his unhealthy state, bruises that take too long to fade for Wangji's comfort. Wei Ying likes the bruise, to Lan Wangji's mortification. Likes being marked by him, little reminders of their every day.
"I know you'd never really hurt me, Lan Zhan," he'd said, his voice filled with a trust Lan Wangji didn't feel he deserved. "And I liked it, in case you couldn't tell."
Watching Wei Ying rub it here in town is a special kind of hell, him at arm's length and too far from their bed.
It becomes worse when Wei Ying glances his way and catches him looking, immediately reddening as though he knows exactly what he is thinking, which makes restraint all the more difficult. He looks beautiful, blushing. But he has always looked beautiful, and Lan Wangji had previously managed restraint—that was, however, before he had acknowledged their relationship, before they had consummated. Somehow the longing, the dreams and fantasies, had been much more manageable before.
The sale of the last of the radishes is a relief, but they still need to purchase items on Wen Qing's list before returning to Burial Mounds. He lets Wei Ying focus on A-Yuan, who insists on being carried, and walks alongside him without touching him. A-Yuan is practically hanging backward from Wei Ying's arms, giggling at silly faces he's making. Wen Ning takes up the rear with the cart, where he'll have Wei Ying sit if his strength fails him.
He is so focused on Wei Ying beside him that he doesn't notice Jiang Wanyin in front of them until he halts, the smile on his face freezing, his stream of nonsense conversation with A-Yuan trailing into silence.
Jiang Wanyin does not look happy.
But, then, he rarely does.
Lan Wangji has to steel himself, doing his best not to look at the lower dantian where Wei Ying's core now rests. Instead he bows politely.
"Sect Leader Jiang."
Beside him, Wei Ying bows as best he can with A-Yuan in his arms, and he can sense movement behind him that tells him Wen Ning has followed suit.
Jiang Wanyin's lip curls, but he just silently tosses his head in a beckoning gesture.
He can hear the way Wei Ying's breath quickens, the bit of perspiration on his upper lip. Can sense his nervousness over what is to come, what he has decided to reveal. Lan Wangji takes a breath to calm himself. His husband needs him steady now.
The moment Jiang Wanyin turns to lead the way to wherever he intends them to speak, Lan Wangji puts a steadying hand on Wei Ying's elbow as they follow and receives a wan smile in response.
Lan Wangji is relieved he is wearing the clothing the aunties sewed for him today, wearing a simpler guan Wei Ying had carved for him personally after he had expressed reluctance to continue wearing the one he had worn to befit and show his station. Wei Ying had carved two rabbits on the guan, one wearing a forehead ribbon and the other stained a darker color with leftover dye from the dock root. The craftwork had distracted him nicely for a while.
The clothing is of a heavier weave than he is used to, but he doesn't mind it. If the plainer clothing has distracted Jiang Wanyin from noticing Lan Wangji is not wearing his forehead ribbon, that it is woven around Wei Ying's crown and plaited with his red ribbon down his back, it is a relief. Jiang Wanyin is not known for an even temper, and his inattention has staved off what might be an argument until they are out of public.
Wei Ying will find the coming conversations stressful enough in private. He doesn't need it to start publicly and draw attention from the locals.
Despite all the rumors about Wei Ying floating around Yiling, none of the regular citizens seem to know what he looks like. Any rumors imported speak of him as a demon or monster, and so any talismans purporting to show his features show him as such—talismans Wei Ying had decorated his cave with, and which Lan Wangji has successfully convinced him to allow him to remove. As infamous and reviled as Wei Ying is, he has managed to stay anonymous outside the gentry, anonymity that affords him some safety, and Lan Wangji would rather it not be shattered by one of Jiang Wanyin's temper tantrums.
They are led to a courtyard, and though Jiang Wanyin first tries to close the door to keep Lan Wangji and Wen Ning out, he is able to stop this by blocking the shutting door with his sheathed sword. The Jiang sect heir must see something in the narrowing of Lan Wangji's eyes, because he doesn't attempt it again, instead closing and locking the door behind them.
Aside from a single figure in a long black cloak, they are alone, and Lan Wangji is unsurprised but pleased when it turns out to be Jiang Yanli in her wedding robes and headdress, come to show Wei Ying so he is not completely left out—he has seen his husband's pain over this, how much he misses the sister who raised him, knows she is as close to his blood as can be, and he hopes this eases it somewhat.
Lan Wangji can feel Wei Ying's arms drooping under the weight of A-Yuan, so he carefully takes the boy from him so he can greet his sister.
"A-Xian," she calls him, untying the cloak and letting it fall. "What do you think?"
He's close enough to hear Wei Ying's breath catch, and is taken back to his disappointment over being excluded from the wedding. He himself is reminded of seeing Wei Ying in red following the Sunshot Campaign, in his underrobes after waking for a coma, the only time he has seen him in only in red. He realizes with a pang he will never see his husband in wedding robes.
"What, she's not marrying you."
Jiang Wanyin's snide tone grates on Lan Wangji, but Wei Ying responds in kind, and he recalls watching them snipe verbally at each other during the lecture in Cloud Recesses, back before the world fell apart.
Jiang Yanli calms them, and he marvels at her ability to bring them together as they try to convince her she looks lovely in her wedding garb.
"You'll only believe it if he says it," Wei Ying says, faking petulance. "Lan Zhan, what do you think?"
He had been trying to avert his eyes politely, but even Jiang Wanyin seems to be watching for his reaction, so he studies them, the delicate stitching, the fall of the layers.
Lan Wangji wishes he could see Wei Ying in wedding robes.
"Elegant," he says with a nod.
"Zhan-gege, who's Pretty-jiejie?" A-Yuan asks, twisting in his hold.
Wei Ying smiles at the boy, taking him back.
"Even A-Yuan knows you're pretty, shijie, so you don't need to worry."
Jiang Yanli folds the cloak and gestures to the nearby table.
"Come now, I've made soup."
When Wei Ying sits, Jiang Yanli's expression shifts to surprise, and he notices her looking at his forehead ribbon in his hair. She looks to him, a question in her expression, and he simply nods. Her responding smile is filled with relief, but also regret.
He is surprised when she doesn't address it immediately, instead gesturing to him to sit and opening the basket. He takes a seat beside Wei Ying. The smell of the soup fills the air, a scent unfamiliar to Lan Wangji, but one that reminds him of his husband. This, he realizes, must be the lotus root and pork rib soup he has heard him talk about.
"I apologize. I only have three bowls," she says, sounding truly disappointed. "I did not expect…"
Lan Wangji is about to demur and insist he does not intend to eat when Jiang Wanyin, surprisingly, pulls out a pouch of money.
"We can purchase a couple from the market, A-jie."
Wen Ning bows.
"Jiang-zongzhu, Jiang-guniang, I can g-go for you."
Jiang Wanyin frowns at Wen Ning with thinly veiled hostility that baffles Lan Wangji, but hands him some silver.
As Wen Ning flees, he wonders if it is to avoid Jiang Wanyin, or to avoid being present for at least part of the conversation to come.
He knows Wei Ying would prefer to flee, and he strokes his arm briefly with his thumb. The smile he receives from his husband is tremulous, but he can see his determination.
Jiang Yanli smiles at A-Yuan, her attention drawn by the movement.
"Who is this little one?" she asks, crouching slightly so she's at the child's height.
"A-Yuan is A-Yuan, Pretty-jiejie!"
Wei Ying shifts, catching his hand briefly and squeezing it; Lan Wangji realizes he's decided to start here, with A-Yuan, in the multitude of revelations that are to be made.
"A-Yuan, this is my shijie," he says softly. "You can call her guma."
Jiang Yanli gasps in delight when A-Yuan dutifully calls her guma.
"A-Xian, is he yours?"
She is obviously unable to take him into her arms, wearing her wedding robes as she is, but she reaches out to take A-Yuan's hand.
"Not by blood, but he started calling me a-die."
He offers a wan smile to both his siblings.
"Meet Wei Yuan. Or he will be, once I've introduced him properly to my parents."
"He's a Wen," Jiang Wanyin states.
Lan Wangji levels him with a stare, though it's unclear in his tone how he feels.
"He's an orphan and he's three years old," Wei Ying shoots back.
Jiang Wanyin's face softens, but Jiang Yanli looks alarmed.
"A-Xian, he was at the work camp? At Qiongqi Path?"
Her face hardens when he nods.
"The children, the civilians, all were supposed to be let go. How could they…?"
Lan Wangji stays silent, knowing Wei Ying would prefer to shield her from some of the uglier realities of the war, but is reminded of coming upon Jin Zixun shooting unarmed civilians in chains, and his lie that it was sanctioned by the Lan and Nie clans.
"I couldn't leave them there, shijie," he whispers. "Wen Ning and Wen Qing sheltered us, and the others were held as Wen Ruohan's hostages against her during the war."
A-Yuan is watching Wei Ying quietly, with the same air of concern he had at the restaurant in Yiling not so many days ago. Lan Wangji shifts again to put the child on Wei Ying's lap, watching as the boy hugs him.
Wei Ying manages a smile for him, then leans his head close to him and points to Jiang Wanyin.
"And the fussy gege is your shushu," he says conspiratorially.
"You—!"
Jiang Yanli silences Jiang Wanyin with a look.
"Like Ning-shushu?" A-Yuan asks. "Do I call him nao-shushu?"
"That's your Jiang-shushu," Wei Ying clarifies before Jiang Cheng can take offense, but nearly chokes on the title and falls quiet.
Lan Wangji remembers abruptly that Wei Ying had once referred to Jiang Fengmian by that very name, and he watches his husband in concern. He has expressed feeling as though the attack on Lotus Pier was his fault, and he can see the guilt and grief Wei Ying is struggling to hold back.
"Yes," Jiang Wanyin says, his voice strained as though he is fighting his own emotional turmoil, ending an awkward silence. "You can call me Jiang-shushu."
When A-Yuan does, it is perhaps the closest Lan Wangji has ever seen Jiang Wanyin come to smiling.
Wen Ning returns with several bowls and soup spoons, an inexpensive wooden variety they have at the Burial Mounds. He tries to give Jiang Wanyin his change and is waved off.
"You can use it to get something sweet for… for my zhizi," he says, his tone brusque. "Or a toy or something."
Wei Ying smiles, his posture relaxing just slightly—A-Yuan's acceptance by his siblings as their nephew has eased his nerves somewhat. But this is only the first of three difficult revelations that must be made, and arguably the easiest of them.
Jiang Yanli serves each of them, putting a generous portion of meat in A-Yuan's bowl, and takes a seat. She herself is not eating, likely concerned about staining her wedding robes. Instead she seems content to watch them eat.
Wei Ying alternates between himself and A-Yuan, one spoon each.
"Be sure to chew the lotus root," Wen Ning tells the boy softly.
A-Yuan nods enthusiastically, clearly enamored of the flavors; Lan Wangji can't blame him. Though there is more spice than he is accustomed to, as is the norm in Yunmeng cuisine, the flavor is somehow warm and comforting. He completely understands how this soup is his husband's favorite.
"You're not eating," Jiang Yanli says.
Wen Ning jerks in surprise.
"Oh… I was going to save this for jiejie so she could try it."
Jiang Yanli smiles warmly.
"We will be coming to Burial Mounds, once I change at the inn. I brought enough ingredients to make some for everyone."
Wei Ying nearly chokes on a bite of soup. She pats his back until he's recovered.
"Wen Qing sent me a letter. We have things to discuss."
Jiang Wanyin looks sour about this.
"Speaking of, Zewu-Jun sent an interesting letter. Said you have news to share. I'm assuming it has to do with why Hanguang-Jun is here?"
Wei Ying puts his soup spoon down and hands A-Yuan off to Wen Ning with his bowl. Wen Ning doesn't seem surprised by this and takes over feeding him.
He tries not to be nervous over his husband getting the boy out of the potential line of fire. He rather hopes it is unnecessary, but he has seen Jiang Wanyin's temper.
"About that," Wei Ying says, then pauses, glancing at Lan Wangji. "Um, well… We're married."
For a moment, there is stunned hurt on Jiang Wanyin's features, but it's quickly replaced by wrath, powerful enough that zidian sparks.
"You couldn't even invite us?!"
Lan Wangji will not have him blame Wei Ying for that. He knows there will be enough of that when they get to the next revelation. He would rather the focus be on him.
"He did not know we were married until recently."
Jiang Wanyin's eyes snap to him, and he carefully keeps his gaze cool in response to what is almost a volcano. He sputters, almost too angry to speak, zidian sparking even more dangerously, leaving the scent of ozone in the air.
"You— Without his consent?! This, from the honorable Hanguang-Jun?!"
"Jiang Wanyin!"
Wei Ying's voice is low and cutting, startlingly powerful despite the lack of volume. It's enough to startle his brother out of his anger, at least momentarily.
"He handfasted me in the Cold Spring cave," he explains. "Lan Yi's guqin was attacking me because I wasn't Lan."
Jiang Yanli stands and levels a look at Jiang Wanyin that somehow makes him quail; Lan Wangji only understands why when she levels it at him—the fury of a mother figure.
"Please explain, Lan-er-gongzi."
Her voice is clipped in the same manner it was when she chastised Jin Zixun at the Phoenix Mountain hunt, and leaves no doubt that she will find a way to harm him if his explanation is deemed unsatisfactory. She is mildly terrifying.
"Wei Ying was being attacked with Chord Assassination," he says. "The headband would afford him protection. I did not expect Lan Yi's appearance. Or that we would bow. Regardless, I did not regret it."
"You married him by accident?" Jiang Wanyin mutters, the rage gone and replaced with confusion.
"Lan Yi did not disapprove."
"And you never told A-Xian?" Jiang Yanli asks.
She also seems more confused than angry now.
Wei Ying sighs tiredly.
"Aiya, Jiang Cheng, shijie… When would he have had time? When we were searching for the yin iron? Indoctrination? The Xuanwu cave? After—"
He breaks off. His siblings look pained, remembering the fate of Lotus Pier, though they don't know what came after for Wei Ying. Yet.
"There was never time," Lan Wangji agrees. "I did not expect my regard for him to be reciprocated. But now, with the danger to Wei Ying… even were it solely political, I could help protect him."
"It's not solely political," Wei Ying chirps, his tone almost smug. "It's very reciprocated—and can't be annulled now!"
Lan Wangji can feel his ears heating. Just under Wei Ying's collar lurks the proof of that, as he's been acutely aware all day. He has to avoid looking at him for a moment—not out of embarrassment, but because if he does, if he sees the heat in Wei Ying's gaze, he might lose control and kiss him in front of his siblings.
As much as his husband might prefer the distraction, he doubts it will help much.
"I didn't need to know that, ever," Jiang Wanyin grouses, making a face.
Jiang Yanli takes her seat again, her face serious.
"A-Xian is in danger?"
Lan Wangji nods.
"The rumors make him out to be a monster raising an army of Wen cultivators, as though he is an enemy. The truth is quite different. The lies Jin Guangshan has spread to imply he disrespects Jiang Wanyin were meant to isolate him. They want the amulet."
"Wait, what's this about me not respecting Jiang Cheng?" Wei Ying demands, clearly affronted.
"One of the claims made after Qiongqi Path," Lan Wangji tells him. "That you were speaking ill of Jiang Wanyin at the Phoenix Mountain hunt."
Wei Ying looks stunned, and his gaze darts to his brother. He evidently doesn't like what he sees, his expression shuttering.
"I see," he says, the words heavy in the air. "And you believed them."
Jiang Wanyin has the decency to look ashamed.
Jiang Yanli seems at a loss. Lan Wangji suspects she has heard none of this. Had she been aware, he has no doubt the offenders would have regretted speaking ill of Wei Ying.
"Maybe you're right not to trust me," Wei Ying murmurs finally. "I've lied to both of you."
The admission startles a flinch from his siblings. Lan Wangji can feel the tension in Wei Ying, like a guqin string stretched too taut, ready to snap at the slightest touch. He reaches for Wei Ying's hand under the table and places his on top of it. He is relieved when his husband relaxes slightly, a slight tremor running through him.
Wei Ying's hand, when he laces theirs together, is clammy and cold, his grip tighter than normal. As much as Lan Wangji wishes he could do more, the best he can do is be here for him.
The quiet stretches, seeming to freeze them in time, broken only when A-Yuan asks Wen Ning for another bite of soup.
Jiang Yanli reaches forward, touches Wei Ying's arm.
"About what, A-Xian?"
She looks concerned and a little afraid, and the same look lurks on Jiang Wanyin's features. They know, Lan Wangji realizes that Wei Ying has been hiding something, maybe even suspect how terrible it is. Whatever they might imagine, he knows the truth will be much worse.
Wei Ying swallows hard, his fingers tightening. He seems to be trying to find the words, deciding how to say it in a way that might soften the blow.
But there is no way to soften it.
"I didn't know how to find Baoshan Sanren," he admits finally.
The conversation is a lot longer than I expected it to be, and this is a good stopping point, even if it is a bit of a cliffhanger. This went in directions I didn't always expect, in part because Jiang Yanli is terrifying.
Lan Wangji has feelings about Jiang Cheng. They're not always the nicest feelings, but he has them regardless. It's ok, because Jiang Cheng has similar feelings in return.
A-Yuan calls Jiang Cheng nao-shushu. 恼 can mean angry but more along the lines of causing a fuss, according to a Discord friend. So angry/fussy uncle. Guma means paternal aunt. Zhizi is brother's son.
It might take me a bit to pick this up again. I'm participating in the WangXian Lunar New Year gift exchange, so I'm working on my piece for that and putting my other fics on hold for a little while. Also, the new semester just started, and I've probably fielded about 50 emails from panicked students today alone.
I edited out the smuttiness in the version here on FFN. You'll need to look on AO3 for the smut version.
