Ch 44

The outside uproar couldn't be kept from Lan Zhan and Wei Ying for very long however, especially as Wei Ying had become enemy number one once again practically over night. A concerned letter had come to him from his sister asking if the Lan's were protecting him against the malicious rumours floating around. Wei Ying had looked at the piece of paper, covered in his sisters elegant handwriting, and stared blankly at it for so long that Lan Zhan had moved to his side to see what the problem was. Recognising the writing as belonging to YanLi, Lan Zhan had automatically begun to back away before realising Wei Ying's grip on the thin paper was shaking. Placing his own hand upon his husbands to steady it Lan Zhan began to read slowly, unsure as to what might have upset the other man so much. After a few sentences he realised what was wrong with the letter.

'Rumours! What rumours?' He asked stupidly.

It was one of the few times in his life Lan Zhan had asked such an obviously stupid question. From the look of his face it was obvious Wei Ying had less of an idea than he did! Yet he hadn't been able to stop himself from blurting the words out. With Wei Ying now looking up at him with a confused look on his face Lan Zhan was barely able to bite back a growl at the ridiculously stupid question. As Wei Ying opened his mouth to speak Lan Zhan waved his free hand to stall him.

'Dumb question yes I know…...If you knew anything about the rumours you wouldn't be stood there looking like this!'

Wei Ying grinned before squeezing his palm on his wrist.

'It's ok Er'ge, it surprised me to. But if my sister knows about this then I have a suspicion so does your brother. I'm sure…...'

Lan Zhan simply nodded in agreement before turning and walking out the door, leaving Wei Ying, with his mouth agape, to either stand around like a fool or follow.

Lan XiChen was dealing a particularly annoying Sect Leader, who was determined that the Lan's should uphold their place in the cultivation world by killing Wei Ying, cutting off his head and hanging it up on the front gate for the whole world to see. This was the third letter he had gotten from the man who was getting both more aggressive and less mannered with each note. XiChen seriously wanted to write back to the man telling him exactly what he thought of his ideas, and his manners, however his Uncle had also been looking at some of the notes and if his Uncle could keep his temper through all of this so could he.

Well that's what he thought until the door of the to the office swung open without any warning. Wanji walked in looking more determined than he was used to seeing him, and Wei Ying slightly behind but falling into his usual place at his brothers right hand side. XiChen automatically hid the letter behind his back, not wanting either of these two to see the note and its contents. Wei Ying looked curious but Wanji defiantly looked unhappy. Both men stopped and bowed, then Wanji spoke before anyone else had the chance.

'Brother have you heard of the rumours about Wei Ying?'

Lan XiChen wasn't a stupid man, he knew his younger brother was expecting an answer and was simply giving him the respect by phrasing it as a question. Lan Zhan would put up with many things, but when it came to people badmouthing Wei Ying his temper and sense of control always got a little slippery . XiChen turned slightly, allowing him to drop the letter onto his desk surreptitiously, before turning his face to take in both his brother and brother-in-law. Just as he was about to reply another set of footsteps appeared at the door, all three men turned to look and saw Lan QiRen's voice echoed through the office.

'XiChen tell them!'

Lan XiChen nodded and took a slight breath before replying.

'Yes I know about the rumours going around. I have known for a while but have not told either of you as you needed to heal after Xue Yang's attack. Knowing what was going on outside would not be helpful'

Lan Zhan simply stared in his normal passive way towards his brother, Wei Ying seemed quietly listening as well. The quiet focus from both men was quite unnerving. Before XiChen could speak again a huff from behind them and Lan QiRen's dull, booming voice appeared.

'You two should have known the knowledge of Wei WuXian being alive would come out sooner or later. Wei WuXian you were in no condition to cope with those rumours, you were too worried about Wanji. Wanji you needed to heal, you used up far to much energy in your battle defending the cloud reccess. XiChen did what was needed to protect not only our Sect but also our family .So you can both take those looks off your faces right now!'

Lan Zhan stood still for a moment as if contemplating the words before nodding quietly. Wei Ying nodded as well, still remaining silent as he stood at his husbands side. Another huff was the only signal that Lan QiRen had seen the agreement. Lan XiChen simply took another breath and began again.

'All of these rumours seem to have coincided with the attack. It's obvious that this is being directed by someone, they are in the darkness right now while are in the light. We have to figure out some way to get them out of the shadows. Xue Yang is cruel but he isn't smart enough to be the mastermind behind this. I have been working with Sect Leader Jiang and we have uncovered some clues about this person…..'

Lan XiChen continued to speak for a few hours about what had happened over the last few weeks. Occasionally the other three would offer their opinions or ideas that took them on another tangent but at the end of three hours of talking the four men had come up with a plan to make the unknown man to poke his head out of his hidden hole.

As the men left the room Wei Ying took Lan Zhan's hand.

'I need to go and write a letter to my brother' He whispered gently.

Lan Zhan simply nodded, mostly unresponsive as he walked, even his hand in Wei Ying's seemed loose and light. Wei Ying worried about the lack of response from his partner, it was obvious he hadn't been happy about the ideas being passed around in his brothers office even more so the idea they had decided on. However this complete unresponsive Lan Zhan was something he hadn't come across since the first weeks of their relationship. Wei Ying actually wasn't sure how he was going to get through to him the importance of his agreement. He needed Lan Zhan's agreement and backup or nothing agreed in Lan XiChen's office was going to work, but with Lan Zhan being so blank and unresponsive he had no idea how he was going to get that agreement. Both Lan XiChen and Lan QiRen had known enough about their respective brother and nephew though to know that Wei Ying would be the only person who had a chance at breaking through the mental barriers of the stubborn jade of Lan.

Upon entering the privacy of the Jingshi Wei Ying turned to close the door before turning again to face Lan Zhan. The later simply stood, head up as normal but eyes facing the pair of tea cups always kept on the table in the centre of the room. Wei Ying sighed softly but remained where he was speaking out loud, knowing the silencing spells on the building would keep any conversation private.

'Lan Er'ge, this unresponsive rubbish might be enough to hide yourself from your uncle and brother but it wont work on me!'

Lan Zhan still stared at the table, refusing to look up or acknowledge he had even heard. Wei Ying decided the best way to break through this wall of nothingness was simply with a hammer. He sighed loudly and theatrically while walking forwards slowly and waving his arm in his husbands general direction. His tone was dismissive as he spoke, purposefully walking past Lan Zhan with enough distance between them that the latter would not be able to grab him.

'Fine! You want to sulk and behave like this, you do it, but do it on your own. I'm going to bed! You can sleep at your desk or on the floor!'

Just as he thought, the shock of the statement made Lan Zhan's head whip round to face him, his hand already out to grab his wrist before he had realised Wei Ying was purposefully too far away. As he stood their in a stunned trance Wei Ying kept moving towards the room divider that separated their bedroom from the main house. Lan Zhan was silent this time not because he wanted to be but simply because he had no idea WHAT to say! He had never been kicked out of the bed before, let alone told to sleep on the floor before he had even gotten into it! Lan Zhan moved as quickly as he would do on a battlefield when deflecting an enemy weapon, and managed to grab hold of Wei Ying's arm before he disappeared behind the screen.

'Wei Ying stop! Please…...I….'

He paused at the look in his husbands eyes as Wei Ying turned back to face him. The hard look look in the eyes was accompanied by an equally hard tone from those normally loving lips.

'Ohh so you can talk then?'

Lan Zhan was on the back foot. A place he wasn't used to with Wei Ying, certainly not in their private home. However Wei Ying looked angry, unforgiving at being ignored…wait a minute am I not the one who is supposed to be angry…...part of him thought, but was pushed firmly away.

'..I…' He tried again but was over ridden by Wei Ying once again.

'You think your the only person who is going to be hurt by this? Do you think no one else is going to feel anything? And do you really believe neither your Uncle, brother or myself took your feelings into account when we all agreed?' Lan Zhan was still staring mutely, his hand resting gently on Wei Ying's wrist as Wei Ying continued to speak gently but firmly. 'I know your hurt, so am I! Do you really think I'm not going to hurt as badly as you? But it's the only way we have that could work. I really don't need you ignoring me right now!'

Wei Ying once again went to move but Lan Zhan tightened his hand. Something inside him told him that he couldn't let Wei Ying disappear behind that screen on his own tonight.

'I'm sorry' He blurted out. 'I didn't think... I just….don't walk away from me…..' Almost desperate Lan Zhan cupped a hand round Wei Ying's head and pulled him towards his own, kissing him powerfully and lengthily before lifting his head away and almost at a whisper finished. '…..tell me what I need to do'

Whether it was the kiss or his words he didn't know but Wei Ying's eyes seemed to have returned to their normal gentle look, and his mouth had lost its hardness. Wei Ying didn't push Lan Zhan away but neither did he pull him closer, instead simply remained still as he spoke.

'The only thing you need to do is trust me Er'ge, trust me and trust your Uncle and brother. I know you don't like the idea. But do you trust us?'

The air seemed to contain a heavy silence for a moment, neither man moving or breaking the tension. Then slowly and almost imperceptibly Lan Zhan nodded.

'I trust you…..I trust you all…...but it doesn't mean I have to like it!'

Wei Ying smiled before resting his free hand on top of Lan Zhan's.

'You wouldn't be my Lan Er'ge if you easily agreed.' he replied trying not to laugh.

Lan Zhan remained where he was for a few seconds before he suddenly tugged Wei Ying's wrist, causing the later to loose his balance. Taking advantage, Lan Zhan scooped up his troublesome partner and walked behind the privacy screen and half dumped them both on the bed. Wei Ying laughed and looked up, wiggling teasingly underneath Lan Zhan's heavier frame. Looking each other square in the eyes Lan Zhan whispered.

'Do you trust me?

Laughing even louder than before at hearing his own words used back at him Wei Ying squirmed a little more and, although still fully clothed, widened his legs fully under Lan Zhan making the larger man's eyes open even wider.

'That all depends on what are you going to do to me?' he teased.