Ch 52

(A/N On the homeward stretch for this story now with just a handful of chapters left (unless I come up with a last minute idea). I hope I can give most of you who have read so far a good ending, I'm not foolish enough to think I can please everyone. I hope you all enjoy the last few chapters of the story and give me feedback on what you did and didn't enjoy. )

Lan Zhan purposefully waited a little later than normal before he went home that evening. He told himself that he just needed to catch up on the work but in reality he knew he was giving Wei Ying as much time as he could alone with his letter before A-Yuan returned from his classes. When he eventually did arrive home though he found Wei Ying still sat at the central table, and untouched cup of tea now cold on the table next to him, as he continued to stare at the piece of paper in his hands. Lan Zhan had always been a bit distant when it came to emotions and a bit slow when it came to reading them on other people, but Wei Ying had been different from the start. Wei Ying always held his heart on his sleeve, always had the strength to show outwardly whatever emotion he felt inwardly. There had never been any problems readings his husbands emotions before, that's what made Lan Zhan stop as soon as he entered the room.

Wei Ying's face was pale, his eyes red where he had obviously been crying, his knuckles where white both from gripping the paper hard and yet controlling his temper enough not to tear something his beloved sister had sent him. Lan Zhan had expected lots of reactions upon coming home after Wei Ying had received the letter but none like this. Lan Zhan stepped forwards slowly, carefully into the room, almost as if Wei Ying had turned into a nervous animal he was afraid to spook.

'Wei Ying!' he said slowly as he approached the table.

No answer.

Lan Zhan moved round until he was directly behind his husband, placing one hand on the others shoulder. Squeezing tightly he tried again.

'Wei Ying!'

This time Wei Ying spoke, but the voice seemed distant and despondent, full of self hatred and heartbreak. Lan Zhan's own heart was breaking at the sound of his normally confident and happy husband sounding so depressed. Gently he reached out for the letter Wei Ying still held who unresistingly let go when he tugged on it gently. Lan Zhan stood up and moved over to the window to get a better view of what on earth had been written on the page to get his husband into such a state.

It only took a few words for him to tell what he was reading wasn't the handwriting of Jiang YanLi, and if he could tell in such a short time Wei Ying would have picked it up immediately. Not being her handwriting though didn't account for the strange responses Wei Ying was giving him so he carried on reading.

Brother in Law

I know this letter will come as a surprise to you, and I hope you enjoyed the letter she sent. As always she wouldn't let me read it so I hope it didn't bad mouth me too much. YanLi does not know I am writing this to you so I ask you not to tell her, however there are some things I feel you should know and as her brother I know she will never inform you herself.

The fallout from Jin GuanYao's betrayal is worse than we expected. It seems I am having to fight not only from outside my Sect but inside as well. Some people are saying that I am unfit to be a Sect leader because I was obviously incompetent not noticing the threat in my own house, others are charging me with collusion with Jin GuanYao. I wouldn't mind if they were just aiming at me but this is expanding to encompass both my wife and son. YanLi is getting dragged into the middle of things trying to defend both me and yourself, putting herself in an almost impossible position. There are calls for Jin Ling to be removed as my recognised heir not only because of many peoples feelings against me but also his relationship to the Jiang's.

I don't know how much you, or the GusuLan in general, know about the reaction to the revelations that day. Some are calling for my cousins head but others are still calling for yours claiming that if you had not gone down the crooked path my cousin would not have had to take extreme measures to correct you. Jin GuanYao himself is claiming that he was acting under your orders and when you got found out you abandoned him to take the fall alone. It is obviously the talk of a desperate man but some are determined to believe him This will blow over but I don't think it will be easy or soon. I know YanLi wishes to see you but I ask you to stay away for now. I know what I'm asking is a lot but I do so for the safety of my wife and child, your sister and nephew. I also ask it for the safety of YunMeng as if it escalates any more I can't see Jiang Cheng remaining on the side-lines.

I swear to you that this will all get sorted out once and for all and when it does I will welcome you to LanLing with open arms myself. But for now I ask for your understanding and patience.

Jin ZuXian

Lan Zhan's fist subconsciously closed around the paper as he finished reading, crushing it into a small ball in his hand. It didn't really matter to him anyway, he would have felt sorry if it had been YanLi's handwriting, but as it wasn't he didn't care. They had proven who was responsible for the entire mess, who had plotted everything from start to finish over the last few years, who had killed other cultivators and tried to frame Wei Ying! Yet it seemed some people still didn't believe them. Because Jin GuanYao came from a high family and 'properly' cultivated then they were determined to believe he was in the right and Wei Ying was in the wrong. Inwardly Lan Zhan fumed at the utter stupidity and blindness of some of the people he was forced to interact with.

Trying very hard not to let his inward curses become voiced Lan Zhan sent the ball of paper to his brother via messenger butterfly, his brother could read it and work out what to do about the contents, before returning his own attention to Wei Ying. Wei Ying was still sat at the table staring off into space as if seeing everything yet nothing at the same time. Lan Zhan turned and made his way over to him, with the same slowness and care that he had used when he first entered the house. When he reached his husband though instead of hovering behind him he simply crouched down in front so that their two faces where close and eyes where level.

'Wei Ying speak to me' This time Lan Zhan's voice was not coaxing or gentle, rather it was filled with demand. His eyes refusing to allow the other to look away and break any contact.

After what seemed like moments but was probably seconds Wei Ying's eyes seemed to focus on those in front of him. The red eyes once again brimmed with tears that he didn't even try to contain. His voice came out hoarse as if he had forgotten how to use it.

'Did I do this to her Lan Zhan?….she's my sister….the only one who loved me without doubt until you came along…..the only one I knew I could always rely on and would never leave me…...have I really repaid her like this?'

So this is what's tearing at his heart?…...Lan Zhan thought to himself before replying….he doesn't care that people still think he's evil he cares that he thinks he repaid her love and kindness with betrayal.

'Do not be foolish!' Lan Zhan spoke honestly but brusquely, causing Wei Ying's gaze to sharpen as he focused on what was being said. 'You have never failed your sister, you have never failed me, and you have never failed yourself! Some people just do not want to believe that someone can deceive them for so long. They do not want to believe that you can be a victim when you cultivate the demon path and he can be the criminal when he cultivates the righteous one.'

'But I got my sister involved….I don't care what they say about me…...I shouldn't have gotten my sister involved' Wei Ying said still as robotic as before causing Lan Zhan's exasperation to grow.

Lan Zhan felt like he wanted to smack that look off his husbands face. That look of loss and pain did not belong there. Wei Ying had stared death in the face in that cave, had stood up to Jin GuanYao once again at YiLing just days ago. Wei Ying had refused to back down no matter what was said about, or thrown at, him over and over again while that man was still walking around free, and yet now! Now they had finally won?, Now Jin GuanYao was captured and locked up where he belonged, Lan Zhan refused to believe that this last effort would be the one to finally defeat his strong husband, even if the blow was against his heart. Lan Zhan released just enough of his self control to allow a growl to enter his voice before speaking again.

'YOU didn't get your sister involved in anything! YOU went out your way to keep her safe. YOU nearly died to protect her, or have you forgotten that fire in the cave because I haven't! Other people are trying to use this to control you. And Wei Ying!' Lan Zhan paused long enough for Wei Ying to focus on him fully again. 'If you really think your sister can't put up with a few people mouthing off you are forgetting one thing!' He saw Wei Ying opening his mouth to ask the question and curved his own in a small smile. 'You forgot she is YOUR sister, beating her is not that easy!'

Wei Ying's eyes seemed to clear and a small smile appeared on his face at the words. Nodding as if to himself he spoke, but this time his voice was full of pride and relief. /

'No it's not. Not easy at all!'

Lan XiChen had already read the note a few times in his office while Lan Zhan had been snapping Wei Ying out his stupor. The first time he had read it, it had seemed just another fall out between the Sects. They happened regularly but Jin ZiXuan being a young Sect Leader may have been taking extra precautions regarding his family. However upon reading it a second time it didn't seem that simple at all. Why would Jin GuanYao blame Wei Ying when he had already been captured? Why did people still refuse to see the truth? Why where people aiming their anger at the Jiang and Lin Sects rather that Jin GuanYao himself? Something wasn't making sense. Determined to find out what going on Lan XiChen sent off two messages, one to the Jin to inform them of his arrival and the other to his uncle to inform his of him leaving for a few days, then immediately walked out of his office and mounted his sword to head for LanLing.