Ch 54

It was early evening the next day when XiChen once again landed home with a sigh of relief. It seemed like a disaster may have been averted at the Jin Sect but he would have to keep and eye on things, maybe even send an envoy over there for some 'diplomatic talks'. An envoy with strict instructions on who, and who not, to speak to of course. The light around him was fading though and the natural sun was slowly being replaced by the dim light of the lanterns. XiChen really wanted just go home and get some sleep however the feel of the thick square of paper in his hand reminded him he had something to do before he rested. Turning he headed for the JingShi where he knew both his brother and Wei Ying would be at this hour, he just hoped that he wouldn't be interrupting anything. He had walked in on the pair once, purely by accident, early on in their marriage and the images and sounds that assaulted his senses where not anything he was eager to repeat.

Wei Ying was nearly bouncing around the room as he held his letter. Lan XiChen had arrived about half an hour before, saw both men dressed only in their under-robes and practically thrown the letter at Wei Ying before nearly running back out the door. The two men didn't look indecent, or at least they thought not, after all A-Yuan was not quite asleep in his bed at the other side of the JingShi yet. The two had just been relaxing, Wei Ying looking out the window and Lan Zhan wondering how he could get Wei Ying to stop worrying enough to actually enjoy a night in bed with his husband. Now Wei Ying was giggling like a girl, jumping up and down and completely ignoring his husband who had look on his face that could be compared to A-Yuan when he was throwing a tantrum.

Lan Zhan sighed and got up from his cushion on the floor and tried to reach out to Wei Ying, but as soon as his palm touched the others shoulder he half walked, half skipped, out of reach. Trying not to growl Lan Zhan retracted his hand and spoke gently.

'From what my brother said I take it your sister writes good news?'

Wei Ying somehow missed the sarcasm in his husbands voice and nodded enthusiastically.

'Yes Lan Zhan, she says that the peacock is in the doghouse for sending me the letter. She says she is perfectly capable of dealing with things…..' Wei Ying spun his head round to smile at Lan Zhan before spinning back round to the letter. 'Just like you said she isn't a weak woman who needs protecting she's my sister, she's stronger than that. She also told me that the cultivators who have a problem with me, her and Jin Ling are a small minority who just happen to have big mouths so there is nothing to worry about. She wants us both to go to LanLing as soon as possible to see our nephew and show we are all one family.'

While Wei Ying had been on his monologue Lan Zhan had just sat down at the table, drinking some tea. It was cold but he couldn't bring himself to care. When Wei Ying finally decided to stop talking and breathe he walked over and half sat, half crouched next to him looking intensely.

'Something wrong Er'ge?'

'Nothing' Lan Zhan said into his teacup.

'Ohh ok' Wei Ying replied, obviously still distracted by YanLi's letter and again missing Lan Zhan's obvious hint.

Lan Zhan put the cup down and looked outside at the evening darkness before glancing over at the now sleeping A-Yuan. A small smile came to his face at the sight of his son looking so peaceful, especially when compared to his overly annoying and excited baba. He got up and walked behind the privacy screen that separated their bedroom from the rest of the house. Just as he had finished folding up his robes and was about to slip under the covers, Wei Ying appeared behind the screen himself, still holding the letter. Lan Zhan slid under the covers as Wei Ying removed his under-robe and tossed it, as he was want to do, wherever it fell on the floor. Then Wei Ying climbed in beside him, pulling up the covers and turning so he could place the letter on the side table near him. Lan Zhan in the meantime simply wrapped an arm around the firm, bare stomach of his husband and pulled him closer. The two lay there quietly for a few moments, with Lan Zhan trying to figure out how change the mood to something more romantic, before Wei Ying spoke.

'Night Er'ge'

Wei Ying simply rolled over slightly, as much as Lan Zhan's hand would allow, and buried his head in the pillow. Inwardly Lan Zhan growled in frustration but outwardly he somehow managed to keep his composure.

'Sleep' Lan Zhan responded.

And for possibly the first night since the two men had realised their mutual love for each other. The first time since they had began sharing a bed together, certainly the first time since they had begun living together and being so shameless as to sleep naked in each others arms. For the first time, the two men actually fell asleep at 9pm.

The following few weeks where busy. The problems with the LanLing Sect got settled when Jin ZiXuan decided to call the five high Sect Leaders to a meeting to decide Jin GuanYao's fate rather than do it himself. The move was very popular among the Sects, although not with Jin GuanYao who ended up being convicted of many crimes against nearly all Sects and sentenced to a public death. Wei Ying and Lan Zhan where invited to attend the execution but both decided not to. They had decided that their part in Jin GuanYao's scheme had ended at YiLing and they wanted nothing to do with the man, they just wanted to move forwards with their lives and their family. Lan XiChen had also decided not to attend the execution for his own reasons. Lan QiRen had understood the feelings of both his nephews concerning this point and had represented the Sect on the day, which was held in the Jin Sects main square, although technically Lan QiRen wasn't a Sect Leader everyone knew the Lan's history with Jin GuanYao so didn't push the subject. When Lan QiRen had arrived home in the evening he had simply searched out both his nephews, both hidden away in their respective homes, and simply nodded to them before leaving. Thus as far as the Lan Sect was concerned the subject of Jin GuanYao was over and the whole Sect was moving forwards with purpose.

It wasn't long afterwards that one morning Wei Ying was awoken by a knock on the door of the JingShi, he automatically rolled over to beg Lan Zhan to see who was at the door so he wouldn't have to get out of bed before realising that it was full daylight outside and both his husband and son had long since left. Grumbling to himself about nothing in particular he rose out of bed, wrapped a robe around himself and opened the door. A disciple stood fidgeting at the doorway and looked up as soon as Wei Ying looked out the semi open door. The disciple bowed and then rattled off a message that Lan Zhan wanted to speak to him immediately in the library. Wei Ying didn't really know what in the library was so important that his husband needed to wake him on one of the few days he wasn't training the children and actually got to sleep in, but nevertheless he nodded; shut the door and went to get dressed.

He arrived quickly, for him anyway, about forty five minutes later outside the Library and entered without knocking. As the doors swung open he heard a voice he recognised which made him pause, then another, and another. Lan Zhan's voice rose up amongst the others with his usual command explaining that he had sent the message to Wei Ying but didn't know what was a keeping him. A 'hurumph' came from someone else which made Wei Ying want to giggle like a child for the first time in ages. Creeping back outside he whispered something to a passing disciple and then walked back in the bright, open library confidently.

'Wei Ying was busy getting nicely dressed up for his husband and didn't know we had party crashers' he said with a wide grin on his face as appeared from behind some book stacks.

Another 'hurmph' was the response he got followed by 'I never thought it was possible for you to get more shameless but you have always found ways to do the impossible it seems'

Wei Ying grinned, the the look of cat playing with a mouse in his eyes as he leaned forward and whispered to loudly.

'You think I'm shameless….you should see Lan Zhan when…'

'Ewww no thank you…..there are women and children present!'

'Ohh so you would want to know what I get up to with my husband in the privacy of our bedroom if they weren't here would….Ughhhh Owww that hurt!'

'Stop being a baby it was only my elbow not my sword'

'I…..'

'A-Xian…..A-Cheng stop messing about!' YanLi's eyes where glittering with laughter as she admonished both her younger brothers. Both of which turned around and with almost exactly the same tone and look on their faces said simultaneously.

'Yes Sister!'

Jin ZiXuan who had been watching the back and forth between the brothers burst out laughing, which earned him a look from his wife that only made his laughter worse. Lan Zhan who had also been watching the whole thing had a definite, if small, smile on his face as he watched the bickering going on between the siblings. It reminded him so much of when he had first met the three of them years ago as young teens with nothing to worry about in their lives but learning, and in Wei Ying's case getting into trouble. None of them carried any of the mental and emotional baggage they had now, and always would, so it was nice to watch the relaxed and fun atmosphere for a while. Lan Zhan stepped forwards to wrap an arm around Wei Ying's waist, something he wouldn't normally do in public but everyone here was family. Jin ZiXuan was grumbling something at the sleeping child he held in his arms about 'your mother wants you to have a brother, if you two are anything like your uncles I will be sending you both to either Gusu or Lotus Pier to grow up'. YanLi was laughing happily as Jiang Cheng rolled is eyes at everyone.

Wei Ying eventually remembered what had bought him to the library in the first place and looked up at Lan Zhan.

'So this is why you wanted me to come as quickly as possible? A family reunion'

Lan Zhan nodded, squeezing a little with his hand. Jin ZiXuan made a step forwards and began to speak, focusing on Wei Ying but obviously speaking to all in attendance.

'I need to apologise for the letter I wrote. I didn't think how you would all feel….you…..'

'Both Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng held up their hands simultaneously again, making YanLi giggle, and Jin ZiXuan stop talking.

'That's all in the past now no apologies needed' Jiang Cheng said 'You protected our sister, that's what we care about most.'

Wei Ying nodded his agreement and after a moment so did Lan Zhan. The look of relief on Jin ZiXuan's face was evident and the conversation soon moved onto to other things such as family, children and bickering between the two brothers. At last Lan Zhan decided it was probably time to leave the library and go get some refreshments so he offered to take them all to the JingShi. Wei Ying's jaw nearly dropped but he soon recovered, especially when upon leaving the library Lan Zhan was almost bowled over by a certain short someone shouting 'father' and wouldn't let go of his leg.

Lan Zhan looked over at Wei Ying, who was nearly doubling over from the laughter, before picking up his son and asking why he wasn't in class. A-Yuan didn't know he just knew a disciple had come to fetch him because baba had said father needed something. Of course this got Wei Ying another look, and caused another fit of laughter. Deciding Wei Ying was going to be no help anytime soon Lan Zhan introduced A-Yuan to Jin ZiXuan and Jin Ling. A-Yuan seemed exceedingly interested in the younger boy, who had finally woken up amongst the ruckus' and kept trying to reach out to touch him. When Lan Zhan told A-Yuan to mind his manners the boy would simply look at him and say.

'I want to play with Ling Ling! I want to play with Ling Ling!'

Thankfully while all this was going on the group had been walking to the JingShi so when they arrived Lan Zhan could shut the doors and activate the silencing spell to keep the chaos inside. After all, although the Cloud Recess had gotten used to certain amount of chaos when Wei Ying moved in Lan Zhan wasn't sure it was ready for a whole families worth quite yet. Wei Ying stepped up next to him and rested his head on his shoulder, whispering in his ear.

'It feels good to have family around again doesn't it?'

Then as Wei Ying moved to join in the chaos, playing with the children and bickering with Jiang Cheng. Lan Zhan couldn't help smiling and thinking to himself…...yes it did feel good to have his husbands chaotic family around again.