Before they started, Lan Xichen stood up.

"If this one may be so bold," The Lan Sect Leader said while bowing, "the Lan Sect has an announcement to make."

Jin Guangshan gestured for him to continue.

Xichen smiled. "As you all know, Lady Bai of Gusu passed away sixteen years ago at the Bloodbath of Nightless City." A note of pain, at that. "However, it is of great joy that I declare her to be alive once more, brought back by the reincarnation cycle, memories intact."

At this moment, Lin Xuemi lifted off the veil that masked her identity. There were gasps from those who were old enough to remember her, and confusion from the others that have never seen her before. The Gusu Lan cultivators were quite smug.

If the veil hadn't been of soft red silk, the dramatic thud would've been quite appropriate.

(There was indeed a thud, but that was just Nie Huaisang's fan hitting the floor, so… slightly less appropriate.)

Jiang Wanyin grew very pale and stood up, the identity of the one he scorned revealed to him. Jin Guangshan suddenly realized how this woman was able to brush off his advances so easily, like she had much experience- because she did. Nie Huaisang whimpered, his memories of her harsh glare coming back to him. His days as a guest disciple in Cloud Recesses were long past, but the three famous cultivators of the Gusu Lan clan still intimidated him.

Sect Leader Yao narrowed his eyes and stood up. "Xue-guniang? What?"

Xuemi cupped her hands and bowed. "This one apologizes for deceit. However, it was necessary. Allow me to reintroduce myself: Lin Yi, courtesy Xuemi, mistress of the Lan Clan."

"The Third Jade of Gusu." Lan Qiren added. (Yes, Xuemi had finally gotten the honour of being the Third Jade of Gusu, after many, many arguments Lan Qiren got into with the elders. Qiren did it purely for the sake of remembering her properly- he wasn't fond of her, if anyone asked.)

Xuemi's eyebrows nearly shot up to her hairline at the new title.

Dead silence. Jiang Wanyin and Sect Leader Yao sat down abruptly.

Jin Guangshan was the first to recover. "This is great news!" He said loudly, followed with an incredibly fake smile. Xuemi never knew that it was possible to be as fake as Jin Guangshan.

Others began to voice their agreements. "Yes, this is a blessing."

"Indeed!"

"We will no longer need to fear if the Yiling Patriarch comes back to haunt us!"

"Yes, yes!"

"A toast to Bai-guniang!"

Everyone raised their bowls and drank. Tea for some, wine for others.

The rest of the discussion conference was quite dull. It was just like the other conferences that Xuemi attended those three years, except for some things.

One, Jiang Wanyin kept on sneaking glances at her. Normal, considering that he was in love with her. (She's not as oblivious as Wangji is.)

Two, Jiang Wanyin argued with Xichen at every opportunity, which was also normal, she supposed, if Sandu Shengshou blamed Zewu-jun for her death.

Three, Jin Guangshan kept on whispering to Jin Zixun, while looking at her strangely.

Absolutely not normal.

By the time the conference was over for the first day, Xuemi was tired, worn out, and dreading anything that might happen.

Nothing happened for the next two days.

On the last day, however, Jin Guangshan revealed his intent.

He stood. "As you all know, marriage is the happiest and most important time in a woman's life."

Xuemi bristled, but she kept listening.

"Bai-guniang has been resurrected recently. I believe that this joyous occasion can be combined with a wedding."

The Chief Cultivator turned to the cultivator in question, who glared unflinchingly back. "The last time I proposed this union, there were extenuating circumstances that caused Bai-guniang to decline. However, as I propose the marriage between Jin Zixun and Lin Xuemi the second time…" He stared back at Xuemi. "I hope that Sect Leader Lan can give consideration."

Tense silence followed, as the whole room waited for his response.

Xuemi's answer was terse. "I believe that I have stated reasons that do not pertain to circumstances, as to why this union is not favourable."

Jin Guangshan's eyes flashed dangerously. "Bai-guniang, I don't think I've made it clear. I am asking Sect Leader Lan, and not you."

"No."

Jin Guangshan's eyes shifted to the First Jade of Lan. "No?"

"No." Xichen repeated, more forcefully. "I thank Sect Leader Jin for his consideration. However, it just so happens that today, I was about to ask for official courtship permission."

"And who," Jin Guangshan drawled, "does Sect Leader Lan wish to court?"

"Lin Xuemi."

Gasps were heard all around. Xuemi turned her head so fast, she got whiplash.

In hindsight, Jiang Wanyin will realize that this was not the best time, but his fear of her getting stolen away from him prompted him to act impulsively. "Sect Leader Lan, what a coincidence. I had also planned to ask for permission to court Bai-guniang."

Even more gasps. Asking for courtship permission was often done in private, and not in discussion conferences like these, but this was an interesting deviation, and no one was willing to miss out on. The two sect leaders held eye contact. One was furiously scowling and glaring, while the other still had his placating smile, although it was visibly strained.

Lan Xichen spoke first. "Sect Leader Jiang, Bai-guniang is one of the Gusu Lan Clan. She declared so herself- if one were to marry her, they would marry into the Lan clan. Does Sect Leader Jiang plan to relinquish his position as sect leader, and thrust his children into the position many years too early?"

This only served to anger Sandu Shengshou. "This was under the pretense that Bai-guniang owes the Gusu Lan Clan. Bai-guniang owes nothing to the Lan sect now, as their sect leader has taken so much from her in her previous life."

Xichen gritted his teeth. "Bai-guniang's cultivation revolves much around the cold climate of Gusu. She would not thrive in Lotus Pier's mild temperatures."

"Who are you to assume that Bai-guniang is too weak to adapt?" Jiang Wanyin shot back.

"I have known her for much longer." Xichen returned. "I know her strengths and weaknesses better than most."

Jiang Wanyin was clenching his fist in order to stop Zidian from sparking. It was a failed attempt, and the violet lightning was betraying how angered Sandu Shengshou truly was. "You have no right to keep her locked up in the Cloud Recesses." He spat.

"Bai-guniang goes where she pleases. She is not bound to the Lan Clan. She stays of her own accord." Xichen replied smoothly.

"You have basically trapped her, by giving her a regime dependent on the surroundings of Gusu." Jiang Wanyin accused.

Lan Xichen's smile had dropped, which was not a good sign. "Bai-guniang has gone on year-long trips often, and has fared quite well. She would be able to live a good life, albeit, I admit, with a weaker cultivation."

The whole time, the rest of the cultivators (and even the maids) had been watching raptly at the argument, eyes bouncing back and forth between the two sect leaders like an intense ping-pong match. Not that the others knew what it was, but Xuemi thought that the similarities were highly entertaining.

But she was also getting irritated, because they were most definitely talking about her like she wasn't there.

Xuemi cleared her throat quite loudly.

The two of them flushed and bowed their heads, as if taking into account only now that the person who should have the final say was Lin Xuemi, the very person they had been ignoring the whole time.

Her eyes darted around the room. It was the ending of the final day of the discussion conference, but this matter would not be left alone until she gave an answer. No matter how long they needed to wait.

Of course. Two sect leaders fighting over courtship permissions for a maiden. Everyone would want to hear the results.

I can't just retreat into my quarters, even though it is nearly hai shi now. It will cause too much talk, and won't help the situation. But if I say who… the other will be very embarrassed.

But I can't say "give me time", either… the courtship is the only thing preventing me from being married to Jin Zixun right now, which would put the Lan Clan in a very awkward position.

Jiang Wanyin… I'm sorry.

Xuemi took a deep breath. "This one is flattered by the offers of three sect leaders. However, I have made this decision a long time ago…"

Jiang Wanyin's heart plummeted, because he knew.

Lans only fell in love once, instantly and irrevocably.

And he had definitely not known her "a long time ago."

"I accept the courtship of Sect Leader Lan, Lan Xichen."

The Gusu disciples did not cheer, but they participated (enthusiastically) in the toast that happened next, to Lan Xichen and to Lin Xuemi. Still with tea.

Lan Xichen was delighted- she accepted his courtship!

Lin Xuemi accepted my courtship. Lan Xichen thought giddily (and uncharacteristically. Do not be excessively happy- he would copy that later as well).

Jiang Wanyin and the Jiang disciples were silent. When their sect leader stormed back to his quarters, they followed without a word. Wenxin and Wushan winced in unison when Zidian came down on a training dummy as they passed by it.

Truth be told, the twins were glad that Lin Xuemi would have her own happy love life. They both knew that if she accepted Sandu Shengshou's offer, their father would've married into an unhappy marriage.

But they both refrained from approaching Jiang Wanyin the whole night, as he roared in frustration.

Lin Xuemi herself slipped into her rooms at the very first opportunity. Her rooms were right across Lan Xichen's, but she didn't mind.

She was surprised at how happy she was.

Of course I'm happy. We fall in love once, instantly and irrevocably.

Lan Xichen… I look forward to how you wish to court me.

With that thought, she fell asleep, a smile on her face.

Jinlintai was much bigger than that little Tanzhou inn, even if its guests included a lot more people. As a result, rooms were in two for the juniors, and one for each senior.

So naturally, Jiang Hui and Jiang Rui shared a room.

Their nightly routine was done in silence. Even when Wenxin's stomach grumbled, Wushan simply tossed a snack over without a word. They didn't talk until their room was plunged in darkness.

"A-Hui."

"I'm listening."

"Do you think that father will… do anything rash?"

A snort. "Father isn't that dumb, A-Rui. Give him some credit."

"But…"

"Relax. At most, he'll yell at us to vent and threaten to break our legs."

Wushan's hurt tone suggested that he was more bothered than he let on about their father's treatment towards the two of them.

"A-Hui… I know that I said father treats us like his sons, but does he really? I don't know how a father is supposed to treat his son."

"I don't think father does either. From what I heard, grandfather wasn't much of a dad type."

"A-Hui." Wenxin admonished.

"Yeah yeah, I know. But still." He grumbled.

Their conversation paused as both of them shifted slightly in their beds.

"A-Rui, do you think anything would've been different if mother were alive?"

Wenxin's shifting stopped. He tended to freeze upon mentions of their mother.

"...No." He said slowly.

"Oh?"

"Mother wouldn't stop him. She knew that he loved her. She wanted what's best for father, and what makes him happy. Because that's what love is, right?"

"Yeah… I guess."

Pause.

"I still wish mother were here though."

"Don't both of us?"

They didn't talk again for the rest of the night, both of them fiddling with the charm under their pillows. Their only reminder of their mother.

A tassel of wood, set with a glowing yet tainted ruby, with bright red threads mixed in the Jiang purple of their robes, when put on.

The rooms were in two. Usually, that meant Qingxue would be alone, because of the scarce amount of female juniors that came to the discussion conference, but Sizhui offered to share with her, assuring her that Jingyi would be content with Zizhen.

So here he was.

Much like the Jiang twins next door, they exchanged no words until their candles had been blown out, a quarter of a shichen early, because they had many, many things to talk about.

"Qingxue-jie? You can talk now."

There was something that much of Cloud Recesses knew, and that was that Qingxue was selectively mute. Events from her past prompted her to stay silent around everyone, except for people she felt truly safe with. Even with Jingyi and Zizhen, it was only a few "Mns", but she talked freely only with Sizhui and Zewu-jun.

"A-Yuan… do you think Bai-guniang will accept me?"

Sizhui frowned. "I don't see why not."

"But I'm not hers." Qingxue said softly. "Father loves me, but he and Bai-guniang have been apart for so long. What if they want time to start a family together instead? What if- What if they'll kick me out?"

The vulnerability in her voice broke his heart, and Sizhui stood up to approach her bed. They've been doing this since they were children, so why not now?

Qingxue sat up in response, and they both sat on the bed, Qingxue's head on his shoulder.

(Oh my god, Qingxue's head is on my shoulder.)

Her quiet sobs racked her body as Sizhui patted her back, calming her down. "A-Min, it'll be fine. Lin-qianbei is kind, even if it doesn't seem that way. She will accept you into the family. I promise."

"But why? Why, when she can have a new start with father?"

"Because she is too righteous to drive anyone out." Sizhui soothed.

The conversation went on like that, until Qingxue's internal clock drove her to sleep. Sizhui lowered her gently on her bed, and then crept back to his own. But, apparently, she wasn't asleep, because before Sizhui managed to completely fall asleep, Qingxue's voice carried across the room.

"A-Yuan, thank you."

Sizhui smiled. "There is no need for thank yous between us."