Chapter One: Lan Wangji Got Married To A Prodigy

I shouldn't have accepted the soup bowl.

My troubles had begun long before the bowl of soup was handed to me! Though I want to pin the blame on her— no—it was not Jiang Yanli's fault. It was the consequences of actions against me and circumstances webbed around her that had led us to the same tent at the same time. To be honest, I had not even met her on the first day I arrived at the medical bay. She was busy nursing the critically injured, which was four tents away; and I was standing in the first-aid bay, looking for someone to accompany me into the arena turned battlefield.

"Hanguang Jun?"

A child, barely older than twelve, rushed to me, her clothes were of gold and white and a red dot was drawn between her eyebrows, a student of Jin's I could see clearly. Unlike her Sect members, the material of her fabric was inexpensive, especially when compared to the rest of the students groaning and crying on the stretcher I was bringing into the medical bay.

Instantly I knew who she was, Jin Sect's heir apparent, Jin Zixuan's personal maid, whom he picked up from the streets when she was four. I knew the child's name, Luo Qingyang bowed to me and guided me inside. Hesitantly, she gestured to the helpers to make space for the injured people I had brought in.

After a few steps, she stopped and asked me, "Why are you here, Hanguang Jun?" Her eyes were nervous, she knew because of her position she was not allowed to address this question to me, so directly on top of that! There was fear and desperation and hope in her young eyes.

"I need a healer, we have around fifteen disciples in need of first-aid." I turned my head, looking back at the eleven I brought to the tent. "There are fifteen more in the arena."

Her face lost the light immediately, "Oh."

"Is something wrong?"

"We currently have two healers only, Miss Yanli and Master Yao."

"And how many patients?"

"Seventy-three." After looking behind me, "Eighty-eight now."

When faced with a common enemy, healers from each Sect would be present in the medical bay! It was the standard rule."Where are the healers from other Sects?" No one from Lan Sect was there either! And we had got four healers in our entourage.

"The Wens and Ouyang didn't bring their healers, and other Sects haven't answered our call for help."

"What about Lan Sect?" The child didn't answer and remained silent. She didn't want to cause trouble. She had already spoken out loud enough to lose her position as a maid.

"So it is just three healers, including you?"

Luo Qingyang looked up at me in astonishment, and felt embarrassed, "No! No! Young master, I am merely an assistant to Miss Yanli and Master Yao."

"Mian-Mian, don't bother Hanguang Jun with our troubles, he has a lot on his plate," this was Jin Guangyao, formerly known as Meng Yao, how did I know? My elder brother was extremely fond of this fifteen-year-old. Sometimes I think he wished this teen was his third brother.

The young girl's head drooped, "Sorry Master Yao, I thought Hanguang Jun read my letter of plea."

"Don't apologize, I know you meant well." Jinguang Yao looked exhausted. But his infamous calm smile was intact. "Drop this matter of the letters' child, go attend to my brother." The girl didn't protest and rushed off.

Why did no one ever work without selfish reasons, this was a time of crisis, "Letter of what? Show me." I had to ask.

Jin Guangyao looked at me and released his pleading voice, "Hanguang Jun, I don't want to stir trouble." My answer to his request was silence. Understanding I was not going to let the issue slide, he shook his head and pulled a paper out of his sleeves, "Little Mian-Mian wrote letters to each camp on the mountain asking for help. And delivered it personally."

I took the paper, not the most elegant calligraphy, but a hard-working script, in simple and crisp language the child had asked for help. She was begging for helping hands at the medical bay, warning us they couldn't afford any more without more healers.

"When was this letter sent?"

"Two nights ago."

"How many helpers do you need?"

"At least five."

"I will bring you four healers, and a few Lan disciples who have rudimentary training in healing."

Though Luo Qinyang was at a distance, her attention was on me. She immediately bowed, and spoke loudly, "Thank you, Hanguang Jun!"

"Don't fret, child."

After I took our healers and students back to the medical bay, I returned to our camp and began my investigation after discussing it with my elder sibling.

My brother had asked me to solve the matter of missing letters as quickly as possible. As they were almost done with securing the wards and cleaning out the miasma, he didn't want me back at combat duties. He believed it was better if I helped solve this without stirring up any distrust among Sects.

I spent half a day speaking with various commanders of each Sect and explaining to them the situation. No one wanted more injured and maimed members, hence they immediately corresponded, except for the Wens.

After that, I called Luo Qingyang for further questioning. The girl, despite her fears, was courageous. She didn't falter in her questioning. Once I was done with her, I began the proper investigation.

After three hours of talking with different Sect soldiers, as I suspected, the letter never reached any of the camp leaders. Someone was meddling with the process of information gathering and sharing. By this time, my brother and a few other leaders from other camps had arrived at my temporary office.

Nie Mingjue was surprised to learn that there was a scarcity of healers! And the third master of Ouyang told me they received the letter and had sent a reply of not having any healers with them, but they promised to send medicine— which they sent the previous evening! But the medicine never reached the medical bay! Again no one from Wens had come to the meeting!

After further discussion and cross-checking details, I offered my thoughts to my brother, who after reading the report glanced at me with worry.

None of the Lan disciples guarding the tent remembered ever receiving the letter from a Jin Sect child.

When I interrogated further, the same reply came from the guards of each Sect. None remembered a flower like a child with letters in her hand! They accused the girl of trying to cause trouble and distract us because all the attention was on Jiang Yanli and her master Jin Zixuan, the estranged former couple. According to them, it was a way to shift focus from the lovers' quarrel.

Luo Qingyang was smarter than many of her age, she maintained a ledger, and with every letter she delivered, she took signatures from the receiver. She had no ill intentions, but she feared she would forget which places she had delivered the letter to and get scolded by her master. So the child decided to maintain the book, where she wrote down the names of the guards who took the letters and time of delivery and signatures on the last empty pages of a very full journal.

As I flipped through her little journal, it was full of scribbles! The handwriting was different from the one in her letter— it was impatient! The characters were slanted like they had been tossed by a storm, it was full of shorthand and symbols. At a glance, I could see potion recipes for healing illustrated in a corner, some blueprints like doodles of secret weapons she had imagined. And the last few blank pages had a list of things she did every day as a maid for her master and Sect people since the first day of the camp. It was a meticulously maintained journal of a personal maid.

I rechecked the journal in my hand, it was not spellbound or cursed, nor had it been possessed or tempered. There was only one conclusion, someone followed her, collected the letters after she delivered and wiped the memories of the guards who received them clean!

This conclusion made me round up the guards of each Sect again. I made each of them recount the events of the evening in front of the gathered people, and suddenly it became clear! They all had a common blind spot, they couldn't remember a certain hour from that evening!

When chaos is everywhere, it is easier to overlook overlapping memories and or fail to recall certain memories. Someone took advantage of the unstable situation and enchanted them with an amnesia spell!

My brother was sitting in one corner of the tent and discussing things with Nie Mingjue, I walked towards him, and told them my conclusion and how to prove it.

My brother stood up, on his politest smile, and began his command. "All the guards I request you to search your garments for the letter, I am confident, you have the letters with you, but are unable to distinguish it from blank paper."

The Wen guards were not there, but the rest of them looked to their respective commanders for permission. Once they received the nods, each guard began stripping their layers of clothes.

"Who could've done it?" The young master of the Jiang Sect, Jiang Wanyin, asked. His mother was supposed to be here, but she sent him— in hopes of making him stand out. Another child was forced into the adult world too early. He was just fourteen. What was the rush to force him to prove his valour this quickly?

"Your boots as well." Nie Mingjue mentioned it first, though I was sure it was his young brother, Nie Huaisang, who whispered it to him. I had known Nie Huaisang since he was born, he was an intelligent child and totally uninterested in traditional ways of cultivation. He was forced to be here and sat beside his older brother like a little rabbit! Nie Mingjue's tough love to make a man out of a boy was not appreciated by me! "Check your soles, too." Nie Mingjue was sharp too! Nie Huaisang just needed to nudge him and the man caught the most obvious trickery, so I wouldn't comment on his treatment of his younger sibling, thanks to him my conclusion was proven correct, very efficiently.

Each guard had stuffed the letter in their boots, but when they opened it, they all claimed it was blank paper.

"Master Mingjue, it is a blank talisman."

"Zewunjun, it is but an empty page from a cheap novel"

More murmurs continued, each claiming the paper in their hands was everything other than a letter! I was unable to handle so much noise, so I spelt them all silent.

"Wangji!" My brother scolded me. Too late, they were spellbound.

"Collect the letters" Nie Mingjue slapped Nie Huaisang's small back with a gruff dry laugh.

With trembling hands, Nie Huaisang collected the letters. He was younger than Jiang Wanyin! People below fourteen were not allowed to participate in the night-hunts. Nie Mingjue's logic was simple: there was no rule against watching the night hunts! And it was never too early to start field study!

Again, not my business, I would express my concerns at a later date at a peaceful time. I chose to concentrate on the issue in front of my eyes. Someone was lurking in the arena grounds and making sure this mayhem continued for a long time. And I didn't like it.

But the older siblings, my brother and Nie Mingjue, ordered me to stay put and help with the medical bay. As they feared this particular, someone would now try to create chaos in the medical bay as their ruse with the letters was exposed!

That's how I ended up being in the medical bay the next day! And that's when I met Jiang Yanli, who was too busy caring for people and had no time to greet me with formalities.

Luo Qingyang ran to me the next day, there was joy and relief in those tiny feet, she offered me a bow and looked up with a grin!

"Good job! I see you want to be a healer too, but I think your forte lies in innovation." I handed her the journal. "When you turn thirteen, maybe ask Jin Zixuan to send you to the Unclean Realm or Cloud Recess.

"Sorry, master, I do not understand."

"The devices you have drawn in the journal."

"Devices?"

"No, master. I only wrote the list of my daily tasks, that's on the last few pages. Everything else was written by the owner of the journal. We were in a rush when we arrived here. Someone took my actual journal and misplaced it, so I borrowed it." The tournament turned into a nightmare and was churning out interesting turns of events.

"If you do not mind, would you tell me who it belongs to?"

"Yes, of course, Miss Yanli, she helped me."

"I was not aware Miss Yanli was also an inventor."

"I am sorry Hanguang Jun, I don't understand the things in the book, so I was not aware."

"May I keep this?" The child nodded her positively. "It's okay, you may return to your work."

"Yes, master." With another bow, she ran back to help. Her honesty would be both her downfall and reason for glory. She deserved a better Sect than the Jins, just like Jiang Yanli.

I did think the designs had sparks of genius, hence when things settled down in the tent that night, I decided to speak with Jiang Yanli. As far as I knew, she was the same age as me, hence a peer.

When I finally saw her up close, she was petite, she looked way younger than her age, young in an unhealthy fashion! Did they not feed her in the Jiang Sect? Luo Qinyang will be taller than she is in the coming few months! My Sect sisters were all well-fed, well-built and strong. We made sure our daughters were looked after properly, especially in matters of nutrition!

If only Madam Yu had paid attention to her daughter instead of forcing her younger one into the adult world! Jiang Yanli realized I was standing beside her, she looked up and immediately smiled at me. I nodded and bowed to her, and she returned the courtesy.

"Hanguang Jun, thank you for helping us out!"

"It was my duty."

"Do you want some soup?" Instantly, she changed the conversation and began walking towards the eating area. She was not asking, she was making me follow her. I followed her, it was supper time, and I could use some warm food in my system.

Once inside the eating space, I could see healers and medics from different Sects eating together. Our entrance together was not unnoticed. There were raised eyebrows and chopsticks frozen mid-air. Was it so odd that I could accompany this tiny girl?

Jiang Yanli, to the cultivation world, was a plain young woman. My brother had informed me that people didn't find her attractive or useful to ask for her hand in marriage. Had she not been born as the daughter of a Sect leader, the chances of her finding a high-ranking husband would've been hard. Her lack of beauty or cultivation skills was the reason Jin Zixuan called off their marriage. I thought it was for good, if you married someone for the sake of profit, you don't deserve happiness or a spouse.

To me, she looked like a regular young girl, she could use more muscle weight, and crushing herbs and grinding minerals needed a lot of physical strength. But to say she was not useful! She was a healer, who treated people from different Sects with different cultivation paths and didn't lose her calm when everything around us was a walking nightmare! This was an intelligent woman and no one was letting her show her skills.

I continued following her, it was better to get stared at together than let them give her pitiful looks. When we reached the table, naturally I offered to hold the empty bowls and she filled them. She didn't pay attention to anyone, she would do well as a Lan bride. If the brother was open, we could ask for her hand! We needed more healers! And with care from Sect sisters, we could nourish her to the pink of her health. My brother is a good man with an open mind, he wouldn't care about previous relationships or experiences! On top of it, she was an amateur inventor! Jins failed to see her as an asset, she was a treasure boot!

"Thank you for your help, little Mian-Mian, was worried sick. It was her idea to write the letters. I can't thank you enough." Jiang Yanli broke my trail of thoughts.

"Miss Yanli, don't worry about it."

"If you say so, Hanguang Jun." She didn't drag the matter.

"There is another matter I wish to discuss with you after dinner."

"I will do my best to help."

After dinner, we sat down to discuss the matter of innovation in her journal. Again, I was not expecting to be met with another revelation. She took the journal back with glee. That was the first time I saw her eyes glow in pure happiness."I gave it to Mian-Mian."

I explained to her why I wanted to know about her designs. She patiently heard me and nodded. The journal rested on her lap, and all the while I spoke my thoughts. I also suggested that I would appreciate it when her heart healed, she could become my sister-in-law.

She flipped through the pages multiple times before answering me and caressed the page like it was a newborn infant. There was a soft smile, little curls at the edge of her lips. I had seen this smile before, not on her, but on my brother's and Nie Mingjue's. It was the smile of an elder sibling, both sad but relieved. My brother carried a poetry book that I had copied for the library. Nie Mingjue despite his complaints, took a decorative fan painted by his little brother. The journal in her hand was a keepsake and not hers.

Was this Jiang Wanyin's journal? I had not found any initials that could indicate it. The journal was not even made in a shop, the leather used here was used for shoes, and the pages in it belonged to different grades of quality, and they were stitched together without any need for artistic expression. Bookbinders loved showing their critical skills and left a personal touch. Even the threads used here were different!

"Does this belong to Jiang Wanyin?" The answer was an immediate shake of her head. Was there another Jiang sibling I wasn't aware of? She broke into laughter and pulled the journal to her lips and inhaled its smell.

"Hanghuang Jun, I am not the innovator you think I am. Nor does my brother have the patience to sit and stitch his journal."

"Hmm."

"These are my little A'Xian's rejected drafts."

What kind of genius third child Madam Yu and Jiang Fengmian had, "Rejected?" What did she mean by a rejected draft? There were more?

"He is a bit different, he can't sit still for long without doing anything, he is either designing, painting, and drawing on public spaces, building things, playing the flute or sword practising. And if he is not doing any of these, he is attracting trouble."

"I was not aware sir and madam Jiang had a third child."

"Don't say this is in front of my mother. They adopted him. He doesn't have our surname. A'Xian was orphaned very young. My father found him in a concerning condition. I forced them to adopt him for me, he is registered as my ward. Though I did present the idea under the pretext of a spare heir for diplomatic purposes. So many Sects do it, why can't we? On paper, I am his legal guardian."

"I was not aware."

"Ironical, isn't it? I am not allowed to make decisions in my life, but I decided to bring in the responsibility of another!"

"It is admirable!" I knew it, this girl was not weak or clueless. My uncle and Sect sister said women were resilient and flexible like water, hence invincible. "How old is he?"

"He will turn thirteen on the last day of this month."

"The day of the ghosts," I murmured. "If it's possible, I would like to meet him in future."

"Hanguang Jun, please tell me with honesty, are these designs and scribbles of medicinal remedies any good? I can do basic healing. But the things he wrote here are in the realm of theory. I am at best a medic who understands things once done practically. I don't have the bravado of a teen's courage".

"You mean, the medical notes in that journal belong to him as well?"

"Yes!"

"Miss Yanli, I would like to keep this for the night."

"Please keep it, when I was leaving I took three of his discarded books, it was on a whim. I don't think he even realized I took them."

"You have more?"

"Yes, do you want to see them?"

"Can I?"

"Yes."

"May I have them for the night?"

She was surprised by my eagerness. Finding no reason to say no, she smiled. As if she found something very amusing. "Alright, follow me." She stood up and gestured at Luo Qingyang to follow her.

Three of us left the medical bay, to her tent.

I did not enter her tent, it was inappropriate, yet I had not realized, that standing in front of her door was a reason enough for gossip to spread like wildfire! The Jiang guards observed me, not peeping from the corners of their eyes, but staring directly at me. Even if I had dared to take a step forward, they would unleash their swords.

I had no interest in a lady's room. I found Jiang Yanli interesting enough, but my interest lay in the owners of those journals. A child not even thirteen had come up with such designs— curse-attracting spells, the compass to navigate unrest, talismans to reverse a blessing spell, he needed to be trained in the right direction. Not many realized, petty politics and rivalries had stunted our cultivation, we were still using the same old methods of fighting against demons that we used five decades ago.

The Jiang Sect was known for being the most liberal and experimental of all the Sects, but after fighting beside Madam Yu, I felt the Sect was not in the right hands. I had met Jiang Fengmian on various occasions, he was a man who avoided conflicts, when one's foundations were broken, a Sect would suffer!.

Was Jiang Yanli's A'Xian going to thrive in a family full of unresolved issues and such rigid roles? Children picked up unhealthy habits from adults faster than good habits, my brother warned me. I had many questions and too little information about this young boy.

Then I decided to use a trick my brother does, "Is young master A'Xian well?" I asked the guards. If they were by Jiang Yanli's tent, it meant they were her private guards. That also meant they knew about the child.

The smallest of the four guards standing, smirked, was my question funny? "Hanguang Jun, he recovered from the thrashing the day before we left."

"Or so he claimed." Another added with a little head shake.

"Claimed?"

"No one can recover from Zidian's whipping in a week, young master."

Zidian was legendary, a family heirloom weapon, I had the honour and terrifying experience to witness its full glory when I was fighting the demon corpses in the arena. It was meant for the supernatural only, why was a human child getting whipped?

"You seem experienced!"

"We all have been punished by it, during our training days—"

What did they do to the boy? Was he getting regularly whipped by that? "Why did you stop?"

"Because my mother didn't control her strength this time when she punished my A'Xian…" Jiang Yanli walked out with Luo Qingyang holding all three journals in her arms.

"Is he alright?"

"He is resilient." That was not the answer I was looking for, but it spoke a lot about the condition they were in. "Mian-Mian, follow Hanguang Jun to his destination."

"Goodnight Miss Yanli." I bowed to her, and the little Jin disciple followed after.

When Luo Qingyang and I were at a distance, I asked the girl the question that was bothering me, "Is Miss Yanli alright?" We kept walking, and after a few more steps. Luo Qingyang sighed.

"Master Guangyao said, she is heartbroken because of what young master Zixuan did."

"Calling off the engagement?"

"Yes—"

"Something is bothering you."

"My master never sent the letter asking to call off the wedding." My feet stopped on their own. The girl unintentionally bumped against my arm.

"How are you so assured?"

"He was angry about the marriage being rushed, he wanted to wait, it is true. But he never disliked Miss Yanli. Master is not good at communicating in person. Hence, every week, he wrote letters to Miss Yanli since they were ten! They are good friends first."

"I do not understand."

"Why would he send a letter to call off the wedding so suddenly, that too with an official stamp? When every Friday he wrote his letter which I sent on Saturday mornings to Lotus Pier from my quarters without anyone's knowledge! He would've explained to her beforehand he wanted to call the wedding. My master is an honourable man."

"How did you, a child, send secret letters without anyone noticing?"

"Both master and miss have a private magical channel, which was placed in my quarter. As I am his chief maid, I have an entire room to myself, that's where I keep my master's things."

"Your quarters? You didn't use the mail system?" the child shook her head. That evening was the day I had learned everything I knew about my future husband, except his full name," What is this private channel?"

"Miss Yanli's adopted brother, A'Xian, created a spell! Since they were not allowed to communicate before marriage. So he made talismans that open a portal? I think that's what he calls a spiritual door. As there is a chance of them getting caught, the talisman stays with me and him."

"And the official letter that was sent, was it the only one sent via this regular mailing service?"

"Yes! And after that letter was sent, my master was unable to access the talismans!"

"Did Jin Zixuan inform his Sect that it was not him?"

"Yes, multiple times!"

"No one believed him." Jin Zixuan's reputation was not the best in the cultivation world. He was known for being proud and upfront. Of course, no one would believe him, if he said he didn't send a letter, there was his seal on it!

"Your communication was cut after that?"

"Yes, Madam Yu found out about their secret letters and burned the talismans. Since the talismans were made in pairs, without the other half, they became useless. And after that their rooms were checked every day! So there was no way a new system could be created."

"He manipulated yin-yang energy?"

"I do not know Hanguang Jun," I scared her with my surprised expression.

"Tell me something, did they both come to the Night hunt tournament to meet each other?" The child again became quiet, her silence was all the answer I needed. Someone was meddling in the young couple's matters. Was it a rival Sect that wanted a Jin son-in-law? Or was it something nefarious? I didn't realize it back then.

"So after that, how did the two communicate?"

Luo Qingyang, bit her lips and hugged the journals hard, "Will I get in trouble?"

"No. It is a matter you should never have been part of."

"Master Nie Huaisang helped them. He is close friends with both the young Jiang Masters. As Madam Yu refused to let the couple write. He started receiving letters on behalf of both. And send them across."

"I assume this too is the genius idea of the owner of these journals."

"Yes."

My head was splitting, why were children involved in matters adults should solve? The Jins should've investigated when their precious young master made repeated complaints, and the Jiangs should've heard their only daughter. The more I inched towards adulthood, the more disgusted I was with adults!

"You can hand these over to me. Don't let anyone know what we discussed. Don't get intimidated by adults."

"Yes, Hanguang Jun."

That night I retired to the tent I was sharing with my brother. I was reading each page carefully, but my initial observation was incorrect. The handwriting was beautiful, but the writer had a restless mind; so he created his shorthand, codes and symbols only he could decipher. Hence at first a few glances they looked unstable and haphazardly drawn.

After spending four hours, I could see the pattern of thinking working here. This was a curious child, very inquisitive and experimental. Every page was a question to which he was looking for an answer.

I would ask Jiang Yanli if it was possible to bring him to Cloud Recess after he turned fourteen! We needed him, and after learning of the primitive punishment methods of Madam Yu, I didn't want to leave matters to destiny. Unguided genius and repressed potential can take to dark paths when they find no help or outlet.

"Reading something interesting?"

"I didn't realise you were here."

My brother smiled and sat opposite me. And waited. I pushed one of the journals towards him. At first, he too was taken aback by the chaos of characters and numbers dancing on the pages.

"Wait a minute, are these written in inverse?"

"Hmm."

"And what is this symbol? Plood drool."

"Blood pool. I think he confuses b,d,p and q."

"But these designs?"

"Genius?"

"Indeed. Who is this scholar? Which Sect is hiding a military genius?"

"Jiang Sect."

"They have a military genius, the cultivation world will cry if they find these blueprints?"

"Jiang Yanli told me, they are rejected drafts."

"Rejected?"

"Who is this perfectionist scholar? Is he a rigid old man like our uncle? Talking about his imagination should never come to fruition because it's vile to create weapons?"

"He is thirteen." My brother always believed what I told him, but even he found it hard to digest. He tried hard not to narrow his calm eyes.

"Wangji, I know you have a great sense of humour."

"Correction. He will be thirteen on the 31st."

Unable to resist he squinted hard at me. After that, he observed me for any signs of jest. When he found none. His shoulders relaxed. "The day of the ghosts?"

"Hmm."

"You want him in our care?"

"Yes."

"There is a big obstacle isn't it?" My brother flipped through the pages fast. Ever since I turned fourteen, he had taken me to night hunts, and cultivation conferences with Nie Mingjue. Both of them had been searching for an engineer who could create weapons for our respective Sects, yet both of them had failed to hear anything about the third heir, the adopted spare heir of Jiang Sect to be precise.

This further concluded my suspicions, Madam Yu didn't want the boy's reputation to reach anyone. She was desperate to make Jiang Wanyin's debut so young, the boy had turned fourteen a few weeks back because she feared this genius would surpass her only son and eclipse his golden debut!

Reputation and respect were everything in our society. Hence she had dragged her daughter or she believed she had, to this night hunt tournament because she had to prove Jiang Sect was unaffected by this incident of a broken engagement.

"Madam Yu."

"Is this the third heir, the one they adopted from the streets?"

"Streets?"

"You don't remember, do you? Not many know, you were still a junior then." My brother sighed and stood up. After fixing his robes he went outside the tent and immediately a guard ran.

"Did you call someone?"

"Nie Mingjue."

"Tell me about the third heir."

"I don't know much either."

"Why was he on the streets?" Every new piece of information about this boy was becoming stranger and sadder by the minute.

"His father and mother worked for the Jiang Sect. His father at least. His mother was an orphan cultivator, so she was technically Sect less. Nonetheless, they married. Since she had no family name, Jiang Sect couldn't accept her as their sister member. Uncle told me they left the Sect and travelled all over the land to ward off evil and make a reputation for themselves."

"Then why did they work for Jiang Sect again?"

"I don't know the details but Jiang Fengmian and the couple remained friends. I think it was a favour or repayment. They took up the job, and never returned."

"And the child was alone?"

"Yes, left alone in an inn."

"Left to fend for himself?"

"Yes."

"How many years?"

"Four years" Nie Mingjue entered. I stood up and bowed to him.

"Don't bother Wangji. Sit down." I did as he told me. He took his seat beside my brother.

"Have you met him?" I had to ask.

"Yes, I have met that little shit. My A'Sang and that boy are made of the same fabric. Idle's brain is the devil's workshop."

"See the final product of this workshop." My brother pushed the journal into Nie Mingjue's hands. To our surprise, he was faster than us at grasping the codes and symbols. Because I could see the colour of his face drain. There was horror and admiration.

"Wangji informed me, these are his discarded drafts."

"Discarded?" Nie Huaisang raised an eyebrow at us. He was big, in every sense and shape. He was almost 7ft tall, and had broad shoulders, thick strong arms and thicker thighs! His braided locks made him look like a lion with a black mane. Everything about him was solid and scary. There was no place for softness in his body. So even his tiniest gestures of raising an eyebrow unintentionally demanded attention.

"Hmm."

"Are you sure these are his?"

"Wangji said, Jiang Yanli handed him these."

"Only person I trust, my good-for-nothing little rascal. I will bring him tomorrow and get to the bottom of this. Why had he never told me his friend was intelligent and not a laid-back brat like him."

"Because you never listen to him!" My brother chided Nie Mingjue.

"I listen to him all the time."

"No, you don't. You intimidate him so much that he parrots the answer you want to hear."

"Lan Xichen!" Nie Mingjue hissed.

"Nie Mingjue" My brother smiled. He was not afraid of anyone, he knew what he was doing. He was a big brother too! They both might have a difference in age and height, yet they were similar! Eldest sons to terrible fathers, the unofficial leaders of the Sects, protective elder brothers forced to grow up before their time who also happened to fill the role of father figure for their younger sibling.

Knowing full well, my brother was not intimidated by him, Nie Mingjue smiled like he was witnessing some joke unfold. He turned around and waved his armoured hand, "We will discuss this tomorrow evening."

"Goodnight." My brother walked him out of the tent. I bowed after them. I took the journal, I flipped through them until the last candle burned down into a liquid black pool. Before a candle dies it burns the brightest and that's when I finally found his initials, engraved under layers of scribbles. W.Y.

And in future, every letter he would write to me would have these initials at the end of the paper.

Currently, my husband of seventeen hours was crying in my arms. He did so well, he did so well! I wanted to praise him for being patient and quiet throughout the day! I knew how hard it was for someone like him who always needed something to keep him busy!

Though overwhelmed and crying, he was still paying attention.

"How did you know my name?" Now that I could finally see his face! It was a terrible job of make-up! His face was caked, his lips were chapped and his hair decoration was abysmal, what did that Nie Huaisang use?

This was a child in my arms, an imaginative intelligent child, whooping and coughing and crying his heart out because he was afraid for his sister.

"Hanguang Jun." Five Jiang disciples bowed to me. "Please hand over Wei Wuxian to us." We were surrounded by white and purple.

"No."

Out of question. I had to cross many hurdles to get my hands on this genius. It was great that he had plans of his own to save Jiang Yanli from this forced marriage. Even if I had to kill a hundred thousand people to stop this wedding I would've. But he kept surpassing my expectations every time! Such a simple naive plan, so ridiculous that no one would believe anyone would pull it! He committed to it, from the arrangement of the carriage to timing everyone around them to organising everything! All are written to perfection. The moment he decided to offer himself as a decoy bride, my plans aligned with his.

Jiang Sect had sent a battalion to retrieve him. Sadly they could do nothing. No law stopped me from marrying a person of the same sex. Yes, they had refused to pass the equality bill at the common court, but that didn't mean I couldn't match and pronounce Wei Ying as my husband. The biggest hurdle was the last step! The sharing of the binding spell.

Once consumed no Lan could undo this spell. Hence divorce was hard in this Sect. You could mutually separate and live apart, you could never break the spell!

Seeing the crowd grow larger, my little husband's crying also grew louder too. All he wanted was to get kicked out.

"I apologise, I shouldn't have done this. But this was the only way." I bent down and kissed his forehead. And I spelt him to sleep. This gesture ceased the commotion for a few seconds.

Wei Ying's mind couldn't process anything as he murmured some inaudible words and shut his eyes. Now he didn't have to deal with the immediate consequences of my selfishness. I didn't regret marrying him by trickery. I just wished we had the time to meet in advance!"

"Hanguang Jun, we cannot accept this."

"Wangji, stop this nonsense return the boy"

"This is ridiculous." Oh is it? When you were forcing me to get married to Jiang Yanli despite both of us begging you all, you didn't find it ridiculous. You made marriage my problem. Now my marriage was going to be everyone's problem.

"What is the meaning of this Wangji?" Here he was king of the kingdom of ashes. My father! He didn't take well to the news, it was showing. He was preparing for his seclusion, he was waiting to greet the new bride. Well, now we have a new groom.

"He married as you wished." My brother walked in front of me and bowed to my father.

"This is an invalid marriage. A sham!" My father yelled at us. I was not going to enter this debate. I was leaving the matter to my elder brother. I adjusted Wei Ying in my arms, I put his head on my shoulder, and his hand gripped my collar.

My brother didn't lose his composure, "Under what conditions?"

"That is a boy he married. Two people of the same sex can't marry."

"In no scripture does it say we cannot marry partners of the same sex?"

"It is unnatural." Someone yelled from behind. "Yeah, it is unnatural." "How can two men be married?" "What is the point of this marriage?" "Can you father children?" I wanted to reply, but I left it to my husband, in the future, I am certain he could come up with devices or medications that would make it a possibility! But that was not the point of marriage.

"If it was an unnatural marriage? Why didn't Wangji's innards burn when he drank the binding spell? The rules clearly state if the marriage is between unnatural souls, it would backfire and the parties would succumb to severe qi deviation."

There was a reason my brother became the Sect leader overnight. In most cases, Sects had to wait for the death of the leader or voluntary retirement. Since my father showed an inclination for neither, my brother found an old obscure rule, to dethrone the current leader. It was so simple that he couldn't believe it existed!

Dereliction of duty. He submitted a petition stating my father was an inapt Sect leader. He spent most of his time meditating in seclusion and had not taken disciples or taught students in fifteen years. This was uncalled for, but it was backed by three senior sisters, the chief of the innovation branch, chief of the medical branch and chief of finance and my uncle the head of school. Our uncle loved us more than he loved his brother; though doubtful, he sided with his nephew.

Finally, my uncle cut in with the nonsense complaint, "Wangji, are you certain and promise to commit to this relationship?"

"Why are you encouraging this A'Ren?" My father yelled at his brother.

"Did I not warn you, I repeatedly told you not to force him into a marriage, a love less marriage brings no value to life."

"And I do not believe? Wangji loves this orphan out of nowhere."

"I love him." Yes, I loved his mind. The other aspect of love would happen when Wei Ying was mature enough to understand me and if he was willing to see me as a partner. I knew what I did was a crime. But I wanted to protect him. This was the only way out.

"Silence." My father spelt me shut. I could break it, but I will be respectful tonight.

"Stop being a bigot sir. Just accept it, people can love anyone. And Jiang Yanli made her decision." One of the senior Sect sisters begged my father. They were tired of his rigidity.

Her words had the opposite effect. "That girl was perfect for him! We were allowing her to save her name. And she would keep his vile nature a secret." That hurt me. That hurt me very much. I had many words to offer.

"My brother is not unnatural."

"My nephew is not vile."

"Young master is as normal as you and I" Sect sister Lan Ann, who was named after our founder yelled! She was going to shatter all our dictums.

"I am glad we submitted the petition!" Another Sect sister hissed under her breath. It was not uncommon in our Sects or the cultivation world to find same-sex partners. But the elders in power refused to let us breathe.

My father was left speechless. I was hoping he would be in seclusion for another five years. It was all on him, he caused it all. No one had asked him to accompany us to the night hunt tournament. And he was there in the tent, the day Madam Yu barged in asking me to take responsibility for her daughter's reputation.

My uncle had refused, but my father saw the perfect opportunity to correct my nature. A girl with a ruined reputation couldn't complain if I didn't consummate the marriage. And years later, when we bore no children of ours, he would brand her as barren.

After her declaration, I told Madam Yu repeatedly that I didn't fancy women. She paid no attention. To her, a daughter with a damaged reputation was a liability for her son's future! I guess she found consolation in the thought that I wouldn't be cheating on her daughter with women and bringing bastards home like the current Jin leader!

My uncle was not a Sect leader, my brother was not a Sect leader, hence desperation drove my brother to frantically search for a way of a bloodless coup! Three days before the wedding, the petition to replace the current leader was submitted! And accepted by the majority. It was women of the Sect, sick of pointless rigidity, who overthrew him.

Now all of us Lans stood me with a husband in my arms. My brother and uncle are standing up to my father. Younger Lan disciples and women of the Sect, backing them. I had not married the first groom for a Lan son, I had married the very symbol of change. My little groom was shivering now.

Hurried footsteps entered the premise and stood at the entrance of the temple."We are here!" The disciples with golden and white robes now stood behind the Jiang disciples. Their messenger cut forward and bowed to my brother.

"You may speak." My brother nodded.

"Jiang Yanli daughter of Yunmeng Jiang Sect and Jin Zixuan son of Jin Sect, cordially invite you to the blessing ceremony of the newlywed couple, one month from now."

"Is there anything else?" My uncle asked, he was relieved.

"As legal guardian of Wei Wuxian, Jiang Yanli would like to discuss the matter of Wei Wuxian's marriage with Lan Wangji a month from now. For now, she has a token of goodwill and gift to Hanguang Jun, for the noble deed of marrying her ward."

It was not a token, the entire ancestral hall was full of boots of gifts. It was a dowry she prepared separately for Wei Ying. Jin Zixuan had paid for it, but that means, the words of my actions had spread all over.

"What do you mean by a legal guardian?" The Jiang Sect disciples asked. Immediately a scroll was unrolled. My brother was handed the task of reading it out loud.

"I, Jiang Yanli, after coming of age at 13, had legally adopted Wei Wuxian as my ward. The decision was made in accordance with my parents' wishes to protect the line of succession of the chief seat of Yunmeng Jiang Sect. Wei Wuxian has been and will be treated as my sworn son. From this day onwards, all decisions regarding his matter until he comes of age at 14, will be under my supervision."

"What is this nonsense? How can a seventeen-year-old adopt a ward?" My father scoffed.

"But forcing a seventeen-year-old to go through pregnancy is permissible?" One of the Sect sisters yelled from the back.

The Jins were not done, the messenger pulled out an envelope, "There is a letter for Hanguang Jun." My brother unsealed the letter and again read out its contents."

"Respected second young master Lan Wangji of Gusu Lan Sect, I hereby entrust you the task of care for Wei Wuxian until our next meeting." My heart was beating fast. My brother folded the paper and added it to his sleeve. He looked at me.

"Wangji, you may leave."

Unable to say, Thank you. I tried to bow to the best of my abilities and walked out of the ancestral hall.

Wei Ying woke in the middle of the night, and though I wanted to free him of the cheap replica of Jiang Yanli's wedding attire, my brother and uncle advised against it. Two hours after I walked out of the prayer hall, my brother and uncle dropped by to inform them of the situation. I left Wei Ying in their care and took a quick bath.

My uncle was angry at the stunt I pulled. But he was glad I was not forced to marry Jiang Yanli, though he was sad his hopes of having her as daughter-in-law were shattered. Like Wei Ying, my brother had offered himself as a decoy husband. He didn't care whether his spouse was a woman or a man; but when I told my brother that someone had tampered with her previous engagement. We had to plan better.

When we learned Wei Ying was offering himself as the decoy, I told my brother I intended to marry Wei Ying. My uncle was against it, but when I showed him his journals and informed him of potential mistreatment, he agreed. We needed innovators in this Sect!

They came to check up on him, and when they looked at him, his messy makeup made them both laugh and cry. After I came out of my quick bath, my uncle made sure Wei Ying didn't have a fever, when he was assured he left us. My uncle warned me not to even think of consummation until the boy was sixteen! I was not! How could I? I tricked the boy into marrying me!

Another hour later Wei Ying was on the bed, awake, now looking at me like a frog from a well, who had hopped far away from his little well. I was on the opposite side waiting for him to talk. But given the current situation, he might be still in shock.

"Where is my sister?" How protective was he of her? First, he created portals of magic, played with yin-yang energy, and then offered himself as a decoy. How selfless could you be? I shouldn't have manifested the thought! But he would prove at every turn of our married life, how selfless he was!

"Good morning." I greeted him. "She is safe, married and in Lanlin." His face relaxed and he looked around his surroundings. The reality was hitting him finally!

"You are Lan Wangji." So he recognised me and turned his face away, he was blushing! Despite being under layers of terrible makeup, he couldn't hide his blush.

"Yes, I am him." I nodded.

Without turning his head he pulled his hands out of the blankets and formed small fists, "I am not going back home any time soon, am I?"

"Not for a long time. I am sorry, it was all me." We were married. "We are bound by the spell."

"I am sorry, I didn't mean to accidentally marry you. The plan was, I would reach Cloud Recess, and once we were greeted by elders I would reveal myself to them. Then you would be free of this sham marriage and my sister would be safe." It was a perfect plan, sadly my sweet husband. I had other plans and we had to trick you.

Accidentally or abduction the perception would depend on the people involved in the plan.

"I am sorry."

"Shit! I knew the plan went too smoothly." He rubbed his face with his red ink-stained palm. "Ewww this stinks." He removed his palm and looked at me and again at his palm. Then slapped himself hard. Ouch, that must have hurt hard. "Is the red ink made of lac?" His senses were still intact. I nodded. After crying so much, I think he figured out he can't carry on coping with his emotions.

"So?" He finally looked at me. I owed him an explanation. Loads of explanations to be fair. For two months I was planning on stealing him for myself. Now that he is here. I didn't even know how to talk.

"Do you want to change and clean yourself up first?"

"Yes. But I can't feel my legs and I want to pee." I was glad he was conscious enough. I stood up and walked to him. He opened his arms, he wanted me to pick him up. And until our last breath, I would be lifting him from bed and making him take a bath. In future, he will be remembered as the strongest cultivator, but in Gusu Lan Sect he will be remembered as the most spoiled rotten consort.

"Let me help you." I picked him up, he fit perfectly in my arms! I took him near the washing area behind the cottage. It was too cold, a winter bride clad in red brought luck to the hearth my mother often whispered. Did he bring luck to me, to him? What did I bring?

"Can you hold on to yourself for a few minutes? I will ask someone to bring you warm water." At the threshold, I recalled it was way past bedtime. And with everything I did, the chances of someone helping me right now were low.

"Give me a blank talisman and a brush." The little husband in my arms sighed. No question asked I gestured my hands, from the study a talisman and a brush flew and landed on his chest. He said his legs were not working, and his hands were trembling but he was able to write things. That's the handwriting I recalled, it was the strange arrangement of his characters that drew me towards him.

"Please do your thing. I am not allowed to spell or channel magic yet." Oh yes, he was only thirteen.

They were allowed to practise magic only after their coming-of-age ceremony. It was done so because healers and medics believed it took six years for the golden core to stabilise. Children started forming the core when they were six, for girls were permitted to use spells from the onset of puberty hence thirteen was their legal age. For boys it was fourteen because no one trusted imbecile teenage boys with powers so volatile, the legal age was increased from twelve to fourteen to protect society from them.

I cast energy into the yellow paper, and immediately I could hear the water in the washing pot bubbling so did the reserve water and the water for bathing in the wooden tub. Who taught me all this? He looked around and frowned a bit.

"Is something wrong?"

"I calculated the energy flow wrong, Hanguang Jun is so powerful, it should be warm water, but we got boiling water." He flashed a tired grin immediately. Why was he calling me Hanguang Jun?

"You know we are not supposed to rely on magic for our daily life needs."

"Hence, Madam Yu kept throwing me in the repentance hall. Hanguang Jun, as long as I am not misusing magic, it's fine! The precept is not to deplete huge magical zones and not to use magic to harm others or ourselves! If I created a few alchemical spells and formulas, to heat water or boost a boat, should I be punished for it?" He was proud of finding loopholes like my brother I see!

"Hence you created the letter delivery system, the private channel. Where you tempered with yin and yang energy?"

"You know about it too?" I nodded.

"It doesn't temper with one's inner core." He said as if it was the best thing. From a non-inventor point of view; it looked like the portal would play with a cultivator's core! "It borrows energy around us. You borrow from the ether and give to the ether. I was understanding the concept of it, but I couldn't figure out how.

"I will explain it to you—"

"—Wei Wuxian it's 3 am the night, you can show it to me tomorrow."

"Hehehehe! I love talking about my inventions. Except for my sister and A'Sang, no one ever listens to me." His voice was suddenly not as cheerful as before.

"I am very much interested. I am not lying."

"I know! I know Hanguang Jun doesn't lie!" Again his cheerful voice was back.

"I promise to hear it all after tomorrow's commotion."

"I trust you Hanguang Jun." I dearly wished he addressed me as Lan Zhan. But first, we needed to know each other better to address on a first-name basis.

"May I put you down? Can you stand?" He nodded. "I will undress you, is that alright?"

"Why won't it be? I swim naked in Lotus Pier." I married a child. I put him down. He was unable to stand properly, so he held onto my robes, while I looked at him. He didn't even reach my chest!

After getting rid of the cheap imitation of the wedding robe, I was about to put it in the basket of discarded things. "Please don't." I didn't ask why. Was it because it smelled like lotus and river? Or did he want to hold on to it for comfort? I didn't throw it, I folded it and put it in the washing basket.

Once he was out of the heavy garment, stood before me a naked child, it was not the brightest night, but I could see a few purple and yellowed marks on his legs I wanted to ask, but the questions could wait. "My head feels heavy." He pointed at the ornaments on his head.

"Let's first wash down the make-up." I took a clean piece of a washcloth and dipped it in boiling water. "Close your eyes." He immediately did. When I was sure the temperature of the water was tolerable I cleaned his face and poured down hot water over his body and soaped him clean off the dirt. When the makeup was gone, I could finally see his real clean face. Small sharp nose, puckered lips, cheeks that still retained baby fat, and eyes were so silvery grey, that winter evening would feel pale. I wonder from whom he got his eyes, father or mother.

Then I put him in the wooden bathtub. A satisfied moan escaped his mouth. He was exhausted. "My head is itching." He whined. I sat beside the tub and took his head in my palm.

I pulled out the antique ornaments from his hair one by one. They were heavier than I expected. "How did you carry them?"

"I don't know." This was another answer that would fill our married life, me asking him questions in astonishment and he offering a lovely smile of obliviousness. I slowly pulled out the hairpieces one by one. He shut his eyes in joy. I continued my task and he melted in the water.

After a decent amount of silence, he spoke again, "I have to return them to A'Sang. They are family heirlooms." Jiang Yanli had told me, he was honest about everything else but himself. So I was not surprised how casually he informed me this. He didn't want trouble to befall his best friend. "Could Hanguang Jun send them to Unclean Realm immediately?"

"That won't be necessary" as I pulled the final hairpin out, his head reclined on the edge of the tub and he stared at me blankly. I had trapped an innocent child in my mess.

"Why?"

I ignored him and took a wooden comb and brushed his hair, freeing them of tangles and debris that had accumulated while he was in the carriage. Once it was untangled I poured water on his scalp and gently rubbed my fingers on the crown. His hair was raven black, and voluminous and soft and fine like the bristles of a calligraphy brush. He was liking this head massage. But by nature he was curious. He could say I don't know as an answer, but I was not allowed to answer him with silence!

"Why?"

"Do you want every answer tonight? I know you have many questions. How about we talk it out tomorrow morning?"

As his warden had told me, he was not patient. His eyebrows knotted up. "Then answer me, five questions please?"

"One"

"Five."

"One"

"Five."

"Two."

"Four."

"Two"

"Four."

"Two"

"Four."

"Three questions or zero questions." I continued cleaning his hair. But we could bargain all night. At the end of the day, he was not even a teen, I knew how to lure him. It was his own discarded method of bargaining where he had come up with rule five! You start with the high number of 5 or more and your opponent would start from the lowest denominator which is one, and you keep bargaining until you both reach the middle ground! He had discarded it as he didn't have enough money to run the tests!

"Deal. How did you know my name, even before opening the veil."

"I knew who my decoy spouse was for a while, when you sat beside me, you just confirmed it."

"That's not an answer!"

"It is."

"Did you know about my plan to be a decoy?"

"From the beginning."

"Did Nie Huaisang rat us out?"

"Your best friend didn't betray you. We used your friendship to our advantage."

"We?"

"Your three questions are up!" I rinsed his hair and took him out of the water. He wanted to stay longer. Once inside he was put into clean red robes of his size my brother prepared everything for his arrival.

After he wore it, I was confident that it was indeed a bridal night set of robes and trousers. The silk was shiny and if put on some with a good build, it would highlight their appearance. Unsurprisingly Wei Wuxian was a child, he looked like a beautiful child dressed in something pretty.

"You sleep here in the main bed. I will take the other room."

"No." He tugged my sleeve. "No." He looked at me pitifully, reminding me of a fawn lost in the woods in search of his herd. How could I be so insensitive? After everything that happened, he was meant to feel terrible.

"Is something bothering you?"

"I don't like sleeping alone."

"What did you do in Jiang Sect?"

"Sleep in dorms or with A'Cheng." This was new information. Alright, it was our wedding night. We were meant to be together, traditionally. I climbed into the bed and lay down beside him. I occupied more than half of the bed! Wei Ying released a troubled breath and burrowed his head into the pillow. His hand slowly dropped and crawled near my palm and he curled his little pinky finger around my little finger. Was this all it took for you to not feel alone as a child?

"Does it feel better?" I squeezed his little pinky finger harder with mine.

He raised his head and looked at me with eyes full of questions, and then he flashed the prettiest smile I had ever seen in my entire life. He had beautiful pearly white teeth that reminded me of hopping rabbits down the Caiyi Town! And like a rabbit, he pushed his head into the pillow.

I looked at him, as his head slowly disappeared under the pillow. A few minutes later he was back in slumberland. That's how our first night as a married couple was spent.

His head was swallowed by a pillow, his pinky finger coiled around mine, his hair spread like an ink stain, and half an hour later his fawn-like leg was on top of my torso. Even in sleep, he was restless!

Wei Ying hated being woken up. I had a feeling the rules of routine life were a mess in Jiang Sect. During the night hunt tournament, Jiang Wanyin was irritated by the timings of the early morning competition.

He had stomped his feet, saying it was ridiculous to expect people to be prepared by 4.30 for an archery match at 5 am! He was not the only young master scowling at these announcements. Lan Sect believed in early to bed and early to rise, and my little husband was way past early to rise!

"Wei Wuxian, you have to wake up if you want breakfast." Instead of waking up or replying to me, he slid further down the blankets, trying to make himself one with the bed. I appreciated his willingness to become a beautiful bedding. We had a long day ahead of us, and my little husband was already behind schedule.

"Noooooooooooooooooooo"

"Yes." I took away all the covering and immediately was met with angry sleepy kicks that landed nowhere near me. He was throwing tantrums now. What a little menace!

The loose legs of his trousers had rolled back down to his thighs. His legs were sunburned, how much did he play in the sun? "Don't show your exposed thighs to your husband, it's inappropriate behaviour. And do not kick me." As I began pulling his silk pants up, I noticed scars and bruises that I overlooked last night. There were clear bite marks on both of his calves. I held his legs mid-kick and saw there was more than one.

"Wei Wuxian" I dropped his legs

"Five minutes please."

"No wake-up." I held his wrists and pulled him up to a sitting position. Unable to go back to his happy sleep, he opened his crusty eyes. The inky hair was a mess and covered half his face.

"Hanguang Jun, why are you here?"

"We got married yesterday." I removed his strands and freed his eyes. Grey and extremely confused.

"For real?" I nodded. He thought it was a dream, didn't he? A bad one. "So am I a wife now? But I have a cock. Can two people with cocks marry? Isn't being in love and marriage different? I think we both should be husbands, why should I be wife no?" We will have to work on his vocabulary. Where did he pick his peasant-speak from?

"What are these?" I pointed to the bite marks on his calves. And chose to ignore his question.

"Dog bites!" He spoke like it was not bothersome. "They don't hurt me any more. They are very old." Should I be happy about that? He jumped out of bed and ran towards the washing area barefoot, he squatted down and rinsed his face and washed his mouth. "Woah, you have an outhouse and your private cleaning area! No wonder they said, Lan Sect is as rich as Jins! That explains why Madam Yu wanted my sister to marry here!"

"What about the bruises on your back?" Last night while washing his back, I saw patches of blue and purple as well on him, I knew where they came from. I didn't want to scare him, so I didn't ask him.

"Oh that, punishment whipping for being a brat, apparently." My little husband shrugged and splattered water into his face, "Oooo so cold! Shame I don't have any blank talisman!"

"Wei Wuxian."

"Yes, Hanguang Jun."

"If you stay with us. No one will hurt you."

"That's ridiculous." He stood up and looked me squarely in the eyes. Water droplets dripped down his baby face he was too young for my actions, and then his eyes suddenly hardened like glass. "Everybody gets hurt!"

"Explain?"

"Hanguang Jun has a proud and noble birth, but everywhere they beat up boys and girls like me. Since I am here. Watch me get punished, hehehehe."

"I would prefer you not get punished ever!"

"I knew it! My idol is a great man." Immediately after this confession, he covered his mouth. I raised my eyebrow. He turned around to face the other side. I took a few steps towards him.

"I am your idol?"

He shook his head, "No, no, it's nothing! But I would like a few autographs for my Sect brothers and sister" saying that he ran back inside without glancing back at me.

"Wear your socks!"

"Aye-aye"

"Wei Wuxian! No running is allowed in Cloud Recess!"

"But this is my husband's home. So I can do whatever I want." And he was gone!

"Can I get something darker?" My little husband tugged my sleeves.

"You don't like white?"

"No, it's not that." For a tiny child, he frowned a lot. "It will get dirty soon. I don't want to bother with cleaning."

"I thought you would have got a talisman for that." I couldn't help myself. He was walking beside me and kicking up a fuss.

"I do."

"Wei Wuxian!"

"I made it, we used it a few times, but the formula is not perfected." He was pouting in disappointment. But I needed to know where he picked up the knack for invention from.

"After the meeting with the elders, and my brother, I would like to know more about you," I patted his head. "I will see if we can get you darker materials."

"And cotton."

"Cotton? Not silk or chiffon? You are my husband, you will get an allowance for personal use, so it's okay to indulge."

"Not only Lan Sect is rich, but the members also enjoy luxury too?" He, too, fell for the oldest trick, just because we didn't show our wealth like the Jins and Wens, didn't mean we were not into luxury or finery!

"Wei Wuxian has a lot to learn."

"I am thirteen, I know things."

"I am aware."

"And I already finished all the S levels of the cultivation exam! I am ready for night hunts, it's just my age that is stopping me!" He pulled his sleeves up to show me his thin arms! Yeah right, puberty was far away for you! I wanted to scoff. But the serious expression on his face made me stop. Then my eyes fell on the part near his armpit. He tried to pull the sleeves down, but I caught it. In the darkness of the night I missed this.

"What is this scar? It is a new scar, not even purple, but flaming red." He tried to avoid my eyes. He did that when he didn't want to tell the truth but didn't want to lie either.

"It is nothing."

"Wei—"

"You can flirt with my brother-in-law later. Elders are waiting for you both, rather with a lot of anger."

"I was not. Wei Wuxian meet my elder brother, Lan Xichen."

"Zewunjun!" Wei Ying immediately bowed in front of my brother.

"We finally met young Wei Wuxian." My brother had a natural charm that put people at ease. My little husband was surprised, looked at me first and then he looked at my brother. Yes, my brother was beautiful, despite having similarities in our eye colours and height, he was the one people preferred. "I hope Wangji has been treating you well."

"Hanguang Jun has been very kind and treated me with utmost care." What was this, suddenly the child that I married was very formal in his words. So he was capable of being polite.

"Wangji, you can let go of his arm. I think my little brother-in-law can't handle your strength."

Was I allowed to retort? There was a small smirk, yes it was his idea to bind Wei Ying to me with a spell. I dropped the arm. Immediately my little husband fell on the wooden floor and bowed to my brother.

My brother looked at me, I didn't know what my little husband was doing. We had barely been married for thirty-three hours!

"I apologise, I never meant to drag this so far, if I had known there was a binding spell, I would've revealed myself earlier! I accidentally drank the tea. I am sorry. I just wanted to protect my sister."

"Master Wei Wuxian, it was not accidental, I apologise!" My brother also dropped to his knees and held my husband by the shoulders. "It was not accidental. We knew what we were doing. Once you enter the main hall, elders will rebuke you, yell at you and even ask you to leave. Don't pay heed to their words. If they ask you who planned it, please put the blame on me and Jin Zixuan."

"But it was my idea."

"And we trapped you with the spell. When you are a little older, Wangji and I will explain everything to you. For now, please help me protect my brother." What was he teaching my child-groom? He didn't need to bear any more of the burden of my decision! He was already doing great by not freaking out! Only thirteen, he was only thirteen! "You do not understand this now, Cloud Recess needs you!"

"I will protect Hanguang Jun." Suddenly Wei Ying's voice was very determined. "Until my dying breath, I will protect Hanguang Jun." I didn't like this declaration!

"I entrust my brother in your care." My elder brother bowed to my little husband, who tried in vain to stop him.

Just before entering, I bent down and whispered into Wei Wuxian's ears that my father might be present. So he better not let his words creep under his skin!

To my surprise, my little husband whispered back, "He can't be worse than Madam Yu."

I want to correct him that they were on the same level. But my brother glared at me. Suddenly it seems my brother is in an alliance with my little husband.

Once inside, my Wei Ying shrunk a bit in fear. All the elders of the Sect were here.

"I present you Wei Wuxian, son of Changse Sanren and Wei Changze, adopted Ward of Jiang Yanli of Yunmeng Jiang Sect. On upon whom I bestow the title of Lan'er Furent." My brother read out the formal dictum before chaos broke out!

"Xichen! This is unacceptable!"

"How will they even consummate the marriage?"

"How can this marriage bring in an heir?"

Hearing them ramble shameless things, I immediately put my palms on Wei Ying's ears who were shivering like a leaf.

My father stood up, "I call for the annulment of this sham marriage, which mocks the sanctity of natural order."

"I agree. I get it you didn't like Miss Jiang, but that doesn't mean you can marry any random orphan, a male orphan."

"Yes, this was all a ruse to cancel the wedding. You succeeded, Miss Yanli made a fool out of us by eloping. Don't embarrass your Sect further. We will annul this marriage and wait a few years before we look for another bride."

My insides were burning, I wanted to answer back. My brother's eyes asked me to stay put. We knew this would happen. So we were prepared, but to hear these words didn't mean I was immune.

My little husband removed my palms from his ears and did something I never expected, he pulled my left hand to his lips and kissed it. He was trying to assure me.

Then he dropped to his knees, "I love Hanguang Jun! Don't break our marriage apart." My brother stared at me and I stared back at him. This was not part of the plan.

"I have loved Hanguang Jun since I was eight. Please don't separate us."

"What nonsense are you speaking boy? Who gave you the right to talk without permission?" My father was on the verge of bleeding out from all his seven orifices!

"Who are you? Who gave you the right to break my marriage without my permission?" My father was speechless! I could see his greying hair curl up in anger. Someone was talking back!

"I am your husband's father! Your father-in-law! How dare you talk back to elders."

"I was not aware who you were! Greetings to you respectfully, Father!" Very dramatically my little husband offered three bows! "I had no idea you didn't want this marriage. But now that you have addressed yourself as my father-in-law, please accept this incompetent one as your son-in-law." He was not letting my father talk and continued with his over-the-top dramatic bows! Wei Ying was truly surprising! "I have always dreamt of marrying Hanguang Jun since I was little! When I saw my sister was being forced to marry against her wishes. I planned it all! She had no idea that I was going to swap our palanquins! I wanted to help her to be happy! And I wanted to be happy, so I chose to drink the binding spell! And I wanted to be happy too! I wanted to marry Hanguang Jun"

Everyone could see he was lying. Everyone. But with a confession like this, where he took the blame for everything, he was drawing away attention from the main topic! How many times had he done this, taking the blame for everyone to solve an issue? "I am ready to accept any punishment but no annulment of my marriage."

"You will live separately from Wangji, and look for a bride who can bore children and further the bloodline." My father thought he had an upper hand. My brother wanted to talk, my father technically had no more authority. But everyone was giving him dignity.

"I refuse."

Wei Ying refused, again and again, not letting my father talk. "I will not accept." I could see Sect's sisters snickering at his antics. He was taking away the gravity of this meeting. It was almost a street play, enacted to distract people from the horrors of life.

My father stood up and roared, "How dare you?" He broke another rule, no yelling was permitted.

"Why will I share my husband with a second wife and bring trouble to my home?" He was bowing still, he was not looking at my father. But his voice was loud, despite his body shaking! My father was used to hearing his voice. Never had he met someone like him. And Wei Ying was far from done! "I don't know how things are done in this Sect, but my parents loved each other very dearly. I wish to love Hanguang Jun the same way." In Lan Sect we didn't speak such words so loud, but Wei Ying was not a Lan! I could see my brother curling up his lips. My uncle who was hiding behind others was now visible and shaking his head!

"If you don't accept our marriage, I will run away with Hanguang Jun! And you will have one less heir!" Oh, he was going on the offensive. "Everyone in the world loves Hanguang Jun! If they heard Lan Sect was unkind to him, they will never ever ask for your help! How can a heartless Sect protect common people."

"How dare you question our history?"

"Why can't I? I married into this Sect! Is this why you wanted a daughter-in-law because you didn't want her to talk back? If you want to play the part of a cruel mother-in-law, I am willing to be your long-suffering daughter-in-law."

My father was rushing to slap Wei Ying, who was prepared to get beaten up. I took a step forward to protect my little husband.

"Father, that will be all." My brother cut in. "This meeting was to greet the new Lan'er Furen! Not threaten him with annulment or physical violence. Rules are meant to be enforced and accepted. Since the marriage has happened, we cannot dismiss it! I hope everyone in the Sect will help young master Wei Furen learn of our ways!"

"This is unnatural." Someone yelled.

"And who made you a judge, sir?" Wei Ying stood up, his silver-grey eyes were cold like ice. "What makes you question my love? Isn't Lan Sect the one where you preach of one true fated mate? Why can't I be Hanguang Jun's fated mate? Just because I have no high birth? Or because I have a man's body!"

I gently place my hand on his trembling shoulders. "Thank you, you have done more than enough." He looked up. His cold eyes melted. He would cry again. He was only thirteen, yet he understood my situation better than the adults around me. He lied to protect me, I felt guilt rising because I chose to be selfish. I wanted to agree to an annulment because he didn't deserve to be trapped in a loveless marriage with me! I was about to say so when he placed his hand on my palm.

"I do love you Hanguang Jun. You are my idol. Let me protect you."

I whispered, "Are you sure? It was my idea. But you will have to bear the brunt."

"Hanguang Jun, you chose me, didn't you? And my sister knew about this right?" I nodded, he guessed that I couldn't have pulled this ruse alone. "My sister chose you for me. I think I will wait for you both to explain all of this one month from now?"

I had nothing to reply with but nods.

"We cannot live by such behaviour, we are not against this marriage, but both of you behaved recklessly which cannot be accepted." My uncle finally spoke. When he said we, he meant all the people he spent last night with trying to soften the damage control.

"I will accept it all." Wei Ying bowed.

"No physical punishment for my groom" I spoke immediately. "Wei Wuxian is still recovering from injuries of Zidian." Wei Ying tried to pull me, but I grabbed his hands, and pulled his sleeves, "My apologies husband." Then I revealed the red burning marks which were running between his armpits. I didn't expose his back. But it was clear, I shouldn't have done this, but they needed to know what my husband had been through before coming here.

"We wouldn't have punished him physically," the elder Sect sisters hissed. My task was done, they would do the needful in looking after the child who declared he loved me. "Wei Wuxian will come to the library pavilion every day, write the scriptures and reflect on how he spoke to the elders today.

"And he will go to the Lanlin Jin next month as our Lan-Er Furen! He cannot be reckless and mannerless! We have to teach him that love alone cannot win him everything." Lan An, my elder cousin, winked at me.

"I accept."

"As for you." Now all eyes were on me. " You will receive physical punishment by helping us with bringing water to the kitchen from the river. Chopping firewood! Cleaning utensils. Collecting herbs" the leader of the healing branch, who was older than my father and uncle spoke.

"I accept" I sat beside Wei Ying and bowed three times. We had only won the first battle. They chose to be lenient with us. I offered three bows and sat straighter than ever before! I looked directly into my father's eyes, I knew he loved me, but why should I suffer like my mother to become worthy of his love? Why should I exist on his terms?

Wei Ying finally sat straight beside me, still shaking and about to break into laughter of nervousness, "I will help." Wei Ying said sincerely.

"Absolutely not!" My brother, uncle, An, and the elders in our support scolded him.

"Hanguang Jun…" he offered me puppy eyes.

I shook my head, "No." I patted his head.

This was just the beginning of our marriage.

TBC