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Lan Wangji was currently in Lotus Pier for the ongoing Discussion Conference Jiang Cheng was hosting. His husband had even agreed to come along because, as much as Wei Wuxian hated those meetings, he loved his first home even more. His brother, not only a Sect Leader but Jiang Cheng’s fiance, had, of course, been invited to Yunnemeg as well.
The juniors had also tagged along citing “diplomacy” as their reasons for attending the Conference, but Lan Wangji knew they just wanted to spend time with Jin Ling, so he didn’t say anything.
His husband was currently off torturing helping the juniors and preparing them for the meeting, and although Lan Wangji loved Wei Wuxian more than anything, he wasn’t sure if his husband was the... best candidate for that job. But, Wei Wuxian had insisted-most likely wanting to spend time with his nephew, so, again, Lan Wangji, kept his mouth shut and just let it happen.
At that moment, he was taking a midafternoon stroll by the Pier, occupying his time with enjoying the beautiful nature surrounding him. He had plans to dine with Wei Ying later, but for now, he was content to stroll aimlessly around Sect Leader Jiang’s home.
But, speaking of Sect Leader Jiang-
“You look like your mind’s more empty than usual.” Jiang Cheng sniped appearing by Lan Wangji’s side.
Lan Wangji briefly glanced at him before rolling his eyes. “I thought you were with Brother.”
“I was, but Lan Huan’s busy with some of the guests, so I decided to take a walk.”
“Mn.” Lan Wangji hummed and continued walking. “Your pace is slow.”
“Apologies, but not all of us have legs the length of tree branches.”
“Excuses.”
Jiang Cheng jabbed him in the ribs with his elbow and it startled a breath of laughter out of Lan Wangji. Jiang Cheng looked momentarily triumphant until Lan Wangji retaliated by pinching at his side.
“That hurt you asshole!” Jiang Cheng groaned, rubbing at the sore spot.
Lan Wangji shrugged, face blank, but eyes twinkling with amusement.
Jiang Cheng huffed and picked up the pace, and together the two of them strolled through Yunnemeg chatting about everything and nothing in between.
“ Sect Leader Jiang. Hanguang-jun.” Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji paused mid-stroll and turned around to be met with the unappealing sight of Sect Leader Yao and his small entourage of faithful Sect Leaders-Sect Leader Boh and Sect Leader Feng- who viewed all of the nonsense that came out of his mouth as the word of god.
Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji shot each other a glance before silently greeting the cultivators in return with a forced bow.
“How may I help you?” Jiang Cheng asked between gritted teeth.
“Well, I’m glad you asked, Sect Leader Jiang.” Sect Leader Yao sighed dramatically. “A couple of my disciples have fallen ill.”
“Quite ill.” Sect Leader Boh echoed.
“My apologies, Sect Leader Yao, but how is that my concern ?” Jiang Cheng asked, “patiently”.
“Well, I believe it’s because of the Yunnemeg cuisine.” Sect Leader Yao sighed again. “Or perhaps…”
“Perhaps?” Jiang Cheng continued, drily.
“Perhaps, some of your cooks intentionally tampered with the Yao disciples’ food.” Sect Leader Feng sniffed.
Jiang Cheng scoffed, in disbelief. “Is this a joke?”
“Hardly, Sect Leader Jiang! My disciples are suffering! How could you possibly think this a laughing matter?” Sect Leader Yao exclaimed, his entourage shooting Jiang Cheng dirty looks.
Lan Wangji observed in silence.
“What intention would I have to poison any of your disciples?” Jiang Cheng growled.
“You’ve always been the wild card, Sect Leader Jiang.” Sect Leader Yao sneered.
“As we all know, there usually isn’t a reason for your violence.” Sect Leader Feng continued.
Jiang Cheng tensed, schooling his features into an icy expression. It took all of his strength to calm Zidian-he wouldn't want to give these people another reason to slander him.
“Hm, well, I’ll have a talk with my kitchen staff to see what truly happened.” Jiang Cheng said in a dangerously low tone. Lan Wangji could feel the anger rolling off him in waves.
“Please, Sect Leader Jiang. Do you honestly expect us to take your word for it? The Yao Sect should receive proper compensation for all of its troubles.” Sect Leader Yao complained. Sect Leaders Boh and Feng nodded, wholeheartedly agreeing with his drivel.
“You can discuss that with me through a formal proposal Sect Leader Yao. ” Jiang Cheng all but spat out his name. “Now if you’ll excuse me.”
And then Jiang Cheng stormed off, with Lan Wangji trailing behind them. They were far away from the group of nuisances, but close enough to hear the muttered conversation coming from the three as they all went their separate ways.
“Tsk. His temper certainly hasn’t changed. You were right about that, Sect Leader Yao.”
“Hm. It’s no surprise that his only major allies, aside from the useless Nie Sect, are the Lan Sect and the Jin Sect, which are tied to him through familial connections.”
“Ha, but even Hanguang-jun, his so-called ally, didn't defend him at all. It just goes to show you how few allies Sect Leader Jiang Cheng truly has…”
“You should not take their words to heart.” Lan Wangji said once they were far enough away from the group. “They don’t mean anything.”
Jiang Cheng glanced at him and then huffed, shaking his head. “Are you sure about that?”
“Mn.”
“Then…” Jiang Cheng hesitated, looking off across the pier. “Then why didn’t you defend me? Sect Leader Yao was obviously trying to start a fight-”
Lan Wangji was immediately confused. “You had the situation handled.”
Jiang Cheng sighed, “I guess but-”
“You’re a Sect Leader.” Lan Wangji explained calmly. “You can fight your own battles.”
Jiang Cheng’s eyes widened. He froze and then frowned, confusing Lan Wangji even more. “Would you have stood up for Lan Huan? He’s a Sect Leader too...”
“What does Brother have to do with this?” Lan Wangji was genuinely stumped.
Jiang Cheng shook his head. “Nevermind.” He snapped harshly.
Lan Wangji was thrown by the sudden hostility. He hadn’t experienced anything like that from Jiang Cheng in years. “...Are you upset with me?”
Jiang Cheng shook his head and forced a smile. “My apologies for overreacting, Hanguang-jun. Enjoy the rest of your stay in Lotus Pier.”
And then he bowed stiffly and walked away, leaving a baffled Lan Wangji behind.
He and Jiang Cheng bickered and argued constantly, but this felt different.
It felt...wrong.
But Lan Wangji was still at a loss.
“It'll most likely be resolved by tomorrow.” Lan Wangji muttered to himself, making his way back to his shared quarters with Wei Wuxian.
It was wishful thinking.
~
Lan Wangji hadn’t realized how much time he usually spent with Jiang Cheng until the other started avoiding him.
At first, during their month-long stay in Yunnemeg, Lan Wangji hadn’t really noticed. Wei Ying had taken up most of his time, reintroducing him to his favorite spots in Lotus Pier or taking him out to the market, but while he and husband still spent much of their days together, contrary to the popular belief, their lives didn’t completely revolve around one another.
But Lan Wangji came to a startling realization that no matter where they were, Gusu or Yunnmeg or even Carp Tower, and no matter how busy either of them were, he and Jiang Cheng usually ended up spending a lot of time together, regardless of whether or not either intended for that to happen.
They were always usually just in each other’s orbits, and successfully managed to stir up chaos regardless of the circumstances.
But Lan Wangji hadn’t spoken to him in weeks.
Then again, he’d gone months before without talking to his brother-in-law.
So then why...
Lan Wangji leaned against a tree, staring at the lotus flowers floating in the sea.
Why did he feel so…
So…
“Oh. You’re here.” Lan Wangji’s head snapped around.
“Jiang Wanyin-” Lan Wangji began, but then Jiang Cheng was giving him that same, tight-lipped, polite, diplomatic smile he used on all of the cultivators who got on his nerves during Discussion Conferences and bowed to him.
“Have a nice rest of your day, Hanguang-jun.” And then Jiang Cheng was turning around and walking away, and for some reason, Lan Wangji wanted to reach out and call him back.
Because having Jiang Cheng be this polite to him was jarring.
Lan Wangji didn’t want that.
He wanted Jiang Cheng to insult him and mock him for his tea preferences.
He wanted to randomly bump into him while he was wandering around the Pier, and pull him into one of his chaotic, half-baked schemes that would surely end in their older brothers scolding them with exasperated yet fond expressions on their faces.
He wanted-
“ Oh. ” Lan Wangji turned back to the sea again, finally understanding why he felt so awful.
“I miss him.”
~
Lan Wangji made a plan.
Rather than prepping anything for the meetings- it’s not like he normally spoke anyways and his dear son could certainly use some enrichment...thankfully Lan Sizhui hadn’t asked any questions, he’d just taken the documents with a Wei Wuxian like sigh...Lan Wangji focused on figuring out why Jiang Cheng was upset with him.
And he knew just the person to talk to.
“Jin Ling.”
Jin Ling screeched, almost dropping his Lotus Seed buns onto the kitchen floor.
“H-hanguang-jun what the f-...I mean. Uh. What are you up to?” Jin Ling winced trying to cover up his initial freakout.
Lan Wangji squinted at his nephew. “I could ask you the same thing. It’s almost midnight.”
“...How do you even know that?” Jin Ling mumbled to himself and then cradled his desserts defensively. “ So? You’re not going to rat me out to Jiujiu...wait are you?”
Lan Wangji shook his head. “I came here to speak with you about your Uncle.”
“Wait who told you I was here?”
“Jingyi.”
Jin Ling sighed, and then reluctantly set his desserts down. “What did you or Uncle do this time?” He asked, dreading the answer. Jin Ling was certainly aware of how...lively...things could get when the pair were combined. He was still trying to reconcile himself with the fact that Hanguang-jun had the capacity to be even more of a menace than Wei Wuxian.
But that was a different midnight contemplation.
Lan Wangji began explaining what had happened, talking about how Jiang Cheng had seemed normal, and then after the confrontation with the Sect Leaders he’d gotten upset at Lan Wangji.
“I don’t understand.” Lan Wangji admitted. “Surely he’s had uncomfortable arguments with Sect Leader Yao and his entourage before. I’d expect him to be angry, I just…”
“You don’t understand why he’s angry at you ?” Jin Ling suggested.
Lan Wangji nodded slowly. Jin Ling was in his late teens by now, and despite being almost as easily angered as his Jiujiu, he’d truly grown since their first few encounters. Lan Wangji felt as though he could rely on him to make sense of his predicament.
“Hanguang-jun,” Jin Ling began. “Jiujiu was obviously upset by those assholes...I mean uh...those Sect Leaders. But, were you?”
“Of course.” Lan Wangji answered immediately. “They were insulting Sect Leader Jiang in his own home. Of course, it was upsetting.”
“Then why didn’t you stand up for him?”
There it was. The same question that had sparked his and Jiang Cheng’s fight in the first place.
And, yet, Lan Wangji still didn’t understand.
“He’s a Sect Leader. He doesn’t need me to stand up for him.”
Jin Ling huffed, rolling his eyes. “Do you think Jiujiu needs me standing up for him? Me? Most cultivators only see me as a child, and if I stand up for him, my words probably mean nothing in their eyes. But I know it means the world to Jiujiu, despite how many times he tells me not to bother. It’s always ‘It’s fine A-Ling ’ or ‘ There’s no need .’ But I call bullshit. Yes, he’s the fearsome Sandu Shengshou. He doesn’t actually need anyone protecting him but-”
And then Jin Ling paused because he’d never seen such an expression on Lan Wangji’s face before.
“But he’s my Jiujiu.” Jin Ling finished, in a quieter voice. “Do you get it now?”
Lan Wangji felt as though blinds had been ripped away from his eyes.
Everything clicked. It all finally made sense.
Jiang Cheng thought he didn’t care about him. That he didn’t seem him as worth standing up for.
“I understand.” And then Lan Wangji bowed to him, making Jin Ling’s eyes pop out of their sockets. “Thank you, Sect Leader Jin.”
Jin Ling’s face went spectacularly red and he just rolled his eyes and looked away. “J-just go and make things right with him.”
“Mn.” Lan Wangji nodded and then went away.
“Good luck, Uncle.” Jin Ling mumbled as Lan Wangji walked away.
Lan Wangji halted at the doorway, a soft smile playing at his lips.
“Thank you, A-Ling.”
~
Jiang Cheng was on his way back from the last meeting to conclude the Conference, wanting to avoid any of the particularly annoying cultivators on his way back. He was at his wit's end, and really wasn’t sure how much more of this he could take.
Lan Xichen had noticed something was off, but Jiang Cheng always tried to persuade his fiance otherwise. Lan Huan had enough problems on his plate as it was. He’d even noticed that something was off between him and Lan Wangji, but Jiang Cheng really didn’t want to think of his brother-in-law at the moment. He was sure the other was upset with him for avoiding him lately...or maybe he wasn’t.
Jiang Cheng had no idea.
He vowed to try and make things right after everyone left, but Jiang Cheng couldn’t lie...He was still pretty hurt because of their initial fight. He knew Lan Wangji wasn’t intentionally trying to be a prick...but it still stung.
And then, of course, Sect Leader Yao and his group managed to intercept his path.
“Oh! Sect Leader Jiang. We didn’t expect to run into you here!” Sect Leader Yao lied.
“Oh really?” Jiang Cheng asked, but he knew he had to bite his tongue. “Because we’re a few blocks away from my quarters.”
“Are you implying that we’re stalking you, Sect Leader Jiang?” Sect Leader Feng gasped and Sect Leader Boh had to hide a laugh behind his sleeve.
Jiang Cheng was going to lose it. But he knew he couldn’t give in, and give these people the reaction they wanted or else they’d win. He had to play the part of a gracious host, but that was getting more and more difficult by the minute, especially due to the blatant disrespect.
“Now about my compensation…” Sect Leader Yao brought up the same argument he’d had for the past few weeks about how, “Really, Sect Leader Jiang. My disciples are still very ill. I wouldn’t want word of this poisoning to spread….But if my disciples continue to remain ill, without justice…
“And like I’ve said,” Jiang Cheng’s nostrils flared. “You may send me a formal complaint, and I’ll see what I can do.”
“Sect Leader Jiang, do you truly not care for the wellbeing of these disciples?” Sect Leader Boh questioned.
Why should I? Jiang Cheng thought to himself. They’re not mine, and furthermore, I know they’re not actually sick. But he kept his mouth closed.
“It’s a pity.” Sect Leader Feng lamented.
“It truly is! The late Sect Leader Jiang and Madame Yu were far more accommodating than this.” Sect Leader Yao sighed.
Jiang Cheng felt his blood run cold. Sect Leader Yao didn’t bother stifling a smirk as Zidian began to spark angrily on Jiang Cheng’s fingers. He could feel his face growing hot.
He could barely think straight or try to formulate a diplomatic response, so he opened his mouth, intent on exploding when he noticed a familiar set of white robes appear at his side.
The group of cultivators looked surprised at the appearance of Lan Wangji, but none were more surprised than Jiang Cheng himself.
“Hanguang-jun.” Sect Leader Yao started, with a fake smile. “To do I owe the- mmmmph-” They looked at each other with scandalized expressions as they realized Lan Wangji had temporarily taken away their ability to speak.
“Hanguang-jun, what are you doing?” Jiang Cheng whispered, shocked.
“What I should’ve done before.” He answered simply.
Jiang Cheng’s initial anger was fading into confusion. “What-?”
Lan Wangji turned back to the three cultivators that were struggling against the spell in anger. “Do not disrespect my family ever again. Jiang Wanyin is a Sect Leader, thus he must bite his tongue in the presence of you three, but I have no qualms about killing any of you if you dare insult him like this in the future.”
Everyone gaped at him.
“But make no mistake,” Lan Wangji continued. “Sect Leader Jiang doesn’t need me to stand up for him. He could certainly end all of you within the span of a second. Be grateful that he hasn’t.”
Lan Wangji bowed, mockingly, and began walking away, Jiang Cheng speeding up to walk by his side.
Jiang Cheng was still astonished. “Lan Wangji, why did you-?”
“I’m sorry.”
“ What-?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t understand why you were upset with me.” Lan Wangji explained.
Jiang Cheng tried to nervously laugh it off. “Whatever. It’s in the past. Don’t worry about-”
“Jiang Wanyin.” And Jiang Cheng had to pause at the tone of his voice. “It doesn’t matter whether or not you need me to stand up for you. From now on, I always will.”
Jiang Cheng was speechless. He opened and closed his mouth multiple times before he could finally get a word out. “... Why? ”
“Because you’re family.” He said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “So I apologize for before.”
Jiang Cheng felt his eyes growing suspiciously moist, so he coughed and tried to play it off. “I guess I shouldn't have expected much. After all, you are pretty stupid, Lan Wangji.” Jiang Cheng teased, blinking back his tears.
“Stupidity loves company.”
“It’s misery love company, you idiot.”
“Not with us.”
Jiang Cheng’s face broke out into a wide grin, and he couldn’t help the few tears that slipped from his eyes. Lan Wangji met him with a smile of his own.
“Not with us.” Jiang Cheng agreed, hastily wiping at his face.
“How far do you think they’ve gotten?” Lan Wangji suddenly asked.
“Hm? Oh. Sect Leader Yao and his entourage? Probably not far from the Pier, why?”
“Want to push them into the sea and then run off?”
Jiang Cheng’s grin increased tenfold and he nodded. “I’ll race you there.”
“You’re slow, remember? Do not set yourself up to fail.”
“Oh piss off you little-”
They eventually made it back to the Pier, where all three Sect Leaders remained, silently ranting about them with their backs turned away, the pair launched a perfect sneak attack, sending the three straight off the ledge and into the sea. And it was at that moment that their voices returned, and Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji were able to bask in their screams and vicious outcries vowing to murder whoever would do such a thing to them. The pair practically skipped away high-fiving each other as they left.
Yes, it was true, even friends fight sometimes, but they were bound to make up in the end...
“Yes. Or, instead of making up, the fight ends with said friend revealing that everything you knew about them was based on an elaborate lie, you find out that they killed your sworn brother, slept with their own sister, killed the incestuous offspring from copulating with said sister, and then you end up killing them-”
“Xichen-ge? What are you mumbling to your teacup about?” Wei Wuxian asked his brother-in-law with a frown. They were sharing lotus tea by the Pier while their brothers were off doing god knows what and terrorizing lord knows who.
“Oh. Don’t mind me, Wei Ying.” Lan Xichen smiled sweetly. “I’m just breaking the fourth wall.”
“...But we’re outside? There are no walls...?”
Lan Xichen just smiled even brighter and took a long swig of tea, and Wei Wuxian just shrugged and did the same. Neither of them even flinched as they heard the sounds of screams coming from the sea, nor when they saw their respective didis practically fly by their faces as they sprinted away from whatever commotion they’d stirred up, purple and white robes chaotically whipping in the wind.
“This tea’s quite nice.”
“I know right? We’ll have to find some in Gusu.”
And then a soaked Sect Leader Yao came rushing past them as well, sprinting off in the direction of Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji, with two other soaked Sect Leaders wobbling behind.
“Should we-”
“Get some more tea?”
Wei Wuxian nodded.
“Absolutely.”
~