apparently I'm not done with my newly resurrected chengqing bullshit -
semi crack semi angst idea that wen ning did to his sister what wen qing did to wwx, aka: wen ning had listened to wen qing all his life, but by god he was not gonna like her die for his mistake.
wen ning went to lanling by himself maybe with the rest of the wens.
in any case when the cultivators stormed the burial mount after wwx's demise, lwj found a-yuan, jiang cheng found wen qing.
just imagine the awkward lock-eye between these two dumb bitches
I won't snitch if you don't snitch.
obviously wq and jc has to work through some stuff but like...
very quickly jc realizes ppl straight up don't recognize wq. Think about it. She showed up for 35 seconds at Cloud Recesses and never attended class. And then... the war happened and she was never really a player. Probably some ppl met her, but how many of them are still alive?
Sure jc had to hide wq the first couple of years, but after jgs mysteriously bit the dust... things relaxed by a lot.
Jc being that bitch that stares everyone in the eye whilst lying to their faces: how dare you accuse my wife of being a dead war criminal.
In Untamed only, the Wen Qing rescue by Jiang Cheng could parallel the Lan Furen situation. She could be saved by being taken in by the sect leader, but she would be isolated, her family lost to her. Like, its more meta then textual but Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji have no mention of their mothers family. Lan furen presumably agreed while Wen Qing walked away. Lan furen lived a long time with her children taken away to be raised without her, Wen Qing dies right away with Wen Yuan taken to be raised by those same strangers.
Huh.... I never looked at it that way, but yeah you're right! On some level it is similar!
And then my mind promptly poofed up an alternative scenario if JIang Cheng also did what Qingheng-jun had done.
(tw for noncon? but really there's no noncon, people just think there is)
~~~
Jiang Cheng was audacious only once in his entire life.
When Wen Qing turned to leave that day in Qishan's dungeon, the comb she gave back to him abandoned on the stone bench between them, Jiang Cheng crossed his heart and decided that attempt the impossible meant sometimes one had to act now and beg for forgiveness later.
Whether the forgiveness he sought had to come from his deceased parents, the entire Jiang Clan past and present, or Wen Qing herself...well...he had the rest of his life to figure it out.
His hand came down on her without hesitation, blunt force striking her squarely where her neck met her shoulder, and she dropped bonelessly into his arms, her future forever changed.
↠↠↠
When Jiang Cheng was a boy, before Wei Wuxian arrived, he had heard of a story.
He was very young then, and Madam Lan had been a nebulous figure, a subject of whispers and gossip, about which very few knew anything concrete. When she died, the older servants at Lotus Pier, unaware that listening ears were just around the corner, had tsked and sighed at her short wasted life. Locked away in a house. Separated from her children.
Well at least her husband loved her.
He did, though? How would anyone know.
Or wanted her, at least.
Whatever is wrong with the young masters of this generation and their poorly chosen women! Either loved but locked up or free but miserable nonetheless. What is the state of this world?!
Jiang Cheng didn't understand then.
In time, he would.
↠↠↠
After she was discovered in the dungeon, Wen Qing woke up in Jiang Wanyin's bed, wearing not a stitch but a bandage around her nape, and discovered herself in the middle of Sunshot Campaign's battle camp. From the two female disciples that had brought her new periwinkle uniforms to change into with barely concealed sneers, Wen Qing learned the reason behind her wretched state. About two dozen disciples of various sects had seen Jiang Wanyin carry her in the previous night and emerge the next morning adjusting his robes in a way that required very little explanation.
It was not that she didn't try to escape. She did.
Where do you think you're going, pretty thing? A Jin disciple interscepted her. They all said that Wei Wuxian was shameless, but seems like shamelessness runs in the family. Still, gotta hand it to him, Jiang Wanyin has good taste.
The disciple grabbed her around the middle while a couple of his sect brothers laughed at her struggle. Does he share? Do you know? He should, it's a virture after all.
Their malicious laughter had turned to yelps of pain when Zidian whipped them three feet into the air and back by a yard.
"Don't touch what it isn't yours."
Sandu's gleaming tip tapped the Jin disciple lightly on the shoulder thrice, mockingly polite in its gentleness. The man released her, all too aware of the distance between his jugular and the sword's edge.
More people gathered at the sound of commotion, coming together with shared morbid curiosity and judging eyes.
Nie Mingjue was there. Lan Wangji right behind him, looking ready to draw his sword and uphold justice.
"Your little tart was running away." Scoffed the Jin disciple. "I was just teasing her. No foul, no harm."
"Is that so?"
And then in front everyone, Jiang Wanyin grabbed her by the hair and reeled her in to press his lips against hers, his other hand unfriendly and uninhitibted. Just as quickly, he detached his mouth from her, sneering at the onlookers before chasing the exposed skin of her neck yanked to one side, and bit down hard enough to draw blood.
Of course she screamed.
"A-Cheng, that's enough."
The others parted for his sister to come through. Jiang Yanli gazed blandly at her little brother and the girl thrashing in his arms, offered no words of admonishment, but merely said, "Go inside if that's what you want to do."
Jiang Cheng threw Wen Qing over his shoulder like a sack of grains without further prompts.
It's what she deserves, that wretched little bitch, Wen Ruohan's witch doctor, the whispers followed them like shadows, but no one raised a hand to Wen Qing again.
As the old saying goes: one would have to check with the master, even if it were only to beat a dog.
(Except: "You know what the world will think of you. What she will think of you." "I know, but...thank you for helping me, A-jie." "Don't thank me, didi, not when you're asking me to help you hurt yourself.")
↠↠↠
It's not that Wen Qing didn't try to kill him either. She couldn't.
Her cultivation was sealed. Semi-permanently. That was what was under the bandage. At the base of her nape, he had carved a sealing rune into her skin, and the only way to reverse it is to carve the counter sigil on her sternum.
Later, she would learn that this was a secret Lan technique, given to Jiang Wanyin by Old Man Lan himself. She could only guess what he must've said to convince the pedantic old man to hand over his family's protected secret.
(He had said this: "I love her, Grandmaster Lan, please!" "You are a preposterous boy, Jiang-gongzi." "I love her, as your brother loved your sister-in-law!" "You-" "I've heard of the stories, I don't know how much is true. Only...Wen Qing is innocent! Prideful yes, but innocent! Help me. Please. I will do anything in return.")
After her failed escape and that awful display in front of the whole camp, Jiang Wangyin never showed his face to her again. The Jiangs installed her in her own tent with confinement talismens to prevent her from further attempts. Every night, two disciples came to give her (or force feed her if she refused) a concoction of some sort, which rendered her unconscious within minutes and unrousable until dawn.
She could lie to herself and say she hadn't a clue what happened within those hours, but the fact she always awakened in some state of undress and dishevel the next morning, and the fact that it was undisbutedly known amongst the disciples - Jiang or otherwise - that Jiang Wanyin visited her nightly whenever he wasn't out fighting, narrowed the possibilities down to a singular conclusion.
In the maelstrom of her nightmare, it didn't occur her to wonder why he never came to her during the day.
(The truth was this: Lan Xichen was sympathetic, "Your cultivation is derived from water, hers from fire. A seal fused with your cultivation without some kind of...buffer will inevitably harm her in the long run, erode through her golden core until she is permanently damaged. Give this tonic to her everynight. Without fail.")
(But also this: "Why must we continue this farce, A-Cheng, just tell her the truth! Why must you make her believe that you -" "I own her, but do not love her. I am her master, not her lover. She is damaged goods, worthless even as a leverage. That's the only way the others will leave her alone." "A-Cheng, you don't have to do this -" "I do. I do have to....is there any word on Wen Ning? Have we found him?" )
↠↠↠
Then one morning, about a month in, Wen Qing woke to the sound of thunder and rain and realized she wasn't alone. Even with her cultivation sealed she could feel another presence in the tent. Seconds later, Jiang Wanyin emerged from behind the trifold, hair unbound, barefoot and only in his underclothing.
He froze when he realized she was awake, and stared at her agape as if she'd caught him doing something he shouldn't. As if somehow she didn't know he'd been violating her for weeks.
(Unfortunately: the storm had collapsed many tents in the camp in the early morning, including his and his sister's. Jiang Yanli had been invited to stay with Mianmian, and Jiang Cheng, knowing Wen Qing would be dead to the world, had ducked into her tent to quickly change into dry clothes.)
And if there had been some part of her that wanted to deny it all, that wanted to hang on to the delusion - to hope - that maybe nothing happened while she lost consciousness nightly, in that moment, was dashed and divided until all that was left of her was rage and a desire to inflict revenge.
She sat up, not even bothering to cover her half nude body, and said,
"The golden core in your body is Wei Wuxian's."
↠↠↠
Wen Qing had hoped that she could goat Jiang Wanyin into killing her, to end her misery.
He didn't.
Three days later, Wei Wuxian re-appeared.
↠↠↠
(In his letter to Jiang Wanyin a day before the Siege of Nevernight, Nie Huaisang wrote:
Jiang-xiong,
Hope you're keeping well in the front. I must confess you are a man of gossip and waggling-tongue these days, but I trust in your character to pay them no mind. I write to you without my brother's knowledge to confirm the favour you asked of me is done. Wen Ning has been located and transported to Unclean Realm with the atmost discretion. He recovers daily.
Your friend,
Nie Huaisang
PS: You seriously need to tell me everything after we kick Wen Ruohan's ass. You owe me! )
Final Storyboard 20 Undercut! a bit long since it is the last one. Sorry it took like 8 months... I am a baby doctor and am off doing busy baby doctor things (as in i am junior, not that i'm a neonatologist)
The Emperor, the Consort, and the Concubine:
Like Lan Wangji, Lan Xichen was having relationshp problems of his own. For months after the war, he did not visit Meng Yao, nor did he strip him of his title and rank. Instead, Meng Yao was allowed to carry on living as though nothing had changed, for on paper, nothing had. Still, the ears of the palace had caught wind of the Emperor's changed heart, and of the sordid truths from Meng Yao's past.
Nie Mingjue knew better though. He knew the real reason why Lan Xichen was angry was not because he found out that Meng Yao was the son of a prostitute, but that he had organized and ruled over an entire secret military operation behind Lan Xichen's back. He had everyone on his team: Lan Xichen's uncle, Lan Xichen's husband, Lan Xichen's courtiers...everyone except Lan Xichen himself.
Ultimately Lan Xichen was just hurt by Meng Yao's lack of trust. Nie Mingjue, not wanting to see the two men he loved the most hurting like this, did his best to play the mediator, helping Lan Xichen to understand Meng Yao's reasons. See [Snippet 11].
Yes they reconciled. I'm not crazy, this is a happy story with happy ending for my little meow meows. [Snippet 12].
Hanguang Manor aka all was not well in the state of denmark
Lan Wangji's visit to the Imperial Prison left him in a state of emotional disarray, having discovered the truth about Wei Wuxian's role in the war. As with most things that didn't involve war and battlefield, Lan Wangji's only source of pragmatic advice on how to manage his otherwise clusterfuck of a private life, is his wife.
The candle was burning low in the princess consort's chamber by the time Lan Wangji stumbled through its threshold. Jiang Yanli looked up from from where she was waving a fan slowly beside a slumbering A-Yuan, drool dripping sideways onto his cherub cheek.
"Dianxia..." Jiang Yanli rose to her feet. She stood in her socks, having already dressed down for bed. "A-Yuan was particularly clingy tonight, threw a bit of a tantrum, so I -"
"It is no matter," Lan Wangji shook his head. "I should not have interrupted, I shall return to my own chamber -"
"No, please, stay. There's much we need to discuss." Gesturing at her handmaiden, Jiang Yanli gave instruction to move the little princeling to his own suite. The toddler whined a little when he was lifted into the handmaiden's gentle and practiced embrace, but otherwise remained utterly oblivious. His mother soothed him with a light kiss to his temple and bid him off.
Lan Wangji approached his heir before the maid carried the boy away. He remembered the night Lan Yuan was born and recalled Wei Ying's absolute delight - Lan Zhan, look how adorable he is! I don't mean to play favourite with the children but I think this one is going to be special - aww he yawned. Oh! And he has your nose. Out of his three sons, A-Yuan was the one Lan Zhan knew the least. For the majority of his short young life, Lan Wangji had been away at war. He had once believed when A-Yuan was born that he would grow up raised by all three of them: Yanli, Wei Ying and himself, but now...
"Is it true, what A-Cheng said earlier about A-Xian?"
"It is."
"And what will happen to him?"
"I went to the Ministry of Justice. I..." Lan Wangji stared helpless at his wife. The negotiations for the release and exchange of the prisoners of war were still being deliberated by Qishan's ambassadors and Gusu's Secretariat, but that only meant Wei Ying's days were numbered. "I asked to see the list of prisoners who could potentially be traded. Wei Ying's name was not there."
"What...what does that mean?"
"It means Qishan has discarded Wei Ying, left to Gusu's devices. And I know the court is going to seek justice. Except they do not know that it will be a false one."
Jiang Yanli had always been a meek and obedient girl, but her fortitude and poise throughout the war effort had demonstrated to the world that she was a fiercer woman than anyone ever given her credit for. A fact her husband already knew, which is why she was the only one he trusted to be completely and unquestioningly on his side in his moment of need.
The merits of her character, the fruitfulness of her pregnancy, and the contribution of her maiden familly during the war all came together to supply her elevation from deputy consort to princess consort. The imperial decree came just days after Lan Wangji's victorious return. Jiang Yanli was named his legal wife, the lady of his princely manor, the mother of his heir, just as they had planned all along. Theirs was no love match, but she will be his Empress one day, his partner on the throne. They understood each other well, and Lan Wangji knew that Jiang Yanli would stand with him to fight for Wei Ying. After all, her devotion to her family was absolute. And Wei Ying... Wei Ying was her family, and from the looks of it, she had believed in him even when Lan Wangji himself didn't.
"Tomorrow, dianxia, tomorrow, you and I will go to court and beg our royal brother for clemency. If he knew the truth, if he knew all A-Xian had done for our country, for you, if he knew his love for you -"
"I cannot speak on that, he - tonight -"
"Don't be a fool, my prince. Oh what am I saying, you're both fools. Wei Ying, that idiot boy, of course he would deny everything now. But if you doubt him, doubt his devotion to you, after everything he's done, then perhaps you are an even bigger fool than my brother."
Morning came and brought thunderous summer rain, but despite the downpour, Jiang Yanli and Lan Wangji donned their official courtly robes of prince and princess consort and set off to see Lan Xichen. But Lan Xichen was not in his usual imperial study, nor in his official palace of work. Instead, his brother and sister-in-law found him and Nie Mingjue in Fangfei-dian (Fangfei Palace), alternating between handling court matters and serving at Meng Yao's bedside. Unfortunately, their uncle Lan Qiren was also there.
"I am sorry, Wangji. You were never meant to find out this way." Lan Qiren sighed, dropping his tea cup onto the table with a resigned clang. They were in the zhengtang(1) of Fangfei-dian, away from Meng Yao's private quarters where he rested. Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren sat at centre front, with Nie Mingjue looking caught in an awkward position to the left.
"Get up, up!" Lan Qiren urged, frowning most disapprovingly. "What are you doing, kneeling there like that in your full regalia, completely inappropriate -"
"Not until bixia has agreed to reveal the truth." Lan Wangji remained unyielding, presenting the silk-bound parchment of his letter of submital with upturned hands, elbows defiantly straight. The letter detailed Wei Wuxian's true allegiance throughout the war, written by his hand and cosigned by himself and Jiang Cheng.
"Hmph!" Angrily, Lan Qiren slammed the table. "Forcing your soverign's hand? This is sedition!"
"You are not the soverign, huangshu!"
Even Nie Mingjue appeared surprised at Lan Wangji's raised tone of voice. For a taciturn and laconic man, this was entirely out of his character. Lan Xichen rose from his seat, for he knew better than anyone present, that this was his baby brother being pushed to his limit.
"Wangji-"
"I beseech you, bixia, huangxiong -" Lan Wangji's voice wavered.He raised his eyes from where he had fixed it upon an indeterminate point ahead of him and gazed up at his older brother desperately. "Da'ge... please."
"Do you understand what you're asking your huangxiong to admit to?" Their uncle interrupted them, but with a softer tone this time. "To create the illusion of Wei Wuxian's alligence to Wen Ruohan, we've had to... make sacrifices of our men, our soldiers, sons and brothers and fathers who now can no longer go home to their families. Their sacrifice earned us the peace we have today. You would have your brother, the soverign, making such an admission which would undermine his rule at a time when this country needs stability and hope! You would, for one man, have the entire country question Xichen's integrity, his judgement, his character when he is the most blameless of us all!"
The hall was silent for a long beat.
And slowly, Lan Wangji lowered his arms, his submittal dropping to the floor. Jiang Yanli reached for him, hesitating, "Dianxia."
When no one spoke further, Jiang Yanli looked fully ready to pick up the submittal and continue where Lan Wangji had failed. But it was not necessary. Her husband stilled her hand and said without looking at anyone this time: "You are right, huangshu. Huangxiong is innocent, but Wei Ying was not the one who orchestrated those underhanded schemes either, was he? You and I both know, huangshu, which mind - mastermind - was behind it all."
Lan Xichen's expression stuttered, the worry and empathy in his eyes cooling and overtaken by another kind of emotion, something thicker, darker. Behind him, Lan Wangji saw from the corner of his eyes Nie Mingjue's fist tighten anxiously.
"Hanguang-wang -"
"Do not scold him, Da'ge. He is right." Meng Yao voice came from the doorway. He was dressed in mere sleepwear, hair half bound, with a cloak draped over his shoulders, the edge of which was damp with rain despite the umbrella Hengsheng held overhead.
"A-Yao," Nie Mingjue hurriedly helped him into the room and chastised without much heat. "You should be resting."
"I am rested enough. And it's true what he says. I was the one behind it all."
"No." Before either one of Meng Yao's lovers could protest, it was Lan Qiren who disputed his claim. "What you did was brokering an agreement with Dafan-junzhu Wen Qing to protect Gusu, supplant Wen Ruohan and replace him with her father. You did it with the full knowledge of myself, the late Marshal Jiang and Mingjue. And believe me, A-Yao, I had you investigated extremely thoroughly, and I am satisfied to say you did not act against Gusu's longterm interest in any way.
"We cannot reveal your bargain without compromising the identity of the other party. We promised Wen Qing that her father's rule would not be stained by treason, collution with outside forces, and kin-killing. Qishan needs peace and time to heal as much as we do. Dafan-junwang will make a good soverign for his people, and a good neighbour to Gusu. For the sake of our citizens, we cannot risk Qishan's court finding a reason to despise and dispose him.
"That aside, whether Wei Wuxian eventually worked for us or not, it is undeniable that he had stolen the defence plans for Yiling which directly led to the massacre that happened and Qishan's subsequent occupation there. He did that of his own volition, for Wen Ruohan. Not for us. If nothing else, he still has to answer for that, and that alone is enough to cost him his life."
Lan Wangji rose to his feet, Jiang Yanli in toll. There was anger and tears unshed in his eyes, but the way he breathed harshly signalled to all those present that he knew he had lost this fight. He watched his brother take Meng Yao's hand and Nie Mingjue's protective paws curling around Meng Yao shoulders.
Meng Yao stared at him. There was pity in his eyes, but no remorse.
Lan Wangji's knuckles turned white.
Jiang Yanli saw it before anyone else. He wanted Meng Yao dead, but he left wordlessly nonetheless. Out into the pouring rain without another look.
His wife picked up the letter of submittal and sighed. "That night, as I understand it, A-Xian had every intention of leaving Gusu and abandoning Wen Ruohan's mission. He no longer wished to fight for any side. It was Lianfang-jun who convinced to him stay. Of course I am happy that my brother, my mother, and my son are all alive today, but sometimes I wonder if A-Xian had just left, perhaps that would've been okay too. I think my husband could've lived hating A-Xian forever, but this...this I don't know."
Jiang Yani collected her self, placed her hands together and dipped into a proper curtsy. "I shall take my leave, and bid you well."
Notes:
1) zhengtang 正堂 - a traditional chinese home, from as small as a peasant's home to a palace, is actually multiple independent houses/structures within one courtyard. This courtyard can be quite complex with multiple inner sections but ultimately the perimeter is a square or rectangular wall enclosure. Each independent house within the courtyard has its functionn. A sleeping quarter is usually in the inner most portion, while a zhengtang is the front and centre house where guests are received formally.
The Execution and Other Related Shenanigan:
Wei Wuxian was scheduled to be executed in the fall. And so began a month long cold war between Lan Wangji and the rest of the Lan family. He shut himself away and refused to see anyone. Jiang Yanli, Luo Qingyang, and Qin Su became increasingly concerned.
"If Wei Wuxian dies, forgive my inauspicious words, but I fear dianxia will do the unthinkable." Mianmian whispered to her harem sisters on a hot summer night when their children were asleep. "I mean...there's a family history of Lan men throwing it all away when their beloved dies, especially when there are an abundance of heirs and regents."
In addition to Lan Wangji thinking daily of just offing himself, Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng decided - fuck it - they were gonna storm the execution site and rescue Wei Wuxian because to hell with the rules. Attempt the impossible. Or whatever. Family motto. Detailed snippet here [snippet 8].
Thankfully, Nie Huaisang (with the help of Xiao Xingchen, Song Lan and Xue Yang) managed to drag his injured partially recovered ass back to the capital at the metaphoric 11:59pm like a procrastinating college student submitting their assignmen, and saved Wei Wuxian's neck from the chopping block.
"We have less than hour before his execution, shouldn't we head to the arena?!" Song Lan called out over his shoulder as he violated several ancient fantasy china traffic laws while speeding down the street in his horse-drawn carriage.
"And say what?!" Exclaimed Nie Huaisang back in frustration. "We have no official decree, and I look like a stale shit shat by a constipated cow in my state. I need to see my brother, give the Emperor a usable reason to pardon Wei Wuxian, and a good enough lie for old man Lan to placate the court and their pesky ministers."
Nie Huaisang's sudden ressurection changed everything. While he could not claim that Wei Wuxian was their spy from the start, he did create a very believable and elaborate lie about how he was able to convince Wei Wuxian part way through the war to do act against Wen Ruohan for Gusu's benefit. Not because he loves Gusu oh no, but because despite Wei Wuxian's "loyalty" to Wen Ruohan, his heart lies with Lan Wangji. And while yes he had faced the prince on the battle field, had killed his men, and even injured the prince himself, he never wished for Lan Wangji to die. So when told about Lan Wangji's predictament in the snowy freezing hills of the Burial Mount, Wei Wuxian devised a plan to rescue Lan Wangji.
Nie Huaisang produced an eloquent and vague letter from Wen Qing, who had corresponded with since he learned of Wei Wuxian's impending death. In it, Wen Qing said nothing of Wei Wuxian's history as a spy, only that in the last moment when Wen Ruohan had trapped his entire court inside the palace, lured in Gusu's troops, and had every intention to light everyone aflame, it was Wei Wuxian who stopped him, saving everyone, and forgoing his chance to escape to freedom. This much, she can publically acknowledge without implicating herself or her father in any way.
And to Nie Mingjue, Nie Huaisang said, "Da'ge, if it weren't for Wei Wuxian sending Xue Yang to rescue me, I probably would've been tortured to death or worse at the hands of Xue Chonghai."
The public asked: if Wei Wuxian was not the hellish monster that they all believed to be, if his love for Hanguang-wang was true, then how come then he did not say anything to defend himself?
Because, replied Nie Huaisang, Wei Wuxian is a man who has a conscience, and he knows he's done wrong, and he believes he deserves to die. Such a man is rare in this world, and should be given a chance to do more, to atone with the rest of his life all that he'd taken away. The dead can never come back, and killing Wei Wuxian when there's so much he could do for the those left behind by the dead, would be a waste and a shame.
And so after many months, it was decided that Wei Wuxian would be exiled indefinitely to border city of Yiling - the neutral zone - to rebuild the community that his actions had destroyed. He was due to leave at the onset of winter.
In the meantime, Lan Wangji was officially installed as Crown Prince, his brother's legitimate heir, and Jiang Yanli as Crown Princess Consort.
Before Wei Wuxian began his exile, his family came to see him off. Detailed snippet here [snippet 9].
And immediately following snippet 9 ->
Lan Wangji arrived on horseback, his white winter cloak bellowing behind him as he charged towards the departure party. He must have come straight from the palace, for he was still in his stately court robes.
Wei Wuxian did not wish to stare, but he couldn't tear his eyes away. The last he'd seen of the man he loved was when he had driven him away, tears in his eyes, from his prison cell. The time before that was when Lan Wangji found him cradling Wen Ruohan's dead body at Nevernight and promptedly arrested him. And then time before that was when they had clashed swords in the snow and Wei Wuxian had inadvertidently killed Mo Xuyuan. And the time before that, was when Wei Wuxian had held Jiang Yanli and A-Yuan hostage trying to escape from Hanguang Manor, and then shot Lan Wangji with an arrow during the chase.
Wei Wuxian thought he would feel more upon this reunion, but all he felt was shame. He would hide himself in a hole in the ground if he could, except of course, this may in fact be the last time he'll ever see Lan Wangji ever again.
When the man in question reined his horse to a stop and hastly jumped off, Wei Wuxian found he suddenly could not raise his eyes off the ground, off the sight of his worrying fingers and the lingering dirt still trapped beneath his nails. At least he had bathed. Thank the gods that the administrators of his exile had allowed him to scrub himself clean of months of prison grime before his journey. As it was, he was in his least threadbare prison garb, and probably was not going to looked better than he did.
Lan Wangji advanced towards him without hesitance, and Wei Wuxian dreaded that he would embrace him, or kiss him, or anything that involved the physical touching of his skin against his own. Because - because -
There was no part of him that Wen Ruohan left unmarred.
So when Lan Wangji was all but a step away, Wei Wuxian tried to drop into a deep kneeling bow. "Taizi-dianxia -"
But Lan Wangji was one step ahead of him. Catching him at the elbow, he pulled him to his feet and gripped him in a crushing embrace. "Wei Ying."
Shaking despite himself, Wei Wuxian fought with the very last of his pride. "I am not Wei Ying."
Except he should've known he could never win against Lan Wangji's bullheadedness.
"You are."
"I am Qishan's Wei Wuxian."
"You are. You are Qishan's Wei Wuxian. And you are my Wei Ying."
Wei Wuxian would be embarrassed at how easily he gave in and all but crumbled into tears in Lan Wangji's arms, except he was literally about to be exiled for life, so he really didn't care.
"I'm sorry," said Wei Wuxian when he collected his breath and drew back to gaze upon Lan Wangji's face properly. "I'm so sorry."
And Lan Wangji did not implacate him with lies. "I know."
"I came to Gusu with the singular goal of infiltrating your court. I endeared myself to Jiang Fengmian to use his family for access. I followed Jiang Yanli to get close to you. I was tasked to seduce you."
"I know."
"I killed 37 men and women while living under your roof. I stole the defence plan of Yiling and countless other documents."
"I know."
"I killed Mo Xuanyu on the battlefield. I didn't mean to."
"I know."
"I...I laid with Wen Ruohan, after you. I never wanted to, but I never refused. I laid with him four hundred and seventy one times in the last two years." Wei Wuxian swallowed, his words becoming thick and dry in his mouth. "I laid with him even the night before I killed him."
Wei Wuxian held his breath. He kept his eyes lowered, too ashamed and afraid to look at Lan Wangji now, until he felt warm hands cradling his face, and a pair of warmer lips press into forehead.
"I know," said Lan Wangji quietly. "I've heard it all."
"I'd ask for your forgiveness, but I don't even know how to forgive myself."
"For what?"
"For...? For - "
"He had hurt you in the worst ways possible. I'd offer to kill him for you, but you've demonstrated that you're more than capable of avenging yourself."
Wei Wuxian can't believe Lan Wangj is making a joke, of all things, at a time like this. But it made him laugh, nonetheless. "I'm capable of so much more than you know."
"Oh I know. You were a formidable enemy, ruse or not. Perhaps one day you'll agree to a fair duel, mhm?"
"Perhaps. But what will the people say when their Taizi-dianxia lose to a lowly servant?"
Lan Wangji was quiet for a moment, his eyes turning serious, but gentle. Wei Wuxian had a split-moment premonition that whatever the prince planned to say would break his heart all over again.
"I already lost to you, Wei Ying."
"Lan..." Wei Wuxian struggled with a shuddering breath, Lan Wangji's name choking in his throat, his eyes flooding again with tears. He sniffled in the cold, and made an inelegant swipe at his snotty and drippy nose. "Lan Wangji, you bastard! Saying things like that - how am I supposed to go into exile in peace?!"
"If I could but keep you..."
"You can't, Lan Zhan. This is what I deserve. Putting aside sentiment, you have to see that this is fair."
Lan Wangji held his hands tightly, tears like crystals in his eyes. “Wei Ying, I’ll wait for you.”
But Wei Wuxian only shook his head. “Don’t. Time doesn’t stand still. Live your life Lan Zhan, and one day when I come back, you can fill me in on everything you have achieved. My Lan Zhan is the best. You will be a great taizi, and a great huangdi. And I will guard Yiling and its people for you, until the end of my days."
Overwhelmed, Lan Wangji pulled him in by the nape and kissed him squarely on the lips.
And even though they were about to part forever, for the first time in two awful years, for Wei Wuxian, it felt like coming home.
Eventually, the exile party had to depart. Jiang Cheng bear-hugged Wei Wuxian and threatened him with bodily harm if he was stupid enough to get himself killed in Yiling. "If you dare die on us, I'm going to hell to bring you back and kill you myself!" Jiang Yanli had many many reminders for Wei Wuxian to take care of himself, before handing him the bundle of things she'd packed for him. "Zhangjie, you know I have to carry this to Yiling myself." - "The guards can help you carry it if you get tired" - "Zhangjie, I'm being exiled, not going on vacation!" Two-year-old Lan Yuan was very confused by all the emotional adults, but was extremely cute when he hugged Wei Wuxian around the legs and obediently said, "Xian-diedie, goodbye", like his mother asked him to.
Wei Wuxian embarked on his journey with a care package from the Crown Princess Consort, and the Crown Prince's own winter cloak drapped around his shoulder. His family watched him go until they could no longer see him in the distance.
The End
Okay fine...some closing remarks, epilogue of sorts.
1. Jiang Cheng and Wen Qing:
Yu Ziyuan just about had a stroke when her son, the now very popular and in-demand bachelor Young Marshal Jiang Wanyin wrote to her that he had every intention of marrying Qishan's Grand Princess Wen Qing. And the very political but equally very love-driven marriage was underway when unexpectly Wen Qing's father the new emperor of Qishan had an ACTUAL stroke. He didn't die, but this bout of severe illness left him incapable of governing, and because Wen Ning was all but thirteen, the position of Regent naturally fell to his very capable older sister who was twenty-one and wise beyond her years. Jiang Cheng had his own very unironic "I'll wait you" moment with Wen Qing, and if Wei Wuxian knew about this he'd laugh.
They pushed their wedding back by 5 years, but just when Wen Ning came of age, he told his sister that he never wished to rule and would rather be a physician or a general or literally anything but a soverign. Wen Qing could not force her beloved brother onto the throne, so she became Empress and claimed all children of royal Wen blood eligible to inherit. The heir would be selected by merit alone, and she alone would name her heir when the time came.
Jiang Cheng eventually became Wen Qing's consort at the age of 44 when his eldest niece Lan Yiran, by special dispensation of her royal father His Majesty Hanguang-di, was named Marchioness of Yunmeng and commander of the Jiang Clan army in the southern border. She relinquishes her royal surname Lan and adopts her mother's maiden name Jiang. She reports to court every summer, but lives her days in her main helm of Yunmeng. Ouyang Zizhen, the lovesick son of Minister Ouyang, follows her there as a zhuixu(2) despite his clansmen's protest.
Note: zhuixu - is a man who marries into a woman's family, whose children will have his wife's last name instead of his own. Tend to be looked down upon in history.
2. Lan Wangji, Jiang Yanli & the Harem (Mianmian and Qin Su):
It was a sentiment shared amongst all of them that there wasn't enough daughters to spoil rotten. Kaisong, Jingyi and Sizhui (yes Lan Wangji is still that bitch who names his son to long and yearn for) were great kids, but they were dirty rowdy boys. And since Mianmian and Qin Su were very devoted to each other and living their best sapphic life, and since Jiang Yanli was in fact the legal wife, she and Lan Wangji decided to make a few more people. They were very lucky and got two daughters back to back: Yiran and Duanluo.
3. Lan Xichen, Meng Yao, and Nie Mingjue:
Lan Xichen ruled for another seven years after the war. Then one day he decided okay that's enough of that and abdicated the throne to his brother. Both Meng Yao and Nie Mingjue too left their status behind and the three of them fucked off to travel like retirees in a throuple. But don't worry, Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng were more than experienced enough to fill in for the brains and brawns position of Lan Wangji's new court.
4. Xue Yang, Xiao Xingcheng, Song Lan ....And Wei Wuxian
Xue Yang, having been Wei Wuxian's shidi and friend most of their violent lives, just couldn't abandon his pathetic little meow meow shixiong to wither away in Yiling by himself. So he convinced Xiao Xingcheng that like...isn't a good taoist supposed to go and help the needy or whatever. The three of them eventually went to Yiling to see what they could do to help the wartorn city. What they found was that Wei Wuxian had already started the rebuilding effort. Yiling was far away from both Nevernight and Cloud Recesses, so Wei Wuxian's infamy wasn't as well known. But the fucking idiot announced on day one of his arrival who he was and confessed his 300 crimes. "I have no protest if the good people of Yiling find my crimes deserving of death. My life is yours to take. But, if you grant me the grace of mercy, I will use the remainder of my life to rebuild and serve this city. I am Yiling's servant, from this day till the last of my days."
And so little by little, Yiling recovered. Wei Wuxian wrote countless letters to local and provincial and imperial administrations asking for grants and funds (and books. What he didn't know, he learned, and read, and sought help from the locals). Thankfully, Wen Qing and Jiang Cheng took it upon themselves to make sure funds were provided. Neighbourhoods were rebuilt. The poor, wounded, widowed and orphaned were cared for. Wei Wuxian set up schools, re-developed farmlands, retrained the able-bodied to form the new defence system of the city. Slowly, businesses returned. Newcomers arrived seeking these opportunities. Babies were born. The sun rose and the sun fell, day after day, night after night.
Wei Wuxian had found a small abandoned residence when he first arrived, no more than a 600 square ft courtyard, barely enough to fit a donkey and a well. He lived there even after things got better, and never moved from this cramped little place.
Xue Yang, XXC and Song Lan came to visit every now and then, so he didn't get too lonely, but being nomadic, they never stayed too long. Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli wrote, as frequently as they could.
Every month or so, a letter would arrive from Cloud Recesses, and Wei Wuxian would sit by the dim light of his oil lamp and bore over Lan Wangji's neat calligraphy. The next day, he would send off a letter of his own.
The years went on. A decade went by.
Entirely against his will, Wei Wuxian had somehow gained a new moniker: Yiling Laozu. He's not sure who started it, but the people of Yiling now would smile and kindly call him Yiling-jun, whenever they pass him on the street. His repentence and dedication had earned him their forgiveness, and over the course of 13 years, their respect. But the toil of his labour took a toll on his health, and at 35 years old, Wei Wuxian found himself at death's door yet again.
"If I didn't come to see you, were you really going to just roll over and die? Why didn't you say something in your last letter, fucking idiot!"
Wei Wuxian's fever addled brain could hardly process the blurry figure sitting at his bedside. "Jiang...Jiang Cheng?"
"Yeah, who else. You look like shit."
"...Thanks."
"Don't worry, you'll live. Qing'er sent her best physician."
"Qing...? Qishan's Empress? Damn, she hasn't dumped you?" Wei Wuxian chuckled despite the heavily in hs chest. Literally even breathing hurt. "Amazing."
"Shut up. When you stopped writing altogether, Lan Wangji nearly lost his goddamn mind. A-jie too was worried sick."
The emperor and empress had sent three consecutive royal missives, which were delayed by outrageous winter storms known to plague the borderlands. Jiang Cheng had found them unopened. Wei Wuxian had been too weak to do much else than lie in bed and wait to die by the time he'd arrived.
"Jiang-dage, Wei-gongzi should rest. There will be plenty of time to chat later." A kindly young man interrupted their banter as he entered the room with freshly brewed tonics. Wei Wuxian took in the sight of him and found him entirely too ...unintentionally posh to be just a physician.
"Thank you, A-Ning. Leave the tonic to me, I'll make sure he takes it. You go get some rest. The travel here was rough; if you fall ill your sister will declare war on my entire house."
"A-Ning" didn't argue, merely smiled and said he'll come back to reassess Wei Wuxian in a couple hours.
"...Was that?"
"Yeah." Jiang Cheng helped Wei Wuxian sit up, and handed him his medicine. "Drink up, get better, we'll return to the capital at the onset of spring."
"...We?"
Jiang Cheng gave him a crooked smirk. "You've been pardoned, you dumbass. The citizens of Yiling banded together and submitted a letter on your behalf to the imperial court, so moving it made even Old Man Lan shed a tear - okay, maybe not. Point is, the people gave Lan Wangji a reason to pardon you. Your exile is over."
I never said this au was in-character, and I also never promised not to make an au largely inspired by the idea what if the essence of advisor!mcs possessed adhd!wwx and what if tsundere energy of petulant!jc possessed the social station of himbo!xjy
9. politics is to regent!wwx as demonic cultivation is to canon!wwx
WWX *wakes up from a fever and sees XXC*: 师叔，您怎么来了？夷陵出事了？！（Shishu...what are you doing here? Did something happen in Yiling?）
XXC *holding a bowl of foul medicine*: 傻小子，都病成这样了我能不来吗。是不是江晚吟那个不争气的小皇帝又气你了。夷陵那边好的很，有阿菁呢，乱不了。（Silly boy, how could I not come when you're so ill? Was it that useless little emperor Jiang Wanyin giving you grief again? All is well in Yiling. A-Qing is there, nothing will dare cause trouble.)
——
WWW *coughs coughs coughs* I'm fine, I have schemes to plan for A-Cheng. I'll have Jin Guangshan checkmated in no less than -
LWJ *spoon feeds him porridge and chicken from a jade bowl*: You're sleep deprived, malnourished, and dehydrated. Shut up.
10. Chenqing as eunuch-in-chief scares everyone
Raven hair and coal-black eyes, Chen-gongong is the most beautiful man in the entire palace - well, he would be, if that pale bloodless frozen face of his would stop being so deathlike. Chenqing is slim and tall and speaks in a hushed tenor tone that strikes the fear of the reaper into the heart of men and women alike.
Nobody knows when or how Chenqing became an eunuch, only that Lord Protector Wei Wuxian brought Chenqing in when he became Regent. Some say Chenqing was already an eunuch before, some say he willingly became one to continue serving Wei Wuxian within the palace.
Truth is: Chenqing was an orphan that Cangse took in when she was the master of Yiling. WWX grows up with Chenqing and knows Chenqing has suffered mutilations at the hands of human traffickers. It's not clear if Cangse taught Chenqing some forbidden pugilist knowledge.
Chenqing knows everything about everyone in the palace. That's why his sleeves are so wide, they're full of secrets.
Chenqing is no less deadly than Suibian when it comes to the art of killing, even though General Sui is the Commander of the Imperial Guards.
No eunuch, handmaid or guard dare whisper what they all suspect - Chen-gongong and Sui-tongling are lovers.
WWX is too busy to care that his right and left hand men are boning.
11. Lan Xichen is the Deputy Imperial Tutor, meaning he is in charge of Jiang Cheng's education growing up.
Recall JC is 8 years WWX's junior and 10 years JYL's junior. LXC is 5 years WWX's senior which makes him 13 years older than JC. When JC became emperor at age 12, LXC was already 25.
LXC's life is incredibly difficult. JFM handpicked him to teach young JC before he died.
It's hard to be the teacher of a boy who's technically in charge of you and the rest of the nation.
Imagine the parent-teacher interview nights with Regent!WWX and Imperial Tutor!LXC
JC's half-brothers (JFM had concubines): Huangxiong called me a bitch
JC: *unrepentant* Motherfucker doesn't start with a B.
WWX: ............
LXC: .............
12. Imperial Guard!He Ning (Wen Ning) is tall and quiet and an excellent fighter. His little brother (sister) He Qing (Wen Qing) is smol and angy, can't fight but will stab you with a needle if necessary
WWX: I think...you rather despise His Majesty
WN: I dare not, Lord Regent. But chen only has one little sister. She's my world. His Majesty can have any woman in the world, so why can't he spare He Qing? She would be much happier and freer without him.
WWX: .....Fine, fine, I'll find him an empress. The Dowager has been making noise for months now. I'll find him an empress.
Meanwhile
15 yro crossdressing!WQ who is very confused why a royal prince keeps bothering her at work. She's never met the young emperor in any official capacity.
JC lies about his identity and passes himself off as another one of his royal brothers.
WQ grinding herbs diligently while JC sits and stares at her with a blush.
JC thinks 'I might be gay' bc he doesn't know WQ is a girl.
13. After Qin Su and Meng Yao's secret comes to light, to preserve the dignity of the royal family, Empress Qin Su "volunteered" to leave the palace and spend the rest of her days praying for the soul of her deceased son and for the nation at an esteemed Buddhist temple.
[previously]
Her son, who died several hours after birth from congenital defects, was recorded as JC's first son, and first prince.
Dowager Empress Yu Ziyuan ordered Meng Yao be killed. Meng Yao was privately executed...except he wasn't. Wei Wuxian arranged for him to be brought to Yiling. He's living a good life now. Lan Xichen writes to him.
14. Wen Ruohan is very pleased with the son Jiang Yanli gave him.
After Jiang Fengmian married Jiang Yanli off to tribal warlord!Wen Ruohan, she made the best of her circumstances.
Though WRH has other concubines/slave girls, JYL is the only legal wife, in place of his first legal wife who died many years ago.
WRH is twenty five years JYL's senior, and already has two sons by his first wife. WC is the same age as JYL while WX is two years older. While WRH is alive, WX and WC have no choice but to respect their stepmother, bc their father absolutely does not tolerate insubordination.
WY is born within a year of the marriage and soon becomes WRH's favourite child.
——
WRH launches a campaign against country when JC is 21 years old and has only been officially emperor for about a year (WWX ended his regency when JC turned 20).
The war starts off bloody - JC doesn't sleep for days. WWX and LWJ are unreachable since they've gone off on an early retirement trip through the mountains. Somehow JC holds his own for months. Things take a turn for the better.
WY is 15 years old and leading a division by himself for the first time. WRH is very proud of him. WY is very talented, but WC and WX sabotage him and get him captured by JC's armies and stealing WY's victory for themselves.
WWX and LWJ are on their way back to the capital when they encounter the squadron that captured WY.
WY: Kill me. I will not be your hostage against my father.
WWX: Xiao-wangzi - little prince - you know the common tongue?
WY: My a-niang was from the empire.
WWX: ... a-niang? *sudden realization*
Half the court wants to use WY as a bargaining chip to negotiate a ceasefire against WRH and the other half wants to execute the little foreign prince to show WRH who's boss.
Suddenly, just as the Jiang empire seems to be turning tides, WRH dies. Stroke -rumour has it.
Now that there's no longer any reason to appease WRH, the court wants WY dead, regardless of who his mother is. Politics is brutal that way.
Extra excerpts from the last installment of Without Envy. I suggest you go read the last installment first and click back to this post; it'll make more sense!
---
"Xichen you're confusing the eunuchs." Nie Mingjue noted offhandedly during luncheon one day.
It's been months since the end of the war, and for months, Lan Xichen hasn't set foot in Meng Yao's court once. There were gossips and rumours everywhere in the palace, rumours about Meng Yao's past, rumours about his manipulation of the Emperor, rumours about how he had finally been found out for the conniving fox that he was and that he has lost the Emperor's favour forever.
"How do you mean?" Replied Lan Xichen without meeting his consort's eyes, picking up another piece of the candied lotus root stuffed with sticky rice.
"I heard that you punished several servants quite severely yesterday for a minor transgression."
"It was not a minor transgression." Lan Xichen rebutted. "The nuçais from neiwu-fu were significantly delayed in their monthly provisions for the harem for absolutely no reason, despite multiple attempts from the harem's servants to obtain these provision on behalf of their master." (neiwu-fu = a bureau within the imperial palace in charge of providing for the daily living of the harem)
This was a true account of what had happened. After it was known that Lianfang-jun Meng Yao had a sordid past and that the Emperor had not visited him months, most people working in the palace assumed that it was only a matter of time before Meng Yao would be stripped of his titles and cast to the Cold Palace, or worse, sentenced to prison for treason. Naturally most servants and officials began rescinding their deference and kindness which they once paid to him as a beloved concubine of his majesty.
Most assumed Lan Xichen could care less.
Most were wrong.
The Emperor was livid when he found out that the servants had been mistreating his concubine Lianfang-jun, and had them planked for good measures. All the missed provisions were sent to Lianfang-jun's court, along with many other gifts.
So now everyone was undoubtedly confused.
"Are you not even going to say his name?" Nie Mingjue was not the one to roll his eyes, but he wanted to at the moment, very much.
"...I'm still mad at him." Lan Xichen grumbled, or at least, doing what was his version of grumbling.
"I know you feel that you were his puppet on strings -"
"I was his puppet on strings! Was I anything but a shadow - a shade - within which he could hide himself and his...his..."
Calling it 'brilliance' was too much a praise for Lan Xichen to say in his current state of turmoil.
"I must've seemed such a fool to him. Poor naive Zewu-di, too soft to be allowed to rule on his own." Lan Xichen lowered his chopsticks onto the table with a soft clang, and finally dropped his face into his hand.
"I trusted him. I thought I knew him. I thought he trusted me. I thought he loved me -"
"Xichen -"
"I am a fool, aren't I, Da'ge? You think so too, and Uncle, or else you would not help A-Yao in his machinations."
Nie Mingjue reached across the table and touched Xichen's shoulder, giving his husband prompt to take his hand and squeeze it. His sight has improved over the years, but still he could not see more than shadows and lights.
"You are not a fool, Xichen. Kind, yes. But not a fool. Meng Yao is, objectively, more brilliant than you and I combined. More complicated too. Took me years and losing a set of eyes to really understand him." Head shaking, Nie Mingjue gave a wary smile. "You must know by now that he was gifted to me by a pandering official. His life before...made him who he is. Perhaps a part of that was always part of him."
Nie Mingjue paused, more comtemplative with his words than was usually known of his character.
His Da'ge has changed, realized Lan Xichen. Being away from the palace, from him, changed the love Lan Xichen knew since they were boys. It occurred to him that even though Mingjue has been away from him, he's never been away from Meng Yao.
Living without the pomp and circumstance of the royal family, in each other's complete confidance, what kind of bond that kind of unfettered understanding must make. Xichen was a witness to it now...
...And he was envious.
"A-Yao has a vicious spirit, it's true." Nie Mingjue continued to say. "But over time I've come to see that he also has an ambivalent heart, which I still don't fully understand or...condone. I believe he is fully capable of burning the world to the ground to rule over the ashes, but I also believe he chooses everyday not to. That choice must mean something."
Nie Mingjue's eyes, though he could not see very well, were bright, smiling. Lan Xichen caressed the calloused hand in his, lips quivering as he brought it forth to upon it a gentle kiss.
It now got me thinking that now I'm still part time studying to complete my Bachelors in Bi with a minor in gender.
Also WWX in this au gives me the vibes of being exasperated w/ his situation in life. Like he trying to raise his little bro who is his boss BUT technically hes the boss for now, deal/ co parent w/ YZY who dosen't believe that he's doing what he's going for JC's best interests so SHE'S causing problems that take up his time, trys to avoid war and circumvent the court dethroning him and/ or JC while also dealing w/ his moms inheritance of ruling a tribe. Like give this man a break!!!🥴😓🤯🤯😱
Imperial Court: He wants the throne for himself. Thats why hes doing everything right. What man doesn't want the power that comes w/ being emperor?
Wwx: I am literally counting down my days/checking off my to do list until retirement so I can f@ck off into the mountains w/ my secret husband.
LOL seriously, wwx's life is extremely difficult.
----
emperor!jc au [here]
snippet: wwx sees jc and crossdressing wq being cute and decided no this is not happening
No sooner did the thoughts Wei Ying, you're being ironically homophobic pass through Lan Wangji's mind did the Lord Protector grumble "oh hell no" under his breath and charged towards the two youngsters standing not a feet apart on the garden bridge overlooking the lotus pond.
But Wei Wuxian reigned as regent for nearly a decade now, and he knew himself enough not to make a scene, which was about as much as Lan Wangji could hope for, given the circumstances.
Because upon that bridge over yonder, their young emperor Jiang Wanyin, nineteen-years-old and much too green, was holding the little taiyi's delicate, jade-like hand, with starlight and an affection as soft as golden twilight clouds in his eyes.
The object of his affection - a young imperial physician - appeared more stunned than anything else, a rosy blush creeping up from his neckline.
"Bixia is good-humoured today," Wei Wuxian spoke out from where he came to a pause at an appropriately unintimidating distance, even though his mere presence was all sort of intimidating.
The couple jerked apart, Jiang Cheng spinning around and He Qing shuffling several steps back.
"Wei - uh - Lord Regent! Lan-shilang." The young sovereign sputtered indignantly, like a bristling kitten. [Recall: LWJ is xingbu-shilang, undersecretary of ministry of justice]
Calm as a cold winter lake, Wei Wuxian bowed, followed by Lan Wangji. "Weichen greets Your Majesty." [weichen 微臣 = third person pronoun for members of the court/government when speaking to the royal family and the emperor]
Quick to recover, He Qing bowed in return, "Xiaguan greets the Lord Regent, Lan-shilang." [xiaguan 下官 = third person pronoun for government officials to greet their superiors]
Wei Wuxian set his dark, penetrating gaze on the young doctor and frowned. "He-xiao-taiyi, this is the emperor's garden, situated within harem walls. i do not see anyone imminently ill here; what are you doing here?" [xiao 小 = small, little, junior； taiyi 太医 = imperial physician]
He Qing kept his head bowed and did not reply. Technically, he wasn't supposed to be here. From behind Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji observed him with a curious gaze, almost although he could gleam some hidden truth beneath.
Jiang Cheng puffed out his chest against his older godbrother's accusations and stepped in front of He Qing, shielding him from the Lord Protector's wrath. "Wei Wuxian! I- I was the one who asked him to meet me here. If you - if you got a problem with that, you can take it up with me!"
The Lord Protector's face darkened incrementally. "Oh? Is that so? Perhaps bixia has forgotten xiandi's cane of discipline?" [bixia 陛下 = your majesty; xiandi 先帝 = late emperor]
The late emperor had left immense authority in the hands of his heir's regent, including a very specific rod to be used in the most dire of circumstances. Wei Wuxian had left that stick of wood to collect dust over the last seven years, and Lan Wangji knew his bed-fellow well enough that he would never raise a hand against his young charge whom he loved so dear...
"Huanghou and the harem's ladyships have been missing bixia; it would break their hearts to know that bixia's affections have been misplaced." [huanghou 皇后 = empress]
...even if half the harem including the empress Qin Su herself had come crying to him at some point or another, bemoaning their cold days and lonely nights without their supposed husband's company.
Jiang Cheng paled slightly, but he stood his ground even when the little physician behind him tightened his grip anxiously on the end of Jiang Cheng's sleeve.
"I - I - like He Qing, I don't care if he's a boy! I want to be with him and only him. You want to punish me in my late royal father's name, go right ahead. I am at the Lord Protector's mercy!"
Wei Wuxian, seasoned at politics as he, did not fall for Jiang Cheng's antics. Stepping back, he bowed with a pseudo-humble dip of his head. "This loyal subject would not presume to discipline the Son of Heaven. As subjects, our duty is to advice and not to lead you astray, even if it may incur Your Majesty's wrath."
Though he did not look at He Qing, everyone knew where his words landed.
The young taiyi fell to his knees. "Lord Regent is correct. The duty of every loyal subject is to advice. His Majesty's affections are indeed misplaced; the fault is entirely mine for indulging myself with his grace. I accept any punishment -"
"- He Qing!" Jiang Cheng protested, all but throwing himself on his knees too.
Lan Wangji wanted to roll his eyes, but that would be a great offence of disrespect. Still he wondered how was it that Wei Ying managed to hold power in court all these years if he was so criminally blind.
Despite the very skilled attempts at make up and stuffed shoes to make her feet appear bigger, this young doctor was clearly a girl.
"Return to taiyi-yuan, He-taiyi," Wei Wuxian relented. "Attend to your patients and remember your place." [ taiyi-yuan 太医院 = court of the imperial physicians]
"Yes, Lord Regent."
Wei Wuxian was being cruel for absolutely no reason, and Lan Wangji was not impressed at all. Without so much as a word of farewell or waiting dismissal, he walked away with a quiet huff - perhaps the only person in the entire country who dared such flippancy.
That night, when Wei Ying climbed in under the blanket and snuggled against his turned back, Lan Wangji pointedly ignored him.
"You've been in a snit since the afternoon. Don't tell me you're feeling sorry for A-Cheng and He Qing." He whispered against his lover's neck, pressing a gentle kiss there.
Lan Wangji considered pretending to be asleep just to spite him, but could not hold onto his hurt in silence this time. "You remember," he began, tone low and soft beneath the canopy, "back in the days, how adamantly against us shufu was. You cried for weeks then, and now -"
Wei Wuxian tightened his grip around Lan Wangji's waist. "And now, I am the 一人之下万人之上的 Lord Regent, surely my heart has hardened to stone against silly sentiments of the youthful and foolish." [一人之下万人之上 = under one and above ten thousand, a phrase used to describe the most powerful man in court besides the emperor].
"I did not mean -"
"A-Cheng is not me. His reign has no term. From the day I placed that crown on his head to the day he dies, this country and her millions of citizens, including you and me and that little physician, are his responsibility. He cannot afford to be careless, especially not now, not when there will be many, many sacrifices yet to come."
"Sacrifices like He Qing?"
"I know he loves her, but he is the Son of Heaven. His Wei-dage would love nothing else than to see him happy, but his Lord Regent has to prepare him for the wolves, even if it means quelling his humanity."
Wei Wuxian's words lingered in Lan Wangji's mind for a moment or two, before he suddenly realized: "You! You know -"
A puff of warm air brushed his nape as his lover chuckled. "Of course I know. How can anyone mistaken that face for a boy."
"So..." Lan Wangji turned in his arms, worry still clinging to his brows. "You have plans?"
Wei Wuxian hid his amused little smile and pressed closer for a kiss and some forgiveness. "I do, Er-gege, I do."
Extra excerpts from the last installment of Without Envy. I suggest you go read the last installment first and click back to this post; it'll make more sense!
English Translation following each paragraph. I always wanted to write something in Chinese, but a) I don't find my written Chinese to be very spectacular and b)I'm not exactly sure if there's enough audience for it on tumblr (and also I'm from Canada so... lol). Anyways I decided to try my hand at it this ones. You can read the snippet by just reading the English section. But it might be a bit weird/awkward at times because I had written this Chinese first and translated it.
踏入芳菲宫，蓝曦臣从未想会看到的是孟瑶卧床不起高烧不退昏迷不醒的一幕。
Stepping into Fangfei Palace, Lan Xichen did not think the sight he would be confronted with would be one of Meng Yao nearly comatose with fever.
The frustrations and confusions he had felt during these preceeding weeks suddenly became inconsequential in that moment. Lan Xichen rushed to Meng Yao's bedside, gazing upon that face flushed red with fever. Seized by worry, he found he could not speak, only slowly reached for his loved one's hand that had escaped from beneath the blanket. The summer was upon them, but Meng Yao's hand was cold as ice.
Even Eunuch Lie - Lie Bing - seeing the soverign he had known and cared for since they were both boys look so lost, could not help but turn to the quivering servants and demand, "How could this have happened?"
Three pairs of knees and foreheads hit the floor with a collective thud. Hen Sheng, Meng Yao personal eunuch and head of his household, did not dare raise his head, only responded to the question tearfully, "These months, Master often felt ill to the stomach, didn't have much of an appetite nor slept very well at night, so his health had suffered. But he insisted nothing was wrong, that we need not inform the imperial physicians. Last night, Master said it was too hot indoors to sleep, and wanted to go stroll in the garden. We did not think it would suddenly rain; Master was drenched and caught a chill, this morning I -"
"Alright, Hen-gongong, there is no need to say more." Lie Bing interrupted the usually poised and collected Hen Sheng, who in his moment of worry had lost his ways. "Go now to fetch the physicians." Casting his gaze upon the maid and imperial guard still kneeling to the side, Lie Bing suddenly realized, "How come it's only you three?"
The handmaid was a seasoned servant serving in Meng Yao's household. Compared to the young guard, she appeared much more assured and calm. Seeing that he was afraid to answer, she spoke instead, "Ever since...the rumours circulated in the Palace that Lianfang-jun has lost His Majesty's favour, Master had allowed whoever wished to leave to do as they pleased. All that remained are us three."
Lan Xichen picked up the towel soaking in the ice water, and gently dabbed away the sweat collecting along Meng Yao's collar. Tears welling in his eyes overspilled, ran freely down his cheeks and dripped onto the silk covers of Meng Yao's blanket. Unbearable guilt and self-blame coiled tightly in his chest.
"The ministers criticize him, courtiers slanders him. They say he is deceptive and trecherous, is seductive and licentious, is ambitious and seditious, is ruthless and heartless. But everything he's done from the beginning was for me, a foolish Emperor, and I have treated him with such a cold disposition. It must have broken his heart, that's why he-"
“二哥。。。” 孟瑶昏昏沉沉，半梦半醒的唤着。
"Er-ge..." Meng Yao mumbled incoherently, half awake half asleep.
"A-Yao, Er-ge is here. Your fever is severe, the physicians will be here soon. Don't be afraid, Er-ge will stay by your side." At Lei Bing, Lan Xichen instructed, "Go forth and summon feng-wang. Lianfang-jun is so ill yet no one informed us. If you wait any longer, he will surely lose his temper at the physicians."
"Bixia," Lan Xichen turned, finding Meng Yao truly awake. Two big round eyes filled with hesitation and turmoil stared quietly back at him. "I did not know bixia has arrived, forgive me my lack of -"
Falling silent, Meng Yao merely attempted to pull back the hand Lan Xichen held in his, but found he could not for how tightly the emperor held it. Completely drained of energy, it was impossible to break free. Spending his days alone these past three months, Meng Yao had a lot of time to think. He thought of Wei Wuxian, whom he controlled like a puppet on strings, and how he had so willingly traded his life and freedom to keep Lan Wangji safe. Meng Yao and Wei Wuxian: were they not the same in the end? The same tremulous insignificant life. The only difference being, Wei Wuxian possesed a certain frankness of spirit that allowed him to let go when it was no longer wise to hold on. Yet Meng Yao, at the end, still could not cut loose his own selfish want. He yearned the peaceful days spent with Lan Xichen before the war, but also longed for the easiness when he was with Nie Mingjue. Da-ge knew his past, knew his visciousness, and though he did once fault Meng Yao, after their reconciliation and acceptance of each other's true nature, Da-ge was no longer the unbendable man he'd once been. Compared to Lan Xichen, in front of Nie Mingjue, Meng Yao was actually more honest and true. Was this not an escape? An absolution?
孟瑶累了，真的累了。不想再演了，也不想再躲了。
Meng Yao was tired, truly tired. He no longer wished to act, nor hide.
"Bixia, all the rumours are true. My mother was a lady of the night whose services were sought by Jin Guangshan. I too was born in that sullied place. My mother died when I was young, so it was the brothel madam who raised me, and who forced me to open my doors to patrons when I was turned thirteen. When I was fourteen, a wealthy merchant family purchased my contract from the brothel to be a boy concubine for the master of the house. Said Master wished to curry favour with the local official, so within a year, I was gifted to the premier of our province. It was not until General Nie came to re-organize and train the southern border troops, that I found a chance at life. The premier gave me up to Da'ge like a plaything, but Da'ge released me from my untouchable status, allowed me to stay and serve in the army. No one there knew my past, and Da'ge never used his knowledge of it to control me. But I knew in my heart that Da'ge was to be feng-jun, husband to the future emperor, and when that day came, he would leave me. I never imagined Da'ge would bring me to the palace, never imagined Bixia would -"
梦瑶还未说完的话被蓝曦臣无止的泪水冲散了。
The words Meng Yao did not finish were washed away by Lan Xichen's tears.
"I know, I amassed power, I lied to my soverign, now it's too late for any excuses. The extended royal family, ministers of the court, even the citizens on the street would never forgive me. No matter where I am destined, be it the Cold Palace or the Imperial Prison, I am not afraid. I have no regrets, because - Bixia, if I said I never had any intention at all to hurt you, would you believe me?"
Lan Xichen's heart was broken. Helplessly, he closed his eyes and brought his loved one into his arms. "A-Yao, there is no Cold Palace, no Imperial Prison. As long as I sit on the throne, you will be my beloved and respected Lianfang-jun. If I am not the emperor, you will still be Lan Huan's Meng Yao. I already lost Da'ge once, I can't bear to part with you too. We agreed to grow old together, you cannot break that promise."
In the tightness of the embrace, Meng Yao felt nearly breathless. Plus his fever-addled mind, he did not know how to respond in that second. Only, the tenderness of that embrace and the conviction of those words melted the fortitude that kept him going these three months. He held onto Lan Xichen's robes, terrified that this warmth and love were figments of his dream.
A-Yao is sick?? No one reported it??? What the hell are we paying you alot for??? Those disloyal bastard servants - their utter gall! Did they think because I was not in the palace this past month that there will be no consequences?!!
凤王息怒 —
Feng-wang, please forgive -
太医院也是，都多少日子了也没来请一次平安脉 —
All those imperial physicians too! How many days has it been since they came for a wellness check?!
From beyond the door came the sound of Nie Mingjue swearing. Lan Xichen chuckled, slowly laying Meng Yao back down. "You best lie down again. If Da'ge sees me holding you later, he'll scold me for disturbing your rest."
孟瑶红了脸，乖乖的让蓝曦臣给他盖上被子。
Meng Yao blushed, but obediently allowed Lan Xichen to tuck him in.
