#xichengclipse2021

[alychelms]

I mean, it’s canon that Jiang Cheng hunted down demonic cultivators who reminded him of his brother so he could punish them, and Lan Xichen signed off on the punishment of HIS brother, right? So I give you torture husbands. They have so much to bond over <333

[darkandstormyart]

xichengclipse day five: marriage!

[bloody-bee-tea]

Xichenclipse 2021 Day 5

Marriage

Jiang Cheng tries not to think too much on his way to the Cloud Recesses, but he can’t deny that a ball of dread is forming in his stomach.

He knows why Lan Qiren is asking him to come personally, after everything that happened in the temple and Jiang Cheng is not looking forward to it. It wasn’t even Lan Xichen who sent him the letter and that alone says enough, in Jiang Cheng’s opinion.

Jiang Cheng hates how long it takes him to fly to the Cloud Recesses, despite going as fast as he dares to, because it leaves him too much time to think.

To re-think the promise he and Lan Xichen made all those years ago.

He knows that it’s neither his nor Lan Xichen’s fault that they are still not married, even though they have been betrothed for thirteen years but he can’t deny that over the last few months doubt started to creep in.

And now that he thought about it once, it makes sense.

It’s not like Jiang Cheng even believes that Lan Xichen wants out of this betrothal—he wouldn’t do that once he agreed to it in the first place, and Jiang Cheng does believe that Lan Xichen is at least fond of him—but maybe they are just not meant to be.

Maybe they should both look for other people already and put an end to whatever they have.

It would be easier, because Jiang Cheng cannot write or receive another message saying that the wedding is called off for now again.

Today will be the last time this happens, Jiang Cheng promises himself.

Jiang Cheng enters the Cloud Recesses with his jade token—which he intends to give back at the end of this talk—and he makes his way over to Lan Qiren’s quarters immediately.

He’s pretty sure he is being called here because after what happened with Jin Guangyao Lan Xichen is going to enter seclusion and Lan Qiren has the dubious honour of telling him that their marriage is yet again being delayed.

And Jiang Cheng can’t take it anymore.

He wants to be Lan Xichen’s husband more than anything—wants to be called husband in return—but only if Lan Xichen wants the same. And Jiang Cheng isn’t sure anymore if that is still the case.

“Lan Qiren,” Jiang Cheng greets when he enters his quarters and Lan Qiren smiles at him.

“Wanyin. You made your way here quick.”

“I just want to get this behind me,” Jiang Cheng mutters as he sits down opposite of Lan Qiren.

Lan Qiren was pouring him some tea but at his words he freezes.

“What do you mean?” he wants to know, putting the pot down without serving himself some tea and that alone tells Jiang Cheng how seriously he is taking this.

“It’s been thirteen years,” Jiang Cheng says with a sigh and he rubs a hand over his face.

He’s tired of hoping that they will ever get to the actually married stage when clearly they are not meant to be.

“I am aware,” Lan Qiren cautiously gives back and Jiang Cheng shrugs.

“I just think that we should finally accept that maybe Xichen and I are not meant to be.”

There’s a long pause after his words before Lan Qiren shakes his head.

“Why would you think that?”

“I’m not saying that it’s deliberate,” Jiang Cheng quickly says, because he wants their Sects to be friendly even after he and Lan Xichen call it off.

It wouldn’t do to drag their Sects down with them, when it’s a personal matter. And it’s really not Lan Xichen’s fault; it’s not even their fault.

It’s just—the world clearly doesn’t want this to happen and Jiang Cheng is tired of fighting against it and hoping against hope.

“What are you saying then?” Lan Qiren inquires when Jiang Cheng falls silent again.

“I think we’re just not meant to be,” Jiang Cheng says again, looking to the side. He feels tired and his heart is heavy and he just wants this to be over, no matter what way. “First, there was the war, which of course wouldn’t allows us to marry. Then there was the whole aftermath and I got Jin Ling—” Jiang Cheng shrugs. “Of course we couldn’t marry then.”

It had been a rough time for Jiang Cheng; he would have loved to have Lan Xichen by his side during those dark nights, but he had his hands full with rebuilding Lotus Pier and grieving and struggling with a new-born who just lost his parents.

It was a very rough time.

“And then Mingjue died,” Lan Qiren says, clearly picking up on what Jiang Cheng is talking about.

“It’s understandable that Xichen mourned. They had known each other for years and they were sworn brothers. It would have been inappropriate to marry then,” Jiang Cheng says, because he understands.

They were no way they could have gotten away with a marriage while Lan Xichen was still in mourning over Nie Mingjue.

But it doesn’t stop there.

“And then Jin Rusong died, and I know Lan Xichen was so very fond of him.”

Lan Xichen had written often to him, gushing about Jin Rusong and how cute he was, much in the same way as Jiang Cheng had done when Jin Ling had been about his age. It was absolutely understandable that his death left him devastated.

But it was again another set marriage date pushed back and while Jiang Cheng had understood, it still hurt.

Just like it does now.

“And now Jin Guangyao’s betrayal,” Lan Qiren finishes for him, nodding along. “It’s been a turbulent thirteen years for you two.”

“You could say that,” Jiang Cheng says with a snort, though he can’t keep the bitterness out of his voice. “But let’s be real here—it doesn’t look like Xichen and I are meant to be.”

Lan Qiren musters him for a long while, stroking his beard while he does so and Jiang Cheng feels as if he’s fifteen all over again. He’s not sure he likes the feeling; he was still full of hope back then.

“You think it’s being called off yet again,” Lan Qiren finally says and Jiang Cheng’s shrugs helplessly.

“He’s going into seclusion, isn’t he?” Jiang Cheng shoots back, because he knows Lan Xichen. They might have not gotten as much time as he would have liked together, but Jiang Cheng knows him. “I can’t fault him for that, but it means our wedding is yet again being pushed further back, if he even wants to stay engaged at all after everything that happened. He must be questioning a lot right now.”

“He loves you,” Lan Qiren says and Jiang Cheng doesn’t really doubt that, not after it was Lan Xichen who initiated this all those years ago, but it feels good to hear it anyway. “He’s not questioning that.”

“I love him, too,” Jiang Cheng whispers, because he does. And yet it doesn’t seem like it’s enough. “But it’s been thirteen years and I’m tired,” he admits. “Every time I get a message from Lotus Pier I have this split second of fear.”

“Where you think I’m calling it off for real. Not just postponing,” Lan Xichen finishes for him and Jiang Cheng jerks at hearing his voice.

“Xichen,” he whispers, because he wasn’t really expecting to see him here. “What about your seclusion?”

“I thought about it,” Lan Xichen says with a nod as he sits down next to Jiang Cheng and takes his hand in his. “You know me very well in that regard. I thought about it long and hard, and I talked it over with shufu, but in the end I decided that thirteen years have been enough. We waited long enough for this.”

Jiang Cheng’s heart starts to race in his chest, because it sounds like Lan Xichen still wants to marry him, but hope is dangerous and Jiang Cheng doesn’t want to give in to it again.

When it all comes crashing down on him eventually, it will leave him more broken than before.

“There were always good reasons,” Jiang Cheng argues—against everything he really wants—because it’s neither of their fault that it didn’t work out yet. “From both our sides. It’s not your or mine fault.”

“And yet we could have done it anyway,” Lan Xichen gives back and squeezes his hand and Jiang Cheng is startled to see the determination in Lan Xichen’s eyes.

“And we will,” Lan Xichen says before Jiang Cheng can argue against him again. “I’m not about to lose you to another unforeseen event. It’s enough. I had to watch as thirteen years of opportunities slipped through our fingers and it’s enough. I’m tired of it. I just want to marry you.”

“Xichen,” Jiang Cheng breathes out because gods, if he doesn’t want the same but— “Your sworn brother just died. The murder of your other sworn brother was revealed. You’re allowed to grief.”

“I will,” Lan Xichen says and his eyes are wet as he says it. “I will grief and I will cry and I will be angry at the world for all the things that happened. But I want to have you by my side for that. I want to have my husband at my side.”

Lan Xichen takes a deep breath.

“You have a lot to deal with, too, right? With Wei Wuxian coming back and that thing with your core—and don’t think you’ll get out of telling me what that is all about—and Jin Ling taking over as Sect Leader now but—don’t you want to have me by your side for all of that, too?” he asks and he honestly sounds unsure as if Jiang Cheng could say he’d rather deal with all of that on his own.

“Of course I want to have you by my side,” Jiang Cheng immediately gives back. “But we can’t—it’s not appropriate to hold a wedding now.”

It hurts him to say that, but the cultivation world is already in an uproar now. If they should marry during a time of mourning and rebuilding—it would probably send the wrong message, Jiang Cheng is sure of that.

“Well,” Lan Xichen snaps out and Jiang Cheng has never seen that stubborn tilt to his mouth. “Wangji can elope. Why can’t we do the same?”

Jiang Cheng jerks in surprise at his words, because Lan Xichen is not one to break the rules like that and then his gaze guiltily darts over to Lan Qiren.

“You don’t have to elope,” Lan Qiren says with a small smile. “You can take your bows here, for now, and then do it again in Lotus Pier. I will step in for the parents, if that is okay,” he says to both of them, who Jiang Cheng goes misty eyed at that.

“That is more than okay,” he says and his voice is shaky.

“Good,” Lan Qiren nods, but he seems more touched than he would like to let on, too.

“You can bow to the heavens and earth and most of the ancestral tablets are here as well, so that shouldn’t be a problem.”

“It’s still not—“ ‘proper’, Jiang Cheng wants to say, but he finds that he actually doesn’t care.

It’s proper enough, especially with how few living relatives both of them still have, and it would mean he finally, finally gets to marry Lan Xichen.

Even if it is a little improper, Jiang Cheng will take it. And besides; it’s still going to be way more proper than whatever the hell Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji did. This, at least, will have Lan Qiren’s official blessing.

“Xichen?” Jiang Cheng still asks, because he needs him to be sure; he needs him to say again that this is what he wants.

“Yes,” Lan Xichen says, raising their still intertwined hands to press a kiss to the back of it. “I will not let the world come between this again. I want to marry you,” he says and Jiang Cheng has to press his lips together so he doesn’t sob with how happy he is.

“Okay,” he whispers after a long moment and just like that it’s happening.

Lan Qiren brings them to the ancestral hall and then they are already bowing; once to the heavens and earth, once to the ancestors and Lan Qiren and once to each other.

And then it’s done.

Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen are married.

“Husband,” Lan Xichen says, and his voice is so full of wonder and happiness that Jiang Cheng can’t help the tears.

“Husband,” he gives back and he already knows that he will never get tired of saying that. “I can’t believe we just did that.”

“The world took enough from us,” Lan Xichen says and leans in to kiss the corner of Jiang Cheng’s mouth. “It doesn’t get to have this as well. This is ours now,” he decides and Jiang Cheng falls against him, hiding his face against his husband’s chest.

“I love you,” he whispers and Lan Xichen crushes him to his chest.

“I love you, too,” he gives back without hesitation. “And we deserve this.”

“We do,” Jiang Cheng agrees, because they have really waited long enough for this.

But now they get to have what they always wanted and Jiang Cheng could not be happier.

Link to my ko-fi on the sidebar!

[wanyinchen]

For Xichengclipse2021 DAY 4: Enemies

They are “enemies” in the courtroom.

PFFT yeah right, one is pining and being tsundere about it, and one is also pining but is being dumb about it.

For the amazing @darkandstormyart  and her  Ace*Attorney! AU fic, entitled “Unnecessary Feelings” a.k.a. the fic that grabbed me by the neck and threw me headfirst into AA and Naru*Mitsu hell. So thank you, Stormy, for indirectly introducing me to the pinnacle of the red/blue childhood friends idiot gays.

[darkandstormyart]

xichengclipse day four: lovers

[bloody-bee-tea]

Xichengclipse 2021 Day 4

Enemies

It could have been a nice evening off, Jiang Cheng thinks longingly with a sigh when Wei Wuxian’s chatter reaches his ear. A nice, relaxing evening with just him and Lan Xichen but of course it’s not meant to happen.

“They are here to report back from the night hunt,” Lan Xichen apologetically says as he gets up and he doesn’t sound any happier than Jiang Cheng feels. “It will be quick,” he promises and presses a kiss to Jiang Cheng’s forehead when he passes him.

“Hopefully,” Jiang Cheng grumbles, because he doesn’t get enough time with Lan Xichen as it is, and to have the precious little time he does get interrupted by Wei Wuxian of all people just makes him mad.

He could go out with Lan Xichen as well to yell at Wei Wuxian, but he doesn’t particularly want to see him, and truth be told, he’s not ready for the world to know that he and Lan Xichen are courting.

Betrothed, really.

Jiang Cheng is still waiting for the other shoe to drop, for Lan Xichen to wake up and realize that Jiang Cheng is really not who he wants to spend the rest of his life with, but so far it hasn’t happened.

So far, Lan Xichen seems honestly delighted every time his gaze falls on to Jiang Cheng and it makes something very warm and very pleased settle in Jiang Cheng’s belly.

Jiang Cheng shakes himself out of his musings when Wei Wuxian’s voice reaches him again.

“Xichen-ge!” he yells excitedly and that’s another broken rule.

Sometimes Jiang Cheng wonders how the Lans can put up with him.

“Wei Wuxian,” Lan Xichen greets him and his voice is noticeably colder.

So much so that Jiang Cheng sits up, ready to go out and check what is upsetting his fiancé so much.

“Wangji,” Lan Xichen goes on and then there’s a very awkward pause.

It makes Jiang Cheng squirm and he’s not even out there.

“You are not welcome here,” Lan Xichen then says and Jiang Cheng frowns.

Is there someone else with them? Surely Lan Xichen did not just say that to his brother or his brother-in-law.

“Xichen-ge,” Wei Wuxian whines and it’s so familiar that Jiang Cheng can’t help the little quirk of his mouth.

“No. He is not welcome in the Cloud Recesses and you all know it.”

“Wen Ning didn’t do anything!” Wei Wuxian protests and Jiang Cheng tenses.

Of course it would be Wen Ning, he’s following Wei Wuxian around like a lost little puppy. Jiang Cheng has to remind himself to unclench his hand, otherwise he might break one of Lan Xichen’s favourite tea cups and while he’s at it, he takes a deep breath, too.

He can still hear Wen Ning’s accusatory tone as he reveals the secret of his core to him; as if it’s all Jiang Cheng’s fault. As if anyone asked him about it and he decided to simply take Wei Wuxian’s core.

It still leaves a bitter taste in his mouth.

“And that is the only reason he’s allowed in the area at all,” Lan Xichen gives back, his voice still cold and hard.

Jiang Cheng isn’t used to hearing him like this.

“But he is not allowed inside the Cloud Recesses. And if you don’t leave, you will be made to leave.”

“Brother,” Lan Wangji tries, but it seems like Lan Xichen isn’t having it.

“No. You know the rules. If he apologizes, I might consider it, but otherwise he has no place here. You’re all disturbing my evening. Hand in the report tomorrow,” Lan Xichen says, which is borderline rude coming from him, and then he’s already back in the Hanshi.

“What’s going on?” Jiang Cheng asks when he sees the unhappy look on Lan Xichen’s face.

“Nothing,” Lan Xichen gives back, as he sits back down, smiling when Jiang Cheng pours him another cup of tea.

“That didn’t sound like nothing,” Jiang Cheng tries again, because Lan Xichen is clearly upset and Jiang Cheng finds that he just wants to make it better somehow.

Lan Xichen works his jaw for a few moments, before he finally sighs and forces himself to relax.

“It’s an ongoing issue,” he eventually admits. “Wen Ning knows he’s not welcome here, and yet Wei Wuxian and Wangji drag him here nearly every other day.”

“What did Wen Ning do?” Jiang Cheng forces himself to ask, wondering how he could have possibly upset Lan Xichen like this, but Lan Xichen shakes his head.

“Let’s not talk about it anymore, tonight was supposed to be a relaxing evening. Thinking about that is not relaxing to me,” he admits and Jiang Cheng is unable to deny him this.

“Okay,” he agrees and reaches for Lan Xichen’s hand to press a kiss to the back of it. “How’s Lan Jingyi doing?” he asks to distract him and when Lan Xichen’s face lights up, he knows he did well.

He hopes to always make Lan Xichen smile like this.

~*~*~

Jiang Cheng is on his way to pick Lan Xichen up at the front entrance—not that he should still need to do that with how frequently Lan Xichen visits these days, but he seems to be enjoying it and who is Jiang Cheng to deny him this—when he hears voices.

It takes Jiang Cheng a moment to realize that one of them is Lan Xichen, because he sounds angry. Angrier than Jiang Cheng has ever heard him before.

“How dare you come here?” Lan Xichen demands to know and Jiang Cheng makes sure to stay out of sight for now, too curious to see what is going on to make Lan Xichen sound like this.

“Xichen-ge,” Wei Wuxian says and Jiang Cheng frowns.

Wei Wuxian is not coming by often, but he is in fact welcome at Lotus Pier when he remembers that it still exists.

Jiang Cheng has half a mind stepping in now, because he doesn’t want Lan Xichen to ruin the little bit of civility he rebuild with Wei Wuxian, but when he peers around the corner, he sees that Wen Ning is with Wei Wuxian.

Because of course he is. It seems like these days Wei Wuxian doesn’t go anywhere without Wen Ning, and bitter hatred rushes through Jiang Cheng.

“No,” Lan Xichen says and he doesn’t take his eyes off Wen Ning. “After everything you did, you’re not welcome here. How dare you even set foot into Lotus Pier, thinking you were allowed to.”

“He’s with me,” Wei Wuxian bites out, clearly fed up with Lan Xichen for the moment, but Lan Xichen doesn’t back down.

Jiang Cheng doesn’t know him to be like this, has never really seen him this angry or this decisively taking a stance and he wonders not for the first time just what Wen Ning did to upset him like that.

“Well, then you’re not welcome here either,” Lan Xichen gives back, positioning himself in the entrance to Lotus Pier as if he’s willing to bodily stop Wen Ning and Wei Wuxian from entering it.

“Xichen-ge,” Wei Wuxian says, and there’s a warning undertone to his voice now. “This might have been okay for you to do at the Cloud Recesses seeing as you are the Sect Leader, but this is Lotus Pier and you have no authority here. You have no right to deny either of us entrance.”

“And you really think Wanyin would want him in here?” Lan Xichen shoots back, and Jiang Cheng decides that it’s enough now.

It doesn’t seem like either of them are going to back down, and he doesn’t actually want them to fight.

“Enough,” he says as he steps out of the shadows.

“Jiang Cheng,” Wei Wuxian immediately whines as he bounds over to tug on Jiang Cheng’s sleeve as if nothing ever happened between them. “Xichen-ge is abusing his powers. He’s making decisions for you, surely you have something to say to that?”

“Yes, in fact I do have something to say to that,” Jiang Cheng gives back and gives Wei Wuxian just enough time to smile winningly before he continues. “Seeing as he’s my betrothed, he has every right to decide who is allowed inside and who isn’t. And I can’t say that I mind his decision much,” Jiang Cheng bites out, and shoves Wei Wuxian’s hands off him in the same moment.

“Your—what now?” Wei Wuxian asks, eyes going wide.

“My betrothed. But you wouldn’t know what that is, seeing as you eloped with Lan Wangji without going through the proper stages,” Jiang Cheng says, and he knows he’s being unnecessarily mean, but having Wen Ning here is putting him on edge and having Wei Wuxian act as if nothing is wrong after what he said to him in the temple makes Jiang Cheng want to curl up and cry, and lashing out is the only thing he knows how to do.

“Jiang Cheng,” Wei Wuxian whispers, but before he can go on, Lan Xichen is there.

He steps up to Jiang Cheng’s side, putting an arm around him and levelling Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning with a truly scary look.

“You heard him,” Lan Xichen icily says. “You’re not welcome. Leave,” he demands, and when Jiang Cheng turns his head to look at him he sees that Lan Xichen is only looking at Wen Ning.

Jiang Cheng frowns, the old questions of what Wen Ning could have possibly done to make Lan Xichen this mad resurfacing again but he keeps the questions in for now.

“Wei-gongzi, I think it’s best if we did what they say,” Wen Ning suddenly speaks up and Jiang Cheng stiffens at hearing his voice.

It’s softer than it was when he lashed out at Jiang Cheng on the pier but Jiang Cheng still hates it as much as he did then.

Wei Wuxian follows Wen Ning’s tugging on his sleeve eventually but it’s only when they are completely out of sight that Jiang Cheng relaxes.

“I’m sorry,” Lan Xichen whispers and presses a kiss to Jiang Cheng’s temple. “This was not how we wanted to break it to the world.”

“It’s not,” Jiang Cheng agrees, because he doesn’t lie to Lan Xichen, and they had plans.

But he can’t say that he regrets it.

“Do you maybe want to tell me why you are taking issue like that with Wen Ning?” Jiang Cheng asks as he leads Lan Xichen to his personal quarters and he sees how Lan Xichen frowns.

“What do you mean?”

“He’s not allowed in the Cloud Recesses and he’s not allowed here, either. And I think last time you said something about him apologizing? What did he do?” Jiang Cheng wants to know.

“My heart, youtold me what he did, don’t you remember?” Lan Xichen asks, clearly confused but it doesn’t help to explain anything.

“I told you what?”

“You told me what he said to you as he revealed that the core was Wei Wuxian’s. You told me how he spoke to you.”

This still doesn’t clear anything up, though and Jiang Cheng shakes his head.

“I still don’t get it,” he admits. “You’re acting like he’s your enemy. You don’t make enemies, Xichen, so why is this different?”

Lan Xichen blinks a few times before his face goes soft and he steps close to cradle Jiang Cheng’s face in his hands.

“He hurt you, my heart,” Lan Xichen whispers and Jiang Cheng freezes. “He hurt you and he didn’t even have the decency to apologize. There is no world out there where he wouldn’t be my enemy for that.”

“Oh,” Jiang Cheng breathes out, completely caught off guard, and he hides his face in Lan Xichen’s chest when his eyes start to burn.

“I didn’t know,” he wetly says as Lan Xichen slides his arms around him and holds him tight.

“I know,” he mutters. “I know you’re still waiting for me to walk away, that you’re still waiting for me to break this off,” Lan Xichen says and Jiang Cheng is ashamed to admit that he’s right.

“But you made an enemy for me,” Jiang Cheng whispers and clings harder to Lan Xichen.

“Because you’re the most important to me. I would make an enemy of the whole world if it would hurt you like he did,” Lan Xichen promises and Jiang Cheng loves him so much it threatens to drown him sometimes.

“Please don’t,” he eventually gets out. “You’re scary when you’re mad at someone.”

“Good,” Lan Xichen decides and then pushes Jiang Cheng slightly away. “Everyone should be scared of me and think twice about hurting you,” he says and then kisses the breath right out of Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng can’t say that he minds that much either.

Link to my ko-fi on the sidebar!

[ohmypreciousgirl]

Written by @ohmypreciousgirl​, edited by @wolveshowatnight, @wouldyoulikeacupofteadear and YL. This fic is part of XiChengclipse​ event! Written for Day 3: Courting.

Excerpt:

Lan Huan’s lips curl up in a soft smile at the memory of Jiang Wanyin, a familiar warmth spreading over his chest in response to his thoughts. He has been fortunate enough to have spent the last fourteen months building a good relationship with Jiang Wanyin. He even dares to think that he’s the person Jiang Wanyin is closest to outside his family. It’s a belief that makes him feel deeply touched. The kind of emotion he thought himself incapable of feeling again after everything.

Leave it to a Jiang to accomplish the impossible, Lan Huan thinks with a hint of bitterness.

He sighs, uncomfortable. Bitterness wasn’t something he used to be familiar with, although he has witnessed that feeling his whole life. But he had never truly felt it until… everything. And now, he’s dealing with it. Well, if you can even call it that.

Lan Huan isn’t sure that leaving behind his supposed home and loved ones could be considered dealing with his problems, but staying wasn’t helping either. Maybe it’s like what Jiang Wanyin once wrote to him: “Sometimes you need to make difficult decisions to ensure you survive”. Perhaps leaving Cloud Recesses was for Lan Huan one of those difficult decisions Jiang Wanyin mentioned.

Maybe it’s the thing he needs to do in order to live once again.

He will only know when he gets to Lotus Pier and attempts to find whatever he’s looking for that his home and seclusion were lacking.

READ THE FIRST CHAPTER ON AO3

[wanyinchen]

For Xichengclipse2021 DAY 3: Courting

These are their first of many courting gifts to one another. The sappiest one is yet to come.