Archive of Our Own ^beta

That day in the entryway of an often used guest room, moments after Jiang Cheng accepts an embrace delivered by proxy, Lan Zhan speaks.

“Love is never idiocy.”

But Jiang Cheng hears something else.

The Second Jade of Gusu Lan has always been removed from worldly desires, but Jiang Cheng has fought beside him for months during the Sunshot Campaign. He has seen the other broken, panting, injured, pained. He is Wei Ying’s favourite topic on a good day, and his second favourite on a bad day. It’s no wonder that Jiang Cheng has learned to gauge the older man’s expressions.

“Love is never idiocy,” the man says.

But behind it, there is guilt and there is pain, and Jiang Cheng hears loud and clear

“I love him too”

The thought occurs like a lightning strike, illuminating hundreds of previous interactions with a new light.

Lan Zhan, Lan Wangji, Hanguang-Jun, the Second Jade, the one who upholds morality and justice? That same man is in love with Wei Ying.

Jiang Cheng makes a quick excuse and retreats as fast as possible.

Wei Ying.

Wei Ying is alone and Lan Zhan has been visiting him. It is only natural that Wei Ying would fall in love with him and then-

No. Wei Ying has always put Jiang Cheng first. Wei Ying wouldn’t do that to him. Wei Ying would never. Even if he did love him, he would never make a move. But Wei Ying had been so lonely. None of the upbeat retellings that Wei Ying jots down in his letters can mask how he’s sad and misses home. He’s meant to be the one bouncing around training disciples, causing trouble at home.

Home, home with Jiang Cheng, in Lotus Pier.

Wei Ying isn’t meant to be lonely. He’s meant to be surrounded by admirers who want a bit of his cheer and warmth. He is meant for shooting kits with friends, picnics on a boat, midnight musings on the roof while sharing a jar of wine.

Lan Zhan has always been a friend, always been worried about Wei Ying, offering to play Clarity, to help cleanse him of demonic influence. Lan Zhan has always been caring, even if he doesn’t show it like others do. He is a perfect gentleman, he is single, free to show Wei Ying the love he deserves, unlike Jiang Cheng, who cannot-

But Lan Zhan isn’t that kind of person as well. The title of Second Jade and Hanguang-Jun is well-deserved. The man cleaves to discipline and propriety. He has never betrayed Wei Ying, never told anyone their secrets, even though it is obvious that the servants in the Burial Mounds are mostly Wen survivors.

Jiang Cheng clenches his fists, feeling Zidian crackle in response to his whirling emotions.

Wei Ying, Wei Ying, Wei Ying.

He wants nothing more than his niangzi, his Xian-ge. He wants so badly to hold him, kiss him, make love to him. He slips up when he’s tired, reaching for a hand that isn’t there, looking for a smile he cannot see. Wei Ying isn’t here.

He misses his brother. That exuberance, that unpredictability, that adventure. Life’s colours are duller without him.

If only Jiang Cheng could renounce everything and run away, hide somewhere else where they’re not expected to do anything but exist and love and just be together.

But no. Wei Ying gave up his core so that Jiang Cheng could be a sect leader. To run away from his responsibilities would be to spit in the face of his sacrifice. Jiang Cheng cannot have that. He cannot let the pain that his niangzi endured be for nothing.

How much longer, he wonders? How long must they endure? Another year? Until his first child is a few months old?

Maybe until Jiejie also has a son?

Until the rumours die down? Two years from now? Cultivators have long memories. What if they never die down? What if they are never satisfied?

Jiang Cheng can endure, he has Zhang Rui, he has Jiejie, he has all of Yunmeng.

And Wei Ying has no one.

Except…

…except…

Jealousy strikes, a sharp and bitter feeling in the middle of his chest.

Would it be so bad though?

The traitorous voice inside him whispers, you have never been able to deny him. Whatever he wants, Jiang Cheng gives if it’s in his power.

At least he will be protected and loved by someone… since you can’t.

Wei Ying deserves comfort. Who is Jiang Cheng to deny him that if he wants it? And what better candidate than Lan Wangji? Elegant, handsome, strong, a powerful cultivator with many admirers, Lan Zhan still is one of the most eligible bachelors in the cultivation world. He is the Second Jade of Lan, a gentleman, one of the most moral people that Jiang Cheng knows. He outstrips Jiang Cheng in many ways.

That’s what you’re afraid of, that Wei Ying will stop loving you, when there’s someone better.

The insidious voice that never fails to compare him to his Xian-ge whispers in the back of his head, stirring up a volley of insults. Jiang Cheng has always fallen short, first as a son, then as a disciple. He has never been enough for his parents, not strong enough to save so many of his own Sect. He's not clever enough to outsmart everyone, to create crafty plans that sooth all ruffled feathers. That’s what people do, right? They leave when they find better options.

Not niangzi, not my Xian-ge.

It is so hard, so hard to believe it, when Wei Ying isn’t there to reassure him.

Jiang Cheng swallows hard. Everyone else has left him, who is to say that Wei Ying won’t as well?

He runs a finger over the carvings that Lan Zhan had delivered along with the letters. All of them are made from the black trees that grow on the mountains of Yiling. There must be at least a dozen of them, none bigger than the width of two fingers. They’re almost thoughtless in their artistry, uneven in parts, yet managing to convey beauty.

Lotuses, peonies, plum blossoms, rabbits, and a few turnips.

“More gifts from Xian-di?” Zhang Rui asks as she enters the room. She leans over Jiang Cheng’s shoulder to get a better look.

“What’s wrong?” she asks when he doesn’t reply.

“Lan Zhan, he...” Jiang Cheng hesitates “... he... Wei Ying.”

There’s a brief silence.

“Ah....” Zhang Rui comes around to sit right next to Jiang Cheng. She takes his hand in hers, squeezing it lightly. Jiang Cheng looks up at her delicate features and feels a muted sort of resignation at the expression on her face. He presses his lips into a thin line.

“You know him best, Jiang Cheng. Do you think, our Xianxian will pursue this?” she asks softly. The sensation of her sword calluses against the back of his hand gives him a spot of focus.

Most likely not, Jiang Cheng thinks. He can’t imagine his Xian-ge willingly going after Lan Zhan, no matter how much he actually likes the other cultivator. Xian-ge is very loyal to those he loves. It probably never even crossed his mind.

Wei Ying is loyal. He wouldn’t do that to his husband. He might want, might desire, but he would never act on it if he’s already tied to someone else.

“I could release him from...” Jiang Cheng begins.

Zhang Rui snorts.

“Yes, then the Jin will be at his doorstep in the next second because he’s no longer part of Yunmeng Jiang. What makes you think that Gusu-Lan will readily accept a servant’s son who practices a heretical cultivation method, the ex-second-wife of another sect as a betrothed to one of their heirs anyway?”

The words aren’t meant to hurt, just state the facts, but they hurt all the same. Jiang Cheng was able to save Xian-ge from the other sects because they are married. But now, he has doomed his Xian-ge to be lonely, because they are married. Jiang Cheng lets out a soft groan of unhappiness. Zhang Rui rubs soothing circles onto his back. She presses herself against his side.

“Perhaps you should go see him,” she says softly.

Jiang Cheng turns to look at her in shock and surprise.

“I’m pregnant, not invalid.” Zhang Rui frees a hand to flick him in the forehead. “My siblings will be here next month. They can look after me for a little while.”

She kisses his cheek then pokes his ribs through his many layered robes, making him yelp.

“You rebuilt Lotus Pier with your er-furen,” she whispers “Now you have a child on the way. We are secure for the moment. Go and tell him the good news.”

Jiang Cheng turns and presses their foreheads together.

“Thank you,” he breathes out “Thank you, Rong-jie.”

She presses a kiss to his lips, sweet and chaste.

“Go and be safe.”

---

Jiang Cheng doesn’t leave for Yiling until Zhang Ronghui and Zhang Yongping are settled into the best guest rooms in Lotus Pier. Zhang Ronghui is still a touch too pale for Jiang Cheng’s liking, but she’s far more energetic than when Jiang Cheng last saw her. Zhang Yongping greets his older sister with a big hug, his new left-handed bow nearly hitting Jiang Cheng in the face.

“Jie-fu, jie-fu, jie-fu!” Zhang Yongping chants, dancing around Jiang Cheng as he excitedly tries to show them the lotus-peach motif that is carved on his bow.

“Did I marry you or your sister!” Jiang Cheng grouses with no real heat behind it. Zhang Rui smiles at their antics.

Jiang Cheng waits until the sun is nearly on the horizon, starting to paint the clouds in pinks and greys, before kissing his wife goodbye and mounting his sword.

There’s a lightness in his heart even as darkness creeps up behind him, chasing him as he flies to the Burial Mounds. The twilight and his dark robes mask his journey. He doesn’t want the whole world to know he’s visiting Wei Ying just yet.

The small settlement on the Burial Mounds is dimly lit by lanterns when Jiang Cheng arrives. He passes through the wards with no trouble, feeling them tingle on his skin. The cold, almost repressive air he feels on the outside immediately becomes warmer, lighter.

“Jiang-zongzhu?”

A middle-aged man looks up from where he’s pulling water from the well. Jiang Cheng hesitates. Maybe it’s a mistake coming here, maybe this will bring everything down on his head and Wei Ying’s as well.

Before he has any more time to ruminate on this, there is an excited shout and suddenly a warm weight on his leg.

“A-Yuan!”

The boy grins up at him.

“Baba,” he shouts, bouncing up and down. Jiang Cheng reaches down and lifts him up easily. The boy’s cheeks are chubbier than before, a sign of good eating. It soothes a tiny part of Jiang Cheng’s worried soul. A-Yuan babbles at him, telling him a hundred things about butterflies, rabbits, radishes, and potatoes.

“Xianggong...”

Jiang Cheng turns to look. Wei Ying is standing, arms loose by his side, a look of disbelief on his face. The light from the houses outline his features in the dark.

“Niangzi, why isn’t our son in bed yet?” Jiang Cheng asks, making his tone severe.

“A-Yuan wants to plant carrots too,” A-Yuan supplies “Feed the fish before bed!” he cheers, tiny fingers pulling at Jiang Cheng’s robes.

“You’re here,” Wei Ying breathes out.

“Who’s here?” Another figure appears behind Wei Ying.

Jiang – formerly Wen – Qing takes one look at all of them, then comes to collect A-Yuan from Jiang Cheng’s arms.

“Come on, A-Yuan, what say we go catch fireflies tonight? We can go with A-Ning-shushu, and then we can sleepover with A-Dan,” she tells the boy.

A-Yuan agrees quickly, enamored with the idea of sleeping with his friend.

“Wei Ying,” Jiang Cheng whispers.

His niangzi crosses the distance in two steps and flings himself at Jiang Cheng, who opens his arms and catches him easily.

Jiang Cheng buries his nose in his Xian-ge's hair. He missed this so much. He missed everything about Wei Ying. His smile, his laugh, his mischief.

“I missed you, I missed you, didi,” Wei Ying gasps, tears streaking down his face.

“I missed you too, gege,” Jiang Cheng murmurs, clutching him tighter still.

Wei Ying pulls back long enough to trace the curve of Jiang Cheng’s cheekbones, then kisses him softly. It’s as if Wei Ying hasn’t eaten in days and Jiang Cheng is the only meal available. He nips and bites at Jiang Cheng’s mouth, even as he stumbles backwards, dragging Jiang Cheng to his sleeping quarters.

When Jiang Cheng first had it built, it had only been furnished with basic comforts like the bed, a dresser, and a small receiving area. Now there are shelves upon shelves filled with talismans and carvings. There’s a cot nearby, piled into a wicker basket beside the cot.

“A-Cheng, A-Cheng,” Wei Ying says his name like a prayer, fingers desperately trying to get Jiang Cheng out of his robes.

It takes only a minute for them to undress, but it feels like an eternity.

He can’t keep his hands off his er-furen. Jiang Cheng doesn’t know whether he wants to look first or touch first or taste first and he wishes he had more hands so he could touch more of Wei Ying but alas he only has two hands. He settles for suckling a mark onto Wei Ying’s neck where everyone will see, then letting his hands wander over Wei Ying’s sides and hips.

“Shi-xiong,” Jiang Cheng growls. He has always been an impatient man and perhaps this will be his downfall. Wei Ying seems similarly impatient.

Oiled fingers curl around Jiang Cheng’s rock-hard erection, pumping him roughly. He chokes and gasps at the sensation, trying to balance himself over Wei Ying. Wei Ying doesn’t waste any time, hooking his ankles at the small of Jiang Cheng’s back and urging him forwards.

“Didi, please,” Wei Ying whimpers.

Jiang Cheng obliges.

Wei Ying lets out a choked cry, eyes wide as Jiang Cheng fills him.

“Ah-ahnnn,” he moans, gyrating his hips and pushing upwards.

Jiang Cheng growls and thrusts harder. He pulls Wei Ying onto his lap and buries himself inside to the hilt. Wei Ying arcs off the bed, slapping a hand to his mouth.

“Ge, ge-ge, niangzi.”

If he closes his eyes, he can pretend they’re 16 again, newlywed and back in Lotus Pier. He can pretend that they’re in his old bedroom, staying up past what they’re supposed to even though they know they’re going to be late for practice tomorrow morning.

Jiang Cheng can pretend that when he presses their bodies together, he can still feel their spiritual energy reacting to each other.

“Please please please,” Wei Ying pants. Jiang Cheng tightens his grip on his niangzi’s hips and drives his own forwards.

Wei Ying cums with a loud cry, his body clenching around Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng slows the movement of his hips immediately, changing from rough thrusts to slow, rolling ones. Wei Ying whines, oversensitive, but doesn’t move away. He clutches at Jiang Cheng, fingers digging into his hair and undoing the topknot.

“You’re still so beautiful,” Jiang Cheng whispers reverently. He kisses the skin bared to him, nibbling along Wei Ying’s collarbones, shoulders, arms, “Lotus Pier isn’t the same without you.”

Wei Ying gasps and moans, the overstimulation getting to him. He twitches and squirms as Jiang Cheng continues to rock into him gently, carefully. After this, Jiang Cheng thinks, he’ll keep Wei Ying in Lotus Pier, shut him up in their rooms, make love to him every morning and every afternoon and every night for a year until Zhang Rui feels like she’s up to having their second child. He’ll keep Wei Ying naked, oiled up and ready.

Jiang Cheng bites down on Wei Ying’s shoulder as he cums, the image of Wei Ying wearing nothing but jewelry, his leaking cock tied up with his red ribbon, waiting for him in bed after a night hunt firmly seared into his brain.

Jiang Cheng pulls out very slowly and then grabs the nearest thing to help clean them up. It happens to be his sash, but he doesn’t care anymore. These aren’t his Sect robes anyway.

Wei Ying looks at him, just looks, head tilted and a soft smile on his handsome face.

“Xianggong,” he says softly.

“Niangzi,” Jiang Cheng replies, leaning down to capture his Xian-ge's lips in a kiss again.

He tastes like home.

---

Wei Ying slides his leg over Jiang Cheng’s hips later that night and sinks down on his Xianggong’s hard cock, riding him to a second orgasm. He gazes down at Jiang Cheng with an expression so tender that Jiang Cheng gives in to his emotions and cries.

“Ah, I bullied didi too much,” Wei Ying says ruefully, kissing away Jiang Cheng’s tears. Jiang Cheng laughs and then smacks him gently because Wei Ying is fragile without a golden core.

Wei Ying lays his head down on Jiang Cheng’s chest after they’re exhausted from their marital duties, snuggling into Jiang Cheng’s side as if they’re five years old again.

“I’m not complaining, but why did you come?” Wei Ying asks.

His breath tickles on Jiang Cheng’s skin.

“Rong-jie’s pregnant. If anyone asks, we came to get Wen Qing’s advice,” Jiang Cheng says at last, his fingers curled in Wei Ying’s hair.

Wei Ying goes still, then sits up with a look of utter delight.

“She’s pregnant!” he all but shouts.

“Get back in bed before you wake everyone else!” Jiang Cheng grumps at him, yanking at Wei Ying’s hair until he lies back down.

“She’s almost four months along now. You can come for the first month celebration, then after that, we’ll start moving the people here back to Lotus Pier. How does that sound?” Jiang Cheng asks.

The silence from his niangzi is very concerning.

“I can’t,” Wei Ying says at last.

“What?” Jiang Cheng’s voice is completely flat.

Wei Ying pushes himself upright.

“You don’t want to come back to Lotus Pier?” Jiang Cheng can’t think. His heart thunders in his ears.

“No, I want to!” Wei Ying protests, grabbing at Jiang Cheng’s arms weakly.

Jiang Cheng shakes him off, feeling as if he’s been thrown into the lake during winter. The voice is back, whispering to him. Wei Ying has all he needs here, doesn’t he? Away from responsibilities, away from the people who hate him, and a devoted friend who is free to visit him whenever he likes.

“Is it because of Hanguang-Jun?” The words are out before he can stop himself. “Niangzi, if you're in love with him, just tell me now.”

It’s better to know now, isn’t it? Rather than waiting and waiting and always wondering.

“What? No! He doesn’t even like me that way!” Wei Ying protests.

“He does!” Jiang Cheng hisses, “He loves you, did you know that?” He demands. And then the tears are back because he knows that he’s not enough “I’m sorry, I know that you’re lonely and I don’t blame you if you want him cause he’s the one who can be by your side now-”

CRACK!

Jiang Cheng cradles his cheek in shock. Wei Ying slapped him! Wei Ying doesn’t usually slap people! He looks at Wei Ying in disbelief, more surprised by the move rather than the pain.

“Shut up,” Wei Ying says, “Are you calling me an adulterer?” he demands, voice trembling “Are you trying to get rid of me? Why are you saying I love him?”

“He’s the person you talk about the most, Wei Ying,” Jiang Cheng points out, his voice shaking as well “You clung to him all the time when we were studying together. All your letters mention him. You’re lonely here and he’s the only one here who can see you for who you are and still accept you. He loves you, you know that, don’t you?”

He can see it, the realization dawning on his beloved niangzi. All those instances from when they were younger, the shared events, the battles, the letters, the talking. Wei Ying shakes his head, panic overtaking him.

“No, no I’m not! He doesn’t!” he protests.

Jiang Cheng grabs him by the wrists, forcing Wei Ying to look at him.

“Niangzi, please,” he whispers fervently “If you’re unhappy with me, please just say so. I’ll do whatever I can to make sure you’ll be happy with him. We’ll find a way.”

“I’m not-”

Wei Ying bites his lip. They both know he’s unhappy here. Jiang Cheng cannot stand it. There’s a dark thing in him, eating away at his conscience. It taunts him for failing to ensure the safety of his shi-xiong, failing to stand against the world and defy every expectation. But the thing worse than the guilt of failing his parents or ensuring his Xian-ge's safety, is being the one that stands in the way of Wei Ying’s happiness. He can’t bear it. He detests the thought of Wei Ying being happy with someone else, but at the same time, it would be better than knowing that he was the one to make Wei Ying sad. He can find a way, talk to Lan Zhan, talk to Lan Qiren, convince the elders it’s in their best interests.

“I love you, Jiang Cheng. You’re my xianggong, I’m the er-furen of Lotus Pier. You cannot get rid of me,” Wei Ying whispers hotly.

“Yes, but are you happy.” Jiang Cheng pulls him closer yet, pressing their foreheads together.

Wei Ying sobs.

“No, I’m not,” he admits “I wish I could be your furen, I wish I was the one to give you a son.”

Jiang Cheng snorts, the sound coming out wet.

“You already did,” he whispers back “A-Yuan is our son, remember?”

Wei Ying chokes back a laugh.

“I’m not unhappy because I don’t love you anymore,” Wei Ying finally continues “I’m unhappy because I can’t be there with you, to help you rebuild, to train all the disciples. I’m unhappy because I caused you so much trouble. I’m supposed to be your gege, I’m supposed to protect you-”

“And you have,” Jiang Cheng interjects, “You won us the war, you sacrificed your core for me, you gave up everything you were for our sect, now all I want for you to do for me, is to be happy, so I’m asking... does Lan Zhan make you happy?”

Wei Ying’s breath hitches.

“He does,” Wei Ying finally admits “I don’t know if it’s love, but I like him. I do,” he whispers “I’m so sorry.”

He bows his head, shoulders shaking with guilt and pain.

Jiang Cheng lets his eyes close and takes a few deep breaths. It hurts. It hurts because he can’t be there for Wei Ying, but Wei Ying has already said it himself. Wei Ying still loves Jiang Cheng, and for the young Sect Leader, this has to be enough. He has taken enough from his Wei Ying, he cannot demand more.

“I think...” Jiang Cheng swallows hard. He loves Wei Ying in a different way than he loves Zhang Rui. Can’t Wei Ying care for more than two people as well? “I think I’m okay with that.”

He breathes out noisily.

“If you want him, if you want this with him,” Jiang Cheng whispers, letting his hands trail over Wei Ying’s body “I’m okay with that too.” He kisses Wei Ying to silence his protests.

“Jiang Cheng,” Wei Ying says softly when they finally break apart. He sounds so full of tenderness that Jiang Cheng can hardly bear it.

“Just remember,” Jiang Cheng says at last “Lotus Pier will always be your home.”

---

“Rise and shine!” Someone hollers outside the building. There’s the shout of a young child and then chickens squawking.

Jiang Cheng jolts awake and then spends a stupid amount of time looking down at Wei Ying. His er-furen is covered in love bites and bruises from where Jiang Cheng has gripped too hard or kissed too much. There’s a curl of guilt in his belly, but it disappears when Wei Ying opens his eyes slowly and smiles up at him.

“Morning,” Wei Ying says as he sits up. He yawns, stretches then goes very very still. With a slow blink-blink, Wei Ying tilts his head to one side, then to the other.

“What is it?” Jiang Cheng demands.

“Five men, they came from the south, alighted on the southwest path last night,” Wei Ying murmurs. There’s an odd glow in his eyes. Jiang Cheng feels a shiver crawl up his spine. How does his niangzi know this? The barrier is supposed to alert them of people intruding on the settlement. It doesn’t involve the whole Burial Mounds.

“They fell to the abyss, their souls have joined the masses,” Wei Ying continues to speak softly, eyes unfocused “They are angry. I must ask Lan Zhan to purify the southwest area again.”

“Why did they come?” Jiang Cheng asks, wrapping his arms around Wei Ying and pulling him closer.

Wei Ying hums softly in his throat.

“The Stygian Tiger Seal.”

Jiang Cheng’s heart drops.

“They want it,” Wei Ying says. There’s no trace of the cheerful boy that Jiang Cheng married in that voice of his. Now, it is laced with a strange sort of vicious glee, as if he delights in the failures of these people to try and get the seal for themselves.

Wei Ying throws his head back and laughs.

“They all do.”