Chapter Text
A dim light gently illuminates the outside at midnight. Lan Wangji wakes up in his bed in Jingshi, but there is no one beside him.
Ever since Lan Zhan and Wei Ying confessed their feelings to each other, they have rarely slept on separate beds. Although Wei Wuxian would admit defeat and beg for mercy every night, he still automatically clings to Lan Wangji and wouldn’t fall asleep until he had tossed around for a while.
However, the room now is overwhelmed with silence, a familiar silence.
“Wangji”
Lan Xichen’s voice emerges from outside the door. Lan Zhan briskly tidies his clothes and walks out, greeting his brother with a bow.
“What is it, brother?” Lan Wangji asks.
“I noticed you didn’t seem very happy after visiting Wei-gongzi yesterday.” Lan Xichen replies, concern laced in his voice. “I didn’t ask yesterday since it was late, so I want to check on you today.”
Yesterday?
Some of Lan Wangji’s long-buried memories resurface, and he now understands why the silence feels so familiar.
Turns out, in this world, you not only can summon a spirit into your body but also travel back in time. In Lan Wangji’s case, he had travelled back thirteen years ago – when Wei Wuxian was still living with the Wen remnants at the Burial Mounds.
“Wangji?” Lan Xichen tries to inquire again after Lan Wangji’s prolonged silence.
Lan Wangji comes back to his senses, “I’m fine, brother.”
Lan Wangji does seem less grievous compared to last night, which confuses Lan Xichen, “How is… Wei-gongzi?”
“He is well,” Lan Wangji replies.
· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·
At the Burial Mounds, Wei Wuxian sits atop a dirt pile and plays with Chenqing in one hand.
“This path not only harms your body but your temperament more.” Lan Wangji’s words ring endlessly in his ears. As if Wei Wuxian doesn’t care, he lets out a “tsch.” But his betraying gaze has already drifted to where Lan Wangji left a few days ago.
Lan Wangji is actually pretty good. Ever since he came to the Burial Mounds, except for Jiang Cheng’s two unpleasant visits, Lan Wangji is the first person to come visit him.
“Wei-gongzi,” Wen Ning searches around while holding a teacup. “Uncle wants you to try the new wine he’s made.” He holds the cup steadily as Wei Wuxian strides over; not spilling even a single drop of the liquid.
“Really?” Wei Wuxian’s eyes shine at the mention of wine. He promptly downs the cup. It tastes more supple and rich than last time. He licks his lips to get every last bit of the taste, then jumps down from the dirt and orders, “Go, go help me get a few more cups.”
Although there isn’t much alcohol in the rice wine, Wei Wuxian still feels a little tipsy. Since he doesn’t like carrots, he didn’t eat much of the dinner. So he lays down with a stomach full of rice wine. At the Burial Mounds, the sky is his blanket and the floor is his mattress.
“Wei Wuxian,” Wen Qing hands him a small plate of lotus roots.
“Eh?” Wei Wuxian takes the plate and grabs a handful of them to stuff in his mouth, “Where did you get them?”
“I noticed you didn’t eat much dinner, and these lotuses just harvested a couple of days ago. So aunt specifically cooked them for you.” Then she throws a small coin purse at him, “If you really can’t get used to the food here, go buy some potatoes when you go down the mountain tomorrow.”
The last time he went to the market; two things happened: he met Lan Wangji, and Wen Ning woke up. So buying groceries became the least of his worries. Now that Wen Qing reminded him, he nods, “I know, I’ll go tomorrow.”
Wei Wuxian lies down again with the plate of lotus roots in his hands. With every small bite, he sinks deeper and deeper into thought – He doesn’t know how long he could maintain this kind of lifestyle, and neither does he know how Shijie’s wedding preparation is going. Despite all this, Wei Wuxian does not regret his decisions and would do everything again. He is the type of person that would repay kindness and revenge injustice.
He closes his eyes to allow the taste of lotus roots to spread from the tip of his tongue. What comes with it are waves of memories – within the haziness of these drunken dreams, he seems to recognise Lan Zhan.
“Gongzi, gongzi,” Wen Ning comes to wake him up. Wei Wuxian has unknowingly slept through the night on the dirt pile.
The cold winds last night gave him a slight headache. The black-robed teen sits up while rubbing his head, then stretches his back. He leaps off the dirt pile but miscalculates and trips. Someone immediately catches him from behind.
“Lan- Lan-er-gongzi came,” Wen Ning points behind Wei Wuxian.
The force behind him releases. Wei Wuxian turns around to see Lan Wangji in his white robes - just realising this is the person who caught him. A smile immediately spreads across Wei Wuxian’s face. He tidies his clothes, “Thank you, Lan Zhan.”
Lan Wangji does not say anything. His gaze slightly darkens after scrutinising Wei Wuxian from top to bottom. He had only visited Wei Ying once at the Burial Mounds in the previous timeline, so he wasn’t able to look at him clearly. Now that Lan Wangji has carefully examined the teen in front of him, he realises Wei Ying has gotten a lot thinner.
“Hey, Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian watches him curiously, “Are you here for anything?”
Wei Wuxian knows Lan Zhan does not approve of their so-called “demonic cultivation,” and he himself does not want to hear someone nagging him about it. He was already thankful Lan Zhan didn’t treat him like an enemy last time, but he also didn’t expect another visit.
Lan Zhan raises his hand, and two white porcelain bottles appear in sight. They gently collide to make a clear “clink” sound. Two bold words are written on the beautiful porcelain bottles – “Emperor’s Smile.”
Wei Wuxian’s eyes widen, “Emperor’s Smile!!!” He shifts to look at Lan Wangji’s expression, “There’s no way- Lan Zhan, are you REALLY Lan Zhan?”
“Don’t drink,” Lan Zhan says. It sounds more like a statement than a question.
“Of course, of course, I’ll drink it,” Wei Wuxian swiftly grabs the bottles and holds them near his chest like two precious gems. He uncorks one of them and lets the wine pour into his mouth. Seeing Lan Wangji’s unsmiling face, he decides to push his luck and mutters, “Wouldn’t it be great if there were some osmanthus cakes?”
“It’s in the… Demon-Slaughtering Cave.” This place does not even look remotely close to a house with its furnishings. And since Lan Wangji cannot think of any other words to describe it, he uses the name Wei Wuxian has given it.
“Ah?” Wei Wuxian wants to make sure he didn’t mishear anything, “You even brought... the osmanthus cakes?”
Lan Wangji turns to walk away without answering his question. For some unknown reasons, Wei Wuxian feels flustered. He immediately chases after the white-robed teen, “Wait Lan Zhan, where are you going?”
“The Demon-Slaughtering Cave.”
It’s only then that Wei Wuxian realises this is indeed the path to his cave. Lan Zhan has only visited here once, so this surprises him. He almost knows the place better than I do now… he also seems different today compared to before. Even the solemness between his temples has disappeared. Wei Wuxian thought. Am I still not sober yet?
Suddenly, Lan Wangji stops in his tracks.
They have arrived at the cave’s entrance. The cave is a mess, with talismans flying everywhere, and there isn’t even a free space for them to step in. The only thing that seems proper is the box of pastries placed at the entrance.
Wei Wuxian chuckles awkwardly at the sight, before darting in to clean out a space for Lan Wangji to enter. Then he casually plops down on a stone platform and opens the box of osmanthus cakes.
The teen crosses his legs with satisfaction. Halfway through eating, he realises Lan Wangji has been staring at him the entire time. Not knowing what that could mean, he instantly puts down his legs and straightens his posture. He beams at Lan Wangji, “Lan Zhan…”
“Don’t talk while eating,” Lan Wangji says.
Wei Wuxian almost chokes on the cake he is about to swallow, so he quickly takes another sip of the wine. After he finishes eating, he asks, “Right, Lan Zhan, are you here for anything?”
Did he come here just to give me Emperor’s Smile? Wei Wuxian practically denies this possibility as soon as the thought had appeared, he thinks that is too full of himself.
“To accompany you,” Lan Zhan says simply.
To accompany me? Wei Wuxian holds the Emperor’s Smile and grins, “That’s true, you do indeed have to accompany me with these,” he thought it meant the two bottles of wine. But he didn’t expect Lan Zhan to remember a debt from so long ago.
Something shifts within Lan Wangji’s light-coloured eyes, as he stares at Wei Wuxian with slight bewilderment. The black-robed teen holds up the wine bottle and lets out a burp; he grins, “It tastes good. Lan Zhan, you should’ve broken a few more bottles back then. So that I could drink more now.”
I can buy as many of them for you as you want, Lan Wangji thinks to himself, but doesn’t say it. He remains silent to prevent raising Wei Wuxian’s suspicion.
“Rich-gege,” Just when they both don’t know what to say, Lan Wangji feels something tug at his legs. And as he looks down, he meets A-Yuan’s glistening, innocent eyes.
Wen Qing follows behind, “A-Yuan, don’t cause any trouble.”
“He came as soon as he heard of Lan-er-gongzi’s arrival, and I couldn’t stop him no matter what,” she explains.
“A-Yuan,” Wei Wuxian waves at the little boy, “Come to Xian-gege.”
Lan Wangji effortlessly lifts A-Yuan and sets him down on his legs. This sight shocks Wei Wuxian – why does he feel like he’s missed out on a lot? Is this really Gusu Lan Clan’s Lan-er-gongzi??!!! Wei Wuxian waves off Wen Qing, “It’s alright it’s alright, it seems that our Lan-er-gongzi quite likes A-Yuan.”
Then Wen Qing leaves to continue with work. Wei Wuxian takes another osmanthus cake and walks towards the boy sitting on Lan Wangji’s legs, he teases, “Here, this is what your rich-gege brought.”
Even as a child, A-Yuan has been through a lot, so he rarely gets a chance to eat this kind of delicate pastry. He immediately starts devouring the cake like a small wild creature.
Wei Wuxian hastily brings out a cloth for A-Yuan, “Wipe your hands properly, don’t wipe it on Lan-er-gongzi’s clean robes.”
“The food doesn’t match your taste,” Lan Wangji says suddenly while observing A-Yuan’s eating manner.
“Ah, how do you explain this?” Wei Wuxian mindlessly replies, “They all grow from the same land, but just made in another way. How much different can it be?”
“You’ve lost weight,” Lan Wangji says.
Wei Wuxian freezes at the comment, then swiftly puts the cloth back on his waist. He chuckles lightly, “Lan Zhan, stop beating around the bush and just get to the point."
Lan Zhan stops talking. He understands Wei Wuxian at this time is hypersensitive, so it makes sense he would keep his guard up even at a simple question.
Lan Zhan can only reply with, “Nothing.”
Then Wei Wuxian remembers that the Emperor’s Smile and the osmanthus cakes are all from Lan Zhan, so speaking in that way was unnecessary. He apologises, “Sorry Lan Zhan, I spoke too harshly.”
Lan Zhan shakes his head, “You don’t have to apologise.”
“Are you really here just to give me the Emperor’s Smile?”