MDZS, But if Lan Qiren Were Chill

Chapter 8: Lan Qiren has a Meeting with Madame Yu, and News Comes from Qishan

Madame Yu arrived with her handmaidens at her side and her sharp frown on her face. Jiang Wanyin went to greet his mother, and Lan Qiren watched from the main hall as they approached him. The boy walked away with a tense expression on his face, and Lan Qiren took a deep breath. It wouldn't do to go into their conversation angry.

"Welcome to Gusu, Madame Yu," he greeted politely as she stopped before him.

"Lan Qiren," she said, sharp and aloof as always. "Shall we speak?"

"To the point, as always," Lan Qiren bowed his head, leading her and her handmaidens to his office.

He closed the doors behind them, settling down at his desk and gesturing to the tea pot. Madame Yu shook her head once, a clean denial, her handmaidens situating themselves by the door. The headmaster crossed his hands on his desk and gazed at her.

"Do you have an objection to Wei Wuxian marrying into my family, Madame Yu?" he asked bluntly.

"Don't you?" she stared at him incredulously. "Your precious perfect nephew marrying the greatest mistake of Yunmeng?" she laughed bitterly, and a spike of anger shot straight through Lan Qiren.

He took a deep breath, knowing that replying with anger when dealing with the Violet Spider would lead them nowhere.

"Can you explain to me your disdain for Wei Wuxian, Madame Yu? Because I have been watching over him for months now, and he's been nothing but a delight," Lan Qiren said, reciting the Wall of Discipline in his mind, what he always did to center himself.

"He is brash, self-centered, thinks he can get away with anything if he talks enough," she easily answered, her brow furrowed. "Just because Fengmian is soft on him, doesn't mean I should be," Madame Yu added, her tone notably angrier.

So, it's because of Jiang Fengmian , Lan Qiren inwardly groaned.

Some time ago, Huaisang had mentioned to him (not gossiping, of course) that the reason Madame Yu had been so hard on Wei Wuxian was apparently because he was the son of Cangsen Sanren.

Lan Qiren wasn't necessarily fond of that woman, but he had been saddened when he heard of her passing. He was much fonder of Wei Changze, who was the only person who had the capability of reigning in her wild behavior. They were a lovely couple, and he saw them in Wei Wuxian, with his mother's brightness and radiance and his father's quick wit and thoughtfulness.

Even when he was young he had heard of Jiang Fengmian's fondness of his family's disciple Wei Changze and just as fond of Cangsen Sanren. Plenty of other disciples had spoken about how the Jiang heir was in love with her, but stepped aside when his closest friend married her instead.

Lan Qiren thought it was all complete nonsense. He had class with the three of them --the Gusu lectures every year-- and Jiang Fengmian was simply a man who was fond of the people closest to him. He treated both Wei Changze and Cangsen Sanren the exact same, cheerful smiles and warm touches.

He didn't love either of them though, not like that. He looked at them like siblings, or at the least, very close friends. With most other people, Jiang Fengmian was aloof and coolheaded, polite and kind, but detached. Seemed he acted that way with his wife, gathering from the way she felt about their relationship.

"Madame Yu, I will be frank with you," he spoke up after a moment of silence. "You and Jiang Fengmian need to have a conversation. A real one."

"What are you saying, Lan Qiren?" she hissed, Zidian snapping to life on her finger, static filling the air. He ignored the threat.

"You two need to speak about your feelings. I understand not wanting to. I also am not fond of sharing such things," he stroked his beard, staring straight at her, "but... if I had with my brother, perhaps we would..." he said, his voice falling quiet for a moment.