XiCheng: The Last Lotus [AU- OMEGAVERSE]

31

"Married? Why didn't anyone tell me?!" a voice interrupted- echoing across the courtyard. "Since when was my little brother married?!"

Jiang Cheng spun around, his heart racing as he narrowed in on the woman before him.

There, standing in all her glory- was Jiang Yanli.

Soft brown locks trailing in the wind- her hair wild and free from its usual buns. Piercing golden eyes locked in on her little brother- one brow arched in question. Clothes rumpled and wrinkled- a Yunmeng Jiang bell still hanging proudly from her waist. Gentle amber orbs now narrowing in concentration- a slight twitch to them as they glared. Mouth set in a firm line- a disapproving look on her face.

"A-Cheng," Jiang Yanli asked, a murderous look flashing through her eyes. "Did you say that you were married? To Young Master Lan?"

Jiang Cheng swallowed, trying not to cower at the sight of his sister.

Jiang Yanli was not to be reckoned with.

"Heh, I m-mean," Jiang Cheng stammered, violet eyes darting back and forth- searching desperately for an escape route. "I d-don't-"

"So you mean to say. My little brother got married. And didn't see it fit to wait until I got here first?" Jiang Yanli seethed, her jaw clenched as she glowered at Jiang Cheng. "A-Cheng, how could you!"

Jiang Cheng hung his head in shame. "I'm sorry, Shijie," he murmured, refusing to meet her gaze. "I just- he asked, and I don't-"

"So you're saying that Lan Xichen proposed to you on whim?!" Jiang Yanli growled, her fists tightening as her amber eyes flashed with fury. "He just sprung the question onto my little brother because he felt like it?!"

"Shijie, I-"

"So you're saying that my precious little A-Cheng isn't even worth a proper proposal now?! What happened to courting, hm?!"

"Shijie..."

"Isn't the Lan Sect supposed to be cultured?! What the hell happened to decency and manners?! You can't just ask someone to marry you in the middle of another sect- while we're preparing for war! What the hell was Lan Xichen thinking?!"

"But Shijie!" Jiang Cheng whined, stomping his foot childishly. "I love him!"

"So?! You love him?! Well, guess what, A-Cheng! You could've at least waited until I was there before you eloped!"

"But-"

"It was just a day, A-Cheng! Is it that hard to wait a few more hours until I arrive? Would it have killed you to wait until your darling sister comes to prepare with you?!"

"I-"

"And didn't you promise you would let me plan your wedding for you?! What am I supposed to do now? Did you ever think of your poor shijie when you two decided to just marry and fuck?!"

"Shijie!" Jiang Cheng hissed, blushing furiously at her crass words. "We didn't just fuck!"

"Oh? And what were you doing then?"

"Well, we... we were also talking."

"Oh? And what were you talking about, hm? Were you sprouting declarations of your love to one another? Or were you reciting romantic poetry from some obscure book in Cloud Recesses?"

"H-How did you know?!" Jiang Cheng spluttered- staring at his sister with a mixture of awe and confusion. He tilted his head in bewilderment. "You weren't even there!"

Jiang Yanli snorted. "As if those Lan's could do anything different."

"Shijie~" Jiang Cheng whined, huffing as he crossed his arms in front of his chest. "He's different than all the others."