Never Let You Go, Again

9: The Promise He Couldn't Keep

"A-Ying!"

Lan Wangji picked his husband up, laid him on the bed, wiped his mouth with a cloth and sat beside him.

He gently stroked his hair, mind racing, heart shaking.

The brothers huddled around the bed. Huaisang and the three children instantly ran out, dragging the doctor back to the Jingshi.

Doctor Lan examined the now white Wei Wuxian. "He seems to have exerted himself too much. He is supposed to have rested!" Every person in the room looked down in shame.

Doctor Lan tried again. "Why did you not inform me he had woken up?" How could they answer this? To tell that none had had the time; that Yanli and Zixuan had suddenly come. These were delicate details. After all, this man was another Lan Elder — no risks must be taken.

The doctor shook his head. He continued to examine the Chief Cultivator's husband. "His pulse is slow. Did he do something tiring?" Huaisang and Jiang Cheng cleared throats exactly at the same time.

The doctor shook his head again. "Sect Leaders, Zewu-Jun, children, you of all people must understand what Master Wei goes through everyday."

Lan Wangji looked up from Wei Ying. Every last cultivator's eyes asked the question in his mind: What do you mean?

The kind physician smiled sadly. "He tires himself all the time. Teaching and protecting your children, while all the time trying to please the Lan Elders. Sect Leaders, Juniors, on behalf of this good man, I beg you. Give him a break." Sighing, he continued, "Also, I don't think physical exertion is the only thing Master Wei underwent." He pointed his index and middle fingers at Wei Wuxian's forehead, testing his spiritual power. "He seems to have gone on an emotional rollercoaster!" 

The elders standing looked at each other and the Chief Cultivator looked at his husband, sorrow brimming in all their eyes, knowing that no matter what anyone said, Wei Wuxian would never forgive himself.

Huaisang shook his head, whispering "Wei-xiong, ah, Wei-xiong."

Xichen wondered how his Didi could possibly bear all this.

Jiang Cheng gripped his robes. Right now, he badly wanted to slam Zidian at something.

The juniors just stared at Daddy, vowing to keep him smiling every minute of his life.

Wangji... just stared at Wei Ying. Even if he and Yanli-jie told Wei Ying every day that he was not at fault, Wei Ying would never pay heed. And Wangji knew it. That was what hurt —there was nothing he could do.

The physician watched it all, sad, but amused. To think the Yiling Patriarch would have so many people to love him so deeply... He smiled softly. "I won't ask what happened. But please, let him rest. One day should be enough." With that, he bowed to the Great cultivators, and left the Jingshi.

The children left with the doctor.

Sect Leader Jiang and Nie left together, having bid goodbye to the Jades.

Xichen sat beside his younger brothers, not knowing what to say, nor having the heart to leave. Suddenly, someone knocked at the door. Wangji barely heard it, so Xichen walked over to the door. 

Seeing merely the silhouette, Xichen was shocked. He opened the door.

Lan Qiren marched into the room and walked — as calmly as possible — straight to the sick man on the bed.

"Welcome back, Shufu," the Jades bowed to their uncle.

"Hm." Shufu barely heard them. He seemed more concerned about Wei Wuxian's situation.