Dark Knight | WangXian Novel

2: Broken Cup, Broken Heart

"So," Lan Qiren had decided the random talk had been enough. He never was a fan of pointless chatter. "We come here with a proposal."

"Ah?" The Jades looked at him, gawking.

"Shufu, I thought we came here just for the conference," Xichen mumbled.

"Silence," Qiren cut his words off.

"Proposal?" Jiang Fengmian smiled. "Well, that's great! And which Young Mistress or Master from the noble Lan sect is it?"

Lan Qiren kept his teacup down. "My eldest nephew. Leader of our sect, Lan Xichen."

Jiang Cheng's mouth opened just slightly.

Oh wow! Wei Wuxian spoke through their temporary core-bond. A-Cheng's damned lucky! He laughed.

Isn't he, now? Jiang Yanli giggled cheerfully. 

A-Cheng, did you feed some potion to your uncle-in-law?

A-Xian! Jiang Wanyin crimsoned and picked up his teacup to quaff it down, hoping his big hand wrapped around it would hide his flushing face. Not to mention, the irresistible smile on his face.

"Oh how wonderful," Yu Ziyuan nodded happily.

Lan Qiren nodded his agreement. "I believe so, too. Xichen and your lovely daughter would look stunning together. Jiang Yanli, I believe her name is?"

"Ptoo!" Tea spat out and Jiang Cheng found himself spluttering for air, coughing with the choked tea.

Palm slamming on his face, Wei Wuxian hurried to his side and replaced the teacup with a bowl of water. "Oi, drink this."

Jiang Cheng gulped down the water in a rush and calmed down when his sister stroked his back. "Th– Thank you," he muttered to them, avoiding his mother's glare. "Sorry, everyone, the tea... scalded my tongue. Terribly sorry."

"Are you alright?" Nie Huaisang asked.

"Sure you don't need a smack on the back?" Wen Qing laughed.

"Haha, no, thank you," bowing his head, laughing at the thought of Wen Qing slapping his back with her superhumanly strong hand.

"So, little Xichen for my A-Li?" Jiang Fengmian enquired. "Now, that should be a wonderful idea. A-Li and Xichen have always been good friends, right?"

Yanli gripped her brother by his hand under the table, smiling helplessly to the nodding Lan Xichen.

"Mn, we've been close since five, I think," Xichen agreed.

"Well, then," Yu Ziyuan nodded. "This proposal should be worth considering." She glimpsed at her anxious children. Something was wrong, so she wasn't going to rush anything. Yes, she was sternly deadly, but she was a caring mother, after all. "Allow me to get back to you?"

"Absolutely," Lan Qiren nodded, satisfied.

"A tie between the Lan and Jiang sect? Now that's splendid," Nie Huaisang clapped, oblivious of his friend's woes because hadn't gotten to spend much time with Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng and so never heard of Jiang Cheng's daydreams.

"Matter of fact, we came with a proposal, too," Wen Ruohan spoke up. 

"Also for A-Li?" 

"No," Ruohan shook his head. "My cousin here, Wen Qing. Amazing, she is, number one doctor across the lands. I was thinking maybe she'd do good with your son."

"Oh, A-Cheng?"

"Yes, Jiang Wanyin."

"Ah, looks like we've another fantastic suggestion," Yu Ziyuan smiled beguilingly. "Both are wonderful... I do remember Madam Jin saying something about coming here with a proposal early on, before you came today?"