Dark Knight | WangXian Novel

21: Red-handed

"A favour?"

"Yes."

"I doubt I can be of any help to you, Jin Gongzi."

Meng Yao's dimpled cheeks sunk deeper as he smiled delicately. "Oh, well, I was actually hoping for Lan Er-Gongzi to help me out..."

His teeth were gritted and fists clenched so hard, it was a wonder Lan Wangji wasn't growling right now.

"Oh? You want Lan Zhan to help?"

"So the whole A-Ying and A-Zhan thing was an act after all," Meng Yao grinned.

Lan Xichen's eyes swelled. "A-Yao?" This tone... all this while Meng Yao had been his usual benevolent self, why the cold tone ever since he set foot in the Jingshi?

"Er-Ge?"

"A-Yao... talk a bit more nicely, will you?"

"Oh, sorry," Meng Yao smiled and inclined his head to them all. "Yes, Wei Gongzi. I need Lan Er-Gongzi's help in something I'm struggling with."

"Wait a minute, Jin Gongzi. Could you give us a moment?"

"Oh, sure," Meng Yao nodded and rose to his feet.

"Xichen-ge stay."

"Erm," Lan Xichen, who had thought Wei Wuxian wished to talk with Wangji, sat back down.

Once Meng Yao was outside on the verandah, Wuxian turned around. "Lan Zhan–"

"Mn," Lan Wangji nodded to a faint blue barrier around them.

"Oh, you set the silencing charm up already. Thanks. Xichen-ge... Why on earth did you bring him in here?"

Lan Xichen sighed, gripping his teacup. "Nothing at all. Just that he asked to ask a favour from you two. And I thought I could put him at ease by letting him talk in the privacy of being within walls, put him at greater ease so he'll spill the beans."

"Xichen-ge, you could have sent a message and we'd have come to the Hanshi–"

"No. He needs to think I trust him to the extent I'll let him in my brother's home. So he'll be more open."

"Ah? So... so you do want to catch him?"

"Red-handed."

"But... why? I thought Xichen-ge wanted to trust him?"

"But I trust my brother more than anyone else. If Wangji said so, then fine. Let's try this."

"Thank you, Xichen-ge."

"Thank Wangji," Lan Xichen inclined his head, waiving the gratitude.

"Xiongzhang, his favour?"

"Wangji... Even I don't know about that. So we'll see." Lan Xichen was about to signal to Lan Wangji to lift the barrier, before stopping to ask one last thing. "Wangji?"

"Xiongzhang?"

"What's with the undershirt?"

"Uh?"

"No outer robes... just inner robe? And why is it wrapped so tightly? Careful, might suffocate you."

"Ah. Erm."

"Ahaha!" Wei Wuxian laughed nervously. "Nothing at all, Xichen-ge! Just that Lan Zhan was punched by me in a little duel of ours. So there's a blue patch on his abdomen, I wanted to let it heal so all this time he was here with his shirt undone."

"Oh. Understood. Wangji, shall we go to the Healing Hall after this?"

"No, xiongzhang. I'm good."