[曦澄 | XiCheng]: The Fear Of Falling In Love [~PART 1~]

[64.] The indecent proposal.

Note:

Chapter title inspired by this classic:

Indecent Proposal (1993)

Source:   https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107211/

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They took meals and baths in their room, never leaving it, everything else could wait. 

Lan Xichen was watching his husband all the time, not letting him out of his sight, catering for his every wish. They rested a lot, slept together, hugging and caressing each other all the time. After a couple of days, Jiang Cheng was feeling well enough for them to take breakfast in the Main Hall. Still, Zewu-Jun would not let him walk, and so he carried him in his arms, always holding him close and placing him to sit in his lap.

All the guests had left, there was just a room full of their presents left behind. Wei Wuxian and Jiang Yanli tried to talk to their brother again before leaving, but the disciples at the door just shook their heads and told them to give it up, unless they wanted a personal feud with a very angry Lan Xichen. 

The plan of Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji staying for a month went to the dogs completely; the trip to Lotus Pier was out of the question now too  -  no one would care about Wei Ying's birthday at a time like this. 

The only people who had stayed were Lan Qiren and Jiang Cheng's parents.

Zewu-Jun sat down carefully, at the head of the Hall again, making sure that his husband was comfortable in his embrace first, and ignoring his elders. He had lost all respect for those people –  they looked petty and hypocritical in his eyes now, and he discovered that deep inside he found them despicable. 

Jiang Wanyin was leaning his head against his chest and his eyes were gazing, unfocused, somewhere in an unknown distance. He leaned in and whispered in his ear:

- Wanyin, this is going to be unpleasant.  Please, try to keep calm. I am going to handle everything. Think of our baby, darling.

Jiang Cheng nodded slowly, and mindlessly reached up to kiss his cheek.

Madam Yu cleared her throat, and said haughtily:

- Esteemed Zewu-Jun,  your servants didn't let us enter your room and visit our son while he was ill. Do you care to explain?

Lan Qiren was frowning; he feared his nephew's childish behavior might spoil the frail alliance between the two Clans, which was the most foolish thing to happen at the height of the war.

- Very true, Madam Yu.  –  Lan Xichen smiled gently.  -  Sandu Shengshou needed his rest. No one was allowed in, as per doctor's orders. Absolutely no one.   -  he spat out the last words, his smile getting broader.

She clenched her teeth, too angry to answer, and Jiang Fengmian carefully took her hand, saying:

- Master Lan, we are glad that A-Cheng is feeling better now, and also that he has someone to take such good care of him. His mother was just worried.

- I understand.  –  Lan Xichen said coldly, the smile never leaving his lips, but he felt Jiang Cheng garb at his clothes tighter.

Lan Qiren stood up and added sternly:

- Nephew, it is not healthy to keep your... partner...  from his family. I am sure you understand.

- I really do.  –  he said politely.

- Actually, this union is the thing me and the Yunmeng Jiang Clan Leader wanted to talk to you about.  -  Lan Qiren scoffed.

Zewu-Jun shifted his eyes and was now staring not at Clan Leader Jiang Fengmian, but at Jiang Cheng's mother. And indeed she was the one who spoke.

- Zewu-Jun, your uncle approached us, as your husband's parents, with a plea that we found reasonable and logical. And after some consideration  –  we agreed.

Lan Xichen raised an eyebrow. He had expected a different kind of conversation, but now listened carefully.

- You know, dear Nephew, that  –  as a Clan Leader  –  it is your duty to provide the future heir to the Gusu Lan Clan.  -  Lan Qiren was now speaking in his nicest tone.  -   The situation is even more dire, as your brother has no prospects of having his own children,  by the looks of it.  –  he hissed, still angry at Lan Wangji's decision to marry a nobody.

- Wangji has three sons. I don't understand.  –  Lan Xichen tilted his head, still smiling, but his heart was pounding. He was now terribly worried for Jiang Wanyin, this was far worse than he had anticipated.

- Those are not his sons!  -  Lan Qiren yelled.  –  I am talking about our blood, his blood!  I am sure Jiang Yanli's son will be claimed by the Lanling Jin Clan as a future Clan Leader, but both the Gusu Lan Clan and the Yunmeng Jiang Clan will be left without true heir if we don't do something about it!

Jiang Cheng turned his head to face him, suddenly very pale. 

He murmured:

- Huan...? What is he talking about...?