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

[65.] The indecent proposal. [continued]

Lan Huan leaned in a little and kissed his cheek again to calm him down, but frowned. 

He said loud and clear:

- Uncle, you should say whatever you must say without further ado. Where is this leading?

-  Well, this is the main reason I came to this farcical birthday celebration  at all.  -  Lan Qiren scoffed.  –  I have discussed it with Sandu Shengshou's parents and they agree that it is best if you take a second wife, or a mistress  –  one that will be able to bear children and produce an heir. Perhaps an heir for the Yunmeng Jiang Clan too, if Sandu Shengshou agrees to this arrangement?

Jiang Fengmian was lowering his eyes, flushed, but Madam Yu was glaring at her son, waiting for his reaction. Lan Qiren looked like someone who had already made up his mind and nothing could change it any more.

Jiang Cheng was biting his lip  –  all of this was very humiliating for both himself and his husband, but it was not unexpected for him, he understood the practical side of it all, and now he expected Zewu-Jun to lose his temper and make a scene, but what he heard amazed him. 

Lan Xichen started laughing. He looked up, too surprised and speechless. The clear laughter rang through the Hall, making Lan Qiren and Madam Yu frown  –  it felt like he was mocking them; and he was.  

Finally, he spoke, tightening his grip on his husband's body protectively:

- I swear to all the Gods in Heaven and in Hell, dear Uncle, this is the last time you humiliate my husband like that.  –  he said calmly and smiled broadly, and then turned towards Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan.

– Dear Father-in-law, dearest Mother-in-law,  I am truly sorry that you prefer to sacrifice your own son's pride and dignity for the sake of...  politics. I am sorry for you, as you can't see what I see  –  just how amazing he is... But if any of you  –  he pointed at the three of them now.  –  if you think that I will cheat on the one I love with a woman,  and hurt him so much... then you really don't know the first thing about me.  –  he laughed again, but it was a bitter kind of laughter.

Then he added:

-  I think the saddest thing is that, although you both know very well how his body works, you still think so lowly of him that you are ready to offer a substitute.  –  his gentle smile turned into a grin, and he was grinning almost manically now.  –  I am a man of my word. I will stand behind my vows. There is space for just one in my heart. My beloved.

He now leaned over Jiang Cheng almost menacingly, and to his utter surprise  –  kissed him openly and passionately, merging their mouths shamelessly, and slowly pushed his tongue in his open mouth. Sandu Shengshou melted into the kiss, as always, hugging him tight and kissing back with urgency and desire. 

Soon their moans of pleasure filled the absolute silence of the room, but they cared not. When they finally broke the kiss, Jiang Cheng  was absolutely breathless, dazed, but Zewu-Jun just smiled at him, and moved him carefully so that he could stand up now. He did, ignoring the gaping trio, and now Zewu-Jun called loudly for the Elders who were keeping guard at the doors of the Hall.

- Guards!  –  the Master's voice rang clear through the room.  –  Guards, those three people are henceforth banned from entering the Cloud Recesses. All communications between the Clans will be via letters and envoys. They have precisely one hour to leave the premises, and until the end of the day  -   to leave Gusu. Trespassing will mean the penalty of death. Am I clear?  –  his voice thundered terribly.

- Yes, Zewu-Jun.  –  the guards bowed low, obeying their Clan Leader.

- Nephew, you wouldn't dare!  -  Lan Qiren yelled, outraged.

- Lan Qiren what is the meaning of this?!  –  Madam Yu screamed, fuming.

- Yu Ziyuan, I am the Master of this House. I am the Clan Leader of my people. You will address me. The Cloud Recesses is my home and the home of my husband, and our children. Children that none of you will ever see.  –  he smiled again gently.  – Ah, it must pain you all to know that the allegiance of our two Clans in the war depends entirely on the goodwill of the son you both underestimate so.  –  he laughed and bowed to them.  –  Mistress Yu Ziyuan, Master Jiang Fengmian.

Jiang Cheng was mesmerized. That voice filled his soul with dread and awe and adoration. He stood up too, taking his waist, and they were now standing close to each other, hugging, smiling.

- Mother, Father, be well.  –  he said coolly.  –  Despite everything, I wish you happiness. Me and my husband will decide whether our children will belong to the Lan Clan or the Jiang Clan. Although I am not sure any more whether it is worth it for the Yunmeng Jiang Clan to exist further.  –  he hissed through clenched teeth.

Lan Qiren was listening confused. All this talk about children sounded as if his nephew already had some invisible children he knew nothing about. He looked at Madam Yu for an explanation, but she was gnashing her teeth too, and in that moment  -  she was too sorry she had given up Zǐdiàn  to the Future Yunmeng Jiang Clan  Leader.

- Ungrateful brat!  –  she was screaming.  –  I hope you die! Abomination! Your child will be an abomination too, mark my words! I should have drowned you in the muddy lake! I have no son!!!

She was hysterical, not letting her husband touch her, nor the guards. Jiang Cheng went very pale again, but listened to it all  –  these words were not new to him. He felt Lan Huan's warm hands on his body, and they brought him comfort. His face was very dark as he was watching the scene silently  –  the calm, serene, smiling  Zewu-Jun was gone, as if he had never existed at all.

The guards pointed their swords at the screaming and fuming Lan Qiren and Yu Ziyuan, but led them out without hesitation. Their loyalties were to their Clan Leader without question.