His Excellency: The Untamed

21. Remembering Wei Ying

"What do you remember?" Wei Ying did not respond to his question but asked him instead, pulling back.

He too did not respond but pulled Wei Ying across the distance into his embrace. This time he wrapped his arms around Wei Ying to ensure his memories were faulty. They indeed were. Wei Ying was here after all.

"Wei Ying is not dead."

"Oh, Lan Zhan. This was the one thing I never wanted you to remember."

"It was too important to forget." his voice told him he was crying. How Wei Ying was before him, he didn't know; he didn't care. Fates had given him another chance with Wei Ying, he would treat Wei Ying preciously like he should have done from the beginning. He hugged Wei Ying tighter. The frame was all filled in. How? It didn't matter. Dark cultivation? No matter. No memories didn't matter. He would start afresh. Get to know the new Wei Ying, give him everything if he would have it.

Oh, how he hated asking his brother if Wei Ying was the one that cursed him. Even if Wei Ying did curse him, he'd take it.

"Did you remember everything?" Wei Ying pulled back but he didn't let him out of his embrace. No embarrassment was greater than the reassurance of Wei Ying in his arms.

"No. But I couldn't save Wei Ying." that was all he recalled. He was sure he hadn't been able to save Wei Ying. That is where the deep sadness was coming from.

"You did. You might not remember now but you saved me from death, from enemies, and even from myself. Lan Zhan, you have always been my saving grace. It is me who has never done anything for you."

"Being alive is enough." he pulled away the ribbon on his forehead and let Wei Ying sit properly. They were still close. He hated to part. He placed it in Wei Ying's lap.

"When my last ribbon shredded..." he didn't know how to form that question but Wei Ying didn't need him to.

"Ah. Um... Well, I guess I can always think of a new surprise. I asked Sizhui to get a couple-ribbon from ZeWu Jun who had instead come in to deliver them himself. They are not marriage ribbons, just a pair of couple ribbons." He nodded. He had noted that before.

"Since it was an emergency, we put this on you to stop the curse from spreading. the enchantment is not enough to help you recover but it is enough to stop the spread.

"The other?" He extended his hand and Wei Ying placed the other one in his hand. 

He spoke an incantation and changed the color of the ribbon from white and blue to red and black. He pulled Wei Ying's wrist before him and tied it carefully. He didn't know how he had professed to Wei Ying before but for now, he had no other way to express his feelings except this. He secured the knot on the ribbon and folded it inside one of the wraps cleanly on Wei Ying's wrist guard.

"We have all the time in the world Lan Zhan. We will take it slow I promise but thank you for accepting me into your life."

His heart filled with the love he didn't know he held at Wei Ying's consideration. 

"I would never forget Wei Ying."

Wei Ying smiled the way it always flipped his heart, but there was a tinge of sadness there. It made him promise himself, that he'll remember!

But before he could say anything, Wei Ying slid back into place and pulled the table back between them. On the table was a familiar black flute with a red tassel. This was Wei Ying's sword now. He knew without asking.

He reached out slowly, not knowing if the sword would accept him after the way they had fought but the flute lay lifeless on the table, not opposed to his touch. when his fingers laid on the pitch black, he felt the thrum of energy in it but it did not do anything to him. He looked at Wei Ying who smiled.