They were first to reach the Great Hall where the wedding would take place. Wei Ying fluttered about with the people who were putting the finishing touches on the tablets that had been brought here especially for the ceremony.
He was just chatting with the person who had created a special tea for today, when he felt as if someone was waiting to speak with him. He turned to find a young maid waiting to catch his attention.
"Please Sir, your Shimei is requesting to speak with you...before the wedding." She bowed and waited for him to respond.
Zhitiao? Was anything wrong?
Wei Ying wondered why ...what could she possibly want to speak with him about, as he looked for Lan Zhan immediately.
Lan Zhan was annoyed.
Someone was talking at him and he did not like it, but XiChen was too far away to help and Lan Zhan was just seconds away from reducing the man and his problems to a pile of ash when Wei Ying interrupted them.
Wei Ying could always tell, so he skipped towards him and was rewarded with a golden smile of love and relief.
"So sorry to interrupt..." He said with a genuine smile, sounding anything but, and pulled Lan Zhan away.
"Mn?" The relief was still there.
"Zhitiao sent someone to fetch me...she wants to talk about something...I just thought to let you know before I disappear..." He beamed.
"I shall come with you. And..." Lan Zhan lowered his voice, bending so that only Wei Ying could hear him. "Good boy."
It was an unspoken truth that Wei Ying suddenly vanishing would have made Lan Zhan panic.
Wei Ying flushed with pleasure...and the other unspoken promise that he was going to be rewarded for sharing...
"What if she only wants to talk to me though?"
They left the Great Hall arm in arm.
"Then I shall wait outside. I do not mind as long as Wei Ying is nearby." Lan Zhan promised.
Wei Ying beamed at him, half in amusement because Lan Zhan was running away as elegantly as he could, from the man still waiting anxiously to speak with him.
"That's fine by me...though I am wondering why she wants to talk to me?"
In no time at all, they were knocking on the guest quarters. Zhitiao was living here until today and now all her things would be moved to the house the elders had gifted the newly nearly married couple.
Another maid opened the door and then politely stepped outside as they went in.
Zhitiao smiled at them both, seeing the question in Wei Ying's eyes about the fact that he wasn't alone. She nodded, an amused resignation on her face because she knew they were inseparable.
"Are you excited for today?" Wei Ying smiled broadly at her as they sat at the little table where tea had already been poured.
"I am. And I suppose you're thinking about what I could possibly want, calling you both here just before I take that step..." She picked up her cup and drained it.
Wei Ying understood then that she was feeling somewhat nervous and... uncertain?
They politely drank too, giving her time to collect her thoughts.
"When I was growing up...you know about our sisterhood...but I never thought I would ever marry. Or to one so young..." She looked pensive.
"JingYi is a great kid." Wei Ying enthused and then he winced because it only proved her point.
"I know, I know...he's so patient and good with animals...and you recognised that side of him. He told me about that day, you know, when the Dragon Babies came to Cloud Recesses..." She was smiling so that was a good sign.
"Oh...yeah..." Wei Ying did not want to say that JingYi had been hiding nearby and Wei Ying had known, or that it was the only reason he had made him look after the Dragon Babies.
No one needed to know that part.
"And I was thinking about how much you helped both of us...me especially when we met...if I hadn't ever come across your kindness...and everything that happened afterwards with Jian Ci...I just ...I really wanted to thank you." Zhitiao wiped the tears that fell, as Wei Ying reached across and patted her hand.
"It's nothing..." He laughed awkwardly, glancing at Lan Zhan’s face, his expression one of awe and proudness.
"And I wanted to ask you...as my Shidi...would you please walk beside me when we enter the Hall?"
Wei Ying was already nodding while he reached for the handkerchief that Lan Zhan was also already holding out. He wiped his face too, smiling as his emotions caught up with him.
"Isn't it strange that in a world full of thousands of people, we meet the ones most special to us?" He said softly, but now Wei Ying was looking at Lan Zhan.
They were holding hands under the table and Lan Zhan squeezed it, smiling back at him.
Wei Ying was overcome with fondness, a welling up of love for this man who had constantly stood by him.
Lan Zhan too was thinking about the direction his life would have taken had Wei Ying not burst into it like one of the firecrackers the villagers would let off every new year.
He saw it now, barren and devoid of colour, the path he had left behind. He too thanked whatever good karma had given him this precious, generous man who lit up people's lives like lanterns in the big sky.
Everything they could not say, for the words were too much and too heavy to be voiced, they were simply understood between the two souls which were but two halves of a whole.
When they turned back to Zhitiao, she was smiling at them too, full of understanding. In her heart, she wished that if she and JingYi would have even one tenth of what these two wonderful, selfless people shared, they would be very happy indeed.
"So," Wei was saying to her. "Are you ready?"
*********
A/N
Dear Beautiful Readers,
I am shocked because today, while writing the first part, I knew that we have come to the last few chapters of this book. There will be a few extras because the Lans always get drunk at celebrations, and chaos is fun to write.
However, I don't mind asking you guys if there is anything in particular you would like to see? Or if there's anything I may have forgotten to write about, please feel free to mention it in the comments. I shall try my best to accommodate but no promises.
And before you all panic, please don't worry, I am going to write Book 9. Nine has always been a special number for me and I promise I will, just not straight away. There shall be announcements etc. So you'll know when it comes out.
As always, thank you so much for all of your support. I can honestly say that I couldn't have done this without you and I am blessed to have such lovely, kind readers who say the sweetest things. I really appreciate you.
Lots of chocolate 🍫 virtually on its way to you!
Love you all,
Charlie.
YOU ARE READING
WangXian Forever Book 8
RomanceOne final challenge remains for Lan WangJi and Wei WuXian. They have been given the titles of Light Bearer of the North and his Dark Angel...but as yet they have no idea what this could mean. And Wei Ying is still suffering from a mysterious ailment...