Together

30. The Past

Lan Wangji breathed in deeply as he gently touched Wei Wuxian's cheek. Wei Wuxian smiled as tears of pain, sorrow and betrayal brimmed in his eyes but didn't slide down. Lan Wangji wiped his tears and cupped his face before he lovingly kissed Wei Wuxian's forehead. Wei Wuxian gasped, feeling a warmth he never felt before. He never felt this way even when his shijie kissed his forehead. He felt his crushed heart beating rapidly against his chest.

'Almighty up above. When you blessed me with such a wonderful man to fall in love with, why did you curse my life to this extent?' Wei Wuxian thought as he cried. What right did he have to inflict this never-ending pain on Lan Wangji? "Lan Zhan?" Wei Wuxian whispered. "Mn. I'm here." Lan Wangji replied as he stroked his beloved's cheek.

"I'm meeting brother and uncle." Lan Wangji said and got up. Just as he was about to leave however, Wei Wuxian grabbed his wrist and looked at him. Lan Wangji was shaken with the fragile look on the boy. He could see so much hope and pain in his eyes. Hope that he could come along. Lan Wangji nodded and went to Lan Xichen's study.

Once reaching the study, Lan Wangji gently knocked the door while still holding Wei Wuxian firmly, but not hard enough to hurt his already injured hands. "Yes?" He heard Lan Xichen's voice from inside. "Brother." Lan Wangji replied. "Wangji. Come in." Lan Wangji opened the door and went inside along with Wei Wuxian. "Young Master Wei, how are you feeling?" Lan Xichen asked as soon as he saw Wei Wuxian. "I'm alright Zewu-Jun, thank you." 'You're not at all alright.' Lan Wangji thought with a sigh.

"Lan Zhan, is it possible to meet your uncle now?" Wei Wuxian asked. Lan Wangji was shocked. "Uncle?" He asked, confirming his words. Wei Wuxian nodded. There were so many things he wanted to know. What happened during his parents' death? Why did Jiang Fengmian have to kill his parents? Lan Wangji looked at Lan Xichen once and nodded. "Wei Ying, let's go." Lan Wangji said as he got up and stretched his hand for Wei Wuxian to hold onto. Wei Wuxian held Lan Wangji's hand. "Let's go."

The Twin Jades of Gusu along with a broken boy in black made their way to Lan Qiren's study. On reaching, Lan Xichen breathed in deeply before knocking the door. "Who is it?" Lan Qiren's annoyed voice came from inside. "Uncle, it's me." Lan Xichen replied. "Xichen. Come in."

Once the door opened, Lan Qiren was shocked to find his nephews along with Wei Wuxian. He did know that Lan Wangji saved Wei Wuxian, but he didn't expect him to wake up so soon. "Wei Wuxian..." Lan Qiren started but wasn't able to complete and trailed off. "Master Lan, I have a few questions to ask you. I really hope you answer me honestly and seriously." Wei Wuxian said. Lan Qiren sighed and nodded.

"Were my parents murdered by the Jiangs?" Wei Wuxian asked, tightly balling his fists. "Yes." Lan Qiren replied, shocking Lan Xichen, Lan Wangji and most of all Wei Wuxian. "Why? Why did Jiang Fengmian have to murder my parents?" Wei Wuxian asked, forcing himself not to shout. "Because Jiang Fengmian was in love with your mother. Although he showed that he had no enmity with Wei Changze after your father married your mother, in reality he was really jealous. Because he believed that he was far better than your father, who was just his servant." Lan Qiren said. "Soon after your parents got married, Jiang Fengmian's engagement with Yu Ziyuan was fixed and they got married three months later."

"However, despite being married and even getting a daughter and son, Jiang Fengmian still wanted Cangse Sanren. He was the one who proposed the marriage between their children whether same gender or not in hopes that Cangse Sanren would stay in the same house and lay his hands on her." Lan Qiren said. Wei Wuxian's eyes nearly popped out of his sockets in shock while Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji were disgusted. So, this was how the noble Yunmeng Jiang Sect leader was? No wonder his son was also that rotten.

"His lust for your mother was not gone unnoticed by your father of course. Your mother however was quite naive in this matter, so Wei Changze didn't say anything to her and tried to cancel off the marriage between you and Jiang Wanyin. However, Wei Changze was still a servant, so he had no right to talk back to his master. But master or not, no husband would want their own wife to be raped by someone else. So, Wei Changze ran away with you and Cangse Sanren one night after drugging the entire Jiang household." Lan Qiren said. "After running away, Jiang Fengmian's hate for Wei Changze increased and he kept searching for both of your parents for ten whole years." 'No wonder we kept shifting homes.' Wei Wuxian thought as a tear ran out of his eye.

"However, Wei Changze's luck didn't last that long. When you were ten, your parents were discovered by Jiang Fengmian. He tried to kill your father and rape your mother before killing her as well. But then Cangse Sanren took the blade, which was meant to be for Wei Changze, killing her in the process. And ... while your father was still mourning your mother's death, Jiang Fengmian gave him the final blow." Lan Qiren said.

Wei Wuxian was crying throughout the whole story. Tears were brimmed in the Lan brother's eyes with Lan Wangji clenching his fists. He wasn't only sad for Wei Wuxian, he was disgusted with the Jiangs on the whole. First, they kill Wei Wuxian's parents then force him to marry their son. And when Wei Wuxian was raped by Jiang Cheng, they didn't even say a word? Disgusting! Compared to them, the Wens were like angels.

"Please." Wei Wuxian begged as if he had no dignity left (which was true). "Please don't send me back to Lotus Pier. I will leave." "Young Master Wei, you don't have to go back to Lotus Pier if you don't want to. You can stay here for as long as you wish to." Lan Xichen said as he gently patted Wei Wuxian's head. "No Zewu-Jun. I cannot stay here. It will be dangerous for the Lan Sect. Please allow me to stay here for the night. I shall take my leave tomorrow morning."