WangXian Untamed - One Shots

A World Without Wei Ying - Part 5 - A Picture of Wei Ying

Lan WangJi was perturbed.

A-Yuan stood before him, tear-streaks drying on his plump, rosy cheeks, sniffling and staring at his toes. His little fingers worried and patted at a torn piece of paper peeking from the fold of his robes.

"I am sorry, HanGuang-Jun, but there was an incident in class today with A-Yuan." The teaching disciple kept a firm grip on A-Yuan's shoulder, pinning him in place.

"Mn?" inquired Lan WangJi.

"This afternoon the class prepared pictures of their family to share when they returned home. With QiXi so near, this is the final class before the Festival and love-gifts were used to help the younger children maintain discipline over their behaviour and focus their energy from running rampant with the excitement. Of course, they are too young to do anything with sweethearts or other romantic nonsense."

Lan WangJi nodded. He knew this. In fact, he had vivid memories of barely enduring these special-occasion classes himself, due to assignments such as this. It had never felt right to draw just Uncle QiRen, Lan Huan and himself, as if that's all the family he knew. It felt disrespectful to his lost mother and he simply could not bring himself to include a representation of his absent father.

"Everything went very well, until the children were called to share their work."

A-Yuan shuffled his little feet, one hand clutching a bit convulsively at the nearly-hidden paper, as if to protect it or ensure it was still safely in his robe. The sniffling had ended and he made no other noise, but neither did he lift his face to look in his father's eyes.

"What happened then?" asked Lan WangJi.

"Oh, it was the usual with such young children," continued the teacher. "Everyone held up their work, talked about their family, shared a few things about what they liked... although really, that Jing child should not have shared that one story about his - never mind, I digress. As I was saying, the children shared their drawings and told a little about their family. It... changed a bit once it was A-Yuan's turn."

A-Yuan shifted from side to side, and this time he peeked at Lan WangJi from beneath his lashes.

"A-Yuan showed his picture and was talking about it, when some of the other children pointed out that his picture wasn't showing his actual family. Things got a little heated, some unkind words were said, and I regret that one of the other children grabbed A-Yuan's picture from his hand and tore it in two."

A-Yuan sniffed, just once, but a big tear drop slowly rolled down his face as he returned to studying his toes.

"I have spoken with the children involved. There was a discussion about consideration and kindness and both halves of the picture were returned to A-Yuan. Some of the remarks thrown about were regarding the Rules, which is why I am speaking with you. Lans do not lie, and some aspects of A-Yuan's drawing do not appear to be... hmm... do not appear to be entirely factual. I'm certain you will discuss things with A-Yuan and when he returns to class after the Festival there will be no further outbursts. He was clearly provoked, however we must 'return slights with kindness' and 'maintain veracity in all things'."

"I will speak with A-Yuan," responded Lan WangJi. "Thank you for letting me know about today."

Lan WangJi turned to A-Yuan.

"A-Yuan, what do you say to your teacher?"

"Thank you for correcting me, Lan Laoshi," muttered A-Yuan by rote, his voice much tinier than usual.

The disciple bowed and left.

Turning to A-Yuan, Lan WangJi led him into the Jingshi and helped him to remove his shoes and outer robe, putting them carefully away. Together they went to the table, where Lan WangJi set about making tea.