Divinity

3

Xichen entered the Jingshi where his brother lived. He was laying on his stomach on his bed, and shoulders to waist covered in bandages soaked with blood. Kaili popped her head out from Xichen's robes and she automatically felt Wangji's pain. A gift she received as well is the ability to feel other's emotions. Which is probably why she felt uncomfortable with the man Xichen was with not long ago.

"Hello Didi," Xichen spoke out. Wangji turned his head to look at his brother. His eyes immediately went to the snake wrapped around Xichen's waist and shoulders. Xichen smiled a bit, "this is Kaili, she is a spiritual snake I found. She was being picked on by a couple of our junior disciples so I saved her and she became my companion. She wanted to meet you."

Wangji nodded as Xichen knelt down beside him at his bed. Kaili moved her head so it was by Wangji's hand. Wangji smiled as he could feel that Kaili was kind.

"Nice you meet you," Wangji said.

Kaili slithered up and over Wangji's neck and looped around him into her head was by his hands again. It was like she was hugging him at the shoulders or neck.

"I'm here to change your bandages and clean them," Xichen said, "Kaili can keep you company while I do so."

"Okay," Wangji said, "A'Yuan?"

"He is in the infirmary still. His fever went down and he is recovering well. Do you want him here with you?" Xichen asked.

"Please? He was like a son to Wei Ying, I want to raise him as my own in his stead," Wangji said.

"If you wish to adopt him, it would help protect him more, keep his identity as a Wen a secret," Xichen said.

"Lan Yuan, and his courtesy name will be Sizhui," Wangji said. He was petting Kaili without even realizing it.

"I will register him in your care. You will be his legal guardian from now on," Xichen said.

"Thank you," Wangji said, "...I am sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?" Xichen asked.

"I feel like I am a failure," Wangji said, "I let the sect down. I let Wei Ying down. Wei Ying was innocent Xiongzhang. You have to believe me when I say that he was framed. He did not cast that curse, and he did not kill his sister like everyone says. She took a sword that was meant for him. Wei Ying...I tried to save him, but Jiang Wanyin came and he broke free from my hand. I'm sorry I upset you too. I do not feel like a good brother. My heart is torn into several pieces and I do not know how to fix it."

To Xichen, that was the most he had ever heard his brother say to him in one sitting. Wangji was guilty for a lot of things when he had no need to be. Kaili could tell Xichen was going to say something that might upset Wangji more. So she spoke to reached out to Xichen first before he could.

I may not have been here and I do not know the full story, but listen to his words Lan Huan. He is broken and he does not know where he belongs anymore. I can feel others emotions and he is heart broken. He is very depressed and the wrong words could cause him to lose his will to carry on further. Please be mindful of what you say. Before making a judgement on this Wei Ying, look for proof and find out if he really was framed for whatever crimes he was accused of.

Xichen knew Kaili was right. He needed to look into this more. He was going to reach out to some people that he knew to help him, but he needed to finish tending to his brother first.

"Wangji, I will trust your judgment," Xichen said, "if you like, I will look into this matter for you. I will see if I can find any evidence that he was indeed framed or not."