The Troublemaker Trio (Xicheng)

Chapter 5: Be Gay Do Crime

Nie Huaisang grabs two bags of dried lotus seeds from the counter. Jiang Cheng placed a hand on top of one of them.

"Don't. Punished men don't deserve snacks" How would his brother ever learn if he wasn't properly punished. Nie Huaisang looked up at him.

"But if I don't get him any he'll just steal mine" he whined. Refusing to give in, Jiang Cheng stood firm in his decision. Nie Huaisang had never been a particularly strong-willed person and so he eventually buckled under the Jiang's determined gaze.

"Fine" the Nie reluctantly put down one of the bags and went to pay for the rest of his snacks. After some more looking around Jiang Cheng did the same before he went to meet up with Huaisang who waited for him just outside the door.

"Alcohol time?"

"Yes, according to brother, the best store is the one over there" Jiang Cheng pointed at a small store further down the road. Jiang Cheng wasn't sure how his brother had gathered such information within only one day of arrival, but considering it was Wei Wuxian neither one of them doubted his intel and started walking.

"Is your fan making going well?" Jiang Cheng asked the Nie, attempting to make small talk.

"Very well, although this one is a gift from Zewu-jun" Huaisang unfurled the fan he held in his hands to show off its intricate design. Jiang Cheng didn't know much about fans but it looked expensive. "Sometimes it's nice to have Zewu-jun be good friends with brother... other times not so much. He always reports everything I do to my brother"

At this Jiang Cheng grew worried about Wei Wuxian's behavior which would surely be reported back to their parents. His father would likely not be impressed by his son's inability to keep his brother out of trouble for even a single day.

Trying to raise his spirits he looked around the small inventory of alcohol the store carried. Eventually the two settled for emperor's smile, six jugs of it. Two for each of them. Now the only problem was getting it back to the cloud recesses.

In this regard Nie Huaisang turned out to be equally as unreliable as Wei Wuxian. As they approached he had taken his snacks and walked up ahead. Leaving Jiang Cheng with the difficult task of sneaking their contraband past the guard.

The Lan standing at alert outside the cloud recesses was not the same guard as the ones they had met on their first arrival who had restricted them access but Jiang Cheng was still nervous. Walking as naturally as he could he nodded to the guard as he passed.

"Stop" Jiang Cheng froze in his step "On new orders of Lan Qiren all visitors must now be searched when entering the cloud recesses" Likely a direct result of Wei Wuxian bringing in alcohol the night before. Even when not around he still managed to make trouble for his brother.

"Don't you know who I am?" Jiang Cheng said indignantly, attempting to get out of the search. He currently had six jars tied to his hip hiding underneath his outer robe. Something which would definitely not go undetected if he were to be searched. Sadly the sleeves of their guest cultivators' robes did not have the same functionality as the Lans' own robes. Having additional hidden storage space would've really come in handy right about now.

"Apologies young master Jiang. But I can not let you in without carrying out the proper procedures" The Lans were rule followers. He could not get out of the search. The Lan approached and started patting down his upper body with great efficiency. Jiang Cheng frantically tried coming up with a plan as the Lan's hands moved lower down.

"Heyy, that looks like fun. Do me too." Wei Wuxian forcibly stepped in between the two. Presenting himself to the guard by extending his chest out.

"Young master Wei..." The Lan sounded greatly uncomfortable. This was a necessary security measure, not... something else. At the accusation his ears tinted red. Jiang Cheng, caught the hang of his brother's plan and started transferring the jars, tying them to one of Wei Wuxian's many belts. The Lan, unwilling to conduct the search on such a willing participant, stammered out an explanation for the need of the searches and how they were not to be used frivolously.

Once done tying all the jars, Jiang Cheng placed a light hand on his brother's back, signaling that he was done.

"Aaww. So mean." Wei Wuxian pouted "I'm certain Lan Wangji wouldn't be this unthorough. In fact, I'll go ask him to search me right now." Wei Wuxian walked back into the cloud recesses, contraband secured.

The Lan at the gates was terrified. Although what the Wei had said was incorrect. The man had behaved exactly the way he was supposed to. To have one of the Jades of Lan be told he hadn't conducted himself properly would be really bad.

"Don't worry, I'll stop him" Jiang Cheng said, feeling guilty about causing the man they just tricked to worry. And so he allowed the Lan to quickly finish the search before he rushed to catch up to his brother.