Get Your Hands Off My Man (Xicheng)

Chapter 14: Results of the Deliberation

The two elder cultivators had returned and after talking things over they had come to a decision. Lan Qiren stood back and looked off into the distance, he really didn't want to be there, wanted this entire thing to be over as soon as possible. As a result, sect leader Jiang had to step up to deliver the news. Jiang Cheng gripped Lan Huan's hand tightly. His prior speech of not needing his uncle's blessing was a powerful statement and Jiang Cheng didn't doubt that they would get married regardless. But this didn't change the fact that the Lan cared deeply about his family and not having his uncle's blessing would weigh heavily on his heart. Even a reluctant agreement would mean a lot. Jiang Cheng prayed his father's persuasion had been enough to convince the Lan.

"Together we have decided to give Zewu-jun and Jiang Wanyin our blessing to marry." Sect leader Jiang spoke.

Lan Xichen instantly glanced over at Lan Qiren for confirmation, searching for validation of the Jiang's statement. The older Lan, though clearly still not happy about any of this, gave a small little nod letting his nephew know that he agreed to let them marry.

Turning to his fiancé Lan Huan threw his arms around Jiang Cheng in celebration, his future brother-in-law cheered them on as the two embraced with joy. Sect leader Jiang patiently waited until the two had had their moment to drop the second piece of information, the price which accompanied Lan Qiren's change of mind.

"We have also decided that Wei Wuxian will be going home with us to Yunmeng." So Lan Qiren had seen a chance to get rid of the annoying thorn in his side and took it? Being forced to accept his older nephew's marriage he'd bargained with sect leader Jiang to get rid of the second Jiang brother.

"W-what?" Wei Wuxian, though happy for his brother, was less than happy with this revelation.

"Because you claim to want to marry Lan Wangji, who has made his opinion on the matter very clear... Lan Qiren has come with a recommendation of a woman who would suit you better. We'll be heading back to Lotus Pier to prepare the first date" the purple-clad cultivator explained to his son.

"B-but I still have a couple of months left." Wei Ying complained, he didn't want to leave Gusu. Especially not since this was where Lan Wangji was. "Can't it wait until then? Please, uncle Jiang... I still have things left to learn" Wei Ying searched his adoptive father's face for any doubt. That he didn't really want to send the Wei back to Yunmeng, because if that was the case he might be able to convince him that he should be allowed to stay, but there was none. Jiang Fengmian wanted Wei Wuxian to return home with them.

"It's because I care about you that I don't want you to spend the rest of your life with an unrequited love. Please don't spend the rest of your life waiting for someone who won't ever turn to look at you. You deserve someone who will stand beside you, someone who will make you happy. If the one you love right now can't give you that... then you need to move on." The tone their father spoke with, filled with such softness and delicate care, was one which Jiang Cheng had never heard him use before. Not even with Jiang Yanli. But such was the life of his father's favorite, Jiang Cheng was certain sect leader Jiang would never use that tone to address him.

Taking deep breath their father continued, his voice shaky with emotion as he asked his son to give up "Wei Ying, please come back home"

The way he spoke, the young cultivator was moved to his very core. And with a slight nod he accepted his fate. But his usual smile had been replaced with a solemn look. He was very much not happy.

"Don't act like this is a death sentence, I won't force you to marry her. If you don't like her, we'll find you someone else. We'll keep searching until we find you someone" Jiang Fengmian said as he patted his son's shoulder to cheer him up.

Lan Huan's hand gripped his own hand tightly. His gaze laser focused off in the distance. Concerned what had gotten his lover this upset Jiang Cheng chose to glance over at the focus of Lan Huan's attention. The lone Lan who stood still as part of the background of this gripping scene. He had yet to move but for the first time Jiang Cheng saw what Lan Xichen had spoken of. With his hand tightly clenched around Bichen's hilt and his teeth digging down into his lower lip he exuded more emotions than Jiang Cheng had seen from him over the past few months combined. His golden eyes glistening as he fought back tears. The apparent truth struck Jiang Cheng's heart.

Lan Wangji really did love Wei Ying.

Jiang Cheng was stunned, it wasn't that he had distrusted his lover's previous words, but to see it for himself was still nothing short of surprising. Wei Ying had always been an acquired taste. You either hated him or loved him, there was nothing in between. He had always though that the Lan fell into the first camp similarly to his uncle. But perhaps he was more like Jiang Cheng, a person who flipped between the two states. Unable to stand the Wei at times but still deeply caring about him somehow. Wei Wuxian was a bomb ready to cause a disaster at any moment. But it wasn't just any bomb, it was his bomb, and if it was ever to explode Jiang Cheng would be the first one there to clean up the mess.

Because that's what you did for family. His brother's legacy would not be his tendency to cause problems or how he intentionally drove people insane. It would be his genuinely caring side, how he would stick up for the people he cared about. His smiles and cheerful disposition, always able to lighten the mood of a room with a snap of his fingers. The good parts of him.

Parts which Lan Wangji apparently also had managed to catch on to in between the Wei's constant teasing. Jiang Cheng gripped his lover's hand tighter. Lan Huan must feel so hopeless right now, he might have been able to save his own marriage but not the one of his younger brother. Their one-month period hadn't begun yet and so they required Lan Qiren's, practically impossible to get, permission.

"No. He's already done searching." Lan Wangji stated as he stepped forward and placed his arm around Wei Wuxian's waist and pulled, hard. Taking a few stumbling steps backwards the Wei crashed back first into the Lan's chest. The man first displayed utter shock and surprise but as soon as he realized what had happened he beamed.

"Can I take this as your proposal to my son?" Sect leader Jiang asked, his face as expressionless as Lan Wangji usually was. He was being dead-serious, whatever answer the Lan would give would be definitive and he'd be held to his decision.

"Yes" The Lan met his future father-in-law's gaze head on, after which the Jiang's facade broke down into a happy smile. After all, he had never been the one to oppose their relationship.

Turning to the one who did he asked "Don't you want to see your nephew get married to the one he loves?"

"No." Lan Qiren stomped towards the door, he was furious. This was not what they had agreed on. Sect leader Jiang was acting out of line. This was not okay.

"Please Lan Qiren, I know you don't like me very much. But please, I promise I'll try and behave. Please let us marry" Wei Ying pleaded, having somehow gotten his crushes affection he did not want to lose his chance to be with him. Unlike his brother and Lan Huan the second couple did not have Gusu's rules on their side. The only way for them to marry was to receive Lan Qiren's blessing or to elope, and so the Wei would happily beg and grovel if that was what was necessary to obtain his happy end with Lan Wangji.

Back still towards the group of cultivators Lan Qiren took a deep breath and with a slightly shaky voice he said "I won't be attending their wedding" in response to sect leader Jiang's question. And then, without looking back, he stepped outside.

It took a few seconds for the message to sink in but when it did the room was once more filled with cheers. Wei Wuxian wrapped his arms around his unexpecting father.

"Thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you" the Wei said as he held him close.

Sect leader Jiang didn't like people hugging him, not unless he was the one to initiate something which happened very rarely. Despite this he placed a hand atop the Wei's black hair and carefully caressed his son's head as the Wei embraced him. The deep-rooted jealousy spreading throughout Jiang Cheng threatening to swallow him whole dissipated in an instant as two strong arms wrapped around him from behind. Lan Huan's arms were so warm and carried much more love than anyone else's ever could.

The man he loved, the man he was going to marry, his future husband.

"I love you Lan Huan"