Everyone, except Huaisang hiding behind his fan, and Lan Zhan and Wei Ying, looks uncomfortable.
"What's the problem?" Wei Ying asks, now thinking that it's not their disbelief in cultivation that's the problem, but that there's something else wrong.
"It is customary in Chang'An that all nobility, especially those with close ties to the Royal family, are buried in the Royal cemetery. But one needs permission to enter and that would mean alerting the Emperor." Hao Bai says quietly.
"Can't we sneak in? Or tell them that you're mourning and want to visit a member of your own family? That's not unreasonable." Wei Ying feels irritated.
There seem to be obstacles after obstacles in their way.
"No, it's not unreasonable. But it is becoming increasingly difficult to talk to the Emperor face to face. He's not accepting any meetings at the moment. That's why we're hoping the arrival of this coin will pique his interest enough so that we can talk to him. An explanation is in order." Cheng Fan sounds determined. "And sneaking in is the impossible part. Nothing happens in Chang'An without the Emperor's knowledge, given his vast network of spies."
"Is this why you said we have to give it back to the Emperor?" Wei Ying asks Huaisang, who shakes his head. Wei Ying bites back the retort sitting on his tongue that Huaisang must feel totally at home here, then.
"I truly didn't know about all of this. Although we've kept in touch, my family has not been able to be free in their communication, so I am also hearing of this for the first time." Huaisang sounds honest and true.
Wei Ying thinks that his friend might have hidden things from them in the past, okay, they were major things, but he hadn't blatantly lied to his face before. It might be semantics, but Wei Ying wants to trust him.
"Alright, then it seems to me that we must procure an audience with his majesty first, and see where we go from there," he says thoughtfully.
"As soon as we're done here, I will send a servant with a letter to the Palace. It might take a while for the answer to be returned, if at all." Hao Bai says, gesturing at her son.
He nods and begins to speak. "Porta Daven used to come here all the time. They're an old friend of my father in spite of their...personality, but then, my mother has always recognised it as being harmless fun. They're valuable in sending messages as well as important items, and they used to work a lot for my father."
"So Porta Daven is doing something for you now?" Wei Ying asks them.
"Correct. As you can imagine, we don't want the wrong people to find out about her." Hao Bai replies.
Wei Ying can't hold back a yawn although he tries his best.
"Ah, you are tired and it is understandable. Forgive us for being bad hosts, and let us show you to your rooms. We can continue this tomorrow, for sure, after you have rested." Cheng Fan says, standing up.
"Normally, I would disagree and tell you how I can easily stay up past midnight, but today's walking has caught up with me. At least we won't have to do that again," Wei Ying grins, also standing up.
The talismans stop working as soon as Cheng Fan opens the door and rings a bell. A young man who must have been loitering outside nearby, suddenly appears from around the corner, and Wei Ying remembers what Cheng Fan said about spies.
What a difference there is living here under constant scrutiny, and any mistakes payable by pain of death, always looking over one's shoulders, and that of Cloud Recesses where the kind of peace and safety they enjoy regularly is only a figment of this city dwellers' imagination.
"Please take our visitors to the guest quarters," Cheng Fan says to him.
"I'll go, too!" Cheng Daiyu beams at them and skips alongside Lan Zhan.
He quickly swaps places with Wei Ying, making his husband bite back a smile.
"So...are all the stories real, then?" She asks as soon as they're out of earshot. "All of your adventures? Did you really kill the Tortoise of slaughter? And can you really fly? I don't mean on your swords!" She rattles off more questions than they can answer, and way too soon, they've arrived where they are to stay.
Cheng Daiyu looks heartbroken that she won't get any answers tonight, and Wei Ying is extremely glad to part from her and her chaotic energy. But he pauses when Huaisang doesn't join them here.
"Waipo wants me in my normal rooms," he says apologetically.
"That's understandable," Wei Ying says.
Everyone bows to each other and then finally, Lan Zhan closes the door and they're alone.
The room is big and houses expensive furniture.
There's an elaborate wooden trunk on one side, with gilded edges for storage, a cupboard for clothes and towels, a cherry wood antique desk with writing supplies meticulously laid out, and of course, the bed in the centre of the room.
There are heavy golden drapes made from silk brocade depicting a village scene that are gathered on either side of the windows, and countless cushions and pillows all covered in silk.
It is clear that this house is filled with wealthy people, and yet even so, they are not happy.
"So..." Wei Ying crosses his arms over his chest and begins to tap his foot impatiently on the thick carpet on the floor. "Let's talk about the Adventures of Hanguang-Jun and his loyal sidekick, the Yiling Laozu."
"I was amused, but not for the reasons Wei Ying thinks so." Lan Zhan comes to stand in front of him.
"Please explain."
"First, let's secure the room."
Wei Ying doesn't even look away from him as he flings the correct talismans everywhere.
"Go ahead, I'm listening." His eyes flash red once again, and Lan Zhan has to stifle the urge to ravish him then and there.
His Wei Ying is angry with him, and Lan Zhan is finding him adorable, too cute and all he wants to do is hug him tightly. But Wei Ying is not...huggable right now. Lan Zhan must explain.
"To relegate the Yiling Laozu to a mere sidekick is funny, because the writer has completely overlooked the hero of the people." Lan Zhan steps closer. "The Sunshot campaign was single-handedly won by that individual, otherwise the other four sects would have lost the war and been integrated into the Wen Sect. It is amusing that they are calling a man who can easily call upon hoards of the terrifying dead and make them do his bidding, a sidekick." Lan Zhan is standing chest to chest with Wei Ying now. His hand rises to cradle Wei Ying's cheek, his thumb lightly caressing the soft skin under his right eye. "The brilliant genius, the man who answers to no one, the wonderful father of beautiful children, the skilled inventor of countless new and innovative creations that have saved hundreds of lives, a sidekick. The bravest man I know, the most loving, kind-hearted soul in the world, a sidekick. My beloved, beautiful husband, a sidekick? I do not think so. It is the ignorance of the writer that caused my amusement, nothing else."
Tears spill over from Wei Ying's starlight silver eyes at the naked adoration on Lan Zhan's face, the love shining out of his gorgeous golden eyes and the result of acknowledging the love brimming in their hearts.
"It is an honour to be the sidekick of one so good," Wei Ying replies, his voice cracking because of the pressure in his throat.
"An honour you must fight me for." Lan Zhan says earnestly. "I would love to be your sidekick."
"Partners is a better word." Wei Ying reaches up to kiss him, his attention lost to Lan Zhan's generous lips.
Pink and plump, and ever so soft, Wei Ying relishes in the hot sparks that travel up and down his spine, the goosebumps that tingle upon his skin as Lan Zhan kisses him back.
He's just about to pick Wei Ying up and throw him on the bed, when there's a knock on the door.
As they separate so Lan Zhan can answer it, Hui Gai and Zago appear.
"Sorry to interrupt," Hui Gai says quickly, "but we thought you should see this."
YOU ARE READING
WangXian Forever Book 10
RomanceWei Ying and Lan Zhan must step up to the new challenge that awaits them when they find something that was given to them in secret. What is it, and why is it so dangerous? They embark on a new adventure to find out.
