WangXian Forever Book 10

Chapter 42: Cloud Recesses

They teleport back to Cloud Recesses, outside XiChen's office.

"It's a good idea to tell XiChen-Ge what's going on, before we take any action," Wei Ying tells Lan Zhan, kissing his soft cheek.

But Lan Zhan pulls him back and holds his chin for a more thorough kiss on his lips, making sure their connection is solid. He picks into a now pliant Wei Ying's mouth and bites down on his bottom lip, and holds Wei Ying close when he melts against him.

"I missed you," Wei Ying sighs. "I know we've been together and everything, but one on one time is so necessary! And so much has happened!" He makes a face. "I hate politics. If our Emperor didn't need us so badly, I'd call it a day now that we've given him his coin back."

"Mn. But it is the right thing to do." Lan Zhan tells him, but Wei Ying can hear the weariness in his voice.

Neither of them have rested properly and even if it's not strictly necessary, they will both feel a lot better after a good night's sleep.

"Come on, then. Let's get this over with," Wei Ying reluctantly pulls away and knocks on the door.

They're surprised to find Jiang Cheng there as well.

"Don't look at me like that! What, I can't visit my husband whenever I like?" Jiang Cheng growls.

"No, no, nothing like that," Wei Ying says quickly, grinning at both of them. "It's just that you were in Lotus Pier a few days ago and I expected you to still be there. This is even better though, because we don't have much time, and telling you together will save plenty of it." He lets himself be guided to sit down between his brother and Lan Zhan.

XiChen pours fresh, sweet tea into four cups, puts away whatever he was working on and gives them his whole attention.

Wei Ying throws silencing talismans around and ignores their twin looks of surprise.

He and Lan Zhan give them a brief but very important run down of everything they've discovered so far.

"We were hoping that Cloud Recesses could shelter our Emperor until we get this mess sorted out. I know it's unexpected, and you probably won't be able to hide him here properly, but I don't trust anyone else with him. Plus Healer Fei is attached now," Wei Ying snickers. "He's not going to give up treating the Emperor without a solid fight."

"But we also need to host the Cheng family. They will be in danger because of the many letters they have written to the Emperor, and all of that correspondence has been attended to by the First Prince and his conniving advisors. It won't be hard to put two and two together if we only kidnap the Emperor." Lan Zhan adds, staring at his brother meaningfully.

"Yes, Didi, you're right. When is all of this to take place?" XiChen begins making notes with his brilliant writing, each character appearing quickly.

"Well...um, now? I'm guessing we have less than a couple of hours before those Advisors come back to dose the Emperor again, and we want to get him out of there before that." Wei Ying puts a whole cake in his mouth and barely chews, swallowing it down just as fast.

There's mixed reviews on his prowess of that particular skill set from amazed (one person), quietly disgusted (second person, and annoyed (third person).

"Xiongzhang, attempts will be made on the Emperor's life, once he disappears. There will be a considerable risk of assassins." Lan Zhan warns him.

He's already feeling the dirt, the griminess of the city's politics on his skin like a greasy layer needing to be washed off him.

"I will place Cloud Recesses on a lock down. We will bring supplies in to last us for the foreseeable months, and then spread a rumour about a contagious disease. That will keep people away."

"Fab idea, XiChen-Ge!" Wei Ying says around another pastry. He pulled the plate into his lap after feeding one to Lan Zhan, too. "I bet the Emperor has never been referred to like that before!" he snorts out a laugh.

"We should go," Lan Zhan stands up, helping Wei Ying also.

They quickly polish off the pastries, bow, and vanish.

"I'll make arrangements," XiChen says, fondly.

"I'll help you. What should I do?" Jiang Cheng replies, staring at the empty space their brothers just vacated, leaving only crumbs.

"Oh, there's only a missive to be sent into Caiyi Town with a team to retrieve supplies, arrangements for the housing of the Emperor and security to sort out for his accommodation, housing for the Cheng family, and if they are to blend in with our clan, then a plausible back story must be thought up whilst still adhering to the rule about not lying. Also, Shifu must be informed, and all of this must be before our brothers return." XiChen gives him a bright smile. "Pick one."

Jiang Cheng groans and lays his head on XiChen's shoulder.

"Anything except talking to your uncle. I'm a grown adult, a Sect Leader in my own right, and I'm still scared of him."

XiChen pats his head sympathetically. He allows a few moments of this before they have to get to work, but he can safely say that life is not boring with Wei WuXian around.

***************

Hao Bai is inside her husband's office with Cheng Daiyu and Zago, sifting through the endless reams of parchment, looking for anything important.

They startle when Wei Ying and Lan Zhan appear. Wei Ying asks her to call all of the family here, and once her son and daughter in law, and Huaisang arrive, he sets the silencing talismans in place.

"I'm guessing we only have about an hour left, so please save your questions until the end," Wei Ying tells them urgently.

His tone and demeanour is enough for everyone to sit upright and pay attention to him.

Aside from Huaisang fanning himself rather violently, no one moves as he and Lan Zhan explain the situation. They inform the family about the Emperor and his condition, and about the corruption rife at the highest echelons of power, and what their solution to the immediate problem of His Highness' safety is: immediate evacuation of the Cheng family and the Emperor.

Tension thickens the room's atmosphere as the inhabitants look around nervously.

"Do you want me to tell you what to do?" Wei Ying ssuggests kindly. He knows from past experience how hard it is to think when bombarding of information happens, with an added countdown of response time. He's an expert at it, in fact. He's always been able to take control of any given situation and see what needs to happen next, being able to direct the correct person to do whatever needs to be done.

"If you wouldn't mind," Hao Bai tells him with some difficulty.

For the matriarch of the family, a senior capable of making important decisions and looking out for everyone, it's a testament to how much she's truly shaken that she cannot think properly.

"It is my pleasure. Now, Zago? Can you please take all of the evidence and remove all of it to Hui Gai's necklace? I know he's taught you how to access it because of all the times he's needed to contact Oge and not go in person. All the rest of you, please pack the bare minimum of whatever you need to survive in Cloud Recesses. There's no guarantee that you'll be staying there exclusively, or for how long, but XiChen-Ge, I mean, Zewu-Jun intends for your stay to be as comfortable as can be. I suppose the best way would be to disguise you all as distant relatives, but we can sort that out later. Any questions?"

"What about our staff?" Hao Bai asks him.

"How many are we talking about?"

"Around thirty extra people. I know it's a lot to ask, but-"

"No...you're right. They can be caught and interrogated. The only thing I have concerns about regarding them, is that you said some of them are spies for the Emperor. That means they are compromised already. What shall we do about them?"