Unrestrained Heart

Chapter 3

Anyone who looks at Lan Wangji sitting in a meditative position with his eyes closed would have believed his mind was at peace. In truth, his thoughts are in turmoil. He is still fighting to calm the anger that his uncle's words had caused. Lan Wangji has never disputed his uncle, spoken back to him or rebelled against his dictates. Not until tonight.

As expected, uncle had been displeased when he and Lan Xichen had met with him, asking for an agreement between the Lan Clan and the Jiang Clan. It was to be a twofold agreement. Part one was for Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian to become cultivation partners. Wei Wuxian would spend more time in Gusu learning music cultivation and Lan sword technique while Lan Wangji would travel to Yunmeng with him later to learn Jiang Clan cultivation methods. It was an unusual request but not completely unheard of. Especially now when the smaller clans needed to band together to protect themselves against the Wen Clan.

If uncle wasn't happy with the first request, he was furious over the second one.

"A betrothal?" He asked, staring at both his nephews in horror.

"Wei Wuxian is my destined person." Lan Wangji had said simply.

His uncle had exploded at this. Lan Qiren had said angrily, "How, how did this happen? Wei Wuxian is a pot of ink, how did my nephew's hands come to be stained by him? I knew I should have sent him away the moment that brat stepped foot in Cloud Recesses."

At these words a growl had started deep in Lan Wangji's chest, "You will not speak of my mate that way." He had said icily.

Lan Qiren's eyes had widened in surprise at this. He had studied his nephew as if trying to determine if he had been possessed then said, "I will ask Jiang Fengmian to come to discuss it." He looked like he had much more he would have liked to say on the matter. When he had seen the determined look in Lan Wangji's eyes he hadn't dared.

There is a knock at his door, it's Lan Xichen there to play Tranquility for him.

"I talked to uncle after you left." He tells Lan Wangji. "He asked me to convey one request. He will agree to everything, but he thinks the two of you are still too young. He wants a three-year betrothal agreement." Long betrothals aren't unusual, many marriage agreements are made when the future bride and groom are still children. Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan, for example, have been engaged since they were very young.

"Do you think uncle will ever accept Wei Wuxian as my mate?" Lan Wangji asks honestly.

"You know uncle despises disorder and chaos." Lan Xichen says, smiling gently. Lan Wangji has to admit those two words describe Wei Wuxian perfectly. However, that isn't all there is to the omega.

An image of the way Wei Wuxian had looked at the lantern ceremony, his face glowing as he had made his wish, swims before his eyes. The omega had been ethereal when he had wished to protect the weak. If Lan Wangji had heard someone else make such a wish, he might have thought it was something the person had said to gain merit, or to impress those around him. Somehow, with Wei Wuxian, the wish had felt real and honest.

Lan Wangji has seen many signs of the omega's selfless nature. There was the way he had saved Su She without any thought to his own safety. Lan Wangji's breath had caught when he had seen Su She and Wei Wuxian being dragged down by that creature in the water. Wei Wuxian had only held on tighter to the other man, never even considering letting go to save himself. There was also the way he went out of his way to protect those he loved, his family and friends, even if he ended up being punished for it.

If only there was a way to make his uncle see Wei Wuxian the way he does.

Lan Wangji closes his eyes as Lan Xichen proceeds to play the Tranquility melody for him. The peace from the music washes over him.