WangXian Forever Book 10

Chapter 60: Strategies

Tang Pei sent them a message via XiChen when the children, Wei Ying, and Lan Zhan were playing with the bunnies in the meadow, in the back hills of Cloud Recesses.

"I would like to be there," Prince Wu says, after Lan Zhan relays the message.

They've had a lovely day today, relaxing and spending time together. First Wei Ying had called Hui Gai and taken the kids to play with his family, Oge, Klem, and Jez. Zago had joined them later, and when it was time for Klem and Jez to take a nap, the rest of them came back to Cloud Recesses for an early dinner.

Now they were spending the last few hours of the day here with Lan Zhan's bunnies.

"Are you sure? It will be boring," and Wei Ying remembered, "you don't like meetings."

"I don't mind them, sometimes they're interesting," the Prince says, a little defiantly.

"Your brother said otherwise, and it's okay if you don't want to join us. But I'll be honest with you, it will probably be tedious for children. Adults like to talk."

"Mn." Lan Zhan agrees kindly. He hates loquacious meetings where people never seem to find the point amid rambling on and on. "I would avoid it at all costs."

"Lan Zhan!" Wei Ying is scandalised and giggling with him.

"I know what you're trying to do, and I thank you," Prince Wu tells them, bowing low. "But my heroes, the great Hanguang-Jun and his husband, the Yiling Laozu, would tell me to face my fears. Whether I like meetings or not, that's my own personal problem. I will have to do much that I will not like doing, and I should put my own preference aside now."

"We're right here, and like, telling you the exact opposite." Wei Ying mumbles under his breath.

But the Prince looks even more determined. "I would go and see my Baba anyway, and you won't even notice me! I'll be quiet, but I want to be with him. And there. My brother only ever encouraged me not to pay attention to court matters, and I thought he was looking out for me. But now, well, I think he was trying to keep me away on purpose." He looks incredibly sad about that.

Li XiWang gets up and comes to stand next to him. She takes hold of his hand and when he smiles at her, they stand even closer together with their chins out, daring Wei Ying to say no.

Seeing that, Rumi joins them and pouts.

Wei Ying throws his hand up in the air. "Fine! All of you can come! But don't say I didn't warn you! You're gonna be bored out of your minds, and whining about going to sleep before you know it."

"No, we won't," Li XiWang swears confidently.

"You know, you're a bit scary..." Wei Ying pokes her cheek, making her laugh. "Come on, then." He picks up Rumi and the children walk hand in hand, in front of them.

Lan Zhan takes Rumi from him, making Wei Ying smile. "We need to send a bunch of messages. Everyone will want to be there."

"Mn. XiChen can do that," Lan Zhan says, not a little bit smugly.

XiChen loves writing messages, after all. He's the big brother. He can do it.

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

In the end, there's a huge crowd waiting for them inside the Emperor's tiny room, and it's warm just from the combined body heat.

General Huang takes up most of the space by himself, sitting opposite XiChen by the small tea table that has far too many cups of tea on it, with Jiang Cheng sitting next to him. He dissolves into helpless laughter as soon as he sees Wei Ying, though he doesn't say why.