Dust & Gold

12

I met up with Lan Zhan, Lan Qiren, and Lan Xichen the next day after that mess with the Jiangs. I was still hurting from the fact that Sect Leader Jiang would say something like that to me; about my parents and how he doesn't believe me. Saying I am nothing like my parents and how I won't ever be like them. I don't want to be my parents but I want to live up to what they stood for. They died protecting others even though it left me behind. I can understand their sacrifice but I wish they were here.

"Wei Wuxian, before we talk about what happened I have something to say to you," Lan Qiren said. I looked up at him, "Jiang Fengmian had no right to say those things about your parents. Believe me when I say you are a lot like them. Jiang Fengmian will eventually face karma for what he has said and done, as well as the rest of his family. Though I do have to ask, Jiang Yanli?"

"She was always kind to me," I answered, "I was angry when I shoved her away from me yesterday but I knew she meant well. She didn't know of my condition but she still helped me out a lot. I'd sometimes would go a few days without food as punishment from Madam Yu but Yanli would bring me something secretly and when she noticed I was injured, she helped treat my wounds. A couple healers at Lotus Pier knew of my condition so they could help me but they aren't strong enough to stop someone like Madam Yu."

"Those Jiang's aren't going to hurt you like that again," Lan Qiren said, "we can't necessarily stop them from saying harsh things but we can make them pay for all the pain they put you through. The first step is to actually finalize your courtship with Wangji."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked.

"It may be sudden but if you married to Wangji, you'd have more protection and even more so, you'd have status. You should already have status due to your Mother but even after her death many find something to berate her for," Lan Xichen said, "also, it will also finalize the bond with you and Wangji. It will help you through a lot in the future. It's sudden but it's something we should consider."

I looked at Lan Zhan, "I am willing to accept but if you feel we need more time then I am okay with waiting too."

"I was the one who talked to Shufu and Xiongzhang about this earlier. I am okay with it if you are. We still have a lot of bonding to do in terms of getting to know each other, but I felt this was a good why to help you," Lan Zhan said.

"Plus you two are getting close, are you not?" Lan Xichen asked with a grin on his face, "I could have sworn I saw you two together yesterday not long after the Jiang's left."

I cleared my throat and felt my face get very warm, "I am not sure what you saw," I said.

Lan Qiren smiled, "I say a month is a good amount of time for a small ceremony within the sect. It gives us time to order your hanfu robes and the lectures will be over by then."

"I am okay with that," Lan Zhan said and looked at me.

"Are you really sure you are okay with me here?" I asked, "I don't want to intrude on you anymore than I already have."

"Your trust in others has really been broken quite a bit," Lan Xichen said, "you have our word that you are safe and welcome here."

"Wei Ying, I swear to you, I want you as my cultivation partner," Lan Zhan told me.

I looked at him for a moment again and nodded, "okay...how will this affect your relationship with the other sects?"

"It may cause some issues but here at the Lan Sect we have the right to choose our partners...though it is said we don't necessarily choose who we love, it just happens. You found a bond with my brother and you are now a member here. You will get official robes and they will be ready soon. These robes will indicate that you are married to someone in our sect and you will have respect here."

"I appreciate it," I said, "the Jiang's didn't allow me to wear purple. I always wore dark clothes. I have taken a liking to dark clothes but if I have to wear white, I am willing to compromise...I just ask that I keep my red ribbon. I can wear it on my wrist but it's all I have of my mother."

"Alright," Lan Xichen said, "maybe we can talk to the keepers who are in charge of robes and we can work on some specialized robes for you."

"Let me do that," Lan Qiren said, "I also have to say this. The Wens are only guests here for the lectures. We will need to have you see one of our specialized healers. Our head healer is most experienced and we can have her work with Wen Qing during the last of her stay so she can get up to date on what you are dealing with. Her name is Healer Yawen (Graceful Cloud Patterns)."

"I will accept this but is she willing to keep this information in the sect? I know with the Jiangs knowing this they may spread this but we could try to work something out," I said.

"We are against lying but we can say the Jiangs are lying to keep you and Wangji safe. It's not just one life anyone it's two. This bond is serious and it is something we cannot ignore," Lan Qiren said, "once a bond it made, rules don't matter anymore. Why do you think Wangji and Xichen's parents were so closed and had to hide away?"

"I don't want to lie but if it's the best way to deal with this then we should do it. If Madam Yu says something we should call her on abusing Wei Ying for this long," Lan Zhan said.

"We have evidence of the abuse," Lan Xichen said, "but it is Wuxian's decision to share that information with the other sects."

"I don't necessarily want to voice out what I endured but I am going to have to if we want to press charges. I haven't shared what she did to me, you only saw the scars," I said.

"Would you be willing to share some of it with us?" Lan Qiren asked.

"I am not sure if I can do so without getting worked up... and the healers will probably want a full explanation as well," I answered.

"We can set up a meeting in a private room at the infirmary. We will not rush it and we will go at your pace," Lan Qiren said.

"Okay," I agreed, "when?"

"Would you be comfortable with meeting tomorrow afternoon?" Lan Qiren asked.

"Alright," I replied.