WangXian Forever Book 10

Chapter 66 Pressure

It's still dark when Lan Zhan wakes up, as is the natural order of the season before winter pierces Cloud Recesses with its claws.

His arms are full of Wei Ying, warm and safe and happy. Yesterday, he remembers that old fear clutching at his heartstrings whenever the subject of Wei Ying's happiness is questioned, and he allows himself to settle down with relief.

Wei Ying said he is happy living here and Lan Zhan lets himself believe him. This knowledge makes him so happy, though. A fluttering, joyful beating of a butterfly's wings full of hope and contentment.

Lan Zhan kisses the top of his head, smiling when Wei Ying mumbles, "S'too early, Sweetheart. Sleep."

"Mn."

He says that knowing that Lan Zhan can't sleep anymore now. He wants to get up but doing so right away will make Wei Ying restless, so he waits until his husband's breathing evens out once more. Then, with a well-practised move of grabbing his own still warm pillow, Lan Zhan slides it into Wei Ying's arms and eases himself out of bed.

It's time for handstands.

The meditation is relaxing and strengthening his core, and as Lan Zhan closes his senses, his focus goes beyond this room to where he can hear faint voices. It is not a conscious decision to listen to that conversation, and it's not as if he can block it out, so he listens quietly.

Prince Wu: I want to ask you a question, but I am not sure how to, and I also do not want to upset you.

Li XiWang: Why don't you ask it anyway and then see?

Prince Wu: But then it will be too late.

Li XiWang: Then you'll never know, right? Something has to give. Either you find the courage to ask anyway, or you give up on the curiosity.

There's a silence and Lan Zhan is full of trepidation now. What is it with this royal family that they want to poach his family away from him? First, it was the Emperor trying to convince Wei Ying to serve him in his court in Chang'An, and now, this little kid wants to ask HIS daughter something??

Perhaps Lan Zhan's thoughts are being influenced by Wei Ying's offhand comment about how close the two twelve year olds are, how their friendship has developed so fast and so firmly, but it's still a shock to him. He's holding his breath waiting with anticipation, wondering what the Prince's question will be, so he doesn't notice the warmth at first, but then Wei Ying's bleary eyes blink up at him in confusion.

"Lan Zhan-"

Lan Zhan quickly covers Wei Ying's mouth with his hand and continues this conversation in their minds.

The children are talking, he explains.

Isn't that a private conversation, though? Wei Ying is smirking at him now, fully awake.

It's important, Lan Zhan insists, not wanting to stop listening because he's invested now, and besides, what if his daughter needs him? But because he's not prepared and his attention is split between the rooms, he nearly loses his balance when Wei Ying kisses the centre of his palm.

Okay, okay, I'll be good. Let's see what they're talking about, Wei Ying tells him, trying hard not to laugh out loud.

Prince Wu: What is it like having two fathers?

And just like that, any burgeoning animosity dissipates from Lan Zhan's mind as he feels an enormous amount of sympathy for the child on the other side of this wall. He feels ashamed that he was ready to throw hands with a kid when the child in question is suffering from a different set of problems of his own, and he should be supportive rather than defensive with him.