WangXian Forever Book 10

Chapter 82: Surprise

Wei Ying and Lan Zhan leave in the morning, teleporting back to Cloud Recesses.

Huaisang had hugged Wei Ying for a good few minutes before they left, promising that he was in their debt and if they needed anything, to just let him know and they should consider it done.

Wei Ying waved that right away; he's had enough of debts to last him several lifetimes.

They go to see the children who are having breakfast in the Hanshi with their Uncles.

"Would you like to join us for breakfast? I can have more brought over," XiChen says, smiling broadly at both of them.

"We ate in Chang'An," Lan Zhan explains.

"Huaisang?" Jiang Cheng asks them, pouring more tea for them anyway.

"He decided to stay in Chang'An for a few more days, maybe he'll want to catch a lift when we visit with Prince Wu when we go back." Wei Ying downs the tea and smiles.

"I take it your visit has wrapped up everything regarding His Highness and the Royal Court?" XiChen refreshes all the cups.

"Yeah...it might have taken a bit longer than we anticipated, but everyone is safe now." Wei Ying reaches under the table to catch Lan Zhan's fingers and hold on tight. "It will be nice to spend the winter months here, though. There's no place like home."

"That's good to hear," XiChen grins back at him. "Uncle was asking after you both. Perhaps after this, you could go and see him."

"Oh, great. The Emperor gave me more tea so I thought it would be a nice present for him." Wei Ying turns to the children and picks up Rumi to sit him in his lap. "What about all of you? What are your plans for today?"

"I am to be introduced to my new teachers," Prince Wu says proudly.

"Lessons," Li XiWang replies, after putting down her chopsticks neatly together.

"And you, my sweet little niece?" Wei Ying tickles under Li Li's chin.

The three year old had surreptitiously crawled into Lan Zhan's lap and snuggled closer, sucking on her thumb.

"I sthay here, with Baba an' Shushu!" She announces with a stubborn tilt of her head.

"Now, now, Li Li, have you forgotten? Today is your second day at nursery?" XiChen says cautiously.

Even Jiang Cheng is warily watching the little madam, who has all her favourite people wrapped around her little finger.

Li Li pouts.

Then her bottom lip trembles.

Her lovely dark eyes fill with tears, and Lan Zhan glares at both XiChen and Jiang Cheng, while simultaneously soothing her by rubbing her back gently. Li Li hides her face in his chest.

"Didi, she can't miss it again. It's part of her social adjustment learning." XiChen tells him quietly. "We've been putting it off too many times, and she has to learn to mix with others, do things on her own. That's normal." He reaches across the table to tangle his fingers with Jiang Cheng, who has been nodding along.

"Mn." It's full of disapproval. "Then I will go to nursery instead of Li Li." Lan Zhan enunciates his words carefully so that the child in his lap understands.

She looks up at him with a mixture of awe and relief, but also she's scared for him. "But Shushu -" followed by a whole lot of garbled language, no doubt making sense in her mind.

Lan Zhan nods along seriously as if he understands, and when she finishes explaining exactly why he can't go either, he replies, "Li Li, someone has to go to nursery. If you don't, then that's okay. I am going instead of you. It will be fun."