Pitched Normal

49

After sending Wei Ying, with a Lan escort under strict instructions not to allow Jiang Cheng or any of the Jiangs near Wei Ying, to Huaisang as Lan Zhan had promised, he stared down his brother, waiting until XiChen bothered to address him so that he could inform his brother of his findings. He stood, stiff, and waiting, before XiChen finally placed his teacup down and turned his gaze on him. Lan Zhan straightened, turning his gaze expectant. XiChen gave him a small, but genuine, smile and leaned back slightly, looking up at him.

"What can I do for you, Wangji?" Lan Zhan swallowed.

"I know that we had said that we should wait, that is, that we should not speak on the proposal early, but I have a feeling that perhaps we should." XiChen raised one brow and he turned thoughtful. Lan ZHan waited, knowing that he was thinking things through, and he could really only hope that his brother would agree with him. Lan Zhan was not one to skirt the rules, at least not usually, so of course his brother would have to know that he had a reason for it. "the Jiangs have been given Wei Ying some trouble, and there are a lot of rumors starting about his inability to handle Jiang Cheng." Despite his attemots he was not quite able to keep the anger from his voice. "I just feel we should be preemtive, before it is seen as an irresponsible marriage. It would not do to have Wei Ying's reputation in shambles before my marriage to him."

"I see your point, Wangji, believe me, I will speak to Uncle about this, and we will make the report soon enough, just be a little more patient please. Give me a day, and I will have this handled." Lan Zhan bowed slightly, grateful.

"Thank you, Xionzhang."

"Oh it is no issue," XiChen laughed and waved off his thanks. Secretly, he was glad that his brother still had his back despite everything. "Although, in the interest of information exchanges, what was that about Young Master Nie?"

"He has been searching for Wei Ying. He wishes to speak with him, though I am not certain what about. He is intelligent, in his own way,"

"Oh I am quite aware of that." XiChen hummed and slowly pulled himself into a standing postion. "If only Mingue would agree with me, though I suppose I understand his worries over his little brother." Lan ZHan did not know what to say to that, so he did not say anything. "That being said, perhaps I should talk to Mingue about how things here are turning." This was said in a thoughtful voice, as Lan Xichen sighed to himself. Turning towards Lan Zhan once more, he gave him another gentle smile. "For now, I will update you tomorrow on how my conversation with Uncle and the Elders goes. Return to your betrothed." Lan Zhan nodded once, bowing, and exiting the room.

Xichen watched him go, amusement slowly sliding off his face, and anger replacing it. Of course the Jiangs were having a problem. He honestly should have expected this. With Wei Ying no longer being housed in the Jiang disciple houses, he should have paid further attention to the rumors and scandals starting up around him. He failed to realize-at times-that just because gossip was forbidden did not mean that it did not happen. It was ironic because Xichen was typically more careful about these things. He cursed himself for not recognizing the dangers of his mistep. He would have to be keeping a very close eye on the rumor mill, and wondered if he should enlist Huaisang to help him with this.

Not that Mingue would be pleased, hence why he would have to talk to his martial brother first. If he could get him to agree to have Huaisang help him, under the covers of shadows of course, things would go much smoother. Furthermore, he needed to inform the Nie of what is going on anyways. He deserved to know who his brother was befriending, and even beyond that, he intended to crush the Jiang, and the Nie would be the first perfect step towards that.

Xichen smiled, a dark thing echoing through his features. Yes, he was with his brother on this...and he would ensure that Lan Zhan got his happy ending, if it were the absolute last thing that he did.