Soulmates are a thing?!

Part 1

                  Lan Wangji was pretty sure he was going to die..NO! At this point, he would have preferred to die. The situation he found himself in was mortifying. Who would have thought being petty could land him in so much trouble?

                  After Wei Wuxian had been expelled from Cloud Recesses for fighting with the Jin heir the month before, Lan Wangji had become even harsher with his punishments of the visiting disciples. One of the Jin disciples had taken offense to the increased punishments. This was the reason Lan Wangji, one of the twin Jades of Lan, found himself cursed.

                 The curse was supposed to be harmless, just to show all disciples how heartless he was, except when it was combined with the already present Lan curse of recognizing one's soulmate at just a glance. Lan Wangji had already met his soulmate and become devoted to his well-being. This meant for him to stay far away from the young man, not trapping him in the same clan that imprisoned his mother. On a normal person, it was a fleeting love spell. Apparently, everyone thought he was too cold and stoic to fall in love.

                 Now, he had three months to consummate his link with his soulmate, or he would die a slow, agonizing death. His core would tear its way out of his body while burning everything in its path to get to his soulmate...How was this curse supposed to be harmless again?

                Fortunately for the Gusu Lan Sect, Lan Wangji's wonderful big brother Lan Xichen knew who his soulmate was. Unfortunately for Lan Wangji's cold and stoic reputation, his traitorous brother wouldn't let him just die quietly. So, while Lan Wangji listened to cleansing and clarity to ease his core, Lan Xichen was traveling to Lotus Pier.

                Some part of him wished he could be the one to go so he could see his beloved's home. At the moment, with his core so unstable, it was impossible to make such a long trip. To stretch the curse for the three months calculated, he needed to listen to cleansing and clarity two times a day. Lotus Pier was a two-day trip by the sword without stopping. With a sigh, he tried harder to focus on soothing his core with the music being played.

                  

                  Lan Xichen, for his part, flew as fast as he could to Lotu Pier. He was nervous, trying to think of what he could say to save his baby brother's life. He reached his destination at record speeds with his core almost completely drained. As soon as his feet touched solid ground, he grabbed the first Jiang disciple he saw and asked to request an emergency meeting with their leaders. 

                 His core might have been almost completely drained, wanting to make him collapse, but his brother's life was more important. Less than twenty minutes later, he was led to the sword hall to meet with the Jiangs. Sect leader Jiang looked at him worriedly, while Madam Yu seemed annoyed to be forced into this meeting.

                  "Sect Leader Lan, I would offer you tea, but I can tell sense by your impromptu visit that this is truly an emergency." The Sect leader smiled encouragingly while Madam Yu rolled her eyes. Without a second thought, Lan Xichen dropped to his knees with his head pressed to the floor, startling both of them. " Sect Leader Jiang, Madam Yu, I am here to beg for a bethrobal contract as soon as possible between your ward Wei Wuxian and my younger brother Lan Wangji to save his life. We Lans have been blessed to identify our soulmates at first glance. Now, that wouldn't require any action if my brother had not been cursed by a disgruntled Jin disciple. The curse requires the soulmate bond to be consummated within three months, or he dies burned from the inside by his core on its way to young Master Wei."

                  Lan Xichen was crying on the floor as he explained the dire situation to the leaders. He was surprised when he was lifted off the ground and embraced warmly by Madam Yu, of all people. "Sect Leader Lan, come with me. You will join us for tea and explain to us exactly what happened and how you know Wei Wuxian, out of all people, is your brother's soulmate." He is gingerly led by her to Jiang Fengmian's office, where a calming tea is already awaiting them.

                 

                 Wei Wuxian is a nervous wreck as he walks to his uncle Jiang's office. It is way past dinner time, and normally, he would be in his room reading before bed. Except that tonight, he was told that Madam Yu and Uncle Jiang were waiting for him in the office. He was worried about being punished again but could honestly not think of anything he had done wrong since he had returned from Cloud Recesses.

               He softly knocked on the door and walked inside, wringing his hands together while his eyes stayed firmly on the floor until he got to the center of the room in front of his leaders. He thought he was going to die when his uncle was looking at him excitedly while Madam Yu was looking at him fondly. She was the one to speak as she walked to him and patted his head for comfort making him more nervous. "Wei Ying, today we signed a bethrobal contract for you with another Sect. We know you love Lotus Pier, so we have arranged for you to move between the two Sects every three months. The wedding will be a fast and secret affair since time and secrecy are of the essence for their sect. If you say no, I will cancel the affair but know that your bethrobed's life is the price. Don't say anything for now. Tomorrow, that sect leader will explain the situation in detail, but I think this will be good for you."

                She kissed the top of his head like she had never done to him before and left the office with her handmaidens behind her. Wei Wuxian sat in the office, overwhelmed with the information, looking helplessly at his uncle. "A-Xian, relax. Nothing is set in stone. We just wanted to give you a heads-up before the Sect leader speaks to you tomorrow. Go in with an open mind enough to ask questions you need answered, like why it has to be you specifically." With a soft sigh, his uncle led him back to his room and squeezed his shoulder in support.