Soulmates are a thing?!

Part 3

                Wei Wuxian was stunned. Normally, no one spoke of his parents. He only knew the basics or that Madam Yu hated his mother, but he had no real knowledge of his father. Madam Yu patted his head almost fondly, releasing a deep sigh. "Wei Ying, I expect a lot from you and have often told you I punish you because you are not my son. Let me explain. Meishan Yu, like the Lan clan, have soulmates, but our soulmate's name is branded on our skin since birth." 

                Looking away from Wei Wuxian, she took off Zidian's ring and gave his hand for him to examine. He felt himself choke as he stared at the name written like a ring around her finger. It was Wei Changze in blood-red lettering. She took her hand back and hugged him when tears clouded his vision.

                 "Hush now! I knew your father was my soulmate when I met him. We flirted and spent time together, but like you with young master Lan, he didn't know the extent of that link. Meishan summoned me back for my final training to earn Zidian. I had promised to return, but in that year and a half I was gone, your father had fallen madly in love with your mother. So, I forced myself to step aside and watch him be happy. Your mother was a nomad, so he gave up everything and went with her. 

                 I allowed myself to be politically arranged with Fengmian. Trying to make a happy life anyway but he drank too much on our wedding night and pretended I was your mother. Even then, I tried, but when news of your parent's deaths arrived, everything shattered. I was in so much pain and blamed her for taking everything. Then you arrived at Lotus Pier, and I was angrier at her for not having left you taken care of. As you grew, you looked exactly like Chanze, and my heart broke since your smile and personality were just like hers." Tears were falling down both their faces, clutching at each other like a lifeline.

             Wei Wuxian saw many things falling into place that he never understood before. Uncle Jiang had made sure to draw a line between them in respect to his parents. Every time she reminded Uncle Jiang that Jiang Cheng was his son, it was her way of reminding him that she had more rights to claim him, but she respected his parents enough not to try to replace them. It was her way of honoring his father by blocking his uncle from claiming that spot by default. 

            He gets it all the fights, and that is why he is so invested in the fact that he has a soulmate. It is why always just his father's heritage gets mentioned in arguments and never his mother's. Her story also gave him insight into why Lan Zhan had pretended to hate him. Soulmates are not required to love the other just because of the blessing. They have to work for their intended to love them. In her arms he feels safer than he has since he was between his parents. It was comforting.

             "Madam Yu, I know the wedding will be secret until we turn 20 or we get permission from both sects, but is there any way for me to live with Lan Zhan for a month before the wedding? I mean... I have never done any of that, and I don't think I can just jump into his bed. You know? I don't even know how two men go about dual cultivation. My reputation of being shameless has actually helped me to keep people away." Wei Wuxian was clinging tighter to her, airing out his doubts.

             She rubbed his back gently, getting him out of his mild panic attack. "Relax, Wei Ying. I will take care of everything. Go pack your things and be grateful Meishan is so thorough in their sexual education. With a scarlet face, he got up rushing away to pack after realizing who he was venting to about sex.

               He packed his favorite things and some clothes in a qiankun pouch. The rest of the day, he spent practicing his sword forms in his room. There was too much information rattling around his head, and the forms always helped to center him. Wei Wuxian had already decided he would save Lan Wangji, but he was nervous about the whole marriage aspect. Just barely 24 hours ago, he could have sworn that Lan Wangji hated him.

               Honestly, he wished to ask him if he actually wanted him or if this soulmate thing was forcing him. He was, after all, just the son of a servant, although Madam Yu had loved his father even with his low birth. He trained until his body was sore and covered in sweat. Disgusted with his state, he took a long bath to ease his muscles and, for once, went to bed early.

              The next morning, he actually woke up in time to have breakfast with the Jiangs. He was glad to have put on his purple robes instead of his pleasure black ones. The couple studied him intently as he sat day at the table by his Shijie. Uncle Jiang greeted him with a "Good morning A-Xian" that made Madam Yu's ring spark for a second. Now she could see she was not mad at him but at uncle Jiang for being so familiar with him when he never called Jiang Cheng by nickname.

             She let out a deep breath and looked at him with his business face. "Wei Ying, I will leave today for Cloud Recesses for business. You will join me as my guard. You will have one week there, but I will still train you in the mornings." Madam Yu stared deep into his eyes making sure he understood this was her way of granting his request.

              In this way, she had secured one week for him to live with Lan Zhan under her supervision. It also told him that the moment they had shared at the dock was to stay between them. Not even uncle Jiang was to know of it. He nodded and ate his food silently, looking at his aunt and uncle in a new light. After he finished eating and bid his sister goodbye, he rushed to grab his pouch and sword from his room. He didn't want to admit that he was a bit excited to see Lan Zhan again. With determination, he waited by the gates, making sure to be ready for whenever Madam Yu decided to leave.

               It only took an hour of waiting for Madam Yu to appear at his side with a frightening smirk on her face. "Wei Ying it will be a long trip. While we travel I will instructyou on some ways that men find pleasure in each other. Not to thorough before you wedding I will have a soulmate instructor from Meishan Yu teach you both. No, Wei Ying, you can not get out of this by flying faster." Madam Yu scolded him joyfully while he tried and failed to outpace her flying to hide his red face.