Soulmates are a thing?!

Part 12

                      They appeared in the middle of the training hall, startling everyone with their bloody clothes and tired expressions. Madam Yu collapsed into Lan Wangji's arms, and he rushed after Wei Wuxian to the infirmary. Once she was settled by the healers, Wei Wuxian's voice hardened at the nosy disciples, who trailed them into the infirmary. 

                      "What are you all doing hindering the safety of our Madam? All of you triple drills with no breaks. If any of you complain, start again. I am not playing NOW MOVE!" The disciples paled under Wei Wuxian's anger, rushing out to complete their punishment before it was increased. Lan Wangji thought the whole thing was incredibly hot. 

                      Wei Wuxian gently asked a servant to gather the family in the conference hall and to ready the room next to his for Lan Wangji. When it was just the two of them and the healers, Wei Wuxian collapsed into Lan Wangji's arms for comfort, taking in his calming sandalwood scent. Another healer came over to check on them as they were also covered in blood. Wei Wuxian wanted to refuse, but under Lan Wangji's glare, he went along with it. They were both fine, apart from their low qi reserves. They had refused to leave until they received a report on Madam Yu's condition.

                     Luckily, all the wounds were superficial, and her energy was just depleted. She had used her last bit of qi to teleport them to Lotus Pier safely. After the report, Wei Wuxian stood up on shaky legs to go meet his uncle Jiang, the elders, and his Shijie in the conference hall. Lan Wangji had stood up to join him, but Wei Wuxian pushed him back to his seat, requesting he stay by Madam Yu's side until he could return.

                     Lan Wangji was tired, but he knew how much trust Wei Wuxian was showing him by entrusting his Madam to him. If he was honest, she had become a mother figure to him in the past few days. He pulled out his guqin and began playing all the healing songs he thought could be of help.

                     That night, he and Wei Wuxian went to their rooms long enough to bathe and eat dinner before camping out in the infirmary. Jiang Wanying had arrived late in the evening using a teleportation talisman. He was camped with them, and Jiang Yanli was waiting for his mother to awaken. Lan Wangji fell asleep on Wei Wuxian's shoulder waiting for Jiang Yanli to finish making tea while Jiang Wanyin scowled and glared at him for being there. It was noticeable that the sect leader had come to check on her for barely a minute before leaving.  

                     At 5 am, he woke up sore, having slept sitting up. Wei Wuxian was asleep on his lap with his head buried on Lan Wangji's neck. His ears heating, he looked around for the Jiangs. By the opposite wall, he saw Jiang Wanyin lying on the floor, asleep with his head pillowed on Jiang Yanli's lap. The young woman had fallen asleep leaning against the wall while running her fingers through her brother's hair. Now, looking carefully, they were both good-looking looking, taking after their mother in many features.

                    He looked at the bed to check on Madam Yu and was startled to see her awake. She looked at him amused, raising an eyebrow at his blatant staring. He looked down in shame, just to remember he had a lap full of Wei Wuxian, so he stared at the wall ahead instead, making her laugh quietly. 

                    " Wangji, I need you to tell a servant to get my husband for me and to ask the kitchen staff to make a big to-go meal for five. Place him on my lap for now after you get the servant to rest. We will be going on a trip, and I need you replenished, so a bed would be best. Reluctantly, he stood, forgoing his sore muscles to do as she said. He forced himself to go back to sleep in his bed without the heat of Wei Wuxian at his side.

                     At around 8 a.m., Wei Wuxian woke up to a hushed argument. He pretended to still be asleep so he would not get dragged into it. "Fengmian, these are my children, and I will not leave them unprotected when it seems war is close. You insist there is nothing you can do, but I can do more." Madam Yu's voice was a vicious hiss in his ear, making him realize that he was on her lap. Her arms held him tightly, not to shift him off. 

                "So what, you will recognize him as your son? Will you tell Jiang Cheng and A-Li that he has been their brother this whole time but you were being selfish not wanting me to adopt him? What will they think of you keeping out of the family to what honor a man who left the sect without a second thought just because he was your soulmate? You refuse me Cangse's son, but you think you can take him just like that? You will not take any of them to Meishan. They are all Jiang, not Yu." The door slammed shut, and Madam Yu let out a long sigh.

                " I know all of you are awake. I am so tired from arguing to attempt to play along, so A-Ying, go to your room and pack. If you unpacked anything, we leave at midday. Don't forget to wake up Wangji and eat breakfast with him. Remind him of his music." Very slowly, Wei Wuxian got out of Madam Yu's lap, making sure not to meet his sibling's stares as he left the room.

                 He ended up eating alone, not in the mood for even Lan Wangji's quiet company. It was harsh to hear his uncle Jiang talk about his father with such disdain. It really brought home that Madam Yu was trying to protect his parent's memory no matter how much she disliked his mother. 

                  By midday he was feeling more like himself waiting at the gates of Lotus Pier with his Lan Zhan. Lan Wangji could tell something was wrong with the boy since his smile was not as bright as normal. He didn't know what to do so he played healing songs while they waited for Madam Yu. He was halfway done with his third song when he noticed Wei Wuxian's muscles tense slightly. Looking up, he was confused as to what caused the boy's stress. It was just Madam Yu and the Jiang siblings. With a nod, they all jumped on their swords, following Madam Yu, who was holding Jiang Yanli on her sword out of Lotus Pier.