Soulmates are a thing?!

Part 13

               An hour later, the traveling group stopped at a clearing to have lunch. Tension was high, with Jiang Cheng glaring at Lan Wangji, which had Wei Wuxian almost glued to his side. Towards the end of the silent meal, Jiang Cheng exploded to the amusement of Madam Yu. 

             "Okay, I understand that Wei Wuxian is my brother. I have thought of him that way for years. What I don't understand is why Lan Wangji is coming on a family trip. Why are his dirty hands on my brother's waist? You, Wei Wuxian, have some decency and stop encouraging him." He panted while still glaring at the two shocked teens while Madam Yu and Jiang Yanli cleared their throats to hide their laughter. 

                 Madam Yu called for their attention by sparking Zidian. "A-Cheng, your brother, will marry Wangji in about three weeks. He will be family. I do agree that until then, they should sit further apart if they don't want to be chaperoned all the time." The boys flushed and moved farther apart. 

                 Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli allowed the realization to sink in. They had seen Jinzhu and Yinzhu running around preparing something secretly. The siblings just stared blankly at Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, wondering when their relationship progressed to the point of marriage. They couldn't even argue because Madam Yu seemed quite pleased.

                Very pleased indeed. With Qingheng-jun's help she finally had a way of claiming Wei Wuxian that Fengmian couldn't claim him as Jiang. She refused to allow Jiang Cheng to be denied his birthright just because Fengmian was still obsessed with Wei Wuxian's mother. That was the reason Changze had left the sect in the first place. The chaotic child in her couldn't wait to see the faces of her family in Meishan when she made her move. They finished their meal in silence before jumping back on their swords to continue their journey.

                Meishan Yu was a beautiful place full of temples and fighting arenas. They landed in front of the biggest temple and walked along the staircase behind Madam Yu. " You four will be on your best behavior and attend classes here during our stay. I will formally adopt A-Ying into the Yu line via ritual this afternoon. This would make him my heir, third in line for the lead of the Meishan Yu sect.

                  With this, I am taking A-Ying out of Fengmian's hands. A-Cheng, don't be angry. The Yu are warriors that serve the goddess of soulmates. It is why your cousins, you and A-Li have never been considered heirs of Meishan. You, my dear A-Cheng, are destined to lead the Jiang. This is all for the marriage of Wei Wuxian head disciple of the Jiang but heir of Yu. This way, the parental scroll will have my name as well as his mother's and father's. He will be a child of all three. Be good, and you will all get a gift. That includes you, Wangji.

                           Wei Wuxian seemed shaken and close to hyperventilating. He calmed feeling his Shijie and Lan Wangji holding his hands tightly in support. His breathing started setting as he fought the sight of Jiang Cheng's grumpy, worried look. He gave a shaky smile to reassure his shidi...or was it didi now? The thought warmed him into a real smile. "Hey ChengCheng, does this make you my didi now?" 

                           They could tell Wei Wuxian was teasing, but there was a sliver of vulnerability and hope in his silver eyes.Jiang Cheng went red, grumbled his answer to his sibling's delight, and rushed off after his mother. "Stupid. You are already my brother. Now hurry up." Wei Wuxian smiled brilliantly before rushing after him, leaving Lan Wangji and Jiang Yanli to exchange a soft smile.

                            The ritual was a simple bonding blood adoption and naming Wei Wuxian her heir. Lessons were difficult and sometimes embarrassing since they included Marriage classes. Wei Wuxian had it worse since he also had a crash course on being an heir to Meishan Yu. They were all forced to learn the weapon of Meishan, a whip, for hours while being taught politics. 

                            The most tiring experience they had was at the hands of an old woman who wanted them to call her Popo. She walked up to each of them, placed a hand on their dantian, and pulled out what appeared to be gold shavings. The pain at that time had been excruciating. They had slept for an entire day to recover from it. As the week progressed, Popo studied them during classes, meals, and training. It was very unnerving to them all. 

                              At the end of the week, they finally left to return to Lotus Pier. The weapon's teacher and the heir teacher followed to continue lessons. Jiang Fengmian was livid. After the ritual for Wei Wuxian to become Madam Yu's son. He could feel her energy blending with his normal energies. 

                                It was a week before the wedding, and between training, lessons, first disciple duties, and improving their security in secret, he had barely seen Lan Wangji. He missed him greatly. He looked down and happened to see "Lan Zhan" written in beautiful calligraphy on his finger. Puzzled, he ran to talk to his now... second mother? That was still too strange.

                               Madam Yu just smiled smugly while he freaked out. "A-Ying, that is normal now that you are a Yu blessed by the goddess of soulmates." New wrist guards with fabric that wrapped around his two middle fingers like archery protection were given to him to hide the name. He would get to show Lan Wangji on their wedding night.

                               Lan Wangji continued his lessons with Madam Yu. She taught him politics, ethics, and, most importantly, loopholes. She taught him where, when, and how to disregard rules for different occasions without breaking them. Slowly, under Madam Yu's tutelage, he learned that the world was not black and white but many shades of gray. 

                                 He also helped reinforce security measures and evacuation plans for Lotus Pier. He knew Wei Wuxian was busy with increased disciple training, creating new talismans for his siblings to set up over the city, and improving the barrier. All this had to be done in secret.

                                 The Jiang Sect leader thought there was no need to worry. He stated that Cloud Recesses had probably done something to insult the Wen. Lan Wangji had just stared at him, not understanding why he thought they would be fine. His wife had killed Wen Xu. Two days before the wedding he was walking around to get his thoughts in order when he surprisingly ran into Nie Huasang at the Pier.