Call On Me

39

Since San Bao was currently on lockdown, the barriers were up and the people were to stay within the boundaries of the sect until the issue with the Jin Sect is resolved unless they had an escort to help protect them.

Wen Qing and Wen Ning were aiding Wuxian's recovery from a severe poisoning. Wuxian was currently unconscious and Wangji and Baoshan were both heading to Cloud Recesses to speak with Lan Qiren.

"We will send you for you if anything changes," Wen Qing said.

"We won't be gone long," Baoshan said, "we also have some Nie Sect disciples outside the barrier if you need anything too."

"We should be alright," Wen Qing said, "I hope things go okay with you two."

Baoshan nodded and left with Wangji to Cloud Recesses. They arrived to the Orchid room as Lan Qiren had just finished a lecture. Lan Xichen was also currently in the room.

"Baoshan, Wangji, what brings you two by?" Lan Qiren asked.

"We have some things to discuss," Baoshan said, "and we are not sure how you will handle it."

Lan Xichen seemed uneasy. Wangji could already see him fidgeting. He clenched his swords tightly as he tried to calm his anger.

"Of course," Lan Qiren said. Baoshan placed a barrier over the room, "by the way, where is A'Ying?"

"Recovering from a deadly poison," Wangji replied, he stared right at Lan Xichen as he said it, "according to Wen Qing, the poison was invented by Meng Yao during his time being a spy under Wen Ruohan. It's a poison that eats away at the organs and causes internal bleeding. Wei Ying had to have his stomach pumped and his blood cleansed. We do not know when he will wake."

Lan Qiren cannot only see how angry Wangji was, but he could feel a chill rushing through him as Wangji explained everything. He then began to wonder why Wangji was staring at Xichen as he explained everything.

"Why are you staring at your brother like that?" Lan Qiren asked.

"Your eldest nephew tried to protect the person who poisoned my grandson as he was basically dying in Wangji's arms. The culprit is locked up, but this makes things complicated as Lan Xichen may now be charged as an accomplice," Baoshan said, "unless he is willing to repent. Even then I do not know if Wangji and Wei Ying will forgive him so easily."

Lan Qiren scowled and looked at Lan Xichen, "please tell me that is not true," he demanded.

Lan Xichen moved to kneel and bowed his head, "I did indeed do as they said. I just wanted to make sure it was not the person they suspected. But the evidence has proven it was him."

"Who was the culprit?" Lan Qiren asked Baoshan.

"Jin Guangyao," Baoshan answered, "Xichen, I wonder, would you have done the same thing if it was Wangji who was poisoned instead?"

"No!" Lan Xichen replied immediately.

"Then why did you do that to my grandson?" Baoshan asked. She wanted answers, "has he wronged you?"

"No, I was just shocked and I had a good relationship with Jin Guangyao at the time and I didn't want to believe he'd do that," Lan Xichen said.

"Due to the poison, Wei Ying still has internal bleeding even though it has cleared of his system," Wangji told him, his eyes were filled with tears and his breathing was difficult as it felt stuck in his lungs, "do you know how terrified I was when I saw him bleeding out like that?! Imagine being intimate with your lover and all of a sudden he just started bleeding out. It made me think I was the problem!"

"Wangji, I am so sorry," Lan Xichen said, "I never wanted this to happen."

"But it did happen!" Wangji said angrily, "Chifeng Zun set up that lunch just to see if Jin Guangyao would show his true colors to you. You were the only one who couldn't see who he really was. You are blinded by that small bit of kindness he showed you. You do not realize how dangerous he is!"

"Da Ge?" Lan Xichen questioned.

"Xichen, we all knew Jin Guangyao's true character," Baoshan said, "we had plans to find a way for you to see it. Jin Guangyao had used you so far to get information on San Bao and he has been sharing it with his father. Why do you think San Bao has been a target recently?"

Lan Xichen didn't realize the truth about this situation. It was only now that he realized it. It took for his brother-in-law to get poisoned for him to see the severity of it all. He felt ashamed that he tried to defend Jin Guangyao even though he was the one who poisoned Wuxian.

Lan Xichen closed his eyes and sighed, "I will recuse myself from this situation and I will repent by seclusion in the cold caves for however long you deem necessary."

Baoshan sighed, "I do not think that is necessary. I do, however, think that you have to make this right. You have to partake in helping to protecting San Bao as we have a plan set in luring Jin Guangshan out."

Lan Xichen stood up, "what plan?"

"We have a location set up," Lan Qiren said, "Baoshan has a placebo array to make it seem like something is in that place. She can create illusions with the charm. She will be making a replica of San Bao in a select location and we have Chifeng Zun in on this too. We will have people placed within the array ready for an ambush. It's a fight we do not want but we have to make."

Lan Xichen nodded, "alright," he said, "since Jin Guangshan doesn't suspect me of anything yet, why not use me as a messenger."

Baoshan nodded, "that not be a bad idea," she said, "but we do not want you to be in danger."

"I think I know how to fix that," Lan Xichen said, "so you have a charm that alters appearances?"

"Yes, why?" She asked.

"Make me one to have me appear as Jin Guangyao. He has to be the person giving Jin Guangshan information right? Pretend that you let Meng Yao go and drop the charges by saying you have the wrong person. He will still be in custody while I take the case as Jin Guangyao. I know his personality most so maybe I could pull this off," Lan Xichen explained.

"You could get caught," Wangji said, "as upset as I am, I do not want you to risk getting killed."

"I can give him a couple protection charms," Baoshan said, "this might be a way to set the plan we have in motion. We do need to get the Jin Sect's attention somehow without rousing suspicion yet."

Lan Qiren stroked his beard as he gave it a thought before replying, "as long as you think you can guarantee Xichen's safety in this, I think it will be alright."

"Okay," Baoshan said with a sigh.

"Shufu, do you mind if we gather some herbs while we are here? There might be something that will help aid Wei Ying's recovery," Wangji questioned.

"Of course," Lan Qiren said, "take what you need."

"Thank you," Wangji said.

Baoshan and Wangji checked the herbs Cloud Recesses currently had in stock before heading back to San Bao. Wangji went to visit Wuxian. He was still unconscious but Wen Qing said she managed to stop more of the bleeding. It will take some time before he fully recovers from the poison.