In Darkness

Bold Proposals

AN: This slow burn is finally beginning to heat-up a bit. Or at least, a small fraction. I'm pretty sure Mo Yuan has to be one of the most patient people... ever. Or at least, towards Bai Qian.

Forenote: 

**apologies for the lack of correct accents

Jiujiu and Waipo  = maternal uncle and grandmother = Referenced towards A-li

Nainai, Shushu = Paternal grandmother, paternal (younger) Uncle == referenced towards BFJ

On Mo mo... since A-li's younger than in the drama, even though he was raised in the Nine Heavens, I figured it wouldn't be too illogical for him to still call a few people by the pet names he gave them as a toddler.

o~O~o~O~o

400 years ago

Mei Rong smiles lovingly at the sight of her children's endearingly playful banter with her Grandchild as they continue to have one of the first supper's together in over a thousand years. Her son had brought her Granddaughter back from the mortal realm to visit since Xiao Jiu had become too wild to remain in their tiny restaurant any longer.

She wants to travel and see the world for herself, but they're limited in what they can allow her to do. They can't risk losing another family member, after all.

Especially not one whom they all adore so thoroughly.

"Gugu, I didn't mean it like that!" Feng Jiu cries pitifully amidst their playing, earning a happy laugh from her son and daughter.

"Alright, alright," Mei Rong chuckles when all three look over to her, "my gorgeous Granddaughter is the most outstanding in her generation. If she said she didn't mean to make you sound old, then surely she didn't. After all, you're not even 100,000 years old yet. Qian Qian, she merely means to say that you're accomplished for your age."

"Mother, we know, we just can't help teasing her." Bai Zhen grins as he takes another drink of Zhe Yan's peach blossom wine, "She'll always be our little fox."

Bai Qian smiles before glancing towards the door when she hears Zhe Yan clear his throat. Rising instinctively when Bai Zhen does, she watches as he makes his way towards the small table.

"I came to the Grand Ziming Palace to see how my peach blossom is fairing, little would I have expected that not even Bai Mei Rong would be there. How strange, only the Ghost Princess would know where you four were hiding."

"Old Phoenix!" Bai Feng Jiu beams happily up at him, pointing to the seat in between her Grandmother and Uncle, "We saved you a seat."

"Oh?"

Bai Mei Rong rises from her seat, greeting him with a small nod, "I'm glad you're here, Zhe Yan. Now that our family is together, there is something we must discuss."

"What's on your mind, Mother?" Bai Qian sits before her brother does, nursing her cup of wine contently.

"I won't be around forever," Ignoring the pleading look her son sends her at the idea of her leaving them, she remains standing as her childhood friend and her son take their seats, "Our people have been away from Qing Qiu for far too long. My eyes and ears in the Nine Heavens have told me that the Heavenly Lord intends to give Qing Qiu's lands to the future Wolf Queen's family as a wedding present. Even though she answers to us, our lands need to remain solely in our peoples' hands. Bai Zhen has no desire to marry (a woman) and none of us intend on forcing him."