The Flute Player

Chapter 14- Jiang Cheng

A/n: I was gone for a time, but here's an update. Thanks to everyone for commenting and liking.

This chapter is all about Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng and I just love them.

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"We will find him, I'll find your husband for you."

Lan Xichen would of swallowed his promises if he had only known how difficult it would be. Already with the tassel, finding Wei Ying had proved to be impossible. If the boy hadn't tumbled into his brother's arms- there was probably no way they would of found him.

The least Wanji could of gotten was gotten Wei Yings courtesy name. He thought to be frustrated, but seeing Wanji's desperate and smitten expression he decided against it. His brother was whipped.

They were definitely cursed. Not just as brothers, but the royal family- the Lans, were cursed. Lan Xichen had hoped that his parents were the last to suffer from it, after all Lan Wanji had never expressed any interest in forming relationships before.

Neither did he.

Not that it bothered him, the whole experience of 'love at first sight' and 'falling madly in love', didn't seem like something he needed in his already busy (he had stayed up the night before with the accountant, way past 9pm and was now suffering the consequences- but emergencies can't be helped. Rule 338: Use your talents to benefit others) and exciting (well meetings weren't exciting, but they were- thought provoking? Maybe? Rule 2678: learn from other's experience) schedule.

He sighed. He was going to face some drama explaining this situation to his father. Not to mention his uncle. They had been so thrilled when the steady streams of girls had stopped pouring into the once calm royal palace. The shop owners in Gusu had complained, asking if they could come up with an new excuse to attract so many customers, but he noticed the hardly contained relief on the poor seamstresses faces.

Lan Wanji poured his tea for him silently, politely ignoring his brother's soft sigh. It had been 3 weeks already of them trying to glean information and scout out Wei Ying's whereabouts.

They were doing all they could, whilst keeping the news low. It would be a poor idea for anyone to interfere now, before Lan Zhan had a chance to set things right with Wei Ying. Lan Xichen would glean for information from the visitors to the palace, never failing to shock Wanji about how smoothly he received information as he smiled and chatted.

"Do I know of a boy who plays the flute? Black eyes? Black hair?" The poor man's eyes has scrunched together so hard, Wanji worried they would be permanently stuck in the middle of his face.

"Yes, see were looking to hold a play...." Lan Xichen always had the perfect response and the most disarming smile.

"Wanji," Lan Xichen spoke as the maids cleared the breakfast table. "Will you be coming swimming in the Cold Springs this weekend?"

"Nn." Lan Wanji had to tutor a boy who couldn't keep up in archery class this weekend. "Next month."

It wasn't Lan Xichen first time in the Cold Springs alone and he closed his eyes, enjoying the fresh smell of the ice cold water. He felt the tension in his muscles ease away as he heard the sounds of the water pound against the rocks and the water surface, clearing his mind of all else but the irregular rhythm of the droplets.

Unlike him, Jiang Cheng was much less -- relaxed. He pounded down the mountain, waving a sword (dangerously close to his face, Lan Xichen noted once his peace had been disturbed) frantically around and loudly muttering to himself. Lan Xichen would of been perturbed if the sight wasn't so comical.