It is late in the morning, just after the sun has risen. Wangji is asleep in his large king-sized bed. He opens his eyes groggily and sits up, rubbing the sleep from them.
He hears a clatter outside his room.
On edge, Wangji slowly slips out from under the blanket, grabs Bichen from his bedside, and yanks open the doors-
"Good morning, Lan Zhan! Oh wait! It's actually noon. I should be saying 'good noon' instead."
Wei Ying chortles at his own joke as Wangji heaves an exasperated but relieved sigh. He sheathes Bichen. "Wei Ying! You scared me. You're lucky I was fast enough to stay my blade or you would be dead now."
"Oh, lighten up! I meant no harm. Actually, if I recall, I came in last night and never returned to my dorm... hmm, I wonder if people speculate we..." Wei Ying's eyebrows jump suggestively.
"Wei Ying!" Wangji snaps, cheeks reddening.
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Dear Lan Zhan. Swipe that frown off, quickly! Before wrinkles form on that beautiful face of yours. Come on, I made breakfast."
Stretching slowly, Wangji turns and follows Wei Ying to the table, so that they are sitting cross-legged across from one another. Two bowls containing a stringy black substance sit in front of each of them.
"And... what is this?"
"Uhh, black sesame soup. I worked on perfecting the recipe all morning!" Wei Ying gestures to Wangji's bowl. "Try it!"
Wangji looks down at the pot of gruel uncertainly while Wei Ying watches him expectantly. Swallowing his disgust, Wangji draws a spoonful to his lips, takes a slurp-
And immediately starts coughing it back up.
"Lan Zhan! Are you ok?"
It takes a moment for Wangji to compose himself. "...y-yes, I'm fine..." he gingerly wipes his chin. "It's just so... so tasty."
Wei Ying gazes at Wangji for a few seconds. And then he grins. "Lan Zhan. You didn't think you could fool me so easily, did you? You may be a good kisser, but you're an abominable liar. Good lord."
"Wei Ying!" Wangji's face is flushed bright red. "Enough!"
"Okay okay, I'll stop now." Wei Ying reclines back against his seat, folding a hand behind his head. "Sooooo... last night..."
"Yes. Last night, we..."
They two cultivators fall into silence, unsure of whether or not to talk about their confession.
Wei Ying clears his throat, looking down, up, anywhere but Wangji's eyes. "Did... did you really mean what you said? About cancelling the marriage and everything?"
"Every word," responds Wangji. He tentatively reaches forward and takes Wei Ying's free hand in his. "You... know I wouldn't lie to you."
"... And yet you just told me my cooking was 'tasty.'"
"That-that was different! I lied to encourage you. After all, one can only improve their weaknesses."
"Lan Zhan, you know as well as the next person that I'll never be some culinary chef. But thanks anyway," Wei Ying chuckles. He interlocks their fingers and gives the Chief Cultivator's hand a squeeze. "So remind me why you can't remain here and hang out with me all day?"
"I have an important meal to attend with the Gu Clan Leader," Wangji stands up, albeit reluctantly, and starts shrugging out of his bedroom drapes to change into his day attire: sky blue silk.
"Boooo! Is there really no way for you to avoid it?"
"It's a gathering I can't afford to miss today." Wangji finally adjusts his forehead ribbon and turns to Wei Ying. "Until I return, stay here."
Wei Ying cocks a brow. "Oh? Are my ears deceiving me? Is the acclaimed Hanguang Jun telling me to stay in his bedchambers? How scandalous!"
"I... it's merely to make sure you stay out of trouble!" stammers Wangji. "After that trick you and those juniors pulled at the Ceremony, Xichen will be keeping a close eye on you."
"Xichen already has me in his sights, but thanks for worrying about me."
"Of course. I'll be back before sundown." Wangji stand up and heads to the doors. Wei Ying joins him under the door way. He moves as if to hug him... and suddenly pecks his lips. Wangji startles, his beautiful eyes bulging just the slightest.
"Wei Ying-"
"Have fun!"
Wei Ying disappears into the chamber before Wangji can reply.
•••
"How lovely is it that my Meiyou was only just a year ago talking about meeting Hanguang Jun and now she's getting married to him in a few moons?!" Gu Liban exclaims. He sits at a long table with the Twin Jades, across from Wangji and next to Xichen.
"Yes, this alliance will be beneficial to both parties, and your daughter and Hanguang Jun will be happily married for many years to come," Xichen says with a smile. He turns coldly to his brother. "Won't you, Your Excellency?"
Wangji doesn't respond.
"Speaking of Meiyou, where in the flaming dragons is that girl?" inquires Liban. "We were supposed to dine half an hour ago. Oh my, this is very unlike her. I do hope she's alright. Maybe she's lost? Or what if someone took her?!"
"Gu Clan Leader-let us remain calm and wait a few more minutes," reassures Xichen.
As if by the will of the gods, the lovely Gu Meiyou appears at the doorway a moment later.
"Forgive me, Your Excellency, Lan Clan Advisor, father... for my tardiness," she murmurs. She sweeps into a bow directed at the Lan brothers, then her own father. She wanders to her spot beside Wangji and lowers herself onto the cushions.
"Your Excellency, good sir, I apologise on her behalf," starts Liban-but he is cut off by the sharp raise of Xichen's hand.
Wangji glances over at his brother, curious.
"There is no need for such formalities," is what comes out of the Advisor's mouth, in warm eloquence. He smiles gracefully at the Gu Clan Leader and his daughter, whose dark head is lowered towards her lap. "After all, we will soon be kin."
Dozens of servants begin to enter, carrying platters of steaming food and delicious dishes. They place the dishes onto the table, bow, and exit. Liban immediately digs in, taking the amount of food he wants and eating eagerly. Xichen eats too, but with more formality.
Wangji sneaks a glance at his fiancée. She's as beautiful as ever, but her hair is unusually messy, her cheeks are swollen, and heavy bags hang under her eyes. She looks nothing like the poised, graceful noblewoman Wangji is so used to seeing.
"Lady, are you alright?" questions Wangji.
At first, it appears as if Gu Meiyou didn't hear him. But then she cranes her neck up to look at him and she answers. "I'm wonderful, Your Excellency. Thank you." Her head droops once more. She picks forlornly at her food.
Some bad news must have been turned in, speculates Wangji. He turns back to his plate and doesn't ask again.
•••
Shortly after the meal ends, Xichen sits in his study, setting up a board game and its game pieces. He hears a knock at his door.
"Enter."
The sound of silk slippers shuffling into the chamber draws Xichen to look up from the game ahead of him. Gu Meiyou stands in the doorway, eyes lowered weakly, hands threaded in front of her. She appears tired, to say the least.
"Ah, Lady Gu. Late again, but no matter. Please, have a seat." Xichen smiles.
Meiyou sits down across from him, the game board in between them.
"Are you familiar with Xiangqi?" he inquires gently.
"Yes."
"How?"
She blinks once, slowly. Dark eyes hard. Then, she whispers, "My mother taught me before she passed. And she was brilliant-Lan Clan Advisor," she glances sharply up, eyes locking on his. Xichen immediately makes note of the redness around her pupils, and the crackling glaze over her irises. Tears. "Forgive my brashness, but I don't believe the reason you've called me here is to assess my chess abilities."
Xichen allows the flicker of mischief in his eyes. His smile becomes real in his amusement. "Alright, Lady Gu." He finishes setting up the last piece-a red ruby-square in the center of the board, completing the pattern. Black and red soldiers on a battlefield. "The real reason I have called you here is to strike a conversation with you. Get over the formalities. As you well know, we will be kin by the end of four moons. But a friendly match can ensue on the side." He gestures to her black game pieces.
Something flashes before her eyes: anxious, curious, baffled thoughts. She is running through her memories, searching to see if there is an apology overdue. She is trying to predict what today is about.
But she cannot.
The game begins.
Meiyou mutters warily, "Advisor. I apologise again for my tardiness. I... have not been my best self these days. On my father's name, I vow to keep better track of time, and correct myself for what's ahead."
"Lady Gu, do I need to say it once more? In four moons we will be in-laws. How unfortunate if we can't speak comfortably."
She hesitates, "Advisor-"
"Xichen will do," Xichen moves his elephant game piece forward. And looks up. Smiling faintly. "Now, dear sister. Tell me of your burdens."
There is a long silence.
And then, Meiyou responds by taking his soldier with her own. Her movements are jarring, harsh. She presses the base of the pawn into the board. "... Last night, I... I saw..." she closes her eyes. When she opens them again, they blaze darkly. "Last night, I was standing outside Wangji's bedchambers. And I saw Wei Wuxian in there... with him."
Hearing that, Xichen's eyes widen, but only a tiny bit. A muscle in his jaw tightens.
"...oh. Is that so?"
"Yes. Wangji kissed him, and told him he loved him and-" Meiyou stops in mid sentence, gripping her chariot piece so hard her knuckles turn white. "Forgive me for being emotional, Advisor, uh-Xichen. It's just... I-I thought I was getting through to him, getting him to fall in love with me but..."
"This isn't good," Xichen mutters to himself. "I specifically told him to stay away..." Then to the upset noblewoman he says, "do not fret, Lady Gu. This marriage can still be rectified."
"But how? Wangji is in love with him. They might as well be star-crossed lovers," Meiyou says bitterly. "I thought Wangji and I were Cetus and Pegasus, but it turns out Master Wei was the black stallion all along."
"But you know that isn't the real version of the story, do you?"
Meiyou stares at Xichen, curiosity now piqued. "... No. Tell me."
"The whale and the stallion couldn't be together, not only because of biological differences, but also because they had different senses of duty: The whale was in charge of the seas so the Earth wouldn't flood, and the stallion kept the lands fertilised. But then they were so in love that the stallion convinced the whale to visit a witch who gave him a potion that would turn his fins into legs. In return, the whale gave all the oceans to the witch and he and the stallion relished gaily. They did not know the witch was evil, however, and giving her the seas caused chaos and destruction on Earth. The gods found out their folly, and as punishment, turned them into constellations. Thus, their worlds crumbled. All because they were selfish, foolish, and in love."
Meiyou falls silent, thoughts reeling about this untold rendition of the tale.
"You see, Lady Gu, I want what you want," Xichen claims.
"And what is that?" Meiyou prompts.
"To get Master Wei out of the picture forever."
"But the whale and the stallion are already among the stars."
They have been playing the game during their conversation, moving games pieces and taking opposite sides' pieces under only a few pieces remain.
"That's why you need the right connections." He moves his cannon piece forward, trapping Meiyou's army general in between her own advisor and a chariot. He picks up the general and holds it up. "Checkmate."
He reaches over the game board and offers her his hand.
"Do we have a deal?"