⚠️This chapter contains some sensitive content, such as strong language and homophobia.⚠️
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Wuxian stood in front of the mirror in the Jingshi and looked himself over. He was in tears again. He was in his new robes. His under robes were white but his outer robes were dark blue and made of fine silk. He had a white silk waist band with a dark blue sash and silver brooch. He had his Jade token hanging off his waist along side Chenqing. His sword was strapped to his back. He had us red ribbon fastened on his right arm while Wangji's forehead ribbon was on his left. The ribbon in his hair now was a blue ribbon with white GusuLan cloud motif patterns on it to match his robes.
Lan Wangji has been waiting outside for Wuxian to give him some space. After what seemed like a good ten to fifteen minutes, Wei Wuxian exited the Jingshi. Lan Wangji couldn't take his eyes off his fiancé. Wangji walked over to him and checked him out, walking around him taking in his entire look.
"I take it you like how I look?" Wuxian asked.
"I love how you look," Wangji said and held out his arm for Wuxian to take.
Wuxian took it and smiled, "if at all possible, don't leave my side throughout the meeting. I would feel more comfortable if you stayed close. With all the sects I am a bit uneasy."
"I will not leave your side. Stick close to me, Shufu, and Xiongzhang. We will be close to the front as we are not only the hosts but Xiongzhang is the chief cultivator," Wangji told him.
"Alright," Wuxian said, "um, did Jiang Cheng ever tell you what he wanted to speak to me about?"
"No, just that he wished to see you," Wangji said, "and be invited to our wedding."
"After Guanyin Temple, maybe even when we were resting at Lotus Pier for that short time before the temple incident, I thought maybe it was done between us. He has long said he wants nothing to do with me...he's told me numerous occasions that he wanted to kill me tens times over. Make me kneel before his dead parents and repent," Wuxian explained.
"You do not have to keep being in that toxic relationship you know," Wangji said, "after you speak to him, you can decide on if you wish to see him again."
"That depends on him, as he wanted to meet with me," Wuxian said, "depending on how the conversation will go, will be the deciding factor on if I remain in any form of contact with him. I used to think I knew Jiang Cheng but after his parents died, he got worse with his attitude and he became so much more like his mother. Aside from me not having a core, it was difficult to be around him, to be back at Lotus Pier when all I could see was shadows of the dead, and I just couldn't handle it. I drank so much that I'm surprised that didn't kill me."
"You no longer have to suffer, Wei Ying," Wangji assured him, "not only do you have a core again but you are to have a new life here with me."
"That is what I am looking forward to," Wuxian said, "a fresh start with my future husband."
Wangji smiled and continued on to leading him to the main hall for the conference meeting. Wuxian already noticed the smaller clans, like the Yao clan and their leader Sect leader Yao, who was not only a hypocrite but a coward to say the least. There was also Sect Leader Ouyang and his son Zizhen. The boy was tolerable to be around...actually the boy was a very nice kid. Wuxian wondered how his father was such a jerk.
Wuxian smiled upon seeing Jingyi, who was not being punished at the moment, and Sizhui had returned from his trip with Wen Ning. Wen Ning found a small hut nearby to settle in and if Wuxian needed him, he was close by. Sizhui and Jingyi smiled upon seeing Wuxian again. Along with the two, Zizhen and Jin Ling made there way over to Wuxian who moved to the front with Wangji.
"Wei Qianbei, you are back!" Jingyi said happily.
"I will be here for quite a while too," Wuxian told him.
"Xian-Gege, you are staying in Cloud Recesses?" Sizhui asked.
"I am not only staying but I am marrying into the sect," Wuxian said, "you will know more during the meeting."
"It is good to see you again," Sizhui said, "I have missed you and Hanguang Jun."
"It is good to see you again too," Wuxian said, "how was your trip?"
"It was great," Sizhui replied, "how about I stop by the Jingshi later this evening to talk with you both about it?"
"Come by anytime," Wangji said to him, "you will always be our son."
"Han-Hanguang Jun," Sizhui blushed.
"Reminds me of when he called you A'Die when he was a child," Wuxian teased.
"Xian-Ge, don't out me like that," Sizhui said, "I am going back to my seat."
Wuxian laughed upon seeing the boy so flustered. Jingyi and Zizhen went with him. Jin Ling stayed put, "he still gets worked up over small things," Jin Ling said.
"How do you know that?" Wuxian asked.
"I just noticed that is how he is," Jin Ling said, "I was around him enough to know how easy it is to get a Lan flustered."
"It is very easy," Wuxian said with a sly grin on his face and looked at Wangji, "isn't it Lan Zhan?"
Lan Wangji looked at Wuxian knowing all too well how easy it is for him to get him worked up, "yes, Wei Ying, you are correct."
Wuxian giggled, "you just accepted your fate?"
"I will, it's just how you are, I will not ask you to change who you are for my sake...I love your playfulness most about you anyway," Wangji told him.
"Ugh, I am going to go to my seat," Jin Ling said as he felt it was best to give the two space.
"Okay," Wuxian said and watched him leave. He then scanned the room. He saw that Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang were staring at him, "wow, I already have people staring."
Wangji sighed, "it will be hard to keep others from staring at you," he said.
Wuxian glanced at him, "are you pouting over that?" Wuxian asked, "if you are jealous and uncomfortable, just know that you're the only one I love. I have no intention of leaving you...ever."
"I trust you," Wangji said, "it is them I do not trust."
"That is understandable," Wuxian said, "they all wanted me dead at one point...some may even still want me dead."
"I refuse to let that happen," Wangji said.
"I know," Wuxian said.
"I see the Yiling Patriarch has decided to make an appearance," Sect Least Ouyang said.
Wei Wuxian smirked, "that is right, but I would be careful of the words you say."
"Why would I?" Sect Leader Ouyang said, "it has long been known that you are a killer, are you not?"
"He was long since proven innocent of his crimes," Lan Xichen stepped in, "Jin Guangyao was behind it all."
"Let's not forget all the people he killed and the families he destroyed," Sect Leader Yao said.
"And he had every right to!" Lan Qiren spat.
Wei Wuxian was so stunned. Out of anyone defending him, it was Lan Qiren and he even said Wuxian had every right to kill them, "Lan Qiren, you are agreeing to what this man has done?" Sect Leader Yao questioned.
"I do," Lan Qiren said, "all he wanted was to protect innocent people who were only elderly and a child. I was too ignorant back then to see it, but now, it has come to my attention that Wei Wuxian isn't responsible for anything that happened in the past, but the rest of us, are."
"What do you mean by that?" Sect Leader Ouyang questioned.
"We accused him and we wanted him dead but we did not once let him tell his side of the story. That battle at Nightless City could have been avoided if Jin Guangshan hadn't provoked him as well as the other clans egging him on," Lan Qiren said, "if anyone wishes to continue with this argument, I will kindly ask you to keep it to yourselves as we have a meeting to discuss, otherwise you can leave. Wei Wuxian is to be married into the Lan Sect and is under our protection. Anyone who tries to do any harm to him, will be dealt with accordingly."
"He is marrying into the Lan Sect?" A man from another clan, Hedong Fu Clan, Sect Leader Fu Huan said.
"He is marrying me," Lan Wangji announced.
"The mighty Hanguang Jun is a cut-sleeve? Who would have guessed," a leader from Tangxi, Yang Zaihan stated.
"Is there something wrong with that?" Sect leader Jiang asked.
Wei Wuxian was starting to get dizzy with all those who once hated him are now standing by his side. Jiang Wanyin was a wild card though. Wei Wuxian always thought him to be a grumpy man but cares for his family deeply without saying it. Wuxian sighed and sat down as he knew this was going to be a long meeting.