Wei Wuxian became very quiet. He knew Lan Wangji loved Lan Xichen dearly, and he didn't want to hurt Lan Wangji's feelings. But no matter how much he loved Lan Wangji, he couldn't just enthusiastically agree to the suggestion. First, he didn't really think anyone would believe him. His brain was still coming to terms with the fact that Lan Wangji seemed to have just accepted it as fact without question. He most certainly did not think anyone else would accept it so easily. Wei Wuxian fidgeted slightly, unsure how to voice his concerns.

"Would he believe it just from what we say?" Wen Qing asked skeptically. Lan Wangji seemed to consider her question carefully. Wei Wuxian felt slightly relieved. He didn't want to hurt Lan Wangji by doubting Lan Xichen. At the same time Wei Wuxian had already had the entire cultivation world turn against him. How could he easily trust people when he had already seen one course of action they might take. A course of action that led to trained cultivators slaughtering his already weakened innocent family. Wei Wuxian shivered slightly as the image of Granny's body flashed before his eyes.

Wei Wuxian felt a slight pressure that brought him back to the present. Lan Wangji had tightened his arm around Wei Wuxian and was looking at him with concern. Wei Wuxian bowed his head.

"Sorry." Wei Wuxian whispered.

"Wei Ying." There was a very gentle scolding tone in Lan Wangji's voice.

'Wei Ying never needs to say this to me.' Lan Wangji's words of only a moment ago played back to Wei Wuxian. Something inside of him seemed to relax and he leaned heavily against Lan Wangji. Wei Wuxian still felt like Lan Wangji should stay far away from him. It would certainly be better for Lan Wangji, but Wei Wuxian no longer had the will to pull back. Watching the last of his family be slaughtered had been a line too far. He felt raw. It seemed like at any time a word or a thought could drag him back through the horror that his life had become. He no longer had the strength to continue on like normal. He no longer had the energy to convince everyone that he was okay. He no longer felt certain in his decisions or choices.

In his wounded and chaotic state, Lan Wangji felt steady. His presence washed Wei Wuxian in a feeling of calm. It soothed his raw painful emotions and helped quiet his racing thoughts. The arms around him felt safe. It had been so long since Wei Wuxian felt safe. Even in Burial mounds with his new family. He loved and trusted them, but he didn't feel safe. This feeling had been absent for so long that Wei Wuxian didn't know exactly when it left.

Something soft pressed against Wei Wuxian's forehead and his eyes suddenly flew open. Lan Wangji had leaned towards him, and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. Wei Wuxian felt his brain stutter momentarily. The gesture was filled with tender affection and soft reassurance. Wei Wuxian felt his face grow warm. He didn't need a mirror to know he was blushing pink. His face always reddened easily no matter how much he disliked it. He was aware Lan Wangji was staring at him. He vaguely hoped that the blush was light enough that Lan Wangji wouldn't notice. He cautiously lifted his gaze and saw the faint trace of a delicate smile light Lan Wangji's face. Wei Wuxian briefly forgot how to breathe. His face heated so much that he was certain it must have been bright red. Wei Wuxian rushed to hide his face in the folds of Lan Wangji's robes.

"You can't smile like that without warning me. My heart can't take it." Wei Wuxian whined from his hiding place. Then very faintly he heard a soft chuckle from above where he had buried his face. It was so light that it seemed almost illusory. The soft lyrical sound sent a shiver down his spine and stole his breath. Wei Wuxian slowly pulled back almost against his will. He forgot all about hiding his embarrassment. He needed to see Lan Wangji's expression. He needed to know if what he had just heard was real. When he saw Lan Wangji's face he knew he had not imagined the sound. Lan Wangji's smile was beautiful and pure. It held all the ethereal beauty of sunlight as it shattered and glittered across snow. Lan Wangji's pale gold eyes were filled with that mirth, seeming to dance with the same glittering light. Wei Wuxian was completely awestruck.

"That... you definitely cannot do that without warning me." When he found his voice it came out so soft that he wasn't sure Lan Wangji could actually hear him. Lan Wangji embraced him gently. For once it didn't feel like it was there to comfort or reassure him. It felt like Lan Wangji was really hugging him, just because he wanted to. Wei Wuxian completely melted. He didn't just feel protected and calmed. He felt like he could feel Lan Wangji's affection for him seeping into him through that embrace. He knew Lan Wangji had already told him those feelings were there, but now Wei Wuxian really felt it.

Wei Wuxian shifted comfortably in the embrace. He new they still needed to talk, but he did not want to leave Lan Wangji's hold. The feeling that Lan Wangji loved him was so warm and precious. Wei Wuxian had experienced starvation more than once in his life. In his first time in burial mounds there had also been times when he could barely get enough water to keep himself going. There was this desperate feeling of need around both experiences when he finally could get enough clean water to drink, or enough good food to eat. He had that same feeling now. There was a desperate hungry ache inside of his chest. That freely offered affection felt so good, and all he could think was that he desperately wanted more of it.

"We can keep talking," Wei Wuxian said in a soft almost lazy voice. "I know we have to come up with something before Zewu-Jun decides to visit, and I don't imagine he'll wait too long." Wei Wuxian snuggled comfortably in Lan Wangji's arms. His back was supported by Lan Wangji's warm chest. The arms around him seemed to completely encompass him.

"Just, keep holding me like this while we talk. I don't want this to end yet," Wei Wuxian said with a soft contented sigh. He felt the arms around him squeeze slightly, like they wanted to bring him even closer.

"Mn." Lan Wangji affirmed softly. Pressed so close to Lan Wangji's chest, Wei Wuxian could feel the vibrations of this response along his spine.

'This feels nice.' Wei Wuxian smiled.

Wen Qing's gaze was warm as she watched the two of them. She felt so relieved to see her didi so calm and happy. The affection and physical closeness between them gave her a sense of security. It reassured her that Lan Wangji would take good care of her didi. At Wei Wuxian's request to continue the conversation she decided to repeat her question. In truth she wasn't sure either of them even still remembered what she had asked. It seemed to be a pattern that at any moment the two became completely lost and would forget there was anyone around them. She didn't mind, but they did have a bit of a time limit today. If Zewu-Jun wasn't going to arrive soon, then Jiang Yanli certainly would.

"What would it take to convince Zewu-Jun? I'm not convinced our words alone will be sufficient." Wen Qing asked. Lan Wangji seemed to consider the question carefully.

"Evidence." Lan Wangji said after careful consideration. If they could prove knowledge of future events, Lan Xichen would believe them. Wen Qing frowned in thought.

"What could we use though?" Wen Qing asked thoughtfully, mostly to herself. "It would need to be something that we ourselves did not cause. It also could not be something that is already expected, like the discussion conference."

"The results of the archery competition?" Wei Wuxian inquired. His eyes had been closed ever since he snuggled into Lan Wangji's embrace, but his voice showed no evidence of sleep.

Wen Qing honestly wouldn't have cared if he did fall asleep. The downside would be they couldn't get his input. Wen Qing didn't really care if their plans were delayed. Right now Wei Wuxian mattered more to her than the war. He had returned to this time raw and wounded, and spent years suffering and sacrificing. She wanted to see him spoiled and cared for, and at least part of her was kind of willing to let the world burn if that was what it would take to accomplish this.

"That would only give us a few weeks before Wen Rouhan attacks Cloud Recesses." Wen Qing pointed out, somewhat reluctantly. "Also the archery competition results are something that could be easily influenced by minor changes. We might give the results only to find that they were altered by the course of events." Wei Wuxian gave an exaggerated frown, but it quickly shifted to an expression of thought. It was a bit funny to see him making all of his usual expressions with his eyes closed.

"The Waterborne Abyss has already happened. The only other events I can think of that would work as evidence are all much too late. Cloud Recesses is the first sect attacked, but I'd rather not leave those events unchanged. The forced indoctrination is even later, and..." Wei Wuxian stopped mid sentence. He bit his lip lightly.

"A-Ying. We'll find a way to help protect Lotus Pier. We won't let it be the same." Wen Qing spoke in a soft earnest voice. Wei Wuxian nodded wordlessly. For the first time in the last two days, Wei Wuxian didn't feel overwhelmed when he thought about Lotus Pier. He felt sad and a bit anxious, but the feelings didn't consume him. They floated on the surface causing only light ripples in Wei Wuxian's heart. He was still wrapped in Lan Wangji's affection. He was filled with warmth and contentment so completely that those painful feelings felt distant and quiet.

Wei Wuxian focused back on the problem at hand. If they couldn't prove knowledge of the future by predicting events, what other evidence could they provide? He wanted Lan Xichen to believe them. If he believed them he would take the threat of the coming attack on Cloud Recesses seriously. They could make preparations in advance to save lives and potentially reduce the damage.

"Lan Zhan. Do you think Zewu-Jun would be willing to perform empathy? Is he familiar with it?" Wei Wuxian inquired.

There existed many ways to gather information beyond asking at the local inn. Wei Wuxian did enjoy that method the most, and it usually provided enough to give you the basics of the situation. Most sects had a preferred method for gathering information beyond what talking to the locals could give you. The GusuLan Sect's specialty was Inquiry. It was unique to their sect and was not taught outside of the sect. Empathy was another information gathering technique. Unlike Inquiry it was not an exclusive technique to any one sect. However it was considered to be one of the most dangerous information gathering techniques. Wei Wuxian was particularly good at it.

"Will ask." Lan Wangji replied at last. Wei Wuxian felt a clear plan beginning to form. If Zewu-Jun was willing to perform Empathy he could directly observe Wei Wuxian's memories of the future. It would be unpleasant for Wei Wuxian. Zewu-Jun would be the one mostly in control of what they saw and how long they were in. Revisiting those memories would be like living through them again. It would feel as fresh as the first time he lived through it, and he really wasn't looking forward to that. Hopefully Zewu-Jun would be happy with observing for just a short while. Despite this reassurance Wei Wuxian still felt his body growing cold with dread. He could not let on that he was at all unwilling. More than likely they would have to talk Zewu-Jun into it. Wei Wuxian could not reveal any hesitance.

The most dangerous risks of Empathy were in relation to using it to communicate with spirits or fierce corpses. The risk of possession or of having your mind overwhelmed by the other's resentful energy were both dangerous possibilities. Since they were asking Zewu-Jun to use it on a living person these did not apply. In terms of the dangers involved when using it on a living person, those would also be mostly irrelevant. Most dangers regarding using empathy on a living person were only applied if you were doing it against the other party's will. Wei Wuxian was willing. He was just a bit afraid to relive the events.

"One condition." Wen Qing's voice sounded stern. When Wei Wuxian looked up at her he found her eyes narrowed at him. He was far too familiar with that fierce expression in her gaze. He had seen it many times in Burial Mounds. When she caught him giving all his food to A-Yuan. When she first found out that he was only sleeping when he physically passed out. When he came back bleeding from his staged fight with Jiang Wanyin. "If he agrees to perform empathy he will do it on me, not you." Wen Qing insisted firmly. Wei Wuxian's eyes went wide.

"Jiejie!" Wei Wuxian protested. Wen Qing crossed her arms in front of her chest and raised one of her eyebrows. The warning look was all it took to stop Wei Wuxian's words.

"The purpose is only to provide evidence that we have knowledge of the future. We don't need him to directly observe every relevant event. So it shouldn't matter who's memories he is viewing between the two of us." Wen Qing stated firmly. Wei Wuxian wanted to protest. His face was twisted into something between a pout and a scowl. Wen Qing gave him an unimpressed expression. He was well aware that pouting and protesting rarely had any swaying power over Wen Qing, but it was mostly a reflex.

"If it doesn't matter then there is no reason it has to be you," Wei Wuxian protested. Wen Qing had also suffered in the future. He did not want her to re-live that pain. Better it be him. It wasn't like he could get much more broken than he already was. Wen Qing sighed.

"A-Ying. I understand you want to protect me, but you've done that enough." She said gently. "You are my didi. It's my job to protect you. Let me do it." Wei Wuxian's gaze fell to the table.

"Jiejie... the last time you decided to protect me you died." Wei Wuxian said in a quiet voice. "I went to try and retrieve your remains, since it was too late to save your life. I arrived just in time to see them scatter your ashes. I heard what they did to you." Wen Qing's gaze softened.

"A-Ying it wasn't your fault. Also I doubt Zewu-Jun would even want to see that memory. There are plenty of other, less painful, memories for him to look at." Wen Qing reassured.