Silver eyes shot open at the sound of banging on the door.

"OI! GET THE HELL UP!"

"Sheesh, shut it!" Wei Wuxian shouted back, sighing and rubbing his eyes as he got off his bed and walked to the door. "What?" He peeped out.

"Mother said we'll be busy the rest of the day so we need to play NOW!" Jiang Cheng humphed.

"Huh? Oh dear, is that so? I'll come fast," Wei Ying shut the door and hurried over to his drawers, pulled out fresh aubergine robes, took a quick bath, changed, brushed his hair roughly and tied it up in his favourite red ribbon before spiriting out of his room to find his shidi and shijie waiting.

"A-Xian, you didn't make the bed, did you?" Jiang Yanli crossed her arms.

"Aish..." Wei Wuxian smacked his forehead and ran back in, made the bed, cleared the old robes scattered on the floor and rushed out again. "There, all done. Good morning!"

"Morning, morning," Jiang Cheng sulked.

"Ew, such a gross face early morning," Wei Wuxian laughed. He pinched Jiang Cheng's cheeks and pulled them to the sides, stretching his mouth. "Smile for once, will you?"

"Tch," Jiang Cheng shoved his hands off.

"Stop fighting, you two," Yanli sighed. "We've work later in the day. So any playing shall have to be done now, before lunch."

"You guys had breakfast?"

Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli nodded. "Here's something for you, since you were asleep as usual," Jiang Cheng held out a bun and Yanli handed a candy.

"Thanks!" Wei Wuxian beamed at them and gobbled them down.

That's why they brought the food anyway. To see their brother's adorable smile. The one morning gift they needed daily.

"Okay! So? What do we play?"

"Hm..." Yanli pondered. "Tag?"

"It's just the three of us today, the others have gone to prepare for something. So something else," Jiang Cheng suggested.

"Prepare for what?" Wei Wuxian turned to them.

"Oh, some conference. They're setting up the Main Hall."

"I should be going too..."

"Shut up," Jiang Cheng smacked his head. "You're my shixiong and A-Jie's shidi, not a bloody servant."

"But..."

"What are you three doing here?" A thunderous and sharp voice cut in.

Jiang Cheng gulped. "M– Mother..."

"Yes, I'm your mother," Yu Ziyuan growled, striding towards them, Zidian gleaming on her clenched fist. "What. Are. You. Doing. Here?"

"I was... practising Sandu. And then brought him in to train together..."

Wei Wuxian gulped and nodded along, gripping Suibian tighter just to show Yu Ziyuan.

"Oh? And A-Li?"

"Mother?"

"Shouldn't you be getting ready?"

"For the conference? Oh, Mother, I wanted to ask. What is it, exactly?"

"They're coming," Ziyuan nodded firmly.

Jiang Yanli gasped. "Oh... Then... I'll just be training for a little while longer, and then going in to get dressed. A-Cheng, too."

"And you?" Yu Ziyuan turned to Wei Wuxian.

"I'll train with them for a few minutes, and they leave for duties to help set up the Main Hall, Madam Yu."

"Hm, good," Ziyuan nodded, satisfied that Wei Ying understood his place. "Be quick then," she mumbled to the trio and walked away.

"Phew, that was close," Jiang Cheng let out a deep breath. "A-Jie? Are you alright?"

"Ah?"

"Shijie looks... weird... Shijie never sulks," Wei Wuxian sulked with her. "What's the matter?"

"Oh, nothing. The conference..."

"Ah, right, what is it?"

"They're coming. All the other four major sects."

"HAH?!" Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng shrieked. "Goodness, what for?!"

"Probably to talk about me..." Yanli nibbled on her lower lip.

"Well, well, means we'll see that ruddy Peacock again," Wei Wuxian harrumphed. "But then why's Shijie sulking? I thought you liked him..."

Jiang Yanli gasped. "A-Xian!"

"What? Don't you?" He winked.

"I... It is inappropriate to say such things out loud."

"You didn't say that when you said you've missed Jin Zixuan the past few years. Only two years since we graduated from school at Cloud Recesses. Oh, right! Cloud Recesses!"

"What about it?" Jiang Cheng raised his eyebrow.

"Your darling's coming!"

"Will you SHUT UP!" Jiang Cheng punched his waist.

"I won't! But hey, does Zewu-Jun know?"

"Please, I beg you to shut up!" Jiang Cheng shook him by the collar, looking around for eavesdroppers, red-faced.

"Oh wow, you've never begged me for anything, it's an honour," Wei Wuxian laughed. "Maybe we should tell Jiang Shushu to betroth you to him as well, two marriages settled in one day, haha!"

"A-Xian!" Both of them shouted at him and blushed simultaneously.

"Wait till we find out who your heartache is," Jiang Yanli chuckled. "You haven't told us yet!"

"How can I if I don't have any! I'm a free spirit, I'm not the sort to lend my heart and bond my soul to any damned person."

"Not even Second Young Master Lan?" Yanli grinned.

"Shijie... I've told you, he's just a friend."

"Well, friends who've gone night-hunting together... remember that one time when the two of you went missing at school? To think you had followed Lan Wangji into the forest!" Jiang Cheng snickered. "What happened, eh? You never told us."

"Aish, nothing, really! The brat wouldn't let me drink my Emperor's Smile, and we began fighting. He said 'No fighting in Cloud Recesses' so we went outside and ended up in the forest, fighting for God knows how long! The rascal wouldn't give up!"

"Brat, rascal," Jiang Yanli counted on her fingers. "You sure do hate him!"

"Arch-nemesis," Wei Ying pouted. "I don't want my morning mood spoiled thinking of that stuck-up fuddy-duddy. We'll play hopscotch!"

"Excellent suggestion," Yanli nodded and picked up a rock, and began drawing out the squares and the numbers and whatever on the wooden ground of the deck. "Let's start!"

A few minutes into the game, with Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying competing to save Jiang Yanli from hitting the ground whenever her foot slipped, the morning passed pleasantly until a Jiang disciple ran up to them. "Shixiong, Er-Shixiong, shijie," he bowed to them. "The guests will arrive in an hour."

"Good Lord!" Jiang Yanli squealed. "I should go get dressed."

"Bye, shijie!" Wei Wuxian ran to the Hall to help.

"Ta-ta!" Jiang Cheng sighed, watching them both run off. "And me? What am I to do?" He turned to the disciple.

"Shixiong should get dressed too, they've arranged a suit for you."

"Huh! Why me?"

"Madam Yu's orders," he shrugged and the disciple walked with him to his room to get him dressed. 

**********

Jiang Cheng arrived at the back entrance to the Main Hall. There was a side room through which they were to enter once the guests were seated, so he waited in the room, seated cross-legged on the ground.

"WHAT are you doing?" Madam Yu walked in.

"Hello, Mother," Jiang Wanyin stood and bowed to her.

"No sitting on the ground, you'll get dust on your robes. Come here," she beckoned to him. Jiang Cheng walked over and let her scrutinise him. He was dressed in his typical fancy purple robes, a new violet cloak floating behind him, golden hair ornament seated atop his ponytail, gleaming bright.

"Mother, what's with the dress?"

"All the five sects are gathering here today. You're the Jiang Heir. Gotta look good," she patted his shoulder and straightened his hair ornament. "There. Look proud," she nodded and walked into the hall to welcome the guests.

Just then, Jiang Yanli came rushing in. "My A-Cheng looks amazing!"

"So does A-Jie!" Jiang Cheng smiled. "Where's your cloak?"

"Mistress! Mistress!" Two young servant girls ran up to her, a coat in one's hands, hair ribbon in another.

"Sorry, I had to come and see how my didi looks!" Jiang Yanli's smiled at them and sighed when she saw what they held. "Isn't that coat a bit too... shiny?"

"Just the borders, Mistress," the girl piped up. "The rest is as plain and charming as your dresses always are, don[t worry."

"A-Jie's got to shine like a star today," Jiang Cheng slapped her back.

"Where's our Walking Chaos?"

"Walking Chaos..." he looked around. "Must be in the hall, serving."

The servant girls pushed the door a crack open and peeked in. They immediately shut it and hopped on their feet, squealing in glee.

"What is it?" Jiang Yanli smiled.

"The heart-throbs arrived!" They flailed their hands happily.

Just then, the announcement of the arriving guests began.

"GusuLan sect, Twin Jades, Sect Leader Lan Xichen, Lan Wangji, and Head Elder, Lan Qiren."

"Ooh, there's your call," Yanli nudged her brother.

"Tsk, cut it out!" Jiang Cheng grumbled despite his heating cheeks.

"Want a look?" A servant girl held the door a bit open.

"No need, he'll look all he wants later," Jiang Yanli smirked.

"A-Jie!"

The next announcement echoed. "QingheNie sect, Sect Leader Nie Mingjue, Nie Huaisang."

"Oooh, the Qinghe Devils!" The girls clapped, more and more disciples filing into the room to listen in.

"Hurray, Lazy Sang's here," Jiang Cheng rubbed his palms.

"No fighting today," Yanli sternly warned him.

"LanlingJin sect, Sect Leader Jin Guangshan, Madam Jin, Jin Zixuan, Jin Qingyang."

"Ah, Wuxian's Mianmian's here," Jiang Cheng smirked. "And A-Jie's A-Xuan, at last," he laughed.

"Hey!" Yanli blushed.

"Come on Mistress, put these on, it's nearly finishing," the girls walked to her.

She nodded, ears and face rosy as a lotus, arms raised for them to put on the coat and tie up her hair.

"Hello!" Wei Wuxian walked in. "Wooooah! You two look fabulous!" His silver eyes sparkled with joy.

"Where were you?"

"Laying out the tables. It's all set."

"So? How do they look?" Yanli elbowed him.

"Well... the Nie brothers are as cool as they are; the Jins, ever-so flashy, drowning in their bloody gold; the Lans..." Wei Wuxian smirked. "Lan Zhan's in his mourning clothes again."

"Ahem, we asked about the Lans in general, not just Lan Wangji?" Jiang Cheng sniggered.

"Oh, er... Ehehe... Apologies. Zewu-Jun's in turquoise, stunning. Shifu's as dull as ever, his goatee's still there," he laughed. "All in all, I'd give them a score of twenty out of ten for nearly blinding me with their white beauty, but yes, topped the scales with looks this time."

"Nice," Jiang Cheng nodded. "Oh, and ours?"

"Haha, is that even a question? Madam Yu's elegant violet valour outright beat Madam Jin's goddamned gold. And Jiang Shushu's wearing something like yours. Perfect," Wei Wuxian smiled. "Now then, my report's over. i'm going back, have fun!"

"No you're not," Jiang Yanli held his wrist. "We'll do a little trick."

"Ah, the usual," Jiang Cheng nodded. "A-Xian, you do it."

"Fine." Wei Wuxian wiggled his fingers and conjured a sparkly orange talisman that turned into a thread between their golden cores. "Temporary connection as always. I'll remove it after the banquet."

"Just enough for us to chat," Yanli nodded and watched him go.

"QishanWen sect, Sect Leader Wen Ruohan with his sons, Wen Chao, Wen Xu, and cousins Doctor Wen Qing and Wen Ning."

"Woah, all the Four Flames are here today!" Jiang Cheng gasped. "Amazing. Lunch today will be fantastic."

"Let's hope A-Xian will be alright today. You know how it is when too many people are there."

"They're settled down," the maids sighed. "Your turns!" Madam Yu slipped in through the door. "A-Cheng." 

"Coming, Mother," Jiang Cheng hugged his sister goodbye. Walking round the hall to the front door of it and entering through it, he looked around to find his mother and father seated high up on the dais and two empty seats beside them waiting to be filled. He walked down the centre of the hall and stopped at the front, turning round to face the guests seated around him and bowing to them courteously. "Jiang Wanyin, Jiang Cheng. Pleased to have you all here," he nodded and walked up to his seat. Once seated peacefully, he properly took in his surroundings. His friend, Nie Huaisang, or Lazy Sang as they called him, waved to him happily from his seat and he waved back. He and Jin Zixuan exchanged a piercing glare before he nodded to Zixuan's sister, Qingyang, who they called Mianmian. Wen Chao and Wen Xu were never friends with him but Wen Qing and Wen Ning were so he nodded to them too, and Wen Ning waved to him with a big grin.

Hey, A-Xian, you there?

Hello, hello, I can hear you.

Yanli joined in. A-Xian, A-Cheng, when on earth am I supposed to enter?

Wait a minute more, shijie. A-Cheng.

A-Xian?

I saw you looking at everyone, but come on! Zewu-Jun's waiting!

Huh?

You didn't nod to the Lans yet.

How do you know?

I'm right behind you, dummy.

Jiang Cheng turned around to find Wei Wuxian wining at him a few feet behind him. Of course, Jiang Fengmian wouldn't let him stand far away with the servants. He smiled and turned to the Lans. Lan Qiren ignored him: he had been one of Qiren's most chaotic students...

Lan Wangji... was as icy as always. Stoic and upright, nose in the air. Hmph, bloody swan he thinks he is. Ey, A-Xian, sounds right, eh? Jin peacock. Lan swan.

Haha, good one.

Lan Xichen... Jiang Cheng gulped. Was he imagining things? Or was Lan Xichen actually giving him a side-glance while chatting with Nie Mingjue across the hall?

Giving me a side-glance! What the hell?

Lan Xichen excused himself from Sect Leader Nie and nodded his greeting to Jiang Wanyin. Flustered, Jiang Cheng promptly nodded back, desperately ignoring the bright smile on Xichen's face. What the hell is he up to?

"Good to meet again, Wanyin," Lan Xichen smiled.

"Er... you t– too," Jiang Cheng replied and looked away. Hold on a second. Wanyin? What the hell?

"Who'd have thought we'll all gather up again, now?" Nie Huaisang flapped his fan.

"Indeed, all of us," Jin Qingyang grinned at all their group of friends. None of the young pals dared to openly wave to Wei Wuxian, should he get a beating from Madam Yu.

The sects got talking for a little while before the young lady of the Jiang sect entered. She stood where Jiang Cheng stood before and bowed low. "Jiang Yanli, happy to welcome all of you." Seated beside her brother, she smiled at her guests. Their friends all waved to her, calling out and praising her countenance today.

"Looking wonderful as always, Yanli-jie," Nie Huaisang grinned.

Yanli smiled at him. 

Shijie won't believe it unless the Peacock tells it himself, Wei Wuxian laughed.

A-Xian, if you keep saying things like that, I might just tell a thing or two to Second Young Master Lan.

Shijie! Never mind, I'll shut up, Wei Wuxian chuckled and walked away to help the maids in pouring out the tea. A young girl was trembling while she held the teapot to pour the tea for the Wens seated up front. The Four Flames were just too... fiery! He tapped her on the shoulder. "I'll do it." The girl nodded, eagerly handing him the jug and scurrying away.

A-Xian, what are you doing?

I'm under punishment, Wei Wuxian explained.

Still? From yesterday's fight? Jiang Cheng asked, him and Wei Wuxian having fought with a gang of older Jiangs just the day before.

Yes. Madam Yu's orders. Don't worry, I'm fine, he smiled reassuringly while decanting tea for the five Wens, not even the least bit unfazed by Wen Ruohan's coldness or Wen Xu's glowering.

"Hello, Wei Wuxian."

"Hello, Wen Qing."

"Young Master Wei!" Wen Ning beamed at him.

Wei Ying smiled back, such that it almost seemed like both were having a grin contest — neither could defeat the other when it came to bright and cheery smiles. "Wen Ning, hi again!" Once the non-important Wen disciples who had tagged along were served, he moved to the next table. The Nies and Jins were duly treated to, with a short exchange of glares between Zixuan and himself and a blushing sulk from Qingyang. All of them seen to, he moved to the Lans' table and gave an ignorant Qiren and a forever-smiling Xichen their tea before moving to his arch-nemesis.

"Hello, hello," he whispered, as he bent down over Lan Zhan's shoulder to pour out the tea. "Who'd have thought I'd have to see your icy face again?"

"The feeling's mutual," Lan Wangji snapped back, voice cold and low.

"Delighted to hear," Wei Wuxian smirked and stepped back, handed the teapot to a girl nearby and walked back to his stand beside Jiang Fengmian.

While Madam Yu engaged them all in conversation, Fengmian turned to check on him. "I'm good, Jiang Shushu," Wei Wuxian whispered.

Fengmian nodded and turned back, laughing at something Jin Guangshan had spoken. 

The lunch was served later, and Fengmian made Wei Wuxian stay put beside him instead of playing 'servant'. While they ate, the sects got talking.

"Hey, isn't that boy just like Wei Changze from before?"

"But silver eyes?"

"That's Wei Changze's and Cangse Sanren's boy."

"Ah, the infamous Wei Wuxian."

"What's he doing standing there? Isn't he a servant like his father?"

The Jiang siblings cleared their throats at the same time, loud and clear. Yanli elbowed Wanyin. Jiang Cheng spoke aloud, "Wei Wuxian is now Head Disciple Jiang, for your information."

Jiang Fengmian smiled at their protectiveness, while Madam Yu pretended to not even know this speaking boy who was her son.

"Head Disciple Jiang?"

"Why, that's amazing!" Nie Huaisang shouted loudly, silencing any chastising, fan waving merrily in the air. Wei Wuxian smiled back, grateful for their support. 

Huaisang peeped over his table piled with food and spoke to Jin Qingyang. "Hey, Mianmian, how are the night-hunts going?"

Wen Ning nodded, joining in to help change topic. "We heard of the Golden Duo of Lanling attacking a multi-headed beast... What was it, Mianmian-jie?"

Zixuan was never the one to talk so it was always her they turned to. Not that she was reluctant. "Ah, a three-headed tiger. The thing had sneaked into our Phoenix Mountain hunting grounds."

And so they chatted on for another while, each wonderful sect boasting about their own victories. The Lans, as expected, were the only silent ones, but today, Lan Xichen was in a good mood. Good enough to humbly brag about his little brother slaying some other massive beast successfully, leaving the others in awe.

Hmph, told you he's a swan.

He isn't really arrogant about it... Jiang Yanli shook her head at her brother's obstinacy.

Well, swans aren't arrogant anyway, Wei Wuxian smirked. Just beautiful and white, high and glamourous.

Ahem, ahem, Jiang Cheng coughed. Did I hear you say 'beautiful'?

Well, I never said he's ugly, Wei Wuxian huffed. Oh, look's like we're coming to the real topic at last. They turned to the crowds to see how things were going.

The talk of the proposals were going to commence, so Yanli gulped. Ziyuan turned to them to want them beforehand. "By the way, it's not just A-Li. A-Cheng, too."

"What!" Jiang Cheng goggled at her.