Lan Qiren read a book at a corner of his study, and the Lan Elder who was quite a good astrologer sat at Lan Qiren's study's main table. Wei Wuxian sat across the table, seated side by side with his newly-betrothed, who was currently engaged in reading their hands.

"Hm... interesting... interesting indeed," the man was mumbling.

Wei Wuxian's and Lan Wangji's left hands lay on the table, palms turned up for the man to inspect them. Lan Xichen stood at another corner, leaning against the wall, watching curiously.

"What is it, Elder Wang?" Wei Wuxian asked, leaning in out of anxiety. "Is something wrong...?"

"Oh, quite the contrary!" Elder Wang grinned. Having gained his skills from his mother, Lady Lan from some decades ago, he was deeply intrigued by what he saw. "Well, first off, your zodiacs. Wei Gongzi's sign seems to be the Goat."

"Yes," Wei Wuxian nodded. "Unluckiest I could get," he grinned.

"Indeed. But what's interesting is Wangji's is the Tiger."

"Tiger?" Wei Wuxian ogled at Lan Zhan. "Lan Zhan, could you get any more impressive?"

"Polar opposites," Lan Xichen smiled. "The Goat is the unluckiest, Tiger's the luckiest."

"Exactly," Elder Wang nodded. "Balanced out just right. But then... doesn't sound too auspicious to me. I had thought of settling on a date just over a month from now, on the Spring Equinox, but no. All well balanced, yes, but all you need is a slight tip of the scales and everything will tumble down. So... let's shift the date to something far more auspicious..." he counted on his fingers. "When's the date for the New Year?"

"First of February," Lan Qiren answered, still reading the book, seemingly uninterested in the event.

"Right. Spring Equinox is on the fifth... Xichen, is February fifteenth the day for–"

"The Lantern Festival. Yes, Elder Wang," Lan Xichen nodded.

"Perfect. Then at the end of the two weeks of New Year celebrations, on the fifteenth of February, the night of the Lantern Festival shall be your date. Yuan Xiao Festival Night." Elder Wang checked his lunar calendar. "Wow... this union of yours is beyond interesting..."

"Why, Elder?" Lan Zhan looked up, curious.

"The fifteenth of February is the night of the first full moon this year. Splendid date!"

Wei Wuxian smiled. "Well, first full moon, Lantern Festival, start of the new year, Tiger of a husband, looks like any bad luck from my side will wear out perfectly," he chuckled.

"It would," Elder Wang nodded and patted their hands for them to retreat them. "Qiren? Satisfied with the date?"

"Mn," Lan Qiren nodded, still not looking up from his book.

"Xichen?"

"Love it, Elder. Thank you very much for your help today."

"Any time, Xichen," the Elder nodded and walked out of the study with a nod to the betrothed duo.

Lan Xichen beckoned to the two of them to follow him out of the study, leave Lan Qiren alone. Once outside, he walked with them to the compound where the others were chatting.

"Zewu-Jun?"

"Wei Gongzi?"

"Is Shifu... mad at me?"

Lan Xichen pursed his lips. "Well... He never did..." he gulped, not having the heart to say it all.

Wei Wuxian laughed. "Like me. True, he never did like me at all. And now I'm becoming his nephew-in-law, he doubtlessly detests me to the core. Is he against it? Can't help it if he is though, it isn't like Lan Zhan nor I have a choice," Wei Wuxian shrugged.

"Shufu will warm up slowly, don't worry. Ah, there they are," he nodded to the others.

Jiang Yanli let go of Jin Zixuan's hand and rushed to him. "A-Xian! When's your date?"

"February fifteenth, Shijie. How did yours go? When's your date?"

"Ours was simple. Nothing much, just a date to match the union of our zodiacs."

"February nineteenth. Four days after yours."

"Oh wow, that will be one ruckus for the sects and clans," Wei Wuxian laughed, "Getting dressed twice over."

"Both weddings will be at Lotus Pier, I heard from Sect Leader Jiang, so I'm guessing they'll just have to keep the decorations up," he grinned.

"Oh no, can't do that!" Yanli shook his head. "The decor has the sect emblems and symbolisms embedded into them, so we can't have Jin peonies in a Lan wedding," she chortled. "We'll have to redo it all. A-Xian and I came to a deal after all, didn't we?"

"Of course," Wei Wuxian beamed at her. "I'll help set up her wedding, while she rests. And she'll do the same for me, while I rest."

"We'll come help too," Lan Xichen nodded. "Are you three leaving now? Yanli-mei and Wei Gongzi are free, I believe, but does Zixuan have work to do? Mind coming over to have some tea?"

"We can leave after that," Jin Zixuan nodded. "Then we'll trouble you."

"No trouble at all!"

"Xichen-ge, don't you have work to do?" Jiang Yanli smiled. "You seem so carefree!"

"Seem. You choose your words nicely, Yanli-mei. Seem. Sounds perfect," Xichen sighed. "Alas, too much work. But I want to treat you all for now. Wangji, you're joining us," he grabbed his brother's arm. "No studying in the Library today, come along."

"Xiongzhang..."

"You're betrothed now, behave. I won't tolerate obstinacy."

Lan Wangji nodded and walked alongside Wei Ying. 

**********

"Oh right," Jin Zixuan kept down his teacup. "Zewu-Jun, do you know Meng Yao?"

"Meng Yao?" Lan Xichen asked. "Ah yes, the fellow who came with Huaisang on the first day to school."

"Nie-xiong told me you knew him. I was merely curious. Was that the only time you met him?"

"Not really, why?"

"Oh nothing. You remember him from one meeting? Friends?"

"We do meet up. I pay visits to Da-Ge often and I tend to find him training with A-Sang. He's doing a great job with being Deputy General now, we talk often. Anything the matter, Zixuan? You aren't usually the one to pry..."

"Oh just... Zewu-Jun does know who he is, right?"

"You mean his Jin blood? Yes."

"Well... I'm not intending to condemn him for being misbegotten, I'm just saying to keep a distance from him. I don't want your reputation being tainted."

"Zixuan, he's a decent young man. My reputation can't be tainted by associating with someone so hardworking and clever, illegitimate Jin or not. For now, he's a Nie disciple. That's all."

"A-Xuan, it's not right to deprecate someone just for who their parents are," Jiang Yanli frowned. Wei Wuxian smiled at her, knowing she was talking about his own father being a Jiang servant.

"I understand that, A-Li. What I meant was... not really the illegitimate part. He's been at Lanling before. We've know him. Yao seems a bit creepy, hence my suggestion to avoid him. I just had the feeling that behind his smile, he isn't the sort of person you'd want to cross."

"I don't think so," Lan Xichen shook his head. "Unless I personally get to know proof of him being such a person, I do not wish to lose my friendship with him. But I get what you're saying, and thank you for your caring, Zixuan," he smiled.

Jin Zixuan relented and nodded.

Wei Wuxian watched him keenly. Zixuan knows something... something he isn't telling... why else would he say this all of a sudden? Hm... I should try and get it out of him later. Ah but never mind, might as well forget it. Why do I care for a Meng Yao anyway? He shrugged and passed a teacup to Lan Zhan, who briefly nodded and accepted it.

A Lan disciple knocked on the door and walked in when called. "Sect Leader, Hanguang-Jun," he bowed.

Both nodded back.

"What is it?" Xichen asked.

"Sect Leader, a report from the watchtowers. The one outside Caiyi Town. A young businessman has complained to our guard there about being threatened by a disguised man dressed in black."

"Threatened? What kind of threat?"

"A threat to bring down his entire business and throw him into bankruptcy."

"Blackmail?"

"No, Sect Leader, but a demand to stop his inn business. He runs the big tavern down the sixth street, and the large store on the first lane. Apparently the threat had been to collapse both businesses, not just the requested tavern one."

"Hm? Such a serious threat?" Xichen furrowed his brows, stroking his chin.

"Yes, Sect Leader. The man had found a figure dashing through his tavern last night, and when he had gone around trying to find him, the man had left a letter behind, with the said details."

"Do you have the letter?"

The disciple walked closer and held out the paper.

"Allow me to make a prediction without even looking?" Wei Wuxian grinned.

"Why yes," Xichen nodded.

"The signature. Three characters. Hei. Guang. Jun."

Lan Xichen looked down at the paper and smiled. "Impressive. I suppose you really are a fan of him."

"Who else would do such a thing anyway?"

"But no, this is serious. A threat so severe... the fellow has to be extremely daring. To shut down the tavern or else he would bring down the whole enterprise: store and inn, all? How could he even bring it all down?"

"Someone influential," Jin Zixuan reminded.

"Yes, yes, but so influential? Only I can do such a thing because the tavern's under the GusuLan sect's regime. Anyways... this is terrible. The man was known as a hero all along, why do this now? I knew he'd be a threat someday. He's getting bolder."

"Woah, woah, Zewu-Jun! He can't have turned into a villain overnight! Think about it, there must be a reason for the threat. Maybe there's something suspicious about the tavern he wanted to be shut down. Something you haven't seen yet?" Wei Wuxian jumped in. There was no way he was tolerating them turning against his new friend and saviour.

Xichen thought about it and nodded. "Wangji, I need you to look into this. Check the tavern and the store, see if there's anything hidden about them."

Lan Wangji nodded and stood. "I'll go now. Wei Ying, excuse me."

"Oh no, it's fine. Lan Zhan, mind if I join? Haven't strolled around Caiyi for long now."

"Mn."

"Hurray!" Wei Wuxian hopped up. "Zewu-Jun, Peacock, goodbye, see you later. Shijie, are you leaving?"

"I'll wait until you come back."

"Then I'll be waiting too," Zixuan nodded.

"Oh okay then, see you!" He waved and ran out to catch up with Lan Wangji. 

"Lan Zhan, since it's a tavern, and since Heiguang-Jun wanted to shut the tavern down, there's a possibility the place might be something like a brothel. You sure you want to go in there?"

"I've been there before."

"HUH?" Wei Wuxian faced him.

Lan Wangji's eyes widened by the teensiest millimetre, before he gulped the shock down. "I meant I've been there in the morning. While checking on the townspeople, dropped by to have a drink. Not at night."

Wei Wuxian grinned. "Saying all this to not leave a wrong impression on me? Oh, what a caring husband," he chuckled. 

"Silly," Lan Wangji snapped back, but sensing his ears blushing fast, he picked up pace.

"Hey, wait for me!" Wei Wuxian ran to catch up. 

**********

Having arrived on the first lane, they looked around for the shop. Lan Wangji knew exactly which shop it was so they went straight there.

Curious, he actually knows which shop it is? Wei Wuxian rubbed his nose as they walked in. Who knows whose shop this is?

"Hey, Lan Zhan, who knows whose this–"

"Oh, thank HEAVENS, they've sent me a cultivator," a middle-aged burly man stumbled towards them.

"Er, you really don't need a cultivator for this since it wasn't some demon who came to your inn last night!" A younger man retaliated, bowing courteously to the duo.

"You are...?" Wei Wuxian looked between them.

"I am the man who made the complaint," the fatter one spoke, bowing low. "That devilish brat who intruded into my tavern really was a demon of a man. He frightened my workers! Who gives him the right to barge into a place like that?"

"Psst, oi, shut it. This is Hanguang-Jun," the younger, thinner man nudged him.

"Ha– Hanguang-Jun? Good Sir, apologies for my raucousness," the fellow bowed again.

"Mn," Lan Wangji nodded. "This man is?" He turned to the younger one. Wei Wuxian watched in amusement at how everyone seemed to want to stand and bow at the sound of the name 'Hanguang-Jun'. Hm? Such a famous fellow now? Wei Wuxian smiled. Guess you built your reputation while I was gone...

"This is my younger brother, Hanguang-Jun," the man patted the younger's back.

"Mn. He runs this shop?"

"Why yes, precisely. And I run the tavern."

"Then what are you doing here? You wouldn't want any vandal breaking into your tavern again, right?" Wei Wuxian crossed his arms, still grumpy at them considering Heiguang-Jun a meanie.

"This Gongzi is..............?" The two men stared at the man. A complete contrast in every way from Hanguang-Jun, from his sun-kissed skin, silver eyes, right down to his red ribbon and black robes.

"Oh, I'm–"

"Master Wei!" A girl shouted.

He turned around to see a young lady at the store rushing over to them, bowing to Hanguang-Jun and waving to Wei Wuxian.

Lan Wangji frowned.

"Master Wei's back!"

Wei Wuxian chuckled. "Do I know this young lady?"

"Ah, Master Wei really did forget us, didn't you? Remember the fourteen-year-old girl who showed you and your Jiang siblings the only free inn in all of Caiyi Town that busy day?"

"When we first came? The young girl playing on the street, the one I got chocolates for?"

"YES!" The girl clapped.

"Why goodness, you've grown up!" Wei Wuxian laughed. "Whatcha doing here?"

"I work here now, I'm his wife," she pointed to the younger man, the complainer's younger brother.

"I see," Wei Wuxian nodded with a sigh. Married at sixteen? Well, he was getting married at nearly eighteen, he saw no reason to chide her! "What changes two years can do, eh?"

"Master Wei?" The men asked.

The girl smiled. "He's Wei Wuxian, White Lotus of the Jiang Sect."

Wei Wuxian smiled and nodded, happy that she knew so much about him. Only recently had their Lotus Trio been dubbed with singular names, Jiang Yanli being the Pink Lotus, himself the White Lotus, Jiang Wanyin the Purple one.

"Oh I see!" The older man nodded, cautious to not mention them knowing they were engaged because Hanguang-Jun didn't seem too happy about it. "Then these young masters should help me! I believe I gave the letter to your sect already."

"We saw," Lan Wangji nodded.

"Well, that's all I have to say. I saw a dark fellow sprinting through the ground floor of my tavern, he left that note on the inn's main table. Threatening to destroy the businesses I had spent years on building!"

"Would you happen to be a widower, by any chance?"

"Master Wei? Yes, I am. May I ask why that has anything to do with this?"

"Oh, nothing," Wei Wuxian smirked and shook his head. Lan Wangji shot him a side-glance when the three weren't looking and Wei Wuxian subtly winked back. Lan Zhan nodded and turned back to the three people. "No such problems here?"

"No, Hanguang-Jun."

"Then take us to your inn."

"This way," the old man left his younger brother and sister-in-law in charge of the shop and took the two cultivators to his inn.

Walking down the sixth street, Wei Wuxian spun Chenqing in his fingers. "Hey, Lan Zhan, that store was really good, though. Superb fabrics. Mind if I bring Shijie along some day to get robe material? She'd love the cotton and linen ones. A-Cheng's pickier, velvet is his thing. But this pal's cotton was supreme!" Wei Wuxian slung an arm around the old man, who smiled grateful for the compliment.

"You can gift it to her."

"Wedding gift? Why yes! Ey, Lan Zhan, you're getting more... impressive, I should say. Less boring, almost. Shijie will LOVE that pink cotton cloth I saw, it even had golden and purple lotuses along it! Suits the new Madam Jin," Wei Wuxian laughed happily.

"Our velvet is good, too," the businessman noted. "There's a new stock we received just yesterday, aubergine velvet."

"Great!" Wei Wuxian slapped his back. "Then that will be my parting gift for A-Cheng!"

"And you?"

"Hm? Lan Zhan?"

"Jiang Guniang likes cotton. Jiang Wanyin likes velvet. And you?"

"Oh, I'm more of a silky person, hehe," Wei Wuxian grinned. "See?" He waved his hand over his smooth and soft black robes.

"Mn," Lan Wangji nodded.

Wei Wuxian smiled at him, tempted to tease him. "Going to get this husband of yours a wedding gift?"

The tips of the taller one's ears were painted a sharp red.

"Hahahahahaha!" Wei Wuxian roared. "I must say you rich Lans will make the most spoiling husbands!" But deep down, he knew his laughter was only to mask his amazement. 

Lan Zhan wanted to buy him silk? Lan Zhan wanting to buy him anything at all was a new, let alone black silk! This guy seems to have changed a lot...

"Oh, here we are," the businessman stepped into the inn. Wei Wuxian scratched his chin for a second and shouted, "Hey we'll be back in a few minutes, got to head to a store nearby!" He grabbed Lan Wangji's wrist and dragged him away from the inn, running to a nearby accessories stall.

"Wei Ying?" Lan Zhan glared at the hand gripping his wrist.

"Ah, sorry," Wei Ying let go. "But Lan Zhan, you sure you want to go in there?"

"If it is a bordello in broad daylight, he wouldn't take us in there."

"True. Then mind letting me do the talking and finding out? The man himself won't say a word. We'll linger around for five minutes, then walk in and casually take a normal table. The guy would have gone inside by then. I'll try talking to a waiter over wine."

"Mn," Lan Wangji nodded.

Walking up and down the street, Wei Ying crossed his hands behind his back and glimpsed at Lan Wangji. "Lan Zhan..."

"Mn?"

"You've changed."

"Not at all."

"Oh, I didn't mean your attitude towards me," Wei Wuxian cackled. "I meant... I don't know. You seem different..."

Lan Zhan's head twisted around to face him. "Is it bad?"

"Oh no, it's splendid! I just miss the arrogant, lofty Lan Zhan from before! Hey, maybe your alcohol tolerance has improved too! Wanna have a drink at that inn while we're at it?" 

"Boring."

"Tsk, never mind, forget all I said. You'll never change," Wei Wuxian sighed.

Just then, a little boy being chased by an older woman sprinted past them, kicking up the dust on the street, and fell over onto the ground with a smack. Even before Wei Wuxian could react as he usually did, helpful and all smiles, Lan Wangji had hurried over. Bending down, he picked the boy up and held him by the shoulder, checking for bruises. "Wounded?"

"No," the boy snivelled.

Seeing him rubbing the dust on his face, Wei Wuxian held out a hankie. "Come here," he knelt to the boy's level and wiped his face, brushed down his rags. Ah, a beggar boy like me back then. He smiled and tucked the boy's hair behind his ears. "Hey, no crying. I didn't cry like you back when I was in your shoes, you know?"

The boy looked into his smiling eyes, surprised to hear such a beautiful young master had ever been in his shoes.

"If you feel sad, then rant your worries to your parents."

"I... Mama is ill..."

"Your father?"

"Dead."

Wei Wuxian rubbed his thumb on the boy's cheek sympathetically. Lan Wangji watched him for a while, gripping Bichen tightly knowing Wei Wuxian was remembering his past and turned around to and the woman who had been chasing the boy. She was standing at a side, not wanting to cross the two cultivators.

"What's the matter?"

"Lan Er-Gongzi, this boy stole dumplings from my stall... not a single coin left."

"How many?"

"Two," the woman glowered at the sniffing boy in Wei Wuxian's hands.

"I had to take one for Mother too..."

Wei Wuxian sighed. "A nearly three-year-old boy being understanding enough to know he has to take food for his mother, what's wrong with sparing a dumpling or two?" He asked the woman.

Lan Wangji shook his head at him.

"Lan Zhan!" Wei Wuxian got mad at him, thinking he was on the woman's side.

"Stealing is a sin," Lan Wangji looked at the little boy.

"Oi! Be nice, he's–"

Lan Zhan completely ignored him and spoke to the boy. "Next time you want food, come to Cloud Recesses." He faced the woman and held out a cube of silver. "This is to make up for all you lost."

"Lan Er-Gongzi, this much is... way too much..." the woman stared at the silver placed in her hands.

"Don't bully the weak again."

"U– Understood," the woman bowed and rushed back to her stall happily.

"And you. No more theft," he nodded to the little boy.

"I..."

"Lan Zhan, can't you be more understanding?" Wei Wuxian barked at him.

Lan Zhan ignored him. He delved into his sleeve and brought out a piece of jade, clouds crafted into it, shining whitish-blue, and handed it to the boy. The boy took it and stared at it.

"Jade Token. Whenever you need anything, food, clothes, medicine, come to Cloud Recesses. Show the token at the gates. Tell my name. They'll show you in to me."

"Th– Thank you!" The boy stammered and turned to run off to show the beautiful item to his mother. Lan Wangji stopped him by the shoulder and nodded to his hands. The boy held out his little grimy hand and Lan Zhan placed another block of silver on it.

"Medicine for your mother."

The boy was drowning in exuberance. "Thank you so much!" He squealed and hugged Lan Zhan's leg out of sheer joy. "Gongzi, I don't know your name..."

"Hanguang-Jun," Lan Wangji answered, voice tight under the fluster of being leg-hugged by a toddler.

"Okay!" He hugged the muscular leg tighter and beamed.

Wei Wuxian, still kneeling on the ground, gawked at the scene. "Lan Zhan... I take back all I said. HOW did you grow this amazing? Younger Jade of Gusu deserves his name, Hanguang-Jun," Wei Wuxian smiled and stood.

"Gongzi, thank you for the hankie!" The boy cried and hugged Wei Wuxian's leg as well before running into the distance. 

"Sweet little fellow," Wei Wuxian smiled. "Smile's as bright as sunshine. Lan Zhan... I'm stunned but also inspired. Good job!" He smacked Lan Zhan's arm. Before Lan Wangji could glare at him, he ran towards the inn, ready to tackle their case.