"Feng Xiao, what are you daydreaming about!" A hoarse voice shouted in the dilapidated inn. Luo Qingfei's thoughts were forced away from Wei Wuxian to the present.

The said man was staring into the distance, ignoring his colleagues' discussions. "Feng Xiao, what's wrong?" The villainess asked.

"Leader Luo, nothing, just... That Wei Wuxian has to be caught. But not just him. Wen Ning too. That Ghost General killed my brother. I won't let either of them off easily," he looked at Luo Qingfei with flaring eyes.

"Hm, I know, Feng Li, right?" Luo Qingfei stroked her chin.

"Feng Li and Zhang Xin were the best after Leader Zhen. Leader Luo, we need to do something," Feng Xiao, a broad-shouldered man with a deep voice and harsh undertone spoke.

"And soon," another disciple with a lean body and sharp eyes added.

"Yes, yes, but we have to get the Seal first. Goals first, revenge next. We capture him, then we can get both done! You'll be happy and so will I! So stop chattering and get to work," Luo Qingfei commanded.

The two who spoke stood up with a third person, also a lady. "Leader Luo, any orders for today?"

Luo Qingfei first turned to the muscular man. "Feng Xiao, get your gang to practise. Remember those two Wen moves I taught you? Teach that."

"Sure!" He bowed and marched away, signalling with two fingers to his men, all brawny ones. They stood up, bowed to Leader Luo and rushed out with their boss.

"Zhao Xing, go with a few of your squad. Find the latest guarding spots of those stupid big sects and look for unguarded places for us to loot," she waved to the skinny man. This one seemed to be have the brains.

"Sure, Leader Luo!" He turned around.

"Use lightness skill, don't get caught. That Sect Leader Nie's scouts are too good," she warned.

Zhao Xing, the scouting leader, turned his head to the woman and smirked. "Sect Leader Nie is indeed too good, but not enough!" He cackled as he snapped his fingers outside the inn's door. Zhao Xing and around twenty others leaped into the air, their feet soundlessly leaving contact with the ground, as they equally quietly landed on the treetops. Luo Qingfei walked over to the door of the inn and watched, hands crossed behind her back, while the spying squad leaped from tree to tree, dispersing on their duty. She nodded with a smile.

"Wang Xinyi," she turned to the other lady standing behind her.

"Leader Luo?" Wang Xinyi had the most deceitful feminine voice, like a smooth silver stream with a coarse undercurrent. Her eyes were sharper than Zhao Xing's and gleamed a wise almond as she stared fearlessly into her leader's eyes. Those sharp eyes noticed something out of the blue. "Leader Luo, you're bleeding."

"Huh? Oh, never mind that," she mumbled, wiping the line of blood trickling from her mouth. "Xinyi, send your archery troops to practise. Bring your smartest three and let's discuss further plans."

"Sure, Leader!" Wang Xinyi banged her fist against her palm and called out three other Jin traitors sitting in a corner. One of them instructed to go to the archery range with the others, while the other two joined them. Together, the five walked out of the inn into a hut: the rebels' Conference Hall. Wang Xinyi just noticed Luo Qingfei's limp and a dampening leg garment: damp with a dark claret red.

**********

"MEILIEN! Why? Why are you crying this much?"

The young Jiang disciples chuckled at the hilarious scene before them. The Angry Lotus was cradling a wailing baby girl, desperately trying and failing to calm her down.

"Good Lord, I wonder if A-jie was like this... Poor Mother... Oh dear, was I like this?" Jiang Cheng muttered to himself.

He'd tried everything he could: giving toys, sweets, Sandu's sheath, lotuses, dresses, everything. He'd even removed his dear ring and given her Zidian to hold in her hand. But Jiang Meilien was clearly done with Zidian. She held the familiar ring for some time before tossing it into the air and throwing up a louder tantrum afresh.

Jiang Cheng ran to catch his mother's ring and slid it back onto his finger, sighing in exasperation. Now what? Jiang Cheng wondered and pondered for a long time as he tossed the girl up and down in an attempt to calm her. Suddenly, the image of a habitual friend popped into his head. Right, he'd know what to do.

And with that, the worn out father drove his daughter aboard Sandu, headed straight for Gusu, his brother's home.

**********

"Xichen! Xichen!" Jiang Wanyin landed right outside Lan Xichen's study. But the doors were wide open and Xichen wasn't there. "Oh come on!" He cursed as he strolled to the Jingshi. Xichen must doubtlessly have gone to see his brother.

As Jiang Cheng neared the Jingshi's archway, Lan Xichen himself came and opened the doors.

"I figured it was you," he smiled.

"How did you know?"

Lan Xichen chortled. "The wails," he nodded towards a kicking and screaming Meilien.

"Xichen, help me! I tried everything she just won't calm down!" Jiang Cheng cried as he entered the Jingshi. Lan Zhan was there, surrounded by books, but looking up at the howling baby, horrified by her sheer cacophony.

"Wanyin, tried milk?"

"Yes! Milk, sweets, toys, Zidian, lotuses, everything!" He shook Meilien as he spoke.

Lan Huan shook his head. "Wanyin, you should try something new. Children get bored of the same stuff. Also, that's not how you calm her down," he laughed as he tapped Meilien on the shoulder.

She momentarily stopped the tantrum and turned to look at Xichen, sniffing and pouting. Just like didi, Xichen thought as he opened his hands towards the baby girl. The little one looked from one hand to the next then up at the beaming jade face, and sniffed again. Slowly, she shuffled in Jiang Cheng's arms and scooted towards the Jade's hands.

Jiang Cheng watched open-mouthed.

Lan Xichen took her in his arms, hugging her, laying her chin on his tough shoulder, gently patting the back as soft as a rose petal. "Meilien, there you are. You're the Beautiful Lotus, lotuses don't cry for no reason!"

Meilien sniffed.

Lan Xichen gently moved her to sit on his left arm and face him. "Now, who's the good girl?" He asked, his voice twinkling with cheer as he waved his right hand to summon Liebing. Both Jiang Wanyin and Lan Wangji thought he would play something to calm her down but were shocked wholly and pleasantly. Lan Xichen brought Liebing to Meilien's face and waved it slightly. Meilien stared at it with an O-shaped mouth for some time, before grabbing it and stroking it. And at last, to the others' glee, at the touch of the cold bamboo, she burst into fits of giggles.

Lan Wangji nodded to Wanyin and turned his head back to his books. Not even Meilien's mesmerising chuckles could make the broken Jade smile. Lan Wangji had an ice heart, which was once in a jade pot. The jade pot had shattered into pieces long ago, when a young man beaming with cheer and bubbling with warmth had met him outside the gates of Cloud Recesses. But the ice heart had endured through so many ordeals that it had cracks all over. If he couldn't find the answers he so miserably needed in these books or anywhere at all, then he couldn't be sure how much longer that heart of ice would hold out. The ice heart was on fire, burning, scorching his soul. And if Wei Ying didn't wake up, it would go down in flames.

He sighed and shook his head to drive away the pessimism and moved his eyes and consciousness back to the book unfolded before him. Lan Wangji and his xiongzhang had been searching for the answer for days now, and so had Jiang Wanyin and Nie Huaisang back in their own sects. Jin Ling wasn't asked to since all the Jins had accumulated was wealth not wisdom.

Nonetheless, it had been days and there was still no solution from anyone. Turns out, destroying the Seal wasn't as easily done as said.

While Lan Zhan spent his time scanning the notes before his eyes, Lan Xichen walked over to the bed with Meilien. He sat beside the comatose Wei Wuxian before seating Jiang Meilien on his lap, so that she could easily reach out to his face.

And that was exactly what Jiang Meilien did. She stretched her plump little arm towards the Yiling Patriarch's face. She leaned in and pointed her index finger towards him then tapped his nose. Lan Huan smiled.

"She really is A-jie," Jiang Cheng mumbled, his mind filled with how Yanli used to go 'Boop!' on her two brothers' noses.

Meilien took her hand back and tilted her head to a side, wondering why this man was not waking up.

"Meilien, do you know who he is? He's your Shishu. Wei Shishu, understood?" Lan Huan rocked her on his lap, dragging the syllables of the name so that it sunk into 'Meilien's head. Meilien kept staring at her Wei Shishu. Her rosy hand then moved to the face as white as snow. She lightly touched one shut eye, then stroked the other.

"Wei Shishu is dozing, let him be," Lan Huan ruffled her hair. She turned back to her fatherly uncle and stared at his face, before moving that same hand up and twirling her fingers around his headband. Jiang Cheng gasped as she yanked it off.

"Meilien! You can't do that–!"

"It's fine, Wanyin. Let her play with it," Sect Leader Lan broke the other off.

Jiang Cheng watched in awe for some time. Wasn't the Lan headband only touchable by family? Did Lan Xichen consider Jiang Cheng's daughter his own family? Jiang Cheng gasped softly, before shaking his head furiously. No, it must be because Meilien is insistent. He cursed himself for burning up inside so intensely before rushing over to the block of ice in the room to cool himself down.

"Lan Wangji, what are you doing?"

Lan Zhan, for the first time, actually willingly paid attention to Jiang Cheng. "Mn? Searching."

"For what?"

"Ways to destroy the Seal."

"Ah! It would be found in no time if this idiot was awake. Remember, he reads five books at once?" Jiang Cheng recalled. Lan Zhan nodded, half-smiling.

"Well, while Meilien's here, let me help," Jiang Cheng offered putting out his hands. Lan Zhan looked at him for some time before sighing with acquiescence. He picked up six books on a side and handed them to his brother-in-law.

The two began to read.

The morning passed by. The sun came and left. As the moon's time to shine arrived, Lan Zhan kept his book aside and walked to the window. He stared up at the sky.

Jiang Cheng had left with the frisky baby. He'd promised to go to Koi Tower and rummage through Jin Guangyao's treasures to see if he has Wei Wuxian's old notes on the Answer.

Lan Xichen had gone to check on the juniors before their night hunt tonight, though actually it was to ensure through Sizhui that Wen Ning will accompany them since neither Hanguang-Jun nor the Yiling Patriarch will be going with them tonight. 

The three sons had wretchedly cried that they didn't want to go on the night hunt, but when told that they should inform Ouyang Zizhen if they met him, they agreed.

Nie Huaisang had come in some hours earlier to inform they've spotted spies in black at various points across the suburbs of Lanling and Yunmeng, so they might be getting closer. He'd left right after, taking half the Gusu library with him, vowing to help Lan Wangji with finding the Answer.

Thinking of all this, Lan Zhan sighed. A-Ying, you've so many people to care for you. Why do you have to toss them into such misery? And me? Have I done something wrong that you don't even want to wake up? A-Ying? Where are you?

Lan Zhan crossed his hands behind his back and stargazed: but there were no stars. Tonight should have been a full moon, but such a thing was barely in sight. The sky was darker than its usual midnight blue, cloudy, ashen. Inky strings of cloud enveloped the heavens, snaking across the stratosphere, making the sky moonless and the night, ominous.

No, he will wake up. You promised me, A-Ying. I'm not Jiang Wanyin. I'm not used to you being a promise-breaker. You promised you'll come back. And you will.

A knock on the door tugged Lan Wangji back to his world. He walked to the door and opened it, letting Auntie Yue enter with two bowls of soup. She nodded to Lan Wangji and left. No more words had to be said: she'd come here for two weeks now, three times each day. Madam Fan had done her two weeks, too, but to no avail.

Lan Zhan knew what to do. He had done this for a whole month. He took the bowl, sat by his darling and adjusted the pillows, bringing Wei Ying into a seated position. He then tipped a spoonful into the comatose man's mouth and held him straight, letting the healing broth trickle down his throat. Again and again, over and over, without a single word or a moment of tiredness or boredom, Lan Zhan proceeded to finish off the entire bowl.

Lan Zhan placed the bowl aside, wiped Wei Ying's mouth with his sleeve and stroked his hair for some time, before walking back to the table, and keeping the bowl on the tray. He moved the tray aside, summoned Wangji, and played a harmonious tune to soothe both his other half and himself. Once, the song was over, he dismissed the zither and shuffled to the drawers and brought out a light white robe; after that, he left the Jingshi for a minute. Having had a bath and changed into a night robe, he climbed onto the bed beside his husband, put up a ward around their home. Suddenly, he remembered something and stepped down. Lan Zhan picked up the tray and placed it outside on the verandah, shut the doors again, replaced the ward and went back to their bed.

Lan Wangji propped his head on his elbow, lying sideways as he watched. The one free hand tenderly stroked the younger's hair, for hours to come, all the way until dawn. Not once did the golden eyes shut. 

He stared at his beloved as the latter dozed on. Two men lying on the bed, one waiting for the other. Two bowls of soup on the table, one emptied, the other... suffice to say, it was by now used to being left unconsumed.

The next morning, golden divine light seeped into the room as it did every morn. The sun that bid farewell yesterday returned. But Lan Zhan's A-Ying still didn't. 

**********

As Lan Zhan had thought last night, a month had passed. Sect Leaders Jiang and Lan had agreed to let the treatment last for two months. But what if it still didn't work? Lan Zhan thought as he sat in the middle of a ring of white fluff balls. The bunnies and the children, who were watching over Daddy right now, were the only comfort Lan Wangji had had for the past month. However, even among the bunnies there was a sadness: Wei Ying's favourite, the black rabbit, had disappeared.

But now wasn't a time to search for a rabbit. He had to wake Wei Ying up first, then they can find it together. But how would he do that? Would he really have to find Baoshan Sanren? Or maybe find a way to ask Wen Qing?

Right! Lan Zhan sat up. Wen Qing never left, never reincarnated, she was still in the Other Realm. Maybe he could ask for help. Wen Qing would surely help her soul-brother. Lan Zhan patted the rabbits' heads goodbye and dashed off to the Jingshi.

Within seconds, he was back by their waterfall. The bunnies made way as Lan Wangji sat in the centre of the clearing. He brought out Wangji. Having placed Wangji on his lap and sparked it up with his spiritual energy, he placed what he had brought from the Jingshi by his side. The bunnies crowded more around the familiar object than their master, sniffing at the accustomed energy and scent. By now, they were not in the least afraid of Chenqing; instead, they liked the way it reminded them of their friend and second master.

This will help. Wen Qing must be used to the energy of Chenqing, she'll come here faster, Lan Zhan thought as he closed his eyes and began to play. The melody of Inquiry drifted across the woods and into the Other Realm. Within two minutes into the song, a figure had appeared before Lan Zhan.

"Second Young Master Lan? What's wrong?"

"Young Mistress Wen, thank you for coming. It's A-Ying."

Wen Qing frowned. "I can tell that from your face and energy. You're too weak to even play Inquiry! Haven't eaten? Not a second of sleep?" 

Lan Zhan could only look down at the grass. 

Wen Qing sighed. "What has that idiot done this time?"

Lan Zhan gazed at the grass as he described the situation.

"A month! Is Lan Xichen out of his mind! Wait for another month and Wei Wuxian might be dead! He could do just as well if they go find Baoshan Sanren right now!" Wen Qing was furious.

"Wen Qing, we don't even know where she is. But I thought..." Lan Zhan trialed off.

Wen Qing smiled benevolently. "That I could help? Why not? Didn't A-Ning help you out?"

Lan Zhan shook his head. "He said he didn't know."

"What was this poison again?"

"Fatal Silver."

"Hm? Fatal Silver?" Wen Qing sat in front of Lan Zhan, turning the name over in her mind. "Isn't it a water-based poison? I hadn't taught A-Ning those yet. Hm... Might have been derived out of the lakes in Yunmeng. Isn't Jiang Yunxi their doctor? Wouldn't he know the cure?"

"He does. Well, it's more of a treatment. The soup I told you of," Lan Zhan reminded.

"Ah right. But that's not it. Don't they use sunflower seeds?"

Lan Zhan smacked his forehead. "Sorry, I forgot. Jiang Yunxi and Lan Yuanhua didn't have an exact idea, so they discussed and decided on making a paste of the sunflower seeds and stuffing the wound with it–"

"Excellent!" Wen Qing clapped. "These doctors aren't bad. But what did they add to the paste?" She raised an eyebrow, expecting a good-for-nothing answer.

Lan Zhan thought for some time, then replied, "Lan Yuanhua added some medicinal herbs from the forest. Calendula, tea, aloe, lavender and–"

"Knew it! This is where they go wrong. No, that paste is not right. It's not supporting the sunflower seeds, and it's not enough. The sunflower seeds alone are not enough, nor are they any use at all without some support. Here, listen to me," Wen Qing scooted forward and Lan Zhan bent to listen carefully to the doctor.

"Grind sunflower seeds and raw nuts. Crush broccoli, lentils and garlic. Chop up some legumes. Add two cups of tea tree oil and one cup of wine. Your Emperor's Smile is too weak, try a Yunmeng liquor. Mix them all together. And there! You have the perfect paste for this Fatal Silver wound!" She beamed at the other.

Lan Zhan gawked at her. Wine? And a Yunmeng wine?

Wen Qing laughed. "The wine's to speed up the healing. And the stronger it is, the better. Us Wens had the best wine, but now it's the Jiangs. Now go!"

"Wen Qing, I..."

"No need to thank me, Wei Wuxian's done more than this for me and my people. This is nothing at all. Tell this to the doctors and it's fine, tell them it was I who gave the recipe, no need to hide. No matter what your sects think, fellow doctors respect each other. And when that idiot wakes up, tell him his sister told him to never leave his husband's side again." Wen Qing stood up, waved and vanished in the blink of an eye.

Lan Zhan immediately tumbled up the hill, running as fast as his legs — shaking with excitement — would allow.

It wasn't A-Ying, Wen Qing. I was the one who left his side. But I will never do that again. I promise. Qing-jie, thank you, Lan Zhan's flushed face smiled.