"A-Cheng, catch Meilien!" But Xichen had already grabbed her, hugging her tight.

"A-Xian, careful!" Jiang Cheng's Sandu was unsheathed, ready and standby. Not just Sandu, Shuoyue, Zhipei, Zhiming, Bichen, Suibian, Song Lan's Fuxue and Shuanghua, and the juniors' swords too, Suihua gleaming beside Mianmian's Jin sword. 

Wei Wuxian waved his hand and wiggled his fingers, drawing out a talisman and slamming it towards the others, a protection barrier. These were nasty sprites, dark spirits who favoured mischief, but only mischief in the form of murder. Chenqing was halfway to his lips and Wangji almost twanged when a bright red figure dashed before them, from left to right, knocking out one spirit to the next, slamming them against trees. As the spirits knocked against the trees — most of them being physical confirmed that they were demons — they surrendered and vanished. The sharp scarlet was by Wei Wuxian's side in a flash.

"Master, are you alright?"

"Xiangxiang, what are you doing here?"

"Came for the party," Xiao Xiang smirked at the demons still lingering. They were too non-physical for her to attack, she couldn't knock them against the trees. But just then...

"Well, we all did come for the party! Didn't know the show's begun already!" A bright voice chuckled.

"Just what do you think you're doing here!" A deeper voice growled.

"It's the King! Goodness, run!" The mischievous spirits disappeared in seconds.

Wei Wuxian sighed and dismissed the barrier around his brothers, friends and sons. He waved the children and corpses back, assuring them all was well. He turned to the voices and bowed low in gratitude. "Xie Lian, Hua Cheng, Xiangxiang, thank you."

"Nah, it's fine!" Xie Lian smacked his shoulder. "Happy birthday, Mr Glacier's husband!"

Wei Wuxian grinned. "A-Cheng, you guys alright?"

"Yes, we are," the Jiang siblings chorused.

"Meilien..." Wei Wuxian walked to his niece. "What am I to do with you? Chenqing answers to none but me... A-Cheng, I'm sorry–"

"For what? It's alright, it's up to her destiny. Nothing will change that, A-Xian. Maybe A-Jie was done with being defenceless last time, and saw you being alone and suffering, so decided to go with you this time!" Jiang Cheng smiled, ruffling his daughter's hair.

"Wei Wuxian, your niece looks just as beautiful as you claimed! Hello, little one!" Xie Lian waved to her and she played with his straw hat. "Wei Wuxian, my good friend, got wine today?"

Wei Wuxian grinned and nodded to the Jiangs. Baozhai brought out another bottle from her sleeve's stock. "I should warn you," she began, "Yunmeng wines are the strongest after the Wens," she handed him the bottle. Xie Lian promised to have it slowly once the dining at the party began. 

"So, where are we having the party?" Hua Cheng walked up to Lan Wangji. 

Lan Wangji pursed his lips as a sign for silence on the topic. Hua Cheng nodded with a knowing smile. 

"Xiangxiang," Wei Wuxian turned to his demoness.

"Master. Zewu-Jun, Sandu Shengshou, hello!" She waved to her friends who waved back, then bowed to Hanguang-Jun and thanked him for the invitation. She then turned back to Wei Wuxian. "Master," she pulled out a little sparkling gift bag from her sleeve and swung it before Wei Wuxian. "This is for little Meilien." 

Wei Wuxian nodded and took the bag. With a permissive nod from Jiang Cheng, Meilien's father, he opened the bag and took out the present. A lovely little corsage, with a bouquet of lotuses and water lilies tied together by a string of pinkish white pearls and a strawberry cerise ribbon. Lan Xichen beamed at Xiao Xiang in gratitude, because the little gift was the prettiest thing for Meilien. Meilien was squealing, squealing for Susu to put it on her. Wei Wuxian did. Once it was worn, Xiao Xiang spoke. "Zewu-Jun, Sandu Shengshou, since she considers you her fathers, either of you can infuse your spiritual energy into the pearls: you'll be able to track her easily, as long as she wears this." 

Both fathers nodded and thanked her. 

"Master, this one's for you. Well, more like for you and Hanguang-Jun, but here," she grinned a very, very cheeky smile and handed a casket. 

Wei Wuxian narrowed his eyes at her far-too-mischievous grin before opening the casket. A wonderful aroma filled the air, drawing Nie Huaisang to it. "Woah, Wei-xiong, are those roses?" 

"No, just rose scent, right, Xiangxiang?" Wei Wuxian took out a golden perfume pouch and sniffed it. 

"No, Master, it's rose petals crushed into a dust. Hence the fragrance."

Wei Wuxian nodded as he kept the pouch and took out a little jar-like thing next to it inside the casket. Nie Huaisang grinned and wagged Zhiming at Xiao Xiang. "Lady Xiao, you really are the cheekiest woman I know after Xuanji. This is an incense burner? So you burn the rose dust? Aromatic, romantic," Nie Huaisang smacked his blushing Wei-xiong's back. 

"Lan Zhan, look!" Wei Wuxian decided he shouldn't be the only one blushing. And indeed, Lan Wangji's entire face turned crimson as he nodded. Wei Wuxian turned back to Xiao Xiang. "Xiangxiang, thank you."

"Master, I'll be going then."

Wei Wuxian gave her a warm hug, which made her leave with a wide childish grin.

Lan Xichen and Nie Huaisang began to talk with the just-entered Xie Lian and Hua Cheng when Hua Cheng remembered their gifts and handed two caskets to Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian opened the first box on top to see two gifts, one from each member of the couple. Hua Cheng had given a shining silver belt with carvings of the silver butterflies along it, and it suited Wei Wuxian's black robes perfectly. Of course, he tied the belt then and there and wore it for the rest of the day. 

Xie Lian, on the other hand, had given him a lotus-shaped candle. Wei Wuxian lit it with a fire talisman to see its translucent wax glowed rainbow colours under the flame, and let out a wonderful lotus fragrance. "It's eternal. Never dies out. Something from up there," Xie Lian smiled, pointing to the skies. 

The birthday boy thanked both of them and kept the candle back in the box. The perfect thing to add to our lovemaking room at the inn, he thought with a grin. He handed the box to Lan Zhan to hold, then focussed on the second box. In that, was a shimmering silver hairpin, a silver butterfly bright as a star at its edge. Wei Ying walked to his niece, tied her long hair up in a bun high on top and placed the hairpin. It looked perfect above her pale, charming face. 

"Wow, you two have picked just the hairpin for her! Thank you," Lan Xichen nodded. 

Hua Cheng and Xie Lian beamed. Hua Cheng waved his hand so that a single silver butterfly landed on each of the birthday people. Nie Huaisang and the others watched in awe while Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian petted one shimmering butterfly, and Xichen and Jiang Cheng stroked the other on Meilien. "They're so beautiful," the girls sighed. 

"Wei Ying, come," Lan Zhan pulled Wei Ying by the hand and walked in a direction Jiang Cheng pointed, somewhere near a lotus lake. The two stood there, waiting while Jiang Cheng got the surprise ready. Xichen had winked to Wangji on the way here, so Wei Wuxian had a good feeling something pleasant was to happen, but he waited patiently for his husband to speak up. 

They stood at the edge of the jetty outside Yanli's old room which overlooked onto the Lotus Pier's main lake.

"A-Ying."

"Yes, love?"

Lan Zhan turned Wei Ying to face him. He looked down and took both hands in his. Caressing them with his hands, he sighed. 

Wei Ying panicked. "A-Zhan, what's wrong?"

Lan Zhan smiled. "Don't be scared, nothing bad. I'm just... thinking..." 

Wei Ying nodded. "I'm not going anywhere, love, take your time," he squeezed his hands and waited with a constant smile. 

After a few minutes, Lan Zhan had mustered enough courage. "A-Ying, I know I tell this almost every night, but this time, it's official. I love you. The way you smile, the way your eyes gleam when you grin, the way their silver shine twinkles brighter than the stars, the way you always keep up the cheer in a place, infect everyone else with your jolliness, the way you think of everyone's safety, the way you always forgive your loved ones, the way you always forgive me... The way you look into my eyes... The way you say my name... A-Ying, there's not one thing I don't love about you.  I owe you everything, A-Ying." 

Wei Wuxian blinked. "Good Lord, A-Zhan, what made you talk so much! That's the first time you've ever said so much... And what's this about owing me? Are you nuts? You're my husband, the love of my life, you never owe me anything! If at all, I'm the one who owes all my lifetimes to you," Wei Wuxian smiled.

Lan Zhan shook his head. "You're the only one who made me smile after Mother's passing. The only one I talked to after years of living silently with xiongzhang and Shifu. I owe you too much. Too much to repay. But I'll make one promise to compensate." He took a deep breath, while Wei Ying just held his. "I have made this vow before, and I shall do it again. I promise to take care of you, to look after you, to please you, to protect you, to keep you safe. And to never let you go, again." Wei Wuxian felt something slip onto his ring finger, before Lan Zhan kissed the hand gently. "There." He lifted Wei Ying's hand for him to see.

Lan Zhan had requested earlier that they remove their rings for a few days, saying he wanted to make a small adjustment. But this! This was beyond any adjustment! 

A ring of sparkling, pure gold. On it sat one beautiful gemstone, a microscale jewel cut in the shape of a delicate flower, every last petal a slice of some malleable form of diamond. An elegant white rose that was lined with bloody red at the edges. A perfect depiction of the couple: a love so pure albeit marked with prominent bloodshed. And on either side of the gem was a single letter carved into the gold ring. Together, it read the name to Wei Wuxian's favourite song. WangXian. 

Lan Zhan watched, bemused, as Wei Ying's eyes twinkled and flashed with excitement. "A-Ying likes it?"

"Like it? LIKE it? A-Zhan, you're the most thick-skinned man ever! This is... Argh!" Wei Wuxian couldn't think of words to say so he just threw his arms around Lan Zhan and kissed him raw. 

"A-Zhan, where's yours?"

Lan Zhan showed his hand, to display a perfect duplicate on his finger. "And the energies?"

"I infused them into the roses." 

"Don't tell me you made these!" Wei Wuxian asked, goggle-eyed. 

"No, a craftsman and jeweller in Caiyi. That's why I got late to come to the bunny-hill that night–"

"I KNEW IT! You fuddy-duddy won't leave me alone there, waiting, unless it was something for me," Wei Ying giggled as he twirled Lan Zhan's hair in his fingers. "Then let me say something too. But it'll be much shorter," Wei Ying grinned. 

"Mn."

Wei Ying traced his fingers to Lan Zhan's forehead and hooked them around the white headband. "The Lan headband. Only touchable by family and significant others. It's been decades since you and I were significant others, ever since that time in the Cold Springs cave. And now, we're officially married. I, Wei Wuxian, am officially yours to hold, to love, to be with. So... This," he pulled off the headband, "shall say goodbye." He tossed the headband away and let it sink to the bottom of the lake. "Now, you're not a Lan, you're mine, understood?"

Lan Zhan smiled. "Mn. Always."

"Well, thank heavens that's done, I thought you won't finish soon!" 

Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji turned around to see Jiang Wanyin and Nie Huaisang waiting, clutching their sides at the two's romance. 

"Hey! Who asked you to sneak-peek! You've got your own husbands and wives, get lost!" 

"Huh? Well, I do have my own wife, but who's got a husband?" Nie Huaisang Cheshire-grinned and turned to a red Jiang Cheng. 

"Don't look at me, I don't know who he's talking about. Wei Wuxian, come on, quick." Jiang Cheng signalled a thumbs-up to Lan Zhan and he nodded. Lan Zhan quickly took the ribbon wrapped around Wei Ying's wrist, and covered Wei Ying's eyes. He walked with a curious husband, hand in hand, rings clinking as they touched. 

Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang ran on ahead to the other side of Lotus Pier, another jetty. There was a massive boat, large enough to hold the entire party of friends and brothers and sisters and sons. The two leapt in. Jiang Cheng ran in while Huaisang stood at the edge of the entrance, counting down with a whisper. "Alright, everyone, three, two, one." He cupped his mouth and together, they all shouted. 

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WEI WUXIAN!"

Lan Zhan undid the blindfold. 

Wei Wuxian stared in wonder at the large boat, purple curtains pulled apart to reveal the whooping friends within. "Hey, A-Xian, remember you saidyou wanted to keep A-Jie's wedding on a boat like this? We thought we might as well keep your wedding that way," Jiang Cheng grinned. Apparently, they were all screaming hurrah at the rings. The two had been declared husbands long ago but never had a proper wedding ceremony. 

Wei Wuxian nudged Lan Zhan. "Since when have you been plotting this?"

Lan Zhan smiled. "Since school days."

There was a long buffet-like arrangement of Yunmeng spices and wines, all Wei Wuxian's favourite and a massive cake frosted pink and purple, with a brilliant pink lotus on top, both names Meilien and Wuxian iced onto it. "Hey, where are the desserts?" Wei Wuxian shouted to Baozhai. "No dessert, I'm not stepping one foot in there!"

"You think I won't have at least one sweet with Meilien here?" Jiang Cheng shouted back. 

Baozhai pointed to the last table in the array of foods. 

"Yay! Ice cream! And is that lotus syrup? Yippee!" Wei Ying dragged his husband and leapt onto the boat. Plucking Meilien from Xichen's grasp, the couple ran to the desserts table first. "A-Zhan, look! Have a lick," Wei Wuxian grinned as he held out a finger dipped in lotus syrup. Lan Zhan's ears turned pink, and so did Wei Ying's when Lan Zhan sucked the syrup off his finger and mumbled, "Mn. Delicious."

The others chuckled lightly. 

"Daddy, which ice cream is the best?" Sizhui ran up to them. 

"Hm, they're all good, we have so many good flavours, right Lin Qiao?" The sister nodded. "How about Meilien picks? Little Lien, choose one."

She looked between the pink and the purple and the white and the yellow and the dark brown, puzzled. "Susu," she muttered hopelessly, before waving her hand over all the buckets of ice cream, making the boat rock with laughter. 

"Meilien, you can't–"

"A-Cheng, it's fine! Well, then, one scoop from each!" Wei Wuxian followed his words and lifted the bowl. Silver spoon in hand, he fed them to Meilien and Lan Zhan, then took a bite from each flavour, before turning to Sizhui. Jingyi watched, anxious, while Jin Ling smiled, knowing too well every last flavour available in Yunmeng. 

Pink. "Mn, strawberry!" Sizhui beamed. Purple. "Blueberry!" White. "Vanilla?" Yellow. "Oooh, caramel!" And with the last brown bite, he grinned wide. "CHOCOLATE!" 

Everyone laughed at his babyish excitement. "Sizhui, you're happier than Meilien-mei!" Jin Ling grinned. 

"Hey, right, Daddy, Senior Song Lan and Wen Shushu told us that Meilien did such a feat today! She actually played Chenqing? And it worked?" Jingyi clapped in pleasure. 

"It's not something that pleasant, Yiyi," Wei Ying said sourly, "but yes. She did."

"Ha! See? Told ya!" Jingyi put his tongue out at Jiang Yunxi. 

"Alright, alright, I agree," Yunxi made a face.

"Yunxi? Yiyi? What is it?"

"Ah, this Lan Jingyi told me that their JiangMo sect was the best, everyone in it excelled. Exceptionally so. Said Lan Sizhui already mastered the Gusu Killer String and Jin Rulan beats Jin Zixuan with Suihua. So of course, his meimei, Meilien, will have mastered Zidian and Chenqing in no time."

"Zidian, yes, but Chenqing?" Sizhui turned to Jingyi and asked. 

"She always plays with it and it doesn't harm her, so I figured she's the next Yingxiong Laozu," Jingyi grinned. 

"You guys..." Wei Wuxian shook his head through the ice cream.

"JiangMo?" Mianmian asked, laughing.

"Yep, Senior Luo! We made it up."

"And Wei Wuxian is the JiangMo Sect Leader?" Xie Lian chortled.

"Yes!"

"So, any other seniors?" Lin Qiao asked, knowing well enough the answer. 

The three sons nodded. "Father," they sniggered, while Wei Wuxian smacked his face to hide the blushing. 

"Oh? And what role does the great Hanguang-Jun play?" Madam Shen asked with a grin.

Chen Xuanji grabbed a bottle of wine, downed it and tossed it into the lake before shouting, "Treasurer."

The party laughed on for hours. 

**********

Two immortals stood in the lake, waist-deep in water, leaning onto the wooden pier and onto each other. One had his head on the other's shoulder, white and tanned hands fondling each other while the two stargazed.

"A-Ying?"

"Yes, dear?"

"Like it here?"

"Of course, I do. But it's not the same as Gusu. When it comes to memories, the pains are the same: here, Shijie, there, A-Zhan. But when it comes to the happy times, my memories with my friends here, and with you there are nowhere near equal. Those times with you in Gusu were and are the best in both my lives, incomparable, matchless. Yunmeng was home. But Gusu is home. You know, I think I miss my Shifu already. And my bunnies! But then again, home is where the heart is, and my heart's with you, so as long as you're here, I don't care where I am. Don't mind if it's even Qishan," Wei Wuxian laughed.

Lan Zhan smiled at his chattiness, before looking up at the sky again.

"Hey, A-Zhan?"

"Mn?"

"Have you read the poem written beside that painting of us Huaisang gave?"

"Poem? No."

"There was a ballad written by Huaisang himself. Apparently, the whole world knows it. Except us," Wei Wuxian laughed. 

"What's it called?"

"Silver Moon and Starlight. I'll recite it?"

"Mn." 

"Well, then, here goes.

White as a spotlight's shine

Red as claret wine

One smiles with only his love

The other, with all the world.

Tall and majestic, a prince from above;

Silver robes, shimmering like a dove

That soars across the skies, a sign of peace.

Wherever he is, justice shall reign.

Jolly and beaming, a cherub full of fun; 

Devilish and deadly when harm befalls his loved one. 

Ominous black robes, blood-red ribbon:

A sign of honour and sacrifice on his own.

United, they are a force unbeatable,

A bond so pure, a power unimaginable.

Holding hands, with Fate by their side

Immortals, heroes, Silver Moon and Starlight.

So, A-Zhan, how do you like it?"

"Mn. Beautiful. Vivid. Detailed. Inspiring." Lan Wangji turned to face his husband and continued, "True."

Wei Wuxian beamed, exactly like the said cherub. "I know, it's all true. My A-Zhan's a prince. My prince. My prince from above," Wei Wuxian babbled, snuggling up to his prince's chest.

"Mn. And A-Ying a cherub."

"But I'm Bunny!"

Lan Zhan smiled. "Yes, my bunny. A-Ying," Lan Zhan stroked the younger's hair.

"Yes, darling?"

"Tell Huaisang to add one line."

"Oh? What's that?"

Lan Zhan's smile bloomed brighter and softer while he kissed the locks of jet-black hair. 

"Forever together. Together forever."

"Oh wow. That sounds beautiful. I'll tell Nie-xiong," Wei Wuxian smiled, teasing Lan Zhan's damp chest with his nails.

Lan Zhan chuckled softly. "Learnt from Lady Xiao?"

Wei Wuxian reddened. "Lan ZHAN!" He buried his face in the older's chest. 

Lan Zhan hugged him, his face buried in Wei Ying's dripping wet hair, and they stood there under the moonlight, amidst a tall forest of lotus stems. Neither knew for how long they'd stayed that way, never falling asleep, just reminiscing, savouring the moment. Suffice to say a groggy-eyed Jiang Cheng and Lan Huan who came for a morning swim after one excited night found the two there in the water, cuddling, breathing in each other's perfumes, not wanting to let go. 

And they let them be that way. For evermore.

__________________________________________________________________

THE END

__________________________________________________________________

A/N: Well well well, guess what? The book's OVER!

BUT there's a sequel, even I don't know how many but Book 2's plans are already set. 😁

I just wanted to thank EVERYONE for the immensely incredible support all through the way. I didn't really think I'd get anywhere beyond Chapter 20, might have to ditch it all. But nope! You guys, yes you reading this right now, you guys helped me so much! Truly, all the votes, comments, reads mean the world to me. Writing is my escapade from a tough life so knowing that so many people read what I write and actually like it is a blissful blessing I shall savour for the rest of my days.

Shoutout to my Nana, @DBDavenport8 for being my Angst Laoshi, and to @NebulusCharlie for being my alltime supporter, Fluff Laoshi and A-jie. 

AND to all you guys for the comments. @ManuAndhale and @gegeford jies helped a lot, unwittingly, with questions and comments that pointed out things they didn't realise I'd missed. Like the makeshift rings: never realised I should make it official! And hope you like these rose ones! 😊

Every last one of you uplifted me in different ways, so a MASSIVE thank you! ❤️

Book2 Chapter 1 might be out by tomorrow 😅 coz I'm that impatient.

Here's three too-gorgeous-for-my-eyes pics. The first is the said couple, Hua Cheng and Xie Lian, from MoXiangTongXiu's novel Tian Guan Ci Fu. 

HuaLian. 

And just two pics from the video game coz they're too pretty for me to not show my friends!

XiCheng. 

WangXian 🥰

Stay safe and smiling! Sending hugs and hot chocolate!

Love,

WXLL! 🌹