Lan Zhan looked at Wei Ying doubtfully.

"I'm completely serious, husband of mine." Wei Ying grabbed his arm as they walked to the Jingshi. "I bet I can drink twenty jars of Emperor's Smile in a single sitting."

"What does Wei Ying want if he succeeds?"

"I'll let you know by the end of the night," he replied, grinning and wickedly confident. "But you're not allowed to drink because, we both know what happens to you. And we can't both be drunk because you need looking after."

"Mn." Lan Zhan went to his secret stash under the floorboards and started pulling out jars.

"You'll have to restock after tonight." Wei Ying eyed the slowly amounting jars in delight.

"Mn."

"So what shall we talk about?" He opened the first one.

"What does Wei Ying want to talk about?" Lan Zhan quietly sipped his tea. He was actually looking forward to tonight. His husband had an awful habit of keeping things from him and tonight was his chance to alliviate some of his burdens.

Wei Ying had been looking too worried for quite some time now, even before Jiang Cheng had gone undercover. Lan Zhan was concerned. He did not like to think that Wei Ying was troubled.

"Oh, I don't know. What about you? Any suggestions?" He opened another jar.

"Is Wei Ying happy?"

He stared back at Lan Zhan mid-pour.

"I need to think about that one." He said finally.

So he wasn't happy? Lan Zhan frowned.

"I'd be happier if Jiang Cheng was here." He admitted, swallowing the remaining liquid in his cup. If he was honest, Jiang Cheng was the reason he wanted to get trashed tonight. The problem was, either he had developed an immunity to the wondrous drink that was the Emperor's Smile, or just liquor in general. It was becoming harder and harder to lose his mind.

"Are you happy?" Wei Ying asked him suddenly.

"Yes. I am happy if Wei Ying is happy." He poured himself another cup of tea. "Wei Ying does not look happy."

Wei Ying sighed. "I just wish all this was over with. If it was up to me, I'd have found the dragons and stopped Min Qi Xue from ever thinking about harming another living soul. Plus what about Hui Gai?" Another jar was uncerimoniously opened. "See? It's becoming one thing after another, and all I feel...all I feel is an immense pressure not to let anyone down." He felt so much better for saying that.

"Wei Ying is only human. Wei Ying does not have to...Wei Ying is perfect." Lan Zhan gave him a rare smile.

"Don't do that!" He wailed.

"What?" Lan Zhan was alarmed.

"If you smile like that, I'm going to jump you, and then I won't be able to drink, and I won't win the bet." He opened the sixth jar. "Just promise me you won't give that smile to anybody else. I forbid it!"

"Mn. Wei Ying is the only one."

"Sometimes I wish I could take you away, far away from everybody else, far away from all your responsibilities. Just keep you for myself. I don't like sharing you." He counted the jars that were now piled on the floor. This new one would be the eleventh.

"I wish that too. Wei Ying is too beautiful. Not for others."

Wei Ying blushed.

"But people would miss us too much. Your brother, my brother."

They drank in silence, Lan Zhan quietly watching him.

Finally, Wei Ying finished the twentieth jar proudly. He stood up swaying and fell into his husband's lap. Lan Zhan smiled warmly and steadied him.

"Shtill my favourite place." His words slurring slightly.

He snuggled closer, burying his face in Lan Zhan's neck.

"You know, I'm scared." He whispered.

"Of what?" Lan Zhan began rubbing circles on his back, soothing him.

"I'm scared because I can't live without you. I'm scared of how much I love you."

"Same for me." Lan Zhan admitted.

"It's a good thing we're married, then." He smiled sadly. "I...I never told you."

"What?"

"When...when I was looking after my Wen family. I wanted..." He tried to find the words. "I wanted you to be proud of me. I thought about you every day. I didn't care about anyone else."

"Am always proud of Wei Ying." Lan Zhan kissed his forehead, leaving his warm lips for longer.

"Thank you." Wei Ying sighed. "You know... you're so perfect. I love everything about you." He kissed his lips gently.

"Wei Ying is the best." Lan Zhan kissed him slowly and then handed him a cup of water.

"I fell in love with you and I didn't even know it." Wei Ying burrowed into his chest. "All I knew was that I wanted to be around you, I wanted to be with only you."

"Mn. Love Wei Ying."

"But how did you know?" Wei Ying began kissing his jaw slowly.

"Never felt like that. Not even for Brother." He stroked the long now free tresses, ebony strands loose down his back.

"I feel like the universe is giving me a gift by letting me stay with you."

"Mn."

"I can kiss you whenever I want to, I can touch you whenever I want to. And I want. I want to all the time." He yawned, pressing himself closer. "I only want you. Forever." His eyes drifted closed.

Lan Zhan waited a while and then stood, surveying the room. He strode towards the bed and carefully laid his husband down. The cleaning up could wait, he decided, and laid down beside him. He pulled him close, taking a deep breath of lotus flowers and Emperor's smile and drifted into sleep.