Jiang Cheng was not allowed inside the Forbidden room. Apparently, only Lan Clan members, Wei Ying by marriage qualified, were allowed to enter.

He was not happy.

Lan XiChen decided to mollify him by keeping him company going through the journals relating to the locations they wished to investigate.

"Lan Zhan?" Wei Ying sidled up to him. "We're all alone."

"Mn."

"In the library." He waggled his eyebrows, naughtily.

"Yes. We have lots of work to do." Lan Zhan replied to a disappointed Wei Ying. "Besides, Brother is just up there." He motioned towards the winding staircase they had just descended.

"But Lan Zhan, I miss you." He pouted.

Without warning, Lan Zhan pulled him into his arms and kissed him with such urgency and longing, Wei Ying forgot his own name. He stumbled when Lan Zhan let go of him.

"You can't do that and then not finish!" He complained.

"Then Wei Ying should be more mindful."

"Let's make a deal."

Lan Zhan sighed. "What does Wei Ying want?"

"For every valid lead I find, you have to kiss me."

"What if we don't find anything?"

"I hadn't thought of that."

Lan Zhan smirked.

"I'll think of something else," he vowed, backing away and grinning.
 

*****

Wei Ying found his hunch was correct. They found a mountain of books pertaining to mirrors and their functions, not counting just reflecting. One old ledger proved to be an invaluable source.

"Look, Lan Zhan!" Wei Ying sat down in his lap, a new favourite place, and showed him. "This says Yangsui are created by only experienced cultivators or mages. Initially, it was for just as we had discovered, as a farmer's tool for aid in crop development and lighting tinder. But then," he turned the page, "things took a sinister turn."

He pointed to the illustration. This mirror had a handle and a frame, with arrows pointing in a circular direction around the edges. Then, reading on, "mirrors were cultivated to enable the owner to trap items."

He tapped his nose, deep in thought. "Do you think Wen Ruohan had hidden artifacts, or...or something inside this mirror that those people are looking for? Definitely something bad, and definitely something powerful."

"Enough to give them the need to attack Koi Tower." Lan Zhan added. "It's quite possible."

"I agree. And if we're right, we cannot let them get to it first. We know ourselves, we know we would do the right thing. Maybe this is why the Queen mother has chosen to show us...things."

Lan Zhan pointed to the drawing. "What do you think the arrows mean?"

"Not sure. Maybe it's a way to control what the mirror does? It stands to reason that if you can trap something in, then you should be able to take it out, right?"

"True." Lan Zhan stood up, effortlessly still carrying his husband. "We should show Brother."

They found Jiang Cheng sitting rather close to Lan XiChen, their attention definitely not on the books open in front of them, speaking so quietly, only they could hear one another.

Wei Ying cleared his throat noisily and they jumped apart, Jiang Cheng's face beet red.

"So we found lots!" He said loudly, and then to his husband under his breath, "mere kisses won't cut it, my love. And they're definitely up to something."

It was worth it just to see the too warm ears.

Lan Zhan put him down gently next to his brother. They filled them in on their discoveries.

"So do you think these mages or cultivators trapped items for security?" Zewu-Jun asked.

"Well, that's what this character represents, right? Rather than the one for just safely putting inside. I think the use of this particular character shows, or assumes force." Wei Ying reasoned. "And in that case, could there be some sort of protection on the Yangsui?"

"Protection? Like a curse?" Jiang Cheng spoke up, brow furrowed. "Do you think it's dangerous?"

"Definitely dangerous in the wrong hands. I can't help thinking there's a reason why this is happening to us."

"What do you mean?" Zewu-Jun asked, concern in his eyes.

"Well, for the most part, I am sure of all of us, that given a choice, we would all try to do the right thing, you know, no harm to living things and all that. But we have no idea why Mei Tongqing Xin is looking for this Yangsui. And if this turns into a race of who finds it first, then we are already at a disadvantage. They know what they want."

"But we have the box." Jiang Cheng said.

"No guarantee it holds the Yangsui. What if that's a whole other problem?"

"But it's definitely related, because the Queen mother in your dreams mentioned the text on the box." He argued.

"All of this is just speculation. What did you find out?" Wei Ying tossed back. His irritability centered on the fact that they were guessing at everything and nothing seemed concrete.

"We were able to cut out two of your locations." Zewu-Jun smiled at last.

"Really? Why?"

"A landslide in one of the villages completely devastated the area. No temple or bridge left."

"An earthquake wiped out another one. So now we have only four places to go." Jiang Cheng replied.

Wei Ying's stomach gurgled loudly and he blushed. Lan Zhan frowned and immediately rose, taking him away to the Jingshi.

After dinner, Wei Ying cleared space on the table and began creating talismans. Each one had different characters or strokes. Lan Zhan picked one up, examining it closely.

"Protection?"

Wei Ying beamed at him. "You catch on so quickly. I love that about you."

"From what?"

"Well... Zewu-Jun got me thinking. What if the Yangsui is cursed? The last thing we want is to add to our problems, right?"

Lan Zhan smiled at him. "Wei Ying is amazing." Earning him a blush.

"I just thought, there should be a way to protect ourselves from any negative effects. We can try these out tomorrow and see which ones work the best." He stood up. "But that's for tomorrow." He launched himself at Lan Zhan. "You have a debt to repay!" And proceeded to cover his face with kisses.

*****

A/N

May I just say a really big thank you to everyone reading. I feel elated every time those numbers go up! Thank you to everyone adding this book to their reading lists, I'm so grateful.

This is my first foray having a go at writing and it's lovely being able to know what you think. Please vote and comment, I read everything!!