Baoshen Sanren was leaving today. She was sitting under a magnolia tree, watching the ivory petals fall around her, and enjoying the heavenly scent. The light wind fluttered in her hair, the soft fragrance of sandalwood floating around her. She sighed, breathing in the peaceful aroma.

This was the place where she had sent her daughter to study, envisioning a promising future filled with the success of acing in the Cultivation world, and instead, losing her to a man she believed did not deserve her.

Perhaps all parents thought that, she mused. No one ever believed anyone was good enough for their children.

But her daughter had given her the precious gift of a grandson, who was now making his way towards her, looking...not as happy as he usually was. She frowned, wondering who had upset him, and...what she was going to do to them when she caught them....

She sat up, sharp eyes watching him come to her and sit down. She waited for him to speak his mind, but he was lost in his own thoughts, so she let him be.

Wei Ying felt calmer, sitting next to his grandmother. She evoked the same sense of familiar comfort that he found with Lan Zhan, though perhaps not to the same degree, but it was there, nevertheless.

"Grandmother?" He turned to face her.

"Are you going to tell me what's bothering you?" She smirked at his look of disbelief, followed by bashfulness.

"Okay," he decided, taking a deep breath. "What can you tell me about Li XiWang? How did you find her?"

"Why? What's wrong?" Her tone was sharp, concern edging around her words.

"I'll explain...but I would like to know everything first. Please." He added, not wanting to make her angry with him.

"Alright. It's just that I don't know much. As you know, most orphans are left by the oak trees. It got so bad that we've made a little shelter there, for the mothers. For whatever reason, if they feel as if they have to give up their children, I want them to feel better for leaving them with me." She sighed, and the sound was filled with pain. "We found her when she'd been left there. She was about two years old."

"That's it?" Wei Ying looked incredibly disappointed.

"That's it." She confirmed. "Oh, I remember, there was something...she had a pouch tied to her waist."

"Really?" Wei Ying perked up. "What was in it?"

"I can't remember. But I can try and find it for you."

Wei Ying threw himself into her arms. "Thank you, grandmother."

She patted his back awkwardly. "Yes, yes. Now tell me why you're so interested?"

Wei Ying told her about the knife attacker and her cryptic words upon seeing his daughter.

"You know she could have been lying? She lied about her relationship with you! I don't know how you can believe someone like her." She scoffed.

"It's not that I believe her, so much as I'd rather make sure there's nothing wrong. I want to protect my daughter." Wei Ying smiled genuinely for the first time since he had sat down.

"Commendable, but unnecessary, I think, in this instance." She smiled at him. "I'll still check. You can come and visit me soon."

"Okay, grandmother, we will." He kissed her cheek and went to find Lan Zhan.

******

Lan Zhan was in the library. He smiled when Wei Ying wriggled his way onto his lap and then made himself comfortable. His brow furrowed in concern when he saw the faint traces of worry hiding in the silver orbs. He put down his brush and held his husband closer. Wei Ying was normally a tactile person, always comfortable touching people, especially him, but Lan Zhan knew it was more so when he was distressed and didn't want to show it.

Besides, touching Wei Ying like this, holding him close like this was the best thing ever, and so what if he felt the teeniest bit guilty because it gave him just as much comfort?

Lan Zhan wondered if the wound of Wei Ying leaving him would ever heal, but he knew the answer even before he'd finished asking himself that question. The wide and gaping Wei Ying shaped hole in his chest would always hurt, filled with exposed nerves ready to burst into pain. But moments like this, when Wei Ying was close and in his arms, made him forget about that time, even for a little bit. Right now, his husband needed him.

Wei Ying had melted into his chest, so no space remained. He sighed contentedly.

"I needed this, needed you."

Lan Zhan felt warm lips press against his throat.

"Did you find grandmother?"

"Hm. She said she found Li XiWang when she was two years old. She had a pouch tied to her waist." Wei Ying leaned back to look into the amber eyes currently showering him with unconditional love. "Can we go and see her in a few days? She said she'll look for it."

"Anything you want."

There was so much feeling in those words.

Wei Ying cupped his face and poured his heart and soul into his kiss.

"Did I tell you I love you, today?" He whispered against those plump cushions, lips still gleaming from their kiss.

Lan Zhan pretended to think about it. "No."

Wei Ying mock gasped, placing a hand on his heart. "I didn't?" He pouted.

Lan Zhan thought he looked adorable. And cute. He shook his head, eyes never leaving his lover.

Wei Ying jumped up giggling. "I will!" He shouted, running out of the library backwards.

Lan Zhan wanted to chase after him, his mind filled with everything he wanted to do to this naughty husband, but his eyes fell on the papers scattered around him. He sighed, disappointedly and began collecting them, thoughts very far away...

******

Li XiWang was sitting with SiZhui and their rabbit friends, carrots in hand. Sometimes they talked, sometimes they didn't and it was okay. Li XiWang actually liked her big brother. SiZhui was exceptionally careful with her; he answered all of her questions whenever he could, exuding a patience reserved especially for the little girl.

He liked being a big brother.

"Ge-ge, do you believe in dreams coming true?" She asked quietly.

He looked at her face before answering. "Why?" Now he was staring, he noticed that she looked a little paler than normal, and a faint greyness under her eyes. "Are you having trouble sleeping?"

She shifted closer to him. "I...I had a dream. There was another place, different people. They all seemed to know me. They...they weren't very nice."

SiZhui put an arm around her small shoulders. "Perhaps it was only a dream? They don't always come true,  you know."

"But it's not the first time." She whispered, eyes shining with unshed tears.

"What do you mean?" SiZhui picked up the closest rabbit and put it into her lap.

She smiled gratefully, stroking its ears.

"I've had the same dream more than once. Exactly the same one." She shivered.

"It could be because something is on your mind. Are you worried about anything?"

She grinned at him then. "Only this stupid dream!"

"Have you talked to father about it?" He didn't have to specify; they both knew which one he meant.

"Not yet." The truth was, she was afraid. Talking about it would make it real, and she wasn't sure if she was ready for that.

"You should. He will make you feel better." SiZhui smiled so kindly at her, that she wanted to do something nice for him.

"SiZhui?"

"Hmm?"

"What's your favourite flower?" Her eyes were sparkling with a secret she was about to reveal.

"I like gentians. Purple ones the best." He admitted, shyly.

"Okay." She beamed at him, before placing her palm on the ground.

SiZhui watched her curiously, and then he sucked in a breath, because seconds later, familiar shoots rose up from where her hand was, immediately blooming into beautiful, vibrant purple flowers.

"How?" He whispered, but shock replaced his voice.

Li XiWang wiped her nose, wondering what the wet feeling was, but when her fingers came away bloody, she looked up at SiZhui, eyes filled with confusion just before she passed out.

*******

A/N

Hello everyone! We are back together again!

This is especially for edzooc8r and wangxian- and illaine31780 and Yoshin25 and danity2016 and XiaoAiYin90 and everyone else!

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