They watched Hui Gai disappear with their children and suddenly, everything became so much easier. Stepping forward, Wei Ying reached for Lan Zhan's hand, pausing for a moment, looking down.

The floor glowed a brilliant red, an array that had master strokes of genius. By just stepping on to it, they had activated a powerful spell which would not allow them to leave, until they had done whatever the creator of it wanted them to do.

However, Wei Ying's sharp eyes had caught a few extra strokes, which he pointed out to Lan Zhan.

"Jiyi?" He read out.

"Yes...I reckon this is going to be a doddle. The fact that the maker of this didn't count someone like us would ever come here..." Wei Ying was still studying the characters on the ground, when he felt the warm touch of lips on the back of his hand.

There were times when Lan Zhan would look at him with the softest of expressions, as if he had no defence against Wei Ying, that all he could feel was a wholesome love that filled every nook and cranny in his mind and his heart. It was an acceptance of his own feelings and of Wei Ying as a whole person, simultaneously individual and irrevocably part of himself...almost like looking into a mirror.

And yet, it wasn't just that. His eyes held a wealth of awe, respect, gratitude and joy, all the different facets of the jewel called love. Wei Ying wondered what Lan Zhan saw, when he looked at him, whether that same look would be reflected back towards him?

"My love..."

The small steps it took to reach other were covered in mere seconds as their lips met again and again. Love with its boundless joy, a blissful opening of their minds wrapped them in a safe cocoon, for here, nothing could touch them. In this deep and intimate touching, their soul connection lit up like fire, consuming every thought until nothing else was left.

Wei Ying was utterly overwhelmed by what he saw on Lan Zhan's face, and through this kiss, chaste though it was, overflowed with his love for Lan Zhan, a physical thing, a vessel to hold all of his affection.

When they parted, he smiled at Lan Zhan, who's lips were already upturned. Yet another humbling fact; Lan Zhan did not smile like this for anybody else.

His smiles had owners, for the way he smiled at their children was different to how he smiled at his brother. And sadly, Wei Ying realised that in the past, he may have had one for his Uncle, but it was lost in the sands of time, through actions with dire consequences.

This smile....Wei Ying wanted to live for it alone. A shining wonder, when Lan Zhan was already like the sun, and how could he be even more beautiful?

Exactly like this.

"Wei Ying..." these two syllables were like a prayer.

Akin to the separate beats of his heart, Lan Zhan sometimes thought his heart had latched onto its only source of energy which was Wei Ying. It had stopped functioning for himself ages ago, when he had seen a young man outside the gates of Cloud Recesses, who had stolen it right from under his nose.

His heart was wiser than himself, recognising the beautiful other half of his soul, even when Lan Zhan refused to look, something he would forever regret. His Wei Ying was the brightest star, the most gorgeous blooming flower in a field of weeds, a butterfly amid crows, powerful and vibrant and full of love. His love was as huge, and as benevolent as the world, ready to embrace all who needed it, for it was a gift.

Together, they stepped over the array on the ground to see a curtain of white lights which parted as they went to pass by.

Ahead of them was a meadow, filled with the bluest of flowers, a variety of every kind. Bluebells, cornflowers, irises, hyacinths and forget-me-nots, periwinkles and lobelia, flax flowers and more. The most heavenly scent drifted around them as they entered, taking care not to trample on the delicate blooms. And something was urging Wei Ying to hurry, his feet sped up, lightly dancing through the petals as they came to a gorgeous lake. This was a special place, because here, there was a sea of gentian flowers.

Wei Ying turned to look at his husband, the meaning behind these fragrant flowers more poignant than any letter his mother would have written.

"How?" Lan Zhan whispered.

"It is my wish for you." Wei Ying came back to him, holding his face closer. "Those who are no longer with us, live on in the memories we have in here." He put his finger at Lan Zhan's temple. "And here." His palm covered Lan Zhan's heart. "You can let her go now. She will always be with you and you get to kiss these petals as if they were her cheeks. You are so full of love, the fiercest kind and I wish, if I could have anything in the world, it would be that you accept it."

Whenever Wei Ying saw blue flowers, he thought of Lan Zhan. It wasn't just about his mother, but the flowers themselves reminded him of the strong Jade, the man who was as resilient as the hardy blooms surviving winter after winter on Cloud Recesses. And his deepest desire was to plant an ocean of these, just to see the look on that precious face.

But now, it was Lan Zhan who tugged on his hand, and led him away from there towards a white tent.

Once inside, they marvelled at the rich and ornate drapes, as red as vermillion, the thick carpet under their feet, and beautifully carved seats to match and tables at their disposable. They sat next to each other, as they did often in the Jingshi.

"This is what you want?" Wei Ying asked, looking around them.

He had to admit, it was all very strange...but not unpleasant. Perhaps there was more to come.

"There was a time when I wished I had courted Wei Ying." Lan Zhan admitted. Wei Ying noticed his ears remained pale...and this meant Lan Zhan wasn't embarrassed...not about courting him...or showing how much he loved Wei Ying.

Wei Ying felt a laugh bubble out from deep within his chest, as he reached over to clasp Lan Zhan's hands.

"Can you imagine, my love...this place, that array was supposed to inspire greed and jealousy, and all the other vices...but it's not going to work on us." He continued to laugh, moisture gathering in the creases of his eyes.

Even Lan Zhan was amused, as he pulled out a box.

"The first time Wei Ying left Cloud Recesses...I...I missed him. I should have told Xiongzhang about my intentions and moved forward. If I had, this would be my courting gift for Wei Ying." He slid open the cherry wood lid to reveal a beautiful ruby and black jade hair pin.

"Lan Zhan...that time....I would not have been ready to understand. Look at how long it took me to know that I loved you in return? And then we had that mess with the Yin Iron..."

The fact that Lan Zhan had held on to this wish all this time...spoke volumes.

"I think we were different people then."

"Mn. Nonetheless, it is yours." He pushed the gift towards Wei Ying.

Next he uncovered a tray of food...and this time, Wei Ying couldn't stop his tears.

"One last bowl of your Shijie's soup." Lan Zhan took the spoon and stirred the hit liquid, blowing on some before offering it to his Wei Ying.

Memories came crashing down on him, when Wei Ying had first arrived at Lotus Pier, had tasted it for the first time. And consequently every time she made it for him and Jiang Cheng. His Shijie, who always smelled like Lotus flowers after the first rains, fresh and fragrant, sweet like the perfume so abundant in their home town.

He was lifted into a warm lap and held so tightly, love wrapped all around him.

"Thank you, Lan Zhan."