Wei Ying was sitting outside the Jingshi, on the bench under the great magnolia tree. It was in full bloom and perfuming the soft breeze around him.

Cloud Recesses was indeed such a remarkable place, poetically beautiful and naturally peaceful even aside from the thousands of rules they insisted upon. Each season held a special place in his heart, and Wei Ying fondly wondered whether he might love it more than his husband, who had grown up here.

It was a place which healed wounds, no matter how long it took.

His eyes were closed but he felt the presence of another person, and the floral scent of lotus flowers, and he knew Jiang Cheng had come to sit with him.

He was unusually quiet today, so Wei Ying also did not disturb his thoughts, choosing to remain silent for now. He must have a reason to seek out Wei Ying’s company, and would probably voice it soon...right?

The sun warmed their faces, a neat tranquility settling upon them as they breathed deeply, allowing their emotions to settle.

"Congratulations...on your newest child." Jiang Cheng said.

Wei Ying opened one silver eye to glance curiously at him.

"Thank you. I don’t know why we didn't do it earlier." He admitted.

"He's got a big mouth. And no filter. I understand." Jiang Cheng was grinning at him.

"Don't be mean. JingYi is just...unique." Wei Ying sat up, thinking about the boy. "I've always thought of him as being one of the ducklings...this is just making it official. Plus...with his wedding coming up...I didn’t want his side to be empty."

Jiang Cheng scoffed.

"This is his home. It's his clan, all of them are his family...."

"I know...I know..." Wei Ying closed his eyes again.

"So..."

Wei Ying held his breath. They were going to talk about why Jiang Cheng was here now, he could feel it.

"It's a lovely day...isn't it?" Jiang Cheng offered, once more hedging.

Wei Ying beamed at him.

"Why don't you just spit it out? What's on your mind?"

Jiang Cheng changed colours faster than a chameleon.

"I...YOU...What makes you think I have to have a reason to visit you? Why can't I just be passing by? What if I just saw you sitting here and thought, let me go and spend some time with my brother? Since he's only just back from gallivanting around the country?"

Something about this exchange was making Wei Ying remember days gone by. He thought of all those times they used to sit on the pier, him, Jiang Cheng and his Shijie too. They used to talk about anything and everything.

From the look on Jiang Cheng's face, it seemed as if he was remembering those times too, when it was just the three of them against the whole world.

"I miss her."

"I miss her too."

Respect and love for the person they shared a deep affection for made their words evaporate, any they might have said. It was enough that they were united in their grief, and finally had reached a place of communication.

And ironically then, realising that they did not need any words, because they perfectly understood each other.

"I've been meaning to give you this." Wei Ying fished out the box of moon tree seeds that Chang'e had gifted him. He wrapped some fine dust from the green box with three seeds and made a sealed packet out of parchment, handing them over.

"You want me to plant them? One is obviously for A-Jie...but the other two?" Jiang Cheng accepted it carefully, placing it inside a qiankun pouch.

"For your parents." Wei Ying did not want to say anything else about them...Long a source of contention between them.

"Being a parent...changes you." Jiang Cheng said, quietly.

"You have a fantastic daughter." Wei Ying smiled, thinking about little Li Li.

"Thank you. What I mean about that is...every time I look at her, I end up vowing to not make the same mistakes as my parents. There are times...when I cannot believe what they were like..."

Wei Ying’s smile faltered.

He did not really want to talk about Jiang Fengmian or Madam Yu.

That time was over for him, all within his first life...and no longer associated with this life of his.

"There's no point in thinking about the past." He said, solemnly, meaning it. "All we can do is learn from mistakes." He added, wanting to make Jiang Cheng feel better.

He saw something white out of the corner of his eye and looked happily at Lan Zhan walking together with XiChen towards them.

"What do you think they're talking about?" XiChen asked his baby brother, when they had spotted the brothers sitting under the white flowering tree.

"I do not know." Lan Zhan admitted, now trying not to hurry.

He had never felt comfortable around the Jiang Sect Leader, more because of past hurts and what he saw as a massive failure on his part to look after and support his own brother.

It had led to Wei Ying’s death...and Lan Zhan had decided long ago that it justified how he felt towards him.

Even now, he barely tolerated the man, and just because his own brother had chosen to marry him, did not change his opinion of him.

Luckily, having a stoic face helped immensely.

If people thought they knew what he was thinking, they had no proof and Lan Zhan could be quite smug like that.

However, Jiang Cheng was known to be harsh with his words and Lan Zhan hoped he knew that they would not be tolerated now.

This was Wei Ying’s second chance, and Lan Zhan was going to stand in between of anything that would hurt him.

"So...did you ask him?" XiChen said brightly, as they reached the two sitting in relative peace...before he spoke.

"I KNEW IT! YOU LYING LITTLE-" Wei Ying shouted, turning to his brother.

"A-Xian!" XiChen interrupted him, only realising too late that no, Jiang Cheng had not asked anything yet.

Jiang Cheng shoved Wei Ying only to find Bichen still sheathed under his chin.

"Didi!" XiChen implored, wondering how a tiny little question led to this...

Wei Ying was glaring silently at his brother, who was thinking fast how not to get stabbed, and the only calm one Lan Zhan, holding the sword.

"What was all that about then? "Oh, can't I visit my brother, yada yada yada?" Wei Ying impersonated Jiang Cheng in a higher pitch.

"I do NOT sound like that!" Jiang Cheng defended himself, sulking.

But then one of his eyes rolled to the other side of his face and Lan Zhan, who had been staring coldly at him, snorted, muffling a laugh.

"Huan!" Jiang Cheng commanded, and XiChen obliged by gently smacking the side of his head again, making it roll back into place. He quickly pulled up his husband and led him away because the other two were distracted enough not to notice.

Wei Ying had turned to look at Lan Zhan, full of adoration and love, since the Second Jade of Gusu rarely laughed, or found anything amusing.

That was before he met Wei Ying, a comet of love, laughter and good times.

Now he sat down, putting Bichen next to him.

Lan Zhan took Wei Ying’s face in his hands and kissed him.

Nothing else mattered but this sweet connection, theirs alone and unique. Happily, Wei Ying kissed him back, this favourite of all activities one he revelled in doing, and as always, Lan Zhan thought he was too far away. Without breaking the kiss, his larger hands went to Wei Ying’s hips and lifted him into his lap.

Now this kiss was deeper, sweeter, and much more enjoyable. A gentle exploration of unhurried joy, their tongues dancing together in greeting. To take the time to appreciate his lover, like this with hearts entwined, this was the life.

For them, together.