Feeling a soft body next to me, I cuddle upto him and kiss his jaw.

Lan Zhan.

We've been married for so many years, even now I am astonished at times to have him by my side.

Has our marriage been perfect? No.

Rather the main question one needs to ask; 'Is there any marriage perfect?'; But for me Lan Zhan has been perfect. He makes me whole. Never in these two lifetimes did I ever dream to have him, but here we are, a night after our raunchy shenanigans, his promise to give me 'everyday means everyday' he's still next to me and holding my heart within him.

"Lan Zhan." Swirling my tongue against his ear I grin at his sleepy, "Hm."

Snaking my hand below our blanket, I feel for his point of focal and it was hot and ready to greet me.

"Good morning..." I tease and his lips twitch. Unable to sleep any longer, his eyelashes sway and soon his pale gaze follows the motion. My heart as ever stops beating for a second. This happens every morning when his warm sleep filled eyes meets mine.
There are very few times when Lan Zhan drops his untainted personna and that one moment is like this, every morning when he twists his body, takes me in his arms and very softly kisses my forehead and says, "Wei Ying."

This right here is why my heart flutters like a kid who meets his idol. Today for some reason a tear slithers down my eyes and that surprised my husband.

"Wei Ying?"

"Hm?"

"What's wrong? Are you hurt? Why are you crying?"

Tucking my face into his neck I sniff and smile, "I am not crying. Just happy to have you with me. Thank you for loving me."

He stilled. Quiet as early mornings of Gusu.

"Lan Zhan?"

Glancing back at him, I was surprised to find a small smile playing on his lips and eyes closed. "Wei Ying, even after all these years, hearing your words reminds me of the confession back in Guanyin Temple."

"Why would you remember that?" I groan and bite his neck, "I blabbered like a fool and poor Jin Ling was traumatized. Remember he refused to enter Jingshi. That boy was always on alert whenever we were together as he legit thought the two of us are going to be shameless enough to makeout in front of him."

"We did. Remember?" Kissing me earlobe Lan Zhan growled, "You tempted me during the banquet, kept playing dangerously with things you weren't supposed to play. Even with Jiang Cheng and Jin Ling in the same room, you kept touching me..." He licked my lips seductively and continued, "Had I not taken you in the room next to where they were all sitting, it would have been hard to explain why Hanguang-Jun was restless."

I moaned at his words, "That was hot. I do remember. You were quick and ruthless. I loved every part of you."

"Wei Ying-" he was about to go down when there was a knock at our door and we heard a timid voice, "Elder Patriarch, are you in there?"

Flicking Lan Zhan's bud I kissed his lips and shouted out loud, "Will be out in a minute."

Hearing Lan Zhan's soft growl I patted his sweet rump, "Let's continue tonight. I need to leave for the day. Had promised to take the younger Lans for night hunt."

"Be careful."

My heart warmed again. Kissing his lips and forehead I nod and leave him behind on the bed, but turned one last time to see him marked, naked and all mine.

Covering myself with Lan Zhan's robes I stepped outside to see Lan Xiao and few others giving me an awkward glance and turning away. Chuckling at them I nod, "How about I meet you all at the entrance of Cloud Recess?"

They nod and leave. With a sigh I enter the main bath area of Jingshi and take proper care to clean, cover myself carefully and dress according to Gusu's rules. One could say now that Wei Wuxian, The Yiling Patriarch, is now a bit tamed, thanks to Lan Zhan. Not that I don't go against the rules, but if my Lan Zhan's life can be a bit bearable with me following few of them, well then I strive to make him happy.

By the time I reached the young Lans who were waiting for me, I noticed few of them were blushing, few were avoiding my eyes and one was blatantly grinning at me. That one was Sizhui and Jingyi's son; Lan Han.

As they started walking ahead, Lan Han was by my side and I asked whispered, "Why are they all avoiding me?"

He was full on enjoying his peers discomfort and whispered aloud, "They heard you moan."

One of their steps faltered and glared at Lan Han. I, on the other hand started laughing. I loved this kid. Sizhui and Jingyi named him after Hanguang-Jun. Han was the son of two Gusu Lan Clan's prominent cultivators, but during a night hunt they were attacked and killed. I didn't want him to face problems that we all did, thus Jingyi and Sizhui adopted Han, and let's just all agree between Jingyi and me, this child is quite handful.

"Good. Good. Remember you must sleep only with the one you love. Do you have someone you love?"

At my question he frowned, "Ew! I am not answering that. I have no interest in anyone. I have to become the best cultivator. That's my only moto."

"Yeah. Yeah. Your dear Hanguang-Jun had the same moto, but see what happened in the end... I became his only moto." At my wink Han ran away and I laughed out all the way until we reached the bottom of Mount Kai.

Wen Ning was already waiting for us. The kids went ahead as I joined an alert Wen Ning. "What's the matter?"

"Something doesn't seem right Master Wei."

"What do you mean?"

"The aura is strange here. Do you think the young Lans would be alright?"

Glancing back at the tail they followed I nodded, "If not, then they will call for my help. Let's not cajole them too much. None of us know what their future will be like. I might not be there to save them then. Let them be."

"Yes, Master Wei."

Jumping upon a branch; I took out Chenqing and played a tune while Wen Ning stood below. The tune was not just your average music, but I was setting barriers to feel and fend any unwanted energies. Just as I was setting up boundaries, the flares went up and instantly I sprinted with the Ghost General following me closely.

"Hanguang-Jun!"

Sizhui walked into the Orchid Room all terrified. My heart dropped and knew Wei Ying has been harmed.

"Wei Ying?"

Jingyi walked in relatively calm and placed an arm around Sizhui. Shaking his head he sighed, "I swear Elder Patriarch simply loves to cause trouble. Nothing happened to him, but he broke Gusu's rule and Elder Lan Qiren is reprimanding him."

"What did he do?"

"Elder Patriarch is so proud of Han who saved his peers from resentful spirits, he bought Gusu's Emperor Smile and got my son drunk."

Wei Ying!

"Lan Xiao tried sneaking a drunk Han into Cloud Recess but was caught and well you can imagine what is happening currently."

Rubbing my temples I sigh and follow them towards the main area. Though Wei Ying was not kneeling, but next to him Han and Xiao were. Uncle was there reading out rules and brother was controlling his laughter.

After much lecture I made my way to where
Wei Ying was and took out a jar from his hand and handed it to uncle. This shocked everyone and uncle was absolutely flabbergasted.

"What are you doing?"

"Remember years ago you had promised Wei Ying that on every birthday of his you'll drink with him?"

A moment later uncle nodded, "Well today is his birthday. Drink with him."

All eyes were on me and finally uncle sighed and nodded. Cheers rung around and they all escorted him to his chamber.

"This won't take long." Brother was next to me, "I am sure uncle regrets making that bet with Ah Xian all those years ago."

"Hm."

"He'll be back soon. Goodnight Wangji."

He did not return until way after midnight. I was sure he is hosting a liquor party to all the kids who were enjoying their first sip. It was when I felt his kiss at the nape of my neck, I knew he's back.

"You remembered Lan Zhan."

"Happy Birthday my dear Wei Ying. What do you want from me Wei Ying?"

"A promise."

"Hm?"

"To be mine forever and always."

Pushing him back on the bed I go about to fulfill all the promises I ever made in the past and make for our future.

❤️Happy Birthday dear Wei Ying.❤️