.
Wuxian returned to the Quiet Room to find Wangji waiting for him: "It's past 9, why are you still awake?" Wangji moved to help Wuxian take off his hair ornament when he smelled the wine on him: "Did you go out to drink?" Wuxian smiles lazily at him: "Nope! Had it right here. Father gave it to me. He's the best! He took me to a secret place and told me I can drink there if I wanted to." Wuxian sits in the middle of the room to take off his shoes and continues: "You're mother is a lovely lady. How come you never talk about her?" Wangji's eyes widened: "... mother?" Wuxian was clearly drunk: "Yeah! Madam Lan sat with me while I drank and told me stories about you while you were young. Is it true.. *hiccup*.. Is it true that you used to grab her dress whenever she sits next to you? She said you were fun to tease because your reactions were so cute.. I bet you were an adorable child..."
Wuxian continues to mumble on, oblivious to the shocked status of Wangji, who was looking at Wuxian with total disbelief. A few minutes of drunken one-sided conversation resulted in a passed out Wuxian and a statue like frozen Wangji, trying to digest what just transpired. Wangji gave up after an hour of contemplating and decided that it's an issue he can solve in the morning. He picks up Wuxian and lays him in bed and joins him in sleep after a few minutes.
Wuxian wakes up with a slight headache: "Urg, I used to be the king of wine. One day into being a Lan member and I already lost the ability to handle my liquor." He opens his eyes when he feels someone place a cup of water in his hand: "Lan Zhan, what time is it?" Wangji looks worried: "It's 10 past morning." Wuxian sighs in relief: "Good. Father would have whipped me if I was late on my first day as Treasure." He looks at Wangji again and asks: "Why do you look like I've killed one of our bunnies? Oh no! Don't tell me the meat I ate yesterday was one of them?" Wangji frowns and shakes his head. Wuxian lets out a breath of relief then asks while getting up: "Then what is it?"
Wangji was not sure how to approach the subject: "Do you remember what happened yesterday?" Wuxian washes his face: "Which part?" Wangji hands him a cloth: "When you returned, you said something about my mother."
Wuxian stops brushing his hair and looks at Wangji: "Yeah.. I think I met your mother?"
Wangji takes the comb from Wuxian and methodically starts to brush and place the jade ornament on his head: "Where? How?"
Wuxian looks confused: "I don't remember clearly but Wen Ning was with me at the time. Maybe you can ask him?" Wuxian looks suspiciously at Wangji: "Lan Zhan, why are you still here? Don't you have a clan to run?"
Wangji brushes his comment aside and grabs his robes and quickly dresses him and pushes him out to go to the Orchid Room. On the way, he asks a disciple to go summon Wen Ning and Zewu Jun. Wuxian complains while being dragged: "Lan Zhan! Why are you being like this? I swear Father gave me permission to drink. I didn't leave Cloud Recesses."
Wen Ning and Zewu Jun walked into the Orchid room to find a stoic Wangji sitting next to a pouting Wuxian. Zewu Jun looks at his brother: "Wangji, why did you summon me in such a hurry?" Wangji looks at Wuxian and says: "He said he met our mother last night."
Zewu Jun takes a seat in shock and whispers: ".. our mother?"
Wangji gestures for Wen Ning to join them and when he's seated addresses him: "What happened last night?" Wen Ning tells them about Qiren's request, the brief stay in Shadow Bamboo Pavilion and the promise between Wuxian and the grandmaster. Zewu Jun asks him: "When happened after he drank the wine?"
Wuxian huffed in annoyance: "You know I'm right here, right?"
They ignored him and Wen Ning continued: "He walked around talking about how he misses Lotus Pier, expressed his new found love of the purple flower in the gardens then went inside the Silent Room and started talking to himself. Honestly, when Master Wei drinks heavily, he normally sobs silently and it's heartbreaking to watch but this time he was laughing and bantering by himself. It was fun to watch."
Zewu Jun and Wangji both aim their gaze at a sulking Wuxian and Wangji touches his arm: "Who were you talking to?" Wuxian pouts: "She told me that she was your mother."
Zewu Jun: "What did she look like?"
Wuxian rubbed his nose: "Beautiful. Gold ornament with cloud patterns on her hair. Blue embroidered white robes. Earnings with blue beads. A big scar on her right hand that looks like it was made by a sword."
Zewu Jun closes his eyes to remember and then nods at Wangji. Wangji holds Wuxian's hand: "Wei Ying, you know that my mother has passed. How can you see her after many years?"
Wuxian shrugs: "I don't know. She didn't say. She just sat with me while I drank and told me stories about you two." Zewu Jun and Wangji shared a concerted look. Wen Ning saw their worry and said: "Before he started talking to himself, the ring he was wearing glowed when he touched the flowers. I thought it was the moon's reflection on the jade but maybe that's how he saw your mother?"
Wangji brought the hand that holds the ring close to examine it, but it looked like it did the last time he saw it: white with 'the divine' written on it. Zewu Jun: "I will ask uncle about the ring. Since he's the one who refined it, maybe he can explain what happened?"
Upon the mention of Qiren, Wuxian jumps: "The meeting! I WILL BE LATE!" He bows hastily towards the other two and drags Wen Ning with him while running out. Zewu Jun shakes his head and laughs: "I hope he never changes." Wangji smiles and nods.
Wuxian arrives on time to meet Qiren. He fixes his robes before he announces his arrival. Qiren welcomes him and asks him and Wen Ning to sit down and have tea with him. After they enjoy a few minutes of silence, Qiren faces Wen Ning: "Master Wen, I hope you continue to guard our clan treasure as you have done all these years." Wen Ning bows his head: "Until my last breath." The grandmaster smiles at him: "I don't think you know how much Wei Ying cherishes you." Wen Ning smiles at a blushing Wuxian: "Father, don't say embarrassing things like that." Qiren: "But he needs to know the truth." Wuxian rubs the back of his neck and looks down. Qiren faces Wen Ning again: "I'm not saying these words to expose my son's secrets. I just know that he has troubles expressing his emotions and telling his truth. And I know for a fact that if I don't say these words now, they will follow him to the grave."
He sends a glare towards Wuxian's before he can protest then continues: "There are two people in the world that Wuxian never doubted their loyalty and trust. His sister and you. When he thought that you died, it drove him to an emotional breakdown and when his sister died, he couldn't keep on living. He thinks of you as a part of his soul and from the way he brought back your conscience, I have no doubt you know it's true."
Wen Ning nods and smiles warmly at the embarrassment shown on Wuxian: "I love him too and I will serve him until the day I die. I don't need reasons to stay by his side."
Wuxian sighs loudly: "Can this conversation be done? My face will burn off from how awkward this situation is!"
Qiren laughs and says: "Yes, son. I just wanted him to know."
His expression turns serious: "I have many things to discuss with you but we will start with your duties as a Clan Treasure. This role has only been filled by one member before you, my mother, and her duties were shadowed by being a clan leader. As a Treasure, your main job will be to explore and research unconventional cultivation ways. I believe that no one is more suitable to fulfill this role than you."
Wuxian looked excited so he continued: "From the memories I've seen, most of your experiments are borderline destructive and risky, so instead of taking residence in our library I have instructed our Keeper to build you your own space to conduct your duties: The Treasure Room. I hope you live up to the name and come up with treasure-worthy knowledge that will benefit the world."
Wuxian nods with enthusiasm: "Thank you Father. I have many ideas that I can't wait to try."
Qiren: "Sizhui, Jingyi and three other youngsters have requested to be your disciples and guards. They will help you develop your experiments while making sure you don't burn down our Cloud Recesses."
Wuxian laughs awkwardly and whispers: "So embarrassing having kids watch over me."
Qiren smiles and says: "Think of it as a learning experience for these disciples and if any more wants to join we can start a class that you can teach."
Wuxian nods in compliance.
Qiren: "The second thing I wish to discuss is your health. You can fool people around you with smiles and fake excuses but I felt the pain you live with constantly. Have you tried to find a cure?"
Wuxian looks solemnly at the ground and shakes his head. Qiren frowns: "You still think that this is a fair punishment for sins you have not committed?"
Wuxian just continues to shake his head, eyes closed. Qiren sighs: "Son, if this continues your body will wither and die. The Mother Tree was correct; no one deserves such punishment, least of all you!"
Wuxian looks at his father with tears in his eyes. Qiren doesn't know how to deal with his silence so he tries a different tactic: "You know that a soul bond connects the life force of two people. If one dies, the other will soon follow. Do you wish such a miserable ending for my nephew?"
Silent tears start to run down Wuxian's cheeks and he bites his lips. Qiren: "How about we reach an agreement; allow me to find a solution to improve your health and once the soul bond ceremony is complete, we can discuss your options. You cannot be selfish with your actions anymore. Wangji, Wen Ning and our clan depend on your survival."
Wuxian contemplates it for a minute, and when he feels Wen Ning's hand reach out and squeeze his, he nods his approval.
Qiren sighs in relief and smiles: "The last thing I want to speak to you about is the Bonding Ceremony. With your blessings, I would like to invite the heads of the major clans to attend this joyous occasion. What do you think of the beginning of the next moon cycle?"
Wuxian swallows and whispers: "In two weeks?"
Qiren: "It's enough time to send an invitation and prepare for the event. Do you agree?"
Wuxian: "Can we ask Wangji?"
Qiren: "I did. He's eager and ready to bond with you as soon as possible."
Wuxian blushes and nods his approval.
Qiren looks happily at Wuxian: "Then it is set. The first day of the next moon cycle. I will ask Xichen to take care of the arrangements so rest assured that all will be well. I want you to take care of your health and speak up when you're not feeling well. Promise me?"
Wuxian replies meekly: "I will try my best."
With things in order, Wuxian leaves Qiren to go back and rest after the long meeting. Wen Ning was not happy about the bad-health reveal and vowed to keep a closer look for any signs of deterioration. Wangji returns at night to see a solemn Wuxian, sitting on the bed and looking out the window: "Wei Ying, how did your meeting with Uncle go?"
Wuxia smiles at him: "He's building a place for me to do my experiments. I can't wait for it to finish so I can start my Treasure duties."
Wangji sits next to him and leans closer to catch his smell: "Did he tell you about the Bonding Ceremony?"
Wuxian: "He did." Wangji: "Are you happy with the date?"
Wuxian hugs him close: "To me, we're already bonded."
Wangji squeezes him and hums.
After a few minutes Wuxian asks: "What do you smell?"
Wangji whispers: "I smell you."
Wuxian laughs: "No. I mean what does my comfort smells like this time?"
Wangji: "You. I smell only you because you're my greatest comfort."
Wuxian chuckles: "You say the most embarrassing things."
Wangji settles his nose at Wuxian's neck: "It's the truth."
.