.
Wuxian was bed ridden for 5 days. During that time, he was too exhausted to complain. Wangji snuck a few bunnies over one night to keep him company. He brought him chicken broth and washed him when he was too weak to do it himself. Sizhui took his father, when he was well enough, to visit the construction site of the new Treasure Room. Wuxian was overjoyed: "Wah! It's so big!" The keeper bowed and smiled: "Treasure Wei, I hope you are feeling better?"
Wuxian bowed back: "Keeper Daozi, thank you for sending herbs to aid my recovery."
Sizhui went to look around and he followed. He saw a big pit being dug at the back: "Keeper Daozi, what is this part?" The Keeper smiled: "Grandmaster Qiren instructed us to make an underground demon trap to contain spells and wayward spirits. We will prepare the area but you will have to ward it properly before you use it." Wuxian's eyes were sparkling with the prospect of all the facilities that will be available for him to work with.
He looks at Sizhui who has been grabbing his robes on and off since they left the Quiet Room. Wuxian: "Let's go wet our feet in the Cold Spring."
Sizhui nods and they head over to sit between the rocks. Wuxian notices that Sizhui sat very close and was still acting strange so he pats his head: "What's bothering you?"
Sizhui smiled at him: "Nothing. I'm just enjoying your company."
Wuxian: "Ever since you were a child, when you get stressed you cling to me or Wen Ning. Tell me?"
Sizhui grabs Wuxian's robe again and starts to sob: "I'm sorry."
Wuxian wasn't expecting that so he scoots closer to comfort his son: "Why are you crying?"
Sizhui threw his arms around Wuxian and sobs harder: "You were sick.. and I forced you.. to go anyway.. I didn't listen.." Wuxian was having a hard time listening to what he was saying: "Ayuan, calm down. Who forced me to do what?"
Sizhui pulled back and took a deep breath and tried again: "The afternoon tea meeting. You told me when I woke you up that you were tired but I forced you to go anyway. Then.. then you collapsed and it's all my fault. I knew you were sick but didn't do anything."
More tears rolled down his cheeks: "I won't bear it if you die again!"
Wuxian laughs awkwardly: "Calm down you big baby! No one is dying. And for the record, if I didn't want to go anywhere, nothing you or anyone else can do to force me."
Wuxian pulls him back into a hug and whispers: "It's not your fault. I'm the adult, so leave the worrying to me."
Sizhui sniffs and whispers: "You don't act like an adult."
Wuxian pulled away with a scandalous look: "How dare you!"
Sizhui stood up and ran away as Wuxian followed him yelling: "Come here you coward! I will plant you like a turnip and grow a better son!"
Few seconds of running and Wuxian was bending over, exhausted and pointing at Sizhui who stopped a few paces away laughing: "I'm blaming Hanguang Jun for raising you with poor manners!" Sizhui comes closer to help Wuxian stand up: "I definitely got these qualities from you." Wuxian huffs: "You should be grateful. I made sure you didn't turn up with a boring personality."
Jingyi voiced from behind them: "You didn't do a good job because he is boring."
Wuxian jumped in surprise and then smacked him on the head: "Don't sneak up on a 'recently recovered from a serious illness' person like that!"
Jingyi rubbed his head: "Illness my butt! You were running around like a lost chicken just a few minutes ago."
Wuxian threw his hands in the air in frustration: "Why do I even try? These kids have no hope. Our future is doomed." He walks off as they both follow and Jingyi says: "You love us anyway and I'm your favorite."
Wuxian laughs and points at Wen Ning when he joins them at the Spring gate: "He's my favorite!"
Jingyi glares at Wen Ning and huffs: "It's because he sneaks in meat and alcohol for you! That's not fair."
Wen Ning laughs and nods.
Wuxian shrugs: "The heart wants what it wants."
They see Wangji walking with some of the older disciples from afar. They seem to be in a deep serious conversation until Wangji turns to see Wuxian and smiles. He dismisses the others and makes his way towards them: "Wei Ying, have you had your extra mid-day meal?" Jingyi: "He was busy running around chasing Sizhui." Wuxian elbows him hard and looks awkwardly at Wangji: "I'm on the way right now to fetch a meal." Wangji wasn't convinced. So he raised his hand for Wuxian to take and said: "I will join you."
Wuxian grabs his wrist and places it down: "Lan Zhan, you have more important things to do than watch me eat. These idiots will keep me company." He points at the two young boys behind him and Wen Ning.
Wangji sends a silent warning to the boys before smiling at Wuxian. He moves closer and pulls him in, kisses his forehead then his hand: "Don't over do it." Wuxian hums and watches Wangji as he walks away.
Jingyi rolls his eyes: "Are we going to stand here like trees all day."
Wuxian turns to him and glares: "You're officially my least favorite!"
Jingyi follows him and whines: "Why? I didn't do anything wrong!"
The bickering lasted until evening when the boys delivered Wuxian to Zewu Jun for music meditation. After drinking herbal medicine and listening to calming music, Wuxian looks at Zewu Jun and asks him: "Brother, are you happy?" Zewu Jun was surprised. He was not expecting that kind of conversation from Wuxian: "What warrants such a question?"
Wuxian: "I know a lot of people asked about your well-being after what happened with your sworn brother. I know that you're coping with it. But.. are you in a good place?"
Zewu Jun gives him a sad smile: "I thought I was good at judging people. I'm having a hard time reconciling with the fact that a man close to me, a brother, not only used me to commit evil acts but manipulated me into protecting him. I don't know how to get past that."
Wuxian frowns: "I heard that you wanted to live in seclusion to repent your sins but Lan Zhan refused to allow it. Why do you think you're at fault for someone else's mistake?"
Zewu Jun looked down: "My honor and pride was hurt. I wanted to meditate and maybe run from all the shame I knew people would feel towards me."
Wuxian reached over the table and held his hand: "I'm glad he made you stay. Now I have an older brother who believes in me as much as I believe in him."
They share a smile before Wuxian continues: "Besides, from the stories your mother told me, you were a wild child." Wuxian reaches for the tassel placed by Wangji on his belt and holds it in his right hand.
The ring on his finger glows, his breath stutters and he closes his eyes. A moment passes before he opens it and sees Lady Lan sitting at the table next to them. Zewu Jun looks confused: "Wuxian, are you well?"
Wuxian whispers in a shocked voice: "You don't see her?" Pointing at the empty seat next to them.
Zewu Jun shakes his head and frowns. Wuxian bows to his mother-in-bond and says: "Lady Lan, I have missed your company. How have you been?"
Lady Lan smiles at him and pats his arm: "Thank you for summoning me." She looks at Zewu Jun in longing and sheds a few tears of happiness: "He has grown so much."
Zewu Jun seems to have caught on to what's happening and whispers: "Is my mother here?"
Wuxian smiles at him and says: "Let me try something. Maybe this will work." He reaches over with his other hand and grabs Zewu Jun's hand. Zewu Jun feels a surge of energy and then he sees his mother clearly looking at him with happy tears.
He gasps and reaches to touch her cheek. She's as beautiful as he remembers her: "Mother.. I've missed you." She nods at him, overwhelmed with emotions. They stare at each other for a while, until Lady Lan speaks up: "My son, I have watched over you. You have turned into a great man." Zewu Jun shakes his head: "I feel like I have failed you."
His mother caresses his cheek and smiles: "My perfect child. So selfless and loyal. I see no fault in your actions and I hope that you find it in your heart to forgive yourself and move on."
Zewu Jun lets a few tears escape and nods his head. He feels the hand grabbing his starting to shake and looks back at Wuxian to see his eye closed in concentration and his nose is starting to bleed. His mother says in a worried voice: "Let him go son, this is too taxing on his ill body. I will see you another time." With a smile he lets go of Wuxian and takes the tassel from his hand to break the connection. Wuxian opens his eyes and sways. Zewu Jun hurries next to him to steady his descent and lays him down to rest for a bit. He uses a cloth to stop his nose bleed: "That was dangerous, Brother Wei. Don't do that again." Wuxian opens his eyes and whispers: "It was worth it just to see the look of happiness in your eyes."
Zewu Jun smiles down at him and when the bleeding stops, he helps a dizzy Wuxian sit up: "I have no words to express my gratitude for what you have done. Our mother disappeared from our lives without warning and I have missed her deeply. Thank you."
Wuxian just nods and says: "I need to lay down before I embarrass myself again and pass out."
Zewu Jen takes his arm and guides him to his bed to rest for a while.
Later that night, Wangji passes by looking for his soul-bond and finds him still sleeping on Zewu Jun's bed: "What happened?" Zewu Jun was sitting at his table smiling like the happiest man alive: "He showed me our mother." He told his brother the information he got about the ring from Qiren and what happened earlier this evening. Wangji looked in awe at his sleeping soul-bond: "He never ceases to amaze me." Zewu Jun hums in agreement.
Wangji wakes the exhausted Wuxian and guides him back to their room. Wuxian looked half asleep at Wangji on the way back and said: "Did something happen today?"
Wangji: "Something?"
Wuxian: "Something that warrants the serious look on your face that I saw this afternoon?"
Wangji ignored him and kept pushing him to walk. Once they got ready for bed and laid down to sleep, Wuxian snuggled close to Wangji and asked again: "Tell me."
Wangji sighs: "We received a letter from Lanling Jin Sect. They requested that we have the next meeting of clans in Carp Tower. They want to announce their new temporary leader."
Wuxian whispers: ".. and?"
Wangji: "It's in a month but your health is unpredictable and I don't want to leave you."
Wuxian sits up to look into Wangji's eyes: "This is ridiculous! Just go alone you overbearing giant bunny!"
Wangji pulls him close: "I will not leave you. Ever. If I go, you go."
Wuxian sighs loudly and mutters under his breath: "I changed my mind. You're the least favorite."
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