Work Text:
It was what -- a week? -- ever since Mo Xuanyu has come to live in the Cloud Recesses, spending his days alternating between frantically learning the sect rules, unpacking and re-organizing all of his stuff, and spending his time with his new …husbands.
It still took time to get used to it.
Sometimes, Lan Yuan was part of that equation, eating dinner with them and retiring to his room before he left early in the morning for classes. It was nice, all things considered, living with Hanguang-Jun and the Yiling Patriarch, as they frequently spent time with him until he got used to things.
Mo Xuanyu finally had a new wardrobe -- regular clothing and formal clothing in multiple white- and grey-tones, both with billowing sleeves and tucked-in sleeves, as well as a heavy cloak for the cold. He'd found himself gravitating towards the dark (well, by Lan standards) grey set because:
a) he felt somehow unworthy of wearing the traditional whites and light blues and
b) Wei Wuxian wore almost exclusively (incredibly) dark greys or blacks with an accent of red and Hanguang-Jun was practically decked out in pure snow white all the time, with little blue and silver accents and, well. Color-coordination and all that.
They had to somehow look the part too, didn't they? And also, the grey fabrics reminded him of what his mother usually wore, and it was nostalgic.
There were also subtle flowers embroidered between the cloud-patterns, and Xuanyu found them incredibly charming. He'd also gotten, to his utter mortification, a set of formal headpieces and other subtle jewelry, which Wei Wuxian had explained was because "We have to look our part as Hanguang-Jun's spouses. You'll only have to wear the really heavy ones for the most formal events, the simpler one is to be used for things like Discussion Conferences and the like. I've also got, like, six different kinds."
Thankfully it wasn't mandatory for him to constantly wear one.
Hanguang-Jun was currently off teaching classes and Wei Wuxian was free and so they were going over the sect rules once more, both Mulan and Xiaohei frolicking at their table and demanding constant attention, when there was a hesitant knock.
Wei Wuxian blinked. "Huh. I've told Lan Yumei that I can't watch over the kids this week…" He stood up and signaled for Xuanyu to remain seated. "Yes? You can enter, the door is unlocked."
A woman stepped inside -- a servant, maybe, going by her lack of ribbon -- bowing formally. "Young Master Wei, Young Master Mo, my lady has asked me to fetch the two of you."
Wei Wuxian tensed minimally, and Xuanyu blinked, suddenly worried. "Aiya, and who might both yourself and your lady be, Miss?"
The woman bowed again. "This one is Lu Jingfei, maid to Lan Linqin . The Young Masters may not know this, but my lady is the head wife of Sect Elder Lan Bingwen. She and her sister-wife have invited you for tea and refreshments in the Camellia Pavilion and wish to speak to the both of you regarding your situation."
Wei Wuxian relaxed and nodded. "We will go there immediately, then."
Lu Jingfei did not leave. "My lady has instructed me to take the both of you there, if the Young Masters would allow it."
Mo Xuanyu, still seated at the table, tried to stand up in a somewhat graceful way before he nodded -- both at Wei Wuxian, who'd turned a questioning glance at him, and at the maid. Wei Wuxian sighed. "If Lu Jingfei might wait for us outside of the jingshi's premises then, and we shall hurry out?"
She nodded and left them on their own; Wei Wuxian grimacing as soon as she left. Mo Xuanyu blinked. "Sorry, it's just... I'm the son of a servant, yeah? It always feels strange when others treat me with reverence like that, considering I could've very well ended up like that as well. That formality might come naturally to Lan Zhan -- you'd think he learned to speak by reading a rulebook! -- but I hate it." He started straightening out his robes and scribbled a note to inform Hanguang-Jun where they went, Mo Xuanyu helping him after a beat.
He kept glancing at Wei Wuxian, a thoughtful frown on his face.
Wei Wuxian finally noticed. "...what?"
Mo Xuanyu debated for a second about telling him, and, well. It'd been common knowledge in Koi Tower. "My mother is the second daughter of the head of the Mo estate and Mo Village, but she'd been born to a servant. Until I'd left for Koi Tower I had been helping her with tasks around the house -- though the other servants despised us, because she was recognized by my grandfather and thus escaped the more difficult work."
I understand you, Mo Xuanyu carefully did not say. I see you. Instead he left his words hanging, re-tying his hair so that it would look less unkempt.
And he changed the topic. "I thought you didn't know anyone else in our situation?"
Wei Wuxian grimaced. "Only because I don't know any second or third wives doesn't mean that there aren't any in the Cloud Recesses. I'm not as familiar with most of the non-Lan clans or any Lans not of the main branch. Elder Bingwen is, I think, a non-main branch Lan, though I didn't even know he was married, to be honest."
They stepped outside. "Fair warning, Xuanyu. I've got no idea what will happen now."
Mo Xuanyu inclined his head. That made it two of them.
Lan Linqin, first wife of Sect Elder Bingwen, was as beautiful a Lan-woman as any, her age only showing in the lines around her eyes and mouth. She was seated next to another woman -- Mo Xuanyu presumed her to be the sister-wife -- both of them clothed in white, though the latter's accent color was a surprising green.
Wei Wuxian and Mo Xuanyu entered the sitting area of the pavilion in silence, following after the maid until she halted and bowed towards her lady, who dismissed her for the time being after they exchanged a few silent words. "Sit," Lan Linqin said, eyeing them coolly.
Wei Wuxian first and then Mo Xuanyu sat down properly, side-by-side. The second woman looked much more sympathetic -- and somewhat younger -- but she stayed silent, only pouring them tea after a moment's notice.
Xuanyu was getting uncomfortable in the silence, never having been good at dealing with them, and Wei Wuxian too, was getting shifty, the other demonic cultivator utterly useless at sitting or standing still for longer than a few seconds unless he was deeply lost in thoughts. Xuanyu clenched his fists together.
Then Lan Linqin huffed out a soft breath and went to carefully drink a sip of her tea and the mounting tension was dispelled, everyone else following along.
"What you have done correctly: the Yiling Patriarch has been taking charge in your actions until now --"
Wei Wuxian blinked, "Huh?"
"-- and Young Master Mo has not overstepped his boundaries by undermining that authority."
Mo Xuanyu froze, teacup still in hand. Ah...?
Lan Linqin stared at them for a moment longer, eyes glinting with concealed amusement, but it was her companion who broke first, hiding a giggle behind a sleeve. "Ah, A-Qin, don't be so harsh on them -- they look like spooked prey! You wanted to help them, not scare them away!"
Linqin huffed, a small smile settling on her features and making her eyes crinkle. "I apologize; ZhenZhen is right." She gestured at her companion. "Fan Meizhen, my sister-wife for over fifty years. We had thought that we might help you, considering your… extraordinary situation. Though I must admit that we are not privy to everything."
Wei Wuxian nodded weakly. Mo Xuanyu felt, admittedly, a shiver run down his spine. "The help is… much appreciated, Madam."
Linqin nodded. "I can give you a basic rundown of what is traditionally expected of women who share a husband, even if I am unsure how it would be applicable in a situation with three, well, men." She huffed again. "Such an imbalance, truly."
(Mo Xuanyu flinched.)
"And then, after we are done with any general questions you might have, ZhenZhen will steal you away to the other sitting room, Young Master Mo, and I will speak to the Yiling Patriarch alone."
Both demonic cultivators shared a glance in uncertainty before Wei Wuxian smirked and turned around again. "Aiya -- then the two of us will be in your hands, auntie."
Xuanyu nodded. Lan Linqin started then, with detailing on how usually the first wife was the matriarch of her household and was higher-ranking than any of her new sisters, and how those new sister-wives were subservient to her if their husband was not present; they were to follow after the first wife in social cues and interactions in formal settings and were not to speak up unless prompted first, else it would bring great shame upon the husband. She explained that usually, unless the child was a male heir, the children of the sisters were also seen as lower -- and then explained that the need for a heir is one of the most widespread reasons why a husband would take another legal wife, next to politics, of course.
"That had been the case in our marriage. Though I cannot imagine childbearing to be a particular problem of yours, unless the youths of today have managed to invent truly mindblowing techniques in cultivation."
Mo Xuanyu flushed at the implication but dutifully shook his head. If he were a woman he wouldn't even be in this situation. Maybe.
Wei Wuxian looked thoughtful. "Isn't it worse if Xuanyu were to follow my lead considering who I am? As far as the rest of the cultivation world goes, Mo Xuanyu has a more legitimate claim to the title of 'husband of Hanguang-Jun' than I do."
Linqin looked less than impressed. "I do not care who you are or what you did, Yiling Patriarch, if that is what you are implying. I have seen worse things than your control over that Ghost General of yours. It is especially because you are so powerful and are still regarded to be of the same strength as our Hanguang-Jun that you two have to be careful with the balance of things. If you are too lenient, then people will call Hanguang-Jun even worse things than now; they will say that the Second Young Master has not disciplined well his first spouse. If you are too strict, they will say that -- particularly in your case, Patriarch -- he has not truly rehabilitated you of your evil deeds. Especially since all three of you are men of considerable strength or familial ties. Everything you do reflects upon Hanguang-Jun." Linqin sighed. "This is why its such an imbalance."
"Regardless of those things," Meizhen softly interjected, "the most important part of running your household is to find a relationship between yourselves that suits you best. You will have to lay all of your worries open onto the table and discuss insecurities with your sister-wife -- oh. Though. What do you call yourselves?"
Mo Xuanyu and Wei Wuxian at once, "Co-husbands."
Meizhen nodded. "It does sound better than brother-husbands, I'll admit. Where was I? Oh, yes. Try to cultivate a friendship and clear boundaries between yourselves. I and Linqin consider ourselves to be as close as siblings but not closer; you may do the same, or not."
Wei Wuxian nodded. "Of course, auntie."
Meizhen smiled. "You two are so darling. I have to admit to never having imagined something such as this to be possible -- three men marrying each other -- it is novel for us old people, you see."
("Oh no," Lan Linqin muttered. "She wouldn't dare to…")
"Which brings us to the next point -- marital duties. You do have to be able to please your husband, after all."
("Of course she did…")
Mo Xuanyu promptly choked on his tea. Wei Wuxian made an embarrassed noise. Meizhen blinked innocently. "I would not want to presume how it is done between cut-sleeves, but truly, doesn't it hurt? Ah, but I digress; I can give you poin--"
"Thankyouverymuchbutitisnotneededauntie-!" It was a barely-comprehensible shriek. Wei Wuxian shrieked. Mo Xuanyu felt that shriek in his heart.
Meizhen, "Oh, do not tell me that such Young Masters such as yourselves don't actually have some fun -- married life would be boring without it..."
"ZhenZhen, please. We talked about this." Lan Linqin sighed a pained sigh and gestured over to the two demonic cultivators, who were both flushed red and avoided looking at each other.
"Oh, alright, fine. You always take away all of my fun, A-Qin..." Fan Meizhen sipped at her tea. "Shall we continue, then?"
The sun was starting to set by the time Wei Wuxian and Mo Xuanyu were separated by the sister-wives, after a considerable amount of questions on their side and etiquette on the women's, when Lan Linqin motioned for Wei Wuxian to follow her. They left the pavilion and walked towards the gardens, insects fluttering lazily around them while Linqin started talking again, her words underlain by a severity that had been missing earlier. Wei Wuxian froze to attention.
"I can imagine that you wouldn't like to hear this from me at all, Young Master Wei, but if you tackle your current situation with the same levity you usually display face-front for the rest of the world to see it will only lead to your harm." She frowned. "Young Master Mo seemed to be a gentle soul, and I cannot imagine someone like him to come from that Jin Guangashan's seed --"
Wei Wuxian snorted.
"-- but he needs a softer approach than what you or our own Second Young Master are accustomed to. He's like my dear ZhenZhen, intimidated by the Cloud Recesses. And while I know that our cases cannot be compared, truly, you are free to visit the both of us whenever you have any questions -- regardless if it is a matter of feelings, propriety or something banal. If my memory serves me right, there have been no concubines or multiple wives in Lotus Pier ever since Jiang Fengmian had risen to sect leadership, so this situation must be novel for you."
This time, Wei Wuxian frowned. Not at the last part -- which was interesting on its own -- but at the one before it. "Feelings?"
Lan Linqin smiled at him, wryly. "Does it not leave a sour taste in your mouth, to call the Young Master your husband's second husband? Do you not feel the shimmering resentment at the thought that Young Master Mo is wed to your Hanguang-Jun? Your open affection for the Second Young Master is widely known in the Cloud Recesses, after all."
Well. It did, obviously, but more than that it was the seething anger at Jin Guangshan and the helplessness of their situation until the leads could be secured. The Lan elder let her eyes roam over his expression, reminiscent of how Madam Yu used to do it in the past.
"Propriety demands in this particular situation that all three of you live in the same home for a grace period I am unaware of. Do not try to fool me, Yiling Patriarch; I have seen and lived through things you couldn't even fathom. Whatever reason has convinced both you and the Second Young Master to marry Young Master Mo, it is quite certainly not one that is easily dealt with, and the cultivation world at large is still recovering from the war."
That sounded like an ill omen if he's ever heard one.
They have reached the end of the garden -- Wei Wuxian tried desperately to not shudder when Lan Linqin's form ghosted past him and out onto the path back to the pavilion, her sleeves billowing against his form as she did so. He followed her, letting her words sink in, and grimaced at them. She certainly wasn't wrong, that was for sure.
About more than one thing.
They reached Mo Xuanyu and Fan Meizhen at the time the sky was painted in rainbows of red and black and both Wei Wuxian and Mo Xuanyu bowed to the elders before making their way back to the jingshi, silent for once.
Mo Xuanyu fidgeted. Wei Wuxian, intent on breaking their silence, plastered on a halfway-convincing grin (he suddenly felt so tired; couldn't the world leave him alone for once in his life -- hadn't he suffered enough??). "So, what did you talk about? I was threatened." It was true, more or less, after all.
Mo Xuanyu flushed. "The second lady was quite insistent in giving me a talk about, uh, things I should do or people I should seek out if I were to ever be. Um. If I were to ever be taken adv-advantage of. Apparently she had received the same talk from her own grandmother and felt it necessary to divulge it."
Wei Wuxian stopped in his tracks, his mind grinding into a halt. Why was that a concern? "Why--" He bit his lip. Did it seem as if they were doing just that?
Mo Xuanyu stopped as well, shoulders hunching up in a shrug. "I think she was worried about those alleged rumors of Hanguang-Jun and Zewu-Jun's parents, and, well. Your own reputation as well, Yiling Patriarch."
Oh, yeah, that. Wait. My own reputation…? "Wait." Wei Wuxian blinked. "Those rumors about how I would lure innocent people up the Burial Mounds and cut them up to cook them? Those are still a thing?"
Mo Xuanyu carefully nodded. Wei Wuxian snorted. "As if I'd done that; I don't need to know what cooked flesh tastes like -- no better than charred or rotting, I bet. I hope that you don't… I hope that you don't feel threatened or, or, taken advantage of by us, though, Xuanyu. Because that's really not our intention."
Mo Xuanyu shook his head, eyes wide in shock for a split-second before his expression shuttered and something like a half-smile tugged at his lips. "Whatever intimidation I could've felt was gone thanks to the times I've seen you struggling to wake up for breakfast." He sobered up. "Wei Wuxian, I know that you mean me no harm, and I can see how you and Hanguang-Jun try to give me at least an illusion of safety and comfort. I'm. I'm incredibly thankful for it."
Mo Xuanyu started walking again. He glanced around their surroundings. "And. Well. I do quite like the Cloud Recesses. It's very different from Koi Tower."
Wei Wuxian followed with a snort. "I don't want to be disrespectful, but almost everywhere is better than Koi Tower."