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"We need to ask permission from our family, before we move ahead with our plans."
Jin Ling and Jingyi turned to look at Sizhui as if he'd grown another head.
"Hanguang-Jun and Senior Wei didn't," Jingyi pointed out, rubbing the back of his neck in a way and belayed his nervousness.
"The two of them didn't exactly follow traditions," Lan Sizhui said softly, glancing at his two boyfriends... No, betrothed.
It was Jin Ling who had first blurted it out, red face and stammering after he stormed into the Cloud Recesses in a way that definitely broke a bunch of rules. Sizhui and Jingyi had shared smiles before removing their head ribbons and holding them out to him.
He sat holding them now, cross legged on Sizhui's bed with his back against the wall. There was still a light blush to his cheeks and he kept looking down at the white fabric in his hands as if it wasn't quite real.
"I don't see why we can't just do it like them..."
"Do you want to?" Sizhui raised an eyebrow. "It's not like anyone in our family will disapprove. It's just a case of asking."
"That's easy for you to say," Jingyi pouted. "You're well liked by everyone... Ah, that Lan Sizhui, he truly is the leader of the new generation!"
Sizhui blushed slightly, leaning over to tap Jingyi on the nose before he went on spewing more nonsense. He dropped his hand to take Jingyi's, giving it a firm squeeze, and reached the other over to pat Jin Ling's leg. A delicate hand covered his, tanned fingers curling around his own. "What do you think, Ling-er?"
Jin Ling blinked, turning slowly like a wide eyed and shocked cat. "Me?"
"You're normally the opinionated one," Jingyi teased, leaning towards Jin Ling and into his side. Jin Ling pouted at him, eyes narrowing into a half glare. Jingyi continued to nudge into his side in an attempt to pester him out of his still shocked state. "Tell us what you think, since you asked us first."
"Don't remind me," Jin Ling spluttered out, turning bright red again in the face of the embarrassing memory. Sizhui leaned in to press a kiss to his cheek before he tried to hide his face in shame, and Jingyi did the same from the other side.
"Come, A-Ling, tell us what you think."
Jin Ling frowned in the face of his fiancés staring at him with expectant eyes. "I... I want to tell them. I want approval."
Jingyi let out a dramatic sigh, letting go of Sizhui's hand to fling his arms around Jin Ling. "If young master Jin says so, then we will. He's only the one with the scariest guardian."
"He's not-" Jin Ling cut himself off because really, he was. "You're right."
"Always am!"
Jin Ling glared at him, turning and jabbing Jingyi in the sides right where he knew he was ticklish. Jingyi gasped and attacked right back, and soon the two were a tangle of limbs play fighting on the bed.
Sizhui watched with amusement but eventually grabbed them both by the collars of their robes, dragging them away and against his chest. He then held both of them there, gently running a hand through their hair even as Jin Ling huffed and Jingyi laughed.
"We should plan how we're going to do this," he said, pressing a kiss to each of their heads before continuing. If they didn't talk about it, he was sure it would end up as a disaster. Those two would probably never talk to his parents. "It's a bit more complicated since there's three of us."
"Well, we go in pairs," Jingyi said, turning his head to look at the other two. His eyes still twinkled with mischief even as his tone turned more serious. "The person whose family was visiting shouldn't be there for the permission asking."
"Why not?" Jin Ling tilted his head.
"It let's the family interrogate the potential partner, of course."
"That makes no sense," Jin Ling scoffed.
"Do you want to be there when we ask Sandu Shengshou?" Sizhui pointed out.
"... No," Jin Ling muttered, avoiding their gaze. "I'd rather not have to tell Jiujiu myself. But he'll break my leg if he hears it from anyone else."
Jingyi huffed out a laugh and Sizhui lightly slapped him over the head for that. He didn't want the two of them to start bickering again. His gaze softened as Jingyi tightened his arms around Jin Ling, leaning to kiss his head apologetically.
"You can tell him first, A-ling, then we'll ask for his permission. Seem fair? Ah, I'll need to tell my dads myself also."
"My mum too," Jingyi nodded.
Jin Ling also nodded, turning his head to press his face against Sizhui. Sizhui smiled softly at him, then at Jingyi. They just had to do this and then they could move on from there, to their marriage.
“That’s it settled then.”
It was unanimously decided that they would talk to Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian first. For a start, they were already in the cloud recesses. Second, they should be the easiest to talk to.
It didn't stop Jingyi from being a bundle of nerves and energy. He gripped Jin Ling's hand tightly, more for his fiance than himself. He was anxious, of course, but one look at Jin Ling's bright red face and screwed up expression told him just how much the slightly taller man was over thinking.
It should be fine. After all, Sizhui had already talked to the two of them the day before and said they were delighted. This was merely customary. Sure, it was Hanguang-Jun who Jingyi held a great respect for and would rather die than disappoint. But it would be fine.
"I don't want to do this," Jin Ling muttered, gaze fixed on the floor. "This is a stupid idea."
"You were the one that agreed to it," Jingyi pointed out, nudging him teasingly in the side. Jin Ling's glare, sharper than normal, was kind of cute. He just wanted to squeeze those puffed up cheeks, if only it wouldn't result in his fingers getting bitten. "I was quite happy to elope."
"Jiujiu would kill me if I did that."
"So here we are," Jingyi inclined his head towards the sliding door in front of them, leading to the room Hanguang-Jun used as something close to study for meditation and helping run the cloud recesses. "Shall we?"
Jin Ling grumbled again, but not one to be beaten he raised his hand to knock. Jingyi didn't bother to hide his smile. Ah, he was so in love with this overly grumpy and expressive cultivator. And he was just in love with the much gentler, but firmer, Sizhui. He was hopeful that that would come across to his parents.
Though he still thought eloping was just fine, he couldn't fight both of his fiancés. He may still squabble with Jin Ling but when it came down to it they made decisions together.
Just moments after they'd knocked the door slid open, revealing a brightly grinning Wei Wuxian.
"About time! You two sure are late, I thought it was a Lan thing to keep time perfectly? Did that skip you then, Lan Jingyi?"
"You know what A-ling is like, always tardy," Jingyi replied brightly, laughing openly at Jin Ling's huff. He squeezed the hand twined in his and gently rubbed his thumb against the smooth skin there.
"Ah, you're right," Wei Wuxian grinned, before stepping back. "Well come in, come in."
Jingyi stepped right in after him, practically dragging Jin Ling over to the small table Lan Wangji knelt at. His husband had taken his place back at his side and nuzzled into him. It was kind of adorable and had Jingyi wanting to pull Jin Ling into his arms, if only that wouldn't get his head bitten off.
The held hand would have to do. He refused to let go even as they sat. It was a bit awkward and honestly Jingyi had expected some tea to be prepared, or that they would talk in some place that wasn't used for work. But here they were. He tried to ignore the restless energy that coursed through him, the bouncing thoughts and need to talk. He would let them get the first words in, of course, it was only proper (being proper was so hard).
"So," Wei Wuxian drawled out, leaning across the low table separating them. "What makes you think you're good enough for our A-yuan?"
"Because we love him," Jingyi replied instantly, heart soaring at the opportunity given to talk as much as he wanted about one of the two men dearest to him. Jin Ling nodded his agreement, face flushed red. "We'd do anything to make him happy and protect him. To us A-yuan is the voice of reason and the one that stops us both from doubt anything stupid. He's so kind, caring and smart and I would do anything to protect his beautiful smile. A-ling would too. He is the world to us and we wouldn't be complete without him."
Jingyi was beaming by the end of it, words shining with the love he felt so strongly in his heart. Jin Ling nodded furiously alone but otherwise was strangely silent, face flushed bright red and gaze on their twined hands in his lap. Ah, it was so cute when he got flustered like this. Though Jingyi did have a preference for the embarrassed Jin Ling that squawked and made a lot of noise.
Wei Wuxian hummed thoughtfully, expression a picture of scrutiny that had Jingyi wanting to roll his eyes. It wasn't like they were going to disapprove... And they couldn't exactly judge considering the fact that they'd eloped!
"That's all very well," Wei Wuxian drawled out, pausing dramatically. "But it's all just pretty words and no solid proof. It's not enough."
"Excuse me?!" Jin Ling spluttered, eyes narrowing as irritation fought out with embarrassment across his scrunched up face. "What do you mean not enough?"
"What A-ling means, is what do you mean by that? How can we prove it?" Jingyi asked, forcing himself to be the sensible one even in the face of Wei Wuxian's shit eating grin. Ah, he missed Sizhui already! It was so hard to be diplomatic and thoughtful rather than just letting his mouth run... But he had to for him. Jin Ling certainly wasn't going to in this case, as much as he could be very polite when Sect Leader business called for it. But when it was Wei Wuxian? No chance. It was difficult for Jingyi to keep a lid on his emotions and not just get angry at Wei Wuxian (as he normally would).
"That's not what I meant, A-yi," Jin Ling muttered, glaring as Jingyi elbowed him in the side. Jingyi maintained a wide grin even as his fiance elbowed him back and they began to half fight hidden under the low table.
"Well, let me think," Wei Wuxian hummed, fingers tapping on the table with a smile that was beginning to grate on his nerves. "I have seen more proof from you of course, Lan Jingyi. You're practically inseparable from our A-Yuan. But you, Jin Ling... You're so busy as a sect leader! How will you have time for my wonderful son? Especially when you have Lan Jingyi too."
"I don't think you understand how it works," Jin Ling scowled, leg twitching under Jingyi's hand. They both knew quite well what Wei Wuxian was doing... Winding them up, playing hard to get with his approval. It was so frustrating! And Hanguang-Jun was just sitting there, allowing it to happen.
"A-ling makes plenty of time for us," Jingyi put in before Jin Ling boiled over. "And it will be easier when we marry."
"I will have private Chambers suited to the three of us prepared in Koi tower," Jin Ling said, switching from frustration to diplomatic Sect Leader in a way that always shocked Jingyi. And maybe made him fall a little bit more in love. He could still see the annoyance burning under his fiancé's skin, in the way his eyes flashed, but it had been masked. "We will no longer have to make do with the rooms each of us have individually. Visiting will be easier and more acceptable... As would living together."
Jingyi felt so proud, and relieved that the role of trying to be diplomatic had been taken away from him. He really wasn't cut out for it! Yes, he made friends so easily... But not speaking his mind was such a struggle. Another few moments and he would have lost it. That had to satisfy-
"But you see, A-yuan is such a gentle soul! He needs care and attention, and to be with people who will give him everything he needs. Our A-Yuan is so very kind and easily walked over. I wouldn’t want you two to be taking advantage of him. Not that I’m suggesting that’s the case, of course not, but you have to understand where my concern is coming from.”
"You've got to be kidding me," Jingyi blurted out.
“Do you even know A-Yuan?” Jin Ling snorted, letting go of Jingyi’s hand to fold his arms with a raised eyebrow. “He may be gentle and kind, but he is not easily walked over.”
“Are you suggesting I don’t know my own son?” Wei Wuxian quirked his eyebrow, looking at Lan Wangji as if to say can you believe they’re questioning me. “A-Yuan is a delicate flower that must be treated just right!”
Jin Ling and Jingyi shared looks of disbelief. Jingyi couldn’t help but shake his head and face palm. Of course, it wasn’t a surprise that Sizhui was like that around his adoptive parents. They didn’t see the moments where he changed so sharply from calm to sharp.
“A-Yuan is definitely in charge,” Jingyi said, unable to keep it in. He needed Wei Wuxian to understand that, for all that the two of them would protect Sizhui, he absolutely didn’t need it. In fact he was the one that ordered them around most! “Of the three of us, he’s the one with the final say.”
“You should see him when he gets all commanding,” Jin Ling added, honey coloured eyes glazing over momentarily. A smile tugged at Jingyi’s lips. He knew just what Jin Ling was thinking of, and it made him want to dream of it too. How he missed Sizhui already. “There’s no way to say no.”
“Oho,” Wei Wuxian chuckled, tactics changing instantly as he leaned further forward. “Are you speaking about… in bed?”
“What?!” Jingyi and Jin Ling spluttered out at the same time. Jingyi was glad they hadn’t been offered tea because he would have spat it out right at that moment. Jin Ling had recoiled backwards, cheeks turning a bright red as his mouth opened and closed like a fish.
For once, Jingyi was just as speechless.
“You know what I’m talking about. You boys, you definitely do those kinds of things. Don’t think you can fool me!” Wei Wuxian grinned, wagging his finger at them as if he was scolding. “Now, now, don’t be shy and tell your senior all about it. I’m curious about how it works with the three of you. I take it that A-Yuan is in charge… Does that mean he is always on top? What position is your favourite? How many times do you do it? Where? Have you done it in the Cloud Recesses, my, how naughty.”
"We’re not answering these questions!” Jingyi shouted, voice raising at the consideration of even sharing these things. He was blushing too now, feeling his tanned cheeks heating up and the hand gripping Jin Ling’s growing clammy with sweat. This wasn’t what he’d expected to have to talk about with Sizhui’s parents. “Absolutely not, never.”
Jin Ling shook his head fervently, mouth still opening occasionally with no words coming out. It seemed it was too much for him. Jingyi understood, he was most easily embarrassed of the three. Jin Ling liked to keep these things private. In front of certain people Jingyi would scream to the heavens about all he’d done with his fiances… but his parents? Never.
“Come on, it’s not that embarrassing! If it helps you feel comfortable I can share all the things that me and Lan Zhan have done.”
“Senior Wei, please,” Jingyi shook his head. Absolutely not. He did not want to hear about that, even less than he wanted to share their own activities. He turned to Lan Wangji with a wide, desperate look. He had to know this was inappropriate. He had to help them.
Lan Wangji turned to Wei Wuxian, expression imperceptible. "Wei Ying."
"Fine, fine,” Wei Wuxian waved his hand in front of his face as he laughed. “I was just curious. I wanted to make sure that A-Yuan was being satisfied, but I’m sure he is.”
Jingyi let out a long breath, before gently rubbing his thumb across Jin Ling’s hand. His fiance shuffled closer to him and lightly pressed into his side. He looked like he wanted to stab Wei Wuxian (again), jump out the window or scream. Maybe all at the same time.
Jingyi couldn’t say that he felt much different.
“We really do love your son,” he said, eventually, gently nudging Jin Ling.
“We do,” he repeated softly.
Wei Wuxian let out a heaving, over dramatic sigh. “I know. I can tell, and he clearly is head over heels for you as well.”
“He’s happy,” Lan Wangji added, finally joining the conversation rather than letting his husband do all the talking.
“I’d never stand between our precious A-Yuan and his happiness! I just wanted to torment you a little bit… it wouldn’t be right for it to be easy, would it?”
“It would have been nicer for us,” Jingyi huffed.
“You know us both, too, I don’t see why you had too,” Jin Ling added in an irritated grumble.
“I’m sorry, A-Ling, but I wasn’t going to let you get away with my son just because you’re my adorable little nephew.”
“Who’s your nephew?!” Jin Ling snapped back, cheeks flushed again. Ah, ever the dishonest one when it came to things like this.
Jingyi gently patted his leg before speaking. “So, does that mean you approve.”
“Of course we do! I’m delighted that A-Yuan is going to have not just one, but two dedicated husbands.”
“Mm, we approve,” Lan Wanji added with a nod. His approval was almost worth more.
Jingyi felt a grin splitting his lips, and recently felt frustration quickly brushed away. He turned to Jin Ling, who had a slight smile fighting through his grumpiness. Then he turned back to Shizui’s parents.
“Thank you!”
"Calm down, A-ling."
"How am I meant to calm down?" Jin Ling snapped, before instantly regretting it when Sizhui's expression dropped. He huffed apologetically and grabbed Sizhui's hand, pressing his face down into his shoulder. "Your parents were so difficult, and they were supposed to be the easiest... How can I not be nervous."
"It's okay," Sizhui laughed lightly, lightly running a hand through Jin Ling's ponytail. "A-yi said that his mother was delighted at the news so I'm sure talking to her will be perfectly fine."
"We've never met her, we can't know that," Jin Ling whined. "What if she hates us?"
"Who could hate you?" Sizhui said softly, gently pushing Jin Ling off his shoulder and squeezing his hand. "That won't happen."
"A lot of people... You're the one that no one can hate!"
"Well then, it's a good thing we're going together, right? Come on."
Jin Ling buffed grumpily, heaviness sinking straight into his gut, but let Sizhui lead him down the bamboo lined path towards a simple, homemade hut. Jingyi had told them that his mother liked to live a simple life outside of the main sects, for all her great strength as a cultivator. She participated in Night Hunts where she chose nowadays and had essentially left the Lan sect after her husband's death. She was a wildcard, the one parent they knew nothing about for all Jingyi sang her praises with wide grins.
But he also talked about how strict she'd been on him at times, even when she'd had a fairly freedom based parental approach. When Jingyi pushed too far (as he was want to do) how she'd lost her temper. This was what scared Jin Ling the most. For all his boisterous personality and rule breaking, Jingyi was one of the friendliest people he knew. Jin Ling? Not only was he stubborn and arrogant, but he wasn't even friendly. Why would any parent approve of him for their child.
(He didn't even have his own).
"Hey, it'll be alright."
Sizhui's calming tones brought him out of his spiralling thoughts and he nodded. He could take whatever was thrown his way. They shared a shaky smile and Jin Ling found himself leaning onto Sizhui's side for both of their comfort.
He'd forgotten that for all he was put together, Sizhui must be nervous about this too. It wasn't everyday you had to ask for permission to marry one of the men you loved. And this was Sizhui's first, he still had the prospect of meeting Jin Ling's uncle later.
"You're right."
"Always am," Sizhui smiled teasingly, loosening them both up with a laugh and tightly held hands. “Now, let’s get this over with, shall we?”
Jin Ling nodded, steeling himself as they reached the hut. It wasn’t anything like the fanciness that he was used to but he found he liked how the whole place felt. It was calming, like the Cloud Recesses were. Sizhui raised a hand to lightly rap on the door.
Only a moment later was it pulled open. The woman that stood before them was shorter than them both, long hair pulled back into a neat ponytail. She wore simple white robes and a welcoming smile. There was a spark in her eyes so similar to Jingyi’s, and a certain domineering attitude about her.
“You must be Sect Leader Jin and Lan Sizhui. Please, come in. My son has told me all about you.”
She indicated for them to enter and kneel at the small table, already set up with a steaming pot of tea and three. Jin Ling let out a sigh of relief. Talking over tea was good. Less nerve wracking than whatever had happened with Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji.
“The pleasure is all ours,” Sizhui spoke with a smile, snapping Jin Ling out of his thoughts. He bowed to Lan Jingyi’s mother before sitting.
“It is an honour to meet A-yi’s mother,” Jin Ling added with a bow too, before joining Sizhui.
The woman smiled at them, sitting opposite and pouring them all tea. Jin Ling could feel his stress beginning to drain away as he picked up the cup nearby and gently blew on the steaming liquid. This was much better than the previous meeting already. This would be fine.
“So, do tell me, what makes you think you can handle my son?”
Jin Ling tilted his head. It was a bit of a strange question to ask, but he understood when it was about Jingyi. He was quite the handful. Not that Jin Ling was much better… their fights likely cause Sizhui great pains far too often.
“Well, we love him, of course,” Sizhui smiled good naturedly. “A-Yi has a lot of energy and it can be hard to keep up with sometimes. A-Ling here does a better job of it than me.”
“You’re the one that stops us from fighting too much,” Jin Ling snorted, cheeks heating up as he realised he’d just admitted to fighting in front of Jingyi’s mother. He glanced over to see her still smiling, even if he felt a slight chill. “Not that we fight much, of course. And when we do Jingyi definitely beats me!”
“A-Yi and A-Ling used to be quite competitive. They’ve settled down now.”
“Yes, I’ve heard,” Jingyi’s mother raised an eyebrow. There was something in her gaze that had Jin Ling shivering. “He told me all about the Young Master of Lanling Jin. I’m glad that you’ve matured since your youth. Of course, so has Jingyi.”
“We’ve all come a long way since we first met,” Sizhui said, an almost wistful expression crossing his eyes.
“Didn’t think I’d fall for you both then,” Jin Ling mumbled, before forcing himself to speak louder. “Me and A-Yi may squabble sometimes, but I’d do anything for him. I wouldn’t want to marry him otherwise.”
“Good,” Jingyi’s mother nodded. “I’m sure that you will keep it that way. I know you make my son happy, seeing as he won’t stop talking about you both every time he visits. I gladly approve of your marriage. Just make sure he still visits his mother and keep him happy, and I’m happy.”
“Thank you, we will do just that,” Sizhui smiled.
Jin Ling echoed his thanks, even though he felt a strange uneasiness settling over him. Something told him that a single wrong move, doing one thing that jingyi might not like, and his mother would act without mercy.
“Now, won’t you stay a bit longer for tea? I’d like to get to know my son’s future husbands.”
They agreed, even when Jin Ling couldn’t quite shake the anxiety beginning to creep through him. He held it in until they finally left and it felt like it was going to burst out.
“You felt it too, right, A-Yuan?”
“What do you mean?” Sizhui asked softly, tilting his head towards him.
Jin Ling gnawed on his bottom lip, trying to figure out how to explain it. How did he? “It seemed like Jingyi’s mother was… warning us. She just gave off this really threatening feeling. I’m not sure if she actually approved.”
“She gave us her approval.”
“That doesn’t mean she likes us!” Jin Ling flung his hands in the air, even as he tried to believe Sizhui. He really did. “She had this look in her eyes when I mentioned us fighting. I feel like if we ever hurt him she wouldn't’ forgive us.”
“Then it’s a good thing we won’t,” Sizhui said softly, pausing to lean over to press a comforting kiss to Jin Ling’s cheek. “Stop worrying about it, A-Ling, it’s fine. Come one, we need to go meet with A-Yi.”
Jin Ling nodded, letting Sizhui drag him away as a deep exhaustion set in. At least he was done now, had gotten through the hell that was gaining approval. Only his uncle was left then he could curl up with his fiances and hug the day away.
If Sizhui was nervous about meeting Jingyi's mother, he was absolutely terrified of the meeting with Sandu Shengshou. Not only was he incredibly respected within the cultivation world but he was known for his grumpy demeanour and harsh temper. For all he could be hard on Jin Ling everyone knew he would do anything for his nephew. He always had.
That's what made asking his permission for Jin Ling's hand in marriage so terrifying.
"I hope Jin Ling is fine with two husbands with broken limbs," Jingyi muttered, anxiously pacing in the small hall as they waited to be called in to the audience chamber. They'd travelled to Lotus Pier together with Jin Ling, who had gone ahead to talk to his uncle first. The fact that he was still in there made Sizhui nervous for a variety of reasons.
"I'm sure he won't hurt us," Sizhui responded eventually. "Threaten us, perhaps, but not hurt us."
"You're right, Huangang-Jun would never allow it."
They only had to wait a short while longer before the door opened, and a Jiang clan attendant was showing them in. Sizhui frowned, moving closer to Jingyi and nudging his side. “Where’s A-ling?”
“Still inside?” Jingyi whispered back with a shrug as they entered.
Sizhui wanted to take Jingyi’s hand, for some kind of comfort, but he was more scared of not being proper when greeting the Jiang Sect leader. So he just took a deep breath and steeled himself.
The man himself sat on the Lotus Throne, straight backed with narrowed grey eyes. He was an imposing sight that had both Sizhui and Jingyi shivering slightly. Why did Jin Ling have to have such an intimidating uncle?
“Sect Leader Jiang,” Sizhui greeted, bowing low in front of him. Jingyi quickly followed suit.
“Lan Sizhui, Lan Jingyi,” Jiang Cheng replied, shifting to rest his chin on a hand. “I heard from Jin Ling that you wish for his hand in marriage.”
“We do,” Sizhui nodded, glancing at Jingyi. “Both Lan Jingyi and I wish to marry Sect Leader Jin, and have been thinking about this for months.”
Jiang Cheng leaned forward, purple sparking in his eyes as he fixed them both with a harsh gaze. “And why should I give my approval? Jin Ling is the leader of a thriving sect. What do you both have to offer? How do I know you are not just marrying him for his status?”
“I am the heir to the Gusu Lan sect,” Sizhui replied evenly.
“And I’m in training to become a sect ambassador,” Jingyi spoke up, more brash than Sizhui and with the flicker of a smile. How he didn’t seem anxious Sizhui didn’t understand. “To us, Sect Leader Jin will always be the man we love first. We have known him long before he took his current role and neither of us care for something like that. After all, we’ve got our own roles in our sect.”
“We know how difficult it is for him,” Sizhui added. “We already help him where we can, and it will be easier when we are married.”
“I see,” Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes, purple still sparking in his eyes. “However if I find out that isn’t the case, I will not hesitate to end your lives. You do not-”
“A-Cheng!” A melodic voice interrupted him before he could continue, a smaller figure clad in dark green and grey gliding into the hall and towards the throne. “A-Cheng, you’re running late for our tea!”
“Sect Leader Nie,” Jiang Cheng bit out, the sparks in his eyes disappearing as his expression was replaceable with one of irritation and… fondness? Sizhui must have seen wrong. “Can’t you see I’m busy?”
“I see that you are,” Nie Huisang spun around, fan covering his face even as his eyes crinkled in a smile. “Ah, it’s Jin Ling’s little friends. The ones that he is to marry, yes?”
“How do you know about that?”
“I caught your nephew on the way to his chambers, of course,” Nie Huisang snapped his fan closed, waving it at Jiang Cheng with a tut. “He was so flustered, really you should be nicer to that boy, Sect Leader Jiang. Show him some kindness for once.”
“Don’t tell me what to do,” Jiang Cheng snapped back, without any bite to it.
Nie Huisang just laughed before turning to Sizhui and Jingyi, who had watched the whole exchange with a mixture of bafflement and a slight amount of fear. To see Jiang Cheng practically getting berated by his… partner? And then not kicking him right out, it was a shock.
It was definitely not the way Sizhui had pictured things going. The threatening was about right, but Sect Leader Nie turning up and it devolving into the couple bickering? Certainly not.
“Do you two want to join us for tea?” Nie Huisang asked with a light smile. “I understand you need to ask Jiang Cheng for his permission to marry Jin Ling, it only makes sense to do it in a more comfortable setting. Does it not, A-Cheng?”
Jiang Cheng grunted.
“That sounds lovely, Sect Leader Nie,” Sizhui responded before Jingyi could blurt out something that would send everything downhill. He could see his want to in the way his eyebrow twitched and how he bit down on his bottom lip.
“Perfect! Come along, I already have it set up.”
Nie Huisang grabbed Jiang Cheng’s hand and led the taller, grumpier Sect Leader out of the room. Sizhui and Jingyi were given no choice but to follow.
“This is weird,” Jingyi hissed, leaning in close to Sizhui and bumping their shoulders together. “Sect Leader Jiang was threatening us just a moment ago. He barely looks threatening anymore.”
“Sect Leader Nie’s presence, I think,” Sizhui whispered back, reaching out to tangle his fingers with Jingyi’s.
“Well I’m glad, because I’m pretty sure we were about to get a very long talk about everything he would do to us if we hurt A-Ling. Which is ridiculous, because we’d never allow that to happen.”
“He’s just overprotective,” Sizhui hummed. “You would be too, with a nephew like A-ling.”
“You’re right,” Jingyi laughed.
They both quieted as they reached a smaller room, windows wide open to let in the light river breeze. A table was already set up with tea.
“Please, sit,” Nie Huisang smiled as he not so gently pushed Jiang Cheng down, indicating opposite them. He slotted in at Jiang Cheng’s side.
Sizhui knelt down, pulling Jingyi with him who was looking around the room with an expression of curiosity. One wall was covered in fancy fans of various designs. It was a rather pretty sight.
“Please, continue what you were talking about before, as if I’m not here,” Nie Huisang spoke again after pouring them all tea, fan once again covering his face.
Jiang Cheng shot him a glare, before coughing. “It was clear from when I spoke with Jin Ling that you make him happy.”
“So stiff,” Nie Huisang mumbled from behind his fan.
“I thought you were going to stay out of it,” Jiang Cheng hissed.
“It just saddens me greatly to see you speak so awkwardly about your nephew.”
“Fine,” Jiang Cheng frowned. “You both make A-Ling happy, and have been friends a long time. He needs people who can care for him and give him attention. Unless you hurt him, I cannot withhold my approval.”
“Thank you, Sect Leader Jiang,” Sizhui breathed out, glancing at Jingyi who shared his smile.
“We’ll make him happy,” Jingyi added.
“See that you do.”
Jin Ling looked absolutely exhausted.
The first thing Jingyi did when they entered the room they would be staying the night in at lotus pier, which had been Jin Ling's when he was younger, was draw the grumpy looking man into his arms. He hoped that he hadn't been waiting here the whole time, sitting and stewing.
Jin Ling turned in his arms and nuzzled up against him, eyes half closed and letting out a light huff. Jingyi smiled softly. Ah, he was so cute.
Eventually Sizhui joined them on the bed, after making sure everything was in order for them to get ready to sleep. He slipped over and knelt behind them, head resting on Jingyi's shoulders as nimble fingers began to undo Jin Ling's hair from the confines of its tight ponytail. Once that was done and his long, silky hair was free he moved on to Jingyi. Jingyi sighed softly and leaned back into his touch.
This was nice, after the chaos of the day. Even if the end had been fairly easy he was glad to finally be relaxing with his fiancés. He drank in their presence, calming him down from the bundle of energy he'd been previously. The silence was nice, even when they had so much to catch up on. For once Jingyi didn't feel the need to fill it.
Sizhui finished taking down his hair, and quickly did his own before Jingyi could offer. Then he carefully moved Jin Ling so he was half in Sizhui's lap, half against Jingyi's chest, and wrapped an arm around Jingyi. The other rested on Jin Ling's hip and he leaned right into Jingyi's side.
Jingyi smiled, content as he moved to accommodate Sizhui's presence. This was perfect, the three of them held together. Soon they'd be able to have it for the rest of their lives.
"How did it go?" Jin Ling asked eventually, tiredly.
Jingyi hummed lightly. "Very well, actually. It was quite uncomfortable at first, seeing as Sandu Shengshou just glared at us with threatening sparks of purple doom. But, he's really softened thanks to Sect Leader Nie! He hardly threatened us once Sect Leader Nie appeared to offer us tea."
"Wait, what?" Jin Ling yelped, sitting bolt upright with a betrayed expression. He was quickly manhandled back into their laps by two sets of strong arms. "You had tea? With Jiujiu?"
"It was very nice," Sizhui chimed in.
"It was! Not something I’d normally enjoy but we managed to get his approval without any lost limbs. Or even much shouting. I was expecting much worse considering how murderous Sandu Shengshou normally looks."
"How is that fair?" Jin Ling groaned, squirming until his face was pressed into Jingyi's stomach. "I forgot how much Sect Leader Nie had tempered his anger... But he was still so stern with me!"
"Did you want it to be difficult for us?" Jingyi couldn't help but tease. He comfortingly ran a hand up and down Jin Ling’s chest before the younger man could get more irritated. “He still threatened us, you know.”
“But not much… Jiujiu has softened because of Sect Leader Nie. He wouldn’t have been so easy on you both if he hadn’t.”
"I don't think it was all because of Sect Leader Nie," Sizhui put in thoughtfully. "Before he arrived, he still seemed to approve. He threatened us a little, of course, but it was clear he was glad that you're happy. And could tell that we do that for you."
"He could've said that to me," Jin Ling huffed.
"I'm sure he just didn't know how," Sizhui said soothingly, rubbing gentle circles against Jun Ling's hip. That seemed to work wonders and Jingyi was glad. A frustrated Jin Ling meant no rest for either of them, and sometimes it could take a while for him to come round.
His stubbornness was part of what he loved so much, even if it was what had made them clash so often before. Well... They still did, but no matter! It wasn't Jingyi's fault that Jin Ling was so easy to tease and that he was so full of energy to use to goad him.
"You know what was really terrifying about the meeting with Sandu Shengshou?" Jingyi asked dramatically after Jin Ling seemed to relax, wiggling his eyebrows. "He smiled! He actually smiled! I've never seen anything that was a scowl on his face. I thought that was permanent... I thought it was going to have a heart attack when he smiled!"
“It was quite terrifying,” Sizhui added with a smile.
“It still scares me a little,” Jin Ling said, tilting his head up to look at Jingyi. His lips twitched upwards and a giggle escaped his lips at the ridiculously shocked look Jingyi was pulling. It made Jingyi’s heart twist with warmth, the soft sound that came from his fiance. He loved when he laughed. “Whenever Jiujiu smiles I always think he is going to say something worse than when he scowls.”
“He just seemed happy,” Sizhui said softly. He hugged closer to them both, resting his head against Jingyi’s shoulder. “Speaking of happily married couples, how was it with Huanguang-Jun and Senior Wei?”
“You’re really calling them that?” Jingyi snorted, eyebrows shooting up. “Really, after hearing Senior Wei say ‘our A-Yuan’ multiple times you’d think that you were some innocent baby we were snatching away.”
“It was awful,” Jin Ling added, with less bite to his words as he pressed a sleepy face into Jingyi’s chest. His voice came out muffled as he continued. “He wouldn’t stop talking about how gentle you were, how we’d walk over you. Then he asked us-he asked us about-about-”
“Our sex life,” Jingyi finished for him as Jin Ling turned increasing red and flustered, dropping a hand to comfortingly run through his long dark hair.
“Ridiculous!” the younger man spluttered out. “As if we’d ever tell them.”
“Aha, I’m sorry about that,” Sizhui laughed apologetically, holding them both close to emphasise it. “Senior Wei- my parents can be really quite nosey. I’m sure they meant well. He grilled me earlier too.”
“I thought they would be the easiest,” Jingyi sighed heavily. “I guess that was my mother, then?”
“No,” Jin Ling shook his head, rubbing it against Jingyi as he did so. Jingyi tilted his head in confusion.
“She was perfectly nice to us, A-Ling.”
“But she was definitely threatening us! There was a look in her eyes… it’s exactly like how A-Yi gets when he’s determined or angry! She was telling us not to hurt him, or else.”
“That’s quite reasonable,” Jingyi laughed, patting Jin Ling’s head. “Is it not?”
“Not with a glare like that,” Jin Ling muttered. “I thought that she was going to challenge me to a fight there and then.”
“Which you’d lose.”
“You-” Jin Ling once again shot upwards, and was pulled back down against them before he could grab Jingyi and start throttling him.
“She’s a skilled cultivator with years over us,” Sizhui said soothingly. “But really, I don’t think she was threatening us at all.”
“My mother definitely was,” Jingyi snorted. His mother was always quick to give him a hard time but generally more restrained than he was when it came to speaking her mind. But it was likely she was choosing her words very specifically to give his fiances the feeling that Jin Ling had described. It would be just like her to drop subtle threats.
“See! I told you so!”
“Well, no matter,” Sizhui hummed. “It’s over now. We got all the approvals we needed.”
“Does that mean we can start planning the wedding?” Jingyi grinned. “Ah, I can’t wait to see you both in red. You're both going to look so handsome.”
“You too, A-Yi.”
“We’ll be the best looking husbands around,” Jin Ling said with a tired sigh, shifting in their laps to better stretch out. “But can we discuss this tomorrow? I’m exhausted after today.”
“Of course, A-Ling,” Sizhui agreed easily, leaning over to drop a kiss to his cheek. Then he turned to kiss Jingyi too. “Let’s get ready for bed then.”
“Let’s,” Jingyi nodded, feeling his own tiredness now that it was pointed out. He let Sizhui move them both so that they were all laid on the bed, Jin Ling cradled between them and their hands twined over him. The youngest of them, who seemed to have had the most stressful day, was already drifting off.
While it hadn’t been the easiest process, Jingyi was glad in the end that they’d done it. He still wasn’t against eloping but it was nice to know that their relationship was accepted outside of them all. And it was worth it for the cute faces his fiances made in reaction to everything that had happened.
There was something nice about curling up together after all was said and done, knowing that he could marry the two men he loved without worrying about anything standing in their way.
[Extra]
It was rare that Jiang Cheng deigned to give Wei Wuxian any of his time.
But as the situation had turned out, there were actually things he wanted to talk about with his brother. Namely, the fact that his sort of son was marrying his nephew along with one of the Lan boys that always tagged along with them (and likely picked up his terrible influence). As such he’d very graciously invited Wei Wuxian to lotus pier for a drink, and that was how they ended up sprawled out drinking Emperor’s Smile that his brother had brought with him.
It was almost like old times. He didn’t let himself think about it too much this time.
“Do you really think your adopted son, that Lan Sizhui, is really good enough for Jin Ling, current leader of one of the greatest sects? Nevermind that Lan Jingyi boy, the one who kept picking fights with him throughout their youth. The thought that they would be worthy!”
“I heard that you gave you approval all the same,” Wei Wuxian grinned in that oh so annoying manner of his that rubbed Jiang Cheng all the wrong ways. “Don’t pretend you did that because Nie-Xiong was there with you. Anyway, Jin Ling wasn’t much better… You should have seen how impolite he was when speaking with me. Our A-Yuan is much too gentle for someone as grumpy as him, and Jingyi far too cheerful.”
"That brat," Jiang Cheng growled, temporarily dropping out of vehemently defending his nephew to speak scathingly of him. Something he was allowed to do, of course, but no one else. “I taught him better.”
“I think you taught him exactly that,” Wei Wuxian teased, taking another swig of his drink. “You never were one for politeness.”
“I’ll show you some politeness,” Jiang Cheng hissed, even as he stopped himself from leaping over the table to strangle Wei Wuxian. Perhaps it was the alcohol beginning to circle through his veins. “As if your two were better. Trembling in their boots just at the sight of me!”
“You are quite terrifying when you want to be, I don’t blame them. At least you got trembling rather than cheek or refusal to speak. Really, Jin Ling got embarrassed so easily. He’s quite like his father in that… and we both know he was never quite good enough for Shijie.”
“A-ling is perfectly good for those two,” Jiang Cheng snapped. “Not only has he run Lanling Jin since he was far too young, he is a talented cultivator and… a caring young man.”
“Wow, Jiang Cheng, I don’t think I’ve ever heard such nice things coming from your lips! You really have softened, haven’t you?”
“Shut up before I silence you forever.”
“You wouldn’t,” Wei Wuxian smirked. “Really, you should tell Jin Ling these things sometime. Not that he’s as good as A-Yuan, of course, who’s wise beyond his years. And you know Jingyi’s plans to become an ambassador? That kid may be blunt, but he’s great at making people like him and incredibly skilled at diplomacy. Jin Ling could learn from them both. He’s much too grumpy, like a certain someone!”
“He’s much more than that,” Jiang Cheng grunted. “They wouldn’t be marrying if he wasn’t.”
“You’re right,” Wei Wuxian sighed softly, beforing giving a dramatic sniff. “Makes me feel old, now that my son is getting married! Really the time has flown by so quickly.”
Jiang Cheng held back a scathing comment about how he’d hardly been there for it because that was still too fresh, too much. Instead he just nodded. “A-ling grew up fast.”
“He did. They all grew up well. I’m glad they found happiness in each other.”
“... Me too.”