Chapter Text
-Yiling Wei Sect-
Young Master Wei Wuxian pouted behind the cloth covering his mouth as he was tied to the pillar just beside his mother’s seat. The ropes were rough on his skin, and he was sure they would leave ugly red marks around his wrists. He was grateful that he had worn thick robes this morning because the ropes around his chest were so tight he could barely breathe. He glared at his uncle, who was chuckling gleefully behind his long white sleeve at his current poor state, and he glared harder—only to be smacked on the head with his father’s fan.
“A-Ying, don’t be such a baby,” his father scolded. The trophy husband of the sect leader sighed as he poured himself a cup of tea. Some of the elders chuckled amusedly at the miserable state of their young master, but didn’t do or say anything to help him.
“Will you be a filial son for once and obey your poor parents? We’re searching for the best spouse for you.” Cangse Sanren walked into the room with several servants behind her, holding some long papers. Right behind her was Wei Changze’s personal assistant, Li Ni.
“Hmppp hmmppp hmmp hmmm!!” Wei Wuxian protested, tossing himself around like a crazy man. His mother didn’t even bother to give him a regretful glance. She went straight to her husband and grinned happily, skipping in her steps as she moved forward. He, in return, opened his arms wide and accepted the kiss once his wife snuggled safely in his arms.
How dare his parents act so lovey-dovey in front of their poor son! The audacity! The betrayal! That was what Wei Wuxian wanted to say, but it all just came out as “Hmmpp hmmmp hmmmp.”
His mother settled comfortably on his father’s lap and gave a casual wave, signalling Li Ni to start with their plans. Li Ni acknowledged the gesture, and the servants stepped forward, hauling wooden pillars to display the paintings they had brought. Three paintings were soon hung up for everyone to see, and even Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but admire them.
“Sect Leader Cangse, Lord Wei, Young Master Wei Wuxian, and the elders, many sects have sent their best candidates to us, from their young masters and ladies to their best disciples. These are—” Li Ni nodded at the paintings with his long stick—“the best three candidates, among others, in my opinion, of course.”
The man began walking to the left side, which showed a beautiful painting of a young woman. “This is Lady Qin Su, the daughter of Sect Leader Qin. She is considered the most beautiful young lady in the cultivation world. She is well-versed in poetry and etiquette with a gentle and graceful manner.”
One painting depicted a tall woman with a slender waist and a graceful posture. Her long hair cascaded down to her waist, half of it elegantly pinned up with a delicate hairpin. The elders exchanged approving smiles and nodded in quiet agreement—it was an impressive beginning.
“This is Young Master Nie Huaisang from the Qinghe Nie Sect,” Li Ni said, pointing to the second painting. It was a painting of a small, young man, but with bright, twinkling eyes. The elders’ faces lit up when they noticed that the man possessed the same cheerful and mischievous expression as their beloved sect leader. Satisfied with the reactions, Li Ni continued, “He is gifted in painting, drawing, and poetry. Even though some people say he isn’t very bright, he is actually the one who solved the mysterious death of the Mo family years ago. He is just that good at hiding behind his seemingly weak form. He is as much trouble as Young Master Wei, actually.” Li Ni finished with a chuckle.
“The last one,” Li Ni gestured to the last painting. It showed a beautiful young woman. “This is Lady Luo Qingyang from Luo Sect. She is by far the perfect candidate to be Young Master Wei’s spouse. She is both the first disciple and the young lady, which means that she can position herself well in several situations. She is funny, witty, and stubborn, yet also gentle and graceful in her own way. I believe she can put Young Master Wei in line.”
“That’s the most important part, right?” Lord Wei Changze said, laughing. He sighed fondly and nodded. “They are indeed great candidates, Li Ni. Thank you for your hard work.”
After bowing respectfully, Li Ni dismissed the servants. One handed him a scroll before taking away the last wooden pillar. Approaching the sect leader, Li Ni unfurled the scroll and placed it gently on the long table beside her. Sect Leader Cangse cast a brief glance over the lengthy list of names but didn’t reach out for it. Instead, she snuggled closer to her husband and asked, “How many candidates do we have?”
“Fifty people.”
“Fifty?” Wei Changze raised his eyebrows as if he didn't expect how popular his son was. Well, with his adventures and misadventures, he surely had friends in many sects. He and his wife shared a happy look, while their son let out a groan.
“Yes. Some sects informed us that they sent multiple candidates.”
Sect Leader Cangse hummed, glancing at her son. Fifty was too many. They only had one month after all. “Hmm, reduce it to at least half, will you?”
“Of course, Sect Leader. We have already delivered the first test to all sects. Only those who come with correct answers will be allowed to enter our sect.”
“Good job.” With a radiant smile, Sect Leader Cangse praised his effort. Her bright expression eased the tension in the room, prompting smiles to spread across the faces of those present. Watching the scene, Li Ni silently vowed to find the perfect match for Young Master Wei Wuxian. Glancing at Wei Wuxian, who had ceased struggling and appeared resigned to his fate, Li Ni felt certain this matchmaking would be just what he needed.
—
That night, after being released by his harsh parents, Young Master Wei Wuxian spent his free time before bed with his personal servant, Yu Qi—an orphan who had once tried to steal his money pouch years ago. Back then, Yu Qi was just ten; now, at nineteen, he was only four years younger than Wei Wuxian. Despite his rough beginnings, Yu Qi had grown into a hardworking and dependable young man, faithfully following Wei Wuxian wherever he went. Sometimes, he would be the one cleaning up after whatever mess Wei Wuxian got into, especially when it involved his mother. Sect Leader Cangse Sanren was very fond of him, always comparing him to how irresponsible nineteen-year-old Wei Wuxian had been. Wei Wuxian didn’t mind at all. He understood how wild he had been during his teenage years. Even now, he was still untamed. He knew his parents longed to have another child with his father’s personality. Too bad they didn’t have any more children, no matter how hard they tried. So, they made do with spoiling Yu Qi. They tried to adopt him, but the boy refused. He wanted to stay as Yu Qi.
This evening, Young Master Wei Wuxian was lazily turning page after page of the fifty Young Masters and Young Ladies from great and small sects. Familiar names passed by—well, actually, he had heard them this afternoon from Li Ni. Others, he had no idea. He had never met the majority of these people either. Sure, he had attended some cultivator conferences after helping with the Sunshot Campaign, but he didn’t mingle with anyone he didn’t know. He was mostly with the Jiang siblings and Wen siblings, enjoying life outside the sect’s main building, drinking and eating. He had heard some famous names, of course, like Nie Huaisang.
“Ew, ew, ew!!” Wei Wuxian threw the scroll away and wiped his hands on his black robes. He shivered dramatically before taking his jug of wine and gulping down large amounts. A few feet away, Yu Qi looked up from his painting, confused by the unexpected cry. “There’s Qing-Jie’s name on the list. Ew, she is my sister. I don’t want to marry her.”
“The Dafan Wen probably sent her just to respect your mother. When your mother actually suggested that you two should marry, Lady Wen made it clear that she was allergic to your idiocy to form anything other than a sibling relationship. What a good choice of words,” Yu Qi said as he continued his painting. “Your mother is looking for someone who can put you in line, Xian-Ge. So far, there are only two people around your age who can do that—Lady Wen and Lady Jiang. Both ladies have expressed their displeasure with marrying you anyway. Not when Lady Jiang already has Young Master Jin Zixuan as her beloved fiancé.”
“Eww, Yanli-Jie deserves a much better person. If I could suggest someone for her, I’d choose Sect Leader Nie. But alas, her love blinds both her eyes and heart. What does she see in that peacock?”
“Young Master Jin isn’t that bad once you get to know him. Lady Jiang said that he was just an awkward young man.”
“Have you seen an awkward young man? Wen Ning is an awkward young man. He ran away when we were surrounded by pretty ladies the last time we went to the night market. Peacock? He insulted Yanli-Jie and made her cry. Those aren’t traits of awkwardness. Those are traits of an ungrateful person. Lanling Jin Sect is filled with those kinds of people.” Wei Wuxian shook his head. He grabbed his wine jar and gulped it empty.
"I heard that he built lotus ponds for Young Lady Jiang Yanli in their soon-to-be private residence. That's a good thing. From how fond she is when talking about him, I think Young Master Jin has changed and sees her value."
"He’d better be. If he hurts her, Jiang Cheng and I will chop off his head."
"If he hurts her, you should teach him a lesson so he won’t do that again. If you kill him, we’ll be stuck with Jin Guangshan as the leader. Do you want to deal with him when you become our sect leader?" Yu Qi raised an eyebrow at him. Wei Wuxian groaned and messed up his already messy hair. Yu Qi took the scroll from the ground, and his eyes traced the list of numerous names. "Who does Jin Sect send for you?”
Wei Wuxian frowned and scratched his head. “Jin Guangyao? Who is Jin Guangyao?”
"No idea. Maybe he’s the second disciple of Lanling Jin? I don't know much about their disciples."
"Me too. Whoever he is, I don't care." Wei Wuxian threw himself on the ground and covered his eyes with his arm. He let out a groan as he lay on his stomach. "I don't want to get married. I'm still young. I'm only 25 years old. I don't want to get married, Yu Qi. I don't wannaaaaaa." He whined, rolling around on the floor. "How do I stop—Ah, I have an idea!"
Yu Qi stopped painting and looked at his Young Master expectantly. Wei Wuxian sat up and had a large grin on his face, which usually translated into trouble. The young servant began to feel uneasy. As if sensing his servant’s feeling, Wei Wuxian’s grin widened. He raised his finger at him. “Tell me, Yu Qi, in our sect, who is considered the most perfect human being? The one that the elders and our people see as the role model for everyone?”
“Sect Leader Cangse Sanren.”
“Correct." Wei Wuxian nodded approvingly. "Tell me, Yu Qi, what are my mother’s personality traits that earned her that title?”
“She is not only skilful in martial arts, but also her cheerful and charming personality has captured everyone’s heart. Her bright smile and laugh are seen as the light in the darkness. She is full of life and has a big heart.”
“Correct. And do you know what I should do to make this stupid matchmaking unsuccessful?” Wei Wuxian wriggled his eyebrows playfully. When Yu Qi only stared at him with a confused face, Wei Wuxian huffed and ruffled his hair. “I’ll find someone who is so boring. Someone who is the opposite of my A-Niang and me. Someone who doesn’t smile, doesn’t laugh, and even doesn’t like crowds and is such a fuddy-duddy that they bore everyone.”
“Are you sure about that plan, Young Master Wei?”
“Of course.” Wei Wuxian said confidently, patting Yu Qi’s skinny shoulder. "Trust me, Yu Qi. This is my best plan. It won't fail."
--
Cloud Recesses, Jingshi
Meanwhile, Lan Wangji stood by the table, staring thoughtfully at a note his brother had left for him. After a moment, he turned and took his seat in front of his guqin, gently plucking the strings as he played their mother’s favourite lullaby. Nearby, Mooncake—his favourite rabbit among the group that lived in the clearing—rested peacefully on a soft mattress Lan Wangji had carefully crafted himself. The rabbit’s long ears twitched at the first notes filling the room, and soon it sat up, mesmerised by the gentle hum of the strings. Lan Wangji paused to stroke its head tenderly.
"Xiaozhang wants me to attend the Yiling Wei Sect's spouse selection for their young master. He said that it would be good for me to make friends. I think the elders pressured him. Xiongzhang said that he wanted me to marry the person I love, but he knew he couldn't reject the elders directly. That was why he told me to make friends instead of searching for a husband," Lan Wangji began as he plucked the strings with his long, beautiful fingers. His golden eyes glanced at his bunny, and he sighed. "I don't see any benefits from an event like that. If anything, I will witness people making enemies instead of friends. This kind of event triggers hidden personalities from the competitors."
The bunny looked up, staring at the second young master with its beautiful red eyes, and Lan Wangji’s face softened. He took the bunny gently into his arms and let it climb on his long arm to his shoulder. He raised his hand and let the bunny stay on his forearm, a small, amused smile on his beautiful face. He kissed the bunny’s head lovingly before taking it into his arms once again. He sighed as he heard the bell for lunch. He had to give his answer by this afternoon. He knew that he couldn’t reject the suggestion. "Mooncake, what should I do?"
The Second Young Master of Lan gracefully got up and headed to the clearing, returning Mooncake to his family. He stared at the path leading to his older brother’s residence for a moment, then began to walk. Lan Xichen greeted with his usual charming smile—too charming for it to be suspicious. Lan Wangji bowed respectfully to his brother, and the two beautiful men ate their lunch in silence.
"Wangji, have you thought about it?" Lan Xichen asked once they had finished their lunch. Two cups of steaming tea sat before them. The older of the two looked at the younger with a patient smile, as if he was expecting a stubborn reply. True enough, Lan Wangji didn't answer. Instead, he pouted. His golden eyes stared stubbornly at the table. “If it will make you feel better, Huaisang is also joining the selection.”
No, that definitely didn’t make Lan Wangji feel better at all!
Lan Xichen sighed and sipped his tea, probably thinking of a way to persuade his brother. The Young Sect Leader hummed for a moment. "Yiling Wei Sect is well-known for its people. They are kind and lively with smiles on their faces. Unlike our sect, which teaches us not to show excessive emotions, they encourage everyone to express their emotions and feelings openly, as openly as they want, of course. Their people greet everyone, laugh with everyone, and cry with everyone. I know it sounds overwhelming. I know it would be overwhelming for you. However, I have a feeling that this would be good for you." The oldest brother's face softened, and he let out a deep sigh. "The elders are getting restless about your future. They are afraid that you will not be able to find a good match despite being the best among the best heirs. They will see audiences with you, Uncle, and me. They want you to try. I think it will be more overwhelming if you stay here than if you spend a month in Yiling Wei Sect."
After hearing the reason, Lan Wangji began to understand why his brother wanted him to attend. It wasn’t because he wanted him to find a husband or even a friend. It was to help him escape the elders until they calmed down. By attending, at least it showed that Lan Wangji was actually trying. Whatever the result was, it didn’t matter—as long as Lan Wangji tried. That was enough for the elders. It would shut them up for a few months, at least.
“Hn.” Lan Wangji looked up, his golden eyes staring into his brother’s dark brown ones. “Yiling Wei Sect is famous for its cheerfulness, right? I read that their view of a perfect spouse is their sect leader. Sect Leader Cangse Sanren is not only a powerful disciple—a talent which Young Master Wei possesses as well—but also very lively, with a beautiful smile and laugh. It is said that her smile could light up the room, and her laughter could move the clouds to reveal the sun shining above everyone. She is friendly and loves people. She loves crowds and always finds excuses to spoil her people with festivals or banquets. Young Master Wei inherits her personality. He is, I quote, ‘a perfect reincarnation of his mother in male form, from his smiles, friendly personality, and talent.’ It means that I have to do the opposite.”
“Wangji, what are you saying?”
“I will attend this selection. Xiongzhang said that I don’t need to win, right? Then I will make sure I won’t be chosen. I will not make any effort to charm Young Master Wei or anyone else. I will not greet or befriend anyone. I will not join unnecessary banquets or festivals. I will be myself, or what other people usually describe me as: a cold Young Master from Gusu Lan Sect. That way, I will not get chosen by anyone, let alone Young Master Wei.” Lan Wangji said confidently. In front of him, Lan Xichen blinked owlishly several times, as if he hadn’t expected his brother’s answer at all. Lan Wangji considered it a good plan—even catching his brother off guard.
“Well, then you have to answer this for access to enter the sect.” Lan Xichen gave Lan Wangji a scroll tied with a long red ribbon. He slowly untied the ribbon and opened the scroll. Several riddles were written there, in the form of beautiful poems.
身自端方，体自坚硬。
虽不能言，有言必应。
Rectangular in form, its surface smooth and wide,
Both firm and solid, in substance it abides.
To words, it is true, it cannot speak or vent,
But when touched with ink, it always gives assent.
能使妖魔胆尽摧，身如束帛气如雷。
一声震得人方恐，回首相看已化灰。
The pluck of devils to repress in influence it abounds,
Like bound silk is its frame, and like thunder its breath resounds.
But one report rattles, and men are lost in fear and dread;
Transformed to ashes , it’s what time to see you turn the head.
阶下儿童仰面时，清明妆点最堪宜。
游丝一断浑无力，莫向东风怨别离。
This is the moment in the courtyard when children’s heads raise high,
The Qingming Festival is the perfect time for this to unfold.
Once the silk snaps, it slacks, drifting without tension,
Riding the East wind, it bids its soft goodbye.
南面而坐，北面而朝。
象忧亦忧，象喜亦喜。
With the South, it sits face to face,
And the North, the while, it doth face;
If the figure be sad, it also is sad,
If the figure be glad, it likewise is glad!
有眼无珠腹内空，荷花出水喜相逢。
梧桐叶落分离别，恩爱夫妻不到冬。
Eyes though it has; eyeballs it has none, and empty it is inside!
The lotus flowers out of the water peep, and they with gladness meet,
But when dryandra leaves begin to drop, they then part and divide,
For a fond pair they are, but, united, winter they cannot greet.
Lan Wangji stared at the poems for a moment before he got up to find some ink and a brush. Delicately, he moved his brush, writing down his answers with his elegant handwriting.
"Have you found the answers?"
"Hn." Lan Wangji slowly rolled the paper into a neat scroll and tied the red ribbon back. "Inkslab. Firecracker. Kite. Mirror. Bamboo Lady. They are easy."
"Easy, huh? Well, I think you'll fit in just fine, Wangji." Lan Xichen grinned mischievously as he poured himself another cup of tea. Lan Wangji ignored the teasing tone in his brother’s voice, focusing instead on slipping the scroll carefully into his spiritual pouch. Whether or not he fit in at the upcoming event didn’t concern him. What mattered most was staying out of the spotlight—so much so that Young Master Wei wouldn’t even notice he was there.