Snow continued to descend to the ground as he listened to the scolding of his Shufu, carefully gripping his fist under his billowing sleeves. His eyes trained on the wooden table, and he suddenly realized he was starting to zone out, and it wasn't a good thing.
Lan Wangji nodded dutifully when his Shufu asked if he understood everything he had said.
"Get up then, don't repeat the same mistake. Someone could have kidnapped you if it weren't for Long Gongzi. Do you need anything?" It was always like this. One minute, his uncle was scolding him. Now he is gently asking if he needs anything.
Lan Wangji shook his head negatively. He already had everything in his hand. A way to communicate with his Wei Ying and the item along it.
He made a formal and perfect bow, "Sorry, Shufu."
His Shufu, Lan Qiren, understood the silence after the soft apologies and he dismissed his nephews. He was worried, and Lan Wangji knew. From the way his Shufu immediately fast-walked down the flight of stairs and crumpled off his robe's sleeves earlier.
With another bow, Lan Wangji went out of the Hanshi and encountered his brother. Lan Wangji's tensed body melted under the soft and worried gaze of his brother.
Just like a proper Lan, he formally bowed again but his brother stopped him midway. "Stand up, Wangji. You don't need to do this,"
'No, I need to do this. Shufu will be angry,' He thought but straightened up and looked at his brother with questioning eyes.
His brother read his face with ease and answered with a gentle smile, "Just worry about you, Wangji... And I'm sorry for not noticing you were gone that time,"
This time, Lan Wangji shook his head. "No worry. Also, meet a friend."
Lan Xichen's eyes lit up and he asked wondrously, "Oh? I'm glad then, I hope you still want to keep in touch."
Lan Wangji indeed did find a way to do so with the fastest procedure he could ever hear of. Nodding in confirmation to reassure his brother, he was led to the back mountain while listening to his brother elaborating on everything that happened after he disappeared from his sight. He started to feel ashamed that he hadn't reconsidered that his brother might or may not stay up all night with wide eyes in bed, staring at the ceiling, being worried and anxious about a lot of possibilities that could happen to him. And how he knew this, was the way his brother has subtly leaked his weariness and concern from his face. He should have asked Wei Ying's sister to send a separate butterfly to his brother, shouldn't he?
Nonetheless, he enjoyed the walk back to the chamber where they shared until he reached a rightful age to own his chamber like his Shufu. Listening to his brother and watching as the snow fell.
When they arrived back at the chamber, Lan Wangji took off the fur coat that got wet on the clothing rack and got changed. When he came out, he was wearing a dry one and sat down in front of his brother.
Lan Wangji greeted, "Xiong Zhang,"
Lan Xichen smiled more genially, "Wangji, may I know his name?"
Lan Wangji instantly gave his brother and Lan Xichen's smile turned amused as he sipped his tea. With one eye opened, he spoke again. "No need then, there will be time."
Lan Wangji wasn't one bit amused or comfortable with the fact that his brother wanted to meet his Wei Ying. He knew his brother was more friendly, more sociable, more keen to show emotions, and more keen to interact. He doesn't like it. What if Wei Ying wanted his brother more? What if his brother gets to call Pretty Gege as well? His thoughts horrified him.
Lan Wangji gripped the teacup and drank the content. Not minding it was a bit hot as he needed to calm down from his thoughts. He didn't mind his brother. He knew his brother was just enjoying the tea and scrutinized as his face changed subtly. Besides, it would do him no good to look at his brother at the moment. Brother's teasing ability came from their mother who loved to do just that if she wasn't writing poems or singing her hometown songs.
Lan Wangji felt his mouth go dry even though he had just drunk tea. The thought of his beloved mother made him depressed. She died a month ago, and he only got to see for one time a month because of the damn rules and restrictions.
Looked like he needed to investigate further if he wanted to know what had happened to his mother before he or his brother were even born. Just what kind of misdeed resulted in her being imprisoned? He knew his mother wasn't sick, he could feel it because he secretly learned apothecary and healing. When he pretended to play with her dragon jade bangle, he could feel his mother's health fine and her spiritual energy in full vitality. Even though it was somehow restricted. He only learned the skill because he wanted to surprise his mother. However, he got more than he should have gotten. He has kept quiet since then. He was suspicious but he can't do anything about it yet. Not when the elders were pressing and annoying.
Drinking the tea to calm himself down, he was brought out of his trance when he saw a silver and jade hair stick. His breath stuck in his throat. Raw and parched again. He looked back at his brother with shock painted on his face. Only for his brother to smile and show him another hair stick. This is his favorite.
"I know you miss Muqin, take it." He had to look at his brother to make sure what his brother was saying.
Lan Xichen had only smiled at him sympathetically, "I'm your brother and it's my responsibility to give you happiness. Even if it meant I needed to sacrifice my position."
Lan Wangji immediately shook his head frantically while grasping his brother's hand. Hoping for his brother to know he doesn't want any of that through his actions and eyes. Although he could talk, he preferred to stay muted as it consumed a lot of his energy and he just came back from a trip. Lan Xichen read him perfectly as he placed his hand on his smaller one, tightly gripping them with a smile.
A kind of smile that suggested Lan Wangji can't do anything with it, "Okay, okay I won't do that. But my words still stand,"
Lan Wangji felt exaggerated as he knew that look of unyielding and stubbornness of his brother, meaning the older won't take any persuasion and puppy eyes. Though Lan Wangji doesn't know how to do that in the first place. Moreover, he knew that stubbornness can't be broken easily unless he started to be stubborn as well which doesn't result well. Even if it doesn't happen before and he thinks it never will.
Letting go of Lan Xichen's hands, Lan Wangji took the one on the table and inspected both of them. They were their mother's treasured hair stick, not even his father's courting hair stick could compare to them. Maybe it was because of the way the hair stick was held in his hands or the way it illuminated under the candlelight, or it originated from his mother's homeland. He has always adored them as long as he can remember and would take any opportunities given him if his mother wasn't wearing them.
Lan Wangji looked at his brother before placing the one with green jade bead and silver tassel on his hand. "Have one, Xiong Zhang."
Lan Xichen was flabbergasted and asked concernedly, "Are you sure, Wangji? I know you like them,"
Lan Wangji nodded determinedly. He watched as his brother took the hair stick before going back to the one he chose. This one is with a piece of round jade circled by the silver body of the magnificent dragon. He twisted the hair stick thoughtfully, appreciating the style before noticing something when he traced his hand over the edge of the hair stick. Holding it to get a better look, he saw a character, possibly an ancient phrase as he didn't know it. It was faded, and almost can’t be seen by the ***** eye but Lan Wangji touched the edge. Pressing onto the strokes, Lan Wangji memorized them by heart before he heard movement.
Looking up at his brother, he saw him fixing his robe before smiling at him.
Lan Xichen replied to the silent question, “You must be tired from the travel and Shufu’s scolding. I will leave first to attend my class. You can rest, Wangji.”
As a good younger brother and A Lan, Lan Wangji gave his brother a formal bow and watched as he disappeared into the snow with a new and dry coat. When he felt it, the warmth around his neck.
Hurriedly looking around, he took out the pendant of the necklace. The slight tug of the silver necklace chain and the pendant of two feathers circling a clear pearl now gleamed with blue light. The same blue light that he imbued with his spiritual energy. The same necklace was given to him to let him get in contact with his Wei Ying and the two older siblings who were married to each other. The same necklace is made from rare silver jade metal and clear pearls that are said to haul from the eastern sea. The same necklace that only has seven pieces in the whole world. Two of them knew of his password and taught him how to turn it into his spiritual items and even gave him instructions to follow.
With the lessons learned by heart, Lan Wangji let out a wisp of his spiritual energy that coated his finger and pressed onto the clear pearl that illuminated his spiritual energy. Feeling a foreign spiritual energy raised from the pearl before a clear image manifested. He inwardly smiled at the familiar mischievous smile and was a bit regretful that his cultivation wasn't high enough to allow the image to be bigger.
“Lan Zhan?! Can you hear me? This is from Jiejie’s Tōngxùn Zhēnzhū (communication pearl)!” A joyful voice rang from the pearl and Lan Wangji hummed closely to it
Wei Ying from the other side giggled at the successful communication as he held the necklace close to his mouth. “Good! Good! Lan Zhan, do you know what Jiejie said after you have gone?”
Lan Wangji indulged the younger with another hum and an instant reply shot up, “Jiejie said she would give me one if I successfully control my spiritual energy! Isn't it amazing?! You have to reply to me every single time!”
When Lan Wangji heard laughter from the other side, he stopped moving around and settled on his bed with a few more pillows he took from his brother’s bed. He would give them back anyway. Moreover, the laughter. It was beautiful as he remembered from last night and it reminded him that he wasn’t hallucinating.
He loved this. Even if he has to hide the fact he could communicate like this, he doesn’t mind the slight inconvenience. He made a friend and would love for it to continue without a hinge. The worst that could happen was for someone to assume he was possessed and is talking to himself.
“Wei Ying can send a message,” Lan Wangji suggested as he looked at the mole under Wei Ying’s mouth
The lips turned into a full-blown pout and Lan Wangji wanted to pinch both cheeks but they weren’t physical, only an illusion made from the pearl.
Wei Ying’s voice turned a bit angry, “But that is too slow! Even if my message bird is fast, it would take at least a week to get to you!"
Lan Wangji raised his brow at that, “Don’t your sister tell you the function?”
“What function? Wait! Don't tell me this can send messages!?” Wei Ying shouted in surprise and awe. Lan Wangji agreed with the reaction, he too was shocked when he heard of it.
Lan Wangji placed the pendant a bit further away from him when he heard the shout, not expecting it would be loud. After confirming Wei Ying had calmed down a bit, he started to explain as short words as possible but still came out as sentences.
Lan Wangji wanted to pat himself on the back for being able to explain the functions and instructions for a few minutes straight without being thirsty. He watched as Wei Ying’s mouth moved into as interesting shape as it possibly could while asking some questions.
For the rest of the morning, Lan Wangji sat on his bed and indulged his friend with anything they could talk about as possible.
At that time, Lan Wangji’s chest filled with explicit warmth and utter contentment. Even if he needed to keep this item under wrap forever, it wouldn't be a bad thing after all.
For the first time in his life, Lan Wangji’s lips twisted into a peaceful and beautiful small smile, visible to the ***** eye.
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Updated 3 Episodes
Comments