Chapter Text
As often as he had been called lazy, Wei Ying was really not one to sit idle. Not when there was a problem to solve. Sure, he spent most of the first day after his marriage moping, but he figured it was well deserved.
Lan Zhan had risen early in the morning and left without so much as a word. Wei Ying wouldn’t have even known he had slept in the same room as him if he hadn’t woken up in the middle of the night, bleary-eyed and stuffy-nosed from crying himself to sleep, to see his husband’s peaceful face, fast asleep next to him.
That was enough to harden his resolve. Of course Lan Zhan would not fall in love easily. He was too good, too righteous. But Wei Ying would fight for him. He would become a person that would make Lan Zhan happy.
After he felt he had sulked a sufficient amount, Wei Ying changed his robes. He peeled off the black and red and replaced it with white and blue. Technically, coming from another clan, this wasn’t a requirement. In fact, he had been elated when Lan Zhan had told him he could wear anything he wanted, ignoring the glares Lan Qiren had been sending his nephew’s way.
But Wei Ying was determined to do more than the bare minimum. He was going to become the perfect Lan spouse, so much so that even Lan Qiren was going to be impressed. With that thought in mind, he finished tying his robes and turned to assess himself in the mirror.
He couldn’t deny he looked good. Good, but boring. How did Lan Zhan manage to make such colorless attire look so striking? Wei Ying felt dull. But this is what Lan Zhan wanted, so he would make do. He stuffed his old robes back into the wardrobe, already planning on sneaking off to wear them later, maybe on a trip to Caiyi town where Lan Zhan wouldn’t see.
Turning to check his appearance one last time before heading to dinner, a bright flash of red caught his eye. Ah, his ribbon. He pulled the end up from hair, worrying his lip between his teeth. He had almost forgotten to take it off. But would anyone really notice? Couldn’t he keep just this little piece of himself? He tucked it back into his hair, still in view but less noticeable than before. That was fine, surely even the Lan’s wouldn’t care about something so insignificant as a red ribbon. He had to keep something of himself.
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On most days Lan Zhan tended to avoid the dining hall, preferring to eat alone with just him and Wei Ying, so the other could chatter at him incessantly and ignore any half-hearted reminders to eat in silence. But Wei Ying had insisted today’s evening meal be taken with everyone else. Although this seemed likely to be less enjoyable for the both of them, Lan Zhan couldn’t find it in him to refuse any of Wei Ying’s whims.
As always, the hall was quiet despite being filled to the brim. The only noise came from the clinking of bowls and the occasional shuffle of feet. Scanning the sea of white and blue, Lan Zhan searched for what was likely to be the only color in the room. Not seeing the jolt of black and red, he turned to get his food. Dinner had just begun, it was unlike Wei Ying to be on time anyways. He would probably appear later; Lan Zhan would be sure to get him food and save a seat.
Carrying two bowls, he scanned the room again to find a place to sit. He was about to settle on a close-by table when something caught his eye. A flash of red, from a table in the corner. Wei Ying. In perfect white and blue robes, with his long red ribbon streaming down his shoulders.
Lan Zhan quickly brought the bowls to the table, setting them in front of Wei Ying, who only quirked an eyebrow at the extra portion. Lan Zhan waited for his questioning, or at least an exuberant greeting, but none came. He acknowledged him with a nod, then went back to eating silently.
Lan Zhan sat, watching Wei Ying. He was sitting upright, eating the steamed vegetables without a single complaint. Lan Zhan did not like it. He had come prepared–he reached into his sleeve and pulled out a small bottle of chili oil, placing it in front of Wei Ying. Wei Ying’s eyes widened and his face split into a smile, as he opened his mouth to say something, before stopping himself and snapping his jaw shut. Still, he grabbed the oil and doused his rice in it, humming happily as he did.
His content sounds drew the attention of several elders, who glared in his direction. Lan Zhan paid them no mind, as Wei Ying never seemed to notice. To his surprise, this time Wei Ying did. He immediately stopped his humming and sat up straighter, the smile falling from his face. Lan Zhan clenched his chopsticks in his hands, already compiling a list of elders to speak with about their rudeness towards his spouse.
After dinner, Lan Zhan expected Wei Ying to grab his arm and drag him off somewhere. Instead, the silence followed them outside.
Lan Zhan cleared his throat. He was unaccustomed to starting conversations between them, it was Wei Ying who always did it so effortlessly. Before he could find anything to say, his uncle approached.
“Wei Wuxian,” he said, after they had exchanged bows, “I hope you are becoming accustomed to living in the Cloud Recesses.”
“I am,” Wei Ying replied, “thank you for your concern.”
“I am pleased to see you have discarded your previous attire. Your appearance as the spouse of Wangji is important.”
Wei Ying said nothing, only tilted his head in acknowledgement.
“Of course, I’m unsurprised you were able to spoil your almost-sufficient outfit. Do you truly not care for my nephew’s hard earned reputation?”
“Uncle,” Lan Zhan interjected, “what is your meaning?”
Lan Qiren gestured to the red ribbon tucking in Wei Ying’s hair. “Better to not do anything at all than to do it half heartedly.”
Wei Ying glanced up at Lan Zhan, then quickly away. Fumbling with his hair, he tucked the ribbon into his locks, hiding it from view.
“That is not your place,” Lan Zhan’s voice came out stronger than he intended, but he continued, “Wei Ying is under no obligation to follow Lan dress codes.”
Lan Qiren clenched his jaw. Shaking slightly, he turned to Lan Zhan. “His obligation is to preserve your reputation–”
“My reputation is unrelated to his attire,” Lan Zhan interrupted. Wei Ying’s jaw fell open.
“We will be retiring for the evening. Goodnight, Uncle.” Lan Zhan swept past a sputtering Lan Qiren, Wei Ying quickly following behind.
Back in the Jingshi, Wei Ying pulled the ribbon from his hair and turned to Lan Zhan, “I can’t believe you did that! Did you see his face! He’s going to be so upset with you, he’ll probably make you copy the rules a hundred times!”
Lan Zhan simply hummed, and began taking off his outer robes.
“I mean, you… you didn’t have to do that,” Wei Ying’s voice grew softer, “I shouldn’t have worn this anyways.”
“Wei Ying can wear anything he likes.”
“I know I CAN, I just mean that I, I mean that, ugh Lan Zhan, I’m trying here! I was trying to dress right!”
Lan Zhan felt his brow furrow as he struggled to understand, “Wei Ying always dresses right.”
Wei Ying let out a surprised laugh, and Lan Zhan felt the tension leave his body. Just the sound unfurled something tight inside of him.
“Okay, okay,” Wei Ying relented, sighing as he placed the red ribbon in the draw of a side table near the bed. “I won’t wear it again anyways.”
“No.” Lan Zhan said immediately, then stopped when Wei Ying raised an eyebrow in his direction. He was bad with words–he could tell there was something that needed to be said but he wasn’t sure what. His brother would be a much better spouse in this situation, he was sure.
“The ribbon is…good,” he said, wincing internally at how stilted he sounded. This was why Wei Ying would never really want him. Still, he would do anything he could to ease whatever was troubling his husband, despite how difficult it was for him to articulate.
“Good?” Wei Ying raised his eyebrow even higher.
It makes you happy, Lan Zhan wanted to say, I can tell. I love it when you are happy. I love you. I will do anything to make you happy. Anything, anything. Instead he said “Good,” with a solemn head nod.
Wei Ying’s lips quirked up, and Lan Zhan let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding.
“Good. Okay, good. If my renowned husband says so, it must be. I suppose I’ll wear it after all,” Wei Ying said, smile growing wider.
Lan Zhan said nothing, just nodded his head, staring at the gentle curve of Wei Ying’s lips.