Chapter Text
The pact between CangSe SanRen and the Lan clan was to marry the first alpha of the clan with the omega son of her. It's stupid, Wei WuXian thought as he travelled to Gusu with Jiang Cheng by his side. Lan XiChen made his way out and refused this union, making his younger brother the candidate, Lan WangJi agreed to be the obedient heir he was. Did he do it for his family? Giving up the potential love life, when he said that to Jiang Cheng he scoffed and said didn't you do the same? It was not. He would have declined if his parents were alive, but now they are dead, he cannot oppose Jiang Fengmian, he still has to repay the Jiang sect for the things they have done. Madam Yu sat him down before they came and asked him over and over if he wanted to do it or he is just going there to disappoint their family. Wei WuXian's answer was 'yes' every time and at the end warned him before asking Jiang YanLi to pack every of his necessities and remind him his heat schedule. She was worried and Wei WuXian knew if he said 'No' she would have made sure that nobody could move him from Yunmeng.
In order to organise the union, the bride and groom had to know each other properly, thus his journey to Gusu, where he would study his remaining years and also stay with Lan WangJi. Wei WuXian was brilliant and he knew it, and in Gusu, there was not any discrimination against sub genders, so he knew he would show very good performance in that aspect of studies but about the behaviour? he cannot be sure, since causing mischief was in his blood. As Wei WuXian woke up that day -very early much to his dislike- he sat on the bed, in Yunmeng there would be servants with Jiang YanLi who would help him dress up but GusuLan had a strict rule, everyone would wash their own plate and do their own laundry. Wei WuXian sighed and got up from the bed, washed his face and put on fresh clothes, as he was combing his hair Jiang Cheng poked his head from the door, "You are up already?" He sounded startled, "Gotta impress my in-laws" Wei WuXian winked as he braided his hair the way his Shijie taught him before coming here. Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes at the remark, "I sent someone there to check on the eldest Lan if we get permission we would be leaving" Jiang Cheng left with that. Wei WuXian sat in front of the mirror, then got up.
They were provided with the northeast line of quarters, the sunlight wafted in the small well-maintained garden, really nice Wei WuXian thought as he strolled. As he was about to turn in the corner he felt someone's gaze on him from behind and halted, when he turned around there was no one, did the person Jiang Cheng sent came back already? But he was sure it was a corner of the white robe and not purple. Wei WuXian started walking towards the side he thought he saw the white robe, however, there was no one, "Hello?" He greeted as if to make whoever was hiding from him come out when no one did he turned around jumped out of his skin, "Oh fu- heavens!" He swallowed the curse word. There was a young man dressed in a white robe -Gusu Lan sect uniform-, his long hair touched his waist, the cloths were embroidered with clouds, as he turned his eyes up he saw a long nose, high cheekbones as if made of fine jade and two beautiful clear crystal golden eyes, calm and collected. He was probably a foot taller than Wei WuXian, there was sect ribbon wrapped around his temple as well, beautiful cloud embroidered. The young man's face was expressionless, but he was quite young the same age as him probably. Wei WuXian smiled at him, "Hello are you a disciple?" He asked. The young man nodded. "I am Wei WuXian" He saluted, the man bowed his head in return. If Wei WuXian was close enough he could catch his scent but he was further and taking a whiff would be rude, but with his broad shoulders calm eyes, he was an alpha. "What is your name?" He asked the young man shook his head, Wei Wuxian blinked, "You don't want to tell?" The young man shook his head. Oh. Wei WuXian couldn't describe but he found this quite adorable. "Why?" He asked, "Forbidden, before being introduced by the elders." Oh. This was so incredibly adorable.
He was about to ask something but there were footsteps. The young man looked alarmed and quickly passed him, as he passed Wei WuXian caught a whiff of his scent. Rich sandalwood and snow. Beautiful. "Wei Ying!" Jiang Cheng whisper yelled, Wei WuXian blinked, "What the hell are you standing here alone for?" He narrowed his eyes. "Elder Lan wants to see us let's go." His shidi said and was already walking ahead. Wei WuXian followed but couldn't help glancing behind him again, probably in hope to catch a glimpse of that young man again. Jiang Cheng noticed his troubled face and thought maybe he was tensed, his normally ill-tempered shidi took his hand talked in a soft voice, "You don't have to do it if you don't want to, I didn't oppose because the Lan brothers have pretty good reputation and I think you would be happy here." Jiang Cheng moved to tuck a strand of hair behind his ear, "But it all depends on you if you feel like you don't want to just tell me I will call father right away and we will brake the engagement. Okay?" Wei WuXian's heart swelled at his words, "Okay" he answered. Jiang Cheng nodded exhaling and led the group. When they reached in front of the door a Lan disciple was already waiting for them, the woman saluted as she opened the door. Jiang Cheng let Wei WuXian enter first as a sign of respect and Jiang Cheng entered the second. After exchanging greetings Jiang Cheng passed him the letter Jiang Fengmian wrote. Lan Qiren was quite good looking at his age, as it seemed, tall with broad shoulders and handsome face WuXian heard this man stayed unmarried for the rest of his life for an unknown reason. "Very well," Lan Qiren mused as he read the letter, then he gestured a disciple. The disciple went outside and instantly two young men entered the room, they looked pretty similar but one had a smile adorned on his lips and the other was completely expressionless. Wei WuXian's eyebrows shot up seeing the shorter man, that was the young man he met in the guest quarters probably an hour ago. "Let me introduce" Lan Qiren started, "My eldest nephew, Lan XiChen" He gestured to the young man that was smiling, "The youngest nephew, Lan WangJi" He gestured to the expressionless one. They both saluted them. Wei WuXian returned the bow, Lan Qiren observed him, then smiled for some unknown reason.
When they sat down in their respective matt, Lan Qiren started, "As you see the pact was made between CangSe SanRen and me specifically, after her passing away I did not expect it to be full filled" his voice was solemn, "But I am glad Jiang sect found Wei WuXian and adopted him also respected CangSe's decision, even with a condition" Now Lan Qiren's voice was laced with amusement, "Even though XiChen ended this engagement and stepped away, Jiang Fengmian asked me to include him as well" Wei WuXian saw Lan XiChen's eyes widened, the man glanced at Lan WangJi, even though his brother's face didn't give anything away, "Uncle" He interjected, his voice lased with mild panic and Wei WuXian didn't understand why. "And I agree with that" Lan Qiren put an emphasis on 'agree'. "But I backed away!" Lan XiChen's voice raised an octave higher he glanced at his brother again. "But Young Master Wei didn't get to did he? If you get a choice to back out, he gets a choice as well, to choose between you and WangJi." Lan Qiren finished. Lan XiChen's face was full with panic now and Wei WuXian tilted his head, Lan Qiren turned his head towards his younger nephew, "Do you agree on this WangJi?" He asked. Lan WangJi was keeping his eyes on the floor till now, not part-taking in the ongoing conversation whatsoever, as he heard Lan Qiren say his name he turned his eyes up and looked straight to Wei WuXian as if to search something, then nodded. "Very well," Lan Qiren said. Lan XiChen sighed very very loudly. "Then it is decided, as Young Master Wei will stay here fifteen months for studies, he will be courted by both the Twin jades of Lan for six months and after that if he will have to decide whom he would like to be with."
"I am really pleased with this" Jiang Cheng commented as they sat on the bed. Wei WuXian felt exhausted and he didn't even speak a word. "Why?" He asked as he got out of those uncomfortable robes and got in his normal comfortable ones. He will have to wear white robes from tomorrow like the other disciples of the clan. "Because you get to choose and not some weird person gets to have you just like that, limited but still you have a choice." Wei WuXian laughed, Jiang Cheng went on, "If you ask me the older one is better." Wei WuXian stopped laughing at that, "Why?" He asked again, "I don't know" Jiang Cheng shrugged, "That Lan WangJi, His chord hards differently, did you see his face it is like he wouldn't even blink if a ghoul comes in front of him." Jiang Cheng dramatically gestured, "He probably doesn't even know what romance is." Wei WuXian didn't say anything and just folded the pile of clothes he just shredded.