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Chapter Text

The atmosphere in the Sun Pavilion, the household of Crown Prince Wen Xu, was tense. The servants were quiet -doing their works as quietly as possible for they were afraid they would cause any troubles-, the visiting concubines were cowered together at the corner of the house -too afraid to get close, too afraid to even move- and the guards were looking down the hard ground, trying not to be as stiff as the beast statues that decorating the Pavilion. The source was no other than the Crown Prince himself. The Alpha Prince of Qinshan Wen Kingdom was currently snarling and shouting furiously at whoever tried to calm him down. His alpha pheromones engulfed the Pavilions like a dark blanket, trapping all alphas, omegas and betas in the household inside, like a long tight chain around their neck. 

"Present me with your heir first, Xu-er and then I'll give you the throne."

The order from the Emperor was as clear as crystal and Wen Xu didn't have a choice but to do it. Wen Xu had to present an heir to his father if he wanted to remain the Crown Prince and became the next Emperor. It was a logical demand, a duty for a Crown Prince to fulfil and no one couldn't come up with reasons or arguments to encounter it.

Different kingdoms, different rules and customs. The Qishan Wen Kingdom had their own rules and one of them was that the heir should be the biological child of the Crown Prince and his Consort. It didn't matter if the Crown Prince adopted hundreds of children or if his concubines bore him hundreds of children; they couldn't be the heir and next Emperor. It didn't matter if the child was a girl. She would be the next Empress of the Qishan Wen Kingdom in the future. The requirement was simple, clear and logical.

If a Crown Prince failed to present an heir, then he had to step down from this title and the next Prince would take over his place. 

That was Wen Xu's biggest problem, for he was infertile.

No one knew about this problem except for Wen Xu's private healer, Wen Lei. No one expected this problem either for infertility had never occurred in Qishan Wen Sect before. All Qishan Wen's Princes and Princesses had more than two children with Wen Mao-first Emperor-had fifteen children as the one with the most children in the history of the Kingdom. Wen Xu was the first and he would be punished for it. If people knew about it, he would be an embarrassment to the Royal Family and his father would never accept that.

So Wen Xu hid it.

He ordered his concubines and whoever he slept with to take the famous herbal tea to stop them from breeding. He boasted his ability in bed, arrogantly claiming he could bed several omegas in one night. He told people that he didn't need children for now, that he would produce one when he reached his time-his 24th birthday- because the next year when he reached the age of 25, his coronation would be carried out at the same time his newborn baby would be bestowed a title, Crown Prince. Until then, he would use his time to satisfy his urges, his Alpha need. He moaned to people that he wouldn't be able to do that once he became the Emperor for he would have too many duties on the Imperial Court. Just like his father, he wouldn't be able to venture outside the Palace to find the pleasure he wanted. He wouldn't be able to command an army and had to order his generals to take care of wars for him.

In short, he had to use his time as wisely as possible until he reached that age.

Wen Xu reached it this year.

His fucking 24th birthday was just last week and he now was facing an important duty to do. No way he would give the throne to his brother, Wen Chao. That younger brother of his was nothing but a useless scum. He didn't have any significant skills other than seducing female omegas but he did have produced something Wen Xu couldn't. Wen Chao had three children -two princesses and a prince- from his consort and concubines.

Another jar of wine broke as Wen Xu threw it onto the hard floor. The concubines at the corner flinched at the sound of it. Their lovely painted faces were marred with fright, and their silk expensive robes were ruined by the tight grips of their fists. One of the concubines walked slowly to him while others were staring at her in horror.

"Crown Prince," She called as softly as she could, jumping a little when Wen Xu suddenly turned to her. "This lowly concubine knows that whatever is troubling Your Highness isn't my concern. However, allow this concubine to serve Your Highness. Maybe Your Highness will feel better after this lowly concubine gives her service?"

Wen Xu stared at the female omega with a flat look. He flared his pheromone and the concubine immediately fell down on her knees, unable to resist the powerful command to submission. She whimpered. 

"You're the brave one, aren't you?" He grabbed the concubine's chin roughly while glancing at the scarred concubines in the corner. "I like that and maybe you're right. Your service will do me wonder. Let's find out."

The poor concubine was thrown onto the bed. Her silk skirt was lifted and the front robes were torn, exposing milky tights and large breasts to everyone in the room. Wen Xu didn't even bother to undress properly as he spread her legs open.

"Let them watch," He said, looking at the terrified concubines. "Maybe they can learn one or two from you."

Screams echoed throughout the main resident as the concubine was roughly taken by him.

"Fetch me Wen Lei," Wen Xu ordered as he watched the servants carry the unconscious body of his concubine out of his room. The other concubines followed them out silently with their heads down.

An old beta healer walked into the room with his head held high. He knew the Crown Prince's biggest secret; he had no reason to bow to him in private. In fact, it was the Crown Prince who owed him a great debt over the years. So, Wen Lei poured himself a cup of tea as Wen Xu lazily looked at him from the messy bed.

"So the day has come," Wen Lei murmured, glancing at the Prince. Wen Xu snorted and got up, snatching a jar of wine and gulping it down quickly.

"Stop your bullshit, Wen Lei. I know Imperial Father spoke to you before he demanded an heir from me. You know what happens in this Palace more than anyone. You have served as the Imperial Healer since before I was born."

"Of course, my Prince. Your father believes me and respects my opinion very much. Why do you think he never questions the lack of children in your household when you behave like this? One assurance from me based on a medical view is enough to shut him up. One comforting piece of advice is enough to lessen his concern."

Wen Xu scoffed at the arrogant tone the old man possessed. Wen Lei was right, unfortunately. His fathers believed him very much because he was his childhood friend. Wen Lei had been with Emperor Wen Ruohans through bad and good times. His loyalty to the Emperor was unquestionable and this was why he was covering for Wen Xu.

Because Wen Xu was the Emperor's pride and joy. That made him Wen Lei's pride and joy as well.

And with Wen Chao as the Second Prince, the Emperor's love and expectation for Wen Xu was undeniable. The Emperor didn't want to hand over the throne to his second son. He wanted his firstborn and Wen Lei would make sure of it.

"When's his heat?" Wen Xu's question was met with a soft hum. Wen Xu glanced at him and found the old man with his eyes closed and head tilted. Impatiently, he slammed the jar on the table.

"Be patient, Your Highness. Let this old man think for a while." Wen Lei's response made The Prince of Wen Kingdom snort. The healer might be old but he didn't need time to think about a consistent cycle. Of all Wen Kingdom's talented healers, Wen Lei was superior to all of them. Maybe he was the best healer among the Five Great Kingdoms, Wen Xu didn't know and he didn't care. But the old healer had been keeping a tab on all Empresses and Consorts for centuries. He didn't need time to think about that. Not when it came to Wen Xu's Consort.

"I believe it will come in a week." 

"What's in your mind?"

"Why do you think I have something in my mind?" The old healer raised his eyebrows innocently. The Crown Prince gritted his teeth and slammed his hand on the table.

"Cut the crap, Wen Lei. I have no patience for this." Wen Xu snarled. "Do you still wish for me to be the next Emperor or have you switched your loyalty to Wen Chao?"

"I have told you many times, Wen Xu ah. That as long as you're your father's favourite, then you're my favourite too."

"Then find me a solution for this! You're the only one who knows how."

"Thank you for recognizing my ability, Wen Xu, even though you only do it when you're in trouble."

"Wen Lei, Cut the crap already. Tell me what's in your mind!" Wen Xu threw the jar to the floor, shattering it to pieces. Wen Lei looked at him with a disapproving look a father would send to his misbehaving child which was kind of appropriate with the current circumstance. Wen Xu was acting like a spoiled brat and even he knew it.

"Consort Lan will have his heart in a week and that's your only chance to make an heir like your father has requested," He said as he took out a vial from his sleeve. "This liquid will boost his fertility during his heat. Feed him a day before and he'll definitely be pregnant after intercourse. Don't worry, it's tasteless. No one will notice it."

"I think you forget the part that I can't impregnate him." Wen Xu scoffed. Wen Lei nodded his head and took out a second vial. It was slightly bigger than the first one.

"What the hell is that? A magical cure for me?" 

"When a child is born, their dominant scent will be their mother's with a little scent from the sire. Then after two months, their sire's scent will get stronger, prompting the child to demand what you call a scenting activity -an activity that ensures the child that they are safe in their sire's arms. It isn't until they reach their first year of age that finally, they have their original scent. This liquid-when it mixes with an Alpha's seed- will suppress the sire's scent when the child is born. All you have to do is scent the child regularly after they hit two months old up until their first year in order to conceal their real parentage."

Wen Xu was silent after the explanation. His eyes narrowed at Wen Lei before they fell to the two vials on his wooden table. He gave them a long thoughtful look.

"Am I thinking what are you thinking?"

"If Your Highness thinks that I suggested him to find an Alpha to impregnate the Consort, then yes," Wen Lei said, taking the vials into his sleeve just in case someone barged into the room. He didn't want anyone to see them. Wen Xu's narrowed eyes followed the action.

"And who do you think can do it? I can't let just anyone do that. The consequences are not pretty."

"I have a suggestion. There's someone we can trust-or more exactly, we can pressure and coax- to do this important duty." That caught Wen Xu's interest. There were only a handful of people both Wen Xu and Wen Lai trusted. The first name that emerged to his mind was Wen Zhuliu but they couldn't threaten him with anything, for he didn't have anything valuable they could threaten him with. 

There was one person though and if Wen Xu was correct-

"General Wei Wuxian," Wen Lei said confidently. So Wen Xu's guess was correct.

Wei Wuxian was an adopted sibling of his cousins Wen Qing and Wen Qionglin. A small boy who was brave enough to steal Wen Lei's gold pouch during a Royal visit to a nearby town. He was just a street rat at that time and his reckless bravery caught The Emperor's attention. The Emperor decided to pick up the stray and threw it into Dafan Royal Family to raise. When he found out that Wei Wuxian grew up exceeding his own sons in many skills, he immediately put him under Wen Zhuliu's army to be trained as one of the future Generals. A feat the Wei boy managed to achieve in a relatively short time. At the age of eighteen years old, the boy was officially the youngest general The Qishan Wen had ever had.

"That boy cherishes his family very much, doesn't he? He will do anything for them," Wen Lei said, standing up and walking to the door. "I heard that the Emperor was going to arrange a marriage for Wen Qing to a certain Young Master of Lanling Jin Kingdom to strengthen our relationship. With the bad reputation of this Young Master Jin, there's a high possibility that Wen Qing won't be treated kindly there. Wei Wuxian and the Wen siblings are trying to break it off and so far they haven't found a solution. Their uncle, Wen Si, expressed his disagreement during an Imperial Court a few days ago and The Emperor was offended and took it as an insult. The man was jailed for an undecided period and maybe would be given the death penalty for insulting the Emperor. Tell Wei Wuxian that you'll set their uncle free and call off the engagement in exchange for his help."

"I can't do that. I can't go against The Emperor's will." Wen Xu shook his head. The healer smiled.

"You can," Wen Lei paused. "If you're the Emperor himself."

A realization dawned upon Wen Xu's face. He threw open the door and barked to the nearest guard, "Bring General Wei Wuxian to me right now!"

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian slammed his empty wine jar on the table, and the crowd of Wen soldiers cheered around him. A fellow soldier slammed his own door a moment later, glancing at the general with envy, and clapped his hand. The young general smirked proudly, his arms spread open, showing how proud he was of his victory.

"Amazing. Congrats, General Wei Wuxian, on your win. A drinking game with a teenage soldier who only drinks three times in his life is very challenging indeed." Wen Zhuliu raised his cup mockingly at him. Wei Wuxian laughed at the ridiculous compliment and threw his body beside his superior. His bright silver eyes scanned the whole room full of rowdy, sweaty soldiers—Wei Wuxian hated that, but he wouldn't say anything—and several omegas with see-through robes parading around. Once in a while, some brave ones would come to where the two alphas sat. They would flutter their long eyelashes, pout their painted lips, and pat their arms. They would move fast but still in a seductive manner, hoping it would help to play with their thin robes to expose their soft, smooth, and silky skin.

Wei Wuxian really pitied them.

"You don't look like you're enjoying yourself," Wen Zhuliu commented. The highest rank of the Qishan Wen Kingdom General said it with a flat tone and stoic face—very ironic with his judgement against Wei Wuxian's displeasure of the event—looking at his protege. The younger alpha huffed and closed his eyes tiredly. He was exhausted, and all he wanted was to go back to his chamber and take a rest. But not attending a victory banquet was considered an insult in Qishan's military tradition, and they just won a very significant battle. Therefore, he had no choice—just like Wen Zhuliu anyway—but to attend.

"It's nothing." He said this as his eyes scanned the familiar drunken crowd. He had seen this craziness since he joined the military, but for some reason, he felt as if he didn't fit in with this kind of craziness. Outsiders would think that this was Wei Wuxian's thing, and they weren't exactly wrong. The first, second, third, and fourth times he joined the wild soldier victory banquet, he was as crazy as these soldiers. He had been the centre of attention since the first time he began his training, and he was so proud of that. When he actually did something that brought victory for the army, he basked in the attention and praise that showered him. He took real advantage of everything that was thrown his way—money, omegas, betas, a new sword, armour—without even thinking.

Slowly, though, the praise, attention, and gifts felt empty. They didn't excite him anymore. They didn't bring anything more than fake smiles to his handsome face. Wei Wuxian felt hollow inside his chest. Like something was missing in his life.

He snorted. He felt like he was very old to have that thought. He was only 22 years old, not some 50-something-year-old washed-up war general! He should have enjoyed his young life when he had everything in his hands, right?

Wei Wuxian rose from his seat. The young alpha grabbed a full jar of wine and patted other soldiers' shoulders and backs as he walked out of the noisy room. He walked aimlessly, taking a gulp of his wine once in a while. His feet stopped in front of the stable, and he walked inside to greet his black, magnificent stallion.

"Hi Chenqing, I miss you." He greeted her, caressing the horse's smooth black hair with the care he only kept for his dear horse. Chenqing was a gift from the Dafan Royal Family's household head, Wen Si, whom they affectionately called Uncle Four. It was given as a gift for his high rank as the newest general, and since then the horse has been his constant companion, especially during the wars where he was alone without his adopted siblings.

"General Wei Wuxian," a young guard judging by his uniform, greeted him with a low bow. "Prince Wen Xu is waiting for you at his residence."

What did that man want from him?

Wei Wuxian just raised an eyebrow and began to follow the young guard to the Sun Pavilion. He was greeted by the Prince himself and a beta man named Wei Wuxian, known as Wen Qing's superior at the Imperial Healing Ward. He was Wen Lin? Wen Liu? Wen Lui? Something along the line.

"General Wei," Prince Wen Xu greeted, nodding at the younger alpha. Wei Wuxian bowed deeply, murmuring his greeting. Wen Xu gestured for him to sit, and once he did, the servants walked out of the room, and the guards closed the door. He was trapped inside with Prince Wen Xu and his sister's boss.

"General Wei, congratulations on winning another war for us. Your service for this kingdom was admirable." The physician said this, smiling warmly at him. The smile was terrifying, though, in Wei Wuxian's eyes. It seemed fake, and maybe he was right when Prince Wen Xu immediately took over the conversation. The man didn't care about common courtesy.

"Wei Wuxian," he began. "I have an offer for you."

Wei Wuxian's grip on his cup tightened as he listened to the request made by the Crown Prince himself. His eyes moved from the alpha prince to the beta healer, Wen Lei, who kept staring at him during the whole thing as if he expected Wei Wuxian to immediately react.

Wei Wuxian wasn't stupid.

The offer was tempting, so much so that Wei Wuxian felt dizziness in his pretty head. He tried his best not to be swayed by them, but even he couldn't deny that they were everything he had been working on for some months unfruitful.

The Dafan Royal Family has stood on a fragile foundation ever since Wen Ruohan was crowned as king decades ago. The bad blood between him and his younger brother was not a secret for the Kingdom, so when the older Prince secured the throne, no one was surprised by how unfavourable the Dafan family was despite being the direct line of the Imperial Family. However, no matter how unfavourable they were, they did have a seat at the Imperial Court. And this position was the only thing they could hold on to to secure the safety of the family. With Uncle Four, the head of the family, being thrown in jail, the future of Dafan Wen was in danger, as were the other family members.

Wen Qing was already in a very bad position before this whole thing happened. Now, her chance to avoid the whole arranged marriage with Jin Zixun was very slim. Wei Wuxian knew she was strong and all, but Lanling Jin was a snake pit. Who knew what danger lurked in that kingdom? And engaged to Jin Zixun? If Wen Qing was actually engaged to Crown Prince Jin Zixuan, Wei Wuxian wouldn't have a problem. He had met the man, and despite everything he hated about the Jin Prince, he was actually an okay man. In addition, her position as the future Empress would give her the highest security in the kingdom. But she was to marry Jin Zixun, an alpha who was found guilty of raping, torturing, and enslaving the war's omega prisoners. Lanling Jin was defeated yet got away with his crimes because he was the king's nephew. Wen Qing might be brilliant with her brain and needles, but even she had her own weaknesses.

"How do you plan to free both my uncle and sister from their current predicaments?" Wei Wuxian couldn't help but ask, and there was a smile on Wen Xu's face that he didn't like.

"Freeing Wen Si is easy, actually." Wen Xu drank his wine before continuing. "Imperial Father is actually an easy man to persuade as long as you approach him with the right person and the right words. "The Imperial Father has a huge ego."

Wei Wuxian almost laughed. Almost.

"A little praise here and there will do wonders." Dafan Wen's position in the Imperial Court, despite what people think about the bad blood, is actually very important in political matters. Wen Si is a smart man with vast knowledge regarding trade and negotiations. He always did his job very well during the Imperial Court. He just put his heart first because the matter was about his niece. Don't worry about it. I'll get him out."

The general frowned and didn't know whether to believe it or not. The prince made it sound easy. The Emperor felt insulted by Uncle Four's disagreement and immediately put him in jail. Were sweet words all it took to get him out? If Uncle Four was that important in the Imperial Court, why didn't the Emperor consider that?

"What about Wen Qing's marriage?"

"Now, you need to be patient for that matter." Instead of Wen Xu, it was the beta healer who spoke. Wei Wuxian's silver eyes darted to the old man.

"What do you mean by that?"

"The arranged marriage between Young Lady Wen Qing and Young Lord Jin Zixun has been written down in a decree and agreed upon by both kingdoms." This decree, as you know, can only be annulled by the Emperor himself. Judging by how, um, excited the Emperor is with this arrangement, it will be impossible for Prince Wen Xu and me to persuade him to repel it."

Of course, the Emperor was excited. He had found a pawn to trade—a pawn that wasn't his own son.

"Since the only way to annul this decree is by the Emperor himself, we need to wait until next year for this to be dissolved."

"What? A year? "The Emperor can make the marriage happen before then."

"True, but you don't have to worry about that," Wen Lei said again. "I have taken several promising healers to be my next successor once I retire from my position. To replace me as the Emperor's and Crown Prince's private healer, a healer must endure a year of hard training and some difficult tests. These healers have to be personally picked by myself through a difficult elimination process."

Ah, yeah, Wei Wuxian knew about this process. Wen Qing had studied days and nights like crazy because apparently, not only would there be so many competitors, but healer Wen Lei was very picky, and he didn't settle for anything but perfection. Wen Qing had hoped that if she managed to get the position, she could lift the Dafan Royal Family's status.

"I, fortunately, had picked Wen Qing as one of the healers before the decree was even made, and I don't wish to do a search again just to replace one healer. The Emperor won't have a problem waiting a year; after all, no official date is written on the decree. If she actually manages to pass the test, it'll make Wen Xu's decision to repel the decree—when he finally becomes the Emperor—easier and more logical, given how valuable she is to Qishan."

"How about Lanling Jin, then? Won't they be offended?"

"Don't worry, General Wei Wuxian. Sure, marriage will be the most effective way if we want to strengthen an alliance, but if I know King Jin Guangshan, then there will be another way to do that besides marriage. After all, this is just a marriage between the king's nephew and niece, not a prince and princess. He won't be offended as long as we offer him something more alluring," Wen Xu said carelessly. Wei Wuxian winced. If there was another way to strengthen the alliance, why did the Emperor really want this marriage to happen? Was there something more the Emperor wanted to gain through this marriage than just an alliance?

"So, do we have a deal?"

"Free Uncle Four first, then I'll believe you." The young general finally said it after a moment.

"Fine. If I can free Wen Si, then you have to agree with this deal," Wen Xu said, tapping his fingers on the table.

Fuck. Wei Wuxian knew he shouldn't say this but his mouth moved faster than his brain.

"Fine," he agreed. "What about Consort Lan?"

"Ahh, you don't need to worry about Consort Lan, General Wei Wuxian. Everything has been agreed upon. No one will know about this deal, General Wei Wuxian. Rest assure. No one will suspect anything. This agreement is only known between Prince Wen Xu, you, me, and Consort Lan. As long as we don't tell anyone, no one will know. Your position is safe. "The Dafan Royal Family will be safe as well," Wen Lei said, smiling gently at him, and that smile, instead of assuring him, was creeping him out.

Wei Wuxian let out a relieved sigh when he was back in his room. The talk was exhausting. He looked at the pouch of gold and silver in his hand expressionlessly. The moonlight made the silver pieces glow, eclipsing the golden pieces beneath them. Moonlight and silver Both reminded him of Consort Lan Wangji.

Consort Lan was an enigma in the Qishan Kingdom. Wei Wuxian didn't know exactly how the famous Lan Wangji became Prince Wen Xu's consort—he was too busy conquering some smaller kingdoms with Wen Zhuliu at that time—but he had heard rumours about him. Some said that it was a political marriage to strengthen the alliance between the Gusu Lan Kingdom and the Qishan Wen Kingdom, but it was against the Gusu Lan Kingdom to do a political marriage. The Gusu Lan Kingdom, according to some of his subordinates, was full of hopeless romantics. Some said that Prince Wen Xu was captivated by the Gusu's Second Prince's beauty, so he gave them an offer they couldn't refuse in exchange for their Omega Prince's hand in marriage. Another rumour was that Prince Wen Xu had unknowingly defiled the Second Prince of his virtue during his visit, so he took him as his consort to take responsibility.

Wei Wuxian snorted. Wen Xu taking responsibility for his action was hilarious. Wen Xu's brief relationship with Consort Lan before marriage was more laughable. If there was a logical scenario, it would be that Wen Xu raped Prince Lan Wangji to force him to marry him. That Wei Wuxian could believe. But was that what truly happened?

The young general rarely saw the omega consort, even during formal bouquets. The first time Wei Wuxian saw him was during Prince Wen Chao's wedding. He believed he was 18 years old at that time. Was that making Consort Lan around 17 years old when he was brought since they were seemingly almost the same age?

Consort Lan lived in Willow Pavilion, which used to house the lowest rank of the Crown Prince's concubine. It was located far away from the Sun Pavilion and, according to the gossip he heard, only had a small number of servants compared to other members of the Imperial Palace. The closest resident, which was supposedly the consort's pavilion, was occupied by Concubine Yan Min, the Crown Prince's current favourite. No one said anything about the strange arrangement, including Emperor Wen Ruohan, but no one expected the power-hungry Emperor to care much about his son's household as long as they didn't cause any scandals. But then again, the prince spent more time with his concubines than his consort, except for the formal events. Even during those events, all they did was stand or sit beside each other silently before the Omega would leave early.

Consort Lan Wangji, the Second Prince, and the Twins Jade of Gusu Lan Kingdom

The young general might have seen the consort a few times, but he couldn't deny that Consort Lan Wangji was so beautiful. Perhaps he was the most beautiful person Wei Wuxian had ever seen, and Wei Wuxian had seen many beauties before. He was also very different from other Imperial family members. According to Wu Nuo, a cute omega maid Wei Wuxian spent his rut with two years ago, Consort Lan was very kind and respectful to her despite her lowly status and the brief period she served him.

Wei Wuxian sighed. All the young general hoped was that Consort Lan Wangji wouldn't harbour a deep hatred towards him when this was over. Even though Wen Xu's private healer said that Consort Lan had agreed, it didn't mean that he did it willingly. Just like Wei Wuxian himself.

A week later, Wei Wuxian received news from Wen Ning that Uncle Four had been released from jail and put back in his position in the Imperial Court. So Wen Xu did keep his promise. Now, it was his turn.

Wei Wuxian bit his cheek to prevent him from saying anything when Prince Wen Xu told him that the Willow Pavilion had been cleared of guards and servants. There would be one person attending to Consort Lan's needs—with Wei Wuxian in extension—during his heat, and that was Wen Liu. Wen Liu was Prince Wen Xu's private healer, and people assumed that tonight was the night when the future heir of the Qishan Wen Kingdom would be conceived. So, no one would disturb them.

Wei Wuxian didn't know where Prince Wen Xu would be during the night, and he decided that he didn't want to know.

He took a deep breath as his feet brought him to the main residence. The building was, like other royal residences, painted in dark red and golden paint with some white here and there. The difference was that the building was very small, even compared to the concubines' residences. Too small for the house of the Crown Prince's consort.

Wei Wuxian reluctantly opened the door and almost lost his control when the wild scent of an omega in heat slammed into his senses like a thousand stallions. He swayed forward as his head felt dizzy. The scent was strong—much stronger than any omega's scent he had ever smelled. It took over his senses and his mind. His inner alpha was growling—it was being impatient—when he took several steps into the room and immediately closed the door. When he turned around, however, a sharp blade was pressed into his neck with enough pressure to draw blood. Hard breathing reached his ears as well as a lovely voice with a very cold tone, saying...

"Get out."

Chapter Text

A miserable groan echoed in a beautiful room. A snow-white skin that glowed with sweat gripped the silk bedsheet tightly. Lan Wangji let out a shaky breath as his scent kept getting stronger and stronger. His plump red lips were pursed as the stunning omega felt a slow burn spread throughout his body. Slick was running down his leg from the most private part of his body, wetting his sleeping robe and enhancing his sweet smell. Lan Wangji groaned as dizziness engulfed his head. His silky midnight tresses were free of their bounds and hanging like a midnight curtain, covering the jade-like face of the Royal Consort.

He was in heat. A fucking abnormal one.

The consort wasn't stupid. He knew his cycle very well and had actually expected his heat to come today. But there was something wrong with this cycle, for it made Lan Wangji feel more lustful than usual, more excited than usual, and at the same time more temperamental than usual. The urge was too brutal for his body to handle; it made him as lightweight as if he had drunk a cup of wine. His mind was all over the place, but it focused on one thing. A need for an alpha. His inner omega was shouting at him. It wanted to be claimed; it wanted to be fucked. Its desperation confirmed what Lan Wangji had suspected since yesterday evening. There was a tingling sensation spreading through his body after he finished his dinner last night. So there was only one conclusion: Lan Wangji was drugged with a strong stimulant or maybe something else, but the purpose was all the same.

Wen Xu's 24th birthday came a week or two ago—Lan Wangji didn't care—and this was the only chance for him to secure the throne because, in two months, the Crown Prince would lead an army to invade another small kingdom with Wen Zhuliu. That meant Lan Wangji needed to bear a child for the Crown Prince tonight.

Consort Lan glared at the fallen papers on the floor. It had to be his worst luck, for of all the papers, it was the most hated that fell right in front of his feet. Elegant calligraphy with a sweet, sugar-coated paragraph almost made him vomit.

'Dear A-Zhan, I heard from our men that the Crown Prince had celebrated his 24th birthday. Please give him our best wishes. May the road to the throne be wide. The Crown Prince will make a wonderful Emperor, and may the alliance between the Qishan Wen and the Gusu Lan Kingdom reach its peak. Your brother sent his love, A-Zhan. He loved the painting you sent him. He praised the beautiful gentian flowers as your best work yet.' Meng Yao, your brother-in-law

"Fuck you, Meng Yao. Fuck you." If Lan Wangji were a prince from another kingdom, those would be the first words he would speak. But he wasn't someone who spoke curses out loud; he spoke them in his head instead. Lan Wangji took a fragile step and almost fell when he bent down to pick it up. He immediately crumpled the paper in his hand while muttering all the bad prayers for Meng Yao.

"May the road to the throne open wide... Your brother sent his love, A-Zhan."

That short, dimpled-cheeks man had threatened him. Oh, if Lan Wangji could grab the man's neck and dig his nails into it for a few hours. It didn't have to be his hand, though, for they would get dirty. Maybe his beloved white sword, gifted by his beloved brother, could do some poking instead. Nothing bad, of course, just deep enough to injure the man's throat.

Lan Wangji took a blade and hid it under his pillow as another strong wave of burn spread. The Consort's golden eyes were locked on the door of his chamber as his grip kept tightening as the night came. He had been waiting since morning, but Wen Xu hadn't come into his chamber. Not yet, at least.

What did that man plan?

The throne was the only thing Wen Xu cared about in this world. That man would do anything for it, and Lan Wangji had seen how his obsession with the throne made him a son who did anything to get his father's praise and approval. Lan Wangji was the victim of it. He was a prisoner in this grand palace, married to the Crown Prince because he didn't have a choice. The Emperor praised Wen Xu for choosing such a wonderful consort, quite fit for the spouse of the Crown Prince and future Emperor of Qishan Wen, and strengthening the alliance between their kingdoms. After all, King Wen Ruohan had tried his best to make the Gusu Lan Kingdom under his thumbs but never succeeded, and his Crown Prince managed to do that. He was really proud.

The omega prince groaned when another burn spread throughout his body, triggering his omega to struggle inside him. His inner omega would go ballistic if its need wasn't fulfilled. Lan Wangji's head began to unfocus. Alpha, alpha, alpha—the word kept screaming inside his head. No, he would rather die than sleep with Wen Xu. He wouldn't bear him a child.

But his brother and his uncle... He closed his eyes and gripped the blade's handle tightly as the faces of his brother and family back at Cloud Recessed Palace came into his mind. If he didn't

His inner omega suddenly snapped, and Lan Wangji turned his head to his chamber's door. An alpha was walking towards his chamber, and he had a bad feeling about it. Wen Xu was coming. Lan Wangji walked with his shaky legs to hide behind the curtain near the door, the blade in his dainty hand. The door opened, and his nose was assaulted by the smell of an alpha, a strong one at that. The smell of spice clouded his brain, and he almost lost his focus. He swayed towards the man and pressed his blade to his neck when he turned around.

"Get out." He said it coldly. The blade began to turn red from the blood it drew. But it was not Wen Xu. It was Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian. A young general's handmaidens and servants loved to discuss when they gossiped about alphas around the palace. Lan Wangji never scolded them for talking while attending to him. He suspected that freedom of speech was a foreign concept for them, and once Lan Wangji gave them permission to entertain him with anything interesting around the palace, they took it wholeheartedly. It was beneficial for Lan Wangji. During his years of imprisonment here, he learned a lot just by listening to their gossip.

And what was Wei Wuxian doing here? Why did he enter his chamber during his heat?

"Calm down, Your Highness," the alpha said, and Lan Wangji wanted to snarl. Calm down," he said. What a joke.

Before Lan Wangji could utter another word, another burn shocked him, and he almost fell to the ground. The drug reacted to the alpha scent. Two pairs of strong arms prevented him from hitting the hard floor. He struggled in the man's arms, breaking free. His hand swept to the man, hoping the blade would injure the alpha and prompt him to get out of his chamber.

The alpha moved away, smoothly avoiding the attack. Lan Wangji didn't give up and kept attacking him. He used his hand to grip his long sleeve and grabbed Wei Wuxian's arm in it, trapping the hand effectively. He kicked Wei Wuxian's sin as hard as he could and was satisfied when Wei Wuxian was caught off guard and fell down on his knees. He raised his blade and was ready to strike when the general's free arm grabbed his leg hard, making him lose his balance. Wei Wuxian used his tied arm to elope him in his arm, and his other hand gripped Lan Wangji's wrist. He twisted it, and the blade fell to the floor. Freeing his left hand from the tangle of Lan Wangji's sleeve, he used it to grab Lan Wangji's left wrist. Lan Wangji raised his right hand and slapped Wei Wuxian so hard. The alpha looked stunned for a moment before grabbing both Lan Wangji's wrists and pinning him down on the floor.

Lan Wangji was trapped. Golden and silver eyes were glaring at each other as their robes and hair were messed up from their petty fight. If someone walked in, they would definitely misunderstand their current position.

"Get out." Lan Wangji growled, but his weak tone betrayed him. The moment his nose caught a scent of arousal coming from the alpha on top of him, his inner omega lost control. His slick wet his robes, and he saw Wei Wuxian take a deep breath; his pupils blew wide. His silver eyes went darker as he gazed down at him.

"Consort Lan. I'm here to help you. I will not hurt you." The man spoke surprisingly softly. Lan Wangji imagined being an alpha that never got turned down by omegas and betas—a gossip from his maids, obviously—and being attacked by an omega would bruise his ego. But instead of losing control, the alpha spoke to him as if he were his lover.

"I don't need your help. Wen Xu sent you, didn't he? Why didn't he do his job himself?" Lan Wangji asked, still as cold as a blade. He saw Wei Wuxian frown as if he didn't understand his question.

"The Crown Prince had indeed sent me here. It was informed to me that you two, we all had... an agreement about this," he stated. Lan Wangji's breath shortened, and his jaw clenched with rage. He didn't agree on anything with Wen Xu. If anything, he expected the worst tonight. The general looked at him with a puzzled look. Did he really not know about Lan Wangji's predicament? Of course not. Apart from the fact that Lan Wangji was currently in heat, there was no reason for a mere general to know anything about him.

The Consort groaned softly when his body tingled as the alpha's scent hit his nose over and over. He closed his eyes tightly and felt his body being lifted and carried away. A familiar silk bedsheet hit his back, and he curled up. He felt the alpha move away, and he had to hold back the urge to take hold of his robes. He felt cold porcelain on his lower lip, and he opened his eyes to see a cup of water offered. Lan Wangji lifted his head and gladly drank the water before lying back down.

A sharp intake of breath caught his attention. His sharp golden eyes were looking at the young general sitting on his bed. Wei Wuxian had his eyes closed tightly, his fingers messaging his temple. The omega forgot that he wasn't the only one being miserable now. He could see how Wei Wuxian tried his best not to lose his sanity with how thick the omega's heat scent filled the room. The young man would then rub his face roughly with his palms and let out a soft growl. After some time, he looked at Lan Wangji and gulped.

"Consort Lan," The man began "I'm sure you know that Prince Wen Xu is desperately in need of an heir. He sent me here to..." 

"Why didn't he do it himself, then? The heir should be the prince's biological children with his official consort," Lan Wang snapped. He had heard this rule ever since he married the man from the Emperor himself, saying how beautiful their future princes and princesses would be when they inherited Lan Wangji's ethereal look. Well, at least the Emperor acknowledged how ugly his son was. Wei Wuxian frowned and hesitantly opened his mouth.

"You don't know, Consort Lan? Prince Wen Xu is infertile."

What?!

"Infertile?" Lan Wangji repeated the word in shock. He had heard about the boasting of the Crown Prince's wild lifestyle for years. He heard from his servants that the healers always tiredly prepared countless jars of contraceptive herbal tea for Wen Xu's concubines and mistresses to drink. His servants concluded that the reason why was that the Crown Prince didn't want to bother himself with raising children. Some said that he just wanted to enjoy himself and would have children when the time came. He wanted to have his first child with his consort to fulfil his duty as the Crown Prince before fathering another with his concubines.

"The prince said that this was a secret only some people knew. Him, his private healer, me, and since you're his consort, I thought you knew as well. That's why we're in this predicament. "I thought you agreed to this deal because you knew you could not conceive a child together."

"I didn't agree to anything," Lan Wangji said, venom clear in his tone. "And why did you agree, General Wei Wuxian? Why did you agree to do something like this? Is sleeping with a consort one of your fantasies?"

"No! I don't-" Wei Wuxian stopped himself. The man looked conflicted for a moment. "My family is in a very bad position right now, and Crown Prince Wen Xu offered solutions. I would do anything for my family, so I just agreed. The requirement was that I give him an heir in secret. He told me no one would know, for it would be dangerous for his position as well. He assured me that as long as the parties involved remained silent, everything would be fine. I only agreed because I was told that you agreed as well. That this was done with everyone's consent. If I had known that he forced you, I wouldn't—I would—"

Family, huh? So Wei Wuxian did this for a family that had adopted him and given him everything. Lan Wangji could relate to that, he supposed. Lan Wangji's golden eyes unconsciously swept the young alpha's strong figure. He had seen Wei Wuxian in passing, mainly at formal events where he didn't stay for a long time. But the man was on Wen Ruohan's and Wen Xu's good side, so his name was spoken once or twice during the events, mostly when the man won one war after another for Qishan.

Wei Wuxian was a handsome man with lovely eyes and sharp features—just like what the Consort's handmaidens said—but he could see a lifeless soul beneath the seemingly bright personality. He remembered how fake the general's smiles were every time his name was called and gifts were given. It was like he hated them but had no choice but to put on a grateful act. His shoulders and chest were wide, and his muscled arms bulged through his black tights. He had a small waist for an alpha, maybe smaller than Lan Wangji's? But Lan Wangji was an omega, so his hip was wider to support his child. Wei Wuxian was indeed a very attractive alpha.

And why did Lan Wangji think of that?

Another burn, stronger than before, hit him in full force. Lan Wangji gritted his teeth and panted heavily. Whatever stimulant or drug had been fed into his system, it was getting stronger and stronger, especially with the presence of an alpha right now. Lan Wangji could feel Wei Wuxian's gaze on him and heard another sharp intake of breath. Both of them were holding themselves back, and they needed to do something.

There were only two options in the current situation. Either the alpha fled from the room, leaving Lan Wangji alone to deal with his heat. Or both succumbed to their inner animals' desires. The consort didn't think Wei Wuxian would rape him. He didn't seem like that kind of person.

So which one? Both had consequences as well. The bad consequence would befall their families—Wei Wuxian's and Lan Wangji's—not themselves.

A look on Wei Wuxian's face told him he had made his decision. He just waited for Lan Wangji's permission. Wei Wuxian took a deep breath before taking Lan Wangji's hand into his own.

"Let me help you, Your Highness," Wei Wuxian offered softly, holding the pale hand softly. "You're drugged, aren't you? It must hurt you so bad. We don't have to worry about whether we manage to conceive an heir tonight. Just... just let me help you."

"I will not hurt you. I will never hurt you. You can trust me."

And Lan Wangji did.

Lips pressed onto his lip, and soon the innocent peck turned into a full-blown make-out session. Strong fingers dug into his waist as mouths opened and tongues intertwined. Moans and groans accompanied two bodies rubbing against each other. Robes were taken off roughly and thrown onto the floor carelessly. Pillows and blankets were kicked away, allowing more space for their larger forms.

Soon, Lan Wangji was laying on his bed wearing nothing but a sweet flush on his pale skin, with equally nude Wei Wuxian on top of him, his knees on both sides of his body. Their hard breathing replaced the previous moans as they gazed into each other's eyes. Pupils were wide, and red lips were swollen.

When Wei Wuxian put his hands on his knees, Lan Wangji bit his bottom lip. When the alpha slowly spread his legs, exposing his most private area, the omega closed his eyes. When the general buried his face between his legs, his tongue licking his pussy greedily, the consort moaned and arched his flushed body. It didn't take long for him to reach his peak. Lan Wangji was a virgin omega, so the pleasure was too much for him.

Soft kisses from his inner thighs travelled from his stomach to his chest to his nipples. Lan Wangji's hand went to grab Wei Wuxian's black hair as the man licked and bit his nipples. The sinful lips moved to his neck, sucking his glands teasingly before finally claiming his lips. Lan Wangji could taste himself on Wei Wuxian's tongue. Rough hands roamed his soft body as if they were mapping every inch of it. Something was poking his entrance, and Lan Wangji froze.

Wei Wuxian seemed to sense his nervousness. The alpha broke the kiss and sat back, looking down at the omega. They didn't break their eye contact when Lan Wangji felt Wei Wuxian's thumb teasing his clitoris. It definitely felt different with his tongue, but it was pleasurable as well. A finger then slowly entered him, and he threw his head back. It touched something inside him that sent pleasure through his body. The finger was in and out for a moment before something replaced it.

Lan Wangji let out a whimper when Wei Wuxian's huge shaft penetrated him. The omega never felt so full.

"Fuck." He heard Wei Wuxian curse softly, and he saw that the man was closing his eyes tightly and his hands were trembling. He was holding himself back. He swayed forward and immediately put his palm on the bed so that he wouldn't crush Lan Wangji. Lan Wangji's hands went to his broad shoulders, and he dug his nails there, clinging to the alpha. The general got the message and began to move.

Slowly and steadily. At first. Before they let their inner animals take over. Gentle movements changed into more erratic ones, and soft moans turned into more lustful growls.

Lan Wangji felt Wei Wuxian's arms gather his legs around his waist and move up, making the omega link his ankles together and tighten them around the man's waist. The position allowed the alpha to thrust deeper and deeper.

"Ah, ah, ah... Alpha..." Lan Wangji called desperately. He was so close. He was so fucking close. Wei Wuxian moved his hip like crazy, and something big entered him. The movement stopped, and Lan Wangji felt a flood of the alpha's semen entering his womb. He was knotted. The next thing he knew, darkness embraced him, and he lost consciousness.

Lan Wangji stared at the sleeping alpha in his bed the next morning. His body hurt like hell, but he could feel his omega had calmed down significantly. It would become needy again in the next few hours, so maybe Lan Wangji should prepare himself. His heat usually lasts for three to four days. He didn't know whether Wei Wuxian would stay until the end or if he would leave after their first meeting. But the food on the tables and several fresh blankets and robes on the nearby chairs were enough for the consort, and the general was expected to stay cool.

There were several people that the consort could think of regarding this situation. Two of them were definitely Wen Xu and Wen Lei. The latter was perhaps the one who put a drug into his meal or drink to trigger that abnormal heat. Was he the one who put that essential stuff in his room as well? It would make sense. The servants prepared them, but he would be the one who delivered them. After all, one thing Lan Wangji had learned was that servants' ability to gossip was amazingly dangerous, and they couldn't be trusted with a secret as huge as this. Wen Lei wasn't a stupid man; he had served in this kingdom since he was a child, having been the Emperor's reading partner when they were children.

Three days. Lan Wangji had three days to convince the general about the plan he had concocted for years. He never thought of actually carrying it out earlier, for it needed a willing and influential participant, but now he had the perfect person to help him. It wasn't just for himself and his family; if his plan worked well, then it would liberate everyone under the Qishan's rule—Wei Wuxian and his families, small kingdoms under the Qishan's cruel rule—as well. All he needed was for Wei Wuxian to agree to help him.

If Lan Wangji's plan failed, a death sentence would be waiting for them. But nothing came easy. Everything came with great risks, and without a first step, nothing would change. So the consort waited for the general to wake up.

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian nodded to the servants as he swayed through the main gate of the Dafan Royal Family Residence. It had been three weeks since the young alpha left the Willow Pavilion very early in the morning -somehow feeling reluctant to do so- without a note or a word to the sleeping omega in the bed. Honestly, he didn't know what to say. Not after what Consort Lan had told him on the last night of his heat. 

So he did his best to avoid Consort Lan -which was very easy because the omega was imprisoned in his private residence-, Crown Prince Wen Xu and Healer Wen Lei. He even delayed his visit to Dafan's Residence, arguing that there would be a special training conducted, which was true because he conducted it right after leaving the Willow Pavilion. He had too much emotion to see his siblings. He needed a release.

"Take your time, General Wei. I believe you'll not say anything to anyone about this. But I'll be waiting for your answer. It may take a few weeks, a few months, or a few years even. And even if you decide not to help me, it's okay. One day you'll realize that the life you have now won't bring you and your family peace and eventually you'll come to me. All you need is when that realization slaps your handsome face."

What the hell?

The passive Consort was actually planning on something all these years. This omega had hidden boiling anger deep inside his icy persona. It was a good plan, but Wei Wuxian didn't know if he should agree to it. The fact that Lan Wangji actually shared it with him -an alpha he didn't even know and was sent to impregnate him- had baffled him. Why did Lan Wangji trust him so much with his plan? Wasn't he afraid the general would report it to Prince Wen Xu?

Wei Wuxian didn't understand Lan Wangji's chains of thought.

The young general looked around for two familiar figures around the compound. There was no sight of them at all. He frowned and decided to pay a visit to the house's library. The library was at the corner of the compound, near Wen Qing's study room and infirmary.

"A-Ning!" The alpha threw his arm around a young beta man who was putting some books on the shelves. The beta -who had smelled him before he entered the room- smiled brightly at him before his face scrubbed up. He eyed him up and down and tilted his head. Wei Wuxian raised his eyebrows and looked down at his body. 

"What?" He observed his own body. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Wen Ning tilted his head, and his mouth opened but no words came out from him. He didn't look like he didn't know what to say. Wen Ning looked like he obviously knew what to say, he just needed the right words to convey them. 

"You look different," The beta circled the alpha with a thoughtful look on his young face. "I don't know what to say but you feel different. Like something happens in your life but you don't know what emotion you want to feel. You feel chaotic. Does it make sense?"

"No, it doesn't make sense to me," Wei Wuxian shrugged, grabbed Wen Ning's hand and led the young beta out of the library. It was past noon so lunch would be served soon. Wen Ning didn't say anything but his eyes were still on the general once in a while.

"Where's sister?"

"She's at the Imperial Healing Pavilion. The announcement is today," Wen Ning replied excitedly. Wei Wuxian's pace slowed as an image of Wen Lei appeared in his head. Right. Today was the day when he temporarily secured Wen Qing's safety from the awful arranged marriage with Jin Zixun. She would stay at the dorm starting next week, getting strict medical and etiquette education to be the next private healer of the Emperor and the Princes. Wei Wuxian didn't have a single doubt about his sister's ability in skill and manner. She was excellent in both. As Wen Lei had said, it would be a shame to give a great healer like Wen Qing to Lanling Jin when she could contribute to her own Kingdom.

"She'll get in," The alpha said, winking at the pretty maids who delivered their lunch. The maids giggled -clearly used to his flirting- but he noticed one maid was blushing furiously, looking at him shyly. She had to be new for the servants here were immune to his charm. She was a pretty omega with slightly tan skin and big eyes. She smelled wonderful, like a mix of rose and honey.

"How do you know?" Wen Ning's question averted his attention from the maid back to him. Wei Wuxian forced a smile and took a jar of wine.

"I just know."

The door was slammed open and a smell of herbal tea and jasmine hit their noses. They looked up and smiled brightly at the sight of a pretty omega wearing Qishan green-red healer robes. Her eyes found them and for a moment they softened slightly. She fast walked to the older man and slapped Wei Wuxian's head -affectionally, of course- before sitting down in front of them. 

"Aww, Qing-Jie! What was that for?"

"What did you do?" She asked sharply. She glared at the young general with unspoken accusation in her eyes. The alpha winced and shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"What do you mean by that?" He asked innocently. Wen Qing narrowed her eyes at him, putting her hands on the table. Beside her, Wen Ning's arms raised to the air as if he readied himself to hold his sister back in case she decided to maul the alpha. She might be an omega but she was as hotheaded as an alpha.

"Don't joke around with me, Wei Wuxian! Uncle Four was released in such a short time; I get a place on Wen Lei's future protege's list; My marriage with Jin fucking Zixun has been delayed for a year or two. These aren't coincidences. What did you do? Did you lick the Emperor's shoes? Showered him with praises to boost his ego? Did you promise to invade other smaller kingdoms for him? Did you promise concubines to him?  What. Did. You. Do?"

"Qing-Jie, I did nothing," He said with a sigh. "Uncle Four was released very shortly, I don't know why. Maybe Emperor Wen Ruohan has finally realized how smart and important Uncle Four actually is. I mean, our kingdom managed to secure the trade with Yunmeng Jiang about the lotus silk because of him, didn't we? Do you know how expensive lotus silk is? You get a place as Wen Lei's protege? Congratulations, but I don't have anything to do with it. Your replacement test was a month ago, right? I was busy conquering the Hàoyǔ Kingdom at that time. Your marriage with Jin Zixun? Maybe because it has something to do with Healer Wen Lei? You have to join his class for a year, right? I didn't hear anything about the wedding date when the decree was read and we knelt down to hear it."

Wen Qing was silent but her eyes shone with mistrust toward Wei Wuxian. A pang of guilt crept up in his chest as his sister kept staring at him. After a moment, Wen Qing finally relaxed and Wen Ning let out an audible sigh of relief.

"You did something and you're hiding it from me." His sister was that smart. Wei Wuxian bit his lips, trying not to blurt out the agreement between him and Wen Xu.

"I did something and I'm hiding it from you." He resigned. "But it's not about what you just accused me of. It's something more private and, uh, I want to keep it for myself."

Technically what he said was true. For Uncle Four and Wen Qing's future, Wei Wuxian didn't praise, lick the Emperor's shoes, conquer a kingdom or offer concubines. What he did was make a deal with Wen Xu, not the Emperor. And the deal wasn't all of those. Wen Qing's position had been decided by Healer Wen Lei himself -and Wen Qing's skill by extension- even before the deal. The delay was inevitable because of the circumstances.

So Wei Wuxian didn't lie. He just didn't tell her the whole truth.

"Fine, but one day-"

"I'll tell you the truth one day. I promise, Qing-Jie, Wen Ning. But not now, please." Wei Wuxian saw them and was taken aback by his plea. After all, Wei Wuxian never pleaded, even when he was surrounded by enemies and knew that he would probably die at that moment. Wen Qing let out a sigh and shook her pretty head. Her hand reached out a cup of tea Wen Ning had poured for her and Wei Wuxian was glad that the uncomfortable conversation was over.

"I heard they would send you to conquer another small Kingdom again," Wen Ning opened a topic and Wei Wuxian couldn't express how he adored his little brother. Wei Wuxian took his chopstick and began shovelling food into his mouth. He took his time to chew while trying to explain the situation. It was a sudden order and it probably would take another two or three weeks to deal with if the information he got was true.

"No, it isn't a small Kingdom. It is a rebellion village," Wei Wuxian said after shallowing. "Do you remember Guo Zimo?"

"The rebel who managed to capture and torture General Wu two years ago? Wasn't he executed in front of the whole Kingdom?"

"He was, but we failed to capture all of his followers. There are still several out there, recruiting and developing another set of armies. Wen Zhuliu said that this village is actually a rebellion camp. Our spy said that they saw the villagers hiding weapons and training during the night. During the day, they disguised themselves as farmers. The leader is apparently Guo Zimo's relative and he wanted to avenge his death."

"You don't look excited about it." Wen Qing commented dryly. "You usually look forward to it. I remember how you boasted to whoever was willing to listen about how awesome the battlefield was since the first time you were sent. It was, what is it, A-Ning?"

"Thrilling, exciting, amazing and a little bit heartbreaking," Wen Ning recited expertly, snickering when he finished. The young alpha gaped at him. He didn't even remember he said those.

"A-Ning, you remember I said that?"

"A-Ning was, is your frequent victim." Wen Qing snorted into her rice. "He's too kind to ignore you. Back then when he was just a kid, you loved telling him about your bloody war stories. It worried me and Uncle Four that one day he would follow in your step. Good thing he chooses to be a scholar instead. He'd do a wonderful job at the Imperial Library."

"What's wrong with following my step? I was an amazing soldier. I'm an awesome general. Do you know what they call me out there? The Black General whose hands are red. As red as his enemies' blood." 

"Yeah, yeah, I know your reputation, Wuxian-Ge" Wen Ning laughed as his brain opened one of his folders. "A Black General, the Emperor's favourite, whose soldiers would follow him anywhere. A Black General with countless omegas to spend his wealth on, spoiling them rotten they'll kiss his feet for more. What else? A Black General who can raise the dead to fight for his war? That's why he manages to slaughter a whole army with little casualty on Wen's side?"

"My army consists of great soldiers I have trained so hard for years. That's why we won many wars with small amounts of casualties."

"Yeah, but common folks don't know that."

"I don't care what common folks know. Enough about me, A-Ning. Let's talk about something happier. Tell me about your new position, Qing-Jie. Are you excited?" Wei Wuxian averted the conversation. War wasn't a topic he would like to talk about during family meal time. It was exciting but heartbreaking at the same time, just like what he told Wen Ning.

"I haven't got any position yet, Wuxian." Wen Qing's eyes softened at the topic and Wei Wuxian would dance to celebrate if he wouldn't be smacked for it. 

"Nah, you're amazing, Qing-Jie. Wen Lei doesn't know what hit him."

"Wen Lei definitely knows what hit him, Wuxian-Ge. I heard Jiejie's test result was the highest," Wen Ning said happily. 

"Really? It was awesome. What will you do during a year of training? In the military, we have this hellish three months of training we call 'Burial Mound Drilling' which causes many soldiers to faint on the last day. It's brutal and awesome. Do you medics use real people for this elite training instead of corpses? I don't want to volunteer but I know some annoying people you can play with your needles and knives." Wei Wuxian bounced in his seat. Wen Qing looked so proud of her achievement judging by the rare small smile on her beautiful face. Her sharp tongue and death glare disappeared as she began to talk about the thing she was passionate about. 

"The training is divided into three parts. The First Phase is two months of indoor education. It's just about theories, anatomy and medical experiments, mostly medicine BUT there'll be a class that normal healers won't get. Poison, for example. If a high-rank figure is poisoned, you bet the poison isn't a common one. It's usually well-concocted and prepared. Sometimes, no antidote is found for it. That's why there're so many questionable deaths in an Imperial Family and sometimes covered up because the Imperial Healers cannot produce a solution. It also deals with politics after all, and politics is dirty and brutal." Wen Qing explained passionately as both Wen Ning and Wei Wuxian hung her every word, nodding here and there, ahh oooh once in a while.

"The Second Phase is when we're introduced to all members of the Imperial Family; This includes the Emperor, Princes, Princesses and Concubines. The Concubines are not our business, but we have to know them. In case a jealous one decides to poison an Empress or a Consort, for example." Wen Qing shrugged as if it was a normal one. Well, it was indeed a normal occurrence in an inner Palace drama. "We have to learn about each Imperial Family's illness and allergies, how to cure them, their usual diets, and everything related to their health. We learn them directly from the person as well as their private healers. The most important part is when we have an audience with the Emperor. It happens only once. If you don't attend, then you'll fail. This phase takes two months also." 

"Because the Emperor is a busy man?" Wen Ning asked, pouring another cup of tea. Wen Qing nodded.

"What's the Third Phase?" Wei Wuxian asked. The First Phase took two months and The Second Phase took another two months, so the third phase would be eight months.

"We're assigned to serve two or three members of the Imperial Family Member for seventh months. The last month is evaluation and decision on who we're going to serve for the rest of our lives."

"Two or three?"

"Yes, we're moving, you know, to see who fits who. It takes trust to be a private healer because this person will have more information than others. For example, a secret like, I don't know, infertility? Like if Wen Xu is infertile, then only his private healer will have this information because it's embarrassing and scandalous-"

Wei Wuxian choked on his meal and Wen Ning patted his back.

"And the private healer will be assigned to find a cure. One healer can serve two members like Healer Wen Lei serves both the Emperor and Crown Prince Wen Xu -who is the next Emperor- and currently hold the highest rank."

"Do you want to be the next Healer Wen Lei, Qing-Jie?" Wei Wuxian teased, laughing when Wen Qing's face showed disgust.

"No way, if miraculously I didn't have to marry Jin Zixun and secured a position, I don't want to be Wen Xu's private healer. I might accidentally kill him." That sent the Wen siblings into fits of giggling. Wei Wuxian's face softened as the general watched Wen Qing lean to Wen Ning for support. Their faces were bright with happy grins. These were what Wei Wuxian was fighting for; His siblings' happiness and freedom, to be acknowledged for their skill, not a pawn for politics.

"Besides, I'm an omega. Emperor's and Crown Prince's private healer is usually a beta because their important position can't afford a healer who will take a few days off when their heat cycle happens. They have to be ready anytime."

"So Wen Chao then?" Wen Wuxian laughed when Wen Qing threw a bun at him. He took the bun from the floor and ate it, making the oldest roll her eyes.

"I'm hoping to be assigned to Consort Lan."

Wei Wuxian froze. His sister wanted to serve who?

"Why?"

"You haven't heard? Consort Lan is expecting a child."

Oh. Consort Lan was pregnant. Something stirred deep inside Wei Wuxian's chest and he tried his best to ignore it. He blinked several times and continued eating his bun, his eyes refused to look at Wen Qing.

"Consort Lan is a kind man. I had a chance to treat him several times actually." Wen Qing's confession got Wei Wuxian's full attention now. His sister never told them that. She told them everything that happened in the healing pavilion, except some confidential matters related to the Emperor, so it was surprising that she held this information.

"I treated him on his first few weeks in the pavilion. His leg was broken when he was brought here by Prince Wen Xu. Because many soldiers were injured and even Wen Xu himself, Healer Wen Lei pointed me to two maids to take care of him. He was a quiet young man, very cold you know, but somehow I felt safer with him than with other Imperial Family Members. He treated us well and spoke to us politely and respectfully, even to the maids. We were dismissed soon of course, but it did leave an impression on us, especially the maids."

Ah, was this story the same one Wu Nuo told him?

"He's a prisoner here, just like I will be once I marry Jin Zixun. Nothing more than a trophy to show around but not as a human being." Wen Qing's voice trailed and his brothers could hear her voice crack. "Anyway, he's pregnant now so they'll definitely assign an omega healer to treat him during his pregnancy. His private healer is beta if I'm not mistaken, he shares her with Lady Wang Lingjiao, Prince Chao's consort. With how demanding Consort Wang Lingjiao is, I doubt he'll get the attention he deserves. He needs a full-time healer who'll take care of him." And a good companion went unsaid.

Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning shared a smile. Their sister was too kind.

The day went on and Wen Wuxian was walking toward his room after supervising Wen Ning in his archery practice. His brother might be just a scholar, but everyone needed to know how to protect themselves. So during his visits, he would spend the whole afternoon training his brother. Once in a while, he taught him a sword fighting skill. The alpha stretched his sore body. Who knew Wen Ning -during his adrenaline rush- possess a hidden strength? The general's body was thrown several meters to the hard ground and Wen Qing had a really good time laughing at his poor predicament. It had to be a result of carrying those heavy scrolls and books. 

"General Wei," A sweet voice called him and the young alpha's nose was assaulted by the smell of honey and rose. He turned around and spotted the pretty maid from this afternoon hiding behind a pillar. Her eyes were blinking slowly and a bashful smile adorned her pretty face. She moved toward him carefully, her hips swayed, and dainty fingers gripped her skirt, lifting it slightly, exposing her small feet. She was seducing him.

Wei Wuxian smirked, leaned his back on the pillar behind him and drank the wine. His silver eyes were locked on the walking maid as she bit her bottom lips. The maid stopped in front of him and he noticed that the attire she wore was different from the maid uniform she wore earlier despite the same colour. It looked softer, almost see though -under the light, he almost could see her breasts through the fabrics- and thinner.

"It is a pleasure to meet General Wei Wuxian here." She greeted softly. Wei Wuxian almost snorted. This place was surely near the servants' barracks but this path wasn't a road they usually took. She deliberately waited for him here.

"The pleasure is all mine. Say, you're new, aren't you? I haven't seen you before."

"This humble servant is indeed new. This one was brought to the residence just two months ago." The evening wind swept her thin robes as she slowly but surely invaded Wei Wuxian's personal space. "This one is called Zhou Yí Rán, General Wei, from a small village far away from here."

"It's nice to meet you, Zhou Yí Rán." He tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. His smirk widened, giving a clear invitation for the young woman to come closer. And she did.

She was so close now, just a little movement from one of them would make their body press onto each other. Which was definitely her intention for she -without warning- wrapped her thin arms around his neck and kissed him full on the lips. The jar in his hand fell down onto the floor, and shattered into pieces. He kissed her back fiercely, lips digging into her softer one. His hands wrapped Zhou Yí Rán's small waist and he brought her smaller body into his embrace. His left hand was about to pull up her skirt when-

'...Alpha..."

Wei Wuxian gasped, opened his eyes and broke the kiss abruptly. He jerked his hands off the omega's body and staggered back. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"Ge-general Wei?" Zhou Yí Rán sounded confused and rightfully so. Wei Wuxian shook his head and turned around, refusing to look at the confused maid.

"Go back to your room. I'm tired tonight." He run to his room, slid open the door, shut it immediately and sat down on the bed. 

"What the fuck?!" He cursed as he covered his face with his palms. Why did Lan Wangji's face suddenly appear in his mind? Why did his voice ring in his ears? 

Shit! What was happening to him?

'...Alpha..."

Shit! Wei Wuxian groaned when he felt hit arousal building up. The face and the voice were just his imagination but why did his body react to it? His inner alpha growled as if it demanded to be with the omega. Wei Wuxian disrobed until he was in his inner red robe and took off his shoes. He buried his body in a warm cocoon the blanket. His hand took out his cock and he stroked himself.

'...Alpha..."

The general groaned as the memory of a beautiful face, delightful moans and smooth skin took over his mind. He imagined he was still in that small chamber, beneath the red curtains, between the stunning consort's legs, making love to him roughly until he came screaming the consort's name. A consort who was now pregnant with his child.

"Fuck..." He whispered to himself. He was in big trouble.

Wei Wuxian tried his best to ignore the urge feeling inside him for the next few days by preparing for an attack on the rebellion camp disguised as a village. The herbs and medicine Wen Qing had prepared for him were tucked safely inside his robes. Some dark clothes, small knives and poisonous needles were hidden in his secret pockets inside his armour.

"You're ready?" His silver eyes met Wen Zhuliu's dark ones and he nodded. He was ready to serve the Emperor.

"What the hell?" was what came out from the young general when what he discovered during his observation wasn't what he expected. There were no hidden weapons or military training. The people in this village were very few, mostly elderly, a small group of young parents and their children. No alpha at all, just a bunch of betas and omegas. This Neimen Village was just a normal village, not a rebellion camp.

The young general watched as a mother sang a lullaby to her baby who looked like it was just a few months old. An old woman was sitting several feet away from her, sewing a cloth. Another house showed him the same image and he shallowed bitterly. Whoever their spy was, he gave them the wrong information. Wei Wuxian shook his hand in disbelief. He jumped down from the rooftop and walked to Wen Zhuliu and their army hid in the dark.

"This isn't a rebellion camp. This is just a normal village with normal folks." He reported grimly but the higher rank general in front of him didn't react at all. Wen Zhuliu's eyes swept the village.

"These people are families of Guo Zimo, the rebel we took down two years ago. The order from the Emperor is clear, General Wei, demolish the Neimen village for it has a connection with Guo Zimo."

"But they have nothing to do with Guo Zimo's rebellion. They are mostly elderly, General Wen. There are a couple of parents and their children but no soldiers, hidden training or weapons at all. I have observed this village for days, days and nights but I found nothing. These are innocent people."

"Wei Wuxian, don't be naive. One day they'll rebel again, just like Guo Zimo did."

"When is this 'one day'? When do these little kids grow up? We don't know what happen in the future, Wen Zhuliu. Let's just go back and report this to the Emperor." Wei Wuxian moved away but Wen Zhuliu and his men didn't. They were standing still.

"The Emperor knows, Wuxian," Wen Zhuliu said casually as if he was talking about whether. "He knows."

The young general felt his body go numb when the men lit up their torches. Wen Zhuliu's voice was gentle when he spoke his command.

"Burn the village and everyone in it."

The sky was bright as fires consumed the whole village. Wei Wuxian's silver eyes watched as one by one the houses collapsed onto the ground. The alpha's ears heard the devastating screams, screaming for help and pain. His feet couldn't move. He couldn't do anything. There were people running outside their houses to save themselves, only to be stabbed by the men in black. They couldn't escape their tragic fate.

"Please, Mister, it hurts. Please let go." A child's voice snapped Wei Wuxian. His silver eyes found a small boy being dragged by his man. The boy's face was wet with tears as he wailed pitifully for the man to let go of his arms. Behind him was a burning house with screams from its residents.

"Let go of him!" Wei Wuxian run to them and tried to save the boy. He was just a kid, he didn't do anything wrong. The boy kept crying and the louder he cried, the more useless Wei Wuxian felt. Wen Zhuliu grabbed the boy from his man's hand.

"Let go of him! He's like four years old. Wen Zhuliu!!" 

"Mister, HELP! HELP, PLEASE!" The boy was looking at Wei Wuxian now, his arms stretched out, begging desperately for him to take him instead. Wei Wuxian moved to grab him but Zhuliu moved faster. The young alpha snarled at his superior. Wen Zhuliu looked at him calmly.

"I'll give him back to his family."

"NO!!" The image of the crying little boy who looked at him desperately while screaming for help would implant in Wei Wuxian's brain forever. His useless arms that failed to grab the boy from being thrown into the flame would always be his biggest regret in his life.

"One day you'll realize that the life you have now won't bring you and your family peace... All you need is when that realization slaps your handsome face."

Chapter Text

"Mister..." A badly burned hand reached out to him.

"Mister, help, please..." A badly burned face looked at him with a terrified expression.

"Mister, why don't you help me?" Bloody tears were running down its small face.

"MISTER... HELP!!"

"GAAH!!" Wei Wuxian gasped as he opened his eyes. He was breathing hard, and tears were running down his face. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before sitting up. Wei Wuxian grabbed his water and took a huge gulp of it. It had been a month or two since his failure to save that kid, and since then, eight additional villages related to Guo Zimo and his followers had been burned down by them. A total of nine villages, consisting of people who did nothing but share the same blood with the famous rebels, had been demolished by the Wen armies. Wen Zhuliu's and Wei Wuxian's armies

It didn't matter that the young general refused to participate. It didn't matter that he ordered his men to stop—an order that was called off by Wen Zhuliu because of his higher rank. In the end, they were his army, and he took responsibility for them. Wei Wuxian was sure that Wen Zhuliu would report his actions to Prince Wen Xu and that he would be punished for them, but he found himself not caring. His punishment was nothing compared to the lives of those innocent people. His punishment couldn't save them. He couldn't save them. And they haunted him.

The young general closed his eyes when familiar guilt slowly but surely began to spread inside his chest. The guilt he always felt after a war—either he won or lost—since the first time he joined a war There was a reason why he let himself drown in luxurious gifts and high praise: he wanted to forget. He wanted to forget his guilt, actions, and failures.

"He is right," He murmured, his mind replaying the words a certain omega had said to him. The general looked up when he smelled an alpha soldier standing in front of his barracks. The soldier was probably too afraid of him. So Wei Wuxian stood up, fixed his robes, and walked out. A familiar young alpha looked at him with admiration in his eyes. Ah, Wei Wuxian was wrong. The soldier wasn't afraid to disturb him because he was scared of him; he was too excited to meet him.

"General Wei," The soldier greeted her and bowed. Wei Wuxian smiled and patted his head affectionately. His mind provided him with the information that this teen was the soldier he defeated in a drinking contest probably months ago. Wen Zhuliu said something about him only drinking a few times in his teen life, but he was impressive nonetheless. He would make a great drinking buddy for Wei Wuxian one day.

"What's your name, buddy?"

"Xue Yang, General Wei." Wei Wuxian hummed when he heard the name. Xue Yang was a name the Emperor and Prince Wen Xu had mentioned during their audience at the Imperial Court. He was found by the Emperor's spy, whose name Wei Wuxian didn't know, and brought into the kingdom when he was about ten years old. The child was feral back then, biting, kicking, and beating people who were in charge of him. Despite his feral nature, he had grown up into a good soldier. His potential shone so brightly among his peers that Wen Zhuliu commented one day during an Imperial Court meeting that he was the next Wei Wuxian.

"So, are you looking for me?"

"Yes. Um, Crown Prince is looking for you." Um, the summon came sooner than he had expected. Wei Wuxian nodded and gestured for the teen to lead the way. Xue Yang walked slowly beside him, glancing at him once in a while -Wei Wuxian pretended not to notice- before he began talking. Oh boy, the teen was a total delight. Wei Wuxian could see how the teen enthusiastically talked about the training and the battles he had experienced. One opinion caught the general's attention.

"I don't exactly like how Prince Wen Xu leads the troops," was what he said.

"Oh? And why do you dislike it?" Wei Wuxian asked carefully. The alpha teen glanced at him, probably assuring himself that Wei Wuxian wouldn't punish him for speaking his mind, and began explaining his opinion in detail. However, it wasn't actually an opinion; in the general's view, it was a critique. A very amazing one at that.

"Prince Wen Xu said that in order to break through the Sabre Formation of Qinghe's soldiers, we have to attack from all directions. I think that's a stupid strategy. Sabre Formation is a human fortress consisting of great swordsmen forming a perfect square formation with their sabres and shields. Attacking from all directions won't work. In my opinion, we have to use our archers for it. Hiding our best archers and using their skills to hit the soldiers inside the formation, not outside the formation. It would catch them off guard, alerting the outside soldiers and triggering unwanted reactions. They will be distracted, and when their formation slowly weakens, then we attack from all directions."

Oh wow, this teen would make a good general one day. Wei Wuxian smiled at how his brain worked. For his little experience, what he said wasn't exactly effective on the battlefield, but the basics were good. It just needed some adjustments here and there.

"That's a great strategy, Xue Yang."

"Do you think so? Some soldiers said, "I'm stupid to think that." Xue Yang's eyes sparkled with hope, and they got brighter when Wei Wuxian nodded at him. Xue Yang's posture straightened, and he puffed his chest a little. He was so proud of himself, and Wei Wuxian couldn't help but chuckle. It reminded me of when Wen Zhuliu complimented him for the first time.

They arrived at Prince Wen Xu's war room—or that was what the alpha called it—and Xue Yang excused himself, leaving the alpha alone in front of a room he didn't really want to enter. He had a guess about the topics the Crown Prince wanted to talk about, and he wasn't looking forward to one of them. The young alpha took a deep breath before entering, just to be greeted by the sight of Wen Xu sucking a maid's face. Wen Xu had the maid on his lap, straddling his larger form. Wei Wuxian could see her milky tights wrapped tightly around his waist.

"Ahem," Wei Wuxian said, clearing his throat. The pair broke away and turned their heads towards him—one smirking, one blushing—before the maid quickly scrambled off Wen Xu's lap. Her front robes were opened—breasts exposed, necks covered with red marks—so Wei Wuxian averted his gaze. She quickly fixed her clothes, her eyes looking at the floor.

"General Wei," Wen Xu said, not moving from his chair. He whispered something to the busy girl, who nodded her head and walked out of the room quietly, bowing briefly at the man at the door.

"You asked for me?"

"Yes." Wen Xu stood up and pulled out two jugs of wine from his cupboard. He shoved one at Wei Wuxian and clicked his own on it. "A toast for your success in clearing my path."

Wei Wuxian stared at the jug in his arms for a moment before taking a gulp. An image of a beautiful omega sitting in his quiet chamber, rubbing his round stomach, made his chest tighten a little bit. Wen Xu walked to his chair, gestured for the general to sit down, and pulled out a small package.

"So, how was it?" Wen Xu grinned at him. "I heard a quiet report from Wen Lei. It seemed you two enjoyed it very much."

"It was fine," His answer made the Crown Prince, who took another gulp of his wine, choke and laugh abruptly. It seemed that he didn't expect it at all.

"Did you just say that the most wanted omega in the cultivation world was a bad lay? Good thing I never slept with him then." Wen Xu laughed harder. Wei Wuxian blinks at the new information. His confused face must be very evident, for Wen Xu stopped laughing. The Crown Prince grinned widely, though, so he still found the situation hilarious.

"I'm not interested in him, General Wei. He's cold and boring. What a waste of a pretty face! I keep him here so Gusu Lan won't try anything on us."

Keep him. Wen Xu's comment made Lan Wangji sound like a pet. It sparked ire inside Wei Wuxian to hear Wen Xu speak about Lan Wangji like that. So Lan Wangji indeed married Wen Xu against his will. No wonder the consort attacked Wei Wuxian—whom he thought was Wen Xu—so fiercely. What threat did Wen Xu give to Lan Wangji that made him agree to be his consort?

"Well, if he's such a bad lay, then you have no worry, General Wei. You don't need to experience that horrible night again."

"It's not-" Wei Wuxian really wanted to slap his head so hard. Wen Xu raised an eyebrow at him, and a gleeful smirk appeared on his face.

"What? Were you going to say that it wasn't a horrible experience? So it was an okay night, not bad? Well, maybe it's because Lan Wangji was an inexperienced virgin. Gusu Lan Imperial Family values self-purity and only fucks with their spouse. They're weird like that." Wen Xu rolled his eyes as if it were something very ridiculous to do.

Wei Wuxian suddenly felt his cheeks warm. Did it mean that Wei Wuxian took Consort Lan Wangji's virginity? Was it his first time?

"Don't worry, General Wei. If you like him so much, you can fuck him again." Wen Xu said it uncaringly. "If the Emperor suddenly has a weird thought about having more princes and princesses, then you'd have the honour to fuck him. Or..."

Wen Xu paused and looked him in the eyes. "Or if you stop defying the Emperor's order and acting like a hero for those rebels, I'll let you fuck him again. I heard omegas get so horny during their pregnancy."

"Those weren't rebels. They were innocent civilians." Wei Wuxian growled. His grip on the wine jar tightened as he forced himself not to attack the arrogant alpha in front of him.

"Who cares?" Wen Xu's voice was dangerously low. "Armies, rebels, civilians Who cares? A soldier's job is to do what he's ordered to do. Just do your duty, General Wei. Don't ask questions."

Wei Wuxian's bad mood was very obvious from his dark face and aura. His alpha scent soared across the training field, causing the soldiers to do their best not to fall on their knees. They averted their eyes to the ground when he walked past them—some even bold enough to walk away, albeit as silently as possible—and didn't greet him as cheerfully as usual. Even Xue Yang, his new fanboy, was standing awkwardly with several young soldiers in front of a bunch of spears.

'Armies, rebels, civilians" Who cares? I care, damn it!' Wei Wuxian grabbed his sword and walked to his training ground, where some of his best men were there. He needed to get this anger off his system, but they weren't enough. One of his men seemed to notice. He wolf-whistled, and several more soldiers came, ready with their swords. Wei Wuxian growled and charged.

As Wei Wuxian was busy with his soldiers all afternoon, Crown Prince Wen Xu decided to visit his consort. He didn't remember when the last time he came to Willow Pavilion was. During the first months of their marriage, he did visit the pavilion at least once a month, checking if Lan Wangji had decided to run away or something. The man might be silent and cold, but he knew that he was dangerous. If he wanted to, he could slay all the soldiers in this pavilion in minutes and then probably stage an escape. The only thing Lan Wangji didn't do was because the safety of his family—and his people by extension—was in Wen Xu's hands.

Wen Xu knew that a war against the infamous Gusu Kingdom wouldn't work. Qishan had tried to take over the kingdom with many strategies, from war to negotiations, and none had worked. The Gusu Lan Kingdom somehow always had a way to counter almost all attacks from the Qishan Wen Kingdom, from direct attacks to negotiations. That was until Wen Xu finally discovered a perfect strategy to take over the kingdom without anyone noticing. When they noticed it, it had been too late, and they had no choice but to silently surrender. So that was when Lan Wangji came. The Kindom's safety lay in Lan Wangji's hands, and vice versa.

The Willow Pavilion was silent when he entered, something he had expected. After all, it wasn't heavily guarded, so Lan Wangji wouldn't dare to escape. There were only a few servants as well, with only two handmaidens for his consort. So yeah, he didn't have any reason to be surprised. The Crown Prince opened the door roughly, and he could see the servants and handmaidens inside jumping at his present. They immediately stood up and bowed deeply, but Wen Xu's eyes were on Lan Wangji.

"Leave," he ordered, and the servants immediately walked as fast as they could. The handmaidens, though, noticed that Wen Xu looked at his consort for a moment before reluctantly leaving as well. Wen Xu walked to the gorgeous Omega, who was glaring at him through the mirror and stopped right behind him.

"You look beautiful," He said this, taking Lan Wangji's hair in his fingers. His consort didn't say anything, so Wen Xu leaned down to whisper into his ear. "All for me, sweetheart?"

"Never."

"Why not? You're my consort. You ought to do your duty."

"A bold statement from an infertile alpha." who couldn't do his duty as a Crown Prince was unsaid, but Wen Xu heard it all the same.

The alpha grabbed Lan Wangji's chin roughly. "Watch your mouth, Omega." Remember your place. You should be grateful that I haven't done anything to you these years; I'm being very kind to you. If I want, I can send my alpha soldier during your heat to this chamber to fuck you. I'd love to see you beg while my men roughly manhandle you while I sit down in the corner and watch. You should be grateful that I chose to send Wei Wuxian to you. Hah, even though he said you were just fine. That man is known to spoil his toys, especially his favourite. I guess you're not memorable enough for him, huh?"

Wen Xu's voice dropped an octave as he continued, "Remember, Lan Wangji. "With one move from you, something will happen to your dear brother and uncle."

The alpha and omega looked at each other eye-to-eye, no one broke their gaze. Wen Xu smirked before leaning down and kissing the consort hard on the lips. The prince roughly carried the omega to the bed. He knew very well that Lan Wangji wouldn't dare to move recklessly. His own inner omega would prevent him from doing anything to hurt his baby. Wen Xu grabbed both his consort's wrists and pinned him on the best. Lan Wangji was looking at him with a furious look on his stunning face, and Wen Xu loved it.

"I won't fuck you, Lan Wangji. Well, not penetrative sex, at least. A pregnancy should pass its fourth month before penetration is safe for the baby, isn't it?" Wen Xu's eyes were exploring his face, neck, chest, and legs before his rough hand untied Lan Wangji's sash. Wen Xu's hand travelled from his consort's fair chest down to his stomach—slightly round with the Qishan's heir inside—which he caressed softly, an act that surprised the consort. Then the hand slipped into his pants, cupping the omega's most private place.

Wen Xu enjoyed the gasp of surprise on Lan Wangji's face as he carefully touched his sensitive place. The hands he locked in his grasp struggled to escape, and he tightened his hold. He smirked when the omega wrestled under him. Oh, he could see why Wei Wuxian liked it. The fucking part might be just fine—Wen Xu just needed to experience it later in the future—but Lan Wangji's reaction was a delight. The usually cold and emotionless omega was flushed prettily. His golden eyes were moist with tears as he gritted his teeth to prevent any noise from escaping his red mouth. The alpha continued touching his pussy until he noticed that Lan Wangji's inner omega slowly succumbed to the pleasure. When the struggle lessened, the alpha pulled down Lan Wangji's pants in one motion, released his hold, and buried his face between his consort's legs. Both his strong hands were gripping Lan Wangji's thighs.

"Stop..." Wen Xu heard Lan Wangji's desperate plea, and his smirk widened. He teased, licked, and fucked Lan Wangji's pussy with his tongue, enjoying a chance to make the omega feel disgusted with his own body. His consort grabbed his hair, and it hurt, but what could the omega do with his current state anyway? So Wen Xu let him The omega closed his eyes tightly when he came. He must hate it, Wu Xu thought, but he couldn't do anything since it was a natural reaction.

Wen Xu eyed Lan Wangji on the bed—golden eyes glared at him, legs covered with a blanket now, cheeks wet with angry tears—and raised an eyebrow challengingly. He felt satisfaction in his chest as he watched the Omega fall apart under him. Did he just find a new way to torture this sweet, stunning omega? Maybe he should do more in the future.

"Until next time, my dear consort." Wen Xu said as he walked out, ignoring the handmaidens who rushed the chambers once they bowed at him. The Alpha made his way to his favourite concubine's pavilion as he felt an unexpected desire.

That evening, Lan Wangji scrubbed his body furiously as if he had just fallen into a pool of dirty black mud—what a fitting description for the Alpha Prince—over and over. He was trying to erase any remnants of Wen Xu from his body and memory. He had been in this place for years, and Wen Xu hadn't laid a finger on him in an intimate way. He was just a tool, and so far, Wen Xu's concubines and mistresses were all female omegas, so Lan Wangji never bothered thinking that Wen Xu actually did something to him. But after what had happened this afternoon, Lan Wangji suddenly had a bad feeling about what would happen in the future.

Shit! Lan Wangji had to be patient. He had made his choice during his heat, so he had to endure the expected and unexpected domino effects he had created himself, no matter how strong the temptation to kill Wen Xu was. He had to do it. Not for himself, but for his family. His brother, his uncle, and now his baby

The consort still remembered the first time he found out he was pregnant. He had expected it, of course, after the three days and nights full of passion he spent with Wei Wuxian and the drug that messed up his body. But he didn't expect the unexplained scare that hit him in full force. His heart beat so fast that anxiety began to spread throughout his body. Lan Wangji cradled his stomach gently, felt heat in it, and cried. His brother's and uncle's faces appeared in his mind, and a sense of longing replaced the anxiety. He wanted to be in his brother's arms, who would kiss his forehead and rub his back. His brother would let out his calming alpha scent, humming their mother's lullaby and assuring him that he was here, by his side. Then his uncle would come to them with a bowl of cold water from their sacred pond and a clean cloth. He would silently wash Lan Wangji's face, gently tilting his face from side to side so he could freshen his entire face. He would then gently scold Lan Wangji for being silent and not telling them.

'Use your word, A-Zhan. Don't worry, we're here.' Except they were not, and Lan Wangji missed them very much. The consort couldn't do anything but cry silently, alone in his luxurious prison.

The consort took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he wrapped a towel around his body. He needed to be strong for his baby. He couldn't afford another breakdown. Not after Lan Wangji had seen a glint of satisfaction in the prince's eyes earlier. No doubt he would love to see Lan Wangji break down further. Lan Wangji wouldn't let that happen. He wouldn't let Wen Xu have that satisfaction.

The next morning, Lan Wangji woke up with another wave of nausea and bruises on his arms. He took a deep breath to calm himself before standing up and walking outside his room for some fresh air. Lan Wangji's handmaidens—a beta named Chun Li and an omega named Xiu Mei—were trailing behind him. One was holding a thick robe in case the wind turned chilly, and one was carrying snacks and tea on a tray. The consort sat down carefully on a stone bench, and they served him. As Chun Li put the robe on his shoulders, she began to talk about the hottest news she heard, with Xiu Mei adding here and there. As Lan Wangji had predicted, his pregnancy was still the main topic of talk around the Imperial Palace, despite having reached its third month, and Lan Wangji was so sick of hearing it.

The consort gently sipped the tea as his palm caressed his stomach. The pregnancy was a little frustrating for Lan Wangji. The dizziness, nausea, and weakness almost tortured him daily, and he tried his best not to snarl at the healers as they tried to examine him. His inner omega screamed as he was assaulted by his own husband, who was an alpha, yesterday. It wanted someone else. It wanted the one who put the seed into his womb, enfolded him with his fragrant scent, and embraced him during the heat. His inner omega wanted Wei Wuxian. No one else.

There had been no sight of Wei Wuxian since the last day of his heat. There was a slight disappointment in his heart. He hoped the alpha would at least ask a simple question like, 'How are you? How's the baby?' Was Wei Wuxian just like Wen Xu? Seeing Lan Wangji as a pleasure and breeding object Did Lan Wangji misjudge Wei Wuxian's character?

Well, if he didn't care about the baby, then it was fine. Lan Wangji wouldn't force him. This child was his and his only. Lan Wangji would do his utmost to protect this treasure.

"Is Consort Lan alright? This maid noticed that the consort was in a very bad mood today. Is it because of yesterday? Should this maid fetch a healer?" Xiu Mei's sweet voice snapped Lan Wangji from his thoughts. The young girl was looking at him with deep concern on her face. Behind her, Chun Li looked like she was ready to boldly go to the gate to do whatever her consort needed. Lan Wangji relaxed his posture and offered a small smile. These young girls had been with him for several years, and he became so fond of them. Despite Wen Xu's ignorance and negligence towards him—which he was glad for—these girls didn't seek another mistress to serve. Even Wen Xu's concubines were in a better state than him. But these two were loyal to him.

"Everything is fine, A-Mei. Don't worry," he replied. There was doubt on her face, but she didn't say anything and continued her stories about Wen Lei's healers, who would visit them today. She heard from the handmaidens of Concubine Yan Min that the healers would learn about the Imperial Family members' illnesses and allergies for about five days, and sometimes it was very tedious. Chun Li commented that the reason for it was because Concubine Yan Min was an impatient woman with demanding requests. She thought she was above everyone else—even Consort Lan—just because she was the Crown Prince's favourite. She wanted the best of the best. Her insecurity had increased significantly when Lan Wangji's pregnancy was announced.

"I think Consort Lan needs to be cautious in case Concubine Yan Min suddenly pays a visit here. Who knows what she will do?" Xiu Mei said, pouring another cup of tea. Chun Lin hummed in agreement as she put some cakes on a plate for Lan Wangji.

"Do you know the healers in the selection, A-Mei?" Lan Wangji asked softly. His handmaiden's face lightened up as she began to list the future elite healers one by one. Lan Wangji listened carefully, trying to find a name that might be the next Wen Lei. He was sure that the cunning healer wanted to have a protege that he could control.

"I know some: Your Highness, Chow Qiáng, Xu Kai, Wen Qing, Bai L Huá-"

"Wen Qing?" Lan Wangji felt like he knew that name. Where did he hear that name again? Lan Wangji's question was, thankfully, immediately answered by Xiu Mei.

"Yes, she's from the Dafan Royal Family. She's General Wei Wuxian's sister. I heard she possesses a very high skill."

"But she's very unfriendly, Consort Lan. She speaks so rudely sometimes. No matter how true her words are, I think a healer should be gentle. She is too brutally honest. I don't think she'll be good for you." Chun Li cut off Xiu Mei's answer. She clearly wasn't fond of Wen Qing for him, but Xiu Mei's description sounded appealing. A healer with a bad bedside manner? She sounded interesting.

"A-Mei, A-Li, why don't you tell me everything you know about this Wen Qing?" Lan Wangji patted the stone bench next to him, urging the omega and beta girls to sit beside him. Chun Lin and Xiu Mei looked like they were about to cry—they liked to do that every time Lan Wangji treated them like equals—before sitting beside him and launching into a story of how Wei Wuxian adopted, Wen Qing's medical skills, Wen Ning's scholarly achievement, and the Dafan Royal family's current scandals and rumours. Lan Wangji learned a lot.

A soft knock on his door froze Lan Wangji from his nighttime activity. His golden eyes locked on the door as his dainty fingers grabbed the knife under the pillow. Lan Wangji felt a little silly. Would a spy or assassin knock on the door? Well, it wasn't wrong to be cautious. Lan Wangji opened the door, and his hand was grabbed tightly by whoever entered his chamber to close his door quickly.

"You always welcome me with a knife in your hand, huh, Consort Lan?" came the familiar voice of Wei Wuxian. His hand was freed, and the consort looked at the uninvited guest with a bewildered look on his face. Wei Wuxian's handsome face and smirk greeted him.

"General Wei? What are you doing here? How did you pass the guards? What if someone sees you?"

"So many questions, Consort Lan. But the lack of guards in your pavilion compared to others actually comes in handy now. I used to pity you for it, but we can use this to our benefit."

Lan Wangji could only watch as the young alpha made himself at home in his chamber. It sent an abrupt warmth inside his chest when the general sat down in his sitting room and helped himself to a cup of water. Lan Wangji slowly walked towards him and sat down as well. He saw Wei Wuxian's silver eyes sweep his body, and they widened slightly. Lan Wangji glanced down at his robes and realised that he was in his thin sleeping robes. His golden eyes went back to the young alpha, and he was amused when he saw a blush on his cheeks.

"Um... here, you must be cold." Wei Wuxian quickly grabbed a thick robe hanging from behind the consort and wrapped it clumsily around Lan Wangji's body. The consort almost chuckled at the nervousness the general emitted. Wasn't he supposedly a heartthrob with countless omegas and betas competing for his attention? Wei Wuxian's rough hand brushed his swollen stomach, and the alpha froze. The consort gently took Wei Wuxian's hand and put his palm on the swollen belly. A sharp intake of breath came out from the alpha, clearly overwhelmed with emotions before he dropped to his knees in front of Lan Wangji. A small smile was on his handsome face as he stared at the omega's stomach.

"That's our child growing there." Lan Wangji said Wei Wuxian's eyes snapped at him in surprise as if he didn't expect Lan Wangji to acknowledge that he was the father.

"Do you think it's a boy or a girl? I'm fine either way because I have a sister and a brother, and they're wonderful in their own rights. So I think it doesn't really matter to me. What about you, Consort Lan?" Wei Wuxian's voice was very fond when he talked about their child. His eyes had gone back to Lan Wangji's pregnant belly, caressing it with care no one would expect from a famous war general.

"Lan Zhan,"

"Excuse me?"

"Call me Lan Zhan." Lan Wangji insisted. It had been a long time since someone called him by his birth name. His uncle and brother still called him A-Zhan, but only in private. He was always Wangji, Second Young Master Lan, Hanguang-Jun, or Consort Lan. He would like the father of his child to call him that name. Wei Wuxian blinked when he heard that, but soon a bright, sunny smile adorned his face, making his features more attractive—at least that was what Lan Wangji thought—and he insisted Lan Wangji call him 'Wei Ying'.

"No more that General Wei crap."

"Language, Wei Ying." Wei Wuxian's birth name sounded nice rolling out of his lips. Lan Wangji liked that, especially when the young general blushed so hard. He didn't expect the consort to immediately call him that.

"What brings you here, Wei Ying? A visit for our child or...?"

Wei Wuxian's posture changed; Lan Wangji noticed that, and he cleared his throat, rose to his feet, and sat down across the consort. The alpha took a deep breath and looked Lan Wangji in the eyes.

"I want to talk about your plan."

Lan Wangji raised an eyebrow at that. "Oh, are you interested now? I thought you weren't since you didn't say anything that time."

"Consort Lan, you need to elaborate on your plan." The general sighed tiredly. "All you told me was a crazy suggestion you called your simple plan."

"My plan is still the same simple one," Lan Wangji said, letting out a smile at the general's frustration. Ah, he was indeed only given a brief description of his plan without a broader explanation. "We're going to make you the Emperor of Qishan."

Chapter Text

What the fuck?

Wei Wuxian really didn't understand how Lan Wangji's brain worked. Him? An Emperor of Qishan? What a joke. Sure, he could lead armies—thousands of them—but there was no way he could run a kingdom. His brain would explode. He could create great war strategies, but what could he do with politics? He would be eaten alive by those greedy old men—except Uncle Four, of course—the moment he stepped into the Imperial Court meeting. He already had the luxury of joining the court once a week, when it was scheduled for the military to have an audience with the Emperor, but to endure it every day? Uh, no, thank you very much.

"Consort Lan, that wasn't the plan you told me."

"Oh, it wasn't?" The consort asked casually, pouring tea into two cups he had prepared. The young general was staring at him in disbelief. No, that wasn't the plan the consort told him on the last night they spent the night together. Wei Wuxian might have a bad memory, but he was sure as hell that he'd remember that one.

"You said that you needed someone to create a rift between the Imperial Family, break them apart, and maybe even kill each other, which would eventually bring down the kingdom." You didn't say anything about me being an emperor!"

"Hn." 

"Lan Zhan!" Wei Wuxian pouted. How dare this beautiful omega ignore his question! Unforgivable! The alpha wanted to kiss him. Lan Wangji finally looked at the alpha, and the young general pouted harder. The omega averted his gaze to his tea, but Wei Wuxian could see the tips of his ears were red and a ghost smile on his lips.

Hah, I found the perfect weapon now!

"Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan!"

"That's still the plan, Wei Ying. We do need that person. However, after I think about it, poor common people don't know anything about the cruelty of the Imperial Family. So I give it a second thought. We're still going to create a civil war among the family, but we're also going to choose an Emperor to continue ruling this kingdom, leading it to its original straight path like what Emperor Wen Mao had wished," the omega explained patiently as if he were talking about the wheater instead of a coup d'etat plan. Wei Wuxian was baffled, and he could feel his head aching.

"And you chose me?" Wei Wuxian's headache increased when the consort's answer was a shrug of his shoulders. Wei Wuxian put his head on his hands and groaned. Why, why, why?

"I don't see anyone else that good for the job." The consort said it easily. His pale hand put a cup of tea in front of Wei Wuixan as the alpha was trying to come up with a reason to reject the plan—not all plans, just this whole thing about the Emperor—without hurting the consort.

"I'm not a Wen. The Wen lineage goes to Uncle Four, Wen Qing, and Wen Ning. I'm adopted."

"Do you think any of them have the will and skill to lead a kingdom, General Wei? You grew up with them; can you tell me about it?" Lan Wangji asked casually, and Wei Wuxian looked up at the consort, who was peacefully sipping his tea. Wei Wuxian narrowed his eyes at the omega before a certain memory emerged in his pretty head. It was during their family dinner.

'I'm glad I'm not the direct line to the throne. This position already gives me a headache."

'I know my strength, and I don't think being an emperor suits me."

'Only a fool wants to be an emperor.'

For the first time in his whole life, Wei Wuxian experienced an indirect betrayal from his adopted family. The alpha tried to think of another alternative as Lan Wangji was patiently waiting for him. The Wen Imperial Family wasn't large; it consisted only of Wen Ruohan, Wen Xu, Wen Chao, Wen Si, Wen Lei, Wen Qing, and Wen Ning. Sure, Wen Chao had children, but they were only two and three years old. If they really wanted to get rid of the Emperor and the Princes, they had no choice but to remove Wen Lei and Wen Zhuliu as well. With them gone and Dafan Wens refusing to be the next leader, the crown would go to the baby in Lan Wangji's stomach—their baby—or Wen Chao's children, but no one was insane enough to crown a toddler as an emperor.

"If Wei Ying hates it so much, then we can wait for our baby or Wen Chao's children to grow up, but then we need a Regent. You can be the Regent."

Becoming a Regent until their baby reached their 24th birthday wasn't much different than becoming an Emperor! The job was the same, and the responsibilities were the same. Wei Wuxian's silver eyes looked at Lan Wangji with an annoyed look on his face. The consort looked so calm, so the general attacked the omega with his newly discovered powerful weapon, his pout.

"I don't want to."

"You have to."

"I don't want to." Wei Wuxian pouted harder, and Lan Wangji averted his eyes. How dare the omega avoid his powerful attack!

"You have to."

Wei Wuxian grabbed the omega's soft hand into his rough one and begged, "I can't rule a kingdom, Lan Zhan! I hate meeting those old geezers. They're super annoying; I want to bite their heads off every time I hear them speak. How am I supposed to rule Qishan? It's the biggest kingdom among the Five.

"I'll rule it with you."

"I'll die—what?" The young general blinked owlishly at the consort. The stunning omega's pale cheeks flushed slightly, but shyness was evident beneath the seemingly stoic face. Wei Wuxian kept blinking as Lan Wangji freed his hand and began to pour them another cup of tea. Wei Wuxian's limp hand fell onto the table.

"If Wei Ying agrees to be the Emperor, then I'll rule Qishan as the Empress with you. After all, our plan takes a year or more to be successful, and at that time, Wen Xu'll be the Emperor already."

A beautiful image of them both sitting on the throne, wearing those heavy red robes and crowns—nah, he would get rid of the Emperor's crown, it looked so heavy—appeared in Wei Wuxian's mind. Then a little prince with his cute small robes sat on his lap, played with a small wooden sword and grass butterfly, and called him 'A-Die" with his sweet voice. At night, they both would tuck their little prince together before they went back to their chamber. Lan Wangji spread beneath him and moaned his name, and Wei Wuxian would tease him, baiting him to give their prince a sibling or two, three, or four...

So fucking hot. Wei Wuxian wanted that.

"I'll deal with the old geezers, and Wei Ying can deal with the rest." Lan Wangji continued, patting the alpha's hands gently. "Or, if Wei Ying doesn't want to, Wei Ying is free to choose an omega he likes to be his Empress."

"No!" Wei Wuxian wanted to slap his mouth. A surprising look on the consort's face told him that he didn't expect the rejection. Maybe Lan Wangji thought Wei Wuxian had a lover already. He had his reputation -even though he wasn't proud of it- so he understood if the omega thought that way. Wei Wuxian blushed furiously.

"No, I'd... I want. I would like to rule Qishan with Lan Zhan as my Empress," Wei Wuxian said. It would be a blessing to have someone like Lan Wangji by his side. The Omega wasn't only beautiful but also a great fighter. Wei Wuxian felt guilty admitting that it turned him on. Hey, their first meeting—or fight, to be exact—was the hottest thing he had ever experienced, okay? He never met an omega like that. Lan Wangji was also very brilliant. He would definitely be able to keep those old ministers in line, outsmart them, and come up with a better solution, while Wei Wuxian would stare at his Empress with stars in his eyes and a smitten expression on his face from the Emperor's seat.

Furthermore, it wasn't like other omegas or betas excited him anymore. He had tried several times after that embarrassing moment with Zhou Yi Rán, but Lan Wangji's voice kept haunting him. It was as if his body only wanted Lan Wangji. He couldn't get it up.

"Good." Was that a hint of satisfaction Wei Wuxian heard?

"Now, listen carefully; this is our first step." Lan Wangji folded his hands on his lap as he began explaining his plan patiently. Wei Wuxian took a deep breath, enjoying the omega's sandalwood scent, as he listened to the consort's shooting voice. The alpha couldn't help but notice that life sparked in those golden eyes—kind of hard not to since he lost himself in those beautiful eyes—as the consort explained his plan thoroughly. He could see that the Omega really wanted this plan to work, and if it failed, their heads would be the price. The general sighed.

What the hell did Wei Wuxian just agree to?

A few days later, Lan Wangji was playing his guqin in the garden when a bunch of people wearing green-red uniforms entered his residence. There were eight of them. His golden eyes quickly set on a familiar face walking in the middle of the crowd with her head held high. The consort turned his attention to the head healer leading the pack. It was Gong Ji Wi, a beta healer in charge of the Imperial Healing Pavilion. He was the second highest-ranked healer, directly under Wen Lei, and in charge of private healers assigned to the consorts and concubines. Lan Wangji's private healer, a middle-aged beta woman named Yán Ya, followed silently behind him. The pack stopped right in front of the consort and bowed deeply.

"Greetings, Consort Lan. We're going to introduce you to the new Imperial Healers. "One or two of them will be assigned to you during your pregnancy."

"Greetings, Consort Lan." The new healers bowed deeply. There were six new healers: two omegas and four betas. Lan Wangji returned the bow as best as he could.

Healer Yán Ya began to explain the omega's basic lifestyle, like food and drink, before moving on to the consort's history of injuries, which began with his broken leg, and the medicine to the healers who were listening carefully.

"Does the consort have a question?" Healer Gong asked as the healers immediately straightened their shoulders. Despite their composed demeanour, he could see that not all of them were excited to be his private healer, even just for a few months. He really understood their feelings. Lan Wangji lived far away from the main palace and the Crown Prince's residence with only several servants. There would be no exciting events for the consort, who disliked alcohol and meat (a main dish in the Qishan Kingdom), and they had to be around him constantly. Lan Wangji didn't drape himself in jewellery and expensive robes despite his status, so expensive gifts were probably rarely given. Compared to other consorts and concubines, Lan Wangji lived a very modest life. Some people would call it boring.

Lan Wangji had his own preferences anyway. Still, he asked a question. He needed to make that person stand out.

"Has any of you been assigned to a pregnant male omega before?" He asked, golden eyes scanning through the crowd. Some healers looked lost, but out of six, three raised their hands. And Lan Wangji was so pleased that Wen Qing was one of them and the only omega.

A beta young man with a sweet smile—one that reminded him of a certain omega he hated the most in the world, currently the Empress of Gusu Lan—bowed deeply at Lan Wangji and said, "This one is called Lin Yi. I have the privilege of taking care of two pregnant male omegas, wives of Qishan's soldiers, before joining the Imperial Healers."

Next was a very tall beta woman with a motherly look on her face that reminded him of a certain Yunmeng's omega princess, "This one is called Bai Li Huá, Consort Lan. I haven't had a chance to attend a pregnant male omega; however, I have helped Healer Gong deliver a daughter from a male omega before."

The last one was Wen Qing. The omega woman bowed deeply at him, and he was kind of impressed that this woman had raised someone like Wei Wuxian. An alpha who was so handsome, strong, skilled, and a playboy. Her patience had to be unlimited. "This one is called Wen Qing. This one has taken care of a male omega and also helped deliver the baby under Healer Gong's supervision."

The only omega and the most competent then Lan Wangji glanced at the healer, and the beta nodded his head in confirmation. Lan Wangji hummed in approval, and his expression softened as he looked at the woman. The omega looked stunned for a moment before smiling at him.

"Do you three have experience raising a child?" The question might sound very innocent; however, it was actually specifically targeted at Wen Qing because, courtesy of his handmaidens' ability to gossip, the other two were the only daughter and the youngest son in their family. As he had predicted, Wen Qing bowed to him, answering with a more confident tone.

"This one has raised two younger brothers with the help of our uncle, Your Highness."

"Lady Wen's younger brothers are General Wei Wuxian and Scholar Wen Ning." Xiu Mei provided the information. Lan Wangji made a show of blinking his eyes in surprise at the knowledge.

"General Wei Wuxian and Scholar Wen Qionglin? What wonderful men you raise, Lady Wen! I admire your brilliance and, more importantly, your patience. I heard one of them is quite a handful." His comment garnered some snorts from some young omegas and betas, which were quickly silenced by the two elderly healers, and even Wen Qing had a hard time holding back her smile. They all knew who he was talking about.

"This Wen Qing thanks Consort Lan for the praise."

"No thanks are needed." The consort looked thoughtful once again. "Have you three made a breakthrough during your study?"

"What kind of breakthrough, Consort Lan?"

"New medicine, new technique, new medical discovery" The answer immediately made the healers nervous. It was evidence no one asked them that kind of question, and a breakthrough was such an achievement that needed experience in the medical field. It wasn't like a war where the soldiers could create a sudden attack at a dire time. Medical care dealt with a living, breathing human. But Healer Gong looked at Wen Qing with pride in his eyes.

"Lady Wen Qing had conducted a very difficult technique during emergency surgery, Your Highness. She also comes up with an amazing medicine."

"Admirable. You'll make an outstanding healer for omegas, Lady Wen." Lan Wangji's short answer was enough for everyone to know that this person had set his eyes on her. Wen Qing's smug face was happy news for Lan Wangji. Healer Yán Y began to launch another lecture, this time about Omega's pregnancy, and Lan Wangji used this time to observe.

The consort's mind went to Wen Xu and Wen Lei. Wen Xu and Wen Lei wouldn't have any argument to deny this from him. The baby, when it was born, would have his father's scent, even if it was just a little. So assigning another healer would be dangerous to the secret, for they would notice the different scent coming from the baby. When Wen Qing realised that the baby was her brother's, she would be furious and demanded an explanation. Lan Wangji hoped that the fellow omega would eventually agree to help them with their plan.

No, Lan Wangji wouldn't put her in a rocky position. He only needed her medical skills to keep Wei Wuxian and their baby alive. After all, he was the future Emperor of Qishan. And trying to come up with logical explanations in case injuries happened or when Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian needed something would be exhausting.

When Lan Wangji was busy entertaining the healers, the father of his child, Wei Wuxian, was walking confidently towards the training ground. His silver eyes scanned the whole ground to find a certain alpha teen. He nodded to everyone who bowed and greeted him. His mind replayed the instructions the consort told him.

'We need access to someone outside the Kingdom. People recognise you, so befriend a mere soldier who can freely interact with the common folks. Gain his trust and support. Make them see that you will make a better Emperor than the Princes.'

God, what he would do for his future Empress. Now, where was that skinny teen when Wei Wuxian needed him the most?

The young alpha's silver eyes moved from one alpha to another, his feet kept walking, and his ears kept listening in the hope he would see or hear the familiar voice of Xue Yang. He knew that the young man wasn't someone friendly, so maybe he needed to help 'interact with the common folk. But he was the most perfect candidate for Wei Wuxian's pet soldier. The young alpha had admired him all this time, worshipping the ground on which he walked. It would be very easy to gain his trust and support.

"General Wei," someone called, and when the alpha turned his head, he met with a beta. He was a good-looking fellow with pale skin and broad shoulders. His body was smaller and skinnier than Wei Wuxian's. People would mistake him for an omega unless they remembered that omegas couldn't join the army. Wei Wuxian slept with this soldier last year—or maybe just a few months ago—but he didn't know his name at all. His face, though, was very familiar. Maybe they were drunk, or he was drunk.

"Are you looking for someone, General Wei? Perhaps you're looking for me?" The beta asked with an inviting smile. He walked slowly towards the alpha. His body moved confidently, his teeth bit the bottom lip, and his eyes sparked with desire. Wei Wuxian closed his eyes tiredly. Please, Wei Wuxian isn't interested right now.

The general put on a smile and crossed his arms in front of his chest, saying, "That's right. I'm looking for Xue Yang. Do you know where he is?"

"He's at barracks 5," the beta answered, looking disappointed. "It's the farthest barrack."

"Thank you," The general walked as fast as possible, trying to avoid betas or maybe some wandering omegas along the way. Barrack 5 was indeed the farthest barrack of the total of 15 they had. Why? The general had no idea. He wasn't in charge of the sleeping arrangement. The soldiers were sharpening the arrangements sood up straight when he approached. One of the was Xue Yang. Wei Wuxian thanks whoever looks down upon them now.

"Xue Yang, come here!" The teen's eyes brightened, and with a smirk and cockiness, Wei Wuxian recognised the traits he too possessed during his youth. The alpha walked past his peers. When Xue Yang was in front of him, the older alpha slung his arm around his shoulder and dragged him away. They walked through the east gate and headed to the nearest city.

"Where're you going, General Wei?" Xue Yang finally asked a question. Wei Wuxian sent him an amused glance when the young soldier was looking around excitedly.

"I need someone to accompany me to buy some oil for my beloved Suibian." Wei Wuxian winced at his stupid excuse, but the young soldier didn't bat an eye. Instead, Xue Yang looked thoughtful.

"I know a good shop for it."

"Great! Now show me!"

Wei Wuxian dragged the young alpha around, trying his best to impress him. It wasn't hard, he found, because Xue Yang seemed to be his total fanboy. The teen actually remembered many things that Wei Wuxian didn't even remember. This young alpha was incredible with his memory, and Wei Wuxian desperately wanted him to remember something else than the one when the general did a strip dance on top of a table while he was drunk. The alpha was sure that didn't happen. Maybe.

They walked around for a bit, enjoying the street food along the way. The general had to hold back a laugh when he found out that the crazy young soldier loved candy. He thought maybe he would like something darker, like sharp knives, strong alcohol, or flirtatious omegas. It turned out he had a sweet side in the form of his sweets. As they walked around, the alphas noticed a bunch of street children playing beside a huge wooden trash box. Once in a while, when some people threw some leftovers out, the children would gather excitedly around the trash, their small fingers digging through them.

Wei Wuxian stopped at the sight, and a nostalgic feeling hit him. His eyes suddenly saw his seven-year-old self digging trash boxes to find some edible food, running from wild dogs, and begging sellers for their leftover food. He could see Xue Yang stop beside him silently. Xue Yang was different from Wei Wuxian since he was actually in an orphanage that was burned down by their Wen spy, but the feeling of hopelessness an orphan must feel must be familiar. The general alpha walked to the nearest food seller, bought many steam buns, and called the children. Their bright smiles when they were given free food from 'nice misters' warmed the general's heart.

"This town should have several orphanages for them. It won't be a perfect life, but at least they'd have a roof over their heads and food on their plates." Wei Wuxian spoke softly. His silver eyes hadn't moved away from the kids as they devoured the buns as fast as possible. The younger alpha beside him didn't say anything, but Wei Wuxian knew that Xue Yang knew about his history. After all, his story was famous among other soldiers and even common folk. A story of a street urchin who grabbed the Emperor's attention and was raised to be Qishan's youngest and one of the most famous generals was told like a legend.

"If only..." Wei Wuxian's voice shook. "We're a rich kingdom, aren't we, Xue Yang? What's so hard about building orphanages and schools for these kids? They're our kingdom's future; don't they deserve better lives? What's so hard about giving some food to unfortunate folks?"

"Are those what you're going to do if you were the Emperor?"

Wei Wuxian frowned at the questions and turned to Xue Yang, saying, "There are many things I want to do if I were the Emperor, my young alpha. Orphanages and schools, absolutely. Stopping conquering smaller kingdoms and instead creating a good relationship with them is another option. That'll last longer than forcing them to do anything we want and demanding high taxes. And many other things, I don't want to bore you talking about them."

"Do you think you can do those things? Do you think those are really what you want to do?" Xue Yang asked with such a serious expression on his face that Wei Wuxian's heart softened. Could Wei Wuxian do it? Alone, no. But with people's help, yes.

"Of course. Isn't serving people the Emperor's main priority? An emperor isn't just someone who conquers other kingdoms, holds extravagant parties, or has as many wives as possible. Making sure the people live prosperously and protecting them from dangers are the Emperor's responsibilities. Creating good laws, policies, and decrees that are beneficial for the kingdom and its people is the Emperor's responsibility. What do you think the Imperial Court is for? A happy, merry meeting? It's to discuss how our kingdom is faring."

"Then why? Why does no one do anything? Why does none change in our kingdom?"

"That's the question I'd like to know as well, Xue Yang." Wei Wuxian spoke softly as he took a shaky breath. He closed his eyes as he shook his head and began to walk away. When the general secretly looked back at the young alpha, Xue Yang had this thoughtful look on his face while staring at the kids.

Yes, think about it, kid. Keep thinking about it. Wei Wuxian smiled as he walked into the oil shop.

"Don't think too hard, Xue Yang. You're still young." The general grabbed some bottles of oil from his pouch. The young alpha was eating some candies Wei Wuxian bought for him. "How old are you, buddy? Sixteen, eighteen?" 

"Seventeen," Xue Yang replied, helping the general with his pouch. A small bottle was held in his hand, and he looked up to see a wink from Wei Wuxian. Xue Yang quickly put the expensive oil into his robes.

"So young," The general shook his head as if Wei Wuxian himself wasn't crowned as the Qishan's youngest general at that age. "Who's your friend at the barrack?"

"I don't have a friend, General Wei. I don't need a friend." Xue Yang said this with a disgusted look on his face. It didn't surprise the general that Xue Yang didn't have any friends. He was just too intimidating for the other soldier, not just because of his skills but also because of his crazy tendencies.

"Don't say something like that. Everyone needs a friend, Xue Yang." The general grinned as he once again slung his arm around the younger one's shoulders. "Ahh, let's find someone around your age. Hey, Xue Yang. Look at that girl, and umm... go ask for the nearest post office."

"She's blind." 

The girl several feet away from them looked like she was blind with her white eyes, but the way she walked, talked, and moved her head didn't convince Wei Wuxian at all. She walked just fine, avoiding the busy crowd and moving carts in front of her expertly without any difficulty at all.

"I think those are her natural eyes."

"She's holding a bamboo stick."

"It can be just an accessory. See, she's fine. Go now, ask where the post office is." If Wei Wuxian wasn't his idol, the man was sure Xue Yang would roll his eyes and leave him there. So, because the young alpha wanted to impress him, he walked to the girl and stood awkwardly in front of her. He turned to look at the general, and Wei Wuxian gave him a thumbs up, hoping it would motivate him.

"Hey," 

"What do you want? Are you here to bother a poor blind girl?" The girl was so rude. Both Xue Yang and Wei Wuxian blinked at the unexpected personality of a seemingly poor girl walking with a stick. Xue Yang, as expected, immediately felt offended by the rude response. He just said, "Hey, nothing else.

"You're not a blind girl, though. Besides, you're not worth my time. Why should I bother you? I have more important things to do. You're not even pretty."

"Who cares about being pretty? I don't need to when I can kick your ass."

"I'm a soldier; I'm way stronger than you. Ouch! Stop it! Ouch!"

"Way stronger than me. What a joke."

"What do you say? You're a joke. You-"

Wei Wuxian facepalmed as he saw Xue Yang, and the girl's voice grew louder, and their insults became more creative. The young general sighed in defeat. "Xue Yang, you're the dumbest teenage alpha I have ever met. Cute, but fucking stupid."

A week later, Wei Wuxian sneaked into Lan Wangji's chamber when the consort prepared himself to go to bed. Unlike last week, Lan Wangji now wore thick robes before his thin sleeping robes. Actually, since that night, the omega has decided to wear his thick robes and sleep later than usual in the hope that the alpha will visit him the following nights. Lan Wangji would lie if he said that he didn't enjoy Wei Wuxian's company other than having sex with him. His inner omega was over the moon with the presence of the alpha in his room, and Lan Wangji could understand the feeling. The alpha general was intriguing and amusing; no one reacted like that when they talked to Lan Wangji. For all the dangerous, vicious, over-the-top, and crazy stuff the Omega had heard about the Black General, nothing compared to his bashful personality.

The consort's ears perked when there was a soft knock on his door. His inner omega yipped in excitement, and Lan Wangji had to press his lips together to prevent a smile. He quickly walked towards the door and opened it. True enough, a handsome face greeted him, followed by a bright grin.

"I have found a pet." The general spoke proudly as he sat in the sitting room and poured himself a cup of tea. Lan Wangji almost raised an eyebrow at how comfortable the alpha was in his chamber. Lan Wangji's chamber

"Wei Ying, I didn't ask you to find a pet. I asked you to find a friend." The omega said, emphasising the friend word. Wei Wuxian waved his hand carelessly and took a bite of the leftover cake on the table.

"Same thing. He's going to be called the general's pet anyway. Lan Zhan, this cute teenager with a very bad attitude, worships me! He's a brilliant soldier too, so no one will be surprised when I suddenly take an interest in him. His name is Xue Yang; he's an orphan, so we have this emotional connection more than the idol worship thing. So, I brought him to the town, bought several items, and we finally found the nearest post office. You said we need to send a letter, right?" The alpha puffed his chest proudly as he described his afternoon activities like a proud father. He was going to be one, so babysitting Xue Yang would be a good practice.

"But we cannot always send your friend to the post office. Not only won't he have much time, but it will be suspicious. To whom will he send the letter?"

"That's why I asked him to befriend a local girl." Another prideful tone from the alpha "No one will bat an eye when a local sweet girl visits the post office from time to time. She isn't his best friend yet because Xue Yang somehow messed up during the introduction. But don't worry, we're progressing."

"I see." The consort gave a reluctant nod. He wasn't there with Wei Wuxian and his pet, so he would take his words for granted. Hopefully, the progress was indeed progressing. "Don't be reckless. Patience is a virtue. We have a lot of time, Wei Ying."

"I know. Don't worry about it." The assuring smile on Wei Wuxian's handsome face relaxed Lan Wangji. He poured himself a cup of tea as he watched the alpha in front of him pat his robes. His serious face turned to panic when he couldn't find whatever he was trying to find. Lan Wangji's golden eyes watched him curiously as the alpha began taking off his sash and outer robes. The omega held back a chuckle when Wei Wuxian began to flick his outer robe frantically.

"Wei Ying, what-"

"Aha! I bought this from the market."

Something finally fell from the black robe. Wei Wuxian knelt in front of Lan Wangji, took the consort's pale hand, and tied something around his wrist. It was a red-string bracelet. "This is a safety bracelet. I hope it can protect you and our little radish."

"Radish?"

"Yes. Our little radish is growing inside the most beautiful person I have ever known. Probably the strongest person I have ever known as well." Wei Wuxian's silver eyes were looking at the beautiful consort softly. His lips formed a soft smile. And Lan Wangji was afraid he would fall into a pit he misunderstood.

"Wei Ying, we just met each other like three times, and we only had two proper conversations." The consort patted the alpha's hand as he stated the fact. Wei Wuxian giggled and held Lan Wangji's hand tightly.

"I know, but my opinion still stands." He lifted the pale hand and kissed it gently; his eyes never left Lan Wangji's golden ones, and the omega felt something stir inside his chest, an emotion he was too afraid to admit.

"Wei Ying, thank you for the bracelet."

"No thanks between us, please. We're in this together."

Wei Wuxian put his head on the omega's lap, and Lan Wangji couldn't help but caress the black tresses gently. They didn't say anything, just sat silently—one on the chair, one on the floor—and enjoyed each other's company without excessive emotions, passion, fights, or arguments. Just them together. Nothing more.

And Wei Wuxian had to ruin the tranquil atmosphere.

"Lan Zhan, may I ask something?"

"Hn."

"How did Qishan manage to take over Gusu Lan?"

The hand on Wei Wuxian stopped moving, and the sound of someone taking a shaky breath reached his ears. Wei Wuxian looked up and saw the omega's eyes conflicted with emotions. The consort closed his eyes for a moment before gesturing for him to sit back in his chair.

"They used the cruellest method. They took someone's heart and stepped on it."

Chapter Text

"They used the cruellest method. They took someone's heart and stepped on it."

It was Lan Wangji's fault. He was the one who brought that man to the person he loved the most in the world, his brother Lan Xichen, the Crown Prince of Gusu Lan Kingdom. He should have felt something when he saw that obvious fake smile back then. But he naively thought that that smile was just like his brother's. It was just his mask to survive in his poor condition, just like his brother did. He should have known when the smile never turned genuine, even when everything was freely given: wealth, status, respect, and love.

It was Lan Wangji's fault that his brother and uncle were bewitched by his sweet smile, brilliant brain, and delicate body. They were too nice. They welcome everyone to their kingdom, despite their backgrounds. And they welcome him, the one to whom the Gusu Lan Kingdom owed its debt.

'Brother, this is Meng Yao. He saved you from Wen's ambush.'

Lan Wangji felt a hand grip his pale face tightly, and he looked up to see a worried look on Wei Wuxian's face. The alpha must have sensed the sadness in the omega. The young general moved his chair closer to the consort, offering a more intimate but comfortable position.

"You don't need to tell me now, Lan Zhan. I'm just curious, and if it makes you uncomfortable, you don't even have to tell me. It's alright." The alpha reassured him gently. But Lan Wangji's heart went the opposite way. He wanted to tell the alpha. He wanted to share his thoughts and pain with someone else after these long, lonely years.

"It's alright. I want to tell you." He shook his head. "The Wens had tried to take over Gusu Lan for years, and as a general, you know that takeover doesn't always mean conquering other kingdoms and making them your personal milk cow. Sometimes, taking over means controlling a kingdom. To make sure they won't try to initiate something that puts the kingdom in danger."

"That's what Qishan wants with Gusu Lan." Wei Wuxian added calmly He had heard about this numerous times during a private meeting with Wen Ruohan, Wen Xu, and Wen Zhuliu. When the kingdom was powerful enough to defend itself, Qishan, despite its numerous armies, wouldn't attack first. Negotiation would be the first approach. It was a demand to obey the biggest kingdom, to surrender its sources, to pay taxes, and all under the disguise of a political relationship. The newest technique to colonise another kingdom This approach mostly failed because no one wanted to be a toy for another kingdom. But several eventually caved in, like the Lanling Jin Kingdom with its cowardly Emperor Jin Guangshan.

When negotiations failed, they invaded their kingdom. First, they conquered the small villages, then went to more prominent cities before marching to the capital cities. When the palace finally sent its troops, that's when the war began. That was why conquering a kingdom took weeks, months, or even years. It was not an easy feat. It wasn't about holding a huge battle once and being done with it. All hopes would be lost when the trope finally managed to seize the palace. Then they would surrender. They would be another slave under the Qishan Wen Kingdom.

"We did all we could to fight back because we knew once we were under Qishan, there would be no escape. We succeeded for several years, until one day my brother was attacked on the way back from Qinghe." Lan Wangji clenched his jaw. The attack happened near the border of Gusu Lan and the Mishan Su Kingdom, a small kingdom that had fallen to Qishan and was used to gather the Wen armies.

"My brother was missing for days. I was so terrified that something really bad had happened to him, so I searched for him. I found him in a small hut hidden deep in the woods, far away from the city. You see, I was only a naive fifteen years old, and I didn't realise that something felt off at that time. Someone led me purposefully to the hut."

"They wanted you to find Crown Prince Lan Xichen."

"I found my brother, then, being saved and taken care of by a young male omega named Meng Yao." The omega gritted his teeth when the name came out of his mouth. "My brother was unconscious for days, suffering from a poisonous arrow. I stayed at the hut for several days when my brother finally woke up. We were so grateful for Meng Yao's help, and because I was such a naive fifteen-year-old boy, I

Lan Wangji took a deep breath. "We stayed for several days after my brother woke up with Meng Yao as our company. During that time, I could see how kind, smart, and hardworking the man was. I thought that he deserved a better life and a better future. Moreover, I could see that my brother was quite taken by him. So I proposed to bring Meng Yao to the palace. I didn't know that it was a big mistake."

Wei Wuxian moved closer to the omega and put his arm around his shoulders. His inner alpha growled when Lan Wangji emitted extreme sadness and distress. The young general almost jumped in surprise when Lan Wangji slowly but surely leaned his head on Wei Wuxian's shoulder, and the man couldn't help but kiss the omega's forehead. Lan Wangji's left hand gripped the general's front robe.

"Meng Yao charmed everyone with his brain and polite demeanour." He could remember things he only saw once, so it was easy for him to remember all our Gusu Lan's rules, complicated palace ceremonies, strategies, and many other things. My uncle liked him, and he wasn't someone easy to please. My brother fell in love with him. They got married, and when my brother ascended the throne after our father died of an illness, he was Gusu Lan's Empress. That was when everything slowly came to light."

"Crown Prince Lan Xichen, forgive me, but I think the Emperor's illness is unnatural. I'm afraid someone has messed up with his health and medicine." Lan Liánjié The Emperor's private healer and the Princes' cousin said this, examining the herbs he gave the Emperor just a few days ago. "These weren't what I gave him."

"A-Huan, if there's one person who has the skill and time to poison the Emperor, then it must be Healer Lan Liánjié." The Crown Prince's Consort said this, holding his husband's hand tightly. "Think about it. He knows everything about the Emperor, and his position as a healer gives him access to change the medicine without anyone's suspicion."

"A-Yao, but he told me about the wrong herbs himself."

"That's because he would be found out eventually." The omega insisted. "The Emperor's condition is getting worse and worse, and no one can even find out what kind of illness it is. Lan Liánjié has been feeding the Emperor the herbs he believes will work, but they only make the Emperor's condition worse. It's strange."

"But why does he do that?"

"My sweet A-Huan, Lan Liánjié's son is the direct line after you and Wangji, isn't he? Maybe after your father, his target is you, then Wangji. He has begun to give you some packages of tea from his wife's village, right? He gave some to Wangji as well. We don't even know where his wife is from. What kind of tea is it? Don't you think it's strange?"

"Your brother believed him." Wei Wuxian concluded, taking a deep breath.

"My brother loved Meng Yao with everything he had. He trusted Meng Yao with his heart, life, and secret." Lan Wangji's grip tightened, and the general brought his hand to caress the omega's long, silky hair. The consort took a deep breath, enjoying the spicy scent the alpha emitted. It calmed him.

"When the guards searched Lan Liánjié's chamber, they found a box hidden deep inside his wardrobe. It was full of vials of different poisons. Meng Yao said that the healer perhaps mixed some drops of them into the Emperor's medicine, drink, and food. That was why no one could conclude my father's illness. Because the poisons fed into him were different from time to time. No one could object to that logic." The consort took a deep breath, pressed his lips together, and continued. "My father died, and healer Lan Liánjié was sentenced to death for murdering him; his family was sent away from Gusu Lan."

"When my brother was crowned as the Emperor, he had wider access to everything the Gusu Lan Kingdom possessed. And so did Meng Yao as his Empress. My brother shared everything with him." Lan Wangji closed his eyes, and flashbacks of a soldier after soldier coming to his brother with horrible news appeared.

'Your Majesty, many of our important documents are missing from the office.'

'Your Majesty, your uncle's health has deteriorated. He vomited blood this morning. I'm afraid that he has been poisoned.'

'Your Majesty, bad news! Qishan Wen attacked several cities!'

'Your Majesty, Qishan Wen, has burned down many of Gusu Lan's food banks.'

'Your Majesty, many orphanages and schools were burned down by the Qishan Wen soldiers.'

'Your Majesty, Qishan Wen, has taken over several prominent cities. They turned the government's office into the Wen Supervisory Office.'

'Your Majesty, there's a whole army of Qishan Wen on the field. They're attacking the palace.'

'Your Majesty, Prince Wen Xu has Prince Lan Wangji chained in the courtyard.'

'The Imperial Library is on fire, Your Majesty.'

'Your Majesty, the Healing Ward is on fire!'

'The casualties are too many, Xichen. This attack caught everyone off guard.'

'We don't have enough medicine and healers to treat the injured people. Many had died from their wounds.'

"How did they manage to surround the Cloud Recess' Palace?" Wei Wuxian was stunned. Cloud Recesses' Palace was the Imperial Residence of the Gusu Lan Family members and was an unpenetrated fortress. People said that the palace must be surrounded by some spells or magic wards because it never once fell, even during the war centuries ago.

"Meng Yao turned out to be a Qishan Wen spy." Lan Wangji's voice cracked. "There was a secret passage on a hill behind our palace. It is used as an emergency exit for everyone living in the palace—consorts, princesses, princes, servants, healers, and guards—in case there is a war. It was built centuries ago after the war with the Lanling Jin Kingdom. The Wen soldiers came into the palace using that passage and then blocked them."

The Omega was silent for a moment. His grip on Wei Wuxian's robes went loose, and eventually, he let it go. Lan Wangji sat up straight—his inner omega screamed for the missing alpha's warmth—and sighed.

"Meng Yao gave all our secrets to Wen Xu, told him which important places to attack, aided them to enter the Cloud Recesses, and all along was the person who poisoned my father and uncle. He had also been feeding poison to my brother. I don't know what kind of poison he fed my brother, but it caused him to lose his memories sometimes. That was when Meng Yao would fill in the blanks with his lies. My uncle did his best to figure it out, but his health also deteriorated because of the poison. Until now, Meng Yao has been feeding them his poison, and he is the one who has the antidote. That's what he uses to chain me here. One wrong move from me, and he'll kill them. One wrong move from them, then Wen Xu'll kill me."

'A-Yao, how could you...?'

'A-Yao, you killed my father? Why?'

'A-Yao, please spare Wangji. Don't let Wen Xu bring him.'

'I'm sorry, A-Huan.'

'A-Yao, I love you. Why did you?

'I'm sorry, A-Huan.'

Lan Wangji felt a tear run down his smooth cheek. "He betrayed us. He betrayed my brother and my uncle. And I was the one who brought him to the palace. I was the one who proposed to bring him to the palace."

"Hey, it's not your fault, Lan Zhan." The alpha's rough hand wiped away his tear, and Lan Wangji leaned on his touch. The image of his palace being burned to the ground, the betrayed look on his brother's face, the hopelessness on his uncle's face, and the corpses laying around them haunted him almost every night.

"Lan Zhan, you didn't know. You just wanted to give a kind man a good place to start. You wanted your brother to be happy. You didn't do anything wrong."

"I should have known. I should know his fake smiles, his weird mannerisms."

"You were just a fifteen-year-old boy. A very kind fifteen-year-old who wanted nothing but your brother's happiness Nothing was your fault." Wei Wuxian cradled Lan Wangji's face in his palms gently. "It was all Meng Yao's fault. Wen Xu's fault."

The omega let himself be engulfed in a tight hug. He buried his face in the alpha's chest and breathed his spicy scent heavily. He felt safe and loved. He didn't want to let go. The father of his child didn't seem to mind the way the man tightened his arms around him, and a kiss on his forehead told the consort. It won't be long until Lan Wangji feels drowsy, closes his eyes, and goes to the most peaceful sleep he has had in years.

When Lan Wangji's pregnancy approached its fourth and a half month, the sight the omega was waiting for came one morning. Lan Wangji was visited by Healer Yán Y and Wen Qing behind her. The consort hid a smile when they approached, for he had predicted what announcement they would make. Still, he played dumb. The consort sipped his tea as his left hand unconsciously rubbed his swollen belly. It was bigger now, and the last time Wei Wuxian visited him, with a proud announcement that his pet had definitely become best friends with the girl, the general looked at his belly in wonder. He couldn't wait until the child kicked and the alpha felt it.

"Greetings, Consort Lan." Healers Yán Ya and Wen Qing bowed deeply. Lan Wangji glanced at the younger healer and saw her look happy and content. Good, because Lan Wangji needed her to be. Healer Yán Ya smiled tiredly at him—the omega was sure he wasn't the cause of that if he remembered whom she needed to see this morning before himself—and began to introduce the young omega as her assistant for the next seventh month.

"Healer Wen is the most skilled healer among the others, Your Highness. Healer Wen is totally impressed with her and chose her personally as your healer. I'm sure you'll find her delightful." Healer Yán Ya assured him Lan Wangji's golden eyes went to the oldest Wen sibling and watched her carefully. Seven months, which meant the healer would be with him until his child had its original scent.

"Thank you, Healer Yán Ya."

So Wen Lei chose her for him. The omega didn't know whether the Wen healer told Wen Qing about his pregnancy or would threaten her later when the baby was born. The young woman would definitely notice her brother's scent in his baby. The consort would think about it later.

After the older healer walked out of the Willow Pavilion because Prince Wen Chao's consort called for her, Lan Wangji watched as the young healer asked—well, interrogated, to be exact—Xiu Mei and Chun Li about his daily activities. The two poor handmaidens looked so annoyed at her, and it was such an amusing scene for him. Wen Qing just had this tone that made people think she was angry at everything, and it irked the two handmaidens. Chun Li looked like she wanted to strangle the omega with the way her fingers twitched when the healer began to criticise Lan Wangji's daily snack. Lan Wangji himself didn't think much about it—he usually asked for something both his handmaidens liked so they could eat it together—but it seemed like Wen Qing did. The young healer was sitting across from Lan Wangji with his paper and brush ready in front of her.

"Consort Lan may feel hot all the time, so fruits will be one of the perfect snacks for him. Consort Lan is a vegetarian, which is very good. Please tell the kitchen staff to change the dishes that include green vegetables, soybeans, or mushrooms. I'd like to suggest a soup made from ginseng and bird's nest as well." Wen Qing explained as she wrote down everything she said on paper and handed it to Chun Li. The handmaiden snatched the paper a little rudely and excused herself to the kitchen.

Wen Qing then turned her attention to Lan Wangji. Her eyes swept all over his pregnant body; her lips were pursed, and her hands were touching his robes. Lan Wangji raised his eyebrows and looked down at his robes.

"Healer Wen, you shouldn't do that! That's very rude." Xiu Mei said, almost slapping the healer's hand away before she remembered that the woman had a higher rank than her.

"Does Consort Lan have another robe with softer fabrics?" She asked, looking at the wardrobe in the corner. "Soft fabrics will be more comfortable for the consort as the pregnancy goes on."

The simple comment seemed to win Xiu Mei a little bit because she suddenly had a thoughtful expression on her face. The girl went to the wardrobe and began to inspect the consort's clothes.

"Thank you, Healer Wen." He said it genuinely. The healer gave him a small smile and sat in front of the consort, ready with another piece of paper. She began firing questions at him, which he answered as best as he could. Let the healer have her fun in this lonely pavilion.

The oldest Wen sibling walked out of the Willow Pavilion with a content feeling in her chest. She felt as if she had finally accomplished something in her life, even though she knew that it was just a start. The next few months would be a challenge because Consort Lan's inner omega would get more protective of his child. He would be more agitated, anxious, and scared with someone touching his pregnant belly, and the solution was to have the alpha by his side. She wondered if she could make a weekly visit schedule for Prince Wen Xu so that he could spend more time with the consort.

Wen Qing didn't know how their relationship was behind the door. Based on her observations, Wen Xu didn't really care for Consort Lan. If what she heard was correct during her study and supervision at the Healing Pavilion, the alpha prince spent more time with his concubines than Consort Lan. She wasn't surprised, though, because that was how political marriages usually went. It wasn't about love after all. The reason they had a baby just now was because of Wen Xu's position as the next Emperor, nothing more. Wen Xu might prefer his concubines to his official spouse, but it was Consort Lan who gave him a chance to ascend the throne. He had to treat him better. If his child tragically died before they were born, then his coronation would be delayed until the lineage was secured. She bet Wen Xu wouldn't want that. That man was too greedy for power to wait another few years. So she hoped that despite how bad Wen Xu was, at least he should provide everything for his consort and baby. She felt it was impossible to happen.

"Wen Qing, I heard you're in charge of my consort." Wen Xu walked towards the young woman, smirking as he did so. Wen Qing narrowed her eyes at her cousin but didn't say anything. Wen Xu took it as a confirmation.

"Is there something I need to do for him? You don't need to look at me like that. My father sent me here to make sure everything was going well for the future heir of the Qishan Wen Kingdom." The crown prince rolled his eyes. Wen Qing pressed her lips together. She knew that the Crown Prince had the right to know the well-being of his consort.

'He is the father. He has the right to know. It's for the consort and the baby," was what the young omega healer thought.

"A weekly visit from you will be good for him and the child. It will give them a sense of security. You don't have to do something drastic; just sit by him for a few hours and let him be surrounded by your scent. That will be enough." As she explained, her eyes were judging the alpha's demeanour. He didn't seem to be interested in the suggestion, as if he didn't expect himself to do that. Maybe he was interested in something else, according to her deduction.

"So, is he well enough for, well, intimate intercourse?" the Crown Prince asked. His tone was casual, without a taunt or venom in it. "We know how demanding a pregnant omega can be, Wen Qing; I just want to make sure he gets all he needs."

"Consort Lan is well enough for it, as long as it isn't too rough." Wen Qing answered, her face still looking at him curiously. The smirk she saw when Wen Xu heard that didn't settle well with her.

"Thank you, Wen Qing."

At the market. Wei Wuxian was strolling leisurely with Xue Yang beside him. His silver eyes were searching for the omega girl they had successfully befriended—according to the general, absolutely not the other two teenagers—and he wanted to find her before midday. Xue Yang was nibbling a large steamed bun silently. His eyes were on some colourful sweets a vendor sold.

The young alpha was in a bad mood because, just like Wei Wuxian had predicted, his fellow soldiers began taunting him as General Wei Wuxian's pet underling. It wasn't an insult, really. It was known that General Wei Wuxian only took an interest in really skilled soldiers, not just anybody. Getting his attention, even for a short time—a day or a week—was already a privilege. And now Xue Yang had been monopolising his attention for almost two months. Not just during practice. The young alpha made sure to do his best during practice, showing everyone that he deserved the infamous alpha's attention. He liked it. He felt like he had an older brother. Still, he would like the teasing to stop. It was so annoying.

"There she is." Wei Wuxian claimed happily as he dragged the defeated Xue Yang to where some girls were standing around. The blind girl, whose name was A-Qing, was holding her bamboo stick very tightly as other girls mocked her. Both Wei Wuxian and Xue Yang hurried to the scene. It wasn't because they were worried about A-Qing's well-being. It was the girls' well-being they were worried about, for A-Qing looked like she was seconds away from smacking them with her bamboo stick.

They were too late, however, because A-Qing swung her bamboo stick and it hit the girl in front of her. The girls stopped speaking and looked at her with stunned expressions on their faces. A-Qing raised her bamboo stick, clearly threatening them.

"SCRAM!!" She yelled, and the girls ran away from him, muttering about the arrogant, lowly street omega.

Wei Wuxian and Xue Yang blinked once or twice before they laughed loudly. The girl was always surprising them. When A-Qing looked at them with a proud face, they only laughed harder.

"A-Qing ah, you shouldn't do that." Wei Wuxian patted her head once he finished laughing. A-Qing just scoffed at him.

"They were bothering me. So what if I'm living on the street and they live in their big houses? I can live in a big house, but I bet they can't live on the street. I'm superior to them."

"Yeah, right." Xue Yang snorted.

"I hit her, didn't you see? I hit you too the first time we met. I guess you're just as weak as them." A-Qing taunted, and surely enough, Xue Yang took the bait and began shouting at her.

"Okay, okay, calm down. Here is some money, Xue Yang." The general shoved a pouch at him. "Go to that vendor and buy something, will you? I think your brain needs to refill its supply of sweets. Buy some delicious steamed buns for us as well."

Wei Wuxian watched as the younger alpha walked eagerly to the vendor. Clearly, sweets were the first thing on his mind. He quickly turned to A-Qing and positioned his body to block Xue Yang's view in case the boy turned around. The general took out a thick envelope and quickly gave it to her along with some money.

"Hey, A-Qing. I need you to send this letter, okay?"

A-Qing looked at the envelope with a frown on her cute face. "Huh, who's this Nie Huaisang?"

"No one is important enough for you to know." Wei Wuxian said, patting her head once more. "Just deliver it for me, okay?"

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian walked silently beside Wen Zhuliu, his silver eyes looking ahead without any glances at the surroundings. The higher-ranked general was in deep thought. The last time he had that expression was when he helped Wei Wuxian make excuses about not participating in Guo Zimo's followers' massacre. The Emperor, thankfully, had brushed him aside, saying as long as the tasks were done, it was okay—which triggered anger from the Crown Prince—but next time Wei Wuxian had to do better.

'Unlike you, Wen Xu, General Wei has never failed me before. His achievement is much greater than yours ever will be. One or two failed missions are understandable. Let him be.'

The Emperor was right since his resume was far greater than Wen Xu's. The only one who beat his record was Wen Zhuliu, but that was because the fellow alpha was much older and had joined the Qishan military even before Wei Ying was born. Wei Wuxian could feel satisfaction in his chest, and if he were Wen Xu's sibling, he wouldn't hold back from mocking the Crown Prince. He was and would always be superior to Wen Xu when it came to anything. The young general thought that maybe this particular task was much easier than he initially thought. Emperor Wen Ruohan might love Wen Xu very much—obviously more than Wen Chao—but he wasn't blind to someone's talent and skill.

'Jealousy is very dangerous, Wei Ying. It consumes people's hearts and heads. It creates distrust and insecurity.'

"There's a rumour," Emperor Wen Ruohan began. "A new rebellion group is formed far away in the east. There haven't been any movements yet, but it won't hurt to find out more. I want one of you to check it for me."

The young general glanced at Wen Zhuliu and found that the general looked bored as hell. This wasn't the kind of mission the older alpha was excited about, so his uninterested face wasn't a surprise at all. Wei Wuxian's gaze moved to the two princes standing a few feet in front of him. Both princes looked so excited, but it was Wen Chao's face that got his attention. The beta prince looked as if he was about to give a prize with the request—which meant that he looked so creepy—and immediately volunteered for it. The Emperor's eyes, unfortunately, looked very doubtful.

"Imperial Father, I'll definitely be able to perform this task very well. There are places I know where we can gather information from." Wen Chao puffed his chest, but Wen Zhuliu's wince at his exclamation proved that the Emperor was right to be doubtful.

"You? You, a useless beta, want to do a spy mission? What a joke! I'm more suitable for that." Wen Xu scoffed at his brother.

Yeah, what a joke, both of you! Wei Wuxian pressed his lips together to suppress his laughter. Wen Xu was a good fighter in the battle; the alpha prince trained under Wen Zhuliu, so it wasn't much of a surprise—but not a good spy. He was too impatient and often made reckless decisions. In battles, it was acceptable because of the urgency and the death-and-life situation, but in a spying mission? No.

His pathetic beta brother was a totally different story. Wei Wuxian had heard about the younger prince's failures and successes. Mostly failures, but when the successes were talked about, it usually had Wen Zhuliu's name all over it. So, people could guess who actually carried out the mission. Wen Zhuliu's sigh was all the young alpha needed for confirmation. The younger prince, Wei Wuxian believed, would go to the brothels instead. Maybe that was his place to gather information. It wasn't wrong, though—Wei Wuxian had sent his man to gather information in those places—but no rebels would reveal any plans to prostitutes. Unless they were tricked or very drunk,

"What do you think, General Wei?" The young alpha snapped his head so fast at the Emperor. He could feel both princes looking at him with different looks, one with disgust and the other with ire.

Wei Wuxian bowed deeply to the Emperor. "Your Majesty, this general agrees that we should send someone to investigate the matter. The sooner we know, the sooner we can plan."

"Are you up for it?"

"Forgive me, Your Majesty, but this one is needed at the training because our burial mound drill is approaching. This general has been the host since the beginning; it'll be suspicious if this general is suddenly absent."

The burial mound drill was an event Wei Wuxian was really proud of. It was an unofficial audition for his squad, which broke a record for a squad with the lowest casualties, and the participants would be countless since no requirements were needed to join as long as they were in the military. It was one of Qishan's top soldiers. Wei Wuxian had his own judgement in choosing his squad, so his presence was inevitable. His absence meant no drill would be conducted.

"Who do you think is suitable for this mission?"

None would be the answer if his choice was between the two princes. He had no doubt that Wen Zhuliu would come to whoever the Prince chose for this mission. Logically, if he had to choose, Prince Wen Xu would be the choice, but at least he wasn't a hopeless case like his brother. But because he remembered that a certain stunning omega was counting on him, he decided to choose the obvious one.

"Forgive this lowly general, Your Majesty, but I think Prince Wen Chao is capable enough to do this mission," he said, still bowing deeply.

"WHAT?!" Wen Xu's voice was unmistakable. Wei Wuxian looked up briefly and saw a furious look from the Crown Prince and a surprised one from Wen Chao. Of course, he would be surprised. Never in his life had Wei Wuxian actually interacted with the second prince. He was too busy being a general, while the prince was too busy with his lifestyle.

"Are you sure, General Wei?" The surprised tone was evident in Wen Ruohan's voice as he glanced at his second son.

"Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, this mission will be a good learning experience for Prince Wen Chao. Not that the second prince hasn't had good experience already, but what's wrong with gaining more skill? It's not exactly a difficult mission. Prince Wen Chao said that he already knew where to look for information. As long as the prince doesn't attract any unnecessary attention, the mission can be carried out easily." The young alpha gave the Emperor a small smile as he explained. Prince Wen Chao seemed to be very satisfied with the unexpected support. Wen Chao moved closer to his father, smirking at the fuming Wen Xu.

"Yes, Imperial Father. You hear him. I can do it. Trust me." 

"What the fuck, Wei Wuxian! Are you saying that I'm useless?" The alpha prince growled as he stared at the general. Wei Wuxian pretended to panic and bowed deeply to Wen Xu.

"Of course, nothing's wrong with Prince Wen Xu. This general merely gives a suggestion. The final decision will be the Emperor's, but this general is sure the Emperor will be happy knowing both his sons are very capable princes." He explained in a hurried tone, as if he were very concerned that there would be a misunderstanding. Wen Xu's jaw clenched, and he turned his eyes to his father. Emperor Wen Ruohan seemed to actually consider this suggestion.

"Imperial Father, Wen Chao is useless. He'd go to brothels instead of doing spy work."

As if you're any better! Wei Wuxian thought

"What the fuck did you say?" Wen Chao yelled; his face was red. "I can do a simple job like this, thank you very much!"

"Enough!" The Emperor roared, standing up. He was looking at his sons with a disappointed look on his face. "A-Xu, you're older and a Crown Prince. You should behave like one. A-Chao, respect your brother. If you want to prove your worth, you can say it in a civil way."

Civil way. Among the Wens? What a fucking joke!

"Imperial Father," Wen Chao was on his knees now, bowed so low that his forehead touched the floor. Wei Wuxian had to admire this second prince's effort to be acknowledged. "This one begs for the Imperial Father's trust in this mission. General Wei is right. This is a chance to broaden my knowledge and increase my skills. This one won't disappoint the Imperial Father. This one promises

Emperor Wen Ruohan looked at his kneeling son for a moment before he sighed and nodded. Wen Chao looked up, and his face, for the first time Wei Wuxian had seen it, glowed with a sincere smile. The beta had been neglected by his father in favour of his older brother. His alpha older brother. This news must be very important to him, and by extension, it was very important to Wei Wuxian.

"Wen Zhuliu, can you-"

"This one doesn't need the help of General Wen, Imperial Father." Wen Chao actually cut The Emperor mid-sentence, which earned wide-eyed looks from The Alphas in the courtroom, as he glanced at the general. "This one believes that this mission doesn't require Wen Zhuliu's battle skills. Just like General Wei said, this one shouldn't attract any unwanted attention. General Wen's presence is too great to be ignored, and no battle won't happen during this mission."

Wow, Wen Chao had more guts than Wei Wuxian had thought. As the only beta in the room, he wasn't intimidated by them. Maybe he was more than just a cowardly prince after all.

"If that's what your wish is," Wen Ruohan said, looking weirdly soft at the second prince. "I'm surprised that you volunteered for this mission, but I'm proud of you. You're my son and the Prince of Qishan Wen Kingdom, so I expect a good result from you, Chao-er."

Wei Wuxian glanced at Wen Zhuliu and noticed that the man looked more relaxed than before after the babysitting duty was dismissed. He wouldn't be surprised that the men assigned to Wen Chao—because Wei Wuxian just couldn't believe the prince would be totally alone—were under strict command from the older alpha to ensure Wen Chao's safety. He might hate babysitting him, but his loyalty to Qishan was very strong.

With the final decision from the Emperor, the four bowed deeply and walked out of the courtroom, leaving the Emperor with the ministers, who were silent during the meeting. Wei Wuxian stole a glance at the two princes, and both had completely opposite expressions on their faces: one was smug, and the other was angry. When they separated at the gate, Wei Wuxian saw Prince Wen Xu glaring at his younger brother. He quickly turned around before Wen Xu noticed. He had no doubt that he was the target of the Crown Prince as well because he suggested Wen Chao, but it was a risk he had to take.

'I think it's time for the Emperor to notice his second son, Wei Ying.' 

Wei Wuxian walked towards the Dafan Wen Residence with a happy heart. If he had to create a rift, let the most vulnerable and insecure member of the Imperial Family do it himself. Wen Chao was a useless beta—Wen Xu was right about that—but that didn't mean that he was hopeless. All he needed was praise here and there from the Emperor for the second prince and a certain circumstance to make Wen Xu feel threatened. The young general walked into the residence and looked for Wen Ning.

Consort Lan Wangji closed his eyes as he gulped his water greedily. Wen Qing was giving him some herbal drink for the baby, and it tasted a little bitter. It wasn't because the omega hated bitter things. He understood medicine was supposedly bitter—more bitter, more effective, his healer used to say—but with his condition, anything that didn't sit well with his stomach tended to make him nauseous. Lan Wangji took a deep breath as he finished her drink. He put down the cup, reached for the sliced peaches, and ate them slowly but eagerly.

"Is Consort Lan in need of a nap?" Xiu Mei asked as her small hands kept messaging his shoulders. Lan Wangji considered the suggestion for a moment before nodding his head.

"Later, after eating these fruits," he answered shortly. His handmaiden nodded and left him alone to return the cup to the kitchen. Chun Li was busy arranging several pouches of herbal teas and concoctions—courtesy of his new private healer—at the corner, inspecting them one by one carefully so that she wouldn't mix them up. Lan Wangji himself had taken a good look at them and paid attention to the explanation Wen Qing gave. He would be able to tell if someone messed up with his herbs.

Lan Wangji blinked his sleepiness away. Exhaustion was one of the pregnancy effects he hated the most. Well, he hated all of them, but at least they made him awake, like when he had to vomit or was dizzy. Exhaustion meant that he needed to sleep; it meant he had to let his guard down. The omega gestured for Chun Li to help him take off his outer robes—he had discovered that they weren't comfortable with his current condition—and lay down on his body on his mattress. He closed his eyes and let the darkness embrace him.

The consort slowly gained consciousness when a tingling sensation spread throughout her body. His brain was a mess when a shot of pleasure hit him, and he immediately snapped his eyes open. He tried to move, but he couldn't. That was when he realised both his wrists were tied to the bed.

Shit! Another pleasure struck him again when he felt something wet licking his pussy. Lan Wangji tried to see over her building stomach, and his blood ran cold when his golden eyes finally caught a glimpse of a familiar headpiece. Fear began to grow. Lan Wangji tossed around, trying to kick the assaulter with his legs, and the man between her legs sat up.

"Oh, you are awake." Wen Xu said simply: A taunting smirk was on his face when his eyes travelled from his omega consort's beautiful face to his pale, slightly swollen breasts to his pregnant belly. The Crown Prince stared at Lan Wangji's belly for a moment before he ran his palm gently around it.

"Let go of me!" He growled. The alpha's smirk just went wider. He pinned the omega's legs with his stronger and bigger ones as he began to disrobe. The horrified look on Lan Wangji must have been very entertaining for the alpha, for he chuckled amusedly.

"You are so beautiful, Lan Wangji. Very beautiful." The alpha praised "Keep struggling, dear. You won't be able to move. You have a baby, remember? Do you want to endanger your child?"

The alpha pulled down his trousers, enough for his huge alpha cock. He spread Lan Wangji's legs and rubbed the tip of his member against his entrance. Lan Wangji cursed when the action caused Slick to come out. His body naturally made its way to the alpha.

"Stop! Stop!" Lan Wangji begged, desperate tears running down his cheeks, but all he heard was a low laugh. Wen Xu entered him easily with one thrust. The alpha groaned at the sensation while the omega bit his lips hard to stop a moan that was threatening to come out. No, Lan Wangji wouldn't give him satisfaction and Wen Xu didn't seem to care. He groaned and growled, full of pleasure, as he began to move. He picked up his pace quickly, and the bed shook beneath them.

"Fuck, you felt so good." He thrust deeper and faster like a mad alpha. The omega was trying not to scream at the fast pace. It hurt. His mind screamed for the alpha to stop. His inner omega screamed his alpha name, and the alpha prince currently fucking him was not his alpha. Still, his body produced more slicks to accommodate the alpha above him. The sound of skin hitting skin made Lan Wangji sick. He wanted to vomit, to run away, and to be far away from here. But he couldn't.

Lan Wangji could feel a knot slap his ass, and he was afraid that Wen Xu would knot him. It would take a while before the knot subsided, and he didn't want to be locked together with Wen Xu. Thankfully, the alpha pulled out and came all over the bedsheet. The alpha was breathless as he stared down at his consort.

"Hmm... so Wei Wuxian lied when he said you were a bad lay." The prince got off the bed and dressed while looking at the struggling Lan Wangji with a satisfied smile on his face. Lan Wangji wanted to punch his face so badly.

"Let me go!" He snarled, and Wen Xu rolled his eyes before freeing him. The alpha seemed to sense danger as he caught Lan Wangji's hand, which was inches away from his face. The omega was about to slap him. His eyes, however, caught the sight of the consort's red bracelet on his wrist and roughly took it off.

"I don't know why you're such a sentimental thing," Wen Xu said, holding a familiar red bracelet in his hand. "How do you get this?"

"Give it back!" The omega growled, and his hand instantly reached out for a blanket to cover her unruly state. The Crown Prince twirled the bracelet on his finger, smirking at the angry consort. Behind him, the door opened slowly, and Wen Qing's small figure could be seen through the crack.

"What are you doing here?" was the first thing she asked. Wen Xu tilted his head mockingly at his cousin.

"I'm checking on my spouse," he said carelessly. Lan Wangji gripped the blanket tightly as tears ran down his face. Fuck pregnancy hormones! He wanted to murder this man.

"Give it back!" His snap brought the Wens' attention back to him.

"Not until you tell me where this thing comes from. Did you slip away from the guards and make your way to the city? Did you bribe your maids to buy this for you? Weird, since I never give you any money." Wen Xu walked slowly to the omega; his fingers were still playing with the bracelet, teasing the fuming Lan Wangji on the bed.

"I gave it to him. For good luck." Both Lan Wangji and Wen Xu turned their heads when Wen Qing answered. The healer looked Wen Xu in the eyes, her head held high, challenging her cousin.

"Is that so? Aren't you a healer, Wen Qing? You believe in superstitions?" Wen Xu huffed and rolled his eyes. Wen Qing didn't say anything. She walked to them, snatched the bracelet from his finger, and sat on the consort's bed. She gently took the pale hand into hers and tied it around Lan Wangji's wrist.

"I'll see you next time, sweetheart."

Once the alpha walked out of his chamber, Wen Qing quickly scanned the omega's body. Lan Wangji tried to push her away, but she was more stubborn than he thought.

"Did he hurt you? Was he too rough?" Wen Qing asked frantically, checking his pulse. Lan Wangji didn't say anything and just let her do whatever she wanted. He felt broken, but it wasn't the bruises on his wrists that broke him. It wasn't rough intercourse either. It was his inability to push the alpha away and his powerlessness against Wen Xu that broke him.

The omega healer quickly pulled out an ointment she always kept for Wen Ning and started putting it on the consort's wrist. Lan Wangji was glad that Wen Qing didn't ask about the bracelet at all. He wouldn't answer where it came from, of course, but it was good that the fellow omega knew about things that weren't her business.

"I'll tell him to be more gentle and careful," she said quietly. Lan Wangji wanted to snap at her when he heard that. As if anyone could tell Wen fucking Xu to be careful and gentle. Anger was boiling in his chest, and all he wanted was to scream and break everything in this luxurious palace. His anger must be evident on his face because Wen Qing suddenly put her palm on his face and turned him to face her. An understanding expression on her face melts Lan Wangji's anger.

They were omegas; they understood each other more than others. No alpha or beta would understand the feelings omegas often encounter. A feeling as if they only existed in this world for breeding stocks, pleasure, and entertainment. They were also human beings. They wished to be acknowledged as well, as human beings who deserved to be loved and cherished.

The young woman slowly lowered his head to her shoulder and rubbed his back comfortingly. Lan Wangji breathed in the scent of herbal tea and jasmine. How long has it been since he had an older omega who understood how it felt to be one and who wasn't afraid to approach and comfort him? Sure, he had Xiu Mei, but even he didn't expect the younger omega to comfort him like this.

The water was getting cold, and so was his body. He touched his reflection on the water and saw the face of a broken young man. A man who looked so stoic made people think he was a jade statue, but when they looked closer, the pain in his golden eyes betrayed the stoic face. Lan Wangj's right hand moved to touch his reflection when he caught sight of a red bracelet hanging around his pale wrist. A gift from his alpha. from Wei Ying.

A sudden rush of emotion suddenly engulfed him, and his face cracked. A single tear fell down his smooth cheek, and his inner omega kept begging him to find his alpha. He wanted his alpha; he needed his alpha.

"Wei Ying... Wei Ying... Wei Ying..." Lan Wangji called softly and desperately as he held the red string bracelet tightly in front of his chest. Silent tears were falling like a waterfall as the need to be embraced and lulled by Wei Wuxian grew stronger and stronger. Lan Wangi felt his chest tighten as if there were ropes wrapping around them. He couldn't breathe. But the emotions in his chest were too strong. The consort put his palms up to cover his mouth as he sobbed hard and pathetically. No one should hear him crying.

Lan Wangji put his head between his knees as he continued to cry. Why did this happen to him, to his kingdom, and to his family?

Then there were movements inside his womb that hit him like thunder, stopping his tears and sobs. It felt like thousands of butterflies were fluttering inside his belly. His baby. Their baby.

He needed to be strong for their baby. Their future.

Lan Wangji closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The images of his smiling brother, content uncle, laughing Wei Ying, and a little kid running around a gentian flower field emerged in his mind. It was a future he wanted, and he would make sure it happened. The consort opened his eyes and stepped out of the bathtub, dainty fingers reaching for his robes. The omega sat down in front of his vanity and began combing his wet hair. His golden eyes were staring at his own reflection in the mirror.

He could do this.

He could. He had to.

Wei Wuxian pouted when A-Qing held out her hand to the general. In the omega's left hand was his letter, but she refused to give it to him before her payment was given. The general didn't remember making that deal—he would remember when it came to his money—but he didn't mind. It was fair because he needed A-Qing's help in the future, so he guessed she deserved some reward for it. The pout was just for show.

Beside the girl, Xue Yang was looking at the letter curiously. His eyes couldn't make out any letters on the envelope, but it wasn't his business, so he turned his attention to the silvers on A-Qing's hand. He took one and almost lost his eye when a bamboo stick poked his eye.

"That's mine, you prick. That's my reward for my hard labour." A-Qing snapped. Her seemingly blind eyes narrowed slightly.

"What hard labour? All you did was send a letter to the post office. It's hardly hard work." Xue Yang snapped back. He rolled his eyes when the Omega raised her stick and handed the silver back to her. A-Qing, with all her strength, grabbed the young alpha's arm and dragged him to the nearest food stall. Xue Yang's eyes widened as the girl gestured for him to choose his food.

"What? Is your alpha ego too big that you can't accept an omega AND a girl paying for your food?" A-Qing asked, smirking smugly. 

Wei Wuxian ignored the teenagers and looked at the brown envelope in his hands. The response took longer than he expected, but he tried to understand. After all, the Crown Prince of Qinghe was probably reluctant to respond because they didn't know each other. In addition, the more he purposely changed his name, the more the beta prince would be cautious.

Shaking his head, Wei Wuxian tore the seal and pulled out two pieces of paper—one contained elegant writing and the other a painting—and sat down on the side of the road.

Master Yuandao,

I have to say I was very confused when I received your letter. I've never befriended someone with this name, but maybe I'm just confused. Maybe we met in the past, but I didn't acknowledge you? If that's what happened, then I sincerely apologise.

Regarding your request, I do believe that a meeting will be the best way to go. Therefore, there will be an equal understanding between us. Here is where we will meet.

Nie Huaisang

Wei Wuxian stared at the painting Nie Huaisang had attached to the letter. His silver eyes carefully analysed the two cranes seemingly standing on a tree. One had its wings out, as if it were ready to fly, while the other had its wings closed and was looking down, seemingly reluctant to fly. An amber sun was in the sky, showering the two cranes with a soft glow. A message was definitely hidden in the painting, and he cursed himself for not being well-versed when it came to art and places. He could draw wonderfully—his latest masterpiece was his secret painting of Lan Wangji rubbing his pregnant stomach while glowing under the sun beautifully—but to understand that this painting contained the meeting's place and time, nothing came up in his head. Was this the result of fighting too many battles?

Maybe. Possibly. Definitely.

Wei Wuxian sighed and scratched his hair in confusion. The sun was possibly setting at the time, so the amber sky was late afternoon. What about the cranes? Was it the name of an inn, a city, or a hidden palace? Was it a region in Qinghe or a small kingdom? Wei Wuxian had never visited Qinghe before (the kingdom was the strongest after Qishan; Wen Ruohan hadn't ordered him), so he wasn't familiar with it.

He didn't understand the hidden message in the painting at all. He needed to go see his omega.

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian looked around the quiet Willow Pavilion carefully. The last time he visited, two weeks ago, some guards almost spotted him sneaking out of the Consort's residence. It's a good thing he was near the statue of Emperor Wen Mao, so the guard dismissed his shadow and thought it was just the statue and the moonlight. He had to be more careful from now on. The alpha knocked on the door softly and was glad when it was immediately opened, as if Lan Wangji was waiting behind the door. The thought suddenly made his heart race for a bit. His silver eyes found the stunning omega in long sleeve robes—which was so weird because he had never seen him dressing like that—before he was quickly pulled into the chamber.

Wei Wuxian sat down in the sitting room and let out a relieved sigh. His handsome face was adorned with a smile as he gazed at the omega, who was carefully pouring two cups of tea for them. His gaze moved from the consort's face to his body. Wei Wuxian knew it wasn't his business, but he couldn't help but notice that the robes Lan Wangji wore were a little too big for him. The sleeves, especially, were shallowing his long arms. Its hems covered almost half of his hands, and it was surprising for the Consort to always dress impeccably. He was the most well-dressed man in the whole kingdom, in the general's opinion. So why?

"Wei Ying?" Lan Wangji's soft voice snapped him from his thoughts, and he quickly grinned, hoping that the omega wouldn't notice anything. Wei Wuxian took a sip of the tea and dramatically let out an obscene groan. He almost smirked when Lan Wangji froze at the sound he made.

"This is the best tea I have ever drank in a long time."

"You only drink tea in my chamber. You usually drink alcohol." The consort said this, sipping his own tea calmly. Wei Wuxian grinned and wriggled his eyebrows.

"Of course. I only drink Lan Zhan's brewed tea. It's the best of all." Wei Wuxian boasted, and happiness bubbled inside him when Lan Wangji covered his smile with the edge of his cup. The alpha cupped his cheek on his right palm, stared at the omega in front of him, and sighed dreamily. There was a silly smile on his face, which got bigger when Lan Wangji's ears were red, and he glanced at him uncertainly.

"What?"

"You're so beautiful, Lan Zhan. So beautiful." He said it softly, and his left hand reached out and took the Lan ribbon in his finger. He brought the ribbon to his lips and planted a kiss. His silver eyes weren't leaving Lan Wangji's golden ones the whole time. The blush spread from the consort's ears to his cheeks and neck. Lovely. He was very lovely.

Lan Wangji cleared his throat. "So, any news?"

Wei Wuxian hummed and reached out into his black robes. He took out the thick envelope and presented the papers to Lan Wangji, opening and arranging them neatly on the table. The young alpha watched as Lan Wangji took the reply first before he finally took a good look at the painting. The omega's dainty fingers caressed the amber sun, the trees, and the cranes with a thoughtful expression before he looked up at Wei Wuxian's pouting face. Lan Wangji raised an eyebrow when the alpha groaned.

"I don't understand the painting at all." The alpha admitted, "I can draw very well, but I didn't study anything about paintings or literature," said Lan Zhan. I was too busy training to be a great soldier."

"A great soldier should know code."

"Of course, I know codes." He suddenly felt offended at the indirect implication. "Lan Zhan, no one used painting as a code on a battlefield. We used the Qishan code, you know. We called it the Yin Iron, created by Emperor Wen Ruohan himself when he was serving our kingdom as a general. Only generals and high-ranking soldiers are taught this code."

"I see." Lan Wangji's eyes were honed with curiosity. He had seen these codes before, when Meng Yao was discovered as Qishan's spy. The snake was flapping around a few papers that, according to the omega, contained the antidotes for Lan Xichen's and Lan Qiren's illnesses. It had some fire, smoke, and circle symbols, among others.

"The cranes symbolise both Wei Ying, the one with open wings, and Prince Huaisang, the one with closed wings." Lan Wangji began as he put the painting on the table and pointed to the cranes with his pale finger. "This one is Wei Ying because it shows eagerness to do something; in this painting, it is flying; and this one is Prince Huaisang because it shows his hesitation in the action. Wei Ying explained that you wanted to meet him, right? So Prince Huaisang agreed to meet, but he was very cautious about it. He'll probably bring someone with him, either hidden or sitting with him during the meeting. There's this small village near the border of Qishan and Qinghe. It's called Songshu Village, or Pine Tree Village. It's quite hidden and had been abandoned when Qishan acquired the Liyang Kingdom. One time, Prince Huaisang said that this village would be a great place to hide weapons, for the Wen never came into an abandoned village because no resources could be found. If he suggests that you two should meet here, then I guess Wen Zhuliu and others haven't touched it yet."

"I see. So he wants me to go to this Songshu village?" Wei Wuxian crossed his arms in front of his chest and nodded in understanding.

"That or the nearby town, Riluo town, or the town of sunset. Prince Huaisang'll probably meet you there before giving directions to a secret place in the village. Prince Huaisang is a very clever young man, despite his soft and vulnerable appearance. He must have thought about everything before replying to Wei Ying, from how to protect himself to how to capture Wei Ying if he finds out you're a threat. He's a very strong alpha in his own way and quite different from King Nie Mingjue." Lan Wangji explained as he poured another cup of tea. Wei Wuxian felt an irritation grow inside his chest when Lan Wangji kept talking about this Prince Huaisang. It was rare for the omega to talk this much, and the alpha couldn't shake the jealousy he began to feel.

"Lan Zhan seems to know Prince Nie Huaisang very well." The young alpha winced when his tone was harsh, and based on the omega surprise's expression, he was so obvious in his dislike. So, Wei Wuxian pouted. The consort's expression softened, and he covered the general's hand with his.

"I have known Prince Nie Huaisang since I was a child. Our brothers are good friends, so our friendship is kind of inevitable," Lan Wangjis said softly. Wei Wuxian kept pouting, though. "I believe Wei Ying has that person as well."

"Nah, I only have my siblings since I was adopted by them. Sure, there were kids who approached me, but they soon left me when I surpassed them during training. If someone asks me about my best friend, well, I'll say my siblings are my best friends. We're not related, so we can be both siblings and best friends, right?"

"If Wei Ying said so."

"Wei Ying said so." The alpha grinned and puffed his chest proudly. "Until now, they're the only ones who can keep up with me. "Qing-Jie is the one who'll keep me on the line, while A-Ning is my moral support."

"How does Lady Wen Qing keep you in line? With her words?" Lan Wangji asked with a knowing smile. Wei Wuxian laughed—it was a confirmation that she used her tone even to her boss as well—and nodded enthusiastically.

"Of course! That's her trademark, Lan Zhan. She is your private healer, right? So you must have known how harsh she is with her words. She's a brutally honest person whom people usually mistake for rude behaviour. Her harsh words actually show that she cares very much."

"I believe that as well."

"Good. Lan Zhan won't misbehave like me, but be careful with her needles. When I heard Uncle Four was thrown into jail just because he complained about Qing-Jie's marriage, she paralysed me with her needles. It hurt so much, and I fell to the ground immediately. I was glad, though, because if she hadn't, I would have stormed to the throne room and challenged the Emperor." He said it with regret in his tone. Wei Wuxian drank his tea and sighed, but when he looked at Lan Wangji again, he saw something in his eyes.

It seemed like his sister's uncanny ability caught Lan Wangji's eye. His golden orbs looked so hopeful when he asked, "She can paralyse people with needles?"

"Of course she can. She's brilliant with needles. She never taught me or A-Ning. Shame, really. I can use it for battles. But then, I'm not as amazing as her, so I probably cannot use it well." Wei Wuxian explained casually. Lan Wangji was silent for a moment. Based on his face, Wei Wuxian could tell that he was thinking of something.

"I see." The consort finally uttered some words. Wei Wuxian looked at him strangely, believing that Lan Wangji would share whatever was in his mind when he was ready so the alpha didn't prey. Instead, he reached out for something inside his black robes and pulled out another bracelet. It was a red agate Wu Lou bracelet, which was believed to attract health energies and prevent any diseases or health problems. He had hoped this would be a good addition to the red-string one.

Wei Wuxian took Lan Wangji's hand and pulled up his sleeves, only to find some bruises on the omega's wrist. The omega gasped and tried to free himself, but the general only gripped it tighter. The alpha took Lan Wangji's other hand and saw that it also possessed a bruise. Anger was boiling inside his chest. There is no way Lan Wangji caused these bruises by himself.

"Who did this?" He growled. His silver eyes glinted dangerously.

"It's nothing," the omega said softly. So soft that Wei Wuxian almost didn't catch his words.

"It doesn't look like fucking nothing to me." Wei Wuxian took them gently in his hands. His silver eyes were observing the bruises closely; his handsome face looked upset, and his jaw was clenched. "Wen Xu did it, didn't he? He's the only one in this kingdom who's free to touch you."

Lan Wangji didn't say anything. He was looking down at his lap, avoiding Wei Wuxian's gaze. His face was emotionless, but Wei Wuxian knew how much emotion was building up in him.

"Did he?" Wei Wuxian changed his tone to a softer one. When the consort didn't say anything, he took it as confirmation. The general felt his inner alpha scream inside him: "Protect! Protect! Protect!

There was something in his omega that didn't settle well with him, so he asked once again. "Did he do something else?"

There was no answer from the consort, but he blinked several times as if he were blinking back tears. Wei Wuxian took a shaky, deep breath.

"Lan Zhan, answer me, please!" He slowly let out his alpha scent, and the omega immediately swayed forward; clearly, the scent had an effect on him. Lan Wangji still didn't say anything, and Wei Wuxian wouldn't stop until he got his answer.

"He..." Lan Wangji's voice cracked. "He tied me to the bed and-"

"And?" Wei Wuxian was trembling now. He had one or two ideas about why that bastard prince tied the omega to the bed, but he needed confirmation. "Did he touch you improperly?"

Lan Wangji shook his head. "He did more than that."

Anger took over Wei Wuxian, and his alpha scent flared wildly. Lan Wangji swayed and looked at him with a dizzy expression on his face. Lan Wangji gripped his arm as tight as he could, tugging him to him.

"I'm going to kill him." Wei Wuxian snarled. "I'm going to fucking kill him!"

"Wei Ying, please calm down." Lan Wangji's broken voice snapped the alpha out of his anger. He looked down and saw the omega's face in tears. His eyes were begging him. "Please calm down, or you'll alert the guard. Please, for me. For our child."

Wei Wuxian closed his eyes and let himself fall to his knees. Lan Wangji slowly went down with him and pulled him into his warm embrace. The alpha circled his strong arms around the omega, buried his face in his shoulder, and cried.

"Calm down, Wei Ying. If you let your anger consume you, then everything will fall apart. Our plan for our child's future will fall apart."

"But he-" Wei Wuxian sobbed. He felt a hand softly caress his dark hair and pat his head once in a while. A kiss was planted on his hair, and a soft breath greeted his ear when he felt that.

"I know," Lan Wangji said softly, his cracked voice breaking Wei Wuxian piece by piece. "I'm alright, I promise. Did it hurt? Yes. Did it break me? Absolutely. But I cannot break right now. We cannot break right now. For our child's future, for our future, and for everyone's future. We need to be strong, Wei Ying. It's hard, I know. No one can understand what I'm feeling right now or what we're feeling right now. We're in this together, remember? We're going to be okay. We're going to go through this just fine."

Trusting Lan Wangji was easy, but trusting himself was something Wei Wuxian couldn't do. He couldn't promise he wouldn't murder Wen Xu when he saw him. He couldn't promise that he would go berserk when he saw him. His inner alpha was screaming like crazy inside of him, and only with insane control did he manage to keep the beast from coming out right now. The source of his control was the person who was crying and begging him. The one he would do anything for, but he didn't trust himself when the Omega wasn't around.

You couldn't protect him! You couldn't save him! His inner alpha screamed furiously at him, and Wei Wuxian suddenly felt so useless all of a sudden.

"I'm sorry. I'm so useless." He murmured. Lan Wangji immediately broke the hug and palmed his cheeks gently. His pretty head shook as he stared at Wei Wuxian.

"No, Wei Ying. You're not useless." The omega wiped the tears from the alpha's cheeks. "You're my strength, my anchor. You're not useless. Without you, I couldn't even think of the future. It was you who gave me hope to fight. You're the best second thing that ever happens to me."

Wei Wuxian closed his eyes when the omega leaned up to kiss his forehead gently. No, he was useless, no matter what the omega said. His strong omega was willing to endure even the most humiliating torture from Wen Xu just so the kingdom would fall and everyone would be set free. And what could Wei Wuxian do? Nothing.

"Lan Zhan, I promise you that I'll kill him. I promise." Wei Wuxian's silver eyes stared into the omega's golden ones. Lan Wangji smiled at him and caressed his cheek lovingly.

"I know,"

"I'll give him a slow and painful death. I'll bring his head to you as a present for our union." Wei Wuxian was pulled into another warm hug. The hand went back to caress his dark tresses. The alpha's hand went to Lan Wangji's swollen belly and rubbed it gently.

"I'll be waiting."

"Just wait, Lan Zhan. I'll kill him for you and our child. I promise."

"I know."

It was two days later when Wen Qing came to do her usual check-up. The healer was suspiciously quiet as she did her job, and even Xiu Mei and Chun Li looked at each other, confused. The handmaidens had noticed the bruises around the consort's wrists, and even though they could guess what happened, they were waiting for the healer to give them instructions. Instead, the only command they got was from Lan Wangji, who ordered them to take a rest and grab some snacks from the kitchen.

When the handmaidens left, the omega healer gently lifted Lan Wangji's wrists and inspected them carefully. She touched the fading bruises with her finger and nodded in satisfaction. The bruises on the consort were almost healed thanks to her ointment.

"It'll fully heal in two days." She said it quietly, putting down his hand. Lan Wangji caught her eye, eyeing his right wrist, where two bracelets were hanging nicely. If the healer had a thought about the additional stone bracelet, she didn't say anything. Did she think it was from his husband? She seemed to pause for a moment before she finally looked up.

"I have talked to Imperial Healer Wen Lei about what happened two days ago." She began, and Lan Wangji held his breath. "I told him that the Crown Prince was too rough with you during your intimate intercourse. I suggested to him that Prince Wen Xu should hold back because, when I found Consort Lan, I found him crying and seeming to be very distressed. I said that if Consort Lan was stressed, even just a little, it would be very dangerous because we could lose the baby. Imperial Wen Lei agreed, and he promised that Prince Wen Xu wouldn't force Consort Lan to have any intimate intercourse until the baby was born. If there is someone Prince Wen Xu will listen to besides the Emperor, it would be him."

Lan Wangji's eyes were fully on her, and he caught her and looked up briefly before turning her attention to the vials she pulled out of his medical boxes.

"I know I'm not the most gentle person. Or a sentimental one. I'm hard to get along with as well. I'm sure you have heard so many bad things about me from your handmaidens." Wen Qing began as she arranged some vials for Lan Wangji to drink. What she said was true about how people perceived her, and even her own brother admitted to her tough personality.

"If you want-" The healer took a deep breath and finally looked up. "I know your life hasn't been easy since the day you came here. You're neglected and isolated. You aren't treated according to your title. You were forced to marry Wen Xu, and now you're forced to bear his heir. I don't claim to understand what you feel because I don't know anything behind closed doors between you and Wen Xu or between you and everyone else. I won't say that I know you very well, but if you need help, someone to talk to, or just someone to listen to, I'm willing to do it."

The healer was rambling, and Lan Wangji could see how this type of talk—baby talk, heart-to-heart talk, comforting talk—was beyond her comfort zone. She had built a wall around herself as the only omega female in a family of two alpha males and a beta male to keep up with them and put them on the line. It took a great deal from her to offer an ear to listen, and from Lan Wangji nonetheless.

"Thank you, Healer Wen. You're very kind." The omega consort spoke softly. Wen Qing nodded her head, and her posture relaxed, clearly glad that she was finally able to speak her mind. She offered a vial to Lan Wangji, and the consort quickly drank it, almost groaning at the bitter taste of the medicine.

"Is my baby alright?" He rubbed his pregnant stomach lovingly, and he caught the woman's eyes softening at the sight. Maybe the healer thought he wouldn't love his child because of his unfortunate predicament. Maybe she thought he wouldn't even care about it because it was Wen Xu's. Well, he couldn't wait for her to find out that this baby was her nephew or niece, Wei Wuxian's child. Wen Qing then began lecturing him about his baby's health, some other healthy foods, beverages, and snacks for him to consume, and several simple exercises. Lan Wangji listened with the utmost diligence while rubbing her stomach once in a while.

"I heard that you are skilled with needles, Healer Wen." He suddenly states: Wen Qing looked surprised—maybe because so far she hadn't pulled out any needles in front of him for him to know about it—and nodded reluctantly.

"Yes, Consort Lan. If you want an acupuncture session, I'm afraid I cannot do that. It's dangerous to do that during pregnancy."

"No, I—" Lan Wangji hesitated for a moment. "Can you teach me how to incapacitate people using needles?"

Lan Wangji didn't give a damn about Wen Lei and his promises. He needed to be ready. His blade alone wouldn't be able to protect him. Until he got his sword, Bichen—which was taken from him by Wen Xu—he would learn anything to protect himself and his baby.

Wen Lei was furious as he marched to the Alpha Prince's residence. He threw the door open and walked quickly to a couple who were currently busy in bed. Rolling his eyes, the beta healer grabbed the woman and pulled her off the prince's body. The woman screamed in surprise, while Wen Xu looked amused by the whole thing and didn't do anything to help.

"Healer Wen! What are you doing? You're so rude. Don't you see we're busy here? This is such shameful behaviour from an Imperial Healer." The woman shrieked. The woman turned out to be Concubine Yan Min, Wen Xu's current favourite. The woman glared daggers at the healer as she tried her best to look presentable. Wen Lei only raised his eyebrow at her tone. He had heard about this one, and how she was Wen Xu's favourite was beyond him.

"You should know your place, Healer Wen. One word from me, and the Crown Prince will have your head." The woman tied her sash and patted her silk robes. Wen Lei's eyes moved to observe everything she wore, from her many pieces of jewellery to her silk robes and shoes. If outsiders saw her, they would mistake her for the consort instead of Lan Wangji.

"Leave; I need to talk to the prince." He ordered. Concubine Yan Min gasped in disbelief and glanced at the prince, who was now lazily lounging on the bed.

"How dare you talk to me like that? You know very well who I am, healer Wen. You should-"

"Leave." Wen Lei was getting impatient. This woman was just a concubine, but she behaved as if she was above everyone else. Her status might be rather high, but she was nothing compared to Wen Lei. All the attention and expensive items Wen Xu gave her had blinded her to reality.

"Just leave, my dear Yan Min. Whatever Healer Wen wants to say must be urgent. Don't worry, I'll visit you later." Wen Xu rose from the bed and kissed her cheek. Concubine Yan Min huffed and gave the healer a stink eye before she left the room. Once the servant closed the door, Wen Lei faced the prince.

"Wen Qing came to me this morning."

"Oh?"

"She said I told him that the Crown Prince was too rough with Consort Lan during intimate intercourse. I found Consort Lan crying and seeming very distressed. Wen Xu, tell me you didn't rape him." Wen Lei asked furiously. He had taken a great risk in helping this prince, and the one he helped was trying to destroy everything. Wen Xu didn't reply and just rolled his eyes as if this weren't a serious matter. But his action was enough for the beta to know that Wen Xu indeed raped his consort, resulting in the pregnant omega being in a stressful state.

"Wen Xu, what the hell? You didn't care about him for years, and now you suddenly take an interest in him? Now? When he's pregnant?" Wen Lei exploded.

"I'm not interested in him." Wen Xu snapped. The prince grabbed a wine jar from his cupboard and sat down in the sitting room. "I have a suspicion that Wei Wuxian develops a feeling for Lan Wangji. Care, maybe? Bonding over their unfortunate circumstances? I don't know, but Wei Wuxian's reaction when I asked about Lan Wangji was so weird. The way he spoke and the way his eyes looked so conflicted with emotions, it looked like he cared about him. He blushed when I told him that Lan Wangji was a virgin. He fucking blushed, Wen Lei. I baited him with an offer, but my mistake was adding those stupid rebels as the reason, so he shifted his attention to that instead. But still, it was so weird of him to have bedded countless omegas and betas once or twice before pushing them aside. I heard that General Wei Wuxian had refused to touch the omegas that were presented to him as a gift for winning the war months ago. He didn't even touch them, and he sent them away. Some beta soldiers moaned about how the general avoided their touches, leaving them in the middle of make-out sessions and suddenly claiming he wasn't interested. This is Wei Wuxian. He's always interested. And all of this happened after he fucked Lan Wangji."

Wen Lei was silent as he listened to the Alpha Prince. If Wen Xu's explanation was correct, it was clear that something was indeed going on with General Wei Wuxian and Consort Lan Wangji. Maybe it was just a pity, but it would be considered a feeling as well, wouldn't it? Wen Xu's eyes glinted dangerously as he continued.

"I also got a report that the four guards I placed around Willow Pavilion saw a shadow of a man leaving the Consort's Residence. The shadow disappeared around the Wen Mao statue, so they conclude that it might be just the statue's shadow and the movement was caused by the moonlight or something like that. Yeah, maybe, but it could also be someone sneaking into the pavilion. It could be Wei Wuxian or someone else. So, let's see his reaction. It'll tell us something."

"You want to see Wei Wuxian's reaction? By raping Consort Lan Wangji?" Healer Wen raised an eyebrow at the ridiculous reason. But even he didn't deny the possibility that the general might care for the consort. After all, they were both two people trapped in unfortunate circumstances. Wen Xu nodded.

"Wei Wuxian won't react unless it's something drastic. He's great at masking his emotions, you know. If he reacts as if he cares or, worse, falls in love with Lan Wangji, then we're in trouble. Who knows what he will do when that love blinds him?"

Wen Lei sighed and rubbed his temples. Even though he could see the reason behind the alpha's action, what he did was very dangerous. Wen Xu's key to ascending the throne was growing inside Lan Wangji's womb right now, and if the consort suffered from stress like Wen Qing had said and resulted in a miscarriage, then they would get nothing. A year delay for Wen Xu's dream to be the Emperor. He couldn't let this continue to happen; they had taken too much risk so far.

"Just, please, don't sexually assault Consor Lan again. If you put Consort Lan under deep stress, then we're going to lose the baby in the process. That baby is very important, unless you want to lose your throne. I have taken a great risk by choosing Wen Qing as her private healer because she's the most capable one among others. Don't make things more complicated, Wen Xu."

"I don't think Lan Wangji'll cave into depression that easily. But fine, I'll leave him alone." Wen Xu said this before drinking the last sip of his wine. "For now."

Wei Wuxian stared at the mask Xue Yang bought him. It was a handsome mask with beautiful carvings on it and two large hollow eyes. It would cover the alpha's upper face and hopefully cover his identity as well. He had never met this Prince Nie Huaisang, so he wouldn't recognise him even if they met face-to-face, but that didn't mean that the Prince was the same. For all he knew, the Qinghe Kingdom's Prince might have seen him before and observed from afar. He was thankful that his young friend didn't even question him about why he wanted him to buy a mask. Well, the teenager did say something along those lines. I don't want to know about your weird kink, so maybe he would use that as an excuse.

The general's silver eyes looked at the two teens who were arguing in front of a toy seller—why they needed to buy some toys, the general didn't know, but at least they would be busy for some time—leaving the oldest among them with himself in front of an outdoor restaurant. He took the newest letter A-Qing gave him and slowly opened it.

The alpha sighed before he tucked it into his robes. He took a sip of his wine slowly, savouring the sweet taste and burning sensation in his throat. He still remembered what Xue Yang told him this morning before they did their usual stroll at the market after the training.

"It's weird, really, that Prince Wen Xu is so interested in your sex life. I accidentally overheard the prince and Hào Rán, you know, the beta soldier. The one sparring with me earlier? The omega-looking beta you made out with in front of everyone last year? Well, you were so drunk that you probably didn't remember it. He's still very proud of it, by the way. He was asked—well, interrogated if you ask me—by that prince whether he slept with you or not. He told him that he did try to seduce you as the prince asked, but you refused." Xue Yang popped a candy into his mouth and waved to A-Qing, who was chewing on a tanghulu. The girl smirked at him before walking towards them, extending a hand as soon as she was in front of them. Wei Wuxian put silver in her palm, and her hand pulled out a thick letter from her robes. Xue Yang patted the girl's head, which she slapped away, and continued.

"Then Wen Xu mentioned someone with the name Zhou Xi Ren, or was it Zhou Yi Reng? or maybe Zhou Yi Rán? Something with the surname Zhou, I think. He said I quote, 'So you're as useless as that maid? At least Zhou woman could get a kiss from him.' I think the prince is jealous of your popularity, General Wei. I can't blame him. You're awesome."

Zhou Yán Ránand Hào Rán, huh? The alpha scoffed. The pretty new maid in Dafan Royal Residence and the beta soldier who stopped him when he was searching for Xue Yang were sent by Wen Xu. Wei Wuxian wouldn't be surprised if there were more the prince had sent to him. But for what? Why did the prince send people to seduce him out of the blue? Was he testing him or something? But testing him for what? Did the prince suspect something about him? He never cared about who Wei Wuxian had slept with before.

Before.

Before he slept with his consort.

Wei Wuxian frowned as he tried to make sense of everything. Did Wen Xu put him on a test to know whether Wei Wuxian felt something for Lan Wangji? Was that why Wen Xu even offered Wei Wuxian to sleep with Lan Wangji again? Was that a test as well?

The young alpha glanced at the letter in his hand and sighed. His hand reached out for a short blue ribbon with a metallic cloud pattern in the middle, identical to the one the consort was wearing, a symbol of the Gusu Lan Imperial Family. Lan Wangji said that it was when he was a child that, for some reason, he was hesitant to be part of it. It somehow comes in handy now. Wei Wuxian studied the metallic cloud-patterned symbol curiously. He needed to show this to Prince Nie Huaisang as proof of his good intention and that Lan Wangji was on board with it as well. He said that the prince, being his childhood friend, would recognise the distinctive, unique pattern that would set it apart from the fake ones.

Urgh, it sent a wave of jealousy through his chest. He needed to know what this prince looked like. He had seen King Nie Mingjue in all his glory. Was his brother as tall, muscular, and masculine as the king? Prince Nie Huaisang was an alpha, right? And all Alpha Wei Wuxian knew looked almost like that. Just because Lan Wangji said that the alpha looked soft and vulnerable didn't mean that he couldn't be huge as well.

Wei Wuxian gripped the ribbon tightly in his hand, and his mind went to the stunning pregnant omega waiting for him at a certain residence.

'Wen Xu, I'll make you pay. Just wait.'

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian watched as hundreds of soldiers lined up to join his burial mound drill. His old army was grinning at the front, ready to retake their place once again. The Burial Mound was a full one-day training non-stop from dawn to sunset at the field Wei Wuxian had built behind his army's barracks. The soldiers had to do a warm-up before they were split into teams and given some difficult codes that needed to be cracked so they could do the next tasks. The best thing about this was that he had prepared different codes and tasks for each team, so no one would try to cheat. Then they would go through sword sparring, wrestling, and archery training before they had to do the final challenge. All soldiers had to run the field several times before they had to pass many difficult obstacles and then run as fast as they could to the final line, where a red ribbon was tied to a spear. Grab the ribbon, and the soldier will be declared the winner and given a gift from the general. The top 30 surviving soldiers would join his special squad.

Not all soldiers joined the drill; only those who wanted to did, but all soldiers were welcome to watch. That was why the Burial Mound Drill was always crowded, as if there were a parade there. Xue Yang jogged to him, bowed, and greeted him with a serious look on his young face. The older alpha could see other soldiers staring at Xue Yang with admiration, disgust, and envy. Some were even brave enough to actually roll their eyes in front of the general. Ah, Xue Yang was famously known as his pet.

"I'll make you proud, General Wei." Xue Yang said with a smirk, his fists clenched and eyes shining with determination. Wei Wuxian got a report that the young alpha had pushed his body to the edge during training for this drill. "I'll show them that I'm not just your pet. I'm your beast."

"You do that, Xue Yang." He patted the young alpha's shoulder, which caused Xue Yang's smirk to widen.

Wei Wuixan smirked as Xue Yang screamed in victory. The alpha teen had successfully grabbed the red ribbon the general had tied to a pole on the final day of the burial mound drill. Behind him, many senior soldiers looked at the young alpha with mixed reactions—proud, baffled, and envious—as they ran forward to the final line. Most of them were soldiers previously in Wei Wuxian's squad, so no one was surprised about their survival ability. Far behind them were many young soldiers painfully dragging their feet, seemingly having given up on being the winner and just determined to reach the final line and finish the training. Much farther behind them were countless unconscious soldiers lying on the ground like corpses, clearly the eliminated ones.

Xue Yang fell to his knees, his hands clutching the red ribbon in his chest. A genuine smile formed on his handsome face when the senior soldiers came to him, showering him with praise, congratulations, and pats on the shoulders. The young alpha felt so overwhelmed that tears fell down his cheeks, earning some waves of laughter from the rest of the soldiers. The soldiers who didn't join the drill had come to help remove the poor unconscious soldiers from the field and to the healing pavilion, while others began to distribute jugs of water to the rest of the surviving soldiers.

"General Wei!" The soldiers turned their heads so fast when they heard a sweet voice. Their eyes widened at the sight of several beautiful maids holding trays of steamed buns, fruits, and cakes. Wei Wuxian's nose immediately caught the familiar sweet scent of honey and roses. He knew this scent for her name had been in his head lately. For a bad reason.

"Greetings, General Wei, this is Zhou Yán Rán, the new Head of the Military Kitchen. We're here to deliver some food for the tired soldiers." She said this, smiling shyly at him. Wei Wuxian blinked. She was promoted to Head of the Military Kitchen just when she was a mere servant at his uncle's house. How?

The beautiful Head of the Military Kitchen was smiling prettily at him—which Wei Wuxian had to admit sent some chills, not in a good way—before bowing at him. Wei Wuxian bit his cheek as he bowed back but didn't do anything else, letting some silence fill the air. He could see everyone was looking at them, some even wriggling their eyebrows. Wei Wuxian could guess what they were thinking right now. Zhou Yán Rán bravely walked towards him, stopping right in front of him with blushing cheeks and a shy smile. Wei Wuxian heard wolf whistles behind him and snickers followed by them. Some soldiers even winked at the lines of servants behind her. The servants were blushing at the attention, but Zhou Yán Rán's eyes were locked on him.

Something is wrong! Wei Wuxian thought His silver eyes glanced at the beautiful omega before the spectator. There was no sight of Wen Xu, but that didn't mean that the prince didn't have a spy in the audience. Putting on his charming smile, Wei Wuxian took the cup and offered steamed buns. He muttered a quiet thank you before facing his soldiers.

"Listen, you lot. Here are some food and drinks from the kitchen. Take them politely, and if I see one of you deliberately assaulting the servants, you'll face me. Do you understand?" While some soldiers replied to his command enthusiastically—probably thinking more about getting food than anything else—a brave hand raised up. The young soldier, with a cheeky smile on his face, glanced at the servants before loudly asking.

"Can we flirt?" His question was met with a loud cheer and laughter. Wei Wuxian could not help but grin at the question. The young soldier blushed as his friend pushed his shoulders playfully.

"Of course you can. But nothing more. Respect them or they won't feed us anymore."

Wei Wuxian sat down on the bench, biting on his steamed bun. He chewed slowly, savouring the flavour and warmth of the bun. His tongue didn't taste any different, and the tray he took the steamed bun from was passed to the soldier. There is no poison or some weird concoction in it. Well, he was too good to be killed, but still, he wondered. His silver eyes were eyeing the new head of the military kitchen. How was a mere servant suddenly promoted to this position so quickly? Where was the previous head?

The military kitchen was responsible for the water and food the soldiers consumed during training and battles. So, the head should have not only knowledge of herbs or food supply but also financial spending and time management skills. The training was tough, but the battles were tougher. And the worst of all? The Head of the Military Kitchen would have regular meetings with the generals to discuss these matters, which meant that Wei Wuxian and Zhou Yán Rán would spend time together alone in his office. If this omega was sent by Wen Xu to both seduce and spy on him, then Wei Wuxian needed to think of a strategy. He just hoped that Zhou Yán Rán wasn't too bright to catch the indirect implication of whatever question he threw at her.

Then, just as chains of questions flooded the general's brain, their eyes locked together. The pretty female omega smiled brightly and began to head to where the general was currently sitting.

Shit! He thought, quickly shallowing his bun. The omega walked fast and eagerly towards him; the tray in her hand still had some snacks in it. Just as she was getting closer, Xue Yang stood in front of her and grabbed the remaining snack, covering Wei Wuxian from her view. Grateful for the younger alpha, Wei Wuxian fled the scene, opting to hide in his office while silently thanking Xue Yang. He really owed a lot to that beast of his.

Xue Yang put his dirty laundry into the basket lazily before the alpha looked at the red ribbon he proudly tied to his bed. Finally, he would join General Wei Wuxian's special squad, an army called the Fierce Corpses for their impossible survival skills during battles. He was the youngest member and was so fucking proud. No one would dare underestimate his skill now. Not when he displayed it in front of everyone today.

"Ahh, I have tried this drill three times and I still fail." Xue Yang turned around and saw a beta soldier lying on his bed, mourning his unsuccessful attempt. Several soldiers in the barrack laughed while the newcomers, like Xue Yang himself, turned their attention to the beta.

"Well, we shouldn't give up, then. And even if we continue to fail, at least we get some benefits by regularly attending the event." An alpha soldier patted his leg. "Our physical ability improves significantly, right? Because we know what to expect, our bodies unconsciously work harder."

"Xue Yang, you're so lucky! You don't have any idea how envious we are." The beta turned his eyes to Xue Yang; his eyes were friendly, though with glints of mischief in them. Xue Yang found his body relaxed—he thought he would get teased—and smirked.

"Yeah. I won't die if I join that special squad. It comes with harsh training, of course, but I'd give everything to get married to my girlfriend and build a family." The alpha said it wistfully.

"You romantic bastard. But that's true." The beta soldier was sitting up now, his body hunched as he looked at the newcomers—the most eager crowd—as if they were little ducklings in need of an inspiring story. "Listen, joining General Wei's special squad is not only about rank and image but also good treatment, a high survival rate, and better payment. Well, good treatment extends to his army too, not just the special squad. General Wei would rather stave with his army than eat when the soldiers don't have enough food. If his soldier is falsely accused, he will fight for them and even come to the Emperor himself. He never looks down on anyone, no matter how invaluable they are to other people. He is a charismatic man with high morals and values and is very terrifying on the battlefield. No wonder he has omegas and betas running after him."

"I'm in Prince Wen Xu's army." Another alpha soldier has joined the conversation now. "And it's not the best experience in my life. I wish that I'd be transferred to General Wei's army soon. Prince Wen Xu isn't bad at fighting because he trained with General Wen Zhuliu when they were kids, but he's so impatient. I can't even remember how many times General Wen had to rescue us because of Prince Wen Xu's recklessness. Prince Wen Xu's motto is to attack fast, win immediately, and party after. I've never heard a more stupid motto in my life. This man will be the worst Emperor in Qishan's history."

"I'm in a worse situation than you. I'm in Prince Wen Chao's army." Another beta soldier joined the crowd. "At least, Prince Wen Xu can fight. Prince Wen Chao is completely useless on the battlefield and always has General Wen Zhuliu around. If we had the upper hand, he would prance arrogantly in front of the army, but if we were in a dire situation, he would be the first to run away. I pity General Wen, really; he is their babysitter."

Soon other soldiers began to share their awful experiences with their own superiors. Xue Yang smirked as he realised that almost every soldier respected and admired General Wei Wuxian. He wasn't wrong when he chose him as his idol. Their description of working under the two princes was horrible, and Xue Yang was glad that before he was sent to Wei Wuxian's army—and now he'd be in his special squad—he was under Wen Zhuliu's command. The man was okay, he guessed. When some soldiers began to lament about their kingdom's unfortunate fate of having Wen Xu as their Emperor soon, Xue Yang couldn't help but speak.

"If you ask me, based on everything you said about General Wei and the Princes, I must say that General Wei will make a much better Emperor than both Princes."

The whole barrack was silent when they heard that, but almost everyone had a thoughtful expression on their face. Some even nodded already, agreeing with his opinion. Well, if someone put Wei Wuxian, Wen Xu, and Wen Chao as three candidates for the Emperor and let people have a public election, people with brains would know which one to choose.

"Now that you say that, Xue Yang, I can't help but agree. How wonderful it will be to have someone like him as our Emperor?"

"Xue Yang, you're his pet. He brought you outside sometimes, right?" Xue Yang looked at the young alpha who slept beside him with a considerate look. Should he tell them? Their relationship wasn't a secret, but sometimes Xue Yang wanted to cherish the fact that he was personally chosen to spend time with the famous general.

"Yes. He bought me stuff because I reminded him so much of himself. You know, I've been an orphan in a military camp since a young age." He began, sitting straighter when others unconsciously leaned down to him, eager to hear his story. "Once, we passed these hungry street urchins who ate shit from trash, and General Wei Literary bought so much food for them. He told me that if he had power, he wanted to build many orphanages so neglected children would have roofs over their heads and free schools for unfortunate people, not just children but everyone who wanted to learn. Our kingdom is very rich. Why can't we afford a better life for our people?"

"That's very true. What are those ministers doing all this time? Don't tell me they gather those golds and silvers for themselves. No wonder they're very rich." A soldier Xue Yang didn't know said it from behind him. Seriously, Xue Yang needed to know his barrack mate's names if he didn't want to call them alpha, beta, another alpha, another beta, or a soldier. He sighed.

A senior soldier suddenly snapped his finger. "General Wei lamented about the corruption among the ministers once. Do you remember when our financial support was cut off years ago? We were fighting against two kingdoms at once at that time, and the minister wanted to starve us. He sent half of our usual supply. We should get a double, not a half."

"Yeah, he moaned, why had no one been suspicious and investigated it? Prince Wen Xu said that we should be grateful that the palace fed us when General Wei told him about it. How rude and ignorant of him!"

"Yeah, General Wei acted more like the Crown Prince than Prince Wen Xu."

"I'll support General Wei to be our Emperor if one day our princes die."

"That's a bad wish, but I agree."

Xue Yang smirked as the soldiers began to speak their minds about what would happen to their kingdom if General Wei Wuxian was their Emperor. Xue Yang could see Qishan in a better state than now—large and rich but with many enemies and rebels at the same time. The famous general wasn't who he thought he was at all. Sure, the whole playboy, badass, genius, and charming attitude were still there, but he was more than that. He befriended a random soldier like Xue Yang and a street urchin like A-Qing, and every time they went out, he always had money to spend on food—sometimes toys—to give to those unfortunate people on the street. General Wei Wuxian would indeed make a better Emperor than those arrogant princes.

It was late in the afternoon when Wei Wuxian arrived in the town of Riluo and immediately entered the Pine Restaurant, as the Qinghe Prince had written him. Lan Wangji was correct about the prince wanting him to meet in this town first instead of the abandoned village. The alpha huffed as he sipped his wine. His omega was correct about many things, but this one always annoyed him. His silver eyes were peeking from the curtain of his private cubicle, eyeing the people who came in and out of this restaurant.

Prince Nie Huaisang was an alpha, right? And from how he remembered Emperor Nie Mingjue, the Crown Prince had to resemble his older brother even a little, right?

'Prince Huaisang is a very clever young man despite his soft and vulnerable appearance," was what the omega said, so maybe he should find someone who looked like Emperor Lan Xichen? The Gusu Lan Emperor, according to Lan Wangji and rumours he had heard, was a rather masculine alpha, but he had this gentle aura and a soft smile on his ridiculously handsome face.

The alpha's eyes caught several potential Nie Huaisang candidates, but they didn't feel right. They were soft-looking alphas, but none looked vulnerable. Some were called different names by other people. One man sitting in the corner was pretty enough with his white robes and beautiful face. Wei Wuxian had to take a second look at him because he looked just like Lan Wangji from behind. Hmm. If only this was a date between him and Lan Wangji, he would feel so much better. He had been waiting for someone who looked like a prince for hours.

Then something caught his eye. A man in silver and black robes almost identical to those of Qinghe was entering the private venue several feet from him. He had a friendly aura and a soft smile. He didn't look vulnerable, but the alpha hadn't interacted with him, so he couldn't say. His long black hair was tied gracefully, and he moved with some grace that looked too polite and awkward. Wei Wuxian's eyes went to the alpha's hair to take a look at his headpiece, and sure enough, it was similar to the picture Prince Nie Huaisangha sent.

He does look soft, but not exactly vulnerable! He thought before slowly slipping into the man's private cubicle, surprising the alpha. Wei Wuxian smiled and took out Lan Wangji's forehead ribbon quickly before he was attacked. The man took a sharp breath at the sight of the ribbon before quickly leaving the restaurant, gesturing for Wei Wuxian to follow.

Where the hell is this? The general winced when they entered a village with an eerie smog all around. This felt like a cursed village instead of an abandoned one. Maybe this place is indeed cursed. The alpha just hoped that there was no ghost here. They entered a small hut, and there was someone there sitting with some wine jugs and snacks that looked unmatched by their surroundings. The man looked up and opened his fan before standing up. He was an alpha, judging from his scent, but he didn't look like one. He was small and much shorter than Wei Wuxian, probably just as tall as his neck, with soft-looking and flawless skin.

"Mister Yuandao?" The small man said, tilting his head and smiling. Wei Wuxian blinked at the man before Lan Wangji's voice rang in his head.

'Prince Huaisang is a very clever young man despite his soft and vulnerable appearance." But this man didn't look like an alpha at all. He-

"You look like an omega." Wei Wuxian blurted. He quickly snapped his mouth shut and cursed himself. What a way to greet an ally. Unexpectedly, the man laughed gleefully.

"I know, right? I'm too beautiful to be those rough, dirty, arrogant alphas. I lived with a bunch of them, and eww, they're very disgusting with their sweat and dirt on them." The man, Prince Nie Huaisang, sat down and nodded to the man beside Wei Wuxian. The man turned around, closed the door, walked to the prince, and stood silently behind him. His soft smile and awkward mannerism were gone, replaced by a stern face that reminded him a little of Wen Zhuliu.

"This is my right-hand man, Nie Zongui." Prince Nie Huaisang introduced him with a smile. The man didn't say anything, just stared down at the Qishan General. Wei Wuxian nodded reluctantly as his eyes moved from the right-hand man to Prince Nie Huaisang. The alpha prince was pouring two cups of wine and pushing one to the general before putting a plate of mooncakes between them. How in the world this man managed to bring these refreshments was a mystery for Wei Wuxian; he didn't want to know about it.

"So, Mister Yuandao." Prince Nie Huaisang began, and his fan moved gently under his chin. "I believe you have something to show me."

Wei Wuxian drank his wine; his eyes never left the smaller alpha, and he reached out into his robe, pulling out the beautiful blue Gusu Lan ribbon. Nie Huaisang's eyes followed his hand as he put the ribbon on the table. Slowly, Nie Huaisang took the ribbon and examined it. His eyes widened, his mouth opened, and the baffled expression was enough for Wei Wuxian to know that the small alpha confirmed that it wasn't fake.

Nie Huaisang's finger touched the metal cloud gently; his eyes were misty, and his voice cracked when he finally opened his mouth. "How's he?"

"He's fine. Well, as fine as he is trying to be." Wei Wuxian said It was clear that the alpha cared so much about Lan Wangji, and it brought warmth inside the Qishan general's chest. No matter how he felt about this man, it felt great to know that Lan Wangji had someone like him outside the family. The alpha looked up at Nie Zonghui, who was looking at his prince with a soft expression on his face, and made a decision. Lan Wangji trusted these men, so he would trust them as well. Wei Wuxian took off his mask.

"What the fuck?!" Wei Wuxian would have been rolling on the floor if it were a normal circumstance when he saw the reactions of Nie Huaisang and his man. Nie Huaisang's face looked like he saw a demon right in front of him—which wasn't exactly wrong with Wei Wuxian's reputation—and Nie Zonghui actually unsheathed his sword and pointed at him.

"I believe you know who I am then."

"Of course, I know who you are." Nie Huaisang said frantically His fan was pointed at the general shakily, and his eyes were blinking rapidly. Wei Wuxian ignored the tip of the sword on his neck, and instead, he grabbed the wine jar and poured himself a cup of wine. Nie Huaisang and Nie Zonghui looked at each other for a moment and seemed to have a silent conversation with their eyes. The next thing Wei Wuxian knew, Nie Zonghui's sword wasn't on him.

"You're Qishan Wen's famous general who helps expand the kingdom by invading many small kingdoms with your undefeatable army. Forgive me if I'm so shocked to know that you're currently planning a coup d'état now." The Prince of Qinghe shrieked as he pointed his fan at the calm general. He had to admit that Nie Huaisang had a point. The young alpha sighed and poured himself another cup of wine. He needed a lot of water to survive this meeting.

"I understand. Even I'm surprised with what I'm doing right now."

"Heh? And what did Wangji-Xiong say or do to convince you to do this crime?" Nie Huaisang looked calmer now, nibbling on a cake slowly as he kept his eyes on Wei Wuxian. "You can lose your head, and your family will receive harsh punishment as well for this."

"Mine and Lan Zhan's heads." And yeah, our family's life is hanging by a thread now. But if this's the best for everyone, then I guess we have to take the risk."

"Lan Zhan? "Do you call him Lan Zhan?"

"He asked me to."

"Okay." Nie Huaisang looked at him like he had grown two heads for a moment before nodding unsurely as if his head still couldn't digest it. Wei Wuxian wondered if he should tell him about the baby inside Lan Wangji's womb, unsurely deciding against it. He needed to discuss it with the Omega first before telling anyone, for that secret was too big to be shared with anyone.

"So what's the plan? "Or better yet, what have you done so far?" The Alpha Prince asked casually, giving Lan Wangji's forehead ribbon back to the general. Wei Wuxian narrowed his eyes as the Nie Second Prince casually flipped open his beautiful fan. The gentle wind began to play with his black hair.

"Wait, you don't find me suspicious at all? "Do you agree to work with me?"

"Wangji-Xiong gave it to you, didn't he?" Prince Nie Huaisang nodded at the forehead ribbon the general had in his hand. "That's enough for me to know that you can be trusted. I trust him with my life; he trusts you with his life, so I trust you. Not with my life yet, but with this rebellion."

Wei Wuxian looked at the sweet face of Prince Nie Huaisang with a little doubt. The agreement was too quick, as if the prince had something prepared before Wei Wuxian came up with his solution. Did the Qinghe Second Prince have something in mind, just like Lan Wangji? Prince Nie Huaisang took a cake and slowly nibbled on it.

"Back to my questions. What have you done so far?" Prince Nie Huaisang asked again, more impatiently this time. Wei Wuxian's body relaxed as he began to recall his accomplishments so far. It wasn't much, but at least he did something. Patience was a virtue, according to Lan Wangji, so he never thought of rushing things. Rushing things would only raise suspicion anyway, especially with someone like Wen Zhuliu around.

"Lan Zhan said that we need to attack from both inside and outside, and I agreed. I'm currently trying to make the Wen Princes hate each other. Wen Xu, with all his arrogance, was a paranoid man. He was afraid that his brother had a chance to be the Emperor despite being the second prince. We're using that." The alpha general chuckled when Prince Nie Huaisang's eyes sparkled with interest. The younger alpha leaned towards him, eager to find out more about it.

"The feud between the First and Second Princes must be a curse for the Qishan Kingdom. I mean, look at Wen Ruohan and his younger brother. What did you do?"

"The Emperor got a report that there was a rebellion forming in the north, and he wanted me to investigate. Wen Xu and Wen Chao volunteered, of course, and I managed to convince Emperor Wen Ruohan to send Wen Chao instead of Wen Xu. I think the bad blood had begun from how they insulted each other." Wei Wuxian raised an eyebrow, looking very smug. Prince Nie Huaisang nodded in approval.

"I expect Wen Xu to fuck this mission because he'll definitely spend most of his time in a brothel or another pleasure house. I hope it worsens the conflict between him and Wen Xu."

Nie Huaisang hummed thoughtfully as he sipped his tea. His flawless face had an ugly frown on it. "North? I don't hear anything about a rebellion in any of Qishan's northern territories. The last rebellion I heard was Guo Zimo."

"You're following the rebellion?"

"Don't be stupid, Wei-Xiong." Prince Nie Huaisang scoffed lightly, and Wei Wuxian suddenly felt very offended. "All kingdoms follow rebellion news. After all, our enemy's enemy is our friend. Have you heard that phrase before? Anyway, I do know there's a new rebellion formed, but it's not in the north, and they haven't even made any moves yet."

"How do you know?" Wei Wuxian asked curiously. Prince Nie Huaisang smiled and began giving a reason why Wei Wuxian wasn't sure he had heard correctly.

Prince Nie Huaisang and the leader of the new rebel army were fucking friends. What the hell?

Apparently, the new rebel army had nothing to do with Guo Zimo. The leader of the new rebellion was an ex-soldier of Qishan Wen who was left behind by his troop. He was unconscious during a rough battle because of his grave injury and was found by a villager's healer. The man fell in love with his saviour and decided to leave his soldier life behind, dedicating himself to being a good lover and an outstanding addition to the community. But unfortunately, he eventually experienced the cruelty of his Emperor's army, which took away his lover's sight. When Wei Wuxian asked how they became friends, the Qinghe Prince just smiled sweetly at him, and the general decided that he didn't want to know. Maybe he would find out later in the future.

"So, General Wei, this is what we're going to do. Let Wen Chao go to the north and investigate this rebel without any trouble. He loves brothels, right? I'll put someone there and feed Wen Chao with information. He isn't too bright, right? It'll be very easy. We're going to make this rumoured rebel a true rebel with us controlling it." Prince Nie Huaisang spoke confidently. Wei Wuxian had to say that he was impressed as Prince Nie Huaisang began to explain his plan further, describing carefully the details of who he would send and what information he would give, and soon together the two of them created a large, flexible scheme about it.

"If we want this to be successful, I'd like to meet this leader. Maybe not very soon, but I have to. I need to make sure we're always on the same page with goals and actions." The alpha general proposed, and Prince Nie Huaisang nodded his head in agreement, seemingly having the same idea as him. Before they departed, Nie Huaisang fished out thick letters for both Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, requesting that they read and discuss them together. It also had a personal letter for Consort Lan Wangji from Prince Nie Huaisang, which he wrote on the spot, for he had missed his childhood friend very much. It had been years since the last time they met.

"I'll give it to him. Don't worry, I won't read it, Prince Huaisang." The Qishan's general assured the small alpha. Despite how close Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian had become, the omega deserved his own privacy. Unless he himself decided to share his letter with Wei Wuxian, the alpha general would never prey. Wei Wuxian's jaw clenched when something suddenly popped into his head. He turned around, which caused both Nies to look at him curiously.

"Prince Huaisang, can you do something about Meng Yao? I have heard from Lan Zhan about him and, well," The image of Lan Wangji's heartbroken face haunted him so much that he couldn't even finish his sentence. This man, just like Wen Xu, had also done cruel deeds to Lan Wangji. So he had to pay as well.

"Oh, him." The way Prince Nie Huaisang's face darkened at the mention of the omega and how he practically spit out "him' was satisfying for Wei Wuxian. They both hated the man and wanted nothing but bad things for him. "Don't worry, General Wei. I'll find a way to bring down that snake. You busy yourself with Wangji-Xiong, Qishan Princes, and this rebellion."

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian put his head on his palms and groaned miserably. He was currently in his office with paperwork all over his desk. He had worked since very early this morning, with a few breaks here and there, but he felt the papers didn't decrease at all, even when it reached noon time. He was a war general; damn it, why should he have to do some paperwork? The alpha general didn't have that much patience to read all the reports. Sure, he loved to learn and read, but only interesting stuff caught his attention. He felt like he didn't need to know how many soldiers ate how many bowls at a restaurant during their spy mission. He wondered if these papers were for a war general, and how many more were for the Emperor. The thought made the alpha groan even louder.

Sure, Lan Wangji would help him, but as an Emperor, he should know what was going on in the Kingdom, and to do that meant not just talking to the ministers but also reading all reports. Wei Wuxian began to regret his life's decisions. He couldn't wait for the sky to turn dark because he had a very important appointment with a certain breathtaking omega.

"General Wei? May I have your time?" Wei Wuxian clenched his jaw when a familiar voice with a familiar sweet scent disturbed him. He peeked from his fingers, and sure enough, the pretty Head of the Military Kitchen was standing there. He didn't remember that he had scheduled to meet her this week. It was supposedly next week. She was wearing the uniform of the Head Kitchen, but the neckline was too low, exposing her cleavage to everyone.

"Lady Zhou, is there anything I can help you with?" He asked with a polite smile on his handsome face. The young woman gracefully walked into the room with some scrolls in her arms. She bowed a little before carefully arranging the scrolls on the table. Wei Wuxian frowned. He didn't notice him before, but her mannerisms weren't like those of those new servants. Young servants, because of their little experience and hard time adjusting to the palace's routine, usually acted a little clumsy and jumpy. But this young woman, who was younger than Wei Wuxian and said that she was from a little village, behaved really well. Too well. Either Zhou Yán Rán was a genius who adapted very quickly, or she was no ordinary young woman. Wei Wuxian leaned towards the latter.

"These are reports from the previous Head Kitchen for General Wei's army and special squad. Since I'm new here, I would love to learn this from General Wei himself. General Wei's army and special quad are very special for our kingdom; therefore, I would like to do my best to give the best service to your army."

The best service, huh? There was something in the way she talked that rubbed Wei Wuxian the wrong way. The young general hummed and stood up, walking around his desk before picking up one of the scrolls. It was a rejected proposal for his latest battle. He didn't see anything special about it, though.

"I would like to know why it was rejected. Maybe in the future, I can write a better proposal so that General Wei's army will be well-fed." Her breath was near his ear, and Wei Wuxian tried not to turn his head. He feared that he would accidentally kiss her because of how close she was to him. She was so close that he felt her firm breasts pressing against her forearm. The omega was leaking her sweet mixed rose and honey scent, engulfing the alpha with her irresistible scent. If Wei Wuxian were another alpha, he would definitely have jumped on the omega train. He moved away to grab a brush, putting a table between them.

"The previous head had marked what's wrong with this proposal, Lady Zhou. The amount of food asked for here was too much for only twenty soldiers. Well, it was a rushed battle, so it made sense a few things were overlooked." He said this, circling the correction. The omega didn't say anything but walked around the table confidently. She stopped beside the general and leaned down to see the paper, purposefully exhibiting her cleavage to him. Wei Wuxian closed his eyes and tried to think of a plan to escape from his own office. It was a big mistake, however, when two pairs of slender arms wrapped around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. Wei Wuxian's eyes snapped open, and she realised that the young woman had taken off her outer robes, showing off her gorgeous body in a very thin robe. Wei Wuxian's arms immediately grabbed her small waist, but before he could push her away, a cough separated the two.

Wei Wuxian turned around, and his eyes widened when he saw a female servant and Xue Yang standing right in front of his office. One was blushing furiously, while the other was frowning. Wei Wuxian immediately pushed Zhou Yán Rán away and threw her outer robe at her. It was a little harsh, but he was a little furious.

"Leave, Lady Zhou. Bring these scrolls with you. Some senior kitchen staff can help you with this." He said it with a final tone. The woman, thankfully, didn't say anything, but she smiled as she put on her outer robes, grabbed the scrolls, and walked out of his office. But not before sending him a smile.

"Your current squeeze?" Xue Yang asked, raising an eyebrow. Wei Wuxin huffed and grabbed a jug of water. The female servant who came with him was gone and probably went after Zhou Yán Rán. Xue Yang walked into the room, wincing at the smell of the sweet scent Zhou Yán Rán left behind.

"She seduced me," Wei Wuxian answered, rolling his eyes as he sat back and walked out of the office. He needed to get out of his office until the woman's scent was gone.

"And why are you angry about it?" The young alpha followed his superior, walking and skipping beside him to keep up with the general's fast pace. "Aren't you the alpha of this army? You had countless omega and beta lovers before. I actually expected you to order us to leave and not the head kitchen."

"It's because-" Wei Wuxian stopped himself before he could reveal anything to the teen alpha. He sighed and threw an arm around Xue Yang's shoulder. "Xue Yang, my boy, I was young. That time-"

"It was just last year that you made out with that beta soldier and probably slept with him after that."

"I was a year younger than time, okay?" Now, things change. I'm an adult now." Xue Yang snorted at the alpha's attempt to argue with the teen. Seriously, this young man was too smart for his own good. He really reminded Wei Wuxian of his young self—minus the whole wild lifestyle, of course—and he was kind of proud of him. Wei Wuxian sighed as he continued walking, dragging the teen alongside him.

"I'm bored with that kind of life, Xue Yang. Sure, it's nice to have those pretty omegas and betas lined up to have great times with you, but life isn't just about that. I realise that right now there are more important things to do for me."

"Such as?" The teen pressed. He clearly wasn't satisfied with the general's answer. Wei Wuxian tried not to smack the teen on the head because of his limitless curiosity.

"Well, they're confidential matters. I'll tell you one day." The older alpha put on an assuring smile. Technically, he didn't lie. He couldn't tell him that he was planning to take over a kingdom, could he?

As they walked, stares followed them, and Wei Wuxian couldn't shake the feeling of being the centre of the murmurs and gossip among those they passed. He glanced at the giggling maids, trying to find out why.

"I think they're talking about you and the new head kitchen." News travels fast." Xue Yang said, pointing at the servant who caught Wei Wuxian and her boss in a compromising position earlier. Wei Wuxian groaned. The news travelled fast because someone made sure it would. He needed to be careful when Zhou Yán Ran was around. Whatever Wen Xu asked her to do, seduction was definitely her main technique, and Wei Wuxian didn't know if he could use it to his advantage. His old self wouldn't mind at all, but now? Not really. He had to make sure his food and drink were safe from now on, in case they were mixed with drugs. Huh, his life was getting more complicated. Maybe he should eat at the Dafan Residence from now on, just to be safe. A sharp nudge on his chest broke him from his thoughts.

"So," Xue Yang smirked, opening his palm to the general and wriggling his finger teasingly. "I'm the winner of your drill. I'm here to collect my prize. I want ten large bags of sweets, a pouch of gold, several sets of beautiful robes for A-Qing, and two swords."

Wei Wuxian stared at him passively for a moment before locking the teen in a headlock, earning a protest from the teen. This teen beast would be the death of him.

The visit to the Willow Pavilion wasn't as nice as Wei Wuxian thought it would be. The atmosphere was icy when he slipped into the consort's chamber. There was no beautiful face or smile to greet him as usual. The alpha raised an eyebrow when the omega was silently sitting in the sitting room, pouring two cups of tea. Well, two cups means that he did expect him like usual, but it didn't explain the cold greeting. Wei Wuxian put up his usual charming smile and walked to the omega. He kissed him on the cheek before sitting down opposite the consort and drinking the tea.

"Ahhh, Lan Zhan's tea is, as usual, very amazing." He looked at the consort to see her reaction. None. The alpha general frowned, not knowing what was happening to the consort. Lan Wangji just glanced at him and pushed a plate of snacks towards him. Still no response. Wei Wuxian reached out his hand and tugged on the blue forehead ribbon. Still no response. So Wei Wuxian put on his best weapon. He pouted.

"Lan Zhan!"

"..."

"Lan Zhan!"

"..."

"Lan Zhan, why are you ignoring me? Pay attention to me." The alpha general pouted harder, and finally, Lan Wangji let out a sigh and looked at Wei Wuxian's ridiculously handsome face.

"Wei Ying seems to have all the attention for himself this whole day. I don't know if he needs more."

"Huh? Lan Zhan, what're you talking about?" Wei Wuxian frowned when he heard that. He didn't recall receiving an inch of anyone's attention at all. Unless Lan Wangji meant him being surrounded by five soldiers during training today and Xue Yang's increasing demand for his prize as attention, He tugged on the omega's ribbon, and the consort finally explained it in two sentences.

"Wei Ying seemed to have enough attention from the Military Head Kitchen earlier. I don't think he needs more." Wei Wuxian blinked at that, and he slowly grinned. Lan Wangji saw his face and turned his face away from the alpha, clearly sulking because of the information he heard. Wei Wuxian pressed his lips together to hold back laughter.

Ah, is Lan Zhan jealous? Wei Wuxian suddenly felt very giddy.

"Ohh... Lady Zhou, you mean? Well, she did visit me earlier." Wei Wuxian enjoyed the way Lan Wangji's beautiful face darkened. His golden eyes glinted dangerously, and his jaw clenched. The consort raised his cup and sipped the cold tea silently; his eyes were still blazing. Wei Wuxian cocked an eyebrow and waited until the consort swallowed the liquid—he didn't want him to choke, of course—before dropping the bomb.

"And she kissed me." The teacup was slammed onto the table with enough force for its contents to spill. Wei Wuxian chuckled, took the cup away, and then grabbed the pale hand into his. His gaze softened at the sight of the string-red bracelet and the red agate Wu Lou bracelet that adorned the omega's slim wrist. He planted a kiss on Lan Wangji's palm before putting it on his cheek, leaning his face against the soft skin of the omega. The consort's face softened, and soon his thumb caressed Wei Wuxian's cheek, softly and gently, enough for the general to be sure that the consort's anger was decreasing.

"Ahh, Lan Zhan, don't be jealous. She forced herself on me." The general whined pitifully, fluttering his eyelashes as he looked like a wounded kid. "I believe Wen Xu sent her to seduce me. I don't know why, but he seems to be very interested in my sexual life. He had sent her and several others before, but I swear I didn't do anything with them. I swear on our baby. Lan Zhan is the only one in my heart. And he'll always be the only one."

Lan Wangji's golden eyes bore into Wei Wuxian's silver ones. "Always be the only one."

"Yes."

"No future concubines?"

"Only Lan Zhan. No concubine."

"Good."

The smugness in the consort's tone almost sent the general into a fit of laughter. Almost. Wei Wuxian let go of Lan Wangji's hand, knelt in front of the pregnant omega, and pinched his chubby cheeks. "Aww, Lan Zhan, you're so cute when you're jealous. Ahh, so cute, like a mantou. I want to bite."

"Wei Ying!" Lan Wangji pushed the alpha away when, unexpectedly, Wei Wuxian actually bit his cheek with his lips. The omega's ears were blazing red as he touched his cheek with his palm, looking at the laughing general with a baffled expression. The general put up his hands in surrender, still laughing for a while before it turned to a soft smile.

"Only Lan Zhan." His eyes moved to the big belly in front of him. He rubbed it lovingly, put his ear on it, and let out his alpha scent. "And our little radish here."

A comfortable silence filled the room as the two enjoyed each other's presence. Wei Wuxian's head was still on Lan Wangji's belly; his eyes were closed as the omega ran his fingers through his hair, his alpha scent that enfolded the three of them providing a safe and sound feeling for the latter two.

"So, how was the meeting going?" Lan Wangji asked softly. What they had right now was wonderful, but they shouldn't ignore the serious matter, which is another reason they met once a few weeks.

"Oh, Prince Huaisang gave this to me." The alpha pulled out the thick envelopes from his robes and put the personal letter in front of Lan Wangji. He dragged his chair closer to Lan Wangji as the omega looked at the envelopes—both in front of him and the ones in Wei Wuxian's hand—curiously.

"That one is a personal letter for you. I promise it's still sealed nicely. These are for us to discuss together. They're also still sealed because I'm waiting to open them with you." Wei Wuxian finally unsealed the envelopes and arranged them on the table. There were three envelopes, each with different markings. One with a cloud symbol, one with a lotus, and one with a phoney. These were symbols of the other three great kingdoms.

Wei Wuxian opened them one by one as Lan Wangji put his personal letter in the drawer of his vanity before coming back to sit beside Wei Wuxian. The letters contained names, numbers, and some descriptions.

"These are the current situations in the 3 Great Kingdoms," Wei Wuxian said, shaking his head at the information they got. That sneaky prince didn't include Nie here, of course.

The Gusu Lan Kingdom was quiet, with Emperor Lan Xichen ruling it alongside his Empress. However, the Emperor had been absent because of an unexplained sickness from some delegation meetings and left everything to the Empress to deal with them. The Empress was quite capable, but the Kingdom was rapidly losing the respect of its people and allies for the newly increased tax law. A large sum of money and resources had been sent to Qishan to 'keep the relationship between Gusu and Qishan thriving'. The Grandmaster of Gusu, Lan Qiren, was reportedly suffering from a lung infection and had been coughing blood. Furthermore, Empress Meng Yao had proposed to tear down the Jingshi Pavilion, claiming it was just a futile vacant building, and rebuild a new, more beneficial building, like weapon storage. Lan Wangji was fuming when they finished reading the letter, and the hatred Wei Wuxian had for this Empress increased very significantly.

There was a shift of power in the Yunmeng Jiang Kingdom, with Empress Yu's role becoming more prominent due to the decreasing health of Emperor Jiang Fengmian. The Emperor had been gravely injured and never fully recovered during a war between Qishan and Meishan Yu years ago. No one was surprised when Meishan managed to win with Yunmeng Jiang, and several smaller kingdoms defended it. The Qishan army was led by Prince Wen Chao, and its defeat showed his inability to lead an army. Emperor Wen Ruohan had expressed his disappointment but hadn't done anything for Yunmeng so far. Yunmeng's Crown Prince began to get some praise for his leadership, but he was easily influenced by older and more influential figures. He needed a right-hand man with a clearer head to help him lead his kingdom.

The Lanling Jin Kingdom is in trouble right now because of Crown Prince Jin Zixuan's sudden illness. Prince Jin Zixuan was the only heir of Lanling Jin and unfortunately unmarried, for he dissolved his betrothal to Princess Yunmeng. If Jin Zixuan died, then there would be a civil war in the kingdom, and each would try to seize the throne for himself, declaring Jin Guanshang's reign to be too vulnerable without an heir.

"Doesn't Jin Guangshan have a lot of illegitimate sons?"

"Countless, but like other kingdoms, only a legitimate heir can ascend the throne, and unfortunately for Lanling, unlike other kingdoms, illegitimate children will always remain as ones. They won't receive any acknowledgement, title, or power, even though everyone knows they are Emperor Jin's children." Lan Wangji explained. Wei Wuxian nodded his head, crossing his arms in front of his chest as his silver eyes scanned the letter.

"Do you think someone poisoned Jin Zixuan?"

"It could be. Lanling is the second-richest kingdom after Qishan, so it won't be a surprise." 

Wei Wuxian felt an uneasiness inside him. If this heir's trouble took a toll on Lanling Kingdom's political situation, would his sister be alright? After all, officially, Wen Qing was betrothed to Jin Zixun, the Crown Prince's cousin. If another Jin took over the throne, what would happen to the marriage arrangement? If it would dissolve, then it was good, but if

"Wei Ying? Are you alright?" Lan Wangji's soft voice snapped him from his thoughts. The alpha forced a smile and nodded. The omega touched his shoulder, clearly not satisfied with the response.

"I'm thinking about my sister. She's-" Wei Wuxian stopped and looked at the consort. "I never told you about why I agreed on to-um-to."

"Wei Ying can tell me when he's ready for it." Lan Wangji's ever-patient reply made Wei Wuxian feel really bad because the omega had shared his painful story and never asked for Wei Wuxian's in return. The omega seemed to notice the shift in mood in the general, for he quietly gathered the letters and put them away for further discussion. Wei Wuxian held the omega's hand tightly before he took a deep breath and told his reason.

Lan Wangji cradled Wei Wuxian's head in his bosom as the alpha finished his story. Wei Wuxian closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around the omega's delicate body. He felt something lift in his chest—a burden he didn't realise he had kept all this time. The general raised his head, looking at the omega's golden orbs. His eyes moved from the beautiful eyes to the omega's plump lips. Lan Wangji seemed to catch the intention, for he leaned down and captured Wei Wuxian's lips in a kiss.

It was a chaste kiss before immediately turning into a more heated and passionate one once Wei Wuxian's tongue explored Lan Wangji's mouth. Wei Wuxian's hand roamed Lan Wangji's body before stopping at the sash and taking it off gently. Wei Wuxian's fingers made their way to the rest of the omega's clothes, letting them fall off the consort's shoulders and falling onto the hard ground one by one until he was clad only in his undergarment. Lan Wangji's delicate arms were on Wei Wuxian's shoulder, fisting the fabrics tightly.

The mixed smell of their arousal filled the chamber as their kiss grew desperate. Lan Wangji's scent flared, demanding for his alpha to take care of his needs, and it made the alpha growl. The alpha's hand slipped inside the consort's inner pants, cupping and rubbing his pussy. Lan Wangji mewled and leaned to the touch. He was already so wet, and his sweet scent made everyone dizzy. His lips quickly moved from Lan Wangji's lips down to his neck, sucking the scent gland there. It took everything for the alpha not to bite the smooth skin or leave marks there. Wei Wuxian took out his hand and pressed his forehead against Lan Wangji's; their eyes locked into each other.

"Lan Zhan, I'll take care of you."

The alpha kissed the omega's forehead ribbon before his lips moved down to his nose and then his lips. Wei Wuxian sighed when the omega opened his pretty mouth, and soon their tongues battled for dominance. Wei Wuxian lifted Lan Wangji and laid him carefully on the soft mattress, trying to put him in a comfortable position given his current condition. Wei Wuxian sat between the omega's legs, staring down at Lan Wangji with a different look on his face right now. The first time they were in this position, it was a wild night full of passion without any time for appreciating each other's beauty. Now, Wei Wuxian had a chance to do it.

Lan Wangji was the most beautiful person Wei Wuxian had ever met. His soft jade skin was glowing under the dim light of the room. The slight flush on his ears slowly spread to his cheeks and neck. His round stomach was where their baby was growing healthily inside. Lan Wangji was simply stunning, and the alpha was going to spoil him tonight.

The alpha began to pull down Lan Wangji's inner pants, and his nose was assaulted by the omega's sweet scent of slick coming out of the omega. Lan Wangji's sandalwood scent embraced him like a thick blanket that trapped the alpha in very uncomfortable heat. He slowly spread Lan Wangji's legs and began to lick the pussy greedily. Sweet moans escaped from Lan Wangji's pretty mouth, and the alpha wanted to hear him more.

"Wei Ying," The way Lan Wangji moaned his name made Wei Wuxian's mind go crazy. He put his tongue inside the sweet cave and teased the sensitive wall, earning a louder moan from the omega. Lan Wangji came hard, showering his mouth with the omega's sweet juice. Wei Wuxian licked him clean before sitting up and taking off his clothes. Silver eyes met with golden ones as the alpha tossed his robes carelessly on the floor.

The alpha rubbed the swollen stomach softly before he took a cushion and put it under Lan Wangji's hip. He was on his knees, staring at the omega on the bed, as he stroked himself. He smirked when Lan Wangji was staring at his huge cock; his pupils were blown wide with lust and desire. The omega unconsciously spread his legs wider, impatient to have his alpha inside him. Wei Wuxian entered slowly, enjoying every inch of his cock sliding into the wonderful warmth. He moaned as he bottomed up, his eyes closed, and his mouth opened. It felt so fucking good, and the alpha resisted the urge to move. He needed to be careful with Lan Wangji's condition.

"Wei Ying, move, please." The alpha opened his eyes and found Lan Wangji's pleading face. The alpha didn't immediately move. His silver orbs savoured the breathtaking view in front of him. Lan Wangji, with his flushed face, hooded eyes, pale neck, and chest, triggered the inner alpha inside him. It wanted him to claim this omega, bite that soft skin on his neck, and mark him to be his forever.

"Wei Ying..." Oh, Wei Wuxian could listen to the consort moaning his name over and over every day. He moved slowly, thrusting in and out in a lazy movement. His hands gently held the omega's waist, not too tight to form a bruise. He leaned down and kissed the omega sweetly, trying his best to reach the soft, plump lips despite the big belly between them.

"Faster, Wei Ying, faster." The omega begged, thrusting up slightly. Wei Wuxian nuzzled and kissed Lan Wangji's belly lovingly without changing his pace. No wonder the omega was very impatient.

"Hush, Lan Zhan. We're going to do it nice and slow." The alpha thrust in very slowly, halfway through, before he gave a sharp snap with his hip.

"Ahh... nice." Lan Wangji gasped when Wei Wuxian's cock pressed his pleasure button. Wei Wuxian let out a chuckle as he carefully angled himself so he could bring his omega to its peak.

"Yes, nice and slow."

Wei Wuxian's mind was a little cloudy as his bleary-eyed and opened his eyes the next morning. There was no warmth beside him, and he noticed that the bed's curtains were pulled down, hiding Wei Wuxian from view. The memory of the previous night brought a dopey smile to his face. He didn't know how many times they did it in different positions because it turned out that horny Lan Wangji was a very different kind of Lan Wangji. Not that the alpha was complaining, really; it was a very welcome and unexpected surprise. The smell of an incense burner reached his nose, and he took a deep breath. It was a nice smell, albeit a very strong one, and the alpha guessed that its purpose was to cover their post-sex scent.

"Lady Wen, you're early. Xiu Mei and Chun Ling haven't even been here yet."

Lady Wen? Ahhh, Wen Qing! Wei Wuxian suddenly became wide awake. His sister was here, probably standing either in front of the door or in the middle of the room. No wonder Lan Wangji pulled down the curtains and burned probably the strongest incense he owned. The alpha moved closer to the curtain and slowly peeked from it—it was a very risky move, but he blamed his curiosity—to see his sister was facing his way. He quickly moved away and held his breath.

"Consort Lan, please forgive me, but I'm here to inform you that all healers are summoned by Healer Wen Lei today for an urgent matter. I just received the news half an hour ago, so I came as quickly as possible. I'm afraid we cannot have a lesson today."

Wei Wuxian frowned when he heard that. What kind of urgent message required his sister to be ready very early in the morning? And what was this lesson they supposedly had today? The alpha once again moved closer to the curtain, now carefully peeking through a smaller gap. Wen Qing was walking towards the door now; her back was to the general. The alpha felt his heart almost stop when she turned around suddenly and took a deep breath.

"Lady Wen?" Lan Wangji asked gently, but Wei Wuxian heard the nervousness in his voice. The omega was as afraid as he was right now, fearing that the female omega would find out that her brother was in the very same room as them.

"I thought I smelled..." She stopped, frowned, and shook her head. "It must be just my imagination. Please forgive me, Consort Lan; I'll take my leave now."

Wei Wuxian let out a relieved sigh when the door was finally closed. The bed curtains were drawn open, and the alpha was greeted by the most beautiful view he had ever seen: his pregnant omega glowing under the morning sun with a soft smile on his beautiful face.

Dear Mr Yuandao,

I have sent two women to the north to be prostitutes at a brothel called The Peony House. My spy told me that Prince Wen Chao is currently staying in an inn just a block away from the brothel. Expect him to return to Qishan in seven days with several pieces of information that my women feed him. Encourage the Emperor to take careful action against the new rebellion.

The leader of this rebellion agreed to meet you. He is a very stubborn man and hates everything related to Qishan, so I haven't told him your true identity because I'm afraid he will immediately refuse. I'll leave it to you to explain everything very clearly, not only to convince him but also some others that he will bring. I hope you won't be surprised when you meet them. I myself was shocked, but if we manage to get them to wholeheartedly support us, this will be a very great advantage to our plan.

Oh, this new rebellion is called the Sunshot Campaign.

True enough, the Second Prince of Qishan did come back a week later, requesting an audience with the Emperor. It was the shortest spy mission Wei Wuxian had ever witnessed, and he had to give a thumbs up to whoever Nie Huaisang had planted at that brothel, for Wen Chao felt confident enough to go back very soon. The rest of the occupants in the room—Emperor Wen Ruohan, Prince Wen Xu, and General Wen Zhuliu—sought to have the same feeling, judging from their faces.

"Imperial Father, I have returned to deliver some great news about the new rebellion in the north." The Second Prince bowed deeply before opening a scroll. Wen Chao glanced at his older brother and smirked, very confident with his news.

"There is indeed a new rebel army in the north." The Emperor leaned forward from his throne, surging Wen Chao's confidence. "The army is still very small, just about thirty rebels, and they move from one location to another to get away from Qishan's patrols. A leader is a young man; some say that he is the lost son of Guo Zimo. My spy said that the current hiding place was an abandoned village called Kangbashi Village. It's avoided by the local people because of the legend about curses. It is a perfect hideout for them."

Guo Zimo. Wei Wuxian smirked as the name of the most famous rebel was mentioned. With how crazy the Emperor wanted to destroy anything related to the rebel and his own beliefs about Guo Zimo, it was easy to make Wen Ruohan believe the report. Another abandoned village, huh? Prince Nie Huaisang was really fond of it.

"That's a good report, A-Chao. I'm surprised you can get such detailed information." The emperor stroked his beard. Wen Chao was glowing at the praise, while, to no one's surprise, Wen Xu was furious about the achievement. "What do you think, General Wei?"

Four faces looked at him expectantly, and Wei Wuxian took his time thinking of an appropriate, unsuspicious response. He bowed before he replied, "This humble general thinks that Prince Wen Chao has done a very admirable job in gathering the mission himself. However, since we're dealing with rebels, this lowly general thinks that an additional investigation should be conducted. To confirm the real number of rebels because, based on my knowledge, it always increases. Furthermore, since Prince Wen Chao just said that this army was actively moving, there's a chance that they're moving while we're discussing them now. With this investigation, we'll have more accurate information."

Nothing could be denied or complained about in Wei Wuxian's logical reasoning. Dealing with rebels wasn't a walk in the park; even Wen Chao himself knew about it. The Emperor nodded his head thoughtfully before stating Wen Zhuliu's name, enough for the stoic general to know his job. Wei Wuxian prayed that Nie Huaisang had set up a perfect fake hideout in this cursed abandoned village. With the highest-ranking general dismissed, Wei Wuxian felt like he had no purpose lingering around the throne room. So he bowed and excused himself.

"You seem in a good mood, General Wei?" Wen Xu's annoying voice stopped Wei Wuxian. "Fuck anyone lately? I heard a rumour about you and that pretty head of the military kitchen. You fucked her in your office, huh? Getting tired of your chamber?"

Wei Wuxian put on a fake smile. "Hmm... Lady Zhou, you mean? I'm sorry to disappoint you, Prince Wen Xu, but we didn't do anything at all."

The prince barked a disbelieving laugh, "Really? You? Is she not pretty enough? I heard many soldiers are infatuated with her. She makes a good bedwarmer."

"With that bold exclamation about Lady Zhou, it seems Your Highness talks based on experience." The general alpha's tone was sharp, full of challenge to the prince. Wen Xu narrowed his eyes, clearly recognising the bait because of his slip.

"Well, she isn't as good as my consort, though." Wen Xu smirked. "My consort was a wonderful lady, actually, General Wei. I know you told me that he was more than fine, but I didn't expect him to be that wonderful. I start to regret not knowing sooner. Why did you keep that information from me? I shared him with you; at least you shared your experience with me."

It took everything in Wei Wuxian not to maul the prince in front of him. If he reacted, it would end badly. It wasn't only about him. It was about him, Lan Wangji, their family, and their unborn child. So he kept silent.

"I know you're such a softie while fucking your lovers. I've heard from your previous lovers how you indulged them. So I bet you were going very softly to him—very slowly, very disgustingly gently. But you should see how arousing it is to have Lan Wangji writhing and crying under you. From pleasure, of course." The smug tone in his voice made the alpha general want to punch him very badly. The prince smirked at him and raised a mocking eyebrow before leaving the general alone. Wei Wuxian glared at the back of Wen Xu's head, cursing him with every single curse he had known. It was a good thing he had known about his assault because if he had just heard about it now, he would definitely have beaten the Crown Prince to a pulp.

It didn't take long for Wen Zhuliu to come back with a confirmation that everything Wen Chao had reported was true, and fortunately, the new rebel hadn't moved from their hideout yet. Prince Wen Chao was glowing with pride when Emperor Wen Ruohan looked at him proudly. He was so proud that he gifted some money for the second price. Wei Wuxian glanced at the oldest prince, and his red face was so satisfying that the general let out a snort.

With the accurate information and the praise came the overconfident attitude of Wen Chao. The Second Prince flaunted his successful mission to everyone—a very expected behaviour from him—from servants to concubines to soldiers; everyone had heard about it. When the Emperor raised the topic of sending a troop to take care of the rebel, to no one's surprise, the beta prince immediately volunteered himself, saying that he was the right person to lead the army because he knew everything about the rebel. In addition, he also requested that General Wen Zhuliu not join him in this attack, saying that this was just a small number of rebels. Thirty rebels were nothing for Qishan's soldiers, and so two days later, Prince Wen Chao departed from the Nightless City Palace with approximately fifty soldiers under his command.

And these fifty soldiers were killed by the rebels very quickly, leaving only Prince Wen Chao, who ran away when he realised they had lost, as the last member of the troop. Worse, the rebels had taken over ten villages and three towns in the north, indirectly announcing that the rebels were more than just thirty. There is no way this small group managed to do it in just two weeks. Emperor Wen Ruohan was furious, not only for the loss of the villages and towns but also for the cowardice of his second son.

Dear Prince Nie Huaisang,

I'd like to meet your rebels very soon. Wen Ruohan was furious because of Wen Chao's defeat. He's sending Wen Xu and Wen Zhuliu next week. Since they don't know the number of rebels, Wen Xu is planning to bring about 100 soldiers with him. They're going to attack your hideout in Kangbashi village.

Yuandao

Dear Mr Yuandao,

Meet us at Chenggong Village in two days. As I've written, you'll meet not just the leader but other people as well. We'll talk about everything when we meet.

We're moving the rebels to another hideout. May Wen Xu and his general enjoy their free stay at that cursed village.

Nie Huaisang

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian entered a small inn at the corner of Chenggong Village, his silver eyes searching for a sight of Nie Zonghui, and soon the alpha was seen sitting at the corner of the inn in a very simple plain robe and simple hair knot without any headpiece. He looked like a decent, hardworking young man, with no general aura at all. The Qishan General slowly walked to the man and cleared his throat. Once the general saw him, he stood up and walked out of the inn. Wei Wuxian had taken that as 'follow me" in silent language.

They headed to the outskirts of the village, to a small, seemingly innocent house with a large yard full of chickens and vegetable patches. A woman was sweeping silently in front of the house and nodded silently at the Nie General. Wei Wuxian raised an eyebrow at the greeting. It seemed that there was something about this rebellion that was different and probably more dangerous than previous ones.

They entered the house and were soon greeted by Prince Nie Huaisang, who was drinking a cup of tea, and three people in plain brown robes with him. Prince Nie Huaisang looked at him brightly as if he were his saviour, someone who would help him escape from his predicament. Wei Wuxian's eyes moved from the Qinghe's Prince to the three people—no, three alphas—standing behind him.

One alpha caught his eye. Unlike the other alphas who looked at him with clear suspicions, this alpha was calmly staring at him with no judgement at all—something that reminded him of Lan Wangji—as if waiting for Wei Wuxian to reveal himself willingly. He knew this alpha. Despite the plain robes, simple hair knot, and fully covered sword, there was no way he would mistake the beautiful face and confident aura this alpha had. This alpha was General Luo Qingyang, the infamous female alpha general of Lanling Jin Kingdom. Wei Wuxian had experienced a really hard slap on the cheek when the Jin delegation visited Qishan years ago, back when they were just mere soldiers.

Wei Wuxian unconsciously touched his cheek, and a wince was visible on his masked face. This gesture caught the Lanling General's attention, and she suddenly smirked. She calmly walked forward—her eyes never left the Qishan General—and stopped in front of him.

"What a surprise to see you here, General Wei Wuxian." Her greeting earned a gasp from the other two alphas. Wei Wuxian huffed a laugh and quickly took off his mask, smiling as his eyes met hers.

"I can say the same for you, General Luo."

"I'm here to meet, according to Prince Nie Huaisang, the most important ally." General Luo Qingyang smirked, looking at him amusedly. "I cannot see you matching that description. I should have known it was you when Prince Nie Huaisang said someone named Yuandao."

"Aww, don't be like that, General Luo." Wei Wuxian chuckled and wriggled his eyebrows. "We're a match, you see, Yuandao and Mianmian."

That caused Nie Huaisang to choke on his tea, sending him into alarming coughs. The three alphas in the room looked at the two generals in disbelief—well,  at Wei Wuxian, to be exact—but they were standing face to face. Nie Zonghui shook his head and headed to his prince to pat his back, trying to rescue the Qinghe's heir from his deadly coughing.

"Come sit down, Wei-Xiong." Once the cough was gone, Prince Nie Huaisang excitedly gestured for the general to sit. Wei Wuxian smiled and headed to the table, sitting down across from the prince. General Luo sat beside him, while the other two occupied the other sides of it. Nie Zonghui, unsurprisingly, sat down on a chair directly behind his prince.

"Wei-Xiong? My, my, getting really attached, huh, Prince Huaisang?" General Luo smiled, pouring herself a cup of tea. Nie Huaisang just fanned himself more with a smile on his face.

"He's our important ally, isn't he? We should be attached."

"Until he betrays us for his Emperor." The young alpha sitting beside General Luo sneered. Wei Wuxian tried not to roll his eyes at the impolite behaviour. The young alpha was younger than him, probably around Lan Wangji's age, and there was an arrogant aura surrounding him. It wasn't a genuine one, so either it was a defence mechanism or he tried so hard to look superior to others. With Nie Hongzui, General Luo, the quiet black-robed man, and himself together in the room, Wei Wuxian didn't blame him. This was normal behaviour when alphas were stuck together in a room.

"So, who are these gentlemen?" Wei Wuxian looked at the other two with interest.

"This is Song Lan, the leader of the Sunshot Campaign." Prince Nie Huaisang gestured to the silent man beside him. Song Lan's dark eyes met his silver ones, and after a moment, the man bowed at him. Wei Wuxian bowed deeply back, wondering what the ex-Qishan soldier thought about Qingshan General here.

"Greetings, Young Master Song Lan."

"I'm not a young master, General Wei. I believe Prince Huaisang has told you about me." The man spoke stoically as he glanced at Prince Nie Huaisang. "I was Qishan's ex-soldier, and truthfully, I heard about you during my days in the military. You didn't know me because you were just this young teen flaunting his genius to everyone. I wasn't surprised that you grew up to be a high-ranking general."

Wei Wuxian didn't know what to say. This man was Qishan's ex-soldier, so of course he had heard about his wild teenage year, but as amusing as his teenage years were, he wasn't really proud of them. The general bowed his head without a word; he didn't want to say the wrong thing. His eyes then moved to the youngest alpha in the room. His silver eyes caught sight of a purple bell, and he was pretty sure he had seen that bell before. Where? He didn't know. Nie Huaisang seemed to notice his attention to the bell and immediately introduced the alpha.

"This one is Prince Jiang Wanyin of Yunmeng Jiang Kingdom."

Now, that got Wei Wuxian's attention. Yunmeng Jiang, according to the letter Nie Huaisang gave him, wasn't exactly in a bad place. The war between Qishan and the Meishan Yu Kingdom was three years ago, and the Yunmeng Jiang Kingdom had given the most help because it was where Empress Yu was from. However, until now, Wen Ruohan hadn't made a move towards either Yunmeng Jiang or Mishan Yu, and it seemed that for the Royal Family of Yunmeng, it made them anxious rather than calm. very understandably so because there's no way Wen Ruohan wouldn't want revenge for Qishan's defeat.

"Oh, I'd like to hear why this highly admired general is here," he said, smiling at General Luo before turning to Prince Jiang Wanyin. "And the Crown Prince of Yunmeng wants to join this rebellion."

"We're here not to join the rebellion, General Wei. Let's put that on the table first." General Luo said, earning a nod from Prince Jiang Wanyin. "We won't lend our army, stand in front of the rebels, or challenge Emperor Wen Ruohan in front of his Nightless City Palace. We're here to support this rebellion and make sure that once everything is done, nothing will stray from the initial purpose of the rebels."

The Qishan General chuckled and almost rolled his eyes at the statements. "Sounds like joining for me. Indirectly, but still, join. Do you want to support this rebellion, you said? Make sure this will stay on your path, you said. So what will you both give to make these happen? Will you just watch Young Master Song Lan's army die on the battlefield? If he's captured, will you two just watch from afar as the Emperor beheads him publicly like he has done to Guo Zimo? What will Young Master Song Lan get in return for this? Rebellion is a very serious crime, General Luo. At least he should get everything for doing everything, right?"

"Of course not!" Prince Jiang Wanyin scoffed. "We're going to provide everything to Young Master Song Lan and his soldiers. Food, medicine, and clothes I'm a prince; I can do it without anyone questioning."

"What an abuse of power."

"For a better future for my people? Yes." Two pairs of eyes locked into each other, two alphas challenged each other, and no words were exchanged. Wei Wuxian couldn't deny that the support of both Prince Jiang Wanyin and General Luo was very essential for the rebellion. Prince Jiang Wanyin broke the silence first by describing the current situation in the Yunmeng Kingdom that Nie Huaisang didn't include in his letter.

"My father is dead because of the war; that's why everything is handled by my mother now. We don't disclose this information, of course, because it'll make our kingdom very vulnerable to the enemy. An emperor, no matter how invalid he is, is still the face of a kingdom. If an emperor falls, then the kingdom will fall. I'm not stupid, General Wei; your Emperor hasn't done anything to my kingdom so far, but he will one day, sooner or later, and you know it. I'm here to make sure it won't happen."

Wei Wuxian's eyes widened at the revelation, and he immediately looked at Prince Nie Huaisang, who was looking at the Yunmeng Prince in surprise and clearly didn't know about this one. The Qishan General turned to the only alpha female who didn't seem surprised, so she knew then.

"I see. I'm sorry for your loss, Prince Jiang Wanyin." The alpha bowed his head. "And yes, Emperor Wen Ruohan'll definitely try to take over your kingdom soon. If not through an open battle, then through a political one. We never know."

"I believe you have heard about Prince Zixuan's sudden illness, General Wei. My theory is that someone tries to poison him slowly but is deadly. His condition keeps changing from bad to worse every week, and our healers are pretty confused about it. However, one thing is for sure: someone wants Prince Jin Zixuan dead, and I was forbidden to do an investigation by my own Emperor." General Luo's grip on her cup tightened. "If there's someone my Emperor will definitely obey, then it must be someone from Qishan or someone who's related to Qishan."

"It can be someone who has dirt on Jin Guangshan to be able to blackmail him like this. Or maybe it's karma for your peacock prince. He's so rude, looking down at everyone as if he's the best of the best, so maybe he should have known it coming. Serve him right." Prince Jiang Wanyin said it unexpectedly. There was something sharp in his tone. It was nothing malicious, but an annoyed tone was clearly evident in it as if he wanted everyone to know that he had a clear grudge against Lanling Jin's Crown Prince.

"My kingdom is on the verge of a civil war, Prince Jiang Wanyin." She snarled. Her alpha scent flared, very angry at the insensitive comment of the Yunmeng's prince. "I understand your dislike of my Crown Prince, but wishing him dead is very shameful behaviour from a Prince."

"I didn't mean it that way. I was just saying that he should track down those he had hurt. Maybe that's the culprit."

"Are you saying that I should be suspicious of you? You hate him so much for hurting your sister, right?"

"How fucking dare you! I would never do something like that!"

"Exactly! No matter what he has done. He hasn't done anything that makes people actually want him dead. Of all his ego, mistakes, and ill-behaviour, the worst thing he has done was make Princess Jiang Yanli cry when he dissolved the betrothal. Nothing more."

Wei Wuxian watched the two alphas shout at each other for a while before leaning down to whisper at the Qinghe Prince, who was peacefully eating some cakes on the table. Song Lan was the same, being his usual quiet self while shaking his head once in a while. Maybe this was a regular occurrence between Prince Jiang Wanyin and General Luo. "Making Princess Jiang Yanli cry is very bad."

"Very bad. She's a gem omega among the Yunmeng's and Lanling's people." Prince Nie Huaisang whispered back, nodding solemnly. Wei Wuxian's mouth formed an 'o' as he let the two alphas calm down on their own.

When the two hotheaded alphas were finally silent, the silver-eyed general cleared his throat to get their attention. There was something nagging in his mind about these people's role in this rebellion. "It's interesting that you both are willing to support this rebellion with an unnamed leader. I mean, I understand if the leader is someone like Guo Zimo, but no offence, Young Master Song, but you aren't that significant and influential enough to start a successful rebellion."

"None was taken, General Wei." The quiet ex-soldier finally spoke. He pulled out some papers, and when Wei Wuxian took a peek, they were filled with neat handwriting with arrows, well-drawn maps, and symbols. "This rebellion was supposedly a long-term plan, to be carried out within ten to fifteen years." During that time, an image would be built, and sympathy and support would be gained. However, Prince Huaisang convinced me that this rebellion would be a success because we had an important ally."

"We were going to either make Young Master Song Lan the next Wen Emperor or let a Wen be the Emperor under the Four Great Kingdoms' watch." Nie Huaisang added, his eyes bright and lively. "However, because Gusu and Lanling are actually under Qishan's influence, there is no way a watch would be successful. So the only choice we had was to make Young Master Song Lan the next Emperor of Qishan."

"With all due respect, Prince Nie Huaisang, I don't want to be an Emperor. If this plan goes my way, when I win, I'll divide Qishan into four parts and give the lands to the remaining kingdoms." Song Lan frowned at him. Nie Huaisang tsked and closed his fan with an annoyed snap. His eyes looked at the leader with something akin to pity.

"Oh, trust me, Young Master Song Lan. You won't be able to do that easily. Dividing Qishan is totally different from cutting a cake, you know. There's a political movement that will try to take over Qishan before you have time to divide it. Our only option is to make someone an emperor."

"I don't want to be an emperor." The rebel leader pressed. Nie Huaisang shook his head and pointed his finger at Wie Wuxian.

"You don't have to because Wei-Xiong will be the Emperor."

"WHAT?" Everyone shouted in surprise, even Wei Wuxian himself. Nie Huaisang looked at Qishan's general as if he had grown two heads during the meeting.

"What? Why are you also surprised, Wei-Xiong? Who else will be the Emperor? Wangji-Xiong said that you have agreed wholeheartedly to be the next emperor. Don't tell me you change your mind! You have to tell Wangji-Xiong yourself. He'll be very disappointed with you. You'll make him sad, very sad."

"Well, if General Wei will be the Emperor, then I don't have any complaints." The only alpha female said this, nodding her head at the general. Prince Jiang Wanyin frowned at her, finding her immediate agreement ridiculous. It was, actually.

"You'll just accept it, General Luo?"

"Of course. General Wei is on our side, and I trust Lan Wangji's judgement. And Prince Nie Huaisang's too, but Prince Lan Wangji is more trustworthy."

"You have such a wonderful opinion about me, General Luo." Prince Nie Huaisang chuckled and didn't seem to be offended by her words. "But you're right. The reason I do all of this is because of Wangji-Xiong. He said he would be the Empress to help you run the kingdom, Wei-Xion. That's great because if you suddenly turn into another Wen Ruohan, then he'll kill you himself."

"My my, you have such a wonderful opinion about me, Prince Nie Huaisang, thinking I'll be the next Wen Ruohan." Wei Wuxian smirked, using Nie Huaisang's own words. The Qinghe Prince rolled his eyes at him.

"What should we do now? The hideout at Kangbashi Village has been emptied, so Prince Wen Xu won't find anything there." Song Lan eyed the four alphas, his eyes looking at them carefully. General Luo took one of Song Lan's papers, and her eyes were staring at the villages and towns they had managed to occupy.

"Until we get more people, we cannot do anything further." She took a deep breath. "The villages and cities we managed to take over aren't that significant, anyway, just small ones. Their number is what makes the news scarier."

Wei Wuxian frowned at the passive strategy. For him, her answer sounded like it wasn't that they couldn't do anything further, but because they didn't know what to do next. "Who is in charge in those villages, Young Master Song Lan?"

"The leaders of the village We didn't take them over with force or anything. We make agreements with the leaders, promising them a better future, a lower tax, and anything reasonable so that they agree to be occupied by us. We did it diplomatically."

"I see. How many soldiers do you have?"

"About 300 people. They aren't all trained soldiers. Many of them are farmers and scholars." Song Lan took out a scroll and gave it to Wei Wuxian. The general immediately took it and saw that instead of names, it only mentioned the villages and how many people were there. "We do train them, but compared to Qishan soldiers, we're nothing. Our people are scattered, General Wei. There are many people who provide a house like this where we can have a secret meeting. They are hidden."

"300 are too small to start a rebellion."

"As I said, this was supposedly a long rebellion." The leader sighed, and Wei Wuxian pitied him. He had no doubt that whatever the initial plan was, it was more established than this. Song Lan was probably confused and didn't know what to do now when Prince Nie Huaisang suddenly appeared and messed up with his plan.

"I can bring my soldiers to our side, but I need time to earn their loyalty to me. If we want this rebellion to be successful, we cannot do it in a short time. Young Master Song is right. This should be a long rebellion. But I'm not talking ten to fifteen years, but maybe a year." Wei Wuxian offered it carefully. 'Until my baby is born and Lan Zhan can defend himself better,"

"A year? It's too long." Prince Jiang Wanyin spoke impatiently, and Wei Wuxian held an urge to slap him in the face. This person wouldn't be the one challenging the Wens and their armies, but he acted like one.

"Six months to a year then. Convincing my Fierce Corpses won't take a long time, but my whole army is different. They're moving according to a fixed Qishan military rotation, so no one will pledge their devotion to one general but to all generals in Qishan. It takes time." Wei Wuxian explained slowly as if he were explaining to a child. Prince Jiang Wanyin narrowed his eyes at him, clearly offended, but chose not to say anything.

"You do that, General Wei. I heard your army is the best one in Qinghe, especially your corpses." General Luo nodded impressively at him, and Wei Wuxian felt pride bloom in his chest.

"They are."

"Good, now we move on to the most dangerous people we have to face in this battle." Prince Jiang Wanyin looked at Wei Wuxian. "Wen Ruohan, Wen Xu, and Wen Zhuliu We don't need to worry about Wen Chao at all. He's hopeless and a coward. If possible, he should be the one inside the palace when we surround it. Once he dies, General Wei must immediately seize the throne so that no Wen can claim the empty status. We defeat Wen Xu and Wen Zhuliu in the open battle."

"What about Wen Ruohan? What should we do with him?" Prince Nie Huaisang asked. His bright eyes went from one general to another. He looked like a child, absorbing everything around him gleefully. General Luo slammed her hand on the table.

"We need to weaken Emperor Wen Ruohan physically and with deadly force." Just like what happens with Jin Zixuan, but faster, much faster."

"Why not just kill him? Wen Chao can be the next Emperor; Wen Xu'll fight for the throne, and they'll kill each other." Prince Jiang Wanyin offered his idea, but Wei Wuxian immediately shook his head. It was too much of a risk, and so far the only ally Wei Wuxian had inside the palace was Lan Wangji, and there was no way the consort could do that.

"The only way to kill him is through poison because we cannot attack him face-to-face when he is in the security-tight Nightless City Palace, and they have an exceptional healer, Imperial Healer Wen Lei. We need to kill him first."

"How?" Song Lan's question was met with silence from the other alphas. General Luo Qingyang looked at Prince Nie Huaisang, and the latter shook his head. Then she turned to Prince Jiang Wanyin, who offered nothing.

"You must do your best to injure Wen Xu in the next attack, Yang Master Song Lan." Wei Wuxian said, looking at the leader seriously. "Wen Xu has a huge ego. Taunt him. Mock him. Insult him. Makes him want to lead the next army. He'll bring Wen Lei to the camp to treat him. He's the only healer Wen Xu trusts. Attack the camp and kill Wen Lei. The Palace will need to find another Imperial Healer."

"Can you bring whoever the next Imperial Healer is to our side?"

"It depends on who'll be chosen. If it's someone I have in mind, then maybe I can." Wei Wuxian tried not to think of his sister, as it was very hard. She was the only healer he could influence with the truth because he wasn't really close to the others. He avoided the Healing Pavilion like the plague and went straight to his sister for medical aid. The problem was that Wen Qing hadn't reached the rank required to be promoted to the position. She was still under the Imperial Healers' training, and if Wen Lei was chosen, there was still healer Gong Ji Wi, whose rank was directly under Wen Lei. The only way to make his sister Wen Ruohan a private healer was by making her the head of the healing pavilion and then somehow moving healer Gong Ji Wi out of the way. Or maybe she managed to create a miracle right under Wen Ruohan's nose.

"Let's hope it's someone you have in mind." Prince Nie Huaisang snapped Wei Wuxian from his thoughts. "Now that Wen Xu and his army are gone, are we still going to do the same strategy? General Wei gives a leak, and we move away."

General Luo Qingyang shook her head; she clearly wasn't satisfied with the plan. "That's a good plan, but I think we can do more than just leave them. It won't help us if their soldiers are still the same size, maybe even growing as time goes on. Ours may be increasing as well, but it takes time. A lot of time because not everyone has military training. We need to fight sometimes."

"You can fight. You don't have to fight directly with your soldier. Pick a place for a battlefield, a forest if it's possible, but an abandoned village is okay, and let Wen Xu attack it." Wei Wuxian suggested a glint of mischief in his silver eyes.

"What then? How do we fight them?"

The Qishan general smirked. "Young Master Song Lan, let me teach you the art of traps."

The meeting was done. General Luo Qingyang and Prince Jiang Wanyin walked out of the house from the back door as soon as possible, trying not to dwell longer. Wei Wuxian himself was ready to come back to Dafan Resident, or maybe he would drop by the Willow Pavilion to report everything to Lan Wangji before he went back.

If Lan Zhan lets me go back! Wei Wuxian thought, smirking a little at the thought of his omega demanding something from him. He was daydreaming about his omega, straddling his lap with his swollen belly between them, and looking at him with an obvious passion in his golden eyes when someone smacked his head. He turned around, his hand on his abused head, and glared at Nie Huaisang.

"What were you thinking with that disgusting face, Wei-Xiong? Were you thinking about Wangji-Xiong? Oh, were you thinking naughty things about him?" Nie Huaisang wriggled his eyebrows suggestively. Wei Wuxian glared at him but didn't say anything. There was no way he would share his intimate thoughts with the Qinghe Prince. His silver eyes caught Song Lan disappearing into a room back in the house; a glimpse of white robes could be seen when the leader opened the curtain covering the doorway.

"His husband is here. He doesn't want to be left behind." Nie Huaisang explained gently. Wei Wuxian nodded understandingly. If Lan Wangji and himself were in a different situation than they are now, the omega would want to be with him as well.

"What did you offer to Song Lan that he allowed you to mess up his rebellion plan? I don't think he's someone that can be convinced easily."

Prince Nie Huaisang sighed and glanced at the room. He looked around and whispered. "I offer the same thing as Prince Jiang Wanyin and General Luo Qingyang, but I add full medical treatment for his husband's eye. They were really in bad condition when I met them. I offer a healer to do surgery to replace his eyes with another after the rebellion is a success."

"Is there a healer who can do such a thing?"

"Of course. I have heard great healers are able to do that, but well, when the rebellion is being carried out, I'll look forward to that healer."

Wei Wuxian just shook his head at the careless answer. He hoped that Nie Huaisang would eventually manage to fulfil his promise. Song Lan would be very devastated if he was offered an empty promise, especially concerning the person he loved.

Wei Wuxian groaned as he sat down on the hard ground. His muscles were aching, screaming as if they had been tortured for hours nonstop. Well, they were indeed tortured for hours, but not because of the harsh training he had with his special squad, but because of a certain omega who only needed to look at him, raise an eyebrow suggestively, and flare his sandalwood omega scent for Wei Wuxian to fall down on his knees and shower him with love. Lan Wangji was six months pregnant now, and the alpha had a hard time keeping up with his demands. He had no idea pregnant omegas had this high sexual desire—not that Wei Wuxian was complaining—but then again, he had never been with a pregnant omega before. He wasn't that crazy.

The newcomer to his special squad, the teen beast, Xue Yang, was gulping his water jug, grinning at the state of the tired general. His eyes were scanning the older alpha.

"You look tired. Why do you look tired? I have seen you in harsher training, and you were fine."

Wei Wuxian let out a chuckle at the question. Xue Yang wasn't a virgin—the general could bet—but this young man wasn't like a regular alpha teen full of hormones and curiosity. He was more dedicated to his insane obsession with training to be the next Wei Wuxian, and he only had sex when his rut came. Wei Wuxian had witnessed how the teen asked a young maid whether she could throw a spear and have any sword fighting skills when she innocently asked about spending time together sometime. Wei Wuxian was both amused and horrified, but he knew from the look on Xue Yang's face that the teen did it deliberately to shoo away any distraction.

"Xue Yang, my boy, my old age is getting me."

"You're not old, General Wei. You're just, what, forty." Xue Yang said, smirking when Wei Wuxian spluttered dramatically and claimed how he wasn't that old and how cruel Xue Yang was to say that. The alpha grabbed Xue Yang's water jug and emptied its contents as revenge, which made the teen roll his eyes and glance at the well just a few feet away.

"General Wei, have you heard about the latest reports about the rebels?" The young alpha asked. Wei Wuxian grinned at the reports Xue Yang was referring to. He even had to hide his satisfaction every time the reports about Wen Xu's failures spread like wildfire throughout the palace, especially in the military barracks.

Just like Wei Wuxian had expected, the Emperor sent Wen Xu to the rebel villages. First, the Kabangshi village fooled the Crown Prince and his army. The cursed village lived up to its name by being a ghost village—an abandoned village with no one there. The Prince went back to Qishan with a red face, reporting to the Emperor with clear embarrassment in front of his brothers, Wen Zhuliu and Wei Wuxian.

Then, one insult from Wen Chao was enough to send his older brother into a rage, screaming and shouting at the beta prince right in front of his father. He claimed at least he was useful, unlike his pathetic brother, who only knew how to fuck prostitutes. This sent an insult war between the prince and Wen Xu, then, arrogantly promised that he would eliminate all rebels in just a month, claiming he knew where the rebels actually hid. Consequently, the Emperor demanded he fulfiled his promise. Prince Wen Xu wasn't stupid. He knew there was no fucking way he could stop the rebellion in a month, but he had said the word; he had to be responsible for it.

Prince Nie Huaisang's spies were effectively feeding both true and false information to Wen Xu. Three battles led to almost 200 soldiers losing their lives in dark forests full of deadly traps. In the latest battle, an open battle between a masked Song Lan and Wen Xu caused the Alpha Prince to be bedridden for two weeks because of his injury. The Crown Prince had lost another 50 soldiers in that open battle, and whatever Song Lan had told him, Wen Xu was furious as hell during his bedridden time. Not even his favourite concubine managed to calm his anger. So for two weeks, no one came closer to the Sun Pavilion except for Wen Lei and the servants.

"What about them, Xue Yang? It's normal to have failures, okay? People fail; no one is perfect enough to have a clean record, you know."

"Yea, but most failures were in open battles, though. I heard that they were beaten by lots of traps, not even the rebels themselves."

"Traps are very deadly, Xue Yang." Wei Wuxian slung his arm around the teen's shoulder. "They're actually deadlier than real soldiers if they're created well. They are unpredictable and often catch people off guard. They have no face or limbs, so no one can predict their next moves. You have to be very careful when you're dealing with traps in a place you're not familiar with."

"When will you be sent to take care of the rebel, General Wei?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Take me with you. I'm a part of your special squad."

"Yes, you are. But until the situation is very dire, I won't send my special squad."

"That's right. Wen Xu was defeated by traps and a handful of rebels. He could do better." Xue Yang scoffed. Wei Wuxian hid a smile as he listened to the teen ramble about how incompetent Wen Xu was. His silver eyes caught a beta running towards him nervously.

"General Wei, the Emperor wants to meet you," the beta said. Wei Wuxian raised his eyebrows and nodded his head. He looked up and saw Wen Zhuliu looking at him silently.

Prince Wen Xu was present in the throne room when both high-ranking Qishan generals entered. The prince seemed to be fully recovered and only had minor bruises here and there. Wen Chao was sulking in the corner, staring at his brother with clear disgust on his face. Both Wen Zhuliu and Wei Wuxian bowed very deeply to the Emperor.

"There's new information about the rebels, brought by Wen Xu's spy just a moment ago. Which one of you is ready to lead your army to kill them? These rebels had managed to

"I can handle these rebels myself!" Wen Xu roared rudely at the Emperor. Both Wen Zhuliu and Wei Wuxian exchanged a glance. If the prince wasn't the Emperor's favourite son, he would be punished immediately. "Imperial Father, this prince has learned so much from the latest battle. This prince has seen the strategies, the leader, and the number of rebels."

"Yet you failed to deliver a single victory. The leader even managed to injure you, Wen Xu. Just how many soldiers, towns, and villages do we need to lose before you are actually able to eliminate them, just like your promise?" Wen Ruohan was furious, and it was both a good and bad sign for them. Wei Wuxian's eyes moved to the Second Prince, who was enjoying the scene and was ready to say one or two provocative words.

"This Prince acknowledged his failures, Imperial Father. However, if we send General Wen or General Wei alone, we need to start from zero. Both haven't had any experience with the rebels. They don't know what they're capable of."

Wei Wuxian almost snorted. True, Wen Zhuliu didn't know anything about the rebel. Even Wei Wuxian had to admit that even though he had a role in this rebellion, he never knew the exact number of rebels. They were growing at a rapid pace and included many civilians who willingly sheltered them in their homes. So, Wen Xu's statement was technically true, and indeed, they need him—at least, his information—to actually win the war. Something Wei Wuxian didn't want to happen They needed to lose.

"This Second Prince is willing to lead an attack, Imperial Father." Wen Chao had moved from the corner and was now kneeling in front of the Emperor. Wei Wuxian had to admire the beta's courage and confidence to offer something he was obviously unqualified for.

"What can you do, you useless beta? You can't even lead a small army!" As expected, Wen Xu opened his mouth.

"Don't speak as if you have brought us a victory, Wen Xu. You lost as well!"

"At least I fought with honour." I didn't run away like a coward when the situation got worse."

"ENOUGH!" The Emperor roared, flaring his alpha scent, and immediately everyone was on their knees, overpowered by the powerful authority. The throne room was deadly silent. Emperor Wen Ruohan was looking at his sons with a very disappointed look. His dark eyes moved to the two generals, and Wei Wuxian could see his attention focused on him. Wen Xu seemed to notice it as well and immediately knelt in front of his father, his forehead touching the floor.

"Please give this son another chance. This prince promises to bring a victory for the next battle." Even Wei Wuxian could hear the sincere plea in the Crown Prince's tone. He couldn't blame him. If Wei Wuxian was in his position, he would beg for another chance as well. The Crown Prince had lost some face, and victory was the only thing that could save him now. With how the Emperor favoured him over everyone, the deep sigh from the oldest alpha in the room was enough for everyone to know that Wen Xu had succeeded.

"Fine. You have one chance, Wen Xu. Don't come back until you bring me victory."

"Understood, Imperial Father. This son also requests Healer Wen to come as well."

"You're planning to get injured by the rebels again?"

"Of course not, Imperial Father." Wen Xu immediately replied. "Healer Wen Lei is the only healer this son trusts, and because the rebels have used crafty tricks, we have to make sure they don't sneak into the camp and put something in our soldiers' meals and drinks."

"Sure, bring Wen Lei as well." Wen Ruohan stood up and walked to his oldest son. "Wen Xu, you're my pride and joy. Prove yourself to be a very capable leader. I have a really high hope for you, my son. You're the only one I trust to sit on that throne and continue leading our kingdom; please do not disappoint me again."

Oh, dear! Wei Wuxian said inwardly His eyes saw Wen Chao gritting his teeth at the blatant favouritism. He had to hold back a smirk when, once they were out of the room, Wen Chao walked away in fury. Wei Wuxian watched as Wen Xu conversed with Wen Zhuliu as they hurriedly walked to the military camp. The alpha general turned away. He had letters to write.

Lan Wangji closed his eyes as he let the warm water spoil his body. Behind him, his handmaidens were gathering his dirty robes and preparing a soft sleeping robe for him to change into. The omega's hand rubbed the now-big belly gently, a soft smile on his beautiful face. A moment ago, he felt the baby kick for the first time. He let out a soft gasp when it happened, sending Xiu Mei and Chun Ling to hurriedly run to see what was wrong. The two teens had tears in their eyes when they were told that their little prince or princess was kicking and that they were allowed to put their hands on Lan Wangji's stomach to feel it. The baby didn't kick, but the young handmaidens still cried silently. If that was the reaction from his handmaidens, the consort couldn't wait to see his Alpha's reaction. That adorable, overdramatic general would definitely wail and sob like a baby himself.

Xiu Mei and Chu Ling bowed deeply before they walked out of the chamber. The consort glanced at the tea and snacks on the table, but he didn't really have any appetite tonight. He took off his simple knot, let his black tresses free without any restraint, and began combing them. The last time his hair was like this was two days ago. Wei Wuxian visited him that night and sat him down in front of the vanity. The alpha said that he had learned some new hairstyles from A-Qing and wanted to show them off to Lan Wangji. The alpha was able to create three hairstyles before the omega twirled his hair seductively—according to Wei Wuxian, because the omega didn't understand how a simple gesture turned him on—and they found themselves on the consort's bed.

Lan Wangji sighed. He missed the general so much, but duties were keeping him away from the omega. Duties for the kingdom and duties for the rebellion The consort was the one who dragged the alpha into this, so he shouldn't complain. So far, the plan has worked well. Too well, in fact. Prince Nie Huaisang's quick response and actions sometimes worried him, even though the alpha insisted that everything was under his control. Lan Wangji's plan to make Wei Wuxian the next Emperor should go hand in hand with the rebellion outside. The rift had been created, the soldiers' trust had been achieved, and now it was time for Wei Wuxian to be a hero, so when the rebels occupied the palace, killed the Emperor, and demanded a new ruler, the people of Qishan would put their hope on Wei Wuxian's shoulders to bring peace and harmony.

But as usual, it was easier said than done.

The omega stood up and turned around, ready to sleep, when he felt something amiss. He froze, and his eyes were on the pillow on his bed where he had hidden his blade. Too far. His fingers immediately went to the needles he had hidden in his sleeve. His golden eyes were slowly scanning his chamber inch by inch, searching for something unusual and suspicious as uneasiness grew fast inside him.

Someone is in his room right now.

Chapter Text

Lan Wangji's golden eyes scanned his chamber as he moved slowly around the room. His hands were hidden beneath his long-sleeved robes, carefully clenching the three sharp needles between his fingers. His golden eyes gazed at the possible places someone could hide—curtains, wardrobe, table, bed—trying to catch the simplest movement. His feet brought him to a wood where sets of thick robes were hanging, which Xiu Mei had installed near his main wardrobes.

The consort reached out his hand and caressed his robes softly; his golden eyes scanned the surroundings quickly. Finding nothing, he moved to the curtain just near the privacy screen, walking past them while his fingers touched the curtains slightly, enough to show what they hide behind them. Wood, just a plain wood wall.

The omega moved to his bed, and that was when his instinct flared up. He moved to his right quickly, and a knife was pierced through his pillow. A pale, small, feminine hand was holding it tight. Lan Wangji looked up and saw someone covered up in black clothes and a black veil behind him. Their eyes met, and Lan Wangji, with difficulty, moved and avoided the knife as soon as the figure began attacking him, jabbing carelessly at his pregnant belly. His left hand grabbed the hand and twisted it hard; a crack was heard, and the figure let out a grunt, one arm flailing to smack the consort blindly.

A conclusion was reached: this was an amateur female attacker with the purpose of killing him without carefully planning her attack. Too stiff, too careless, and too slow

Lan Wangji grabbed the hand tighter and turned the attacker around; his right hand reached out, and needles were ready to stab the person's neck. Unfortunately, his attacker managed to free herself and tried to run away. The consort moved his needles forward, and they scratched the person's cheeks. When the attacker tried to protect her already wounded face, the omega stabbed her hand with the needles as deep as he could and dragged them through her skin. Blood was coming out of the wounds; they weren't fatal, but enough for them to leave scars. The person let out a really painful grunt and kicked open the window, escaping without looking back. The consort looked at the bloodied needles in his fingers and wondered who had sent an assassin to his chamber.

One name emerged in his mind as he rubbed his swollen belly to calm himself and his baby. He hoped nothing bad happened to his baby with the fast movements he made, as best and carefully as he could, during an assassination attack. He was sure someone within the palace had sent this person, and he needed to find out as soon as possible. Those scars would be hard to cover, and hopefully, they would lead him to the attacker and eventually the mastermind.

"Is Consort Lan alright?" Xiu Mei's voice snapped the omega from his musing. Lan Wangji looked up from his tea to the concerned faces of his handmaidens. His face relaxed, and with it, so did his handmaidens' faces. Chun Ling divided the healthy snacks into several bowls, and her small hand put the small plate and chopsticks in front of him. A seemingly bad burn scar was on her hand, and Lan Wangji, without thinking, took her small hand into his bigger one, earning a surprised yelp from the girl.

"C-Consort Lan?" The girl asked nervously while trading a look with her fellow handmaiden, clearly thinking of the worst. Lan Wangji didn't say anything; his phoenix eyes observed the small and slim fingers in his hand, and his fingers rubbed the scar carefully. Carefully, he lifted up the sleeves, and the scar went up from her arm to her elbow.

"What happened with your hand, A-Mei?" He asked, looking up in concern. Xiu Mei smiled softly at the consort and freed her hand from his.

"I had an accident four days ago in the kitchen, Consort Lan. I was fetching your snack when one of the cooks put something in a very hot pan. It exploded, and the oil sprayed everywhere. Many servants and staff there got their own share of it." She explained calmly, as if she were just explaining how to make Lan Wangji's tea sweeter. "It's normal for us, Consort Lan. It's okay. It doesn't hurt anymore."

"Normal?"

"Don't worry, Consort Lan. Xiu Mei is right." Chun Ling added, pouring a cup of warm tea for her master. "This is normal, especially if we visit the kitchen. There are so many dangerous things there, like hot oil, hot water, knives, sharp fish's fins, and more. When I peeled Consort Lan's pears last week, I accidentally cut myself, and one of the staff, also holding a knife, turned around and accidentally cut my elbow. But they've healed already. They're my battle scars."

Lan Wangji just stared in horror when Chun Ling showed him the knife scars and talked about them normally. In fact, there was pride in her tone. The omega patted the chairs beside him and said, "What kind of accident do you usually encounter? Have you encountered someone with worse scars? Or maybe the scars are on their unfortunate part of the body?"

"Oh, I have, Consort Lan." Xiu Mei said this with wide eyes. "There's this maid from Sun Pavilion. She had this awful burn scar on her face. She accidentally hit a bucket of hot water, fell down, and the water splashed her right face."

"I see? What else? Knife scars or needle scars, maybe? On their face or hands?" Lan Wangji asked innocently as he pushed a plate of snacks towards the girls. The two handmaidens began to talk about almost everything they knew about maids, servants, and their battle scars.

The latest report about Wen Xu's attempt to eliminate the rebels was probably one of the most horrifying reports Wei Wuxian had ever heard. The report was widely shared not only in the palace environment but even among common people. No one knew who leaked the report first, but no one would blame them for being incapable of keeping it to themselves. After all, this was too horrifying for one person to stomach. Wei Wuxian himself had to hide inside his room at the Dafan Residence, curling in the corner with his face between his knees with guilt inside his chest, muttering sorry over and over again, and sneak to Williow Pavilion, crying silently on Lan Wangji's lap, whose eyes were equally wet with tears.

Wen Xu and his army suspected about five villages of becoming the new rebel hideouts and were very convinced that the criminals were hiding inside their people's homes with or without their consent. But instead of doing more investigation or baiting them to come out without harming the civilians, Wen Xu decided to burn the villages and their people alive in the middle of the night, claiming the lives of the villagers residing there. Without any remorse, the Crown Prince announced that this would be the punishment for any village in Qishan territory if they sheltered the enemies of the Kingdom. They had to die alongside their new leader.

Then it was discovered that the rebels' hideout was miles and miles away from these five villages. The public outrage was very justified. Before this action towards Guo Zimo's relatives was scorned, no one dared speak about it publicly because the majority of Guo Zimo's followers were indeed mostly his family—main, close, and distant ones—and no one except the military had actual proof about their innocence. But this was totally different. The Crown Prince had annihilated thousands of completely innocent people, including his own people. So, the Crown Prince's name was disgraced.

The Emperor immediately called for an emergency meeting with ministers and generals, ordering them to silence those who dared to speak badly about Imperial Family members, and called for his first son to immediately come back to the palace to explain everything to him. The fury on the Emperor's face, the satisfaction smirks on Wen Chao's ugly face, and the obvious nervousness on the ministers' faces were what Wei Wuxian had to endure during several meetings full of tension.

Wei Wuxian and Wen Zhuliu watched silently from where they were standing as a soldier bowed to the Emperor with a scroll in his hands. He had guessed that it was the alpha prince's reply to the Emperor's order. Emperor Wen Ruohan had ordered his eldest son to delay his next attack and come back to the village to discuss everything he had done and would do in the future. The response wasn't something that appeased the Emperor.

The Emperor threw the letter from Wen Xu to the ground, which was immediately picked up by his attendant. He was fuming, and no one was brave enough to say anything. Wei Wuxian didn't read the letter to know Wen Xu refused the Emperor's order. Beside him, Wen Zhuliu sighed, for he knew that he would be sent to clean up the mess Wen Xu left behind.

"That insolent child! I should have ignored his request back then and sent General Wei or General Wen instead. That boy still needs a babysitter!" Wen Ruohan's scent flared throughout the throne room, and some beta ministers gasped and almost fell to their knees. "Wen Xu even dares to ask for more soldiers to be sent there."

Wen Zhuliu sighed again, and the younger general beside him tried not to smirk. True to what Wei Wuxian had thought, Wen Ruohan sent both Wen Zhuliu and Wei Wuxian to drag the stubborn Crown Prince home and eliminate the rebels once and for all, with approximately 2000 soldiers with them. If they needed more, the Emperor would gladly allow them, so Wei Wuxian asked for 50 soldiers from his Fierce Corpse Squad to exclusively join his army. The Emperor granted his wish, and the army was divided into 1050 soldiers for Wen Zhuliu and 900 plus 50 for Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian bit his inner cheek as his silver eyes followed him out of the throne room. Wen Zhuliu was a very dangerous general, and he didn't know if Song Lan had someone skilled enough to deal with him, for the leader's attention would solely focus on Wen Xu. Song Lan was Wen Xu's main target, someone whose head he wanted so badly to bring to his father. With both Wen Zhuliu and Wei Wuxian being sent to the battlefield, it was a perfect moment for the younger alpha general to kill the older alpha without any suspicion. But how do you kill someone as skilled as Wen Zhuliu, who managed to kill people with his bare hands?

Wei Wuxian walked to his office with a head full of strategies on how to defeat Wen Zhuliu. If none of the rebels managed to kill him, then Wei Wuxian himself had to do something about it. Should he fight him directly? His thought was interrupted by a pack of alphas and betas running to a certain barrack without growls or shouts coming from it.

The tension in the courtroom extended to the military barracks, where soldiers who came from the five burned villages began to unleash their anger by trashing the barracks and military grounds. Many even got into numerous fights that were caused by comments, views, and opinions from other soldiers. Tension was high as everyone tried their best not to say anything about the horrible news, afraid that one comment would be deemed insensitive to others. Not everyone, though, apparently.

Wei Wuxian came into the barracks to see Xue Yang and several alphas pin down a soldier on the ground. A few feet from them was an unconscious soldier, lying on the ground with a bloody face. The soldier beneath Xue Yang was glaring at the man with so much hatred and fury in his eyes.

"Hey, calm down!" Xue Yang slapped the man's cheek, trying to avert his attention from the unconscious soldiers. The man looked at him, but unfortunately, his anger was now directed at the teen instead.

"What did you say? Calm down? HOW CAN YOU RELAX WHEN YOUR WHOLE FAMILY WAS BURNED ALIVE BY OUR OWN PRINCE?!" He roared, eyes blazing with anger for both Xue Yang and, from the way he spat the word 'Prince," Wen Xu as well. Xue Yang's face softened, and he was looking at him with obvious pity in his eyes, and the soldiers slowly stopped struggling. The man hung his head, his shoulders hunched, and his dark eyes misty.

"How can you...? My family... my entire fucking family... gone... my wife.. my sons.." The man broke down in heartbreaking sobs, his palms covering his face. His broken figure earned a pitiful look from the rest of the soldiers, and Wei Wuxian saw that those who came from the same five burned villages were trying to hold back their tears. They came to the crying man's side immediately and brought him to his feet, patting and hugging the broken man.

"The rebels never hurt any civilians, but our own prince..."

"What kind of future Emperor is he?"

"We should fight the rebels because they're supposedly dangerous, right? But why is our own Crown Prince more dangerous than the rebels?"

Slowly, murmurs began to fill the barracks, and Wei Wuxian's silver eyes scanned the room to find some reactions from the soldiers. Many had the same horrified and disgusted expressions on their faces as they talked about Wen Xu's horrible sin. The general had to admit that, as awful as the event was, it did give a great advantage to him and the rebels. Maybe convincing the soldiers wasn't as hard as Wei Wuxian had thought. Or so he hoped.

At least in the military camp, soldiers knew how to keep everything inside their own barracks or the military ground. No one would try to even spill a word to servants, maids, or their families through letters, no matter how many curious people tried to poke a hole in it. Some soldiers even stopped answering letters from their families for a while until everything settled down.

It was totally different with the common folks.

"Have you heard that Prince Wen Xu burned down some villages in the north? Thousands died, you know, and they didn't do anything wrong." As expected, the crowd was attracted to the topic of bees and honey. The topic of Prince Wen Xu's failure and sin wasn't only spread to Qishan's people but also to those who came to the Kingdom. It was a topic to bait spectators, encouraging them to stay longer at the inns, restaurants, brothels, or any other places in the Kingdom, eager to hear the story from Qishan's people themselves. Was it bad to monetize the failure of their own prince's disgraced act? No. The money was sent to the Palace to pay their high tax after all. At least one of the Imperial Family members was contributing to their people now.

"They said the prince mistook them for the rebels."

"How could he mistake them? Prince Wen Xu has been defeated many times by the rebels before, right? He should have been familiar with them at this point. What is the logical reason to burn down the villages and their innocent people? The elderly and children were there. They weren't rebels at all."

"Some said that the prince lost control. He was so angry that his battalion was massacred by the rebels."

"And he stupidly took his anger to his own people? The hell?!"

"What if this happens again in the future? What if he takes his anger to the people again?"

"Imagine when he becomes the Emperor. He's already arrogant and behaves like this when his title is the Crown Prince; I can't imagine when he becomes the Emperor!"

"What if he goes rampant and burns the capital city?"

"Do we need an Emperor like him? Emperor Wen Ruohan is already bad enough with his obsession with power, high taxes, and omega-3 trafficking. Now, look at his son! He's already like his father, and should we add killing his own people as well? Then, after Prince Wen Xu, we have Prince Wen Chao. How many years do we have to live under this Imperial Family?"

"Yeah, we deserve more, don't we?"

The question sparked more heated and furious comments from the Qishan folks, and a teenage girl sitting on a bench with a steamed bun in her hands grimaced at the comments. A-Qing was enjoying her rare time of peace before everyone began to talk about the horrible events. She knew that the Imperial Family was messed up, but she didn't expect them to be this bad. She continued biting on her food; her beautiful robes, courtesy of Xue Yang (and Wei Wuxian by extension), were wrinkled from the way she sat on the bench. The talk began with Wen Xu's horrible decision before it extended to his wild lifestyle. Then it spread to the Second Prince, Wen Chao, and finally the Emperor.

"Hey, bamboo girl, why are you eating and shaking your head like that? Is the bun so horrible?" She turned her head and saw a bunch of teens her age casually hanging out under a large tree. They wore fine clothes, beautiful pieces of jewellery, and nice shoes, so they weren't A-Qing's circles at all. Maybe there are some bored young masters and ladies in this town. Maybe they thought A-Qing was one of them with how well she dressed today.

A-Qing finished the last bite of her bun before heading to them, her bamboo stick gripped tightly in her hand. She sat down right in front of the oldest boy—the one who shouted at her earlier—and said, "I just heard the wildest gossip. Do you want to know?"

The group leaned over to her, indicating that they were interested. Some girls even moved to sit beside her, offering her some fruits. A-Qing, too, and Apple gratefully began to open her mouth.

A groan filled the small chamber of the Willow Pavilion, where the consort of Prince Wen Xu resided. The consort was moving very slowly with his six-month-old swollen belly. A part of him was grateful that the belly wasn't huge enough to hinder his fast movement, but another part of him was screaming at him to be more careful with his unborn baby. Lan Wangji knew he had to be careful even though Healer Wen Qing had assured him that he was well and everything he did—consuming healthy food, exercising regularly, etc.—had made his baby and womb strong. However, it still didn't prepare him for another assassination attack in the middle of the day.

A fucking assassination attack in the middle of a fucking afternoon Something that Lan Waji was baffled with. Either the attacker was truly desperate to complete her job or she didn't have anything to do this bright afternoon. The consort's guess was that his attacker threatened to finish her job or it would cost her her head.

So, here was Lan Wangji in his chamber alone when the attacker in all black suddenly jumped into his chamber when his handmaidens went to the kitchen to fetch his lunch and healthy snack.

With one move, two moves, and three moves, Lan Wangji successfully avoided the attacker. Different from the previous attack, the attacker's motions were faster and more desperate, which was more dangerous than advantageous for the omega, for desperation made the movements unpredictable because the motions were made without conscious thought. An arm with a knife moved fast, carelessly and sloppily slashing anything in its way, and it didn't let the consort take out his needles from his sleeve, too busy to avoid the fast-paced knife attack.

Lan Wangji moved to his right, but his hip hit his vanity, and the omega stumbled before falling onto the ground. The consort grimaced as he lay on the floor and clutched his pregnant belly. His eyes widen, and he turns around—his back to the attacker—to protect his unborn baby when he sees the attacker charging at him with a blade.

"CONSORT LAN, WATCH OUT!" Someone was holding him, covering his body with her own, as the sound of a blade stabbing flesh reached Lan Wangji's ears. His golden eyes were wide with horror when he realised that it was Xiu Mei who protected her. Her small arms wrapped tightly around him as the blade pierced through her back and into her heart. The attacker froze, realising she had hit the wrong person, and it was enough for Chun Ling to smack her with a vas. The pieces of the veil tore the attacker's veil to show the face of an unfamiliar woman. A very unfamiliar face that Chun Ling, who also looked at the woman's face, didn't show any recognition on her face. Who was this woman? Who sent her?

"A-MEI!" Chun Ling screamed in agony as she saw her friend bleeding all over Lan Wangji's robe. The teen sobbed as she immediately crouched beside her, holding her hand. Lan Wangji took off his outer robes and pressed them to the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. The attacker, whoever she was, groaned as she slowly stood up, a bloody blade still in her hands, and swayed forward. Lan Wangji took his needles from the floor and, with much difficulty, stood up and immediately jabbed the needles into the attacker's neck, paralysing her in an instant. Once he was sure she couldn't move, the consort immediately went to Xiu Mei's side.

"A-Mei, please hold on. You'll be alright. You'll be alright." Lan Wangji spoke frantically as he tried his best not to cry. It failed, though, when tears started to run down his jade-like face. Lan Wangji's golden eyes were wild when they looked around for any guards to help them. He screamed desperately, "Guards! Guards! HELP! HELP!"

"Consort Lan..." Xiu Mei called softly, looking into her master. Lan Wangji sobbed at the resigned expression on her face. His young handmaiden had accepted her fate without any regret and was now using the last of her strength to say his name.

The omega pleaded, pressing the bloody robe more against the wound. "Save your strength, A-Mei, please."

"I'm calling the healer." Chun Ling ran out of the chamber, tears running down her cheeks. Lan Wangji's own tears were falling on Xiu Mei's face, and the omega gently whipped them. The young handmaiden smiled, and it broke Lan Wangji's heart that this innocent young woman had to die because of him.

"Serving Consort Lan has been the highest honour for this lowly servant." The smile on her face and the voice full of pain made Lan Wangji's tears run faster and unstoppable. "Xiu Mei is so happy she can serve someone as kind as Consort Lan. Xiu Mei wishes Consort Lan to have a long, happy life, full of love with the person Consort Lan truly loves."

Lan Wangji could only stare in horror when the young woman's body went limp in his arms, her breath stopped, and her pulse was non-existent. "No, no, no, A-Mei, please, please."

Where's Chun Li? Where's the healer? A-Li, where are you? Lan Wangji's mind was in chaos; his golden eyes went from Xiu Mei's body to the door quickly, trying to catch a glimpse of the handmaiden's dark blue robe and the green-red healer Qishan's robe. None were there. Nothing. No one. Lan Wangji looked down at his handmaiden's lifeless body, and he wept, burying his wet face in Xiu-Mei's dark hair and clenching his fist against her bloody robes.

"What's happening here?" The familiar voice of Wen Xu's older brother put a stop to the omega's silent cry. He looked up, and, true enough, the Second Prince of Qishan was standing in front of his chamber with his consort behind him. They looked at the unconscious woman in black before moving on to Lan Wangji and Xiu Mei. Wang Lingjiao, an omega servant who rose to the rank of concubine before securing her place as Wen Chao's consort, scrunched up her nose in disgust. Her heavily painted face showed no surprise at the unusual sight in front of him. In fact, she looked very disappointed when she looked at the unconscious woman on the floor. Very suspicious.

"Wen Chao," Lan Wangji spit out his name. He had no respect for the prince, and nothing he did would earn any respect from the consort. Wen Chao walked lazily around the attacker's body before gazing down at the lifeless body of Xiu Mei.

"Who is this?" He asked, his foot poking Xiu Mei's unmoving leg. Lan Wangji almost snarled at him for disrespecting a dead body.

"This is my handmaiden, Xiu Mei. That woman," Lan Wangji gestured to the attacker on the floor, "wanted to harm me, but Xiu Mei sacrificed herself to save me. As a prince, you should investigate who sent her. An assassination attempt in the palace is a very serious matter."

Both Wen Chao and Wang Lingjiao scoffed simultaneously. The Second Prince's consort walked to Wen Chao and gripped his arm. "But you're fine, aren't you? So the one who died was just this lowly servant. Why should I spend time and energy investigating a matter that doesn't concern me? The attacker has been caught as well."

"Wen Chao, there can be another attacker who wishes to harm other people in this palace." Lan Wangji gritted his teeth. The omega's grip around Xiu Mei's corpse tightened. He knew what he asked would fall on deaf ears, but still. "Wen Chao, your consort and concubine can be the next targets."

"Excuse, excuse." Wang Lingjiao pursed her lips in anger, her hand on her slim hip. "You just want to be seen as someone important, Lan Wangji. Maybe you're the one who paid someone to attack you, and because it failed, you asked her to kill your handmaiden. You set this up."

"Wang Lingjiao, how dare you?"

"What? How dare you?" Wen Chao's consort looked at him angrily. "Who the hell do you think you are, Lan Wangji? Hah! Do you think you have power here? You cannot even command the guards in this pavilion to do your will. You can only command your maids. You're nothing in this palace, Lan Wangji. Nothing, except for Wen Xu's breeding tool."

"Guards!" Wen Chao barked, and several guards entered the room, bowing low. "Take these women away. Throw the alive one out of the palace and bury the dead on the nearby field. None are important enough to be anyone's concern."

Lan Wangji couldn't do anything when the guards ripped Xiu Mei from his arms, dragging her rudely out of his chamber. His furious golden eyes caught the couple in front of him silently communicating with each other. Wang Lingjiao was shaking her head slightly, her eyes glancing at the attacker with a frown on her pretty face. Wen Chao glared at her and clenched his jaw. The female omega's grip on the prince's arms tightened, and fear was in her eye.

So Lan Wangji was right. These two, especially Wen Chao, played a role in his assassination attempt. It didn't matter who the real mastermind was between them; these two were one package. They both wish to kill Lan Wangji.

Now, with Wei Wuxian sent to the battlefield to help Wen Xu, Lan Wangji didn't have any allies in the palace. He had no one who would help him investigate and prove that Wen Chao, his consort, or both of them sent this woman to kill him. There is a huge chance there will be another attack in the future because of how easily dismissed this case was. Consort Lan Wangji had to survive by himself.

It was okay. He could do it.

The main camp was silent when Wei Wuxian arrived. He had brought his soldiers far away from the camp, obeying Prince Wen Xu's order about eliminating the rebels in the south, while Wen Xu and Wen Zhuliu went in a different direction. He left his army silently while they were making their way in their direction, something he used to do during the war. No one, especially his special squad, would say anything about it. After all, it was his habit, so it was just an expected move from him. So here he was, hidden in the darkness, several metres away from the main camp.

Wei Wuxian put his hands in front of his mouth, and the sound of chirping birds sent signals to the rebels hidden among the dark trees. Two figures stepped into the light, standing beside the general. It was Song Lan's second in command, a young alpha male called Shí Lěi, who was a trained fighter before he met Song Lan, standing tall with a sword in his hand. He was a really capable man who set up about sixty percent of the traps Wei Wuxian taught them. He was also a hard-headed one; he would be a great companion for Xue Yang. Another one was Qian Duo, a small beta man who had the ability to sneak into some weird places.

"The camp is filled with about 60 soldiers now. Wen Xu brought about 1000 soldiers with him to the east, to a forest called Xisheng near the town of Li. This town's main economy depends on rice and meat, so he believes that you will try to occupy it to feed your rebels. Leave them be; don't attack. I have sent my army to the south, to a place called Qiu Field. It's near the Shen De River. We'll try to lure your army to this open field and challenge the best men you have with an agreement. Make sure Song Lan appears to be very insulted by my offer and agrees to my offer, okay?" Wei Wuxian explained, looking at the two young men who gave him their full attention. Qian Duo nodded his head and departed into the darkness, leaving Wei Wuxian with the younger alpha.

"Listen, Shí Lěi, the soldiers are divided into three parts, or we call them walls, resembling a triangle, in this camp, and there are soldiers in each wall who take turns to watch for the night." Wei Wuxian spoke softly and pointed to the direction where the soldiers resided. "That's the spike, where the first wall is. There are five soldiers on watch. On the second wall, there are ten soldiers, and on the last wall, there are fifteen soldiers. The third wall is where the important figures have their tents. Wen Lei's tent is beside Wen Xu's."

Wei Wuxian gestured for Shí Lěi to follow him, and they sneaked to the back of the last formation the general called the third wall. The general pointed to tents with a Wen symbol on them and continued, "Do not attack him inside the tent. It'll raise the suspicion that he's been targeted from the start. Lure him during the attack so that he's an unfortunate soul who is trapped in a battle he cannot avoid. He's wearing Qishan's red-green robes with a black sash. He can wield a sword, so don't underestimate him."

Shí Lěi nodded his head and left the general to inform his men. The Qishan General immediately climbed up the nearby tree and perched on the highest branch, hidden behind dark leaves. He waited for a moment before the first attack began. Shí Lěi led about 50 men into the camps silently and carefully.

It was a quiet attack. The rebels used arrows to kill the first wall's soldiers. Then they moved to the second wall, where they beheaded them in a quick motion. When they reached the third wall, a soldier noticed them and rang the alarm. Soon, the whole camp came to life, and the chaos began. The remaining soldiers drew their swords and ran to the rebels, ready to defend themselves. Wei Wuxian saw some rebels burn the whole camp, making those who were inside the tents come out before the fire engulfed them.

A figure in green-red robes came out from Wen Xu's tent; the sword was ready in his grip. He made his way towards the rebels and cut down one, two, three, and four before a figure Wei Wuxian believed was Shí Lěi jumped in front of him. Shí Lěi moved carefully, pointing his sword at the vital points of Wen Lein, and the healer knew it. He avoided the attacks expertly as if he could read which spot Shí Lěi would aim next.

Shí Lěi began to move faster, using his arm's strength to launch fast-paced attacks to deliberately aim at non-vital points, making the healer expose himself. Wen Lei might be trained to defend himself, but he was no match for a fighter whose energy exceeded his. He was an old man, the same age as Wen Ruohan, and moved slower than the youth. When the healer was caught off guard, the young alpha pierced his sword through the man's heart. The healer fell down, and Shí Lěi quickly pulled out his sword and sliced the man's throat.

Wen Lei fell to the ground with a painful grunt. His eyes stared at the young rebel with an indescribable expression. Shí Lěi looked down at him, a bloody sword on his side. He was watching the healer's light slowly leave his eyes. It didn't come as soon as he wanted, so Shí Lěi raised his sword and impaled the healer's already bleeding throat with the tip of his sword.

The rebels didn't cheer when they won. They nodded at each other before running out of the camp silently and disappearing into the dark, leaving the camp in its disastrous state. Wen Xu would definitely be beyond furious when he saw it.

"Now, we move on to the next target. Wen Zhuliu." Wei Wuxian muttered as his silver eyes gazed down at the burning camp and dead bodies lying around. Their next target would be very difficult to defeat.

Chapter Text

General Wei Wuxian's silver eyes gazed at his special squad, who were lounging around their camp; some were sharpening their swords, and some were chatting and laughing as if tomorrow was nothing but a vacation. The alpha general walked through the camp with a light step, avoiding some friendly soldiers who were trying to lure him into their conversation. He only gave them smiles and nods, trying his best to appear like himself despite everything. Everything was so quiet that no news came from the main camp two days after the death of Wen Lei. With such a high-ranked healer dying during the battle with the rebels, Wei Wuxian assumed that Wen Xu would furiously demand revenge and a moment of silence for his private healer. Instead, no news came, and Wei Wuxian couldn't go around asking for any news from the main camp without raising any suspicions. Either the Crown Prince didn't care or he wanted to keep it a secret.

The death of his personal healer and childhood friend would infuriate Emperor Wen Ruohan. He would blame his oldest son for his carelessness and the lack of competent soldiers guarding the main camp. The camps didn't only consist of soldiers and healers; they also had some kitchen staff sent with supplies for the army. Some were hurt deliberately—some lightly, some badly but not life-threatening—but the rebels didn't kill non-combatants. Wen Lei was the only non-soldier who was killed during the attack. If there was a thought of a targeted individual, people would think that the rebels might have targeted Crown Prince Wen Xu—which made sense—but didn't find him inside the tent, and poor healer Wen Lei encountered them outside the tent.

"General Wei, what time should we prepare ourselves tomorrow?" Wei Wuxian's head snapped to his right, where a soldier stood by, waiting patiently for his answer.

"Be ready at nine."

"Nine? Isn't it too, um..." The soldier hesitated to continue, afraid he might offend the general. Wei Wuxian laughed and patted his shoulder, understanding why the soldier was unsure about the command. Leading a war at nine a.m. was indeed very weird, for wars usually start very early, trying to catch the enemy off guard. Dawn or even before sunrise—when people were mostly asleep and unguarded—were usually preferable times instead of in the middle of the night because it would be very obvious.

"Don't think of it too much, soldier." The general's eyes were filled with mirth. "It's okay."

The soldier bowed and walked away from the general with a confused expression on his face. Wei Wuxian tried not to laugh. His soldiers didn't know that tomorrow would not be the usual bloody battle they usually had. The general sighed as he glanced at the small path—a lead to where the field was—and hoped that none of his soldiers would question him tomorrow so that he could persuade them easily. He needed a question so that the conversation would flow naturally.

The next morning, exactly at 9 a.m., the special squad of Wei Wuxian arrived at the edge of the field. The soldiers were anxious, having no idea how these rebels managed to invade so many of their villages and towns. Wei Wuxian finally had a real view of the rebels. They were indeed very large in number, a far cry from the 300 people Song Lan had mentioned before. Those who were standing at the frontline held themselves very well, like trained soldiers with their backs straight and emotionless faces but cautious stares. Shi Lei was leading the army, as he had expected, and he could see Qian Duo standing a few feet from him, blending with the rest of the rebels. No one would think that this young man was dangerous with how small he was among his fellow rebels.

"Well, well, well..." Wei Wuxian grinned and walked lazily to the front, ignoring the bewildered looks from his own soldier. "Where's your captain? I heard he was a tall, handsome man with this menacing aura, wearing all black."

Song Lan's second-in-command frowned at the taunts. He was about to open his mouth when Song Lan's bigger form walked out from among his men. Shi Lie nodded at his leader and moved out of the way, standing right behind Song Lan. The leader looked at Wei Wuxian with narrowed eyes; his stoic face gave the impression of anger and disgust. Good.

"What do you want, General Wei? I'm here."

"I'm here to make an offer," The alpha general said, looking at Song Lan with his silver eyes. The taller man didn't say anything. His dark eyes were on the huge army under the general's command. He was calculating his chance of winning; those who had been in a war could tell. But Wei Wuxian didn't come to start a war between their men; he came to have a parley.

"I'm not negotiating with a Qishan general." That was a very expected answer from a rebellious leader. The Qishan's general frowned at it, though; his tone went octaves higher than before.

"Aww, come on, Captain, don't you want to listen to what I offer first? No wonder rebellions always fail in the end. They tend to have very incompetent leaders who are very reckless and cowardly."

"Who are you calling a coward?" The annoyed tone in Song Lan's voice made Wei Wuxian grin. They could do this act very well. The two alphas were now facing each other, only several metres apart. Wei Wuxian tilted his head and put his hand on his chin as if he were thinking very hard.

"I wonder who—may be a captain who doesn't want to accept a challenge? Well, I can't blame you. Not everyone is skilled enough to fight me, and with your unknown reputation, I bet everything that happens is the work of your rebels, not yourself. You're the leader because you look scary, that's all."

Song Lan didn't respond to his taunt, so Wei Wuxian raised an eyebrow and said, "If I win, you'll do anything I ask you to. If you win-"

"You'll do anything I want."

"Exactly." Wei Wuxian threw him a grin. "What do you think? That's a nice offer, right?"

"General Wei, this is a serious war for us." Song Lan growled and took a step forward. "We're here to fight for our people, who have been mistreated by your beloved regime that cares for money, power, and slaves. This is not a gamble. Not for us."

"I'm not treating it as a gamble, Captain. This is very important for me as well. I'm not interested in spilling blood when we can settle this as simply as possible. We spare our beloved soldiers this way. Just you and me."

"Did you use the same tactic for your previous battles as well?"

"In case you never hear about my accomplishments, those wars were won fairly, with both sides wanting to spill blood. They weren't Qishan." The alpha general said this, looking at the rebels behind Song Lan's back. "You, all of you, on the other hand, are Qishan people. I do not wish to kill any of our beloved people."

"Our beloved people?" Song Lan spat the words as if they were venom. His eyes glinted dangerously with fury, and his alpha scent flared dangerously. "Your Emperor didn't think of his people's welfare when he approved of the tax laws and omega trafficking. Your Crown Prince didn't bother to think about his beloved people when he killed those poor innocent people. Your Second Prince didn't think of his beloved people when he kicked those orphans from their homes just to build meaningless brothels. Save your sweet talk for yourself."

"One thing you should know, Captain, I'm not them. I'm not interested in murdering my people. All I want is a peaceful and preposterous life for all of us."

"And how do you achieve that? Whatever the result of this rebellion, you'll be back to kiss your Emperor's ass anyway."

"Well, that's not true. My emperor isn't my type, you know. I prefer someone graceful with unearthly beauty and sharp phoenix eyes. I don't think Wen Ruohan matched that description."

"STOP FOOLING AROUND!" Song Lan roared. If Wei Wuxian were an outsider, he would definitely think that the captain was indeed very angry at him. The general had to clap for his performance.

"I'm not." Wei Wuxian whined, put his hands on his hips, and pouted. "I'm here to offer something, but you don't respond to it. Come on, Captain. You're not a coward, right? Prove it, and let's duel."

"..."

When there was no response from the rebel leader, Wei Wuxian began to call out. "Coward."

"..."

"Wimp"

"..."

"Chicken"

"I'm not an animal."

"I know. I mean, ugh... " Wei Wuxian scrunched his handsome face as he huffed. Song Lan was supposed to be offended. That was what he instructed his man to tell him. "I don't care. Come one, Captain. Don't waste more time."

"Fine."

"Nice!" The general grinned as he unsheathed Suibian, while the other followed with his own sword. Wei Wuxian moved forward and swung his sword at the leader, which was blocked very effectively. Song Lan focused his strength on his hands and right foot, pushing the smaller alpha back several steps. Wei Wuxian moved to the left, circling the alpha leader, leaving his back open to the rebel army. He hoped no arrow would pierce it. Song Lan turned around, tightened his grip, and charged forward. The sound of two metals clashing was the only sound on the supposed battlefield.

Song Lan was an ex-Qishan soldier, so he was very familiar with Qishan's fighting style, and that was what Wei Wuxian chose to fight with. He moved gracefully with ease, avoiding Wei Wuxian's attacks one by one. Both didn't exactly fight for real, but even to create such a show, they needed to show some effort. The armies behind them were staring at them with raised eyebrows; they clearly weren't impressed with the whole one-on-one fight. Many soldiers even began to sit down on the ground, playing with some grass and flowers and making a crown.

Wei Wuxian manoeuvred his body, jumping from one foot to another, swinging his sword towards Song Lan's vital points and gracing the leader's skin. The leader grunted and took several steps back, looking at the wound with a frown on his handsome face. Wei Wuxian looked so smug as he pointed his sword towards Song Lan.

"You bleed first. I win." The general said this, smirking. The soldiers behind him cheered loudly, clapping their hands; some even wolf-whistled. Wei Wuxian turned around, spread out his arms, and a shite-eating grin was proudly on his handsome face. The rebels, as expected, groaned in disappointment but sounded so fake that Wei Wuxian blinked and turned to face them. He hoped he was the only one who caught it.

"So, are you ready to fulfil my request?"

"What do you want, Black General?" Song Lan asked, spitting out Wei Wuxian's title. "Us to surrender? Our weapons?"

Wei Wuxin crossed his arms in front of his chest and began to pace with a thoughtful expression on his face. "Hmm, I don't know. You have such a great army behind you, Captain. With those sour expressions on those faces, I doubt they'll surrender willingly."

"Oh? They'll not surrender easily. I can guarantee you that." Song Lan's tone changed as his dark eyes scanned the soldiers in front of him. "I heard you're quite an adventurous man. Maybe a bunch of omegas and betas to fuck around?"

Wei Wuxian knew that Song Lan was just teasing him, but the thought of him fucking around created an image of a stunning pregnant omega with a blade ready to strike his back in cold blood. It made him shiver.

"Why so quiet, Wei Wuxian? Are you afraid you can't keep up with an untamed omega in your bed? You only want those obedient ones you can order around."

"Hey! General Wei is very skilled at taming omegas. You don't know a thing about his skill in bed." A soldier bravely joined them. His comment earned many shouts of agreement. Wei Wuxian blinked at the sudden interruption.

"Hah! I'm sure those rumours are false. Just look at your skinny general. He doesn't look as badass as our tall, dark, and broody captain." A rebel yelled back. The others around him cheered in agreement. The soldiers' faces went sour at that, and one by one they took a step forward to defend their beloved general's dignity. Or so they thought.

"General Wei isn't skinny. Sure, he's not as big as your brooding captain, but our general has amazing abs and muscle. Omegas and betas find him very sexy." 

"That's right! My friend said that General Wei could go on many rounds until early in the morning. He has unlimited energy."

The fuck?

Wei Wuxian blinked. Then, Qian Duo fueled the verbal war further. The beta's small figure was perfectly hidden behind his fellow larger rebels, but his voice ran throughout the field. "My captain can fuck his omega until late afternoon. Your general isn't special. He'll embarrass himself if he hears how our captain's husband screams his name every night."

"General Wei has many omegas and betas lined up in front of his chamber every night! "There are so many of them that General Wei can only fuck them once." Of course, his soldier would continue to respond.

"And it continues the next day. Our general is such an amazing partner in bed that all omegas and betas want their turn."

Wei Wuxian frowned. What the fuck with these nonsense verbal wars about his sex skills?

"Your general must have finished very early during sexual intercourse! That's why he is able to bed several omegas in one night."

"Yeah, maybe that's why no one comes back for more! It's not because Wei Wuxian is a playboy, but because of his inability to satisfy his partners."

Wei Wuxian was very offended. He had an omega who couldn't keep his hands off him and praised his amazing skill. Thank you very much! And why the fuck was Song Lan laughing at him with his eyes right now? The captain was enjoying this too much. It was his fault! He was the one who initiated everything.

"Your general has a very small manhood!"

"Hey, I have a big cock, thank you very much!" Wei Wuxian snapped in annoyance, hands on his hips, and he glared at the one who made the offending comment.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Ahem." The Qishan's General was blushing so hard that the armies—both his own and the rebels'—were snickering at the ridiculousness of the situation. "Anyway, leave the towns you're currently invading. There are thirty of them, right? Leave all of them."

"Fifteen," Song Lan answered firmly, with no hesitation or space to argue.

"No, twenty-eight."

"Fifteen."

"Twenty-five." Wei Wuxian frowned when no response came from Song Lan. "Twenty."

"None." Finally, a response! The silver-eyed alpha growled in fake frustration.

"Urg, fine. Leave ten of them immediately!"

Thus, the battle between the rebels and Wei Wuxian's army ended with the news that General Wei Wuxian managed to take over ten major towns and five important villages without significant casualties. The news spread throughout Qishan, securing his reputation as the favourite among the common folks. The news pictures Wei Wuxian as not only a skilled general in a bloody battle but also a great leader for his ability in negotiations, which was very important in politics. It didn't matter how ridiculous the battle and the parley went on or what kind of strategy the general used to secure an agreement with the rebel leader. Common folks only cared about the result and how it gave a significant advantage to Qishan.

And when they compared Wen Xu's and Wei Wuxian's achievements during this rebellion, people drew their own conclusions.

It turned out that the reason Wei Wuxian didn't hear news about Wen Lei's death was that Wen Xu himself didn't find out until he returned to the camp five days after the attack. Wen Xu, despite having Wen Zhuliu with him, had suffered a great loss of his men due to the traps the rebels planted in the forest where they resided. His soldiers were also poisoned by both traps and the rebel archer's arrows and eventually died because they didn't receive any treatment because the main healer had been killed and the rest of the non-combatants had fled to save their lives. Only about 127 soldiers were spared from the traps and poisonous arrows in the end.

Wei Wuxian could feel the hateful stare he got from the Alpha Prince every time he was around Wen Xu. It didn't help that, with his position as a general, he had no choice but to spend time inside the Prince's tent with Wen Xu and Wen Zhuliu to discuss their next move. With Wen Xu's jealousy and hatred towards the younger alpha, it went as badly as everyone had expected. Even Wen Zhuliu told Wei Wuxian not to take everything into his heart based on his experience as the Qishan Princes' babysitter because, in the end, Wen Xu would always need his help to win the war. It was all his pride.

The young general didn't need to be told about that. He didn't care about what Wen Xu thought about him; he had more important things to think about. One of them was how to kill the two alphas in front of them. Another one was how to send some information to Lan Wangji. He needed to inform him about Wen Lei's fate. He didn't know whether Wen Xu had informed his father about the death of Wen Lei, but no matter what, Wen Lei's position had been given momentarily to Healer Gong Ji Wi, the second-highest-ranking healer. Now, it would be his permanent position.

Wei Wuxian sighed as he locked himself in his tent. With the success of this battle, there was another strategy that needed to be carried out as soon as possible: General Luo Qingyang's strategy of weakening Wen Ruohan. This was a very difficult strategy because he didn't know Healer Gong Ji Wi very well enough to know whether he could be influenced or persuaded. They would need someone else's role to make this strategy happen—someone very close to or working closely with Healer Gong Ji Wi. An assistant would be fine, but it had to be an extremely skilled assistant who could cover their tracks. There was only one name that appeared in his head, but would she help?

She would if she had a good reason to, because Wei Wuxian knew that his sister was a very kind woman beneath that stoic face, and the first action they had to take was to tell the truth about everything. Since she had a soft spot for Lan Wangji, maybe the omega could convince her better than Wei Wuxian. Lan Wangji had a better chance to escape from her wrath than Wei Wuxian, whom the female omega wouldn't hesitate to beat up. Taking a deep breath, the general took several papers and began to write.

"BE READY IN HALF AN HOUR!" Wen Xu's voice rang throughout the camp, and Wei Wuxian ran out of his tent immediately. There was no plan for today based on the discussion he attended earlier, but why the sudden instruction?

"My Prince, we have agreed that today we'll take a break and decide where we go from here." Wen Zhuliu stood in front of the Alpha Prince with a clear, unimpressed look on his face. Wen Xu glanced at him briefly before barking orders to the soldiers nearby.

"GRAB YOUR WEAPON! FORM PHOENIX FORMATION! No one was left behind! "We're marching to the east."

"My Prince." Wen Zhuliu demanded his attention. Wen Xu finally gave his highest-ranking general his attention. His dark eyes looked over Wen Zhuliu's soldier, where Wei Wuxian was running towards them.

"My spy said that he found the rebel camp. That camp was near enough, so why waste our time? Let's attack." Wen Xu walked away, leaving the newly arrived Wei Wuxian with Wen Zhuliu. Wei Wuxian frowned as he shared a look with the older alpha.

"General, do you think it's wise to attack now?" The younger general asked, looking at Wen Xu's back. The alpha prince was still barking orders here and there, demanding faster movement from the soldiers.

"It depends on our soldiers' condition." Wen Zhuliu looked around. Wei Wuxian's army was fine, with no injuries, but Wen Xu's army was different. They were both mentally and physically exhausted. If Wei Wuxian ordered his men to attack the base, they had a bigger chance of winning the battle. He had a feeling that this hurried plan was just to make sure Qishan still won under Wen Xu's command, even if it was Wei Wuxian's army that worked the most. Wen Xu's name would come up as the hero, not Wei Wuxian's.

The Qishan's Black General walked away to find someone in his special squad. His attention was drawn to a small beta soldier who had been with him for almost three years. He walked over and gave his letter to him. "Chén Cong, I want you to go back to the palace. Give this to Xue Yang, will you? It's a confidential matter."

"Of course, General Wei." The young beta soldier bowed before grabbing his bag and going in the direction of Qishan without any questions. That was what Wei Wuxian loved about his squad. Their loyalty towards him was unquestionable. With Chén Cong left, he now only had about 49 members of his Fierce Corpse at this battle.

Wei Wuxian's silver eyes went to his Fierce Corps, who had made a line in front of him. His eyes moved from one face to another, giving a silent instruction. The soldiers nodded shortly, each tapping their arm braces. Wei Wuxian patted the nearest soldier and whispered, "Stop the dawn; do not go with the flow."

The armies were combined into one, and together they marched to the east, with Wen Xu, Wen Zhuliu, and Wei Wuxian leading them. Wen Xu's remaining soldiers were positioned at the front and back, forming a head and tail, while Wei Wuxian's 900+49 men were positioned in the middle, forming the body and two wings. Spears were raised, swords were held, and bows and arrows were in hand.

They arrived when the sun began to set in the west. It was a forest with thick leaves, sturdy branches, and hard ground. With the darkness of the night, they would have difficulty differentiating between the rebels and the Qishan armies with their black-red and all-black uniforms. If Wen Xu didn't think properly, then they were doomed.

"They are in this forest. KILL THEM AND BRING VICTORY TO QISHAN!" Oh, clearly, Wen Xu didn't think at all. Wei Wuxian glanced at the silent general beside him and saw his jaw clenched—a sign that he was trying to suppress his anger—while looking at the Crown Prince. The prince didn't care, though, and raised his sword towards the forest and yelled.

"ATTACK!"

The large army of Qishan ran towards the dark forest, spreading in every direction. Wei Wuxian disappeared into the darkness and jumped onto the tree, his silver eyes scanning the dark forest. His sharp eyes spotted his Fierce Corpse changing their uniforms to all black, resembling the rebels. They grabbed a black cloth hidden beneath their arm braces and covered their faces.

"REBELS!" Wei Wuxian's silver eyes snapped to the source and widened when he indeed saw Song Lan's army march towards the Qishan's soldiers. Song Lan was at the front, leading his army proudly. Wen Xu looked like he had pinned his target and snarled.

Wei Wuxian watched from the tree as the battle between the rebels and Qishan's army was carried out. As expected, the rebels, who were not trained well, had problems keeping up with the soldiers. Many were already killed, and if it wasn't for Wei Wuxian's Fierce Corps defending them, they would have lost now. Wei Wuxian removed his outer robes and wore them inside out, hiding the red symbol of Qishan. He took off his red ribbon, gathered his hair into a very high ponytail, tied it with a black ribbon, and put on his mask. He jumped to the battlefield, searching for the most dangerous soldier, Wen Zhuliu. He would leave Wen Xu for Song Lan.

The Qishan's highest-ranked general was swinging his sword back and forth, slashing the rebels' chests, beheading heads, and injuring others. His movements were smooth but aggressive. His steps were light, switching from right to left to right again, following the rhythm. No average soldier could match this man; even Wei Wuxian didn't know if he had a chance. He would think about his chance of survival later; he needed to distract Wen Zhuliu first.

The rebels saw him arrive and took steps back, making Wen Zhuliu look at them in surprise and turn around. His dark eyes narrowed as his gaze locked on Wie Wuxian. The general had tried to walk differently, opting to mimic how Lan Wangji walked, albeit not as gracefully as the omega; hopefully, it was enough to cover his identity. Wen Zhuli seemed to know that he was different from the other rebels, if not by his mask but by his mannerisms. Wei Wuxin gripped the sword he had borrowed from General Luo, one of the supplies she gave to the rebels.

Two swords clashed and two skills matched as the two Qishan generals fought for the side they believed in. Wen Zhuliu put his weight on his right foot, pushing forward and trying to beat the man with his strength. Wei Wuxian grunted, pushed back, and swung his sword, which Wen Zhuliu avoided smoothly. Wei Wuxian danced around the general, lunged, and defended himself when Wen Zhuliu began to be aggressive. The younger alpha did his best to prevent himself from using Qishan's fighting style, or he would not only be defeated but discovered. It didn't matter if he could kill Wen Zhuliu; if not, he would be in big trouble.

Wei Wuxian's breath quickened as his stamina slowly diminished. Wen Zhuliu had the best stamina of all the soldiers in Qishan, and even though Wei Wuxian came close to second, he wouldn't be able to stay on his feet for too long. So Wei Wuxian played dirty. This was a battle, and every strategy was allowed. The young general grabbed some powder from his robe and threw its contents into Wen Zhuliu's eyes, effectively blinding the man. Then he jumped, knocking the man to the ground, and immediately stabbed him through the nape. His sword pierced through the man's throat.

The young general waited for a moment until he was sure that the general had died before he pulled out this sword. His silver eyes stared at the man, and with his foot, he turned him over. Wen Zhuliu's dead eyes stared back at him with dark eyes; blood was all over his face. The young alpha gazed at the corpse wordlessly; his mind was reminiscing about the days when this man was his idol. Back when he didn't know how cruel and ignorant this man was.

He took a deep breath and stood up, only for his name to be called out by a rebel. It was Sh Li with bloody robes and cuts on his face. His eyes were wide with worry and fear as he reported to Wei Wuxian.

"Yuandao-Xiong, Captain Song Lan, was captured by Wen Xu." He gasped, pointing in a certain direction behind him, no doubt where the leader was with the crown prince.

"Shit!" Wei Wuxian cursed and took off with Song Lan's right-hand man behind him.

Chapter Text

When Wei Wuxian arrived at the small clearing where Wen Xu and Song Lan were, the rebel leader was on the ground. His mouth was full of blood, and he was letting out an incoherent voice. There were two dead soldiers on the ground beside him. Wei Wuxian's eyes caught a glint of Song Lan's sword, metres away from his painful state. In front of him was Wen Xu, spouting some arrogant nonsense at Song Lang. The alpha prince was clearly enjoying his victory over the rebel leader. Wei Wuxian threw a dagger to knock the prince's sword down when the alpha was raising it, ready to kill Song Lan. That brought his attention to Wei Wuxian.

Wen Xu narrowed his eyes at the masked general, probably thinking about who the hell this person was and why he hadn't seen him before. Wei Wuxian quickly straightened his posture and, like before, mimicked how Lan Wangji moved. They circled each other, the sword ready in their hands, their feet shuffling the dirt and grass beneath them.

"Who are you?" Wen Xu asked, eyeing the alpha's movement carefully. "Are you from Gusu Lan? "Do those cowards actually have someone brave enough to join the rebellion?"

Wei Wuxian stayed silent. He couldn't speak for Prince. Wen Xu would recognise his voice immediately. Wen Xu made the first move, jumping right in front of Wei Wuxian and slashing his sword. Wei Wuxian jumped back a little, raised his sword, and held his feet to the ground. The blades clashed. Wen Xu's dark eyes stared into the general's silver eyes.

"There's a fury in your eyes. Does this battle or rebellion affect your personal feelings?" Wen Xu taunted, swung his sword, and twirled around, aiming the sharp object at Wei Wuxian's feet. The general jumped away and quickly aimed for the prince's throat. The prince avoided the attack, raised his sword, and brought it down, only to be stopped by Wei Wuxian's own sword.

"Who sent you? Or did you join this cause for something else? Let me guess, Lan Wangji?" Wen Xu smirked when he saw his opponent's jaw clench and the attack became more aggressive.

"Oh, so it's about Lan Wangji then?" Wen Xu moved forward and swung his sword as fast as possible, letting the man defend his frantic attack before once again their swords clashed. "Who is he to you? Or who are you to him? Lover? Previous betrothed? Or just someone who has an obsession with him? I can't blame you. He's really beautiful."

"Do you know that he's amazing in bed? He's just like what he looks like, tight and hot." Wen Xu's tone was full of arrogance, and when his words finally made the masked man growl angrily, he knew he hit his target.

"Aren't you curious how he moans?" Wei Wuxian looked at the man with fury beneath his mask. "How he screamed my name. How he begged for more. I can tell you all of that."

"He's pregnant with my child, do you know?" Wen Xu jumped several steps backwards before charging forward, still spouting nonsense to irk the masked man. Wei Wuxian moved from the attack and turned his head away when the tip of the sword aimed for his head, but not enough to avoid the sword slashing through his hair. Strands of hair fell down, and the black ribbons holding his mask were cut, exposing his face. Too shocked to move, Wei Wuxian felt a sharp pain in his forearm when the blade slashed his skin.

"You're wrong," The general spoke; his voice was hard and full of venom. He turned around, looked Wen Xu right in the eyes, and smirked. "He's pregnant with my child."

"Wei-Wei Wuxian!" 

"Yeah, it's me. You're going to pay for what you've done to Prince Lan Wangji." The shocked look on Wen Xu's face was a little satisfying for the alpha. Wei Wuxian smirked, and now he attacked without any restraints on his capability. He charged towards the prince with a combination of bloodlust, rage, and excitement. His borrowed sword attacked its opponent like it was thirsty for revenge, and it was, extended to its current owner, true.

Wen Xu, despite his upbringing and privilege, failed to match his own general. His emotions—shock, surprise, and fear—didn't mix well with his sword skill, creating careless and sloppy steps. He knew he wasn't equal to Wei Wuxian in fighting skills, and it showed very clearly on his face. His rank wasn't important now.

Slowly, the alpha walked back, unable to handle the general. At some point, he fell sword -which Wei Wuxian had kicked away- fell far from him. In a panic, he grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it to the general's face and immediately tried to bolt the scene, only to be grabbed by his collar and thrown to a large tree. He sat up and tried to run again once again but a rough hand grabbed him and threw him to another tree, cracking his backbone. He coughed blood as his eyes tried to find Wei Wuxian. With his back and internal injury, Wen Xu couldn't move. Wei Wuxian stood tall in front of his prince, glaring with hatred in his silver eyes. His sword was gripped very tightly, ready to strike.

"Wei Wuxian, you traitor. How dare you attack your own prince! You'll receive punishment after we arrive home. Death penalty!" When Wen Xu sprouted, his tone was shaky.

"And who'll help you arrest me? Wen Zhuliu?" The general raised an eyebrow mockingly and smirked wider than before. "Unfortunately, my dear Prince, Your favourite general is dead."

"You-"

"Yes, me. If only Lan Zhan was here, I would hand over this sword to him so he could do whatever he wanted to you. But he wasn't here. It's too bad." Wei Wuxian's grip on his sword handle tightened, and he ripped off Wen Xu's armour quickly, leaving him with only shredded robes underneath. The tip of his sword pierced the alpha prince's chest, drawing some blood. Wei Wuxian put pressure on the sword, making it slowly and painfully impale the prince's chest. Wen Xu grabbed the sword, but Wei Wuxian didn't stop, and soon Wen Xu's hand was covered by his own blood.

"How dare you hurt Lan Zhan so much?" The alpha general's tone was cold, and the sword went deeper into Wen Xu's heart. The prince gasped in pain, and his eyes looked at Wei Wuxian wildly.

"How dare you make him cry and be miserable?" Wei Wuxian twisted the blade, destroying the prince's heart. He then drove the sword deeper into Wen Xu's body and dragged it down, tearing apart the already ruined skin and earning a painful groan from Wen Xu before he finally let out his last breath.

Wei Wuxian's silver eyes looked at Wen Xu's corpse stoically. His breath slowly returned to normal. There was satisfaction in his heart when he gazed down at the dead body of his previous prince. Gone now were two people, and there were still others.

"Captain!" His attention was brought back to reality by the worried voice of Shi Lei, who was helping Song Lan from the ground. The captain looked very bad and needed urgent medical attention. He nodded to Shi Lei, who immediately brought his captain far away from the battlefield. Wei Wuxian walked around the battlefield and saw that the majority of the Qishan soldiers were dead, and some, he could see, were running away. The rebels and their fierce corpses were standing in the middle of the field with tired and relieved expressions on their faces. No cheers, no backslaps, nothing. Because they hadn't won yet. The journey was still long.

Wei Wuxian called his second in command, "Huang-Xiong, create two mass burials for our friends and the soldiers. Then return to the palace and bring both Wen Zhuliu's and Wen Xu's corpses with you. Tell the Emperor that we have lost because of Wen Xu's usual stupidity. I'll go with the rebel; you know what to say when Wen Ruohan asks for me."

"Of course, General Wei." Huang Yang nodded his head. The muscular beta turned around and began shouting his order, which was quickly responded to by his fellow soldiers. Wei Wuxian put his trust in his special squad, and he went with the rebels to their hideout.

The hideout was a small village hidden in the forest, not quite far from the battlefield. There were houses there, and if people didn't look closely, nothing unusual was happening. Unless they finally noticed that the population of the village surpassed the houses there when they walked to the hidden clearing behind the rows of houses, there they would find tents.

Wei Wuxian walked to the village, dragging his feet a little. Exhaustion was very evident in his body, but the smiles and greetings he got when he followed the rebels were so worth it. The Qishan general walked into the house the rebels used as the healing house and saw General Luo Qingyang and Prince Jiang Wanyin there as well. Song Lan was put on a bed, and a beautiful omega with a bandage around his eyes was holding his hand. Ah, this must be his husband. General Luo and Prince Jiang Wanyin walked to him and gestured for him to leave the house with them.

"Will Song Lan be alright?" Wei Wuxian asked, looking back at the house where the leader resided. General Luo nodded her pretty head.

"He'll be fine. Mute, but fine." General Luo said, leading them to a small house at the corner of the village. "What exactly happened to him? Who cut his tongue?"

"Wen Xu happened. The prince somehow managed to defeat him and torture him while I was busy fighting Wen Zhuliu. Both Wen Xu and Wen Zhuliu are dead. My men were heading back to the Nightless City right now, bringing their corpses to the Emperor."

It was dark, maybe in the middle of the night, and Wei Wuxian, for the first time since the battle, felt relief spread throughout his body that his special squad and the rebels could win a fight in the middle of the night.

"You'll stay here with Prince Jiang Wanyin. They have prepared food and a bath inside. I'm sure you're dying for both after the tiring battle. Reports will be delivered to you later. We'll talk tomorrow." The female general walked away once she finished. Wei Wuxian glanced at Jiang Wanyin, who didn't say anything to the general. He hoped that it was because he realised Wei Wuxian was exhausted, not because he was holding back his anger or something. The black general was too tired to deal with anything right now.

Wei Wuxian followed Jiang Wanyin to the house, and his eyes immediately set on the dinner on the table. His stomach suddenly grumbled, and he snatched one or two steamed buns and began to eat while trying to disrobe. Once he finished his buns, he walked to the back of the house and began to clean himself. The cold water felt heavenly for him, cooling down the anger, disgust, and tiredness in his body. He took his time and enjoyed a rare peaceful moment for himself.

When he felt he had enough, Wei Wuxian grabbed the clothes hanging from bamboo and walked back to the living room. He noticed that Jiang Wanyin had eaten his dinner and was currently reading a few papers on his bed. Wei Wuxian silently dragged himself to the table and ate the remaining food, only turning around when there was a knock. Jiang Wanyin got up from his bed and walked to the door.

"Reports," he said shortly, walking to the table. "Do you want to read them?"

"Nah, not tonight, Prince Jiang Wanyin. I think I'm too tired for anything else right now." Wei Wuxian said, shaking his head. The Jiang Prince nodded, sat down opposite him, began to read, and left the other alpha to take a rest.

Wei Wuxian poured the wine down his throat as he stepped out of the small house that had been prepared for him and Jiang Wanyin. The Yunmeng Prince was still staring at the letters on the table, evaluating the newest development of the rebellion and writing one or two on them. Wei Wuxian had been on the battlefield and fought with the main opponents, and he had no desire to do anything related to the war right now. His mind was in chaos and in need of rest. Before, he would spend the night with omegas or betas—whoever threw themselves at him—just to erase the memory of blood and chaos from his head. Now that he was in a committed relationship, he was sure his siblings would be shocked by his current status, and his heart longed for the beautiful omega in his chamber.

"What are you doing, Lan Zhan? Are you missing me like I'm missing you right now?" He sighed as his eyes eyed the full moon; its radiance strongly reminded him of Lan Wangji's aura. He sighed deeply once again and closed his eyes, trying to picture the omega in his head.

Xue Yang scratched his head as he read the letter General Wei Wuxian had sent him. At first, he was ecstatic because he thought he was summoned to the battlefield, but when he read the content, he was disappointed—and rightfully so—because it wasn't that and contained not only a message for himself but also for a certain handmaiden with an instruction that Xue Yang had to give the letter without anyone knowing. It was such a challenge because a handmaiden or servant, unlike those of higher ranks, went to the same routes all the time. Servants, at least, went to many destinations despite the routes being the same; handmaidens were kind of stuck with the same route over and over, especially Consort Lan's handmaidens. Did General Wei Wuxian have a thing for this maiden or something?

Yeah, the young alpha had a hard time finding out who this Chun Li belonged to. He had eavesdropped on the servants, maids, healers, and soldiers for almost five days before he finally found out that Chun Li was a beta handmaiden for Wen Xu's famous consort. The beta girl frantically barged to the healing pavilion, screaming for help for her friends and consort. It was a talk among the healers, but it quickly went down when he saw Wen Chao's consort, whoever her name was, demand everyone not to say anything about the handmaiden, claiming that she went crazy for serving someone like Lan Wangji, which was weird because all Xue Yang heard about the consort was that he was good despite not many people talking about him. Maybe because he preferred to stay at his pavilion instead of strutting around the Nightless City Palace like other consorts or even concubines.

Back to Chun Lin being Consort Lan's handmaiden, She was very easy to find but very hard to catch alone. Her route was just the same almost every day: her servant wing to the Willow Pavillion, the kitchen to the Willow Pavilion, then back to her own chamber, but her route was full of people. He couldn't catch her alone. Xue Yang needed about three days after finding out to finally corner her on the way to the Willow Pavilion behind the huge Wen Mao statue in the middle of the night after her last visit to Consort Lan.

He had to cover the handmaiden's mouth to prevent her from screaming, and the young beta had the bravery to bite it as hard as she could. It was not her fault—it was an understandable thing to do—but it still hurt so much. Then, when he let her go, his poor head was hit very hard by her.

"Who are you, and what do you want with me?" The girl snapped at him. Xue Yang put his finger to his lips, signalling that they needed to be quiet. Chun Li glared at him. In her hand was an empty tray, and the alpha was sure she used it to hit his head earlier.

"Are you Chun Li?" Xue Yang whispered. The beta looked at him with such distrust in her eyes that it had him offended, but he couldn't exactly voice it for fearing the girl would run away, and he couldn't do a simple task for Wei Wuxian. Finally, after a good minute of her eyes studying him from top to bottom, she opened her mouth.

"Yes, who are you? You're a soldier, aren't you? What are you doing here late at night? It's not only improper but also a breach of security. Are you here to spy on my consort? Are you here to spy on me? What are you thinking? Are you mad? Are you going to-"

"Shut up, will you? I'm here to deliver something for you, and you'll catch the guards' attention if you don't close your mouth." The alpha teen whispered harshly, clearly very annoyed with the endless questions Chun Li had thrown at him. He was risking his life and career here, so she should be nice to him. "Xue Yang. I'm here to deliver a letter for you."

"What? Who sent it?" The young girl looked so bewildered at the revelation as if she never expected something like this to happen to her. "I have no one, you know. I'm an orphan, single, and besides Xiu Mei, I don't really have an intimate friend."

"Well, that explained it. Xue Yang didn't say a thing but pulled out the letter for her to read for herself. The young beta snatched the letter eagerly and read it for a moment before frowning.

"It's not for me. Well, not exactly..." She peeked into the envelope and pulled out another letter. A letter inside a letter The young girl's expression changed into shock when she continued reading her letter while occasionally glancing at the other letter in her hand. Xue Yang raised an eyebrow. Maybe getting a letter from someone like General Wei could give the person that feeling.

"I don't know what causes you to make that ugly expression, but you'd better do whatever General Wei asks you in that letter."

"It's what it's for." The girl stopped and shook her head. "Thank you for the letter, um, whoever you are. You'd better leave because some guards will make their way through this garden during their night patrol."

Xue Yang looked at her for a moment before nodding slowly and disappearing into the darkness, leaving the poor handmaiden by herself. When he turned to look at her, she was walking back to her consort's chamber with hurried steps. Xue Yang frowned. Something wasn't right, and he was going to find out whatever it was. Even that meant he had to use A-Qing to help him interrogate General Wei once he came back from his battle.

Lan Wangji watched as the omega healer put her fingers on his wrist with a deep concentration on her face. His golden eyes blinked slowly, remembering Wei Wuxian's very short message for him.

'We need to tell her.'

Lan Wangji knew who the general referred to as 'her' and, of course, knew exactly what to tell her. But opening a talk about that was something Lan Wangji hadn't mastered. Should he start with a casual talk and then lead her into the main topic? Should he give her a hint so she will eventually catch what he is trying to say? Or should he be frank and just tell her the truth?

The Gusu Lan Second Prince wasn't taught to have friendly chats or even just casual talk. It was his brother's job as the future king's diplomat. His job was supposed to be a war general like his alpha. He was taught to be silent, assess his chances, plot a strategy, and intimidate the opponent into doing what he wanted. The things he had practised on Wei Wuxian, the poor father of his beloved baby,

Not only that, he hadn't encountered someone like Wen Qing before—a hot-headed omega. Gusu Lan didn't have problems with discrimination among alphas, betas, or omegas. Anyone, as long as they were capable and had the right temperament, could choose their career. Unlike other kingdoms, omegas could be soldiers, alphas could be healers, and betas could even be kings. Lan Wangji's grandfather was a beta, and Lan Wangji, despite being an omega, was prepared to be a war general.

Healers in Gusu—regardless of whether they were alphas, omegas, or betas—were very patient, soft-spoken, gentle, and friendly according to the 3542 rules the Kingdom had, so their reactions were mostly very expected for Lan Wangji. Wen Qing wasn't all of those, so Lan Wangji didn't really know how to break the shocking news to her. Would she maim her like the stories Wei Wuxian had told him? He knew those stories—which portrayed Wen Qing like a tiger happily torturing and mauling innocent foxes like him—were greatly exaggerated by the alpha.

'A poor innocent fox like me is terrified of her angry form; what about a bunny like you, Lan Zhan? You'll be shocked to death. Oh, my poor beautiful omega!

A poor innocent fox? Yeah, right.

"Something is amusing you, Consort Lan?" The fellow omega's question startled him. "You're smiling softly."

Ah, so he had shown an intimate expression to her. It was alright, though. She was his future sister-in-law, so it was okay to behave like her. So far in the palace, there were only three people he would kindly show his emotion to Xiu Mei, Chun Li, and Wei Wuxian. Maybe now he should include Wen Qing as well. With the truth he was going to tell her, maybe she would hold herself back because she knew she was going to be an aunt.

But how do you start the conversation? Fuck it. Lan Wangji would just jump to the main topic. The sooner, the better. Lan Wangji would think of her reaction later when she actually reacted to it. The omega glanced at Chun Li, who was busy hanging his coat. The girl had been quiet since the death of Xiu Mei; her smiles were forced, and her movements were slower.

"A-Li, can you please come here?" He called softly. Chun Li turned around with a puzzled look on her sweet face and quickly walked to the two omegas, even lifting her skirt to ease her movement. She reluctantly sat down in front of the consort, glancing at Wen Qing as she did so. She was just a handmaiden after all; to sit on the same level as a high-ranked healer and a consort was something she was unfamiliar with.

"Healer Wen, you told me that I could share things with you when I needed someone to listen. I'd like to tell you something really important. Please, hear me out until I finish before you decide to let me know what you think." Lan Wangji then turned to his confused handmaiden. "Chun Li, you're very important to me; you're one of the very few people who have been by my side, and with every shocking thing that has been going on, I think you should know. Whatever you decide or think after you hear everything, I'll respect that. If you want to leave, I'll let you go. Just please listen first."

Both Wen Qing and Chun Li looked at each other with worry, probably expecting the worst. Lan Wangji took a deep breath and put his palm on his stomach.

"This child is not Wen Xu's. It's Wei Ying's."

Two opposite reactions greeted the consort. Wen Qing's surprised face was immediately replaced with fury, while Chun Li's blank face was quickly replaced with confusion.

"What?" The healer snapped. The fragile vial broke in her tight grip.

"Who's Wei Ying, Consort Lan? Forgive me, but I don't think I know anyone with that name." Chun Li asked, throwing a worried glance at Wen Qing's furious face briefly before looking at her consort. Lan Wangji's face softened at the genuine confusion on her face.

"You know him as General Wei Wuxian."

"What?!" Chun Li's shout was higher than We Wuxian's sister's. "You mean, the hot playboy general? He's so handsome, yes, but... but... is that why he sent a secret letter to you last night? It wasn't because he is your sick fan or something."

Lan Wangji felt a sudden pity for the young teen. Last night, when his alpha's letter came into his possession, Chun Lin warned him that maybe General Wei Wuxian was a sick admirer of his, an alpha who had a thing for married omegas. He was a playboy after all, and sending a secret love letter to sway someone was a common thing from an admirer. The teen, along with Xiu Mei, had told him everything about Wei Wuxian's behaviour with both admiration and disgust. The general's behaviour wasn't a secret at Nightless City Palace or even surprising. It was the expected behaviour of a young, handsome, and famous alpha like him. Qishan was a wild kingdom, so of course its high-ranking people would be too. Wen Ruohan was the same back then; his sons were so different, if not worse.

"Let me finish." The consort slowly took Wen Qing's hand into his, slowly and gently freeing the broken vial out of her fist. The vial, fortunately, didn't hurt the woman's skin. The omega cleaned her hand, patted it gently, and looked at them silently.

When Lan Wangji had finished telling them the whole story, from the very night of his birth to the current situation, the expressions of the two females were quite unpredictable for him. What he expected was for Chun Li to be shocked, then say that she didn't want anything to do with this shit and run out of the pavilion, leaving the consort behind. What he expected from Wen Qing was to furiously scream at him, saying how stupid, reckless, and inappropriate he was for dragging her brother into a big mess. Lan Wangji was ready for that reaction, but not for these reactions.

Chun Li's eyes were brimming with tears as she threw her small form at the man, engulfing him in a hug as tight as she could. She was sobbing on his shoulder, murmuring 'Poor Consort Lan... Poor Consort Lan..." while her small palms were patting his back. Wen Qing, whom he expected to be angry at him, was looking at the consort with a sort of pity in her eyes like she understood why he did what he did.

"Thank you for telling me everything, Consort Lan." Wen Qing took a deep breath as she stared at Lan Wangji, who was currently trying to slowly free himself from Chun Li's surprisingly tight hug. Lan Wangji smiled softly when his handmaiden was wiping her eyes.

"Thank you for sharing your burden with this lowly servant, Consort Lan." The handmaiden grabbed his hand in her smaller ones. "Chun Li will definitely help you."

Lan Wangji blinked at her, clearly surprised by her support. "Chun Li, you don't owe me anything. I give you my permission to go right now and serve someone else. I don't want to put you in danger."

"Chun Li won't go anywhere else." The handmaiden looked like she was about to cry again when she frantically shook her head. "I want to help Consort Lan bring down the family who has hurt Consort Lan for years."

"Thank you, A-Li." The omega consort blinked back tears at how loyal his handmaiden was. After the death of Xiu Mei, he was afraid that Chun Li would have the same fate, so even though there was a part of him that wanted her to stay, he decided to let her go to find a place where she was safe. She would be safe when Wei Wuxian took over the kingdom, just not under Lan Wangji's.

"Consort Lan," Wen Qing called his name softly. Lan Wangji looked up from his handmaiden to Wei Wuxian's sister. "I wanted to be angry with you. You agreed to create the baby with my brother, and then you asked for something very dangerous. It was a coup d'etat that risked everyone—my family, your family—but after I think about it, I think I understand."

The healer took a deep breath and closed her eyes before opening them again. There was a glint of anger in her eyes—Lan Wangji could see that very clearly, and he understood—but soon it changed to pity. "You were brought here at a very young age, forced to marry Wen Xu, trapped and neglected your whole life, and then forced to make a baby with an unfamiliar alpha. I understand your desperation. This place has been very unkind to you, so when there was hope right in front of your eyes in the form of an influential and powerful war general, the one who could carry out your coup d'etat plan, of course, you took your chance. I have to say I'm grateful that you actually gave my brother a choice and not just manipulated him into helping you. My brother, despite having that Black General title and playboy status, is a man who will help those he thinks are in need. He's a great war general, very ruthless and competent, but those are wars. He was and is fighting enemies, our kingdom's enemies."

"It'll explain everything to me, though. You're a kind person, Consort Lan, and I don't think even if you were pregnant with Wen Xu's child, you'd hate the baby. You'd still love the baby with all your heart. But now, it's very clear why you cherish the baby so much. This is your love child with my brother." Wen Qing's amused tone threw Lan Wangji off.

"L-Love Child, Healer Wen." The consort shuttered, shaking his head. "I won't go that far."

"Well, from your story, if I know how my brother is, I'm really sure of it." Wen Qing smiled and Chun Li giggled when Lan Wangji's ears were blazing red. "Lan Wangji, let me say this clearly. Do I hate you because of this? No. Do I agree with all of this planning you and my brother are doing? Absolutely not. This is the craziest and most dangerous plan I have ever heard in my entire life. But a chance for a new, much better regime? That's something my family has always wished for."

"Thank you, Healer Wen." Lan Wangji's face softened with gratitude. Wen Qing took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and massaged her temples.

"Don't thank me yet. I haven't done anything significant about this whole crazy takeover plan."

"You don't have to." The omega consort said this before she could utter another word. "You both don't have to do anything. Wei Ying and I, with the help of others, have been doing well with the plan."

"Doing well with the plan?" Chun Li gaped and put her hands on her hips; her face was marred with a frown. "Consort Lan, it was just a few days ago that someone tried to kill you, and Xiu Mei died protecting you."

"Xiu Mei, what?" Wen Qing asked in shock, but the young teen ignored her.

"Now, both Prince Wen Xu—I know he's a bad guy, but he's the Crown Prince and needs you and the baby—and General Wei, your true love and baby daddy—"

"Wei Ying isn't my true love."

"You're being an open target to Prince Wen Chao and his consort. No one with a high rank or fighting skill can protect you right now. What if another assassin comes here and no one is here? What if someone tries to poison you and the baby? What if, in the end, you and General Wei Wuxian don't have a happy ending together? Consort Lan, you need all the help you can get." She took a deep breath as her dark eyes stared at the stunning male omega. "I don't know about Healer Wen, but I, Chun Li, will serve you, protect you, and help you with everything I have."

With that, the handmaiden knelt before the omega.

"Oh, Chun Li, please get up." Lan Wangji, with difficulty, patted the teen's shoulder. The young handmaiden looked up and smiled before sitting back in her seat. "Thank you."

"Consort Lan doesn't need to thank Chun Li." The handmaiden smiled brightly and turned to the healer next to her, clearly expecting the older woman to give the answer.

"Well, I don't really have the choice, do I?" Wen Qing pursed her lips. She looked at Lan Wangji with a raised eyebrow. "I have a future brother-in-law and niece or nephew to take care of."

Then she looked at Chun Li and said, "A new young friend to help me."

She rolled her eyes. "An innocent young brother and an old man to keep out of this plan."

"And a wayward brother who does everything himself without discussing his plan with me. How dare he conclude that I cannot take care of myself at that snake pit?" Her expression was filled with annoyance. She took off her needles, slammed them on the table, and snapped. "I'm going to kill that brat!"

Far away from the Willow Pavilion, Alpha General Wei Wuxian shivered, hugged himself, and looked around with panicked eyes. He definitely felt an intense killing intent miles away.

Chapter Text

The return of the soldiers was met with a grim atmosphere. Emperor Wen Ruohan stood stoically in front of the stairs of Nightless City Palace as the soldiers walked silently towards him. At the front, the body of Crown Prince Wen Xu was laid on a slab and carried by the soldiers. Behind him, several soldiers away was the body of General Wen Zhuliu. No one spoke, not even Wen Chao; no one dared to.

Lan Wangji was in front of his husband's tomb, dressed all white for the occasion. The burial of Qishan's Crown Prince had ended an hour ago, but the consort was still kneeling. His golden eyes were staring at Wen Xu's name silently, and his hand was on his swollen stomach. He was seven months pregnant and a widower. His position wasn't as good as before, and Wen Xu's position would probably go to Wen Chao. His faith was unknown in the palace. The concubines had been disbanded by the Emperor himself and given to high-ranking ministers and soldiers. Some went away with pouches of gold inside their robes. One concubine went directly to Prince Wen Chao: concubine Yan Min, Wen Xu's favourite concubine. Lan Wangji didn't expect anything from that woman. He had heard and seen enough of her ambition to have a high place within the palace. He felt bad, however, because she had to face Wang Lingjiao for the position of Wen Chao's favourite. She never had a competition before among Wen Xu's omegas, not even from Lan Wangji. Wen Chao's household was completely different.

Lan Wangji's fate was different. He was an official consort, married legally to the Qishan's household to bridge the Qishan and Gusu Kingdoms. He was currently pregnant with the next heir for the Qishan Kingdom. Wen Ruohan wouldn't get rid of him, not when he was carrying his golden boy's child. The omega didn't know what Wen Ruohan was currently thinking, but he could bet that one of them was making Wen Chao the Regent of Qishan until the baby in the consort's womb was born. Wen Ruohan was clear with his dislike of the second prince, deeming him very incompetent, which was actually true, but if he didn't have a choice, then he didn't have one.

"You can return to your room," A gruff voice snapped Lan Wangji from his thoughts. He turned around and saw Wen Ruohan standing beside him; his eyes were on Wen Xu's tomb. "Lan Wangji, with the death of Wen Xu, your unborn child will rule the Qishan one day. As the high consort of Qishan Wen Kingdom, it's your duty to protect, give birth, nurture, and raise the child according to Qishan's value and goal."

Wen Ruhan glanced at Lan Wangj, turned around, and walked away. Chun Li immediately went to his side, helping him up from the floor and wrapping a thick coat around his shoulder. The omega's golden eyes glinted—clearly amused with the order of the Emperor—as he walked back to his Willow Pavilion.

Don't worry, Wen Ruohan. This child will definitely rule Qishan because he is the son of Qishan's next Emperor! Lan Wangji let out a small, happy sigh as he walked into his chamber. He quickly threw the white mourning robes into the nearby basket and put on his thin but comfortable sleeping robe. That night, he went to sleep with a small smile on his face.

There was no announcement the next morning after Wen Xu's funeral, and somehow that made Lan Wangji worried. Wen Chao and his bitch were still targeting him after their failed attempt, and they wouldn't stop until Wen Chao was promoted to the Crown Prince's title. The Omega had to be alert all the time just in case another assassin would barge into his room. Maybe not soon, though, because there is an ongoing war in Wen Chao's household right now.

His handmaiden had delivered his breakfast this morning and told him that Wen Chao's household was in chaos. His consort and concubine, Yan Min, were at each other's throats to gain Wen Chao's attention. Concubine Yan Min was much prettier than Wang Lingjiao, so she had an advantage there. Chun Ling told him a hilarious story about how concubine Yan Min put itchy powder on consort Wang Lingjiao's favourite robe. The consort was enraged and locked herself in her room to avoid anyone seeing her red skin. Concubine Yan Min—of course, no one was fucking surprised—took advantage of the situation and began seducing Wen Chao—which was a very easy feat for anyone with a pretty face—keeping him for herself for days. That didn't sit well with his own consort. Lan Wangji hoped this ridiculous war would be enough for the couple to forget about their murder attempt on his life, at least until Wei Wuxian's return.

The omega sighed as he sat in front of his vanity. It had been a while since his alpha went to war. When the news of the soldiers returned, his heart soared at the thought of Wei Wuxian leading the troops, but his golden eyes were greeted by the sight of Wen Xu's dead body. It was a really good sight, but not the beautiful one he had hoped for. The consort tightened the thin sleeping robes around his body, rubbed his bulging belly, and closed his eyes. When he opened his eyes, a pair of silver eyes were staring back at him through the mirror. The owner of the eyes’ face was partially hidden by the shadow.

Startled, the consort quickly withdrew his needles from his sleeves and swung his slim arms. His wrist, unfortunately, was caught in a tight grip. The face moved closer to the light, and a familiar, handsome face was staring at him with a heated stare. A spicy scent assaulted his nose, and his inner omega whined pitifully inside him. Gold met silver.

A pair of lips slammed onto his plum ones. His needles fell to the ground; his body was lifted off the ground, and laid on the soft mattress, and the curtains were drawn.

Soft breaths filled the bed as a pair of alpha and omega cuddled together. The omega was wearing his sleeping robe, the sash tied carelessly around his belly. The alpha was bare-chested, only wearing his pants as he laid his head on the omega’s pregnant belly, caressing it gently and pestering it with loving kisses.

"Wei Ying," The omega called softly and patted the alpha’s dark head. The alpha hummed without lifting his head. The omega sighed softly. He patted Wei Wuxian’s head a little harder, and the alpha snickered when he felt that.

“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji was annoyed now; Wei Wuxian could tell that, and he found he enjoyed making the omega behave like that. He loved the dotting, ever-loving Lan Wangji, of course, but there was a thrilling sensation in his heart when the omega would be annoyed, pout, and glare at him with those adorable red ears because he only showed these emotions to him. Only him.

"Keep calling my name, Lan Zhan. I love hearing it from your pretty mouth." Wei Wuxian sighed happily, his nose nuzzling his belly. Lan Wang tugged at the dark tresses of the general—gently at first, then a little harder—silently demanding that he pay attention to him. Wei Wuxian chuckled gleefully as he sat up, his silver eyes looking at the omega teasingly.

"Wei Ying, about Wen Xu's death—" Lan Wangji hadn’t finished his sentence when Wei Wuxian groaned loudly. The general pouted hard at him, fluttered his eyelashes—he was trying to be cute—and stared at the omega miserably.

"Urgh, can we talk about someone else, please? Our radish, for example. That bastard is dead, Lan Zhan. I have killed him. He won't hurt you anymore.” Wei Wuxian took Lan Wangji’s hands into his. “I caught him torturing Song Lan, and he began taunting me about you. He saw my reaction when he used your name, so he used it over and over again. He talked very badly about you in a sexual way and even said that our baby was his. The alpha inside me wanted to kill him for claiming our baby. Something inside snapped, and the fury I felt was different from what I had experienced before. I made sure he knew that torturing you was the biggest mistake he had ever made in his life."

"Thank-"

"No, no, no!" Wei Wuxian shook his head, wrangling his index finger in front of Lan Wangji’s face. “I don’t accept any thanks from you. Especially from you, Lan Zhan.”

“If that’s what Wei Ying wants," Lan Wangji smiled softly and nodded. Wei Wuxian grinned and puffed his chest a little.

“That’s what Wei Ying wants.” He said. The general went silent, raised his hand, and caressed Lan Wangji’s flawless cheek. Such a beautiful face shouldn’t be tainted by tears. Wei Wuxian opened his mouth and said softly, “Lan Zhan, I have heard what happened—about the assassination, about Xiu Mei. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to protect you.”

“Wei Ying doesn’t have to say sorry.” Lan Wangji shook his head softly. His palms cupped the alpha’s cheeks gently, and his thumb caressed them. “If I cannot say thanks, then Wei Ying cannot say sorry.”

Wei Wuxian grinned—his own hands covered Lan Wangji's—as he titled his head playfully, “That's such a strange comparison.”

“It’s not. Wei Ying, there shouldn’t be any sorry or thank you between us. We’re in this together. We’re one.”

“We’re one, huh?” Wei Wuxian smirked, his eyes twinkling. Lan Wangji’s golden eyes bore into Wei Wuxian's, and both couldn’t look away, not that they wanted to. "I said that I love hearing my name come from your mouth, right? I think I know how."

The general leaned down to kiss Lan Wangji’s plum lips before his lips moved to his neck, licking and sucking the sensitive skin there. The omega moaned, his fingers gripping Wei Wuxian’s hair tightly. The robes were thrown to the side, and soon both were naked as they were born.

Careful with the omega’s seventh-month belly, Wei Wuxian gently put a cushion under Lan Wangji’s hip before he buried his face between the beautiful consort’s legs. Lan Wangji moaned as Wei Wuxian’s tongue teased his pussy. His hands gripped the bedsheet tightly, his mouth opened, and his body shook. When the alpha entered home, both moaned at the pleasure they had been yearning for since the day they separated.

“Wei Ying,” the consort called the father of his unborn child breathlessly. The pleasure was too much, and his body felt like it was leaving the world right now.

“Lan Zhan, you feel so good. Fuck,” Wei Wuxian groaned and started moving slowly. He didn’t dare speed up in case he hurt his child, but he would make sure he satisfied his omega. Lan Zhan was his everything, and he would give him everything. Even if that meant he had to do so many rounds that night—pregnant Omega's sexual desire was amazing—he felt his backbone was about to snap into half and his legs shook like crazy. It was okay. Wei Wuxian was a strong alpha. He could handle it.

"Wei Ying,"

Wei Wuxian groaned when a hand gently shook his tired body, and no matter how beautiful Lan Wangji’s voice was in his ears, his body wasn’t ready to have another go. He might be a strong, undefeatable alpha, but he was not a supernatural being. "Ugh, five more minutes, Lan Zhan. We have done it so many times, and I'm still exhausted."

"Wei Ying!" The tone was more urgent now, followed by a giggle somewhere. Wei Wuxian frowned a little; his eyes were still closed. Lan Wangji giggled. No way.

"Lan Zhan, I can't go for another round now. But five more minutes, and I'll satisfy you again. I promised.” The giggle was getting louder. Weird. Totally weird.

"Wei Ying, wake up." The shaking was getting rougher now, and Wei Wuxian didn’t like it. Why was Lan Wangji so mean?

"Lan Zhan~!” The general whined pitifully as he pouted hard. The blanket was grabbed roughly from his body, and he was glad he had put on his pants, or he would have had to endure the cold morning wind.

"Wei Wuxian!"

"Lan Zhan, why does your voice sound like Qing-Jie?” The alpha sat up and opened his eyes only to see three people standing right beside the bed, looking at his crazy bed hair, with different expressions. One was worried, one was amused, and one was furious. The last was looking at him with a murderous look on her face and hands on her hips.

“AH! Qing-Jie!" The alpha shrieked and quickly moved to hide behind Lan Wangji, who was the closest one standing by the bed. The omega healer slowly pulled out her needles, and the alpha knew that even his protector wouldn’t be able to save him completely. He would definitely leave with at least a bruise on his handsome face. Chun Li was standing behind Wen Qing with her palm covering her mouth. Her shoulders were shaking, clearly holding back laughter. She was enjoying this. The demise of the poor ex-playboy general of the Qishan Wen Kingdom in his sister’s hands was a total gem for a mere handmaiden like her, and she was totally into it.

He didn’t have time to think, however, when Wen Qing pulled Lan Wangji from him and threw her needles at the general. Wei Wuxian expertly avoided the deadly weapon, but sadly, he couldn’t avoid the fist that came to him. His strong alpha body fell pathetically onto the hard floor.

“Wei Ying!”

"Wei Wuxian!" Wen Qing roared, making Chun Li gasp, and quickly ran to close the doors and windows so her voice wouldn’t reach other people’s ears.

"Oh, no." The general gasped and stood up quickly to, once again, hide behind Lan Wangji, the only one who was powerful enough beside his own sister in the room. Wei Wuxian wasn’t stupid. He had no chance of facing his sister’s wrath alone.

"What the hell were you thinking?! I thought you were supposed to be a genius, but you never use your brain correctly. You never use your brain at all!” Wen Qing was being held back by Chun Lin now while Wei Wuxian peeked over Lan Wangji’s shoulder. “How dare you agree to make a deal with Wen Xu! How dare you assume that I couldn't protect myself! How dare you always try to play a hero?"

Lan Wangji stood silently and calmly in front of the Qishan’s Black General like a strong fortress. The male omega looked so amused by the whole ordeal. Never in his life had he witnessed siblings fight like this. He never had a fight like this with his brother. He didn’t even remember having a fight with his brother at all.

“Please calm down, Healer Wen. The guards can hear you!”

“Let go of me, A-Li. Let me teach this stupid man a lesson!” Wen Qing tried to shrug the handmaiden off him, but the teen girl had a surprisingly tight grip. "You should be grateful that Consort Lan is saving your ass from Wen Xu. Don't you realise that if everything went according to plan, our family would be in a very bad place? How easily would he use your agreement as an excuse to manipulate and control us? All he needed to say was that you and Consort Lan had an affair behind his back, and you and Consort Lan would be executed. A-Ning gave you a map to go to Willow Pavilion, and he would be executed. I helped you with the baby's scent, and I would be executed. Uncle Four would be guilty by association! If he were an emperor, even if he were infertile, he would find a way to cover it much better because no one would go against his words. He could get his next consort pregnant one way or another, easier, without anyone's interference."

Wei Wuxian blinked owlishly at his sister as he hugged Lan Wangji's shoulder. "Oh, I didn't think of that."

"Of course, you didn't. You never use that brain of yours, you fucking stupid alpha!" Wen Qing glared at her brother, and the alpha whimpered as his arms tightened around his omega's shoulder. Lan Wangji turned his head towards him and patted his hand. Wei Wuxian smiled apologetically at the consort and kissed Lan Wangji's cheek. The general glanced at the two women and saw his sister's face soften at the sight, while Chun Li was beaming at them.

"Are you okay?" Lan Wangji asked, pressing a wet and cold cloth to Wei Wuxian's swollen eye courtesy of Wen Qing's fist. The healer had gone back to the Imperial Healing Pavilion, called by Healer Gong Jia Wei who had been promoted to replace Wen Lei as the Imperial Family's private doctor. There was a rumour that Wen Qing was going to be promoted to be the next Head of Imperial Healing Pavilion and so far, good words were with her. Her ability was already known before she joined Wen Lei's prestigious training, and since then she had risen above everyone else. Chun Li had gone after serving them breakfast and would be back in an hour or two to accompany him strolling the garden as an exercise. Both women had told him to immediately go back to the barracks after breakfast, or they would be in huge trouble.

"I'll be fine. It will be swollen, but that's it. Wen Qing is strong, but she isn't that strong. I deserved this anyway." Wei Wuxian sighed and looked at his consort like a kicked puppy. "But it's still hurt. Maybe it'll heal faster if Lan Zhan gives it a kiss?"

Lan Wangji shook his head and pulled out an ointment Wen Qing had given him for bruises. The alpha pouted at him but leaned down when the omega began to put the ointment on his face. Wei Wuxian's silver eyes were staring lovingly at Lan Wangji's face the whole time he treated his bruise. Once in a while, Lan Wangji's golden eyes would glance at his face, and the tips of his ears went red. That was so cute.

"Wei Ying, you should go back to your office. You're replacing Wen Zhuliu's position, aren't you? You have reports to write." The now-highest-ranked general sighed when Lan Wangji reminded him about that. The Emperor would definitely want a report—both written and verbal—as soon as possible. The man lost three important figures just in a month—his heir, his childhood friend, and his best general—and is probably quite pissed off right now.

"Lan Zhan, do you think everything will be alright?" Wei Wuxian asked softly, looking at his lap. "I know that we have successfully eliminated Wen Lei, Wen Zhuliu, and Wen Xu, but I'm just...

"I won't lie and say that everything will be alright. But we will make it alright." Wei Wuxian huffed affectionately at the short answer. Yes, everything would never be alright—not when they still had Wen Ruohan as the Emperor—but they would make it alright. For them and for their baby.

"Yes. we will. We will." Wei Wuxian smiled at the man in front of him lovingly and leaned down to kiss him. When Lan Wangji's arms wrapped around his neck and he returned the kiss passionately, the order from the two women was completely forgotten.

"Xue Yang," Wei Wuxian called the silent young soldier who was busy slashing some wooden statues with his sword. The young soldier stopped his training and looked at him with a raised eyebrow. Wei Wuxian threw an arm around the younger alpha's shoulder and dragged him to the entrance. "Accompany me to the market, will you? I have to buy some supplies."

The teen soldier just nodded his head without saying a word. He knew what he wanted to ask his superior, but he didn't know how to start. He couldn't just be blunt and open his mouth in case someone was listening. What he knew was a top secret, even if it was just a small action, just like what Wei Wuxian had written in the letter. The general had locked himself in his office for days to finish the reports, and Xue Yang didn't dare disturb him.

They passed the kitchen, and Xue Yang's eyes widened when he saw Chun Li walking towards them with a tray of snacks in her hands. He felt the older alpha's grip tighten on his shoulder as the young maid bowed slightly before walking past them, but the young soldier had seen Wei Wuxian slip something into the maid's hand very quickly.

"Are you fucking her?" Xue Yang immediately asked when they finally stepped out of the palace's yard and entered the market. The general looked at him with wide eyes.

"W-What?"

Xue Yang sighed and faced the man. The younger and shorter alpha put his hands on Wei Wuxian's shoulder and gently spoke, "I know it's none of my business, and she looks like she is old enough to give her consent. But I thought you were done with all the playboy craze because you told me that time was your darkest, dealing with unpredictable fame and nightmares. So, I know everything is very bad right now; Wen Zhuliu and Wen Xu are dead, you're stressed, and the rebellion takes your time very much. I won't judge you, but are you back in that shithole again? Because of this stress? I won't blame you, but..."

"Xue Yang, I'm not stressed."

"It's okay if you don't want to admit it, General. Many stressed people don't want to admit it because it makes them look weak. You can tell me; you can admit it to me. it's okay. She's old enough to do anything she wants, as long as you don't force her to do anything."

"I don't force Chun Li to do anything! I don't fuck her."

"Even if you do, it's okay, General. She's young, yes, but she's old enough to make her own decision. She's 20, right? I've gathered some information."

"She's 18! She's just two years older than A-Qing."

"I see. Still, if both of you consent to this,

"Xue Yang, she's fucking 18-."

"But you fuck her, right? That's why you asked me to send the letter to her. That's why you gave her a secret letter just now. You two are in a secret relationship because of statuses and the age gap that people find inappropriate, so you two keep it a secret until she's old enough to get married."

"Xue Yang, she's about A-Qing's age."

"What is it about Wei Wuxian fucking someone my age?" A new voice made the two soldiers turn around. A-Qing was standing there in her beautiful pink robes, eating a long stick of tanghulu. Her other hand was holding a wooden bowl with streamed buns and candies in it.

"A-Qing!"

"What? You are talking about it, aren't you?" The young girl raised an eyebrow. She let Xue Yang stand beside her, took his bowl, and ate some candies. "Wow, General Wei Wuxian, I don't know you're fond of young girls. You're not grooming me, aren't you?"

"What? No. What the hell are you two talking about? I'm not sleeping with her. I have a reason why I sent her letters."

"What is it, then?" Xue Yang asked, looking at his superior while chewing on a steamed bun. The two teens were looking at him, expecting an answer. Wei Wuxian really tried to look away, but the stare the two teens were giving him was really unnerving. Xue Yang and A-Qing were standing there, chewing their food wordlessly while staring at him. It was creepy as hell. He didn't say anything and tried to avoid looking at them until A-Qing took out an envelope from her robes, which is why he dragged Xue Yang here.

"Fine, I'll tell you everything." Wei Wuxian gave up. He had taken too much advantage of these two teens, and he owed them a clear explanation for everything he had asked them to do. He had Chun Li in their circle within the palace, which was a very good addition for him and Lan Wangji. These teens had been good additions so far; they just hadn't known that.

Wei Wuxian ordered many steamed buns and sweets before leading the two teens to an empty inn. He ordered a room and asked the two to enter first, leaving the oldest among them to pay for the room and the owner's silence. Wei Wuxian locked the door, put the box of buns on the table, and sat down across from the two eager teens. He wanted to laugh at their faces. They looked like two excited puppies looking for trouble. The general bit the steamed bun as he thought of how to break a piece of important news to the two.

It was a risky move, he knew, but he had taken advantage of these two teens—ordering them around, spreading rumours, asking them to keep secrets without any explanation—and he felt guilty about it. At least, if the plan failed, these teens could run away from the Qishan quietly and as soon as possible. He trusted A-Qing and Xue Yang with his life, but if anything happened to them, he wouldn't forgive himself. God, he had grown attached to both of them. Wei Wuxian sighed.

He wanted to fucking laugh. Really. With how dumbfounded the two teens were in front of him, it was hard for the general not to at least snort or snicker. Xue Yang and A-Qing looked like they had been told that they were the secret children of Emperor Wen Ruohan and that they would be the next heirs of Qishan. Shock and disbelief were all over their faces, and they had not been moving since Wei Wuxian told them everything. Well, not everything. He only told them that he planned to take over from Wen Ruohan as the next Emperor after Wen Xu's death. He told them that those letters that both A-Qing and Xue Yang sometimes delivered to the post office were for those who had helped him all this time. When Xue Yang concluded on his own that the letters were for the rebels, Wei Wuxian told him that he indeed had a little part in the rebellion.

"Are you crazy?" Xue Yang was the first to recover. He glared so hard at the general, not with hatred—Wei Wuxian was so thankful for that—but with disbelief and worry. "If you're captured, you'll be sentenced to death! You risk not only your life but your family as well."

"Xue Yang, believe me. I know what I'm doing. I'm aware of the consequences I'll be facing, for I have thought about it even before I decided to do this whole thing. Trust me, I know." Wei Wuxian spoke softly, trying to calm the young teen. His silver eyes moved to A-Qing, who hadn't said anything but stared into space with a thoughtful frown on her face.

"So you're using me all this time?" A-Qing asked softly, so unlike her fiery self, and guilt was growing in Wei Wuxian's heart. Her question hurt him—and rightfully so—but she wasn't wrong; she was right.

"I did, and I'm sorry." Wei Wuxian said, looking at the girl apologetically. She looked up at him, and he could see hurt in her eyes. "But A-Qing, I genuinely like you. Everything I've done for you is sincere. You're like a little sister to me, A-Qing. Please, believe me."

A-Qing didn't say anything but looked down, and the guilt grew in the alpha's chest. He glanced at Xue Yang and saw the young man cross his arms in front of his chest with a scowl on his face. Did he feel the same as A-Qing? Now Wei Wuxian's guilt has doubled. Wei Wuxian wished Lan Wangji was here to guide him.

"A-Qing, Xue Yang, when I began to get involved in this plan, I was asked to find friends to help me." Wei Wuxian sighed. Wei Ying, I didn't ask you to find a pet. I asked you to find a friend. Lan Wangji scolded him for referring to Xue Yang as his pet. "Not a tool, a minion, or anything else, but friends, and I found you two. Two brilliant teens with amazing personalities, loyalties, and brains, and I don't want to let you both go. I like you too much, and I consider you two my little siblings."

"Sweet words won't change the fact that you use us."

"I know, Xue Yang. I know and I'm sorry, but... Wei Wuxian sighed and rubbed his face with his palms. He didn't know what to say to convince these two young minds that he did care about them. "Look, I understand that you two are angry at me, rightfully so, and if you two want to stay away from me and hate me for the rest of your lives, it's okay. I understand that this is too much, too dangerous, and too everything for you. I'll accept that; I understand that. I just want you not to tell anyone about this. I take a risk by telling you this plan because I trust you with my life. And I trust you two won't tell anyone about this."

The teens were silent and glanced at each other with uncertain, confused looks in their eyes. They went silent for a moment before A-Qing sighed. "We're in this too deep. Well, all I did was send letters without knowing their contents, but still. I'm helping someone who wants to take over a kingdom, and no one will believe me even if I shout at the top of my lungs that I didn't know. I have no one to back me up, no one to protect me; I'm just a street girl, anyway."

"A-Qing, you're much more than just a street girl."

"More than that, but I am still that." The omega shrugged. "It's the truth, and I'm not ashamed of that. Anyway, back to the plan; as I said, I'm already in this too deep. I can walk away now, yes, but I don't—I don't think I want to."

Both Xue Yang and Wei Wuxian looked at the girl with wide eyes. The general took her skinny hand and said, "A-Qing, you don't have to be in this if you don't want to." You don't have to."

"I know. You have told me many times, and I don't want to. The reason for this takeover is that you want to create a better life for the kingdom and for people like me, so I don't see why I should stop. If anything, if I can do more than what you ask me to do, I'll do it. Just make sure you pay me because I don't work for free, especially for a rich general like you." A-Qing said as she took a bun and bit into it harshly. Wei Wuxian winced as if he could guess who she imagined when she bit the food. "I'm angry at you, Wei Wuxian, but I think if your reason is right, then I guess it's okay."

"Are you serious, A-Qing?" Xue Yang turned to her, and the girl just shrugged, which was enough of an answer for him. The young soldier's eyes moved to the general he worships and admires with a disappointed look.

"Xue Yang, I'm interested in you not because you kiss the ground I walk on, but because you're a truly talented young man with brilliant skill both in combat and strategy. Even if I don't have this huge plan, I'll still be interested in you. I have heard your name since you joined the army. You earned your spot in the military because of your hard work, not because of my interest. You're well aware of that. You see how I choose my special squad."

"I know. I work hard for it. But I just Xue Yang took a deep breath. "I just hoped that you saw me as me the first time, not because you were looking for a friend to help you. It'll be different for me if this plan came up after you met me; befriend me because then you really saw me for me, but because you were initially looking for someone to help you, then stumble over me—urgh, I'm rambling, but you know what I mean."

It'll be different for me if this plan comes up after you meet me and befriend me because then you really see me for me. Wei Wuxian let out a sad smile. Xue Yang was right because if the plan never came up, then Wei Wuxian wouldn't be bothered with him this soon. He would, just like he said, but not this soon. He would wait until his burial mound drill to actually come to the young soldier. Xue Yang's argument about Wen Xu's stupid plan to defeat Qinghe's soldiers did catch his attention, but he wouldn't immediately get closer to him. So, the alpha general really understood how Xue Yang felt.

"But like what A-Qing has said, if it's for a better future for Qishan, then I'll do it. You're about to win anyway, right? Wen Xu and Wen Zhuliu are dead, so it's only the Emperor you have to kill. I don't think we need to do anything about Wen Chao. He's hopeless." 

Wei Wuxian let out a relieved laugh when he finally heard Xue Yang's words. He felt a huge stone lift from his chest. These two teens, despite their young age, were probably the truest friends he had. Maybe because they both had a similar background and had to survive on the street before someone came and gave them something. For Wei Wuxian, he was given a family and military spot. Xue Yang was given a roof and a military spot. For A-Qing, she was given nicer clothes and better food. Not much, but very important for her.

"I think Wei Wuxian will win easily against the Emperor. He's old, right? Wei Wuxian is younger. I don't know about Wen Chao, though." A-Qing looked at the older teen. Xue Yang hummed as he took a sweet and popped it into his mouth.

"I don't think it'll be easy, but of course, General Wei will win. I heard the Emperor was a great fighter and probably still is; we just don't know it because he's stuck in the palace. Maybe General Wei will be gravely injured at the end of the battle with Wen Ruohan, maybe in a coma for years or something, but he'll win."

"Oh, it'll be more dramatic that way, right? I dislike the comatose idea, but imagine General Wei Wuxian coming out of the palace with blood all over his body and a mouth full of blood, and then he says we have won. We won. It'll be like those stories the performers do on stage."

"One arm missing will be nice. Maybe he'll also-"

"Hey, why do you imagine me in those horrible states? I'm-"

"He'll look cool when he raises a sword while one arm is missing. Then he delivers a speech and suddenly collapses. Everyone is screaming, Oh no, our next Emperor! Help our next emperor. It turns out he was stabbed too!"

"A-Qing!"

Wei Wuxian sighed when the two teens left the room while talking about some horrible situations he would be in after the takeover was over. He was glad that Xue Yang and A-Qing were on board with his plan and believed that he would come out as the winner, but listening to their wild imaginations about him in so many dramatic and horrible states was mortifying. It was their way of releasing anger towards him, but still. Nonetheless, the general would hug them and pester them with kisses if he wasn't afraid of Xue Yang's sword and A-Qing's bamboo stick.

The general shook his head fondly as he closed the door to the room. He gulped down a jar of wine before he opened a letter that A-Qing slammed on the table before Xue Yang and her left. It was formatted like those letters from Nie Huaisang, but when he tore the envelope, it was actually from General Luo Qingyang. The fiery female alpha of Jin Guangshan sent him an urgent message.

Yuandao,

My man was ordered to send a letter by Jin Guangshan to Wen Ruohan about the death of Wen Xu. Apparently, he fears that with Wen Xu's death, there'll be a lot of changes in Qishan's kingdom since he knows that Wen Ruohan dislikes Wen Chao and that the Prince's incompetence will ruin the 'good relationship' between the two. We know how Jin Guangshan sees Beta, and he wants to send his nephew Jin Zixun to remain in Qishan to 'help' Wen Chao as the next heir of Qishan. He proposes to speed up the wedding.

Find a place to meet our spy in Qishan.

MM

Wei Wuxian sighed as he recounted the conversation the morning after the battle that caused Wen Xu and Wen Zhuliu's deaths. Jiang Wanyin told him that Jin Guangshan visited Gusu Lan Kingdom for unknown reasons, and after that visit, Empress Meng Yao visited Yunmeng Jiang Kingdom. The Yunmeng's Crown Prince watched the Empress's behaviour during the visit, and he believed that during the visitation, the man observed his home too carefully, as if he were trying to memorise the Lotus Pier Palace.

Jiang Wanyin had a suspicion that Meng Yao had a deal with his father that involved inserting someone into Yunmeng Jiang. It was kind of confirmed when, out of the blue, Meng Yao suggested that a beautiful palace should have a beautiful queen and that he knew a wonderful princess from the Qin kingdom he could introduce to him. The question was whether they both were ordered by Wen Ruohan—which Jiang Wanyin believed they were—and how they found out.

General Luo Qingyang, however, told them that she believed that Jin Guangshan had his own plan regarding Wen Ruohan. Whatever it was, she didn't know yet, but soon, with how reckless the Lanling Jin's Emperor was, the man would eventually show some signs of it. Meng Yao's involvement couldn't be confirmed because of the Empress' hatred towards his biological father. She wasn't sure if he would be willing to work with the man who had treated him badly. It depended on what kind of promise Lanling Jin's Emperor had given him because Wen Ruohan was the one who secured Meng Yao's position right now.

"But the one who had a role in Meng Yao's current position wasn't Wen Ruohan; it was Wen Xu." Wei Wuxian had explained the whole situation of the Gusu Royal Family to them. With Wen Xu's death, Meng Yao was aware of his fragile position right now. Wen Ruohan favoured Wen Xu over his second son, and currently, Lan Wangji is pregnant with his grandson, which means that that favour has been shifted to the unborn baby instead of Wen Chao. Meng Yao was afraid that Lan Wangji would use this opportunity to do something to the Gusu's Empress. Maybe not total revenge, but something. He was afraid of that.

Was sending Jin Zixun to Qishan Jin Guangshan's and Meng Yao's plan?

"I will not let you marry this prick!" Wei Wuxian slammed his hand on the table as he stared at the omega standing in front of him. Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji, Wen Qing, and Wen Ning were inside Lan Wangji's chamber, reading Luo Qingyang's letter. The female omega had suggested that she would go to Lanling Jin to meet her betrothed while assessing the situation in the kingdom and met this Luo Qingyang who had sent them letters. Maybe they could team up to do something about this arranged marriage. They did need someone from inside Lanling Jin.

"We need to break the wedding, Qing-Jie! I don't want you to marry that horrible man."

"I'm not going to marry the man." Wen Qing waved her hand at the young alpha. "What I'll suggest is that I want to meet the man before the wedding. That way, maybe I can team up with Luo Qingyang to find out what happens to Prince Jin Zixuan. I'll cure him, then kill Jin Guangshan and make the Crown Prince the Emperor. Jin Zixuan will break off the engagement, and the relationship between Lanling and Qishan will be different."

"Qing-Jie, it's not that simple." Wen Ning interrupted gently. "A relationship between two kingdoms or more is based on a mutual agreement under strict legal laws. I won't say that Jin Guangshan and Wen Ruohan followed those laws, but if the agreements are considered legal, then even the next Emperor couldn't break them off. It has to be broken by both parties involved, not just one of them. So even if Jin Zixuan becomes the next Emperor, he cannot break the engagement if Wen Ruohan doesn't want to. Jin Guangshan is scared of Qishan's power, whoever the Emperor is, but Jin Zixuan isn't. If anything, we have a better chance of dissolving the betrothal when Jin Guangshan is still the Emperor."

"A-Ning, you're new to this whole mess. So kindly shut up." Wen Qing turned to the youngest person in the room. Wen Ning rubbed the back of his neck and smiled sheepishly. The oldest Wen sibling had been spending time with her future brother-in-law, giving some tips about pregnancy and labour, when her two younger brothers came together. Both Wen Qing and Lan Wangji narrowed their eyes at Wei Wuxian, who smiled sweetly to avoid any trouble, for bringing an unexpected addition into their circle. It turned out that We Wuxian was busted during his meeting with A-Qing and Xue Yang. Wen Ning was just finishing a date with a pretty young maiden when he saw his brother bring two teens into an inn's room. Being the good brother he was, he decided to put his ear on the door, ready to barge in if something inappropriate happened. What he heard was different. Wei Wuxian was so offended and hurt that Wen Ning actually had some horrible thoughts about him and the two young teens. But he was more offended by the fact that Wen Ning had a date and didn't tell him. The alpha didn't know his brother had grown so fast! He could give him some tips!

"We need to break this engagement," Wei Wuxian said firmly, clenching his fist. Lan Wangji took his hand into his own and patted it gently.

"But how could we do that? The only way to break the agreement is through a decree by Emperor Wen Ruohan himself."

"What if we create a fake decree?" Wen Ning suggested making the three people turn to him. The scholar was looking very excited at his own idea, happy he could contribute something. "The letter to Emperor Wen Ruohan is in General Luo's hand, right? So we create a fake response to that letter. Along with that letter, we send a fake decree about Qishan's current situation regarding Qishan-Lanling's relationship post-Prince Wen Xu's death. Whatever Jin Guangshan's response to the letter and decree, we can send another response to clash them together. In fact, we could also create fake letters to Emperor Wen Ruohan. This way, both kingdoms will acknowledge that they indeed sent letters to each other but didn't get the response they wanted. They just don't know the letters are fake."

"How could we fake a decree? An Emperor's nonetheless? It is handwritten by the Emperor himself, and once Jin Guangshan receives it, he'll notice that the handwriting is different, and we need the Imperial seal as well." Lan Wangji's golden eyes were on Wen Ning. The scholar's idea was good but very difficult to achieve.

"Umm, I can copy the Emperor's handwriting?" The beta smiled proudly.

Wen Qing slapped his shoulder. "A-Ning! Don't suggest something that dangerous."

"Listen to me, Jie. I'm an Imperial Scholar who works in the library and administrative office. I have seen and learned so many manuscripts and decrees from previous Qishan rulers, including Wen Ruohan. I can imitate his handwriting. I have tried before for fun, and I believe that when you see it, you'll be surprised."

"You imitate someone's handwriting for fun?" Lan Wangji raised an eyebrow. Wen Ning looked at the confused consort still with his proud smile.

"Yes, Consort Lan. Sometimes, it gets boring being the youngest scholar in the Imperial Administrative Office because older officers think that you aren't as capable as they are and assign you easy tasks to deal with until you gain enough experience to deal with more important matters, which is fair enough, but sometimes the tasks are too easy."

Lan Wangji nodded. "So you use your time to imitate someone's handwriting."

"That's correct. No one knows anyway. People think I'm doing my job quietly and seriously. I can imitate Emperor Wen Ruohan's handwriting and General Wen Zhuliu's. Their handwriting was kind of neat and precise, so it was easy. Wen Chao's handwriting is kind of bad, but I have succeeded in imitating the worst handwriting I have ever seen in my life and fooled so many teachers with it, so everything comes easy enough."

"Whose handwriting was that? The worst one you've ever seen and imitated?" The consort asked, but from the corner of his eyes, he could see a movement from his alpha. Wen Ning looked down at his feet like a kid caught with his hand in a cookie jar.

"It's Wuxian-Ge's."

"And why did you imitate his horrible handwriting, A-Ning?" Wen Qing narrowed her eyes at her youngest brother. It seemed like she knew the answer, but she needed confirmation from Wen Ning.

"O-Oh, u-um-” Wen Ning’s eyes glanced at Wei Wuxian, who had gone pale and slowly moved to hide behind Lan Wangji, before saying, “As I said, I managed to fool many teachers for years. I did Wuxian-Ge's punishments and homework when he was too lazy during his academic studies. He paid me with sweets."

"WEI WUXIAN!!"

"Ahhh, Lan Zhan, protect me!"

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian walked into a small restaurant with his mask. His eyes scanned the group of people carelessly until they found who he was looking for. His silver eyes found nothing—no one with the description General Luo had given in her letter. Well, all she wrote was a very general description of a young woman with no significant clue. How was Wei Wuxian supposed to find Luo Qiyang's spy among these people?

'She was a beautiful young woman around your age. Her movements were graceful, and her eyes were sharp. You'll know when you meet her.''

The young alpha general huffed as he walked around the restaurant. It was located in a village far away from the city, so far away that even no one knew the faces of their own princes.  With his simple civilian clothes, no one recognised Wei Wuxian at all. He looked like a well-taken-care-of young man from a decent family. The young general slowly walked through the busy restaurant, eyes darting here and there until they set on a young woman sitting at the corner. She was wearing a set of very dark blue robes with a red sash around her slim waist. Her hair was pulled up in a simple style with only a gold comb on it. The way she poured the tea and lifted the cup delicately to her painted lips was a sign of an educated young woman. When she looked up, her sharp eyes were looking straight at Wei Wuuxian with a confident gaze.

'You'll know when you meet her.'

Just who the hell did Luo Qingyang send to Qishan as her spy? This young omega reminded Wei Wuxian of Lan Wangji, someone with high status. Nie Huaisang's spies were prostitutes living a nomad life depending on their assignments, but this one was totally different. Wei Wuxian walked to her quickly and had to stop a few steps when a sweet scent of vanilla and honey hit him, and he grimaced a little. She was an omega and nearing her heat, it seemed. Wei Wuxian was doomed.

"Greetings, General Wei. It's so nice to finally put a face on a name." She said it softly when the general finally sat across from her. "Sorry for the scent. I'm going to have my heat in two days. Don't worry, I have taken my medicine, but it'll take a while until it works. It seems my body didn't agree with me when I decided to take this assignment."

"It's alright, uh, Miss..."

"My name is Qin Su, General Wei. I believe you know one thing about me."

"You're General Luo's eyes, and you're going to tell me a few things today." Wei Wuxian gestured to the empty privacy quarters. Qin Su nodded her head and stood up. She linked her thin arm around Wei Wuxian's elbow, surprising the man.

"Act normally. No one will ask any question or disturb us if we move to the privacy quarter if we're lovers." Qin Su muttered softly. Wei Wuxian's jaw clenched as they passed some giggling servants when they opened one of the privacy quarters' curtains. Long ago, Wei Wuxian would wink at those servants and open the curtain himself with a sly smile, but now just the thought of him just pretending to be someone's lover put an uneasy feeling in his chest.

Wei Wuxian nodded at the servants who put their food on the table. Qin Su seemed to have ordered some food when she came in. The young woman sat on one of the chairs, taking a bowl and putting food into it gracefully. Wei Wuxian slowly sat down across from her, watching as the young woman ate like she was starving. Wei Wuxian felt full just by watching her, and he let out a small smile as he decided to entertain himself with a bottle of wine. He loved seeing someone eat so well, especially those omegas who were too worried about their figures and decided to eat so little. Wei Wuxian sighed in nostalgia when he remembered how well his omega ate when meal times came. He could picture how plump their baby would be since Lan Wangji's figures didn't change much. Everything went to their little one.

Qin Su had finished two bowls of rice, some chicken, a little portion of beef, and a plate of stirred vegetables when she was finally satisfied. Wei Wuxian grabbed what was left of the chicken and beef and ate them slowly; there wasn't much left to eat anyway.

"Sorry, my money is currently enough for me to go back to Lanling, and this is the only time I have a chance to eat before I depart." Qin Su said. There was no sorry in her tone as if she hadn't just told him that he had to pay for everything on their plate and probably her previous tea as well. "General Luo said that you would pay for everything for me."

Wei Wuxian huffed and shook his head in both amusement and annoyance. That alpha female was really something else, squeezing his poor wallet with no chance to refuse. "It's alright, Lady Qin. I'll pay for the food and your transportation to Lanling. Don't worry."

"Thank you." Her eyes were twinkling—she knew his hopeless position—and she began to talk. "While you enjoy your food, I'll tell you why I'm here. General Luo sends me here with some updates from Lanling. I'm sure you have received the letter Jin Guangshan sent to your Emperor. Here is the letter Jin Guangshan sent."

Wei Wuxian, with his mouth full of meat, leaned down to read. The letter wasn't as short as he had expected, so Luo Qingyang definitely just took care of the most important matters of all. There were three matters Jin Guangshan had proposed to Wen Ruohan:

(1) Jin Guangshan wanted to speed up Jin Zixun's and Wen Qing's marriage and moved his nephew to Qishan. It was like what General Luo had said about how Jin Guangshan believed that his nephew would be a great help to Prince Wen Chao when he ascended the throne. The Lanling Jin boasted that he had trained Jin Zixun himself to be the next leader and that he would be a good influence on Prince Wen Chao.

(2) Jin Guangshan asked for an extension contract about omega-related entertainment between Qishan and Lanling. Wen Xu used to take care of this business, but he died before the agreement was reached, so Jin Guangshan wanted some clarification on whether the agreement could be carried out.

(3) Jin Guangshan wanted to inform Wen Ruohan that he had several illegitimate omega children that would probably be a good addition to Wen Chao's household. He would send them with Jin Zixun during his wedding preparations and hoped that they would be more useful at Nightless City Palace.

'This Emperor is really disgusting." The Qishan's general grimaced in disgust. No wonder General Luo only chose the first one and ignored the rest. The second one wasn't really a surprise with how low these Emperors saw omegas. The third one was absolutely mortifying. The addition of Wen Xu's favourite concubine already caused chaos in Wen Chao's household because of the rivalry between the concubine and his consort. Now, with more additions, the household would crumble. It was good, but somehow it would be troublesome for new people to enter the palace when Wei Wuxian tried to clean the Nightless City step by step. He had suggested Wen Xu's concubines be sent away with money to build their own lives, and when Wen Chao died, he would do the same for them. After all, there would be no concubine at all once he became the Emperor.

"Jin Guangshan wanted to have a stronger influence in Qishan." Qin Su said as she poured herself a cup of tea. "He is very happy, actually, that Wen Chao will be the next Emperor. Unlike Wen Xu, Wen Chao is easily manipulated. Give him all the meaningless entertainment in the world, and he'll be under your thumb. Jin Guangshan was a greedy man, General Wei. He wants everything in the world. With how wealthy Qishan is, Wen Chao is his way to enrich himself and Lanling with the help of his nephew. The last thing I heard is that he met Meng Yao, the current Gusu's Empress. I heard that they will try to persuade Wen Ruohan to let Jin Zixun into the palace."

"I see." Wei Wuxian pushed the bowls and chopsticks away and gulped down his alcohol. "And how do you know all of this, Lady Qin? Do you live at the Koi Tower Palace? You seem like a daughter of a wealthy family."

"My father was an Emperor of a small Kingdom of Qin. When my father died and there was no heir to continue the line of the royal family, Jin Guangshan sized up everything in my kingdom and changed it to be a part of Lanling Kingdom. So there's no Qin Kingdom anymore; it became a province of Qin, the largest province in Lanling. But some people still call it Qin Kingdom, and I'm still referred to as Qin's princess. Because of my status and education, Empress Jin was sorry for me and brought me to the palace." The sadness on Qin Su's face made Wei Wuxian feel so sorry for them. Wait, this was the Qin Princess who Meng Yao wanted to introduce to Jiang Wanyin? What?

"I do live in the Koi Tower Palace because I work at the Treasury. You don't think that money comes from Genera Luo's pocket, do you?" Qin Su said, smiling. Wei Wuxian nodded in understanding. That explained how General Luo managed to supply the rebellion with weapons and medicine. Qin Su was the one who covered everything very neatly because no one had found out yet. Qin Su opened her mouth and added, "Oh, and I'm also Jin Guangshan's illegitimate daughter."

"What? But I thought Lanling Jin doesn't care about illegitimate children."

"Lanling is Lanling, where illegitimate is illegitimate; nothing will change about that. Fortunately, no one knows that I'm Jin Guangshan's daughter. My mother was raped by the Emperor when there was a wild banquet at Koi Tower. Everyone was drunk, including my father and my mother. She paused for a moment, trying to find a word. "She tried to cover what happened as best as she could."

"You mean your mother tricked your father, who was drunk at that time? As long as he knows, they slept together that night, and you were conceived."

"That's correct. I didn't know my real parentage until I was 15 when I joined a play date with Prince Jin Zixuan and other children from high-ranking families. He said that I looked like him and asked if I was her sister or something. I was old enough to know, General Wei, so I asked my mother. She told me when my father passed away two years later. I managed to have a sibling-like relationship—a hidden one—with Prince Jin Zixuan and later a friendship with General Luo. I devoted my life to them."

Wei Wuxian raised an eyebrow at the lengthy explanation about her background. He could see some compassion in her eyes when she talked about her brother and friend. "Is that why you helped her with this rebellion?"

"Yes, and to see Jin Guangshan fall down from his golden throne." The omega gripped her cup tightly, which Wei Wuxian thought would shatter in a moment. "That man had put my mother into hell and his behaviour disgusted me. Now, my brother is currently dying in his chamber, and this bastard doesn't even do anything substantial for him. Of course, he won't. He was behind this!"

This was a piece of new information for Wei Wuxian. He did know about how Jin Guangshan forbade everyone from looking for a cure for his son but to actually harm his own son. "What do you mean he's behind Jin Zixuan's illness? He doesn't care for his own heir?"

Qin Su rolled her eyes at his question. "He cares. But he cares more about his position. I don't know what illness my brother has, but the healers say that it will be a long-term illness. I don't have much more information than General Luo, but I believe that Jin Guangshan wants to be the Emperor as long as he can. He puts his son on a sickness to declare that Jin Zixuan isn't fit to be the next Emperor, then maybe, just maybe, when Jin Guangshan will finally give the throne when he almost dies himself."

"What a fuckup reason."

"Jin Guangshan is fucked up. What do you expect from him?"

"True." Wei Wuxian grinned, and they raised their cups before drinking them together.

Wei Wuxian bit his bottom lip when several papers were spread out in front of him. They were currently in the Willow Pavilion—Lan Wangji's chamber—to create fake letters to clash the two emperors. The papers in front of him were his attempts to write coherent and cohesive replies, and he failed miserably. His head felt like it would explode at any moment. The young general sighed deeply, put his brush on the table, and stared forward at where Lan Wangji and Wen Ning were having a comfortable discussion about their letters. His eyes narrowed at the two, wanting to join but having nothing to offer, and he sighed once more. His silver eyes moved from the two to his sister, who lounged in the corner with Chun Li messaging on her shoulders. Wen Qing caught his eyes, raised an eyebrow, and smirked. The young alpha scoffed at her, knowing that she mocked him in her head.

The omega healer came to the Willow Pavilion late in the afternoon with Wen Ning behind her with an excuse to do an extensive examination because Lan Wangji's pregnancy would reach eight months in a week. She convinced the guards to allow her, Wen Ning, and a big box he carried with him to stay until very late at night. Wen Ning would leave, but Wen Qing would stay at the pavilion to observe Lan Wangji. The guards let her pass easily because of her rank, and Wei Wuxian believed this was the actual reason—a complicated, lengthy explanation about Omega's pregnancy, examinations, and baby development with many medical references that confused them. As a soldier himself, he could understand their pain.

The young alpha looked back at the paper and wondered why he could do paperwork but not this. Then he realised that he didn't need to fake the paperwork because it was based on events that had happened, and all he needed to do was read it, put his signature on it, and add additional notes. This assignment, on the other hand, needed his creative thinking. He groaned and put his head on the table. It wasn't because he wasn't creative at all; he just didn't have any ideas right now. He didn't know how formal letters and decrees were constructed because Wen Ruohan wrote them himself. He groaned harder when he realised that this would be his job—not about creating fake letters and decrees but creating replies—once he overtook the position. It just made him feel so miserable.

"Wei Ying," Wei Wuxian smiled at the deep, soft voice calling him. He looked up with a dopey smile, only to see Lan Wangji's disapproving frown on his beautiful face. Wei Wuxian sat back, pouted, and crossed his arms in front of his chest like a child. Lan Wangji patiently collected the papers on the table, put them away, and spread his own papers for Wei Wuxian to read.

"I should have known you would hate this task." The omega muttered, shaking his head. Wei Wuxian let out a whine and wrapped his arms around his waist.

"Lan Zhan, pity me, my darling. All these papers hurt my head." Wei Wuxian buried his face in the omega's pregnant belly. He heard a sigh and looked up, pouting harder at the omega. He almost danced in happiness when Lan Wangji's face softened and he began caressing his hair. A snort from Wen Qing didn't ruin his happiness.

"Every piece of paper hurts your head, Wuxian-gege." Wen Ning rolled his eyes fondly. He had had extensive experience with Wei Wuxian's distaste for paperwork since he was a child. His brother wasn't lazy; he just had too much inside his pretty head to focus on one assignment. He could do it for a while, but after that, his brain would start begging for another activity.

"Wei Ying, please let go. We need to discuss these letters."

"No, I don't want to." The answer got him a smack on the head from Wen Ning. Wei Wuxian looked at him and glared playfully, to which Wen Ning responded with raised eyebrows.

"Wei Wuxian!" Wen Qing's warning made him look at her, and his silver eyes widened when the healer slammed her famous needles on the nearby table. He immediately let go of Lan Wangji's waist and took the papers. Wen Ning and Chun Li laughed at the poor general.

"Thank you, Wen Ning." Lan Wangji nodded in gratitude when the young beta dragged a chair for Lan Wangji to sit on. Wen Ning blushed as he smiled shyly.

"It's nothing, Consort Lan." The youngest Wen then smiled mischievously. "Now you know how to force Wuxian-gege, Consort Lan. I heard my sister has taught you to use needles as weapons, right?"

"Wen Ning, what are you talking about? Why do you suggest Lan Zhan use his needles on me?" Wei Wuxian put down the paper to send a very offending look to his supposedly innocent brother. "Do you know I almost had a heart attack when Lan Zhan used his needles on me? I was trying to appear dramatically, like those secret lovers in stories, and then BAM! Lan Zhan had his arms stretched out with needles in them. Thankfully, I could grab his hand. Qing-jie is such a bad influence on my lovely mate."

"If it can protect Consort Lan from your stupid, hopeless self, then I'm glad to be his bad influence," Wen Qing said, looking pointedly at him. The young alpha scoffed at that. Lan Wangji patted his hand and looked solely at Wen Ning.

"You don't have to worry, Wen Ning. I know how to make Wei Ying do something without using violence." Lan Wangji's reply made Chun Li and Wen Qing giggle, and Wen Ning went so red. Lan Wangji's golden eyes turned to Wei Wuxian, who gaped at him in disbelief.

"Lan Zhan, you're being so mean to me. You know how to bully me right now."

"I learn from the best." He said it simply. "Now, let's discuss these letters before dinner time."

Wen Ning shook his head and cleared his throat as he pointed at the letter Lan Wangji and he had created. "These are Plan A from Consort Lan, and these are Plan B from me. Plan A starts with Emperor Wen Ruohan feeling insulted by the letter from Jin Guangshan. In the reply, we're going to indirectly suggest that Wen Chao isn't bright enough to rule a country, and Jin Guangshan suggests that Jin Zixun be Wen Chao's advisor. We will make the insertion of Jin Zixun sound like the alpha wants to use Wen Chao as his puppet. The reply we send to Jin Guangshan will be about how insulted Wen Ruohan feels and that Jin Zixuan shouldn't think about becoming Wen Chao's advisor because Qing-Jie is just a distant cousin. He doesn't fit the rank, and he'll reconsider the marriage. Then, the next reply from Jin Guangshan will be worded as if he has a role in the rebellion. Wuxian-gege will poison Wen Ruohan's mind with the possibility that Jin Guangshan is behind the rebellion. It's just a possibility, of course, but make it convincing so that Wen Ruohan convinces himself because, in the next letter, we'll drop a little treat for Wen Ruohan in Jin Guangshan's reply. Those are Consort Lan's strategies."

Lan Wangji poured a cup of tea and offered it to the young scholar, which Wen Ning gratefully took. Wei Wuxian listened to the plan thoughtfully; his eyes darted from one letter to another. Wen Ning then pointed to his plan. "Now my Plan B is more complicated than that. It starts the same with Wen Ruohan feeling insulted, but it takes more time because I think a long-term dispute will be best. So, in Wen Ruohan's letter, he feels insulted and suggests that Qing-Jie will go to Lanling Jin, but the wording feels like she's been sent as a spy. Then, Jin Guangshan's reply to Wen Ruohan will suggest that a Qishan won't be able to keep up with Lanling Jin's lifestyle. His nephew is more adaptable to a new environment, so he fights hard to send Jin Zixuan. We'll make the sentence sound as if Jin Guangshan has the intention to change the Nightless City lifestyle by influencing Wen Chao, indirectly suggesting that he uses his nephew to slowly conquer Nightless City. Then a threat to the Nightless City that Wen Ruohan takes it as a declaration of war."

"My plan C is that when Plan A and Plan B fail, we'll think of something," Wei Wuxian said as he looked at his empty papers. Wen Qing, Wen Ning, Lan Wangji, and even Chun Li were staring at him unimpressed. The general smiled sheepishly at them as he rubbed the back of his neck. Chun Li bowed to Lan Wangji, excused herself to prepare dinner for her consort, and walked out of the room.

"They are great plans, Lan Zhan and A-Ning. I'll take both to the others to discuss it. I cannot decide it myself." Wei Wuxian looked at the letters thoughtfully, taking one letter from Plan A and one from Plan B in his hands. Lan Wangji took them away and placed them according to their arrangements before taking a brush.

"Let's mark them with numbers. 1 for the starting letter from the Jins; the reply from Qishan will be 2. Then the rest will follow 3, 4, 5, and so on. Add A and B as well, Wen Ning." Lan Wangji directed the young scholar, who nodded in understanding. They marked the letters and put them in a neat pile. Wen Ning took out a large brown envelope from the box he brought, put it inside, and sealed it. Wei Wuxian smiled in satisfaction as he put it into his robes.

"Wonderful, A-Ning, Lan Zhan. Amazing work." Wei Wuxian grinned and planted a kiss on their cheeks. "You know, this gives me a glimpse of the future where I, the hopeless Emperor, depend very strongly on my beloved perfect Empress and smart brother to rule this kingdom. I'm so happy to be surrounded by capable people."

"You should be, Wuxian. Now, go give something to A-Ning as a thank you for his help. I need to examine Consort Lan." Wen Qing said this, standing up and walking to them. Wei Wuxian grinned, wrapped his arm around Wen Ning's shoulders, and guided him out of the chamber through the back window. Wen Qing sat down beside Lan Wangji and took out her notes. She took Lan Wangji's hand in hers, trying to feel his pulse.

"Dizzy?"

"No, Healer Wen."

"Are you sure? You just had a stressful job with my brothers. One of them is surely a headache." She wrote something in her note, and Lan Wangji could see a small smile on her face.

"They're delightful."

"A-Ning is. I have no idea how you can find Wei Wuxian delightful. That menace has been the reason for our family's headaches since he was a boy. Don't get me wrong; he's still the pride of our family, but you have to admit that he deserves to be punished once in a while to keep him humble. There was this time when he almost set our house on fire because he was experimenting with his explosion trap. He burned his hair and his eyebrows at that time. Uncle Four almost fainted when he saw the state of our house." The female omega shook her head fondly as she took some vials. She handed it to the consort, and Lan Wangji dutifully gulped them down one by one, grimacing at the taste of the last one.

"Wei Ying is unique." They looked at each other for a moment before Wen Qing let out a laugh. Lan Wangji himself couldn't help but smile as well. Wen Qing shook her head fondly as she continued her examination.

"I can see that you make him happy, Consort Lan. I have seen him with so many people that I have lost count. He liked to indulge his partners, no matter how short their relationships were, but I can see that he is different when it comes to you. Well, I guess it's different when it comes to love, right?"

Lan Wangji's eyes widened at the casual declaration of the oldest Wen sibling. "Love?"

"He's in love with you, Consort Lan. I know my brother very well. I cannot say the same about you," Wen Qing said softly, looking at the consort. "But can you please think about it? I know that you'll treat my brother right regardless of what you feel about him, but I think being honest with yourself can lead to a stronger relationship between you."

Lan Wangji fell silent and just let the healer do her job. His mind was immediately preoccupied with her statement and request. The omega consort could feel the warmth and excitement every time he spent time with Wei Wuxian. All this time, his inner omega always called him his alpha and Lan Wangji thought it was right because Wei Wuxian was his alpha; he was the father of their baby. But was it also about something else? Were these emotions and feelings every time Wei Wuxian was around something more than just enjoying each other's presence?

The back window of the chamber opened rather forcefully. Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning came into the room with a bunch of things in their arms. There were heavy cloth and some boxes. When Wei Wuxian turned his head to him, a bright smile bloomed on his handsome face, and something stirred deep inside Lan Wangji.

'Oh, is this?' Lan Wangji took a deep breath to calm his heart. The blinding smile was still on the alpha's face when he sat beside Lan Wangji, opened one of the boxes in his hand, and put a beautiful hairpin into Lan Wangji's black hair. The omega caught the soft expressions on both Wen Qing's and Wen Ning's faces as they stared at him, and a warm feeling spread throughout the consort's chest.

Wei Wuxian watched as Prince Jiang Wanyin and General Luo Qingyang poured their energy and minds into the plans Lan Wangji and Wen Ning had created. General Luo was arranging both stacks as one, seemingly combining the two plans into one. Prince Jiang Wanyin was providing possible outcomes every time General Luo arranged and rearranged the letters. They were having a meeting in a civilian's house near the capital city, and Wei Wuxian couldn't help but admire how far the rebellion had spread their influence and that they could afford this place.

"We're combining the plans?" The young alpha finally asked as several papers were put aside at the corner of the table. General Luo and Jiang Wanyin nodded in satisfaction at the final arrangement before turning to the Qishan's general.

"Both are too good to let go, so we decided to combine them. Young Master Wen's plan is good, but I think it takes too long to achieve our goal. Meng Yao can scheme from Cloud Recesses, and Jin Guangshan could come up with a different plan for Koi Tower. So we will go with some of his ideas and Lan Wangji's ideas."

General Luo poked the letters with his long nail. "We will go with A1, obviously, then we will go to B2. Next, the A2 is a good one before we move to the A3. I like the B4."

"B4 is an open war. So we go the hard way? Surround and attack Qishan directly." The general's silver eyes scanned the plan. A1 was about Wen Ruohan feeling insulted; B2 was the suggestion to send Wen Qing to Lanling; A2 was about Jin Zixun wanting to make Wen Chao his puppet; A3 was about the rebellion hint; and B4 was about a declaration of war.

"Yes, that's where we need B4 to empty or lessen the number of the Qishan's army. We create another war between Lanling and Qishan and make the Emperors send out their armies under my command, and Qishan's army will be under General Wei's command. When Qishan's empty, the rebels attack the palace and take over it." General Luo looked at the two alphas as she explained her plan. Wei Wuxian nodded his head.

"Who's going to kill Wen Ruohan?" A good question from Prince Jiang Wanyin. The prince and female general looked at Wei Wuxian, and the young general pursed his lips.

"Song Lan can do it. My sister said that there was something wrong with Wen Ruohan's right arm and heart. Apparently, he has been sick all this time, but only his royal healer knows about it. Wen Lei is dead, and his replacement isn't as good as him, so instead of getting better, he's getting worse. As long as Song Lan knows what to attack, how to attack, and when to attack, he'll win. Song Lang was an ex-Qishan soldier, so he's already familiar with Qishan's way of fighting."

"You have to train him, General Wei. If there's anyone who can kill Wen Ruohan, it's you."

"I will. Don't worry about that, Prince Jiang Wanyin." Wei Wuxian nodded his head seriously. "Shí Lěi can handle Wen Chao. Wen Chao's skill is way below average anyway and with no Wen Zhuliu around him, he's easy to kill. So don't worry about him."

"What'll happen after Song Lan seizes the throne?"

"I'll take him from him. Duel one vs. one in front of the public and soldiers. The soldiers' support will calm the people's worry, and after the rumour, Nie Huaisang manages to spread about the rebels, I bet they won't think twice but to support me."

"Fine. That's where we're headed for now." Prince Jiang Wanyin's eyes looked at Wei Wuxian seriously. "Your younger brother really can duplicate the Emperor's handwriting, right?"

Wei Wuxian rolled his eyes. He understood the prince's distrust, but it didn't settle well with him when people underestimated his family. "You have the samples right there, Prince Jiang Wanyin. They are very accurate."

"I know. "I just want to make sure." The younger man spoke with a rather soft voice. He sounded so desperate, so Wei Wuxian patted the man's shoulder.

"Don't worry, Prince Jiang Wanyin. We'll win. I'll make sure of that."

The meeting ended when General Luo decided it was late enough for her and that she wanted to return to Lanling as soon as possible. Wei Wuxian watched as Luo Qingyang and Jiang Wanyin put on their disguises and walked out of the house. Their next meeting would be in a week and a half, when he had to train Song Lan. They have about a month or two to finish this rebellion once and for all. When Wei Wuxian became Emperor, he would deal with Jin Guangshan and Meng Yao.

Speaking of Meng Yao, Nie Huaisang promised him that he would take care of that man. Wei Wuxian walked to the capital city and entered a familiar inn usually rented by the rich. He knocked twice on the door of the most expensive room, where the guest could ask for their identity to be kept secret. The door opened a little, and Nie Huaisang's lovely face appeared. The comical relief on Qinghe's Prince almost made Wei Wuxian laugh.

"Come in, come in." The prince ushered the general into his room. Wei Wuxian walked leisurely, inspecting the expensive room he had never stepped into before sitting in front of a table full of food. He was hungry, so he helped himself to the food. Nie Huaisang seemed to let him be; either the young prince expected him to drop by or he had a huge appetite.

"I hope the meeting went well, General Wei." The small alpha said this, pouring wine into two cups. Wei Wuxian swallowed his food before answering.

"It went well. The plan has been set up. My younger brother will create the fake letters for us."

"I see, I see. That's good."

"Prince Huaisang, you promised me long ago that you'd take care of Meng Yao." The alpha general began, and he saw Nie Huaisang sigh a little. "What information can you give me after all these months?"

"I did promise you that. Well, when Prince Lan Wangji and Prince Lan Xichen brought Meng Yao to Cloud Recesses, he got himself an ally from the inside. His name is Su She. In short, he did everything Meng Yao couldn't do during his attempt to secure a position in the palace. He was the one who put the poison in the royal healer's room, the one who showed Meng Yao the secret back hill, and everything about Cloud Recesses Palace. When Meng Yao became the Empress, Su She was promoted to the position of ruler of Mishan Province. He still rules that place until now." Nie Huaisang paused to eat a piece of meat before he continued.

"It took me a while to put a spy in the Cloud Recesses."

"You managed to put a spy into the cloud recesses?" Wei Wuxian gaped at the skill this seemingly delicate alpha had.

"Yes. I'm that amazing." Nie Huaisang grinned at him. "It took a while, but I've been doing this whole spy business for some years already, so I know what I'm doing."

"Some years? How long-"

"I won't disclose that information, General Wei. Just be careful not to get on my bad side." The small alpha smirked and raised an eyebrow at him. Wei Wuxian stared at him in disbelief. His sister was terrifying with her needles; his brother was terrifying with his skill; his consort was terrifying with his brain and beauty; his acquaintance—he talked especially about General Luo—was terrifying; and now this alpha showed his fang as well.

What the fuck? He was surrounded by terrifying people. How was he going to survive?

Wait, he still had Xue Yang, A-Qing, and Chun Li around as well. Shit! Those teenagers were chaos in the making. Oh no.

"Anyway, let me tell you everything my spy has found out." The Qinghe's Crown Prince drank a cup of water before continuing. "Let's start with the Royal Family. The Second Prince, Lan Qiren, is in bad health. There's something in his lungs, and every time he coughs, there'll be blood. He vomited blood, like, once every two weeks. His health was already bad since Lan Wangji was dragged to Qishan, and now it's getting really bad, General Wei. My brother offered some of our healers, but the Empress refused."

"King Nie Mingjue is friends with Emperor Lan Xichen, right?"

"Correct. Lan Xichen himself: how do I say this without being offensive? Lan Xichen's brain is disfunctioning. Sometimes he will forget who he is, where he is, and what he is. It's kind of weird. Once my spy told me that Lan Xichen spaced out in the middle of a meeting and suddenly asked who the people in front of him were and what they were doing, then Meng Yao filled him in on everything." Nie Huaisang's face was so conflicted. "My spy said that the healers said that there is a huge possibility that one day Emperor Lan Xichen will lose all of his memories."

"He will forget Lan Zhan." Wei Wuxian couldn't help but ache for his omega. This news would break him so badly. Wei Wuxian didn't have the heart to tell Lan Wangji this.

"It is a possibility; I'm not a healer, and I haven't seen Emperor Lan Xichen in a long time, so I cannot confirm. You should bring your sister to see him when all of this is over, General Wei. Prince Lan Wangji will be very devastated."

"I definitely will. What has that bastard done to the Gusu Royal Family?" Wei Wuxian rubbed his face with his palms, feeling so hopeless all of a sudden.

"Next, Meng Yao has been reconnecting with his father, you know, Jin Guangshan. He suggests Jin Guangshan speed up Jin Zixun's marriage in about two months; you already know this. With Jin Zixun staying in Qishan after the marriage, he demands to be informed about Lan Wangji's condition."

"So basically, Meng Yao uses both Jin Guangshan and Jin Zixun as his puppets now."

"Something like that. He knows his father's greediness and was overjoyed when Wen Xu died. Meng Yao has his insecurities, and he'll try his best to use the people around him to secure his goal. What's more tempting than a chance to control the biggest and most prosperous kingdom for that greedy Emperor?" Nie Huaisang grimaced at the thought of Qishan under Jin Guangshan's power through his nephew.

"Why do you think he wants to know Lan Zhan's condition?" Nie Huaisang's face turned into worry at Wei Wuxian's question.

"This is just my assumption, but if Prince Lan Wangji is healthy, thriving, and favoured by Wen Ruohan, Meng Yao has no choice but to kill Lan Wangji before Lan Wangji kills him. Lan Wangji's huge power in Qishan will be really bad for Meng Yao's life and position within Cloud Recesses Palace, especially when Gusu is indirectly under Qishan's power based on the political manoeuvre Meng Yao created himself. He didn't expect Wen Xu to die after all, and now there is a huge chance his political move backfire on him. In the end, I believe that Meng Yao will kill Jin Zixun as well and take over Qishan himself. Maybe he would try to get close to you or something, General Wei. Maybe he'll try to make you his next puppet. Who knows with that man?"

"He wants to kill Lan Zhan and make me his puppet? I'd like to see him try." Wei Wuxian snarled; fury was very visible in his eyes.

Chapter Text

Lan Wangji was being examined by his future sister-in-law inside his chamber late at night. He was eight months pregnant now and would give birth in a month or less. The Willow Pavilion had been renovated, with a small room added at the corner of the consort's chamber. It consisted of a crib for the baby, tables, and a wardrobe. The wardrobe was full of baby clothes, and the table was already full of baby stuff. Lan Wangji's gold eyes watched as Wei Wuxian inspected the newly built crib with interest, poking here and there to make sure the thing was strong enough. He nodded to himself when he finally concluded that the crib was indeed good.

Wei Wuxian walked to where Lan Wangji was sitting and took out a small package from his robes. It was wrapped badly, meaning that Wei Wuxian opened it already and then attempted to rewrap it. Attempted was the keyword.

"What is this?"

"This is a gift from Prince Nie Huaisang." The alpha general took the package and opened it for him. Inside was a beautiful grey cloth with some cloud patterns and beasts. Qinghe Nie's style of cloth "He said this cloth is the most expensive cloth in Qinghe, and our child will definitely look very handsome wearing this."

Lan Wangji touched the fabric with his long finger and hummed in agreement. The fabric was a little too rough with its embroidery for a baby, so maybe their child could wear it as an outer robe when he was a toddler or teen.

"You told the Qinghe's prince that this is your child?" Wen Qing's question brought the two parents' attention to the healer. Wei Wuxian shook his head, sighing a little before answering.

"No, Qing-Jie. Like everyone else, he only knew that the baby was Wen Xu's. I mean, Wen Ruohan didn't hold back when he made that announcement, remember? He doesn't know the baby is mine. No one in the rebellion knows the baby is mine." The alpha general remembered the smugness of Wen Xu when congratulatory letters poured into the administration office from other kingdoms under Qishan. "It will be dangerous for Lan Zhan's and our child's lives if the people know about this fact. With this child known as Wen Xu's, Lan Zhan receives the highest protection from all of Qishan's soldiers and even the Emperor himself during this rebellion. The rebels aren't cruel to harm Lan Zhan and the unborn child, even if it is Wen Xu's."

"Do you plan to tell them one day?"

Wei Wuxian frowned. He wanted to. He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs that the perfect baby was his and Lan Zhan's. "I don't know. Lan Zhan?"

"No, not them. I'd like to tell my brother and uncle. I want to erase the cruelty they must have imagined when they heard about my pregnancy. They need to know that this baby is loved by us. I want them to know that here I have a devoted alpha and a family that loves and protects me from any harm." Lan Zhan took a deep breath, rubbed his swollen belly, and continued, "I'll tell this little one of his true parentage as well. It deserves to know the truth. It deserves to know how wonderful, powerful, and beautiful Wei Ying is and that it should be very proud that this fearless general is its father."

"Lan Zhan, you make me cry. You're so good. So kind." Wei Wuxian did have tears in his eyes as he threw himself at the pregnant omega. Lan Wangji smiled, rubbed his back lovingly, and received a wet kiss on his cheek. In front of them, Wen Qing and Chun Li stared with fondness on their faces.

"Sometimes, I wonder which one is pregnant with unbalanced hormones."

"Oh, I love how unbalanced Lan Zhan's hormones work." The alpha wriggled his eyebrows suggestively, making Lan Wangji softly slap his chest. But Wei Wuxian just grinned widely and mischievously at that. Wen Qing groaned and packed her stuff, ready to run out of the room at any moment.

"Wei Wuxian, that's not—urg, never mind. Let's go, Chun Li, before we die from the amount of dog food from these two."

Chun Li giggled and took the dinner tray from the table. She bowed deeply to the couple and wished them good night and good rest before walking out of the chamber and closing the door behind her. Wei Wuxian helped Lan Wangji change into his sleeping robes and gently guide him to the bed. The young alpha combed and braided the omega's black hair gently and tied it with his red ribbon.

"What do you want to name our child?" He asked as his fingers moved from his omega's hair to his shoulders, messaging them gently. He planted a kiss on Lan Wangji's nape when the younger man closed his eyes and enjoyed Wei Wuxian's touch.

"Has Wei Ying thought of a name?"

"I have thought of two names, actually. Yuan for a boy and Mei for a girl What about you, Lan Zhan?"

The name got Lan Wangji's attention. He turned around to face the alpha, and his eyes widened in surprise. The image of a young teenage girl lying on the floor, drenched in her own blood, still haunts the omega. His poor Xiu Mei didn't have a chance to live her full life because of him. "Mei? After A-Mei?"

"Yes." Wei Wuxian gently cupped Lan Wangji's face with his hands. "Xiu Mei was a very loyal and strong girl. She protected you with her life when I couldn't. I owe her everything for saving the most important person in my life."

"Wei Ying, thank you."

"No, no, you said there is no need for thanks and apologies between us." Wei Wuxian shook his head, waving his index finger playfully in front of Lan Wangji's face. "I wish that if our baby is a girl, she will grow up as amazing as Xiu Mei. So, what about Lan Zhan?"

Lan Wangji shook his head and rubbed his belly. A soft smile adorned his beautiful face. "The tradition of the Lan family is that we name our baby once we see the baby. Then we'll know what name suits them. But I like the name Yuan. Yuan for hope?"

"For hope." Wei Wuxian smiled, kissing Lan Wangji's belly. "A-Yuan or A-Mei, listen, my dear. We love you so much, my darling radish. You're our miracle baby, a gift from the gods above. I'll protect you and your father from any harm in this world. Just wait a little longer, okay, and we'll be a whole family."

"And if we're going to have A-Yuan first, then we're going to have A-Mei next, and vice versa." Wei Wuxian's tone was thick with desire as he glanced up at Lan Wangji. He chuckled when he saw Lan Wangji's ears go so red. He sat up and leaned down to kiss the omega passionately. His hands began to wander, caressing Lan Wangji's soft skin. His lips moved to the consort's neck, sucking and nipping the neck there. He growled when he saw that Wen Xu's bite had completely disappeared from Lan Wangji's neck. He urged the temptation to bite the flawless neck and put his claim there. He diverted his brain's attention to Lan Wangji's chest. Lan Wangji's breasts were slightly swollen, as were his nipples, a sign that milk was present for their baby. He sucked and bit the nipples, earning a sweet moan from Lan Wangji.

Too bad they couldn't continue more. With the due date near, both Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji had to prevent any sexual activity.

"Sleep, Lan Zhan." Wei Wuxian covered the omega with the blanket. He lay beside Lan Wangji, waiting for him to fall asleep, before climbing out the back window and returning to his own barracks.

Wei Wuxian shared a look with Uncle Four as the court meeting dragged on. The ministers were nervous about the unexpected letter from Emperor Jin Guangshan of the Lanlin Jin Kingdom. The letter was now read aloud by the advisor, and each sentence brought another level of fury to Wen Ruohan's already red face. The alpha general watched as several ministers who really liked Jin Guangshan stared at the ground, too speechless to defend the Emperor.

"Jin Guangshan thinks I'm stupid because I won't know his attempt to make Chao-er his puppet through his nephew, huh? Does he suggest that Jin Zixun will be a good advisor for Chao-er when he ascends the throne? Well, too bad for him; Chao-er will not ascend as the next Emperor at all. He can put his idea in a box."

Wen Ruohan sat down on his throne; his eyes were blazing, and his alpha scent was flaring. The alpha ministers gasped while the beta ministers fell to their knees. It took everything in Wei Wuxian's alpha body to fight.

"Let him dream, then. Until Xu-er's baby reaches the right age, I'll be the Emperor. No one else."

-

Dear MM,

Wen Ruohan is furious and can see the implicit message in the letter about Jin Zixun. He decides that Wen Chao won't be the next Emperor or even a Regent. I'll bring my brother to our next meeting to discuss whether we need to revise the next reply.

Yuandao

-

Dear Yuandao,

We don't need to change anything in the reply. It's still going according to our plan. I'll be there when Emperor Jin receives the letter from Wen Ruohan.

MM

-

Dear Yuandao-Xiong,

The dimpled Empress is planning to go to the Qishan Wen Kingdom for a 'diplomatic visit'. Sadly, I don't know when. Please stay close to our light.

NH

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"Shit!" The letter from Nie Huaisang almost made Wei Wuxian fall from his chair. The dimpled Empress must be Meng Yao, and what the fuck does he want now? This was dangerous; this man was dangerous. Wei Wuxain had failed to protect Lan Wangji from the assassination attempt from Wen Chao, and now he didn't know if he could protect Lan Wangji from this Jin bastard. He had asked the rebels to make a move so he would be sent away, and he had sufficient time to train Song Lan and Shi Lei without raising suspicion. He had trained them several times, but he needed more time because he kept disappearing, which wasn't good right now. The rebels had moved closer to the capital city, and everything was going well until this letter's arrival. Meng Yao would definitely ask for private time with Lan Wangji, and then Nie Huaisang's words rang in his ears.

'This is just my assumption, but if Prince Lan Wangji is healthy, thriving, and favoured by Wen Ruohan, Meng Yao has no choice but to kill Lan Wangji before Lan Wangji kills him.'

Fuck, fuck, fuck! Wen Ruohan favoured the baby, and by extension, the consort as well. What should he do? He couldn't rely on his siblings because they couldn't just abandon their responsibility to stay around Lan Wangji all the time. That would be suspicious. And he couldn't rely on Chun Li as well. She would die for Lan Wangji—no question about that—but she wasn't strong enough for someone as cunning as Meng Yao. He needed to do something.

"General Wei, the Emperor wants to see you." Wei Wuxian nodded his head when his soldier told him that. He had guessed what the Emperor wanted from him.

"I'll be there soon." When the soldier walked away, Wei Wuxian sped to where Wen Ning worked. He needed his help. When he finally arrived at the throne room, Wen Ruohan was there with a clenched jaw, and his eyes were furious. The news had reached the Emperor's ears, it seemed, and Wei Wuxian needed to prepare himself to be, once again, sent away.

"There's news that the rebels are coming to the capital. I want you to investigate this immediately. Take your time, General Wei, and inform me of anything you need to eliminate this rebellion."

Wen Ruohan walked to the alpha general and stopped just two feet from him. His eyes locked on Wei Wuxian's. "General Wei, you're the only one I can trust with this kingdom's future. I have lost my beloved heir, a childhood friend, and my best general because of these bastards. You're Qishan's hope."

"Don't worry, Your Highness. You can trust me with Qishan's future. I'll do my best to be the hope of Qishan Wen Kingdom," Wei Wuxian said seriously and truthfully. He would make sure Qishan would change under his and Lan Wangji's rule. He just needed to kill the person in front of him first. "I wish to bring someone from my squad to do spy work, Your Highness. He's news, so there's a high possibility no one will know him."

"Do whatever you need, General Wei. Do whatever you need." Wen Ruohan spoke as he turned around and walked back to his throne. Wei Wuxian bowed deeply, smiling as he did so.

"Thank you."

Dear Yuandao,

Jin Guangshan threw a table during the court meeting today. He was so offended by the reply. He is going to send a letter talking about how Jin Zixun will help Wen Chao and you handle the rebellion. He said that you weren't competent enough because the rebellion was very successful. He's desperate to insert Jin Zixun into the Nightless City Palace.

I think we need to scrap the A2 and go to the A3 instead.

MM

Wei Wuxian looked around the barracks of his special squad to find the one in charge of weaponry. When he saw the man talking with other soldiers, he grabbed the back of his robe and dragged him while yelling that he was borrowing him for a moment. The soldiers laughed and nodded at him. It was just a usual sight for them. The man laughed along until they were inside Wei Wuxian's office, and the general's playful face turned into a serious one.

"Huang-Xiong, can I trust you with an important request? You have access to the weaponry, right?"

"Yes, General Wei. Is there something I can help you with? Do we need to increase our weapons?"

"No. Can you find this sword for me?" Wei Wuxian took out a picture Lan Wangji had drawn when he told him about his beloved sword. Bichen, a gift from his late father. "It's white and beautiful. It should stand out among others."

The soldier frowned as he looked at the beautiful drawing carefully. "I have no recollection of seeing this kind of sword, General Wei."

"I know. The sword is too important to be stored in the weaponry. It's possible that it is kept in Wen Xu's personal weaponry. You do have access there, right?" Wen Xu's personal weapons were located just beside his office. Previously, it was locked, and no one was allowed to even take a peek inside it. Wen Xu himself took care of his own weapons, which is unbelievable but true. With his death, the weaponry was free for the staff to go through, but so far no one has been interested enough to roam the place. People just assume, since it was weaponry, that there is nothing special inside. After all, they had seen what kind of weapons Wen Xu had used on the battlefield.

"My brother will accompany you looking for this sword. This sword is very important, Huang-Xiong."

The soldier nodded and tucked the drawing into his robe. "Sure, General Wei. I'll do my best."

"Thank you, Huang-Xiong. Wen Ning will meet you in two hours in front of the weaponry." With that, Wei Wuxian sent his soldier away. He hoped they could find Bichen as fast as they could. Lan Wangji needed an appropriate weapon. A weapon he already mastered was much better than that small dagger or those needles to defend himself.

Wei Wuxian's next destination was finding his little friend. He walked to the training field and saw Xue Yang beat several soldiers. The teen was laughing like a maniac when he managed to throw another man to the ground. The soldiers groaned; two were even waving a white flag already. The other soldiers were shaking their heads at the display, clearly accustomed to the craziness Xue Yang brought to the camp.

"Xue Yang," Wei Wuxian called. The teen turned around, and a smirk was on his face. The teen jogged to him, stopping right in front of him. "Come with me. Pack your stuff for about a week or so."

No question was raised when Wei Wuxian gave an order to his special squad. Xue Yang ran to his barracks—excitement was very clear on his face—and the young general could guess that the teen was screaming and dancing inside his head. Finally, he could do some things with his idol. The pair quickly walked through the busy market, turned left into a small alley, and were about to jump off a wooden fence when a familiar voice stopped them.

"Where are you going?"

The two soldiers turned around and saw A-Qing in her beautiful purple robes standing behind them, eating a tanghulu. Her eyes moved from Wei Wuxian to Xue Yang, then to Xue Yang's bag, before moving back to Wei Wuxian.

"Are you going to see the rebels? Can I come too?" She asked excitedly. Wei Wuxian immediately shook his head, while Xue Yang sighed.

"No, it's too dangerous. Stay here; here I have money for you; buy whatever you need." Without waiting for her reply, Wei Wuxian turned around and dragged Xue Yang to the narrow path near the nearby forest. They needed to reach the neighbouring town using this shortcut before renting a cart for two days of travel.

"So it's true that you two are going to see the rebels."

Wei Wuxian and Xue Yang groaned. The girl was walking fast behind them, trying to catch up. "A-Qing, stop following us."

"But I want to come. Aren't we a unit? We have agreed to help you, so if Xue Yang comes, then I'll come too." A-Qing crossed her arms in front of her chest stubbornly, glaring at the general. 'I'll keep following you, and if I go missing along the way, the guilt will kill you inside. Who knows what will happen to me? Will someone sell me into slavery? Will I starve to death? Will I-"

"Just let her come, General Wei. She may be useful for something." Xue Yang cut the girl.

"Fine." Wei Wuxian sighed and stared at her, unimpressed, when A-Qin grinned at him. The alpha general opened his palm to her, and she stared curiously.

"What?"

"My money. I give it to you because I want you to stay, but since you come with us, then you don't need the money."

A-Qing just smiled sweetly at him and caressed her bamboo stick lovingly. "Too late. You gave it, so it's mine."

The trio arrived in a small village three days later. A-Qing and Xue Yang looked around in awe. The villagers—or the rebels, to be exact—were doing what normal folks do. No one would think that these people were rebels. No wonder the soldiers had difficulty defeating the rebels. They were difficult to identify.

"Who are these kids, Yuandao-Xiong? Your soldiers?" Qian Duo raised an eyebrow. The small beta looked at Xue Yang before his gaze went to A-Qing. Xue Yang did look like a soldier, but A-Qing definitely didn't.

"These are my friends, Qian Duo. This is Xue Yang, the youngest member of my fierce corpse. He's here to help me train Song Lan and Shi Le. He can be a worthy opponent for them. He's brilliant." The alpha grinned when he saw a thin blush on Xue Yang's cheeks. He praised Xue Yang many times, usually in front of his omega, but the teen wasn't around.

"I see. The girl?"

"She's just following me. I have no idea what she can help us with." Wei Wuxian shrugged, which earned him a smack on the head with a bamboo stick. A-Qing glared at him before proudly showing off her bamboo stick.

"I can beat those who are lazying around instead of practising to defeat the Qishan's soldiers. I have my wonderful weapon right here. Just one smack, and you'll be unconscious."

A bell-like laugh caught their attention. Wei Wuxian smiled at the sight of a white-robed omega standing in front of a house. A white cloth covered his injured eyes, and a cane was in his right hand, but a smile was always on her beautiful face. The omega walked gracefully towards the group with confident steps, as if he didn't have a problem with his sight. The calming aura coming from him was enough for everyone to relax their tense shoulders. This was Xiao Xingchen, Song Lan's husband, who awfully reminded Wei Wuxian of Lan Wangji. God, he missed his omega so much.

"Ah, Young Master Xiao." Wei Wuxian bowed. The two teens hurriedly mimicked his action. Xiao Xingchen bowed back as if he could sense the movement in front of him.

"Young Master Yuandao, it's nice to see you again. Well, maybe the correct greeting is "It's nice to hear you again. I heard we have some wonderful volunteers here."

"Yes, my protege Xue Yang and my little friend A-Qing."

A-Qing looked at Song Lan's husband with clear interest in her eyes. "You're blind."

"A-Qing." Wei Wuxian and Xue Yang warned simultaneously. Xiao Xingchen didn't seem to be offended. The beautiful omega just laughed at the bluntness of the young girl. He took a closer step towards the girl and raised his hand. A-Qing froze for a moment before letting herself relax when the hand landed on her head, petting her lovingly.

"It's alright, Yuandao-Xiong. Yes, A-Qing, I'm blind. Maybe you can help me around here? I do need help beating some sense into some lazy soldiers here."

"Sure, Young Master Xiao." A bright smile appeared on her sweet face. She linked her hand around the male omega, and Xiao Xingchen led her away from the group. A-Qing's voice could be heard clearly as the pair walked away towards where Song Lan lived. "You're so pretty. Where's your alpha? I bet he must be very strong and handsome, unlike the two alphas I come here with."

Wei Wuxian slung his arm around Xue Yang's shoulders and dragged him to the training field. "Come, Xue Yang. Let me introduce you to Song Lan and Shi Lei. Shi Lei is around your age, maybe just a year or two older."

Xue Yang looked at the smirking teen in front of him murderously as he got up from the ground. The older teen, Shi Lei, was unexpectedly very skilled. It seemed that being a part of Wei Wuxian's special squad had gotten into his head, and he thought that no one outside the squad could beat him. But here he was, getting beaten by a rebel who didn't endure the hard training he had in the military.

The young alpha narrowed his eyes at Shi Lei. His eyes never left the older teen. His foot moved to the right, and a sword immediately swung at him. He avoided the attack, almost tripping on his own feet. He took several steps back, only to immediately duck down to avoid another attack from Shi Lei. Xue Yang knew now why Shi Lei could beat him. The young man's superior skill was his speed—the ability to move fast. Shi Lei's feet and arms moved so fast that the opponent didn't have a chance to avoid the attack. Then, with his high speed, he launched fast-paced attacks at an unexpected part of the opponent's body. Xue Yang moved to the right when a strong foot kicked his chest, and he fell to the ground for the third time that afternoon.

"Go, Shi Lei! Beat that useless alpha's ass!" Xue Yang gritted his teeth in annoyance when, for the third time, A-Qing let out a cheer with her annoying voice. The young girl was sitting with Xiao Xingchen on the omega's verandah with snacks and drinks in front of her, enjoying Shi Lei's and Song Lan's practice. Song Lan and Wei Wuxian had done their practice and were currently sitting on the ground, a few feet from the two omegas.

"Shut up, A-Qing." Xue Yang roared. "You're supposed to be on my side. You're like my sister."

"Sister or not, I'm on the winner's side. I'll cheer for you when you can beat Shi Lei! I'm fair."

"That's not fair at all. You cheer for him because he's handsome."

"Handsome and talented. Do you think I'll cheer for an ugly and useless soldier? Xue Yang, I'm not dumb. I'm a realistic, beautiful young woman."

"I have more money than him, you know."

"Give me some money first, then I'll cheer for you."

"You materialistic girl!'

"I'm a realistic, beautiful young woman."

The adults watching them were laughing softly at the free entertainment. Song Lan looked at his mate lovingly as Xiao Xingcheng covered her mouth with his sleeve as if it had been a long time since he had witnessed his husband laugh like that. Her gaze moved to the girl sitting beside his husband, and a fond look was thrown towards her as well.

"Your little friends are very interesting, General Wei. I've never heard of someone like A-Qing. She's so full of spirit." Xiao Xingchen said it with such a fond tone that Wei Wuxian couldn't help but feel proud.

"I can see she steals your heart, Xiao-Xiong. She's a strong girl, having lived on the street since she was just a small kid. Her sharp words and hard-headed personality are her weapons to survive the harsh environment she's living in."

"Poor girl." The omega muttered, clenching his white sleeve.

"When everything ends and a new beginning for Qishan Wen starts, I want to bring her to the palace to live with me and my family. I have a new little sister at the palace, and A-Qing will be a good sister for her." The general glanced at both Xiao Xingcheng and Song Lan for a moment, trying to read their reactions.

"Oh." Xiao Xingchen's voice was so small, and his shoulders tensed when he heard that. It seemed like he didn't expect Wei Wuxian's intentions for the girl. Song Lan looked at his husband with a pitiful expression on his face. His hand moved to take the hand clutching the sleeve and gripping it tightly. Ah, Wei Wuxian understands now. The pair, especially Xiao Xingchen, was taken immediately by A-Qing, and they wanted to keep interacting with her. With Wei Wuxian's plan, they were afraid they wouldn't have a chance to even see her again. Wei Wuxian let out a smile. It was indeed hard not to take a liking to A-Qing, and the general wouldn't let go of the chance of A-Qing having a family.

"But if you have an idea or a suggestion, maybe we can have an agreement. Just make sure that the final decision lies with A-Qing herself."

"Thank you, General Wei." Now that smile on the male omega's face was on a totally different level.

Lan Wangji walked slowly to the Royal Dining Room with Chun Li helping him. There was a royal dinner with the Emperor, consorts, princes, and concubines tonight. It had been a long time since there was an event like this, and the reason might be because of the rebellion and Wen Xu's death. The last time Lan Wangji attended a royal dinner was when the Emperor announced his pregnancy. He had a feeling that there would be another announcement about this. Two rows of tables facing each other had been arranged neatly based on rank, with Wen Ruohan's at the head of them.

The consort's eyes swept the room as he walked to the Emperor, and familiar faces greeted him with different expressions on their faces—something he had expected—before he faced the Emperor and bowed slightly. Wen Ruohan nodded at him silently. His eyes were on his pregnant stomach for a while. Lan Wangji slowly sat down in his seat, purposely sitting in Wen Xu's place instead of his own. Wen Xu's place was right beside Wen Ruohan, right across from Wen Chao and Consor Wang. Lan Wangji's seat was directly beside Wen Xu's former favourite concubine, Concubine Yan Min. He didn't want to sit beside her even though he wasn't her main rival anymore, and he was so grateful when Chun Li sat in his place instead. Wen Ruohan didn't even blink an eye at that.

Wen Chao and his consort were looking at him with sneers on their faces. Beside Consort Wang were Wen Chao's children, sitting silently while staring awkwardly at their tables. Wen Chao's concubines were spread evenly beside the children and Concubine Yan Min. From the corner of his eyes, Lan Wangji saw Healer Gong Ji Wi standing hidden behind a pillar. The omega consort hoped that she didn't have to do anything tonight.

The dinner started silently, with Healer Gong Ji Wi observing the food on the Emperor's tables as well as Lan Wangji's, but no one else. Chun Li dutifully poured a cup of tea and arranged the rice and other food neatly on the table. Lan Wangji nodded at him and patted her hand, telling her to eat her food, which was sadly far below what was served to him, before continuing with her duty. Once in a while, Lan Wangji would share more extravagant food with her, directly putting it into Chun Li's bowl. The others gave him the stink eye for that, but the omega didn't care. His handmaiden deserved to be spoiled once in a while for her hard work. Beside Chun Li, concubine Yan Min rolled her eyes and stared at the teen with a disgusted look on her pretty face.

The dinner was finished quickly, and the silence was broken by the Emperor himself. "Lan Wangji, the child in you will be declared the next heir of Qishan's Kingdom and will ascend the throne when he reaches the right age. Tell me what you need, Wangji. You refused to move from Willow Pavilion, and that's fine. We'll save the Sun Pavilion for my grandchild. I have sent baby stuff to you, correct? Are they sufficient, or maybe you need more?"

Lan Wangji didn't manage to respond to the announcement when Wen Chao rudely slammed his hand on his table. His eyes were blazing with fury as he stared at his father in disbelief. "Imperial Father, that's against our law. Wen Xu was dead before he even acceded to the throne, so that child doesn't have the right to be the next heir of Qishan. It should be me who becomes the next Emperor, and my oldest child should be the next Crown Prince, the heir of this kingdom."

"You'll be a prince, Chao-er. There'll be no next Emperor because I'll be Qishan's Emperor until Xu-er's child is old enough to be the Emperor. Believe me, I can live for another twenty-six years. Chao-er, you should understand that you have no talent for governing a kingdom, so I won't risk our kingdom falling under your command, even if you're just acting as a regent. Just enjoy your life as a prince. You aren't as good as Xu-er, so don't push your luck to have a more important role here."

That was harsh, and Lan Wangji felt a little pity for Wen Chao. He had heard from Wei Wuxian how the Emperor's blatant favouritism towards Wen Xu destroyed the Second Prince and that Wen Ruohan didn't hold back with his judgement at all. Usually, it happened behind the closed door, away from other ears, but now that Wen Xu was gone, Wen Ruohan wanted everyone to know who would continue to rule the kingdom. And that wasn't Wen Chao.

It wasn't just Wen Chao who looked angry at the announcement, but his consort as well. Gone was her dream to be the Empress of Qishan Wen Kingdom. Besides Chun Li, concubine Yan Min didn't seem to care. Well, her goal wasn't to be the Empress, after all, just to live a life of royalty. Lan Wangji felt dread running through his body when those hateful eyes locked on him and the flash of Xie Mei lying on the ground appeared in his mind.

"No one, besides the healers, servants, and handmaidens, is allowed to visit Consort Lan's Pavilion. Wen Chao, if I know that your bitterness leads to something that endangered my grandchild, there'll be a punishment you never expected before." Wen Ruohan narrowed his eyes towards his younger son. Wen Chao begrudgingly nodded his head, but the hate was still there in his eyes. He wouldn't do anything for now, but Lan Wangji wasn't sure about the future.

Unfortunately, the warning was for Wen Chao, not for his consort. And the consort decided that if her husband couldn't do it, then she would.

Consort Wang Lingjiao walked to the military kitchen with her head held high. She ignored the bows and greetings she received from their servants and guards. She had a mission right now, and she had to wait several days until her husband was safely away to carry out this plan. She stopped feet away from the kitchen door, and her eyes quickly made contact with the Head of the Military Kitchen, Zhou Yan Rán. Wang Lingjiao gestured for the young woman to follow her to the back of the kitchen.

"Today you and your cooks will visit the Imperial Kitchen to discuss the food supply with the Head of the Imperial Kitchen, right?"

"Yes, is there something I can help you with, Consort Wang?"

Wang Lingjioa looked at the seemingly innocent young woman she had heard so much about from her handmaidens. This woman didn't have much talent for organising the kitchen, especially one as chaotic as the military kitchen. The reason she was still standing here was because of the help she got from the cooks under her command. The previous head of the military kitchen was a smart person, choosing those with incredible skill. This woman had her eyes on a certain someone.

"I'm here under direct order from the Emperor himself. He doesn't trust anyone with this." She took out a pouch and pushed it into the cook's hand. Zhou Yán Rán peeked into the pouch, and a strong smell of medicine hit her nose. There was a green, purplish powder inside the pouch that she was unfamiliar with. "Put this into Consort Lan's lunch, alright. It's a special herb for the baby to help him with labour. The labour will be in a month, and we don't want my brother-in-law's kid to be in danger, won't we? He is Qishan's prince."

"Are you sure this is safe for the baby, Consort Lan, and Consort Wang? I'm not good with herbs, so I'm afraid to put strange stuff in."

'Of course you're not. You got the position because you slept with Wen Xu.' Wang Lingjao wanted to roll her eyes. "You don't have to worry, Head Kitchen Zhou; this is from the Emperor himself, not some random stranger. Pour all of them; do you understand? Don't worry; you'll get a prize for doing this duty, you know. When I become the Empress, I'll arrange your marriage with General Wei. Don't worry; he'll accept. He has no reason or power to refuse."

As expected, Zhou Yán Rán's eyes sparkled with excitement at the prospect of becoming Madame Wei. That was the reason she wanted her current position. "Sure, Consort Wang. I'll put it later."

It happened after Lan Wangji took a bath. He tied his robes together and moved slowly to where Chun Li was standing near his bed, arranging the pillows and blanket for him. One step, two steps, three steps, and the omega almost fell down on his knees. He gasped painfully; one hand gripped the chair in front of his vanity tightly while the other clutched his belly. He hissed when another pain attacked him, and something ran down his legs. His water had broken.

"Consort Lan, are you alright?" Chun Li hurriedly went to his side and let out a scream when she saw water and blood dirtying Lan Wangji's white robe.

"Chun Li, Ah!" Lan Wangji gasped, now kneeling on the floor. "Please call Wen Qing. I need Wen Qing."

"Hold on, Consort Lan. Hold on." Chun Li helped her consort to the bed before frantically running out of the chamber, screaming Wen Qing's name at the top of her lungs. Lan Wangji took a deep breath as he tried his best to handle the pain. What the hell happened to him? The pain is too much, and the blood is too much. He felt like his baby was forcefully trying to get out of his womb. Pain and pain—that was all he felt right now. He barely realised Wen Qing and Chun Li were running towards him. He closed his eyes and let the healer lay him on the bed.

"Wei Ying," he called weakly. He needed his alpha. He needed his alpha right now.

Wen Qing took off Lan Wangji's pants and spread his legs. "He's going into early labour." Shit! Chun Li, please prepare some clean clothes and warm water. Quick! Consort Lan, I'm here. You'll be fine."

"Wei Ying," Wen Qing said, blinking back tears when her brother's name escaped Lan Wangji's mouth. The presence of alpha during birth was very important for an omega. The alpha's scent would give a sense of comfort, an unsaid assurance that everything would be alright. That he was here with the omega and would never leave them and their baby alone. But Wei Wuxian wasn't here. He was out there dealing with the rebellion, unaware of the early labour his omega had to go through.

"Consort Lan, when I say push, please push."

Lan Wangji didn't feel anything other than pain, pain, and pain. He grunted, gasped, and screamed in pain as he pushed the living thing into the bright world. Chun Li was holding his hand tightly and didn't even care about the bruise or maybe a broken bone that might occur. He could feel his baby move out of his womb and into the world. The pain Lan Wangji felt was suddenly eclipsed by the sound of a baby's wail.

"It's a boy." He heard Wen Qing say it, and Lan Wangji let out a tired smile.

"A-Yuan" was the last thing he could utter before darkness welcomed him. When Lan Wangji woke up, he was dressed in a clean robe. It was still dark, which meant that he fell unconscious only for a short while. He felt a sharp pain when he tried to move.

"Easy, Consort Lan, or you'll tear your stitches." Wen Qing's soft voice greeted his ears. Cold porcelain touched his lips, and he realised the healer was trying to give him water. He drank the water greedily, feeling his throat sore after the screaming he had done earlier.

"A-Yuan?" He asked hopefully, looking around for his newborn baby. Chun Lin was walking towards him, holding a bundle of white in front of her chest with a wide smile on her cute face. Lan Wangji accepted the baby with tears running down his face. His baby was here, in his arms. A-Yuan was a plump baby with fair skin—just like Lan Wangji—and thick black hair. The consort could picture Wei Wuxian swooning at the sight of their baby: 'Oh, he's so fat, Lan Zhan! And cute. I want to eat him," and the thought warmed his heart.

"He's so small." Chun Li caressed the small fist. "And so cute. He looks like you, Consort Lan. Do you think he has your eyes as well?"

Would they be gold like his or silver like Wei Wuxian? If Lan Wangji could choose, he wanted A-Yuan to have a pair of twinkling silver eyes like his father. Lan Wangji smiled and kissed A-Yuan's forehead, breathing in his own scent from the baby. It would take a year until A-Yuan had his own scent. His nose could smell a hint of spice in Wei Wuxian's scent. He wondered what A-Yuan would be once he was presented in the future. Was he an alpha, omega, or beta? Whatever he was, A-Yuan had a set of great role models that could guide him.

"He was born three weeks early, but he looks healthy. No complications, nothing. Normal." Wen Qing eyed her nephew curiously. A baby born early was usually because there was a health issue with the bearer, which was impossible because Lan Wangji was in perfect health. That meant there was something else that triggered the early labour. A-Yuan cried then, startling the omega.

"He's hungry. Here, let me help." Wen Qing helped Lan Wangji open his robe and manoeuvre the baby into his arms. Lan Wangji let out a gasp at the feeling of A-Yuan latching on his nipple, drinking greedily. The infant opened his eyes, and Lan Wangji's breath was taken away when those eyes were on him.

"The Prince has General Wei's eyes." Both the consort and the handmaiden shared an exciting look. Chun Li caressed A-Yuan's chubby cheek. "But I have to say that silver eyes look better on Prince Yuan than on General Wei."

"Chun Li." Lan Wang warned with a small smile, and the handmaiden giggled. Wen Qing, on the other hand, was still staring at the baby with a thoughtful expression on her face.

"Consort Lan, did you consume something unusual lately?" The healer looked at both Lan Wangji and Chun Li, waiting for a reply. Chun Li shook her head while Lan Wangji was silent for a moment—probably trying to remember the menu he had for several days—before he shook his head.

"I don't think so. My meals are made based on Healer Wen's instructions. Nothing changes. What's wrong, healer Wen?"

"Did they taste different?"

Lan Wangji went silent for a moment, trying so hard to remember what had bothered him. "During lunch, there was a bitter taste in the vegetable soup. I thought it was because the vegetable hadn't been cooked properly, so it was still bitter. Its colour was also a little darker than before, but I thought it was because of the vegetable."

"You ate it anyway."

"Wasting food is forbidden." The omega insisted. Wen Qing rubbed her temples as she closed her eyes. Of course, Lan Wangji would say that. Wasting food was indeed wrong, but when the food tasted unusual, the eater had to stop, especially when there was a baby in their belly that ate everything her mother ate.

"Healer Wen?" Chun Li tugged the healer's sleeve worriedly. "Is there something wrong?"

Wen Qing took a deep breath and looked at them very seriously. "I think we have another assassination attempt to investigate here. Whatever was added to Consor Lan's soup, I suspect, was to induce this early pregnancy. A baby born early can be a premature baby, very sick with many complications, and can die once he is born. Whoever did this didn't think everything through at all, maybe because of desperation. Maybe they put too little effort into actually harming A-Yuan. Maybe because putting too much will cause suspicion from everyone. I think the person responsible doesn't have any experience in committing a crime."

"I swear it must be Consort Wang and Prince Wen Chao!" Chun Li snarled. How dare they try to harm her consort again? These people needed to be punished.

"It's a good thing that A-Yuan is Wei Wuxian's son. Wei Wuxian has a very strong gene in his body courtesy of his alpha mother, a healer practising under Baoshan Sanren, who created so many miracle medicines for alpha and omega. It was rumoured that her students were given her concoctions so they possessed superior resistance in their bodies. Have you ever wondered why Wei Wuxian is so powerful and heals quickly despite his wounds on the battlefield or the poison attached to his swords and arrows? There was a reason why Wen Ruohan had a soft spot for him. He is his strongest man."

Lan Wangji held his baby closer to his chest; his heart was beating so fast inside his chest. His inner omega screamed for his alpha to be here to protect him and their pup. Until Wei Wuxian was here, he wouldn't let those evil people touch a single hair of A-Yuan. He would not give them permission to even look at A-Yuan. They didn't deserve the privilege.

'Come back soon, Wei Ying. Our A-Yuan has been born. Come back soon, please.'

Chapter Text

The news of Prince Yuan's birth spread like fire in the Nightless City Palace. There were some gifts sent to the Willow Pavillion from the ministers, undoubtedly trying to make a good impression on the Mother of Qishan's Heir. Lan Wangji let Chun Li receive the gift for him, opting to stay with his newborn baby instead. Wen Qing was in this room as well, giving him a vial to drink once in a while. With how the news had spread, the Emperor would visit soon, maybe with Wen Chao with him.

"You look troubled, Consort Lan." Wen Qing pointed as she put another vial into her small box. The healer had noticed the way Lan Wangji fussed over his baby's clothes to hide his nervousness.

"Healer Wen, is there anyone in your family that has silver eyes?" The consort asked worriedly. As much as he wanted A-Yuan to inherit his alpha's beautiful silver eyes, he had to prepare an explanation in case A-Yuan opened his eyes during his visit. As long as he was here, he only saw the brown eyes of the Royal Family, including Wen Qing and Wen Ning. The female Royal Family members—the King's Mother and the Empress—had died long ago when the Princes were children. Wen Qing seemed to understand his dilemma.

"Ah, you're worried the Emperor asks about A-Yuan's eyes." The healer lovingly pinched the baby's chubby cheeks, smiling when A-Yuan pouted at her. "Don't worry about it. There-"

"His Highness, the Emperor Wen Ruohan." The announcement almost sent Lan Wangji, Wen Qing, and Chun Li into panic mode. When the strong steps of Wen Ruhan echoed in the small chamber, the healer and handmaiden quickly knelt on the floor. Lan Wangji noticed the Emperor's gaze was fixed on him, ignoring the two females kneeling on the ground. Lan Wangji bowed as best he could while holding A-Yuan.

"Rise." Wen Ruohan said as he approached the bed. Wen Qing and Chun Li jumped to their feet and dashed to Lan Wangji's side. When Wen Ruohan saw the bundle in his arms, his normally hard eyes softened. Lan Wangji's gaze was drawn to a slight movement of his fingers as if he wanted to grab the baby. The omega drew the little prince closer to his chest unconsciously.

"Wangji, I heard you gave birth last night."

"That's correct, Your Highness. Consort Lan gave birth in the middle of the night. Both Consort Lan and Little Prince are healthy." Wen Qing answered for him. Wen Ruohan hummed and nodded at his niece, pleased. He fixed his gaze on the prince before reaching out his hands. Lan Wangji's gaze was drawn to Wen Qing, who nodded encouragingly. Slowly, he handed his precious child over to Wen Ruohan's waiting arms. Surprisingly, the Emperor seemed to know what he was doing, effortlessly holding A-Yuan. Lan Wangji was aware that the Emperor had two sons and several grandchildren, but he had no idea the Emperor had ever handled a baby.

Then, for the first time in years—as long as Lan Wangji was there—Wen Ruohan actually smiled. The Emperor caressed A-Yuan's chubby cheeks lovingly, as a grandfather should. "Very handsome. He looks more like Wangji than Wen Xu."

Lan Wangji almost had a heart attack when A-Yuan suddenly opened his eyes. His huge orbs were staring at his grandfather with wonder, and Wen Ruohan's smile widened slightly. "He has silver eyes."

"It seems like the little prince inherits the late Mother Queen's eyes, Your Highness," Wen Qing said confidently, her eyes looking at Lan Wangji. The consort didn't say anything, letting the healer take over the conversation. It would be suspicious for him to talk about the physical appearance of the prince. If this was Wen Xu's child, then Lan Wangji shouldn't question anything at all.

"Hm, that's correct. She had beautiful silver eyes, right, Qing-er? My siblings and I don't inherit that, and neither do both my sons. But it seems a piece of her is living with my grandson now. She's a strong, alpha woman. I hope the prince will be as strong as she was." Then Emperor Wen Ruohan kissed Prince Yuan's chubby cheeks, and Lan Wangji saw Chun Li almost faint at the display of affection. Even Wen Qing's eyes widened in disbelief at the sight in front of him. "What's his name?"

"His name is Yuan, Your Highness, for hope." Lan Wangji answered softly. Wen Ruohan hummed in satisfaction at the chosen name. The Emperor gave the prince back into Lan Wangji's arms, and the consort gladly accepted his baby. Prince A-Yuan's eyes moved to the omega, and he raised his small hand. Lan Wangji took his small hand gently and kissed his palm.

"Wen Yuan, a hope for Qishan's bright future Very good choice, Wangji."

Yes, Qishan's hope for a bright future without you Lan Wangji nodded his head as his mind answered for him. Wen Qing looked at him for a moment before he bowed deeply to the Emperor. Wen Ruohan frowned at his niece, definitely not understanding why. The omega healer bravely looked him in the eyes and opened her mouth.

"As Consort Lan's personal healer, I must inform you of something. Prince Yuan was not supposed to be born last night. Someone purposefully put something in the consort's lunch, causing the early birth. We're fortunate that they're in good health. However, I believe there is a malicious motive at work here. I hope Your Highness orders someone to investigate this serious matter."

Lan Wangji and Chun Li were taken aback by the woman. They didn't have time to discuss the assassination attempt due to the Emperor's visit, but they also didn't agree to reveal it to anyone. Lan Wangji's golden eyes watched Wen Ruohan's previously soft expression go dark. "You mean someone wanted to harm my grandson?"

"Yes, Your Highness." Wen Qing's firm tone said a lot without her elaborating on everything. The Emperor's eyes were on Lan Wangji, and the male omega deliberately nuzzled his nose to A-Yuan's forehead. His golden eyes dimmed slightly, and his movement became more delicate. He was trying to show how pitiful they were. God, the thing Lan Wangji did for his baby

"I see. Thank you for informing me, Qing-er."

Chun Li and Lan Wangji let out an audible sigh when the Emperor finally took his leave. Chun Li immediately closed the door and leaned on it, closing her eyes in relief. Wen Qing looked so smug with her action as she took A-Yuan into her arms. The healer kissed A-Yuan's forehead and swayed slightly.

"Healer Wen, why did you tell the Emperor?" Chun Li asked as she walked back to them, handing a glass of water to Lan Wangji, which he gratefully accepted, and fixing the prince's loose cloth. Wen Qing raised an eyebrow at her.

"Chun Li, Wei Wuxian was correct when he said that Consort Lan receives the highest level of security, even from the Emperor himself. We should use it to our advantage. We cannot defeat Wen Chao and Consort Wang ourselves. Let the Emperor deal with them for harming the son of his golden child."

Wen Qing was right, and Lan Wangji had to admit it. With Wei Wuxian out there to handle the rebellion, they had to use anything to their advantage, even if it came from the people they despised. The Gusu Lan Prince sighed and closed his eyes. No news came from the rebellion because Xue Yang was brought by his alpha, and worry began to fill his empty chest. Did something happen out there?

The next morning came with bright sunlight penetrating the window of the Willow Pavilion. Consort Lan slowly stood up, trying his best to walk again. Whatever Wen Qing had given him these few days served its purpose, for the consort was able to move, albeit slowly. He walked to the nursery, smiling when his beautiful baby was still sleeping peacefully. Lan Wangji dragged a nearby chair, sat down, and hummed a sweet song. One thing he would do after the rebellion was plucked the strings on his guqin and created lullabies for his A-Yuan. His beloved guqin was broken into pieces by Wen Xu on their wedding night, and an order for him not to play any musical instrument was made. The prince said they hurt his ears. Lan Wangji had to hold himself back from killing the man that night.

The consort knew that he would need to start over from the beginning. His guqin's skill must have decreased immensely over the years. He hadn't played for almost five years. Even if he could, he was sure that his playing would be unpleasant to hear. It was okay. Lan Wangji would do anything for his son. For now, his soft hum will suffice.

Wen Ning rubbed his eyes as he looked around Wen Xu's weaponry. The room was surprisingly filled with so many weapons despite its small size. Most of them were weapons from kingdoms Qishan Wen had conquered over the years. The prince had kept them as if they were trophies. The young scholar moved another chest filled with arrows and quivers with his leg—he was trying to find a path to walk—and slowly made his way to Huang Shao, who was eyeing a white sword in the corner. It did look similar to Bichen, but Wen Ning wasn't sure.

When Wen Ning approached Huang Shao, the man shook his head. No, it definitely wasn't the sword they were looking for. It was indeed white, but it was flecked with gold. Perhaps it belonged to someone from the Lanling Jin Kingdom. They let out a tired sigh together, so exhausted after seven days of searching. Just where did Wen Xu hide Lan Wangji's sword? That man had died yet still caused trouble for others.

Huang Shao walked to a small chest attached to the wall. It was hidden beneath Qishan's banner, which he removed a while ago. The chest was long and wide enough to fit several swords in it. The small soldier tiptoed to take the chest off the wall. Wen Ning quickly helped the poor man—he was a whole foot taller than him—and deposited the chest on the ground. The young scholar's fingers travelled across the hardwood, tracing some kind of weird logo on the chest. It wasn't Qishan's logo at all, but it did look familiar. Huang Shao pressed a metal button on the chest's left side, and it opened. Both Wen Ning's and Huang Shao's eyes widened when they saw inside the chest the beautiful sword they were looking for. It was all white with elegant carvings of clouds and dragons on it.

"Young Master Wen, is this what we're looking for?" Wen Ning could hear the admiration in the soldier's tone, and he didn't blame him for it. The sword was indeed beautiful, and the youngest Wen could imagine how stunning it would be in Lan Wangji's beautiful hands.

"It does look like the picture, doesn't it?"

"Yes."

"Let me get that one. I need to confirm first, and if it's true, then our job is done. Thank you, Huang-Xiong." The soldier nodded and helped Wen Ning move the sword into a smaller chest. It would be suspicious of him to carry the sword himself, knowing how eye-catching it was. Wen Ning walked away as fast as possible, leaving Huang Shao to lock up Wen Xu's weaponry. He couldn't go to the Willow Pavilion just yet, but he needed to put the sword inside his house before someone saw him.

It was almost nine in the evening when Wen Ning bravely sneaked into the Willow Pavilion, knocked on the back window slowly, and jumped into the chamber once it was opened. Wen Qing was the one who greeted him. There was no sight of Chun Li, but Consort Lan was sitting on the bed, feeding A-Yuan, judging from where the little prince's head disappeared beneath a cloth around Lan Wangji's chest.

"A-Ning, what're you doing here?"

Wen Ning put the chest on the table and bowed to Consort Lan. "I'm here to give Consort Lan this. Wuxian-ge asked me to find this sword for him."

Lan Wangji gasped when Wen Ning lifted up a very familiar sword. He fixed his clothes, stood up, and cautiously walked to where Wen Ning was standing. Wen Qing quickly took A-Yuan from him, letting the male omega grasp the weapon. Lan Wangji's long fingers caressed the cold sheath of the white sword, his face stunned. He gently took the sword from Wen Ning, and with a sharp zing, the consort pulled it out. The sword gleamed under the light, and its reflection shone on the consort's flawless jade-like face, giving the impression of him glowing.

"This is Bichen." Lan Wangji choked, overwhelmed with emotion, as he admired his sword. It had been a long time since he held it in his hand, after all. "Wen Xu seized it when he dragged me here. Thank you very much, Wen Ning. Thank you."

"You're welcome, Consort Lan. Wuxian-ge wants you to have it in case the next plan happens in the near future, so you can defend yourself. In addition, he also wants you to be alert all the time. He said something about an unexpected and unwanted guest."

Lan Wangji narrowed his eyes at the message. There were two or three people the consort would classify as unexpected and unwanted guests. They could be Wen Chao and his consort, but with the current assassination attempts, he should remove them from the unexpected part. He wondered who his alpha referred to. Whoever they were, with Bichen in his possession, Lan Wangji could defend himself better than the small dagger he owns. Speaking of the dagger, the consort retrieved the weapon from under his bed and handed it out to Wen Qing.

"For you, healer Wen. I know you're fond of your needles, but I think an additional weapon will be fine. It's small, so you can hide it beneath your robes or inside your sleeve. Wen Qing held A-Yuan with one hand and slowly took the dagger.

"Thank you, Consort Lan." The consort nodded and smiled slightly. His golden eyes then moved to Wen Ning, who was gazing at A-Yuan in Wen Qing's arms silently and curiously. He shared a fond look with the female omega and gestured for the young man to come closer. Wen Ning's eyes widened, and he quickly waved his hands.

"Consort Lan, I don't know how to hold a baby."

Wen Qing rolled her eyes and walked to her brother, carefully putting the small baby in his strong arms. If Lan Wangji were Wei Wuxian, he would have laughed at the face Wen Ning was making right now. The man looked frozen in place, as if a small movement would disturb the sleeping baby in his arms. After some minutes of silence, Wen Ning was finally convinced that he wouldn't wake up the baby and began to sway slightly.

"Hello, A-Yuan. I'm your uncle, Wen Ning. Welcome to the world. Just one more step, and you don't have to live among these evil people anymore."

Lan Wangji blinked back tears as he watched Wen Ning gently kiss his nephew's forehead. His mind went to a palace on top of a mountain and a silent figure sitting on the mat, looking out the window with a blank face.

Xiongzhang, I wish you could hold your nephew as well. He's so precious.

Two weeks later, Chun Li barged into the Willow Pavilion with a wide smile on her face. The consort was walking around the chamber now, holding the A-Yuan in his arms. On the table was Wen Qing, as always since she was his personal healer, sipping her tea silently. Chun Li's wide grin earned a raised eyebrow from the healer and a puzzled look from the consort.

"I have great news." The teen gushed happily, almost tripping over her own skirt. "The Emperor has punished Consort Wang and the Head of Military Kitchen, Zhou Yan Rán, for conspiring to harm Consort Lan and Qishan's Heir."

"Zhou Yan Rán?"

"Yes, Consort Lan." Chun Li took a deep breath and began pacing inside the chamber. "So, I was about to take some snacks for Consort Lan when I noticed the guards were dragging a cook out of the kitchen. The cook cried, of course, and begged the guard, saying that she didn't know anything. Healer Gong Ji Wi was inspecting the kitchen. The cook cried and cried before a servant opened her mouth, saying that Head Kitchen Zhou asked to see Consort Lan's lunch. So, of course, the next guard dragged her along as well. She didn't have the right to ask for Consort Lan's lunch; she was the head of the military kitchen, not the Imperial Family! But because she had a higher rank than her, she complied. Then, then, then, a eunuch in training said that he saw Head Kitchen Zhou put something into the bowl. Head Chef Zhou screamed so loudly that they both lied. Healer Gong then ordered the guards to search for something suspicious in Head Kitchen Zhou, and they found a pouch of suspicious powder. Head Kitchen Zhou was then brought to the Emperor. I don't know what happened next, but just now there are two punishments being carried out. One was 150 whips for Head Kitchen Zhou, and the second was a death sentence for Consort Wang."

"Well, there are two dead." Wen Qing pursed her lips. "There's still Wen Chao to worry about."

Chun Lin's previous excitement evaporated with Wen Qing's comment. "That's right. We still have the Second Prince to worry about. But at least, we only need to keep an eye on one person now."

Lan Wangji hummed. As much as he wanted to celebrate the death of Consort Wang and whoever the Head Kitchen was, the rebellion wasn't over yet. Wen Chao must be furious with how everything turned out, and with no one by his side, he would take foolish action himself. A hand patted his cheek, snapping him from his thoughts.

"Aww, Prince A-Yuan is so cute." Chun Li cooed, her eyes sparkling with glee. "Don't worry, my prince. You have me, Healer Wen, and Young Master Wen to protect you and Consort Lan. We'll do our best."

Lan Wangji couldn't help but smile at the loyal handmaiden. He didn't know what to do if Chun Li was taken away from him, just like Xiu Mei. This young woman deserved better than what she had right now, and Lan Wangji promised to reward her once everything was over.

Wei Wuxian let out a miserable sigh as he played with his sword. It was in the middle of the night, and tomorrow he would lead the army that was currently camping on the field a yard away from him to the capital city. The general initially had the plan to return to the palace to inform Wen Ruohan about the rebel movement, only for him and Xue Yang to meet almost three-quarters of Qishan's army on the way under General Liao, who filled in Wei Wuxian's position.

It turned out that the fake letter from Luo Qingyang arrived too early and ruined their plan. Wen Ruohan sent his soldiers as soon as possible, and when the news reached Lanling Jin, instead of marching to the battlefield, Jin Guangshan sent Jin Zixun to do a diplomatic meeting with Qishan and commanded the soldiers to form a defensive position around the palace under a different general's command. General Luo Qingyang was furious when that piece of information slipped and sent Qin Su to the rebels' headquarters immediately.

So, they had no choice but to send the rebels to the capital city and the palace much earlier than they had planned. It was a good thing that Song Lan and Shi Lei were great fighters; they would be ready. Tomorrow, they would march to the capital city, right after the rebels supposedly occupied the palace.

"You look miserable, General Wei." A jar of wine was shoved in his face, and Wei Wuxian's silver eyes found Qin Su standing beside him. Her beautiful face shone under the moonlight as the hem of her tight teal dress was blown by the wind. The alpha took the wine and gulped half of its contents. The beautiful omega sat beside him, nursing her own wine. Her body was too close for Wei Wuxian's comfort.

"The soldiers are restless," she whispered softly. Her eyes glanced at the camp with an uncertain look.

"They don't know what'll happen." The general's eyes scanned the soldiers. Many of them circled around the fire while others disappeared inside their tents. "Half of them aren't my men. And none of my special squad members are here. They're confused." 

"Ah, Wen Ruohan decides to keep those men to himself then. He's smart, sending almost all soldiers but keeping the best one to guard the palace."

Wei Wuxian snorted at her words. "Unfortunately for him, they won't do anything when Song Lang and others take over the palace."

"What's in your mind? And don't say you're thinking about the battle. I'll know it's a lie." Qin Su nudged his shoulder. For a moment, Wei Wuxian froze at the gesture. There was a warning in the back of his mind. After all, the person beside him was a very beautiful omega with a delightful scent and a lovely body. Qin Su was staring at him with a soft look on her face, and the alpha general had to look away. That gaze was very uncomfortable for him.

"I'm thinking of my mate," he immediately said. Qin Su shifted beside him, leaning on the hard wooden wall behind them. "He'll give birth very soon. I hope that won't happen until everything is settled. I want to be there with him, holding his hand, and watching our pup greet the world. I want to hold them close, telling them that everything is okay now. I want to hold my baby, kiss its cheek, and smell its sweet scent."

The general didn't know anything about childbirth, but he knew that the due date wasn't always correct. The plan was for him to return to the palace, stay by Lan Wangji's side during the birth, and make sure the omega was armed and able to defend himself, but then the fake letter came. He didn't want Lan Wangji to give birth in the middle of chaos. He would be too vulnerable, too weak, and too open.

"I don't know you have a mate. General Luo didn't inform me that." Qin Su finally said that there was a hint of regret in her tone. She had to know now before it was too late.

"She doesn't know." The young general gulped down the rest of his wine, staring at the sky above him. "Not many people know about it. Our relationship didn't start well, but it has grown. We are honest with each other about who we are and what we do. We hold each other dearly in our hearts. He's my soulmate, my lifelong confidant."

"Ahh, you make me jealous, General Wei." Qin Su chuckled. Her tone was different now, and the alpha hoped it was a good sign. "It must be nice, huh, to have someone who accepts us, to stay by our sides in sadness and happiness. I wonder if I will find love like yours."

Love, huh? Wei Wuxian thought happily as a smile graced his handsome face. Yes, I love him. I love him very much.

When Wei Wuxian led the army to the capital city, he was met with a haunting scene. The rebels had conquered the capital city, and instead of the expected chaos, the city was eerily quiet. The residents were all inside their homes, with some quietly peering out their windows. The rebels were patrolling the city, carrying swords in their hands and sabres on their backs. They were holding the entire city hostage in their own homes.

The general came to a halt on the outskirts of the capital city. As they stared at the dead city, the soldiers behind him murmured. Wei Wuxian had decided to bring only a few soldiers and leave the rest of the soldiers at the field near the capital under General Liao's command. He told them he would send fireworks into the sky to signify that the battle had begun. He chose soldiers with big mouths so that when the duel between him and Song Lan was held in front of everyone, these soldiers could use their gossip skills to keep everyone's faith in Wei Wuxian.

"General Wei!" The alpha general turned his head so fast that his neck hurt and saw one of his Fierce Corpse soldiers. He looked relieved at the sight of him. His uniform was torn in several places, and his eyes darted to the soldiers behind the general before facing his superior. He raised an eyebrow and responded with a slight nod from Wei Wuxian.

"What's happening?"

"The rebels! They're entering the palace." The soldier's tone convincingly panics, and his brown eyes widen.

"Show me how you sneak out here." Wei Wuxian turned to the soldiers. "All of you wait here; when I send the firework, walk confidently towards the palace. The rebels won't attack you because when it happens, I'll have reached an, let's call it, understanding with the rebels' captain. Do not do something foolish; we don't want to frighten our people."

When Wei Wuxian finally arrived at the Nightless City Palace, his silver eyes saw Xue Yang running towards him. The alpha soldier was panting, his shoulder was bleeding, and some scratches were on his face, but he looked fine. His right hand was holding his sword tightly. The excitement in his eyes betrayed his supposedly loyal soldier act.

"General Wei, the rebels are holding everyone hostage. The ministers are huddled in the meeting room. The concubines are hiding in their pavilions, too afraid to come out. The servants and maids are locked in the kitchen. Many soldiers have died defending the palace, and the rebels are everywhere."

"And the Emperor?"

"He is in the throne room. I heard he is battling with the rebel captain right now. I'm trying to locate Prince Wen Chao. He's somewhere here with Prince Jin Zixun." Okay, that wasn't a name he wanted to hear right now. So the message from General Luo was correct. Jin Guangshan sent his nephew to Nightless City. He hoped that wherever Jin Zixun was, he wasn't harassing his sister. If he was, he hoped Wen Qing would stab his fat neck with her needles. He would take care of that weak prince later.

"Prince Jin Zixun arrived last night with the Empress of Gusu Lan." Now, that was a name he didn't want to hear right now. Why the hell did he show up at a time like this? Jin Guangshan really had something going on with Meng Yao to actually send his bastard with Jin Zixun.

"What the fuck! Where's Empress Lan now?"

"I have no idea, General Wei. But last I heard, he was here to pay a visit to his brother-in-law."

"Shit, shit, shit." Lan Zhan is in danger. Fuck you, Jins!

"Yuandao-xiong, help! Wen Ruohan manages to corner Captain Song Lan." Qian Dua said it in one breath. Wei Wuxian looked at where the path to Willow Pavillion was for a moment before he nodded to Qian Duo and followed the man to the throne room. "Xue Yang, go find Shi Lei and help him kill Wen Chao."

Two hours before the rebels barged into the palace, inside the Willow Pavilion, Consort Lan Wangji was putting warmer clothes on the little prince. For almost a month now, Prince Yuan has moved more frequently than before. His huge silver eyes were busy analysing his surroundings, taking everything into his small brain. His eyes twinkled, and his fat cheeks stretched cutely when he smiled at whatever he found mesmerising. Lan Wangji couldn't help but squish those bun-like cheeks, and the giggle from A-Yuan always brightened his day.

"Greetings, Consort Lan!" This familiar voice, however, darkened his day. Holding A-Yuan tightly in his arms, the consort turned around and saw the person he hated the most standing in the doorway. He was wearing Gusu's dark blue royal robes with an elaborate headpiece signalling his rank. Lan Wangji wanted to yank that crown off that cunning head. The smile on the person's face made Lan Wangji want to kick it with his shoe.

"Meng Yao," he said slowly, his voice full of venom, as his golden eyes looked at the omega. Meng Yao's smile widened as he slowly stepped into the chamber. His steps were light and soft, almost inaudible as the hard sole of Gusu's royal shoes hit the hard floor of the Willow Pavilion.

"You live here? A very small pavilion at the back of your husband's household? Oh, I feel bad, brother-in-law." His tone held no regret at all. He looked around the small chamber before focusing his eyes on the moving bundle in his arms. "How are you? I heard from the Emperor that you have given birth to the heir of Qishan. It seemed Wen Xu had a chance to enjoy your body, huh? He boasted about it, don't you know? An ice prince who was surprisingly an enjoyable bedwarmer."

Lan Wangji's eyes didn't move from Meng Yao as the Empress paced around the chamber. The golden-eyed omega's feet were moving back to his bed, where Bichen was. "What do you want?"

"Hm? What do I want?" Meng Yao widened his eyes innocently before a sick smile appeared on his pretty face. His eyes gleamed with evil, which Lan Wangji couldn't explain. "I think you know what I want, Lan Wangji."

"I'd like to see you try." His right hand gripped Bichen now, and it didn't go unnoticed by Meng Yao. The Gusu Empress chuckled and shook his head as if he just heard Lan Wangji say the most amusing joke to him.

"Very confident, aren't you? Well, I guess you have to be. After all, I came a little too late, for you're well enough to defend yourself. I was planning to arrive when you gave birth, but no one expected an early birth. It should be perfect; you know, Consort Lan died delivering the Heir of Qishan, a very noble death. Alas, I'm not that lucky."

"You could come at that time, and you wouldn't succeed anyway." The consort's grip tightened on his sword. A-Yuan began to fuss; his hand reached to pat Lan Wangji's cheek as if he wanted to comfort his bearer. Lan Wangji was ready to attack when Chun Li, holding up her skirt, ran into the room in fear.

"Consort Lan, the rebels are entering the palace! They're holding everyone hostage." She seemed to ignore Meng Yao's presence as she immediately ran to her consort. It was when Lan Wangji put A-Yuan into Chun Li's arms and positioned himself between them that the handmaiden finally noticed the stranger in the chamber with her consort.

"Oh, your handmaiden? Thank you for the information, servant." He nodded to Chun Li, who gasped and hid behind Lan Wangji. "I have to say that I owe the rebels now. Imagine someone finding the beautiful Consort Lan lying lifelessly on the hard ground. He's trapped among the rebels and has fought his way out, holding his precious baby in his arms. Too bad, both were killed by the rebels. Then, his beloved handmaiden decides to kill herself as a sign of loyalty."

"You need to learn to keep your mouth shut, Meng Yao."

"Oh, it's Empress Lan, if you may. Your brother will be disappointed to hear you disrespect your brother-in-law. Don't you want to know A-Huan's condition, Wangji? Do you know he calls your name in his sleep? He misses you very much. Unfortunately, he'll forget you very soon."

"You bastard." Lan Wangji snarled. How dare this piece of shit use his brother to mock him? This person didn't deserve his brother's love. This person was the reason why his brother was miserable now. This person deserved to die.

"Is that supposed to be an insult to me? I'm not offended at all. After all, I'm a Jin bastard after all, and, let me remind you, your brother-in-law." Just as Meng Yao finished his sentence, a tall man entered the room. He was dressed in flowing white-blue robes as if he were royalty. The sleeves and neckline were adorned with cloud patterns. His hair was tied in a half ponytail in the style of the Gusu Royal Family. On top of his head sat a familiar silver headpiece. Lan Wangji suddenly felt as if he recognised himself in the man's attire. No, Lan Wangji knew he recognised himself in that man because he had dressed exactly like Lan Wangji before being brought to Qishan. Back when he was young, that headpiece was one of his jewellery pieces. He lost it while training with Gusu's soldiers.

"Empress  Lan,"  The  man  bowed  deeply  to  Meng  Yao,  his  white  sword  stained with blood,  and the  consort  hoped  that the  blood  didn't  belong  to any of the  rebels,  which was  highly unlikely  given the current situation.

"Ah, I thought you lost, Governor Su."

Lan Wangji frowned. Su? He knew this man, despite not having seen him for a long time. This man was a guard in Cloud Recesses. How did he become so close to Meng Yao and even a governor now? This man was a traitor. "Su She,"

"Lan Wangji." The traitor bowed mockingly at him. His white sword was raised slightly, ready to attack. "It has been a long time, my prince."

The omega consort raised his sword and pointed it at the traitor's neck. His golden eyes were blazing with rage, and a whimper from A-Yuan and Chun Lin provided him with the fuel he needed to destroy these two evil people in front of him. He'd wipe that arrogant grin and smirk off their fucking faces and enjoy every minute of it.

Chapter Text

The state of the throne room was as messy as Wei Wuxian had imagined. The battle between two strong ex-soldiers—one became an emperor and one became a rebel—surely brought destruction to the previously glorious throne room. The curtains were ripped and fallen off their hangers, the tables were thrown from their places, and most noticeably, the throne itself was broken into several pieces. That was symbolism at its finest.

The states of the two ex-soldiers weren't too much different than the mess. Wen Ruohan's age definitely played an important part in his ability to move, avoid, and attack. His outer robes were in chaos, shredded by obviously a sword; his crown was missing; and his left leg was bleeding. Song Lan wasn't much different. His pants were torn, and his ribbon was missing, making his long hair fall over his broad shoulders. With the bleeding from his forehead and a crazy, determined look on his face, the captain looked like the perfect figure of a mad ex-soldier going rampant on his ex-employer. He looked terrifying.

Wei Wuxian put on his mask and observed the fight from behind a large pillar. It wasn't his job to kill the Emperor, so he would jump when Song Lan was indeed cornered and about to die. The sound of swords clashing with each other rang throughout the throne room, sending an eerie echo to those who were outside. The young alpha gripped his sword tightly when Wen Ruohan kicked Song Lan's feet and elbowed his bruised face. Song Lan fell to the ground but quickly raised his foot and kicked Wen Ruohan's chest. The captain quickly got up and swung his sword as fast as possible at the Emperor, not giving the older man a chance to think of anything other than defending himself.

The sound of fireworks reached his ears, and Wei Wuxian's eyes went to the opened door. A blazing red firework adorned the blue sky, and shouts and screams reached his ears. The soldiers were marching to the palace; the people were released from their homes; and the rebels were gathering in front of the gate.

The fireworks didn't seem to interrupt the fight, though. The fight lasted for some time before Wen Ruohan seemed to recognise the Wen style's most crucial attack and managed to disarm Song Lan and slash the man's chest. When Song Lang grunted and fell to his knees, Wen Ruohan took the chance to kick the sword off his hand. The wound wasn't serious, but it was enough to distract Song Lang for a moment.

"I have no idea who you are," Wen Ruohan said calmly, the tip of his sword pressed to Song Lan's chin, drawing blood from it. "I don't know where you come from or what misery you have endured since you started the rebellion."

Song Lan's eyes weren't leaving Wen Ruohan's as the Emperor continued to wonder about the person in front of him. "You don't look like Guo Zimo to me. Who are you, son? Maybe if you surrender yourself, we can have some agreements, hm?"

"You refuse to speak, huh? What a determined young man you are." Wen Ruohan said, smirking. Wei Wuxian almost snorted. Song Lan couldn't talk, even if he wanted to. That man was mute. And if he could talk, the tall, dark, handsome alpha would spit out many admirable words to express his hatred for the Emperor.

Wei Wuxian noticed Song Lan grimacing a little when he tried to stand up. His eyes immediately went to the man's leg. Ah, it was bleeding heavily now, and it hindered him from making a move. Wen Ruohan seemed to know it as well, judging by the widened smirk on his face. Song Lan clenched his jaw and moved so fast that Wei Wuxian couldn't follow. The captain grabbed the blade with his left hand tightly and pulled it hard, dragging the surprised Emperor before using his right hand to grab the Emperor's throat. The Emperor made a choking noise, and Song Lan let go of the blade, only to put it on Wen Ruohan's wrist and snap it hard. Wei Wuxian winced at the sound of bones cracking. But Wen Ruohan didn't finish yet. A small dagger slipped out of his left hand, and with all his might, he stabbed the captain. Song Lan withdrew his hand, wincing at the pain, and looked up to see the dagger go straight to his throat.

That was when Wei Wuxian moved. As fast as he could, the alpha jumped behind Song Lan and pushed his sword into the Emperor's chest. The Emperor's eyes widened in surprise at the second person in the room. They looked horrified when, at some point, the mask on Wei Wuxian's face fell off.

"Wei..." His most trusted general betraying him wasn't exactly what he expected. Wei Wuxian stoically looked at him, pushed the sword deeper so that it pierced through Wen Ruohan's body, and twisted it, ruining his heart just as he did with his golden son. The Emperor of Qishan fell down on the floor with blood flowing out of his wound as red as his royal robe.

Wei Wuxian and Song Lan took a deep breath before looking at each other.

"Time for the final fight." Wei Wuxian said, and together they walked out of the place to face thousands of Qishan's people and soldiers. They hadn't done it. Not yet.

Lan Wangji’s golden eyes were blazing as he faced two men in front of him, smirking as if they had won the fight. They hadn’t. The fight hadn’t even begun yet. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Chun Li walking backwards and then to the right, closer to an ugly vas Wen Qing brought the other day. She was trying to find a weapon to defend herself. A-Yuan was still fussing in her arms, trying to reach for Lan Wangji.

Bear it a little while, Baobei.

The male omega’s grip on Bichen tightened as Su She took a step forward. His steps were confident as he swung his white sword towards the consort. Lan Wangji quickly defended himself; two almost identical swords clashed with each other. The swords gleamed under the sunlight as anger and hate shone in the two men’s eyes. Lan Wangji hissed when he felt a sharp pain between his legs, but he wouldn’t stop.

Su She manoeuvred his sword to the right, swayed it fast to Lan Wangji’s neck, and screamed when the omega ducked, avoiding his attack. Lan Wangji twirled around and swung Bichen, but it met with Su She’s blade. Lan Wangji put all his weight on his left foot and pushed forward, making Su She took several steps back before whirling around, raising her right foot, and kicking the man in the chest. Su She fell back and hit Meng Yao, who unfortunately stood behind him. Both men almost fell to the ground. Meng Yao shoved Su She away towards Lan Wangji.

“Kill him!” He ordered it, pointing at his brother-in-law. “Kill him before anyone comes. Quick!”

The omega consort was ready as he raised Bichen high and brought it down with all his might. The clashing sound produced was enough to tell anyone that the force Lan Wangji put into his attack was strong. There was a crack in Su She’s sword that sent the man almost into a panic.

Lan Wangji was a general in the making. He didn’t play around. And no matter how hard Su She wanted to be him with his fancy clothes and fake Bichen, he wouldn’t be like the peerless beauty of Gusu Lan Kingdom.

Lan Wangji attacked fast, immediately targeting Su She’s neck, chest, and stomach with Bichen. His feet skipped gracefully, dancing on the hard floor, and his long arm swung elegantly as he showed a deathly performance. Despite the fact that the Omega didn’t hold his sword or fight for years, Gusu Lan’s fighting style was already so embedded deep inside him that calling it through his movements was easy. His muscle memory was exceptional.

Su She’s breath quickened as his energy decreased quickly; he couldn’t match the omega’s skill. He managed to avoid the attack as best as he could and only had a scratch on his cheek when he was a second too late. The tall man ducked fast, put his hand on the floor, put his weight on it, and tried to kick Lan Wangji’s leg. Lan Wangji, instead, raised his right leg and stepped on the offending legs, changed his hold on Bichen, and pierced it in the leg, earning a scream from Su She. Seeing that his man was helpless, Meng Yao took out a blade from his sleeve and moved forward. The consort pulled Bichen off Su She’s leg and quickly swung it to Meng Yao’s arm, successfully separating it from his body. Meng Yao screamed in pain, and Lan Wangji kicked him hard, making the small omega fly to the windows.

The windows broke, and the man rolled to where Chun Li was standing. Seeing her chance, Shun Li grabbed the vase as best she could with one hand and smashed it on Meng Yao’s head. The man groaned and shook his head. The Prince of Gusu walked to the man, who tried his best to crawl back with his feet helplessly when he saw him approaching. His head was bleeding hard, flooding the right side of his face with fresh blood.

“Meng Yao, words cannot express my hate for you.” His voice was calm but venomous. “You hurt my family so much that killing you isn’t enough.”

The helpless omega on the floor chuckled, leaning heavily on the wall. “Lan Wangji, ah, Lan Wangji, if I’m correct, you were the one who brought me to the palace. I still remember your beautiful words that day, Xiongzhan. He is a good man, full of potential and care. He deserves better than the life he has now. Weren’t those your own words?”

Lan Wangji kicked him on the head, and the man just continued laughing, saying, “Xiongzhang, I know you love him. I think you two will be very good together.”

The omega’s eyes were filled with fury and Meng Yao continued. “Xiongzhang, brother-in-law, I wish you all happiness in these words. I hope you two are blessed with eternal happiness. You said that on our wedding day.”

The man smirked as the anger in Lan Wangji built up. “If I hurt your family, Wangji, it's all because of you. You brought me to them. I didn’t ask you, but you insisted. It’s your fault.”

“Consort Lan, don’t listen to him!” Chun Li yelled.

“It’s your fault!” Those were Meng Yao’s last words as Bichen slashed his throat, ending the speech that had haunted Lan Wangji for years. Lan Wangji’s golden eyes watched as the lights in Meng Yao’s eyes disappeared and his body slumped to the ground.

“Consort Lan, watch out!”

Lan Wangji turned around and immediately raised his sword, preventing Su She’s sword from injuring his head. Lan Wangji fell to his knees when Su She overpowered him. Chun Li threw another vas to Su She, and the man jumped back from the consort.

Still, on the ground, Lan Wangji tilted Bichen, and the sunlight hit the blade, reflecting it into Su She’s eyes. The man closed his eyes, and Lan Wangji used the opportunity to stab the man in the chest. Su She grunted in pain and gripped the blade with his left hand, his eyes glaring at the consort. The man didn’t give up as he used the last of his strength to forcefully remove himself from the blade, falling to his knees because of the pain. Lan Wangji could see his eyes slowly lose their light as blood continued pouring out of the wound. Using his last strength, Su She screamed, raised his sword, and charged at the male omega, only to have Lan Wangji twirl gracefully away from the attack, stop behind his back, and for the second time, push Bichen to the man’s back, where the heart was. Su She fell down with a grunt on the floor. He turned around and looked Lan Wangji in the eyes.

“I hate you, Lan Wangji. I hate arrogant royals like you and your family, who have all the privileges in the world. They ignore talented people like me who weren’t born into a high-ranking family. You don’t deserve respect. You’re unworthy of your fame or those praises.”

Lan Wangji raised Bichen, the blade glowing between his golden eyes. “You are not qualified to speak to me.” And he swung, completely decapitating the man and his head.

The omega consort looked at the corpse stoically, and only when A-Yuan wailed did he snap into the real world. The omega quickly walked to Chun Li and took the baby into his arms. He kissed A-Yuan's head and murmured, "It's over, Baobei. It's over."

Lan Wangji's attention then turned to Chun Li worriedly. The young teen smiled at him and puffed her chest. "I'm fine, Consort Lan."

"That was a really great throw, Chun Li." Lan Wangji praised her, and the girl giggled, blushing hard. The handmaiden looked at the corpse and grimaced at Su. She's only a few feet away from her. She took several steps forward and kicked the head away, only for it to fly to someone's knee.

"Ahh!!' Wen Qing shrieked when a head unceremoniously hit her leg and rolled away. She gaped at the scene in front of her like a fish out of water, and her hand was on her chest. Chun Li gasped and quickly apologised to the healer, but she didn't move from where she was standing. Wen Qing turned to them and sighed in relief when both Lan Wangji and his handmaiden were fine. She tiptoed around the corpses, grimaced, and quickly walked closer to them.

"Who are these men?" She asked, her pretty face showing obvious disgust. She was wearing her green-red healer uniform, but there was blood splashed on her stomach. In addition, scratches were on her previously flawless neck and cheeks. Her hair was messy, and her usual topknot was limp on top of her head.

"Healer Wen, what happens to you? Is that your blood? Do you need medical assistance?" Chun Li gasped as she touched Wen Qing's ruined robes. Wen Qing shook her head.

"It wasn't mine. It's Jin Zixun." Wen Qing quickly took off her outer robe and threw it on the floor. Chun Li quickly grabbed one of Lan Wangji's robes and put it on the healer's small frame. "That bastard arrived last night with Empress Lan. He visited me earlier, saying that I was his future wife, so he demanded I listen to him and obey all his orders once we were married. Then he tried to rape me. I don't know what they feed those peacocks on the golden tower, but he was so heavy that I had difficulty pushing him away. I kicked it into his balls and grabbed my dagger. I stabbed his arms, but he was so strong that he almost choked me with his big hand. Thankfully, A-Ning came. I paralysed him with my needle, and A-Ning killed him. He was dragging Jin Zixun's body to the other fallen soldiers now, so it would seem that he was killed by the rebel."

Wen Qing took a deep breath, looked at the corpses on the ground, and raised an eyebrow. Lan Wangji gestured to the armless dead body beneath the broken window. "Empress Lan."

"This is Empress Lan? I thought he was a beautiful man." Wen Qing's exclamation earned a chuckle from both the male consort and his handmaiden.

"He was, but he had a very hideous heart." Chun Li shook her head. "And that man is Consort Lan's huge admirer. So huge that it became an obsession, I'm afraid. He was dressed in robes with cloud embroidery, Healer Wen, and he had a similar sword. Look at that! Too bad he wasn't even close to Consort Lan's beauty, grace, and skill. He was just plain ugly in everything."

"Thank you, Chun Li." Lan Wangji smiled at her amusedly, and the teen beamed at the praise. "Okay, so when a soldier comes here, please put on your frightened faces. Our story is that poor Empress Lan and Governor Su died in the rebel's hands while visiting Consort Lan. The rebels didn't attack us because we are just poor omegas, a teen, and a baby. They decide to make us their hostages because I am Wen Ruohan's heir. Are we clear?"

"Yes, Consort Lan." The women answered simultaneously.

At a certain pavilion, Shi Lei rolled his eyes when Wen Chao cowered in the corner of his chamber. The prince was arrogantly challenging the teen earlier, gripping his sword. Then, with just a few moves, the prince realised that this young man was way above his league and decided to hide. Shi Lei had never felt so useless in a fight before. He felt all his hard work evaporate the moment he faced the Second Prince of Qishan. Just how weak was this man? Even the mere soldier Shi Lei fought along the way here had more skill than Wen Chao. He was very disappointed.

"Hey Wen Chao, can you take your sword and fight me again? I'm so bored here." Shi Lei sighed and grabbed a wine jar from the table. He sat down in the chair and shook his head. Wen Chao whimpered, and Shi Lei rolled his eyes again. How boring!

The young man looked at the cowering prince from the corner of his eyes and stood up. He had an idea of how to, at least, make the man grab a weapon again. Shi Lei emptied the wine jar and turned his back to Wen Chao. As expected, the prince grabbed his sword and charged at the rebel. Shi Lei grinned and turned around, swinging his sword quickly. The sword slit Wen Chao's throat, and he fell to the ground, blood flooding the floor.

"Aww man. So quick." Shi Lei groaned again as he pouted at the dead man. Still pouting, he kicked Wen Chao's leg hard. "Boring."

"You finish?" Shi Lei turned around and saw Xue Yang looking at him with a raised eyebrow, his sword dangling in his hand. The older teen glared at him and kicked Wen Chao's dead body once more.

"Why didn't you tell me Wen Chao is this fucking weak?" I regret that I volunteered to kill him. It's much harder to kill an angry cat than this one."

"Well, I haven't seen him fight. I just heard it from my fellow soldiers." Xue Yang shrugged and walked out of the chamber with Shi Lei behind him. As the two of them took several steps, Xue Yang saw a soldier running towards him.

"Xue Yang!"

"Quick, let's fight!" Xue Yang raised his sword and attacked Shi Lei. The older teen's eyes widened in surprise before he blocked the attack out of instinct. Xue Yang grunted as he swung his sword once again, which Shi Lei blocked.

"Xue Yang!" The young soldier yelled his name with a spear in his hand, ready to throw it at the rebels. Xue Yang screamed at him.

"I got this, go! "Go to General Wei!"

The soldier looked hesitant for a moment, and Shi Lei began to launch his signature fast attacks. Xue Yang cursed as he defended himself as best as he could. He gritted his teeth at the smug expression on Shi Lei's face.

"Go!"

The soldier ran, and the two young teens slowed their mock fight until the soldier was out of their sight. Shouts and cheers from the palace's yard caught their interest, and they nodded to each other before running to the yard. The two young men climbed to the tree and watched as the crowd surrounded the stage, where Song Lan and Wei Wuxian were circling each other.

From their positions, they could see how Wei Wuxian purposely let himself be hit several times before quickly standing up and charging forward. He even let Song Lan's sword injure his arm before he attacked back weakly. It was a tactic; Wei Wuxian getting beaten would garner sympathy from the citizens and soldiers who watched the fight. They would be afraid if he lost because their kingdom was in his hands. That was when the support came, and sure enough, the crowd raised their hands in the air and chanted Wei Wuxian's name. Wei Wuxian had these people in his hands now.

So he got up with a different spirit, and the crowd screamed their heads off. Wei Wuxian's attacks changed drastically—they were more aggressive and brutal—and slowly but surely, Song Lan was cornered. The crowd went wild when Wei Wuxian kicked Song Lan's feet, and his sword was on Song Lan's neck. Song Lan raised his hands in surrender, and some soldiers quickly went up to the stage and seized the captain, chaining his hands to his back.

"Wei Wuxian!"

"Wei Wuxian!"

"Wei Wuxian!"

"Wei Wuxian!"

"Everyone! My brothers and sisters of this beloved Qishan Kingdom. Today, we get our Kingdom back together! It's not just me but it's us!" Wei Wuxian raised his fist in the air. Screams filled the air, and the young general's silver eyes scanned the people. "Today, we lost our beloved Emperor and Prince. It's a dark day for us, but remember that today, as this rebellion ends, we're facing a brighter future. Don't despair; we're heading towards a revolution in Qishan. Today, I give it to you, the people of Qishan, to rebuild our kingdom, to reassemble our government, and to continue the legacy of our kingdom. I give it to you."

The crowd was silent before murmurs broke among the people as they tried to talk over each other. They looked confused as they frowned and argued. The soldiers were looking more confident as they knew who to choose. There was only one person they knew who could handle the government right now. There was only one person they could trust and lean on to lead the kingdom.

"Hail Emperor Wei Wuxian!" Someone among the crowd managed to scream over everyone, and the people went still for a moment before, one by one, fists raised and another chant began. Soldiers and people alike chanted the name of the new Emperor they had chosen—someone who didn't come from a royal bloodline but from them, the people. Someone who had proven his worth, dedication, and loyalty to their kingdom

"Hail Emperor Wei Wuxian!"

"Hail Emperor Wei Wuxian!"

"Hail Emperor Wei Wuxian!"

"Hail Emperor Wei Wuxian!"

"Well, welcome to a new Qishan." Xue Yang smiled proudly as his eyes watched Wei Wuxian charm the people. It was an easy thing to do with Wei Wuxian's reputation, bright smile, and confidence.

As it ended, Wei Wuxian raised his fist to the crowd once again, and deafening screams filled the palace's yard. It was the start of a new future for them and Qishan. The young alpha smiled tiredly at the crowd, and he looked around for a familiar face. General Liao walked to him, his worried face silently asking whether he was okay. Wei Wuxian nodded at him.

"Take care of everything; I need to go somewhere." When the general nodded, Wei Wuxian turned around, secretly nodded to Song Lan, and walked away. His feet reached ten steps before they walked faster and faster until they ran and ran. He needed to go to his omega immediately. He needed to know if he was okay.

Please, Lan Zhan. Please be alright. The alpha couldn't help but picture the worst scenario involving his omega and Gusu Lan's Empress. In addition, there was Jin Zixun in the mix, whose target he wasn't sure of. He hoped Wen Ning had managed to give Lan Wangji his beloved sword. His omega was strong. He knew, but he was still very worried.

Wei Wuxian ran to the Willow Pavilion as fast as he could with the worst scenario in his head. His silver eyes roamed the empty pavilion in panic, searching for familiar white, blue, or teal robes. He barged into the chamber, and what he saw stopped him from jumping to the omega. His eyes ignored two dead men—one without a head—covered in blood on the floor, broken vases, and broken windows. His eyes were focused on the most beautiful person he had ever seen, holding a giggling baby in his arms.

"Wei Ying," The person called, and the young alpha slowly walked to them. His steps were careful, his eyes were still on them—or more precisely, on the baby—and he was gaping at them. The baby's fair skin, thick dark hair, and cute nose—a perfect replica of Lan Wangji—took his breath away, and he was sure he was going to collapse when a pair of silver eyes, identical to his own, sparkled beneath two small eyelids. Wei Wuxian knelt in front of the omega, and Lan Wangji smiled as he positioned the baby to face Wei Wuxian and waved the baby's small fist.

"A-Yuan greets A-Die,"

And Wei Wuxian burst into tears.

Chapter Text

The news of the tragic deaths of Emperor Wen Ruohan and Prince Chao received mixed reactions from the people and allies. The majority of Qishan’s people, who had suffered under the iron fist of Wen Ruohan, celebrated the death of the Royal Family and welcomed the famous general Wei Wuxian as the new Emperor of the Qishan Kingdom. The minority—the corruptors, the evil merchants, and those who ran the disgusting businesses—were in an uproar, for they were afraid the new Emperor would destroy their lives. They weren’t wrong because, when a new government was set up, a massive investigation was launched to clean up the Qishan Kingdom. No one was saved from it.

The investigation did clean up many corrupt individuals, unjust merchants, and illegal businesses. It also uncovered so many hidden secrets that raised many eyebrows. One of the most disturbing discoveries was that wealthy, high-ranking people had access to buy laws and permits so that their matters could pass through. High-ranking people wanted to decrease their employees' wages. Easy, just invite the ministers to dine with them, bribe them with pouches of gold, and within a few days, a new law about minimum wages was issued. A rich merchant who wanted to have an omega trafficking business? Easy, just pay ten pouches of gold, and then vocational training houses for young omegas to achieve a better life would be given a free pass without any inspection at all, when in reality it was a grooming and trafficking business.

Wei Wuxian almost threw the report at Wen Ning once he read that. Wen Ning, who was in charge of this clean-up with several trustworthy administration staff, could only grimace when he found that fact. No wonder Qishan’s laws, rules, and policies were a mess. So, Emperor Wei reassembled the Imperial Court by replacing the corrupt ministers with new ones as well as their staff. Financial reports became mandatory and would be presented in front of everyone in the court. The palace’s gate would be opened once a week, a stage would be set, and everyone could come to explain their situations, express their complaints, and ask for help. Decrees, laws, and policies would undergo serious discussion with related parties before they were sealed.

The Qishan’s allies were divided into two sides as well. The most vocal opposition—with no one actually surprised—came from the Lanling Kingdom, the small Kingdom of Yao, and the small Kingdom of Mishan Yu. Their arguments were different; when Lanling and Yao Kingdom focused mostly on the economy and diplomatic alliance, Mishan Yu was more concerned about Wei Wuxian’s ability to run the kingdom. It was a fair judgement, Wei Wuxian admitted, because the small kingdom had suffered some government fallout after the potential Empress decided to marry into Yunmeng Jiang's kingdom instead, against the blessing of the Royal Family. Both Yunmeng and Wen had reached out to help, and the small kingdom decided to accept Wen Ruohan’s offer.

Wei Wuxian had heard about the tough Empress Yu of Yunmeng, and with Jiang Wanyin’s news about his father’s death, he was so impressed with how the Empress ran the great kingdom on her own. He needed to gather all the allies of the Qishan to create a new diplomatic relationship, which included eliminating the bad ones and creating a new one. This would be a large gathering because he wanted to reach out to Yunmeng Jiang and Qinghe Nie as well.

The Nightless City Palace had a different name now, and it was the Stygian Tiger Palace. Lan Wangji looked at his alpha when he announced the name, and the general said that it was a name his mother gave to his donkey toy. One of the few things he remembered about his childhood To name a palace after a donkey toy wasn't appropriate, but the choice was either that or other ridiculous names Wei Wuxian had come up with.

Lan Zhan, should I name the palace Little Apple, Demon-Subdue Palace, or Burial Mound? The alpha asked him one day with a serious expression on his handsome face, and Lan Wangji had a hard time guessing whether he was truly serious or joking. So without question, they settled on Stygian Tiger Palace. All the names of the pavilion and their functions were changed as well. Since Wei Wuxian wouldn’t take any concubines, Wen Chao’s harem was disbanded, and just like what they had done to Wen Xu's, they were sent back to their parents, married to other high-ranking families, or worked with the palace. Wen Chao’s children would go with their mother, except for Wang Lingjiao’s son, Wen Li. The poor five-year-old little boy didn’t have anyone to take him in because the late consort was an orphan servant before becoming Wen Chao’s consort.

We’ll unofficially adopt him. We’re going to make him A-Yuan’s reading companion and his future personal bodyguard. Lan Wangji had said to him Wei Wuxian protested, afraid that the boy would take after his father and hold a deep hatred for the new Royal Family, especially A-Yuan, but Lan Wangji assured him that the consequences would be worse if they abandoned him without proper guidance.

"That’s why, Wei Ying, we’re going to erase that hate with love and care. Just like with our A-Yuan. People will be worried that one day he’ll grow up to be the next Wen Xu. That’s understandable, but with him being raised by you and growing up to be a wonderful man in the future, it’ll erase the doubt and emphasise that someone’s background doesn’t determine the outcome. You’re just a street orphan and not a Royal Family member, yet you've made a good Emperor so far." Lan Wangji said, putting his hand on the Emperor's shoulder. "Besides, I'm afraid he'll be treated badly if he's adopted by other people. He is, after all, Wen Chao's son."

Speaking of A-Yuan, if people discovered that he was Wei Wuxian’s son, it would tarnish the omega’s and the new Emperor’s reputations because it would give people the idea that they had an affair behind their prince's back. Well, for now, let this become their family's little secret. The little prince would live with their parents at the Bixi Pavilion before moving to the Phoenix Pavilion (previously the Sun Pavilion) when he grew older. Bixi Pavilion was the Emperor's residence, while the Empress would live at Ruishi Pavilion alongside the concubines. Wei Wuxian whined and whined and whined about that because since he wouldn't have anyone else besides Lan Wangji, they should live together. So a renovation was made to enlarge the pavilion to house the Emperor, Empress, and their future babies. The concubines' pavilions were turned into royal guest chambers, where families and royal guests would reside during their stay. Wei Wuxian had a feeling that they would have more guests in the future.

With all the changes that happened, the people of Qishan decided that their kingdom's name needed to change as well. Even though the royal family still included the last three Wens—Wen Qing, Wen Ning, and Minister Wen—the main royal family was a Wei, and the princes and princesses would carry the name Wei. So the Qishan Wen Kingdom was renamed the Qishan Wei Kingdom by its people. A new name, a new Emperor, and a new kingdom

Wei Wuxian walked leisurely to Willow Pavilion, nodding at the servants and guards along the way. His lovely wife was still living there with their son because they hadn't gotten married yet. The alpha general hadn't even ascended the throne yet; everything was still being taken care of. So, Wei Wuxian needed to be patient. Their dark days had passed, so there was no need to rush their affairs, no matter how impatient he was. He had suggested eloping and earning a smack from his sister.

An Emperor can't elope, you stupid! That was what his sister said before he was thrown out of the chamber.

The alpha opened the door and was greeted by Lan Wangji and a sixth-month A-Yuan sitting on the carpet on the floor. The baby was giggling happily as Lan Wangji pulled out a bunny plushie. Wei Wuxian felt his chest almost explode at the sight. A-Yuan was such a happy child, with smiles, giggles, and laughter that were so identical to Wei Wuxian. He leaned on the doorway, watching his omega fix their child's clothes while A-Yuan chewed on his new toy. A-Yuan was the first one to notice, shrieking when he saw his father standing in the doorway. He couldn't help himself any longer, so the alpha walked to them and took A-Yuan into his arms, showering the chubby cheeks with wet kisses.

A-Yuan laughed, his little palms trying to push Wei Wuxian's face away. His laughter grew more hysterical when, instead of pulling away, Wei Wuxian playfully ate A-Yuan's fat cheeks with his lips. God, he loved his little prince so much.

"Wei Ying," Wei Wuxian turned around, grinned, and stole a deep kiss from the omega, only to have A-Yuan smack his face. Surprised, the alpha blinked at the baby and noticed that his bottom lips were trembling. Grinning, Wei Wuxian's eyes were on A-Yuan when he kissed Lan Wangji's cheek again. Another smack hit his face, and A-Yuan raised his arms out to his Baba, hiccupping as he did so.

"Aww, A-Yuan is jealous of me, huh? Ho ho, I'll steal your Baba." Wei Wuxian cackled before attacking Lan Wangji's cheek with more kisses. As predicted, A-Yuan screamed, cried, and hit his father's face harder than before, and the sight of a plum baby with fat rosy cheeks, a cute pout, and wet eyes was too adorable.

"Wei Ying, don't tease." Lan Wangji warned, but a small, amused smile was on his beautiful face. He took a step away from his alpha and bounced A-Yuan in his arms. A-Yuan was slowly calming down, gripping his baba's robe tightly in his small fists and leaning his head on the omega's shoulder. Wei Wuxian chuckled.

"A-Yuan is too adorable, Lan Zhan. I can't help it." He pinched the chubby cheeks and was satisfied when the baby didn't swat his hand away. "I want more."

Lan Wangji's ears were red as he turned around and walked to the sitting room, pouring himself a cup of tea. "We'll wait until A-Yuan is old enough. Maybe when he's three or four."

"But that's too long." Wei Wuxian whined, throwing himself on the bed. "I want to have a bunch of little Lan Zhan around."

"Patient, Wei Ying. We haven't even married yet." At that fact, Wei Wuxian immediately sat up and pouted. It had been five months since the historic ending of the rebellion, and yet he couldn't do anything to her except kiss. The male omega insisted that they would do things the right way now, and that included intimacy.

'Not until we get married, Wei Ying.' Lan Wangji said it patiently, and no matter how hard Wei Wuxian pouted, the omega just raised an eyebrow at him. The ministers and advisors had said that he couldn't marry the consort before he ascended the throne, and he actually threw a tantrum at that. So, they made a deal that the day he was declared the Emperor would be his wedding day as well.

The wedding between the new Emperor and Wen Xu's ex-consort surprised a lot of people. The new Emperor could have anyone as his Empress, a whole harem to satisfy his libido, or even courtesans at the palace. Instead, he chose the Crown Prince's widower, who had born a child, to stand by his side and warm his bed. No one else. Those who had heard and seen Lan Wangji could understand the decision. The omega consort was the most beautiful omega in the Five Kingdoms, so it wasn't a surprise that Wei Wuxian was enchanted as well. Some people commented that it was because of General Wei Wuxian's big heart that he couldn't see an innocent consort left behind after such a horrible fate. No one said anything about Wen Chao's concubines, though.

"A-Yuan, come to A-Die." Wei Wuxian held out his hands to the baby. A-Yuan cocked his head, and his grip on Lan Wangji's robe tightened. Wei Wuxian pouted and put on his most miserable face. "A-Yuan doesn't love A-Die anymore? A-Yuan is not A-Die's radish anymore."

A-Yuan quickly reached out to his A-Die, and Wei Wuxian's triumphant face made Lan Wangji shake his head fondly. "He's so smart, Wei Ying. I think he's special."

"Of course, A-Yuan is special." The alpha bounced his child, squealing when A-Yuan giggled in delight. "He's our baby boy. He's super special. Right, A-Yuan? Right? Oww, don't pull A-Die's hair, baby. Ow, ow, that's A-Die's eye, Baobei, don't poke it."

"Wei Ying,"

"Hm?"

"I have a request." The omega's serious tone made the general turn to him curiously. Lan Wangji looked at him with a hint of mist in his golden eyes. "Before we wed, I wish to visit Gusu. I want to meet my family."

The alpha's face softened at the request. He walked to the beautiful man, caressed his cheek, and smiled softly. "Of course. Anything for Lan Zhan."

Lan Wangji almost ran along the stairs headed to Cloud Recesses Palace until his uncle’s voice reminded him that 'running is prohibited, Wangji.’ Behind him, Wen Qing, Chun Li, Shi Lei, and the whole entourage walked more slowly. Many of them hadn’t been to the Gusu Lan Kingdom, so the natural beauty enticed them. Chun Li and Shi Lei finally were able to act as their teen selves, aahhing and ooohing at the waterfalls, streams, and forests. They didn’t have waterfalls at Qishan.

The entourage met Cloud Recesses’ guards and the Gusu Royal Family at the gate, and it took everything in Lan Wangji not to throw himself into his uncle’s arms. Lan Qiren looked so pale as he stood straight in front of the gate—a cane in his hand supported his obviously weak body—but there was a smile on his face and tears in his eyes. Lan Wangji stopped right in front of him.

"Wangji greets the Second Prince, Lan Qiren." He bowed deeply and raised his arms, but before he could stand up straight, he was engulfed in a tight hug.

"A-Zhan, oh my A-Zhan. you're alright. You're alright." Lan Qiren's voice was so grateful that Lan Wangji could feel the devastation and pain he had endured all these years. The Prince of Gusu returned the hug and buried his face in Lan Qiren's shoulder. His uncle's body was shaking.

"A-Zhan comes home, Uncle. A-Zhan is here." He whispered, closing his eyes and taking in the scent of wood and the fresh smell of rain from his guardian.

The whole entourage had been settled in the guest wings, and now Lan Wangji, Lan Qiren, and Wen Qing were walking towards Hanshi Pavilion, the residence of Emperor Lan Xichen. In Lan Wangji's arms was A-Yuan, sleeping peacefully inside his Baba's arms. Lan Qiren actually shed a tear when he saw the baby in Chun Li's arms when Lan Wangji introduced him to his grandnephew.

Lan Qiren knocked a few times once they stopped in front of a familiar door. "A-Huan, I'm coming in. I have someone with me."

The door opened, and Lan Wangji gasped when he saw his brother sitting right beside a window, looking outside with a blank look on his face. His clothes were tidy, and his hair was neat in a simple knot but with no crown on it, but his eyes were empty as if he were a beautiful, lifeless doll. He didn't even turn around when they walked inside. Lan Wangji slowly sat in front of Lan Xichen and touched his hand.

"Brother," he called softly, taking Lan Xichen's hand into his. "It's me, Wangji. Your A-Zhan."

Lan Qiren and Wen Qing watched for a while for Lan Xichen to respond with completely different reasons. One person was trying to see a light back in his nephew's eyes, while the other was observing for medical purposes. It took Lan Wangji two more tries before, finally, the Emperor turned his head.

"A-Yao?" Lan Xichen called. Lan Wangji shook his head and moved closer to his brother. He put Lan Xichen's palm on his cheek and leaned into the touch. Lan Xichen frowned a little as he looked closely at the person in front of him.

"Brother, it's me." Lan Wangji then hummed the lullaby their mother used to sing for them when they were children. His soft voice echoed the silent Hanshi, giving it life. Lan Xichen's fingers began to caress Lan Wangji's cheek, and his other hand reached out to cup the omega's face.

"A-Zhan?" The older Lan called softly. A choking sound escaped from Lan Qiren as he witnessed his oldest nephew begin to smile. "My A-Zhan?"

"Yes, it's me, Xiongzhang. Your A-Zhan." Tears fell down Lan Wangji's cheeks when recognition dawned on his brother's face. Lan Xichen kissed his brother's forehead and hugged him tightly.

"Is this not a dream? Is this true?" Lan Xichen's voice trembled as he buried it in Lan Wangji's throat. Lan Wangji saw now why his brother had not responded earlier. Lan Xichen assumed it was all a dream. His brain injury was so serious that he couldn't tell whether what was in front of him was genuine or just his own delusion. When everything became too much for him, his brain would shut down, causing him to lock up his memory and appear to forget everything.

Being trapped in a hug, A-Yuan began to wake up and fuss. Lan Xichen broke the hug and blinked owlishly at the squirming baby in his brother's arms. Lan Qiren also walked closer, setting himself beside his oldest nephew. Both older Lans gasped when A-Yuan opened his eyes, blinked rapidly, and set his eyes on the two new faces in front of him. Then he smiled, stunning the two Lans into oblivion.

"This is-this is-" Lan Xichen's hands twitched as if he wanted to hold the baby. Lan Wangji smiled and positioned A-Yuan better to see his family.

"This is my son, A-Yuan. A-Yuan, greet your uncle and granduncle." As if the baby knew what his baba was saying, A-Yuan giggled and waved his cute little palms, sending another heart attack to the two. Lan Qiren's eyes were wet, and Lan Xichen's hand was on his heart.

"He's so beautiful. So beautiful!" the Gusu Emperor cried as he looked at his nephew.

Wen Qing was examining Lan Xichen and the medicine he had been taking while Lan Qiren was sitting with Lan Wangji, giggling A-Yuan in the older man's arms. Lan Wangji smiled as he poured four cups of tea for all of them, his eyes darting from his uncle to his brother. Lan Xichen was frowning as his eyes followed Wen Qing's every move and sometimes refused to be touched by the female healer. Lan Qiren, on the other hand, was having the best time in the world. Despite his weak condition, he held his grandnephew in his arms. His pale face was smiling as A-Yuan patted his beard, tugging it curiously with his small hand.

"No, A-Yuan. This is Granduncle's tea." Lan Qiren softly scolded A-Yuan as the little boy reached for the teacup the man was about to drink. "He's a very curious boy. I can see he's going to be a bright kid."

"He is."

"Wangji," Lan Qiren said, looking at his nephew seriously. "I'm not that familiar with the Wen Royal Family, but A-Yuan's eyes aren't a trait in that family."

So his uncle observed something in Yuan. It was expected given that the man had lived longer than him and had already met the Wen royal family. Lan Wangji locked his gaze on A-Yuan before looking into his uncle's eyes. "Wen Ruohan's mother had grey eyes, but none of her sons or grandchildren did."

Lan Qiren kept staring at Lan Wangji as if he knew that he hadn't told him everything. Lan Wangji took a deep breath. His uncle knew him very well. "A-Yuan isn't Wen Xu's child. He is my and General Wei's child."

"What? General Wei? The Qishan's new Emperor How?"

"I'll tell the complete story after Wen Qing examines Uncle." Lan Wangji promised. Lan Qiren looked at Lan Wangji, sighed, and nodded his head. There was no rush, so he decided that it was fine to take everything slowly. They didn't have an evil Empress sending his spy and guard to keep an eye on them anymore. That Empress had been buried deep inside the earth and would never return.

"Very well," Lan Qiren said, kissing A-Yuan's temple. The baby boy looked up and grinned, melting the old man's heart completely. "Now, tell me about your wedding. You said it would be held in two months?"

The wedding of Emperor Wei Wuxian and Consort Lan Wangji was a grand event for Qishan. Finally, after so many years, they would have an empress again, and it was the famous Lan Wangji of Gusu Lan. The palace was draped beautifully in red and gold as the guests arrived in the capital city. The city itself was buzzing, with similar colours adorning every corner of the city. It had been announced that the palace's gate would be opened after the ceremony, and the people who wished for their new Emperor and Empress were welcome as long as they followed the rule.

Wei Wuxian watched as the purple colour of Jiang's delegation entered the palace with Crown Prince Jiang Wanyin riding his horse. Behind him was a carriage that Princess Jiang Yanli was in. Lan Wangji said that Prince Jiang Yanli was charming with her gentle smile and soft-spoken words. She was beautiful even though her beauty didn't meet the standard of royalty; even General Luo Qingyang was more beautiful than her. However, it was her kind heart, open mind, and attitude that made her rank far above other princesses. He had heard that she was engaged to Prince Jin Zixuan of Lanling at some point before the prince himself broke the engagement. People didn't know how to feel about the broken engagement because some said the prince should be grateful he was engaged with her, but some said she should be grateful not to join a family full of snakes like the Jins.

Speaking of Lanling Jin Kingdom, Jin Guangshan arrived after Jiang with his over-the-top entourage. His eyes quietly observed the new palace and the soldiers guarding the entrance. He knew he didn't have any allies left in this place. Behind him stood Luo Qingyang, the female alpha general, and, to Wei Wuxian's surprise, Crown Prince Jin Zixuan. The Crown Prince appeared frail and on the verge of fainting. Wei Wuxian was intrigued as to why this alpha had decided to visit. He was sure his father wouldn't agree at first.

The Qinghe Nie Kingdom was the next in line, with the smallest entourage of the three Great Kingdoms. The alpha royals, Emperor Nie Mingjue and Prince Nie Huaisang, rode in front. The Emperor sat proudly, his expression solemn, while the Prince grinned and waved to the ladies and soldiers who greeted them. The maids laughed and waved in response to his cheerful demeanour.

Other kingdoms arrived next: Yao Kingdom, Mishan Yu Kingdom, Ouyang Kingdom, and finally, the one Wei Wuxian was waiting for the most, the Gusu Lan Kingdom. The Gusu Lan Kingdom entourage stole the show with their white and blue attire, very different from other kingdoms. They were so bright, and everyone was so good-looking, that Wei Wuxian himself suddenly felt insecure about his own handsomeness. At the front was Gusu Lan's alpha general, General Lan Mingyu, riding a stallion with perfect posture. A rather large carriage followed him—Wei Wuxian could bet with his life—with the Regent Lan Qiren and Emperor Lan Xichen inside. Lan Wangji said that his uncle would lead the kingdom until Lan Xichen was well enough to continue. Lan Qiren's condition had vastly improved because of Wen Qing's medicine, and the Gusu Regent hadn't stopped praising the healer's exceptional skill. Lan Xichen's condition was improving, albeit very slowly. Whatever Meng Yao gave him all these years had damaged some parts of his brain. So far, he only remembered Lan Qiren and Lan Wangji, probably because his memory of them was the longest and most precious, so the brain stored them differently than other memories. Wen Qing said that the Emperor needed all the help he could have, especially from those who knew him the longest, such as childhood friends or immediate family.

The wedding ceremony approached so fast that one time Lan Wangji was standing in front of a tailor, and the next he was already wearing his wedding robes. The bright red, gold, and black attire enhanced his already fair skin, making it glow. The consort felt his heart beat uncomfortably fast as he let Chun Li and other attendants fuss over him. His lips were painted red, and some blush was added to his cheeks.

"You look so beautiful, Empress Lan." Chun Li squealed. She didn't witness Wen Xu's and Lan Wangji's wedding years ago, so this was her first experience seeing the male omega drenched in red. He looked beautiful back then, but today, Lan Wangji was different. He radiated happiness, and soft smiles were constantly on his face. Unlike his previous wedding with Wen Xu, when he realised that it was his way to prison, this one was his way to freedom and a new life.

Tonight, he was marrying the love of his life.

"Look at Baba, A-Yuan. Does he look so stunning?" Wen Qing asked her nephew, and A-Yuan shrieked happily, clapping his little hands before he reached out to Lan Wangj. "He said you look absolutely stunning, Wangji-er. And no, A-Yuan, you can't be with Baba tonight. You'll stay with your amazing aunt."

"Thank you, Wen Qing. I'm sorry if A-Yuan will disturb your beauty sleep tonight." There was no formality because he and Wen Qing would be family.

"It's more than okay, Wangji-er. I love this little boy so much, I'd kidnap him every day if I didn't have to face that bratty brother of mine." Wen Qing smiled and kissed A-Yuan's cheeks. The boy babbled and patted Wen Qing's nose. A knock interrupted them, and Wen Ning poked his head inside.

"Empress Lan, it's time. Please be ready." The butterflies in Lan Wangji's stomach were getting crazier, and he stood up and held Chun Li's hand. It was time, and he was ready.

"Lan Zhan, you look so beautiful tonight." Wei Wuxian whispered as they greeted the guests. "I can't believe I'm marrying the most beautiful and kindest person in this world."

Lan Wangji almost snorted at the exaggerated tone of awe in his husband's voice. Husband. Wei Wuxian was now his husband. Wei Wuxian was extremely handsome in his red, gold, and black wedding robes. It seemed like those colours, especially red and black, were made exclusively for his alpha. The omega couldn't wait to strip those robes off his husband's toned body.

"Wei Ying is handsome as well. Very handsome." He bit his bottom lips to prevent a smile when Wei Wuxian's face flushed and the man closed his eyes tightly. He was holding himself back from squealing and whining about how bold Lan Wangji was to say that in front of so many people. It was usually Wei Wuxian's job. Lan Wangji's hand reached out to intertwine their fingers together, and the blinding smile on his husband's face sent warmth to his chest. He loved this man with everything in his heart.

"Wei Ying, I-"

"Wangji, Emperor Wei." The newlyweds turned and saw Lan Qiren and Lan Xichen stop in front of them. Lan Xichen walked to his brother and put his hand on Lan Wangji's face. "You look beautiful, Wangji. So beautiful."

"Emperor Wei, I don't know you, but from what I have heard from my nephew, you sound like a man. I trust my beloved nephew's happiness to you." regent Lan Qiren said calmly before his eyes narrowed. "If you hurt him like Wen Xu, I'll kill you personally."

Wei Wuxian smiled at Lan Qiren's words. The new Emperor of Qishan raised his hands and bowed deeply to Lan Qiren and Lan Xichen. "I promise to cherish Lan Zhan, Regent Lan Qiren, and Emperor Lan Xichen. I give you two permission to kill me if I hurt him. Well, if my sister doesn't kill me first."

"Uncle, brother, Wei Ying is very good to me. He won't hurt me."

"If you say so." Lan Qiren nodded, stroking his beard. Lan Xichen tilted his head and stared at Wei Wuxian with a look that made the younger alpha uncomfortable. There was something in Lan Xichen's eyes that pierced deep into Wei Wuxian's soul. If the Gusu Emperor was in his right mind and in the best condition, Wei Wuxian believed that he would get more terrifying shovel talk than the one from Lan Qiren.

"Emperor Wei," Lan Xichen said shortly as his right hand was on his sword, a beautiful white sword identical to Bichen's. A smile was on her handsome face, but there was a certain sharpness to it.

"I understand, Emperor Lan." Wei Wuxian quickly bowed as deeply as he could. After being with his beloved Omega, he could read Lan better now. Lan Xichen was basically screaming, 'I'll mutilate and cut your body into pieces if you dare hurt my younger brother.' The ethereal Emperor smiled smugly as he looked at Lan Wangji, who smiled fondly at him.

Each guest congratulated Lan Wangji and Wen Wuxian as the feast progressed. Lan Wangji's beautiful eyes observed the visitors as they enjoyed themselves. Lan Wangji was not misled by their laughter and pleasant expressions. He recognised two categories of people in this crowd: supporters and opponents. He and his husband needed to figure out which opposition was potentially harmful to Qishan's future. His eyes caught Emperor Jin Guangshan talking to Emperor Yao and Emperor Ouyang, and the fake smile on his face sent an alarm to Lan Wangji. Jin Guangshan was trying to influence the two emperors of small kingdoms. His son, the Crown Prince of Jin Zixuan, was talking to Princess Jiang Yanli and Prince Jiang Wanyin. After Wen Ruohan's and Meng Yao's deaths, surprise news came from Lanling that whatever mysterious illness Jin Zixuan had was slowly cured. His husband said that no one supplies Jin Guangshan with the poison anymore, and Lan Wangji had to agree. The prince seemed to be so nervous while the Jiang Princess smiled happily at him and Jiang Wanyin sent him a death glare.

A moment later, General Luo dragged Wen Qing to the group, and from the gestures she made, she was introducing Jin Zixuan to Wen Qing, probably asking the healer to help him recover. Jiang Yanli seemed to be taken by her as well, from the way her eyes lit up with whatever Wen Qing was explaining to the group. Wen Qing was a brilliant healer, so Lan Wangji wasn't surprised that everyone flocked to her.

"Your brother and Emperor Nie Mingjue seem very close." His husband said this from beside him, and Lan Wangji's attention turned to the other side of the room, where he could see the object of Wei Wuxian's observation standing. Lan Xichen was smiling and talking to Nie Mingjue, while the bigger and taller Emperor was giving all his attention to Lan Xichen. His dark eyes never moved from the Gusu Emperor's handsome face. "He offered to send medics to your brother, right? But Meng Yao refused it."

"They have been friends since childhood, and Wen Qing said that he could help with the recovery as well. My uncle said that my older brother will stay at Qinghe during his treatment because Qinghe is closer to Qishan than Gusu, so Wen Qing and her assistant don't need to travel for too long."

Wei Wuxian shifted beside him as he played with a cup of wine in his hand. "Um, Lan Zhan, I don't know if I read wrong, but your brother and Emperor Nie Mingjue—are they?"

"No. They weren't and aren't in a relationship if that's what you're wondering." Lan Wangji sighed; his eyes didn't leave the two alphas. "However, I believe that Emperor Nie Mingjue has had a romantic feeling towards my brother since they were kids."

"But aren't they both alpha? and emperors as well? They can't be together." The new emperor wasn't one to judge. He had encountered several unique pairs: alpha and alpha, omega and omega, and beta and beta, but if the pairs decided to pursue marriage, they were mostly of the opposite sex so they could have their offspring. With royalties, the situation was more complicated because they needed an heir.

"There's a reason why Emperor Nie Mingjue never tells my brother about it. The people of Qinghe have been called an anomaly in the world. The alpha Emperor loves another alpha Emperor, an alpha prince who looks and behaves more like an omega. They were unique in their own way. " The newlyweds watched as Nie Mingjue held Lan Xichen's arm gently as the Emperor walked to the nearest table. They looked so good together. They watched them for a while in silence before Chun Li came to them with fussy A-Yuan in her arms.

"He's tired," Lan Wangji said once A-Yuan was in his arms. Wei Wuxian smiled and caressed the little prince's head. A-Yuan sniffed and rubbed his little face on Lan Wangji's wedding robes.

"Hush, baby." The omega hummed softly as he swayed from left to right. Wei Wuxian kissed A-Yuan's cheek while the prince's eyes slowly closed. Wen Qing came to them, holding A-Yuan's thick robe in one hand and a cup of wine in the other. Wei Wuxian quickly took the robe and wrapped his precious little boy in it. He couldn't help but kiss A-Yuan's cheek.

"Wen Qing, I saw you talking to a certain group of royalty earlier." The healer glanced at where General Luo Qingyang, Prince Jin Zixuan, Princess Jiang Yanli, and Prince Jiang Wanyin were talking. Well, Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli were talking while Luo Qingyang and Jiang Wanyin were observing and rolling their eyes once in a while.

"General Luo told Prince Jin Zixuan about my medical skills, and he wanted me to give him some treatments."

"Will you do it?"

"I don't know. Maybe?" The woman shrugged before drinking her wine. "But I'm busy treating Emperor Lan and looking for an eye donor for Xiao Xingcheng's eyes right now. I can treat him, but he has to be patient."

"Oh, Prince Huaisang has talked to you about his promise to Song Lan then."

"Yes, I have spoken with Song Lan and Xiao Xingcheng. They agree to wait. They appear to be satisfied with their lives right now, especially now that they have a daughter." Wen Qing sipped her drink. Wei Wuxian had punished all rebels with community service for ten years and a lifetime pledge to the Kingdom. Almost the majority of the rebels joined the army, while others did labour work to build schools, orphanages, and houses for the unfortunate people. With the huge number of them, Wei Wuxian even created a new division that would travel from one place to another to report to the Emperor about the current condition of the places they visited and another division that would be posted in all provinces and do regular patrol there. For Song Lan, the captain, a 'banishment' to a confidential area for five years and a lifetime of military work under the Emperor's special squad supervision was the punishment.

"But imagine if I can do an eye transplant and achieve a medical breakthrough." Wei Wuxian laughed at his sister's excitement. He swung her around and massaged both of her shoulders.

"Now, now, you can talk about those things with others but don't talk about them with me. This is my wedding day, Qing-Jie." The groom said this, leaning down and whispering. "Do you have something to help me with my wedding night?"

Wen Qing snorted at the request. "You don't need me with that. Your stupidly strong body can handle long night sex. If someone needs my help, it'll be Lan Wangji's for he doesn't have an unusually strong body like yours. Here, I have it with me, Wangji-er."

Wei Wuxian chuckled as Wen Qing turned around and smirked as she tucked something inside Lan Wangji's robes. The Emperor grinned at Lan Wangji, who glared at him. The Wen siblings were joking about how cute their embarrassed Empress was and discussing how they couldn't wait for an A-Mei to arrive soon. Lan Wangji's face flushed as he listened to the conversation. When he was looking for his brother, he noticed someone staring at her sister-in-law.

Oh, interesting

"A-Yuan, sleep very, very well, okay? Don't disturb your aunt." Wei Wuxian cooed and kissed A-Yuan's cheeks. Wen Qing smacked his head, glaring as the younger man pouted at her.

"He'll wake up, you idiot, and then he'll disturb my beauty sleep." Wen Qing huffed and walked away, leaving Wei Wuxian standing in front of his chamber. The alpha grinned and turned around, opening the door gently and stepping inside.

Inside the chamber was his stunning omega, sitting quietly while pouring two cups of wine. Wei Wuxian suddenly felt shy and walked to Lan Wangji nervously. The omega put one cup in front of his husband and took the other. They both linked their arms together and drank the wine, or Wei Wuxian did. The omega just touched his lips with the ceramic.

"You don't drink?" Wei Wuxian peered into the still-full cup.

Lan Wangji shook his head. "I'm not used to drinking. I'm afraid I'll get drunk just with one cup of wine."

"Really?" The Emperor took the cup into his own hands. "Then I'll drink it for you."

Lan Wangji watched his husband with a soft smile on his beautiful face, and he was almost laughing when Wei Wuxian glanced at him shyly with a blush on his face. "What? Why are you staring at me like that?"

"Wei Ying, I love you." The omega's blunt confession made the Emperor choke on his wine. Lan Wangji chuckled and patted the man's back as Wei Wuxian tried to recover from his cough. The alpha was speechless. His silver eyes gazed at the Empress in disbelief.

"Lan Zhan, are you sure?" It was a question Lan Wangji didn't expect to hear. The Empress sighed and poured himself a cup of tea. Wei Wuxian laughed and took his hands into his, and his eyes sparkled when he noticed that the omega was pouting. Wei Wuxian caressed Lan Wangji's flawless cheek and stared at him lovingly.

"I love you too, Lan Zhan. No one but you." He finally said it, and the beautiful smile on Lan Wangji's face made his heart beat so fast. Wei Wuxian's finger was on Lan Wangji's chin as he leaned up and kissed the omega's forehead, then down to the closed eyelids and nose, and finally his lips. The kiss was a chaste one, but it felt like the best kiss they had ever shared. Wei Wuxian kissed him again, more passionately this time, his arms wrapping around Lan Wangji's waist as the omega's slender arms were around his neck. The omega tilted his head only to have the phoenix crown hit Wei Wuxian's forehead hard with a painful thud.

Both gasped, with Wei Wuxian palming his abused forehead while Lan Wangji tried to rub it with his fingers. They both then laughed at the ridiculous accident.

"Let me help you undo your hair, Lan Zhan." Wei Wuxian stood and went around behind Lan Wangji.

"Hn. So the crown won't hit Wei Ying's head anymore." The Emperor laughed at the dry joke. He slowly and carefully took the huge crown off Lan Wangji's head and put it on the vanity just behind the Empress. Then he slipped out the hairpins from Lan Wangji's hair, and the beautiful silky tresses fell down like a waterfall from their topknot. He kissed the hair lovingly, and Lan Wangji stood up, turning around to see his beloved husband.

Wei Wuxian's silver eyes bore into Lan Wangji's golden ones for a moment before their lips crashed onto each other in a lustful kiss. Wei Wuxian's tongue licked Lan Wangji's lips, begging for an entrance. Lan Wangji let out a moan when their tongues battled for dominance. Wei Wuxian's hands roamed Lan Wangji's body and slowly undressed the omega as they walked slowly to the bed. His lips moved from Lan Wangji's lips to his lovely neck, biting and sucking there, creating love bites. Soon, the male omega was as naked as when he was born, and the alpha laid him on the bed.

The alpha's silver eyes travelled from his omega's flushed face down to his neck, stomach, and legs before they went back to Lan Wangji's golden ones. Wriggling his eyebrows, Wei Wuxian slowly undressed, removing the layers of his wedding robes one by one as his eyes were on Lan Wangji. He felt a smugness in his chest when he saw Lan Wangji's eyes roaming his body with obvious heat in them. The omega lifted his body up a little when finally the last cloth was dropped on the floor, leaving the alpha nude. Biting his lips and blinking like an innocent virgin, the omega slowly opened his legs, exposing his most private part. Wei Wuxian took a sharp breath and walked closer, stroking his already hard body.

But Lan Wangji seemed to change his mind, for when the alpha came closer, he sat up on the bed and put his hands on Wei Wuxian's hip. The omega's soft hand took over the alpha's hand on his member. Wei Wuxian groaned when the omega took his huge member into his mouth.

"Lan Zhan, fuck." The alpha tried his best not to grip the omega's hair too hard as he closed his eyes, enjoying the warm cavern of his omega. He tapped Lan Wangji's temple, telling him that he was about to come. He came hard into the omega's mouth. The Emperor needed to hold back his inner alpha when Lan Wangji swallowed his cum, even making a show of licking his finger. Oh, Wei Wuxian wouldn't survive this.

The Emperor growled, pushed the Omega onto the soft bed, spread his legs, and returned the favour. Lan Wangji's moan sounded so beautiful in his head as his tongue was inside him. He licked and sucked the pink pussy of his omega until he came as hard as Wei Wuxian. The alpha licked Lan Wangji clean, and his lips kissed the omega's stomach, his chest, his neck, and finally his lips. The two kissed passionately before Wuxian sat up.

"You're so beautiful, Lan Zhan. So beautiful."

Wei Wuxian positioned himself right in front of Lan Wangji's entrance and slowly thrust into him. Lan Wangji moaned wantonly, eyes closed, mouth opened, hands fisted the sheet, and the alpha's huge member settled inside him. The alpha himself wasn't in better condition. Wei Wuxian swayed forward, overwhelmed with the pleasure he hadn't felt for a long time. His hands reached out to Lan Wangji's, gripped them hard, and began to move.

The bed shook as their movements quickened and their minds were clouded with pleasure. Lan Wangji wrapped his legs around Wei Wuxian's waist and groaned when the alpha went deeper inside him. Wei Wuxian showered his omega's neck with kisses.

"You feel so good, Lan Zhan. So fucking good." The omega felt so turned on by how his alpha whispered in his ear. He wanted more of him. He wanted so much more. The pleasure reached its peak, and they came together, groaning as they did so. Lan Wangji let Wei Wuxian take a deep breath for some time before he used his strength to turn them around and put him on top of the Emperor.

Lan Wangji almost smirked when Wei Wuxian's eyes widened with surprise and anticipation. The alpha's hands gripped Lan Wangji's hip as the omega positioned himself on top of the alpha. Wei Wuxian's cock was still inside him, and Lan Wangji tightened his pussy around it.

"You're killing me, Lan Zhan." The alpha breathed out. The omega put his hands on his husband's chest and moved his hip slowly. They moaned together, enjoying the sensation the new position brought. Lan Wangji rode his alpha slowly, enjoying the sound of their skin slapping together. The omega bounced as the grip on his hip tightened. Wei Wuxian had grown so impatient that he tried to thrust up his hip, but Lan Wangji quickly hushed him gently.

"We're going to do it nice and slow, Wei Ying." With that, Lan Wangji leaned down and kissed his husband on the lips. The omega smirked when, late at night, after several passionate rounds of sex, Wei Wuxian exhaustedly declared that he couldn't keep up with Lan Wangji's amazing stamina. He was just a poor alpha who would let his beloved omega have his way with him.

The wedding celebration went on for two weeks, but some delegations from the smaller kingdoms decided to leave early to handle matters back home. Wei Wuxian gifted the delegations with jars of Qishan's famous wine, trinkets, and expensive fabrics that earned some deep bows of gratitude from the entourages. Unfortunately, a week after the wedding, the Empress was found vomiting into a bucket inside his chamber, which sent the Emperor into panic mode and he called for the Imperial Healer.

So this morning, Wei Wuxian walked fast to the Head Healer Pavilion while staring at the paper in his hand. It was a list of medicines that Healer Gong Ji Wei had given him to enhance Lan Wangji's health. Initially, Wei Wuxian had jumped in excitement at the possibility of pregnancy, but his hope was crushed when Healer Gong Ji Wei said that it was just a common cold.

Your Majesty should pity the Empress. Please refrain from too many rounds of sexual activity on cold nights. Sure, it'll be very pleasurable, but sweat and cold wind don't make a good combination when it comes to someone's health. Poor Empress Lan Wangji.

Wei Wuxian almost snorted at the healer's words. Poor, Empress Lan Wangji? No, poor Emperor Wei Wuxian! Empress Lan Wangji should have been the one who pitied him! That Omega of his was a beast in bed.

Now, he was getting his beloved's medicine from his sister, the healer he trusted the most when it came to his family. He knew that an emperor shouldn't do such a mundane task, but he wanted to know everything about his spouse, including his illness and cure, so he could take better care of him. Call him a dotting spouse; he would carve it on a plank of wood and wear it as a crown.

The young Emperor didn't really pay attention to his surroundings as he opened the door and turned left to the study room where his sister was supposedly reviewing the medical papers. Supposedly because when the young Emperor reached the study room, his poor eyes were greeted by the sight of his sister, laying on top of her desk, robes half undone, skirt up to her waist, and a man between her legs.

Wei Wuxian was frozen on the spot.

Wen Qing, his older sister, was on her back, eyes closed, mouth open. Her fair, long legs were wrapped around a man's waist, who was busy thrusting his hip into her. His expensive outer robes were on the floor, leaving him with an opened inner robe, exposing a well-toned chest underneath. Wen Qing's head was thrown back as an obscene moan escaped her mouth. The man on top of her was fondling and sucking her exposed breasts, which were covered by her messy hair. Thank you, all Heaven's officials above.

Wei Wuxian was finally able to move his feet when the man groaned, possibly reaching his own climax. The young Emperor ran out of the chamber, closed the door, and ran as fast as he could. He needed to wash his face, rinse his eyes with some sacred water, and drink strong herbs to forget what he had seen.

What the fuck did he just witness? He wasn't a pervert, okay? He didn't do it on purpose!

And that man? His sister was fucking him?

"Wei Ying?" His eyes turned to see Lan Wangji and Chun Li walking towards him worriedly.

"Chun Li, bring A-Yuan outside, please." Wei Wuxian gestured to the poor teen at the door, and Chun Li didn't need a second command to take the sleeping A-Yuan into her arms and walk out, closing the door behind her.

"What's wrong?"

"I just-I saw-I was-" Wei Wuxian couldn't find a word to express himself, so he just sat on the bed next to Lan Wangji and put his hands on his face. The experience was kind of traumatising for him.

"Take your time, Wei Ying. I'm here." Wei Wuxian put his head on his empress's lap and closed his eyes, enjoying the long fingers patting his head. Yes, he needed time to process all of this. Deep inside his heart, he knew he was just afraid that one day his sister would find someone and leave him and Wen Ning behind. She was always by his side, from when he was a child to being an Emperor with a wonderful Empress. He knew he was being selfish, but he couldn't help but feel afraid. So yeah, Wei Wuxian needed time.

Chapter Text

Moans filled the locked private study room of the Emperor of Qishan Wei Kingdom. The owner of the room was currently slouching on his chair, his hands holding the slim waist of his Empress, who was bouncing on his lap. His head was thrown back, his mouth opened, and his eyes were closed. Long, elegant fingers fisted the robes on his broad shoulders, forcing him to sit upright as the activity inside the walls of his private room continued.

“Wei Ying,” The figure in his lap moaned his name sweetly, and the young Emperor bucked up sharply, his hands tightening on the waist.

“Lan Zhan, you’re killing me.” He groaned before kissing the omega on top of him hard. Lan Wangji moaned into the kiss before slightly fastening the pace, already feeling a knot from the alpha. The Empress moaned as he came, and seconds later, he felt his alpha’s knot thrust into his pussy and fill his belly. The couple tried to catch their breath, waiting for the knot to dissipate.

Wei Wuxian opened his eyes and, with a dopey smile on his face, caressed Lan Wangji's waist. “That was amazing. You're always amazing, Lan Zhan.”

“Will you be able to stand up? We have a meeting in an hour.” The Empress inquired, his tone tinged with smugness. The alpha laughed gleefully and leaned his forehead against Lan Wangji’s forehead.

“Well, if those ministers ask why I have difficulty walking, I’ll tell them that their Empress is responsible for it.” Wei Wuxian wriggled playfully. “It’s time for people to know what happens behind the door. They must know that Empress Lan Wangji has Emperor Wei Wuxian wrapped around her elegant fingers. Empress Lan Wangji is the real beast in bed.”

“Hn.” Lan Wangji moved when the knot finally disappeared and began to take his pants from the floor and fix his robe. An amused glint in his eyes only made his husband pout.

“Lan Zhan!” He whined, tugging on the long sleeves of Lan Wangji’s beautiful robes. “I’m so tired of the healers telling me to go easy on you when that advice should be for you. Wen Qing laughs her head off every time she hears those comments.”

Lan Wangji didn’t say anything and helped Wei Wuxian get dressed—who was still pouting at him—with an innocent expression on his face. “But Wei Ying should go easy on me for always looking so handsome and irresistible in everything he does.”

“Lan Zhan, mercy, please. My heart can’t take it.” The Emperor pouted hard as he spread his arms to let the Empress tie the sash around his waist. Before Lan Wangji could respond with another smartass comeback, the door was knocked very lightly. The Empress quickly walked to the door to open it and saw that the kingdom’s most precious treasure had his right foot in the air. Ah, so those weren’t knocks; those were kicks.

“A-Yuan, why are you kicking the door?”

“Because Baba always says to knock before coming in, but my arms are full, so I use my foot instead.” The little prince answered as if it were a normal thing for people to do. Lan Wangji held back a smile and opened the door for the little prince. Prince A-Yuan grinned, and he skipped into his father’s study room.

Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but smile when A-Yuan’s familiar scent—a sweet smell of sunflower, mint, and a hint of sandalwood—hit his nose. He used to whine about the nonexistence of his spice scent on A-Yuan when the boy had a hint of sandalwood. Wen Qing rolled her eyes and said that a pup always had a hint of their bearers’ scent in them because they were a part of their bearers—living inside them for months, absorbing nutrients from them—and Wei Wuxian’s spice scent was present in A-Yuan’s mint scent. He felt a little better then.

The young Emperor bit his bottom lip from giggling when his young son skipped into the room with a handful of scrolls in his tiny arms. The six-year-old boy stopped in front of his father’s table and bowed low.

“Prince Yuan greets the Imperial Father.” Wei Wuxian put his hand on his mouth while Lan Wangji hid behind his long sleeve when their sweet boy said his greeting with his sweet voice. They both just hadn’t gotten over how adorable their little boy was.

Wei Wuxian cleared his throat and exchanged a fond smile with his spouse. “Rise, Prince Yuan.”

Lan Wangji walked towards his young boy and took off his handkerchief to clean some ink from the boy’s fair cheek. “What do you have, A-Yuan?”

“These? These are my proposals for A-Die, Baba.” The tiny prince spoke proudly. Lan Wangji raised an eyebrow at that. “I would like to present, um, three proposals for A-Die.”

“Oh.” The Empress looked at the scrolls curiously. “Did Uncle Wen Ning help you write these proposals?”

“Uncle Wen Ning did. He said well-written proposals presented convincing arguments for the issues.” Wei Wuxian stared at his sweet boy in horror. Just what did Wen Ning do to transform his adorable baby boy into a mini-mix of Wen Ning and Lan Wangji? His silver eyes went to his Empress, only to have his soulmate gaze at his son with such an adoring look on his face. Oh, no, Wei Wuxian would face the most deadly person in the form of his adorable son. So far, he could run away from Wen Qing, avoid Wen Ning, and seduce Lan Wangji to escape, but there was no way in hell he could run away from this adorable little radish who just needed to look up with his doe-silver eyes, chubby cheeks, and charming smile for the Emperor to fall on his knees and worship him.

“That’s true, Baobei.” Lan Wangji had a hard time keeping his face straight. His A-Yuan was just very adorable. “Would Prince A-Yuan like to present his issues?”

“Hn,” A-Yuan said—very identical to Lan Wangji—and Wei Wuxian had to cover his face and silently squeal. Lan Wangji quickly helped A-Yuan put his tiny scrolls on the tables and open them one by one.

“Ahem.” A-Yuan puffed his little chest and spoke confidently. “Imperial Father, Yuan has three pressing matters that need your immediate attention. The first issue is that Yuan wants to have a baby brother or baby sister because they are cute, and, um, and, oh, it can increase Yuan’s sense of responsibility. Yuan can teach them how to read, write, and many more things.”

Lan Wangji sighed when Wei Wuxian’s eyes lit up at the first proposal. The Emperor crossed his arms in front of his chest and put on a very serious expression on his face, nodding seriously at A-Yuan’s arguments. Of course, the little prince, seeing how his father nodded his head, beamed at him.

“Second proposal: Yuan believes that we need a bunny garden in Yuan’s garden. Baba’s bunny garden is too far from Yuan’s room. Bunnies are so cute, A-Die, and Yuan wants to play with them more after lessons. Yuan’s lessons are at the Imperial Library’s gazebo, and it’s too far from the bunny.” A-Yuan took a deep breath as he finished his second argument. Wei Wuxian made a show of stroking his nonexistent beard—a good imitation of A-Yuan’s favourite granduncle—and narrowed his eyes. A-Yuan giggled at the motion.

“May I know the third proposal, Prince A-Yuan?”

"Yuan's third proposal is that, um, can A-Yuan visit Baba's home next week? Yuan misses Granduncle very much. Granduncle said he had some books for Yuan and would teach Yuan Baba's favourite song. Yuan can play guqin well now, A-Die, so Yuan would like to learn. Yuan also misses Uncle Huan. He said he had many presents for Yuan." The prince used his best puppy eyes on his father as best as he could. Prince Yuan had learned his baba's favourite instrument for some time, and for a kid, his playing was very good. Lan Wangji felt his chest swell every time he sat behind his son and guided his little fingers to pluck the strings of his child-sized guqin every evening. Now, his precious treasure's new goal was to learn his favourite song, and it almost brought tears to his eyes.

“Prince A-Yuan, I have to say that the issues you just presented are really important and will be my main priorities. I’ll make sure that those issues will be solved very quickly, especially the first one.” Wei Wuxian had the audacity to glance at his Empress when he said that. “Thank you very much, Prince A-Yuan.”

“It’s my pleasure, A-Die. Thank you for listening to this prince." A-Yuan bowed low, and the Emperor returned the bow. When the little prince was raised, Lan Wangi quickly swept him into his arms, kissing his cheeks. A-Yuan shrieked in delight at his baby.

“How did I do, Baba? Did A-Yuan do well?”

“Oh, you did more than well, A-Yuan. You were extremely amazing.” Lan Wangji praised his little treasure, and A-Yuan beamed before wrapping his little arms around his Baba’s neck and planting a wet kiss on his cheek. On the chair, the Emperor had his hand on his chest, definitely having a heart attack because of the adorable sight in front of him.

Lan Wangji tucked the wayward hair that escaped from A-Yuan’s topknot behind his ear. “A-Yuan has worked really hard, so he deserves a little gift.“

“Lan Zhan, you’re spoiling him!”

“I’ll tell Chun Li to bring your favourite sweets from the kitchen when we have dinner tonight,” A-Yuan screamed in happiness and bounced in Lan Wangji’s arms.

“Thank you, Baba.”

“You’re welcome.” Lan Wangji put the boy on the ground and noticed Wen Li and Wen Ning in the doorway, peering into the room. “Now, go back to Li-gege and Uncle A-Ning. You have lessons in two hours.”

When A-Yuan skipped out of the room, holding Wen Li’s hand, with Wen Ning behind them, Emperor Wei Wuxian and Empress Lan Wangji shared a good laugh together. Wei Wuxian, still laughing, wrapped his strong arms around Lan Wangji’s waist. Lan Wangji wiped the tears off his husband’s cheeks.

“He’s like a mini-you, Lan Zhan. I’m so happy.” Wei Wuxian was finally able to control his laughter. He looked into his beloved’s eyes and smiled lovingly at him. “Thank you, Lan Zhan. For loving me, for accepting me, for believing in me, for giving me A-Yuan, and for staying by my side. Thank you for everything.”

Lan Wangji smiled softly and kissed Wei Wuxian’s forehead. “Wei Ying, no sorry and thank you between us. I have told you that.”

“I know, but..." The alpha took a deep breath. “It’s just so hard because you have given me everything. Just this once? Please?”

“Then, I accept.” The male omega cupped his husband’s face in his hands. “You’re welcome. And thank you, Wei Ying, for everything you have given me. Words cannot express how precious you are to me.”

“You’re welcome, Lan Zhan.” Wei Wuxian kissed his empresses passionately before another knock interrupted them. The Emperor sighed. “Time for the meeting. I think I need to bring A-Yuan’s proposals to show my ministers what kinds of urgent matters should be discussed in my court and how to create a well-written proposal.”

Lan Wangji shook his head fondly as the Emperor really rolled the papers into three neat scrolls and tucked them into his arms. The Emperor grabbed his hands, and together they walked out of the study room to face the Imperial Court.

After two hours of Imperial Court and another two hours of meeting their people who decided to express their opinion to the Emperor, the meeting was finally over, and the Royal Spouse knew exactly where to find their son. Prince Yuan only had one lesson after their meeting earlier, so there was only one place their little boy could be. The bunny garden, which was located near the pond a little far from Bixi Pavilion, was where the Wei family gathered to spend time together. Initially, it was a private garden for Lan Wangji, filled with his favourite flowers, rabbits to meditate and play with, and his guqin, but his family kept coming and staying for a long time, so the Empress just let its function change. The Emperor had built another private garden for his Empress directly behind Bixi Pavilion, where previously stood Wen Ruohan's private room for whatever it was, with gates and a strict command not to disturb the Empress when he was there. Lan Wangji had side-eyed him and muttered that it was because Wei Wuxian wanted to fuck him without anyone disturbing them. Wei Wuxian just grinned at the correct accusation.

In the middle of the rabbit field, Lan Wangji watched as A-Yuan stood up in front of his cousin, arms moving so fast and faces showing so many expressions. In front of him, Wen Li looked at the smaller boy with an amused smile on his face. The eleven-year-old boy was petting a fat rabbit while nodding his head at whatever story A-Yuan was excitedly telling him. Behind the little ones, in the gazebo, Wen Ning was preparing some snacks and tea. His face lit up when he saw Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji enter the garden.

Wen Li seemed to notice as well and quickly stood up, bowing to the royal spouse. "Wen Li greets Emperor Wei and Empress Lan."

Wei Wuxian pouted and narrowed his eyes childishly at the young boy. "A-Li, we're at the garden. Why do you call us Emperor Wei and Empress Lan? I don't know those people."

A-Yuan giggled and tugged on his cousin's sleeve. "Li-gege, it's Uncle A-Die and Uncle Baba."

The adults snorted at the little prince. Wen Li glanced at A-Yuan before bowing for a second time. "Greetings, Uncle Wei and Uncle Lan."

"No, no, no. Nope!" Wei Wuxian shook his head. He sighed as the little Wen bit his bottom lip. Wen Li had known his place since the day the kingdom was under Wei Wuxian's rule. He had endured a lonely childhood with a father who was too busy trying to compete with his uncle and a mother who cared more about status and beauty than spending time with their children. Unlike his siblings, who had their mothers by their sides, Wen Li was left alone with the servants. More so after both his parents died and his siblings and their mothers left the palace. As his childhood was robbed, so was his emotion.

Wei Wuxian grinned and knelt in front of little Wen, spreading his arms wide. "Come here. You know what to do."

Wen Li blushed and groaned a little, probably thinking that he was too old for it. Wei Wuxian pouted when Wen Li didn't show any intention to move. "A-Li!!"

"I'm too old for that." He finally said it, and Lan Wangji's ears perked at the childish tone from him. The tone children like him were supposed to have. Wei Wuxian gasped and hugged Lan Wangji's waist, wailing that Wen Li didn't love him anymore. A-Yuan looked at his cousin with his huge eyes and trembling bottom lip. Lan Wangji sighed. His family was an expert at manipulating guilt with their adorable antics.

"Fine." The little Wen grumbled, and sure enough, the wail and trembling lips stopped immediately. Wen Li looked at Wei Wuxian's spread arms before running towards them.

"Uncle Wei!" He shouted as he ran into the Emperor's arms. Wei Wuxian laughed, hugged the boy, and even threw him into the air, despite how big Wen Li was. Wen Li finally laughed wholeheartedly, while A-Yuan began to run to his father and demand the same treatment.

"Empress Lan, would you like some tea?" Wen Ning asked, pouring the cups. Lan Wangji nodded and sat down under the protected shade of the gazebo, watching his husband and the kids playfully wrestle on the ground among the bunnies.

"Where's Wen Qing? I haven't seen her the whole day." Lan Wangji took a piece of cake and bit into it gracefully.

"She's busy replying to some letters." Wen Ning said, blushing. The omega hummed thoughtfully and cocked his head.

"So you've decided to marry her, then? She's a nice young girl, even though I only met her for a short time."

"A-Jie agreed as well. Lady Qin is an adaptable young lady." Wen Ning rubbed his back and neck. Lan Wangji sipped his tea, his smile hidden. When General Luo sent a letter to Wen Qing, requesting an assistant to heal Crown Prince Jin Zixuan, Wen Ning decided to accompany his sister there. During their stay, Qin Su and Wen Ning solved an assassination plot against the Crown Prince and identified Jin Guangshan as the perpetrator. Empress Jin was enraged and seized control of the kingdom as soon as her husband was arrested. Wen Qing stayed at Lanling until the Crown Prince was finally well enough to stand on his feet before they left the Koi Tower, with both Qin Su and Wen Ning blushing every time their eyes met. Wen Qing only rolled her eyes and immediately commanded Wei Wuxian to draw up a marriage proposal between the beta and omega as soon as they got home, which made Wei Wuxian begin to tease his younger brother mercilessly for the next month.

"I have heard her role during our plan. She's an amazing young woman, and-" Lan Wangji let out a soft chuckle. "I cannot imagine how smart your children will be with those brains of yours."

"Empress Lan," Wen Ning blushed hard at the prospect of him creating a family with his betrothed.

"I'll gain another intelligent family member who gives no mercy. I'm doomed." Wei Wuxian gloomily said as he sat down beside Lan Wangji. The Empress' eyes went to the children, and he saw they were feeding the bunnies now. His husband sniffed, laying his head on the table.

"I'm doomed." He whined. "Qin Su is a witty woman with a snark of her own. I'll get another Wen Qing when she leaves. A tamer version of her, but still."

"I'll make sure I turn her into another me then." A familiar voice from the oldest member of the Royal Family snapped Wei Wuxian's attention. Wen Qing was heading towards them with an unimpressed look on her pretty face. Wei Wuxian pouted and crossed his arms childishly.

"How dare you leave me and A-Ning to be an empress in another kingdom?" He began, narrowing his eyes. Wen Qing just raised an eyebrow and nodded her thanks when Wen Ning poured her a cup of tea.

"I won't leave until next year."

"You still leave."

"Of course, I'm marrying him."

"Qing-Jie," Wei Wuxian wailed, hugging Lan Wangji instead of his sister. He didn't want to be the victim of her needles. "I thought you were going to be with us forever. I've introduced you to so many handsome alphas, yet you still chose him."

"I like him."

"He's younger than you. He's even younger than me. He's Lan Zhan's age." Wei Wuxian reasoned, and three adults rolled their eyes at him. Wei Wuxian pouted at his husband, feeling betrayed. "Lan Zhan, you're supposed to be on my side."

Lan Wangji raised both of his eyebrows at Wei Wuxian. "I'm on Wen Qing's side on this matter. Wen Qing loves him, and he's a great young man. He'll treat Wen Qing very well. I have known him since I was young, and I'm sure you have seen how he treats women around him, especially his sister. Therefore, I don't have a reason why I should oppose this union."

"That's right, Wei Wuxian. Aside from that, why is his age bothering you so much? There's no problem as long as he's not a teenager." As she locked eyes with the Emperor, Wen Qing's eyes twinkled with mischief. "Furthermore, young people provide you with a lot of pleasure in bed. You've had your own experience with Lan Wangji."

"There are children here, Qing-Jie." Wei Wuxian shrieked, and the three men flushed profusely, while the female simply smirked. She was the only female in her family, but she was also the oldest. She had more life experience and lived longer than the three men in front of her. She was superior to them, and she basked in it.

"Auntie Qing," A-Yuan called sweetly, skipping to the adults who gathered around the tables. Wen Qing lifted him so he could sit on her lap, while Wen Ning lifted Wen Li onto his. The young Wen blushed very hard at the attention. "Is that true that you'll leave us?"

"Yes, but I'll make sure to visit as much as I can." Wen Qing patted his small head and continued, "And you're welcome to visit as much as you can as well."

"Hn. Yuan and Li-gege will visit. We love the beautiful lakes and floating flowers there. They aren't as beautiful as Baba's waterfalls, meadows, and forests, but they're still beautiful." A-Yuan said, waving his small arms around excitedly. Wen Qing kissed his forehead lovingly. The little boy began to chatter about what activities he would like to do during their future visits while other adults watched him fondly.

A week later, Lan Wangji was changing into his sleeping robes with the help of Chun Li when a sudden pain attacked his body. He groaned and used the wardrobe to support his body. His scent suddenly got stronger, and his body was burning. His pussy began to wet, and his inner omega screamed for his alpha. He went to a heat.

"Empress Lan, are you alright?" Chun Li quickly helped him to the bed. Lan Wangji took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "Empress Lan, I'm going to call the Emperor and fetch the herbal tea from Healer Wen."

"Don't." The omega grabbed her hand. "Call the Emperor, but don't fetch the medicine. Tell others not to come to this pavilion for a week besides sending meals."

Chun Li blinked at the request before she smiled and nodded her head. She knew what her empress wanted. The handmaiden quickly went to the Emperor's private study, where, fortunately for her, he was there with his siblings. Wei Wuxian screamed in happiness and immediately ordered Wen Ning to tell the advisor to handle the kingdom's affairs for a week. Wen Qing gave her some medicine to decrease the pain, but it didn't interfere with Lan Wangji's fertility.

Wei Wuxian ran to the Bixi Pavilion, and his eyes were immediately on his Empress, who looked at him with dark eyes. The inner robe was opened, showing Lan Wangji's fair chest. The alpha quickly locked the door and walked to the omega, shredding his robes as he walked. His huge cocked was awake, ready to satisfy his Empress. Lan Wangji moaned at the sight of his naked husband walking towards him and pushing himself onto the bed. His hands untied his robe, and he quickly opened his leg, pussy already wet and ready. Wei Wuxian didn't wait once he stopped in front of the Omega.

"Prince A-Yuan's first issue will be granted very quickly." Wei Wuxian said it darkly. He rubbed the head of his cock with Lan Wangji's entrance, making the omega whine, and slipped in. The lustful moans filled the chamber as the Emperor satisfied the Empress.

Wei Wuxian painfully walked to the door to fetch their breakfast before putting it on the table. He groaned as he rubbed his waist and turned around when he heard a chuckle from the bed. Wei Wuxian pouted and looked at his Empress accusingly.

"It's your fault. Urg, you're wilder than when we made A-Yuan," Wei Wuxian said, walking to Lan Wangji. Lan Wangji tied his long hair with Wei Wuxian's red ribbon—which caused the older man to smirk—before letting the man carry him to the sitting room. Lan Wangji arranged his messy robes and poured two cups of tea for them.

"I was drugged at that time."

Wei Wuxian's silver eyes watched as the Empress sipped his tea delicately and began to drag Wei Wuxian's bowl to him. Gracefully, Lan Wangji put some rice and some meat and vegetables in the blows. The Emperor put his chin on his palm as he continued to observe how the omega Even after years of marriage, he still couldn't get over how someone like Lan Wangji existed. His sister once told him that he should kowtow to the Heavenly Officials every single night for giving him a soulmate like Lan Wangji. And she was absolutely right.

"Huaisang sent me a letter." Lan Wangji pushed the bowl of rice towards his husband and put a pair of chopsticks on it. He put his hands on his lap, deciding to talk before eating. Talking while eating was forbidden after all.

"Oh, what did he say? Any improvement from Xichen-ge?"

"Huaisang complained that Emperor Mingjue had issued a decree naming Huaisang as the next Emperor because he would spend the rest of his life with Xiongzhang." When Wei Wuxian heard that, he snickered, picturing the small alpha's betrayed look in his mind. When he last visited Qinghe for the Crown Prince's birthday, the small alpha mentioned such a possibility after they both witnessed Lan Xichen feeding Nie Mingjue in front of everyone during the banquet. He had expected this to happen at some point.

"Does your uncle object to that?"

"After everything we have been through, Uncle just wants the best for us. Wen Qing said that Xiongzhang could not recover completely. So many memories will be missing permanently, and if being with Emperor Nie Mingjue can create better and more beautiful memories he has forgotten, then Uncle will not oppose." Lan Wangji's eyes were a little wet, and Wei Wuxian took his hand into his hands, cradling it gently.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Lan Wangji smiled at his husband. "I support Uncle's decision and will be there for my brother."

"Who'll be the next line, then? I don't think A-Yuan can be the next Emperor of Gusu. Don't get me wrong, he can if he wants to because we can just make another son, "Aww Lan Zhan!" Wei Wuxian pouted, rubbing his arm.

"A-Yuan cannot be the next Emperor because he has already been named Qishan's Crown Prince." The next heir to Gusu's throne is General Lan Mingyu's son." Lan Wangji couldn't help but smile when Wei Wuxian barked a laugh at the revelation.

"Jingyi is the next Emperor of Gusu? Oh my, I can imagine Regent Lan Qiren's stressed expression already." Wei Wuxian had met the child who, according to their little sun, was A-Yuan's best friend in the world. General Lan Mingyu was a composed man with a gentle smile and friendly gestures during relaxed times but a complete killing machine during a battle. He had wondered out loud how the calm general had a son, according to Wen Qing, who rubbed her temples when she saw A-Yuan and Jingyi, who was a mini version of Wei Wuxian. The general just smiled and calmly told him that Jingyi took after his mother.

"At least, we know that the relationship between Gusu and Qishan will be tighter than before." Lan Wangji ended the conversation and took his chopsticks, signalling that he wouldn't talk further. Wei Wuxian was still snickering as he reached out for more meat. They ate in silence for a few minutes before Wei Wuxian suddenly choked and laughed.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." The alpha tried to contain his laughter when the omega looked at him in wonderment. "It's just that I remembered when Jingyi and A-Yuan accidentally set Regent Lan Qiren's beard on fire because they lit up the firework from Xichen-ge."

The couple looked at each other for a few moments before bursting out laughing together. Wei Wuxian's silver eyes and Lan Wangji's golden ones were filled with happiness and life as they enjoyed the moment they were blessed with.

Two alphas entered the Qishan's throne room with confidence and were greeted by Emperor Wei Wuxian, who spoke softly with his advisors and some ministers. A sleeping little boy was in his arms, gripping his father's robes tightly as Wei Wuxian walked around the room, swaying slightly so the boy did not wake up. When the Emperor hummed a lullaby every time Prince Yuan moved slightly in his arms, the advisors and ministers had soft smiles on their faces.

The alphas' strong presence was enough for the people in the room to turn around. Wei Wuxian smiled at the sight of Lan Xichen, dressed in his dark blue Gusu but with Qinghe's signature embroidery, and Nie Mingjue, dressed in his usual grey and silver Qinghe. Lan Xichen's eyes lit up when he spotted the little prince in the Emperor's arms Nie Mingjue had to take his hand into his to stop the other alpha from just leaping to the throne and grabbing the poor boy.

"Greetings, Emperor Wei." They bowed perfectly, which was returned as best as Wei Wuxian could with A-Yuan in his arms. The Emperor dismissed the court meeting with a promise to continue the discussion the next day before walking to the two with a grin on his face. Lan Xichen grinned back and, as expected, immediately focused his attention on his cute nephew.

"Why didn't you send a letter beforehand? I can prepare a good welcoming ceremony, just like when Regent Lan Qiren came." Wei Wuxian asked as they walked to the rabbit garden, where he knew where Lan Wangji was. Nie Mingjue sighed a little, gesturing at his partner, who was cuddling the sleeping boy.

"We were at the nearby small kingdom to visit his favourite poet, and he said he wanted to meet Wangji and A-Yuan." The tall Emperor—or maybe soon to be an ex-emperor—explained. The young alpha next to him snorted when he saw the look on Nie Mingjue's face. It was the same look he had every time Lan Wangji wanted something. They both were really whipped when it came to the Lan Princes.

"Did he look at you with those huge eyes and blink slowly? We know those are their best weapons." Nie Mingjue chuckled at the Emperor's words and slapped him hard on the back, making the smaller alpha stumble on his steps. His laughter roused the small boy in Lan Xichen's arms. A-Yuan jerked awake, and his small eyes darted to the person who was holding him. For a brief moment, he appeared perplexed before shrieking so loudly that Wei Wuxian and Nie Mingjue covered their ears.

"Uncle Huan! Uncle Huan is here." A-Yuan bounced in Lan Xichen's arms, wrapping his tiny arms around his neck. Lan Xichen chuckled and tightened his hold on him. A-Yuan's eyes caught his father's, and Nie Mingju walked behind them and waved his hand at them.

"Uncle Huan and Uncle Jue bring presents for A-Yuan?" The boy looked at Lan Xichen expectantly as his father groaned in embarrassment.

"A-Yuan, you don't ask them about presents every time you meet them."

"But Uncle Huan has promised. Uncle Huan never breaks his promise."

Lan Xichen kissed A-Yuan's forehead. "Of course, I bring presents for my favourite person in the world. Uncle Jue has them."

Nie Mingjue just raised an eyebrow when A-Yuan gasped and immediately looked at him. A-Yuan giggled and whispered something to the beautiful alpha's ears, and whatever he said, it was enough for Lan Xichen to throw back his head and laugh wholeheartedly.

"It feels surreal for me every time I witness that laugh," Nie Mingjue said softly. His gaze was fixed on Lan Xichen and A-Yuan in front of him. "This laugh vanished when that bastard entered his life. I'm glad it's back now."

Wei Wuxian simply let out a soft hum and made no comment. He let the taller alpha enjoy seeing his beloved look so happy after such a long time. His hardened face and sharp eyes softened, and a small smile formed on his lips. The young Emperor recognised the emotion and could easily relate to Nie Mingjue's right now.

They arrived at the rabbit garden, where Wen Ning was talking with Lan Qiren. The old man stroked his beard while listening to whatever Wen Ning was saying. Wen Qing, dressed in beautiful soft lavender robes and an elaborate crown, rubbed Lan Wangji's swollen stomach, probably whispering some ridiculous words based on Lan Wangji's fond sigh. Wei Wuxian watched as A-Yuan was put on the ground by Lan Xichen and immediately ran towards his favourite granduncle. Wen Ning's eyes widened at the sight of Nie Mingjue, looking at him with obvious worship on his face. Lan Wangji's eyes lit up when they found his brother walking towards him, raising his arms to receive a kiss on his forehead. Wei Wuxian's eyes caught those of his sister, who looked at him with a smile. He grinned and immediately sat beside Lan Wangji, kissing his cheek and pregnant stomach.

His silver eyes met Lan Wangji's golden ones before they looked at the family in front of them. When the male omega leaned his head on Wei Wuxian's shoulder, he wrapped his arm around Lan Wangji's shoulder. They both looked at A-Yuan, who was exaggerating his story to Lan Qiren, Lan Xichen, and Wen Qing, and Wen Ning, who was discussing hand-in-hand combat with Nie Mingjue.

Years ago, this scene would have been only a dream in the lives of Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian. This was their reality now and they would make certain that this remained this way.