In the middle of the night, Jiang Yanli came to wake up Lan Wangji.

"Wangji. It's A-Xian."

The first time it had happened, Lan Wangji was fraught with worry. Wei Wuxian was sleeping, but it seemed like a stupor from which he could not return. He was screaming and shouting as if someone was hurting him.

He woke up only when Wangji held his hand and called his name.

"Lan Zhan... my parents died. I was all alone. Dogs kept biting me. I was cold and hungry."

"You're back home now, Wei Ying. Rest."

Huaisang didn't want to leave after hearing how Wei Wuxian had a nightmare, but his brother needed him back urgently for the Cultivation Conference. He, however, did promise to come back right after it.

This was the second time it had happened, and Wangji ran to Wei Wuxian's room. He held onto Wei Wuxian, calling his name. After a few times, Wei Wuxian woke up, tears in his eye.

"The Jiangs adopted me. Madam Yu hates me. Gods, Wangji, what do I do? She hates me!"

"No, Wei Ying. It's a dream."

"Why does a dream feel so real?"

Wangji hugged Wei Ying. He was trembling like a leaf. "Yanli jie, may I stay with Wei Ying tonight? He doesn't seem okay."

"You do that. I'll go tell his mother. What timing. Father and Uncle Wei are at the Cultivation Conference. We'll have to check whether he's possessed, or he's being tormented by a vengeful spirit."

She left, taking one last worried glance at Wei Wuxian.

Wangji pressed Wei Ying against his chest and played with his hair to calm him. "I'm here, I'm not going anywhere. I won't let anyone hurt you."

Wei Wuxian fell asleep, his tears drying on his cheeks. Wangji hated it. He hated not being able to stop Wei Ying's nightmares, which were draining the life out of him. Wei Ying smiled less that day. Hopefully, tomorrow would be better.

Madam Yu checked Wei Wuxian the next day, worried, and concluded that there was no paranormal phenomenon in play.

"Wei Wuxian, why don't you rest some more? Don't go out much, and have Wangji, A-Li and A-Cheng stay with you. DON'T over exert yourself, foolish boy. "As an afterthought, she added, "You may be a foolish naughty child, but you're just like A-Cheng and A-Li to me. I would never hate you." She left, just as tears began sliding down Wei Wuxian's cheeks.

On the third night, the three of them slept in Wei Wuxian's room. The nightmares were back. This time, no matter who called out to Wei Wuxian, he would not wake up. Even the medic who was on standby couldn't do anything. They all had to watch helplessly as Wei Wuxian laughed and cried, sometimes screaming in pain. He woke up with a start, hours after his nightmare had begun. He couldn't stop his tears.

"Lan Zhan! We- we weren't in love. We didn't know Huaisang! Your mom,Lan Zhan, auntie was no more... The Wens took us away. Cloud Recesses burnt. We were trapped! You and I, we were trapped in a cave! We almost died, Lan Zhan! I saw you hurt before me and I couldn't move! And, oh, Lan Zhan, it burnt! They branded me! We killed a huge tortoise and then the Wens destroyed Lotus Pier."

Wei Wuxian hugged Yanli. "Jie jie. Madam Yu and Uncle died. You were crying, Wanyin was crying, everyone was hurt, and I was useless."

"Xian Xian, look at me. It's over now. You're back with all of us. That's all that matters."

Jiang Cheng looked worried. "Should we call another doctor? Maybe he's been cursed? It's possible that he offended someone, you know him."

"Wanyin, shush. I'll be fine. Just... don't leave me alone. It's scary."

This continued every night. No doctor, witch, or cultivator knew what was happening. Nights at Lotus Pier were dreadful.

Every night, Wei Wuxian would fall into deep sleep, and couldn't be awakened, and each night he would wake up and tell them of the tragedy that happened in his dreams. Jiang Wanyin losing his golden core, Wei Wuxian falling into the Burial Mounds and resurfacing as a dark cultivator, the defeat of the Qishan Wen, Wei Wuxian leaving the Jiang Clan, everything was unreal and tragic. The only disturbing thing was how Wei Wuxian would describe things he had never seen or read about in horrifying accuracy. He knew the paths of Cloud Recesses, the waterfall, the library, such details. It was truly a quandary and a worry for everyone around Wei Wuxian.

Wangji had written to his brother, and asked him to come to Lotus Pier with the Jiangs. Their mother would be coming too. Her brand of cultivation involved sleeping spells and dream comprehension, so it would be best for his mother to be here.

Then came a night where Wei Ying screamed and cried, as if delirious, and suddenly went limp.

He woke up, and very sombrely said, "Shijie died. Her son was an orphan. I died. I'm glad. Maybe now that I'm dead, I won't have to go back."

Wangji hugged him, feeling tears roll down his own cheeks. "I wouldn't have let you die."

"No, you didn't. You fought everyone for me, and kept telling me that you loved me. But I... I kept telling you to go away. They finally dragged you away from me. I died. Thank you. I assumed no one there loved me, but you did."

Lan Wangji kissed Wei Wuxian. "I have always loved you, and I will always love you."

They fell asleep like that, hugging each other. The next morning, neither of them woke up even when Huaisang barged into Wei Wuxian's room early in the morning, demanding to know how his best friend was doing. Behind him was Lan Xichen, who was also very concerned about his brother and brother in law.

The view was quite scandalous. Wangji slept still, holding Wei Wuxian in a tight grip as Wei Wuxian burrowed himself in Wangji's chest. They looked peaceful, and very much in love.

Nie Huaisang whispered to Lan Xichen, "Maybe we shouldn't have rushed. They seem to be just fine."

The two of them shared a sly look, sniggering silently, and left the room.

Wangji woke up at 10 am, which was definitely a highlight of his life, considering how he woke at the crack of dawn. He looked down to see Wei Ying nestled comfortably in his embrace, and when Wangji tried to get out of it, Wei Wuxian held on tighter. A smile spread across Wangji's face. He kissed Wei Wuxian on his forehead.

"Ahem. And I remember someone didn't want to get married."

Wangji almost jumped out of bed. At the speed of light, he stood before his brother, looking neat and proper.He gestured that they step out, since Wei Wuxian was still fast asleep.

"I wasn't expecting you yet, brother."

"Of course you weren't. I'm early. Why? Did you not miss me? Should I go back?"

"Absolutely not. Was the trip here pleasant?"

"As pleasant as it could be . I had Huaisang to keep me company. Quite the funny boy. We both arrived early in the morning and came here, concerned, just to see Young Master Wei and you sleeping...ahem, cozily."

Wangji turned red. "I apologise."

"Ah, Wangji, no need. You intend to marry him anyway. Just... take care of him. Yanli told me about the nightmares. Have they not stopped yet?"

Wangji told him about what happened the previous night.

"Has Young Master Wei tried staying awake at night and sleeping in the day?"

They had. That day, the nightmares were much longer than usual.

"Mn. It didn't work."

"Well, don't worry, Wangji. Mother will be here in the evening. If there is a problem with Young Master Wei, she will resolve it."

Wangji nodded. His brother smiled at him fondly. "Oh, how my little Wangji has grown up. Wasn't it just yesterday I was swinging you around on my shoulders? Now you have a lover of your own. Ah, I feel old."

Just then, Jiang Cheng passed by them. He glanced at Xichen. Their eyes met. Suddenly, he turned red and ran away.

"Does Young Master Jiang not like me?"

"Don't know. He isn't particularly easy to understand."

"Says the Second Young Master of Lan, the Twin Jade who no one understands."

"Wei Ying understands me."

"Oh, of course he does. Now wake him up and come to eat. Also, tell Young Master Wei that I've brought him Emperor's Smile. That's sure to cheer him up."

"Brother..."

"What, you don't want him to find out about your low alcohol tolerance? Come on. You're marrying him. Might as well let him see you drunk."

Xichen left, smiling.

Time to wake up the wife, Wangji thought. He went back to the room and looked at Wei Wuxian, sleeping peacefully. Maybe Wangji saved his country in his past life, otherwise how would he have met Wei Ying?

"Wei Ying, wake up. It's almost afternoon."

Wei Wuxian rolled sleepily, barely opening his eyes. "Just five more minutes, Gege?"

Lan Wangji melted into his shoes. He knelt down, and carried Wei Wuxian in his arms. "We're wanted for breakfast, Wei Ying."

Startled at being suddenly lifted into the air, Wei Wuxian yelped. "Lan Zhan! Let go, I'm awake now."

"Don't want to. I'll brush your teeth for you."

Wei Wuxian was blushing profusely, but he let Wangji brush his teeth, wash his face and comb his hair.

"Ah, Second Young Master Lan, if you pamper me like this I will become quite spoilt."

"Don't mind spoiling Wei Ying."

Wei Wuxian squealed with happiness. "You mean it? Then would you buy me paints?"

"Which ones?"

"What about a house?"

"Where do you want it? Yunmeng? Gusu?"

"Lan Zhan, I'm joking! All I want is you and your love."

"You have it, Wei Ying."

Smiling, laughing and talking, they went to eat breakfast.

"A-Xian! Today you simply must dress in the Yunmeng robes. Wangji's mother is coming here!"

"But shijie, I know auntie. She's not stuck up on formality. Is it necessary?"

Yanli smiled. "A-Xian, you look very beautiful in the purple robes. Don't you want to show Wangji? Besides, the hairpin he gifted you would go well with the robes. Xichen told me about it. Since it was personally made by Madam Lan, wouldn't she love to see you wear it?"

"Okay, but only if you dress me up,shijie. Yes, I'm excited to meet auntie after so long but this is the first time I'm meeting her as her son's partner."

"It's fine, A-Xian. She likes you since you were 2 years old and she first met you. I don't think you need to worry about that at all!"

His Jie Jie' s words made sense. Wei Wuxian let out a sigh of relief. He decided to look pretty for once.

And he did. When Lan Wangji was dressed formally, he went to join his brother Xichen at the gates of Lotus Pier.

Just then, the Jiangs, accompanied by Wei Ying, walked up to them. Lan Wangji's brain short circuited.

Wei Wuxian looked absolutely stunning in Yunmeng robes, the lilac outer robe, embroidered with lotuses, shining against his skin while the deeper inner robe contrasted his reflective eyes. He had his hair done neatly, and it was held together by the most beautiful hairpin - Wangji's gift. He didn't realise he had been staring till Lan Zian loudly interrupted his thought process, bringing a jade jewellery box with him. "Wangji! Your crown!"

Oh. In the excitement to meet his mother after almost 20 days, Wangji had forgotten his crown. How inappropriate.

Wei Wuxian laughed. "So even my impeccable Lan Zhan can forget things, huh? Give it to me, I'll put it in his hair."

Wei Wuxian let down the top of Wangji's hair and began to fit the crown. Meanwhile, Wangji overheard the conversation between Jiang Yanli, Wanyin and his brother. Jiang Cheng had turned pink.

"Yanli! Why does your brother ignore me? Did I do something wrong?"

Yanli laughed pleasantly. "Oh, not at all, Xichen. He thinks you look handsome."

At this, Jiang Cheng turned violently red. "I do not!" He ran away, cursing and muttering under his breath.

Lan Xichen burst out laughing. He shouted after Jiang Cheng, "Young Master Jiang, you look stunning yourself!"

Wanyin ran for his life.

Wei Wuxian, who had just finished fixing the crown in place, laughed. "I have never seen that idiot make such an expression. Maybe Shijie is onto something."

Wangji, too, found the whole scene amusing.

"Wei Ying."

"Yes, Lan Zhan?"

"You look breathtaking today. Not that you don't look breathtaking everyday! Lilac looks good on you."

Wei Wuxian giggled. "Oh, Lan Zhan, I know. All the effort to dress up was worth it, just to see your face the moment you saw me." He leaned in towards Wangji's ear and whispered conspiratorially, "Maybe we should get married sooner? I wonder how you would react to seeing me in wedding robes."

Wangji blushed. He was about to agree with Wei Ying about getting married early, but just then Madam Yu and Lady Cangse arrived.

"Shouldn't they be here already? The Lans never arrive late."

Lady Cangse smiled. "That applies to most Lans, not my best friend. When has she ever been on time?"

They waited for 15 minutes, and then the Lan carriages came into view.

As soon as the carriage was near the party, it stopped. A beautiful woman with playful eyes jumped out of the carriage.

"Madam Lan! Be careful!" An attendant yelled.

"Oh, nonsense. How old am I? Surely I can handle a few jumps."

Wangji smiled. His mother was in high spirits as usual.

She ran towards them, ignoring the attendants. "Cangse Sanren! Oh, you bad woman. Won't you visit your best friend at all? I miss you!"

Lady Cangse laughed heartily. "Lively as usual, I see. I apologise. I've been busy. My husband is upset too, saying I don't give him enough time."

"As he should! But me first. Friends over husbands, no?"

"Of course. Though I'm not sure you should say that out loud."

"Rubbish. Life lessons like these should be learnt early."

Madam Lan turned to Xichen, who was closest to her. "Chen! How was the Cultivation Conference ? Oh, my poor baby, did those old men bore you? Why drag along my precious Chen to their boring drones? No one deserves that."

Lan Xichen laughed. "Mother. I'm perfectly okay with it. I'll need to know all that when I become Clan Leader."

"You're sure? You know what to do if they get too annoying, right?"

"You tell them in a sad voice, "Mother sent a letter. She feels unwell and wants me back immediately.""

"Good boy! Speaking of which, where's my other son?"

Wangji came to the front. "Mother. Welcome to the Lotus Pier."

Madam Lan rushed over to him. "My baby! How have you been? You don't send letters often!"

"Mother, I sent you a letter everyday."

"And I sent 3! Chen, look, your younger brother doesn't miss his poor mother at all! He's so enamoured with his lover that he forgot me!"

Then she remembered. "Speaking of which, where is my beautiful son-in-law?"