I Am Me // JC x LXC

Our Revenge

Jiang Cheng slipped in and out of consciousness for the next four days. Lan Xichen remained in the room, having the servants bring a second pillow so he could sleep with him.

Jin Ling returned to his own room every night, but he found Lan Xichen had Jiang Cheng washed and dressed every morning. One time, he walked in early and found Xichen weaving his fingers through his uncle's hair. The braids fell into his hair like rivers, rehearsed and beautifully simple.

It was a scene he felt was intimate to the extent he was watching his parents do something natural for them.

Jin Ling carefully watched Lan Xichen's movements between filling out paperwork and handling the affairs his uncle dealt with.

Every so often, he would get overwhelmed, and Lan Xichen would come over with lunch and tea and talk him through his frustration.

No one had been able to leave Lotus Cove and Wei Wuxian stayed in one of the inns outside, coming to the side door to talk to Jin Ling when he was heading back to his quarters.

"Uncle is doing much better. He was awake for longer," Jin Ling spoke on the end of the fourth day, "Lan Xichen was saying his wound is much better, the infection is almost gone."

Wei Wuxian nodded.

"Do they have any clues that I can work with?" he questioned, "I have a few clues from the folks around here, but they're not exactly willing to talk to me anymore."

It was unfortunate.

While doors weren't closed to him in Yunmeng, it seemed the entire city had adopted the sect leader's attitude toward Wei Ying.

They were willing to talk to him about everything but Jiang Cheng.

The council was running the investigation of what happened and so far, had gotten enough information to have a decent suspect.

They didn't know his name, nor did they know where he was, but they refused to hand the case over to another sect.

Wei Wuxian included.

"I overheard the council earlier," Jin Ling spoke, "They were talking about a place to the north, a village or something that was seen as a ghost town for the past twenty-something years. Something about scouts finding traces of the poison originating from there."

Wei Wuxian nodded and pieced together his information in his head.

He would discuss this with his husband before he made any rash movements. He wasn't working for Yunmeng and the last thing he wanted was to get on the council's bad side as well.

"Thank you," Wei Wuxian murmured, "Now get back to your room before the guards suspect something."

Jin Ling nodded and stepped away from the door. He hesitated.

Wei Wuxian was not a bad person. He had the misfortune of being Jiang Cheng's father's favorite.

His ignorance on what his presence at specific events or times does to his uncle can be blamed over anything Wei Wuxian does that could be perceived as intentional.

Jin Ling pivoted and headed back to his uncle's quarters.

He found a shock once he entered the courtyard, his uncle standing in the moonlight with Lan Xichen's arm around his waist.

Jin Ling slipped to the side and hid behind a couple of rocks, hoping he wouldn't be seen.

"Come out."

Jin Ling almost threw something.

That's not fair! He just got here!

Nevertheless, Jin Ling stood up and walked slowly across the rocks. He came to a stop slightly behind the two sect leaders.