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Hanguang-Jun & the Yiling Patriarch Together?

For a long time, the public has been well aware of the unorthodox friendship between one Hanguang-Jun and the recently returned Yiling Patriarch. While not conventional by any means, it is understood that the two bonded as teenagers during the time Wei Wuxian was studying at Cloud Recesses. They also worked together to take out Xuanwu of Slaughter, and in more recent times, uncovered the cause of Former Sect Leader Nie’s death, exposing the plot by disgraced Former Sect Leader Jin Guangyao, Xue Yang, and Su She. However, some still remain sceptical and claim this is just a fiction the Yiling Patriarch wants us to believe in order to advance his own agenda. So what is the truth? Read on to find out.

Wei Ying stopped reading the scroll. He couldn’t believe the talisman he invented to mass-produce communications was being used for this: gossip, and about him no less! (It was a finicky talisman he’d been commissioned to make. It required one supply ink and paper while the talisman duplicated the ink on the original document needing copied.)

“Lan Zhan, look at this! Can you believe they’re writing this trash about us?” Wei Ying said, waving the scroll about. “They could’ve at least used a better illustration!” He pouted.

Lan Zhan quirked an eyebrow and took the scroll from Wei Ying. His eyes locked onto the illustration and he examined it with his infamous expressionless demeanour.

“Wei Ying looks good,” he said. And Wei Ying knew he meant it, too. By the subtle upturn of his lips and softening of his eyes. His husband was an open book when you knew what to look for. He proceeded to roll up the scroll and sat down next to Wei Ying on their bed.

“Lan Zhan, you better not be intending to keep that illustration!”

Wei Ying’s accusation was confirmed when moments later, he made to grab it but Lan Zhan held it out of range. Wei Ying tried again, but Lan Zhan stopped him with a hand to his wrist.

“Why? Can I not keep illustrations of my husband?” Lan Zhan said as he placed the scroll to the side and pulled Wei Ying onto his lap, Wei Ying’s legs straddling his husband.

“Of course you can, provided I look good in them!” Wei Ying said. He could feel his cheeks burning up as Lan Zhan slowly slid his hands up Wei Ying’s thighs before settling them around his butt. It didn’t matter how many times they were intimate, Lan Zhan still managed to fluster Wei Ying with every little touch.

“You look good in all of them,” Lan Zhan mumbled against Wei Ying’s lips before pressing a kiss to his lips.

— —

Hanguang-Jun & the Yiling Patriarch Together?

[…] So what is the truth? Read on to find out.

After speaking with a source who is close to both Hanguang-Jun and the Yiling Patriarch and wishes to remain anonymous, Cultivation Column can verify that the two men are in-fact romantically involved. Find below an excerpt from our interview.

CC: What evidence do you have of Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian being romantically involved?

Anonymous: I have the accounts of many trusted locals and cultivators around the various locations they have ventured.

CC: While it’s easy to doubt you, I’ll hear you out. Tell us of these experiences.

Anonymous: The owner of an Inn in Caiyi Town said they shared a room with one bed. I was also at that Inn and witnessed them together, alongside some Lan junior disciples. At one point upon arriving back after going out, Hanguang-Jun’s sacred head ribbon was tied around Senior— I mean, Wei Wuxian’s wrists. You know what that means right, right?

CC: I do, but inform the readers anyway.

Anonymous: Only family and spouses may touch it. So Wei Wuxian having it bind his wrists together was quite a significant thing. The Lan juniors who had remained there were at a loss for words.

CC: I see. And what evidence do you have to prove this is all true?

Anonymous: This!

Readers, we cannot disclose to you the item Anonymous showed us, for it would reveal their identity. But rest assured the person is who they claim to be and is indeed close to the people in question.

“I wonder what the evidence the anonymous source had was. I bet it was just made up,” Ouyang Zizhen said, looking at his fellow juniors and friends. The Qinghe Nie sect was hosting a conference, welcoming many other sects.

Jin Ling pounded his fist on the news scroll Ouyang Zizhen had been reading from. “Who cares.”

Lan Jingyi hummed. “Wait a minute… We were the ones there when Hanguang-Jun bound Senior Wei’s wrists with his ribbon. I don’t recall seeing anyone else there apart from the innkeeper.”

Lan Sizhui cleared his throat. “Well, you were pretty drunk.” But something was off about the tone of his voice. Lan Jingyi knew this tone—Sizhui always sounded like that when he was nervous about something.

Lan Jingyi turned his eyes onto Lan Sizhui and pointed an accusing finger at him. “What do you know, Sizhui!?”

Ouyang Zizhen and Jin Ling looked between the two Lan juniors with curious eyes.

“Nothing! Nothing at all,” Lan Sizhui tried, but he was getting increasingly flustered.

Lan Jingyi poked Lan Sizhui in the ribs. “You’re such a bad liar, Sizhui! Tell us!”

“Yeah, do share!” Ouyang Zizhen said.

Lan Sizhui sighed. “Okay, okay… I may have been the one they interviewed.”

The juniors gasped. “How could you do that? That isn’t like you at all!” Lan Jingyi said.

“I know! But please I have a good reason! Don’t get the wrong idea.”

“Explain then,” Jin Ling said, crossing his arms.

“Father asked me to! I was just following his instructions! You guys know I wouldn’t do anything like this. I was hesitant about even doing this but father had good reasons.”

Jin Ling scoffed. “There’s no way! Isn’t it against your sect rules to gossip? Hanguang-Jun doesn’t break rules.”

“He kind of does when it comes to Senior Wei, though,” Lan Jingyi said, finger on his chin. He turned to Lan Sizhui. “I want to know everything but first how did you even prove yourself?”

“Oh.” Lan Sizhui reached into his qiankun bag and withdrew an item. He held it up. It was a jade token.

“Ah.” Lan Jingyi nodded. “That explains it.”

“Now, what were Hanguang-Jun’s reasons?” Ouyang Zizhen said, eyes wide as he leaned into Lan Sizhui.

“I really shouldn’t say,” Lan Sizhui said, looking down at his lap. “I’ve broken enough rules as it is.”

“Well, so has Hanguang-Jun! Please, Lan Sizhui! I’m sure he won’t mind if we know.”

Jin Ling nodded. “Yeah! Besides, my uncle will tell me anyway. You’re just speeding up the process.”

Lan Sizhui was silent for a few moments, before nodding. “Alright then. I’ll tell you. But only because I don’t want you thinking badly of my father. You have to promise to keep this between us, though.”

“Of course!” came the voices of the three others.

“Well…”

— —

Jiang Cheng was having a good day. Well, as much of a good as someone like him could have. A meeting with two minor sects over a territory conflict had been swiftly resolved (Jiang Cheng wasn’t clueless—he knew his wrath and intimidation had feared the two leaders into resolution). The junior disciples were showing vast improvement after the night-hunt the Qinghe Nie sect hosted. And Jin Ling had even won first place in said night-hunt. Jiang Cheng had visibly smiled upon hearing that, however, the foreign expression must have scared the junior disciple who reported to him—if his increasingly shaky voice and desire to rush off was anything to go by.

So yes. A good day; or at least as good as it got in Jiang Cheng’s world. And not a thing could ruin it.

He was just walking along the docks—he had free time today—and was examining the goods the vendors had to sell when he heard it.

“News for sale! Come get your news! Today’s copy details the Yiling Patriarch’s scandalous relationship with Hanguang-Jun!” the newsvendor called out, waving a scroll in the air while many more sat in a basket by his feet.

Jiang Cheng’s eyes narrowed and he marched over to the newsvendor. “Give me that,” he said.

The news vendor’s eyes widened. He quickly bowed and offered the scroll to Jiang Cheng with a shaky hand. “W-why of course, Sect Leader Jiang. Please, take it!”

Jiang Cheng felt a bit guilty scaring the man like that, so he paid him a healthy tip. Learning how to control his emotions whenever he heard Wei Wuxian’s name was something that he still needed to work at.

Jiang Cheng skim read the first parts of the article. It wasn’t news to him. He’d known there was something different about their relationship for years. He was only surprised it had taken this long for the news to spread.

He read the next part of the article and froze.

Hanguang-Jun & the Yiling Patriarch Together?

[…] But rest assured the person is who they claim to be and is indeed close to the people in question.

Our source was not done there, though! They had more news to enlighten with.

CC: So what else can you tell us about their relationship?

Anonymous: They um… they have a son.

CC: What! Who? How?

Anonymous: It’s a long story and not one I’m willing to share. But he is now a teenager and doing well for himself.

CC: Wow! A teenager? Just how has this been a secret for so long?

Anonymous: Friends and family have known forever; it’s just never been publicised.

CC: Wei Wuxian wasn’t even around for over a decade! Who would’ve thought Lan Wangji would raise a child by himself.

Anonymous: The sect helped out a lot.

CC: Still. This is bewildering!

Jiang Cheng scrunched the paper in his fist. Wei Wuxian had a child with Lan Wangji!? And for over a decade!? He couldn’t believe it. He wasn’t going to believe it. It was probably all made up anyway, just to stir some drama and make money.

But what if… What if it wasn’t? What if it was true? Jiang Cheng had another nephew that he hadn’t even been aware of. And supposedly friends and family had known forever? Well, what was Jiang Cheng then? He knew his relationship with Wei Wuxian was far from great, but since the events at Guanyin Temple it had been slowly improving, or so he believed. But then again, his relationship with Lan Wangji was even worse.

No. In any case there was no point getting wound up over this. They were probably just rumours, after all. Jiang Cheng would confirm such the next time he saw his martial brother.

(But part of him, the part that was kept hidden and locked away, hoped it was true; hoped that there was another person he could call family, and someone Jin Ling could call cousin.)

— —

Lan Qiren was busy lecturing his junior disciples on the thousands of rules of the Lan sect when he saw it out of the corner of his eye. One of his students in the back had, with the most subtlety, slid a piece of paper across to the student he was sitting next to.

Lan Qiren turned his attention to him. “Lan Yiyao, Lan Fangai, what is rule one-thousand and fifty-three on the wall of discipline?” he said.

The two juniors shared a wide-eyed look. “Um…” Lan Yiyao mumbled.

“Do not pass notes in class,” Lan Fangai said, but his smug expression didn’t last long as realisation dawned upon him.

“And what were you two just doing?” Lan Qiren said and approached their desk. He had a lot more patience these days. He liked to attribute that to all his dealings with Wei Wuxian.

Lan Fangai gulped. “Umm… passing notes?” he said, while Lan Yiyao looked down at his hands.

Lan Qiren had little interest in students’ gossip, but this was the first time in a while where two Lan disciples had been caught disobeying the rule. He was curious as to what was so important.

He put out his hand and Lan Fangai hesitated but reluctantly handed over the piece of paper.

“What could be so important, hmm?” he asked, taking the paper and unfolding it. He took one look at the title and sighed.

Hanguang-Jun & the Yiling Patriarch Together?

He wasn’t surprised this was making news. The two of them were practically the status of legend—everyone knew about them and their exploits. However, what Lan Qiren was surprised about was that this article implied people did not know about the nature of the relationship between the two.

He folded the piece of paper and tucked it away in his robes. Gossip was below him and there were three sect rules against it. He reminded Lan Yayoi and Lan Fangai of such as he walked back to the front of the classroom.

But the remainder of that class, that gossip article felt like it was burning a hole in Lan Qiren’s robes. It was just begging for Lan Qiren’s attention, so much so that it was distracting him from his lesson. But he couldn’t read it. He wouldn’t. It wasn’t allowed and he was meant to practice what he preached.

When the students were finally dismissed, Lan Qiren withdrew the article and was about to trash it but caught sight of Wangji’s name on it. What did it say? He looked around the class, there was no one about. Maybe. Maybe just this one time he would break a rule (or three).

And before he could talk himself out of it, he unfolded the paper and started to read. He scanned the first half, but it was nothing new to him. He was well aware of their relationship and of Sizhui. However, his eyes just about popped out of his head as he read the next part.

Hanguang-Jun & the Yiling Patriarch Together?

[…] CC: Still. This is bewildering!

Anonymous: Actually, that’s not all. 

CC: What! Surely there can’t be anything to top that! What could possibly be left?

Anonymous: Well… they kind of eloped.

CC: Kind of? What do you mean by that? They either did or they didn’t.

Anonymous: Okay, not kind of. They did elope.

CC: Wow! This is really unprecedented news. Why elope, though? Are they running from the sects?

Anonymous: No, not at all! They do want to have a traditional marriage. The elopement wasn’t planned. It’s a long story but they were working on a case and there was a highly specific curse involved. That aside, though, it was definitely real and they are committed to one another. 

CC: Fascinating! I do wish you would share the details. We’ve got plenty of time.

Anonymous: Ha… Maybe another time?

Lan Qiren hadn’t realised his hold on the paper had been so strong that he had partially scrunched it. Elopement!? They eloped? Lan Qiren’s jaw was clenched. This was not appropriate! The Lan sect should have hosted a traditional ceremony! He breathed in and stopped glaring at the paper, and disposed of it instead.

While this article could be full of lies, it actually answered a few questions Lan Qiren had recently regarding Wei Wuxian. His own relationship with the man had always been… not great, but Lan Qiren had long since come to terms with Wangji’s immense love for Wei Wuxian. Seeing how spirited the man made Wangji is what convinced him to give Wei Wuxian a chance. However, he had been doubtful that those intense feelings Wangji had were reciprocated. This article made it sound like the feelings were mutual and given the other inside knowledge the anonymous source has, Lan Qiren was inclined there was some truth to it. Just how much, he did not know.

In any case, whether Wangji and Wei Wuxian were married already or not, there would be a ceremony held in Cloud Recesses, whether they liked it or not. Lan Qiren nodded his head, plans for a wedding already racing through his mind.

He heard hushed laughter and looked up. Lan Yayoi and Lan Fangai were half-hidden around the corner, sneaking glances at Lan Qiren. When Lan Qiren spotted them, his face lit up red—from shame, embarrassment, or anger, he couldn’t tell—and the two immediately fled the scene.

Lan Qiren sighed. Kids these days.

— —

Nie Huaisang choked on his tea while he was reading the latest issue of Cultivation Column. He had been spread out on his daybed reading the gossip article about Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji’s relationship. It had been partially put together thanks to him in the first place; Lan Wangji had requested his aid in this matter, so Nie Huaisang had supplied the illustrations and even arranged the interview between Lan Sizhui and Cultivation Column.

Of course, Nie Huaisang was already well aware of their relationship, Lan Sizhui, and even their elopement.  But no, what he didn’t know was the very last bit.

Hanguang-Jun & the Yiling Patriarch Together?

[…] Anonymous: Ha… Maybe another time?

CC: I suppose it will have to be. Before we finish, though, you never said when this elopement took place. Can you tell us how long they’ve been married?

Anonymous: Um. It was not long after the events at Guanyin Temple with former leader Jin Guangyao.

CC: That was over a year ago!

Anonymous: Yeah.

CC: Wow. More surprises keep emerging! I don’t think my heart can handle being shocked so often! Finally, is there anything else you wish to let people know?

Anonymous: I think that’s it.

CC: Very well, then. Thank you for the interview!

There you have it folks. The real romantic story between Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian. Who would’ve thought? Certainly not me. Thank you for reading and make sure to check out next week’s issue on the cultivation’s world most eligible bachelors. We’ve even ranked and rated them!

Nie Huaisang gaped at the piece of paper, gobsmacked. Over a year they’d been married? Now, that was news to him. He prided himself on his information gathering, so the fact he had their elopement date wrong was truly astonishing! He needed to find better spies, but that was a job for another day. For now he would finish his tea and get ready for the day.

— —

Later that evening, Lan Zhan was sitting in the jingshi, playing their song on his guqin. Wei Wuxian came up behind him and rested his chin on Lan Zhan’s shoulder. He watched as Lan Zhan’s elegant but powerful hands moved so naturally over the strings. His husband was brilliant, truly, and he would never tire of appreciating that. But that evening called for a bit of teasing.

“I wonder who that anonymous source in today’s Cultivation Column was. They sure knew a lot about us. Maybe we should investigate,” Wei Wuxian said. He knew what Lan Zhan had arranged with Cultivation Column, and he was glad. Wei Wuxian had been wanting to announce their relationship publicly for a while, but the right moment had never really appeared. Lan Zhan had known this and appeared to take matters into his own hands.

“It was Sizhui,” Lan Zhan said.

Wei Wuxian huffed and stood up from the floor. “Awwww, boo you, Lan Zhan. You were meant to let me tease it out of you.”

Lan Zhan’s lips curved into a small smile. “It would be foolish to think Wei Ying wouldn’t figure it out.”

Wei Wuxian moved across to the bed and laid down. Lan Zhan ceased his music and joined him.

“You love me so much, don’t you, Lan Zhan? So much that you want the world to know I’m yours, huh?” Wei Wuxian asked, smirking as he rolled onto his side to gaze at his husband.

Lan Zhan grabbed hold of Wei Wuxian’s hand and pressed a gentle kiss to his palm. “You already know the answer to that.” And his ears had turned that lovely shade of red they turned whenever he was flustered. Wei Wuxian could feel his own face heating up from the gesture.

“I love you,” Wei Wuxian said. “And I hope you treated our son to something nice since he did this for us.”

“I did,” Lan Zhan said without elaborating.

“Good,” Wei Wuxian said, grabbing hold of Lan Zhan’s hand and interlocking their fingers.

So maybe it was a bit over the top for Lan Zhan to announce their relationship this way. But it really just made Wei Wuxian grin. Wei Wuxian was sure they would be hounded by questions from the public, but he didn’t mind. In fact, he found it to be rather thrilling. He could brag for days about his husband.

Wei Wuxian, however, wasn’t as eager to discover Lan Qiren and Jiang Cheng’s reactions. But that was a matter for another day. For now, and forever actually, he had Lan Zhan and Lan Zhan had him.