Chapter 56
Chapter Summary: [It was that cold spring.]
To make matters worse, Lan Wangji was inside again, his pale upper body bare, his long black hair cascading down his chest...
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It was that cold spring.
Unfortunately, Lan Wangji was inside again, his pale upper body bare, his long black hair cascading down his chest, staring at him expressionlessly.
Wei Wuxian stopped chasing the rabbit, coughed lightly, and said, "...What a coincidence, it always seems to happen that you're here...cough, right? I'm really sorry."
He said he was sorry, but his eyes involuntarily swept towards the deep red brand near Lan Wangji's chest.
Lan Wangji didn't say anything, and sank into the cold spring water.
The two rabbits hopped to the edge of the cold spring, and Wei Wuxian, finding it inconvenient to approach and catch them, had to retreat. After walking a short distance on the pebbly path, he suddenly realized: "...What's inconvenient about it?! Aren't we all men? What's inconvenient about it? Why did I back down???"
As if finding an excuse, Wei Wuxian immediately turned around, deciding to go back and bother Lan Wangji. Unexpectedly, Lan Wangji was already dressed and emerged from behind the orchid bushes.
The two rabbits followed at his feet. Lan Wangji bent down, picked them up, and held them in his arms. His face still looked somewhat indifferent, but his movements were extremely gentle. His slender fingers scratched the chin of one of the rabbits. The rabbit flicked its long ears, turned its head, and narrowed its ruby-like eyes into slits.
Wei Wuxian said listlessly, "Ignoring me, only paying attention to you. You really are loyal to me."
Lan Wangji glanced at him and handed him a rabbit. Wei Wuxian chuckled as he took it, tugged at its ear, and said, "Don't like me? Hate me? Go ahead and try to escape, you can't escape my grasp. You'd better just like me."
The rabbit wriggled and struggled in Wei Wuxian's arms. Wei Wuxian teased it for a while, then returned to the door of the Jingshi before releasing the rabbit, whose white fur he had ruffled. Entering the room, he was greeted by a cool and fragrant atmosphere.
He naturally followed Lan Wangji inside.
Everyone: ...cough cough cough
Having seen Wei Wuxian's fair chest, now they've seen Lan Wangji's entire upper body...
Are we going to get mixed doubles by these two?
Watching Wei Wuxian walk into the Jingshi as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Lan Jingyi's eyes widened. He subconsciously touched his bottom, which had been spanked when he was a child for sneaking into the Jingshi, and then turned to Lan Sizhui:
"Senior Wei dared to enter the Jingshi (Quiet Room) before their relationship was even established and didn't get beaten up. How could Lan Wangji treat us like this when we were kids?!"
Lan Sizhui: ...
I can't bear to tell you, but I grew up in a quiet room when I was a child.
Lan Wangji said, "There's Emperor's Smile wine in the room."
Wei Wuxian said, "Oh."
He crept over to the spot where he had stolen the wine last time, lifted the mat covering it, and turned over the wooden plank, still pondering: "The time before last, when Lan Zhan was drunk, he honestly told me that he hadn't stolen any of the Emperor's Smile wine from the house. So why is he hiding all this Emperor's Smile wine? Could it be... that he's saving it specifically for me to drink? Heh, how shameless of me, hahaha..."
Wei Wuxian was secretly delighted by this shameless, arrogant, and ridiculous idea. Lan Wangji's attention was drawn to his shrugging shoulders, and he asked, "What's wrong?"
Wei Wuxian turned around and said seriously, "Nothing, I'm just happy."
Lan Wangji immediately stood up: "Uncle, I will go back and accept my punishment."
Lan Qiren: ...
Holding my breath, I didn't know what to say.
Lan Xichen raised an eyebrow helplessly. "Wangji, let's take it easy. Your uncle is getting old and can't take your fright."
Lan Wangji didn't say anything more. He lowered his head, sat down at the desk, and picked up a book.
Wei Wuxian continued to ponder: "Should I ask him about the forehead ribbon? What if he gets angry and kicks me out? But I've been acting recklessly for so long, and he hasn't gotten angry yet, which shows his self-control is improving. I guess he won't get angry even if I act recklessly again. No, I shouldn't ask him. I should pretend I don't know what the forehead ribbon means. That way, I can deliberately tug at it next time. If he gets angry, I can innocently say I don't know. Ignorance is bliss, right? Oh dear, how could I be so wicked? I could be even wicked..."
Lost in thought, he absentmindedly opened a small jar, lifted it up, tilted his head back, and took a sip, immediately spitting it out with a "pfft".
Lan Wangji immediately put down his book and asked, "What is it now?"
Wei Wuxian waved his hand and said, "It's nothing! It's nothing!"
He kept saying it was nothing, then put the jar back and, looking utterly dejected, replaced it with another one.
After he secretly drank from the jar last time, he deliberately mixed in plain water, thinking he'd scare Lan Wangji by making him drink the plain water. Who knew his luck would be so bad? He ended up drinking the plain water himself! He really shot himself in the foot. Ever since he came back, every time he tries to trick Lan Wangji, it ends up like this. What's going on?!
Everyone: ...
This is a perfect example of what it means to reap what you sow!
Jiang Cheng: "Wei Wuxian, Wei Wuxian, I suddenly realize that Lan Wangji really understands me when it comes to teasing you."
Wei Wuxian raised his fist: "Jiang Cheng, you son of a bitch!"
Jiang Cheng glanced at Wei Wuxian provocatively, only to be met with a cold stare from Lan Wangji.
Jiang Cheng: ...
The grand gathering of a hundred schools of thought at Jinlintai is just around the corner.
Lan Wangji never attended the meetings hosted by the Lanling Jin Clan, but this time, he went with his brother.
Most of the immortal residences of various families are built in places with beautiful mountains and clear waters, but the Jinlintai of the Lanling Jin family is located in the most prosperous part of Lanling City.
On the high platform, golden stars and snow waves gathered into a sea of flowers.
"Golden Star Snow Wave" is a white peony of exceptional quality, with both its beautiful flower and exquisite name. The petals have two layers: the outer layer consists of large, overlapping petals that resemble rolling snow waves, while the inner layer consists of small, delicate petals, with wispy golden threads forming the stamens, like glittering golden stars.
Slowly ascending the long slope along the carriage road, one is greeted by colorful paintings on both sides, all masterpieces by successive heads of the Jin family and renowned figures. Emerging from the carriage road, one encounters a glazed screen wall, with the inscriptions "I will ascend to the summit" and "Looking down upon all the mountains" on the left and right sides respectively.
In front of the screen wall lies a wide plaza paved with fine paving, bustling with pedestrians. Before the plaza, nine tiers of auspicious steps support a white marble Sumeru pedestal, above which a magnificent double-eaved hip-roofed Han Dynasty palace overlooks the scene.
Wei Wuxian got out of the carriage and said, "Why does Jinlintai seem more extravagant than before? Has it been renovated and expanded again?"
Everyone: ...Wei Wuxian, you're just envious of other people's money.
Wei Wuxian: ...Who said that? The little stone cave in the Burial Mound is quite comfortable, okay? Besides, it's better to see through things than to say them.
A disciple nearby said, "Gusu Lan Clan, please enter here."
Lan Wangji said, "Let's go."
Wei Wuxian sensed that the Jin family's disciples and guests were paying attention to him, whether intentionally or unintentionally, which wasn't surprising. Probably no one would expect that Mo Xuanyu, after being expelled for harassing his fellow disciples, would dare to swagger back, especially with the Gusu Lan Clan. Letting them see him wouldn't hurt. He readily agreed, "Yes, let's go."
Elsewhere, other families continued to enter: "The Su family of Moling, please enter here."
"The Nie family of Qinghe, please enter here."
"Yunmeng Jiang Clan, please enter here."
Everything was in good order and proceeded smoothly.
Jiang Cheng got out of another car, and as soon as he got out, he shot out two sharp glares and walked over, saying in a cool and indifferent tone, "Zewu-jun, Hanguang-jun."
Lan Xichen nodded and said, "Sect Leader Jiang."
Jiang Cheng stared at Wei Wuxian with a sinister expression, seemingly wanting to say something to him. At this moment, a smiling voice said, "Second Brother, why didn't you tell me beforehand that Wangji was coming too?"
Jin Guangyao personally came out to greet him.
Lan Xichen returned his smile, though it carried a hint of forcedness. Wei Wuxian, on the other hand, carefully observed this Immortal Overseer who commanded all the sects.
Jin Guangyao had a face that was very advantageous. His skin was fair, with a cinnabar dot between his eyebrows, and his eyes were clear and bright, seven parts handsome and three parts clever, giving him a very intelligent appearance. Such a face was enough to please women, yet it wouldn't make men feel disgusted. Older people would find him cute, and younger people would find him endearing—even if they didn't like him, they wouldn't hate him, so he was very advantageous.
He always wore a slight smile, clearly a clever and astute person. He wore the ceremonial robes of the Lanling Jin clan, a soft gauze hat, and a round-necked robe embroidered with the family crest of blooming golden stars and snowy waves on the chest, while the hem and cuffs were decorated with landscape and ocean tide patterns. He wore a nine-ringed belt and six-section boots. Although he was a bit short, the heavy pressure of his right hand on the sword at his waist exuded an unassailable aura of authority.
Hearing such a long string of praise, Jin Guangyao couldn't help but smile and lower his head: "Young Master Wei, you really flatter me."
Wei Wuxian: "Not at all, Lianfang-zun is too modest."
In fact, Wei Wuxian's praise wasn't wrong. Although Jin Guangyao was known for his cunning, he was approachable and adept at navigating the complex relationships between various powerful clans, making him a skilled administrator. To be honest, if Jin Guangyao hadn't been so wicked, he would have been more suitable than anyone else to be the Chief Cultivator.
Jin Ling followed him out, but he still didn't dare to see Jiang Cheng alone. He hid behind Jin Guangyao and hummed, "Uncle."
Jiang Cheng said sternly, "You still know how to call me uncle!"
Jin Guangyao said, "Oh, Sect Leader Jiang, the child is just being naughty, don't take it to heart. You love him the most, and A-Ling has been so afraid of being punished by you these past few days that he hasn't been able to eat."
Jin Ling secretly glanced up and caught sight of Wei Wuxian. He was immediately stunned and blurted out, "Why are you here?!"
Wei Wuxian said, "I'm here to freeload a meal."
Jin Ling said with slight displeasure, "You actually dared to come! I..." Jin Guangyao rubbed Jin Ling's head, pulled him behind his back, and laughed, "Come, come, whatever you want, Jin Lintai may not be able to say much else, but there will definitely be enough food." He said to Lan Xichen, "Second Brother, you sit down first, I'll go over there and take a look. I'll also ask someone to make arrangements for Wangji."
Lan Xichen nodded and said, "No need for too much trouble."
Jin Guangyao said, "How can this be considered troublesome? Why is Second Brother being so reserved when he comes to my place? Really."
Jin Guangyao could remember the name, title, age, and appearance of anyone he had met even once. Even after many years, he could immediately and accurately call them by name and warmly greet them with concern. After meeting them more than twice, he would remember all their likes and dislikes, catering to their preferences and avoiding their dislikes. Because Lan Wangji had suddenly arrived at Jinlintai, Jin Guangyao, who hadn't originally prepared a special feast for him, immediately ordered it to be arranged.
Wei Wuxian: Tsk tsk tsk, as expected, those who can become the head of a clan are all exceptionally awesome, able to remain so composed even when meeting unexpected people.
Jin Ling pouted unhappily and muttered under her breath, "Who said I'm timid and afraid of my uncle? I'm just respecting my elders, don't you understand?!"
Lan Jingyi patted Jin Ling on the shoulder, feigning understanding: "Being afraid of your uncle isn't something to be ashamed of, right, Sizhui?"
Lan Sizhui: ...
Jin Ling: ...Get lost.
Before even entering the palace, Lan Wangji excused himself, saying he needed to rest and find a quiet room. Everyone knew that Hanguang-jun disliked crowds, so no one was surprised and respectfully pointed him in the right direction. As soon as the door closed, Wei Wuxian took out a paper figure from his sleeve.
This paper cutout figure is only the length of an adult's finger, with a round head, two eyes drawn in front and one in back, and sleeves cut unusually wide, like the wings of a butterfly.
Wei Wuxian held it in his palm, closed his eyes, and after a moment, the paper figure suddenly trembled and climbed out of his palm.
Wei Wuxian's soul has already possessed this paper doll.
It shook its arms, and two wide sleeves, like wings, lifted its light body into the air, gracefully landing on Lan Wangji's shoulder.
Lan Wangji turned his head to look at the paper doll on his shoulder. The paper doll suddenly pounced on his cheek, climbing up his headband and tugging at it, as if it were inseparable from it. Lan Wangji let the paper doll wriggle on his headband for a while, then reached out to remove it. Seeing this, the paper doll quickly slid down, bumping its head against Lan Wangji's lips, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
After a pause, Lan Wangji finally pinched it between two fingers and said, "Don't make a fuss."
The paper figure limply curled up and wrapped itself around his slender fingers.
After a while, the piece of paper stealthily slipped through the crack in the door of the room.
Everyone: ...
Why did this dog food come out of nowhere?!
Jiang Cheng snorted coldly again: "Sneaking around, that's more like your style."
Then, Lan Wangji stared at the little paper figure that had sneaked out, a visible smile appearing in his usually cold eyes.
Jiang Cheng: ...
Well, another fool, foolish for love.
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