Chapter 169: Old Father's Medical Consultation
The cloud carriage to heaven was moving smoothly among the sea of clouds. Wei Wuxian leaned on Lan Wangji's shoulder, looking at the surging clouds outside the window, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the amulet on his waist - that was the new amulet that Lan Wangji had specially asked Lin Mo to carve. It was thicker than the previous wooden plaque and felt warm in his hand.
"Are you nervous?" Lan Wangji asked him, lowering his head, and gently rubbing the acupoint on the back of his hand with his fingertips. The acupoint was always a little cold due to years of taking medicine.
Wei WuXian shook his head, then nodded, “A little bit. Daddy’s eyes are so scary. The last time he looked at my medical records, his brows were furrowed so tightly that they could kill a mosquito.”
Lan Wangji was amused by this and was about to say something when the cloud chariot slowly stopped at the South Heavenly Gate. Jun Wu was already waiting in the side hall, dressed in dark casual clothes. He had lost the majesty of the Celestial Emperor and looked more like an ordinary patriarch. However, the calmness between his brows still made people afraid to act rashly.
"I'm coming." Jun Wu raised his eyes, his gaze first landing on Wei Wuxian's face. Seeing that his complexion was indeed a little rosier, the solemnity in his eyes faded a little. Then he turned to Lan Wangji and nodded slightly, "Thank you for your hard work."
The word "hard work" was said so naturally and sincerely that Lan Wangji was stunned for a moment. He quickly said, "It's my job."
Wei Wuxian secretly curled his lips aside - as expected, his father was always more tolerant towards his "son-in-law" than towards him, his own son.
The consultation took place in a warm room in a side hall. Jun Wu personally took Wei Wuxian's pulse. His fingertips were slightly cool, and as they rested on Wei Wuxian's wrist, a gentle yet irresistible spiritual power slowly penetrated his meridians. Wei Wuxian subconsciously tensed, and Lan Wangji quietly held his hand.
"Relax." Jun Wu's voice was low, his eyes focused on the pulse case, and the spiritual power at his fingertips rose and fell gently with the beating of his pulse.
After a moment, he withdrew his hand, glanced at Wei Wuxian's eyelids again, and examined his tongue coating before picking up the pen and paper on the table and writing down the names of the herbs. His handwriting was vigorous, like his own, exuding an unquestionable rigor.
"Recovering well." Jun Wu put down his pen, his tone lacking emotion. "Seventy percent of the blockage in his meridians has dissipated. Although his spiritual energy is weak, it can now flow independently. It's much better than the last time I saw him."
Wei Wuxian's eyes lit up, and just as he was about to take credit, Jun Wu glared at him coldly, "Don't be complacent. If it weren't for Lan Wangji nourishing you with his spiritual energy every day and forcing you to take your medicine on time, do you think you could have recovered so quickly with just those few Qi-nourishing pills from Lin Mo?"
Wei Wuxian's smile froze on his face instantly. He shut his mouth in disappointment and secretly shrank behind Lan Wangji.
Lan Wangji took the prescription written by Jun Wu, looked at it carefully, and asked, "Do I need to avoid any other foods?"
"You still can't eat anything raw, cold, or spicy." Jun Wu stood up and walked to the medicine cabinet to get some medicine. "But you can eat some warming and nourishing ingredients, such as lotus seeds and yam. The Lan family's chef should know about these." He paused and added, "You must channel your spiritual energy three times a week without interruption. Your technique is steady, making you more suitable than the Heavenly Court's medical officer."
"Yes." Lan Wangji responded respectfully, but his heart was slightly moved - Jun Wu's words were both an instruction and an approval.
Wei Wuxian, listening from the sidelines, suddenly felt that his father's attitude towards Lan Wangji was like looking at an "uninspected product." He couldn't help but mutter, "Dad, why do you only blame me and not him? He forces me to drink those bitter medicines every day, making me dream of chewing candy..."
"Good medicine tastes bitter." Jun Wu sealed the herbs without looking back. "If he hadn't forced you, you'd still be lying on the bed groaning." He handed the medicine bag to Lan Wangji and said in a softer tone, "This medicine is milder than the previous recipe. Have the chef stew it into a medicinal meal. He should be able to accept it."
Lan Wangji took the medicine bag, and when his fingertips touched the warm paper bag, a strange warmth suddenly surged in his heart - this was probably the first time that Jun Wu spoke to him in such a "negotiating" tone.
When leaving the warm room, Jun Wu suddenly called out to Lan Wangji: "Please stay for a moment. I have something to tell you."
Wei Wuxian's heart skipped a beat, and he looked at Lan Wangji nervously—was his father going to "punish" his son-in-law?
When there were only two of them left in the warm room, Jun Wu gestured for Lan Wangji to sit down and personally poured him a cup of tea. "You know Ah Xian's personality. He's impulsive, likes to show off, and always likes to hide his thoughts."
"I know." Lan Wangji nodded, his eyes sincere, "I will take good care of him."
"You've done very well." Jun Wu looked at him, a rare hint of gentleness in his eyes. "Last time, when he had a high fever that wouldn't go away, you stayed up all night, using your own spiritual power to suppress his injuries. I heard about it. And these days, you've adjusted his sleep and rest schedule, supervised him taking his medicine, and even learned how to cook medicinal food yourself... Lan Xichen has taught you very well."
Lan Wangji didn't expect that he even knew these details. He didn't know how to respond for a moment and could only say, "It's my duty."
"Nothing is 'should'." Jun Wu put down his teacup, his voice deeper. "Axian has a special physique. He was injured in the mass grave that year. It is his blessing to meet you." He looked at Lan Wangji and said solemnly, "From now on, I will leave him in your hands."
The word "please" was spoken so softly, yet it carried a weight exceeding a thousand pounds. Lan Wangji looked up abruptly, meeting Jun Wu's gaze—a gaze devoid of the majesty of a Heavenly Emperor, only a father's recognition and entrustment of his daughter's (according to Wei Wuxian's identity as defined above, Jun Wu considered him his son, hence the word "son")'s fate.
"I will protect him with my life." Lan Wangji's voice was not loud, but every word was clear and firm, with unquestionable determination.
Jun Wu looked at him and suddenly smiled. The smile was very shallow, but it was enough to make Wei Wuxian, who was secretly peeping outside the hall, drop his jaw in surprise - in his impression, his father's smile was rarer than a shooting star in heaven.
As they left the Heavenly Palace, Wei Wuxian leaned against the window of the cloud chariot, looking at the Nantian Gate that was getting farther and farther away. He couldn't help but ask, "Lan Zhan, what did my father say to you? He didn't scold you, did he?"
Lan Wangji held his hand, his fingertips warm. "No. He told me to take good care of you."
“That’s it?” Wei WuXian was clearly unconvinced. “He didn’t say anything bad about me?”
"He did." Lan Wangji suppressed a laugh. "He said you like to show off and are picky about food."
Wei WuXian turned his face away angrily: “Humph, I knew it!”
The cloud chariot passed through the sea of clouds, and the sunlight shone on their clasped hands, warm and bright. Lan Wangji looked at the angry man beside him and suddenly felt that Jun Wu's "please" might not only be an entrustment, but also a recognition - recognition that he could hold up the sky for Wei Wuxian, and that their future was worth looking forward to.
Wei Wuxian complained, but his heart felt filled with something. His father's satisfaction with Lan Wangji was more reassuring to him than any diagnosis.
It turns out that being "recognized" by the two people you love most at the same time is such a reassuring feeling.
The cloud car headed south, carrying a load of sunshine and hope, slowly driving towards the human world. There were children waiting for them, a warm home, and countless ordinary days worth cherishing.
Everything is slowly getting better.
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