lastjinstanding | Brothel meme continued

Brothel meme continued

Continued from here

Jin Ling had really hoped he'd have A-Yuan at his side for this, but he didn't blame the sweet man for being ill one bit. In fact, he really enjoyed holding him as they finished traveling up to Lotus Pier. He sends servants off the boat to arrange a discreet delivery of his ill and subdued guest to private chambers following Ling's disembark. He instructed only Fu Geming to carry A-Yuan with Liling.

Sadly, after that, he had to leave his pets in his servants care. Squaring his shoulders, he stepped onto the pier. He bowed humbly to all of his relatives and gave them each a proper greeting- or in Wei Wuxian's case, a cheeky one.

He was brought into the main hall and given the seat next to Jiang Cheng's throne. Wei Wuxian was seated beside him with Lan Wangji at the next seat. And yes, Wangji had been offered the throne but had chosen to stay at Wuxian's side. It was Jiang Cheng's wedding, after all.

Jin Ling is happy sitting to a nice cup of tea and some wine after a long day of travel with promise of dinner coming.

~~~

"Jin-Guniang, is the young master Zheng in this room?" A young, unfamiliar male voice asks. "I have some medicine I wish to offer if you'd announce me."

"Of course. Let me ask for you," Liling says in a warm tone. She knocks on Yuan's door and peeks in. She smiles when she sees him awake. She comes in and shuts the door behind her. "Zheng-gongzi? How are you feeling? A friend of Jin-zongzhu from the Lan Clan is here to offer you some medicine. Would you feel up to seeing him?"

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Huaisang actually pouts when Cheng lifts him off his lap, but then suddenly he's kneeling in front of him and that's... unexpected. Even more unexpected when his skirts are pushed out of the way and surely, surely Jiang Cheng is not about to do what it very much looks like he's about to do.

Then there's a tongue on his dick and gods it makes Huaisang's toes curl. He fists his hands in the bunched up fabric of his robe and moans as those lips wrap around him.

"A-Cheng" he breathes, spreading his legs wider as an encouragement.

~~~

Yuan thinks about what his father told him, about the essential things one should stand for as a Lan, and he thinks Jingyi is absolutely a Lan - a little trouble here and there didn't mean anything if you represented the core values, in his opinion (and, clearly, his father's) and Jingyi had that in spades.

He does nod encouragingly at the question, smiling slightly when it comes.

He happily tells him the kind of places one might purchase or find such things, and even briefly explains what other oils or lotions can be used in a pinch, but the other question gives him pause for a moment as he considers it.

"Ask him." he says simply "He's going to send news, right? So when that arrives, write back to him and say you hope he can stop by before he goes home, because you miss him and you want to see him."

He lets Huaisang's cock slip from his mouth with a delightfully lewd pop and grins up at his lover. He leans upward to steal a kiss, wrapping a hand around the temporarily neglected dick and stroking it. "You've always been on my mind A-Sang. Thinking of you has been getting me through every day here."

He sinks back down and kisses along Huaisang's inner thighs, nipping at his tender skin lightly. As he gets near the center, he moves to take as much of the other man in his mouth as he could. He had a large mouth, but he hasn't done this before. He hums a note of satisfaction letting the vibration of his throat tease the other man.

Stealing the last trick up his sleeve- currently- he set a small jar under the couch and began striping out of his own robes. Alas, he hadn't been walking around sans pants like this lovely fellow, but he'd be sure to make it up to Huaisang.

~~~

"We might have to find someone to do that for us. We can't really be seen buying something if it's.. for such an obvious purpose like that." He knows it probably sounds silly to Sizhui, especially given his background that even buying something as simple as what's essentially massage oil could be seen as so indecent a Lan disciple couldn't do it. He wonders just how Wei Wuxian and Hanguang Jun get their oil if it has such a provocative purpose.

He really is so innocent sometimes!

Jingyi smiles at the idea and asks, looking a little uncertain. "You don't think that'd be selfish after how much time he's already been here and Lanling? I know he doesn't love being home but.. it's still his home. He has to want to be there at some point, right?"

Huaisang buries his fingers in Jiang Cheng's hair when he leans up to kiss him and he kisses back hungrily. He gives him a soft, loving smile at those words - that's what really floors him, truthfully, the emotion. If Jiang Cheng just wanted to fuck him, well, he wouldn't say no, but there's something overwhelming about the fact that this is more than just animal lust or a need for the warmth of a willing body.

"My Wanyin," he murmurs "how I have longed for you..."

He does not just mean over the last few days.

He slides his fingers out of Cheng's hair when the other man sinks back down, not wanting to pull if he got too lost in the sensations. He doesn't even notice Cheng getting the oil out, his attentions having earned a flurry of gasps and moans that had Huaisang's head dropping back and his eyes closing in pleasure.

~~~

Yuan considers their options for a moment before nodding.

"Leave it to me, I'll get you some." He promises. He wonders how much trouble he'd be in if he took his ribbon off in order to put on some of his other robes and sneak into town, but decides to consider less risky options first, he doesn't want Jingyi to feel guilty if he gets in trouble doing a favour for him.

He doesn't voice his first thought, which is that no young man would ever turn down a chance to get laid - especially by the person he loves - no matter how homesick he was. Instead he smiles softly, encouragingly.

"Not selfish, I'm sure he wants to see you as much as you want to see him."

Jingyi can't thank Sizhui enough again for the advice and shows him around some more. He shows him the bunk room and an area for quiet meditation. After that he takes him outside to see the main hall and then over to the library since Sizhui didn't get to see it properly with all the distress of the day before.

By then the dinner bell is ringing and it's time for Sizhui to brave.. the dinner hall. Jingyi stays at his side and whispers a couple of quick rules to him as they head in. No talking while they eat, but they can talk before and after. They can't have more than three bowls of rice, but if you have more than one bowl you get looks of disapproval.

As they come in a whole gaggle of boys of varying ages in matching white robes swarm around. It's all extremely disciplined with much less talk and excitement than a normal group of youth would be. Still, Jingyi spends the whole time before they get served their bowls introducing Sizhui to people, though he keeps promising he just has to call everyone 'Lan-xiong'. "Or you know, 'qianbei' if they look old!"

~~~

Jin Ling had spent a good portion of the morning talking with Zizhen before he had to sleep again for a couple hours. His guest had the option to stay with him again or not, but if he stayed he got snuggled up against again.

When he woke again it was late afternoon and he asked Liling to check on his uncle if he wanted to join them for something to eat, even if it was just dessert. She was thrilled Ling had something of an appetite again so she rushed off to get his uncle and honey cakes.

As they sat on the bed playing cards, he looks up when Liling comes back. She has a very weird look on her face but a large platter of food with her. He frowns. "What's wrong? Did you talk to Jiujiu?"

"Uh.. no.. um.." She sets the platter on the bed near them with a towel underneath to keep any crumbs or spills off the blankets. "He.. he was busy?" He glances at Zizhen and Jin Ling, her face starting to color.

"Busy?" Jin Ling asks. This was his uncle they were talking about so...

"He was um.. enjoying someone's company. In his bedroom."

Jin Ling chokes on the cup of water he just put to his lips. "What??"

Yuan takes everything in with interest, starting to build up a better mental picture of where everything is - the quicker he can find his way around Cloud Recesses, the better, he doesn't want to embarrass himself again. The library fascinates him now that he actually gets a chance to look at it - he's never seen so many books in one place, and he suspects he'll be spending quite a lot of his free time exploring here.

The dining hall is intimidating, but he just sticks by Jingyi's side and tries his best to follow all the rules he's being told, mimicking the way the other disciples are acting.

He smiles and greets everybody he's introduced to, though as Jingyi suspects he is hopelessly lost with everybody's names. He bites back a laugh at the comment - he's so glad to have Jingyi at his side, because he feels like an awful lot of people are staring at him.

~~~

Zizhen finds he doesn't actually mind taking a nap with Jin Ling curled up at his side. There's nothing inappropriate about it, it's just warm and comfortable and he's happy to give that kind of comfort to his friend when he clearly needs it - he knows they'd both rather be snuggled up to other people, but it's kind of nice to be able to have that closeness as friends, in Zizhen's opinion. He suspects it won't last after Jin Ling's feeling better.

He looks up when Liling enters, noting the look on her face as well - she seems so flustered by something and he's honestly intrigued.

He pats Jin Ling on his back when he chokes, but really he's in just as much shock and he's almost doing it on autopilot. Jin Ling's uncle just broke off the wedding to his cousin, how could he have taken somebody to his bed so soon?

"...who is it?" he asks slowly, and he doesn't know whether he's appalled on his cousin's behalf or just really, really interested. Who else is even here? Or is it a Jin?

It was hard to say if this was the new norm or if Jin Ling was going to return to a more distant routine once he was better. After witnessing Zizhen's friendship in action in a very real way, they'd crossed a threshold very few had with the young man. Very, very few. Like.. his jiujiu, maybe. Yuan. It was a very small list.

There are so many questions in Jin Ling's mind over this news he doesn't know where to start. Fortunately, Zizhen was mentally more with it than he was, because he settled on the best question.

"Well.. uh.. I didn't really see. I hadn't meant to overhear anything but I called and I thought he just hadn't heard me, so I opened the door." She looks terribly guilty. "I'm not sure who the man was but.." It had been passionate! She let out an awkward giggle. "A- at least I can report that your uncle seems to be very good at what he does?"

"OH MY GOD LILING!" Jin Ling cries, covering his face with his hands. A man? His uncle was sleeping with a man?

~~~

As they're heading back to the dorms, Jingyi pauses. "Are you going back to the Jingshi or are you going to stay with us tonight? You're welcome if you'd like." He leans forward and whispers. "You won't have to worry about anyone.. 'welcoming someone home' in middle of the night!" He snickers and goes red as he jokes about it.

As if Lan Zhan and Wei Ying hadn't been taking advantage of Sizhui being gone today for such things already.

Zizhen can't help it, he bursts out laughing - he does at least put a hand over his mouth to try and stifle it but honestly seeing Jin Ling so appalled is kind of hilarious.

Maybe that explains why sect leader Jiang hadn't wanted to marry his cousin, though why he'd wait until the last possible minute to call off the wedding is a bit of a mystery. There has to be something going on here!

"What colour were his robes? Wait, he probably wasn't wearing any, was he?" he muses out loud "Have there been any more visitors arrived recently, Liling?"

~~~

Yuan giggles at the joke. He thinks he probably should move into the dorms, it's only going to make him seem even more out of place if he doesn't stay with the other disciples.

"I'll check with a-die and baba if they mind me staying in the dorms," he says, though, in case his fathers don't want him to "I need to go back to the Jingshi to get some of my things anyway."

Now that he has the place to store things in the room he's going to share with Jingyi, it makes sense to move them so they're not cluttering up the Jingshi.

"I DON'T WANNA KNOW! LALALALALA!" Jin Ling shrieks in a overly dramatic way that only kids thinking about their parents doing it can pull off.

Liling looks at Zizhen with a devious little smile and says, "Black and gold. And 'I. Don't. Know.' is here who he is." She winks.

"He's doing the Headshaker?!" Apparently someone could hear after all! "I'm hallucinating! This has to be a dream. It's that charm! This sounds just like an Uncle Wuxian trick!" There was just no way his uncle was sleeping with Nie Huaisang!

~~~

"Yeah and they might want to celebrate that you made it through your first day as a Lan disciple! Sometimes parents give presents! Of course that's usually candy since they're this big." He makes a gesture to how little the regular baby juniors are on their first day and giggles.

"You would make such a cute baby junior! We should go hang out with a class tomorrow!"

Zizhen is trying so hard not to laugh at Jin Ling's dramatics - it's not just the amusement of it, it's the sheer joy of him being so awake and energetic that he can yell dramatically.

"If you're hallucinating, we're all hallucinating, though I don't know why your uncle would make a charm that did that." Zizhen points out through his poorly-contained giggles.

"You know, Nie-zongzhu has become a lot more competent in recent years, the Nie sect is doing very well and, actually, as matches go..."

He's definitely just messing with his friend now, but he's not wrong.

~~~

Yuan laughs, but he can't deny the way the comment makes his heart ache for what could have been, for what might have changed if Hanguang Jun had found him all those years ago.

"If I have time," he agrees, he'll be starting his own instruction tomorrow after all, and he's got so much catching up to do it's a fairly rigorous schedule, but he does get some breaks and it would be quite nice to see the younger classes in action.

It hasn't occurred to Jin Ling yet just how much better he feels today than the last several. He'd gotten through a night without any nightmares or fevers and he had a good friend. Things had improved considerably in a very short period of time.

"Nie-zongzhu is a moron! My Jiujiu deserves someone way better than him!" And yes, it's true, Nie Huaisang proved to some that he wasn't actually as stupid as his xiaoshu, Jin Guangyao, thought he was but the man still acted like a helpless twit. How on earth did his uncle find that appealing? "Maybe he's just easy.."

His uncle was a man after all. Ew.

~~~

"Right right! Alright well off with you! Your day will start early tomorrow. If you're not used to it, it'll be a very short night, trust me!" Jingyi shoos Sizhui affectionately toward his home before heading for the dorms himself.

Lan Zhan waits with the image of patience at the Jingshi, but his husband knows it's fake tonight. There's a whole bowl of candies on the table because, of course, he knows the tradition with the candy and he's not letting his son miss out on it. He's had to swat Wuxian's hand away from it four times in the last hour.

Finally to calm his nerves, he's resorted to playing the qin.

"I wonder what he's even doing here..." Zizhen says thoughtfully "Did Jiang-zongzhu invite him just for... that..."

He has so many questions about how this happened and - more importantly - when it started. How much is this the cause of the wedding being called off? Should he be doing something to defend his cousin's honour at this point? He hopes they're being cautious (servants seeing aside), because this really isn't going to do great things for sect leader Jiang's reputation or his cousin's, and sect leader Nie isn't going to look that great either - he doesn't want to make a comment on that, though, he doesn't want to imply that Jin Ling's beloved uncle is an idiot.

Even though he might actually be one.

~~~

"I'll see you tomorrow," Yuan tells him brightly, waving goodbye as he heads up to the Jingshi.

When he steps inside and sees the candy, he remembers what Jingyi said and smiles softly, though he drags his gaze away from it and smiles at his parents.

"A-die, baba, good evening." he bows to them both.

"Ah! One day in and he's already the perfect Lan disciple! Look at how polite he is, Lan Zhan!" Wuxian jumps up to fuss over his now-blushing son and pull him towards the table. "Come in, come in, can we please eat the candy now?"

Jiang Cheng had totally invited Nie Huaisang here just to fuck him.

Which he was doing.. a lot. They.. hadn't left the bedchambers yet. The Nie sect leader was getting to experience first had the fullest meaning of the word 'virile'. He alternated between rough and gentle wanting to give his lover as much of both as he could handle, perhaps even more so.

For now though, the cries of passion had calmed and they lay together on in a mess of soft white sheets and limbs. Cheng kissed the top of Huaisang's head as the other was being held lovingly to his chest. He stroked the beautiful man's bare back in lazy circles. He'd always known how attractive the pretty Nie ruler was, but to witness him be pleasured over and over again had made his heart sing.

"The fan is beautiful," he remarks after a while of comfortable quiet.

~~~

"No! It can't be just for that! My Jiujiu isn't like that!" He frowns and thinks for a minute. "Wasn't he at the wedding too?" Granted, everyone important had been at the wedding but it seems significant whether or not Nie-zongzhu was at the wedding when there was decidedly a lack of wedding.

"We need a spy to figure this stuff out," he groans. "We need more details. Zizhen, can you get any more details? Like I don't want those details! I don't need any more 'he's good at it- bleh' but just.. are those sweet buns?"

His attention gets diverted as he notices something particularly sweet on the platter Liling had brought right when this whole thing erupted. His servant comes over and helps him sit up better and gets him the treat. He takes a big bite out of it and then goes back to thinking about their weird problem.

"Jingyi's so good at asking this stuff. I wish he was here."

Liling watches him amazed, though it was amusing how much of this he was missing.

~~~

Lan Zhan practically springs from his qin, much the same as wuxian does to come greet their son. He smiles quietly though as his husband's doting is so silly and endearing. He has the impulse to hug the young man and even kiss his cheeks but it's so new and the desire is so unusual to him, he can't quite bring himself to do it. Still, he watches Sizhui's face with much more warmth than he was known for.

He nods in agreement that yes, Sizhui is clearly perfect. However, he sighs at the candy comment. "They're his candy."

Huaisang might actually be dead. Or possibly he's ascended. Maybe both. His entire body feels loose and boneless and more relaxed than he has ever been in his life. He's floating on a cloud of pleasure and he's not sure he'll ever come down.

"Mmm?" He tilts his head so he can look up at the other man "the fa- oh, the one I painted for you?" He asks, and a lazy, contented grin spreads across his lips.

"I'm glad you like it, my love. I know you're unlikely to use it, but I thought it might be something you could look at from time to time and think of me."

~~~

Zizhen nods - he was at the wedding, but there was nothing odd about that, and they certainly hadn't been acting out of the ordinary that he'd noticed. Then again, it's not like they had much chance to - after the whole scene with the poisoned tea everything had spiralled a bit from there, and then Jiang-zongzhu had made everybody leave.

Only... Zizhen isn't sure he saw sect leader Nie leaving... though with Jingyi unconscious he had other things on his mind at the time.

Jin Ling almost seems normal right now, chewing happily on the bun while thinking through the puzzle. It warms his heart.

He grabs a bun of his own and nods thoughtfully.

"Divide and conquer. Later, when they're not.. you know. You can talk to your uncle and I'll talk to Nie-zongzhu and we'll see what we can find out?"

~~~

"I don't mind sharing," Yuan says softly, a smile on his face.

"He doesn't mind sharing!" Wuxian says like he's won something, giving Lan Zhan a smug look.

"It's almost more candy than I've ever had in my life," Yuan laughs slightly "I really couldn't eat it all myself."

Wei Wuxian's expression immediately goes stricken.

"Ah! Lan Zhan! Our poor son hasn't eaten all that much candy at all! A-Yuan no I won't have a single piece it's all yours!"

Cheng smiles down on him and runs a hand gently through his hair. His grin turns amused and he chuckles. "A-Sang, are you saying you don't picture me as the type to peek coyly over fans and hide my flirty smiles?" He appreciates that Huaisang recognized he wouldn't be really using the fan for it's intended purpose, but as a prized art piece. "I know just where I'll display it at home, so everyone can admire it."

"Although I'm afraid, the fan might not be able to do as you hoped. I don't think it's possible to think of you any more in a day than I already do, my little nightingale."

~~~

Being that he was one of the first to leave, he wouldn't have known about Nie Huaisang staying.

"Yeah but be careful. I don't trust Nie-zongzhu. I don't need him turning his focus on you. I can't do much to protect Jiujiu yet if he's going to be stupid enough to sleep with him, but maybe I can protect you." Indirectly, since he couldn't really defend anyone in his bedridden condition. "What do we even ask? 'Hi uncle are you getting manipulated?' 'Hi Nie-zongzhu are you manipulating my uncle?'.

He shakes his head. "Whatever, we should talk about something else before I get angry." Angrier, at least. "Speaking of sleeping with people, when are you planning on lifting Jingyi's robes?"

~~~

Lan Zhan starts off looking like he just ate a sour lemon because, yes, Wuxian was right. Yuan, of course wouldn't mind sharing his treats. They had the best boi, so it was very predictable. But after only a couple moments, he's flustered and trying to quickly make that his husband happy again.

He puts a hand gently on Wuxian's arm, reassuringly. "I'll get some more from town tomorrow. I'll make sure there's candy for him." Please don't be upset husband or son! There's lots of candy in the world!

Huaisang laughs, leaning up to kiss his lover softly. He likes this side of him, this easy teasing, likes seeing him so relaxed for once.

The fact he's willing to display the fan, and those beautiful words, earn another kiss and a happy sigh as Huaisang lays his head back down on Cheng's chest, tracing over his stomach with his fingers as he smiles.

"Good. I like the thought of being on your mind as much as you're on mine, A-Cheng, my loyal wolf." He sighs softly, voice turning more serious "but we should be careful. Don't display the fan just yet. I am here to help support Jin Ling and nothing more, for the moment at least, I refuse to be the cause of any more scandal for you, my love, you've dealt with quite enough."

They would claim to have grown closer, he thinks, something something sect leader Nie's invaluable support, developing feelings etc etc, once a suitable amount of time has passed.

~~~

"We'll figure it out," Zizhen promises before allowing the change of subject. If Jin Ling's uncle wasn't going to protect himself, they'd do it for him.

"Jin Ling!" He gasps, the question making him flush. He looks away sheepishly "I don't know. Soon, I hope? But I've never.. and I know he's never... I've only ever read about it in books!"

~~~

Yuan smiles softly, giving both his parents fond looks.

"I want to share, with both of you. Baba, don't be sad, I have candy now, I have you now, I couldn't be happier."

Wuxian draws both of them into a tight hug and then pulls them over to the table.

"I love you both so much. Come, come, A-Yuan, tell us all about your day."

He eagerly meets every kiss, lifting his other hand to brush a lock of hair from his love's face.

"Careful?" Jiang Cheng asks, in a brief moment of ignorance. As Huaisang explains further, he realizes what he means and his hand on the other's back stills. That kind of careful. He'd been so caught up in the relief and thrill of having the wonderfully devious man with him again, he'd let himself forget for a while the dangers involved here.

It also felt so good to have someone care about his reputation like this. It was humbling and only reinforced his feelings for the man. His lip curls. "So no having sex with you in the main hall here, is what you're saying?" He presses a kiss to the top of Huaisang's head and chuckles.

"Alright, I'll only look at it when I'm alone. But.. A-Sang.. know that I'm not ashamed to be with you, my dear."

~~~

He wonders if Huaisang and his uncle are together, how they could break that craziness up. If they did it subtly, maybe no one else would have to know. Liling could be a bit of a gossip, but this was a pretty serious topic. She got her need to squeal out on them instead of someone else the information could do some damage.

He laughs seeing Zizhen's reaction. That had been precisely why he said it like he did. That had been worth the disgraceful words. If he had any energy he would've fallen over and rolled on the bed laughing like he used to. Right now, he could just snicker.

"You've a friend right here whose done far more than read books," he points out as the social menace that he was. "Besides, you know how backward those Lans can be. Don't you think you'll be waiting forever if you wait for him? Show some initiative Zizhen! He doesn't always have to be in charge does he? It gets tiring even for the best of us."

Okay, not that he knows. He's always the one still in charge in bed.. well except that first time. God that had been hot. Maybe he does know?

"I'll give you some oil before you leave." He was thinking of adding an inner pocket to his robes just so it's always there for..

..

Oh. Guess he won't really be planning on doing it again with Yuan if he isn't planning on seeing him again. That was a knife in the heart if there ever was one.

Huaisang laughs.

"Well, maybe not yet he grins wickedly. He doesn't think he could talk Jiang Cheng into fucking him in the main hall here, however much the idea thrills him, this isn't their home. The main hall in the Unclean Realm, on the other hand... in fact there's a few places in Qinghe he can think of, and a few in Lotus Pier, too.

But that can wait.

"I know you're not," he says, expression softening - he likes to hear it though, the gentle reassurance stills the worry in his heart "but I'd never forgive myself if I tarnished your reputation. We can be more open about it once a suitable amount of time has passed."

If he still feels the same way, by then.

~~~

"Hey I can take charge! I want to take charge! I just... well we only just kissed and I stayed in the dormitory rather than the guest quarters so we didn't exactly have a chance to do anything more and then I came here!"

(And he's going to ignore the implications of that statement because he doesn't need to think about his friend's sexual preferences, thank you)

"...thank you." he says, genuinely, because he doesn't actually know where to get something like that and it would be good to be prepared "Maybe I'll arrange to visit Cloud Recesses on my way home... or invite him to visit Baling, maybe... I'd like to make it special."

"So.. a secret love affair, hmm? I could get into an idea like that," he muses, letting his hand slip lower to give a recently abused ass a gently caress. That was mostly likely going to be sore tomorrow if it wasn't already. He was going to try and feel bad about it, but he made no promises. He'd at least get Huaisang a pillow to sit on instead of making him ride a horse this time though... unless that horse was him again.

"Speaking of.. there really was a situation I could use your advice on. The madam who Yuan worked for has come to collect him. I've told her he won't be returning and that it'd be very unwise of her to pursue him since he's met his family. I didn't say who they were. I told her to gather the numbers for his debt but.. even if I do pay this, she still could come back to cause trouble later." She said she wouldn't, but of course he didn't believe her fully. "The numbers will be inflated as well."

~~~

Jin Ling laughs, still finding this fun to fluster his friend. He makes a face at hearing he slept in the dormitory though. "You slept where? That's in the room with all the other boys, right? What were you thinking? Why wouldn't you demand a guest room?" Who on earth would want to sleep with a room full of other people like that? The Lans were so weird.

And he was hot, you should find his sexual preferences titillating! More importantly, he was taking a guess on Jingyi's personality for you. Listen to him!

"The hell you will!" Okay, so his priority just abruptly switched. "You can't take him out of Cloud Recesses until Yuan's comfortable there." He pouts a bit. "Just.. take a blanket and go to the Back Mountains area or get a room at the inn in town."

He thinks about it for a moment. How would he handle it if it were Yuan and him? He tried to ignore how painful the thought was. Hell he'd probably grab Yuan and drag him to the nearest thicket and have him against a tree or in the grass barely having time to get more than their trousers off. In fact, that'd be pretty hot! Or even the hall with the classrooms at night when no one else was there or the library after it was supposedly locked or..

He needs to stop thinking about this.

"You'd go back after visiting me instead of going home?" He asks suddenly picking up on that. There wasn't even the pretense that this trip was on the way home then. Zizhen really, truly came here for the one and only reason to check on him.

"Exactly," Huaisang grins - it is kind of a thrilling idea to him, too. He's spent so long keeping so many secrets, he'd sort of like to keep one that was fun to keep.

He also didn't care how sore he was going to be tomorrow, because he'd just find a way to whine about it until Jiang Cheng lavished him with more attention (which would probably lead to him getting even more sore, but that was future Huaisang's problem).

He gives the situation some consideration, though he continues to trail his fingers across Cheng's skin as he thinks.

"It depends how smart she is," he says eventually "a stupid madame might try blackmail, or attempt to extort money at a later date, but one who's smart enough will realise she is better making friends instead of enemies. A woman who proves she is discreet will remain that way because it makes for a better class of clientele. We just need to encourage her to be smart."

He knows some high ranking cultivators who visit brothels, the right words in the right ears will get her what she wants and keep her from bothering them - and Huaisang knows those words, and those ears.

"Can I be there? When she comes back?" he asks, leaning up to kiss his lover softly "I think I can ascertain if she's going to be a problem or not."

~~~

"Why would I demand a guest room the beds are just the same...?" Zizhen looks mystified. Honestly he'd wanted to be closer to Jingyi, it wasn't until they were trying to be quiet in the morning that he'd thought about privacy.

He wonders if he could get away with asking for a guest room if he went back, he is sect heir after all...

"Of course, of course not," he reassures with a smile "I'm sure he's taking good care of Yuan. We'll find somewhere in or close to cloud recesses, I promise."

The fact that Jin Ling disappears into a daydream for a moment and then suddenly asks about his plans is... weird, but he puts it down to him still being ill.

"Yes..? Well I want to see Jingyi again, of course I'd go back..?"

Wanyin's lip curls as he thinks how even more intimidating it would be for the madam to come in the next day to see not one but two sect leaders. If they both tell her to leave Yuan alone, what mediocre would go up against that? Only someone incredibly stupid. While he doesn't love the idea that he can't handle this perfectly fine on his own, he knows how well Huaisang reads people and situations. It would put his mind at ease knowing his nephew, his brother, and the rest of his family was safe from this.

He hums thoughtfully, like he really has to consider this incredibly inconvenient request. His lips curl at the edges. "I suppose.. will you behave and follow my rule even then?" Because nothing says serious business meeting like making your secret boyfriend go pantless.

~~~

Jin Ling facepalms. No wonder it's taken this long for these idiots to kiss!

"So it drives Jingyi crazy and he has to come sneak in your guest room to see you. Honestly, do you just read the romance novels for the sex or do you actually read the rest of them too?" Wait, did that mean someone else reads romance novels? Shh! "Trust me, he would've been in your bed a long time ago if you'd just made it a little harder for him to get your attention. But do it next time. I guarantee if you don't invite him, he'll be there within an hour of when you retire for the night ready to ditch his skirts and dignity."

That might be a bit of a stretch, but Jingyi would certainly not be able to handle being without Zizhen the whole night.

Jin Ling is quiet again and sets the last third of his roll back on the platter. Before he'd been sick, he would've easily polished off two of those plus some of the other food, but he was already unable to eat any more. He wipes his fingers on the cloth Liling left as he thinks longer.

"Would you promise me something?" He asks finally, looking back up at his friend. "Would you keep what you've seen here to yourself? With me? I don't.. I don't want Yuan to know. Just.. tell him I've been busy if you must but, not any of the rest of it."

Huaisang blinks up at him with wide eyes. Jiang Cheng is absolutely shameless.

He thinks he might be in love.

"Wanyin," he says, looking scandalised "How could you suggest such a thing?" He holds that expression for just a moment longer before his hurt look morphs into a devious little smile.

"Of course I would follow your rule, my love, you know I'll always be on my very best behaviour for you." he purrs.

~~~

"I read the rest of- wait." Zizhen's eyes narrow suspiciously, but Jin Ling is already continuing and rather neatly distracting him from this revelation.

"I don't know... " he says dubiously. Only... well that would be just like Jingyi, wouldn't it? Throwing caution to the wind and sneaking into his guest room the way he snuck into his bed yesterday morning, and then maybe he could sneak in to a room filled with candlelight and a waiting Zizhen... yes he rather likes this idea... "Jin Ling you might be a genius..."

(He shouldn't have said that, he's never going to hear the end of it)

The requested promise gives him pause, though, because he really doesn't want to lie to Yuan, but if Jin Ling doesn't want him to know the state he's in, and since it's only going to worry him terribly if he hears, maybe...

"I... I promise." he nods. Jin Ling is one of his oldest friends, he thinks Yuan is wonderful, but Jin Ling has his loyalty, he'd do anything for him - including lie.

It runs in the family, apparently. He was at least more subtle about it than a certain other family member.

Either way, Huaisang's reaction makes him laugh. "And what if I want you on your naughtiest behavior?" He asks with a wicked grin. He rolls his lover onto his back and leans in to kiss along the Nie sect leader's neck. It was a wonder they hadn't left more marks along the skin here, but the day wasn't over yet.

If they couldn't be public with their affair, he was going to enjoy it as thoroughly and as long as he possibly could while they were here in private.

~~~

Jin Ling grins, very pleased he might have helped his friends out. It wasn't that he was invested in the two having sex just because he couldn't anymore- although maybe that was a little bit of it- but he was also happy for them and wanted to encourage this relationship along. It was also a strange but genuine way of saying thank you.

He doesn't like the idea of lying to Yuan either, but he knows how it would be if the roles were reversed. If Yuan was in trouble or hurt or sick.. it would just kill him to not be there with him. That's how it would be from now on too. Whatever problem his beloved faced would be supported by everyone else instead of him since Ling was no longer in the picture.

He just really wanted him to enjoy some peace with his family. He deserved it after the hell he'd lived for so long. He wonders if there was something he could send back with Zizhen even subtly that would be from him. Wait, Jin Ling might be the expert (ha ha) on sex, but Zizhen was the wiz on romance. "If I wanted to send something back with you.. but not have him know it's from me, what would it be?"

Huaisang giggles as he's rolled onto his back, arching his neck to give his lover better access and humming thoughtfully.

"But darling wolf of mine, my best behaviour is my naughtiest." he teases, stroking his hands up Cheng's back and enjoying the feel of firm muscles beneath his fingers. He wants to touch every inch of this beautiful man, revel in the fact that he's real and solid and here in Huaisang's bed (or, rather, Huaisang was in his bed, but same difference). He can't entirely believe he is actually wanted, desired by the man he's lusted after since they were teenagers.

Not just lust, either, there are some embarrassingly earnest feelings for Jiang Cheng held in his heart, and there's a hesitant, breathless hope that perhaps those are returned as well.

~~~

"You want him to not know it's from you?" Zizhen asks with a confused frown - why would he not want that? Still, he considers the question all the same, trying to think of suggestions.

"He told us a story about Hanguang Jun buying him a paper butterfly, I think that's a very fond memory for him, and something he always sort of remembered even when he forgot a lot of other things, so something to do with that would make him happy but he wouldn't know it was from you.. unless he ever told you that story?" he suggests "Oh! Or something to do with rabbits. You should have seen his eyes light up when we mentioned the rabbits. I hope he got to go and see them..."

"Yeah.. is that so weird?" Jin Ling asks. Wouldn't it be kind of romantic not to tell him? Although, it may be just an excuse to send him something while knowing he really should leave the other alone. Yuan had found his family and his place in the world and he didn't need to worry about anything happening outside of it. It just seemed too cruel to know Zizhen was returning to Gusu without something for Yuan.

He knows it doesn't make any sense.

"Rabbits and butterflies huh? That's a start.." He ponders that for a couple moments. "It's just.. he's finally found this happiness, right? I don't want him thinking about anything else. If he stays hung up on me, he won't be happy there and he needs to get over me and whatever plans we had since everything's changed for him now. But I don't also want you going back without something for him. Am I just being crazy?"

Zizhen frowns thoughtfully at Jin Ling's explanation - having spent a little time with Yuan now, he doesn't think the other boy's in any danger of getting over Jin Ling. He can't decide if it's painfully romantic - the two of them longing for each other, unsure how the other feels - or if it's just a bit sad.

He understands the logic, Jin Ling still has so much to deal with and it'll probably be easier without the distraction, and Yuan is just starting out as disciple and getting used to living in Cloud Recesses, maybe it is better that the two of them are allowed to get on with their lives, maybe it will only make their love stronger when they reunite...

(He hopes they reunite. They better reunite. This really is like something out of his novels)

"It's not crazy," he says quietly "you love him, you want him to be happy, but you still want to give him things, it makes sense to me."

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