Knowing each other is a bit of a strong way of phrasing it. Shen Yuan had attended lectures in the Cloud Recesses a few years back, and Xichen had spoken with the young man's second brother a number of times at various functions. The only time they had spent anything resembling time together was briefly during a conference where Lan Xichen had accidentally consumed a mouthful of wine, and Shen Yuan had been kind enough to make his excuses for him while Lan Xichen retreated to the solitude of the gardens until its effects wore off.
He couldn't say he disliked Shen Yuan - rather the opposite - the young man had done him quite the service and saved him embarrassing himself and his sect. It's just... well.
They don't really know each other all that well, shufu!
It is a great relief when Lan Qiren steps outside, and from where he's seated across from Shen Yuan, his shoulders visibly sag.
"I am... very sorry about this. It would appear our families were conspiring behind our backs."
His face is effused with a gentle, assuring warmth, a radiant smile blooming on delicate lips with just a hint of humour to take the edge off the awkwardness. Lan Xichen's fame almost always precedes him and it is not undeserved - not moments ago he looked utterly mortified at the surprise betrothal. Now, he was working overtime to reassure the young man across from him.
"I have no objections to the arrangement -" which is true. The Shen family's reputation as merchants is impeccable, and they still maintain their old cultivation traditions from the days they were a proper sect. He cannot muster any serious objection - it is, by and large, a very agreeable match. "- but if you do, please tell me now truthfully. I would not force the matter if you have any discomfort with it. Ultimately you and I are the ones with the final say here."
And as well meaning as shufu is, Xichen has no desire to go through with any betrothal unless his spouse-to-be is also on board. He has seen what marriages foisted upon two unwilling parties do to people; he would not let this sweet-faced gentlemen live in bitter resentment just to appease their family. If shufu thought relations with the Shen family were valuable, there are surely other ways of cementing such an alliance that didn't involve marrying their unwilling son to a man he barely knew.
Shen Yuan had thought he'd done quite well at maintaining his composure up until now: he'd stayed calm and serene under Lan Qiren's intense scrutiny and the painful embarrassment of Lan Xichen's confusion. Even now he was careful not to show any of the outrage and sympathy he felt on the other man's behalf, lest they be mistaken for unfilial sentiment. But Lan Xichen's earnest kindness, coming from that famously beautiful face...it was really more than Shen Yuan's face could bear! He could already hear er-ge teasing him for being such a softy, but he doubted Shen Jiu could do any better! Lan Xichen really was too good for this world, too pure!
Still, he made an effort to moderate his reaction, for the sake of his own and his fiance's dignity. "If Lan-zongzhu is alright with it, then I don't see any reason to object either," he says shyly, feeling his own face warm as he greedily studied every inch of Lan Xichen's face from the corner of one modestly-averted eye. "In truth I was very pleased, when da-ge told me we'd received a proposal from the Lan. I only regret my future husband did not receive the same opportunity." That much had to be okay, surely?
He suspects it has something to do with his adamant refusal to even consider Wen Ruohan's proposal to arrange a marriage between Lan Xichen and one of his sons (Xichen does not know who he dislikes more; Wen Xu and his cold, calculating cruelty or Wen Chao, a callous and fickle philanderer). Lan Qiren must have said there was already an arrangement in the works to avoid inciting Ruohan's ire, and then quickly threw this together.
Altogether, it is a rather agreeable arrangement. Xichen is certainly more familiar with Shen Yuan's older brothers, as they are closer in age, and more frequently in attendance to the same functions as he is, and while the middle brother is brusque and acerbic and difficult to get along with, the eldest is of a similar disposition as Xichen.
"I suppose shufu would want me to at least be properly introduced, or I might have made a terrible mistake and rejected the proposal outright."
In this case, he is very, very glad of his uncle's little deception.
He catches Shen Yuan's eye as the other man is trying just as hard to study him surreptitiously as Xichen is trying to do the same. He flushes, both having caught each other in the act, but there is relief that there is some spark of attraction there.
He has no illusions that, as sect leader, he will probably never marry for love, but he would at least like, if not friendship then some level of comradery between himself and his future husband. The possibility of mutual attraction would be... far more than he'd ever dare to hope for.
"Would you care to walk with me for a while through the grounds...? The weather is pleasant yet, and there is no reason to stay cooped up indoors."
Those two spots of warmth on his cheeks blossom into open flames as he finds himself caught staring -- as he retreats, mortified, behind his silk fan, it occurs to him that Lan Xichen was staring too, wasn't he? Or is he just indulging himself in some wishful thinking?
"That would be lovely," he says demurely, but on the inside his mind is calculating and assessing harder than ever. If Zewu-jun is into him, that would be...that would be really lovely, honestly, it would definitely make fulfilling, ahem, certain matrimonial duties a lot easier, and...well, honestly the idea that someone like him could be attractive to Zewu-jun is so intensely flattering that Shen Luguang immediately decides it would be better and safer to pretend that it's an impossibility, so as to avoid disappointing himself later. And with that in mind, it was much easier to get ahold of himself and focus on behaving appropriately.
After all, he had no reason to suspect Zewu-jun, Lan Xichen, would be anything less than a kind, gentle, and dutiful husband, regardless of anything else. And really, who could expect anything more?
So by the time they've walked some distance outside, long enough to reach one of the Cloud Recesses' many scenic views, he's able to sigh and say, quite calmly, "Surely the Cloud Recesses are one of the loveliest and most serene places in this world. I've always envied those who get to live here."
Xichen is sure coming out so far they would require a chaperone, and in any other situation he would think it not just appropriate but necessary. But a streak of mischief has gotten into him, and really, it's not like they're completely alone.
"They are, indeed, tranquil. Though I'm afraid many who haven't grown up here might find them a bit dull and stifling."
Shen Yuan should have a fair warning of what he's getting into. It's true that Lan Xichen is among the most eligible and desired of bachelors for his gentle and patient disposition alone, but with him comes the Cloud Recesses and with the Cloud Recesses comes the Lan Sect.
And with the Lan Sect comes the wall of discipline and it's many, many rules.
They may as well have saved themselves some trouble and just chiseled "no fun allowed" into the stone.
But Xichen is also not one to follow the rules to the letter. He leads Shen Yuan off the beaten path to a small clearing, dotted with wildflowers. Another of the disciples is kneeling in the field, elegant even when hunched over, and quite tall when he stands to face the approaching company.
There is no mistake that the young man is related to Xichen - they are of a similar height, with the same regal bearing, and handsome features, though where Lan Xichen's neutral expression settles into a serene smile, this other man seems stern and dour.
The effect is rather offset by his armful of rabbits which are everywhere around the little grove, nibbling greens and hopping to and fro, quite carefree.
"Wangji," Xichen greets his brother with warmth and affection. He knows his brother has a... reputation for being difficult to get along with. He would very much like Shen Yuan's first impression of his beloved didi to be of his true nature; that he is, truly, as soft-hearted (if not moreso) as his older brother.
"I am glad I found you. I would like you to meet Shen Yuan."
A gentle hand covers the one Shen Yuan has rested on his arm, a reassurance that all is well.
Wangji sizes up the other man, and looks slightly miffed that he can't find anything to nitpick beyond Shen Yuan being a potential marriage candidate for his brother (the nerve!)
"Your betrothed? Shufu mentioned something of the sort," he asks brusquely.
"We haven't finalized the arrangement," he says and smiles at Shen Yuan. "But it is looking that way."
"Hm," is Wangji's only response to this besides a curt nod to Shen Yuan. It could mean anything, but is most likely both a welcome and a warning. Younger siblings just be like that sometimes.
Shen Yuan would have liked to assure Lan Xichen that on the contrary, he thought he might like nothing more than to live somewhere quiet and peaceful, where he could focus on his studies with minimal interruption...but that conversation will have to wait for another time, as apparently they've arrived at their destination...
Oh, and what a destination it is! Shen Yuan has to bite his tongue not to squeal out loud and risk scaring the bunnies, because they are so cute he can hardly stand it. Even the dour look on Hanguang-jun's face can't curb his enthusiasm, although he remembers himself well enough to bow his head respectfully and say, "It's an honor to meet Hanguang-jun at last. My second brother speaks highly of you." And then his gaze immediately drops back down to the bunnies; he bites his lower lip for a moment, wrestling with it, before asking nervously, "Are your rabbits friendly?"
Can he pet one?? Please, please let him pet one ;.;
Whatever trepidation Wangji seems to have from his perfunctory curt bow to his older brother's fiance fades when he sees Shen Yuan's pure delight at the sight of the rabbits.
He gives a quiet "Mn" and hands one over for Shen Yuan to hold.
Xichen gives into the urge to poke the little critter in it's wiggling nose, beaming impishly between his brother and fiance, delighted to see the two getting along.
(Well, for any given measure that Wangji gets along with anyone).
"It's a secret from shufu," Wangji warns. "So long as you remember that, you can come visit."
Xichen nods solemnly.
"Indeed, it's forbidden to keep pets in the Cloud Recesses," he explains as Wangji, seemingly having exhausted his capacity for conversation, turns on his heel and heads off. So much for having a proper chaperone. (Chaperone yourself! says the look Wangji casts back at his brother.
"But I know some of the junior disciples come up this way to relax after difficult lessons."
"Hm, pets? I haven't seen any pets in the Cloud Recesses," Shen Yuan said placidly (but with a hint of an impish smile curling his lips and twinkling in his eyes). "Just some perfectly normal wild rabbits, doing perfectly normal wild rabbit things. Hardly worth mentioning to anyone, isn't that right little one?" He cooed at the rabbit, stroking its back and gently petting it between the ears.
"They're so cute, Lan-zongzhu," he sighed, so happy he nearly sounds distressed about it. "Just. So very cute."
Oh - his heart skips a beat - Shen Yuan is really quite adorable, isn't he...?
Xichen sends a silent 'thank you' to his uncle for arranging this meeting; he'd probably implode if he had to deal with Wen Xu or Wen Chao for longer than an hour outside social functions. But even when he's not comparing Shen Yuan to what may have been, he finds that he is enjoying his company, and that he feels at ease by his side.
It is easy to picture their marriage further down the line: both are inclined to scholarly pursuits, and he can easily see Shen Yuan being good with the disciples and the other responsibilities marrying into the Lan Sect would demand.
His smile is effused with warmth as they walk the narrow paths of the meadow where the very wild rabbits frolic and play, and occasionally hop up to them expectantly, waiting for pets or treats.
Xichen, of course, indulges them.
"It is a good place to go when the Cloud Recesses can feel overly stringent," he explains. "I do not doubt you will thrive here - shufu told me you are of a scholarly disposition, and much of the lifestyle here caters to that - but I think it only fair to warn you that living here takes some adjustments."
His smile fades a little.
"You seem a kind and compassionate man. I would not want you to ever feel trapped here."
Xichen is not renowned for being stingy, but he doesn't give gifts lightly either. From him, they must be things of significance; things both wanted and needed and not just some fancy baubles to be marveled at and then tucked away in a jewelry box or put up on a shelf to be forgotten.
And this is for the man who is going to be his husband! He should give him things that convey the depths of his affection. Something beautiful, austere, but not ostentatious.
It's a month before he and Shen Yuan are reunited. During that month, they wrote each other, of course, and the occasional carriage arrived from the Shen Estate with many of Shen Yuan's possessions so that he might have an easier time settling into his new home once he's properly wed.
And goodness, the many silent dinners, and only marginally quieter meetings they both have to sit through as Shen Jiu and Shen Qi speak with Lan Qiren about matters of the ceremony, and the dowry, and a lasting alliance as the Shen family returns to being a legitimate sect.
(They sit through the whole ordeal, prim and proper -- or at least mostly so. Xichen cheekily links their pinkies under the table, and though he doesn't smile with his mouth, his eyes are positively sparkling.)
Night has fallen by the time everyone is finished putting each agreement into print, signed and sealed, Qiren permits his nephew to see Shen Yuan to what will, eventually, be his official living quarters (though Xichen suspects they will likely be occupying whichever house the other is in). The Cloud Recesses are never particularly noisy, but even the sounds of the day-to-day bustle are absent, replaced by the trill of night creatures. The weather is cooling quickly at these altitudes, the leaves taking on shades of gold and crimson - the peaks will be blanketed in snow when they wed, and Xichen cannot imagine anything more beautiful than the striking contrast of their red robes against the fluffy white snow.
He walks arm-in-arm with Shen Yuan, elated by this reunion. He will miss him when he has to return home once more, but he consoles himself with the knowledge that the third time he returns, it will be to stay.
"Will you miss your home...?" he asks, a breeze rustling the bamboo leaves as they take a meandering pace along the many walkways of the Cloud Recesses.
"If my lord husband is willing, I hope to visit frequently," Shen Yuan teases him affectionately. He's figured out by now, although he isn't sure why, that something about the idea of keeping him here in the Cloud Recesses troubles Lan Xichen somehow; that he wants Shen Yuan to have as much freedom of movement as their ranks and reputations allow, even to the point of ordering the construction of a carriage for him, something previously unheard of in the Cloud Recesses, after Shen Yuan had reluctantly confessed that his cultivation was too weak to allow swordflight over any great distance.
"But no, I don't think I will," he continues more seriously -- but also tenderly, pausing their progress for a moment to carefully pluck a scarlet leaf gone astray from of Lan Xichen's hair. He holds it between two fingers like a miniature fan, twirling it slowly and smiling at the light in his husband-to-be's eyes as he holds it up next to his face. "My brothers have many admirable qualities, but if it's a quiet life one prefers, they aren't perhaps the most desirable of housemates." His lips twisted slightly into a small, but rueful grin. "Especially since Qi-ge is to be 'Sect Leader Shen' soon...I can only assume the bustle and noise will get worse before it gets much better."
Gently patting Lan Xichen's hand, he added, "A quiet life with books and music, and someone who treats me tenderly...that's what I dream of."
"Of course I am --!" Xichen blurts, a blush high on his impressive cheekbones. "You'd be my spouse, not my prisoner."
His eyes dart to the side because really, for some there is no difference between two. His own mother could attest to that if she were still alive.
(And he does his damnedest not to think about why that might be, why his mother died so abruptly.)
His anxious mood settles quickly when Shen Yuan says what it is he wants out of their marriage - to hear such a thing warms Xichen's heart because it means they are of one mind about their desires.
"...I too wish for that kind of life," he says, idly thumbing Shen Yuan's knuckles, turning his soft gaze to his betrothed. "I'm happy it gets to be with you."
"As am I." Shen Yuan's smile grew for a moment before he modestly lowered his gaze, a blush coloring his own cheeks as he added, "And I hope one day...my husband will trust me enough to share his troubles with me, as well as his joys."
He turned away, abashed by his own boldness. Who did he think he was, speaking so to Zewu-jun...? But he meant it, though. His father and mother had always shared the burdens and triumphs of their business with each other -- and when they'd passed, his brothers Shen Jiu and Shen Qi had done just the same. It seemed only right and fair that he should support his own husband, in whatever way he needed.
He feels a rush of warmth and affection for the man next to him, and he ducks his head, cheeks still tinged red.
"Consider it far less a matter of trust, and more a matter of time," he says. "If things continue as they are, then I cannot imagine there will be anything I would not trust with you."
He turns so that he his facing his husband-to-be, taking his hands in his own.
"I hope too that you will find me to be as a friend, an ally, and confidant."
And that is no false promise. Even if marriages in the Cloud Recesses were leagues more egalitarian than their counterparts in the Jianghu, Xichen has no intention of letting Shen Yuan be viewed as subservient to him. This will be a partnership of equals.
He gives Shen Yuan's hands a gentle squeeze.
"I... have something I would like to give you, if it pleases...?"
Well, something other than than what Shen Yuan and the rest of his family received upon their arrival in the Cloud Recesses.
Shen Yuan's own smile grows at Lan Xichen's words, relieved and pleased beyond easy expression -- it sounds nearly fantastical, that someone like him could ever stand as equals with Zewu-jun -- but what can he do but believe his husband-to-be, especially when he says it so earnestly, with such clear eyes, a straightforward gaze, and those famously powerful hands clasped around Shen Yuan's own? It's nearly enough to make a man swoon!
And then Lan Xichen has to go and bring a gift into it, and Shen Yuan cannot even! He really can't with this man, how is he supposed to cope? It's all just too romantic, if Lan Xichen's goal is to make Shen Yuan fall inescapably deeply in love with him than mission accomplished!
Shen Yuan blushes terribly, ducking his head. "Zewu-jun didn't need to do that," he protests, flattered and flustered to the extreme. "Although...I actually brought him a gift too...it's just a trifle," he admitted nervously. "I can just leave it in the house and Zewu-jun can look at it later if he likes..."
"Nothing of you or yours is a trifle," Xichen's tone isn't scolding, but there's a firmness about it. Humility and modesty are fine virtues indeed, but he will not see this man devalue himself in any way. Shen Yuan will not be made to feel small, not here, not ever.
He brings Shen Yuan's knuckles to his lips - bold and forward compared to the hand-holding and walking arm-in-arm they had been maintaining for the sake of propriety.
"A-Yuan," he says, and then, quite emphatically; "husband."
His smile couldn't be warmer, more inviting, a gleam of solicitous mischief in his eyes.
"Husband..." Shen Yuan whispers softly, and his eyes sparkle with silent joy. How wonderful, this simply yet lovely picture Lan Xichen makes, of every gesture of affection, every piece of Shen Yuan's heart he's offered, being returned in kind. On impulse Shen Yuan turns his hand to gently cup Lan Xichen's cheek, and though he blushes terribly at the impudence still he leaves it there, his thumb poised mere centimeters of Lan Xichen's lovely, bow-like lips.
What will it be like to kiss those lips, he finally allows himself to wonder in his waking hours. Surely it will be even more thrilling than the press of those lips against his hand -- and that warmed him all the way through, and left his skin tingling with the desire for more.
"As Lan Lang means the world to me," he says softly, using the very same simple, informal mode of address that his mother had always used for his father when they had no company but their children and a few servants around. Formality was for strangers and business associates; family should be intimate with each other, and he wanted so badly to be part of Lan Xichen's family.
"If husband looks in my left sleeve, he may find his gift there," he says sweetly, still blushing but enboldened by Lan Xichen's own sweetness. "I hope it brings him happiness."
It's nothing, really: a single scroll, suitable for hanging on the wall, on which a few lines of poetry have been written in an artistic but legible hand:
Soft is the sonnet of willows Wavering winds form the streams Blowing so that you may welcome my peace Singing the songs of your dreams
And in one corner had been painted a few willow vines, sweetly dipping their tips in a rippling pool of water. Nothing special -- except for the fact that every speck of ink had been laid down with Shen Yuan's own hand, and the sincerity that lived in his heart.
In the Gusu Lan sect, there is a famous idiom about how similar weddings and funerals are. Both are equally solemn. It's a staid affair, everyone rigidly playing their part when Xichen and Shen Yuan make their vows and bows.
The banquet is what one would come to expect of Lan cuisine. Bitter and medicinal at worst, bland at best. Barely anyone exchanges a word since there is no talking allowed while they dine.
If there is one thing good about Lan weddings, they have a very definite end point thanks to the strict Lan bedtime. By eight o-clock, the bride and groom are escorted to the Hanshi, and left to their own devices. No one sticks around to make sure Shen Yuan loses his virginity and no one will check in the morning. Chastity is no grounds for annulment in the Lan sect, unless they're starving for heirs - and at the moment they are not. They have an heir, a spare, and a handful of cousins with some nieces and nephews on the horizon. The Lan tend to reproduce quite prolifically once they've found an agreeable spouse.
Thus, Shen Yuan and Lan Xichen are afforded all privacy.
The door shuts behind them, and a Xichen's shoulders sag with relief and a weary sigh escapes him.
"Shufu really didn't have to recite all 3500 rules," he chuckles, straightening his back and taking Shen Yuan by the hands.
He can see his beloved's face through the translucent red silk veil, and his smile grows warm and soft. They've waited so long for this, had (relatively) behaved themselves and now Xichen can't take his eyes off of Shen Yuan. He didn't think this affection could grow any deeper, but here they are, with his heart beating in his throat, and Shen Yuan there and so beautiful he could cry.
"There is ...one last thing," he says softly, giving Shen Yuan's hands a squeeze.
"Maybe he wanted to scold us one last time," Shen Yuan suggests, the teasing as self-deprecating as it is directed at Lan Xichen. While it's true that they never quite crossed that final line into true impropriety, it certainly wasn't for lack of trying on their part. Sadly their purity had more to do with luck and efforts of their hard-working family members than any special interest Lan Xichen or Shen Yuan had in remaining virgins before their wedding night -- and to think there'd been a time when Shen Yuan believed he'd be fortune if Lan Xichen simply tolerated his presence! He could laugh at his past self, but instead he gently (lovingly) squeezed Lan Xichen's hands and smiles at him through the gauzy veil.
"What more does my dear husband require?" he asks, teasing again even as his heart begins to throb in his chest. "Another ritual, perhaps? A set of rules just for dutiful spouses? Husband need only say it and this humble Yuan will see it done."
"It's only a small thing," he assures, bringing Shen Yuan's hands to his lips and pressing kisses to his lovely knuckles.
Whatever his uncle's intent reading off the litany of rules (as if Xichen didn't know them by heart), he is ever so thankful the man brought Shen Yuan into his life. They are here, their long lives now stretching ahead of them full of peaceful days and long, passionate nights.
He releases Shen Yuan's hands and with great care, pushes back his veil. Ah, his husband really is lovely, clad in crimson silk and bathed in the moonlight streaming through the window. He'd sit through a hundred thousand dull ceremonies for this moment alone, where he bows his head, untying the red ribbon from his brow, and then winding it carefully around the fine bones of Shen Yuan's wrist.
He gazes up at him, lips pulled into a cheeky smile.
Shen Yuan can feel his face heating, a shy yet eager smile playing on his lips as he watches Lan Xichen tie that precious ribbon around his wrist. (Unlike certain persons, Shen Yuan actually did his homework on the Lan Clan and its traditions, and so he knows exactly how precious this gesture is, how it's a moment to be treasured and committed to the annal of his heart forever.)
He considers and discards teasing comebacks -- is it really such a small thing? Doubtful -- and instead catches Lan Xichen's hand before it can be withdrawn, lifting it instead to his lips.
"Anything," he whispers breathlessly, hoping the look in his eyes convey even a small fraction of his feelings, his desires, as he pins Lan Xichen's gaze with his own.
Edited (fixed a typo) Date: 2023-07-13 12:11 pm (UTC)
Xichen could hold that gaze forever. He'd really like to as well, because Shen Yuan has the most beautiful eyes. But he also has the loveliest lips, and really, they have not been properly kissed in months and that's just unacceptable.
They'd been about as appropriate as could be expected within reason. It had left Xichen's self-control frayed to bits.
It finally snaps.
The kiss is strong, hungry, achingly tender, as Xichen's hands rest on Shen Yuan's hips. The veil falls over both of them as he seems intent on figuring out how to both probe and devour his husband's mouth.
There are certainly Lan rules for coupling on the wedding night - steps to be taken, things to do. If he had any intent of following them, it would be another hour before they could even touch. He wouldn't in a million years blame the weak wine they had shared, but it had left his inhibitions in a state where the little voice in the back of his mind urging him to do this all by the book was utterly silenced.
This was their night, and theirs alone. He'd followed through with the most important custom, the one that truly meant something.
They would have to find their own meaning in the maelstrom of passion.
It isn't long until he's crowded Shen Yuan up against the edge of the bed, coaxing the other man's tongue into his mouth where he can suck on it.
Kissing had been a revelation. He's so glad they at least got to know each other so intimately; it was only a pity that their virginity was such a sticking point for their families. He'd have loved it if he and Shen Yuan could have experimented a little more.
"I confess," he says breathlessly between kisses, "past this point," and more kisses, "I have no idea what I'm doing," and yet more kisses! "and only have some dubious educational texts to go by."
"Ah...this one as well," Shen Yuan sighs in-between kisses, his whole body warm and trembling slightly in Lan Xichen's strong, beloved grip. "That is...er-ge got me so educational books..." That he was too thin-faced to read properly, just peeking through them with one eye from behind his fan and frequently slamming the covers closed when he got too embarrassed to continue! He did bring them with him though; maybe it will be less embarrassing to show them to his husband...
"This one prefers to learn by his husband's side," he admits, his own arms wound tightly around Lan Xichen's back, indiscriminately clinging to his hair and lovely red robes. "Perhaps, just for our first time..." Even though it's his husband Shen Yuan struggles to say something so shameless; he has to avert his eyes, blushing hotly as he finishes his suggestion, "Perhaps we might begin with something simple? We have all the time in the world for...that is, to master the complications, right?"
It was an embarrassing and intensely private matter, these marital relations, but surely at the root of it all they were like any physical skill. You started with simple, easy things, and worked your way up from there.
"Yes," he agrees, warmth in his eyes as fingers delicately trace the outline of his husband's narrow waist, pulled even tighter by their wedding garments. The red silks were fetching, but these clothes were not meant for comfort, nor were the ornaments pulling their hair into regal styles.
It was beautiful, but Shen Yuan could be in rags and Xichen would still find him the most beautiful person to draw breath.
"All the time we could ever want."
And with Xichen's powerful core, that could be a fantastically long time.
"I am simply saying, that this husband may be a bit clumsy. A-Yuan must promise to say if anything hurts or is uncomfortable."
He lifts a brow, giving him that same knowing look he often gives to his brother. It's a foible the three of them share and one born of necessity within the social mores they grew up in, but here, in this space, their marriage bed, in this intimate space between them, he does not want his beloved to be too embarrassed to hold anything back.
Shen Yuan puffs out his cheeks, feeling rather called out. "Husband has a rather favorable opinion of me, if he thinks this one is so likely to keep quiet in such circumstances...am I really so self-sacrificing?"
(He totally is, and Lan Xichen should keep a close eye on him whenever they try anything strenuous.)
Then a rather cunning look joins Shen Yuan's face, crowding the excitement and adoration that were already living there, and he suggests, "But this one will promise for husband's sake, if he promises not to keep quiet any time this one does something wrong, or if he has any idea for how this one might do better. For how are we to improve if we can't be honest with each other, and provide constructive criticism when it's needed?" That's quite reasonable, isn't it? Of course Lan Xichen will master these arts near-immediately, but Shen Yuan would hate to think of his own performance falling behind. That would be too embarrassing to be borne!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
Congratulations!
Date: 2023-05-09 07:40 am (UTC)He couldn't say he disliked Shen Yuan - rather the opposite - the young man had done him quite the service and saved him embarrassing himself and his sect. It's just... well.
They don't really know each other all that well, shufu!
It is a great relief when Lan Qiren steps outside, and from where he's seated across from Shen Yuan, his shoulders visibly sag.
"I am... very sorry about this. It would appear our families were conspiring behind our backs."
His face is effused with a gentle, assuring warmth, a radiant smile blooming on delicate lips with just a hint of humour to take the edge off the awkwardness. Lan Xichen's fame almost always precedes him and it is not undeserved - not moments ago he looked utterly mortified at the surprise betrothal. Now, he was working overtime to reassure the young man across from him.
"I have no objections to the arrangement -" which is true. The Shen family's reputation as merchants is impeccable, and they still maintain their old cultivation traditions from the days they were a proper sect. He cannot muster any serious objection - it is, by and large, a very agreeable match. "- but if you do, please tell me now truthfully. I would not force the matter if you have any discomfort with it. Ultimately you and I are the ones with the final say here."
And as well meaning as shufu is, Xichen has no desire to go through with any betrothal unless his spouse-to-be is also on board. He has seen what marriages foisted upon two unwilling parties do to people; he would not let this sweet-faced gentlemen live in bitter resentment just to appease their family. If shufu thought relations with the Shen family were valuable, there are surely other ways of cementing such an alliance that didn't involve marrying their unwilling son to a man he barely knew.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-09 07:58 am (UTC)Still, he made an effort to moderate his reaction, for the sake of his own and his fiance's dignity. "If Lan-zongzhu is alright with it, then I don't see any reason to object either," he says shyly, feeling his own face warm as he greedily studied every inch of Lan Xichen's face from the corner of one modestly-averted eye. "In truth I was very pleased, when da-ge told me we'd received a proposal from the Lan. I only regret my future husband did not receive the same opportunity." That much had to be okay, surely?
no subject
Date: 2023-05-09 08:44 am (UTC)Altogether, it is a rather agreeable arrangement. Xichen is certainly more familiar with Shen Yuan's older brothers, as they are closer in age, and more frequently in attendance to the same functions as he is, and while the middle brother is brusque and acerbic and difficult to get along with, the eldest is of a similar disposition as Xichen.
"I suppose shufu would want me to at least be properly introduced, or I might have made a terrible mistake and rejected the proposal outright."
In this case, he is very, very glad of his uncle's little deception.
He catches Shen Yuan's eye as the other man is trying just as hard to study him surreptitiously as Xichen is trying to do the same. He flushes, both having caught each other in the act, but there is relief that there is some spark of attraction there.
He has no illusions that, as sect leader, he will probably never marry for love, but he would at least like, if not friendship then some level of comradery between himself and his future husband. The possibility of mutual attraction would be... far more than he'd ever dare to hope for.
"Would you care to walk with me for a while through the grounds...? The weather is pleasant yet, and there is no reason to stay cooped up indoors."
no subject
Date: 2023-05-12 05:23 am (UTC)"That would be lovely," he says demurely, but on the inside his mind is calculating and assessing harder than ever. If Zewu-jun is into him, that would be...that would be really lovely, honestly, it would definitely make fulfilling, ahem, certain matrimonial duties a lot easier, and...well, honestly the idea that someone like him could be attractive to Zewu-jun is so intensely flattering that Shen Luguang immediately decides it would be better and safer to pretend that it's an impossibility, so as to avoid disappointing himself later. And with that in mind, it was much easier to get ahold of himself and focus on behaving appropriately.
After all, he had no reason to suspect Zewu-jun, Lan Xichen, would be anything less than a kind, gentle, and dutiful husband, regardless of anything else. And really, who could expect anything more?
So by the time they've walked some distance outside, long enough to reach one of the Cloud Recesses' many scenic views, he's able to sigh and say, quite calmly, "Surely the Cloud Recesses are one of the loveliest and most serene places in this world. I've always envied those who get to live here."
no subject
Date: 2023-05-12 07:10 am (UTC)"They are, indeed, tranquil. Though I'm afraid many who haven't grown up here might find them a bit dull and stifling."
Shen Yuan should have a fair warning of what he's getting into. It's true that Lan Xichen is among the most eligible and desired of bachelors for his gentle and patient disposition alone, but with him comes the Cloud Recesses and with the Cloud Recesses comes the Lan Sect.
And with the Lan Sect comes the wall of discipline and it's many, many rules.
They may as well have saved themselves some trouble and just chiseled "no fun allowed" into the stone.
But Xichen is also not one to follow the rules to the letter. He leads Shen Yuan off the beaten path to a small clearing, dotted with wildflowers. Another of the disciples is kneeling in the field, elegant even when hunched over, and quite tall when he stands to face the approaching company.
There is no mistake that the young man is related to Xichen - they are of a similar height, with the same regal bearing, and handsome features, though where Lan Xichen's neutral expression settles into a serene smile, this other man seems stern and dour.
The effect is rather offset by his armful of rabbits which are everywhere around the little grove, nibbling greens and hopping to and fro, quite carefree.
"Wangji," Xichen greets his brother with warmth and affection. He knows his brother has a... reputation for being difficult to get along with. He would very much like Shen Yuan's first impression of his beloved didi to be of his true nature; that he is, truly, as soft-hearted (if not moreso) as his older brother.
"I am glad I found you. I would like you to meet Shen Yuan."
A gentle hand covers the one Shen Yuan has rested on his arm, a reassurance that all is well.
Wangji sizes up the other man, and looks slightly miffed that he can't find anything to nitpick beyond Shen Yuan being a potential marriage candidate for his brother (the nerve!)
"Your betrothed? Shufu mentioned something of the sort," he asks brusquely.
"We haven't finalized the arrangement," he says and smiles at Shen Yuan. "But it is looking that way."
"Hm," is Wangji's only response to this besides a curt nod to Shen Yuan. It could mean anything, but is most likely both a welcome and a warning. Younger siblings just be like that sometimes.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-21 07:35 am (UTC)Oh, and what a destination it is! Shen Yuan has to bite his tongue not to squeal out loud and risk scaring the bunnies, because they are so cute he can hardly stand it. Even the dour look on Hanguang-jun's face can't curb his enthusiasm, although he remembers himself well enough to bow his head respectfully and say, "It's an honor to meet Hanguang-jun at last. My second brother speaks highly of you." And then his gaze immediately drops back down to the bunnies; he bites his lower lip for a moment, wrestling with it, before asking nervously, "Are your rabbits friendly?"
Can he pet one?? Please, please let him pet one ;.;
no subject
Date: 2023-05-21 08:47 am (UTC)He gives a quiet "Mn" and hands one over for Shen Yuan to hold.
Xichen gives into the urge to poke the little critter in it's wiggling nose, beaming impishly between his brother and fiance, delighted to see the two getting along.
(Well, for any given measure that Wangji gets along with anyone).
"It's a secret from shufu," Wangji warns. "So long as you remember that, you can come visit."
Xichen nods solemnly.
"Indeed, it's forbidden to keep pets in the Cloud Recesses," he explains as Wangji, seemingly having exhausted his capacity for conversation, turns on his heel and heads off. So much for having a proper chaperone. (Chaperone yourself! says the look Wangji casts back at his brother.
"But I know some of the junior disciples come up this way to relax after difficult lessons."
Bunny therapy is extremely effective, it seems.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-21 09:30 am (UTC)"They're so cute, Lan-zongzhu," he sighed, so happy he nearly sounds distressed about it. "Just. So very cute."
no subject
Date: 2023-05-21 09:55 am (UTC)Xichen sends a silent 'thank you' to his uncle for arranging this meeting; he'd probably implode if he had to deal with Wen Xu or Wen Chao for longer than an hour outside social functions. But even when he's not comparing Shen Yuan to what may have been, he finds that he is enjoying his company, and that he feels at ease by his side.
It is easy to picture their marriage further down the line: both are inclined to scholarly pursuits, and he can easily see Shen Yuan being good with the disciples and the other responsibilities marrying into the Lan Sect would demand.
His smile is effused with warmth as they walk the narrow paths of the meadow where the very wild rabbits frolic and play, and occasionally hop up to them expectantly, waiting for pets or treats.
Xichen, of course, indulges them.
"It is a good place to go when the Cloud Recesses can feel overly stringent," he explains. "I do not doubt you will thrive here - shufu told me you are of a scholarly disposition, and much of the lifestyle here caters to that - but I think it only fair to warn you that living here takes some adjustments."
His smile fades a little.
"You seem a kind and compassionate man. I would not want you to ever feel trapped here."
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:Gifts for the Betrothed
Date: 2023-05-25 06:38 pm (UTC)And this is for the man who is going to be his husband! He should give him things that convey the depths of his affection. Something beautiful, austere, but not ostentatious.
It's a month before he and Shen Yuan are reunited. During that month, they wrote each other, of course, and the occasional carriage arrived from the Shen Estate with many of Shen Yuan's possessions so that he might have an easier time settling into his new home once he's properly wed.
And goodness, the many silent dinners, and only marginally quieter meetings they both have to sit through as Shen Jiu and Shen Qi speak with Lan Qiren about matters of the ceremony, and the dowry, and a lasting alliance as the Shen family returns to being a legitimate sect.
(They sit through the whole ordeal, prim and proper -- or at least mostly so. Xichen cheekily links their pinkies under the table, and though he doesn't smile with his mouth, his eyes are positively sparkling.)
Night has fallen by the time everyone is finished putting each agreement into print, signed and sealed, Qiren permits his nephew to see Shen Yuan to what will, eventually, be his official living quarters (though Xichen suspects they will likely be occupying whichever house the other is in). The Cloud Recesses are never particularly noisy, but even the sounds of the day-to-day bustle are absent, replaced by the trill of night creatures. The weather is cooling quickly at these altitudes, the leaves taking on shades of gold and crimson - the peaks will be blanketed in snow when they wed, and Xichen cannot imagine anything more beautiful than the striking contrast of their red robes against the fluffy white snow.
He walks arm-in-arm with Shen Yuan, elated by this reunion. He will miss him when he has to return home once more, but he consoles himself with the knowledge that the third time he returns, it will be to stay.
"Will you miss your home...?" he asks, a breeze rustling the bamboo leaves as they take a meandering pace along the many walkways of the Cloud Recesses.
Re: Gifts for the Betrothed
Date: 2023-05-25 07:46 pm (UTC)"But no, I don't think I will," he continues more seriously -- but also tenderly, pausing their progress for a moment to carefully pluck a scarlet leaf gone astray from of Lan Xichen's hair. He holds it between two fingers like a miniature fan, twirling it slowly and smiling at the light in his husband-to-be's eyes as he holds it up next to his face. "My brothers have many admirable qualities, but if it's a quiet life one prefers, they aren't perhaps the most desirable of housemates." His lips twisted slightly into a small, but rueful grin. "Especially since Qi-ge is to be 'Sect Leader Shen' soon...I can only assume the bustle and noise will get worse before it gets much better."
Gently patting Lan Xichen's hand, he added, "A quiet life with books and music, and someone who treats me tenderly...that's what I dream of."
no subject
Date: 2023-05-25 11:19 pm (UTC)His eyes dart to the side because really, for some there is no difference between two. His own mother could attest to that if she were still alive.
(And he does his damnedest not to think about why that might be, why his mother died so abruptly.)
His anxious mood settles quickly when Shen Yuan says what it is he wants out of their marriage - to hear such a thing warms Xichen's heart because it means they are of one mind about their desires.
"...I too wish for that kind of life," he says, idly thumbing Shen Yuan's knuckles, turning his soft gaze to his betrothed. "I'm happy it gets to be with you."
no subject
Date: 2023-05-25 11:42 pm (UTC)He turned away, abashed by his own boldness. Who did he think he was, speaking so to Zewu-jun...? But he meant it, though. His father and mother had always shared the burdens and triumphs of their business with each other -- and when they'd passed, his brothers Shen Jiu and Shen Qi had done just the same. It seemed only right and fair that he should support his own husband, in whatever way he needed.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-26 02:16 pm (UTC)"Consider it far less a matter of trust, and more a matter of time," he says. "If things continue as they are, then I cannot imagine there will be anything I would not trust with you."
He turns so that he his facing his husband-to-be, taking his hands in his own.
"I hope too that you will find me to be as a friend, an ally, and confidant."
And that is no false promise. Even if marriages in the Cloud Recesses were leagues more egalitarian than their counterparts in the Jianghu, Xichen has no intention of letting Shen Yuan be viewed as subservient to him. This will be a partnership of equals.
He gives Shen Yuan's hands a gentle squeeze.
"I... have something I would like to give you, if it pleases...?"
Well, something other than than what Shen Yuan and the rest of his family received upon their arrival in the Cloud Recesses.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-31 03:40 am (UTC)And then Lan Xichen has to go and bring a gift into it, and Shen Yuan cannot even! He really can't with this man, how is he supposed to cope? It's all just too romantic, if Lan Xichen's goal is to make Shen Yuan fall inescapably deeply in love with him than mission accomplished!
Shen Yuan blushes terribly, ducking his head. "Zewu-jun didn't need to do that," he protests, flattered and flustered to the extreme. "Although...I actually brought him a gift too...it's just a trifle," he admitted nervously. "I can just leave it in the house and Zewu-jun can look at it later if he likes..."
no subject
Date: 2023-05-31 08:53 pm (UTC)He brings Shen Yuan's knuckles to his lips - bold and forward compared to the hand-holding and walking arm-in-arm they had been maintaining for the sake of propriety.
"A-Yuan," he says, and then, quite emphatically; "husband."
His smile couldn't be warmer, more inviting, a gleam of solicitous mischief in his eyes.
"You mean the world to me."
no subject
Date: 2023-06-01 05:41 am (UTC)What will it be like to kiss those lips, he finally allows himself to wonder in his waking hours. Surely it will be even more thrilling than the press of those lips against his hand -- and that warmed him all the way through, and left his skin tingling with the desire for more.
"As Lan Lang means the world to me," he says softly, using the very same simple, informal mode of address that his mother had always used for his father when they had no company but their children and a few servants around. Formality was for strangers and business associates; family should be intimate with each other, and he wanted so badly to be part of Lan Xichen's family.
"If husband looks in my left sleeve, he may find his gift there," he says sweetly, still blushing but enboldened by Lan Xichen's own sweetness. "I hope it brings him happiness."
It's nothing, really: a single scroll, suitable for hanging on the wall, on which a few lines of poetry have been written in an artistic but legible hand:
Soft is the sonnet of willows
Wavering winds form the streams
Blowing so that you may welcome my peace
Singing the songs of your dreams
And in one corner had been painted a few willow vines, sweetly dipping their tips in a rippling pool of water. Nothing special -- except for the fact that every speck of ink had been laid down with Shen Yuan's own hand, and the sincerity that lived in his heart.
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:Wedding Night
Date: 2023-07-06 02:41 am (UTC)The banquet is what one would come to expect of Lan cuisine. Bitter and medicinal at worst, bland at best. Barely anyone exchanges a word since there is no talking allowed while they dine.
If there is one thing good about Lan weddings, they have a very definite end point thanks to the strict Lan bedtime. By eight o-clock, the bride and groom are escorted to the Hanshi, and left to their own devices. No one sticks around to make sure Shen Yuan loses his virginity and no one will check in the morning. Chastity is no grounds for annulment in the Lan sect, unless they're starving for heirs - and at the moment they are not. They have an heir, a spare, and a handful of cousins with some nieces and nephews on the horizon. The Lan tend to reproduce quite prolifically once they've found an agreeable spouse.
Thus, Shen Yuan and Lan Xichen are afforded all privacy.
The door shuts behind them, and a Xichen's shoulders sag with relief and a weary sigh escapes him.
"Shufu really didn't have to recite all 3500 rules," he chuckles, straightening his back and taking Shen Yuan by the hands.
He can see his beloved's face through the translucent red silk veil, and his smile grows warm and soft. They've waited so long for this, had (relatively) behaved themselves and now Xichen can't take his eyes off of Shen Yuan. He didn't think this affection could grow any deeper, but here they are, with his heart beating in his throat, and Shen Yuan there and so beautiful he could cry.
"There is ...one last thing," he says softly, giving Shen Yuan's hands a squeeze.
no subject
Date: 2023-07-13 11:12 am (UTC)"What more does my dear husband require?" he asks, teasing again even as his heart begins to throb in his chest. "Another ritual, perhaps? A set of rules just for dutiful spouses? Husband need only say it and this humble Yuan will see it done."
no subject
Date: 2023-07-13 11:58 am (UTC)Whatever his uncle's intent reading off the litany of rules (as if Xichen didn't know them by heart), he is ever so thankful the man brought Shen Yuan into his life. They are here, their long lives now stretching ahead of them full of peaceful days and long, passionate nights.
He releases Shen Yuan's hands and with great care, pushes back his veil. Ah, his husband really is lovely, clad in crimson silk and bathed in the moonlight streaming through the window. He'd sit through a hundred thousand dull ceremonies for this moment alone, where he bows his head, untying the red ribbon from his brow, and then winding it carefully around the fine bones of Shen Yuan's wrist.
He gazes up at him, lips pulled into a cheeky smile.
"One small thing."
no subject
Date: 2023-07-13 12:06 pm (UTC)He considers and discards teasing comebacks -- is it really such a small thing? Doubtful -- and instead catches Lan Xichen's hand before it can be withdrawn, lifting it instead to his lips.
"Anything," he whispers breathlessly, hoping the look in his eyes convey even a small fraction of his feelings, his desires, as he pins Lan Xichen's gaze with his own.
no subject
Date: 2023-07-13 12:25 pm (UTC)They'd been about as appropriate as could be expected within reason. It had left Xichen's self-control frayed to bits.
It finally snaps.
The kiss is strong, hungry, achingly tender, as Xichen's hands rest on Shen Yuan's hips. The veil falls over both of them as he seems intent on figuring out how to both probe and devour his husband's mouth.
There are certainly Lan rules for coupling on the wedding night - steps to be taken, things to do. If he had any intent of following them, it would be another hour before they could even touch. He wouldn't in a million years blame the weak wine they had shared, but it had left his inhibitions in a state where the little voice in the back of his mind urging him to do this all by the book was utterly silenced.
This was their night, and theirs alone. He'd followed through with the most important custom, the one that truly meant something.
They would have to find their own meaning in the maelstrom of passion.
It isn't long until he's crowded Shen Yuan up against the edge of the bed, coaxing the other man's tongue into his mouth where he can suck on it.
Kissing had been a revelation. He's so glad they at least got to know each other so intimately; it was only a pity that their virginity was such a sticking point for their families. He'd have loved it if he and Shen Yuan could have experimented a little more.
"I confess," he says breathlessly between kisses, "past this point," and more kisses, "I have no idea what I'm doing," and yet more kisses! "and only have some dubious educational texts to go by."
no subject
Date: 2023-07-13 12:54 pm (UTC)"This one prefers to learn by his husband's side," he admits, his own arms wound tightly around Lan Xichen's back, indiscriminately clinging to his hair and lovely red robes. "Perhaps, just for our first time..." Even though it's his husband Shen Yuan struggles to say something so shameless; he has to avert his eyes, blushing hotly as he finishes his suggestion, "Perhaps we might begin with something simple? We have all the time in the world for...that is, to master the complications, right?"
It was an embarrassing and intensely private matter, these marital relations, but surely at the root of it all they were like any physical skill. You started with simple, easy things, and worked your way up from there.
no subject
Date: 2023-07-13 06:54 pm (UTC)It was beautiful, but Shen Yuan could be in rags and Xichen would still find him the most beautiful person to draw breath.
"All the time we could ever want."
And with Xichen's powerful core, that could be a fantastically long time.
"I am simply saying, that this husband may be a bit clumsy. A-Yuan must promise to say if anything hurts or is uncomfortable."
He lifts a brow, giving him that same knowing look he often gives to his brother. It's a foible the three of them share and one born of necessity within the social mores they grew up in, but here, in this space, their marriage bed, in this intimate space between them, he does not want his beloved to be too embarrassed to hold anything back.
no subject
Date: 2023-07-13 07:48 pm (UTC)(He totally is, and Lan Xichen should keep a close eye on him whenever they try anything strenuous.)
Then a rather cunning look joins Shen Yuan's face, crowding the excitement and adoration that were already living there, and he suggests, "But this one will promise for husband's sake, if he promises not to keep quiet any time this one does something wrong, or if he has any idea for how this one might do better. For how are we to improve if we can't be honest with each other, and provide constructive criticism when it's needed?" That's quite reasonable, isn't it? Of course Lan Xichen will master these arts near-immediately, but Shen Yuan would hate to think of his own performance falling behind. That would be too embarrassing to be borne!
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From: