[ Lan Wangji elects not to mention the book. Xichen will tell him in due time. He isn't expecting that announcement first, though he supposes that he probably should have. ]
A congratulations is in order.
[ Jiang Wanyin would not reject his brother's proposal. Especially considering he came to ask permission. ]
I humbly submit myself to assist in the wedding plans.
[ His smile is no wider than usual, but there's a brightness in his eyes that make his happiness obvious. ]
Thank you. I would appreciate that very much.
[ His words have a weight to them, and he does not only mean for the congratulations, or for the offer itself. Jiang Wanyin is certainly not Wangji's favorite person, and it means a great deal to Lan Xichen that his brother is willing to support him anyway - though, perhaps, given how there had been a brief time in Wonderland where he had foolishly allowed himself to consider a future where he could change things between him and Meng Yao, Jiang Wanyin is far from the worst choice that Lan Xichen could have made.
Even beyond that - Wangji's assistance and support has been utterly invaluable. It always has, of course, but since they have left home, he has come to understand more than ever that he could not have come this far without his brother. ]
I had not expected this. [ It is a quiet admission. He'd thought - well. He'd thought many things. That he would have an arranged marriage with a suitable match to result in an heir, that he could hope only for fondness and respect with his spouse. That he would never allow himself to love, or that he would love, perhaps, but tightly restrained, never with all of him.
For a while, he'd thought that he would never marry at all.
But here he is, and he gives a soft, amused exhale.]
It will be complicated, back home, but I do not intend to allow that to sway me. And... I would like to give you and Wuxian some nephews and nieces.
[ Yes well, he might not have expected this, but Lan Wangji certainly had. Xiongzhang had always made decisions with his heart, and his heart was sometimes just like this. He loved, and he loved hard. Wangji has, on many occasions, benefitted from his brother's heart.
Loathe as he is to admit out loud, Wanyin is certainly not the worst choice. Whereas he has personal issues with the man, for he is a man who grudges as easily as Xichen loves, he also recognizes that Wanyin will treat his brother with the respect he deserves, and will offer him the support he needs. He recognizes that Wanyin has the potential to make his brother happy, and keep him safe. And those are the most important things to him, regardless of his own feelings.
Xichen had once trusted Wangji's heart to make the right decision for itself, and so, he is due to return the favor, in any case.
He isn't expecting the conversation to turn so quickly to children, and he raises one perfectly-arched brow. ]
...
You had better.
[ After all, he made an excellent uncle and would doubtless make an even better father. Lan Wangji had always thought, while witnessing Xiongzhang in his more paternal moments, that it was a shame he didn't have children of his own. And, so, he is very much hoping for a population boom for both their involved sects.
But. Wait. Wait a second. ]
Tell me Wei Ying has not convinced Wanyin to attempt a curse.
[ There's a softness in his expression when Wangji raises that eyebrow at him. There's still a part of him that is convinced that his brother's faith in him is undeserved, but he has come far enough to see it only as motivation to deserve. He does want to be a father, very badly, and he appreciates that Wangji had not had doubts.
Lan Xichen had, for a time, doubted that in himself as he had doubted so many other things - something made unavoidably clear to him with some of the things his shadow self had touched on. He means to carefully mention them, but he is almost instantly distracted by that.
His eyes widen, just a little, in surprise, as he very eloquently thinks what.
It takes him a moment to remember - Lan Xichen had seen that post speculating about ways to enable a man to become pregnant, even interacted with the one who posted it briefly with the half formed idea of passing any information on to Wuxian. He'd put it from his mind rather quickly after it became somewhat clear that curse seemed the most likely option.
It is only now that he puts the pieces together, and realizes why the anonymous poster had seemed so familiar. ]
...ah. I did tell Wuxian that those who cared about him were certainly not likely to want him to be harmed in such an attempt. [ Though he hadn't technically known it was him he was talking to at the time. ] As far as I know, there has been no such conversation between them.
[ The thing that would possibly make Wei Ying cursed into pregnancy even worse, is Jiang Wanyin equally cursed into pregnancy. The man is already dramatic as it is, on a normal day. He doesn't think he could handle the man gestating a human.
Either way, that is squarely Xiongzhang's responsibility now, and honestly, Lan Wangji has never met a more patient man. So they are, in that regard, a good match. Honestly, he's still been thinking over the things that Jiang Wanyin had said when he'd asked what he'd bring to the marriage. The most important thing was that he wanted to make sure Xichen was happy, no matter what. He had smiled thinking about their future together.
And so, confident that his brother will be loved, and cherished, and cared for, he gave his blessings. He wonders if Shufu had felt this way, wonders if he would approve their match. Fuqin would have - he was always practical. And what is better than marrying two of the most prestigious remaining clans, with strong family ties to the third?
Then, aside from politics, there is the more personal. ]
[ He had, of course, thought about Wuxian cursed into pregnancy when he saw the post, though he had mostly thought of the end result. Another nephew, or a niece, who he was sure would be almost as wonderful as Sizhui. It had honestly not occurred to him at the time, that Wanyin could have seen such a post and discussed it with Wuxian, but it is certainly something he is thinking on now.
Or rather, it is something he is very quickly trying not to think on, as the idea is... far from unpleasant.
Very far from unpleasant, and the tips of his ears go just the slightest bit red before he very firmly puts it aside.
He looks back over at what Wangji says. Lan Xichen has thought quite a bit about what Shufu's response will be, how they will work together to navigate such a union between two prestigious clans with the practicalities of continued leadership and how it will affect politics between all of the clans moving forward - but he has not let himself think about what their parents would say.
Emotion briefly seals his throat, and at first his only response is a small, soft smile and a nod. ]
As she would for you. I remember how she used to smile when she teased you - she would be pleased with your choice.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
A congratulations is in order.
[ Jiang Wanyin would not reject his brother's proposal. Especially considering he came to ask permission. ]
I humbly submit myself to assist in the wedding plans.
no subject
Thank you. I would appreciate that very much.
[ His words have a weight to them, and he does not only mean for the congratulations, or for the offer itself. Jiang Wanyin is certainly not Wangji's favorite person, and it means a great deal to Lan Xichen that his brother is willing to support him anyway - though, perhaps, given how there had been a brief time in Wonderland where he had foolishly allowed himself to consider a future where he could change things between him and Meng Yao, Jiang Wanyin is far from the worst choice that Lan Xichen could have made.
Even beyond that - Wangji's assistance and support has been utterly invaluable. It always has, of course, but since they have left home, he has come to understand more than ever that he could not have come this far without his brother. ]
I had not expected this. [ It is a quiet admission. He'd thought - well. He'd thought many things. That he would have an arranged marriage with a suitable match to result in an heir, that he could hope only for fondness and respect with his spouse. That he would never allow himself to love, or that he would love, perhaps, but tightly restrained, never with all of him.
For a while, he'd thought that he would never marry at all.
But here he is, and he gives a soft, amused exhale.]
It will be complicated, back home, but I do not intend to allow that to sway me. And... I would like to give you and Wuxian some nephews and nieces.
no subject
Loathe as he is to admit out loud, Wanyin is certainly not the worst choice. Whereas he has personal issues with the man, for he is a man who grudges as easily as Xichen loves, he also recognizes that Wanyin will treat his brother with the respect he deserves, and will offer him the support he needs. He recognizes that Wanyin has the potential to make his brother happy, and keep him safe. And those are the most important things to him, regardless of his own feelings.
Xichen had once trusted Wangji's heart to make the right decision for itself, and so, he is due to return the favor, in any case.
He isn't expecting the conversation to turn so quickly to children, and he raises one perfectly-arched brow. ]
...
You had better.
[ After all, he made an excellent uncle and would doubtless make an even better father. Lan Wangji had always thought, while witnessing Xiongzhang in his more paternal moments, that it was a shame he didn't have children of his own. And, so, he is very much hoping for a population boom for both their involved sects.
But. Wait. Wait a second. ]
Tell me Wei Ying has not convinced Wanyin to attempt a curse.
no subject
Lan Xichen had, for a time, doubted that in himself as he had doubted so many other things - something made unavoidably clear to him with some of the things his shadow self had touched on. He means to carefully mention them, but he is almost instantly distracted by that.
His eyes widen, just a little, in surprise, as he very eloquently thinks what.
It takes him a moment to remember - Lan Xichen had seen that post speculating about ways to enable a man to become pregnant, even interacted with the one who posted it briefly with the half formed idea of passing any information on to Wuxian. He'd put it from his mind rather quickly after it became somewhat clear that curse seemed the most likely option.
It is only now that he puts the pieces together, and realizes why the anonymous poster had seemed so familiar. ]
...ah. I did tell Wuxian that those who cared about him were certainly not likely to want him to be harmed in such an attempt. [ Though he hadn't technically known it was him he was talking to at the time. ] As far as I know, there has been no such conversation between them.
no subject
Either way, that is squarely Xiongzhang's responsibility now, and honestly, Lan Wangji has never met a more patient man. So they are, in that regard, a good match. Honestly, he's still been thinking over the things that Jiang Wanyin had said when he'd asked what he'd bring to the marriage. The most important thing was that he wanted to make sure Xichen was happy, no matter what. He had smiled thinking about their future together.
And so, confident that his brother will be loved, and cherished, and cared for, he gave his blessings. He wonders if Shufu had felt this way, wonders if he would approve their match. Fuqin would have - he was always practical. And what is better than marrying two of the most prestigious remaining clans, with strong family ties to the third?
Then, aside from politics, there is the more personal. ]
Muqin would be happy for you.
no subject
Or rather, it is something he is very quickly trying not to think on, as the idea is... far from unpleasant.
Very far from unpleasant, and the tips of his ears go just the slightest bit red before he very firmly puts it aside.
He looks back over at what Wangji says. Lan Xichen has thought quite a bit about what Shufu's response will be, how they will work together to navigate such a union between two prestigious clans with the practicalities of continued leadership and how it will affect politics between all of the clans moving forward - but he has not let himself think about what their parents would say.
Emotion briefly seals his throat, and at first his only response is a small, soft smile and a nod. ]
As she would for you. I remember how she used to smile when she teased you - she would be pleased with your choice.