It had barely been a few days since Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji's wedding, and the Cloud Recesses was already in chaos.
Disaster, thy name is Wei Ying.
Lan Qiren stormed across the courtyard, his face a storm of fury as he barked orders to a group of bewildered disciples. Behind him, the once-perfectly arranged medicinal herb garden now looked like it had been trampled by a pack of wild boars. Broken pots, uprooted herbs, and scattered soil painted a grim picture.
"Wei Ying!" Lan Qiren's voice thundered across the quiet mountain air.
Not far from the scene, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji stood at the edge of the chaos. Wei Wuxian, arms crossed and grinning shamelessly, had an air of unrepentant mischief about him. Lan Wangji, on the other hand, looked calm as always, though there was a faint wrinkle of tension at the corner of his mouth.
"I didn't mean to ruin everything, Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian said in a voice that was far too casual given the situation. He leaned in conspiratorially. "I was just trying to show the juniors a more efficient way to plant the herbs!"
Lan Wangji's golden eyes shifted toward the mess before he turned his steady gaze back to Wei Wuxian. "Wei Ying," he said quietly, "you used a formation for planting?"
Wei Wuxian shrugged sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck. "It worked fine… until it didn't."
Before Lan Wangji could respond, Lan Qiren stomped up to them, his face dark with fury.
"You!" he snapped, pointing an accusing finger at Wei Wuxian. "What have you done this time? Not only have you destroyed the herb garden, but you've also disrupted the morning meditation! Half the disciples are still searching for their scattered scrolls!"
Wei Wuxian laughed nervously, hands up in mock surrender. "Uncle Lan, don't be mad. I was just—"
"Do not call me uncle!" Lan Qiren growled. "How dare you treat the Cloud Recesses like your personal playground? You're ruining centuries of discipline and order!"
At that moment, Lan Wangji stepped between his husband and his uncle. "Uncle," he began in a calm, measured tone. "It was an accident."
"An accident?" Lan Qiren huffed. "And what about yesterday, when he smuggled Emperor's Smile into the library pavilion? Or the day before that, when he climbed onto the cold spring's rooftop barefoot?"
Wei Wuxian chimed in cheerfully. "I had to climb up there to rescue a sparrow! It was trapped, Lan Qiren. You wouldn't have let the poor thing suffer, would you?"
Lan Qiren turned a darker shade of red, sputtering incoherently for a moment before turning his glare back to Lan Wangji. "And you, Wangji, do you condone this behavior? You brought him here! You insisted on this… this marriage! Now look at the result!"
Lan Wangji's expression didn't waver. "Wei Ying is part of this family. I will take responsibility."
Wei Wuxian's teasing expression softened at Lan Wangji's words, and he smiled at his husband. "See, Lan Zhan? You're always defending me. I don't know how I got so lucky!"
Lan Qiren sighed in frustration, rubbing his temples as though trying to summon patience from the heavens.
At that moment, a group of junior disciples scurried past, chattering excitedly. "Did you see? Wei-qianbei was practicing swordplay in the bamboo forest earlier! He invented a technique where the blade whistles when it moves!"
"It's amazing!" another junior exclaimed. "But the bamboo grove looks… um… a little damaged now."
Wei Wuxian winced and gave Lan Wangji a guilty look. "Okay, that one might actually be on me," he admitted.
Lan Qiren turned to the juniors, who immediately froze under his glare, then back to Wei Wuxian. "The bamboo grove too? Wei Ying, must you destroy everything you touch?"
Wei Wuxian put on his most winning smile. "But, Uncle Lan, I'm teaching the juniors creativity! Isn't that what true cultivation is about?"
Lan Qiren looked like he was about to have a heart attack. "No, it is not!"
Lan Wangji placed a steady hand on Wei Wuxian's shoulder, silently urging him to show some restraint. "Wei Ying," he said softly, "perhaps it is time to apologize."
Wei Wuxian sighed dramatically but nodded. "Fine, fine. I'll apologize." He stepped forward, looking at Lan Qiren with mock seriousness. "Dear and most revered Lan Qiren," he began, bowing extravagantly. "I apologize for all my crimes: for breaking rules, for uprooting herbs, for innovating swordplay, and for simply existing in a way that drives you mad."
"Wei Ying!" Lan Qiren roared, his composure finally snapping.
Wei Wuxian leapt back, laughing and grabbing Lan Wangji's hand as he started to run. "Alright, time to go! Lan Zhan, help me escape your uncle's wrath!"
Lan Wangji allowed himself to be pulled along, though his usual stoic expression was betrayed by a faint hint of amusement.
As they disappeared around the corner, Lan Qiren turned to Lan Xichen, who had been watching the entire scene from a distance, smiling serenely. "You're just going to let this continue?" Lan Qiren demanded.
Lan Xichen chuckled softly. "It seems the Cloud Recesses are becoming… livelier. Perhaps this was meant to be."
Lan Qiren groaned, muttering under his breath about unruly husbands, rule-breaking behavior, and Lan Wangji's terrible choice of partner.
Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji made their way to the back courtyard, Wei Wuxian still grinning as he glanced up at his husband. "Lan Zhan, is it just me, or am I single-handedly making your family more interesting?"
Lan Wangji met his gaze, his tone soft but sincere. "You are making my life complete."
Wei Wuxian blinked, momentarily stunned. Then he laughed, reaching up to tug gently on Lan Wangji's ribbon. "Lan Zhan, you really know how to shut me up, don't you?"
Lan Wangji didn't respond, but the faintest smile tugged at his lips as he reached out to straighten Wei Wuxian's robe.
For better or worse, the Cloud Recesses had gained a new kind of chaos, and Lan Wangji wouldn't have it any other way.