#wei wuxian and nie mingjue each look over to see their respective phones lighting up like fireworks in july

[biqinsu]

no thoughts just modern twin jades sitting down together with a bottle of wine and getting fabulously drunk after one glass each

[gusu-emilu]

miscellaneous MDZS/CQL fic recs (AO3)

broken into sections: Character Study (-esque), Wangxian, Jiang Cheng ships, Yi City (or Yi City-adjacent), Humor/Crack, and Other

Character Study (-esque)

Wei Wuxian

my eyes got used to the darkness by @curiosity-killed (M, Sunshot Campaign era, 4.4k): The funny thing, the thing that makes his lips curl in a grin and his hands shake with laughter, is that all these cultivators with their lofty principles and noble ambitions can’t even notice the ghost among them. Sure, they shiver at his presence and flinch from his cold hands, but not one of them puts it together. Lan Wangji chases him with healing music and Nie Mingjue frowns solemnly at his dancing corpses—and he laughs and laughs and laughs because they just don’t get it. Emilu's commentary: CW for mild body horror.

Jiang Cheng

in our respective ways by @veliseraptor (T, Sunshot Campaign era, 5.7k): Jiang Cheng has his golden core back. But he seems to have lost Wei Wuxian.

You Know I've Fallen, but I Know How High by villainais (M, Post-WWX's death, 2.7k): Jiang Cheng loses both of his siblings in Nightless City. Minutes apart. He trudges home to Yunmeng with one body, holds a private funeral with a single coffin, and allows himself to wear his mourning robes for ten days—permits himself not a single day more. He is still too young and inexperienced, an unfledged boy to the cultivation world, and he is rebuilding Lotus Pier on his own. He will not gift the other sect leaders the satisfaction of seeing him vulnerable. Propriety be damned. Hanguang-jun emerges from his seclusion wearing white. He does not stop.

Nie Huaisang

it deepens like a coastal shelf by @wolffyluna (M, Post-WWX's death, 21.6k): When Nie Huaisang meets Mo Xuanyu, he realises two things quickly. One, this kid is so doomed. Two, this kid would be a great unwitting spy in his plans to bring down Jin Guangyao. It would be so easy to get into Mo Xuanyu's confidences, and so easy to get him to tell him anything he needs. ...only thing is, that wouldn't be very good for Mo Xuanyu's life expectancy. But he'll do it anyway, if it helps him avenge his brother. A fic about man handing on misery to man, the parallels and cycles in the relationships between Jin Guangyao and Nie Huaisang and Mo Xuanyu, and the lengths these characters will go to meet their goals and if there are lines they won't cross.

Lan Xichen

an old man in dried mouths by @tenacious-minds (T, Post-Canon, 3.3k): Xichen thinks. The tea had always stained the crockery red. Emilu's commentary: Lan Xichen and Jin Ling talk about Jin Guangyao.

can you be a quiet man? by @basket-of-loquats (Unrated, Post-Canon, 70.7k+) But something inside him snapped at Guanyin Temple-- and Lan Wangji watched it happen, saw the exact moment that Lan Xichen went from broken to shattered, when he buried his sword into Jin Guangyao’s chest, when his sworn brother stared up at him with wide eyes, blood dripping from his mouth, when he pulled himself closer and closer and closer-- When he whispered "Why don’t you die with me?", and Lan Xichen hadn’t argued. Emilu's commentary: Lan Xichen / therapy with a side of Wangxian.

Wen Ning

breathless (but i'll pretend to breathe for you) by swordsainted (T, Burial Mounds Settlement era, 4.1k): Wei Wuxian is silent for a long minute, and then he looks at Wen Ning, something raw and open and hurting behind his eyes. “I’m sorry,” he says again, softer this time, and Wen Ning shakes his head, still smiling. “You’ve protected everyone. How could I hate you for that?”

Mo Xuanyu

stand at the pit's mouth by @eldritch-elrics (M, MXY's death, 9.3k): The dreams and regrets of a man on the edge of oblivion. Emilu's commentary: Surrealist/absurdist screenplay.

Wangxian

I would wait for a thousand years by bleuett (T, Immortality Post-Canon, 10.4k): During the worst of winter, a traveler comes to stay at Lan Wangji's inn. He wears a red ribbon in his hair. “Do you see the rabbit?” Wei Ying asks and points at the moon. “That’s the moon rabbit, he helps make Chang’e more immortality elixir. He keeps Chang’e company.” “I do not wish the rabbit for company,” Lan Wangji says tightly. “You are the one I want by my side.” “And I’m here, Lan Zhan. If you go to the moon, I’ll follow you, I’ll always be here now.” Emilu's commentary: Lan Wangji meets Wei Wuxian centuries later and does not remember the past. There is also an excellent podfic by @forgotten-envies

Look Not With The Eyes by Spodumene (G, Post-Canon, 28.1k): Wei Wuxian returns from his travels to join Lan Wangji on a routine night hunt, but when things take an unexpected turn, Wei Wuxian will have to fight for what he's really looking for. Emilu's commentary: Case fic.

All In A Good Time by bigboobedcanuck (E, Post-Canon, 8k): Lan Zhan is struck by a curse that brings him intense physical pain unless he's being touched. He is stoic and tries to hide his suffering. Wei Wuxian is worried and protective. Perhaps they will finally admit their feelings?

Across a Lake of Glass by Zizzani (E, Figure Skating AU, 92.2k+): Each year, Gusu Skating Club runs a camp for only the most elite athletes of each region. This year brings a new skater from the Yunmeng Club who wears skates lined with red and a smile made for war. He skates like a demon. Figure skating au featuring lots of healthy rivalry, pre and post-competition bonding, and an inexplicable fall from grace through the eyes of the media.

Jiang Cheng Ships

Chengqing

display my heart for you to see by @souridealist (M, Post-Canon Wen Qing Lives AU, 5.5k): Jiang Cheng has his own secrets. Some of them are part of the unburied past; some of them are about how long it's been since anyone has touched him.

while I'm in this body by @souridealist (E, Post-Lotus Pier Massacre, 3.9k): For just a few minutes, alone in her office, Wen Qing allows her self-control to slip enough to cry. It's just her luck that that's when Jiang Cheng comes looking for her. Emilu's commentary: Femdom.

Chengning

it may be that it doesn't matter by @wildehacked (T, Post-Canon, 6.6k) “Are you crying?” Jiang Wanyin asks him, and Wen Ning frowns. Pats his cheek with one hand. “No.” Emilu's commentary: Holy Grail of Chengning.

Whatever It Is by morau (E, Post-Canon, 20.5k): It starts, as with a lot of things, with a very poorly thought out prank, courtesy of Wei Wuxian. Emilu's commentary: A LOT of sex and even more emotions lol

won't run away (we're here to stay) by @qi-ling (T, Post-Canon, 3.5k): "Please don't feel any pressure to accept this, and you can take as much time as you need to think about it." It's a set of robes, in shades of deep purple, complete with leather bracers. Cut in a different style than that of the disciples or household staff, closer to the understated robes Wen Ning typically wears. He reaches out to feel the fabric. His deadened nerves can't sense delicate textures well, but even he can tell it's of a quality on par to Wanyin's own wardrobe. This is startling enough coming from Jiang Wanyin, but then Wen Ning notices the belt. In particular, the silver bell in the shape of a lotus affixed to it. Only recognized members of the Jiang sect may wear the clarity bell. Or, Jiang Cheng has an invitation for Wen Ning.

Zhancheng

By Proxy by @veliseraptor (E, Post-WWX's death, 12k): Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji, looking for comfort in all the wrong places. Emilu's commentary: Hate sex that made me cry

Yi City (or Yi City-adjacent)

Songxuexiao

Heaven Has A Road But No One Walks It by @silvysartfulness (M, Post-Yi City arc Canon Divergence, 123k+): One of the most complex spells of demonic cultivation the world has seen is brought to fruition, and Xiao Xingchen draws his first shaking breaths in over seven years. This, it turns out, is only the start of his problems. Emilu's commentary: Pretty sure everyone already knows about Silvy's happy songxuexiao road trip fic but it has to be here.

Xue Yang & Lan Xichen

Hours On Empty series by @lady-of-the-lotus (M to E, Post-Canon, 57.8k+): AU where Wei Wuxian never came to Yi City and Xue Yang is still running around post-canon disguised as Xiao Xingchen. "Fractured Ice" - Xue Yang whisks a nihilistic Lan Xichen off on a murder roadtrip to raise Xiao Xingchen and Meng Yao from the grave. Because that will solve all of their problems, right? "Control" - "Fractured Ice" retold from Xue Yang's pov. "A Thousand Miles In Its Light" - Alternate ending to "Fractured Ice" and "Control"

Songxiao with Xuexiao Flashbacks

Nothing Beside Remains by @eldritch-elrics (T, Post-Yi City arc Canon Divergence, 21.9k): And Xiao Xingchen is dressed in dark clothing that is not his, and his sight is all of a sudden sharp in a way that it has never been before, and Xue Yang is not here. “He wouldn’t,” he breathes. “No, he wouldn’t do that. He’s too—” “He’s too what?” Wei Wuxian steps a foot closer, face hard-set. “Too cruel? Or too kind?” Or: Xue Yang uses the Sacrifice Summon on Xiao Xingchen. Xiao Xingchen lives with the consequences.

Humor/Crack

The Hangover: A pre-wedding Dramedy series by natcat5 (M, Modern AU, 51.6k): It is not a bachelor party. That was made clear on all the invitations. It is a congratulatory get together for Jin Zixuan, attended by his family, the family of the bride, and the young masters of the other two families in their circle. The gathering is not to go later than midnight, everyone must drink in moderation, and no one is allowed to be hungover tomorrow. Wei Wuxian had promised Yanli, three fingers in the air. Jiang Cheng had rolled his eyes, but promised as well. Saturday morning, Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng wake up alone in a hotel room, missing shoes, phones, and almost all their memories of what in the world happened last night. Also missing: Wei Wuxian, brother of the bride, Lan Wangji, esteemed guest, Lan Xichen, esteemed guest, Jin Zixun, cousin of the groom, Jin Guangyao, brother and best-man, Jin Zixuan, THE GROOM, who is due at his bride-to-be's house in six hours. That's plenty of time to find everyone...right?

Jiang Cheng Loves Jar Jar Bombad Mui by @lady-of-the-lotus (G, Post-Canon, 1.7k) Jar Jar Binks washes up on the shores of Lotus Pier. Can he win the lonely Jiang Cheng's proud heart? Neb neb answer is yesa. Emilu's commentary: There's also a podfic by @aowyn. Yes, with a Jar Jar voice.

Other

Nie Huaisang & Wen Ning

By Name by nirejseki (G, Post-Canon, 1.3k): After the traumatic events in the now-collapsed temple, Wen Ning lingered behind and unexpectedly saw Nie Huaisang, the undisputed victor of an all-around terrible evening, sitting on the steps of the temple, looking exhausted and miserable, as if he’d won nothing at all. Wen Ning found himself drifting over to him.

Jiang Yanli & Nie Mingjue

utility by magicites (G, Arranged Marriage AU, 2.3k): Jiang Yanli and Nie Mingjue's wedding is a political one — a gesture of unity between their Sects. A way for her parents to finally get some use out of the plain-faced sham of a cultivator they call a daughter. “Jiang-guniang,” Nie Mingjue says, and the formality in such a setting as intimate as their wedding chambers startles her, “I don’t wish to bed you. Or any other woman, for that matter. It isn’t fair for you to live alone because of my own preferences.” She rests her hand on his arm, cool relief flooding her body like water on a summer afternoon. “If it helps, I don’t feel desire for men,” she whispers.

Jin Guangyao / Nie Huaisang

Pulling Strings by @eldritch-elrics (E, Post-WWX's death, 5k): Nie Huaisang, quite drunk, turns up at Jin Guangyao’s door one night with an unexpected request. Emilu's commentary: Nie Huaisang knows Jin Guangyao killed Nie Mingjue. This interaction is more symbolic than anything else...

[vassar177]

Twelve Days of Mingcheng - Day 10

I’d like to thank @shakespearean-ginger for sending in the prompt “family dinners” and @asixth for sending in you know what. There was a lot of catharsis.  

AO3 link

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I will not be held liable

There are very few things that Jiang Cheng looks forward to less than the Christmas family dinners his parents have every year.

It’s the one time his mother and father can tolerate each other for more than an hour, so it’s been allowed to continue. But it’s always too long, and always way too fucking suffocating.

All Jiang kids are required to attend and this, of course, applies to those attached to said Jiang kids as well.

So, for the past five years Jin Zixuan has attended, and for the past three Lan Wangji has been welcomed with (mostly) open arms. The addition of Jin Ling a year ago was one that brought joy (even though everything else was shit), and now that the youngest Jiang has finally managed to get himself a partner, Nie Mingjue will be joining the table.

“You know I hate your parents, right?”

Jiang Cheng sighs, glancing over his shoulder to his boyfriend before going back to fix his tie.

“You haven’t even met them.”

“Would that change anything?” Nie Mingjue responds, looking around the room for his phone that he swears he left on the nightstand. “Meeting them, that is.”

A scoff. “No, probably not.”

And it’s not a lie either. There is a very little chance that Nie Mingjue will actually like his parents. Jiang Cheng barely even likes them (although that’s taken several years of therapy to admit).

The point is, Jiang Cheng is still expected to go- he hasn’t built the courage to decline yet, that’ll take some more therapy but that’s beside the point.

Anyway.

Jiang Cheng is still expected to go. So really, Nie Mingjue has no option but to attend with him if he wants his boyfriend to come home in one piece.

Tying his hair up quickly, he turns to see Nie Mingjue staring at his apparently found phone, mumbling to himself about something.

Jiang Cheng walks closer and has to hold back a smile when he hears a quiet, “They’re not even Christians,” leave his lover’s lips. That’s true, Jiang Cheng stopped questioning why they celebrated Christmas years ago, so he forgets that some people find it odd.

Grabbing the lapels of his Nie Mingjue’s suit, he catches his attention. “Behave yourself,” he says, placing a light kiss on the other’s lips. “It’s just for tonight.”

“Fine,” Nie Mingjue says begrudgingly, pouting in a way that causes Jiang Cheng to kiss him once more. He’s about to step away when Nie Mingjue loops his arms around his waist, pulling him back in.

And well, Jiang Cheng won’t argue with that.

It’s several minutes before they finally break apart, Nie Mingjue letting him go with a nip before smirking playfully.

“I will not be held liable for my actions if someone says something outta hand.”

---

So far, the dinner hasn’t been a complete and total disaster.

His parents haven’t been overly critical of him (yet), still coming off the realization that the person Jiang Cheng is seeing is someone as respectable as Nie Mingjue.

They hadn’t said that but he could see it in their surprised faces, and unfortunately, so could Nie Mingjue if the way his hand tightened in his grasp was anything to go by.

His sister is as lovely as always, glowing with happiness, and Jin Zixuan has gotten significantly less insufferable since Jin Ling’s birth.

Lan Wangji is the same amount of insufferable, and Wei Wuxian is the same. Loud.

Now, Jin Ling.

Jin Ling, on the other hand, is even more adorable than the last time Jiang Cheng saw him. It’s only been around two weeks (Jiang Cheng can’t bear to be apart from his nephew for longer), but he coos and hugs and kisses him all the same.

He’s in the middle of blowing raspberries into Jin Ling’s neck when his boyfriend walks over and sits next to him, laying his head on Jiang Cheng’s shoulder in exhaustion.

“Does your father talk about anything besides business and Wei Wuxian?”

Jiang Cheng tenses, removing his face from Jin Ling’s neck momentarily to look down. “Sorry,” he says, instinctively.

“Not your fault,” Nie Mingue mumbles, pressing a kiss onto Jiang Cheng’s shoulder.

They sit like that for a while. Peaceful in their own world, but food is served soon after, and that’s when things start to go downhill.

Gathered around the table, his parents start arguing as per usual when they're within six feet of one another. Unlike usual, it’s his father that’s starting most of the squabbles, his mother still subdued by the spirit of the season (and spiked eggnog).

Everyone is uncomfortable, and everyone is trying to ignore it. 

Jiang Cheng and his siblings are used to it, their spouses are learning to be, so dinner carries on. The only one not pretending that his parents are just some sad soap opera left to play in the background is Nie Mingjue.

Jiang Cheng can tell that he is starting to get annoyed by the whole thing, but he did warn him that it would be bad.

He grabs his hand and places an apologetic kiss on it as he passes Nie Mingjue another roll. When in doubt, eat, is what he always says in times like this.

It’s once the voices start raising that Jiang Cheng notices something is wrong. His father is drunk. It rarely happens, but when it does it’s bad.

His sister gets up and takes Jin Ling with her, Jin Zixuan goes to follow.

Wei Wuxian excuses himself, and Lan Wangi goes to follow.

It’s only Jiang Cheng and Nie Mingjue left at the table when his parents move to stand and shouting turns to yelling, turns to screaming.

He’s about to get up and leave as well, take Nie Mingjue’s hand and just drag him out of the house when he hears his name and just. Blanks.

He sits back down and listens, so used to getting told off that his body impulsively freezes.

Jiang Cheng doesn’t even know what they’re arguing about anymore, the words passing through his ears. But he does catch onto the few key phrases he was hoping wouldn’t be uttered in front of his boyfriend tonight.

“Failure.”

“Disappointment.”

“Ungrateful.”

“Useless.”

His mother is arguing in his favor- he thinks- but ultimately, it just ends up pushing the words in deeper, twisting them as he remembers exactly how he’s seen in their eyes.

He feels tears begin to prick in the corner of his eyes and- fuck he was working on this but they’re still going and he has no energy to move. No energy to run.

The sound of wood sliding against wood pulls him out of his mind briefly as he looks to the side and sees Nie Mingjue getting up.

His eyes widen in horror.

Logically, he knows Nie Mingjue doesn’t think any less of him- doesn’t want to break up with him and end their year-long relationship because his parents are shitty people. But emotionally, he doesn’t think he can handle him walking away right now.

He watches as Nie Mingjue rounds the table and he feels a tear fall.

Jiang Cheng is about to call out for him in hopes that he won’t leave when he sees Nie Mingjue gain speed.

Despite that, it’s as if he’s watching in slow motion as Nie Mingjue raises his arm.

Pulls it back.

Uses his momentum and just-

Fucking decks his father in the face.

A loud crack can be heard, and Jiang Fengmian is falling to the floor with a thud.

Silence spreads through the room and Jiang Cheng must have stood up because he’s leaning over the table to see his father.

His unconscious father.

His unconscious father that his boyfriend just punched.

There’s blood leaking from his father’s nose and Jiang Cheng looks to Nie Mingjue who’s simply shaking off his hand as if something dirty got on it.

Footsteps hury in their direction. Getting closer, getting louder, until Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji are standing in the doorway, staring at the scene with mixed looks of horror and confusion.

Wei Wuxian opens his mouth. “What the fuc-”

Loud cackling breaks the silence and everyone jumps, looking at his mother in shock.

She’s laughing so hard she’s bent over, clutching her stomach as she leans on the table for support.

“Oh gods,” she wheezes. Jiang Cheng is terrified. He doesn’t think he’s ever seen his mother laugh before. “Oh, gods. A-cheng.”

He stands up straight, somehow expecting this to be his fault.

“You need to keep this one.”

Once again, his mind goes blank. A metaphorical blue screen. 

Jiang Cheng is so shocked he doesn’t notice Nie Mingjue gathering their things. He doesn’t notice him guiding him to the foyer and putting on his coat and leading him outside.

It isn’t until they’re in the car driving home that Jiang Cheng comes to himself. “You just punched my father.” He says it in disbelief, despite having witnessed the act from start to finish.

“I did.”

“You just punched my father,” he repeats, hysteria beginning to take the reins as he remembers the hilarity of the evening.

“He was acting outta hand.”

And that’s it. Jiang Cheng loses it in the passenger seat of his boyfriend’s car, mimicking almost exactly his mother’s reaction to the scene.

Jiang Cheng is laughing so hard he’s crying; he doesn’t notice Nie Mingjue’s satisfied smile.

Doesn’t hear the “worth it,” that leaves his boyfriend’s mouth.

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YZY gets the not as shitty as you could've been award this time. NMJ gets the MVP award.

HMU if you want more JFM getting knocked out. 

Thank you for reading and sorry for the late update haha...

[satonthelotuspier]

My Soulmate’s Regret Part 3

Yep it’s been a while since I wrote for this AU. This is pretty much setting up for the finale, or at least the run to the finale, of the xicheng arc.

You can find part 1 here and part 2 here.

CW for blood, minor injury, possessive behaviour.

He was at a convenience store buying cheap instant noodles to take back to the station, when Jiang Cheng got the oddest feeling he was being watched.

He wasn’t a man to ignore his instincts, cops who did that more often that not ended up dead, so he carefully wandered through the aisles of the small shop, scanning for anyone who looked like they might be not quite what they seemed, fully utilising the mirrors and angles to his best advantage and disguising his regard.

Despite his extremely careful supermarket sweep, nobody seemed out of place. There was a mother with her young son shopping for that night’s dinner ingredients, two men in business suits, both with company ID badges on show, looking for a quick lunch to take back to the office, and a gaggle of high school girls shopping for cute candy. They kept throwing him looks, and giggling amongst themselves, but a quick once over showed them to likely be what they seemed, school bags, uniforms, all of them huddled close so they knew each other well, no possibility of one being a new member of the clique.

He shoved a hand in his jacket pocket and made his way to the till, blocking out their excited tittering as he joined the queue behind the mother and son, and waited for his turn to pay.

Despite the fact he’d visually cleared everyone here he couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched, and it wasn’t just by the young girls. At least he was pretty sure it wasn’t.

All he could do was keep his guard up, however.

His phone buzzed in his pocket; signalling the arrival of a text; he took it out and checked the message, expecting it to be Wei Wuxian, asking Jiang Cheng to grab him some lunch as well, but it was Lan Xichen.

A-Cheng should have dinner with me tonight.

Can’t. A-Cheng is busy.

Too busy to see your husband? What plans do you have?

Ex-husband. I’m having dinner with my boss and his brother.

Our marriage certificate is still valid, A-Cheng. Like it or not, I am still your husband.

Having this argument at least twice a week helped neither of them, of course. And technically Lan Xichen was correct. He really should get around to fighting for the divorce. He was a very busy man, however, and it wasn’t like either of them were in a hurry to marry again.

Not that Lan Xichen would give Jiang Cheng the chance, of course.

Does that mean you’re having dinner with Nie Mingjue and Nie Huaisang?

That had been a slip up, it was only going to cause Lan Xichen to try to be controlling. But no point lying now, he’d already said it.

Yes.

Invite me.

He almost dropped his phone at the shock of that text. Was Lan Xichen insane?

He was just about to reply something of the kind when he realised it would be his turn to be served very shortly, and put his phone away to wait.

Once outside the store, however, he pulled it out of his pocket again, and hit dial as he wandered back in the direction of the station.

“No, I won’t be inviting you. Because it’s not my dinner party, and because how do you think it would look for my boss, a policeman, to be having dinner with you, a suspected crime lord.” He didn’t even give Lan Xichen a chance to greet him, he just leapt straight into the attack.

“Suspected, Sweeting. And your soulmate.” Why was Lan Xichen so damn unflappable about this kind of thing? “I do not like the idea of you having dinner with Nie Huaisang, A-Cheng.”

Not this again.

“I’m not having an affair with Huaisang-xiong, Xichen.”

“I know. That’s why he’s still alive.” It was always so matter of fact with Lan Xichen.

It was impossible for their little bickering sessions to develop into something more satisfying for Jiang Cheng, where he got to argue and yell and get everything off of his chest, because trying to argue with Lan Xichen was a losing battle. The man never lost his temper, always spoke calmly and evenly, and let Jiang Cheng’s jibes and comments roll off of his back, except where he had a calm response to make to refute them, like this time.

“Tomorrow then?” Lan Xichen suggested. “I’ll pick you up from the garage near the station at about six.” Lan Xichen hung up without waiting for his answer. It never mattered much what his response was, after all.

He pushed his mobile back into his jeans pocket and went to the department kitchen to boil water for his makeshift lunch, cursing the fate that had made Lan Xichen his soulmate.

*******

The meal the previous evening with the Nie brothers had been uneventful, and he had arrived home around ten, to fall straight into bed.

His workload that day was relatively light. He had some reports to read through on feelers he had put out, further into the Wen clan’s dealings.

It was what had gotten him kidnapped the previous month, but he wasn’t going to stop, especially now he had a solid suspicion the Wens were planning to move against his husband.

It wasn’t clan politics, he didn’t give a fuck about that, let them screw each other over into the ground, but he cared about his soulmate’s safety. As much as he hated Lan Xichen, he did still love him.

Of course he wouldn’t act on anything that could be considered a conflict of interest, Lao-Nie trusted him enough to manage his workload ethically; and he wouldn’t pass information on to Lan Xichen; it was a matter of professional pride with him that he always separated his private life and his professional role, much as some people mocked, thought he didn’t, thought he was a sleeper for Lan Xichen. Thought leaving his husband was a front and not the most difficult, heart-wrenching decision he had ever made in his life.

Unfortunately that wasn’t helped by the fact Lan Xichen made it impossible to leave him. He refused to agree to a divorce. He still inserted himself into almost every aspect of Jiang Cheng’s private life. And heaven help him but they still fucked regularly.

He forced his mind back onto the folders of paperwork in front of him; he wasn’t getting paid to psychoanalyse his own relationships.

He spent an hour in the gym and training room to finish off his day, then grabbed a quick shower, before changing into something a little more dressy than his usual jeans, t-shirt and jacket. He didn’t know whether they’d be eating out or eating back at the Lan mansion, and if the latter, Lan Qiren, Lan Xichen’s uncle, may very well join them.

He had always gotten on very well with his soulmate’s uncle, and he deserved the respect of Jiang Cheng making an effort with his appearance.

It was a little after six by the time he was ready to leave, and he was in a rush to ensure Lan Xichen wasn’t waiting for him too long, so he ran for the underground garage Lan Xichen had mentioned in their telephone call yesterday. He had occasionally picked Jiang Cheng up from the street, especially when Jiang Cheng hadn’t been expecting him, but he also knew it was better for Jiang Cheng to not be seen too often getting into the car of his suspected mafia don estranged husband.

He rushed to the level which Lan Xichen normally parked on, but a quick scan showed no familiar dark saloon. The hairs at the back of his neck stuck up with the sudden realisation it was actually much quieter generally than it should have been at this time of the evening, in fact, it was scarily deserted.

He scanned again, aiming to back towards one of the walls while he reached for his police issue weapon.

He pulled it out, and could have thrown it away in frustration to notice it didn’t have a magazine in it. Which was bullshit, because he knew for a fact it had had one when he locked it away at the station to go into the gym. Someone had had access to his locker.

Fuck.

He wasn’t entirely surprised to see figures dressed in dark clothes moving out of the shadows between cars and making their way towards him, all carrying an assortment of weapons.

“Just like he said. Lan Xichen’s bitch on a platter.”

The comment, whether it had been meant to rile him up or not, told him that he had been given up by someone, and that the reason they came for him specifically was because of his relationship to the Lans.

He didn’t consider himself a stupid man; at least not professionally. And he knew that without a gun, he was as good as defenceless against so many, so he did the most sensible thing possible, and took to his heels.

Luckily he was quick, and he knew this particular garage quite well; let them catch his university track team ass.

He ran, and weaved, and switched levels.

He managed to put a bit of distance between him and his pursuers, apparently they hadn’t expected him to scamper. He took the opportunity to hide himself behind a car and pull his phone out.

He dialled Wei Wuxian; if the thugs were interested in him as Lan Xichen’s ‘bitch’ and not as Jiang Cheng, organised crime cop, then Wei Wuxian might be targetted too. And who could he trust at the station?

While his phone rang he checked his messages. Someone had been into his phone too, and replied to a text message from Lan Xichen telling Jiang Cheng he was going to be late.

This all stunk of careful organisation.

Wei Wuxian answered, and began chirping something at Jiang Cheng, but he cut him off immediately, and there must have been something in Jiang Cheng’s tone that notified Wei Wuxian the other was deadly serious.

“Wei Wuxian, where are you?”

“I’m just about to leave the station, Jiang Cheng, why?”

“Go back inside, don’t leave. Go and find Lao-Nie in his office, and get him to call Wangji for you. Do not leave with anyone other than your husband. Do not leave Lao-Nie’s side unless it’s with Wangji, and hand over your phone and weapon for him to take a look at. I’ll explain later.” I hope.

“OK, I’m going back now, but Jiang Cheng, are you OK, where are you? Shall I send you backup?” He wasn’t stupid enough to fall for that; if he told Wei Wuxian where he was the stupid fool would be just as likely to tear over here to help rather than keep himself safe like Jiang Cheng had told him to. Wanted him to.

He hung up, and stared at the phone. There was a good chance they had something tracking him through his mobile. It was relatively easy to do for anyone with a little tech savvy, and these guys had been too organised not to have access to that kind of tech. But he also wanted to preserve it as evidence.

In the end he knew he had to leave it behind, however, and take the chance it would be destroyed, otherwise he had no hope of avoiding capture. He dropped it down a nearby grate, and was just about to take off again when he realised he’d waited too long, and a few of the faster running thugs had caught up with him and located his hiding place.

He had better chance against a few than them all, so he didn’t give them chance to wait for backup, and came out fighting.

His Sanda training against their hand weapons wasn’t the fairest fight, but it was the only chance he had, and he was a stubborn fucker and wouldn’t go down without leaving his own mark.

He acquitted himself reasonably well, and did end up flooring three of them, but took a shallow knife slash across the ribs for his trouble. He ran again. This time, knowing his brother was safe, he didn’t stop. He daren’t go back to the station, or to a local hospital because they’d have to report his knife wound. And while he had a perfectly valid reason he didn’t want anyone but Nie Mingjue to know where he was yet, considering there was definitely someone on the inside willing to give Jiang Cheng up to an enemy. The only place he knew of which was a safe haven for him was the Lan mansion. Lan Xichen would be able to arrange a doctor to tend his wounds, and he could safely contact Nie Mingjue.

*******

It took him a little while to make it there. He had to keep out of public view as much as possible, as it was impossible to hide the blood on his clothes. The guards on the gate seemed to be on high alert, and as soon as he made himself known to them they ushered him into the compound and up to the house.

They must have called ahead because Lan Xichen met them halfway up the drive, accompanied by Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian.

“Jiang Cheng!” Wei Wuxian exclaimed, and moved forward.

Lan Xichen was faster, however.

He had paused at first sight of Jiang Cheng, had actually looked like he blanched a little, then stepped forward and swept Jiang Cheng up into a princess carry.

“Please call Xiao-yisheng, Wangji” he said shortly.

Jiang Cheng didn’t really feel like complaining about being carried at the moment, and let Wei Wuxian and Lan Xichen fuss around him.

“It looks much worse than it is, I think. I’m pretty sure it’s only a shallow cut,” he said, as Lan Xichen placed him down on the couch in his bedroom.

Lan Xichen didn’t answer; and Jiang Cheng glanced up. His mouth was set in a tight line of rage. Jiang Cheng reached out and took his hand.

“I’m alright, Xichen.” His voice was soft, soothing.

Lan Xichen was probably going to be out for blood after this, and there likely wasn’t much he could do to mitigate it. He had to just hope that Nie Mingjue and he could get to the bottom of what had happened and get them off the streets before Lan Xichen fathomed it and took matters into his own hands.

His words of comfort caused the other to shake his rage off, and kneel down next to Jiang Cheng. He clutched both of Jiang Cheng’s hands between his, and lifted them to his mouth, to place soothing kisses on them.

Jiang Cheng was of course uncomfortable under the tender regard.

He didn’t try to break free though; the comfort was for Lan Xichen, not himself, as ironic as that was. Lan Xichen was a control freak, and that he had allowed his husband to remain free of that control, and he had then been wounded, would hurt him, would gnaw at him and make him question whether he had been wrong to allow Jiang Cheng that freedom.

When the time came to leave, Jiang Cheng was expecting to have to fight him on the subject all over again.

But he would; he wasn’t some pretty bird to be kept in a cage, and taken out at Lan Xichen’s fancy.

That was for another time though.

He allowed Lan Xichen to help him out of his slashed shirt, and Wei Wuxian joined them.

“I let Lao-Nie know you were here and safe. You need to speak to him and tell him what happened, Jiang Cheng.”

“I’ll do it now.”

Lan Xichen held him down, “No, you won’t, A-Cheng. You may call Lao-Nie after Xiao-yisheng has tended to that wound, and examined you.”

He wanted to argue, he really did, but there was little point at the moment.

******

That was why it was a while later before Jiang Cheng was given the handset of one of the household extensions and allowed to telephone his boss.

He would have ideally preferred to do it on a line that didn’t belong to the Lans, but at least he knew the line would be secure from outside influence. And there was nothing else he could do; his phone was who knew where and Wei Wuxian’s had been handed over as evidence.

There was a part of Jiang Cheng that trusted Lan Xichen to not invade his privacy to that extent. And he knew he’d likely have to give his husband some of the basic information of what had happened; he just hadn’t judged how much was sensible yet.

Lan Xichen had left him with Wei Wuxian, and, once the door had closed behind him, Jiang Cheng dialled.

Xiao-yisheng had cleaned and placed a few stitches into the wound on his chest under a local anaesthetic. A wider examination had proved, as he claimed, that he was perfectly fine beyond that one cut.

Nie Mingjue answered in short order and Jiang Cheng put the phone on speaker, allowing both he and Wei Wuxian to be part of the discussion. He quickly related what had happened, and asked Nie Mingjue to try and retrieve his phone from the drain.

“I should be fine to come back into the station tomorrow to give you my official statement…”

“Are you insane, Jiang Cheng?” Nie Mingjue asked. “Two attempts like this in the space of a month – one possibly aided from within the department. There was a reason you judged it wasn’t safe to return here, or to a hospital, when you got away from those thugs. Don’t start being a simpleton now. You need to sit back for a while, let the heat simmer, maybe go into protective custody. At least you need to stay by Lan Xichen’s side; only a fucking idiot would try to go through your soulmate to get to you.”

Jiang Cheng bit his lip in frustration. A part of him accepted the sense in Nie Mingjue’s words, but he wasn’t someone who was happy taking a passive role. And he was eager to make progress on this investigation; he didn’t want to give Lan Xichen any chance to get to the answer before they did. His husband was cold, clinical, and obsessively methodical in his business life; how else was it that, despite what the police knew went on under their very noses, they were still no nearer to having anything at all on the Lans than they had ever been.

But with this, with Jiang Cheng’s safety, and revenge for hurting him, he didn’t trust Lan Xichen to be so dispassionate; and the last thing he wanted was for the idiot to get hurt. And it had been obvious from what the thugs had said that Lan Xichen had been the ultimate target, with Jiang Cheng merely just a potential tool.

Perhaps it was best for him to be beside Lan Xichen for now, if only to offer him the same protection he was trying to foist on Jiang Cheng.