#LXC is tired and in seclusion but finds the whole situation hilarious

[silverflame2724]

LQR and WWX passive-aggressively sniping at each other by quoting rules at each other out of LWJs earshot.

"Alcohol is prohibited."

Wei Wuxian rolled his eyes at Lan Qiren and pointed to the border of the Cloud Recesses. "I'm not in the Cloud Recesses, it doesn't count."

Lan Qiren sneered and turned away.

"Sneering for no reason is prohibited." Wei Wuxian taunted.

"Talking behind other people's back is prohibited."

"Technically, you're right in front of me--"

"Wei Ying? Uncle?" Lan Wangji popped up suddenly in front of them.

Both Lan Qiren and Wei Wuxian stiffened.

"Oh~ Lan Zhan! I missed you so much!!" He tossed the empty jug of wine into his qiankun pouch and hugged his husband.

"Mn. Me too." Lan Wangji nuzzled him back but still seemed to be worried, looking between Lan Qiren and Wei Wuxian.

"Wei Ying, were you arguing with Uncle?”

“Hm? Nope~! We were just having a friendly discussion!”

“Hm.”

“Aww, Er-gege, don’t look like that! Come, come, I have some new inventions to share with you!”

Lan Zhan gave a small smile, making Wei Wuxian’s heart skip a beat. “I look forward to it.”

.................

“Running is forbidden in the Cloud Recesses!” Lan Qiren shouted a few days later.

“Do not make loud noises in the Cloud Recesses.” Wei Wuxian sniped back. “And besides, I’m walking quickly not running.”

"That's against the rules too!"

"Heh, no it isn't! Walking too fast is against the rules. I'm only walking quickly. It's not too fast." He stuck out his tongue.

Lan Qiren fumed.

.

.

At the dinner, Lan Wangji stepped out to relieve himself and Lan Qiren casted a judgmental eye towards Wei Wuxian.

“Sitting improperly is forbidden. Do not be picky with food. Eating more than three bowls is prohibited.”

Wei Wuxian gave a side-eye to Lan Qiren. He never usually ate more than three bowls but he wasn’t about to let Lan Qiren in on the secret. “Be amicable and unedited. Do not disrespect the younger.”

Lan Qiren grew quiet until Wei Wuxian stopped eating, leaving some food in his bowl. “Do not be wasteful.”

“Do not criticize other people.”

Lan Qiren tugged harshly on his beard and was about to say something else when Lan Wangji returned. The two of them had privately agreed to act amiable in front of him so they stopped immediately. 

.....

It was getting harder and harder to avoid Lan Wangji noticing. Lan Qiren and him had to now work together of all things in order to argue with each other behind Lan Wangji's back. Lan Qiren shared his nephew's schedule and Wei Wuxian began to plan at which times of day they could argue. This did not mean that they were getting along! Oh no, that could never be it.

.

.

.

Wei Wuxian grinned mindlessly as he exited the Jingshi. Lan Zhan went wild today upon seeing him in the Gusu robes. That unfortunately caused Lan Zhan to be a little late to his first class, but eh, the children will understand one day.

"Do not smile foolishly." Lan Qiren popped out from around the building. He took one look at Wei Wuxian and turned red. "Do not indulge in debauchery."

"Hmph. We're married. And besides, harmony is the value."

Lan Qiren frowned. "That rule doesn't even apply to the situation!"

"Are you sure?" Wei Wuxian wriggled his eyebrows. "But isn't the harmony of the joining of two bodie--"

"Ahhh!!!! Wei Wuxian, you shut up!!" Lan Qiren looked like he was going to explode.

"Aiya, calm down, will you? Remember, do not bully the weak."

"How are you weak?"

"I don't have a proper golden core, remember?"

"You're still powerful without it."

"Oh? Is that a compliment I hear?"

"You little--"

"Do not succumb to rage."

"I'm not succumbing to--W-Wangji?"

Wei Wuxian turned around and froze. "Oh no."

"Wei Ying. Uncle. What are you doing?"

"Umm--"

"Wangji, hear me out--"

"The two of you. Come with me." His tone bore no arguments.

With resigned steps, the two followed him.

........

"You....have been arguing behind my back."

His tone sounded so disappointed that both Lan Qiren and Wei Wuxian shrunk away.

"We weren't arguing! We were merely.......trying to one-up each other? It was just some light fun!"

"As much as I hate to agree, that's what happened, Wangji."

Lan Wangji, "........"

Wei Wuxian, "........"

Lan Qiren, "........."

Lan Wangji, ".......Lying is prohibited. Do not be of two minds. Do not succumb to rage. Do not say one thing and mean another. Do not insult each other. Do not take your own words lightly. Do not act impulsively. Do not take your own words lightly. Do not hold grudges. If others win over you, do not envy them. If others lose to you, do not look down on them. Love all beings. Honor good people. Earn trust. Believe sincerely. Don’t be unreasonable. Do not treat others with contempt." He took a breath, "And most importantly do not argue with your family, for it does not matter who wins.

"Wei Ying, Uncle. I love and respect you both. I know I cannot force you to get along. But talk out your differences and stop doing this behind my back. You are not as sneaky as you make yourselves out to be." Having finished with that, Lan Wangji looked abruptly exhausted.

"Lan Zhan, I'll walk you back." "Wangji, I'll walk you back."

Wei Wuxian and Lan Qiren glared at each other and took their places on either side of Lan Wangji.

The two of them kept quiet on the way to the Jingshi and privately agreed that they must resolve this in order to not cause trouble to Lan Wangji anymore.

(In seclusion, Lan Xichen, who had listened to Lan Wangji complain about this in the aftermath, laughed loudly.)

#mdzs #wei ying #wei wuxian #lan zhan #lan wangji #lan qiren #lan huan #lan xichen #lan juniors #gusu lan sect rules #using rules as a way to fight with each other #passive aggressiveness #LQR and WWX do not like each other #but will put up with each other for LWJ's sake #LXC is tired and in seclusion but finds the whole situation hilarious #comedy #angst #fluff