Lan Wangji: "Crimson Rain Sought Flower? Black Water Submerging the Ships? I believe I have seen those titles in an ancient text. Wei Ying, what is your title?"
Wei Wuxian chuckled: "Me? They gave me the title 'Dark Feather Jade Flute'. How about that? Isn't that much better-sounding than the Yiling Patriarch?"
Lan Wangji: "Mn, it sounds very nice."
Wei Wuxian: "Alright, I'll give you a chance to meet them sometime. Look, A-Yuan and the others are here."
Above Caiyi Town, Lan Sizhui, Lan Jingyi, and a group of Lan Clan disciples flew in on their swords.
Lan Sizhui: "Jingyi, Father and Dad have already arrived. Let's head down."
Lan Sizhui and the Lan Clan disciples landed in front of the two men, bowing in greeting: "Father, Dad. Hanguang-Jun, Senior Wei."
The group entered Caiyi Town, the lively cries of peddlers filling their ears. Stopping and going all the way, they soon reached their usual wine shop, bought ten jars of Emperor's Smile to store away, and flew on their swords toward the Cloud Recesses.
At the mountain gate of the Cloud Recesses:
Gate-guarding disciple: "Hanguang-Jun, Sizhui-shixiong, you're back."
Lan Sizhui: "Mn, you've worked hard."
After entering the Cloud Recesses, Lan Wangji first had Wei Wuxian return to the Jingshi while he himself headed for the Yashi.
Inside the Yashi:
Lan Xichen was talking with Lan Qiren when they saw Lan Wangji, Lan Sizhui, and Lan Jingyi walk in. Both older men's faces lit up with pleasant surprise.
Lan Xichen: "Wangji, you're back. How did it go? Was everything smooth?"
Lan Wangji bowed: "Uncle, Brother."
Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi bowed: "Grandfather, Great-Uncle. Teacher, Zewu-Jun."
Lan Wangji: "Mn, it went very smoothly. Uncle, Brother, Wei Ying has returned. I brought him back."
Hearing this, Lan Qiren and Lan Xichen were utterly shocked. A man who had been dead for sixteen years had actually come back.
Lan Xichen: "Wangji, what did you say? Young Master Wei has returned? Wasn't he already dead?"
Lan Wangji: "Yes, Brother, Wei Ying is back. There are some things that are inconvenient to discuss right now, but when the time comes, you will understand. Uncle, Brother, I want to marry Wei Ying!"
At this, the occupants of the Yashi were even more astonished.
Lan Xichen: "Wangji, about marriage... have you asked Young Master Wei? Did he agree? And what about the matters from sixteen years ago—Young Master Wei's reputation..."
Lan Wangji frowned slightly: "Brother, I trust Wei Ying. I will investigate the events of sixteen years ago and clear Wei Ying's name. As for the marriage, Wei Ying will agree. Once his innocence is proven, I will marry him openly and honorably."
Lan Qiren looked at Lan Wangji, then looked at Lan Xichen, and let out a sigh. *So be it,* he thought to himself. *We have all seen how Wangji has lived these past few years. Now that Wei Ying has returned, if his innocence can be proven, we might as well let them be!*
Lan Qiren: "Very well, I agree."
Lan Wangji: "Thank you, Uncle. Thank you, Brother. I will take my leave for now."
Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi bowed: "Sizhui takes his leave, Jingyi takes his leave."
After the three of them stepped out of the Yashi, Lan Jingyi parted ways with Lan Wangji and Lan Sizhui, as their living quarters were in different directions.
In his early childhood, Lan Sizhui had always lived with Lan Wangji in the Jingshi. It was not until he turned twelve that Lan Wangji had a courtyard built right next to the Jingshi, naming it Nianju, which became Lan Sizhui's personal residence.
On the way back to the Jingshi:
Lan Sizhui: "Father, are you really going to marry Dad?"
Lan Wangji: "Mn, why? We are a family; I cannot let your dad live here in the Lan Clan without a proper title and standing. That wouldn't be right."
Lan Sizhui: "Mn, I like Dad very much too. I feel like he's very dear and familiar, as if I've met him somewhere before."
Lan Wangji: "Mn, you lived with him when you were three. Later, when an accident befell him, you fell gravely ill and forgot him. All these years, I have been waiting for him. Now that he is back, our family of three can finally be reunited."
Lan Sizhui: "Mn, Father."
Lan Wangji: "A-Yuan, don't overthink things. Just be yourself. Your father and your dad will handle everything."
The two of them walked back to the Jingshi together.