#awst

His father smiles, (A-Yuan doesn’t really understand it, but people say that A-die is cold and expressionless. But not to him and A-niang though, he always smiles, kisses, and hugs them whenever they ask for it) and gives him a kiss on the top of his head. A-die also kisses A-niang’s cheek, as he rises to prepare for the day. A-Yuan whines a little because he wants to go out, not stay in bed! A-die shushes him and he is given another kiss, “A-niang is a bit tired,” he says, “Let him sleep for a little bit.”

He is carried into his father’s arms, along with Sandu, as his father says: “Later, when your mother wakes up. But first, we must make breakfast.” And with that he is bundled up and is brought into the kitchen, where he watches A-die cook some porridge. He sits in his basket as he plays with his toy frog, as he is fed some lotus seeds once in a while.

He cheers up when he sees A-niang walking into the kitchen with his hair up with his red ribbon and a shawl wrapped around his shoulders. He reaches up hugging his mother’s leg because he wants to be carried in A-niang’s arms.

A-niang seems to have understood, because he was lifted into a cozy embrace. A-niang walks to A-die to give him a kiss and watch him cook. They talk lightly and exchange kisses, they also laugh when A-niang makes a joke. All of this makes A-Yuan very tired. He quietly nuzzles his mother’s neck because he’s really sleepy and he wants A-niang to cuddle him. He was rewarded with a kiss on the side of his head and a warm hand to rub his back. 

A-Yuan whines a little because he wants to go out and play, but he is warm and A-niang’s scent of lotus flowers and the scent of sweet porridge makes him fall into slumber. Maybe he can ask them in a little while.

So by the time that they served tea to Shufu, Xiongzhang looked so happy along with Xian-gege in their red robes. Lan Xichen is very proud to admit that his hands only shook a little when he poured tea, but Xiongzhang gave him a red packet in thanks. They did the same with his brother-in-law’s family as Sect leader Yu was served first, Sect Leader Jiang and his wife next. Cheng-gege and Li-jie also served tea, since they are Xian-gege's younger siblings, they are also given red packets. When the tea of red dates and lotus seeds are served, he breathes out a sigh of relief that there wasn’t anything bad that had happened. 

Although, when Xian-gege saw the tea, he blushed a bright red. 

Afterward, they bowed in the ancestral shrine. They bowed three times: first for heaven and earth, the second is for their family and finally, the third bow is to each other. At that, they are now married. He claps with everyone in joy, but he sees that they only have eyes on each other as if they were the only people in the room.

He sits in the banquet with everyone celebrating the wedding, they eat and drink. His brothers have disappeared in the distraction during the celebrations. He is happy for them since they have been together even from the time that he was young until now it is as if their love grows with them.

Maybe he’s feeling a bit lonely, as he watches two mandarin ducks swim together. He just wants to find someone who can look at him the way that Brother looks at Xian-gege. 

“Hey,”

He turns around to see Nie Mingjue, who is already so much taller next to him. The other looks handsome in his forest green robes. Although, they seem to be a little more fashionable, accentuating the breadth of Nie Mingjue’s shoulders. Lan Xichen suspects that Sang-gege had something to do with the younger Nie’s clothing. 

He leans towards his friend as he swipes the cup of tea in his hands, pretending not to hear the playful protests. He hides his smile as he drinks the tea when A-Jue lets him rest his head on his shoulder. It’s very sweet, despite the fact that he knows Nie Mingjue prefers bitter teas as of late.

He’ll be fine, as long as Nie Mingjue is next to him.

But A-niang wasn’t feeling well lately, so they decided to stay at home. Lan Yuan doesn’t like that his mother is looking so sad when they sit at his pavilion by the lotus lake. Does he miss Lotus Pier? Or maybe he misses the lotus flowers there? The ones that bloom in their lake are white, while those in his grandparent’s house are pink and purple. Is that why A-niang is so sad?

So when he sees a pink flower in the water, he knows that he has to get it to make his mother smile again. He carefully slips off his shoes, A-die would be sad if he wet his little shoes, and sets down Xiao-Tuzi (Shugong made her for him because he is a good boy, he said). He dips his little feet in the water; when he realizes the water isn’t so cold, he jumps into the water.

He slowly swims his way to the flower when he hears his A-die to call out, “A-Yuan?!” He turns his head in time to see his father fall into the water, in his white robes and all. He giggles when he sees A-die wades his way to him, hair and robes dripping wet and muddy.

“What are you doing little one?” A-die asks as he reaches him. “I want to get that flower!” he giggles out. Why else would A-Yuan swim in the lotus lake if not to get a flower? His father hums, “Is that so?” “Mn! For A-Niang,” he says brightly, “A-Niang is sad so A-Yuan wants to get flower for A-Niang!” When Father goes quiet, A-Yuan looks up to see his father smiling at him.

He reaches his arms up silently asking his father to carry him. He was delighted that he was set on his father’s shoulders because A-die is so tall, and A-Yuan really likes the view whenever he sits there. They continue to wade through the water until they reach the flower. A-Yuan carefully pulls the flower, with some assistance from A-die, and makes their way back to their house. A-die, carefully shifts him from his shoulders into his arms as they enter their home.

They were welcomed by the smell of A-niang’s lotus soup, his father’s favorite bamboo shoots, and the sight of his mother laughing at them. He wriggles his way out of his father’s arms and into his mother’s, holding on the flower. A-niang kneels down to give him a big hug, he really loves A-niang’s hugs because he’s warm, he smells like flowers and spices, and he gives him kisses. But he squirms his way out of the warm hold to present the flower that he and A-die got for him.

“A-Niang, Happy Birthday!” He gives a big smile, even if it shows some of his missing teeth. A-niang breathes out “Thank you, A-Yuan.” his eyes are sparkling. Is he crying? A-niang isn’t allowed to cry! He says this all the while patting his mother’s cheek.

He was rewarded for his efforts with a laugh, many, many kisses and hugs. He laughs because the kisses tickle and he really really likes it. At last, his mother lets him go and goes into his father’s arms, never minding that they were both muddy and wet. He clings to his mother’s skirt in asking to be carried. A-die was the one to carry him, but he doesn’t mind. He is warm and happy and so tired that he falls asleep in the crook of his father’s neck.

Coda:

“Oh Lan Zhan, our A-Yuan is growing up!”

“Mn. He is a good child.”

“So how did the both of you get so dirty, hmm?”

“...”

A hushed laugh

“Aiya, let’s get this one into a bath, he had quite a day, hm?”

There are three things that one should note when they meet Lan Huan, courtesy: Xichen, at the age of 6: First, his older brother: Lan Zhan, courtesy: Wangji, is very protective of him. Secondly, he is a very curious child, especially when he sees pretty things. Finally, the second young master of GusuLan doesn’t know how to swim yet.