I was rereading the creepy JFM au--specifically the WWX is pregnant before the marriage and isn't sure about the father post--and it says that the only thing Lan Yuan shares with his father is the regal arch of the Lan eyebrows. The thing is, JFM is a Sect Leader, so it's entirely possible that one of JFM's close ancestors (I was thinking his mother) was a high-ranking Lan with all of the Lan features. Features that were then + 1/2
+ Features that were then partially passed onto JFM including the Lan eyebrows. The Lan eyebrows, proving to the world that Lan Yuan is Lan Zhan's son, all the while proving nothing to those aware of the situation and causing even more tension for years to come. 2/2
He was able to keep Jiang Fengmian away the first month after Lan Yuan's birth. Lan Wangji took a not insufficient amount of petty joy when he told the Jiang sect leader that Wei Wuxian had requested only female visitors be allowed to see her. Of course he had done so while allowing himself, Jiang Wanyin, his brother, and his uncle into the Jingshi without a word. (He had sent Madam Yu a fine set of calligraphy brushes as a thank you for how she scolded her husband for 'pouting like a child over a young new mothersâ completely reasonable request'.)
However even he knew that he could not deny the man an invitation to his sons one month celebration. Not inviting one of the great sects would be seen as a great insult and it would become a political incident. It would also deny Wei Wuxian's siblings from coming to celebrate and break his wife's heart.
She was anxious and fearful in the days leading up to the celebration. He found her tracing her fingers over their sonsâ tiny eyebrows every hour of the day. Each time he took her hand and kissed her fingers and promised that he would not leave her alone with that man ever again.
The celebration started off well. The receiving hall was decorated elegantly and Jiang Yanli had been happy to share some of Wei Wuxian's favorite Yunmeng recipes for the cooks to recreate. A'Yuan was delighted by the gold bracelets on his wrists and all the new faces around him. Wei Wuxian was in high spirits and laughing at the small mountain of gifts and red envelopes they received. Lan Wangji normally hated events like this with too many people who wanted to talk to him about pointless things, but now he proudly walked around and showed his son and wife off to everyone present. He stayed by his wife's side and Jiang Fengmian kept his distance.
It wasn't long after they had finished shaving A'Yuan's newborn hair away that an outer disciple named Su She approached and told him his grand uncle needed to speak with him alone.
"Don't worry, Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian said with a smile. "My feet are getting sore now so me and A'Yuan are going to sit down for a small rest. I'll be right here until you come back."
The thought of leaving his wife and child alone while Jiang Fengmian roamed around was unacceptable. "I will ask xiongzhang to stay with you until I return."
Wei Wuxian laughed at how silly he was, but he saw how her shoulders relaxed at his insistence.
Lan Xichen was delighted to stay by his sister in laws side until Lan Wangji returned. Heâs told Lan Wangji that watching his little nephew has now become his favorite way to spend time.
It took far too long to find his grand uncle among the sizable crowd. The place Su She told him his grand uncle would be proved to be false. The longer it took the more his stomach tensed until it felt more like a stone. He reassured himself that he was just uneasy being away from his family.
His anxiety proved to be right when he found his grand uncle- who had not requested to speak to Lan Wangji alone at all. Lan Wangji could hardly get out an apology for the misunderstanding before he was rushing back to Wei Wuxian.
To his growing horror he finds his brother first - alone. Lan Xichen sees how upset he is and immediately starts to apologize and explain that an argument had started and he needed to mediate it. Lan Wangji didnât care. He would have words with his brother later but Wei Wuxian being alone was more important.Â
Wei Wuxian is right where she said she would be. Sitting down, holding their son, pale as a ghost and not looking at Jiang Fengmian who was far, far too close for Lan Wangjiâs liking. It looked like Wei Wuxian was trying to hide Yuan from the older man by holding him close and curling her body around him. Jiang Fengmian had his hand on her shoulder, leaning in to try seeing the baby better. Not having any luck, Jiang Fengmian lifted his hand to move the silk blanket Lan Yuan was wrapped in.
Lan Wangji was honestly shocked that he didnât immediately drive his sword through Jiang Fengmianâs chest.
âWei Ying.â Lan Wangji wished that his voice had come out calm and composed, but it didnât. His emotions were too wild to manage that.
Wei Wuxian stood and ran to his side without hesitation. âLan Zhan,â Wei Ying choked out. Lan Wangji could now see just how close to tears she was. Lan Wangji could not hold back the vicious glare he threw Jiang Fengmianâs way. His anger only grew at the undeniably smug curl of the sect leaders lips.
âIt seems that AâXian has become tired from all of todays excitement,â Jiang Fengmian said pleasantly. As if he was a concerned father. As if he hadnât spent years planning to ensnare Wei Ying. As if he hadnât raped her for over a month!
Lan Wangji was very suddenly rethinking the value and merit of his clans rule against taking life.
âSect leader Jiang,â Lan Xichen greeted. He very rudely cut in between them and began talking to the other man using social etiquette as his weapon. Lan Wangji loved his brother very much in that moment. There would still be words between them later for leaving Wei Wuxianâs side, but Lan Wangji knows deep down that he himself deserves a thousand times more blame for all of this.
He had promised not to leave her side. He told her he would protect her and she would never have to interact with Jiang Fengmian again. He had failed her so completely that he may never forgive himself.
Lan Wangji didnât bother announcing the end of the celebration or addressing any of their guests to thank them like he should have. His brother would handle it. His only priority was getting Wei Wuxian and Lan Yuan to safety, far away from smug smiles and dark eyes.
The trip to the Jingshi seemed to both take an eternity and a few seconds at the same time. Wei Wuxian had began to quietly cry halfway there. He hadnât seen her cry since their wedding night when she confessed that the baby may not be his.
Once inside the Jingshi, Lan Wangji held Wei Wuxian close. He waited until she was ready to tell him what had happened.
"He said..." she began before her voice broke. "He thanked me. For- For giving h-him a healthy son. Said he was proud...â
Lan Wangji felt rage fill his stomach like fire crawling up his spine and spreading through his body. That sick, twisted man dared to try laying a claim of his son and wife!
"He said- He-" Wei Wuxian let out a whimper that broke Lan Wangji's heart. "He said that Yuan h-has his mothersâ brows."
With that, Wei Wuxian's knees gave out and she would have collapsed to the floor if Lan Wangji hadn't been holding her. Their son, stressed from seeing his parents so upset, began to cry alongside his mother. Lan Wangji held the two of them in his arms as if that would be enough to keep them safe from the world.
It was a lie. It had to be a lie. Jiang Fengmian was a sick minded monster who saw what he wanted to see. He wanted to see Cangse Sanren when he looked at Wei Wuxian and he wanted to see his families features when he looked at Yuan. That's all it was. Just an unhinged man grasping at thin air to find a way to put a claim on their child. Lan Yuan is not that mans child.
Later he will tell Wei Wuxian this. He will tell her as many times as she needs to hear it. He will love her and their son and any child they have in the future with all his heart and never let anyone deny that they are his.
But for now he will hold them close while they cry and hate himself for failing to protect them.
