#bottomjibb

[lwjsbedtime]

Arranged marriage wingfic preview (ft. Dragonji)

"Stand.”

Lan Xichen’s voice was strained as he looked down upon his brother, his back stiff with tension. But it was his eyes which disconcerted Lan Wangji the most. Stripped of their usual affection, it seemed to Lan Wangji as if his brother was staring at someone unknown, or undesirable; a stranger whose presence he was forced to abide.

At his back, the doe felt all the feathers of his wings stand on end.

“Do you know why you’ve been called for, Lan Wangji?”

The emperor's gaze was frigid as he asked the question, and for the first time Lan Wangji understood why his brother was heralded as a fearsome man. In the low light of the throne room, even the horns curving gracefully from Lan Xichen’s head suddenly appeared wicked and frightful.

It was all he could do to shake his head in answer, trying not to show how much the strange formality unsettled him.

"No, brother.”

“Wei W-The honourable Yiling Laozu has been granted lordship over Yiling," his brother explained, as if that made anything any clearer.

Feeling unusually timid, Lan Wangji met his brother's eyes. “Yiling?”

Certainly, Yiling was in the Laozu’s title, but the man had not conquered the small border town and slain its leader, but Qishan. Why would he do such a thing if he hadn't intended to claim the city as his own? And, if not him, who would sit upon the crow throne? Qishan was too integral to the empire’s safety to be allowed to go on without a leader - a fact Wen Ruohan had well exploited. The uncertainty of it all troubled Lan Wangji.

Situated between Gusu and the east, Nightless City acted as a defensive border for the empire, as well as a major hub of commerce. When Wen Ruohan sought to act against Gusu, his first move had been to cut off the supply routes that passed through Qishan’s borders. Had Yiling Laozu not appeared when he did, it was probable many in the empire would have starved before year’s end.

Still, now that the post was without a leader, many would be vying for dominion over it. It would cause instability at best; encourage a coup at worst. Lan Wangji found himself conflicted. In turning down his rightful position, Yiling Laozu had - perhaps unwittingly - encouraged unrest between the nobles.

But he had also delivered a great boon to Gusu, and for that he deserved a proper reward - something more substantial than a lord’s title in Yiling. Something that would show those who thought to take advantage of the situation that Yiling Laozu’s loyalty belonged to the throne - that he could at a moment’s notice attack again at Gusu's behest.

He frowned, unable to understand how his brother could allow such a slight to come to pass.

Lan Xichen seemed to understand his confusion. "Although offered the crow throne, Yiling Laozu has expressed…disdain for Qishan, and wishes to return to his homeland. Currently, Yiling has no leader, and so a compromise was made.”

It didn’t sound like much of a compromise to Lan Wangji. It sounded more like Cloud Recesses had denied a war hero what was his by right. That was how the imperial court would see it, and thus what the public would believe.

Even if Yiling Laozu was willing to accept such a paltry reward for his efforts, it was imperative the empire compensate him appropriately. But if he was unwilling to ascend the throne… It posed quite the conundrum. What could be possibly impress a man who tossed Qishan aside like an unwanted toy?

Despite himself, Lan Wangji couldn't help but be intrigued. Intentionally or not, Yiling Laozu had asked for a demotion, firmly placing himself outside of the current power struggle for Nightless City. Lan Wangji couldn't help but think it wise of him to avoid conflict.

Atop the throne, his brother continued, echoing his earlier sentiment. “However, in asking this of the throne, Yiling Laozu has taken a loss. Cloud Recesses would be remiss to allow a war hero to go so poorly rewarded. With the land…”

Lan Wangji could see his brother’s Adam's apple bob as he swallowed. He frowned, watching with trepidation as the ever composed Lan Xichen struggled to keep his composure.

"A lord requires a spouse, Wangji.”

For a moment, Lan Wangji didn’t understand - not what the newly appointed Lord Wei needing a spouse had to do with him, and not why Lan Xichen’s face was so direly unhappy about it.

“For the mate of a war hero, a doe of the imperial line would appropriately show our gratitude. Anything less would be an insult.”

And Lan Wangji’s world came crashing down. He shook, his wings drawing up around him without conscious effort - an instinctual attempt to protect himself from attack.

"You…?”

Surely, Lan Xichen couldn't be saying what he thought he was saying. Surely, his brother - ever kind and doting, to the immense ire of the council - wouldn't betray him in such a manner. And yet, Lan Xichen - the emperor - had never looked so serious, nor had his gaze ever left Lan Wangji feeling so small.

An ill sensation bubbled in his stomach, and it was with a concerning level of detachment that he realised the world around him had begun to sway - or perhaps that was simply Lan Wangji's legs giving way out from under him.

Numb, he could only watch on as the emperor declared his intentions. "I have decided, Lan Wangji is to be granted the honour of serving as Yiling Laozu's new bride.”

He thought he might faint.

----

Meanwhile:

WQ: Why are you hiding under the stairs?

WWX: The emperor keeps trying to give me things. 😭

WQ: 🙄 The horror.

WWX: I don't wanna be responsible! 😭😭

NEXT->

[sonderstarlight]

🎻 The Melody Between Us

“For him… only ever for him.”

Noble WY / Stable Hand LZ

Rated: Explicit 🪻

Written for the @bottomjibigbang

🎼 Read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/47262073

🤍 Artwork by: https://twitter.com/yingmz0?s=21&t=NT95jNjrHiwB8pRFjmozXg

🤍 Beta’d by: https://archiveofourown.org/users/guangdian

[sassybluee]

MDZS Wip Wednesday!

Here's a little snippet for my @bottomjibigbang fic, which I will be working on for the next... ever.

Lan Wangji finds himself in Nightless City...

Lan Wangji had met him once, long ago as a child. Back then, he had not yet “grown into his good looks,” as the elders might have said. The curse his mother had laid upon him had not yet taken hold. Lan Wangji had been young, but he remembers the older man. He was striking, a shocking splash of red against the Lan white and blue. He carried himself with a certain elegance and grandeur. And he was very kind to Lan Wangji. He had brought himself and Xichen gifts.  To know that man is the one who sent his son to decimate his sect makes his stomach twist. What had they ever done to the Wen to deserve such treatment? How could they have done anything to lead them to this path? Xichen is young—if he offended Wen Ruohan, could he not be forgiven?  “Lan Wangji,” Wen Ruohan greets, “it is good to see you.” He bows, as much as he can. “This one greets Wen-zongzhu.” The corner of Wen Ruohan’s lip twists upwards—a poor imitation of the smile he once shared with Lan Wangji. “It has been a long time since we have seen each other. Much has changed, it seems.” “Yes, zongzhu,” Lan Wangji agrees. “I often wondered what happened to the Second Master. I thought perhaps you were ill.” He inclines his head, as though waiting for Lan Wangji to speak. Not knowing what to say, Lan Wangji simply replies, “I am not.”

[thisisallthehattersfault]

The thing about the Bottomji Big Bang 50% check-in in a few days is that, on the one hand, my estimated word count was 60k, and we're now at 24k, so we're doing pretty good there!

However, my estimated chapter count is 20, and I just finished chapter 6. So.

I'm stressed.

[freshmilk-00]

Joined a BottomJi Big Bang event on twitter and this was my contribution! if you're interested, read, And a Million Miles, written by @alliandra for BottomJiBB!

[bottomjibigbang]

Boop us and you boop LWJ's juicy butt.

He's waiting.