Chapter Nineteen

After staying in the courtyard of the Heavenly Nightless City reading the "Quintessence of the Wen Sect", booklets full of the stories and quotes of the Wen Sect's past leaders and best cultivators, all afternoon, Wei Yingyue was grabbed when she went to follow her brother and Jiang Cheng to the rooms they were staying in.

"Why are you dragging me?" She demanded as she was separated from her brothers.

"Jiejie!" Jiang Cheng called, Wei Ying demanded to know where they were taking her before they were thrown inside their room, the door slammed shut behind them as they fell on the floor on top of each other.

"What is going on?" Wei Yue demanded, jerking in the guard's hold as they practically dragged her back from the way she came. She frowned as they tightened their grip on her biceps, jerking her upright until she stopped moving.

"You know, you might not want to fight against them when I might actually be rewarding you." The hair on the back of Wei Yue's neck stood on end as she looked up, her eyes landing on Wen Chao as the guards shoved her forwards, wincing as her knees struck the stone ground in front of Wen Chao. As Wei Yue grit her teeth and rose to her feet, she noticed that Wen Chao had a woman standing behind him, a small cart placed by her side.

"What's going on?" Wei Yue asked, her eyes returning to the man in front of her.

"I am sure that you have heard about what has happened at the Cloud Recesses, what has happened to your fiance and his family." Wen Chao stated in an arrogant tone, his hands behind his back as he walked around the girl before him, taking in her tensing posture and the clench of her hands.

"What are you talking about?" She hissed, narrowing her eyes as he stopped right in front of her, his breath that hit her face making her stomach twist in disgust.

"You haven't heard?" He grinned, laughing as he reached his hand up. "Well, my beautiful friend, the Cloud Recesses was burned to the ground." Wei Yingyue's eyes widened as she took in his words, slapping his hand away from her face as his fingers grazed a strand of her hair. The smile on his face remained as he grabbed her arm when she went to step away, holding out a hand to the guards who moved towards her. "Lan Sect itself burnt everything down. My older brother, Wen Xu, went to Gusu and fixed the injustice done but the Sect Leader. It was given pretty names like cleaning up the place so that it's reborn from the firelight." Wei Yingyue felt dred fill her body as the memories of the Cloud Recesses passed through her mind, the memories made there with her fiance and his little brother. Wen Chao was smiling widely as he watched her pale, her head lowering to look at the ground as she pursed her lips.

"Young Master Wen, please tell her what you have decided so I can explain what is here." The woman instructed, gesturing to the cart beside her. Wen Chao frowned as he looked at the woman, dropping Wei Yue's arm as he crossed his arms behind his back.

"During the Cleansing of the Cloud Recesses, Lan Wangji rebelled and my brother had his leg broken to ensure that all of the bad could be rid from the area." Wen Chao said, shaking his head as he turned and looked at the girl. "My father has ordered that you, Wei Yingyue, heal the Second Young Lord Lan so that he can be at our full disposal. If it was up to me, however, I would let him suffer from the fever and sickness that comes with being a rebel." Wen Chao sneered, narrowing his eyes as he looked in the direction of Lan Zhan's rooms.

"I will escort her to the rooms, Young Master. Please, go rest for the rest of today." The woman bowed to him, lowering her eyes as he looked at her from the corner of his eye.

"Make sure she only gets what she needs, nothing more. Basics." He snapped at her, waving everyone off as he turned. Only a few guards remained as the woman straightened, turning to look at the paled girl.

"My name is Wen Qing, you have met my little brother a year ago. Wen Ning." The woman said as she bowed lightly, Wei Yue nodded and returned the bow.

"Wei Yingyue, courtesy name Wei Yue." She said in a weak voice, her mind racing with so many different thoughts.

"Young Mistress Wei, you have medical knowledge?" Lady Wen asked, looking over the girl. Wei Yue nodded as she stepped forwards, her eyes moving to the cart as Wen Qing took off the cover. "Then you know what all of this is, correct?" She asked again, looking back at the young cultivator.

"Yes, Lady Wen." She answered, looking back at Wen Qing.

"This is all the medicine Wen Chao will allow to be given in order to help Lan Wangji's condition, I hope that you can work with what is here. Also, your things were moved into Lan Wangji's rooms when you were studying in the courtyard. That is where you will be staying from now on, so please follow me." Wei Yue didn't have a chance to respond before Wen Qing began leading the way towards the rooms, a guard picked up the cart while another one followed behind Wei Yue, pushing her shoulder if she changed her pace while they walked. When they made it to the rooms, Wen Qing ordered the guards to carry the cart up the stairs, leading me up to the doors before knocking on the frame gently. "Young Master Lan, I need to speak with you. May I come in?" She called, looking up at the sun before we heard the sound of someone humping towards the door.

"What is it?" Lan Wangji asked before his door even opened all the way, stopping when he saw Wei Yue standing beside Wen Qing.

"Young Master Lan, the Chief Cultivator ordered for Young Mistress Wei to treat your wounds, she will be staying here to tend to you from now on." Wen Qing stated as he looked down at the guards carrying the cart.

"No need." He said in a monotone voice, moving to close the door when Wei Yue's hand shot forwards.

"Lan Zhan." Her voice was hard, as was her stare when he met her eye. "Don't fight me, I want to help." She whispered, waiting as he continued to stare at her before giving a nod, stepping back from the door before Wei Yue stepped inside. She looked around and saw her things in a corner, a big messy pile that Lan Wangji had obviously been picking up.

"Wen Chao went through everyone's things." He murmured as he followed her gaze, she gave a nod before looking at the small cart being set on the ground.

"Young Master Wen wanted me to tell you that if Young Master Lan does not start improving, you will receive punishments at the end of every day, starting in four days." Wen Qing said with a small frown, looking at the girl as she lifted one of the Ginkgo biloba leaves in between her fingers.

"What?" Lan Wangji demanded, stepping forwards as he narrowed his eyes. "She gets punished if she can't heal me?" He asked, blocking Wei Yue from view.

"It was Wen Chao's only condition with his father." The girl in front of them responded, sounding sorry for the girl. "Just make sure to take her medicine well, I heard she is an amazing healer." The girl bowed before turning and walking out of the room, leaving Wei Yue and Lan Wangji alone.

It had been a week since Wei Yingyue had been moved into Lan Zhan's room, tasked with the job of healing his wounds. She almost made a breakthrough when it reached the end of her debtline given to her by Wen Chao, but the night before he was supposed to check on Lan Wangji the disciples were ordered to go on a night-hunt with Wen Chao. The night of the hunt, Lan Wangji had walked a long way, limping heavily as he followed the group when his foot slipped into a hole, ruining any progress his leg had been making.

"Well done, Young Mistress Wei!" Wen Chao clapped when the guards dragged her to receive her punishment that night after putting Lan Wangji to bed, using acupuncture to put him to sleep and relieve any pain in his leg. Wen Chao chose the Zhàngxíng punishment the first few days, enjoying himself as he watched his guards beat her with wooden staves. By the time they were done, the guards were ordered to lift her up and bring her back to the room. When she returned to the room, she cleaned herself, changed her lining clothes and robes, before she would begin healing Lan Wangji when he slept. Every morning he would wake up to the smell of Wei Yue's herbal tea that helped restore his mental strength, stamina, and Qi. Even if she'd welcome him to the table with a small smile, she would always try to move as little as possible due to her beatings.

"Wei Yingyue, tell me he isn't really hurting you." Lan Wangji whispered as he watched her move around their room slowly, a slight limp showing as she walked across the room to retrieve something.

"Lan Zhan, don't worry about me." She whispered, smiling as she made her way over to him with the little food given to them by the Wen Clan. "I have a surprise for you, Lan Zhan." She smiled as he set the dish on his plate, reaching into her Hanfu to pull out a Qiankun bag. "I thought they took it, but I found it wrapped in a pair of lining clothes." She laughed, opening the bag to pull out a few things. Lotus Seed Pods, small snacks that she had just in case Wei Ying was hungry, and three of the food packets from Jiang Yanli.

"Where did you get all of this?" Lan Zhan asked, picking up one of the packs slowly. He opened it slowly and smiled lightly to see a food he knew Wei Yue loved, Lotus Mooncakes.

"Jiang Yanli made us so much food when we left, I hid three of these packs away just in case they took them. I was going to share them with Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng, but I have to say that you deserve them more than us right now." She whispered as she opened the package in her hands, seeing four stacks of small steamer baskets.

"What's that?" He asked, wrapping the lotus cakes.

"Dim sum; four different types. Spicy Pork Dumplings, Soup Dumplings, Mushroom Dumplings, and Steamed Vegetable Buns." She said, handing the three vegetarian options over to Lan Zhan. He watched her pick up the spicy pork and smile, sniffing the reheated food. "I warmed them up while you were taking a nap, I wanted to share these with you." She looked up at him and he nodded, thanking her lightly before taking one of the steamed buns.

"Your Jiejie made these?" He asked as he sniffed them.

"Yes." Wei Yue nodded as she bit into a Spicy pork Dumpling, letting out a sigh as she felt the spice she missed coarse through her mouth.

"Are you sure you cannot get these to your brother?" Lan Wangji asked as he took a but out of the steamed bun, the taste of steamed vegetables and mellow sauces running through his mouth.

"Wen Chao does not let us leave until it is time for "lessons", a night-hunt, or punishment." Wei Yue shook her head as she looked at the sky, knowing her punishment would be coming soon. "I will cook these for Wei Ying when we get home." She finished the dumpling, closing her lid before eating some of the vegetarian options with Lan Wangji, eating the steamed buns from the Wen Clan as well.

"Go to bed, Wei Yue." Lan Wangji said as he stood, watching as the girl cleaned up the evidence that they had food from outside the Wen Clan.

"I will when I return." She murmured, avoiding his eyes as they bore down on her. She stood from her seat and walked to her clothes, hiding the Qiankun bag so that they would not get in any more trouble.

"What do you mean return?" He asked, looking at her as she grabbed the acupuncture needles given to her by Wen Qing. She walked to Lan Zhan and guided him to lay down on the bed, smiling lightly as she knelt beside him.

"I have not completely healed you, Lan Zhan. Don't worry, I will be fine." She murmured as she moved his robe aside, exposing his lining clothes. Wei Yue took off his shoes and rolled up his lining cloth that covered his right leg, exposing his leg from the thigh downwards. "Relax." She instructed, looking up at him as she began to prepare her needles. He gave her a nod when he was ready, looking at the ceiling as she began the acupuncture treatment. Once she was done she walked back to the table that held all of the medicine she had made, bringing back a cup of tea she had steeping for her friend.

Placing a hand on his upper back, Wei Yue guided Lan Wangji up slightly to allow him to drink the tea. He closed his eyes as he listened to her walk across the room, the sound of a few bowls clinking, some grinding, and the smell of her handmade incense surrounded the room. As she walked back the smell of sandalwood and lavender wrapped around Lan Zhan, his muscles loosening as she placed two bowls next to his bed.

"Lan Zhan, may I?" She asked, he nodded without opening his eyes, knowing what she was talking about. She lifted his head lightly before untying the headband, lifting it gently before laying it on her lap. She reached into one of her bowls, grabbing the cloth that held cool water, ringing it out before she slowly wiped his forehead, neck, cheeks, and wrists. Once she was done, she dipped her fingers into a mixture of lavender oil, sandalwood oil, and water. She places some of the mixture on Lan Zhan's wrists, on the base of his neck, and on both of his temples before she grabbed five of her needles, leaning closer to his head as she put him to sleep with his acupuncture points. "I'll return shortly, Lan Zhan." She placed his headband on the table, walking to the door before opening it, nodding to both of the guards that had come to get her.