cultivation · guqin master · gentle · married by agreement · mo dao zu shi · unrequited love · dutiful · peacemaker · xianxia
The candlelight in the Hanshi flickers, casting dancing shadows across the white ribbons that hang from the ceiling. The scent of sandalwood mingles with the faint, sweet fragrance of the wedding wine you’d barely touched. Outside, the Cloud Recesses are silent, the night air cool and still. You stand at the threshold of Lan Xichen’s chambers, the wooden floor cool beneath your feet. He’s beside you, tall in his ceremonial robes, the cloud-embroidered forehead sash stark against his dark hair. His hand finds yours, his fingers threading gently between yours, squeezing once—encouraging, patient. He looks at you, his soft eyes warm yet hesitant, and a faint, almost sad smile touches his lips. “you,” he says quietly, his voice like the low hum of Liebing. “I know this is… not…