Thread by @zhxnov

hear me out, #warprizejiseason but with a Cinderella style twist—The Wen Sect succeeds in taking over, and all other sects must now defer to them; along with the once prestigious Lan Sect, they have all been reduced to servants. The Wen kingdom now rules the land.

Wwx and Lwj used to be childhood friends, as Wwx had come to the cloud recesses to study, and they were close until the ear—when Wwx disappeared—after that the war was won quickly and Lwj was forced to serve the Wens, as Wen Xu’s personal servant. Then the rumours start.

Stories of this man in black and red who resides in the burial grounds, who is capable of wielding the dead and well the Wens want him, he sounds like the perfect weapon, to expand their empire past the sects, and to make sure, no one tries to revolt. So they sent an invitation.

The mysterious man accepts and the Wens are ecstatic, and the kingdom prepares, Wrh wants to impress this man, and the servants must do their best or suffer the consequences.

Wen Xu makes sure Lwj knows that. And Lwj, takes on the burden, he will not allow anyone else to hurt.

So he volunteers to serve for the private dinner; so he puts on his robes, ties up his hair, and makes sure his face is covered in a veil, for respect.

And he goes, prepared to meet this cruel man, at Wrh's private banquet.

However, when he gets there, he gets the shock of his life, when he sees that this mysterious man, is actually his childhood friend, and the only person he's ever been in love with--Wwx.

JUST for reference this is the Wwx I am imagining

The catch is, even as Lwj is serving them, he pours Wwx's wine, he serves the food, he ensures no cup remains empty; and yet Wwx doesn't look at him once, but it makes sense, Lwj is wearing a veil, he is in servant's cloths, he has grown, Wwx would not remember him.

So Lwj keeps his head down, he disappears into the background like he's supposed to, but he can't stop stealing glances at Wwx, he looks beautiful and terrifying--his hair is longer than it ever was, and instead of a sword he has a dizi in his belt--but his eyes remain on Wrh.

Something curls in Lwj's gut as he watches from the sidelines, Wwx laughs at something Wrh says; it sounds different than the way he used to laugh, it's cold; layered with death. And when he smiles it's a small thing, almost a smirk--it looks wrong, Wwx looks wrong.

But still not once do Wwx's eyes stray, not once does he search, not once does he seem to care about anything but the arrogant, cruel man before him.

It’s foolish, Lwj knows as he washes that night, to assume Wwx would look, would see him, he was no longer Lan Wangji;

He no longer had his sword, his home; he was no longer second master Lan, a twin jade; there's no finery left, nothing to make him recognizable as who he was—except his ribbon tied high on his thigh, hidden by his robes, and the hairpiece his mother once put in his hair.

There is no Gusu sect; and Wwx can control the dead; Lwj slips into his bed, and closes his eyes.

He remembers, the early days at Gusu, he remembers Wwx’s ardent promise, “let me seek justice without regret, I will help those who need it, I will do my best.

And thinks again, before Wwx left for Lotus Pier, “I’ll come back,” he had said, “wait for me, and we’ll win this.” And that was the was the last time Lwj had seen him—until now, 3 years later.

He wonders once more, before he falls asleep, if Wwx ever wondered what happened to him, if he ever saw the ruins of the cloud recesses, had he searched for Lwj? Or perhaps he thinks that like many others, Lwj is dead too.

A few days of festivities were to be held to impress "the yiling laozu"; it was a name whispered in the halls, Wwx's namesake, his title--but specifically, there was to be a big banquet each night to celebrate, a banquet all the servants were required to be at.

It would be the perfect chance, for Lwj to see Wwx once again, this was all he needed, another glance, to see Wwx and he has the perfect plan for it, until Wen Xu corners him.

cw// violence

He wraps a hand around Lwj's throat, pushing him towards the wall, trapping him--Lwj doesn't struggle, he doesn't cower either, his eyes staying trained on Wen Xu, who snarls, "you will accompany me to the banquet." he says, "you will be my personal guest."

/guest/ Lwj knows what that means, he is by no means a /guest/. "I am no concubine." He says, "I serve the kingdom," he continues, "I am not your courtesan to entertain you."

Wen Xu squeezes, Lwj doesn't gasp for breath, "you will do as I say," he growls, "you are no have pride, /Lan Wangji/" he laughs, "you are mine to do as I will, be prepared or...we will have more lessons," he pauses, "I might bring mianmian too, next time."

It's a threat, Lwj understands that well, he feels it in the scarred lines of his back that twinge in the early morning chill, he feels it when he stretches, when his core weakens everyday--he will not allow MianMian to suffer. So he nods, this way, he will still see Wwx.

Later when he is getting dressed, in the finest silks in years, MM sighs, brushing his hair, "at least you will still see him." she whispers, "and you do not have to serve like us, nor steal any nice robes."

"I will be Wen Xu's toy," Lwj states. "Wei Y..." he swallows, he hadn't said his named in years, it feels heavy on his tongue, foreign, does he still have permission anymore, to say his name "The Yiling Laozu is no fool, he will see that."

"You will be his toy yes," MM says, "but you will not be serving," she continues firmly, "you have a chance. You will not be invisible."

Lwj looks at her through the mirror, "I will not be invisible," he says, /but he still will not see me/ he doesn't say.

---
Wen Xu kept a tight grip on Lwj's waist as they navigated through the throng of cultivators and guests. An hour passed, then another--Wen Xu kept him close, showing him off like a pet, and yet Wwx was nowhere to be seen.

"Lan Wangji," Wen Xu hissed in his ear, "you look so distracted, are you searching for something...or someone?" he asked, he sounded suspicious, and for a moment Lwj thought he might know...but then Wen Xu growled, "I knew you were a whore, searching for another to please?"

Lwj did not answer.

"You little..." Wx hissed, he wrapped a hand around Lwj's wrist squeezing, "perhaps you need another reminder that you are to do as I say." He looks around and then announces, "my dear, /personal/ servant has volunteered to perform for us."

/I am not your personal servant/ Lwj doesn't say, but he has no choice, he steps forward and the crowd parts.

He settles on a cushion, the room stares, he feels like an animal on display--but then a qin is put before him, and he remembers his shufu, his brother, and he plays.

He plays the only thing he can think of, it is a song he learned in Gusu, it the highest form of rebellion he can think of; he plays and he glances at Wx, who is purple in rage; he continues to play. When he glances up again, it's not Wx he sees, instead, his eyes lock with Wwx's

The sight of Wwx is like a punch in the gut, and for a single second, Lwj's fingers stumble, no one notices, but he sees Wwx's eyes widen, but before he can see anything beyond, a voice rings through the air, "Yiling Laozu, we are honoured in your presence."

And just like that all the attention shifts and Lwj is being roughly pulled away by Wen Xu, towards the exit of the all, not noticing the way Wwx's eyes follow his figure until he disappears through the large doors.

cw// violence, assault

Lwj gets 4 whip lashings that night, he does not make a sound, instead, he smiles, knowing his music made Wen Xu angry. He goes to bed with blood dripping down his back, dreaming of stabbing Wen Xu through the eyes.

This has got to be the most risky and self-indulgent thing I've ever written but i want to be even worse LOL so my angels, help me decide with no context:

the next morning Lwj went about his duties—he was in the gardens today, tending to the wild overgrown flowers and greenery, taming them, trying to forget the gentle way his a-niang had taught him to treat all beings with love.

It was soothing, more so than many other tasks.

in fact Lwj is so focused on his flowers that he doesn’t feel the presence creep up behind him— “it’s you.” A voice, one Lwj knows well, speaks up behind him. Lwj startles, turning towards the voice.

Wwx stands barely a few feet away, in his usual black and red robes, fingers twirling his dizi—he smiles at Lwj when he sees him staring, it’s a genuine one, so reminiscent of the once crescent shaped smile of his youth, that it makes Lwj ache.

Lwj wants to step forward, he wants to nod, /yes it’s me, it’s me, it’s Lan Zhan/ he doesn’t. Wwx should not even be here, in these gardens. They’re private, for the royal family only, he may be the guest of honour, but this is by no means his house.

So instead, Lwj bows, and keeps his eyes lowered, suddenly grateful the veil still covers half of his face—

“Oh—“ Wwx breaks of, “none of that, i’m not…” he trails off. “You’re the one who played last night, at the banquet?” he changes topics, he sounds hopeful, maybe?

Lwj keeps his eyes lowered and doesn’t answer his question, “Yiling Laozu, this is the Royal family’s private gardens, it is not…” /safe/ he doesn’t say, “for guests.”

Wwx laughs, “you played beautifully,” he ignores Lwj’s warning, “your song, it reminded me of something.”

Lwj risks a glance up through his eyelashes and his breath catches as he stares at Wwx’s face, he looks almost sad? Perhaps wistful? Maybe…Lwj raises his head properly and his eyes catch Wwx’s; gold touched grey. But there is no recognition.

Lwj pretends it doesn’t hurt.

he lowers his eyes again, “I played it in my youth.” He answers.

“Will you be playing again?” Wwx asks. Lwj doesn’t understand why he’s still here, Lwj is a mere servant now, a nobody and Wwx is a revered man, and here he is in a forbidden garden asking mundane questions.

“Perhaps.” Lwj allows. If Wx decides he wants Lwj there, he will be.

Wwx doesn’t stop there, “are you…” he pauses, “are you close with Prince Wen Xu?” He asks, “is he…” he trails off.

Lwj says nothing. What can he say?

“I mean!!” Wwx clears his throat, “I didn’t um..?”

“Are you his personal courtesan?” Wwx asks, then winces, “I am not familiar with court happenings, I’m sorry, I just wanted to know, who…” he trails off again.

Lwj inclines his head, “servants require no apologies for missteps.” He states. “I serve the Emperor.” He says.

Before Wwx can push any further however, a voice calls out, it’s sticky and gross, “now where did my favourite little whore go? Did you not receive enough punishment last night?”

Lwj stiffens, it’s Wen Xu.

i know this was a short update but I really need to flesh this out—I’m thinking of adding an identity porn idea and maybe some revenge,,,so we’ll see

Lwj’s eyes widen, and he looks back at Wwx; he can see something murky in his eyes, something anger, and the air is suddenly charged but Wen Xu—he can’t find him here, guest of honour or not— “Yiling Laozu,” Lwj says, “you must go.”

Wwx looks at him in shock— “but…”

“No,” Lwj interrupts, then winces,he straightens his shoulders, “you cannot be here.”

Wwx looks like he’s gonna argue but Lwj say again, “please.” He nods then.

“Can I see you again?” He asks.

Lwj couldn’t understand why—Wwx doesn’t recognize him, they’ve barely been in one another’s company, but he can’t resist saying a quiet, “yes.” Before shooing Wwx away, far out of reach from Wen Xu’s hands

—

That night:

Lwj slips quietly out of his chambers, careful not to make a single sound as he rushes down the corridors, past the sleeping guard and into the library.

Once there, he goes to straight to his sought out section—and waits.

he waits, and waits, he is patient, and then, a sound—he does not freeze up, he knows that sound, and a book is being pushed from the other side of the bookshelf: “黄九郎” the cover reads, but all Lwj needs is inside it.

He knocks his thank you, and then he flees, back out the library again, without a glance back.

He keeps the script stored in his sleeve, and doesn’t dare open it until he is back in his rooms, with only the moonlight as his candle, he unrolls it, and his breath catches—

It's a hairpin and what looks like a pot of ink lies in middle of the unrolled book; Lwj knows it's not ink, and he knows further, exactly what he needs to do.