THOSE kidnappers?? again?? how do they get past the guards?!

n-no!! I wouldn't dream of that! I would love to have a big, proper wedding declaring ourselves to one another in front of the world! I- [ his own cheeks turn a couple shades darker before he's hiding his face in his hands. was that too much...?? ]

rubs soothing circles along his back, starting to relax himself even. "that must not have been an enjoyable world to live in, then. perhaps coming here was for the best."

ah! that makes a bit more sense, I was worried we may need to go through your guard again and weed out another traitor.... but you're alright? you weren't hurt??

y-yes....I'm looking forward to Jiang-zongzhu's wedding. I've never attended a celebration like that outside of cloud recesses before. [ slowly dropping his hands, though his ears and cheeks are still QUITE flushed. ] o-of course we do, but I do....enjoy thinking about it.

"Zizhen....are you hungry?" food was always a good option, he felt. a proper meal could fix anything!

....you're positive there is no relation? perhaps we should go through the guard again, just to be safe...

[ smiling down at their hands, still flushed but happily offering a little squeeze in return, glancing up. ] I, um....have a journal. with ideas. theres pages dedicated to foods, decor, ideas for melding our different sect traditions.....

[ a deep frown, taking a moment to think- ] ....no, it doesn't seem as if the incidents are related, they're very different....but what if thats what they WANT you to think?

well...we could put some of it down in my journal, if you like? keep it all together? [ he perks up a little more, smile brightening. ] that is thoughtful of you, a-ling. I know you're dealing with so much already I appreciated you taking the time to consider such a detail.

maybe...maybe that IS the point? what if its less about someone seizing power from you and more about just...creating chaos? weakening the sect as a whole?

I agree. I know its normal for celebrations like this to be rather stressful, but I WOULD like to enjoy the process. staying organized I think is the best way to do that. ....I'm a little afraid to know just how many rolls of fabric we'll need if I'm honest....

that is true. at current you're one of the most important people in the cultivation world, taking you down could disrupt...almost everything. ....perhaps I should extend my stay here....

interesting....is there a reason for why dogs specifically aren't allowed, then? oh, I-I mean....I try!

then its settled. I'll send my request in the morning, I'm sure zewu-jun will understand. well...I DO think so long as we stay together the chances of someone trying something are much slimmer.

....do you think we should start purchasing fabric now? just to be sure we have enough?? we won't need quite as much fabric for our ceremony in gusu, but we will need some very particular types prepared in dyed in a very specific way......

oh. I....hadn't ever really thought of that, though I suppose that would make sense. [ he knows there MUST be unfriendly dogs somewhere, but....he can't say hes ever met one.] you sing me too many praises, a-qing! I really am just....well, me.

I'm sure he well. he won't have much of a choice. [ a brief hint of 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘧 in his gaze- ] he'll understand, I promise.

I promise. [ its nothing too terribly interesting anyway, he'll just...remind Zewu-jun of all the time HES spent in lanling. ] alright! I can get my things from the guest room, then, and we can turn in for the evening?

yes! we can take some notes, compare ideas.....oh! and could we have breakfast in the gardens tomorrow if it isn't too cold? [ smiling, leaning happily into that touch. ] I wouldn't mind, especially seeing as I'll be staying longer than expected....