Chapter Sixteen

The breeze ran over the room as Jiang Cheng and Wei Yingyue were announced to Sect Leader Jiang and Madam Yu, the temperature in the room seemed to drop as the pair stepped into the room and Madam Yu's eyes zeroed in on the girl behind her son. Wei Yue kept her eyes down as she followed behind Jiang Cheng, staying behind him slightly as they kowtowed in front of the Sect Leader and his wife.

"Stand, the both of you." Sect Leader Fengmian stated, smiling as he looked at his son and the girl behind Jiang Cheng. "How have you been since I left you last?" He asked, his eyes moving between the two cultivators in front of him. Wei Yue clenched her jaw as she stood, crossing her arms behind her back while holding Yin and Yang in her right hand. Her grip on her sword sheath tightened as Madam Yu continued to glare at her, looking her up and down before shaking her head slightly in disapproval.

"The remaining time in the Cloud Recesses were calm and peaceful, Father." Jiang Cheng stated, glancing at Wei Yue out of the corner of his eye. "Wei Yingyue and I focused on our classes, she even practiced fighting before we returned home with Second Brother Lan. She has improved, her skills that she has picked up along her travel are well worth her absence. She has been sparring with me as well, teaching me to further my skills in swordsmanship." He continued, his eyes darting to her mother as she narrowed her eyes at him.

"We will see if the teachings of this girl have finally broken some talent in you, Jiang Cheng. Ever since she left, you have been training and training but there has been little improvement." She hissed, the coldness of her voice bit into Wei Yue's heart as she watched Jiang Cheng's fist tighten. "And as far as I have heard, almost as soon as you were reconnected with her, trouble seemed to stir up in the GusuLan Sect." Madam Yu's eyes shot to the girl, her cold glare causing the hair to stand on Wei Yingyue's neck. "Wei Yingyue, I need to ask you how you think you have any right to strike someone who was to marry Jiang Yanli. I need to ask you how you feel you have the right to strike someone who will always be higher than you." She sneered, though Wei Yingyue remained still. "So tell me, girl. Why did you hit the Young Master Jin?" Madam Yu asked, narrowing her eyes at the girl.

"You know why she hit him, don't start when she has just returned home." Uncle Fengmian murmured, neither one of them even glanced at each other as Fengmian straightened, looking at his son and Wei Yue. "You have had a long journey to get here. Wei Yue, it has been a long time since you have been home. I want you two to go and rest for the remainder of today, then we will talk about night-hunts and things of that sort tomorrow." Jiang Cheng nodded and he bowed to his father and mother with Wei Yingyue, turning and making their way out of the meeting room.

Wei Yue smiled gently as she walked along the banks of Lotus Lake, one of the many pink blossoms that she found scattered all over her room rested in her palm as she leaned her head back, enjoying the breeze that lifted the black hair from her face.

"Wei Yue!" The girl stopped walking and turned, her eyes landing on her twin brother as he bound towards her, a wide smile stretched across his face before he hopped to a stop in front of her. "How was your nap?" He asked, grinning as he flicked a black wavy strand of hair off his sister's face. Her hair had been braided before she went to sleep, though some strands had escaped into waves framing her slim face.

"My nap was great, Ah-Xian." She smiled, holding up her palm that held the lotus flower for him to see. "Was this you, Gege?" After leaving the meeting hall and going to her room, Wei Yingyue ended up taking a bath before sleeping. When she had woken up, there were numerous lotus blossoms in her room. They were laying all over the place, some were in bowls and some were simply sitting on her table, floor, or bed.

"It is my gift to welcome you home, Yingying." He said as he wrapped an arm around his sister's shoulders, turning her to walk from the way he had come from. "Come with me and you will be in for another gift, little twin." He rested his head on her own as they walked, taking in the smell of her Jasmine scented soap she learned how to make while traveling.

"Did you know that the Lotus flower means estranged love and eloquence?" Wei Yue asked as she turned the flower to inspect all of the petals.

"Really?" Her brother asked, she nodded and he patted her hair. "What does Jasmine mean?" He asked, she looked at him and grinned.

"A white jasmine flower means amiability, sensuality, a yellow jasmine means grace, elegance." She answered, leaning her head against his shoulder.

"Which do you use for your soap and oils?"

"White Jasmine." She sighed, closing her eyes as she let him guide her. "Its sweet scent is known to help alleviate stress and anxiety." She continued, causing him to chuckle before they walked onto a wooden surface, making her open her eyes. She looked around and saw they were heading towards some of the dock huts, inside of the structure sat Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng as they watched the twins approach them slowly.

"Yah! Wei Wuxian, get her up here before Ah-Jie's food gets cold!" Jiang Cheng ordered.

"Jiang Cheng, patience." Jiang Yanli chuckled, looking at her little brother before looking at the twins as they rushed forwards.

"Did you sleep well?" Jiang Cheng asked when they reached the hut, gesturing for his Sworn Sister to sit beside him.

"Yes, and Wei Ying left me multiple Lotus heads as gifts." She placed the flower head onto the table, laughing as Jiang Cheng glared at Wei Wuxian. "Jiejie, what did you make?" Wei Yue asked, looking at the covered dishes in front of them.

"It's the same thing I made Ah-Xian when he came home, Lotus Root and Pork Rib Soup with Sour and Spicy Lotus Root." She lifted the lids but held up a hand when Wei Wuxian went to grab some, grinning before lifting another bowl onto the table. "This is Sour and Spicy Lotus Root for the two of you, so Jiang Cheng and I won't explode with how hot you enjoy food." She teased, setting the bowl in front of the twins. Wei Yue smiled widely as she grabbed her chopsticks, moving to grab some when four large root slices were placed in front of her by Wei Ying, followed by a bowl from Jiang Yanli.

"Welcome home, Meimei." Wei Wuxian smiled, patting her head before beginning to eat.