CHAPTER 4 The Banquet That Went Wrong

The Banquet That Went Wrong

The imperial banquet was loud.

Too loud.

Wei Wuxian sat beside Lan Wangji, watching nobles talk endlessly about land, power, and marriage alliances.

“Do they ever stop?” he whispered.

Lan Wangji replied calmly, “No.”

Wei Wuxian sighed. “I miss my future. At least meetings had coffee.”

Lan Wangji didn’t understand the words, but he nodded anyway.

An omega noble approached.

Dressed in silk, smiling sweetly.

“Duke Lan,” the omega said softly. “I did not expect you to bring your consort.”

Wei Wuxian raised an eyebrow. Interesting choice of words.

Lan Wangji’s response was immediate.

“This is my spouse,” he said coldly. “Be respectful.”

The omega stiffened.

Wei Wuxian smiled brightly. “Hi. I bite sometimes.”

The omega quickly left.

Lan Wangji glanced at Wei Wuxian. “Was that necessary?”

Wei Wuxian shrugged. “A little.”

During the banquet, Wei Wuxian noticed something off.

Servants moving too quickly. Guards positioned strangely.

Enemy scouts, he realized.

His smile didn’t fade.

Instead, he leaned closer to Lan Wangji. “Your palace security needs improvement.”

Lan Wangji turned sharply. “Why?”

Wei Wuxian took a sip of wine. “I counted three assassins.”

Lan Wangji’s hand moved to his sword.

Wei Wuxian gently stopped him. “Relax. I’ve got this.”

A servant suddenly dropped a tray.

Chaos followed.

In the confusion, Wei Wuxian disappeared.

Minutes later, three bodies were found unconscious in the garden.

No wounds. No witnesses.

Wei Wuxian returned calmly, holding pastries.

“What did I miss?” he asked.

Lan Wangji stared.

“…Nothing.”

On the way back, Lan Wangji spoke quietly.

“You are hiding many things.”

Wei Wuxian smiled. “So are you.”

Lan Wangji looked at him seriously. “I trust you.”

Wei Wuxian’s smile softened.

This man is trouble, he thought. The good kind.

When the Duke Left for War

The imperial order arrived at dawn.

Lan Wangji read it once, then folded it neatly.

“War?” Wei Wuxian asked, already guessing.

“Yes,” Lan Wangji replied. “The northern border.”

Wei Wuxian leaned back. “Figures. You look like a war magnet.”

Lan Wangji almost smiled.

Preparations began immediately.

Armor polished. Weapons checked. Soldiers gathered.

Wei Wuxian watched everything calmly, hands behind his back.

“You’re not worried?” Lan Wangji asked.

Wei Wuxian shrugged. “You’re strong. Also stubborn. You’ll survive.”

Lan Wangji nodded. “I will return.”

Wei Wuxian looked at him seriously. “You better.”

The night before departure, Lan Wangji stood outside Wei Wuxian’s room.

“I will leave guards,” he said. “And supplies. And authority.”

Wei Wuxian raised an eyebrow. “Authority?”

Lan Wangji placed a seal in his hand. “In my absence, you command the dukedom.”

Wei Wuxian blinked. “You trust me with your entire territory?”

“Yes.”

Wei Wuxian laughed softly. “That’s a lot of faith for a future stranger.”

Lan Wangji replied simply, “You are my spouse.”

At dawn, the army marched.

Wei Wuxian stood at the gate.

Lan Wangji mounted his horse and looked down at him.

“Wait for me,” he said.

Wei Wuxian waved. “Don’t get stabbed.”

Lan Wangji rode away.

Wei Wuxian watched until the dust settled.

Then he turned around, eyes sharp.

“Alright,” he muttered. “Let’s keep this place alive.”

That night, he opened hidden crates in the duke’s armory.

Weapons. Maps. Old strategies.

Wei Wuxian smiled.

“Good thing I remember a few wars from the future.”

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