Lan XiChen met with Lan WangJi and Wei WuXian in the Jingshi, bringing the midday meal with him.

"It is time to eat, and I thought WuXian should rest," he explained to Lan WangJi on his arrival, with servants bearing trays behind him.

"Thank you, XiongZhang," said Lan WangJi, his heart warmed by the kindness. He appreciated his elder brother's care for Wei WuXian's wellbeing. Lan WangJi had hoped but not expected a genuine welcome for his choice of partner. Personal considerations such as the gifting of the jade Cloud Recesses access token and this thoughtful provision of the midday meal were treasured close in his heart.

Lan WangJi ushered his brother into the Jingshi and supervised the placing of the dishes for the meal, arranging for the trays to be collected from the porch afterward. Carefully he gathered Wei WuXian from where he rested on their bed and brought him to the table.

Wei WuXian looked a bit sheepish at the pampering, but in truth he was worn out and could not have walked the few steps to the table under his own power.

"Are you alright, WuXian?" asked Lan XiChen, concerned with the pallor and fatigue on the usually animated face before him.

"I'm fine..." started Wei WuXian, only to break off when his husband thumped his tea cup before him, rather more forcefully than required.

"Alright, my love, alright." Wei WuXian sighed and started again. "I'm mostly alright – better my love?" He turned to give a fond if exasperated look to Lan WangJi, before returning his attention to Lan XiChen and continuing.

"I've not slept well lately and managing the resentful energy was a bit taxing. The Yin Iron exerted a lot more influence on it than what I had anticipated. I had to call up a tune to reinforce my will, but it's alright. I was able to clear a large amount of the resentful energy and hopefully the stasis will be more solid for a time. I really am alright, but I'm also worn out. I'm fine," he repeated. "Just tired."

"Meal first," stated Lan WangJi. Looking at Wei WuXian's pale features, Lan XiChen agreed.

"Yes. It was a lot to take in, everything at the Cold Cavern. Perhaps we can collect our thoughts and discuss your findings after we eat?" he asked, turning to Wei WuXian.

A simple nod was all the strength Wei WuXian could spare for the moment, and so the men sat quietly as they ate their meal. The two Jades exchanged looks with each other as they watched Wei WuXian struggle to manage more than a few bites. Even the chili oil did little to help, with chopsticks repeatedly returning to his bowl still carrying their burden of food untouched. His hands shook as he raised his tea and he slumped to one side, supported by his husband's strong frame, head resting on one broad shoulder. Wei WuXian's posture was lax and untidy at the best of times but today it seemed he was barely able to sit erect under his own power. Eventually the meal concluded, the dishes were returned to trays placed out on the porch for collection, and the men sat together with tea.

"What did you find?" asked Lan XiChen. "Do you think it's Yin Iron?"

Wei WuXian nodded, clouds gathering in his expressive eyes.

"It's definitely Yin Iron," he replied. "The Grandmaster has an accumulation of it right above his lower dantian level. It's attracted resentful energy, which is wrapping itself around his Core and trapping his Qi. Even the natural energy of his own lifeforce within his pulse is being blocked off from use. Frankly, I'm impressed that Healer Zhang managed to get him into stasis at all, let alone maintain it so long. There is so much Yin energy, and almost no Yang to balance it."

The men sat quietly for a time, absorbing the news, as each chased their own thoughts. Finally, Wei WuXian drew a deep breath and sat up straighter.

"So," Wei WuXian started. "I drew away as much resentful energy as I could on my own in the Cold Cavern. It's only a temporary help for things, though. The Yin Iron is constantly calling forth more resentful energy and the level within your uncle is sure to rise again. What I was able to do was just a little bit of help. Just for now."

He looked at his husband, then back to Lan XiChen.

"I think I can probably come up with a way to remove the Yin Iron from the Grandmaster. I've worked with Yin Iron once. I can do it again."

Lan WangJi took his husband's hand in his own, almost crushing it with the intensity of his emotions, his eyes speaking of the concerns his voice couldn't utter.

Wei WuXian gave a pale smile to his love before continuing.

"I'm rather a bit more worn out than I would have thought," he understated. He tried a light laugh, but it only succeeded in highlighting how little energy he had available. Turning to his husband, he said "Such a feeble man you married, sweetheart. I wish I were strong like my HanGuang-Jun." The two men rested their foreheads together a moment in mutual affection. Once more Wei WuXian drew himself up and addressed the Sect Leader.

"I don't think it would be smart to try something so ambitious today, while I'm exhausted. Also, I need to think carefully about how to go about things, make some plans, maybe have a few talismans made up ready to go...I'd like your permission to try removing the Yin Iron from the Grandmaster tomorrow morning, XiChen-Ge. I'll plan it out today, get some rest, and go back to the Cold Cavern in the morning. May I have your permission to try?"

Lan XiChen studied the man before him. Deathly pale with dark circles almost painted on his wan face and clearly, visibly exhausted, and yet Wei WuXian offered to undertake a demonstrably dangerous task. With no expectation for personal gain. At considerable personal risk. And to save the life and wellbeing of a man who had never had a single good word for or about him. How had Uncle ever doubted the character of WuXian? he wondered. He turned over memories of their shared youth and Wei WuXian's many escapades ending with inevitable punishment – beatings, line after line of Clan Rules, eventual expulsion. Yet none of those hijinks had been mean-spirited. None were intended to cause anyone harm. And how often had Wei WuXian put his very life on the line during the war? Even when he was, unknown to them, without the support of his famously powerful golden Core?

Lan XiChen turned to peruse the face of his younger brother. WangJi, WangJi, he wondered. What will become of you if anything happens to your precious Wei Ying? Yin Iron was a terribly dangerous material and his brother's husband was offering himself to try to save their uncle from its grasp. But he knew his brother's character, also. Knew Lan WangJi would stand up and offer his own life if he deemed it righteous. And he would, however reluctantly, allow Wei WuXian to do what he felt was righteous in his turn, regardless of the cost to either or both of them.

A sigh left his lips. Lan XiChen closed his eyes a moment and sent a prayer to the gods. Please, please let this work. And please don't let anything happen to WuXian. My brother won't make it through his loss twice.

"I agree." Lan XiChen stood and gave a graceful bow to Wei WuXian, who was flustered by the Sect Leader's startling obeisance. "I suggest you spend the afternoon resting and planning. Please know how deeply I appreciate you trying to help Uncle." Straightening, he turned to his brother. "Xiong-Di, I will see you both tomorrow after the morning meal." Turning to leave, he looked back over his shoulder once. "WuXian?"

"Yes?"

"Plan well. And be careful."

"I promise."

With his brother gone, Lan WangJi turned to Wei WuXian.

"Wei Ying must rest." Without waiting for a response, he scooped up his husband and returned him to their bed.

"Lan Zhan! How can I rest? I have so much work to do! I need my desk, and something to write with..."

Before Wei WuXian could do more than start listing requirements, while he was still protesting, Lan WangJi moved with purpose about the Jingshi. In short order he returned to the bed with a lap desk and writing implements. Next came parchment and talisman papers gathered from the new workroom. The bedside table grew crowded with a pitcher of water, a teapot full of hot tea, a cup. Wei WuXian gave up protesting his relocation to the bed and started arranging things about him where he could best make use of them. Bringing over a few final items, Lan WangJi sat at the edge of the bed.

"Wei Ying will rest?"

Wei WuXian reached one hand across the lap desk to stroke his husband's cheek.

"Lan Zhan. Lan Er-Gege. HanGuang-Jun. In all your guises you are too good to this poor man."

Lan WangJi captured his husband's hand in his own, pressing kisses to the slim fingers, so cold in his grasp.

"Wei Ying is good."

Smiling at each other, Lan WangJi stood and kissed his husband's brow before he stepped to the entrance.

"I will return for the evening meal. Wei Ying will also rest. Not just work."

"I will, my love. I have some things to figure out, but it's mostly thinking work. I'll be good."

"Mn."

Wei WuXian kept his word. All afternoon he muddled and messed, but remained cocooned on the bed, wrapped in the quilts to warm himself. He was so scrawny even his newly promising Core could not regulate his temperature and away from the early summer sun he was thoroughly chilled. He worked up and prepared a number of talismans for every event he could think might be needed, collecting a respectable stack on top of the bedclothes. Even as he worked on the more obvious and practical, he kept turning over in his mind the idea that Yin Iron – Yin Iron! – was involved again. Not only that, but the Yin Iron was located inside the body of a living person. Not just any person but the Grandmaster himself. Lan WangJi's beloved uncle.

Even the advent of Wei WuXian's usual early afternoon episode of illness failed to stop him. He calmly waited out the now familiar agony, breathing deeply as the nausea laid him low, before he staggered across the Jingshi, rinsed his mouth and the basin used, and returned to his scribblings.

After some time, Wei WuXian shifted everything off to one side of the bed and lay back against the pillows as he pondered what approach to take. How could the Yin Iron be removed from a living body with the least amount of harm? He tossed from side to side, as he considered and rejected one idea after the next. Eventually he sat up, elbows on knees, hands supporting his head as he stared blankly at the workroom door.

There was not going to be an easy solution.