The person in purple, leaning on the rock, despite having his hair tied, is glaring at him through the strands of hair left untied.
Lan Xichen is astonished and was unable to fully react for a moment. Despite how this young man looks rather important, the first thought that entered Lan Xichen was the lotus.
"What does this gentleman mean?" He asked in confusion.
The stranger crossed his arms and walked towards him. Surprisingly, his horse is still as calm and laid back, as if he can't see him at all. The horse only moved, following a rabbit that hopped out of the rock where the stranger previously leaned with its gaze.
The stranger scoffed and glared at him again, "The nine-petalled lotus. Where is it?"
For some reasons, Lan Xichen suddenly has that feeling or protectiveness over the lotus. If it really was this guy's, he suddenly feels like it wouldn't be right to hand it over. In the end he copied the man's own stern features and replied back, "For what proof can you give me to claim the lotus?"
As if the stranger realized that fact, he stepped back with a sour expression. Lan Xichen's expression softened at the reaction. He smiled and stared at the purple man as he mulled over.
"I would not be so lenient to return it back as it seems like it is a set up to blame me."
The stranger paused, speechless, but he suddenly raised his brow and directly shot Lan Xichen a small glare. "Don't think so highly of yourself. I am not framing you. I don't even know you."
Lan Xichen hummed in surprise. He studied the young man carefully before putting his guard back to its place. "Alright, my apologies," he stated in a humble manner before going on, "But I don't know why I have it either, it happened to slip in my horse's saddle."
Hearing this, the stranger looked over the horse who was quietly but distractedly standing by, sniffing a nearby set of flowers. The horse puffed a breathe, sending some fragile petals flying. Apparently, it can't chase the rabbit since its master is restraining it.
The stranger looked away then finally locked gazes with Lan Xichen. He sighed, crossing his arms tighter, "Fine then. Your name, Your Highness?"
Lan Xichen glanced at him in surprise. Just now, he said he didn't know him, but he suddenly knew he's royalty?
The person scoffed, looking at him from head to toe as if he was taller despite Lan Xichen actually being taller, "You think no one will recognize your clothes?"
He finally realized that he's really dressed too much for a normal citizen. Of course people would recognize him.
"Prince Lan Xichen of Lan Kingdom," he humbly spoke.
He glanced at the stranger's crossed arms, finding it weird that there was no handshake like how it usually is when people introduce themselves. He shook the thought off and concentrated on the stranger, only realizing that his clothes were just as refined and highclass as his own. He glanced at him with interest, "Then, are you perhaps a prince too?"
He can't quite fathom the slight familiarity he is feeling towards his purple clothes, especially the color. Then, a thought formed on his head, "Are you....."
But the young man cut him off before he can say it. With a firm tone, he spoke, "No. I'm just a citizen. These clothes, my sister is a seamstress."
Lan Xichen can accept what he said but he still holds a doubt. Though it quickly vanished soon when his horse nudged him, seemingly deciding to turn his attention on Lan Xichen. He glanced at it and gave it a small pat, but the horse remained staring at him strangely, eyes holding a sense of mirth and judgement.
"Then, I would like to meet her someday. Anyway, what is this gentleman's name?"
He watched the stranger hesitate for a few seconds before replying with a sigh, "Jiang Cheng."
Lan Xichen's brows furrowed. The hesitation he can understand since one can't just say their names to strangers just like that, but the name he had just given was a little strange. The purple themes clothes and the surname..
"Jiang?"
Jiang Cheng immediately shook his head, "Not from the Jiang Kingdom. Do you really think that only you in this world can have the surname Lan?"
Lan Xichen can't stop thinking about it. Yet Jiang Cheng was right. Jiang Kingdom was a fallen kingdom with not one person left. Moreover, there really are other people out there with the same last names but of different origins. Deciding to stop pondering over it, Lan Xichen nodded. Maybe it really was just a coincidence.
"It's nice to meet you then, Sire Jiang."
Jiang Cheng let go of his crossed arms and faced him with a dead serious gaze, "Not mutual. The lotus is my life source. To steal it, you must take responsibility."
Lan Xichen momentarily raised an eyebrow. What this youth was saying is a little new to his ears. Not that their forehead ribbon corresponds to the same protocol, but it's just that as far as he knows, he didn't steal the lotus.
"Enlighten me, please."
Jiang Cheng was about to open his mouth but he closed it again and sighed in defeat. He crossed his arms again and softened his glare. "Nevermind. It's yours then."
Lan Xichen smiled at him despite the uncertainty and confusion, but still managed to reply with his gratitude, "Very well, I will forever remember this gift."
Jiang Cheng shook his head. It's obvious that this matter he's saying is already too strange yet this prince seems to fail asking him. And also, the horse was stuck, like a statue, looking at his master as if he had grown two other heads.
"But then again, I said you have to take responsibility for taking my life source.."
Lan Xichen looked even more confused. Nevertheless, he still asked, "And that would be?"
"..I'll grant you three wishes," Jiang Cheng replied seriously, denying any reasons to make it look like he's fooling Lan Xichen.
"But I thought I should be the one paying?" Lan Xichen decided to play along, minding his uncertain heart.
"Just take care of it and I'll grant you three wishes. As for the reponsibility, I'll ask you after the last wish is granted. Prince Lan, I know you're making a fool out of me, but why are you still playing along?"
Lan Xichen stared at him without any emotion and tried to keep it that way for long. Still, in the end, he only smiled helplessly. "Gentleman, I will take good care of the lotus as you wish. As for the three wishes, there is no need for it. You can ask whatever favor you want today to compensate for my 'stealing'."
His horse suddenly snorted and finally turned away from him, catching Lan Xichen's attention. He started worrying but decided to check on him later.
Jiang Cheng watched the horse strut away, as if giving up from trying to figure out his master. He uncrossed his arms. "Seems like the royal horse is bored. Take care on your way back, Your Highness."
As if those were Jiang Cheng's magical words to say 'leave' especially the ridiculing tone when he said Your Highness, Lan Xichen absentmindedly reached out for his horse and mounted. He looked back to check on the strange fellow, but to his surprise, there was no one there.
Sighing, Lan Xichen thugged the reins softly. The horse started moving in a moderate pace as his master commanded. It neighed when it felt the familiar soft hands pat his head.
"The gentleman just now.. he was truly strange was he not?"
Lan Xichen waited for the usual huff his slightly 'sassy' horse would give out but instead of that, it made a sound of confusion. Lan Xichen straightened up, slightly chuckling at the response.
"Perhaps I'm only just being overly suspicious then."
Only then did his horse made a sound agreement. Lan Xichen smiled even more.
"Sometimes, I do not understand you at all. Even as you are like Wangji, I fail to read you every once in a while."
The horse only neighed and made no more noise. Even now, the horse hadn't been named. Simply because it didn't want to be named. Either it was because it is a special type of horse with a sassy consciousness or it simply does not like Lan Xichen's naming style.
"Don't you really want a name?"
The horse disapproved. Lan Xichen chuckled helplessly, caressing its mane. "You are one stubborn steed."
As they were returning, the sun was already out but it was still undoubtfully a morning and is still a little cold. Nevertheless, as they both ride along the sun, the coat fur of the horse shone along it.
Lan Xichen smiled at this. His horse is a cross breed between a white and a rare golden horse. While it displays more of a white horse, his golden color will come out whenever it was hit by the sun.
It's a white horse during night, but a golden horse under the sun.
This breed is too rare. His horse was actually gifted by someone, someone he can't remember. He couldn't exactly remember how either but since the Jin Kingdom is mostly known for gold and they are rumored to have golden horses, he guessed that it must be a gift from them.
And thinking just how much time he spent with Jin Guangyao before, as childhood friends, sworn brothers, and lovers, who else but him would gift a horse as precious as this to Lan Xichen? Thus, he can only blindly say it would be him even if he hadn't ask him or even though this stallion simply refuses to even acknowledge Jin Guangyao's name for unknown reasons.
.
Entering their gates, Lan Xichen inmediately sensed that something was wrong. He ordered his horse to hurry up and they both dashed straight to the castle.
Lan Xichen got off and rushed inside, hearing a commotion. There was a shout, followed by a series of crashing.
"Watch out!"
There, a three youths seemed to have been agruing, and one of them just happened to slip, throwing what he was holding on the air in the process. The remaining two stood frozen on the side, one was pale while one was emotionlessly looking.
Lan Jingyi, son of a late Duke, closed his eyes to wait for the impact. But that wasn't what he was worried about. The fact that he threw the glass in the air and it would break scares him.
"Your Highness!" Lan Sizhui, the adopted son of Lan Wangji, exclaimed.
He watched the prince move with elegance, jumping to the scene to save the glass from shattering and help his brother up. The two Lan youths stared at the prince as if he was a hero.
Lan Xichen mentally sighed in relief. He examined the glass he is holding, calmed that it hadn't break and the lotus inside was unruffled.
Lan Jingyi was the first to cry out. "Y-Your Highness! I'm sorry! A maid accidentally tried to throw it out but we managed to stop her but.." He looked pitiful, as if about to cry, if not for Lan Xichen's still calm demeanor.
"As long as you becareful next time," Lan Xichen said.
Lan Jingyi sighed in relief and bowed deeply to express his gratitude, at the same time, his apology.
"You may rise," Lan Xichen stated then swept his gaze across the new youth, "And I see you have awaken."
Lan Sizhui smiled and stepped next to the new youth among them. Since he knew this youth is a little short tempered and doesn't talk, he took it upon himself to introduce.
"Your Highness, this is Jin Rulan from Jin Kingdom."
Jin Ling looked away, wincing upon hearing that name.
Lan Xichen was surprised to hear that. He looked over at Jin Ling with a smile despite his curiousity over why this young man would get lost, "I see. Young Lord Jin, would you like to return?"
Lan Sizhui intervened again, "Actually, Your Highness, can we talk about this?"
Lan Xichen raised an eyebrow but still replied, "Of course."
Jin Ling is quite surprised to see a prince treating younger ones like them with utmost respect and politeness, with a smile too. He can say he's quite impressed as he himself doesn't even socialize. He suddenly realized just how much of a pompous prince he is.
To appease his thoughts and avoid losing face in his own mind, he kept it in mind that this prince should actually be a king already. So he would be more matured and responsible. There was no need for Jin Ling to feel insecured.
Meeting the sunny man's kind gaze, he gathered all his courage to speak up. "Y-Your Highness," he began with difficulty, "can I request to stay here for a few days?"
Actually, he plans to leave when he first woke up but then this other junior prince who denied his title insisted that he stays.
Jin Ling knows it would be dangerous for him to stay without them figuring that he's a prince, he even have to practically beg Marquis Lan Qiren to not blow his cover, he still relented.
He doesn't want to go back to Koi Tower simply because there's nothing to go back for. He hates it when his elders would reprimand him to act this and that which is why he would every now and then find ways to escape for a few days to get freedom before he gets found again.
This cycle goes on and on ever since his Uncle Yao died.
His kingdom was almost falling, and he didn't want to bear the weight of it just because he's a prince. He also didn't like the others taking advantage of him, trying to manipulate him for the throne. All he wants.. is a little 'life'.
A calm and kind voice snapped him out of his reverie, "Alright, Lan Sizhui, Lan Jingyi, make sure to treat our guest well."
Jin Ling is stunned. He easily agreed?
What a kind man.
____
a/n: unedited