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Chapter Text

“Fengmian? Fengmian. Fengmian!”

“Hmmm? What is it?”

Yu Ziyuan's fist crackled with purple sparks just before she banged her open palm on the table, setting the dishes and utensils to clacking together. Once a week, that was all she asked for; to sit down for a meal with her husband and discuss the interests of the sect and their family. Considering they were married, it wasn't asking for much, and yet he kept his attention on a pile of reports he had brought into the small salon rather than the words she spoke – and until this very moment, she'd managed to keep her temper in check.

Yet he always found a way to make her lose it.

“I asked you a question. About your son.”

“Which one?” he asked absently.

She pulled her hand off the table before Zidian could set the dining linens alight. “The only one I bore you. Or have you forgotten him again?”

He heaved a weary sigh and set down his report. “What did Wanyin do this time?”

She wanted to scream. It was his precious Wei Ying that was the troublemaker, getting into mischief at every opportunity, and he dared speak as if Jiang Cheng was the troublesome one. He always did, no matter how much the boy worked hard for his father's notice, no matter how much she pushed him to be better than that boy so that nobody would ever doubt that he was the proper heir of Yunmeng Jiang. The least Jiang Fengmian could do was acknowledge how hard his son worked, but no, he had eyes for none but his precious Wei Ying.

It was no wonder the rumours of the boy's parentage persisted, particularly when Fengmian did nothing to dissuade them. She knew they weren't true, if only because Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren had been away for quite some time during a particularly bad flooding season, and there was no way Jiang Fengmian could have met with them in the time the boy had been conceived. She, however, couldn't help but think that Jiang Fengmian wished they had been true.

Or perhaps he simply loved that boy more because Jiang Cheng was too much like his mother.

“He hasn't done anything other than excelling in his studies.”

“Then what is the problem?”

“The boy is going to be of a proper age soon, and you have put off talking about his future for far too long.”

“Not this again-”

“Yes, this again. Like it or not, he is your heir, and it is our duty to ensure he is settled down with a proper wife, one who will be an asset to Lotus Pier as the future Madame Jiang. You and I both know there have been far too few girls born to this generation of cultivators, and if we do not act soon, our son will be alone and our sect without solid ties with our allies.”

He huffed and picked his report back up, already looking like he was tuning her out. “If it's so important to you, then you can arrange it.”

“Fengmian, he's your son.”

“And I'm a busy man with an entire sect to worry about. Whatever you decide when it comes to Wanyin’s future, I will abide by it.”

She had thought perhaps this once he might take an actual interest in his son's welfare – she had thought wrong. She glanced at the table, set with tea and several dishes of Yunmeng's best fare, and all she felt was nauseous. She slowly stood up and made a short bow in her husband's direction. “If that is Jiang-zongzhu's wish, then this one will abide,” she said in the perfect combination of deference and sarcasm. “Now, I'll leave you to your dinner.”

“Ziyuan, you don't have to-”

She slammed the door hard in her wake, and the corridor echoed with the sound of her boots stomping along the wooden floor.

She would do this on her own, and she would find her son the best wife she could find in the Jianghu. Someone who would be capable of managing Lotus Pier and its disciples, but who would also show care for Jiang Cheng – far more than his father did for either of them.

And if she wanted her son's marriage to be smoother than her own, she needed to know what sort of woman he might actually like.

For that, she would have to speak with one of their more senior disciples...

“Madame Yu.”

The cultivator bowed low and she nodded magnanimously. She accepted a cup of tea poured by her maid Yinzhu – Jinzhu stood to the wall, her eyes on the man bowed before them. “You may speak freely, Huang-gongzi. Now... what can you tell me about my son?”

Huang LiFong stood upright and met her eyes without hesitation. He was in his late 20s and an excellent cultivator, but moreover, had taken on the role of shixiong to his junior disciples, treating them as he would younger brothers and sisters while still pushing them to further their cultivation. She had taught him as she had most disciples in the sect, and he was one of the few who had earned her deepest regard. He was also one of the few who regularly spoke up to refute any who would speak ill of her behind her back, and had he not already earned her respect, he would have for that alone.

“After our conversation the other day, I spent some time talking with Jiang-gongzi about girls and his thoughts on his fellow disciples – I was subtle, of course. He was evasive in his answers, and those he did give were very vague and sounded more like what he believed he should want due to his position as sect heir. I decided to take it upon myself to invite him – and Wei-gongzi – to join me and a handful of other disciples on our excursion to the Gilded Lily.”

She lifted an eyebrow. The Gilded Lily was a brothel not far from Lotus Pier, and many a Jiang disciple had their first experiences there. Though she twitched at the mention of that boy, she ignored his involvement – for now, Jiang Cheng was what mattered. “He went with you willingly?”

Huang LiFong's face turned sheepish. “I admit, I wasn't exactly forthcoming about just what sort of place we would be visiting. We invited them out for drinks, that is all. I thought it would be the best way to witness his reaction.”

She nodded. She certainly wasn't above using subterfuge in order to accomplish her goals. “And what was his reaction?”

The man hesitated. “At first, he didn't seem aware that we were in a brothel – admittedly, the courtesans at the Gilded Lily are very respectable and elegant. Eventually, we did make him aware of the nature of the place, particularly when Jiang MingFan left to join one in their room. He was embarrassed, but... he did not seem to pay much attention to them even upon knowing they were courtesans.” Huang LiFong paused, and only when Yu Ziyuan motioned him to continue did he speak again. “The Gilded Lily also employs a pair of male courtesans, one of whom came over to play guqin for us. I made a point of mentioning my own attraction for him – as you know, I do not like to make issue of it, but I thought that if your son's persuasion were similar, then it would give him an opportunity to admit it. Yet he simply accepted what I had to tell him with little reaction.”

She sighed. She knew her son and knew he was a terrible liar. That he showed no reaction could either mean he simply didn't care for the courtesans present at the brothel, or that his nature was different. She hoped it was the former because, as heir of Lotus Pier, he needed a spouse, and it would be kinder to find him one that would suit him rather than to force one upon him that he was incapable of desiring. Though until today, she had not considered that perhaps her son's interests might lean towards men, as well as or instead of women. It would be ironic if attraction to one's own kind was yet another similarity between herself and her son – she only hoped that he would not end up like she had, watching helplessly as the one she loved married the worst man in the world. She knew she wasn't the best of mothers, but at least she could do her best to spare her son from the same fate.

“Is there anything else you can tell me?”

“Well, when he did become aware he was in a brothel, though he was embarrassed, he wasn't as surprised as I thought he might be. He and Wei-gongzi spoke of a friend of theirs, one they had met in Cloud Recesses, who they thought would have enjoyed the visit. Nie-gongzi, I believe. I overheard their remembrance of being passed along spring books, and they teased each other over ones they had kept too long.”

That gave her some hope, at least. Though she had known about her son's friendship with Nie Mingjue's brother, she had not known that it had involved the exchanging of spring books – but at least his finishing marks from Cloud Recesses had been decent, which was what was most important. “Thank you, Huang-gongzi. You are dismissed.”

The man made another bow before retreating out the door. She made a mental note to give him some leniency at some point in the future to show her appreciation for his efforts.

She looked up as Yinzhu and Jinzhu came to stand before her. She sighed, wishing she were closer to an answer than she had been before. Yinzhu nodded and turned to begin collecting the tea dishes. Jinzhu pulled her sword and bowed before her mistress.

“This one would be happy to spar with Madame Yu.”

She stood up, Zidian already crackling at her fingers. Perhaps exhausting herself on the training field would bring her some clarity – or at least give her a way to vent her frustrations.

Chapter Text

Yu Ziyuan's measured steps travelled down the boardwalk, pausing only when she reached the place where her son gazed out over the lotus lake. The moment he noticed her approach, he stiffened up and held his shoulders back and straight – he knew she expected perfect posture from him.

“A-Niang,” he greeted her with a bow. When he stood back up, she noticed the hem of his robes over his chest was a little crooked and reached out to adjust it for him.

“Jiang Cheng. How did your training go this morning?”

“Very well. Zhou Laoshi says that my stamina has improved.”

She sniffed and nodded. She was proud of his progress, but she could not allow him to grow lax about his training, not even for a moment. Compliments were fine and well, but would do nothing to help make him a proper man. As the heir of Lotus Pier, he would need to be the best – and he was plenty capable of it, otherwise she would not waste her breath speaking of it. As it was, he would already make a better sect leader than his ineffectual and indecisive father.

“I'm certain you can improve even more. Never slack in your training. I want you to come out first every time, as you should.”

“Yes, A-Niang.” He dipped his head, a small frown upon his face.

“I'm going to the marketplace to find gifts for the upcoming cultivation conference. You will come with me.”

“Yes, A-Niang.”

They spent the afternoon walking together, and she asked him more about his studies, quizzed him on sword techniques and diplomatic customs, and for once enjoyed spending time with her son without that other boy around. She asked his opinion on gifts for various sect leaders and nodded in approval at his well-thought-out responses.

After several hours, they stopped at a small teahouse that served some of Yu Ziyuan's favourite egg tarts. They were served by a very pretty young woman who almost immediately started batting her eyelashes at Jiang Cheng, who was apparently oblivious to the girl's flirting. Yu Ziyuan waited until they were brought out a service of oolong tea and tarts before addressing the true purpose of their afternoon in the marketplace.

“A-Cheng.” He nearly startled at the address, one she didn't use very often. “There is a very important subject we need to speak on. You are a young man now, and we need to speak about your future.”

“What in particular, A-Niang?”

“Marriage.” She witnessed most of his good humour leeching away from his form, dropping his shoulders and his chin. There was nothing for it, it was necessary for them to address it together. “Tell me, are there any young women you have met that you would like to court?”

His eyes opened wide as his cheeks turned flaming red. “A-Niang.”

“There's nothing to be ashamed about. You're a young man of age to marry, and if you're to have an heir of your own, it's time to start thinking of it.”

He didn't respond, only focused his gaze on the tea in his cup.

“Do you even like women? Or do you take after Emperor Ai?” She broke an egg tart in two, ignoring how her son shrank even further into himself. “If so, the Elders won't like it – they'll demand an heir from you – but that could be solved by taking on both a wife and a concubine – one to do your duty, and the other to share your life and the management of Lotus Pier.”

“How could you even suggest such a thing?!” Jiang Cheng kept his voice low enough not to startle the nearby patrons, but it felt as loud as a shout in Yu Ziyuan's ears.

“Why shouldn't I? Do you not want to be content in your marriage? After all, there is precedent.”

“You don't mean Jin-zongzhu,” Jiang Cheng said, scandalized.

“Of course not,” she sniffed. Her son knew her opinions of the man – he should know there was no way in the Heavens or the earth that she would wish her son to be like him. “I'm talking of the late Nie-zongzhu.”

Jiang Cheng blinked.

“I'm told you spent some time with Nie-gongzi when in Cloud Recesses, correct?” Her son nodded. “Few speak of it as much now, but it was quite the scandal before you were born. After Nie Mingjue's birth, his mother could have no more children, so Nie-zongzhu brought in a concubine. It was an excellent arrangement – both he and his wife came to love her very much, and they were all quite content until their untimely passing.”

“I... Nie-xiong didn't talk much about his family.”

“That's understandable, considering how horrifically they all died. Nevertheless, as I said, there is precedence.” She sighed and finished her egg tart before wiping her fingers on a napkin. “I wish to be frank with you, A-Cheng. When it comes to marriage, few of our station are given the luxury of marrying for love and affection – or even friendly companionship. Duty, politics, alliances, or simply furthering a bloodline – these are the reasons people like us marry. That you do marry is a given.” She waited for him to lift his head so she could meet his eyes, and this one time she would speak to her son from the heart. “Why you marry is currently under our control, but that will not last. Eventually the pressure to find you a spouse will be too great to fight the Elders, and the pool of potential wives will have diminished with time. Since the day you were born, I have held you and fed you and taught you how to fight, and... I would like to see you settled, and content, with someone who will honour and respect your duty and position.”

I want to see you loved in a way I never could, in a way your father never would. I want you to be happy.

“So, I ask you again, is there anyone at all who has caught your eye?”

“No, A-Niang.”

She nodded and looked away from her son, her gaze landing on a pair of cranes wading about in the pond outside the teahouse.

“If that changes, A-Cheng, let me know.”

“Yes, A-Niang.”

She waved to the pretty server and settled the bill. She watched as the woman flirted with Jiang Cheng one last time, with her son yet again completely oblivious to it.

She ground her teeth and stood up, leaving the teahouse with her son at her heels. They were silent the rest of the way home with Yu Ziyuan's stomach clenching and aching with what she would never admit was fear.

Fear that her son would end up lonely and miserable like her.

Chapter Text

The early autumn Cultivation Conference was being held in Qishan, which suited Yu Ziyuan just fine. It was much warmer than most other places at this time of year, and the dry heat was kinder to her complexion than the humidity of Yunmeng. The downside, however, was having to deal with the Wen, all of whom were almost as irritating as Jin Guangshan.

Well, Wen Ruohan's niece, the pretty little doctor, wasn't quite as bad as the rest, but she was rarely in attendance. Instead, Yu Ziyuan was using every ounce of her willpower to keep from smacking Wen Chao as he so richly deserved, him and his little trollop that he paraded around despite his wife's presence on the other side of the hall... perhaps there was a Wen worse than Jin Guangshan after all.

There was a thread of tension running through the room that could only mean one thing, and as she expected, the great doors opened and in came the delegation from Qinghe. Nie Mingjue looked as if he were about to face down a pack of stampeding yao – typical, as he hated having to maintain diplomatic ties with Qishan – and at his side stood his brother, a mere slip of a boy who looked as soft as his brother was hard. The latter flagged down a passing server and retrieved two glasses of wine, then insistently placed one in Nie Mingjue's hand.

Well, that was certainly one way to keep Sect Leader Nie relaxed when among the Wen.

She tried to return her attention to Wen Chao's conversation – the idiot hadn't even noticed that her attention had wavered, though perhaps it helped that Sect Leader Ouyang had wandered over to join in – but was distracted again when she heard a voice calling out above the rest.

“Oh! Jiang-xiong! Wei-xiong! There you are!”

She wasn't the only one who turned their head to see what the fuss was about. Yu Ziyuan followed Nie Huaisang's passage through the crowd until he finally reached her son's side – well, Jiang Cheng and that boy.

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes, though he didn't look as annoyed as she would have expected, and that boy placed an arm over Nie Huaisang's shoulders and spoke in his ear, only to receive a smack on the arm from the young man's closed folding fan.

Conversations continued as normal throughout the room, but Yu Ziyuan's attention remained on the three young men. It was the first time she saw them together since they had befriended each other at Cloud Recesses and she feared having to watch one of her greatest worries pass before her very eyes – that yet again Jiang Cheng would have a 'friend' that only just tolerated him because he and Wei Wuxian tended to come as a package deal. She'd seen it happen time and again, and it was one area where she could do little to help him – she was the last person who should give advice on friendships, seeing as she had very few of her own.

After a few minutes, a handful of disciples from the Lan delegation passed by. Wei Wuxian immediately broke away from the other two boys to chase after Lan Wangji, and her stomach clenched, anticipating having to watch as her son was abandoned by yet another 'friend'.

Instead, she watched as Nie Huaisang lifted his now-open fan and whispered something to Jiang Cheng, provoking a laugh – an actual laugh – from her son. Jiang Cheng shook his head and looked away to smother his smile with a sip from his glass of wine, and Nie Huaisang's gaze remained on him, looking up at him with a soft expression and his bottom lip caught between his teeth.

Oh.

She instinctively lifted an eyebrow and shifted her gaze, seeking out Yinzhu and Jinzhu at the far side of the room. She glanced to Nie Huaisang, then back to her maids, both of whom nodded in acknowledgement. When she returned her attention to the young men, it was in time to see Nie Huaisang grab Jiang Cheng's elbow and pull him toward where the Nie delegation was settling in for the reception, and though Jiang Cheng looked reticent, he didn't put up any sort of fight.

“...Isn't that right, Madame Yu?”

She narrowed her eyes at Sect Leader Ouyang. It didn't matter what it was he'd said – she hadn't heard a word of it – she already knew it would be something self-serving and ingratiating.

“I believe I am needed elsewhere.”

It was the most polite she planned on being to those two dunderheads. Now, to find something decent to eat before she whipped someone with zidian.

The only intelligent decision the Wen had made during the entire conference – including their terrible choice to not have a single vegetarian dish, resulting in the Lan delegation eating nothing but rice (a power play if there ever was one, and of course the Lan said nothing in protest) – was to give the Jiang sect enough space that Yu Ziyuan and Jiang Fengmian were not forced to share a room. After the hell that was the evening reception, the last thing she wanted was to face her husband's asinine opinions. He rarely did anything with political merit at banquets anymore, believing instead that such occasions were perfect to enthuse about his head disciple’s achievements.

She sat at her vanity, carefully removing her earrings, when the door opened behind her. She tensed instinctively, but a glance into the mirror reassured her that it was Yinzhu and Jinzhu come to help her decompress and discuss the evening.

“So, what did you discover tonight?” she asked as she carefully removed Zidian and placed it on a velvet cushion.

Jinzhu came to stand right behind her and immediately began removing hairpins. Yinzhu stood to the side, appearing at ease, but Yu Ziyuan knew there was no such thing for her maids. Both had been well trained to be constantly vigilant, and it had saved her family's lives more times than she could count – and more times than they would ever know.

“Your son spent a considerable amount of time this evening with the Nie,” Yinzhu began. “Several times he attempted to leave, and every time but the last he was waylaid by Nie-gongzi with either lazy excuses or simple pouts.”

“I would say Jiang Cheng was weak to his machinations, but I know my son has no love for such grand events.” Yu Ziyuan sighed. “I assume he was simply pleased to have an excuse to remain with friendly faces. What did Nie-zongzhu think of his presence?”

Jinzhu's lips curved into a small smirk – a rare expression for her stone-faced maid. “Nie-gongzi made a complaint that Jiang Wanyin spent far too much time on his cultivation, which prompted an encouraging conversation between your son and Nie-zongzhu, who complimented his dedication and hard work.”

Yu Ziyuan nodded. She had noticed that Nie Mingjue had a tendency to be friendly and supportive of younger cultivators, as if he wished to adopt them all as additional brothers and sisters. She feared such an attitude would lead to a generation of soft men and women unable to withstand the hardships of day-to-day life... but at least it was nice to hear that someone had said something kind to her son. “Was that boy mentioned?”

“Not by Nie-zongzhu,” Yinzhu confirmed. “Your son and Nie-gongzi mentioned him occasionally, but most of the time they seemed to be chatting about the latest gossip, Nie-gongzi's artistic endeavours, and the most recent books your son has read.”

Jinzhu unwound Yu Ziyuan's hair and allowed it to fall down her back – she sighed in relief. “And what happened after A-Cheng left the Nie?”

“Jiang Wanyin was exemplary,” Yinzhu nodded, “taking time to speak with cultivators from almost every sect. His words were always well-chosen and he gave much face to the Jiang as its heir.”

“For his part,” Jinzhu continued as she ran a comb through Yu Ziyuan's hair, “Nie-gongzi was busier than I expected him to be. We have not paid him much mind in the past, and I am beginning to suspect that is a terrible oversight on our part.”

“Explain.”

“As I followed him, I witnessed three interesting events. The first was a conversation between Nie-gongzi and a handful of Jin cultivators. They were making jokes at his expense and he appeared oblivious to the nature of their taunts. He asked one of them about their sword, muttering that he didn't know much about weapons but the sword was 'very pretty'. The Jin cultivator laughed and bragged about how his sword was worth far more than any Nie blade, and that the elite swordsmith who had made it was going into seclusion after 'not showing proper respect' to Jin-zongzhu.”

Yu Ziyuan's eyes met Yinzhu's in the mirror. “If I remember correctly, you'd overheard weeks ago that Nie-zongzhu was looking for a new weaponsmith for the Unclean Realm.” Yinzhu nodded. “Which Jin did the bragging?”

“Jin Zixun,” Jinzhu replied.

“Figures. That young man's lips are far too loose when his ego's being stroked or attacked. The second event?”

“The second was my witnessing Nie-gongzi successfully talking Qin-zongzhu into bringing his family for a visit to the Unclean Realm.”

“The Qin?” Yu Ziyuan frowned. “They're a small sect who mostly deal with Lanling Jin, what business could they have in Qinghe?”

“According to Nie-gongzi, the Nie are recently in possession of some handsome mongolian horses that would make excellent cultivators' companions.” The smirk returned to Jinzhu's face. “However... I witnessed Nie-gongzi chatting with Qin-zongzhu's daughter earlier, upon which he 'absently' commented on his brother's prowess in battle and how much he enjoyed teaching the youngest students, and lamented how good a father his brother would be one day if only he were to find a lucky woman to become Madame Nie.”

“That little shit.” Yu Ziyuan almost let out an unlady-like snort. Qin Su was on her short-list of eligible female cultivators who could be potential wives for Jiang Cheng – it seemed her words to Jiang Fengmian had been far too prescient. “That's two. And the third?”

The smirk on Jinzhu's face shifted into a soft smile. “I believe this one will interest Madame Yu more than the others. He-zongzhu's son was gossiping as he always does, but this time he was speaking disparagingly about Jiang Wanyin. He was commenting on your son's temper, his lack of a wife, and... his 'unfortunate' resemblance to his mother.”

Yu Ziyuan's eyes narrowed – she could not let such things be said without consequence, though it would have to be dealt with in a subtle manner. “We'll have to think of something suitable to teach that young man how he should speak of his betters.”

“I believe that won't be necessary,” Jinzhu insisted. “It seems that while he was in the middle of his rant, a passing server's tray was accidentally upended all over his robes.”

“Oh?” That certainly didn't sound like sufficient punishment to Yu Ziyuan.

“It seems Nie-gongzi had been clumsy, you see, and he immediately came over to He-gongzi to apologize for his carelessness. He commented on how sad it was that the belt gifted to him by Huang-guniang would be dirtied in such a way, and even insisted upon paying for its cleaning.”

Yu Ziyuan was about to snap that this did not speak favourably of Nie Huaisang, but then something hit her. “Huang-guniang? Didn't He-gongzi marry a woman from the Lan sect?”

The smirk returned to Jinzhu's face. “The moment Huang-guniang's name was mentioned, He-gongzi's wife grew incensed – or at least as incensed as a Lan would be in public. She left the hall with He-gongzi on her heels, begging her to listen to him and claiming that it wasn't what she thought.”

The comb was put away and Yu Ziyuan stood to remove her robes. “So, according to your accounts, in the space of a single evening, Nie-gongzi obtained pertinent information to his sect's interests, made gains on finding his brother a wife, and exposed a cultivator's affair in defence of my son – all while giving the appearance of being a layabout who cares for little but painting and gossip, with none the wiser of what he accomplished.”

Both Jinzhu and Yinzhu nodded.

“Overlooking him has indeed been an oversight on our parts, but it is a mistake that is easy to rectify.” She sighed and finished undressing so she could pull on her sleep clothes. “Tomorrow, inform Nie-gongzi that I would like to have tea with him before the dinner banquet. I would like to know better the man that would call my son friend.”

And the young man who had gazed at her A-Cheng with eyes that were more adoring and doting than would be considered proper.

Chapter Text

Yu Ziyuan had settled on a balcony overseeing one of the few lush gardens housed in the Wen compound. There were several varieties of flowers that she rarely saw anywhere else, and their scent wafted along the breeze. When the door opened, she did not turn, instead keeping her focus on the landscape as the newcomers walked around to stand before her.

“Madame Yu,” Nie Huaisang greeted with a nervous bow, his lip tugged between his teeth – it was the second time she'd seen it, and she would learn what it meant eventually. “I was told you wished to see me?”

She nodded. With a flick of her finger, Yinzhu and Jinzhu retreated to the back of the balcony where they would watch in silence. “Have a seat, Nie-gongzi.”

“Of course, Madame Yu.” When he sat in the lone unoccupied seat, the fingers of one hand kept twitching at the sleeve of the other. “May I pour for you?”

“Of course.”

He picked up the teapot and poured in a truly elegant manner that would impress an imperial consort. Only once he had handed her a cup did he pour for himself. She took a sip and resisted the urge to grimace – the Wen's taste in tea was atrocious, though she suspected that they kept the worst for those visiting from other sects, as if to taunt them.

“Have you been enjoying the conference thus far, Nie-gongzi?”

“Oh, quite!” He grinned. “I don't care much for politics, but the food is excellent, and it's certainly much warmer than it is at home.”

“I can only imagine. I noticed you take much more pleasure in socializing than most in your sect.”

Nie Huaisang's fingers twitched at his sleeve again before he occupied them with his teacup. “Qinghe Nie isn't usually so difficult, but our history with the Wen is... complicated.”

An understatement if there ever was one.

“Making it more important that at least one member of your sect is not cowed by being in Wen territory.”

“Cowed? I certainly wouldn't say that, Madame Yu.”

“Oh? And what would you call it when almost an entire sect keeps to themselves only when attending events in a particular sect's territory?”

Something flashed in the young man's eyes, but his shoulders shrugged. “Oh, I wouldn't know. I'm just the sect leader's brother, such matters don't concern me. As long as there's good food to eat and gossip to be heard, I'm more than happy.” The young man was very convincing if one didn't know better.

“Ah, but they do concern you, more than you let on.” Her lips tilted up in a smirk. “You can pull out your fan, by the way, I don't mind. You must feel practically naked without it.”

His cheeks flushed, but within a moment he'd extracted his fan from his sleeve and flicked it open. He did look far more at ease with it in his hand, and it gave him an air of aloofness that could be quite misleading. She approved.

“This one should wish to be half as observant as Madame Yu.” For a moment, she could almost imagine him a eunuch in the Emperor's palace, brown-nosing his way to power above his station.

“I should hope you have some powers of observation, Nie-gongzi, else I will be terribly disappointed – here I was hoping you could tell me some of the better gossip from last night's banquet.”

His fan paused, momentarily covering his lips, but his eyes lit up with excitement. “Well, I certainly cannot disappoint Madame Yu. Now, you didn't hear this from me, but...”

Days ago, she would have balked at the idea of hearing anything useful from Nie Huaisang. She would have dismissed him as useless and ignored him in favour of someone with greater political importance. Now, however, she listened to what the boy had to say, and though much of what he recounted sounded rather frivolous, she heard the occasional detail that matched with things she and her maids had already learned.

And a thing or two they had been trying to find out.

From all accounts, Nie Huaisang was a terrible cultivator with no aptitude or desire to train with his saber. In Qinghe, such a cultivator would be useless. In Meishan Yu, however, he would still be seen to have potential in other areas.

She simply didn't know whether it was potential she wanted near her son.

She spoke very little, only offering the occasional word to prompt Nie Huaisang to offer her more information, but by the time Yinzhu alerted her to the time and the need to return to the conference hall, she hadn't felt the time had been a waste at all. That was a rarity, indeed.

“Madame Yu,” Nie Huaisang began as they stood up and he closed his fan with an elegant flick of his wrist. “It has been a great honour to take tea with you. My experience with everyone from Yunmeng Jiang has been nothing but delightful, and you are no exception.”

“There are many who would disagree with you on that, Nie-gongzi.” She wondered where his intentions lied, if he was simply being overly flattering or if he had some other goal in mind, because very few would ever call her presence 'delightful', let alone to her face.

“And those many can barely see the world past the ends of their noses. We both know people love to talk. But having had the privilege of befriending Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian, both of whom have done nothing but speak highly of Madame Yu's abilities on and off the training field, I would prefer to judge for myself. Qinghe Nie and Yunmeng Jiang are friends, after all, and perhaps one day we can be allies as well.”

“Perhaps.” His words were diplomatic, and she'd managed to contain her flinch at the sound of that boy's name. “Give my regards to Nie-zongzhu.”

He folded into a proper bow, then left the room with a bounce in his step.

She exchanged glances with her maids – they would discuss the conversation later, when they had more time to parse over the details Nie Huaisang had let slip. For now, they had to prepare to face the conference attendees once again, but at least she would do so with her body warmed with tea and her mind occupied with a new mystery to unravel – what to make of Nie Huaisang.

Chapter Text

The conference was winding to a close, and the final banquet was the grandest yet. Qishan had spared little expense to the point that their hall looked almost like it was decorated to match Lanling Jin.

Speaking of which...

Yu Ziyuan and Jiang Fengmian greeted Jin Guangshan and Madame Jin – Lao YingFen as Yu Ziyuan had known her to be long before she'd married into the Jin – with the bows that they were due, though Yu Ziyuan knew that Jin Guangshan did not deserve them. The lecher bowed in return and immediately pulled Jiang Fengmian into a conversation about trade matters between their sects. She tried not to scoff – Jin Guangshan knew better than almost anyone that she was the one to handle most of the negotiations for her sect.

The one saving grace was that it allowed her a few moments to be graced with her sworn sister's presence.

Lao YingFen smiled up at her in a way that triggered memories of sunny days, innocent embraces under boughs of leaves, and words of love and affection whispered in the dark – memories from before two women had bowed to the needs of filial duty over the needs of their hearts. She was the only person who could prompt a genuine smile from Yu Ziyuan, as she did then.

“You are well, Jiejie?” Lao YingFen asked softly as they fell into step together and began to walk around the conference hall.

“I always am. And you, Meimei? Have you decided yet to let me kill your husband?” It was an old joke between them, but one Yu Ziyuan was more than happy to make good on if her sworn sister gave the word.

“He isn't worth the effort,” Lao YingFen replied, as she always did. “But please, let us speak of more entertaining things. Such as... I have noticed you watching the Nie delegation far more than at previous conferences. There are no particular proposals involving them that are being tabled, so I cannot help but wonder if there is something else at hand.” She looked up with a knowing glint in her eye. “Perhaps it has something to do with my son's accounts of his days in Cloud Recesses, and how an old childhood friend of his preferred to spend time with two 'miscreants' from Yunmeng Jiang.”

Yu Ziyuan snorted gently. Jin Zixuan was vain and proud, and she knew Jiang Cheng and others felt he was undeserving of being betrothed to Jiang Yanli. But whatever the boy was, he was Lao YingFen's son, and Yu Ziyuan knew he had more of his mother in him than his father. The boy had neither the charisma nor the desire to run around and sow his wild oats with any girl who would lift her skirts for him. Her daughter had no aptitude at cultivation, and often allowed her emotions to overcome her sense – the safest place for someone so weak was with a husband from a powerful family who would not overtly mistreat her, and with a mother-in-law who adored her and would watch out for her.

She had yet to decide whether to send Yinzhu or Jinzhu with her for the first year of her marriage, even if in secret.

“If you're referring to the Nie boy, he has indeed befriended A-Cheng. I have yet to decide whether I disapprove of the friendship.”

Lao YingFen blinked up at her, for a moment stunned. “From you, Jiejie, that is practically a ringing endorsement.”

Yu Ziyuan rolled her eyes. “Tell me some about his friendship with your son. You've never really spoken of it before other than in passing.” And she'd never been interested in hearing of it before now.

Her sworn sister paused to receive a pair of wine glasses from a passing server, handing one to Yu Ziyuan before they continued. “A-Xuan has always been an awkward boy, as you know. I think it was the second or third time Nie Mingjue came for a diplomatic visit after the death of Nie-zongzhu. He brought his brother along, and the boy quickly grew bored of listening to sect affairs. For some reason, he saw A-Xuan and decided they would be friends, no matter what my son thought of the matter. Over the years, they've gotten together several times to see an opera or play weiqi.” The smile on Lao YingFen's face dimmed. “I could tell he was worried that the boy's friendship with your son would mean he had lost a friend of his own – not that he would admit to such a thing. But I saw the look on his face when he told me about his time in Cloud Recesses. Thankfully, that was not completely the case. They met to spend a day in Caiyi Town together before the end of their schooling, and since have exchanged several letters. I'm also told by some of our disciples that there was an incident that nearly led to a fistfight between my son and yours, and that Nie-gongzi helped to talk them both down.”

Yu Ziyuan nodded. It was good to hear, at least, that the Nie boy did not abandon his friends easily. And perhaps his influence might make Jiang Cheng less opposed to his sister's marriage to Jin Zixuan.

“Is your interest in him simply because he has befriended A-Cheng? Or is there something else at hand?”

From someone else, such a question would have made her defensive – from Lao YingFen, it was but a statement of curiosity. “At first, it was just the former. But... I believe there's more to him than meets the eye.” She waited until her sworn sister had lifted her wine glass to take a sip before speaking again. “And I suspect he's in love with my son.”

Lao YingFen immediately began to choke on her wine. She patted her chest as she caught her breath, then glanced aside at Yu Ziyuan. “Truly?” Yu Ziyuan nodded. “And... are his feelings returned?”

“It's hard to tell, you know how A-Cheng is.”

“I do,” Lao YingFeng replied affectionately. “He is far too much like his mother. And if the feelings are returned? What would Jiejie have them do?”

The question hung between them. Yu Ziyuan's mind filled with memories of her youth and the choices she had made since then, and no doubt Lao YingFen was thinking similar thoughts. “A-Cheng is of age to marry, and he needs to have a wife to further the family line. Beyond that, however, he is going to be sect leader one day and head of his clan. There may be room for some flexibility, as long as the necessities are taken care of.”

Lao YingFen looked her in the eye, and her face softened. “You want him to be happy.”

“Nonsense,” she sniffed. “People of our station rarely get to be happy.”

There was a sigh from the woman at her side and soft, tender fingers slid around a fist she hadn't realized she'd formed. “You can't fool me, Yuan'er. Like me, you hope for a better life for your children than the one we have chosen. That is the desire of every mother, no matter how unnatural she may feel the role to be.”

Yu Ziyuan trembled at the touch, simple as it was. There was nothing she could hide from her dear friend. Their eyes met, and for a moment, she was lost in time and memories...

“Ah, there you two are.” Jin Guangshan's voice broke through their moment and it took all the self-control she had not to shudder in disgust at the man's presence. “Come, my wife, we need to give our final regards of the night to Wen-zongzhu.”

The two women exchanged one final bow before Lao YingFen trailed after her husband in search of Wen Ruohan. Jin Guangshan's eyes momentarily strayed to follow a passing servant girl, and he didn't even bother to hide the way his lecherous gaze lingered on the woman's backside.

Zidian crackled at Yu Ziyuan's knuckles.

“It's good to see I'm not the only one tempted to thrash the man on occasion,” a deep voice sounded behind her. Her hackles would have risen had it not belonged to the only person in the entire room who was regularly honest and forthcoming, even to a fault.

She turned and nodded in Nie Mingjue's direction. “Nie-zongzhu. Has Jin-zongzhu wronged you of late, or is it simply a general disgust of the man?”

Nie Mingjue chuckled. “The latter, for now. But I'm to spend a week in Lanling later this month for trade negotiations. We'll see if that changes.”

“Well, if you do decide to thrash him, I hope you will send me an engraved invitation to witness the event.”

“Is Madame Yu suggesting she would not wish to assist the endeavour?”

She tilted her head in acknowledgement. “Nie-zongzhu knows this one far too well, I see.”

“Not well enough, I fear.” Nie Mingjue lifted his glass of wine for a sip. “Else I would have a better idea what interest you have in my brother. He says you spent an afternoon gossiping together, and claims he had a lovely time. Now, either he was lying – which is entirely possible, knowing Huaisang – or you actually did spend an afternoon chatting with my brother, which leads me to wonder why.”

The refreshing thing about Nie Mingjue was that he was painfully honest. It was also his greatest weakness, though she would never say so aloud if only because she knew he would not listen or change his ways – furthermore, it had come in handy on more than a few occasions.

“I thought that would be obvious, Nie-zongzhu. I merely wished to learn more about the boy who befriended my son in Cloud Recesses."

"I thought it might be something along those lines." Nie Mingjue nodded to himself. "And? What is your conclusion? Feel free to be honest, I'm more than familiar with my brother's shortcomings."

She tapped the side of her wine glass with her fingernail. "Nie-gongzi has neither the desire nor aptitude for cultivation, anyone could tell that from a single glance at the boy." Nie Mingjue winced as if he was regretting encouraging her honesty. "I am curious, however, to know how his administrative education is coming along."

Nie Mingjue snorted. "It's near impossible to get him on a training field, do you think I'd be able to get him to sit in a classroom or an office?"

She lifted an eyebrow. "Yes, I do." Nie Mingjue's eyes widened. "Your brother is perceptive and diplomatic, the only member of your sect willing to socialize with the Wen," Nie Mingjue winced, "and privy to more information than I would have expected of him."

"He does gossip a little too much," Nie Mingjue grumbled.

"And as a result, he's likely more aware of the backroom deals and unofficial goings-on in this conference hall than three quarters of the sect leaders in attendance."

"Surely you exaggerate."

Her lips tightened. "Years ago, I saw that my daughter was a useless cultivator and I made the decision to stop wasting our sect's resources on teaching her – and instead focused on all the lessons that would prepare her to one day assist in the management of the Jin sect. She excels enough to give us much face when she marries Jin Zixuan – and in your brother, I see the potential to learn what my daughter has and so much more. It is in your and your sect's best interests that he learn everything he can to assist you in the running of your sect."

Yu Ziyuan expected anger and protest – instead, she saw sadness. Oh Heavens, I'd forgotten how much this boy wore his heart on his sleeve.

"The late Madames Nie," Nie Mingjue said with regards to his and his brother’s mothers, "left large shoes to fill. Our advisors have been doing a decent job of it, but it isn't quite the same. I asked them to teach Huaisang, but they said he was an inattentive student and wouldn't be taught."

"I imagine your advisors may also be invested in keeping the powers they have accumulated in the absence of a Madame Nie," she prodded, "and may not be fully invested in passing on administrative roles to which they have become accustomed."

"Qinghe Nie's advisors are honest and righteous, and exact in their work," Nie Mingjue replied in a defensive way that made Yu Ziyan imagine that he was going to make some inquiries the moment he returned to the Unclean Realm. "If their efforts with my brother have produced no results, what, pray tell, would you suggest as an alternative?"

She finished her glass of wine in one go, then handed the empty glass to a passing server. She turned her full attention to Nie Mingjue – young as he was, he was still a better sect leader than half the men in this room. "I will teach him."

Nie Mingjue blinked. "I'm sorry?"

"You heard me, Nie-zongzhu. He can come to spend a few months in Yunmeng. He won't be lonely, he has already befriended my son, and I will do what I can to give him the education he is lacking." And more... she wondered how familiar Nie Huaisang was with poisons and their many uses. "But only with your blessing, of course."

"That is... a generous offer. I surely cannot impose upon Madame Yu to teach such a useless student."

"If it were an imposition, I would not have offered." She sighed. "The decision is yours, of course. Feel free to think on it after the conference and address it with Nie-gongzi – he might surprise you. And should you wish to take me up on my offer, write me to let me know and we will make arrangements."

"Whether or not my decision changes, I do appreciate Madame Yu's attention to my brother's education."

They exchanged bows and parted ways, Nie Mingjue disappearing into the throng afterwards.

Yu Ziyuan ran a thumb over Zidian's ridges as she looked over the banquet hall, her eyes resting on where Jiang Cheng was in deep conversation with Nie Huaisang, his hands moving animatedly as the other boy watched in rapt attention, ever-present fan waving casually over his chest.

She wasn't completely certain what needed to be done about her son's future, but she was beginning to hope that Nie Huaisang might be the key she had been looking for.

Chapter Text

It was a rare thing for Yu Ziyuan to join her family for regular meals. She was wont to spend too much time on either paperwork or training particularly promising disciples – at least those that were willing to work and who didn't take their natural talent for granted – and often it took Yinzhu or Jinzhu to remind her to sit and eat. She also knew that boy ate with her children most days, and it was better for all of them if she and he remained separated.

Today, however, she needed to speak with her family.

When she entered the meal room, her maids at her back, the conversation in the small dining area ceased immediately. Her children and the other boy stood as was proper and offered her bows in greeting, only seating themselves after she had done so. Her husband merely glanced up at her with a raised eyebrow.

"You finished your work early today?" Jiang Fengmian asked, focusing more on his cup of tea than on her.

"I haven't," she replied, glancing down at the dishes on the table. She began serving herself, pausing only when her daughter served her some pickled bamboo shoots, one of her favourite dishes. "I do, however, have some news that I wanted to discuss with all of you."

That, at least, earned her everyone's attention.

"Did we hear back about the next batch of swords for the trainees?" Jiang Cheng asked – at least someone remembered the important work of running a sect.

"No, and if I don't hear from them next week, I'll be sending you to see them personally." Once her plate was full, she took out a letter and placed it on the table. "I've been communicating with Nie-zongzhu since the last cultivation conference. I made him an offer at the time, and he has decided to accept. As a result, Yunmeng Jiang will be playing host to a member of the Nie sect for a period of three months next spring or summer – we are still in discussions regarding the specific dates and duration."

"This is highly irregular," Jiang Fengmian's brow furrowed. "You didn't mention anything before now. Are they converting sects or simply want to learn another method of cultivation?"

"They won't be learning cultivation at all," she replied, and everyone else at the table looked confused. "They are coming to be my personal student as this sect's Madame."

Her daughter's face softened with a kind smile – however much Yu Ziyuan had tried to teach her otherwise, Jiang Yanli refused to harden her heart, and would no doubt have it broken many times in her lifetime. Yu Ziyuan had warned her time and again, but she just wouldn't listen. "Are they one of Nie-zongzhu's cousins, perhaps arranged to marry into another sect?" Well, at least her daughter had more sense in her than the men at the table.

"As for marrying into another sect, not to my knowledge – though one never knows. But no, it isn't Nie-zongzhu's cousin... we will be hosting his brother."

"Nie-xiong's coming?!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed with a grin; she shot him a glare and he immediately calmed down.

She glanced at her son to discern his response – thus far there was none.

"This will be very encouraging for inter-sect relations," Jiang Fengmian finally said with a nod. "I often thought it was a shame that only the Lan hosted disciples from other sects. Perhaps this could start a new trend."

She hoped not – if she didn't have an interest in this particular disciple, she would have never consented to such an exchange, not if she had to personally attend to them. "Let us see how this visit goes before getting ahead of ourselves," she countered. "As it is, I am already anticipating Nie-gongzi to be a challenge."

There, the smallest of smiles curled at the corner of her son's lips. It was something, at least.

"A-Cheng," she continued, and Jiang Cheng met her gaze. "You're friends with the boy. I'll expect you to help me in setting up arrangements for his arrival so that he will be comfortable. We'll also need to obtain for him some new robes more suitable to our climate."

"Yes, A-Niang."

"I could look up the recipes to a few Qinghe delicacies," Jiang Yanli offered. "I'm certain Nie-gongzi will enjoy trying our food, but having something from home on occasion might help him feel less homesick."

"You can let the kitchens know if you come across anything," Yu Ziyuan instructed, and her daughter deflated slightly. The girl was nearly twenty years old and had yet to accept that women of her station needed to delegate duties and keep their hands clean. "I'll not have you interrupting your own studies to cook for a guest, particularly one that will be here for such a long period of time. In fact, I'll be requiring you to sit in on a few of our lessons."

"Of course, A-niang," Jiang Yanli lowered her head.

Jiang Fengmian tapped a finger on the table. "I'm sure three months will be more than enough time for the boy to learn everything he needs," he said as if the running of a sect was something simple to master, "and the boy will have time enough for a spot of leisure as well. I'm sure Wei Ying could show him some of the best parts of the marketplace."

Wei Wuxian began to grin again, but held it in check after a glance to Yu Ziyuan. She imagined he was already making a list of the best inns in the region and planning on dragging Nie Huaisang to try every local alcohol in Yunmeng. She also noticed her son's lips had grown tight with the emphasis on Wei Wuxian showing their visitor around.

"We will not be getting Nie-gongzi into trouble during his stay – is that clear?" The two boys at the table nodded.

"They're just boys, Ziyuan," Jiang Fengmian muttered loud enough for everyone at the table to hear, and the three youths across the table immediately stilled. "Let them have some fun."

"They're not just boys, Fengmian," she ground out. "They are already old enough to be examples to the younger disciples, and they will all be leaders in their own rights in the future. If we don't teach them well now, then in what state of disarray will our sects be in a decade? I'm certain Nie-zongzhu won't disapprove of an emphasis on study and propriety during his brother's stay with us."

“I’m just saying that if I were the boy’s teacher-”

“But you won’t be,” Yu Ziyuan corrected. “I will.” She glared at her husband, daring him to say anything further.

Jiang Fengmian sighed and focused on his meal. “Your affairs are your own, of course.”

She didn’t know if she was thankful or resentful that he stopped fighting her on the matter.

The rest of the meal was so quiet that one might think they were dining in Cloud Recesses.

Chapter Text

Yu Ziyuan stood with her family – and Wei Wuxian – at the dock, watching as a lone boat approached the pier. It was crewed by a pair of Yunmeng Jiang disciples, and seated in the centre were three young people in the colours of Qinghe Nie. Eventually the boat was within proper distance to make out the faces of those on board, and she noted Nie Huaisang with a familiar folding fan open and causing enough breeze to set the boy’s hair moving.

“Nie-xiong!!!” Wei Wuxian shouted, waving his hand up high.

Yu Ziyuan cleared her throat. Loudly.

Jiang Cheng elbowed his shixiong, and Wei Wuxian pouted. Jiang Fengmian gave a hearty chuckle and patted that boy on the shoulder.

Yu Ziyuan took her eyes off of her husband before she was tempted to throttle him.

The boat was tied to the pier and the Jiang disciples kept it still while the Nie visitors stood up unsteadily and made their way onto solid ground. Soon, the three in grey and green stood before her and her family, folded over in a proper bow.

“This one greets our friends in Yunmeng Jiang,” Nie Huaisang intoned. “I look forward to learning much during my stay.”

“We welcome you to Lotus Pier,” Jiang Fengmian said with a calm smile. “We have prepared rooms for the duration of your studies, and ones for your escort as well. Will they be staying long?”

One of the Nie disciples shook his head. “We have been tasked with getting Nie-gongzi safely to Yunmeng. We would appreciate lodging for a night or two, but then we will need to return to our sect.”

“A pity,” Jiang Fengmian replied, “but understandable. Well, however short your stay, we hope you will find enjoyment here.”

Nie Huaisang then shifted to face Yu Ziyuan, and lowered into another bow. “And this one would also like to thank Madame Yu in advance for taking the time for his instruction.”

Her lips tightened. “I hope you’re prepared to study, Nie-gongzi. This is not to be a vacation, but a learning opportunity.”

The boy stood back and up and his eyes flickered momentarily to Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian. “Of course, Madame Yu,” he finally replied with a grin that she could tell was hiding something, but she couldn’t quite make out what. All she knew was that it couldn’t possibly be anything good.

“Well, if that’s that,” Jiang Fengmian said, folding his arm behind his back, “then let us make our way back to Lotus Pier.”

Jiang Fengmian led the way from the docks, and behind him were the three boys – Wei Wuxian had already thrown an arm over Nie Huaisang’s shoulders, and Yu Ziyuan’s teeth ground so hard that her jaw was already sore. She reached out to tug at her daughter’s arm – thus far, Jiang Yanli had been silent and polite for their visitors’ arrival – to have her walk at her side. Behind them trailed the remaining Nie and Jiang disciples who chatted amongst themselves.

“Is there something you require, A-Niang?” Jiang Yanli asked.

“How are the preparations for tonight’s meal?”

“The cooks have prepared a variety of dishes, including several that contain fewer spices than usual – this should allow our visitors to enjoy them.”

She nodded. “And I expect you to spend the time before dinner outside of the kitchen. Never forget that delegation is an essential part of managing a sect.”

Jiang Yanli dipped her head submissively. Yu Ziyuan at times wished her daughter would speak up and argue with her, anything but this doormat behaviour that made her wonder if there was anything of herself in her own daughter.

Ahead of them, Jiang Fengmian called to Wei Wuxian, who left the other boys’ side to join him up front. Nie Huaisang lifted his fan to speak to Jiang Cheng, who grimaced and rolled his eyes. And then Nie Huaisang seemed to stumble over something, nearly falling forward, but was quickly caught by Jiang Cheng. Yu Ziyuan watched her son snap at the other boy to pay more attention to where he was walking, and yet he helped right his friend with a touch more gentle than he had ever shown any of the junior disciples. Nie Huaisang’s face turned a certain shade of pink and he bit his bottom lip, and as the boys continued following behind Jiang Fengmian and Wei Wuxian, Nie Huaisang’s fan began moving faster.

Yu Ziyuan heard a subtle noise at her side. She looked to her daughter, who had a pensive look upon her face. “A-Li?” Her daughter started and looked up to her, then blushed and lowered her face. The only reason Yu Ziyuan didn’t let out a frustrated huff was the presence of visitors around them. “Speak, girl,” she chastised softly enough that nobody else around them could hear. “Out with it.”

Jiang Yanli twisted her fingers together at her waist and pressed her lips together. But just when Yu Ziyuan thought her daughter was going to back down and make some excuse to keep her thoughts to herself, she surprised her by actually speaking her mind. “I... believe Nie-gongzi is fond of A-Cheng.”

Well, perhaps there was something of her in her daughter after all, even if it was just her perceptiveness. “I believe he’s as fond of A-Cheng as you are of Jin Zixuan,” Yu Ziyuan replied.

Her daughter’s eyes opened wide and her mouth parted with a light gasp.

“I have eyes,” Yu Ziyuan muttered, and her daughter’s mouth snapped shut.

They walked several steps in silence before Jiang Yanli spoke again. “When did you know?” she asked softly.

“The cultivation conference in Qishan.”

Her daughter nodded and tilted her head. “It will be nice for A-Cheng to have a friend in Lotus Pier for the summer.”

Yu Ziyuan’s only response was a grimace. The last thing she needed was for her children to get the idea that they should have even more friends around during the summer months, particularly ones she would have to instruct.

Ahead of them, Wei Wuxian finished speaking with Jiang Fengmian and fell back to walk with the other two boys, easily squeezing in between them and playfully knocking his shoulder into Nie Huaisang’s.

Yu Ziyuan narrowed her eyes.

This was going to be a challenging summer.

Chapter Text

Because there were visitors in Lotus Pier, the next morning’s breakfast was a little more formal than usual, and Yu Ziyuan attended with the rest of her family. She settled at a table to her husband’s right, and her children along the length of the room to his left. Several of Yunmeng’s most senior disciples filled out the rest of the room along with the two Qinghe Nie disciples that had escorted their sect heir, and Wei Wuxian had the sense to leave a table free between himself and Yu Ziyuan for their guest of honour.

Who was late.

Yu Ziyuan’s eyes were trained on the door to the small dining room, her fingernails rapping quietly against the side of her table. Jiang Fengmian asked Wei Wuxian about the events of a night hunt the week before, and Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng traded tight looks. The surrounding disciples fidgeted, but remained silent – they knew better than to speak out of turn in her presence.

There was a thump outside the door before it opened to admit a sheepish-looking Nie Huaisang. “My apologies for my tardiness,” he said upon entering the room proper and offering those inside a quick bow.

He looked remarkably different than he had the previous day. Of course he was better rested – the accommodations at Lotus Pier may not be as ostentatious as Koi Tower, but their guests would not lack for the best they had to offer – but that was not where the difference lied. When Nie Huaisang strolled into the room, the colours of his skin and hair were no longer dulled by the greys and greens of Qinghe Nie, but were brightened and highlighted by the silvers and lavenders of Yunmeng Jiang, with the lightest touch of turquoise in the colours of his folding fan and the rings on his fingers. The robes Jiang Cheng had chosen for him were certainly complimentary, and as the boy walked in, the lighter fabric swished around his legs where his Qinghe brocade would have held their shape around him like armour.

Yu Ziyuan had an admonishment on the tip of her tongue – it did not speak well of this boy to be late for his first breakfast with his hosts – but as he was greeted by Wei Wuxian and Jiang Yanli, there was something that stayed her sharp words.

The look on her son’s face.

Jiang Cheng had gone still the moment Nie Huaisang had entered the room, and with every step the boy took, his grip on his chopsticks had grown tighter and tighter until Yu Ziyuan anticipated them breaking from the strain. His jaw was tight and his eyes followed Nie Huaisang’s path to his table between Yu Ziyuan and Wei Wuxian, and when Nie Huaisang looked across the room at him to wish him good morning, Jiang Cheng grimaced and looked down at his table.

“You do us all a great honour by wearing our colours, Nie-gongzi,” Jiang Fengmian offered with a smile as the sect staff entered to serve everyone’s breakfast. “I do believe they suit you.”

“At least you won’t be sweltering in the sun in those heavy robes,” Wei Wuxian teased.

Jiang Yanli picked up her chopsticks. “You do look very handsome, Nie-gongzi,” she offered, tilting her head with a secret smile. “A-Cheng did an excellent job at finding robes that would compliment you, don’t you think?”

“A-Jie,” Jiang Cheng hissed, and he did one of the most boorish things Yu Ziyuan had seen him do at a dinner table since he’d grown old enough to mind his manners – he used one of his chopsticks to stab into a piece of fish on his plate.

“Don’t mind A-Cheng,” Jiang Fengmian directed to Nie Huaisang. “He’s always a little grumpy first thing in the morning.”

“I don’t mind,” Nie Huaisang replied. “And if Jiang-xiong is the one I have to thank for these lovely robes, then I would like to thank him for choosing so well.” He looked across the room to Jiang Cheng, who raised his head a little so their eyes could meet – a moment later, Jiang Cheng blushed and returned his attention to his meal.

And wonder of all wonders, Yu Ziyuan noticed Wei Wuxian finally noticing his shidi’s strange behaviour and was looking at him with a raised eyebrow. Though he was quickly broken away from his musings.

“Wei Ying,” Jiang Fengmian continued, “why don’t you take the day to show our guest around. I’m sure he’ll enjoy the peace of the lake, and perhaps he might enjoy a visit to the marketplace.”

Yu Ziyuan’s chopsticks creaked in her hand, a warning that they would snap if she held them any tighter.

Wei Wuxian nodded enthusiastically. “Of course! It’s an excellent day for it, Jiang-zongzhu.”

Nie Huaisang smiled, then looked across the room. “Jiang-xiong, will you join us as well?”

Jiang Cheng nodded stiffly, then lifted his head to glance at Yu Ziyuan. Every other pair of eyes followed until they were all on her, and a hush fell over the room.

“Our first lesson does not begin for another day, Nie-gongzi, so you are at liberty to spend your time as you wish.” There were smiles and relaxed shoulders around the room. “However,” they tensed once again, “after today, you will be expected to arrive on time to appointments, whether it be a meal with your hosts or our scheduled lessons. Is that understood?”

Nie Huaisang nodded and had the courtesy to look contrite. “Of course, Madame Yu.”

After breakfast was over and everyone began filing out of the room, she caught an exchange between Jiang Cheng, Nie Huaisang, and Wei Wuxian.

“Nie-xiong, you are so lucky. She really went easy on you,” Wei Wuxian whispered.

“She’s not so bad, Wei-xiong.”

“I guess Chifeng-zun must be pretty hard on you sometimes,” Jiang Cheng added without looking at the other boys.

“He tries, but Da-ge’s just a big softie at heart.”

She cleared her throat loudly, making all three boys jump and spin around to look at her. “Nie-zongzhu is indeed softer than he lets on,” she lifted an eyebrow, “and it would be a mistake to assume that I am as well.”

She kept her stare on the boys until they bowed before her, then they scurried outside.

Not so bad. This could be a problem if her pupil would not give her proper respect nor fear her reprisal, but one she would deal with in time. For now... there was Jiang Cheng and today’s reaction.

But that would have to come after the morning training session she was to lead for the most senior disciples. Duty above all else...

Yu Ziyuan’s fingers ached from hours of fixing errors on night hunt reports. She would have forgotten the time and continued late into the night had Yinzhu not come by to quietly tap at her door, but she was behind on the work she wanted to be completed before the day was out. Had her presence not been required for a more private family dinner with their guest, she would be nearly finished by now.

She would stay to complete her work, but there was another duty she needed to fulfill.

“On the docks, by the gazebo,” Yinzhu whispered as she approached her maid at the door.

Yu Ziyuan nodded. “Have some tea prepared and brought out for us.”

She swept down the corridor and out into the moonlit night, following the trail of lanterns out to the gazebo her family used most often for entertaining outside, or simply to spend a few moments alone away from the fray. She spotted her son immediately, sat on the edge of the boardwalk and leaning against a railing as if it were the only thing keeping him from lying down. Next to him sat Wei Wuxian, whose lips were turned down in an exaggerated pout.

“Come on, Jiang Cheng, you can tell me.”

“About what?” Jiang Cheng snapped. “The only thing bothering me is you.”

“You’ve been acting weird all day. Nie-xiong almost thought you were mad at him because you could barely look at him when we were walking around the market stalls.” Jiang Cheng kept his gaze on the water below, and Wei Wuxian leaned over to bump his shoulder into Jiang Cheng’s. “It can’t be because Uncle Jiang called you grumpy in front of all the disciples this morning, he does that all the time.”

Yu Ziyuan’s fingers curled into a fist, and she felt Zidian’s thrum along her skin – but she held back and waited.

“I just... didn’t sleep well,” Jiang Cheng finally replied, and shoved his shixiong away. “I could probably hear your snoring through half a dozen walls.”

“My shidi is so mean to me,” Wei Wuxian whined. “For that, I won’t share the spring books Nie-xiong gave me. And these ones he says are naughtier than the ones he brought to Cloud Recesses-”

Yu Ziyuan stepped forward, allowing her steps to thump loudly on the wood to announce her presence. Wei Wuxian jumped up onto his feet and bit his lips shut, and Jiang Cheng stood up next to him. They both looked at her with guilty looks on their faces.

“You,” she glared at Wei Wuxian, “have a class to teach with the junior disciples tomorrow.”

“Ah, yes, of course, Madame Yu,” Wei Wuxian made a quick bow. “I’ll be off to bed then so I’ll be well-rested.”

Thankfully, the boy didn’t tarry – she knew he enjoyed being in her presence as little as she enjoyed being in his, and they were both most content when they were as far away from one another as possible. He whispered a quick goodnight to Jiang Cheng before scurrying away.

“A-Niang,” Jiang Cheng said with a quick bow.

She sniffed and reached out to straighten his collar – what would he do if he didn’t have her around to make certain his dress was immaculate? “A young man of your station should not be slouching on a dirty pier. And you did not eat much at dinner time.” She could hear Yinzhu arriving behind her, and the sounds of dishes being placed on the table. “Sit. I’ll not have you starving so much that Nie-gongzi will write his brother to report that I’m not feeding you properly.”

She turned in time for Yinzhu to offer her a parting bow, then took her seat, admiring the selection of dishes her maid had brought out. Jiang Cheng sat across from her and immediately reached for the tea pot to pour for them both. He was quiet as he prepared their tea, then he dutifully chose a selection of foods to place in his bowl. But then he simply stared at his food rather than eating it.

She sighed. “Something has stolen your appetite. Do we need to increase your training time so you’ll be hungry enough to eat?”

He shook his head and lifted his chopsticks to bring a piece of poached fish to his lips. He chewed for several moments before lowering his utensils.

She let out a huff of frustration, then reached out for a nice mantou to pull apart. She knew her sharp tongue wasn’t always the most efficient way of obtaining information from her son, so she did the next best thing – she kept her eyes on Jiang Cheng, watching his every movement without hiding the fact that she was staring at him.

After several minutes, he dropped his chopsticks onto the table and folded his hands in his lap. He stared down at them as if waiting for them to give him the answers to the universe. “Once,” he began so softly she almost didn’t hear him speak, “you asked me if I was like Emperor Ai.” He paused uncertainly. “How does one know such a thing?”

She finished chewing on her piece of mantou before taking a sip of tea to wash it down, allowing her son to fret with every moment she took before answering his question. “I believe it is different for everyone,” she began, choosing to speak words she wished someone had spoken to her when she was young. “Some know they have divergent tastes from the time they first notice the differences between boys and girls, while others spend most of their lives trying to conform to what is expected of them, denying who they are inside until the bitter end. And some know who they are, are happy and accept it about themselves, but live another life for the sake of propriety, duty, family, or politics.”

He frowned, not looking up from his hands.

“Affection for our own kind is so often confused for friendship because that is what we are taught to expect,” she continued. “We are told that true romantic affection only comes from a member of the opposite sex. Of course that’s utter and complete bullshit.”

His head popped up, staring at her open-eyed. She cursed very, very rarely in front of her children, after all.

“The way we feel in reality rarely matches what is expected of us. It is for us to figure out who we are and how we feel, and do something useful with it. If we are ashamed of who we are, it can be used as a weapon against us. We cannot allow ourselves to be left vulnerable like that, and the best way to prevent it is to own who we are.” She sniffed. “Am I cowed when some upstart minor sect leader questions why I am not known as Madame Jiang, as if to shame me for not submitting to a more matronly role? Of course not.”

“Are there any who actually ask that?”

She smirked. “Not anymore. At least not since Yao-zongzhu asked me that very question many years ago, and I challenged him to back it up on the training field. Our duel had quit the audience, and after I sent him flying with a strike from Zidian, none ever again questioned why the Violet Spider deserves to be known as Madame Yu.”

“But... wouldn’t it lose our sect a lot of face if its heir was a cut-sleeve?”

She lifted an eyebrow. “Only if you chose a boy below your station. Whatever or whoever you are, you’re still the heir of Yunmeng Jiang. I’ll not have you wasting yourself on someone completely unworthy of your standing in our sect.”

He nodded.

“You’re of the right age, and you are not married yet. This is the time to figure out who you are, and if to do so you need to make eyes at pretty boys from Qinghe,” Jiang Cheng winced and seemed to shrink in on himself, “then so be it, but damn well make certain nobody else notices.”

She picked apart another mantou, but did not eat it.

“Was I that obvious, A-Niang?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Even Wei-gongzi saw something was amiss.”

Her son poked angrily at his food with the end of a chopstick – she smacked his hand with hers.

“You will learn from this and do better,” she insisted forcefully. “And you will take the time to figure out who you are – without interrupting your studies or sect duties. And when you know the answers, and know what you want to do about it, you will then come to me, and we will see where we go from there.”

“Why-” Jiang Cheng’s mouth snapped shut almost as quickly as it opened, but after a few moments, he found the courage to continue. “Why are you so understanding about this?”

She shot him a glare for daring to ask such a question, but for once, he held her gaze, intent on hearing the answer. As always, looking into her son’s eyes was like looking into a mirror, and she couldn’t help but respect it.

“Because you are not the first, nor the last, who has been in such a position. As a man and a future sect leader, you have the luxury of flexibility as long as the family line is ensured. Whether we find you a wife or a concubine to do so matters not as long as your duty is done.” She sighed and tossed aside her ruined mantou. “Many do not have such a luxury. Many have had to make a choice between their natures and their duties to family, sect, and clan. Would you prefer I force you to make such a choice?”

He shook his head rapidly. “No, A-Niang.”

“Then use your time well,” she instructed. “The Nie boy will be here for three months. That should be long enough to figure out if what you feel is friendship or something else.”

She stood up and her son followed her, stopping to fold into another bow – this one deeper than before, and his hands shook where they were layered together. “Thank you, A-Niang.”

It was at times like this that she wished her son was less like her. She understood what storms were ravaging about his insides as he questioned everything he knew about himself. Life would be so much simpler had he been more like his father. She reached out to place a gentled hand on his head – then quickly snatched it back.

“You have work to do tomorrow, so go to bed. I’ll expect you bright and early, and ready to train the newer disciples. And if you continue to refrain from eating, I will send you on a week-long night hunt with only your sword and a bedroll – we’ll see how hungry you’ll be then.”

“Yes, A-Niang.” Jiang Cheng said before leaving to return to his room for the night.

She tried to ignore the ache in her chest and glanced aside in time for Jinzhu to arrive to collect the dishes.

“Madame Yu,” she spoke softly with a bow.

Yu Ziyuan sighed. “I presume you were listening?”

“Only to await your orders.”

It was a lie, but one they both knew and had agreed upon long ago. Jinzhu and Yinzhu were sworn to protect her confidence, and there were none more loyal than they. “Is there anything you would have added?”

Jinzhu shook her head. “It is a difficult thing to explain, but Madame Yu’s words are wise. They are ones I wish I had heard before meeting you.”

“And yet you still turned out fine,” she countered. “Go, dispose of that and return to your wife. I’ll undo my own hair tonight.”

“Are you certain?”

She nodded.

“Thank you, Madame Yu.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” she shot out as her maid was passing her by. “I’ll still expect you both bright and early tomorrow on the training field.”

Jinzhu smiled and tilted her head in acknowledgement.

Chapter Text

Two weeks after Nie Huaisang’s arrival in Yunmeng, Yu Ziyuan was prepared to kill him.

The boy was impossible. He constantly claimed not to know things she had instructed the previous day, and he had a way of acting half his age that made Jiang Yanli cater to him and offer to assist him with whatever assignment Yu Ziyuan would give. In fact, the last two had been handed in without having even been transcribed into Nie Huaisang’s own handwriting. She had yet to decide if Nie Huaisang was truly so careless in his deception, or if he simply thought she was an idiot.

Or perhaps he believed himself immune to her punishments due to his being Nie Mingjue’s brother. He was about to learn otherwise.

She slammed down the scroll on Nie Huaisang’s table – her daughter watched wide-eyed from the side. “Are you really taking me for a fool, Nie-gongzi?”

He flinched and defensively held his fan before his face. “Ah, Madame Yu, I don’t know what you mean-”

“I mean that I know what my daughter’s handwriting looks like,” she said through gritted teeth.

“A-Niang,” Jiang Yanli pleaded, “I was simply helping Nie-gongzi with his calligraphy. His handwriting leaves much to be desired... but the answers are his own.”

Yu Ziyuan huffed. “Oh, are they? If that’s the case, then perhaps we should send him back to Qinghe here and now. If he’s going to refuse to learn anything – or show what he’s learning – then there’s no use in my teaching him.”

The first note of genuine worry entered Nie Huaisang’s eyes. “I’m sorry I’m such a poor student, Madame Yu... I swear, I’m trying to learn.”

“He really is, A-Niang,” Jiang Yanli added. While her impertinence aggravated Yu Ziyuan... it wasn’t often her daughter spoke up to her, and she couldn’t help but respect it a tiny bit.

She narrowed her eyes at the boy that she’d allowed into her home. He sunk further down in his seat. “The Yao sect,” she spat. “What sects are they tied to?” Nie Huaisang glanced over to Jiang Yanli. “Much of this was in our discussion! You should not have forgotten this quickly!”

“Ah, y-yes Madame Yu.” Nie Huaisang’s fan began fluttering. “Ah, there was the Ouyang sect, of course. And... the Cao, I believe Madame Yao was their sect leader’s cousin. And... the Chang sect, Yao-zongzhu’s cousin married into them.”

“And?!” Yu Ziyuan insisted.

“I just don’t know,” Nie Huaisang muttered.

After two weeks of this act, Yu Ziyuan had had enough. She’d only allowed it to go on this long because she knew Nie Huaisang was capable of more, and she didn’t want to upset the boy before the other Nie disciples had returned to Qinghe. They were long gone, now... there would be nobody to protect him from her wrath.

She snatched the fan from his hand and carried it to the back of the room with her, then used a trace of qi to light a small brazier. “Continue,” she said as she closed the fan and slowly lowered it toward the fire. “The Yao sect’s connections.”

Nie Huaisang’s eyes opened wide in panic. “But I-I-I don’t remember!”

“A-Niang, please-” Jiang Yanli pleaded.

“There will be no more making my daughter do your work for you,” she growled as the fan was lowered just a little more toward the flame. “Now, Yao sect!”

“Please don’t, Madame Yu! I’ll do anything,” Nie Huaisang begged. Beside him, Jiang Yanli looked tearfully at the ground, like she did the many times Wei Wuxian had gotten into mischief and was made to experience the consequences of his actions.

“I’m waiting!” She brought her hand down lower and lower, until the flame was just about to lick the fan’s wooden guard.

“All right, all right!” Nie Huaisang cried out. “Yao-zongzhu’s maternal aunt married into the Lan, but she never keeps in touch with him, though he’ll still mention her name in negotiations with Lan Qiren. And his paternal grandfather was sworn brothers with Wen FuRong, who wasn’t in the main Wen family line but a prominent general a hundred years ago.”

Jiang Yanli nodded in encouragement and smiled as if Nie Huaisang had finished repeating everything she had taught him.

“And then Yao-zongzhu’s wife is the daughter of He-zongzhu’s brother, but she displeased her father by refusing a good match with the Wen, so he punished her with arranging her into the Yao.” As Nie Huaisang continued, Jiang Yanli looked confused. Yu Ziyuan, however, began to smirk. “Yao-zongzhu’s mistress isn’t a cultivator but has ties to the Emperor through her brother, who is a eunuch working with Consort Ying, and he’s been trying to get Madame Yao to allow him to legitimize her as his concubine, but Madame Yao won’t have it. And few people know that Yao-zongzhu has an illegitimate half-brother that he’s quite fond of because the man works in textiles and provides uniforms for all Yao-sect disciples at reduced cost.”

Yu Ziyuan lifted the fan away from the flame, then walked over to Nie Huaisang and returned it to him. “A-Li,” she said evenly, “leave us.”

There was something in her daughter’s face as she glanced again to Nie Huaisang – perhaps she finally realized that he had allowed her to think less of him in order to have her do his work for him – but she was soon gone from the room. Yu Ziyuan flicked her finger, and all the doors and windows closed with a slam, making Nie Huaisang jump. Good.

“If I ever catch you playing me for a fool again, I will do worse to you thank threatening your precious little fan. Are we understood?” Nie Huaisang nodded quickly. “Unlike my daughter, and most of the cultivation world, I have not fallen for your ‘useless’ act. Oh, you’re probably one of the laziest young men I’ve ever met, but you’re not stupid. If you would rather that information stay between us, however, I can have my daughter sit out of some of our lessons.”

He looked up at her, his hands gripping his fan tightly. “Does that mean... you still want to teach me?”

He was doing a good job at hiding what he was thinking – she had no idea if he was happy or disappointed that she was not throwing him out on his ass, though he would deserve it.

“I made your brother a promise, and I intend on keeping it – as long as you smarten up and be the student that I know you can be.”

After several moments, Nie Huaisang nodded. “All right. As you said, it would probably be best to study with just the two of us... I don’t think your daughter is prepared to hear some of what goes on in other sects.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “Do not underestimate my daughter – you are not the only one who is not what they appear to be.” He lowered his head with a slow nod. “That’s enough for today. Get out, before I change my mind and have you whipped for your audacity.”

He grabbed his papers from the table. “Yes, Madame Yu. Thank you!”

She waited until Nie Huaisang was about to reach for the door... “And Nie-gongzi?” He stopped and turned. She offered him an approving grimace. “I’m guessing your sources have not informed you of the latest gossip... Yao-zongzhu’s mistress is pregnant.”

Nie Huaisang’s jaw dropped. “Oh, he’s never going to get permission to take her as a concubine now! At least not until Madame Yao gives him a son.”

“Exactly.”

They shared a look, and then she nodded. The boy ran out the door before she could change her mind.

Chapter Text

Yu Ziyuan was in the process of putting a bracer on over her folded sleeve when she heard the familiar pace of Yinzhu’s footsteps behind her.

“Madame Yu,” her maid offered, and Yu Ziyuan didn’t have to turn around to know her lady was bowing to her.

“What is it?” she replied, forming a talisman over the bracer with the long nail of her index finger, and watching as the laces tightened securely.

“I believe your presence is required by the sect’s front gates.”

Her brow furrowed and she turned around to face Yinzhu, whose face was unreadable. “What for?”

“I believe Wei-gongzi intends on sneaking Nie-gongzi out for a drinking expedition in town.”

The line between her eyebrows grew even more pronounced. “How is that possible? Is he not supposed to be teaching today’s class with the junior disciples?”

“It seems your son is currently teaching that class, Madame Yu.”

Her hands curled into fists, her nails biting into her palms from the strength of her clenching. “And did you hear Nie-gongzi’s reaction?”

Yinzhu nodded. “He attempted to protest, wishing to wait until Jiang-gongzi could join them, but Wei-gongzi insisted that they could go on ahead and your son would meet them afterwards.”

Typical. “Was he lying?”

Yinzhu’s jaw tightened. “Neither Jinzhu nor I overheard any such conversation, merely the one where Wei-gongzi promised Jiang-gongzi future portions of your daughter’s soup in exchange for him taking over his class for him.”

Taking in a hissing breath through her nostrils, Yu Ziyuan skirted around her maid and focused on putting one step before the other to reach the sect’s main gates before the boys did. She began mentally listing reasons she should not whip Wei Wuxian to within an inch of his life, if only to teach him not to pawn off his responsibilities onto others – though she knew by now it was a lesson the boy would never learn. He thought he knew better than everyone else – including her, his own teacher – and no amount of sense would get through the boy’s thick skull. She thought at times an iron rod might do the trick, but whatever leniency her position gave her in disciplining the boy, there was always a line that she could not cross – the sect, after all, required its best disciples in prime condition, particularly when the Wen continued to create trouble within the Jianghu. And even if she had it in her to murder the boy in cold blood (which she did not, despite her daydreams otherwise), she would not do so if only for the sake of Yunmeng Jiang.

She arrived at the main courtyard in time to catch the two boys sneaking toward the open gate, padding quietly across the grounds as if they were trying to remain unnoticed.

“And where do you two think you’re going?” She didn’t shout or scream, but her voice projected clearly as if she had.

Both boys turned nearly as one. Wei Wuxian’s face broke into a charming smile – as if he hadn’t realized long ago such things wouldn’t work on her – and Nie Huaisang bit his bottom lip, twisting his hands over his closed folding fan. The latter’s eyes glanced down before looking back up, making her realize that Zidian was sparking its way along her knuckles.

“Good afternoon, Yu-laoshi,” Wei Wuxian bowed. “A lovely day, isn’t it? I see you have your bracers on – were you heading off for a night hunt?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “No,” she replied flatly. “I was about to go work on my own training – were you not supposed to be on the training field yourself?”

Nie Huaisang glanced aside to Wei Wuxian, his eyes pleading with his friend, but Wei Wuxian gently waved off his concern. “That was the original schedule, but Jiang Cheng and I came to an arrangement.”

“I see.” The smile on Wei Wuxian’s face slipped, and she swallowed down a victorious sneer. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to interrupt whatever plans the two of you had, as it seems you’re both in need of a crucial lesson regarding just how important training is within a sect. Even if you will never be a sect leader,” Wei Wuxian winced in response, “you will be a senior disciple one day, perhaps even an Elder... if you survive that long.” That is, if she didn’t snap and murder him when he tested her patience like he was doing right now. “And you,” she turned her gaze to Nie Huaisang, who looked suitably chastised already, though with how good an actor the boy could be, it was hard to tell if it was genuine, “should develop an appreciation for the styles of other sects and an understanding of what we expect of our disciples, even if you do not wish to partake in cultivation yourself.”

When there was no further response, she thanked the Heavens that both boys had the sense to hold their tongues.

“Follow me,” she commanded, then turned and stalked back into Lotus Pier, unsurprised at the pair of footsteps that followed behind her.

She could hear her son’s voice calling out commands to the younger disciples as she led her truant charges toward the training field. She turned a corner in time to watch Jiang Cheng lifting the hand of a young girl to straighten out her sword’s angle – he might not have the charisma of others or be beloved like a sibling, but every disciple on that field respected him and listened to his commands. She made a mental nod of approval. But as her footsteps and those of her followers became heard, Jiang Cheng and his students stopped and turned to bow in her direction.

“Yu-laoshi,” the boys and girls intoned respectfully.

She glanced across the group of them – not a one of them was standing out of place, and their bows were well-formed. Good. She turned her head just enough to see Nie Huaisang out of the corner of her eye. “Sit,” she hissed, glancing aside at a nearby bench.

“Yes, Madame Yu,” Nie Huaisang muttered, followed by the sound of Wei Wuxian pulling the boy to sit with him.

Jiang Cheng’s jaw was tight as he glanced over at his friend and shixiong, then he returned his attention to Yu Ziyuan. “What can we do for you?” he asked, appearing to bite his tongue. She knew he found it difficult at times to figure out how to address her in public – she was his mother, his sect leader’s wife, and his teacher all at once. Often his indecision left him failing to address her properly, and she wished he would simply choose a form of address and stick to it.

“The rest of you,” she commanded the other young disciples. “Today’s lesson is going to be pre-empted in favour of an exhibition of skill. Line the courtyard, now!”

The disciples followed the common routine of bowing again, then spreading out to form a large circle around the training field. They then sat on the ground in lotus position and waited, though some of them couldn’t hide their curiosity or excitement.

Jiang Cheng’s brow furrowed. “An exhibition? Was there a change in schedule that I missed?”

She huffed a breath. “One must remain flexible,” she ground out, “particularly when there are students requiring instruction in specific lessons. Such as the importance of teaching and training in a sect, and in not handing one’s duties to another in order to run around like a delinquent.”

Her son’s eyes glanced again to the boys sitting together nearby, and his chin lowered in a nod.

“Get Sandu,” she ordered. “You and I are going to spar and display some of this sect’s more advanced techniques.”

Jiang Cheng swallowed hard, his eyes widening just a little, before he gave a short bow. He then stepped away to retrieve his sword from the side where he usually placed it when training the younger students. Yu Ziyuan held out her right hand expectantly – moments later, Jinzhu appeared, seemingly from out of nowhere, and placed a scabbard along her palm. She brought it before her and grabbed the hilt of her sword to pull it from its case. Zhīzhū yá was clean and sharp, well maintained despite her wielder’s preference for Zidian’s flash and fluidity. Once her weapon was unsheathed, she brought the scabbard over to the recalcitrant boys and handed it to Nie Huaisang with a look daring him to refuse it.

He tugged his bottom lip between his teeth as he looked from the ground to her face, then accepted the scabbard with due reverence and respect.

She refrained from tossing Wei Wuxian a victorious glare – were Nie Huaisang to slip away after being given such an important task, to guard the scabbard of a teacher, it would be considered a terrible insult. She stepped to the centre of the training field where her son had already unsheathed Sandu and waited for her approach.

They faced one another on the field, and simultaneously bowed. They both rose back up, and their swords lifted nearly as one to form Meeting of Two Shrikes.

Since she hadn’t had time to warm up yet, she decided to start easily with a traditional Yunmeng approach, Precious Duck Swims Through Lotuses. Jiang Cheng fluidly stepped around to meet her with Immortal Sturgeon Emerges from Silt. She made her first swing, beginning what appeared to be a wide arc but changing at the last moment for a surprise jab – Green Lake Feeds Lotus Root – and he countered with Black Eel Embraces Golden Carp, their blades clanging against one another. Good boy. She leapt backwards in Barking Deer Plays With Water, her feet just barely touching the ground before leaping across the field. She then settled into a Reverse Angry Squirrel Stands Solitarily, a seemingly comfortable and lazy position that belied how quickly it would allow her to strike next.

Then she waited, her eyes commanding her son to come at her, her lips unconsciously curling up into a small, satisfied grin. He knew she expected nothing less than the strongest hits he could give, would consider it an insult if he held himself back.

He came at her with Wild Pig Charges at Tree. Clumsy and predictable. She evaded easily like a Silver Porpoise Leaps over Crane. He tried again with Dark River Erodes Mountaintop – a much better strategy, and his sword strike nearly succeeded at putting her off-balance. Nearly. She leapt and spun over his head in a newer move, Dragonfly Rides on Turtle Shell, then upon landing, she swept her leg around for Carrying the River Home. He evaded her attempt at tripping him and sprung Reverse Pitviper’s Strike on her at the last minute, his lone sword moving so fast that it appeared almost like two, forcing her to come around with Spider Weaves the Vines Together to counter his strikes with both her sword and her forearms. After several moments of their matching each others’ strikes, they broke apart. Jiang Cheng appeared to be a little out of breath already – Yu Ziyuan, however, felt like she could go on all day.

He waited for her with Open Alligator’s Maw Waiting for Baby Duck, his sword held high and other hand held low.

She shaped Toad Swallows the World, a pose designed to help gather her qi, then struck with Diving Kite Off Cliff, flipping high into the sky and diving down with her sword outstretched.

He countered by... shifting to the side and attempting to grab her wrist. Of course he would try Naughty Macaque Reaches for Fruit, it was a favourite of that boy’s.

She ground her teeth together and decided it was time to end this exhibition. She raised her arms in Mantis Slays Her Mate, feeding her gathered qi into her hands, and when her sword came down, her son lost his balance sideways, falling and landing on the ground. She lowered her sword and waited for him to get back on his feet, and when he did, he came to stand opposite her. They bowed to one another again, and the boy’s shoulders dropped in relief.

She glanced at the young students gathered around them. “If you were paying attention, you would have noticed that your instructor made two significant mistakes in our sparring match,” she instructed to the eager faces. “His Wild Boar was telegraphed far too soon, giving me time to counter it. And he attempted a Naughty Macaque on an opponent of my caliber – a Senior or an Elder from any sect will be able to counter it easily. Knowing your opponent is as important as knowing yourself.”

“Yes, Yu-laoshi,” the students chorused.

She nodded. “Your class is dismissed for the day.”

Ignoring the sounds of young people hurrying off away from the training field, Yu Ziyuan turned and headed toward the two boys on the bench. Wei Wuxian put on one of his fake ‘charming’ smiles, but Nie Huaisang was gazing up from her to her son with his lower lip tugged between his teeth, looking as if he had just been given two of his favourite desserts. She held her hand out toward him, and it took him a few flustered moments to realize what she was asking for – he lifted her scabbard and offered it to her with his head lowered.

She took it and smoothly slid her sword in home.

She looked each of the three boys in the eye, then began walking away.

“Jiang-xiong, that was incredible!!!” Nie Huaisang crowed behind her.

A huff. “It wasn’t that good. I made two mistakes.”

“Only two,” Nie Huaisang insisted. “When I’m on the field, Da-ge says I do everything wrong. If I’d done what you did, he’d be dead from qi deviation.”

“Well,” Wei Wuxian’s voice popped in, “it was pretty incredible – after all Jiang Cheng is one of Yunmeng’s best.”

“Will you shut up?” Jiang Cheng hissed. “We all know you’re better than I am.”

She had reached the archway out of the courtyard, and when the voices behind her stopped, she paused at the threshold, glancing back in their direction. Nie Huaisang had poked the end of his closed fan into Jiang Cheng’s shoulder, and next to him, Wei Wuxian was looking far too entertained at their guest’s antics.

“I may not be a cultivator,” Nie Huaisang insisted, “but I know beauty when I see it. And what you and your mother showed us was beautiful, and graceful, and if you’re not a credit to your sect, then nobody is.”

Jiang Cheng seemed to have been rendered speechless with his mouth hanging open as if he were trying to catch flies – how many times had she told him not to do that?

“Now,” Nie Huaisang continued, “Wei-xiong said he wanted to show me a restaurant that had excellent food. Do you have another class you need to teach? If not, we can wait for you to get ready and you can join us...”

She sniffed. The last thing her son needed was someone blowing smoke up his robes – even if Nie Huaisang’s flattery sounded sincere. Perhaps she should remind Jiang Cheng of all the ways he needed to improve, if only to prevent his head from growing as large as Wei Wuxian’s... but she knew she would not do so.

Perhaps she was getting soft – Heavens forbid – or perhaps she was simply intrigued by the look on her son’s face when Nie Huaisang complimented him.

Chapter Text

Yu Ziyuan looked down at the paper before her, stunned.

In the last few weeks, her tutelage of Nie Huaisang had been actually progressing now that the boy no longer pretended to be ignorant. He had even begun showing signs of boredom as they discovered together that he already knew how to perform many of the skills she had intended to teach him – he’d simply never allowed anyone to know he could do them, particularly his brother.

She had decided he was in need of a challenge to keep him from growing complacent. She crafted a model contract between a fictional sect and Yunmeng Jiang, and she inserted wording in the text that would appear advantageous to both parties but in fact only benefited one. She’d given the boy the contract and assigned him to write an analysis about what he would do with it, expecting him to either miss the clause she had adjusted or mention it in a paragraph or two.

Instead, she had this. A detailed analysis of not only the section she had inserted but also how Yunmeng Jiang should respond to receiving such a contract from another party, including diplomatic ways of pointing out the ‘error’ and renegotiating the contract. And then there were paragraphs discussing how such a contract, if written to be advantageous to Yunmeng Jiang, could be reworded in different ways depending upon what advantages they sought and how likely the other side was to notice the changes.

It had her tempted to invite Nie Huaisang to join her the following week when she expected Jin Guangshan’s representative to arrive to renegotiate one of their trade deals – the Jin always tried to slip something past her.

She sighed, setting the paper aside, and decided she could use a break to rest her eyes. A walk and some fresh air would do her good after sitting for so long. She rose from her table and headed outside, and breathed in deeply of the lotuses in bloom as she passed them. She rarely allowed herself to enjoy simple pleasures, but the blooming lotuses of Yunmeng were hard to resist. She walked past several doors and windows, intent on making her break a quick one, but a pair of voices speaking in one of the rooms had her stopping by the window and taking great pains to keep herself quiet and out of sight.

“I hear Wei Ying kept you out late the other night,” Jiang Fengmian chuckled fondly. “I’m glad that he’s been showing you some of the more entertaining places outside of Lotus Pier.”

“That he has,” Nie Huaisang replied, accompanied by the sound of his fan moving the air. “And Jiang-xiong as well. This visit would not be the same if I didn’t have them to spend time with.”

“Ah, yes, I see...” Jiang Fengmian paused. “But if you’re worried about offending your hosts, please don’t – should you wish to spend time with Wei Ying just the two of you, I’m certain Jiang Cheng wouldn’t mind. He has duties to attend to, after all.”

Her hands balled into fists at her sides.

“Oh, I’m certain he wouldn’t take offence,” Nie Huaisang replied happily. “Thankfully, I enjoy his company.”

“Is... that so?”

“Indeed!” There was a light tinkle, like the sound of a cup being placed upon a saucer. “I know he can be a little gruff and grumpy – in that way he’s a lot like my brother, but Da-ge’s far, far worse – but that just makes it that much more fun to draw him out into doing something fun.”

“I’m certain he must make it difficult for you.”

“Not at all – most of his protests tend to be for show. And plausible deniability.” Nie Huaisang chuckled. “But I can’t count the number of times his quick thinking has gotten us all out of trouble. I love Wei-xiong dearly, but if I’m to be honest, if I were in trouble, I’d go to Jiang-xiong first for help. He might chastise me a little, but he would find a solution to whatever problem I had... no matter how impossible it might seem.”

Yu Ziyuan snorted quietly. She wondered if her husband even noticed what the boy was doing. She didn’t approve of the points Nie Huaisang was emphasizing, but... she was impressed that he would make the attempt, however hopeless it was.

“Well,” Jiang Fengmian replied, “I do suppose Jiang Cheng is good at solving problems – he has always minded his duties.”

“Oh, it’s not just about duty,” Nie Huaisang enthused. “As I mentioned, he reminds me of my brother, and not just because of his manner. Like Da-ge, Jiang-xiong is an excellent leader, respected and well-regarded by every disciple in his sect, and always putting their needs above his own. It’s just such a shame he’s always being compared to Wei-xiong because – and please don’t tell Wei-xiong I told you this – while he’s an amazing cultivator, I couldn’t see him leading a sect or making the necessary sacrifices. Wei-xiong is meant to create and explore and follow the whims of his heart – and Jiang-xiong loves him for it.”

“As we all do,” the note of affection had returned to Jiang Fengmian’s voice. “Our Wei Ying is extremely impressive.”

“Which makes it that much more remarkable that Yunmeng Jiang would produce two such impressive young men, simply in their own ways.” There was a sigh and a self-deprecating chuckle. “But what do I know, I’m just Chifeng-zun’s useless little brother. But speaking of Wei-xiong and Jiang-xiong, they should be almost done teaching their lessons and I should go meet up with them. Thank you oh so kindly for the tea, Jiang-zongzhu.”

“Have a good afternoon, Nie-gongzi.”

Yu Ziyuan pulled back from her listening place and returned to her walk, ruminating on everything she knew about Nie Huaisang. He knew the day-to-day running of a sect, the intricacies of trade, the importance of acquiring information through various means, he knew how to delegate work, and had the gall to speak to a sect leader and subtly chastise him for his attitude toward his own son but in a way that she doubted her husband had even realized what was happening. Were it not for the boy’s laziness and flippant attitude toward work (when he was the one expected to do it), he would make an excellent sect leader’s spouse.

But could she stand him as a potential son-in-law? That had yet to be seen...

Yu Ziyuan approached the courtyard where her family and their guest were having their dinner, her steps slow and quiet. Her day had been long and arduous, and she didn’t have the energy to spend the rest of her evening doing paperwork and answering letters as she normally would.

“Look at my poor hands, Jiang-xiong,” she heard Nie Huaisang’s whine a corridor away. “They’re not used to doing this much work.”

“What were you doing?” Jiang Cheng replied.

“Your Jiejie was torturing me...”

Jiang Yanli’s giggle rang out from the small courtyard. “One of our cooks received notice that her grandchild had just been born, and the staff were short a pair of hands.”

“And I made the mistake of telling her that in our sect, Da-ge has us slicing up pigs and deer for the kitchens before he ever lets us near a saber.” Yu Ziyuan could practically hear the pout in the boy’s voice.

“The staff appreciated having someone new to help with food preparation so they could focus on cooking the meals,” Jiang Yanli concluded. Yu Ziyuan’s steps faltered. Did her daughter... actually delegate a kitchen task to someone else? “I meant I could go into town to check on the seamstress as well as the shipment of new dyes for the senior disciples’ uniforms.”

Jiang Yanli had passed up helping in the kitchens in order to fulfill her responsibilities as a member of the sect leader’s family, performing tasks that Yu Ziyuan had not even yet assigned her but had planned to do so by the end of the week? Her daughter was actually acting like a proper Madame for the first time in her life... Yu Ziyuan toughened herself before a tear could form in the corner of her eye.

“But Shijie, if you’re not in the kitchen,” Wei Wuxian broke in, “then who’s going to make us soup?”

“A-Jie has more important things to do than make us soup,” Jiang Cheng scolded.

“That is true,” Jiang Yanli replied, “but it doesn’t mean I still won’t make time to do so every now and then, just for the two of you. And perhaps I might even teach Nie-gongzi how to cook it with me.”

There was a gasp. “You would teach me your recipe?”

“Of course,” her daughter replied. “You’re practically one of the family now... and besides, I might want to take another day off for other duties, and it will comfort me to know you can make it in my stead.”

“Of course she wants to make me work even more,” Nie Huaisang whined, followed by several other chuckles from the others in the room.

“Don’t give him too much to do,” Jiang Fengmian instructed. “A boy his age needs time to have a little fun too.”

Yu Ziyuan’s hands curled at her sides.

“Yes, A-Die,” Jiang Yanli’s soft voice replied.

“It’s all right, Jiang-zongzhu,” Nie Huaisang spoke up. “I don’t mind – I’d much rather help Jiang-guniang than pick up my saber.”

“Where did you lose it again?” Wei Wuxian teased.

When Yu Ziyuan turned a corner to peer into the courtyard, she eyed the group encircling the table. Her husband and Wei Wuxian began chatting back and forth while her daughter was focused on peeling a handful of lotus seeds. And to the side... Jiang Cheng was looking down into Nie Huaisang’s hand as if checking it for injuries, and when the other boy said something she couldn’t hear, her son lifted his head. And then her son’s face changed in a way she had never seen before, a softness to his expression that lasted but a moment before he loudly cleared his throat and dropped the other boy’s hand.

For some reason, she suddenly felt a little choked up.

“A-Niang?” Of course it was her daughter that had noticed her presence, and the table silenced immediately. “Was there something you needed?”

For a moment, she thought about making up some sort of excuse for her arrival so she could leave and return to the solitude of her rooms, then have a quiet meal with her maids. After all, they looked content together, the five of them, and she had long known she would ever be an outsider in her own family, seeing as she was the one to take on the unpleasant duties of keeping the children in line and making certain nobody lost their sect much face. And she was the only one who did not get on well with that boy. But before she could decide-

“Isn’t the Jin delegation arriving next week for the trade deal?” Nie Huaisang asked cheerily. “I imagine preparing for it is quite tiring. Will you be serving this eel dish for them, Madame Yu?” He picked up a piece with his chopsticks. “It’s really quite good, and better than any seafood I’ve had at Koi Tower.”

“I haven’t decided yet.” She stepped into the courtyard and the four children quickly stood up to make their greeting bows, then moved aside to make room for her at the table. “But I’ll take your recommendation under advisement. In fact, I would like both you and my daughter to join me next week – I believe it will be very educational for you both.”

She received nods from both of them, and even a small smile from her daughter. And then she caught the strange look her husband was giving her.

“What is it? Can a woman not want to have a meal with her children?”

“Of course she can, my Lady,” he quickly acquiesced.

The rest of the meal was more subdued than the conversation she had overheard, but much more relaxed than most she had with her family. She was even able to tolerate that boy for the duration of the meal.

“Something’s different about you.”

Yu Ziyuan’s back straightened as she scoffed at her husband’s words. “I can’t imagine what that could possibly be. I’ve done absolutely nothing different of late.” She reached out with her chopsticks to pick up a few pieces of pickled bamboo to place on her plate.

“For one,” Jiang Fengmian said, not unkindly, “you were smiling as you came into the room for dinner just now.”

“We simply had a good round of negotiations with the Jin yesterday, and I’m quite thankful they’ve already left to head back to Lanling.”

“It’s more than that, though.” He transferred a shrimp from the serving platter to her plate – something he hadn’t done in years. She had no idea what to make of it. “Even Wei Ying’s noticed a change in you, and Yanli has been more relaxed even as she’s been more diligent in her duties. After some consideration, the only change I can think of is the arrival of Nie-gongzi. Taking on a student of your own has raised your spirits, and... I would like to apologize for perhaps being less enthusiastic about your taking on a student as I could have been.”

She looked at his face and saw no sign of deceitfulness, not that he was a good liar. She set down her utensils and took a quick sip of tea to whet her throat. “If you’ve noticed a change in me, have you noticed one in your son as well?”

Jiang Fengmian’s brow furrowed. “Wanyin? Not particularly, though he does protest less when Wei Ying drags him outside the sect for some adventure or other.”

She shook her head and folded her hands in her lap. Just when she had begun to hope he might finally see his son... but of course he wouldn’t, not as long as his precious Wei Ying was in the vicinity.

“Many months ago, I came to you regarding potential marriage prospects for our son, and you gave me permission to do whatever I saw fit. Has that changed?”

If possible the crease between his brows grew even deeper. “Of course not. You know him best, and I trust you to have Yunmeng Jiang’s best interests at heart.”

She maintained eye contact, needing to know his reaction to her next words. “And if I were to tell you that one potential avenue I am looking into is for Jiang Cheng to marry a man and take on a concubine for the purposes of continuing the family line?”

He blinked once, twice, and then his face fell in a deep frown. “There is no need to insult me with such ridiculous notions-”

“It is not ridiculous,” she hissed, and something in her must have signalled that she was serious because his back straightened and his head gave the smallest tilt that she doubted few but her would notice. “And it is not without precedent, either.”

“But I thought you couldn’t stand philanderers like Jin Guangshan.”

“There is a world of difference between a man who seduces strange women, pays for the company of whores, all while his displeased wife and child are at home taking care of the sect that he should be managing, and a man who takes two or more spouses, for love or duty or the pursuit of children, while all participants are in accord.” She lifted an eyebrow in his direction. “Did the late Nie-zongzhu not do such a thing?”

He nodded, and yet he still grimaced. “But to push a boy onto our son-”

She huffed and resisted the urge to throw something at her husband. “Push?! Fengmian, open your eyes and look at your son for once. See him, and the way he has begun to look at Nie Huaisang.”

“Is that why you invited the boy to learn from you?” Jiang Fengmian sat back and let out a frustrated puff of air. “Because you wanted to train him to be the next Jiang-furen? Seriously, Ziyuan, you have gone too far with this.”

“That boy loves our son, Fengmian. I’ve known it for months. I did not bring him here to push, but to see if A-Cheng could possibly feel the same way, and see if the boy is worthy of our sect.” She was tired of this, tired of her husband and his wilful blindness. She rose from her seat and tugged her skirts back in place. “I challenge you to watch your son – really watch your son for once – and tell me you don’t notice how soft he gets with Nie-gongzi. Because he does; I have noticed it, as has our daughter. And if we can give our son the chance to marry someone suitable that he actually cares for, is this not something we owe him? Shouldn’t at least one of us in this house be happy for once.”

Without giving him a chance to reply, she stormed out of the small dining room – and any passing disciples that spotted her quickly dove out of her way.

While most training sessions with the disciples were held in large groups, there were times set aside for the leaders of Yunmeng Jiang to work with individuals, either to give private lessons on more advanced techniques to those that were particularly promising, or to give further instruction to any that were having difficulties.

Yu Ziyuan was in one corner of the training field with a young girl who had a wonderful drive to succeed in her cultivation, but was having difficulty with some of the sect’s forms. On the far side of the field, Jiang Fengmian had set up some archery targets and was working with one of their youngest boys. Wei Wuxian was laughing loudly as he showed off moves to the disciple he was tutoring, with Jiang Yanli giggling nearby from where she worked on some embroidery, and in the middle of the field-

“I really can’t do it, Jiang-xiong.”

“Just hold the damned sword already.”

“But it’s too heavy.”

“Didn’t I see you pick up a fish in the kitchen that weighed more than this?”

“...but it’s heavy.”

“Oh, just- Look, we’ll do this again...”

Yu Ziyuan ensured her student was working on her forms before she turned her head to check on the two boys in the middle of the field, hoping she didn’t have to intervene. She watched her son step up behind Nie Huaisang and reach around him to help him hold up his practice sword, showing him a proper stance – but the looks on their faces told a different tale. Nie Huaisang looked smug – the little brat was likely feigning ineptitude to have the excuse to get help from Jiang Cheng – and her son was more gentle than he let on as he shifted Nie Huaisang, and when he looked down at the other boy, a shadow of a smile momentarily chased away his usual scowl.

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the two.

And then she noticed her husband across the field, his attention away from the boy with the bow and instead on the two in the centre of the field. His eyes widened, and then they met hers across the distance. He grimaced, but gave a nod of acknowledgement before returning to his teaching.

He should know better than to doubt her by now.