#but meishans.....my babies.......

[simplepotatofarmer]

y'all i found people near-ish me that are into livestock conservancy and they have meishan pigs. they have them!! gosh i hope one day i can move out of the city and have a little farm and have a meishan pig, i would be so happy.

[onlyhope93]

Learnings in cooking - my new one-shot on AO3

Jiang Yanli was 10 when she started avoiding cultivation training. Maybe not avoiding specifically but looking for a thing she will be better at, just so her mother would finally be proud of her. 

Since her early years she had been a sickly child. She was born earlier than she was supposed to, fighting for her life for months after her birth. Unfortunately, this left her weak, both in health and in cultivation. Any form of physical training left her short of breath and immensely dizzy. She was still trying with all she had. It did not however satisfy her mother. Madam Yu came from Meishan Yu, a matriarchal clan and sect, where women were strong and independent, fierce and proud of their cultivation ability. Yanli knew her mother always dreamed of a strong daughter who would prove and continue her legacy. A formidable daughter of the Violet Spider. What a disappointment she must be to her mother. 

After giving birth to her didi, A-Cheng, mother decided not to have any more children. Yanli can still remember the conversation her parents had when her baby brother was only couple months old, even though she herself was only 3 and a bit. Her father suggested in passing that maybe the next baby will be a daughter, so mother could have her trained in the ways of the Yu, since Yanli herself was already engaged to be married to the Jin and would need to focus on running the household. The cold stare mother send father could freeze the lakes in the hight of summer. She promptly responded that he had his hair and a spare and that she is not a cow to expect her to be bread and birth new calf every season, and that she doesn’t need to be disappointed again since clearly Yanli took after the Jiang, not the Yu. Yanli did not understand at the time, but as she grew older and began her training, that conversation came back to her every time her mother left the training grounds with a grimace on her face whenever she was struggling. 

Hence, after another one of her mother’s no-shows during Yanli’s training sessions, Yanli decided she will find an occupation she will be good at, so her mother will finally look at her with appreciation. She was listening attentively in class, did her readings and practiced her calligraphy diligently. She learned to play her erhu and recite poetry with a passion. Studied the ways of painting and even tried to learn the fan dance, which her mother stopped as soon as she found out, claiming dancing is for street performers and courtesans.  

Everything she tried to impress her mother with only seemed to make things worse or didn’t have any effect at all on how disappointed her mother was with her. 

At the end of her 10-year-old wits, her dreams of making mother proud crushed, she found a quiet corner in the servant’s wing, where nobody would look for her, and silently cried her eyes out. 

That is until Hao Meiliu found her. 

Hao Meiliu worked in the Jiang Sect kitchens since she was 13 years old, which frankly speaking was a long time ago. Now, a mother of 3, nearly full-grown boys, she knew full well how to find a missing 10-year-old, hiding from her mother. All she had to do is think of the last place she would look for said child as their mother and go with the hunch. The quiet sobs she heard from just around the corner of her kitchens only confirmed her suspicion.  

“Yanli?” Hao Meiliu  asked  quietly, not wanting to startle her. “What happened? Why are you hiding here?” 

“I am sorry,” Jiang Yanli said, wiping the tears off of her face with the sleeve of her dress. “I will go to my room.” She stood up and started to walk away. 

“Please, wait a moment. Why don’t you tell me what is bothering you? I promise, I will not tell anyone. Maybe you will feel better, if you let this one hear what burdens you so? Hmm?” 

That not only stopped Yanli, but also brought a fresh wave of teras to her eyes. She quickly turned around and barreled into Hao Meiliu, catching her in fierce hug.  

Hao Meiliu knew Yanli since she was a baby. She knew all her favourite foods and often offered her treats when she spotted her swaying lightly after her training session, ‘to help her restore strength’, she often said. As a mother, she could see how hard the girl tried to improve and impress Madam Yu, and she also saw how impassive Madam Yu remained despite her daughter trying with all her might. She was very disappointed in the Madam for ignoring her firstborn so. But what could she do? She was only a cook here. 

Now, she held Yanli, allowing her to cry as much as she needed, sobs rocking her petite frame with the strength of the storm. It lasted a good while, before the girl started to calm down, deep, shaky breaths drown in and slowly let out, allowing her to regain her composure. 

“I am sorry,” said Yanli after a while. “I didn’t mean to stop you from your work,” she said moving away and again wiping her face with her sleeves. 

“Think nothing of it sweety, you clearly needed to let go of your emotions. They’ve been building up for a while now, weren’t they?” 

Yanli only nodded her head. 

“I just don’t know what else to do. Iam trying so hard, my teachers are happy with my progress and even the training master says I’m slowly improving, but it’s never enough. I just want mother to look at me and not see a failure of a daughter. She always wanted a strong daughter, but I’m a Jiang, not a Yu.” 

“Oh sweety, but you are strong. Just not in a way your mother seems to value the most. As you said, you learn more and faster than any other child in the sect. You have a keen ear for music, I’ve heard you play that instrument of yours, it sounds better and better with every lesson you take. You're always kind to everyone and all the staff and disciples here love you for who you are. They are inspired by your resilience in face of your poor health, and how much of yourself you give into everything you do. If you want me to be honest with you, and please do not repeat this to anyone, if your mother cannot see how wonderful you are, it is her loss, not yours.” 

Yanli looked at Hao Meiliu with wide, shining eyes. 

“You really think so?” 

“I do. Now come. All that crying probably made you hungry, and we cannot have that, can we? Why don’t I teach you how to make lotus root and pork rib soup, hmm? I know it always make you feel better.” 

“Mn”, said Yanli with tremulous smile. 

Hao Meiliu took Yanli to the kitchens, where a big pot of pork broth was simmering slowly. She scooped some into a small cauldron. 

“When you’re making the broth, you need to thoroughly clean the pork. It is best to soak it in cold water for about half a shichen, rinse it again and set aside. Boil a big pot of water, and once it is boiling, add the meet with bones to it. When it boils again, let it blanch for a minute, then get rid of the water and clean the pork again. It will give you clear broth, as we have it here.” Hao Meiliu started an impromptu cooking lesson, seeing how curious Yanli is about anything she did. Seeing her eyes starting to sparkle, she continued, slowly and carefully showing Yanli each step of preparing the soup. 

“Once the bones are ready, pour fresh cold water back into the pot, add pork to it and boil for at least one and a half shichen. Since we have broth ready, we’ll just add the rest of ingredients. Here, can you help me peal the lotus root? Just be careful, it is quite hard.” Hao Meiliu gave Yanli small knife and showed her how to best hold and peel the root. Once it was done, she shown her how to cut it into chunks. 

“Now, we add it into the broth with some ginger and goji berries. And the pork of course.” She fished out some of the pork ribs from the main pot and put it into their cauldron. “All this has to cook for another 2 shichens and we will serve it with some scalions. You can also add some seaweed into the soup for the taste. What do you think?” 

“Hmm... Seaweed always tasted fishy to me and I’m not really fond of it. But I can see how some people would like the added taste,” Yanli said after consideration.  

“Fair point,” said Hao Meiliu with a smile. “While we wait for our soup, would you like to help me with preparation for the dinner?” 

Yanli nodded enthusiastically. 

They chopped vegetables and prepared filling and dough for bao together. Hao Meiliu talked Yanli through the process of cooking various dishes, including variations she knew about from around the Jianghu. She explained which spices were best for which meats, to increase and distinguish their flavour to the best of their values. She talked about differences between sweet water fish and sea fish, types of rice and which is best to which dish. Which vegetables are suitable for frying and which for boiling. Yanli listened to her every word like she was enchanted. When the time came to finish seasoning the lotus root and pork rib soup, she let Yanli decide what spices she thinks would make it taste the best. As it turned out, Yanli had a real knack for cooking. The soup they prepared was the best Hao Meiliu had ever tasted. 

Years later, when little Wei Ying was brought to Lotus Pier, Yanli came to Hao Meiliu with determination in her eyes, asking her for a little space in the kitchens so she could make lotus root and pork rib soup for her new didi. Hao Meiliu was immensely proud of the girl, soon to be a young woman, who faced so many challenges in her short life and found a real passion for cooking. How, despite her mother’s haughty notion that cooking is to be left for servants, she persisted with doing what really brought her happiness. As a mother of 3 now fully grown boys, Hao Meiliu found a daughter with whom she could share her knowledge of how to care for her loved ones with things as simple as a good meal. 

~~~ 

Lan Zhan was 9 when he finally understood what being gone actually meant. To be honest, he knew it already for a long time, but he hoped that if he will be diligent in his studies and training, following the rules to the tee, he will see his mother again someday.  

So he did, and he was. He knew all the rules, all 2986 of them. Even if all it was required for 9-year-olds was first 500. He was moved up from novices to juniors a year ahead of the rest of his peers. He was the youngest in class, the second heir to the clan and sect. Too young to be a friend and a peer, too high in station to be roughhoused with, as much as roughhousing in Cloud Recesses went. Lan Zhan did not pay attention to it though, focused on his studies and training. He was moved from wooden training swords to a metal one sooner than anyone in past several generations, only few months before his 9th birthday, when most of disciples were allowed to them at 11 at the youngest. He meditated twice as much as it was required.  

One thing he really enjoyed was music. His music lessons with his shufu were the only moments when he not only focused on learning, but also did so with pleasure. It was his shufu who gifted him with his training qin. Music lessons were his favourite time of day, but also what made him feel guilty sometimes. Because he was meant to focus on lesson and not on the enjoyment of it. He knew however what his mother would say. She always repeated that he needs to do what brings him joy, what makes his soul sing and fly to high heavens. That focusing only on learning and training would leave him feeling empty without the joys of life to balance it out. So, he secretly buried the guilt and enjoyed his music lessons for the sake of his mother. 

What made him finally understand what being gone meant was something quite simple. He was out on the way to Caiyi Town with xiongzhang and shufu. He saw a bird lying on the side of the path, barely breathing. He showed it to shufu, in hopes he could help the creature. Shufu crouched down and only looked at it, shaking his head he said:  

“It is too late to save it A-Zhan. Its injuries are too great.”  

And as if the heavens heard shufu, the bird stopped breathing. 

“It is gone now. Come, let us bury the body.” 

It hit him like a rockslide. He will never see his mother again, will he? 

Lan Zhan was quiet all the way to the town and back. Xiongzhang was sending him worried looks every now and again, but did not comment, not with shufu with them. 

When they reached Cloud Recesses, shufu asked Lan Zhan to go back home, while he and xiongzhang had to go through some old correspondence as part of the sect heir training. But Lan Zhan did not go home. He was wondering aimlessly around the compound not knowing what to do or where to go. His mind was blank, his eyes empty. He wanted to go to the Gentian House to see his mother, but his mother was gone, like the bird on the path – gone and buried. He wanted to cry, to scream his grief out, but he knew the rules. All 2986 of them. ‘Do not grieve in excess.’ ‘Causing noise is prohibited.’ ‘Do not be miserly.’ ‘Do not act impulsively.’ ‘Maintain your own discipline.’ So, he walked and walked. 

“A-Zhan? What are you doing here?” he heard someone call behind him. Lan Zhan stopped and turned around. It was Nainai. 

Nobody knew how old Nainai was. She helped raise several generations of the Lans already, including Lan Zhan’s father and uncle, his grandfather and even his great grandfather. She was the one who sat with him when he was ill, who took care of him when his shufu was busy with sect matters, when he did not want to go to the creche, because other children did not want to play with him. Nainai was the one to help him up and dry his tears when he fell. Always smuggling him a little treat when he was sad, and giving the best hugs, right behind his mother of course. But mother was gone, and he will never ever get a hug from her anymore, so Nainai was the one who gave the best hugs now. That’s when the dam finally broke. Lan Zhan felt his eyes going hot, his vision got all blurry and his tears started to fall. He could not breathe, great sobs tearing their way out of his throat. He tried to temper them down, but the harder he tried, the harder he cried, and he just wanted a hug already. 

As if hearing his thoughts, Nainai came over and pulled him into her embrace.  

“Mu- muqin is g- gone... she is g- gone l-like the b- bird on the p- path... g- gone an- and buried,” he cried into Nainai’s embrace. “A- and I ca- cannot st- stop... Th- the ru- rules sa- say...” 

“Shshsh, A-Zhan, it is fine to cry. Do not stop your tears, you will feel better when you let them go. You were holding them back for much too long,” said Nainai into Lan Zhan’s hair. She kissed the top of his head and held him tighter as he emptied himself out all the tears.  

He cried long and hard, not noticing a wayward disciple passing by nor the look Nainai send said disciple, who scurried away terrified. Lan Zhan also did not notice when or how he was moved to the kitchens, sat on Nainai’s lap and rocked gently until he was calm again. Once he realised his situation, he looked up at Nainai with big, golden eyes, red from crying for so long and feeling so tired and hungry he could eat anything that was given to him. He would eat it anyway, because ‘Do not be picky with food’, but mother was gone, so what is the point of following the rules? 

“Are you feeling a little better?” asked Nainai. 

Lan Zhan only nodded slightly, turning his eyes down. His belly chose this moment to rumble softly. Lan Zhan could feel his ears getting hot from embarrassment. Nainai chuckled quietly. 

“I guess all that crying cost you a lot of energy, did it not? Would you like to help me prepare something to eat? What would you say for some rice with crispy bamboo shoots?” 

Lan Zhan nodded again. He got up from Nainai’s lap and went with her to wash hands before food preparation.  

“It is very important to always wash your hands thoroughly before you start cooking. You do not want any dirt to get into your food,” said Nainai. She took a scoop and a large bowl. Passing the scoop to Lan Zhan, she said “transfer two scoopfuls of rice into the bowl. Good. Now add enough cold water to cover the rice completely.” Lan Zhan followed all the steps Nainai told him, not even realising he was being taught the basics of cooking. 

They washed the rice several times, until the water remained clear. Then drained it and left aside. Nainai took a deep pot, poured in water, a small spoon of salt and oil, and put it onto the stove to boil.  

“Once the water boils, we will add the rice and cook it over medium fire for about a ke. You will see if the rice is ready or if it needs a little longer. While we are waiting for the water, we can prepare the bamboo shoots. We will need some ginger, sugar, soy sauce and a special ingredient,” she said with a wink. 

Nainai took out some fresh bamboo shoots and showed Lan Zhan how to clean and cut them. While he was doing that, she took a wok, heated it up over medium fire and added some oil. Once hot, she added ginger, and shortly after some sugar. 

“When cooking bamboo shoots, you need to make sure sugar fully dissolves in oil. Now come with that bamboo. Add it slowly and be careful as the oil can shoot back at you and burn you.” 

With very serious nod of his head, Lan Zhan slowly added the bamboo to the wok. He felt few pricks of heat over his hands, but it wasn’t terrible. He was a good student and always did as instructed. Nainai moved the wok onto strong flame, taking the boiling water for rice to the medium flame. 

“We have to stir it well to fry it evenly. Here, keep stirring while I add rice to the water.” 

Once done, she checked the bamboo shoots, and deeming them ready for next step she asked Lan Zhan to add the rest of ingredients. When he took the jar with the ‘special ingredient’ the smell seemed weird. 

“Nainai, what is this?” he asked. 

“This is my special ingredient. I will tell you what it is if you will not repeat it to anyone outside of kitchens.” 

Lan Zhan considered it for a bit and nodded. 

“It is cooking wine.” 

“But alcohol is prohibited” 

“So it is. However, beauty of cooking wine is that during the process it loses its alcohol content, leaving only taste behind, so technically, you are not consuming alcohol, and your food is more flavourful. With how simple our cuisine is, a little extra taste will not do you any harm.” 

Lan Zhan thought about it. The rules state that ‘Alcohol is prohibited’, but if Nainai says the alcohol from cooking wine disappears during cooking, then it is no more alcohol and thus it is allowed. Assured in this logic, he nodded again, adding the wine to the wok and waiting for further instruction from Nainai. She reduced the fire and covered the wok. 

“Now we wait for the rice and bamboo to cook. Keep stirring from time to time so it cooks evenly and does not stick to the bottom.” 

They worked in companionable silence, stirring their respective dishes. Nainai kept an eye on both, instructing Lan Zhan every now and again how to recognise when the rice is ready, how to avoid accidents in kitchens, what is the best order in cooking vegetables, so they are all of the same consistency at the end of cooking.  

In a little under the ke, the rice and bamboo shoots were ready. Nainai took two bowls, filled them with rice and placed the bamboo on a larger dish, so they both could take as much as they wanted. Lan Zhan helped her with transferring everything to the table in the kitchens, where they sat down to eat. It was one of the best things he ever ate and decided it will be his favourite dish from now on. Lan Zhan was so proud of himself for being such a good helper to Nainai, and she was so proud of him too. She loved all the new generations that came, helped care for all the babies. But there was something special about Lan Zhan. Unusually quiet and withdrawn, as if afraid of committing even smallest infraction, he was an endless well of emotion, which he tried so hard to control. However, when the dam broke like today, there was no stopping it. She will have to keep a keen eye on him in the future. And keep him around when she spots him lost in his head again. 

For years ahead, unknowingly Lan Zhan has been taught how to cook, and then knowingly sought out Nainai to help her out whenever he had a bit of time or when he was feeling down. 

Years and years later, when Wei Ying came back to him, he could not be more grateful to Nainai for teaching him how to cook, because he could make sure his beloved had food he enjoyed. And Lan Zhan had another thing to take a joy in. 

[angstymdzsthoughts]

WWX + JC are fraternal twins- Imagine the fallout after JFM finally tells the truth. MY has her son back, but the relationship between them is strained because of her treatment of WWX. Whatever affection she had for her husband is now dead, and the only reason she hasn't gone back to Meishan Yu is because of her children. JC and Yanli are both adjusting to having a new brother. JC especially feels even more insecure now. And you know JFM would replace JC as heir once the truth came out.

Yu Ziyuan fell into an exhausted sleep the night she gave birth and she had two little boys sleeping peacefully in their cribs. She woke up and there was only one baby. She had demanded he be returned but her husband gave her a sorrowful look and shook his head. He told her that some time through the night the baby had stopped breathing. It had gutted her like nothing else ever has. She wept and her husband held her and said he was sorry.

They had a funeral for her baby. They had a funeral for what she thought had been her baby.

But then her husband confessed. A baby had died that night, but not theirs. Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze's child hadn't even breathed her first breath. Jiang Fengmian couldn't bare to see his dear friends suffer.

So he gave them her baby.

How had she not realized? How did she not look at that boy and see that he has her lips and her cheekbones and her mothers eyes? She had only seen her husband's jaw line and nose and burned with rage thinking he had slipped inside the women he always wanted.

But he was her baby. She had spent more then a decade lighting incense for him and quietly mourning him. Wei Wuxian was her son.

She will never stop hating Jiang Fengmian for taking him away from her.

[plan-d-to-i]

Since I stalk the Wen Ruohan tag on here as well as ao3 and Twitter (I confess I'm a vilain f*cker I can't resist that evil dilf lol) I noticed lately some strange trends

The 1st one is the rise of the WRH/YZY fics, because people truly believe the reason YZY's marriage was so miserable and shitty was because of JFM somehow and not her toxic abusive ass and that YZY would be able to form a healthier happier relationship with anyone else especially someone like WRH who can and will have her head rolling down the stairs of his Palace if she tried to treat him half as bad as she did JFM. If YZY had married anyone else I doubt she would last a year of marriage, it's no surprise she picked JFM because he was the most likely to put up with her sh*t without retaliation. Another similar trend I noticed is the JC/WRH fics which is just ewww but it's even more weird when they make WRH the "good" father figure for JC because JFM is just sooo abusive and neglectful to poor baby grape that the tyrant who gave us Wen Chao is somehow a better father than him

Idk I feel my man JFM gets more shit than he deserves from this Fandom. Like once I saw a post of someone saying that if they could kill 3 characters in mdzs to make everyone's lives better it would be: WRH, JGS, JFM. I get the 1st two but what did JFM do to be on the same level as them? It's just strange to me how so many people hate JFM only because he saved an orphan from the streets and gave him a home and maybe sometimes praised him for doing good and wasn't madly in love with the woman who forced him to marry her and then treated him like shit all the time

"I confess I'm a vilain f*cker I can't resist that evil dilf lol"

- lol - Respect. <3

Honestly I'm surprised they didn't say they'd kill JFM, WWX, and LWJ. Then they can try to make jc the one true mc! and the book can be called: the Grandmaster of Greed, Hatred and Ignorance :*･゜ﾟ･*☆.

I've seen the "Wen Ruohan would be a better father to sad grape bby jiang cheng >:-/ than evil JFM" discourse and I think it's absolutely hilarious. On one hand JFM gently corrects jc about not letting people die and jc stans are like "OMG abuSE!", even though JFM is your average reserved dad, and YZY is clearly the one who pours all that poison in jc's ear about his father's love being lacking. But yeah let's look at Wen Ruohan:

There were also a few instruments of torture. Iron rings, sharp spikes, silver hooks—all seemed strange. Just looking at their appearance could make one shiver in fear. Wei WuXian knew that these were probably made by Jin GuangYao. The QishanWen Sect’s leader, Wen RuoHan, had a moody, violent personality. He loved the sight of blood and sometimes took enjoyment in torturing those that offended him. Jin GuangYao was only able to capture Wen RuoHan’s interest by catering to his needs, making all sorts of cruel yet amusing devices. (Chapter 47) Meng Yao, “That’s right. It was him. Sect Leader, are you going to kill your foe right now, or drag him to the Fire Palace? My personal suggestion is to take him to the Fire Palace.” The “Fire Palace” was Wen RuoHan’s playground. It was where he collected thousands of torture devices for tormenting people. This meant that Meng Yao was unwilling to give Nie Mingjue a straightforward death. Meng Yao wanted to take him to Wen RuoHan’s torturing grounds and forge him through the devices that he himself had made until he finally died.

YES! Wen Ruohan who loved the sight of blood, whose love language was instruments of torture, and whose playground was a TORTURE PALACE would really be a soft fuzzy father to whiny, needy jc w his uninspiring cultivation. He'd probably carry him in his arms around the torture palace and they'd laugh over all the torture instruments- just father son things. WRH would definitely let YZY's Clan pressure him into marrying her and then permit YZY to scream at him in front of servants and treat Wen Clan like she's better than it. He definitely wouldn't raze Meishan Yu to the ground. On the other hand are jc stans saying that Wen Ruohan, an unhinged, abusive, power obsessed maniac, who doesn't give af about the common ppl, with a hard on for torture is more suited to jiang cheng's temperament and world views? because actually they might have stumbled onto something.

“Lan WangJi and Jin ZiXuan and those people can just die! Just let them die! What’s their deaths got to do with us?! To do with our sect?! Why did this have to happen?! Why?! “Go die, go die, go die! Everyone!!!” (jiang cheng, Chapter 58).

That Sect Leader Jiang was cracking a glowing whip right on the training field. The victim’s flesh and blood flew as high as his screams! A servant secretly informed him that the sect leader caught the wrong person again, that he hadn’t been in a great mood, and that he definitely shouldn’t be irritated in any way.” (Chapter 92)

ok I see it now.

[littlesmartart]

the next gen Jin Sibs from my Happy Timeline AU! I’ve spent quite a while trying to pull together their names, but I recently had to rethink some of them when I found out that apparently in ancient chinese culture naming your kid after someone was considered a big No No... (though this doesn’t mean there aren’t other... references... it’s just that some uncles are capable of subtlety, wei wuxian). I have Thoughts and headcanons about the circumstances of lots of these namings if people are interested in hearing them! the meanings of the names are what I understand from searching through various name sites and this very helpful post, so if they’re not quite right, please be kind ;_;

see names and a little bit about each one’s personality under the cut!

from l2r in age order we have - 

Jin Ling (rise above) / Jin Rulan (like-orchid) - the canon boy! in this AU where he gets a chance to grow up with his parents and be a big brother, he’s still got a bit of a temper and is easily wound up, but he’s a lot less insecure and angry at the world. he takes his status as the oldest brother very seriously (Mingjue has a lot of conversations with him about The Responsibilities Of Being Da-ge when he’s little), and as much as he may complain about his siblings, the moment anyone else says a bad word about them he is immediately ready to throw down! 

Jin Heng (persevering) / Jin Rubo (like-silks) - due to her chronic illness, Yanli had quite a few health complications during her pregnancy with A-Heng, meaning he arrived as quite a small and sickly baby - though he pulls through and grows into a healthy and happy child. he’s not strong enough to cultivate to quite the same level as his siblings, but with mentoring from his uncles Guangyao and Huaisang, he finds his strengths in diplomacy and the arts. everyone has great confidence in him as the next sect leader’s Second; with his calm and careful demeanour, he will nicely balance out his older brother’s more brash and outspoken nature. 

Jin Xiu (fine/beautiful) / Jin Ruyue (like-jade) - the older twin and probably the most like their mother out of all the children. whilst she does enjoy archery and and swordwork and has a respectable golden core, she much prefers dancing, or swimming in the Lotus Pier lakes, or helping her aunt Qin Su in the Koi Tower gardens. there was a lot of pressure from the Jin side of the family for Yanli and Zixuan to get this pretty, mild-tempered, accomplished daughter betrothed, but they strongly resisted and have publicly announced that they will never pressure any of their children to marry. 

Jin Lei (thunder) / Jin Ruyun (like-daylight) - the younger twin and the child out of the whole group who has most obviously inherited Yu genes. since the moment she came into the world, she has been loud and boisterous and very certain of her own mind. both girls, as the granddaughters of the Purple Spider, were offered several summers of tutelage from the women of Meishan Yu, and whilst both went to learn, A-Lei went on to take a whip and daggers as her favoured weapons. although nothing has been announced officially, it’s an open secret that, unless he winds up having his own kids, Jiang Cheng will offer her the position as both his heir and the heir to Zidian. 

Jin Gui (dear/valuable) / Jin Ruquan (like-water) - A-Gui was born on the river between Yunmeng and Lanling, when they were travelling home and Yanli went into labour unexpectedly early. Zixuan tried to hurry them back, but she stopped him as the sounds and gentle rocking of the water were actually very soothing and helped calm her through what turned out to be a surprisingly fast birth. Yanli claims that being born so close to the water brought out the Jiang particularly strongly in this son, and he lives up to that with his mischievous, adventurous, and quick-witted nature - and no one is surprised by which uncle he seems to gravitate towards.

Jin Rong (honour/glory) / Jin Ruci (like-kindness) - with about ten years between him and his oldest brother, A-Rong is well and truly the baby of the family, the youngest of all of his many siblings and cousins. he’s very much doted upon and spoiled, but is a sweet-natured and kind little dreamer, who loves to collect stories and songs, and his uncle Xichen has high hopes for his musical skill.  

[theuntamedaus]

And I am expanding on my YMJ trio as demonic cultivators AU.

Today I am talking about my sweet soup girl Yanli.

When WC orders WZL to erase the siblings' cores from existence, this includes also JYL's core, you know, just in case, and then proceeds in tossing her in the Burial Mounds as well etc.

And Yanli is the one who is hit by the sudden hardship the most. WWX and JC may be used to being in rough environments, they have a strong cultivation base so they can fare better in the Burial Mounds, but Yanli... She has a weak cultivation base, weak constitution and stays for the first week mostly unconscious.

This until she suddenly feels better - well, not better, but at least awake - and has learned that her sweet baby brothers have used demonic energy to heal her, somehow. And she feels the "do you want revenge" pull too.

She glances at both WWX and JC, sighs and decides that if this is the way they have chosen and if this is their only fighting chance, then she can't leave her brothers alone.

She communicates this to them and after the first resistance, they agree. She takes her piece of the piece of Yin Iron and forges a pipa.

Ofc with this she actively participates in the war.

She develops a series of poisons and poisoned weapons, all stuff that would make the Meishan Yu VERY proud. She will heal you if you are on her good side, but she will kill you if you are not.

On the outside she acts like the sweet older sister that she is, but the moment someone says the wrong word about the Jiang sect or her brothers she will put that name in her shit list.

Let's say that Jin Zixun shuts the fuck up fairly quickly.

Jin Zixuan, being the himbo extraordinaire that he is, does think she is very cool, "I mean, Father, you SAW that she survived the Wens, she is so POWERFUL and seems to be very in control!"

Note: yes, he knows about the demonic cultivation, he understands that without a core that was the only feasible choice. OTL JYL and JZX try to have a healthier relationship here.

Yes, JZX is still very smitten by her and they end up marrying out of true love. JYL discovers quite soon that her anchor is JZX and she is fine.

Now, JGS THINKS that now the Yin Iron is in his grips, BUT he makes the huge mistake of babbling something very offensive - I have not yet decided what, it's up to interpretation here - and no one is surprised when he suddenly turns out to be found dead in his bed by poisoned wine. JGY, whose loyalty was very quickly stirred towards a more politically savvy JZX, helps cover the traces. Also, are you REALLY going to start shit with the DEMONIC CULTIVATORS, knowing that they could end you, by saying stuff like "JYL killed her father-in-law"? Of course not, also, are you REALLY that sad that the rapist womanizer met his deserved end? Do you REALLY want to upset JYL's mother-in-law? Look how happy she is, now free of a marriage she had been unhappy to have!

JZX is the next head of the Jin clan, Yanli gives birth to Jin Ling.

Wen Qing becomes her best friend and now no one can touch the Best Wens without raising the wrath of the Jiangs.

More in the next aesthetics

[stiltonbasket]

Twin heroes of yunmeng as real twins imagine the chaos??? sect heir wwx??? jc is not a heir but he’s like a baby duck that keep tailing his twin brother (they are like buy one get one free) but he’s more carefree and wild?? pray for jyl’s sanity... and lwj of course because he’s madly in love with yunmeng jiang’s heir (imagine have to ask marriage permission from yunmeng jiang and meishan yu).. and jc scowls at him at least twice a day in their year in cloud recesses because please! don’t! steal! my! twin! brother!

lwj, while lan qiren’s back is turned: i! am! going! to! steal him!

meanwhile, wwx: *oblivious*

[robininthelabyrinth]

Would you write something where Jiang Fengmian is Wei Wixian's biological father because Wei Changze was a trans man?

ao3

The woman that men called Cangse Sanren, a title she accepted out of lack of anything better to use, had any number of suitors, but her favorite one was one that never formally approached her to state his suit – neither the one who scolded her because she broke all the rules, nor the one who idealized her for it, but the one who made her laugh about it.

His name was Wei Changze.

She could tell that he liked her from the way he blushed when she smiled at him, the way he tried to spend time with her whenever he could – often in the company of others, but not always.

“I think it’s time for me to get married,” she said to him as they walked along the waterfront. All her other suitors had been busy with work or play or other things; only Wei Changze had the time – or the strength of will – to abandon all of that to keep her company. She liked that, and knew herself to be a bit selfish that way; she was not willing to share her lover with anyone, least of all a sect.

Wei Changze’s eyes revealed the stab of misery, but he forced a smile on his face. “Congratulations,” he said. “The man you have chosen to wed must be a very lucky man indeed.”

“I think he is,” she agreed, and tucked her hand in his. “Would you like to visit the astrologer to pick a date, or shall I pick one for us?”

Wei Changze’s surprised face, she decided, was extremely charming.

He stuttered a great deal, tried to say some denial, but she would have none of it.

“You like me, don’t you?” she asked, and he affirmed. “Then marry me.”

“There are things you don’t know about me,” he said wretchedly. “I could never please you as a man should – we would never have children –”

“I feel moderately confident that pleasure will not be a problem,” she said. “And my fortune says that I will have both no children and several, which to me suggests adoption is a perfectly plausible future. Did you really think I would care that you bleed by the moon, as I do?”

Wei Changze looked startled, and she tapped her nose, reminding him of how well she could track blood during the night-hunts they went on together.

“So, with that aside, do you have any further objections?” she asked. “If not, let me know and I will catch a fish and use its bones to cast a fortune for us so that we may wed on an auspicious day, and then go travel the world with no one but ourselves and each other.”

She could see the yearning in his eyes, not only for her but for the life she described, and after some time he agreed.

Her other suitors were not pleased, and one most displeased of all – though she couldn’t really blame him, given that she was robbing him both of the woman he was chasing and the man he’d thought would be at his side forever.

She was very magnanimous about it. She didn’t even complain when Wei Changze showed up at her door, stinking of men and guilt and regrets.

“He was yours for a long time,” she said gently when her beloved tried, with tears in his eyes, to apologize for the transgression. “It is difficult to let go of the old ways, and accept the new. Consider it a gift of farewell to him, and a gift of new beginnings to me.”

“How can it be a gift to you?” Wei Changze asked, wiping his eyes and kissing her. “Forgive me. It will not happen again.”

She wasn’t sure why it wouldn’t be considered a gift to her, but it seemed rude to mention, and it wasn’t until months later that she learned that most people couldn’t tell so quickly that a child had caught.

“What did you think I meant?” she asked, puzzled, as he paced around the small room at the inn they had rented – they were far away from Yunmeng now, traveling together with no company beyond a donkey. “Anyway, you don’t need to worry. It’ll be an easy burden, an easy labor.”

“How can you tell?” he asked, diverted. “You didn’t even throw sticks or look at bones for that.”

She shrugged, unable to explain that he simply smelled healthy, and the baby quiet. “A quiet quickening makes for a loud baby,” she finally said. “We should be prepared for a troublemaker.”

“We should be prepared to return to Yunmeng! This child is the heir to Yunmeng Jiang!”

“No, he isn’t,” she said peaceably. “He’s our son.”

“Son – wait, a boy? Really? That’s wonderful…no, wait, that’s worse. You don’t understand. My lover – his position – our son is the eldest child of Yunmeng Jiang.”

“His sister is older.”

Wei Changze stopped pacing to stare at her.

“Didn’t you know?” she asked. “That’s why the spider of Meishan Yu is so desperate to wed him.”

Wei Changze sat down abruptly, the bed beneath him creaking in protest at the sudden weight. “He never said,” he said, sounding numb. “He never – I didn’t know. How old is the girl?”

“Nearly three.”

“Fuck.” A moment of silence. “If I’d known, I wouldn’t have – not even as a goodbye!”

“That’s probably why he didn’t say,” she said wisely. “At any rate, we’ve been gone for months – Sect Leader Jiang should have already accepted her suit, and she’s the one bearing the heir. A legitimate son always trumps one born out of marriage, that’s how humans do it – isn’t that right?”

“Yes, well done, correct description,” he said, still sounding stunned. “I guess you’re right…but he’ll guess, if he sees him. He’ll know.”

“So what? We won’t go back to Yunmeng. He won’t be able to do anything about it, no matter what he knows.”

“But – Yunmeng…” He fell silent for a moment. And then – “Can you read a fortune for the child?”

“This far before birth?” she asked, startled. “No. It’s bad luck. We don’t even know what their astrological signs will be.”

“Please,” Wei Changze said, and he’d really never asked her for anything before. “Please. I need to know. Yunmeng is my home; I need to know – what I’m giving up. If it’s worth it.”

She still thought it was a bad idea, but she rolled up her robes and waded into the river to catch a turtle using nothing but her bare hands, snapping its neck and putting it over a fire to read the cracks in its shell.

She frowned at what she saw.

“What is it?” Wei Changze asked. His arms were wrapped around his belly.

“The child will live, and shine like a star in the heavens,” she said. “A genius, for better or for worse.”

“That’s good, isn’t it?”

“Sometimes. Not always.” She shook her head with a sigh. “There’s bad news here, too. Tragedy.”

Death.

The child would save the world, one day, but the balance of all the heavens’ gifts was that he would grow up an orphan.

And after all that effort she’d put into making herself a happy life, and even finding herself just the right lover, too!

They spoke about it several times over, never quite rising to the level of a fight, and in the end Wei Changze agreed to keep the child and abandon Yunmeng, and to live out the few years they would have with the child in peace and joy. When they died, the child would go to Yunmeng, and be raised there.

It was what they agreed.

And yet –

The time came, and Wei Changze died first before the vicious beast’s claws, throw himself in its path to protect her, and she – she didn’t want to go. She liked her little Wei Ying, she liked her life, and, yes, she liked her lover, but her lover wasn’t everything, had never wanted to be everything, to be the sun and moon and stars for her until she could not live without him.

Something ruthless stirred in her bones. Something dark and selfish, vicious and mean, the same thing that had made her elder martial brother go mad, years before, and become a pestilence on the world.

She didn’t do that.

She just drew back her skin to show fang and claw, and she fought back, and she won.

“An orphan,” she murmured later, holding her little Wei Ying in her arms that were still splattered with the blood of her kill. “Raised without his parents…”

She shook her head.

There were as many ways to fulfill a fortune as there were to skin a cat.

“It had to be one of us,” she said in the direction of Yunmeng Jiang. She can’t quite bring herself to be apologetic about it. “And I picked you.”

At least the Violet Spider would make an excellent regent sect leader on behalf of her young son, after her husband died.

In fact, maybe she should go see her, when it was over.

She did always like good company.

[nillegible]

“Oh? Who’s this?” mother asks, voice teasing, when she finds them sneaking lotus cakes from the kitchen. Jiang Fengmian is confused by the question.

“That’s Changze, mother,” he says, and shares a glance with his daemon. Maybe seeing him in Fengmian’s robes and the hairstyle he’d fixed his hair into had left him unrecognizable?

He’ll remember the expression on her face forever. The way her cat daemon steps back, hissing, hair raised. The way Changze turns back into his sneaky-weasel form and throws himself into Jiang Fengmian’s arms in fright, the robes he was wearing collapsing discarded on the ground.

They’re marched to father’s office by mother’s firm hand on Jiang Fengmian’s shoulder, Changze still shivering against his chest. Jiang Fengmian will never forget that for just one moment her hand hovered before settling, like she’s too afraid, too disgusted to touch.

*

“Why is it wrong?” Changze asks Father’s daemon.

“It’s not wrong,” she says. But she sounds tired. Unconvinced. “It’s never been done before. We didn't know it could be done.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?” whispers Jiang Fengmian. He doesn’t understand.

She doesn't answer him.

*

By the time Changze settles into his final shape at age fifteen, ‘Wei Changze’ has already been given an identity, a position as Jiang Fengmian’s personal servant. An excuse to be at his side, night and day.

Mother has long since given up on her deviant son, but father is kinder. He teaches them both how to run a sect, and lets Wei Changze practice his calligraphy while Jiang Fengmian goes through the expenditure accounts.

*

There are rumours about Jiang Fengmian, none of them particularly kind. The rumours reached the Cloud Recesses before they did.

Jiang-gongzi is a pampered prince, gets to bring a servant with him.

Jiang-gongzi doesn’t even have a daemon.

Jiang-gongzi’s a weakling, his daemon is a spider he hides in his sleeve.

Jiang-gongzi cuts his sleeve for that kid they call his servant.

It doesn’t bother Wei Changze, that people think he is Jiang Fengmian’s pleasure servant. “Fengmian-gege, I am your soul. Don’t be ridiculous. And I’ve spent many days in your bed.” He says the last seductively, lowering his head and batting his eyes, and Jiang Fengmian cuffs him on the ear. Wei Changze just laughs, then drops down to sprawl on Jiang Fengmian’s bed in the shared room. “I know Fengmian-gege likes women, I’ve seen how much you paid that Nie disciple for the erotic artwork of the-”

Rumours be damned, Jiang Fengmian climbs onto his bed to wrestle his daemon into a headlock, and tries to shut him up.

*

They meet Cangse Sanren and her tiny thrush-daemon, Suyin, who is remarkably grumpy for such a small bird, but Wei Changze says it’s because her human is far too much for one small bird to handle.

Jiang Fengmian understands the feeling; within just a few days of meeting her he’d noticed that she had the personality of a small storm, pushing and pulling people into flying with her, or leaving them battered and confused in her wake.

There are rumours about her too, about how the bird perched on her shoulder can fly long distances sometimes, farther than any respectable person could stand to have their daemon go.

“Is it true?” asks Wei Changze, addressing Suyin, as they make their way down the back mountains on a free afternoon. In answer, Suyin takes flight from Cangse’s shoulder, flying over the gorge they’re nearing, far enough that she’s nothing but a speck.

Jiang Fengmian’s heart beats fast in terror long before she turns back, and instead of immediately throwing herself at Cangse, instead of holing each other desperately and trying to soothe the crippling pain that separating should have caused, Suyin lands on Wei Changze’s head, chirping cheerfully.

A witch. Cangse was truly a witch, it was not merely an insult that people threw at her for being so powerful.

Jiang Fengmian swallows, and then says the words aloud for the first time since he told his mother nearly a decade ago. “Changze is my daemon.”

“We know,” say Cangse and Suyin in unison.

*

Jiang Fengmian asks Cangse Sanren to marry her, and she refuses. “I left the mountain to travel, to help people who need it.”

“You can help the people of Yunmeng,” Jiang Fengmian insists, but knows it’s a lost cause. CZ is kneeling beside them, Suyin cupped carefully in his hands, rubbing her head over his fingers intimately. But that Cangse cares for them is not in dispute here.

“The people of Yunmeng have you,” she says. “I’m sorry, A-Mian.”

She presses a soft kiss to his cheek, as if it would lessen the crushing pain of heartbreak, then goes to where Changze is holding Suyin close.

“Come, A-Yin,” she says, and takes her daemon from Changze’s hands. The slight brush of their fingers is electric and unfair. Then she leans down, and presses a kiss to Changze’s cheek as well, before summoning her sword, ready to leave them.

Jiang Fengmian sets a hand on Changze’s shoulder, hears the desperate, broken, “Fengmian-gege,” and realizes that they could never live with watching this woman leave.

“Wait!” Jiang Fengmian cries.

“A-Mian I will not change my–”

“Teach us to separate,” he says, and she falls silent.

For the longest moment he thinks she’ll say no, that she cannot, but she laughs, and Suyin flies back into Wei Changze’s hand.

*

Since Jiang Fengmian had received his parents blessing to ask Cangse Sanren for her hand – a difficult campaign in itself – before he asked her, the proposal was no secret.

Did you hear? That Cangse Sanren ran off with Jiang-gongzi’s servant! Even though he proposed to her as well!

Those who know the truth, his parents and their most trusted aides find it difficult to meet his eyes. Their daemons skittered away from him in the hallways. His father’s otter daemon, Xinya, speaks to him directly once. It’s Taboo, but then so is separating with your daemon, and letting him marry the woman you love.

“Does it hurt?” she asks.

“Not as much as before,” he answers. He has no better answer to give her.

*

Yu Ziyuan is introduced to him, a young woman with a fierce reputation and pressured by her family to snag the heartbroken and still eminently eligible Jiang-zongzhu, who had recently come out of mourning after the death of his parents.

Her daemon Yunye watches him suspiciously at their first arranged meetings, never saying a word, even when the elderly Jiang and Yu chaperones and their daemons are out of earshot.

“If this is to go anywhere, then there’s someone you have to meet,” Jiang Fengmian tells her, and sends out a series of letters to the places that his daemon might currently be.

Wei Changze arrives alone for the next meeting, and Jiang Fengmian’s heart aches that Cangse Sanren had not bothered to come with him.

“San-Niang,” says Jiang Fengmian politely at their next meeting. “What I am about to tell you is highly classified. Only Two people alive know the truth, and I request that you keep it to yourself. Please meet my daemon, Changze. He goes by Wei Changze. Changze, this is Yu Ziyuan of Meishan Yu, and Yunye.”

He braces himself for the disgust that Mother had betrayed, but Yu Ziyuan just presses her lips together thoughtfully. Yunye speaks for the first time since they met. “It is good to meet you, Wie Changze,” he says, voice deeper than Jiang Fengmian had imagined. “We were afraid that Jiang-zongzhu did not even have one.”

“No, he does,” says Wei Changze.

“I do,” says Jiang Fengmian, then meets Yu Ziyuan’s eyes. “My daemon is married to Cangse Sanren. Our marriage would not supersede that.”

“I understand,” says Yu Ziyuan.

*

She is, surprisingly, more understanding than one would expect. There is the comfort of honesty between them, and soon, a child, a baby girl with the sweetest smile and sunniest personality. Things sour a little when three years later, Changze visits with a baby of his own in tow, when Yu Ziyuan is pregnant with their second child. “We named him Wei Ying,” says Wei Changze while Jiang Fengmian takes the little one into his arms. Yanli tugs on his robes, trying to get a closer look.

“He’s beautiful,” says Jiang Fengmian, instead of all of the other things he could say.

Foremost among them, is: Is he mine? How does this even work?

He lets Jiang Yanli chatter happily to the giggling baby, and presses a hand to Changze’s shoulder. His daemon reaches up to squeeze his hand.

Wei Changze and little A-Ying leave after a week, with the name Wuxian whispered into his dearest friend’s ear, when asked to choose a name.

“I did not know that they would –” he says to Yu Ziyuan. He had promised not to sire any bastards, after all.

She presses her lips together, and he winces, steeling himself for one of her sharp tirades, words nearly as cutting as Zidian. “That… boy,” she says, as if unsure that she should say boy there. As if ‘abomination’ would work better. “does not have a daemon.”

[Background for my Wei Wuxian is half-daemon AU! Feel free to ask about it, this one is WILD]

[Read Part 2 here!]

[drwcn]

#9 【Carbon in the Steel】

cql au: everyone is an orphan except wwx; dark!twin jades

The Brothers Lan 

There was once a little house, on the outskirts of a farming village beyond the tiered rice fields south of Meishan, far, far away from Cloud Recesses. Both Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji remembered that house. It was the house Father had built for Mother, and it was there that they were born. 

It sat at the base of a hill where many tall bamboo trees grew, and in the garden, there had been gentians, indigo and violet, that bloomed beautifully every summer. 

Lan Xichen would dream sometimes of that house and of the wonderful days in those early years. 

Father, look! 

Excellent form, A-Huan. Very good. Much improved. Now, remember to keep your balance on your front… 

These days he could no longer recall Father’s face. His voice though, Lan Xichen still remembered as clear as a bell. On the other hand, his brother Wangji did not remember much of Father at all; instead, it was Mother’s smile that he could never forget. 

Mother, can A-Zhan and I stay with you and Father tonight? 

P’ease, Mo’her. 

Lan Xichen remembered hugging his baby brother like a doll and strategically weakening his parents’ resolve using his baby pout and big puppy eyes. A-Zhan was always a trooper, so cooperative, so excellent at looking like a perfect toddler.  Stoic though. So stoic for a baby. What a weird kid. 

We had a bad dream. 

Bad dweam.  

Those were obviously lies. They never had bad dreams then; those would come much later, when their reality became worse than any nightmare they could ever imagine.

Jiujiu never needed to tell them that Mother and Father were dead, or what death was. They’d seen plenty of creatures die: the village’s cattle they butchered for the new year, the spinster's kittens that didn’t survive the winter, and the pheasants they caught and roasted for A-Zhan’s birthday. 

Father had been a lifelong vegetarian, so eating meat didn’t agree with his stomach, but he never enforced such rules on his sons. In fact Father didn’t enforce any rules on his sons, except to show kindness where they could and to be true to their hearts.  

Father probably didn’t anticipate just how difficult it was to be kind when the world had been so wholly unkind. Nor did he anticipate that he would die in such a violent and sudden manner without even so much as a goodbye.

I don’t remember what were the last words Father said to me. Wangji would confess to Xichen one day. I don’t even remember what Father looked like. 

They were by the marsh catching lobsters with jiujiu when it happened. Mother suddenly appeared and spoke words that were foreign and frightening - Gusu Lan, cultivators, siege, pursuit, escape. Go. Now. She didn’t hug them or kiss them. Lan Xichen remembered Wangji reaching up towards her to be picked up and the confusion and heartbreak in his eyes when she pushed him back into jiujiu’s waiting arms.   

A-niang...

At a certain point, jiujiu must’ve done something to them, because neither Wangji nor himself remember any part of their journey out of that village. When they woke up, they were somewhere high up and deep in the mountains. His little brother had looked at him and he had stared back and they both knew then that their parents were dead. Curled in their jiujiu’s arms, they cried themselves into another fitful sleep, and all the while, jiujiu didn’t wake up once, too exhausted by the endless days of travel. 

To them, jiujiu - like all adults - was old, but it was not until they grew up that they realized that Zhao Zhuliu at the time of their parents’ demise had been no more than twenty years old, barely more than a boy himself.  

~

Life with jiujiu was quiet, but after some time, they were able to find a sliver of happiness. 

Zhao Zhuliu was a quiet man, always had been, and that didn’t change just because he now had two young children on his hands. But he loved them, his sister’s only blood left on this earth; by god, he loved them beyond reason. 

Jiujiu was not a talker, but he was never distant, and though he was strict in his training of their cultivation and their swordsmanship, he was never harsh. So yes, life was quiet, but at least for a while there was a roof over their heads and food in their belly, and they never had to wonder where they would be tomorrow…

When jiujiu failed to return from his night-hunt, Lan Xichen knew that something had gone terribly wrong. 

Lan Xichen was the older one; he was thirteen. Practically an adult, he told himself. If jiujiu never came back, then he was just going to have to take care of Wangji. 

Whatever it takes. 

His brother was not a needy child, but when he turned eleven, he seemed to have found his appetite and ate everything Xichen could get his hands on. Fishing was the easiest and hunting a big game lasted them a while if he could preserve it just right, but even if he collected berries in the mountains and wild herbs in the forest, he still needed grains, still needed new clothes for the winter, and still needed oil to light a lamp at night so Wangji could continue to practice his calligraphy. 

He did try; you must know. Lan Xichen did try to do things the right way, but there was only so much money he could earn by book-keeping at a shop, or running errands for merchants, or even waiting tables at an inn. He was a child, and desperate, and nobody would pay him a dime if they could get away with a nickel. 

It didn’t take long for Xichen to learn that the fastest way of earning money was often the most unsavoury and that he wasn’t above reaching for those means. There were no lengths Lan Xichen wouldn’t go to keep his brother safe and happy, no asset within his arsenal of skills and attributes that he wouldn’t hone and weaponize to make himself stronger. He got good at stealing, got great at cheating, and grew accustomed  to killing. Every so often...if there were other offers available, well...Wangji would never need to know. 

Morals do not matter if Wangji went hungry. I can’t let Wangji go hungry.

And, once a year, Lan Xichen would buy a box of osmanthus pastry, like the kind Mother used to make for them - flakey and fragrant, rich but not overwhelming - and he and Wangji would sit together under the stars and finish the box all in one go. 

“Happy birthday, didi.” 

Chewing slowly on the osmanthus pastry, Wangji would smile, and it would all be worth it. 

“Thank you, xiongzhang.” 

~

Then, three years after jiujiu was taken, a startling news broke out over the lands. 

After years of internal strife, the dirty politics of Lanling Jin finally fractured the once glorious reigning sect. Jin Guangshan’s many children and their scheming “little mothers” formed factions and allied themselves with subsidiary sects all vying for control over Lanling’s seat of power. (小娘 xiao’niang = little mother, what one calls one’s mother if one’s mother is not the legal wife. The “real” mother of any children would always be the legal wife, while their birth mothers are ‘little mothers’.)

The details of Jin Guangshan’s demise was not entirely clear, but eventually it was his third son Jin Zitao who became the new Sect Master Jin. Being only eleven years old, it was clear to anyone who had eyes that he was a puppet, completely controlled by the whims of his regent mother, Jin Guangshan’s once favourite concubine, and the ancient respected Qin family who had promised their daughter Qin Su to be his bride once they both come of age. 

People had praised Qin Su’s stepmother, Sect Master Qin’s second wife, for securing such an advantageous marriage for a daughter not even of her own blood, stating that with the Dowager Madame Jin’s clever mind and Sect Master Qin’s seniority and experience, surely the murky pond of Lanling would become peaceful once again. 

The bigger question now was with three of the five major sects being led by minors - Qishan’s 14 year-old Wen Yuefan, Yunmeng’s 13 year-old Jiang Wanyin, and Lanling’s 11 year-old Jin Zitao - who then would become the next Chief Cultivator. Qinghe Nie seemed the most obvious choice at first glance, for they were the fiercest warriors, but given Sect Master Nie Heqiu’s most recent close encounter with yet another qi deviation, it seemed perhaps the real day-to-day leadership role was fulfilled by his first son Nie Mingjue. At seventeen years of age, he was certainly older than his contemporaries, but still a far cry from what was required to be His Excellency.  (温越凡 Wen Yuefan = Wen Qing’s courtesy name) 

Naturally, all eyes were drawn then towards Cloud Recesses, whose previous chance at obtaining the seat of Chief Cultivator had been dashed when its sect master at that time, Qingheng-jun, mysteriously vanished more than a decade ago. Now it seemed that Gusu Lan’s fortune was about to change yet again, when what once should have gone to Lan Cenrong now fell to his younger brother Lan Qiren. 

News of his rise to power had spread far and wide, until every man, woman, and child knew his name. Until Lan Xichen heard from a gossiping bar-keep at a tavern. Until Lan Wangji heard from the children playing on the street. 

One morning Lan Xichen returned to their temporary home to see Wangji sitting in front of the breakfast he’d prepared (when did he learn to cook???) and a purse on the table filled with silver coins and small gold nuggets.

“Wangji...where did you -” 

“I don’t want you to go out at night again, xiongzhang,” said Lan Wangji bluntly. 

Taken aback by Wangji’s tone and his implications, Xichen quickly gathered his wits and tried to maintain control of the conversation. “That doesn’t answer my question; where did you get the money?” 

“I also went out last night, after you assumed I fell asleep and left.”  

Xichen’s blood went cold. “You...went out? Out? In the middle of the night?! To do what?!” 

Lan Wangji’s stoicism did not waver. “What one usually does to get paid at night. What you’ve been doing for years.” 

In three long strides, Lan Xichen strode up to his little brother - his baby brother - and yanked him up by the collar. Grabbing his arms with both hands, he forced Wangji to look him in the eye as he exclaimed in a mad panic, “You didn’t! Tell me you didn’t!!” 

God, Wangji, what have you done, what have you done - how could I let this happen - I should’ve done better - 

Wangji did not blink, but after a long terrible silence, he said, “No. I didn’t. I just followed you. I saw.” 

“You saw…” 

There had been a man who eyed him with interest. Lan Xichen wasn’t looking for business - hadn’t been looking for months - but winter was coming and Wangji was growing so much he would need several new sets of robes. Xichen hadn’t been working as many hours as he’d been previously. He needed to train, to cultivate - they both did - so that one day they could do what needed to be done. The core melting technique was not to be trifled with lightly, jiujiu had warned them. They needed time to practice, to perfect it, time that couldn’t be used to earn income. 

While yes he could steal and yes he could kill, Lan Xichen realized early on that those two options often caught the attention of local authorities or worse the local cultivation sect, especially if his activities were too frequent or too conspicuous. Sometimes it was just easier… 

“The money, then?” 

“Don’t you recognize the purse?” 

Xichen turned around. He did. He did recognize that silk embroidered draw-string purse. It belonged to the man from last night. He had taken money out of it this morning to pay Xichen for his time.  

And when they parted ways, Xichen had gone to a public bath house to get rid of any incriminating evidence on his body before going home to his brother. That was his routine... had been his routine for years… 

“I shoved his body down a well. That should buy us enough time to get out of this town. You weren’t planning for us to stay that long anyway right?” 

“Wangji…Wangji -” Lan Xichen turned away. He couldn’t face his brother, who now knew what he knew. 

“Xiongzhang, don’t do this for me anymore.” Lan Wangji’s hand found his own, squeezing it tightly. 

“It’s - it’s really not a big deal.” Lan Xichen tried to laugh it off. “I don’t do it that often. Really - I am your older brother, it is my duty to -” 

“No. No more. From now on, if you go out, I go out. I’m old enough -” 

“You’re thirteen, a child!” 

“So were you.” 

Lan Xichen closed his eyes. 

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

“I know I’m done waiting.” 

Lan Wangji was talking, of course, about their vengeance. It was what they spoke of on most nights when they couldn’t sleep. For mother and father and jiujiu, they swore they would not rest until they razed Cloud Recesses to the ground and burned the core out of every last one of their disciples before slitting their throats.  

Wangji came around to face him again and stared him down with his brows furrowed tightly above bright determined eyes. “It’s not fair. The Chief Cultivator was supposed to be Father! The heir of Gusu Lan is supposed to be you! Instead - instead...”

Tears welled up in his little brother’s eyes. “They hurt you, ge, I saw. I saw.” 

Choking with shame, anger and a pain he couldn’t describe, Lan Xichen pulled Lan Wangji into a crushing hug. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry Wangji. I’m sorry I couldn’t do better. I’m...” Words failed. As Lan Wangji cried into his chest, Lan Xichen looked up to their leaky roof and their bare, striped walls, and wondered what the ethereal Cloud Recesses would look like. All that should have been theirs, should’ve been his, belonged to someone else. 

Lan Qiren is Chief Cultivator now. He’s still holding jiujiu captive. He needs to die. The people who killed Father and Mother; they all need to die. 

“You’re right, Wangji, you’re right. No more.”

“So you won’t leave at night anymore?” 

“I won’t. The world has taken everything from us, I think it’s time we take what we are owed. Once we are strong, we will save jiujiu and avenge A-die and A-niang.” 

“And if people try to stop us?” 

“Then we will destroy them and anyone else that gets in our way.” 

[bloody-bee-tea]

A second chance

ScarletRuby19 over on Twitter commissioned me for a Chengxuan fic where JZX survives and comes to Lotus Pier where JC and JZX bond, first over JL and then JYL, before they fall in love. Cue some angst and doubt, over whether they are allowed this happiness before they decide that, yes. JYL would want them to be happy. Plus a little bonus at the end where WWX finds out and Madam Jin doting on JC. I hope you like it! It’s a little over 5k, so you can also read it here on AO3.

Jiang Cheng is standing in the ruins of his home and he doesn’t know where he should even start. Just yesterday he added a plate for his sister, setting it up next to their parents and just the thought makes Jiang Cheng want to curl up and die. Or maybe just sleep for a very, very long time.

Let someone else shoulder the responsibility for once.

But he doesn’t even get that, because a disciple comes running up to him. It’s always bad news when people run up to him.

“What?” Jiang Cheng snaps out before the disciple even comes to a stop, and when he does, he has to bend over to catch his breath first.

“Sect Leader, Jin Zixuan is here.”

Jiang Cheng blinks, once, twice and then a third time for good measure.

“He is what?” he finally gets out and the disciple points back to where he came from.

“He just landed, a baby strapped to his chest.”

Jin Ling, Jiang Cheng thinks, and it’s that thought that finally gets him to move.

He runs off, the disciple close behind him, and Jiang Cheng comes to a stop when his eyes fall on Jin Zixuan, like his disciple said, chalk white in his face, sweat on his brow, swaying on his feet and a baby strapped to his chest.

“You’re not dead,” is the first thing Jiang Cheng says to him and he’s met with a grimace at that.

“Wishing I were right about now,” Jin Zixuan gives back, panting heavily and when his knees give out on him, Jiang Cheng is there to catch him.

“I don’t understand,” Jiang Cheng admits, one hand under Jin Zixuan’s shoulder to support him, and one hand on Jin Ling’s head.

“Wen Ning killed you,” Jiang Cheng says once he safely guided Jin Zixuan to sit down right where he stood and Jin Zixuan lets out a snort that turns into a pained grunt.

“Wishing he did right about now,” Jin Zixuan says again with a grimace and then he sighs when Jin Ling starts to squirm in the harness. “Help me with this,” Jin Zixuan pants out, getting started on undoing the straps that hold Jin Ling and Jiang Cheng is quick to assist him.

He doesn’t mention how much Jin Zixuan’s hands shake.

What he does mention is the steadily growing patch of blood on his robe.

“What the fuck,” Jiang Cheng breathes out and then turns towards his disciple. “Get Jiang Sushan, right now.”

The disciple runs off without comment and Jiang Cheng turns back around to Jin Zixuan, just in time to have Jin Ling deposited in his arms.

“What is going on?” Jiang Cheng whispers and Jin Zixuan presses his lips together.

“I survived, if only barely. And I can’t stay at Koi Tower. I think—I think Jin Guangyao and Jin Zixun were working together. I can’t—I don’t trust him. I can’t stay there. Jin Ling shouldn’t be around him,” he pants out and Jiang Cheng looks down at the tiny baby in his arms. “My mother sent me away.”

“Why come here?” Jiang Cheng dumbly asks, but it’s all a bit too much right now.

“You’re her brother,” Jin Zixuan presses out. “You’re his uncle. Where else would I go?”

His answer takes Jiang Cheng aback, because it sounds like Jin Zixuan didn’t even consider going anywhere else, and it makes a ball of dread settle in Jiang Cheng’s stomach.

“I have nothing to offer you. Look around,” he says and points at the still slightly smoking ruins of Lotus Pier. “I have no resources, no stable home, nothing. Why come here?”

Jin Zixuan levels him with a look Jiang Cheng didn’t know he could make and repeats “You’re her sister, you’re his uncle. Where else would I go?”

Jiang Cheng opens his mouth to argue, but before he can find the words, Jin Ling lets out a discontented noise and Jiang Cheng’s attention is immediately redirected.

“I don’t know what to do,” Jin Zixuan whispers and he sounds as honest as Jiang Cheng has ever heard him. “She’s gone and I don’t know what to do.”

Jiang Cheng’s head snaps back up, just in time to watch Jin Zixuan slump back, his injury and the exhaustion clearly getting the better of him, but before Jiang Cheng has time to panic, he catches sight of Jiang Sushan rushing up to them.

“I don’t know, either,” Jiang Cheng whispers and then he makes place for the healer, Jin Ling cradled protectively to his chest.

He doesn’t have a goddamn clue what to do either.

~*~*~

Jiang Sushan forbids Jin Zixuan from standing up until the hole in his stomach has healed. The hole in his stomach. Jiang Cheng feels sick just thinking about it, and he tries very hard not to imagine how it happened.

But with Jin Zixuan forced into bedrest, Jiang Cheng spends more time in the infirmary than he ever cared to do before. But Jin Zixuan wants to see his son, and Jiang Cheng can barely stand the thought of giving the tiny baby out of his hands.

So it’s him who brings Jin Ling to Jin Zixuan on a daily basis.

“If you could just heal up already,” Jiang Cheng grumbles sometimes during the third week, because he has a home to rebuild and a Sect to establish and disciples to train, but instead he’s sitting at his late sister’s husband’s bedside, holding a baby on his knees so Jin Zixuan can reach out and let Jin Ling grab his finger. “I have better things to do than be here every goddamn day.”

“Then just leave,” Jin Zixuan snaps back, clearly as unhappy with his bedrest as Jiang Cheng is.

Plus, neither of them counted on seeing each other every goddamn day when Jin Zixuan married Jiang Yanli and for all that Jiang Yanli clearly loved him, Jiang Cheng still holds a grudge.

Jin Zixuan was an ass to his sister and he’s not sure he’ll ever forgive that.

“Fine,” Jiang Cheng presses out and makes to stand up, absolutely intending to take Jin Ling with him, but Jin Zixuan fists his hand in Jiang Cheng’s robe.

“You’ll leave him here,” he says, eyes narrowed and Jiang Cheng fights the urge to bare his teeth at him.

“Absolutely not. You’re not even allowed to hold him yet,” he gives back and he can see the fury flash over Jin Zixuan’s face.

“And whose fault is that?” he demands to know and if he’s being honest, Jiang Cheng has been itching for this fight ever since Jin Zixuan landed in Lotus Pier.

“Why don’t you tell me,” he says, voice scathing and Jin Zixuan doesn’t even hesitate for a second.

“Your fucking brother did this to me,” he hisses and now Jiang Cheng gives him a smile so sharp Jin Zixuan rears back.

“From what you told me it was your brother who did this, so if I were you, I wouldn’t go around throwing stones,” he gives back without missing a beat and Jin Zixuan goes red in the face. “Now if you would excuse me, I have to take care of your kid, because clearly you’re unable to.”

It’s a low blow, and Jiang Cheng knows it, but he can’t stop himself.

“I wasn’t supposed to do this alone,” Jin Zixuan says, and his voice sounds more watery than Jiang Cheng knows how to deal with. “Yanli was supposed to be here, too.”

“Yeah, well, she’s not, is she,” Jiang Cheng says, and even just the reminder that his sister is dead cuts him open all over again.

A very vindictive part of Jiang Cheng hopes that Jin Zixuan feels the same pain Jiang Cheng does.

“And whose fault is that?” Jin Zixuan yells suddenly at him, startling Jin Ling into crying, but neither of them care right now.

“Certainly not mine,” Jiang Cheng shoots back but Jin Zixuan doesn’t back down.

“No. It was just your brother who killed my wife. Who killed his mother,” Jin Zixuan says with a pointed look at Jin Ling and Jiang Cheng boils with rage.

“She was my sister, too,” he shouts, Jin Ling full on wailing in his arms now, and it’s only the arrival of Jiang Sushan who defuses the situation.

“What the hell,” she says and marches up to Jiang Cheng, to take Jin Ling out of his hands. “I allowed you to bring him because I thought it would help his recovery,” she snaps and rocks Jin Ling in her arms.

“Since clearly you’re both too stupid to appreciate my gift, I’ll have to ask you to leave now, Sect Leader Jiang.”

Jiang Cheng turns burning eyes on her, but Jiang Sushan is not one to back down and Jiang Cheng knows it.

“Can I—,” Jin Zixuan asks, arm outstretched for his son but Jiang Sushan gives him the same judgemental look she gave Jiang Cheng.

“Absolutely not,” she declares and then simply storms off, Jin Ling still in her arms.

Jiang Cheng’s fingers itch without Jin Ling’s by now so familiar weight and Jin Zixuan looks like he has half a mind running after her.

But thanks to the interruption all the rage left Jiang Cheng and so he scrubs a tired hand over his face.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. If you leave that bed, she’ll find a reason to send Jin Ling to Meishan or something,” Jiang Cheng whispers without looking at Jin Zixuan who freezes in his movement.

“She wouldn’t,” he gives back but he doesn’t sound as certain as he surely would like to be.

“She would,” Jiang Cheng corrects him and then straightens up. “Just stay in this goddamn bed and heal, would you? I’m tired of doing this alone,” he tells Jin Zixuan, his eyes still carefully avoided, but he still notices the jerky nod from the other man.

It’s only then that Jiang Cheng leaves the infirmary.

~*~*~

It takes Jin Zixuan another two weeks to heal enough for Jiang Sushan to allow him out of bed. He’s still not allowed to hold Jin Ling without help, but at least he can watch him. It doesn’t give Jiang Cheng enough time to deal with his Sect’s business, but it’s better than nothing.

“I can help, you know,” Jin Zixuan says one afternoon as he watches Jin Ling and he startles Jiang Cheng enough that he messes up his letter.

“Fuck,” Jiang Cheng curses, prompting Jin Ling to let out an unhappy noise and when Jin Zixuan shoots him an accusing glare, Jiang Cheng glares right back.

“He’s too young to pick up on this,” Jiang Cheng says as he checks if there’s a way to save the letter.

There is not. He’ll have to start over.

“One day he won’t be,” Jin Zixuan reasons and he reaches out as if he wants to pick Jin Ling up.

“Oh no, you don’t,” Jiang Cheng hisses under his breath and intercepts his movement, taking Jin Ling into his own arms.

“Jiang Wanyin!” Jin Zixuan snaps and Jiang Cheng glares at him over the top of Jin Ling’s very soft baby hair.

“If you pick him up, you’ll rip something and then we’re back at square one, so don’t even think about it.”

“He is my son,” Jin Zixuan presses out and Jiang Cheng shrugs.

“Then maybe hurry up with the healing, so you can hold him, too. It certainly would be a great help,” Jiang Cheng snarks and then clicks his tongue when his eyes fall on the ruined letter.

“I can help,” Jin Zixuan says again, following Jiang Cheng’s gaze and Jiang Cheng bristles.

“I am perfectly capable of writing my own letters, thank you very much.”

“You’re so—,” Jin Zixuan says and then clearly can’t find the right words because he closes his mouth with a click. “Fine. Put him back down again, so you can finish your damn letter.”

“Ah, language,” Jiang Cheng reminds him, rather smug, and he almost has to smile when Jin Zixuan shoots him a glare.

Almost.

~*~*~

When Jin Ling starts running around, Jiang Cheng and Jin Zixuan have long fallen into a routine. Jin Zixuan was right when he said he could help—he was trained as an heir, too, after all—and Jiang Cheng is loathe to admit that it removes a great weight from his shoulders to pass the less important matters off to Jin Zixuan.

They don’t talk a lot, even after all this time, since too many topics are off limits. They don’t talk about Wei Wuxian or Jin Guangyao at all, and mentions of Jiang Yanli still make both of them bitter and snappish, even though they are getting better at it.

It’s still safest to talk about Jin Ling, so they mostly spend their time doing that.

Even though Jiang Cheng finds himself wishing they could talk about Jiang Yanli more often.

Jin Zixuan is one of the last living people who held his sister dear, and Jiang Cheng itches with the need to find out what details Jin Zixuan remembers about her.

Jiang Cheng is afraid he’s forgetting too much lately, everything getting buried under work and more work.

“My sister told me I would hate this,” Jiang Cheng says apropos of nothing one day, when Jin Zixuan’s gaze follows Jin Ling down the pier.

They have secured this particular pier—erected a barrier so that Jin Ling couldn’t fall into the water even if they looked away for a second—and so Jin Zixuan doesn’t hesitate to snap his head around to him.

“What?” he asks, voice breathless and Jiang Cheng already regrets opening his mouth.

But the thought that maybe his memory of Jiang Yanli would be matched with one from Jin Zixuan gets him to talk again.

“She always said I’m a doer,” Jiang Cheng says, and keeps his eyes on the pile of letters on the table. “That I was meant to train the disciples and lead them on night-hunts. That I wasn’t made for the bureaucracy of leading a Sect.”

“She was right,” Jin Zixuan says with a scoff, though it’s not as sharp as it could be. “You’re doing a piss-poor job at this.”

“Language,” Jiang Cheng mildly reminds Jin Zixuan and he has to press his lips together when the predictable offended huff comes.

It was quite the surprise to realize that Jin Zixuan cursed almost as much as Jiang Cheng did, and by now Jin Ling starts to babble. One of them will slip up sooner or later, and Jiang Cheng is determined to have it be Jin Zixuan.

He thinks it would greatly amuse him, to see Jin Zixuan flush in outrage and embarrassment.

“You think you could do it better?” Jiang Cheng challenges him and Jin Zixuan sighs.

“I don’t—I don’t know,” he finally admits and Jiang Cheng’s gaze snaps towards him.

He didn’t expect Jin Zixuan to admit that he doesn’t know, that he isn’t sure of his capabilities.

“My father—he never let me do much. Shoved the minor matters off to me, but that was before Jin Guangyao came to Koi Tower. Afterwards, not so much. I guess between the two of us, you’re the only one with real experience.”

“Oh,” Jiang Cheng says, because sometimes he forgets that it wasn’t only his family that was fucked up.

“Oh,” Jin Ling parrots after Jiang Cheng and it’s enough warning for Jin Zixuan to brace for the impact of the toddler.

“You just make sure to repeat the harmless stuff,” Jin Zixuan tells his son as he hoists him into his lap, where Jin Ling settles quite contently.

An ugly spike of jealousy goes through Jiang Cheng, but he shoves it aside. Jin Ling is Jin Zixuan’s son. He’s just the uncle. Of course Jin Ling would be more comfortable with Jin Zixuan.

But then Jin Ling makes grabby hands at Jiang Cheng and Jin Zixuan shuffles closer with a roll of his eyes.

“I do not understand the fascination with your bell,” Jin Zixuan grumbles under his breath but he watches fondly as Jin Ling excitedly grabs for it.

“I do not understand the fascination with you,” Jiang Cheng shoots back, his eyes already back on his letter, but he still hears the outraged noise Jin Zixuan makes.

Instead of retaliating, like Jiang Cheng expected, Jin Zixuan falls silent and it’s a long time before he speaks again.

“Yanli always said that we needed to find a capable and trustworthy right hand for Jin Ling,” he finally whispers and Jiang Cheng stiffens. “I think she was preparing for the possibility that Jin Ling would turn out like you, too,” Jin Zixuan goes on, and normally Jiang Cheng would be offended at his choice of words, but Jin Zixuan’s voice is soft and Jiang Yanli never thought anything wrong with Jiang Cheng.

“I see,” Jiang Cheng whispers and then busies himself with the letter again.

He doesn’t move away when Jin Zixuan’s knee brushes his.

~*~*~

Jiang Cheng is contemplating drowning himself in the waters of Lotus Pier when Jin Ling runs up to him.

“Baba!” he yells excitedly and Jiang Cheng’s heart stumbles with that by now so familiar and dreaded mix of emotions.

They have tried to tell Jin Ling that he should address Jiang Cheng as ‘jiujiu’ and not ‘baba’ but it never seems to stick with Jin Ling and at least Jin Zixuan seems to have given up on it.

Jiang Cheng refuses to acknowledge how that makes him feel, but sometimes, it’s all he can do, drowning in how much he might want this.

It’s not right, and Jiang Cheng knows it.

“A-Ling,” he greets Jin Ling when he crashes into his legs and peers up at him, excitement shining out of his eyes. “What is it?”

“A-die said I could start training with the sword soon!” Jin Ling’s voice is still too loud, too excited, but Jiang Cheng smiles down at him.

“Oh, did he?” he asks, even though he already knows it.

For all that Jin Zixuan is Jin Ling’s father, they have fallen into the habit of making decisions together. It’s a dangerous territory, like Jiang Cheng’s heart likes to remind him.

“Yes, yes, yes,” Jin Ling babbles, and Jiang Cheng knows Jin Ling is getting too big for this now, but he still bows down to pick him up and settle him at his hip.

“But I’m not allowed to use Suihua yet,” Jin Ling then adds with a sad little tilt of his mouth and rests his head on Jiang Cheng’s shoulder. “A-die says I’m still too small for that.”

“And he’s right,” Jiang Cheng says and flicks Jin Ling’s nose. “Plus Suihua is too sharp for practice. You don’t want to cut yourself, do you?”

“No, baba,” Jin Ling agrees immediately, because for all that he tries to play tough—even at his tender age of five—Jin Ling cries easily.

Not to mention that neither Jin Zixuan nor Jiang Cheng like to see him hurt.

Jiang Cheng turns away from the water, thoughts of drowning himself and his stupid feelings forgotten, and when his eyes fall on Jin Zixuan he turns his head slightly away from Jin Ling on instinct.

It’s also a good reason not to focus on how his heart skips a beat.

“A-die!” Jin Ling predictably yells and throws himself out of Jiang Cheng’s arms, straight into Jin Zixuan’s, secure in the knowledge that neither will let him fall.

Jiang Cheng maintains his grip on Jin Ling until he’s sure that Jin Zixuan has him, but he sharply turns his head away when Jin Zixuan’s hands linger on his own longer than is strictly necessary.

Jiang Cheng’s mouth gives an unhappy twist when he reminds himself yet again that Jin Zixuan is his dead sister’s husband, but it does nothing to calm these feelings inside of him.

“Did you tell your baba already?” Jin Zixuan asks Jin Ling, but his eyes don’t leave Jiang Cheng and Jiang Cheng has to turn around when the look becomes too much.

“I did,” Jin Ling nods. “He says Suihua is too sharp for me, so I won’t use it yet,” he then tacks on and Jin Zixuan chuckles.

“Didn’t I tell you the same? Why do you only listen when it’s your baba saying that?” Jin Zixuan wants to know and Jiang Cheng can’t take it anymore.

“Zixuan!” he snaps and he only remembers himself when Jin Ling stares at him with watery eyes.

“A-Ling, why don’t you go to your room, I found you a training sword,” Jin Zixuan says as he puts Jin Ling down and Jin Ling runs off just as excitedly as he ran up to Jiang Cheng, Jiang Cheng’s outburst clearly already forgotten.

Jiang Cheng stares after him, not out of worry because he knows Jin Ling is safe in Lotus Pier, but to avoid Jin Zixuan’s look.

He can feel his eyes on him and Jiang Cheng doesn’t know if he’s strong enough to take it.

“Why are you still objecting to being called baba?” Jin Zixuan wants to know as he steps up to Jiang Cheng and Jiang Cheng tenses.

“I’m his jiujiu,��� he gives back, even though there’s a sharp pain in his chest at the possibility of being addressed as such from Jin Ling.

“No, you’re not,” Jin Zixuan softly says and then turns Jiang Cheng around with a firm hand to his shoulder.

Jiang Cheng can’t meet his eyes, but when his gaze falls to Jin Zixuan’s lips instead he jerks his head away from that sight too.

He’s still trying to forget that night, the one where they both got drunk, the night where Jiang Cheng allowed Jin Zixuan to lean in and kiss him, and it’s so much harder than it should be. But Jin Zixuan isn’t his to touch or to kiss and Jiang Cheng hates himself a little bit for the fact that he wasn’t strong enough to push him away.

That he kissed him back instead.

“Wanyin,” Jin Zixuan whispers, and Jiang Cheng jerks with the familiarity in that name.

“Don’t,” he presses out and tries to take a step away from Jin Zixuan, but he follows him.

“Tell me why,” Jin Zixuan says, matching Jiang Cheng step for step, relentless in his movements, until Jiang Cheng is pressed against the railing of the pier.

“You’re my sister’s husband,” Jiang Cheng bites out, the words so ingrained in him already, because he has to remind himself of that several times a day.

“I’m a widower,” Jin Zixuan says, and he sounds exactly as pained by that as he should, before he shakes his head. “And the mourning period is over.”

“That doesn’t change anything,” Jiang Cheng gives back and startles when Jin Zixuan puts his hand on his arm.

Not really holding onto him, but seeking contact nonetheless and Jiang Cheng is helpless against it. He sways into the contact, a move Jin Zixuan clearly notices because a small smile grazes his lips.

Jiang Cheng itches to kiss it off.

“Doesn’t it?” Jin Zixuan asks and Jiang Cheng raises his head as he pushes his shoulders back.

“No,” he bites out but Jin Zixuan doesn’t let go of him.

“Do you really think Yanli would begrudge us this? Do you really think she wouldn’t want us to be happy?” he asks and Jiang Cheng jerks with his words.

“Who says you make me happy?” he shoots back and his stomach falls when pain flashes over Jin Zixuan’s face.

He hesitates for a moment, but when Jiang Cheng doesn’t move or say anything else, he slowly pulls back.

And Jiang Cheng, he can’t let that happen.

His hands shoot up on instinct, fisting in Jin Zixuan’s robes, which are more purple than gold at this point, and he stops Jin Zixuan in his movement.

Jiang Cheng can’t quite meet Jin Zixuan’s eyes, but he has wondered the same lately. If Jiang Yanli would really be mad at them for finding happiness again. For finding happiness with each other.

Jiang Cheng can’t be sure, but he likes to think that she would want this for them. That she would be happy. And if Jin Zixuan thinks the same—

Before Jiang Cheng can overthink this, he leans forward, pressing his lips to Jin Zixuan’s, who meets him without hesitation.

Jiang Cheng was drunk the last—only—time they did this, but he isn’t now. Now, he gets to enjoy this.

“You make me very happy, Wanyin,” Jin Zixuan mumbles against his lips when they finally part, and Jiang Cheng wonders when Jin Zixuan turned into the more brave, into the more suave of the two of them, but then he tilts his head again and all thoughts flee his head.

Jin Zixuan makes him very happy, too.

~*~*~

Jiang Cheng hasn’t even entered their rooms completely yet when Jin Zixuan slams a letter down on the table.

“My father died,” Jin Zixuan announces and the good mood leaves Jiang Cheng just as quickly as his stomach drops to the floor.

They didn’t even get two years, is all Jiang Cheng can think, as he sinks to the floor opposite of Jin Zixuan.

“I see,” Jiang Cheng whispers, and pushes the letter away from him.

He can guess what it says. Jin Zixuan is the heir after all.

He will leave, and he will take Jin Ling with him, and he might as well reach into Jiang Cheng’s chest and take his heart, too. It’s not like there will be much left of it, after all.

“You don’t,” Jin Zixuan says with a little shake of his head, and then leans over the table to drag Jiang Cheng into a biting kiss.

Jiang Cheng imagines this is what goodbye tastes like and he has to blink furiously so that the tears won’t cloud his gaze.

“I’m not going back,” Jin Zixuan says when they finally part and Jiang Cheng’s breath hitches at that, his hands coming up to frame Jin Zixuan’s face.

“Do not lie to me, only to leave in the end,” he demands, but Jin Zixuan shakes his head and then presses a kiss to Jiang Cheng’s palm for good measure too.

“I’m not,” he reassures him. “Did you forget that my mother likes you? Maybe even more than I do,” Jin Zixuan teases him, and it’s familiar enough to bring a small smile to Jiang Cheng’s face. “She’s going to be acting Sect Leader,” Jin Zixuan tells him as he leans close again to brush his nose against Jiang Cheng’s cheek. “And she wants us to marry.”

Jiang Cheng freezes in surprise at those words.

“She what?” he dumbly asks, because this is something Jiang Cheng never allowed himself to think of, to hope for.

Jin Zixuan wore red once already, and surely Jiang Cheng couldn’t get so lucky as to see him in it again.

“The date is set,” Jin Zixuan says with a shrug. “She doesn’t give us much choice. Really, it was more a statement of facts than her voicing a wish. You know she adores you, I wonder how you can still have doubts about that.”

“Zixuan,” Jiang Cheng says, because he doesn’t appreciate it if Jin Zixuan is just joking around right now.

“If you would have read the letter you knew,” Jin Zixuan says, his amusement clear in his voice and Jiang Cheng can’t help himself, he simply has to lean in and capture Jin Zixuan’s lips again.

His fiance’s lips, if Jin Zixuan is speaking the truth.

“Jin Ling is going to love this,” Jiang Cheng says when they part and Jin Zixuan makes an unhappy face at him.

“I would prefer it if you loved it,” he pouts and Jiang Cheng gives him a brilliant smile.

“Isn’t it enough that I love you?” he asks and when Jin Zixuan splutters like he always does when Jiang Cheng so freely expresses his affection, Jiang Cheng knows that they will be alright.

More than that even.

~*~*~

Wei Wuxian has to admit that he kind of enjoys showing the little brat just what his talismans can do. It’s fun to see him on the floor and struggling to get free.

“You just wait until my a-die and baba show up,” the brat says, once he exhausted himself and Wei Wuxian frowns at that.

“Your a-die and baba?” he parrots but before the brat can answer him, there’s a rustling in the underbrush next to them and Wei Wuxian takes a cautious step back.

“Jin Ling,” a new voice says and Wei Wuxian watches as the sour face on the brat’s face is overtaken with a smile.

Wait a minute, Jin Ling? Jin Rulan? Could it really be, Wei Wuxian wonders, but then Jin Zixuan is already stepping forwards and it’s really him.

Even though Wei Wuxian has to do a double take when he sees him dressed in all purple.

“Jin Zixuan?” Wei Wuxian blurts out, and then—because he can’t help himself—he adds, “Didn’t Wen Ning kill you?”

As soon as the words leave his mouth he slaps a hand over his mouth, but it’s already too late and the damage is done, Wei Wuxian can see that in the narrowing of Jin Zixuan’s eyes.

“Wei Wuxian?” he asks, suspicion clear in his voice and Wei Wuxian winces.

To think that he would blow his cover this soon.

“Haha, in the flesh,” he says with a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of his head, and he totally doesn’t squirm under Jin Zixuan’s searching gaze.

“Not quite in the flesh, huh,” Jin Zixuan mumbles and then destroys the talisman on Jin Ling’s back. “You know, I didn’t appreciate it when your Ghost General put a hole through my stomach,” Jin Zixuan then says conversationally and before Wei Wuxian can say anything to that, purple lightning fills the forest.

Wei Wuxian shivers, phantom pains already running down his back, and he takes a step back.

“You know, I didn’t appreciate it either when your Ghost General put a hole through my husband’s stomach,” a new voice says and when Jiang Cheng steps up next to Jin Zixuan Wei Wuxian’s mind goes blank.

He blinks in confusion several times, but the picture still doesn’t make any more sense than before.

“I think you broke him,” Jin Zixuan whispers to Jiang Cheng who gives Jin Zixuan a sweet smile—and that is something Wei Wuxian can’t even begin to process—and then he holds his hand out for Jin Ling.

“A-Ling, come here,” Jiang Cheng says and Jin Ling is up and next to Jiang Cheng in an instant.

“A-die and baba?” Wei Wuxian whispers, his mind still reeling with the new revelations, and he’s almost relieved when someone else interrupts the scene.

“Zixuan, are you angering my A-Cheng again?” a woman’s voice suddenly calls out and Wei Wuxian can do nothing but stare in helpless confusion as Jin Zixuan groans while Jin Ling snickers.

“A-niang, seriously, you could think Wanyin is your son,” Jin Zixuan complaints just as Madam Jin comes to a halt next to them.

“Thankfully he is now,” Madam Jin gives back with a smile as she pats Jiang Cheng’s cheek, and Wei Wuxian has to watch as his brother just lets it happen.

Without blushing even, which means this must be a regular occurrence.

“It’s not him who made me angry,” Jiang Cheng reassures her and Madam Jin’s eyes fall on Wei Wuxian.

“Oh?” she says and Wei Wuxian falls into a sloppy bow.

“Madam Jin,” he greets her only to startle when Zidian crackles again.

“That’s Sect Leader Jin to you,” Jiang Cheng snaps, just as Jin Ling chuckles.

“What. The fuck,” Wei Wuxian whispers and when three voices snap “Language” at him, he wonders just what the hell he stumbled into this time.

{Buy me a kofi}  

[starshinegoblin]

We Found Love

♥ Co-Written with @ruensroad ♥ Status: Completed ♥ Rating: T ♥ Pairing: ZhanCheng (Lan Wangji x Jiang Cheng) ♥ AU: Canon Divergence; No One Dies; Arranged Marriage; Mentions of XianNing & Nielan; Happy Ending; ♥ Where to Read: AO3 | Only chapter one will be posted on Tumblr. ♥ Author’s Note: If you don’t like this paring then do not read it. Absolutely do not send either us disgusting hate messages here or on AO3 about you not liking this paring. Just move on and live your best life. Otherwise! Enjoy ♥ -------

Lotus Pier - Jiang Cheng: Age 7

Tongues were wagging throughout all of Lotus Pier it seemed like. No matter where Wei Wuxian went, purple clad disciples and servants gossiped plainly in full view, loud enough he didn’t even have to eavesdrop! It wasn’t even that good of news!

His shidi had been matched with some alpha in Gusu and Madam Yu had apparently scored the match of the century. Whatever that meant. Not that it mattered, anyway.

It was awful news! Terrible! Jiang Cheng’s betrothed was too far away to punch!

To make it worse, Madam Yu had now turned her attention on Wei Wuxian himself. Never a good thing. A matchmaker had come to see him just that morning, pinched his ear lobes and arms, checked his teeth and eyes and core. He was a gifted alpha himself, and the matchmaker had seemed pleased. He shivered in the memory of her hands on his hips as though he was an omega like his shidi . His hips! He was only eight!

Embarrassed and indignant, Wei Wuxian had run away to hide until lunch, when a growling stomach had him crawling out for food. With a handful of pilfered dumplings, he ran off again before Madam Yu could get him in her sights, making a break for the docks behind his and Jiang Cheng’s shared rooms. It had a pagoda over the water and he grinned to see Jiang Cheng sitting on the edge with his feet in. He always came here when he needed to think.

“Jiang Cheng!” Wei Wuxian hurried to his shidi’s side and plopped gracelessly down beside him, a grin brightening his expression. He shoved a dumpling in Jiang Cheng’s face. “Lookit!”

Jiang Cheng had been content to be out here on the pier by himself. He’d been singing and wiggling his toes in the water where the fish were coming up to gently nip. His solitude was invaded too soon and he had a good warning before Wei Wuxian was upon him. His shixiong wasn’t one for stealth and was louder than a laughing monkey. His mama’s words, not Jiang Cheng’s.

Jiang Cheng had braced himself to be thrown in the water but not for the dumpling to the face. He was still quick enough for him to catch it before it landed on the white robes his mother had told him to practice wearing. Jiang Cheng didn’t get it but what his mama said was law. He wasn’t going to go against that.

“You're lucky that I like these carrot dumplings!” Jiang Cheng fussed, sharply elbowing Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian pouted, but just lightly shoved him back and stuffed his mouth with dumpling. For a blissful few moments, there was just his obnoxious chewing, then his dark eyes zeroed in on the white robes. “...I thought you were gonna live here?” he said, mildly alarmed and immediately in protective older brother mode, picking at Jiang Cheng’s sleeve. “Why are you wearing Gusu robes? Your alpha picky or something? I’ll punch him in the nose! Then his fancy white robes won’t be so fancy!”

“No, no! It’s mama! She had Biyu-gu make them for me. She said I have to practice.” Jiang Cheng hummed, taking another dumpling from his brother. He leaned in smelling his brother’s warm cinnamon smell for when he was protective. Jiang Cheng didn’t need protection. He wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. “I’m not going anywhere and my alpha gave me butterflies.” he said proudly because they’d been soft grass butterflies that’d been made by Lan Wangji. His faint smell of a bunny and sandalwood had still been on them. “She’ll have you practice too when she finds you one!” He shoved him back.

Wei Wuxian shuddered at the memory. “That creepy old matchmaker looked at my hips,” he said, pouting. “I’m not an omega! Why did she have to grab my hips?” He squirmed, nose scrunched. The old beta’s smell had been oddly strong with perfume. He still felt a bit sick from it, even in memory, like the very thoughts of the woman stunk too. “I hope she finds someone nice… I want someone nice.”

He offered another dumpling and bit into his own, looking out wistfully over the water. Maybe it was silly, but he wanted a simple mated life. He wanted someone to fawn over, and maybe farm with? Someone who liked to eat good food and play! That was the dream. “I wonder who it’ll be,” he hummed and nudged Jiang Cheng’s foot with his own. “Do you like your alpha?” he asked. “Madam Yu said it was… the match of the century? Whatever that means. If you don’t like him, I’ll punch him,” he reminded his baby brother, nose in the air. “And butterflies? How many did you get?”

“Two and I don’t know. He’s been nice to me.” Jiang Cheng answered, wondering how Lan Wangji had felt getting his toy of a husky. It’d been one of the rare gifts his father had given him and despite it only being a toy his shixiong was still scared of it. So he’d sent his most precious toy that he’d been sleeping with to his alpha. Hopefully, Lan Wangji took care of it like he would the butterflies. “And no punching! Remember what mama did last time you did that?” He shivered at how shrill her voice had gotten.

“But you’re my shidi!” Wei Wuxian countered and scooted against him to get his arm around Jiang Cheng’s shoulders. “I don’t mind getting hit or yelled at! You are most important,” he said happily and rubbed his cheek to the other’s, giggling. “Besides, shijie made it all better with her soup!” He gasped just thinking about it. “Do you think she’d make some for us?”

“If not then all we need to do is ask. We know how she loves us best.” Jiang Cheng responded, leaning into Wei Wuxian’s hold. He couldn’t help but feel content. Times like this were the best. “And she’s just making sure you can have young with your mate. You’ll probably have your own sect!” He teased.

“Nuh-uh! I’m your shixiong! Neither of us are going anywhere!” Wei Wuxian clung to him all the more stubbornly. “My mate can come here and we can plant lotus together.” He seemed extra excited about that. “And maybe rice and peppers! Then shijie can always make us yummy food!”

“You really wanna be here? What if where your mate lives is wonderful?” Jiang Cheng asked, laughing at how his shixiong’s scent spiked up. “Besides, you know that shijie is going to go live with that peacock? Mama already said and she seemed so happy when they visited.”

“Then I will cook,” Wei Wuxian pouted again, his lip wobbly at the thought of her being gone. It didn’t last long, however, when a thought occurred to him. “Say, Jiang Cheng! Maybe you can cook too! What do they eat in Gusu?” he asked, thinking of how Jiang Yanli practiced daily to cook for her peacock omega prince. “Maybe your alpha would like to try our food? He’d love your soup!”

“Maybe? His letter mentioned onion and mushroom soup?” Jiang Cheng answered, sounding unsure. It’d been a little line after he’d written about a page and half in regards to his favorite dishes. He’d even sent his alpha his sister's lotus soup recipe.

“Well, let’s go talk to shijie,” Wei Wuxian offered, stuffing the last dumpling into his cheek like a chipmunk and hopping up. He helped Jiang Cheng to his feet. “Remember what she said?” he asked thickly around his chewing. “Food is the path to the heart! Come on!”

He took off running, only pausing once to make sure Jiang Cheng was behind him, and giggled, taking his hand to lead him the rest of the way.

Cloud of Recesses- Lan Wangji: Age 8

In Gusu, the spring sun was a welcome warmth with the breeze that seemed to still carry winter’s chill. Lan Wangji held his betrothed’s little husky to his chest all the tighter with one arm and wrapped his cloak more firmly with the other, cradling the beloved toy into the safety of his chest. It smelt fragrant of green grass, sunshine, and young wheat. He supposed that was what Lotus Pier smelt like, as well as lotus pods and water, and as the head of the plush brushed under his chin, it stirred up the soft, sweet smell, tickling his nose.

Wordlessly, he shuffled through his uncle’s garden, where Lan Qiren grew herbs. He’d read Jiang Cheng’s letter so many times he’d memorized it, as well as the list of foods he didn’t know or recognize. Thankfully, one of their cooks was from Meishan and understood the neighboring Yunmeng’s cuisine, though the list of spices she’d given Lan Wangji to find were very hard to discover. He’d already checked the kitchen gardens, after all, even though the cook had warned him he’d have to go to Caiyi to even find half the list.

Stubbornly, he kept looking. Lan Wangji gently toed at a small green spot and knelt down to brush away some dead leaves around the little marker Lan Qiren had put in. Sage, it read, a good find. But it wasn’t pepper, or chili, or paprika, the first three and most important spices on the list. Thankfully, his uncle had ginger, not too far down the line, and he took care to wipe the marker free of old leaves and early sprouting weeds too. Anything to help his uncle, even in a tiny amount.

He heard footsteps behind him, light and familiar, but didn’t stop, given he’d found a new sprout trying to peek out under a blanket of mulch. He carefully uncovered it and tilted his head, wondering what a ginger plant actually looked like.

“Be careful Wangji or you’ll pull it out before it’s time.” Lan Xichen’s voice said from behind him. A tender smile on his face as he watched his brother hover around the growing ginger sprout. He’d been on his way to visit his shufu when he’d been stopped by Yu Lee. She told him that his brother had been looking for spices.

“Xiongzhang,” Lan Wangji greeted him, standing and turning to face him. He carefully fussed the toy he held close, brushing it off, even though no part of it had touched the ground. Once he was satisfied, he looked down at the ginger again, thoughtful. The name for ginger was phonetically the same as Jiang Cheng’s surname. He wondered if Jiang Cheng was spicy too? Even though he smelt sweet?

Turning back to Lan Xichen, he stepped close to show him his list of spices. “Cook says I need to go to Caiyi for these,” he said softly. “Even shufu does not have the first three in his garden.”

“Oh,” Lan Xichen blinked, taking the list to see what was missing. He could smell the small tinge of unhappiness from his brother at not having found what he needed. Lan Xichen hummed, knowing that they would have to go to Caiyi even before he crouched down to be at his brother’s eye level. “Yu Lee wasn’t wrong Wangji. We will have to visit Caiyi. I think shufu is going there at the end of the week. Perhaps, I can ask if we can go?”

Lan Wangji perked up at that. “Please,” he said, not used to asking for things, but this was for his future mate. It was important. Jiang Cheng had been kind enough to send him a list of foods he liked. The least he could do was learn how to make them. After all, Jiang Cheng was to be a sect leader one day. Lan Wangji’s job was to help him as best he could. He wanted to cook for him, care for him, make the load lighter. That’s what a good mate did! So he would.

Still, it was a bit disappointing that he had to wait. But waiting was its own reward. It gave him time to prepare for all the little bottles he had to store the spices. They needed a box to keep them cool and dry, safe from moisture and weather. That meant...

“Xiongzhang,’ he said, gently tugging on Lan Xichen’s sleeve, “i want to build a spice chest.”

“Would you like me to help you Wangji?” Lan Xichen beamed. His adorable little brother rarely asked for things. His eyes flicked down to the well loved stuffed husky under his brother’s arms. Lan Wangji hadn’t let it go since he’d unwrapped the box it came in.

Lan Wangji nodded, grateful. He didn’t know how to make one, but hopefully his brother did, and if not, he would know who to ask.

“Would you like to start now? I think that Master Peng has some scraps we can use?” Lan Xichen asked, standing up straight.

Another nod, then a hand wrapped around his own. Lan Wangji let himself be led off, holding the little husky close. “Prepare for spices,” he reasoned to his big brother. “Have the bottles already.”

“Of course, one should be prepared for our mates.” Lan Xichen chuckled, though he was serious. Those words had made him wonder what his own mate would be like. His shufu had spoken to many in hopes of finding a match for him. The first had been Jin Zixuan but then Madam Jin and Madam Yu had secured his mating with Jiang Yanli. The next had been Wen Xu from Wen Ruohan. But then Wen Xu’s elder brother died and Wen Xu became the heir and found a mate. His shufu hadn’t pressed for When Chao and he was glad? During the last time he was in the Nightless City the omega hadn’t liked him. He shook his head, pushing those thoughts aside as Lan Wangji lightly squeezed his hand. “Then we must visit the apothecary when in Caiyi unless you want to have special bottles.”

“Got them from Cook,” Lan Wangji said, proud of that. She’d been kind enough to hand him her old bottles when the new allowance had hit, allowing her to buy all new bigger bottles to use for her kitchen. Lan Wangji had thought to fill them with colored sands and rocks, as well as beads and shells, but now with a mate to consider, he wanted them to remain true to their use. They were spice bottles, so spice bottles they would stay.

“I will be prepared for Jiang Cheng,” he promised his brother with all the seriousness he could muster at eight years of age. “Does xiongzhang wish to prepare for a mate too? I will help.”

Lan Xichen blinked at how Jiang Wanyin had gone to Jiang Cheng so quickly. Then his smile thinned as to the question of his own mate. He shook his head. “You will be a good mate for Jiang Wanyin. He is lucky and no, I do not have a mate to prepare for Wangji. I am here to help my didi prepare for his. So, if there’s anything you need help with then just ask me.”

Lan Wangji knew that already, so just nodded seriously and held his brother’s hand more firmly. “ Xiongzhang will make someone very lucky too,” he said solemnly, earnest and confident. His brother was the best person in the world, after all. He deserved the world. “Maybe I can help shufu find someone for xiongzhang?” he wondered, looking to Lan Xichen for approval of the idea. Lan Wangji hadn’t appreciated the last person Lan Qiren had tried to match his brother with. Wen Chao was a brat and a spoiled one. He'd wanted to push his smug face off the mountain.

“I would like that very much.” Lan Xichen smiled cheerfully at him. He knew that his brother meant well. He just hoped that there was someone out for him. “You know me the best and will give Shufu the best advice.”

Lan Wangji preened a little, not that it showed on his face. Still, his eyes were a tad shinier, almost glowing, and his scent warmed in pleasure. He held the husky under his nose to remind his brain what Jiang Cheng smelt like and a tiny smile lit his face. “I will, xiongzhang,” he promised, and promises were forever. “Only the best for you.”

[rainiedeforest]

Spring

Yu Yehua, the fourth child of MeishanYu Sect, looked up to the sky and shrugged a little bit, covering herself with one of the violet silk blankets she had in her bedroom. The snow was falling on the gardens much more calmly than before, but that had not stopped its power. Sometimes, it was even scary.

And it wasn’t because she didn’t like the cold weather, but she wasn’t used to those low and cold temperatures and that caused her to be in a state of uneasiness that was difficult for her to control. In fact, Yehua couldn’t recall having suffered such a cold winter in her tender twelve years; but the weather had changed, and with it had come an excessively heavy storm what had covered of snow all the city of Meishan.

That made Yehua thinks several things. One of them was that the gods didn’t want her to have her naming ceremony. The other things... Well... Yehua would rather don’t think about it. She squeezed the blankets tightly to her chest, covering her body and head better, and leaned against the railing. Yehua wished that she had a better weather to show off her new beautiful hanfu, which had been made especially for the occasion. A incredible and gorgeous long hanfu, with the same cut as the ones the high-born ladies wear in the Imperial Palace, in soft shades of white, blue and pink pastel, all perfectly decorated with a small violet satin strap tied around the waist. Small flowers embroideries on the chest, sleeves and on the edge of the skirt made the hanfu perfect.

It was a dress so, so beautiful… That Yehua couldn’t be able to show it how she wanted. It was something that was bothering her in any ways because, after all, they were already in spring. Shouldn’t there be all flowery and warm?

They had tricked her.

Yehua tightened her hold on the blanket a little more and stepped away from the shiny railing on which she had leaned. She knew that she was very lucky; it was not normal for women to receive a courtesy name, but she would start accompanying her mother and aunt on missions, night hunts and other official affairs, so they should begin to be known by that name. It wasn’t correct that they referred her by Yehua; only her parents, brothers and, if the gods wanted, her future husband could use it.

Yehua had heard his older brothers talk about how he was very lucky. The official ceremony in which she will have her courtesy name would be when Yehua turned fifteen, when news would be sent to the rest of the clans to attest that she was prepared to fulfill her duty as cultivator and woman, predisposed to marry and start a family. But, of course, that name ceremony would be very different from today, with her family and a few representatives of others clans that were hunting in the area.

It wasn’t something she liked too much; the idea of her being predisposed when she turned fifteen to marry and bear a baby… As if they wanted to plan her life, without her consent… It was completely contrary to her way of thinking and completely contrary to the image that the MeishanYu Sect gave, which was directed almost entirely by women.

Yehua wanted to be independent, be a real cultivator, be strong, someone to rely on. Not only be a wife and a mother. She wasn’t made for that task; though she would love, one day, have her own family.

“Yu Yehua! Where is this girl” She heard her mother yell, speaking then quietly to one of the maids, and Yehua wasted no time running away, just in the opposite direction. She didn’t want her mother to scold her for not being in her room, finishing her bath, as she was supposed to be doing at the moment.

Yehua was so focused on her little escape, holding as much as she could the blanket to avoid tripping over it, that she didn’t notice the unknown figure that was in the gardens, observing one of the many stone fountains that were full of colorful koi.

“Ouch!” She complained, touching her nose with her hand as she landed on the ground.

“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. Are you alright, guniang?” The stranger asked with soft and calm voice. Puzzled, Yehua looked up to meet him, finding a dark, warm gaze that made her sudder. And not in a bad way.

“Y-you should know that it isn’t polite to block the paths of someone else’s house,” Yehua replied, stammering slightly at first, and then scolding herself internally when her own words reached her ears. It had sounded childish and without any coherence. And it wasn’t something she would say, of course. She was much more eloquent.

The stranger, who must not have been more than a few years older than her and who was dressed in a hanfu in different shades of purple (Yehua’s favourite colour, by the way), laughed kindly and held out a hand to help her get up from the cold and snowy floor. A hand the girl ended up accepting awkwardly.

“I apologize again. It won’t happen again, guniang. Did you get hurt?”

Yehua shook her head, but said nothing more. It was imposible. She didn’t understd. The words simply didn’t want and come out. Perhaps it was because she was still quite surprised by the warmth in the boy’s expression. Above all, after the rude reply she gave him.

“I’m glad to hear that. I won’t forgive me if you had been damaged by my distraction,” his words were like a lullaby even though there was nothing strange about them. It was the behavior everyone must have with someone they didn't know. But, his words seemed to be the ones you use with a little girl. And she wasn’t longer a child; she didn’t feel like one, of course. “I’m Jiang Fengmian. I have come to Yu-guniang’s name ceremony.”

That last phrase gave her a little more strength and she became a little more like herself.

“Then you shouldn’t be here. It’s the private wing of the family.”

Jiang Fengmian looked around curiously before nodding very slowly. A small smile formed on his lips and Yehua watched him as his hand went to the nape of his neck, like a child who had been caught in the middle of mischief, not maliciously but sweetly.

“Ah… Me and my horrible sense of direction again… My apologies, again,” Fengmian replied before bowing slightly in farewell. Yehua watched him turn around and let out a sigh of relief. If the conversation had continued in any possible way, she wouldn’t have known how to continue. “Ah! I forget…”

Jiang Fengmian had turned around again, startling Yehua, and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, brushing her cheek with those cold hands from the snow and the air. The blanket she had been covering herself with had slipped at some point in her fall in such a way that it exposes her entire head and face.

“It was getting me nervous. Bye, Yu-guniang.”

Yehua, who on any other occasion would have yelled at her for touching her without her consent, felt her cheeks light up slightly and she covered herself better with the blanket, hiding her head with the clear intention of disappearing. When she verified that the boy wouldn’t turn around again, she ran to her bedroom in the most dignified way she could and failing miserably in the attempt.

When her mother saw her appear, she angrily got her into her room so the maids began to prepare her. She mumbled something about giving Yehua too many freedoms, the little time they had and how cheeky was this girl sometimes, but even when those words reached Yehua’s ears, which would have weighed her like a stone in any other time, her mind was only capable of think about that young man dressed in purple tones, his warm and friendly smile and the caress that made her cheek tickle.

She didn’t want to think about how mortified she would be when she told A-Tian…

But… at least, it seemed that spring had indeed arrived.

***

You can also read it in AO3.

Names made with google translate because I don’t know chinese.

Birth name for Yú Zǐyuān: 虞夜花 – Yú Yèhuā

虞 yú – to worry

夜 yè – night

花 huā – flower

Birth name for Madame Jīn: 星笑甜– Xīng Xiàotián

星xīng – star

笑Xiào – laugh

甜tián - sweet)

[angstymdzsthoughts]

Jiang assasination attempt AU.

“It’s okay , I can be replaced if I die. But if Uncle Jiang or Jiang Cheng…” his hands were trembling. Eyes full of hostility and taunts from the guests but none faze him at the slightest. But oh, the fury from madam Yu’s eyes due to his actions. His eyes darted to Jiang Cheng , the said boy was angry. He took a breath and drink the wine.

xx

It was a rare occasion for an envoy of Meishan Yu to visit the Yunmeng Jiang ,but among them were distant cousins of Yu ZiYuan. They were on their way back from a funeral few towns away and decided to drop by for a few days. The night of their arrival ,a grand dinner was hosted as a courtesy to the guests.

Wei Ying came up beside Jiang Cheng, “Something is off ,I don’t trust them.”

Jiang Cheng turned to him with a crocked eyebrow , “Don’t talk nonsense. You said the same thing this morning.”

Wei Ying bit his lip hard and huffed “First of all, the envoy brought a dog with them! Two dogs! so I was right but-“ Jiang Cheng abruptly shushed him as they entered the dining hall.

Wei WuXian may have short term memory but as a head disciple of Yunmeng Jiang ,he trained himself to have sharp instincts. He knew better than to ignore his guts ,so when the guests arrived for the dinner and presented a bottle of wine to Uncle Jiang ,his instincts screamed wrong !

“This wine is rare and very fine delicacy. We presented this for both of you and your son to ensure prosperity for YunMeng Jiang Sect under both of your rule” said the head of the envoy that smells of strong perfume ,Wei Ying decided to call him perfume for now. “Thank you for your consideration. We appreciate this.” “This wine is best drink as a toast , Master Jiang. I can ensure the after taste will warm your heart and stomach. You will have a good sleep tonight”.

To reject an invitation to drink is a rude gesture so Jiang FengMian nodded to the servants to fetch the wine and serve in a wine glass.

“Wait!” Wei Ying couldn’t himself, the words were tumbling from his mouth before he could stop them.

The entire hall all turned at the same time ,but Wei Ying was too preoccupied crossing the hall and snatching the bottle away from Perfume.

“What is this? Is YunMeng Jiang is that low to let the head disciple to interrupt the toast to the Head Sect? And I heard you were only a son of a servant. What are you implying by snatching the present away and humiliating us?” Perfume bellowed angrily.

“Wei Ying!! What are you doing ?!” roared Madam Yu.

“This disciple thinks that it’s not safe to hastily drink a wine from an unknown source. It may be poisoned.”

Another representative stood up , “This is absolutely outrageous! You accuse us of poisoning the wine ? What could we possibly get by doing that to our distant family ?! Yu Ziyuan ,are you letting this boy accusing us and straining our blood relationship?”

“I am not accusing! I’m just making sure-“

“Shut your trap ,Wei Ying. I’m sorry for his display, Yu Yan. I will have him escorted back to his room and punished accordingly.” glared Yu ZiYuan. Jiang FengMian take a seat back and sigh heavily. He nodded at the guards to take Wei Ying back to his room.

Wei Ying was angry now. The servants tried to take the bottle from him and he evaded them, bumping into Jiang Yanli who had made her way over as well. “A-Xian” , she put a hand on his back. He locked eyes with Jiang Cheng in crowd and saw the utter humiliation in his face.

“Then ,it’s fine if I took a sip to ensure that there’s nothing right?”

“Wei Ying ! Out of the hall, now !”

“That’s okay ZiYuan. Let that boy do what he wants. I expect formal apology and punishment if he was wrong, though.” giggles and taunts heard from the guests.

xx

That’s how Wei Ying ended up in the situation. Shaking hands holding the empty cup. Throat hot from the wine. Tasty but bitter.

The hall was silent.

And nothing. Stupid. He just put himself to doom. But his instinct was saying otherwise. Not yet.

“Are you satisfied now? Give the bottle to the servants and get out. Expect heavy punishment from me tomorrow morning.” dismissed Yu Ziyuan.

Before the servant could grab the bottle ,he took large sips of the wine directly from the bottle. Then he dropped the bottle to the floor followed by sound of the bottle smashed to pieces and gasps of horror from the audience.

Wei Ying dropped to his knees ,“This one apologises ! My finger slipped. I’m really sorry for wasting such fine wine. Please, our sect also have good wine. I will issue a formal apology tomorrow morning.”

He should not have expecting that it will go smoothly.

He should have expected that Madam Yu will step out her seat and slapped the hell out of him.

He should have expected that the guards will physically dragged him to his room , cheek stinging, Shijie and Jiang Cheng staying in the hall.

He should have expected to be locked in his own room.

Oh well , you reap what you sowed. And he started writing the formal apology.

xx

After the chaos in the hall and watching A-Xian dragged away by the guards, Yanli was restless. Mother was furious and surely will punish her brother heavily. The dinner resumed with a toast for both father and A-Cheng with another wine provided by the sect. After 3 agonising hours of the awkward dinner, all guests were dismissed.

Her parents retired early to discuss (fighting?) about the incident regarding A-Xian. As the servants cleaning up the hall , Yanli took a tray of left over food to bring to A-Xian with a grumbling Jiang Cheng.

“What the hell is his problem? A-jie, he embarrassed A-Niang’s distant family. This is so humiliating.”

“I don’t know, let’s hear his explanation first ok? He must be hungry.”

“Before he explain , I’m going to break his legs first!’

Upon reaching Wei Ying’s room ,they knocked the door and waited. Silent . Is he asleep? Until they heard a crash from his room ,Jiang Cheng kicked the door open.

“Wei WuXian!!!”

The teenager was convulsing on the floor ,blood trickled from his nose , mouth and ears. Eyes bloodshot and pupils dilated. Jiang Cheng kneeled beside him to inspect him ; “He’s under qi deviation! Call for help , hurry A-jie!” and Jiang Yanli runs for help.

Wei Ying suddenly shouts in agony, writhing in pain. Jiang Cheng held both of his jerking arms to ensure he did not hurt himself further.

What happened? Is it really poison? The wine? Was he right after all? But why ???

Don’t die Wei Ying , please dont’ die. I’m sorry dont die dont die dont die I should have believe in you don’t die dont die

Cold clammy hands were taken away from his grip ,it was taken away by the sect’s healer. He didn’t realise that the elder man has arrived. His father and two healers carried Wei Ying to his bed ,and before he could join them , a person dragged him outside. He fought back and the tunnel vision is narrowing and darker.

He didn’t realised that he was hyperventilating until he was embraced by his mother. His sister on his other side - crying.

“A-Niang, what should we do? What if he died? What do we do?” he wailed like a new born baby. Can his brother survive this? What if he was crippled due to the qi deviation? The wine initially was for him and his father, he was glad they didn’t fall to the trap but he never wanted his brother to pay for the expense. That foolish brother is too selfless. If Wei Ying didn’t survive - no no no NO ! Mother comforted him but deep inside he could not held back the resentment he felt towards her family. How dare they !

“Madam !The guest room is empty ! They’re gone !” a guard reported.

“A-Cheng , stay with your sister. Leave Wei Ying with the healers. I won’t let them get away with this. ”

Jiang Cheng was about to debate until a shrill scream interrupted them from Wei Ying’s room.

Yanli sobbed , “Oh A-Xian” and clasped her hand, praying .

He watched his mother departed with a group of disciples to pursue the criminals.

He sat down , praying with his sister.

-b

did he survive ? thats up to your imagination ;)

[wuxian-vs-wangji]

"Meishan Yu disaster", "beast in the forest that is calling for him", "swarming monsters", and is Xiaotong a baby because Jiang Cheng names her but in the prologue you posted he kills her DID JIANG CHENG JUST KILL HIS OWN BABY??

So for most of this my answer is “You’ll have to wait and see if I post the fic!”

but just to be clear

Xiaotong is NOT a baby! I repeat, Xiaotong is NOT a baby! I cannot tell you what is written beneath the part I pinked-out because then you guys would seriously be pressuring me to write this and I need to just do my own thing, but I swear she is not a baby. She is an adult.

[weangelovalenteus]

YE ASKED NOW YE SHALL RECEIVE, MR/MRS. ANON

BLESSINGS OF THE LOTUS

CHAPTER 1: The Great Divide

And when you're lost and out of time I will be right here waiting

– Breaking Benjamin

===

[YUNMENG JIANG]

Jiang FengMian after a Bad Separation between him and Madam Yu is in a lot of pain, Ill rumours Grew and Worsen causing Yunmeng to Fall From Grace, Meishan Yu taking its place as the Fourth Prominent Sect through Madam Yu’s Lead. Yunmeng Jiang had suffered Humiliation after Humiliation from Meishan Yu, Jiang FengMian is at his wits end and can no longer take it. But he can’t just leave his Daughter Behind so he can’t die yet.

On a Snowy Day of Winter while walking on the Barren streets of a once lively town, Jiang FengMian meets a stranger who is seeking shelter on a small stall, being raised as a Kind man. He offered Shelter to this Wanderer.

“My Name is AnJie Luo, I am from a Small Mountain Tribe Near the Shore of the Southern Lands, I Thank You for your Kind Hospitality, Sect Leader Jiang.” Said the wanderer lowering his head as a gesture of thanks.

Jiang FengMian happy at the small gesture said

“It’s alright, it’s very rare to see travellers coming to this town. I don’t mind having you as a Guest.”

“Many Thanks, Sect Leader Jiang.” AnJie Luo stated and followed the Sect Leader to his Home.

Once there, AnJie Luo noticed that there are only small numbers of people coming here and there. From what he had heard Yunmeng Jiang is a Bustling Town, yet after its fall it becomes a Barren Town with almost close to none inhabitants, only remaining few and loyal to Yunmeng are the only remaining ones living on the once Lively Sect. He doesn’t understand the Mindset of People outside the Mountain, but from what he was told by his Elders People of the Outside World are nothing but Glory-seeking and Power Mongering Fools who does not know their own Limits because they are Cultivators and their Love of Bullying the Weaker Ones.

He ventured out to see the World as a Part of his Training, all Juveniles of Ju-Qinglong Mountain Tribe are sent out of the Mountain to Live their Lives out of the confines of the Mountain and return only to introduce their chosen partners or Certain Celebrations, he travelled far and heard so many tales of Famous Cultivators and the Great 5 Sects. He tried to look for a Place to Stay, Qishan Wen Sect are filled with nothing but Arrogant People except for few ones, QingHe Nie doesn’t suit his liking, He lived on a Mountain so Gusu Lan Sect is out of the Question, Lanling Jin is very Lavished, Ju-Qinglong Tribesmen liked Shiny Things, but the Problem in Lanling Jin is the Sect Leader himself, the man is a Power Mongering Lecherous Man and could talk his way with Women to his Bed. Now he’s not a Woman, but he’s Powerful enough to overthrow a Sect Leader if he wants to, Ju-Qinglong Tribesmen are one of the Top 5 Powerful Tribes in the Southern Shores... And That Left Yunmeng Jiang, but by then Yunmeng Jiang had fallen from grace and was replaced by Meishan Yu as one of the Top 5 Sects.

But Even So, Yunmeng Seems to be a Nice Place to Settle In. But Upon Reaching The Said Sect, it was at the Cold Harsh Winter, The Warmth Disappeared to the Once Bustling Town. Cold Tired and Hungry He had seek Refuge to a Small Stall And Wait For the Cold Harsh Winds to Stop, He Kept Himself Warm by curling up to the corner. Until Someone reached out a Hand to him as if Inviting him.

“You Must Be Cold, Tired And Hungry, Young Traveller. Why Don’t You Come And Stay In My Home For A While?” The Man Said.

He was Hesitant for a while, not sure if he should Trust the man.

“Ah! How Rude Of Me, My Name Is Jiang FengMian the Sect Leader Of This Sect.” The Stranger Said with a Soft Smile.

With just that, he knew that he could trust this man. So He followed Sect Leader Jiang to his Home, He wondered Why such a Good Man should Suffer when he had done nothing wrong. He could tell that this man had sacrificed too much and is close to breaking yet stayed strong for the sake of those who stayed by his side when things are against him. And this is the very man who invited him to his home and to repay that Kindness he must give something equal.

So One Night, AnJie Luo Had Pushed the Box that Contained Three Small Treasures that he had been Keeping Since his Grandmother gave it to him.

“I can’t take this...” Sect Leader Jiang Said looking at the Box Guiltily.

He just couldn’t ask for anything in return after showing kindness.

“I insist Sect Leader Jiang, it’s the very least thing I could Help You with. You need these much more than I.” AnJie Luo insisted pushing the Box towards the Timid Sect Leader.

It’s a losing battle between The Traveller and the Sect Leader, So

“What’s in the Box that you keep on insisting me to keep?” Sect Leader Jiang asked curiously.

AnJie Luo smiled and Opened the Box revealing three Eggs, The First Egg is smaller than the other two, it has Silver Swirl Patterns, The Second Egg is Black With Coiling Purple Lightning Like Pattern and the Third Egg is Bigger than the other two it’s Black in Colour With Red Flame like Pattern at the Top and Bottom.

“Are those Eggs?” Sect Leader Jiang asked staring at the Bigger than Normal and Colourful Eggs he had ever seen.

“Dragon Eggs, they haven’t hatched for Hundreds of Years, no one ever managed to hatch them in my Family including me, so they might be long dead but still it’s a Treasure to keep and I am Passing these little ones to you.” AnJie Luo answered pushing the Box to Sect Leader Jiang.

Jiang FengMian wanted to Pout, but a Gift is a Gift and it’s rude to return them back after being handed down to him so

“Alright... I Accept.” He sighed and held the box.

AnJie Luo just chuckled at the Almost Pout that the Sect Leader is giving him and saying

“May The Mistress Of Luck Smile Down On You Sect Leader Jiang, Who Knows You Might Be Able To Hatch Them.”

“How?” Sect Leader Jiang Asked Blinking in confusion.

“You sit on them...” AnJie Luo chuckled.

“W-Wha-?” Sect Leader Jiang choked a squeak horrified at the thought of sitting on the eggs like how the Chickens do on their own set of eggs.

“I’m just joking Sect Leader Jiang, No need to look like you’re about to lay an actual eggs of your own.” AnJie Luo laughed at the sight of Sect Leader Jiang, it’s adorable.

Sect Leader Jiang Doesn’t know what to say about that...

[LATER THAT WEEK]

On a Quiet Night When Everyone Is asleep, Jiang FengMian was keeping the Eggs Close to him. Ever since he received the Egg from his New Assistant AnJie Luo, he began to feel a little odd and feverish, AnJie Luo told him something about his new condition, and he was having weird dreams about Shadowy figures of Dragons.

[2 DAYS AGO]

“I was right, and it wasn’t even that long since I gave you the Dragon Eggs. Sect Leader Jiang You are truly Blessed, What You are having right now is a Dragon Fevered Dream. Tell me About them.”

That’s What AnJie Luo told him. So He Answered the Questions-

“My First Dream was that I was flying in the sky with my sword At Dawn, The Skies Were Clear and the Breeze is Soft, However as I land down I heard a Sound of Cracking like the sound of shattering stone and the Wind becomes Harsher but does not Blew Me Away like it did to the Trees, then I heard a Loud Roar and a Silhouette of a Dragon soars up the Skies.”

“Mm... And The Second?” AnJie Luo asked as if something dawned upon him.

“The Second Dream Is that Of a Stormy Day and again I was flying In The Skies with my Sword At Noon, however the Skies is not Clear Like the First One. The Skies are Covered with Black Clouds, so Black that it was like Night time has come in the Middle of the Day. The Skies are rumbling. And I heard another Crack, it was Loud and Sharp as Thunder. It Felt Like I was Paying Life With Death as Purple Lightning and Thunder rolls down from the skies yet it did not hit me like it should since it was heading my way, yet all I heard is a Sharp Roar and another Silhouette of a Dragon passes my Vision.”

“And the Third One...” AnJie Luo asked as smile blooms in his face.

“The Third One Is That Of a Silent Night, I was standing at the dais at the Centre of the Blooming Lotuses in the River, the Lotuses are Blooming and Fireflies swirls in the Air, The Breeze is soft yet warm, The Full Moon Glows Up In The Skies Bathing everything with its ethereal silvery glow, then I heard a Crack as loud as the breaking of the world and Fire rises from the Water yet it does not Burn the Lotuses, nor it Burns Me when I touched the Fire. It’s Warm and soothing when I touched the Scorching Fire, it felt like it knows me just like the other two, then an even louder Roar came. Louder and Stronger than the other two and within the Fire I see the Silhouette of A Dragon looking back at me, I do not feel threatened at all, all I feel is Love and Adoration.”

“I see... Sect Leader is Truly Loved if not by his Wife, but by Lady Luck herself. Sect Leader Jiang Is A Kind Man who loves his Family and his People, Sect Leader Jiang Had Sacrificed Too Many and Never Asked Anything In Return. Thus he suffered so much from those who wished him Harm and Ruin, but With Sect Leader’s Kind Heart He Changed This Person’s Life and in Return for Sect Leader Jiang’s Kindness His Life Too Will Change.” AnJie Luo stated with a smile of pure happiness. “Sect Leader Jiang, The Three Little Ones That Had Been Thought Dead for Hundreds Of Years Are Moved By Your Kind And Loving Heart That They Answered To You, I Congratulate You... Mother Of Dragons.”

=====

Jiang FengMian still couldn’t believe it, he’s Mothering Three Baby Dragons that has come to life after Hundreds of Years of Slumber. He was so deeply asleep that he did not realized that three figures appeared by the Window and threw fire Talismans in his room causing everything to burn ablaze.

But at the same time, the three little Eggs under the covers of his blanket began to pulsate.

****** ******

[JIANG YANLI’S VIEW]

She’s Happy that her Father is no longer sad after he took in a Traveller named AnJie Luo, the man is a bit weird but a very nice person. She often found herself Laughing at the sight of her Father Blushing whenever Mister AnJie Teasing her Father and one time she overheard Mister AnJie telling her Father that He Should Sit On The Eggs to Hatch It.

She Almost Burst Out Laughing at the Horrified and Flustered Looks on her Father’s Face when Mister AnJie Luo told him to sit on the Eggs to warm them. It’s a Playful Bullying no harm done, but it’s nice to see Her Father smiling and no longer sad. She was angry at her Mother for leaving her Father just like that, like he meant nothing to her.

Though Upon receiving the Three Eggs from Mister AnJie Luo her Father had fallen Ill, Mister AnJie Luo said it’s a Good Sign that Her Father is Connected to the Little Eggs and that he is going to be fine.

Until this fateful night while her father is recovering from the fever, she was alerted by the noise and the feeling of dread clutches her heart, then there are the frantic cries of the Disciples that remained Loyal to her Father. She dressed up and went outside to ask what was going on.

“My Lady, some Scoundrels that had been Harassing Yunmeng had come and decided to Assassinate your Father!” One of the Frantic Disciple cried out.

Her Dread comes deeper and she asked.

“And Father? Where Is He?”

“My Lady, We are trying our best to save your Father but the fire is too strong!” Another Disciple cried out.

She had run to where her Father’s room is, but there cold fear clutched her heart at the sight of the burning fire devouring her Father’s room, she cried out calling for her Father, but some of the Disciples prevents her from going to the burning room, the remaining Disciples tried to put out the fire, but as they did so, they heard ominous sound coming from the fire.

It was the sound of something akin to a crack, the First Sound of Cracking the sound of shattering stone, the roaring filled the World yet dimly through the firefall, Only Death can Pay for Life, and there came the Second Crack, Loud and Sharp as Thunder. And Smoke stirred and whirled around and the pyre shifted, the logs exploding as the fire touched their Secret Heart. The Third Crack is as loud as the breaking of the world.

When the fire died at last and the Ground became cool enough to walk upon, everyone searched for the body of the Sect Leader, prepared for the worst. But what they saw shocked them to the core, there in the midst of the circle of ashes, they found Sect Leader Jiang FengMian half naked and unhurt, they saw Two Little Dragons cradled in his arms, while the bigger one is on his shoulders he’s the first to hiss a clear sign that he is the Dominant One of the Three Dragons. Mostly close bonded to Sect Leader Jiang, after so many Sacrifices the Sect Leader had made his suffering ended as the Black Dragon hissed pale smoke venting from its mouth and nostrils. The other two stirred from Sect Leader Jiang’s bosom and added their voices to the call, shimmering scales and mane shines in the light of Dawn and the roar stirring the air.

Mister Anjie Luo Arrived and he looked like he had been in a Massive Fight, and he said

“At Long Last! For the First time in Hundreds of Years, the Dawn came alive with the Music of Dragons.”

She had known about the Conversation of Her Father and Mister AnJie about Dragon Raising, but this still Surprised Her. She didn’t expect of becoming a Big Sister to Three Dragons.

Her Father is Now The Mother Of The New Addition In The Family... The Three Baby Dragons Of Yunmeng Jiang Sect.

Yunmeng Jiang Will Rise Again, With or Without Aid From Other Sects.

TO BE CONTINUED

YOU CAN GO TO MY AO3:  https://archiveofourown.org/works/18777766/chapters/44548615