#post btsf

[drwcn]

winepresswrath replied to post: Ahhh it's still so good. Scandalous hair touching be still my beating heart

Ah yes, more scandalous hair touching. Sorry if you didn’t ask for this, but your prompt got me going. 

---

Jiang Cheng was not Wei Wuxian. 

His brother was well known to be an infamous flirt before he married Lan Wangji, and if anyone expected the unimpeachable Hanguang-jun to rein in his wild husband after the ink on the marriage decree dried, well... 

That boat sunk real fast. 

Every major sect had their own handful of scandalous recollections of Hanguang-jun shamelessly indulging Wei Wuxian in private and, when Lan Wangji felt particularly vindictive, even in public. Much to the woe of his uncle Lan Qiren, of course. His brother Lan Xichen on the other hand issued no reproach; not that he himself had any leg to stand on. His relationship with Jin Ziyao was an open secret, which was perhaps even more inappropriate if one thought about it, since they were both Sect Masters, unwed, and engaging in intimate relations with nary a regard for decorum or an intention to wed. 

Jiang Cheng was different than the lot of them. He was. 

At least, that’s what he told himself as he made he way towards the lovely sight in red, standing alone by the white peonies. Under the moonlight and night latterns, Wen Qing seemed to glow. Her cultivation was different than warriors, but she was undeniably powerful in her own ways - or else Qishan Wen would not have been revived and revolutionized so expediently after the fall of Wen Ruohan. And now, with her qi relaxed and her mind calm, the aura about her was warm and radiating. 

“Sect Master Wen,” he announced his presence, bowing briefly. 

Wen Qing turned, the obsidian and rouge coral headdress holding together her complicated coiffure dangled and swayed with the movement. She had shed her heavy day robes for a lighter set, though without the layers of rich silk and embroidery, her...figure was more than a little obvious to the knowing eye. 

Jiang Cheng tried to hide his blush. He was not Wei Wuxian, goddamn it. This will be a publicly appropriate interaction. 

Wen Qing, however, didn’t seem to notice his struggle. “Master Jiang.” She shifted her eyes to glance behind him, and when she ascertained that he was indeed alone, let out a small sigh. “The banquet not to your taste?” 

“Well,” Jiang Cheng took a step closer such that her her shoulder was nearly brushing his chest. “You’re not there.”

Damn, I really just said that? Out loud? How much did I drink? 

“And whose fault is that?” Wen Qing tilted her head and raised a quizzical brow. 

“Mine, mine, of course.” Jiang Cheng cleared his throat to hold back a laugh. Still, he couldn’t hold back his urge to reach for Wen Qing’s sleeve. Wen Qing turned her wrist, allowing his fingers to brush against the soft skin there. 

A slippery pulse...was what he heard others describe it as. Not that he could tell the difference. He only knew that the rate was normal, the rhythm regular, and that her heart was strong. In more ways than one.

“Satisfied?” 

Jiang Cheng dipped his head, blushing for real this time. “Are you terribly upset?” 

This wasn’t something they ever discussed or planned, and yet... a part of him dared to hope. 

It was Wen Qing’s turn to step closer. Jiang Cheng’s breath caught in his throat, his disobedient heart racing despite his efforts to stay unmoved. They’ve known each other for a long time, and he was the mulish type. Since meeting at Cloud Recesses, he’s had no eyes for anyone else. 

Wen Qing let out a quiet laugh. “Upset? Whatever for?”

Jiang Cheng didn’t know when his hands had grown a will of their own and found purchase at her waist. “Qing’er, I know we can’t...I wouldn’t want you to think that - I mean of course I’m thrilled, but I would never assume - ” 

“Jiang Wanyin,” Wen Qing frowned. “Shut up.” Her fingers fiddled with the front of his robes. An unreadable expression flickered across her face. She gnawed on her lower lip, and said quietly. “It is a good thing.” 

It might be the wine he imbibed earlier, or it might be the summer air, or it might be that Wen Qing’s spiritual aura was nourishing the cold demonic energy flowing through him, but for the first time in a long time, Jiang Cheng felt warm.

His hand chased the smile gracing Wen Qing’s lovely face, a smile that reached her bright eyes. His thumb caressed the blush high on her cheek, his fingers curling around the shell of her ear, tucking away a strange of aberrant hair. 

“It is a good thing.” He echoed her words, bending forward until their nose and forehead almost touched. “I’m so glad.” 

“Shush. I’m dizzy. Hold me steady for a while,” Wen Qing closed her eyes, but her smile lingered. 

Jiang Cheng sighed. He might not be Wei Wuxian, but he Jiang Wanyin didn’t feel love any less.  

[inhophetaminex]

Fotografowała: @xjelimenax <3 . Na blogu nowy post, który pokazuje fotograficzne pierdółki, które ostatnio kupiłam i przetestowałam-jedna z nich widoczna na zdjęciu. :) Pojutrze wylatuję. Jak to szybko zleciało. . Photographer: @xjelimenax <3 . I put a new post on a blog about photography stuff from Wish I bought and tested-one of them is on this photo. :) I am moving to England in two days. Damn. . inhophetaminexart.blogspot.com . #inho #inhophetaminex #wish_haul #blogspot #portrait #prism #prism_portrait #black_lips #black_and_white #gothic #dark #goth (w: Olsztyn) https://www.instagram.com/p/Btsf-oJlPR9/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=fgjakusznip9

[drwcn]

haha this kid has it hard. There is not a single functional romance in this entire family. None. I wrote a little something :) I do take prompts, I just might not be very timely to respond, depending on my inspiration reserve and work schedule/exams etc. Again, btsf!verse (or post btsf!verse if you will, that’s where my brain is at these days), but can be read independently. Hope you don’t mind.  

Warning: this is a fluff piece but a servant gets slapped in this. she is a minor, a trope frequently scene in historical dramas and traditional households. 

When Jin Ling was seven years old, he developed his first crush. In the many years to come, he would develop many crushes - pretty girls, tall boys - but his first crush was on one of Jinlintai’s servant’s daughter, an older girl with shiny braids and soft dark eyes. And because he liked her, he found all sorts of reasons to see her (read: pester, command, annoy). 

Jin Ling was a menace, and xiao-Rui had up until this point in time tolerated his behaviour, but this last straw was the one that finally broke the camel’s back. 

Clack!

Jin Ling didn’t know the right vocabulary for it yet, but an older him would reflect on this as the moment he “fucked up”. The yin’er congee splattered across the marble floor and up the hem of his brocade robes, staining it. Beside the upturned cherry-wood tray, the jade bowl and ivory spoon laid in pieces. 

Oops. 

Jin Ling wouldn’t have panicked, because truly this was no big deal. He was sure the kitchen had lots of other bowls and could whip up another congee in no time. But then xiao-Rui slowly knelt down, curled up into a ball and began to cry. 

Jin Ling felt all the calm instantly evaporate from his small seven year old body. Oh no! Crying girl?! What to do, what to do, what to do???? 

What did father do when mother cried??? Ah heck, what was he thinking? Mother didn’t cry. Crying was beneath Mother. 

“What’s going on here?” A harsh voice echoed from down the hall. Jin Ling blinked, surprised. Nobody here ever dared use that tone of voice with him. At Lotus Pier maybe, he and his little sister Jiang Rao would get reprimanded for being particularly naughty, but that was usually their mother and she never needed to raise her voice to put the fear of immortals in them. Jin Ling swallowed nervously, looking over his shoulder, praying that Jiang Yanli didn’t somehow magically transport herself from Yunmeng to appear behind him. 

She didn’t. Thank the gods. 

From spring to fall of every year, Jin Ling spent his time at Lanling under the care of his uncle Lianfang-zun who he would one day succeed. After several months, Jin Ling had come to realize that his Uncle A-Yao was itching to spoil him due to having no children of his own. This meant outside of his daily lessons in cultivation and etiquette (sprinkled with just a little bit of politics), Jin Ling was allowed to run wild, something he was rarely allowed to do at his a-niang’s Lotus Pier unless his a-die championed on his behalf. Jiang Yanli was a gentle mother, sweet, soft-spoken, and loving. But everyone under the sun with half a brain knew Sect Master Jiang was a woman made out of diamond, forged by the war, beautiful and unbreakable. Up against her, even with his father and his two uncles backing him up, Jin Ling had no chance.

The voice that called out belonged to an older woman, a momo, neatly attired in pale orange and earth brown - servant’s colours - with her grey streaked hair tightly coiffed back into a severe bun. She walked briskly, back straight and face grim, until she came all the way up to them and their mess. [momo - an older female servant]

Once she saw who he was, she quickly relaxed her posture and curtsied deeply, “shizi*, shao-gongzi*, I apologize on behalf of the servants for not tending to your needs that you must trouble yourself to come down to the lower units. What may I do for you? What has this undisciplined yatou done to upset you?” [1)shizi = heir, 2)shao-gongzi = young master, 3)yatou = girlie, referring to a young girl, or a servant girl].  

Jin Ling blinked, much confused. Surely, he was the one causing the upset. He certainly wasn’t the one crying. 

“Uh....” 

“Oh no, you stupid girl, that’s Qin-zhangshi’s yin’er congee and her favourite bowl!” The momo yelled angrily. [zhangshi 长事 - head of staff] 

Qin-zhangshi? Oh yes, that was his aunt Qin Su, Jinlintai’s Head of Staff who handled all the internal affairs. This would be the duty of the Lady of Lanling if his uncle A-Yao had had a wife, but he didn’t, hence the burdening of his only sister to rise to the task.  

“Zhao-momo, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to -” xiao-Rui squeaked as Zhang-momo pulled her up by the ear. A second later, a loud clap was heard and she cried out in pain. Zhao-momo had slapped her soundly across the cheek, leaving red to bloom where her hand had been.  

That jostled Jin Ling out of his trance. “Hey!” He exclaimed, using all the power of his seven-year-old barely-cultivated body to shove the momo out of the way.

After that he barely remembered what he did. 

-

Qin Su was having an exceptionally good day. Jinlintai for once was running like a well-oiled machine, so much so that she felt in the mood to call for a bowl of yin’er congee as a mid-afternoon snack. It was one of her favourite treats...but it was taking a rather longer time than usual to get here. 

Before she could ring to see what was the hold up, the door to her study burst open, revealing her seven-year-old nephew, a servant girl he dragged by the hand, and a flustered Zhao-momo, the supervisor of the kitchen staff.  

The front of Jin Ling’s robe was ruined by a large patch of food stain - congee from the looks of it. The girl, sobbing, had clearly been struck, and Zhao momo.... 

Qin Su took one long hard look at the situation and was instantly reminded of what Jin Zixuan had been like at this age. As Qin Cangye’s daughter, she had  crossed path with him frequently all her life. She wasn’t quite sure how Meng Yao might’ve behaved at seven, and xiao-Yu had always been too timid for a Jin, but this...this had Zixuan’s bullshit all over it.  Though, Qin Su internally rolled her eyes, even without his father, Jin Ling had plenty of bad examples to learn from: 

Jiang Cheng, for one, never outgrew awkward, not with the way he still stared at Wen Qing every cultivation conference. At least it was difficult for most people to discern between his deathly stare of murder and his thirsty stare of sexual frustration. 

Wei Wuxian and Hanguang-jun, as saccharine and grossly in love as they were now, only learned to communicate after one of them faked their death for a year. 

xiao-Yu visited Qinghe every month and stayed for most of it. Qin Su never asked him what he did there, and frankly she didn’t want to know. 

As for a-Yao, if Zewu-jun didn’t do more than play his goddamn instruments and talk about philosophy every time he invited A-Yao to Cloud Recesses, Qin Su was afraid her poor brother would soon physically combust.  

Thus, with the full fondness of a doting aunt and the exasperation and wisdom of a woman who once almost married her own brother, Qin Su said, “A-Ling, my sweet dear, that is not how you treat a lady, and certainly not how you treat a lady you like.” Jin Ling dropped the girl’s hand like a hot potato. “San-gugu! I don’t - that’s not - I mean - I -” [san-gugu = third auntie] While she left the boy sputtering, Qin Su turned to the older servant. “Zhao-momo, you may return to your duties. You’re an efficient supervisor; I’ve always liked that about you, but if I hear of you hitting another one of the girls again, you and I will have words, am I clear?”  “Yes, Qin-zhangshi. Of course, of course.” Zhao-momo backed out the room and fled.  Softening her tone, Qin Su waved the girl over. “Come, child, come closer and let me take a look. My, you are pretty one. Now, now no more tears, or you’ll redden those lovely eyes. Oh geez,” she clicked her tongue as she tilted the girl’s face to examine it. “It’s a bit swollen. Luoti,” She looked to her handmaid. “Bring her down to get some ice and ah...some cream. For the inflammation.” “Yes, ma’am. Come on, xiao-Rui.” 

“Thank you Qin-zhangshi! Thank you Qin-zhangshi!”  Luoti led xiao-Rui away, shutting the door behind them with a click. Jin Ling, shame-faced and embarrassed, stood before his only aunt with his head bowed low. “Gugu...you’re not - you’re not going to tell a-niang on me are you?”  His uncle never tattled. If Jin Ling did anything wrong, Uncle A-Yao would give him a stern talking to that would often turn to a long boring lecture. But then after, Uncle A-Yao would simply have a word with his a-die, and his a-die would just give him another Jin-styled talking to and then brush the whole thing under the rug so his a-niang would never find out. (She still does though, more than half the time, like goddamn magic.) Now his gugu, his gugu was the best, the absolute best, and he’s yet to receive any kind of reprimand from her. 

Well there’s a first time for everything - as his da-jiujiu would say. 

Qin Su rose from her dais, came up to him and lifted his down-turned chin so he could look her. “A-Ling. Are you going to tell me what happened?” “Uhm....”  “Hm?” “Will you tell mother? I promised her I would be good.” And I haven’t been.  

“Of course I will. She is your mother and deserves to know about your well-being. But, remember this: honesty will grant you forgiveness, but dishonesty will only see to punishment. Your a-niang has always been fair with you and your sister, hasn’t she?”

The boy visibly sagged. “I was bothering xiao-Rui. And I made her drop her tray. The congee spilled everywhere and the bowl broke,” confessed Jin Ling. 

“And why did you do that?”

“Because...” 

“Because?” 

Jin Ling grumbled something incoherent. 

Qin Su sighed. Taking his hand, she said, “Let’s get you changed, my love. And then after, you and I will have a long talk. Don’t worry, it’s not one of your Uncle A-Yao’s boring lectures. If you’re good, maybe we can go to town and I’ll let you pick out an apology gift for poor xiao-Rui. How does that sound?” 

Jin Ling nodded fervently, his smile wide. 

Qin Su chuckled, thinking that while her generation may have been thoroughly fucked over by the circumstances of their youth, there was no need to continue that tradition. Not when the times have been so peaceful. Tonight, she will write to her lovely sister-in-law who will surely have a good laugh over her son’s antics.   

[drwcn]

Think lan zhan and jiang yanli could be friends like wei ying and wen qing are friends? If they had the chance I could see it. Totally imagining lan zhan being bewildered at first, but than actually seeing why wei ying loves his sister so much. Also totally see them silently judging idiot people together and working together to keep wei ying mentally safe. Yanli teaching him how to cook and things about her brother.

YAS！ LWJ and JYL judging people together is Mood. I will die on this hill.

(and bc i hate sleep, i got inspired by your ask and wrote this brain vomit from my btsf!verse that no one asked for, and yet i shall shamelessly impose on the world. It’s a different take on jiang yanli chewing out jin zixun and lan wangji being there and being generally awesome. ) 

Jin Zixun is causing a scene. 

Again. 

In broad daylight in the middle of one of Jinlintai’s gardens no less. The Jins had planted lovely peonies, which are all in bloom now. Jiang Yanli had intended to enjoy them for an hour or two, but it seems her morning plans are about to be ruined. What she initially dismissed as a minor nuisance is quickly becoming an irritating fixture in her life. She has half a mind to be rid of this no good Jin cousin for good, and for that matter, she can count a good number of people who would oblige her. 

Standing toe to toe with Jin Zixun, Wei Wuxian is shaking with fury from whatever the other man had said. Not that anything even remotely tasteful has ever been produced by Jin Zixun’s mouth. It’s only productive function is eating, as that seems to be the only time he’s quiet and therefore marginally tolerable. 

Jiang Yanli already feels a headache looming just from the reminder of his mere existence. 

Lan Wangji is the first to notice her. He has one hand wrapped around Wei Ying’s wrist and another around Bichen’s sheath, pressing it across Jin Zixun’s chest to deter him from taking another step closer. Upon seeing her entourage approaching, he steps back and bows respectfully. 

“Sect Master Jiang.” 

Like wise, Jin Zixun reluctantly gives a half-hearted bow. She ignores him. For now. 

Remembering himself, Wei Wuxian flinches and quickly follows suit. “Zongzhu.” He greets her quietly. [zongzhu = sect master]

He doesn’t call her shi-jie anymore, at least not in public. 

Since the day she declared herself Sect Master of Yunmeng Jiang, A-Xian has been on his very best behaviour. Every word, every conduct, has strictly been adherent to what is expected of someone in his status and station. But Jiang Yanli could only frown. True, he is her left hand man, her lieutenant, her zuo-hufa, but he is firstly her brother, and she will not stand for him being pushed around by some second rate cultivator just so she could be spared “conflict”.

Turning her head slightly over her shoulder, she makes a small motion for Binghu (冰湖) and Shuangxue (霜雪) to stand down. Dealing with a gnat like Jin Zixun is too menial a task for upstanding cultivators like her personal guards. No, A-Xian is her brother, so Jiang Yanli will deal with this herself, and those who crosses her will only ever be sorry. 

“A-Xian, what’s going on?” 

“Nothing, zongzhu. A minor disagreement is all.” Clearly lies. 

Jiang Yanli looks to Lan Wangji. The younger man does not let go of his betrothed’s wrist, but he does lower his eyes out of deference to her. “Zhangjie, Jin Zixun-gongzi suggested that your brother Jiang-gongzi should be disqualified from tomorrow’s hunt on account of his unorthodox cultivation method. He said that he who could not protect his own golden core has no place amongst cultivators.” [zhangjie = a formal way of saying older sister]

Zhangjie. Rather bold of him to call her that, seeing he and A-Xian are not yet legally wed. But perhaps his choice of words is deliberate, used to remind her that Wei Wuxian is not just her subordinate, but her family. She’d be offended if the gesture isn’t so genuinely endearing. Lan Wangji is a quiet one, but so fiercely protective of Wei Wuxian. Out of this wretched war and all the underhanded maneuvers she’s been forced to take, nothing has pleased her more than this marriage alliance that she and Lan Xichen arranged.

“Lan Zhan…” Wei Wuxian frowns and admonishes him quietly.  

“I spoke the truth.” 

Jiang Yanli casts Jin Zixun an aloof side glance, then says, “Perhaps I have confused the rules. Clarify for me, Wangji, is spiritual cultivation required for the hunt tomorrow?”

“No.” 

“Does cultivation affect the participant’s performance and ability?”

“No. Not if they follow the rules of conduct.”

“The Hunt is a strictly skills based competition is it not?”

“It is.” 

“Well then, I think that settles that. A rather simple mistake, Jin Zixun-gongzi, but I wouldn’t fret too much if you didn’t remember. This has been trying times for us all.”Jiang Yanli’s smile is bright but scorching, like the desert sun. 

Colour rises in Jin Zixun’s cheeks. He turns up his nose and huffs, “Has Yunmeng Jiang fallen so low that there’s no one left but deviants, servants, and women?”  

Wei Wuxian starts towards him, fully intending to throttle the man, but Jiang Yanli calms him with a gentle hand. Unflustered, she turns her full attention to the Jin cousin. The smile on her face does not dim, but her eyes are glacial. 

“Deviants, servants, and women. It’s true. We are that. But what can be done? It is unfortunate that there’s not enough reliable cultivators to count on, that even deviants, servants, and women must be forced to take up arms against a tyrant. How tiresome that we must not only fight our own fights, but you cultivators’ fights too.”

“How dare you -” Jin Zixun bristles, which is about as intimidating as an angry ferret, in Jiang Yanli’s considered opinion.

“Shall I remind you when you led your troops into enemy territory last winter in a bullheaded attempt to boast your ego, whose squadron came to your aid when you were trapped, starving in the snow? Whose food fed your men’s bellies, whose blankets and tents warmed your bodies in that storm?” Jiang Yanli does not raise her tone, but holds nothing back. “And who, after you so pitifully grovelled, omitted your incompetence from the report to your uncle and Sect Master.” 

“I -” Jin Zixun darkens from red to purple, unable to come up with a single word of refute. Typical. 

Jiang Yanli plows on.

“If we deviants, servants, and women are not befitting polite company and the gentlemanly sport of hunting, then you sir, with so little grace and gratitude for the people who saved your life and the lives of your kinsmen, are not fit to even stand in our presence.” She takes a step closer, forcing him back. “You’re right. I am a woman, but Wei Wuxian was raised along side myself and Jiang Cheng, as close to us as flesh and blood. That you have called him a servant is untrue and a grave offence, which I will not accept. So remembering that, Jin Zixun-gongzi, you will apologize to my brother, Yunmeng Jiang’s zuo-hufa Wei Wuxian. Immediately.”

It is Jin Zixun’s turn to shake, too humiliated and furious to say a thing. It’s clear that he’d rather the ground swallow him than apologize, but as servants and disciples start to crowd around them, whispering and pointing, it seems he has no choice. Jiang Yanli is still a sect master, and Wei Wuxian is a much respected hero. 

“Apologies, Wei-gongzi.” 

“What’s going on here?” Behind Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian, Jin Zixuan and Qin Su can be seen making their way towards them from the other end of the lang. The latter of the two dips in a proper courtesy of a gentlewoman, but the former only manages an awkward cultivator’s bow without meeting Jiang Yanli’s eyes.  

“Nothing that needs to worry you, Jin-gongzi. Just a small misunderstanding, all cleared up now. Is that not so, Zixun-gongzi, Wangji, A-Xian?”

“Barely a tiff.” Lan Zhan lies with a straight face. Wei Ying says nothing. 

Jin Zixun forces himself to nod once. 

Jiang Yanli quickly forgets that such a person ever existed. Stepping up to the two that just joined them, she offers her usual sweet smile. “I don’t believe I’ve had the opportunity to congratulate you both on your upcoming nuptials. Such wonderful news! Qin-meimei, Madam Jin has asked me to consult on the design of your fengguan, I hope we shall see more of each other so I can make better judgement of your preferences.”

Qin Su blushes. “Jiang-jiejie - eh - Jiang-zongzhu, you tease me! There’s been so much to do lately, we’ve not had time to send out the invites. I - Congratulations to your family too, Hanguang-jun, Wei-gongzi.”

Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian return her well wishes politely, though somewhat with a stiff back. Jiang Yanli internally frowns, wondering perhaps things aren’t going as well she is led to believe… A matter she needs to think on later. 

“Well, I must be off now. I wish I had the endurance of a cultivator, but alas the summer heat is somewhat getting to me. Do enjoy the peonies though, Qin-meimei, Jin-gongzi, they are lovely this year. Wangji, A-Xian, come.”

Jiang Yanli leaves the garden at a leisurely pace, her head held up high, followed by her brothers and her entourage. As she turns at the round archway, she spares a discreet glance towards Jin Guangshan’s son and his future bride, a pairs of unfortunate siblings trying to fit into each other’s lives and unknowingly heading towards a disaster.

She decides to let that one stew a little longer. For now no real damage is done - Jin Zixuan is far to awkward even if Qin Su finds him handsome. The marriage won’t go through; she’s not so cruel that she will actually let that runaway carriage go off the proverbial cliff. However, the key to every offensive strike is timing, and now is not the time to reveal the truth to them. As long as Madam Qin is medically incapacitated, the secret holds, and she will stay that way for a while yet. Jiang Yanli muses that she rather likes the landscape now the way it is, and longs to see the day Jin Guangshan and Qin Cangye gets what’s coming to them.

-

1. zongzhu = sect master2. zuo-hufa =  the “zuo - left” hand man of the sect master. Their function is to serve and protect the sect master, as the word hufa literally means protector. 3.  Binghu (冰湖) & Shuangxue (霜雪) - YJL’s bodyguards. Binghu means ice, lake, Shuangxue means frost, snow. 4.  zhangjie = a formal way of saying older sister.5. lang =  A long, belt-like structure, Lang, the covered corridor is a roofed passage usually with low railings and long side benches. 6. meimei = younger sister. jiejie = older sister. When used in conjunction with last names, this is a way for women who are familiar with each other to address each other. I7.  fengguan 凤冠 = it’s the term for the headpiece that brides wear on their wedding day. 

[drwcn]

“Jiang Yanli is very kind, but she is also only mortal, and once the human heart knows hatred, it will never be the same.” 

- Wen Qing | upcoming ch 2 of { before the sun falls } 

[drwcn]

I associate you with Sect Leader Wen Qing with a ton of kids and some self-love through fluffy/angsty Chengqing

Ah yess, I do love my post-btsf au chenqqing and their illegitimate gaggle of hooligans. But before all that, they were just one fearless little spy and one vengeful grandmaster of demonic cultivation

《before the sun falls》 snippet 23 AO3, other posts/snippets of this au

Three days before the siege, Wen Qing made up her mind.

"It's time for you to go."

Jiang Wanyin opened his eyes slowly from where he sat cross-legged meditating on her bed. She had returned to her chambers that night and found him there as though his mere presence wasn't a threat to both his life and hers. He wanted to kill Wen Ruohan, and she had to remind him that doing so would ruin all of their plans.

"Go?" His red eyes flicked up to stare at her. Always so blunt, so unrelenting.

"Back to your clan. Your sister's troops are camped some 50 miles southeast of Nevernight along with Gusu Lan's forces. Wei Wuxian is with her too."

With a wave of her hand, Wen Ning's fire message disintegrated into nothingness mid air and she finally turned to face him properly. Jiang Cheng merely stared at her, as though waiting for further explanation on his orders.

He didn't want to leave. Stubborn fool.

"We've done what is needed here. Wen Ruohan grows more paranoid by day. The Yin Irons are locked away where neither you nor I can get to it. The siege is inevitable. You're a Jiang. When the war ends, you need to be on the right side."

Jiang Cheng unfolded his legs and rose to his feet in one smooth motion. "And why," he asked as he sauntered over, not stopping until they stood toe to toe and his height towered over her smaller frame. "- Would I do that?"

He was getting cocky with his new found powers, Wen Qing realized, but she wasn't cowed. No, not her. She was his keeper - nay - she was his maker.

"Because you owe me. Because I need you on the right side to convince your sister and your brother and all those self righteous hypocrites that Qishan Wen is not their enemy."

"But you're not safe." He snapped, his true fear showing through the smoke. "Not here, not while Wen Ruohan is lost to madness. His trust in you wanes, he could kill you -"

"He still needs me -"

"- Wen Qing!" He seized her by the arms, his grip just a fraction too rough but only for a second. Just as quickly, his touch gentled, and one wide palm found her cheek. "Come with me."

"I cannot. I am Wen Qing of Qishan Wen. Nevernight is my ancestral home, my birthright. Here, no one can frighten me."

Knowing there was no convincing her, Jiang Cheng did the only thing he could. He kissed her. And she let him.

Since the beginning of their partnership - their alliance - they had dual cultivated about a dozen times, and each time they told themselves that it was for power, for necessity, for the stability of Jiang Cheng's erratic new form of cultivation. But this time, they accepted it for it was, or rather, for what it had become. This was a kiss, and they didn't pretend it was anything else.

[drwcn]

Yes anon! You’re completely right. I wrote a (somewhat long) passage from btsf, a conversation between Lan Xichen and Jiang Yanli explaining the details of the engagement, featuring our oblivious boys wangxian. 

-

The contract laid in front of him in black and white, the ink drying as he allowed the finality of the transaction to sink in. Lan Xichen carefully eased the excessive pine resin from his brush tip so no blotches would dribble and ruin the paper. Only then did he fill in his signature adjacent that of Jiang Yanli.

Picking up the cloud emblem seal of Gusu Lan, Lan Xichen considered the hefty weight of the white jade in his hand and the decision he was making on behalf of his little brother. His eyes flicked up, looking to his Yunmeng counterpart across the room and seeing she was about to do the same. Wangji liked Wei Wuxian immeasurably, of that he was sure, or else he would not have fought the Elders and his uncle tooth and nail for this engagement. But did Wei Wuxian feel equally for Wangji? Lan Xichen could only guess on the younger man's reaction to all this, and wondered that as his elder sister, if Jiang Yanli felt the same hesitation he did in this moment as she pressed her signet seal, a lotus carved from amethyst, slowly and firmly into fine white parchment.

If she felt it, she didn't show it. Yunmeng's youngest sect master, their first ever female head of family, was not what anyone had expected.  

When the legalities were complete, both he and Jiang Yanli stood from their dais.

"I hear our brothers are running drills with the disciples. Shall we go see?" she suggested.  

Truth be told, neither Lan Xichen nor his uncle paid much attention to her when the Jiangs came to study at Cloud Recesses. Jiang Cheng was - had been - young and inexperienced, prone to outbursts and became abrasive when challenged. Wei Wuxian, living up to his name sake, was in a whole category by himself, with none to compare. Their sister, however, became something of a surprise. She was, in Xichen's opinion, perhaps the most pleasant and well-mannered young lady of their generation. Not bold nor withdrawn, not somber nor frivolous, amicable yet always knew how to keep others at an appropriate distance.

Lan Xichen extended a hand courteously, "After you, Jiang-zongzhu." [zongzhu = sect master, a gender neutral term]

"Binghu, Shuangxue, you're both dismissed."

"Zongzhu…" Her guards, ever diligent, were hesitant to leave. Since their arrival at Unclean Realm, Lan Xichen had yet to see her without them, which was understandable considering Jiang Yanli herself was not a cultivator and rumoured to be of poor health.  

"This is Qinghe Nie's territory, and I am in the company of Zewu-jun. I am in no danger. You've both been so busy. Take the afternoon off." Jiang Yanli gave them a meaningful nod, to which they bowed their heads and conceded.

"Understood."

Qinghe Nie's Unclean Realm was built like a fortress, a citadel intended for protection and intimidation. It lacked Cloud Recesses' air of tranquility and had none of Lotus Pier's blithe. The oak and stone  surrounding Lan Xichen and Jiang Yanli were nothing like the homes they knew, but within these walls, they were allowed a moment's reprieve to breathe.

Even though the formal robes on their backs felt too big for their persons, even if the guan and headdress upon their heads weighed like the combined lives of every loved one they had lost...

Lan Xichen wondered if like him, Jiang Yanli's neck ached under the pressure of the sterling and pearls in her hair.

For now, they were done away with the formalities. He felt it was an appropriate time to discuss this marriage matter, not as sect masters, but as elder siblings who both cared for their brothers very much.

"I must confess," He began. "Nie-xiong was none too happy to hear you've accepted my clan."

"Really? Why is that?" Jiang Yanli blinked innocently, but the corner of her lips twitched, belying her amusement.

"Oh come now, Jiang-zongzhu, don't be coy. Surely you've heard of Mingjue's intention of aligning Qinghe with Yunmeng through Huaisang. He and Wei-gongzi have always gotten along, so it was only natural that Mingjue-xiong thought them well matched."

"I'm sure Nie-zongzhu meant well, and I'm sure when it came down to it, Nie-gongzi and A-Xian may not even have minded, but as you and I both agree, our brothers make for a much more…serendipitous pair."

They strolled across the stone overpass connecting two buildings, pausing mid way to observe by the railing. In the courtyard below, a group of Yunmeng Jiang's disciples in their violet and navy robes were paired with their Gusu Lan counterparts, both struggling through what seemed to be a particularly difficult sparring drill.

At one end of the courtyard stood Wei Wuxian with his arms crossed, his spine straight, calling out instructions over his disciples' huffs, groans, and whines of pain. Straining under the aggressive nature of the exercise, some Lans looked to Lan Wangji posted at the opposite end, hoping he would speak up on their behalf. To their dismay, their Hanguang-jun had no intention of helping them.

Lan Wangji's eyes were solely fixed on Wei Wuxian, on his tall lean figure framed by the dark cape of his uniform, fluttering in the autumn wind. A strong gust swept his hair back from his shoulders, giving attention to the arch of his neck and his comely face. Wei Wuxian, that oblivious boy, didn't seem to notice at all, his attention completely focused on his students. Then from the corner of his eyes, he sneaked a subtle glance towards the Second Jade (who appeared as handsome as ever in his opinion) but it was too late. Lan Wangji had already looked away.  

Lan Xichen chuckled and shook his head. "They needed the push. Who knows how long it would've taken them if we left them to it. A decade at least, I'm willing to bet."

"Yes, but we couldn't have waited that long, could we? You're right, for Yunmeng, I would have agreed to Nie Huaisang, but in my heart, I had hoped I could find someone who would truly love my brother, as he deserved to be loved. I would hate to be parted from him for anyone less worthy."

Jiang Yanli's eyes were downcast, distant.

My brother.

Once, she might've had to clarify which younger sibling she meant, but that was no longer necessary. Lan Xichen couldn't even begin to imagine her anguish. To lose Wangji at all, never mind in the horrifying way she had lost Jiang Cheng, was unthinkable.

"Does Lan-er-gongzi know? The conditions of the marriage?" asked Jiang Yanli, turning to him. The grief Xichen detected just moments ago had completely submerged once again beneath her poise. "Gusu Lan agreed to everything Yunmeng Jiang asked; I can't see that being a very easy sell for the Grandmaster and your Elders. I had thought even your brother himself would've objected."

Not easy was an understatement. Uncle had been apocalyptic, and the Elders not much better. It was no secret amongst Gusu's inner circle that there had been plans to choose a bride for Lan Wangji for some times. While Lan Xichen as Sect Master was positioned to marry advantageously for the purposes of alliance, the Elders and especially Uncle had wanted someone from within Gusu for Wangji, a female distant cousin perhaps, or an outer disciple of grace and good cultivation. At worst, if Wangji were to marry from another clan, it would be them marrying into Cloud Recesses, not the other way around.

But Jiang Yanli had been adamant that whoever Wei Wuxian deigned to marry would be joining him in their sect, and that her brother would not be forced to leave his home and his family under any circumstances. What she didn't say, which all parties perfectly understood regardless, was that Wei Wuxian could not  leave Yunmeng. His position as her brother, her closest advisor, and Yunmeng's strongest fighter made marrying out an impossibility.  

Which was why Nie Mingjue didn't hesitate much to suggest Nie Huaisang, because the younger Nie brother's temperament would have been better suited to a life in Lotus Pier anyway. Lan Wangji on the other hand…

"Wangji knows." Lan Xichen replied. "Once the war is over and they are married, he will be moving to Lotus Pier with Wei-gongzi. He will no longer be privy to the inner workings of Gusu, no longer eligible for the tenure of an elder, and no longer permitted to vote on our internal affairs. All this, he accepts."

By now, the disciples down below have noticed their presence, but the two clan leaders motioned for them to carry on.

Lan Wangji returned his attention to the training, but Wei Wuxian still bowed respectfully to his shijie and Lan Xichen. He seemed so different from the loud, audacious boy wrecking havoc up and down Cloud Recesses. Without Jiang Wanyin, Wei Wuxian was exposed, pushed to the forefront of everyone's scrutiny, the only defense between his sister and heaven, hell, and man.

He knew it, and so did everyone else.  

His sister waved fondly at him. As you were, her gesture seemed to say.

"When you put it like that, it sounds less like a marriage and more like exile. I know my brother; he would not mistreat Lan-er-gongzi, but nevertheless," Jiang Yanli looked up to face him. "Thank you, Zewu-jun. I'm sure the decision was not easy."

Lan Xichen closed his eyes momently and shook his head. "Mn. Not easy for those us he leaves behind perhaps, but my brother has always wanted simple things: family, unity, understanding. He will not have that in a marriage my Uncle arranges for him. Uncle means well, and maybe in time Wangji can learn to cope, to accept, but I cannot. I share your desire to see our own brothers happy, Jiang-zongzu, and marrying another will not bring Wangji happiness. This way, he may have lost some things, but he will still be permitted to teach at Gusu during the lecture season and to tutor our younglings. For him, that should be enough."

Jiang Yanli met Lan Xichen's eyes steadily, in between them hung words unspoken, heavy and binding.

They do not mention that by marrying Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji will yield his position as his brother's heir presumptive and his right to inherit.

They do not mention that any children Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji may adopt or father with subsidiary spouses would belong to Wei Wuxian and be granted no Lan privileges.

In particular, they do not mention the two special clauses that Jiang Yanli had added as a peace offering to demonstrate her goodwill. In the clause, it detailed that in the event of an arms conflict between Gusu and Yunmeng, Lan Wangji may choose to unilaterally divorce Wei Wuxian and return to Gusu and his previous status, to take up arms and defend the clan of his blood. It also detailed that any children fathered by Lan Wangji may forfeit their Jiang status and reclaim Lan privileges in the event of a divorce.

Neither of their brothers knew of the special clause, and they would never know, until they need to.

For the Elders of Gusu Lan, to part with their Hanguang-jun must be akin to an amputation of the limb. Yunmeng Jiang's demands may have been blunt, but these were desperate times, and it saved no one's face to pretend otherwise. Marriage alliance between male heirs were not usually arranged for this exact reason. Issues of inheritance and loyalty too often became messy - or worse - bloody if not laid out straight from the start. Jiang Yanli had hoped that the inclusion of the special clauses would convey her understanding of Lan family's worries and the sincerity of her alliance. She had no intention of making enemies of people from whom she sought support.

"It's cold up here, isn't it, where we stand." Jiang Yanli lamented after a long stretch of silence. The wind of Qinghe in October was indeed biting, but somehow that didn't seem to be what she meant.

Lan Xichen sighed. "I've seen my share of unhappy unions, as I’m sure you have too. Our brothers' will be a happy one."

"I do hope so, Zewu-jun. I do hope so."

[drwcn]

Damn. That Zhuocheng's photos post you reblogged are from parallel universe from the set of upcoming historical cdrama Before The Sun Falls. And now I'm curious: how would btsf be called in Chinese, and how would it sound?

:D Yes he did look v. sexy in those photos. 

【Before The Sun Falls】 in Chinese is 【日落前】

日 “re” = the sun 

落 “luo” = fall 

前 “qian” = before, prior 

[drwcn]

Dear Readers 

my brain officially said no thank you to studying tonight, so here are some things I want your opinions on. 

First of, I want to thank every one of you who read/ liked/ reblogged/ commented on my writing since I started with The Untamed last December. From Begotten to Before the Sun Falls, to Discordance, you’ve all been so supportive, and I appreciate every single one of you. 

Over the last couple of days I’ve been looking at my schedule, and realized come September, I really won’t have much time to write. I’m not worried that I won’t finish Discordance, but I’m really concerned about Before the Sun Falls

I’ve ranted to @theuntamednarrator and @mylastbraincql so much about this au (thank you guys so much!), but writing it is actually really difficult. As some of you probably realized I’ve been stuck on chapter 2 for... 4 months now. 

I feel like I’ve taken a bite out of something I can’t swallow. I don’t want to give up but putting it on AO3 is really daunting. This is mostly because I don’t write linearly, especially not for long plots. I was able to finish Begotten because I had started out wanting to finish it in 3 but realized there was too much material, so I expanded to 6. 

But BtSF is a whole other beast, and I hate leaving a fic not updated for months and months. And the longer I leave it the less I’m motivated to update it. It just becomes more and more daunting. 

Over the last week some readers have brought up whether or not I will be posting Discordance on AO3 and the answer had been yes eventually. However, I realize that AO3 is easier to track and has more accessibility options. I’ve thought about it, and here’s what I propose, not just for Discordance, but for BtSF as well: 

I will be writing BTSF in a non linear manner, it seems to be the only way I can get this done. 

I will continue to update it on AO3, BUT! in the order that I write things, 

This will get confusing, SO! to facilitate the plot line, the first chapter will be a chronological index page where I can but the chapters (and a short description of the events) in order (I will attempt my very limited coding skills to put links there) 

I will test this idea with Discordance first. If it works well, I will do this for BtSF

Please let me know what you guys think of this arrangement? Comment/Inbox however you like. Or if you’re shy and don’t want to say anything but agree with the arrangement above, like this post so I know. My anon is open if you wanna leave an anonymous comment of disagreement :) 

~ Corie. 

[drwcn]

BEFORE THE SUN FALLS: Navigation 

Now posting on AO3

Hello Friends!

This is the page where I will be organizing and sorting through my tumblr postings for “Before the Sun Falls”. The official chapters will be posted on AO3 (link above), but here is where I sort of throw out ideas that may or may not make it to the final version. Even ideas that I do keep, details are still open to change as I work out the kinks in the plot.

Story Concepts:

(concept 1) - bone structure of the story

(concept 2) - an epilogue of sorts

(concept 3) - dark!jiang yanli characterization

(concept 4) - jin siblings

Snippets/Prompts (22/?)

The snippets I write aren’t always in chronological order, so here I’ll be organizing them chronologically in order that I think they probably might appear in the story, but I’ll also label them (1,2.3…etc) so you know which ones are the latest updates.

[snippet 4]   - wen qing makes a decision to go against wen ruohan

[snippet 18] - nie mingjue’s first impression of jiang yanli

[snippet 12] - lan xichen and jiang yanli discuss their brothers’ engagement

[snippet 7]   - wei wuxian thinks about the engagement with lan wangji (ft miscellaneous things)

[snippet 16] - wen qing the spy  

[snippet 14] - jiang cheng’s first appearance after his supposed death

[snippet 2]   - jiang yanli captures wen chao

[snippet 1]   - death of wen zhuliu (chengqing) *(no longer applicable

[snippet 17] - cabin in the woods (chengqing)

[snippet 23] - wen qing and jiang cheng before the siege 

[snippet 5]   - jiang cheng finds out about wangxian’s engagement

[snippet 11] - jin zixun being a moron and jiang yanli puts him in his place

[snippet 3]   - wei wuxian is hurt during battle by jiang cheng (wangxian)

[snippet 8]   - post a catastrophe

[snippet 22] - the jin siblings commit a crime

[snippet 15] - wangxian and a-yuan

Post Ending of BtSF

[snippet 9]   - post btsf cultivation conference part 1.(chengqing)

[snippet 10] - post btsf cultivation conference part 2. (chengqing)

[snippet 13] - Jin Ling and his aunt Qin Su

[snippet 6]   - this is pseudo-history styled passage about Wen Qing written like a section of a textbook.  

[snippet 19] - post btsf sandu shengshou visits sect master wen (chengqing)

[snippet 20] - 16 years after the sunshot campaign, nevernight (chengqing)

[snippet 21] - 16 years after sunshot campaign, nevernight part 2 (chengqing)

Old Ideas/Concepts:

These are ideas/concepts/snippets that I originally came up with as I was building this world that I probably wouldn’t be including or have deviated from. Some elements of these concepts will still definitely appear in BTSF, just not in the way that I’ve originally drafted it.

{original concept} - no longer in use

{the nie arc} - this has been adopted by a very talented writer and has been turned into an independent story! The nie arc in the story will be different!

{the yi city arc} - I’ve completely scrapped this. I just don’t have space to address this one.

The Ships:

{Wei Wuxian x Lan Wangji} - our boys in an arranged marriage and yet still pining

{Jiang Cheng x Wen Qing } - literally gratuitous self-comfort for all my hopes and dreams that canon never fulfilled

{Meng Yao x Lan Xichen} - I hope to a write a version of MY actually worthy of LXC

{Jiang Yanli x Jin Zixuan} - she can still have a romance even if she’s leading a clan, but Jin Zixuan is gonna have to earn it. It’s not going to be the dominant romantic arch.

If you’re really into one aspect of this au and would really love to see it happen, lemme know! :)

[drwcn]

syubbiebaby replied: 

W-wait. DARK JIANG YANLI?!?!?!?. Link me that right now or I'll break your legs. I WILL read the fuck outta that. Because tbh 100% would simp for jyl

It’s my “Before the Sun Falls” (btsf) au , you can find it on [AO3]. There’s only one officially posted chapter so far, but i’m working on it. :P In the mean time, you can find some more dark!yanli plot ideas and passages for this au: 

[here] [here] [here]

[drwcn]

Hey I was wondering if you were going to post discordance to ao3 at some point?

maybe once it’s all finished? AO3 is so....official you know? 

I’m actually thinking of doing the opposite and taking even my BTSF down and work on it as a tumblr series. It’s just easier to work with? Also :/ I’m probably going to finish everything before september because after that... I don’t know how much time I have to write anything. 

[drwcn]

Hello, I’m reading your before the sun falls work which is incredible and foreboding and I would like to ask, will you be posting on a schedule? When can we expect the next chapter? Not to pressure you!!

Hi friend, thank you for your support! :) Unfortunately I do not. I’ll try to update every week at least for 1 fic (discordance or btsf) but i’m not sure if i can do that consistently. :/