#theres this insistence the fandom has with reading the story through its original cultural lens

[undercover-stories]

"Wei Ying should have told Jiang Cheng about the golden core exchange before he did it"

When?

Was he supposed to tell Jiang Cheng after his volatile reaction to Wen Ning? While he was catatonic and immovable while they were in enemy territory? When he wasn't eating or drinking and was passively suicidal?

More importantly, why would he? Why risk Jiang Cheng saying no? The GC exchange wasn't just about Jiang Cheng. It's about the Jiang Clan. To both of their knowledge, there was no way for Jiang Cheng to revive his clan without one. Jiang Cheng isn't being overdramatic when he basically says it's the end of his clan. Wei Ying (in his head at least) had a duty. A duty that JF and YZ left him with when they died. An obligation to the Jiang Clan as a servant, which he ultimately is. If you really want to talk about Asian and Chinese culture specifically, duty and honor trumps EVERYTHING. Wei Yings Sacrifice wasn't just about a brotherly love. It was about responsibility. It was expected. Especially since, as the last heir to the Jiang Clan, JC had a target on his back. With no core, he was helpless, and he would have hated the idea of being protected by Wei Ying. Culturally speaking, Wei Ying made the right choice.

Wei Ying didn't hold back the info about the GCE because he was uncoomunicative. Its because he knew it would have done nothing but cause conflict. It would have done nothing but make Jiang Cheng angry with him or worse, hate himself. If you had sacrificed something to help someone you love, to keep them alive and healthy, would you have told them about it knowing it would tear them apart to know?