Huaisang would be informed there were a couple rumors that needed to be addressed by his spies. The very early stages of rumors were starting about him and Jiang Cheng, although half was about an affair and half was about some kind of take over of the Jin clan. It was still small enough that this could be squashed easily enough. Another rumor that had begun was Jin Ling and Zizhen were having an affair and everyone believed their sect leader was sleeping with Liling. Some thought Jin Ling was really dead and they were doing a mass cover-up to get as much from the Jin clan before this was announced to the public.
The most worrisome was the growing worry that Jin Ling would not recover and some people believed he should be replaced by someone stronger like his cousin Jin Chan. There was signs of civil unrest that if someone didn't address could lead to big problems.
Meanwhile, apparently nothing could be without issues.
"Just seems like you've had something else a lot more important to do than see me lately," Jin Ling complains.
His uncle sneers slightly but forces the look away. He glances at Zizhen before he directs his attention back at the idiot in the bed. "While I'm glad you're feeling well enough to be a spoiled brat again, not everything in the universe is about you. I've been spending time cleaning up a lot of your messes and am continuing to do so. I didn't think I needed to come check on a grown man who already had another man waiting on his every need. How many full time babysitters do you need, Jin-zongzhu?"
Jin Ling winces. "It's not.. I don't need.. I just wanted to see you," his words steadily got weaker. However, then his glares at his uncle and snaps again, "Is it true you've been sleeping with Nie-zongzhu?"
Purple electricity spark around the older man as his nostrils flare with anger. "Are you in any position to question me on who I may or may not have slept with after who you brought to my house? Now before one of you ungrateful little shits say one more thing that makes me regret coming back here to this city and nursing my useless nephew back to health, I must return to Lotus Pier."
Jin Ling pales and opens his mouth to protest, but his uncle sends him such a withering look he stays quiet.
"I leave in the morning and I'll be as swift to return as I can. I've asked Nie-zongzhu here so that he can assist you in my absence. He's still my guest here so if you're as ass to him, I will break your teeth! Do you understand me? Same goes for you!" He snaps at Zizhen.
~~~
All the disciples stare in disbelief. This confirms all of their suspicions about Sizhui's heritage with Lan Wangji! Their gazes drift back and forth between their elders and the obvious bastard son of their most respected clan member and the Chief Cultivator himself.
All three Lan elders bow to him when Sizhui takes the sword, like part of a ritual. (It's the Lans, so it probably is). Lan Qiren and Lan Wangji have warm-ish looks on their faces, but Lan Xichen has a broad smile. He steps forward and puts a hand on the young man's shoulder. "Use it with pride, nephew. Please, disciples, keep each other and our newest member safe. Go forth and.."
"Be righteous!" The juniors all say, repeating their clan's motto.
The group departs down the mountain following Hanguang Jun and Wei Wuxian. They pause briefly to collect Apple and Hanguang Jun lifts his husband up onto the donkey's back before they set off again. For this trip, they're moving swiftly so they don't have a wagon or other animals with them. From how they move, this doesn't seem unfamiliar to them- at least the older ones. There are a few in back that keep whispering with a nervous or excited energy.
From somewhere not that far behind Sizhui he hears the following: "So does this mean he's the heir since he has the last clan leader's sword?" "Yeah, think so." "Wow, never thought those rumors were true!" "Makes you look at him differently doesn't it?" "Little bit, but doesn't change what he did during the Sunshot Campaign!" "Or at the Burial Mounds!" "Or-"
no subject
The most worrisome was the growing worry that Jin Ling would not recover and some people believed he should be replaced by someone stronger like his cousin Jin Chan. There was signs of civil unrest that if someone didn't address could lead to big problems.
Meanwhile, apparently nothing could be without issues.
"Just seems like you've had something else a lot more important to do than see me lately," Jin Ling complains.
His uncle sneers slightly but forces the look away. He glances at Zizhen before he directs his attention back at the idiot in the bed. "While I'm glad you're feeling well enough to be a spoiled brat again, not everything in the universe is about you. I've been spending time cleaning up a lot of your messes and am continuing to do so. I didn't think I needed to come check on a grown man who already had another man waiting on his every need. How many full time babysitters do you need, Jin-zongzhu?"
Jin Ling winces. "It's not.. I don't need.. I just wanted to see you," his words steadily got weaker. However, then his glares at his uncle and snaps again, "Is it true you've been sleeping with Nie-zongzhu?"
Purple electricity spark around the older man as his nostrils flare with anger. "Are you in any position to question me on who I may or may not have slept with after who you brought to my house? Now before one of you ungrateful little shits say one more thing that makes me regret coming back here to this city and nursing my useless nephew back to health, I must return to Lotus Pier."
Jin Ling pales and opens his mouth to protest, but his uncle sends him such a withering look he stays quiet.
"I leave in the morning and I'll be as swift to return as I can. I've asked Nie-zongzhu here so that he can assist you in my absence. He's still my guest here so if you're as ass to him, I will break your teeth! Do you understand me? Same goes for you!" He snaps at Zizhen.
~~~
All the disciples stare in disbelief. This confirms all of their suspicions about Sizhui's heritage with Lan Wangji! Their gazes drift back and forth between their elders and the obvious bastard son of their most respected clan member and the Chief Cultivator himself.
All three Lan elders bow to him when Sizhui takes the sword, like part of a ritual. (It's the Lans, so it probably is). Lan Qiren and Lan Wangji have warm-ish looks on their faces, but Lan Xichen has a broad smile. He steps forward and puts a hand on the young man's shoulder. "Use it with pride, nephew. Please, disciples, keep each other and our newest member safe. Go forth and.."
"Be righteous!" The juniors all say, repeating their clan's motto.
The group departs down the mountain following Hanguang Jun and Wei Wuxian. They pause briefly to collect Apple and Hanguang Jun lifts his husband up onto the donkey's back before they set off again. For this trip, they're moving swiftly so they don't have a wagon or other animals with them. From how they move, this doesn't seem unfamiliar to them- at least the older ones. There are a few in back that keep whispering with a nervous or excited energy.
From somewhere not that far behind Sizhui he hears the following: "So does this mean he's the heir since he has the last clan leader's sword?" "Yeah, think so." "Wow, never thought those rumors were true!" "Makes you look at him differently doesn't it?" "Little bit, but doesn't change what he did during the Sunshot Campaign!" "Or at the Burial Mounds!" "Or-"
"Quiet!" Jingyi orders, looking behind him.