Zizhen stares for a moment, a little horrified - it's clear whatever is going on with Jin Ling has been building for a while, he's at breaking point and he feels totally alone, Zizhen can see that in his eyes, hear the desperation in his voice.
"Ling, you have us," he says, soft but certain "even if we can't share any of your burden, you can talk to us about it, maybe there's something we can do to help? The same is true of your uncles, you know... I understand why you might not want to share this with them, but I think they'd want to help you if they could..."
~~~
"I..." he doesn't know how to answer that, he doesn't know why it's being asked. He knows the Zheng family will cover for him if anybody asks questions that's the deal they have with Madame, but he doesn't want to say he lives there and for a visit to be paid, since they would find him very definitely not there.
"I'm very sorry, your excellency, I told Jin-zongzhu I would meet him before we retired for the night and I really ought to go or I will be late," it's a flimsy as hell excuse, and he hates that it might reflect badly on Jin Ling, but he needs to get out of there before any more questions are asked. "This was.. this was very nice. Thank you for your instruction, and your advice. I will.. thank you." He bows deeply and turns to flee.
no subject
Zizhen stares for a moment, a little horrified - it's clear whatever is going on with Jin Ling has been building for a while, he's at breaking point and he feels totally alone, Zizhen can see that in his eyes, hear the desperation in his voice.
"Ling, you have us," he says, soft but certain "even if we can't share any of your burden, you can talk to us about it, maybe there's something we can do to help? The same is true of your uncles, you know... I understand why you might not want to share this with them, but I think they'd want to help you if they could..."
~~~
"I..." he doesn't know how to answer that, he doesn't know why it's being asked. He knows the Zheng family will cover for him if anybody asks questions that's the deal they have with Madame, but he doesn't want to say he lives there and for a visit to be paid, since they would find him very definitely not there.
"I'm very sorry, your excellency, I told Jin-zongzhu I would meet him before we retired for the night and I really ought to go or I will be late," it's a flimsy as hell excuse, and he hates that it might reflect badly on Jin Ling, but he needs to get out of there before any more questions are asked. "This was.. this was very nice. Thank you for your instruction, and your advice. I will.. thank you." He bows deeply and turns to flee.