Huaisang inclines his head in agreement - he's happy to wait for Jiang Cheng to return to oversee things, partly because he knows it'll make Jin Ling more comfortable, partly because he has nothing to hide - and maybe, just a little, partly so that his beloved can see how much effort he's putting in to look out for his favoured nephew.
The mention of the tournament, and including more cultural competition, brings both approval and light to his eyes and he agrees readily to be involved - he's more than happy to be in charge of judging it himself, he likes the prestige of that kind of position, and it's not like he needs to prove that he's skilled in those areas. Being able to support them being considered worthy areas to be skilled in is enough.
They discuss matters a little longer, and Huaisang leaves the meeting feeling quite positive, and he heads back to his rooms to work on a first draft of the treaty - and to liaise with his spies about training Jin Ling's.
By the time he leaves Lanling, there are a number of things in place to help cement Ling's powerbase and keep him safe until he's completely ready to stand on his own two feet as clan leader (moreso than he had already been doing) - the tournament is really going to be the thing that brings it all together, and that means a few months of trips to Lanling and Lotus Pier for planning purposes. All in all, he's quite pleased with how things have turned out.
~~~
Zizhen is pleased too, things seem much more positive by the time his father calls him home - the pleasure is (slightly) shortlived when his father insists upon no detours, and he has to write a letter to Jingyi regretfully explaining that he can't visit, but he'll hopefully be able to soon.
When his father gets over being terribly worried about how the world is out to get him. Trust his father to make an attempt on Jin Ling's life about him.
(Truthfully, the protectiveness would be sweet if it wasn't keeping him away from Jingyi)
He does manage to raise the subject of marriage with his father, at least, but frustratingly the man refuses to properly consider it until he can meet Jingyi's parents, and equally refuses to travel anywhere to visit them until he's sure the danger has passed.
At least he can still help plan the tournament, even if it is only via letter.
~~~
Yuan finds himself drifting off quickly again once he's safely tucked up in bed in the Jingshi. He isn't exactly sure how much time passes before he's really, properly awake, and he only remembers snippets of that time. The weakness from the poison makes him susceptible to infection, which only delays his recovery even more. Despite how scary and unpleasant it is, it has the effect of rapidly cementing his bond with both his parents and with Jingyi, and by the time he's fully recovering he feels even more like he belongs, despite having missed yet more time training as a disciple.
He hasn't, however, heard from Jin Ling, and his heart breaks just a little for it. He knows he represents a potential weakness, and he knows that the young clan leader has so much on his plate - and that, perhaps, he is simply trying to give Yuan the space he needs to be with his family.... or perhaps his love was simply an infatuation that he has gotten over. He doesn't know which and he doesn't dare ask.
Despite the uncertainty, he can't bring himself to stop wearing the ring - although, in apparent deference to Lan rules, he does stop wearing it on his hand, instead keeping it close to himself on a chain around his neck, tucked under his robes to hang beside his heart. He uses the comb Ling gave him every day, unless somebody else is brushing his hair, and wonders if the other young man thinks of him as often too.
When he's fully recovered, he and Jingyi swear an oath of brotherhood to one another with friends and family watching on, and as he returns to his studies with his parents watching on and his sworn brother at his side, he feels a lingering guilt that he has such a life, better than he ever could have dreamed, and he still wants more.
So when he hears about the tournament in Lanling, hears about the chance to present himself to the cultivation world, to show how far he had come - and to see his beloved Ling again, he practically begs to be allowed to go (as though his parents would have stopped him), and he trains day and night to be ready for it.
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ninetydegrees
no subject
2022-06-18 15:31 (UTC)Huaisang inclines his head in agreement - he's happy to wait for Jiang Cheng to return to oversee things, partly because he knows it'll make Jin Ling more comfortable, partly because he has nothing to hide - and maybe, just a little, partly so that his beloved can see how much effort he's putting in to look out for his favoured nephew.
The mention of the tournament, and including more cultural competition, brings both approval and light to his eyes and he agrees readily to be involved - he's more than happy to be in charge of judging it himself, he likes the prestige of that kind of position, and it's not like he needs to prove that he's skilled in those areas. Being able to support them being considered worthy areas to be skilled in is enough.
They discuss matters a little longer, and Huaisang leaves the meeting feeling quite positive, and he heads back to his rooms to work on a first draft of the treaty - and to liaise with his spies about training Jin Ling's.
By the time he leaves Lanling, there are a number of things in place to help cement Ling's powerbase and keep him safe until he's completely ready to stand on his own two feet as clan leader (moreso than he had already been doing) - the tournament is really going to be the thing that brings it all together, and that means a few months of trips to Lanling and Lotus Pier for planning purposes. All in all, he's quite pleased with how things have turned out.
~~~
Zizhen is pleased too, things seem much more positive by the time his father calls him home - the pleasure is (slightly) shortlived when his father insists upon no detours, and he has to write a letter to Jingyi regretfully explaining that he can't visit, but he'll hopefully be able to soon.
When his father gets over being terribly worried about how the world is out to get him. Trust his father to make an attempt on Jin Ling's life about him.
(Truthfully, the protectiveness would be sweet if it wasn't keeping him away from Jingyi)
He does manage to raise the subject of marriage with his father, at least, but frustratingly the man refuses to properly consider it until he can meet Jingyi's parents, and equally refuses to travel anywhere to visit them until he's sure the danger has passed.
At least he can still help plan the tournament, even if it is only via letter.
~~~
Yuan finds himself drifting off quickly again once he's safely tucked up in bed in the Jingshi. He isn't exactly sure how much time passes before he's really, properly awake, and he only remembers snippets of that time. The weakness from the poison makes him susceptible to infection, which only delays his recovery even more. Despite how scary and unpleasant it is, it has the effect of rapidly cementing his bond with both his parents and with Jingyi, and by the time he's fully recovering he feels even more like he belongs, despite having missed yet more time training as a disciple.
He hasn't, however, heard from Jin Ling, and his heart breaks just a little for it. He knows he represents a potential weakness, and he knows that the young clan leader has so much on his plate - and that, perhaps, he is simply trying to give Yuan the space he needs to be with his family.... or perhaps his love was simply an infatuation that he has gotten over. He doesn't know which and he doesn't dare ask.
Despite the uncertainty, he can't bring himself to stop wearing the ring - although, in apparent deference to Lan rules, he does stop wearing it on his hand, instead keeping it close to himself on a chain around his neck, tucked under his robes to hang beside his heart. He uses the comb Ling gave him every day, unless somebody else is brushing his hair, and wonders if the other young man thinks of him as often too.
When he's fully recovered, he and Jingyi swear an oath of brotherhood to one another with friends and family watching on, and as he returns to his studies with his parents watching on and his sworn brother at his side, he feels a lingering guilt that he has such a life, better than he ever could have dreamed, and he still wants more.
So when he hears about the tournament in Lanling, hears about the chance to present himself to the cultivation world, to show how far he had come - and to see his beloved Ling again, he practically begs to be allowed to go (as though his parents would have stopped him), and he trains day and night to be ready for it.