lastjinstanding | Brothel meme continued

Brothel meme continued

Continued from here

Jin Ling had really hoped he'd have A-Yuan at his side for this, but he didn't blame the sweet man for being ill one bit. In fact, he really enjoyed holding him as they finished traveling up to Lotus Pier. He sends servants off the boat to arrange a discreet delivery of his ill and subdued guest to private chambers following Ling's disembark. He instructed only Fu Geming to carry A-Yuan with Liling.

Sadly, after that, he had to leave his pets in his servants care. Squaring his shoulders, he stepped onto the pier. He bowed humbly to all of his relatives and gave them each a proper greeting- or in Wei Wuxian's case, a cheeky one.

He was brought into the main hall and given the seat next to Jiang Cheng's throne. Wei Wuxian was seated beside him with Lan Wangji at the next seat. And yes, Wangji had been offered the throne but had chosen to stay at Wuxian's side. It was Jiang Cheng's wedding, after all.

Jin Ling is happy sitting to a nice cup of tea and some wine after a long day of travel with promise of dinner coming.

~~~

"Jin-Guniang, is the young master Zheng in this room?" A young, unfamiliar male voice asks. "I have some medicine I wish to offer if you'd announce me."

"Of course. Let me ask for you," Liling says in a warm tone. She knocks on Yuan's door and peeks in. She smiles when she sees him awake. She comes in and shuts the door behind her. "Zheng-gongzi? How are you feeling? A friend of Jin-zongzhu from the Lan Clan is here to offer you some medicine. Would you feel up to seeing him?"

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Jiang Cheng had totally invited Nie Huaisang here just to fuck him.

Which he was doing.. a lot. They.. hadn't left the bedchambers yet. The Nie sect leader was getting to experience first had the fullest meaning of the word 'virile'. He alternated between rough and gentle wanting to give his lover as much of both as he could handle, perhaps even more so.

For now though, the cries of passion had calmed and they lay together on in a mess of soft white sheets and limbs. Cheng kissed the top of Huaisang's head as the other was being held lovingly to his chest. He stroked the beautiful man's bare back in lazy circles. He'd always known how attractive the pretty Nie ruler was, but to witness him be pleasured over and over again had made his heart sing.

"The fan is beautiful," he remarks after a while of comfortable quiet.

~~~

"No! It can't be just for that! My Jiujiu isn't like that!" He frowns and thinks for a minute. "Wasn't he at the wedding too?" Granted, everyone important had been at the wedding but it seems significant whether or not Nie-zongzhu was at the wedding when there was decidedly a lack of wedding.

"We need a spy to figure this stuff out," he groans. "We need more details. Zizhen, can you get any more details? Like I don't want those details! I don't need any more 'he's good at it- bleh' but just.. are those sweet buns?"

His attention gets diverted as he notices something particularly sweet on the platter Liling had brought right when this whole thing erupted. His servant comes over and helps him sit up better and gets him the treat. He takes a big bite out of it and then goes back to thinking about their weird problem.

"Jingyi's so good at asking this stuff. I wish he was here."

Liling watches him amazed, though it was amusing how much of this he was missing.

~~~

Lan Zhan practically springs from his qin, much the same as wuxian does to come greet their son. He smiles quietly though as his husband's doting is so silly and endearing. He has the impulse to hug the young man and even kiss his cheeks but it's so new and the desire is so unusual to him, he can't quite bring himself to do it. Still, he watches Sizhui's face with much more warmth than he was known for.

He nods in agreement that yes, Sizhui is clearly perfect. However, he sighs at the candy comment. "They're his candy."

Huaisang might actually be dead. Or possibly he's ascended. Maybe both. His entire body feels loose and boneless and more relaxed than he has ever been in his life. He's floating on a cloud of pleasure and he's not sure he'll ever come down.

"Mmm?" He tilts his head so he can look up at the other man "the fa- oh, the one I painted for you?" He asks, and a lazy, contented grin spreads across his lips.

"I'm glad you like it, my love. I know you're unlikely to use it, but I thought it might be something you could look at from time to time and think of me."

~~~

Zizhen nods - he was at the wedding, but there was nothing odd about that, and they certainly hadn't been acting out of the ordinary that he'd noticed. Then again, it's not like they had much chance to - after the whole scene with the poisoned tea everything had spiralled a bit from there, and then Jiang-zongzhu had made everybody leave.

Only... Zizhen isn't sure he saw sect leader Nie leaving... though with Jingyi unconscious he had other things on his mind at the time.

Jin Ling almost seems normal right now, chewing happily on the bun while thinking through the puzzle. It warms his heart.

He grabs a bun of his own and nods thoughtfully.

"Divide and conquer. Later, when they're not.. you know. You can talk to your uncle and I'll talk to Nie-zongzhu and we'll see what we can find out?"

~~~

"I don't mind sharing," Yuan says softly, a smile on his face.

"He doesn't mind sharing!" Wuxian says like he's won something, giving Lan Zhan a smug look.

"It's almost more candy than I've ever had in my life," Yuan laughs slightly "I really couldn't eat it all myself."

Wei Wuxian's expression immediately goes stricken.

"Ah! Lan Zhan! Our poor son hasn't eaten all that much candy at all! A-Yuan no I won't have a single piece it's all yours!"

Cheng smiles down on him and runs a hand gently through his hair. His grin turns amused and he chuckles. "A-Sang, are you saying you don't picture me as the type to peek coyly over fans and hide my flirty smiles?" He appreciates that Huaisang recognized he wouldn't be really using the fan for it's intended purpose, but as a prized art piece. "I know just where I'll display it at home, so everyone can admire it."

"Although I'm afraid, the fan might not be able to do as you hoped. I don't think it's possible to think of you any more in a day than I already do, my little nightingale."

~~~

Being that he was one of the first to leave, he wouldn't have known about Nie Huaisang staying.

"Yeah but be careful. I don't trust Nie-zongzhu. I don't need him turning his focus on you. I can't do much to protect Jiujiu yet if he's going to be stupid enough to sleep with him, but maybe I can protect you." Indirectly, since he couldn't really defend anyone in his bedridden condition. "What do we even ask? 'Hi uncle are you getting manipulated?' 'Hi Nie-zongzhu are you manipulating my uncle?'.

He shakes his head. "Whatever, we should talk about something else before I get angry." Angrier, at least. "Speaking of sleeping with people, when are you planning on lifting Jingyi's robes?"

~~~

Lan Zhan starts off looking like he just ate a sour lemon because, yes, Wuxian was right. Yuan, of course wouldn't mind sharing his treats. They had the best boi, so it was very predictable. But after only a couple moments, he's flustered and trying to quickly make that his husband happy again.

He puts a hand gently on Wuxian's arm, reassuringly. "I'll get some more from town tomorrow. I'll make sure there's candy for him." Please don't be upset husband or son! There's lots of candy in the world!

Huaisang laughs, leaning up to kiss his lover softly. He likes this side of him, this easy teasing, likes seeing him so relaxed for once.

The fact he's willing to display the fan, and those beautiful words, earn another kiss and a happy sigh as Huaisang lays his head back down on Cheng's chest, tracing over his stomach with his fingers as he smiles.

"Good. I like the thought of being on your mind as much as you're on mine, A-Cheng, my loyal wolf." He sighs softly, voice turning more serious "but we should be careful. Don't display the fan just yet. I am here to help support Jin Ling and nothing more, for the moment at least, I refuse to be the cause of any more scandal for you, my love, you've dealt with quite enough."

They would claim to have grown closer, he thinks, something something sect leader Nie's invaluable support, developing feelings etc etc, once a suitable amount of time has passed.

~~~

"We'll figure it out," Zizhen promises before allowing the change of subject. If Jin Ling's uncle wasn't going to protect himself, they'd do it for him.

"Jin Ling!" He gasps, the question making him flush. He looks away sheepishly "I don't know. Soon, I hope? But I've never.. and I know he's never... I've only ever read about it in books!"

~~~

Yuan smiles softly, giving both his parents fond looks.

"I want to share, with both of you. Baba, don't be sad, I have candy now, I have you now, I couldn't be happier."

Wuxian draws both of them into a tight hug and then pulls them over to the table.

"I love you both so much. Come, come, A-Yuan, tell us all about your day."

He eagerly meets every kiss, lifting his other hand to brush a lock of hair from his love's face.

"Careful?" Jiang Cheng asks, in a brief moment of ignorance. As Huaisang explains further, he realizes what he means and his hand on the other's back stills. That kind of careful. He'd been so caught up in the relief and thrill of having the wonderfully devious man with him again, he'd let himself forget for a while the dangers involved here.

It also felt so good to have someone care about his reputation like this. It was humbling and only reinforced his feelings for the man. His lip curls. "So no having sex with you in the main hall here, is what you're saying?" He presses a kiss to the top of Huaisang's head and chuckles.

"Alright, I'll only look at it when I'm alone. But.. A-Sang.. know that I'm not ashamed to be with you, my dear."

~~~

He wonders if Huaisang and his uncle are together, how they could break that craziness up. If they did it subtly, maybe no one else would have to know. Liling could be a bit of a gossip, but this was a pretty serious topic. She got her need to squeal out on them instead of someone else the information could do some damage.

He laughs seeing Zizhen's reaction. That had been precisely why he said it like he did. That had been worth the disgraceful words. If he had any energy he would've fallen over and rolled on the bed laughing like he used to. Right now, he could just snicker.

"You've a friend right here whose done far more than read books," he points out as the social menace that he was. "Besides, you know how backward those Lans can be. Don't you think you'll be waiting forever if you wait for him? Show some initiative Zizhen! He doesn't always have to be in charge does he? It gets tiring even for the best of us."

Okay, not that he knows. He's always the one still in charge in bed.. well except that first time. God that had been hot. Maybe he does know?

"I'll give you some oil before you leave." He was thinking of adding an inner pocket to his robes just so it's always there for..

..

Oh. Guess he won't really be planning on doing it again with Yuan if he isn't planning on seeing him again. That was a knife in the heart if there ever was one.

Huaisang laughs.

"Well, maybe not yet he grins wickedly. He doesn't think he could talk Jiang Cheng into fucking him in the main hall here, however much the idea thrills him, this isn't their home. The main hall in the Unclean Realm, on the other hand... in fact there's a few places in Qinghe he can think of, and a few in Lotus Pier, too.

But that can wait.

"I know you're not," he says, expression softening - he likes to hear it though, the gentle reassurance stills the worry in his heart "but I'd never forgive myself if I tarnished your reputation. We can be more open about it once a suitable amount of time has passed."

If he still feels the same way, by then.

~~~

"Hey I can take charge! I want to take charge! I just... well we only just kissed and I stayed in the dormitory rather than the guest quarters so we didn't exactly have a chance to do anything more and then I came here!"

(And he's going to ignore the implications of that statement because he doesn't need to think about his friend's sexual preferences, thank you)

"...thank you." he says, genuinely, because he doesn't actually know where to get something like that and it would be good to be prepared "Maybe I'll arrange to visit Cloud Recesses on my way home... or invite him to visit Baling, maybe... I'd like to make it special."

"So.. a secret love affair, hmm? I could get into an idea like that," he muses, letting his hand slip lower to give a recently abused ass a gently caress. That was mostly likely going to be sore tomorrow if it wasn't already. He was going to try and feel bad about it, but he made no promises. He'd at least get Huaisang a pillow to sit on instead of making him ride a horse this time though... unless that horse was him again.

"Speaking of.. there really was a situation I could use your advice on. The madam who Yuan worked for has come to collect him. I've told her he won't be returning and that it'd be very unwise of her to pursue him since he's met his family. I didn't say who they were. I told her to gather the numbers for his debt but.. even if I do pay this, she still could come back to cause trouble later." She said she wouldn't, but of course he didn't believe her fully. "The numbers will be inflated as well."

~~~

Jin Ling laughs, still finding this fun to fluster his friend. He makes a face at hearing he slept in the dormitory though. "You slept where? That's in the room with all the other boys, right? What were you thinking? Why wouldn't you demand a guest room?" Who on earth would want to sleep with a room full of other people like that? The Lans were so weird.

And he was hot, you should find his sexual preferences titillating! More importantly, he was taking a guess on Jingyi's personality for you. Listen to him!

"The hell you will!" Okay, so his priority just abruptly switched. "You can't take him out of Cloud Recesses until Yuan's comfortable there." He pouts a bit. "Just.. take a blanket and go to the Back Mountains area or get a room at the inn in town."

He thinks about it for a moment. How would he handle it if it were Yuan and him? He tried to ignore how painful the thought was. Hell he'd probably grab Yuan and drag him to the nearest thicket and have him against a tree or in the grass barely having time to get more than their trousers off. In fact, that'd be pretty hot! Or even the hall with the classrooms at night when no one else was there or the library after it was supposedly locked or..

He needs to stop thinking about this.

"You'd go back after visiting me instead of going home?" He asks suddenly picking up on that. There wasn't even the pretense that this trip was on the way home then. Zizhen really, truly came here for the one and only reason to check on him.

"Exactly," Huaisang grins - it is kind of a thrilling idea to him, too. He's spent so long keeping so many secrets, he'd sort of like to keep one that was fun to keep.

He also didn't care how sore he was going to be tomorrow, because he'd just find a way to whine about it until Jiang Cheng lavished him with more attention (which would probably lead to him getting even more sore, but that was future Huaisang's problem).

He gives the situation some consideration, though he continues to trail his fingers across Cheng's skin as he thinks.

"It depends how smart she is," he says eventually "a stupid madame might try blackmail, or attempt to extort money at a later date, but one who's smart enough will realise she is better making friends instead of enemies. A woman who proves she is discreet will remain that way because it makes for a better class of clientele. We just need to encourage her to be smart."

He knows some high ranking cultivators who visit brothels, the right words in the right ears will get her what she wants and keep her from bothering them - and Huaisang knows those words, and those ears.

"Can I be there? When she comes back?" he asks, leaning up to kiss his lover softly "I think I can ascertain if she's going to be a problem or not."

~~~

"Why would I demand a guest room the beds are just the same...?" Zizhen looks mystified. Honestly he'd wanted to be closer to Jingyi, it wasn't until they were trying to be quiet in the morning that he'd thought about privacy.

He wonders if he could get away with asking for a guest room if he went back, he is sect heir after all...

"Of course, of course not," he reassures with a smile "I'm sure he's taking good care of Yuan. We'll find somewhere in or close to cloud recesses, I promise."

The fact that Jin Ling disappears into a daydream for a moment and then suddenly asks about his plans is... weird, but he puts it down to him still being ill.

"Yes..? Well I want to see Jingyi again, of course I'd go back..?"

Wanyin's lip curls as he thinks how even more intimidating it would be for the madam to come in the next day to see not one but two sect leaders. If they both tell her to leave Yuan alone, what mediocre would go up against that? Only someone incredibly stupid. While he doesn't love the idea that he can't handle this perfectly fine on his own, he knows how well Huaisang reads people and situations. It would put his mind at ease knowing his nephew, his brother, and the rest of his family was safe from this.

He hums thoughtfully, like he really has to consider this incredibly inconvenient request. His lips curl at the edges. "I suppose.. will you behave and follow my rule even then?" Because nothing says serious business meeting like making your secret boyfriend go pantless.

~~~

Jin Ling facepalms. No wonder it's taken this long for these idiots to kiss!

"So it drives Jingyi crazy and he has to come sneak in your guest room to see you. Honestly, do you just read the romance novels for the sex or do you actually read the rest of them too?" Wait, did that mean someone else reads romance novels? Shh! "Trust me, he would've been in your bed a long time ago if you'd just made it a little harder for him to get your attention. But do it next time. I guarantee if you don't invite him, he'll be there within an hour of when you retire for the night ready to ditch his skirts and dignity."

That might be a bit of a stretch, but Jingyi would certainly not be able to handle being without Zizhen the whole night.

Jin Ling is quiet again and sets the last third of his roll back on the platter. Before he'd been sick, he would've easily polished off two of those plus some of the other food, but he was already unable to eat any more. He wipes his fingers on the cloth Liling left as he thinks longer.

"Would you promise me something?" He asks finally, looking back up at his friend. "Would you keep what you've seen here to yourself? With me? I don't.. I don't want Yuan to know. Just.. tell him I've been busy if you must but, not any of the rest of it."

Huaisang blinks up at him with wide eyes. Jiang Cheng is absolutely shameless.

He thinks he might be in love.

"Wanyin," he says, looking scandalised "How could you suggest such a thing?" He holds that expression for just a moment longer before his hurt look morphs into a devious little smile.

"Of course I would follow your rule, my love, you know I'll always be on my very best behaviour for you." he purrs.

~~~

"I read the rest of- wait." Zizhen's eyes narrow suspiciously, but Jin Ling is already continuing and rather neatly distracting him from this revelation.

"I don't know... " he says dubiously. Only... well that would be just like Jingyi, wouldn't it? Throwing caution to the wind and sneaking into his guest room the way he snuck into his bed yesterday morning, and then maybe he could sneak in to a room filled with candlelight and a waiting Zizhen... yes he rather likes this idea... "Jin Ling you might be a genius..."

(He shouldn't have said that, he's never going to hear the end of it)

The requested promise gives him pause, though, because he really doesn't want to lie to Yuan, but if Jin Ling doesn't want him to know the state he's in, and since it's only going to worry him terribly if he hears, maybe...

"I... I promise." he nods. Jin Ling is one of his oldest friends, he thinks Yuan is wonderful, but Jin Ling has his loyalty, he'd do anything for him - including lie.

It runs in the family, apparently. He was at least more subtle about it than a certain other family member.

Either way, Huaisang's reaction makes him laugh. "And what if I want you on your naughtiest behavior?" He asks with a wicked grin. He rolls his lover onto his back and leans in to kiss along the Nie sect leader's neck. It was a wonder they hadn't left more marks along the skin here, but the day wasn't over yet.

If they couldn't be public with their affair, he was going to enjoy it as thoroughly and as long as he possibly could while they were here in private.

~~~

Jin Ling grins, very pleased he might have helped his friends out. It wasn't that he was invested in the two having sex just because he couldn't anymore- although maybe that was a little bit of it- but he was also happy for them and wanted to encourage this relationship along. It was also a strange but genuine way of saying thank you.

He doesn't like the idea of lying to Yuan either, but he knows how it would be if the roles were reversed. If Yuan was in trouble or hurt or sick.. it would just kill him to not be there with him. That's how it would be from now on too. Whatever problem his beloved faced would be supported by everyone else instead of him since Ling was no longer in the picture.

He just really wanted him to enjoy some peace with his family. He deserved it after the hell he'd lived for so long. He wonders if there was something he could send back with Zizhen even subtly that would be from him. Wait, Jin Ling might be the expert (ha ha) on sex, but Zizhen was the wiz on romance. "If I wanted to send something back with you.. but not have him know it's from me, what would it be?"

Huaisang giggles as he's rolled onto his back, arching his neck to give his lover better access and humming thoughtfully.

"But darling wolf of mine, my best behaviour is my naughtiest." he teases, stroking his hands up Cheng's back and enjoying the feel of firm muscles beneath his fingers. He wants to touch every inch of this beautiful man, revel in the fact that he's real and solid and here in Huaisang's bed (or, rather, Huaisang was in his bed, but same difference). He can't entirely believe he is actually wanted, desired by the man he's lusted after since they were teenagers.

Not just lust, either, there are some embarrassingly earnest feelings for Jiang Cheng held in his heart, and there's a hesitant, breathless hope that perhaps those are returned as well.

~~~

"You want him to not know it's from you?" Zizhen asks with a confused frown - why would he not want that? Still, he considers the question all the same, trying to think of suggestions.

"He told us a story about Hanguang Jun buying him a paper butterfly, I think that's a very fond memory for him, and something he always sort of remembered even when he forgot a lot of other things, so something to do with that would make him happy but he wouldn't know it was from you.. unless he ever told you that story?" he suggests "Oh! Or something to do with rabbits. You should have seen his eyes light up when we mentioned the rabbits. I hope he got to go and see them..."

"Yeah.. is that so weird?" Jin Ling asks. Wouldn't it be kind of romantic not to tell him? Although, it may be just an excuse to send him something while knowing he really should leave the other alone. Yuan had found his family and his place in the world and he didn't need to worry about anything happening outside of it. It just seemed too cruel to know Zizhen was returning to Gusu without something for Yuan.

He knows it doesn't make any sense.

"Rabbits and butterflies huh? That's a start.." He ponders that for a couple moments. "It's just.. he's finally found this happiness, right? I don't want him thinking about anything else. If he stays hung up on me, he won't be happy there and he needs to get over me and whatever plans we had since everything's changed for him now. But I don't also want you going back without something for him. Am I just being crazy?"

Zizhen frowns thoughtfully at Jin Ling's explanation - having spent a little time with Yuan now, he doesn't think the other boy's in any danger of getting over Jin Ling. He can't decide if it's painfully romantic - the two of them longing for each other, unsure how the other feels - or if it's just a bit sad.

He understands the logic, Jin Ling still has so much to deal with and it'll probably be easier without the distraction, and Yuan is just starting out as disciple and getting used to living in Cloud Recesses, maybe it is better that the two of them are allowed to get on with their lives, maybe it will only make their love stronger when they reunite...

(He hopes they reunite. They better reunite. This really is like something out of his novels)

"It's not crazy," he says quietly "you love him, you want him to be happy, but you still want to give him things, it makes sense to me."

Don't get your hopes up Zizhen, things don't usually work out in the end. Whatever happened with Hanguang Jun and Wei Wuxian was clearly a fluke of nature. Either that or things did work out for people who weren't Jins and Wens.

He smiles, pleased at the encouragement. It was making life a lot easier not spending any energy on double guessing what the other young man meant by certain comments or if there were any other motivations. He really could sit back and just trust what Zizhen said to be the truth- like he did back before he became a sect leader and watched Jin Guangyao turn out to be wicked.

"If I tell you what I want and give you a purse, would you be willing to find it for me?" He asks. He knows Zizhen isn't a servant but he might like the trip to the market. There were a lot of unique merchants with them being so close to the coat. "I bet you could find something nice for Jingyi too."

He really regrets he can't come with him. If there was even the slightest chance he'd have the energy to do it, he wouldn't hesitate but he can already feel his strength waning. He knows he hasn't been up for that long. It's embarrassing how weak he's become.

Too late, Jin Ling, his hopes are up and he will not rest until he sees the two of you happy together - just like him and Jingyi.

"Of course I would!" he says cheerfully - he wants to help his friend, for one thing, and he knows Jin Ling is really well enough to go shopping, but he also isn't going to say no for a chance to explore the markets in Lanling. He grins at the suggestion "That's a good idea, too."

He needs to think, though, the kind of thing you can buy in Lanling tends towards the ostentatious (typical Jins) and that just wouldn't fly with a Lan, even one like Jingyi, so he'll need to go for understated elegance so it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb - he's sure he can find something good, though. A nice hairpiece, maybe... He'll think of something.

"What are you thinking of getting him, then?" he asks with a smile.

He thinks for a few moments, but his mind keeps returning to something he'd wanted to give Yuan when they'd first met. It was probably terribly inappropriate now given his new life but he couldn't stop thinking about it. "A fan. With a rabbit one it and maybe butterflies and white if you can find it, but the rabbit part is the important thing."

Now that he thinks about it, he also promised to get him a charm that would ward off evil intent. He wonders if he could put that on the fan somehow. It'd be less inappropriate then if there was a use to it, right? Maybe? It made him so sad that Yuan hadn't been here long enough for him to really know what other things he might enjoy. He might never know now.

"I could freak everyone out and buy him a flute that matches his dad's."

A fan with a rabbit and butterflies sounds very cute - and is the kind of gift he could easily have seen and bought for Yuan, rather than something that's obviously from Jin Ling.

He snorts at the comment about the flute, though.

"Oh! That reminds me! You'll never guess what we found!" he gasps suddenly "When we first arrived, Jingyi and Yuan and I were in the Jingshi and we found a hidden compartment, there was all sorts of stuff in there! Liquor and-" he lowers his voice "pornography, and oil too, but there was also some other stuff like Mo Xuanyu's mask and books on demonic cultivation!"

"No way!" Jin Ling exclaims. "At the Jingshi?!" He busts out laughing. "It's like Wei-qianbei personal naughty stash of crap he isn't supposed to have in Cloud Recesses!" His uncle was such an idiot. He loves him, though. Sometimes.

He shakes his head. "Those Lans though. They like to pretend they're so good and righteous but you remember when Hanguang Jun took that bottle of liquor upstairs in the inn right in front of all of us, right? Maybe you should take that as a sign you can be kinky as hell and get Jingyi something he can wear for you underneath his robes!"

No one would be the wiser and with the two young men finally showing signs of moving in that direction, would it be such a bad gift? What would Zizhen think if he knew Jingyi was wearing something he picked out hidden under all that pious white?

Huh, he wonders if this is what attracted Wei-qianbei to Hanguang Jun in the first place. He was getting a little turned on and he was talking about Jingyi. He loved the guy and while he was attractive, he was very much hung up on someone else- thank you very much.

"You don't think Hanguang Jun uses any of that stuff too do you? The pornography, the liquor, all that?"

Zizhen's eyes widen at the suggestion and he flushes crimson - he's a little more experienced than Jingyi (in the theory, anyway, he hasn't had any practice) but he's still far more innocent than Jin Ling is. Still, the embarrassment is just as much about how much he likes the idea as how flustered he is by it.

He coughs awkwardly, trying to push the mental images out of his mind (but not too far out, they were worth considering), and gasps at the suggestion.

"No way! Hanguang Jun would never-" he pauses "I mean, obviously the oil, but-"

But it's surprising enough that Hangjuang Jun even lets Wei-qianbei stash that stuff there, and maybe they do like to enjoy those books together - the idea of sharing some of his own collection with Jingyi sends a little thrill of excitement through him, so why shouldn't Wei-qianbei share his with his husband?

"...maybe, but I don't want to think about it. It's weird enough to think that he even has sex."

(They all know he does, unfortunately, Wei Wuxian is not a subtle man)

He just grins at Zizhen, pleased he is getting to torture his friend like this. It's fun and he hasn't been able to do it for a very long time.

The oil part makes him scrunch his nose because ewww! Also ewww! His uncle must be using that stuff too if he's doing it with a guy too! Bleh, he's so going to barf!

"Yeah, it's unpleasant. They've.. they're not.. I'm glad they've found each other and all that but god! It's a good thing one of them isn't a woman or we'd have a swarm of their babies."

He scoots down further on his pillows and carefully rolls onto his side, so he was facing Zizhen. He winces a little and his smile fades as he rubs his arm, looking for a moment at his wounded shoulder. "Do you think I'll ever be able to use my sword again?"

Zizhen thinks if all their kids ended up like Yuan, that wouldn't be so bad - but he wisely decides not to give voice to that particular thought.

The question makes him frown a little, feeling his heart break for his friend.

"I'm sure you will," he says encouragingly - the wound is bad but it'll heal, right? it has to. "And... oh, if the worst comes to the worst, you'll just have to train with your other hand, right?"

He thinks - but again, does not mention - that the biggest problem is probably going to be archery. If his shoulder is injured beyond repair, if the damage is permanent, he's never going to be able to shoot as well again.

"Yeah, I guess so." Train with his other hand. That was the very worst that could happen. He could handle that, he thinks, slowly perking up at that idea. He loves fighting and night-hunts. He loves swordsmanship and archery. However, if he absolutely had to choose, he'd put down his bow any day to keep Suihua. He just never thought he'd have to make this sacrifice too.

It once again made him wonder just how he was going to be remembered. What would he be if from this moment on, he was some bedridden ruler who couldn't fight? He's pretty sure he just might go find that assassin's dagger in the treasury vault...

"Hey.. you know how Jiujiu is Wei-qianbei younger brother? Is he was gone for over ten years, is Jiujiu now the older brother?"

Zizhen can see the darkness in his expression, he doesn't know what's going on in Jin Ling's head but it can't be anything good - the change of subject is weird, but welcome, and he snorts.

"Maybe! I mean Mo Xuanyu was younger, right? So I mean his body is younger..." and sort of his mind too, actually, since he was gone for all that time while everybody else kept growing up. "You should tell your Jiujiu that and see what he says. Or better yet, tell Wei-qianbei." he laughs.

His mind is still a little on the previous question, though, and he makes a silent promise then and there - whatever happens, he'll do everything he can to make sure his friend can still train, and fight, and if he has to go off hunting for cures and remedies and anything else, he's going to do it. Jin Ling doesn't deserve this.

It was just a dumb thing to say to try and distract at least one of them. It wasn't having much effect on Jin Ling's mood, unfortunately, but he was trying to laugh at it and Zizhen's additions anyway. Jiujiu might bop him in the head for that question.

Eventually Jin Ling has to give up on conversing entirely as his strength ebbs away. He would've curled up against his friend's side again if there wasn't a nibbled on platter of food between them.

~~~

Jiang Cheng walked with Huaisang to the private meeting room where, unknowingly, Yuan's journey with the Jin ruler had begun. He had kept the Madame waiting, though not too terribly long. As he strode in, a servant was quick to pour all three of them wine.

Wanyin took a seat and gestured for the Madame to join them. "Madame Su, allow me to introduce to you Nie-zongzhu. Huaisang, this is Madame Su. I trust you've brought the proper paperwork for us?"

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