Jin Rulan (Jin Ling) (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
lastjinstanding) wrote2021-08-14 03:22 am
lastjinstanding) wrote2021-08-14 03:22 am
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?"
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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"One or two of them," he admits, not wanting Jin Ling to feel completely alone "I think every clan has at least some people who think they'd make a better heir or leader than whoever currently fills a position. But... well..." he hesitates for a moment, wondering if he should say what's on his mind but then deciding that Jin ling deserves his honesty.
"I might be wrong," he starts "but I think maybe... it's not that it's something wrong with your clan, but with all the recent turmoil the lines of succession aren't quite as... clear? I mean my father is still sect leader, I'm his eldest son, it's straightforward. Your father was going to be clan leader, and then your uncle took over, and then when he... I just think people who wanted to take advantage of all of that were probably disappointed when you became sect leader, if that makes sense? They got it into their heads that they might have a chance. I think it's just going to take some time for them to come around, but before too long you'll be married and have heirs of your own and things will settle. You just need... oh! You need something to take their mind off it. Something else for them to focus on. Maybe your uncle or even Nie-zongzhu can help you find something?"
~~~
"Does it matter where he came from? He's our son." Wuxian says stubbornly - and, of course, entirely unhelpfully given that it does nothing to clear up the confusion of Yuan's birth. He doesn't mean to be obtuse about it, he's just being defensive because this idea that he's not really their son because he's adopted hits a little too close to home, reopens some old wounds he never really addressed himself.
"We didn't do anything, we simply made her aware of the potential consequences for not telling the truth, and of the benefits for doing so. There were others present, they can confirm we didn't go too far."
Well, maybe. Jingyi's threat had been a little graphic, but it got the job done so he didn't really care.
Yuan is still unconscious, right now, but his breathing is stronger and he's already starting to look a little less pale.
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He frowns. "Like what? A war?" He asks. "Oh! Or like.. what about one of those tournaments? We haven't had one of those in awhile. I could.." He deflates. "I could do absolutely nothing in it." Except sit there like an old man or a woman. Although if he could get to the point he could walk and be seen, that would be a benefit (though he isn't thinking of that right at the moment. He's stuck on the negative).
~~~
Lan Zhan reaches a hand out and lays it on his husband's forearm lightly. He gives him a comforting look. It didn't matter what Lan Qiren and Lan Xichen or anyone else thought. The two of them understood what was important and who Yuan was. It seemed Jingyi did too, more or less.
Xichen bows to them both. "My apologies. I didn't mean to imply anything to the contrary, Brother Wei. I'm relieved my nephew is getting help and that's all that matters. Shufu, it seems our assistance is no longer needed here. Let's give them some time to rest in peace."
Lan Qiren hesitated but then recognized what his nephew was doing. He grimaced a bit, but got up and bowed his head and wished the couple a good night. Lan Zhan mouthed a 'thank you' to his brother.
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"A tournament is a great idea!" Zizhen perks up, wanting to encourage Jin Ling so allowing himself to show his enthusiasm "It's a way to show to your people - and everybody else - that you're recovering fine, and since it'll take a little while to organise you still have time to get better before then, and we don't know you won't be able to do all the same things you used to once you're healed. Even if you can't, we can always tell people you're still healing, or that you didn't want to join in because you wanted to give everybody else a chance to show off instead of being beaten by you, or something."
His ideas aren't all perfect, but he's not wrong in the most part - he also thinks it'll give Jin Ling something to focus on rather than sitting around feeling sorry for himself, because he seemed much healthier when he was plotting to get to the bottom of what was happening between his uncle and sect leader Nie.
~~~
Wuxian at least manages a nod at both of them as they leave - Xichen because it was easy, he genuinely likes the sect leader and he's very glad to see him out of seclusion (and not just because it reduced Lan Zhan's duties a little), and Qiren because he doesn't want to piss the old man off more than he already does. He doesn't often capitulate to him in any way, but sometimes he tries, just to smooth things over a little - especially when their son was involved.
Yuan starts to stir, then, blinking his eyes open groggily as he stares up at his parents.
"Baba? A-die?" he says, soft and uncertain, his voice rough "What's going on?"
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"You really think so?" He asks, latching onto the idea of this tournament like a drowning man to a raft. How hard could it be to pull one of those off? The people here would know how to do it and he wasn't above asking them for advice. He could easily have the Jiang clan disciples around to help protect him without causing any additional questioning as the tournaments would be an interest for all the main clans.
Maybe.. perhaps.. would the.. Lan clan maybe.. no. He couldn't ruin this moment by starting to think about that.
"What would we need to do to set that up? Do you think it would just take announcing it?" He asks.
~~~
There are a few rare times when Lan Zhan gets really genuinely excited about something. He loves the first time it snows every season. He loves baby bunnies- even more than he loves regular bunnies, which is a lot. When Wuxian brings him a surprise gift after being away for a while. Apparently, they can add 'when his son wakes up' to the list.
His face lights up and he smiles wider than he usually does. His arms quickly go around the poor confused boy, so utterly grateful to hear that voice again. "A-Yuan! A-Yuan! Nothing important now that you're with us."
Jingyi is taken back by the emotional display of Hanguang Jun, even though he knows it's appropriate and approves! It's just.. weird. He glances toward Wuxian although he might not get any grounding there either.
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Zizhen nods eagerly, encouraging and cheerful. The question of how to set it up, however, reins him in just a little.
"I don't know..." he admits. His father has never actually held a tournament, much to his disappointment, but he's sure it can't be that complicated! There's probably staff to take care of most of it, right? "You'd need to choose a day you want to hold it on, and announce it, and then people would need to organise all the things you want to have and banquets and stuff like that..."
He's not going to mention it, but it's actually sort of a shame Jin Ling's other uncle isn't around anymore, he was great at this kind of thing.
"We can plan all the stuff you want and then talk to your uncle, maybe, or some of your staff, and they can make it happen the way you want it."
~~~
Wuxian's excitement is displayed by Jingyi getting another exuberant hug before the man bounces over to wrap Yuan up in his arms as well, leaving the confused young man sandwiched between his parents and looking a little startled. After a moment, he relaxes into the embrace and smiles softly at their enthusiasm, though his gaze seeks out Jingyi as well and he's clearly pleased and relieved to see him there and well.
"A-Yuan," Wei Wuxian says cheerfully, kissing him on top of his head "how are you feeling my little radish?"
"Terrible," Yuan admits with a faintly amused huff
"But awake!" Wuxian adds brightly.
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"You know what! Since you're here. Let's do something that honors your involvement too! Yours and your clans. It could help my jiujiu out a bit too if we make it clear there's no hard feelings between our clans? Mine with the Jiang clan and yours." Zizhen deserved some kind of honor after helping him, after all. Never mind that this would only further cement the rumors the two young men have an affair going. "Do you have any kind of special regional harvest or tradition or something during the fall we could play with?"
"Wonder what the ethical way is to lure a bunch of evil things to a certain mountain like they did for the night hunt part?" He ponders. "I'll leave that mess up to Uncle Wei. I'm sure he can figure it out."
~~~
Jingyi is staring doe-eyed at Yuan when the other boy looks at him. It was so sweet! He was so terribly jealous too! Why couldn't his family ever treat him like this? Well, that was beside the point. He was really happy for his friend. He definitely deserves some extra special happiness after all he's been through.
Lan Zhan gets up to make some tea for his son. Hopefully it'll make him feel better. As he passes by, he places a hand lightly on Jingyi's shoulder. Who said sworn brothers couldn't benefit from the parents too?
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"Oh!" Zizhen says brightly, nodding "That's not a bad idea! I'm sure die will be worried about our ties to the Jin clan because he knows how close you are with your uncle, but this would make everybody feel better I think! And you're right, maybe it could even help Jiang-zongzhu too."
(And maybe reduce the time he and Nie-zongzhu had to wait to be public, because the less time anybody had to keep that secret the better)
"I don't think we have anything during the fall that we could make use of, but that also means we don't have anything that could get in the way. We could definitely just come up with something harvest related, or maybe make it a mid-Autumn festival thing? Something we all celebrate?"
He doesn't entirely understand how the night hunt part goes either, so he shrugs - but Jin Ling seems to have that already in hand, and he can't deny Wei Wuxian probably knows exactly how to do that.
~~~
Wuxian stays with Yuan, holding him close (despite him saying he was fine and he didn't need to fuss), but he watches Lan Zhan as he moves across the room, and when his husband touches the younger Lan's shoulder, Wuxian gives him a soft, grateful smile as well.
"What happened?" Yuan asks quietly.
"There was poison on the blade that got you. Luckily, Jingyi helped us find out what it was and create the antidote."
"So you helped save me?" Yuan asks his friend
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He snuggles back against his friend, even if he's starting to question if this is such a good thing (since he got horny last time- whoops) and gets some more sleep. Fairy returns before long and Liling checks on them.
By morning, Jiang Cheng has made sure everything is as secure as he possibly can make it and sets out to Yunmeng quietly. He leaves one more gift of a trio of purple aster blossoms on the nightstand beside a peacefully sleeping Nie Huaisang.
~~~
Jingyi gapes at Hanguang Jun and then finds Wuxian grinning at him too. He doesn't get a chance to compose himself either before Wei-qianbei was giving him credit.
"Er.. well.. I helped some. B- but it was mostly your dad- er- dads! I just yelled at someone."
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Zizhen is more than happy to sit and plan the tournament, he's getting pretty excited about it as well - actually it makes him wonder if he should ask him father to plan one, sometime in the future, just so he can get involved with it, because actually coming up with this stuff is pretty fun. In the meantime, he'll help out Jin Ling as much as he can.
He's content to curl up with him again and fall back asleep, feeling contented and pleased that he was able to do something to help his friend.
~~~
When Huaisang wakes and sees the flowers waiting for him, he's utterly delighted, and spends a little of his time just enjoying the blossoms and basking in the glow of being so well loved.
After a while, though, he arranges for some breakfast and dresses and then decides it's time - time to have a frank conversation with Zizhen and Jin Ling about spying, and how to be better at it, and see what he can work out about Jin Ling's condition and what help he needs. He worries, briefly, that he might be overstepping, but he decides in the end that Jin Ling is old enough to make the decision for himself - he'll offer his help, and the other sect leader can take it or not as he wants. He'd much rather actually talk to the young man than skulk around in his castle as his uncle's guest.
So after breakfast, and after checking with Liling that her master is awake, he asks her to see if he's willing to receive a visitor.
~~~
"Don't sell yourself short," Wuxian nudged him, shaking his head in fond despair "You Lans, you're all so self-effacing. He helped a lot." the last part is directed at his son.
Yuan smiles brightly - he knew that Jingyi was just being modest, but he likes that his father is encouraging him to own his accomplishments.
"Thank you. All of you, so much."
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It turns out to be very frustrating, but Jin Ling goes every step they set as their temporary goal out of sheer stubbornness. Afterward, he lets Zizhen go back to bed or whatever while Liling helps him change both his robe and the bandages. He lays down for a little while again before his servant comes back with their breakfast.
By the time Huaisang arrives at his door, Jin Ling has relocated for the first time since his accident to a writing desk where Zizhen is helping him with a letter to announce the tournament. The young sect leader looks at Zizhen when Liling announces who is wanting to visit with him. "Nie Huaisang is here? Why? Why wouldn't he come in with Jiujiu?"
Liling shrugs. "I don't know. He came alone."
~~~
Jingyi blushes, but he smiles too. The rare compliment brightening up his face as he looks at Wuxian. "Thank you."
When his attention is drawn back to Sizhui, he comes over to sit on the edge of his bed. "You know, you were really brave too! You were protecting people, that's how you got stabbed. So don't do that again!" He snickers, obviously just joking around.
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Zizhen is so proud of Jin Ling. He's trying not to be too over the top about his enthusiasm but he can't hide how pleased he is with the other young man's recovery. He doesn't really sleep while Jin Ling changes, but he vaguely dozes and he figures it's better to lie down and pretend and give Jin Ling a little privacy.
He doesn't bother to hide his enthusiasm about the tournament once they're sitting writing, though the news does distract him a little.
"Maybe it's about.. uh.. you know, the other day..." Zizhen says with a frown, referring to his failed spying attempt. "Do you want to let him in?"
(Huaisang waits patiently outside, wondering what Jin Ling's decision will be, he honestly doesn't know if he'll even want to see him)
~~~
Yuan blushes, looking down.
"We were there to help people, it seemed important to protect them..." he says softly. Wuxian sighs dramatically, eyes twinkling with mischief.
"That's it, he's too far gone, my poor little Radish has gone full Lan. Just like his father, rushing into danger!" He wails. He's well aware of the irony given his own tendencies, but he's having too much fun.
Yuan giggles dutifully, but the pink in his cheeks doesn't diminish and it's clear that being compared to his father pleases him a lot.
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He sighs and nods. He asks Liling for a mirror first to make sure he was presentable. It was one thing to look a mess in front of Zizhen, but quite another to look weak or ill in front of someone else. After he decides he's okay (though he still doesn't look as healthy as he'd like), he gives permission for Huaisang to be let in.
When the other sect leader enters, Jin Ling gives as proper a bow as he can manage while remaining seated. He's assuming if the other man is here and has been spending time with his uncle, he knows of his condition. "Nie-zongzhu, welcome. I trust your visit has been a good one so far? I hope you'll forgive my rudeness of not having a meeting with you earlier."
He didn't really mean any of that crap, but whatever. Politics, you know.
~~~
Jingyi snickers at Wuxian and shoots his friend a grin. It was true! The boy who was once working in disgrace was now a very lovely Lan clan member- physically and mentally. It was really impressive.
Lan Zhan smiles a bit at his husband's theatrics. He passes a cup of tea to his son and gently touches his head affectionately. "You shouldn't encourage him," he admonishes playfully.
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Huaisang hides his smile as he bows respectfully back - the hierarchy is a complicated one, he's older and he's been a sect leader longer, but the Jin clan is more prestigious (even with the recent controversies) and they are in Jin Ling's own palace, so he could really go either way with it. He actually chooses to bow a little deeper, because this isn't in public and he doesn't think it'll hurt to show the younger man a little extra deference. He's amused, however, by how well he plays politics already, he's surprised someone with his temper can keep up such pleasantries. He can see his other uncle's influence there.
"Completely forgiven," he answers smoothly as he straightens up "I apologise for imposing upon your hospitality during such a time, but Jiang-zongzhu asked me to consult on important matters and I wished to show my support."
It's not entirely untrue. He also doesn't want them to get too bogged down in the politics of it all, so after giving his more proper response he allows his shoulders to relax a little and smiles slightly at the younger man.
"Now that the proper greetings are out of the way, might I sit? I thought we might take the opportunity of this privacy to discuss things more frankly, if you're open to that?"
~~~
"Yes a-die," Yuan says obediently, his smile innocent as he takes the tea, sipping at it gratefully.
"and such a filial child!" Wei Wuxian continues in over-the-top gleeful tones "Jingyi, how on earth did you manage to be such a good influence on the boy? I trusted you to put that rebellious streak in him!" he jokes.
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He nods and makes a gesture to the other side of his desk. This is where someone like Jin Guangyao would've offered tea or inquired about the state of affairs in Qinghe. Jin Ling takes a different approach showing he didn't learn all of his uncles good habits.
"Sure, is this where you're going to tell me about sleeping with my Jiujiu and spying on me?"
~~~
"Hey he's not completely innocent!" Jingyi starts before getting a look from Hanguang Jun. "Er.. I mean, he knows how to sass. It's funny.." He rubs the back of his neck nervously. He was totally thinking about how he gives great advice on sex, but that would've been a very, very bad idea.
He glances at Wuxian to see if he thinks he's in trouble now. Lan Zhan though just doesn't respond to that. He clearly doesn't have a problem with someone being sassy.
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"Why tell you, when you already know about it?" Huaisang answers innocently, though it's mostly just to prove that he's not intimidated by Jin Ling's snark. In public he might get a little flustered by it, but Jin Ling has earned his honesty - and the edge that comes with it. He wonders if the younger man will realise that's what this is, or if he'll just see it as yet more evidence of Huaisang's duplicity.
"More accurately, this is where I tell you about being in love with your uncle, and spying on your behalf, though I understand if you'd rather not actually hear about the former," he smirks a little "Jin Ling, I want to help you, that's why I'm here. It's partly because I know how Cheng cares about you and I care about him, but it's also because I know all about how eagerly people will pounce upon perceived weakness, I know how tiring and frustrating it can be... and I also know how to make it stop."
~~~
Wuxian cackles, winking at Jingyi when he flashes that worried look.
"Well of course!" He proclaims "he had to get something from me."
"As you say, baba." Yuan agrees blandly, a hint of mischief in his eyes. He doesn't choose to ruin his father's good time by suggesting his sass was learned from his previous occupation. He, too, would rather think it somehow inherited.
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As Huaisang continues though, Jin Ling's eyebrows rise in surprise. He hadn't expected that level of honesty. "If you know that then why do you act like such a weakly all the time? And how do I know you aren't taking advantage of my uncle after his wedding fell apart?"
~~~
Lan Zhan finally tsks at them and orders Jingyi to go fetch some broth for Yuan while also telling his husband to 'behave'.
"We'll let you rest a while longer here before taking you back to the Jinshi. If you want, I can play for you till Jingyi gets back."
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"We all have our own way of coping with the situations we find ourselves in," Huaisang says thoughtfully - it's not actually a question he's really been asked before now "For me... I was overwhelmed and lost and uncertain after what happened to da-ge, so it was an easy persona to lean into, and one that had the added bonus of making people underestimate me."
People like his brother's murderer, but Huaisang doesn't want to go out of his way to remind Jin Ling why he might have conflicted feelings about him.
"And... you don't, not really. I can give you my word that I acted on feelings I have had for a long time, but I never planned to act on those feelings, and that I am over the moon those feelings are returned... but if you don't trust me, you're not going to start trusting me simply because I've said you should. I hope you will come to see that I only want what is best for Cheng, and I would never endanger his heart or his reputation, but I'm afraid all I can do to convince you that my feelings are genuine is to leave you to draw your own conclusions."
It's not quite what he'd intended to discuss, but he's not surprised Jin Ling is asking the question.
~~~
Wuxian gives his best perfectly innocent look. It fools nobody.
Yuan smile softly at both his parents, he's already feeling tired even though he only just woke up, but his body's working hard to heal and that's leaving him sleepy.
"Yes, please, I would like that." he says, to the talk of Lan Zhan playing for him.
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In this case, the young man really is just working hard to listen for things that might make him question what he's being told. He's grown up around liars and those wishing to deceive him. He's made so many mistakes because of those obstacles, but it's also taught him how to be cautious.
He frowns a little as he can't find fault with what the other sect leader is saying. He hadn't thought he'd get such an honest answer about Huaisang's ridiculous behavior, but he can sort of understand it. Sort of. Why anyone would want to be seen as weak, he can't fathom that kind of desire. The logic if he doesn't question that part sounds true.
He glances at Zizhen a moment before returning his gaze to Huaisang. "Are you planning on marrying him?"
~~~
Lan Zhan gets up and brushes a quick kiss to both of his boys' cheeks. He goes to play Song of Clarity, giving it all the spiritual energy he can. It might leave him exhausted but it is worth it to have his son feeling better again.
After a while, Jingyi comes back with the broth and hesitates when he sees Yuan is resting again. He passes the tray to Wuxian and bids them good night. It was after nine but, obviously, Hanguang Jun's wishes had trumped any rule about bedtimes and when the kitchen should be used.
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It's not quite as intimidating coming from Jin Ling, not yet, but Huaisang can see the potential there, can see how he'll soon have the same sort of presence that Jiang Cheng can manage, he just needs a touch more confidence in himself. At least, that's Huaisang's assessment, he covers up his insecurities with prickliness (much like his uncle), but currently he's a little too obvious about it, as soon as he learns to hide them better, or put them aside, he'll be a formidable sect leader.
The obvious attention, however, is a positive in Huaisang's opinion - as much as he would have a somewhat less direct approach himself, usually not seeming to pay as much attention as he is, the how is less important than the action itself - it's clear he's giving all of Huaisang's words due consideration, and that level of thought is only going to help him in more serious situations.
Zizhen's eyes widen at the question, wondering if he's going to offend the other sect leader - though Huaisang's expression is mild. He can't help, however, the tiniest flush of pink in his cheeks.
"I don't think we're there yet," he says smoothly "but I would certainly like that to be our future."
~~~
Wei Wuxian thanks Jingyi when he brings the broth, telling him to get some rest and wishing him a good night before he leaves. He sets the broth on the table and comes to wrap his arms around his husband's shoulders.
"Hmm, should he eat, do you think? Or let him sleep?" He's also not sure whether to leave him where he is so he can rest, or to take him back to the Jingshi - he's leaning towards the latter, but mostly because he doesn't think Lan Zhan is going to leave the boy's side tonight.
Yuan is dozing softly, only really half asleep but not paying too much attention to what's going on.
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Was Huaisang blushing? Were the feelings that real?
He chews his lip a moment as he considers how to react to this news. Huaisang was open to marrying his jiujiu? Could it really be?
He nods. He needed time to think about this some more, but he's willing to continue the conversation which isn't something he'd expected initially. "And the spying? It's not working if between both of our spies I still got poisoned last night."
~~~
Lan Zhan is reluctant, but after a moment of thought he gives Sizhui's shoulder a gentle shake. "Érzi, we'll let you rest again soon. You should try to eat the soup."
Afterward, he planned on carrying his son back to the Jingshi. It was too late for anyone to see them and he'd feel much better than making the young man try to walk the distance.
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"Yes," Huaisang agrees, glad that they're moving away from his relationship with Jiang Cheng and onto matters he can feel more stable about discussing. Normally he wouldn't be so blunt about spying, but he feels like Jin Ling will benfit from a more open conversation.
"Sometimes things will slip through the cracks, you need to know how to handle it when it does. Clearly in this instance you did, you had the antidote to hand and you knew how to spot the poison and administer it in time. You saved not only your life, but also Ouyang-gongzi's." Because truthfully, he doesn't know if anybody has actually praised Jin Ling for the things he's done right.
Zizhen nods enthusiastically with agreement.
"But that will happen less as your spy network gets better. It's still small, and young, they lack experience, but they're a solid start," except for those parts of it that had turned out to be part of the plot, of course.
"The reason I wanted to speak to you was to discuss what aid the Nie clan might be able to provide to help you strengthen your protection, both overt and covert. If you're willing to accept it, I'm willing to offer."
~~~
Yuan mumbles a sleepy protest, but he does open his eyes and he can't deny he's hungry as well as tired, so he nods and moves to sit up. Wuxian moves forward quickly to help him, getting him settled before passing the broth over to him. He's weak, and his injured arm isn't good for much but holding the bowl, but he's able to feed himself at least.
Wuxian sits back with a satisfied smile to see him eating - it's a sign that he really is recovering.
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The other and the much, much more powerful part is getting told he did something right. For a moment, it puts him on the back foot, but before he has time to even react, his friend is joining in. Jin Ling's attempt at presenting himself as a tough sect leader slips briefly to the child he nearly was- wide eyed, uncertain, and obviously unaccustomed to hearing anything positive.
Fortunately, Huaisang keeps talking and he clumsily finds his composure again. However, even afterward, his defenses aren't up quite as high or as strong as they had been. Whether he couldn't or he was choosing not to was hard to tell.
"How would you do that?" He asks curious and cautiously but none of the aggression from a few moments ago.
~~~
It does Lan Zhan's heart good to see his boy wake up as easily as he did and start eating. He knows it'll help him regain the strength he needs to keep recovering from this poison. He tries but fails to stop himself from thinking of what they could be dealing with right now had the poison been stronger or faster acting. This son that they've longed for and only recently found could've been snatched away that quickly.
He never should've left the boy's side. No, he never should've let Sizhui go on a night hunt at all. Could he keep the boy in a bubble of some kind? Maybe those old stories of maidens being kept in a tower safe from everything had some value to them..
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Huaisang's expression doesn't change, but he's quietly pleased that the compliment obviously went down so well, and that Jin Ling actually seems to be reacting rather positively - there's caution, of course, and there should be, but the fact he's not being yelled at or immediately dismissed is a very good sign. He thinks the young sect leader has matured an awful lot in the last few years - he only wishes it didn't have to happen the way it did for Huaisang himself, with the power suddenly being thrust upon him. Grief and responsibility are one hell of a kick into maturity. He's just glad that Jin Ling at least had his friends and his uncle to help him through it.
"Well, an alliance between us will lend you more support. However much my own reputation is for weakness, my clan is still strong, people will think twice before moving against you with a more obvious alliance between us," he starts thoughtfully - and it doesn't hurt that formalising an alliance is an excellent reason for him to be here, and one that will hopefully smooth over any rumours about him and Jiang Cheng "I'm willing to lend you reliable men to add to your guard, temporarily, to replace those who betrayed you, until more of your own men are fully trained. When it comes to covert matters, however... how would you feel about allowing some of my more experienced agents to provide training to yours?"
It would be a risk for Jin Ling, he knows, the expertise they could learn would be invaluable, but it could leave him unsure if his own spies answered to him, or to Huaisang - it's a reasonable concern to have, though he doesn't know if Jin Ling will think of it, because he doesn't know where Huaisang's loyalties lie. He only hopes, if the younger man does consider such a thing, that he realises his devotion to Jiang Cheng will keep Jin Ling safe, because his uncle would never forgive someone for betraying him.
More than that, though, Huaisang would never present himself as an ally and then turn round and betray someone the way Meng Yao did to him, but he's also smart enough not to mention that.
~~~
Wuxian just watches Yuan eat happily, oblivious to the thoughts running through his husband's mind in that moment. When Yuan puts the bowl aside, he smiles encouragingly.
"Let's get you back home to sleep." He announces - he knows they'd both rather have him back in the Jingshi tonight so he can rest properly. Yuan looks like he's about to protest, his desire to sleep in the now-familiar surroundings at war with his desire to not have to move, but he nods.
"Yes, baba." he says, trying to sit up more fully so he can get off the bed.
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It takes him a few moments as he considers this, trying to see the problems with it but not finding any. He glances at Zizhen and weighs out if it would make him look weak to ask his take on this. He decides he doesn't care. "Got any thoughts on this?" He prods his friend.
~~~
Lan Zhan doesn't ask for permission as he steps closer when Yuan moves. He slips one arm behind his back and another under his thighs, lifting him effortlessly. He nods toward his husband to take care of anything that needs to be brought with them, pausing at the door. If Wuxian takes too long though, he uses his foot to open it like he did the one other time he was carrying a certain someone.
Either way, it's clear he's carrying his son and he doesn't pay any attention to protests.
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Huaisang isn't completely surprised that Jin Ling doesn't seem to pick up on the nuance of the risk - it's something that will come with experience, and at least the danger isn't actually there in this instance. He approves of the time Jin Ling takes to think it over, and that he turns to somebody he trusts before he gives an answer - he's learning, at least, that he has people he can trust to help him with things.
Zizhen looks pleased to be asked - it makes him feel important, too, for Jin Ling to want his input on sect matters. He's also glad that he's willing to accept input, that he isn't trying to take it all on himself, again. He knows there's some things that Jin Ling will have to handle on his own, but being able to help lighten the load even slightly is reassuring.
"The alliance is a great idea, I think," Zizhen says "The Nie clan are strong, and good fighters, so there's less chance of anybody trying to take advantage of the fact you need more guards, since you'll be able to take your time training more men you'll be able to ensure they're all loyal, and you know you'll be well protected in the mean time. It'll help you look stronger to the rest of the Jin, as well, because even while injured you've been able to make a strong alliance that keeps them safe."
He thinks for a moment longer about the whole spy-training thing, but honestly it just sounds sort of cool.
"I guess we know from experience that Nie-zongzhu has really good spies," he comments, and Huaisang allows himself a small smile "so I think it would be good to have them train yours."
~~~
"A-die!" Yuan does try to protest when he's scooped up into his father's arms, but he doesn't actually resist, and there's a part of him that's relieved he isn't going to have to walk anywhere.
Wuxian just grins, grabbing their things and moving over to open the door for them - this is the best solution, he thinks, and he knows Lan Zhan will feel better for making himself useful. They'll get Yuan back to his bed in the Jingshi and he and his husband can finally relax, knowing their son is safe with them.
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