Brothel meme continued

[lastjinstanding]

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?"

Comments

[patrianarchy]

"Jin Ling!" Wei Wuxian hisses, equal parts scolding and horrified - he had been almost dozing off himself, but he'd sat up a little when he realised his nephew was stirring, and he had been about to give a much more gentle greeting to let the younger man know he was there, but needs must.

He also doesn't say it too loudly, because Yuan is still asleep, and though he nuzzles closer to Jin Ling with a vaguely contented (and marginally croaky) noise, he doesn't seem inclined to wake up.

"Keep your hands to yourself." Wuxian adds, warningly.

[lastjinstanding]

Ling gasps and jerks his head around like he's been bitten by a snake on his foot to spot his uncle staring at him. His cheeks flare red and he quickly ducks his head. Oh god oh god oh god oh god oh god oh god! His uncle just caught him about to cop a feel with his long lost son! He was pretty sure he was about to die for that one.

"Sorry!" He wonders if Uncle Wei has figured out.. no, no surely he hasn't. Jin Ling wouldn't still be alive if he knew about that. Although now that he is thinking about that.. he's really thinking about that. Dammit, why is Uncle Wei in here?!

"Uh.. Uncle Wei? W- what are you doing in here?" He peeks around Yuan's body to whisper at him.

[patrianarchy]

Wei Wuxian has suspicions and he is doing his level best not to let himself think about them too much, because Jin Ling is his nephew and he loves him.

(And he's going to marry Yuan whether he likes it or not, as long as that's what Yuan wants)

"I need to talk to you." he says simply "About Yuan, so keep your voice down and let him sleep."

He needs to talk to both of them, technically, but he thinks this might be easier if he explains things to Jin Ling first, and gets him on side.

[lastjinstanding]

His expression shifts from embarrassed to suspicious in a blink of an eye. His arms curl just a hair more protectively around Yuan and he gets a stubborn, if a little childish, look on his face.

"What about him?" He asks, though to his credit, he does keep his voice down. "If you want me to stop seeing him than you can forget it!"

[patrianarchy]

"No, not... exactly." Wei Wuxian says slowly. He'd been worried this was going to happen, he'll need to coax Jin Ling to the right decision and he's never been all that good at coaxing. He wonders if maybe just speaking to him like an adult would be the better approach.

"You want what's best for Yuan, don't you? You said you loved him?" he asks.

[lastjinstanding]

That reassurance helps some. As long as he isn't being asked to abandon Yuan or send him back to his old life, he might tolerate hearing whatever his uncle has to say.

"Of course I do," he says without hesitation. He wants Yuan to be happy and healthy. Why else would he be protecting him so strongly? What kind of question was that? It sounds condescending after everything that just happened. "Why would you ask me that? I'm not an idiot.. or..." My grandfather. "Wicked."

[patrianarchy]

"I'm asking because what's best for Yuan might not be what you want." Wuxian says slowly, though he can't help the approving nod he gave that instant response. It's a good sign - both for what he has planned and because he wants his son to be loved that fiercely, the way he is. Yuan deserves that.

"Just... listen to me a moment, Rulan. Remember what we talked about, when you asked what it would mean for him if you bought his freedom? How I mentioned that rumours might get out? If he goes back to Carp Tower with you, if you pay off his debts, those rumours are going to be harder to suppress. Even if you can suppress them, what kind of life would he have? The Jin elders would never accept your relationship with the son of a low-level family, if he can still keep using the Zheng name, and they'd definitely never accept your relationship with a Wen." He pauses for a moment, letting the implications of it all sink in.

"But a Lan? The adopted son of the chief cultivator? A-Yuan could become more than what he's been forced to be. Could become someone that the rest of the cultivation world would accept as your partner, and I know their opinion doesn't matter, believe me I know, but also it does. You're a sect leader, Rulan, you have to care what they think when it comes to things like this," just look at his uncle, this very day "I know it's going to hurt both of you, but please, please, let A-Yuan come home with us."

[lastjinstanding]

All the emotions that pass over Jin Ling's face are obvious and predictable given the words he says until toward the end when all those vivid windows into his heart seem to close all at once. His expression takes on a calm that any sect leader would be striving to have. He looks down at A-Yuan and.. just hardens further.

He really should've seen this coming..

"Fine." He lifts his eyes to his uncle. "But I'm not leaving without saying goodbye."

[patrianarchy]

"It's not forever," Wei Wuxian says gently, understanding exactly what that hardness means "it doesn't even have to be for very long. Just... long enough."

They can still write, maybe even visit, he has no intention of tearing the two of them apart - he doesn't want to see that look in A-Yuan's eyes that he saw in his husband's.

"And I definitely wouldn't make you do that, A-Ling." he adds, standing so he can leave the room and give them some privacy. He pauses just before he leaves, though, and looks back.

"Thank you. Not just for agreeing to this but also... I know you weren't looking for him but you found him, and you brought him back, and that..." his voice catches as he trails off, unable to find the right words "One day, when you have children of your own and you can really, truly understand what you've given to me, I'll thank you again, and you'll know what it means."

He nods, once, and walks out of the room.

[lastjinstanding]

Jin Ling wants to hate his uncle as he watches him leave. He tries to keep that expression of granite, but even after a couple years of forging it, Wuxian can see straight through it by the end. His eyes are rimmed in tears and the edges of his jaw are achingly tight. There's a quiet sob as soon as the door shuts.

There's no way he believes this isn't forever. He has no faith this isn't permanent just like all his other goodbyes have been. He hates that Wuxian brought up children again because he was going to be doomed to be the husband of some spoiled insufferable wife just for an heir. Yuan's happiness was worth it, of course, but that doesn't mean he has to like it or not be upset for his own fate!

He tries really hard to be quiet and let Yuan sleep, but how quiet and not bothersome can you be when you're shaking, sobbing, and clutching someone? Sorry Yuan...

[patrianarchy]

It's not long at all before Jin Ling's sobbing makes him stir, his brow furrowing in confusion as he wakes - slowly at first, but his eyes flying open as soon as he's awake enough to realise what's happening.

"A-Ling, A-Ling what's wrong?" he asks, winding his arms around his love. His voice is hoarse, barely more than a whisper, but it's not quite as painful as it was before - not that pain would have stopped him from speaking in that moment. He strokes Jin Ling's back gently, waiting for him to tell him what was going on.

[lastjinstanding]

Crap! He hadn't meant to do that. He immediately feels guilty on top of everything else.

He fights to calm down enough to speak, knowing he appears anything but the sect leader he's supposed to be right now. He feels just like he did at the pier- having an emotional breakdown in front of the world like a five year old instead of in a private room with just his beau to witness it.

Eventually he finds his composure and realizes what a terrible person Wuxian is! He just left him to do his dirty work! Now Jin Ling has to break the news? Fuck his life! Sadly, it didn't change the facts.

"A-Yuan.. I- I've been thinking.." Sure, he can take credit for this. Why not? Wait, no, he might not want to do that. "Well.. your dad- Uncle W- er- dammit- Wei Wuxian!- he said you should go back with him and HanGuang-Jun to Cloud Recesses. It's where you belong and you're meant.. you're supposed to be this.. what we've been pretending you are since we started this trip. You aren't someone just pretending to be a young master, A-Yuan. You're the son of the Chief Cultivator from the.. noblest clan. They want to take you home." He swallows hard, mustering his courage, and looks A-Yuan in the eye. "I want you to go with them."

And.. there's his heart shattering all over again.

[notaturnip]

Yuan holds him and listens silently as he gets through the explanation. For a long moment, he doesn't say anything at all - he can't, he doesn't have any words to express how all of this makes him feel, he isn't even sure how all of this makes him feel.

I want you to go

It stings, feels like a knife in his heart. It makes sense, it does, he's been the cause of so many problems for Jin Ling, it's better this way, even if it's clearly breaking both of their hearts.

He can see that much, at least, can tell that Jin Ling still feels the same way, even if he has to make this decision.

If the circumstances were any different, he'd leap at the chance - a family? A life away from what he's known? The chief cultivator himself willing to accept him as a son despite his background? He never would have even thought to dream of such a thing. Some part of him does want that.

But a much larger part of him just wants Jin Ling.

"I don't want to leave you." He whispers.

Please don't make me leave you

[lastjinstanding]

He sort of wishes he'd drank the tea. Although if he had, Yuan would've and yeah.. okay. He doesn't really wish that. He just.. he doesn't want to be present. He doesn't want to be doing this. He can't take the look on Yuan's face.

I don't want you to leave me either.

"It's what's best. You'll have Jingyi too. He's the head junior disciple." When he wakes up, of course. "And more importantly, you'll have your family and a new reputation. A new name. And.. it'll be okay. You'll be really happy there. I really want you to be happy." His voice cracks a bit and he pulls Yuan into a tight hug. "I want you to be taken care of." They can do a better job than he can anyway. Being with him almost got Yuan killed.

He needs to leave, so he draws back. "I'll have Liling go with you and get you settled, okay?"

[notaturnip]

"No," Yuan shakes his head - he doesn't know how to feel about any of this but he's sure of that, at least "Liling is someone you trust. She should stay with you." There's precious few people he trusts, Yuan won't take one away if he's leaving himself.

He wants to be happy and taken care of with Jin Ling. This just isn't fair. He buries his face in his lover's shoulder as the tears start to come again.

"I don't care," he whispers "I don't care about reputation or name I don't need it."

[lastjinstanding]

He wants to argue further about Liling but, he can't. He just knows Yuan's not backing down with that tone in his voice and maybe it's selfish but he doesn't really want to lose her too. Yuan's going to be the one surrounded by people he sort of trusts anyway (and Jin Ling's 'sort of trusts' was pretty good!).

He remembers now what his uncle said and while he doesn't believe this is going to happen- he knows he's going to be forgotten- he doesn't to repeat them anyway.

"It's not forever. He's my uncle, you know? Gusu and Lanling aren't that far from each other. We can write and visit." He holds Yuan and places a hand gently on the back of his head. "No matter what, know I'll always love you okay? Even if I can't say it or show it for some reason?" Like if his elders succeed in forcing him to marry. "Just trust me it's there. Always." He reaches down and removes a ring from his finger and places it in Yuan's hand. Never mind that it belonged to his mother. "You don't have to wear it. Just keep it."

[notaturnip]

"I trust you," he says, drawing back a little so he can look up at Jin Ling's face, so he can see how seriously Yuan is taking his words. "I love you too. Forever, no matter what." he echoes.

He looks down at the ring before closing his fingers around it, clutching it so tightly it almost digs into his palm.

"It's beautiful. I'll treasure it always." he promises, voice cracking a little in a way that has nothing to do with the injury to his throat.

It's not the only thing, he's still got the box with the peony stored safely away, but he likes the ring, something he can keep on himself every day, a simple reminder no matter where he is that he is loved, and that Jin Ling is out there somewhere, even if they can't be together.

For now, he tells himself, it's only for now.

[lastjinstanding]

“Good bye, A-Yuan,” he says after a long moment of just looking, trying to memorize every aspect of the young man’s face, imprinting it forever on his heart.

He gets up then and grabs his sword. He has to leave. If he doesn’t, he might never. He doesn’t look back and in the hall he calls to his men to get their things and meet him in the boats immediately. He doesn’t wait to say goodbye to his uncles and his parting word to one of the Jiang disciples about the boat he’s leaving behind is Jiujiu can keep it or burn it for all he cared.

As they depart though, a certain young, nervous disciple is no where to be found, not that anyone would think to notice. Not when so many other important things were happening like a carriage for Jingyi and Zizhen had just arrived and the last of the Ouyang’s were requiring a proper farewell from their host, Jiang Cheng.

[notaturnip]

"A-Ling," the name is almost a sob, and he sits up to watch him leave with a heartbroken expression, clutching the ring like a lifeline.

As soon as Jin Ling has left, he pulls his knees up to his chest and breaks down - which is where Wuxian finds him when he returns, and he pulls his son into his arms and whispers apologies and reassurances, so focused on the crying young man that he doesn't think to go check up on his nephew, to go find out what Mentao discovered and pass the information on, he just clings to his son until his tears have run out.

He does think of it later, when Yuan has cried himself back to sleep, he tucks him up in the blankets and steps outside to go in search of his nephew - who he's told has left - and then Jiang Mentao. He should find his husband, too, and make their own arrangements to leave.

(And in his guest quarters, Nie Huaisang amuses himself with one of his favourite books and waits for everybody else to have left)

[lastjinstanding]

Jiang Mentao is missing and as Wuxian keeps asking around, so is the friend he’d recruited to help him. Eventually one of the servants confesses they think they might have seen the two helping the Jin Clan load their boats. Not the most helpful info but it’s a start.

Lan Zhan, unaware anything is wrong for once, has the preparations to leave well in hand. Someone was ready to go home and wasn’t being shy about letting anyone know about it. He has a basket for Yuan Liling quickly prepared for him full of all the things Jin Ling had given him and a ribbon that belongs to her, not that she figures he’ll notice with everything else.

He looks up from supervising the last of the packing when his husband enters and gives him a small bow of his head.

[notaturnip]

"Lan Zhan," he says, a concerned frown on his face "two Jiang disciples are missing, and I never got to the bottom of who else in Jin Ling's guard might be a problem before they rushed off."

He hates to do this, but he feels like they already failed Jin Ling by letting the plot get this far (even though they had no way of knowing), so he presses on.

"Can you get A-Yuan back to Cloud Recesses with you, I want to go after Jin Ling before anything happens." he asks "He's asleep in his room."

[graceandguqin]

Lan Zhan's heart drops seeing the look on his husband's face. He immediately thinks of Yuan and worries if there was an injury they missed. The news is troublesome but on a personal level it isn't as bad as it could've been. Nonetheless, he isn't heartless and that is his husband's nephew, so he can sympathize with the fear.

He steps closer and draws Wuxian into an embrace. He kisses him softly and then nods. "Be careful." They would wait for him to return here in Lotus Pier, but they really needed to leave, if not for Jiang Cheng's mental state then for Jingyi. The longer he slept, the more he could benefit from the medical expertise found in Cloud Recesses. If only it hadn't been a head wound!

After seeing Wei Wuxian off, he goes and collects his baby boyYuan. With a little extra help from some magic to keep him asleep, he lays him in the carriage along side Jingyi with Zizhen watching over them and gets the cart moving. Lan clan disciples follow behind like a funeral procession.

Jiang Cheng watches from the gate with a cold exterior. Nearly every person leaving had tried to reason with him about breaking the engagement or remarked on some character flaw of his. If he ever married again, it would be a private ceremony and none of these fuckers were invited.

He looks down removes from his robes a set of red painted wooden combs with a golden filigree of a butterfly. Anju's favorite. This was the second time he'd gifted a comb (or combs) from his heart only for it to be given back. There wouldn't be a third.

Turning back to his house that would be blissfully empty of guests, he planned on finding a few more of those wine jugs and draining them in his room alone.

[doesknow]

The wine jugs are currently missing one.

Well, missing more than one actually, but that's because somebody let Wei Wuxian get near them, they are also missing one more.

Jiang Cheng won't have to go far to find the culprit, if he even notices, because as soon as he steps foot in the main courtyard of Lotus Pier after seeing off what he thinks is the last of the guests, he'll see a familiar figure lounging on the steps leading up to Sword's Hall, jar of wine in one hand and ever-present fan in the other.

When he sees Jiang Cheng, he regards him with a knowing look and, entirely ignoring the fact that he's the one imposing on the Jiang Sect's hospitality, motions to the steps beside him.

"Care to join me, Jiang-zongzhu?"

[jiang_cheng]

He stands in the courtyard staring at the Nie sect leader completely stunned, like his old classmate had angel wings. Why on Earth was Huaisang still here? He thought he was finally done playing host and now he was having to deal with this? Except.. what was this?

After all the harsh criticism and anger over 'his' decision to cancel the wedding, to have someone (besides his brother) concerned with Jiang Cheng was rather.. it was a new feeling. He was wary of new. New could be confusing and make you clumsy and make stupid mistakes. New could also lead to dangerous things that you didn't see coming because you lacked the experience. New could also bring the most wonderful things. Who knew?

"Very well," he concedes after a moment. "What are you still doing here?" The question was meant to come out with a disapproving tone but instead it only managed a curious one.

[doesknow]

Huaisang regards him for a moment, like he was deciding the best way to answer, but he decides quickly enough that Jiang Cheng deserves a little honesty - no politicking, no carefully chosen words they both have to dance around, and nobody trying to spare his feelings - or forgetting, entirely, that he had them.

"You," he says, flicking his fan closed and pointing it at the other sect leader "seem very much like you need a friend."

And probably an excessive amount of wine, but he'll leave that part up to Jiang Cheng.