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The tea is pleasantly fragrant, perfectly steeped and just at the right temperature for drinking.
Nie Huaisang lifts the cup to his lips and takes a sip. The sharp taste of ginseng floods his tongue, warming his insides as the liquid slides down his throat.
Beside him, Wei Wuxian is downing his own tea like it was a shot of alcohol, a pleased sigh escaping his lips, while Wen Qing was more composed, fingers tapping on the low table rhythmically as she looks disapprovingly at the black-robed man.
“Thank you for the tea, da gu,” he says with a smile, lightly fanning himself, trying to dispel the heat that’s spreading through his body.
“Shijie, this tea is great! So strong! Where did you get it?” Wei Wuxian asks cheerfully, lounging on the table with no regards to propriety whatsoever. Jiang Yanli laughs and pats Wei Wuxian’s head like one would do a child, shaking her head, before addressing the room at large.
“It’s nothing, Huaisang-difu. It’s a gift from A-Xuan, actually. Apparently Lanling Jin gets more ginseng than they know what to do with, so a lot of it and its derivatives goes to me.” She explains, taking a sip of her own tea. “What I cannot use in dishes, I give some to the people in town. If you’d like, I can send some to you, Huaisang-difu, A-Xian, Young Madame Wen.”
“Please, just Wen Qing is fine, Madame Jiang.” Wen Qing demures with a slight smile, softening her usual haughty features. “The tea is truly excellent.”
“Then please, Wen Qing, call me Yanli.” Jiang Yanli says immediately, reaching forward to grasp Wen Qing’s hand. “we are all in the same boat here, after all.” She smiled.
How true that statement is, Nie Huaisang thinks, observing all of them from the edge of his fan.
The Discussion Conference is finally upon them, and he and his husband has arrived in Carp Tower a few days ago. While they can very easily go to Lanling through swords, there is a proper decorum to these matters, and it’s quite rude to just arrive without any prior notice.
And so, true to Yunmeng’s conventions, they left Lotus Pier in boats, through Nie Huaisang’s preparations and with the disciples handpicked by his husband to represent their Sect.
Nie Huaisang quite enjoyed their trip to Lanling, to be honest. There was no rush, with a lot to see and a lot of places to pass through. It takes a day to reach Lanling, and considering their location, they were one of the last Sects to arrive, still on time of course, but everyone else was already there.
“We welcome Sect Leader Jiang, Young Madame Nie, and the Yunmeng Jiang Sect to Lanling,” Jin Zixuan said, waiting for them at the docks, saluting. He has finally taken the mantle of Sect Leader after some pressure from the Jin Sect elders, and so far, has done his duties well, despite his relatively young age.
“Thank you for your invitation, Sect Leader Jin.” Jiang Cheng greets back politely, with Nie Huaisang and the rest of the disciples following suit. They are shown to their quarters for the duration of their stay, and Nie Huaisang spends the night noting the changes in Carp Tower from the last time he was there, and being taken repeatedly against a wall decorated in gold while his husband marks every cùn of skin he could reach.
Nothing can truly compare to Lanling Jin’s opulence.
In the days that followed, he and his husband stayed busy. Nie Huaisang accompanied Jiang Cheng to all the meetings and gatherings, carefully noting down and remembering all the information discussed, just in case it would benefit their Yunmeng Jiang Sect in some way. There was no time to properly relax and have long conversations with anyone, only having a brief moment to greet his brother, sister-in-law, his brother's sworn brothers, and his husband’s siblings before being spirited away to another engagement.
Wei Wuxian had it much easier, being the wife of Lan Wangji, who had a lower standing Sect-wise. But still, as Hanguang-jun, Lan Wangji held a significant sway in the cultivation world, necessitating Wei Wuxian’s presence.
This went on for a few days, until finally, Jin Zixuan had invited the Sect Leaders and their disciples on a hunt in Phoenix Mountain. Jiang Yanli took complete advantage of the opportunity, inviting him and some of the wives for some tea, snacks, and literature in her private residence.
Jin Ling has been put down for his afternoon nap on his crib, his room adjacent to the receiving room, far enough to not be disturbed by the chatter, and yet near enough that his cries could be heard by any one of them. A-Yuan, who was now starting his lessons, was left behind in the Cloud Recesses, but not without, according to Wei Wuxian, a significant amount of cajoling and comforting from him and his husband.
And so here they were, completely relaxed, enjoying some quiet time away from their husbands and politics.
“Then, if I’m not imposing Yanli, I’d like for some to be sent to Qinghe,” Wen Qing says, nodding. “Lord Nie would benefit greatly from its medicinal properties.” She says, closing her eyes and inhaling the scent of her tea deeply. “Ginseng helps clear the mind, reduce inflammation, boosts and increases energy.”
“‘Boosts energy’, huh?” Wei Wuxian wiggles his eyebrows suggestively, turning towards Wen’s Qing’s space and leaning forward. “You know what, that’s a great idea, Shijie! My Lan Zhan definitely doesn’t need any, but maybe Chifeng-zun and Jiang Cheng need it—Ouch!” He touches his head with a whine, pouting.
Wen Qing looks unrepentant as she withdraws her hand as quick as lighting. “Stop being so shameless, Wei Wuxian.”
“And I’d also like it if you don’t talk about my husband like that, Wei-xiong.” Nie Huaisang added, sliding his fan close with a satisfying click. “How is da-ge, sao zi?” Nie Huaisang asks easily with a smile, ignoring Wei Wuxian’s wobbling lip and mischievous eyes.
“He is well. Still as stubborn as a mule, refusing to listen to sensible advice, running off and fighting whenever an opportunity presents itself,“ Wen Qing says with a self-aggravating exhale, ticking every grievance she had with her husband with her fingertips. “But his qi is much more stable these days. Don’t worry, he won’t be a danger to himself any time soon. Not if I have anything to say about it.”
There is a softness in her gaze, a hint of a smile on her lips as she talks about Nie Huaisang’s brother, and he is glad to know that his older brother treats his wife well, and that Wen Qing, despite her aloofness, holds a tender, soft spot for his brother.
“Of course, I have a few more reasons to keep him alive,” Wen Qing continues blithely, “as I refuse to raise my unborn child without its hard-headed father.”
It took a moment for the words to sink in, but when it did, everyone started. Wei Wuxian’s jaw was hanging open, Nie Huaisang almost dropped his fan, and Jiang Yanli had covered her mouth with her hand, surprised.
“No…!” Wei Wuxian’s grin was wickedly delighted. “Wen Qing, have you…?”
“Sao zi, are you…?” Nie Huaisang starts to smile, unable to believe what he’s hearing. Really, so soon? His brother was not wasting any time.
For the first time, a pale blush appeared on Wen Qing’s cheeks. “I confirmed it just before we left for Lanling.”
The room exploded into a cacophony of shouts and squeals.
“... Oh! Oh, congratulations, Wen Qing! What wonderful news!” Jiang Yanli cries, reaching forward to hold and squeeze her hand. “Does Chifeng-zun know? How far along are you? Are you experiencing any symptoms?”
“No, I’m planning to tell Lord Nie when we’re finally back in Qinghe.” Wen Qing rolls her eyes, but the fond exasperation in her tone is unmistakable. “Knowing him, he would just force me to stay in bed all day while scolding me for accompanying him to the Discussion Conference. As if I don’t know my own body’s limits.” She gently presses a hand to her still flat stomach.
“I’m just about two months along. The symptoms are mild, thank the heavens, but according to the midwives, that means it will be a difficult birth. This child will probably be hard to push out, if it inherits my husband’s large head.” She scoffs delicately, her touch still gentle.
“Still…” Wen Qing glances at them, tone suddenly hesitant. “While I may know about pregnancy and child-bearing as a healer, I still know very little about raising a child. If it’s not too much… perhaps…”
Immediately, everyone knows what she is asking for. Jiang Yanli beams. “Of course, Wen Qing! I will be happy to assist any way I can! Childbirth is not easy, and we wives know this pain more than anyone else in this world."
"Thank you." Wen Qing's shoulders visibly drops in relief.
“But in all honesty, Wen Qing, congratulations. May you give birth safely and be blessed with a strong child.” Wei Wuxian says sincerely, patting her shoulder. “If you have any questions about raising a child, you can always ask me or Shijie! I’ll be happy to share anything I can!”
Wen Qing stared at him for a moment, then immediately looked away, muttering under her breath, “... I can’t believe I’ve sunk this low as to ask Wei Wuxian for tips on child-rearing…”
“Hey! I take offense to that! A-Yuan is a very good boy and I’m raising him!”
“That’s because your husband is Hanguang-jun. A-Yuan's personality is not a reflection of your own abilities to raise a child.”
“Ah, how you hurt me so! I’m truly wounded, Wen Qing. Is this how you thank me, by questioning how I raise my son?”
“Burying a toddler under soil and rabbits does not constitute as good child-rearing, Wei Wuxian.”
Wei Wuxian laughs, waving his hand as if burying children was a normal way of living. “Well, it worked, didn’t it? A-Yuan has a new friend in the Cloud Recesses!” He sighs, placing a palm against his heart. “His name is A-Yi and he’s the most unLan-like Lan I’ve never met! A boy after my own heart! If it weren’t for the boy having his own parents, I would have immediately snatched him away as my own little boy. Not to replace my A-Yuan of course, no one could, but A-Yi is just so cute! I could just eat him up!”
“Wei-xiong, perhaps talking about kidnapping and eating children should be left inside one’s head,” Nie Huaisang says delicately, despite the chuckle that threatened to spill against his lips.
He knew there was a reason why he liked Wei Wuxian so much.
“And what about you, Nie-xiong? You’re the only one left!” Wei Wuxian focuses his attention on him. “When are you and Jiang Cheng having the little brats you deserve?” He grinned teasingly.
Nie Huaisang merely smiles, knowing that the other man didn’t mean anything bad by it. “Wanyin-xiong and I haven’t talked about it too much. We have decades to decide, Wei-xiong, and we’re not in a hurry.”
“But our children need to be in the same generation as each other!” Wei Wuxian pouts. “There can’t be more than a ten-year age difference between your kids and ours, or else they’ll never be friends! Or get married to each other!”
Nie Huaisang nearly chokes on his own breath. Wasn’t it a little too early to be deciding marriages between their children? Then again, Madame Yu and Madame Jin were sworn sisters, and had promised their children to each other before they were even born.
“Oh, oh Shijie!” Wei Wuxian bounds over to Jiang Yanli, with a bright spark of an idea in his eyes that was eerily reminiscent of a puppy. “Think of my A-Yuan marrying your A-Ling! We’ll truly be family then! They would be the cutest couple! And if Nie-xiong and Jiang Cheng have kids and they marry Wen Qing’s child, the four Sects will be completely united through marriage ties, and true peace will finally arrive in the cultivation world!” He says with a flourish.
“That would be wonderful, A-Xian, but we’ve always been family, even without a marriage.” Jiang Yanli laughs, still as tolerant as ever, though her smile was a lot more inscrutable.
“No,” Wen Qing cuts in sharply, glaring at Wei Wuxian. “There will be no marriage arranging for my child, not on my watch. Heaven forbid anyone gets you for a mother-in-law, Wei Wuxian. I wouldn’t even wish it on my worst enemy.”
Wei Wuxian gasps, clutching at the front of his robes like he’s been stabbed. “I would be the best in-law for any of my children, Wen Qing! I would love and treasure them like they’re my own!”
“Still,” Nie Huaisang finally interrupts, trying his best to take the conversation away from children and marriage and in-laws because he wasn’t ready for it. Not now, and maybe not for a few years still. “You have my gratitude for taking care of my brother, and for giving my Qinghe Nie Sect an heir, sao zi. My brother will be very happy to know this news.” Nie Huaisang bows his head, sincere. Wen Qing waves it off, as regal as an Empress would do. Nie Huaisang hides a pleased smirk behind his opened fan.
(He was expecting news of a new Nie sect heir at any moment now, slipping in a very small, very private bet in the cultivation world books the moment his brother and Wen Qing got married. The winnings he would get would be more than enough to buy his husband a set of new robes. He would like to see his husband in the green and gold colors of his sect.)
“Nonsense. We are family now, and this is also my duty as the Madame of the Unclean Realm, Huaisang-xiaoshu. Speaking of which, how is Sect Leader Jiang? Your brother wants to know if you are treated well in Lotus Pier.” Wen Qing gifts him a small smile, completely ignoring Wei Wuxian as well.
“Well, I—”
Who had definitely reached his limits right then and there.
“Shijie, they’re bullying me!” He wails, throwing himself on Jiang Yanli’s lap, fake tears slipping out and sliding down his face. Nie Huaisang bit his lip to stop himself from laughing and saw Wen Qing doing the same, her lips twitching despite her stern look. Wei Wuxian was truly ridiculous in a good way. “I’m being maligned! Abused by my own marital brother and sister! They’ve hurt me and now they’re ignoring me!”
“Now, now A-Xian,” Jiang Yanli says with well-practiced indulgence, smoothing down Wei Wuxian’s unruly waves of hair. “You did tease them about their husbands and children. You should apologize, A-Xian, and maybe they’ll talk to you, then.”
“Don’t want to.” Wei Wuxian says, sulky, crossing his arms and huffing. Wen Qing glanced down at him, and up at Jiang Yanli, who was still stroking Wei Wuxian’s head.
“Is he always like this?” She asks, in slight disbelief, as if unable to believe what she’s seeing with her own eyes.
“Oh, sao zi, trust me, he was worse when we were younger.” Nie Huaisang says, looking away quickly when Wei Wuxian shot a betrayed look at him. “He’s always causing trouble when we were studying in the Cloud Recesses. Most of the time Wanyin-xiong had his face against his palm whenever Wei-xiong does something.”
“You were a part of it too, Nie-xiong! Stop throwing me under the carriage!” Wei Wuxian sat up quickly and pointed an accusing finger at him. “You brought yellow books to the dorms when it wasn’t allowed to! You even took requests!”
“It was a lucrative business, Wei-xiong!” Nie Huaisang waves his hands around, defending himself. “I needed money for my paints since da-ge lessened my allowance! Besides, if I remember correctly, you had the most number of requests for me!”
“You—!”
Jiang Yanli laughs, sliding in and breaking up the tension in the conversation so smoothly Nie Huaisang was in awe. He should write to his sister-in-law for some pointers. “It sounds like you had a lot of fun during that time, A-Xian, Huaisang-difu.”
“We did! And who knew that in the future, our Nie-xiong here would be the lucky man who would marry our beloved A-Cheng. Speaking of which,” Wei Wuxian’s metal gray eyes focused on him completely, and Nie Huaisang was suddenly filled with a foreboding feeling.
“How is married life treating you, Nie-xiong?” Wei Wuxian asks idly, elbow on the table and resting his chin on his hand, “you were the last one of us that married, right? But you were engaged in the middle of the Sunshot Campaign.”
Nie Huaisang looked down, studying his fan. “Only because my brother refused to let us marry until Lotus Pier is complete." Nie Mingjue had been adamant on this point, and told Nie Huaisang point-blank that he was never going to step foot in Yunmeng unless he had a residence that befitted his position as the new Young Madame of Lotus Pier. Reconstruction takes years, and it was a miracle that Lotus Pier was rebuilt as quickly as it had been.
(Some people attributed it to Jiang Cheng's grim determination to marry his bride at the quickest possible time.
But they didn't know the long hours Nie Huaisang spent awake every night, gathering all his connections, coordinating with every mason, carpenter, tradesman and merchant he knew of to make agreements and contracts that enabled them to work on Lotus Pier quickly. It helped that the people of Yunmeng were also willing to offer their services to the cause, and because of it, his now home had been rebuilt at a fraction of the time that everyone else expected it to be.
Not even Jiang Cheng expected it.
Nie Huaisang may not have much to give as a dowry, but at least, with that, he could prove to himself that he is worthy and capable to stay by Jiang Cheng’s side as his lawfully wedded wife.)
"But yes, we had a relatively long engagement. Wanyin-xiong treats me very well.” Not as long as Jiang Yanli, her temporary broken engagement notwithstanding, but still notable, considering Wei Wuxian practically eloped with his husband during the war, and Wen Qing married his brother immediately after the war ended, signalling the end of the Sunshot Campaign.
“My brother is as prickly as a succulent, with a sharp tongue and a temper that would match the gods. What exactly do you see in him, Huaisang-xiong? Why did you say yes?” Wei Wuxian asked, as casual as any to the untrained ear, but Nie Huaisang knew Wei Wuxian was completely serious.
Jiang Yanli and Wen Qing were both silent, one patiently waiting for his answer, and the other recognizing the atmosphere for what it was.
“Well…” Nie Huaisang fidgeted, fingering the spine of his fan. He should have known this was going to happen. Because if there was anything Wei Wuxian and the Jiangs were, they were protective of their own.
So he takes a deep breath, and raises his head to meet Wei Wuxian’s eyes without fear.
“Jiang Wanyin is a good man. He deserves someone who will stand by his side through thick and thin. He… You, and da gu, have lost too much in the war. But still he refused to give in and even joined the fight, despite losing his home. Wei-xiong, how can I refuse him when all he wanted was someone he could completely depend on?”
Complete silence. But Nie Huaisang wasn’t finished, words continuing to leave his mouth. “You were gone for months, Wei-xiong, and he looked for you.” Wei Wuxian flinched, and there was a dark, visceral part of Nie Huaisang that purred in satisfaction, to make Wei Wuxian realize that he too, had hurt his brother. “He never lost faith that you would return, but those days were the darkest of his life. He had lost his parents and his home. And during that time, he thought he lost you too.” He exhaled sharply. “And I can’t—I won’t allow him to lose another person he cares about. So I said yes, because he needed someone to return to, and I can be that person for him.”
Nie Huaisang was one of the few people who saw the pain that stabbed deep in Jiang Cheng’s eyes, was the one Jiang Cheng clung to at the early hours of the morning, when their search for Wei Wuxian brought nothing and Jiang Cheng was at the end of his rope.
Jiang Cheng did not need a person that could fight beside him, because that brought the very real risk of losing them forever. He needed someone who could welcome him home, who could give him a home, because in the end, that was what Jiang Cheng had lost.
So Nie Huaisang tried his best to pull him out of the darkness, holding tight, refusing to let him go on a path that Nie Huaisang might not be able to follow. And thankfully, he was able to pull Jiang Cheng back from a precipice of no return.
Continued silence. Nie Huaisang’s back was straight, his gaze unwavering. He and Wei Wuxian stared at each other, before Wei Wuxian broke eye contact first with a laugh.
“... I’m just glad it’s not because you think he’s handsome, because if that’s the case, I would honestly question your taste, Huaisang-xiong.” Wei Wuxian finally said, eyes warm and forgiving, lightening up the room, and Nie Huaisang smiled back with tacit understanding.
“Just because you’re ranked fourth on the list of young cultivator gentlemen doesn’t give you the right to insult my xiang gong, Wei-xiong.” Nie Huaisang said primly, setting his fan down, blinking at the sudden three pairs of eyes that looked in his direction.
“Xiang gong? You call Sect Leader Jiang ‘husband’? In public?” Wen Qing asked, shock coloring her tone.
“And A-Cheng is all right with it, Huaisang-difu?” Jiang Yanli added, with wide eyes.
Nie Huaisang suddenly feels flushed for some reason. “Ah, um… yes? He has never said anything otherwise.” He quickly grabbed his fan and unfurled it, fanning himself quickly. “Is there a problem with that?” He asks, how hesitant. “Have I offended anyone?”
“Oh, no! Not at all!” Jiang Yanli suddenly grasps his hand, with a bright, happy smile on her face. She may not be a conventional beauty, but when she smiled, no woman could ever match up to her radiance.
“I’m just very happy that you see my A-Cheng in such a high regard! My didi is very fortunate to have a wife that cares for him so!”
Nie Huaisang did care for his husband, a lot too! But the way she said it was…
“What does Jiang Wanyin call you?” Wen Qing interrupts, with focused intent on her face. “Does he refer to you with a title?”
Nie Huaisang blushes deeply and looks away, covering his face with his fan. “He calls me… Wanyin-xiong calls me niang zi.”
A moment of shock.
Then Wei Wuxian chokes mid-drink. “He calls you ‘wife’?! And in the Yunmeng dialect too!”
“It’s an acceptable way of addressing one’s spouse!” Nie Huaisang protested. “We have done the three traditional bows, we are properly married, he’s allowed to call me that! You were there too, Wei-xiong!” Nie Huaisang doesn’t mention that Jiang Cheng calls him that only because he started it first.
“That’s not fair, I only call Lan Zhan by his name! He doesn’t even use the Gusu dialect when he talks to me!” Wei Wuxian cried, standing up at this apparent injustice.
“A-Cheng has always been a romantic at heart,” Jiang Yanli says serenely, somehow not surprised by Nie Huaisang’s revelation. “Remember, A-Xian, father and mother called each other by titles too.”
“And you call your husband by his birth name, you shameless imbecile,” Wen Qing adds, but not without some fondness. “In fact, Huaisang-xiaoshu is much more proper and formal compared to you and your ‘Lan Zhan’.”
“Yes, but nothing so intimate like niang zi!” Wei Wuxian protested, still looking like Nie Huaisang had just announced his sudden pregnancy. “I can understand the peacock calling Shijie ‘A-Li’ because he has a stick up his behind and he can’t even confess his feelings properly—”
“A-Xian!”
“—and of course Chifeng-zun would only refer to Wen Qing with a proper, formal title, unless he wants needles sticking out of his pill—”
“Wei Wuxian!”
“But my brother, my hot-tempered, awkward, emotionally constipated shidi is calling his spouse with such an intimate, loving title!” Wei Wuxian continues hastily, looking like he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Heavens, Huaisang-xiong… you’ve actually managed the impossible! You’ve managed to make Jiang Cheng fall in love with you!”
“What?” Nie Huaisang had never felt his face become this hot before, hand moving his fan as fast as his wrist could take the strain. Goodness, were all the windows closed? Why was the room suddenly so warm? “Wei-xiong, you must be mistaken, I— Wanyin-xiong doesn’t like me that way.”
Of course not. Jiang Cheng liked women, and the only reason why he asked Nie Huaisang to marry him was because it was something they both had to do during the war. Nie Huaisang was not the heir and he had no prospects with his abysmal cultivation. If all had gone as it should have been, he would have married some woman from a smaller clan and had children with her as insurance due to the Nie’s dangerous cultivation path.
Nie Huaisang didn’t want to marry for political standing, but that was the way their world worked.
But what he had was some wealth and the dubious title of being the second son to a powerful Sect. His marriage to Jiang Cheng would effectively bridge the largest northern and southern Sects in the cultivation world. It meant success and economic prosperity, of more trade routes, larger supplies, and an easier life for their people.
It meant the resurrection of Lotus Pier and the Yunmeng Jiang Sect as one of the four great Sects in the cultivation world, a long term investment that would yield more in returns.
Qinghe Nie would have been blind not to see that window of opportunity, and his brother, for all his protectiveness, was not a stupid man.
Jiang Cheng was kind, intelligent, strong, and honorable. But Jiang Cheng did not love him. Cared for him, yes, maybe, considered him important, but not in that way.
Never that way.
(No matter how much Nie Huaisang prayed for it otherwise.)
“Owwww!” Wei Wuxian’s startled, pained yelp cut through Nie Huaisang’s thoughts, and looked up in surprise, only to see Wen Qing holding Wei Wuxian’s ear hostage, pulling the tips sharply. ”Ow, Wen Qing, let go! What did I do?!”
“Apologize right now, Wei Wuxian. What you just said right now was insensitive and unacceptable.” Wen Qing snarls, before turning to her brother-in-law. “Huaisang-xiongshi, don’t take his words to heart. You know he doesn’t think before he speaks.”
“Yes, I know that, but...” Nie Huaisang blinks in confusion. “Wei-xiong didn’t say anything wrong?” What just happened? Did he say something unknowingly?
“Huaisang-difu.” His free hand was suddenly taken, and he looks to the side, just to see Jiang Yanli’s softer, smaller hands press his between her own.
She was still smiling, but there was something sad, something so terribly knowing in it that Nie Huaisang could barely manage to look at her. “There are things that you can only ask from my brother, because it is not in my place to intervene. He… often finds it difficult to be straightforward with his words.” She pauses.
Nie Huaisang nods slowly, because yes, he is aware of that.
“But believe me when I say that A-Cheng cares for you a great deal.” Jiang Yanli says earnestly. “He speaks very highly of you.”
“And Nie-xiong, just to let you know,” Wei Wuxian says, rubbing his ear and shooting an apologetic glance at Nie Huaisang. “Yunmeng locals don’t really use the dialect often, even with each other, because it’s really rough and angry-sounding. But there’s an exception to that unwritten rule.”
Wei Wuxian grins.
“Locals reserve the Yunmeng dialect when talking to people they really, really love.”
And there was nothing Nie Huaisang can say to that.
Just in time, one of Jiang Yanli’s personal maids entered the room, announcing that the Sect Leaders and disciples have finished their hunt and are returning to Carp Tower. All at once, the wives finished their drinks and snacks and stood up, once again thanking Jiang Yanli for her hospitality and good food.
Jiang Yanli takes a brief moment to look into her son, and seeing A-Ling awake but surprisingly quiet, she decides to take him to meet her husband. Wei Wuxian and Wen Qing have also made themselves scarce, making their own preparations to meet their husbands.
Nie Huaisang took the time to return to his room to freshen up, glancing at the mirror to see if he needs to fix or change anything. His clothes were fine, his hair could use a little work, and maybe he should put on another layer of rouge to his lips.
After deciding against the rouge, Nie Huaisang fixes his hair, making sure his headpiece isn’t crooked, and smoothed the creases of his robes.
(He wanted to dress with pride as the wife of Sect Leader Jiang Wanyin, the Young Madame of Yunmeng Jiang, to never, ever give his husband a reason to be ashamed of him.)
Once he is as ready as he can possibly be, he eventually joins the other wives in the courtyard. Some of the wives from the other sects weren’t present, which tells him a lot about relations in that particular sect. Nearby, Wei Wuxian was practically bouncing on his feet and twirling his dizi, impatiently waiting, while Wen Qing had pouches tied on her side, as if expecting to treat injuries. Jiang Yanli was playing with Jin Ling, shaking a small, lotus-engraved silver bell above his wide, curious eyes. He reaches for it, enraptured, and Jiang Yanli laughs, finally passing the bell over to her son, which he proceeded to gnaw on enthusiastically.
“There!” One of the nearby servants call out, and at once, their eyes followed the direction a finger pointed at the sky.
It was just a large, unidentified mass at first. Eventually, a number of shadows in the sky steadily grew larger and larger, and soon, close enough to see the differently colored robes of each Sect, making a scattered rainbow against the sun’s dying rays.
The purple-wearing contingent, Nie Huaisang was relieved to see, wasn’t smaller from when he saw them off that morning. No major injuries, then. His eyes were roaming everywhere, trying to look for the familiar topknot, the purple and black robes that covered his husband.
Meanwhile, the first to descend was the white-robed disciples of Gusu Lan, and as always, Wei Wuxian was the first to lead the charge.
“Lan Zhan~!” Lan Wangji had barely stepped down from Bichen when Wei Wuxian slammed against him like a battering ram, tackling his husband and causing both to sprawl on the ground in an undignified way. Not that Wei Wuxian actually cared. “I missed you so much!” He cried, seemingly squeezing the lungs out of his husband from his position on top of him.
“Mm. I’m back, Wei Ying.” Lan Wangji was as expressionless as ever, but his arms were tight around his husband, face turning to nuzzle tenderly at Wei Wuxian’s hair. Everyone else from Gusu Lan pointedly looked away, while Lan Xichen ushered the injured disciples into Carp Tower with an amused smile on his face.
The next was Lanling Jin, and Jiang Yanli came forward, waving little Jin Ling’s hand as they approached Jin Zixuan. “A-Xuan! Welcome home!”
“A-Li! A-Ling! Did you come to see me?!” The man looked indescribably happy to see his wife and son, immediately making space for them. He wrapped an arm around Jiang Yanli’s waist and looked down at them both, beaming with happiness.
“Of course! A-Ling is especially happy to see his die die,” Jiang Yanli says, lifting their son so Jin Ling's tiny fingers touched his father's face. The adorable action made the Lanling Jin Sect Leader look like he was about to cry at any second. Still, Jiang Yanli did not forget to address the Lanling Jin disciples, who were awkwardly standing around them, waiting for their Sect Leader to dismiss them.
“Good work on your hunt, everyone!” She says. “Please, get some rest and eat some food, if you can. You’ve worked hard today. Please help anyone that is injured to the healers!”
“At once, Madame Jiang!” The Lanling Jin disciples said in relief, bowing before scurrying away, not willing to incur their Sect Leader’s wrath by getting in the way of his reunion with his family.
Immediately after Lanling Jin was Qinghe Nie, and before Nie Huaisang could start approaching them, Wen Qing marched over with a purpose, grabbing Nie Mingjue’s torn sleeve. She looks at the nasty-looking gash on his upper arm.
“What happened to your arm, Lord Nie?” She asked, narrowing her eyes at him. “Didn’t I tell you to be careful out there today?” She reaches into a pouch and grabs a few leaves, immediately pressing it against the wound. “Of all the reckless, stubborn—”
“Damn the gods woman, it’s barely a second and you’re already nagging me.“ Nie Mingjue grumbled, but allowed his wife to look through his injuries. “I’m fine. It’s just a scratch.”
“Stop swearing, my lord. It’s unbecoming of a Sect Leader.” A sharp smack on Nie Mingjue’s uninjured side, and Wen Qing increases the pressure on her husband’s wound. “Just a scratch you say—a scratch that could get infected and rot your arm off your body,” Wen Qing says tartly, looking over the rest of the Qinghe Nie group. “And since the rest of the disciples seem to be relatively unharmed, the positioning of the wound… you took a hit that was for them, didn’t you?”
“...” Nie Mingjue did not answer, but one of the disciples raised his arm and answered. “Yes, Young Madame Wen. Sect Leader protected us from a yao that snuck up on us unexpectedly,” he says meekly, lowering himself further when Nie Mingjue gave him a glare that only highlighted how uncomfortable he looked.
Wen Qing pinches the bridge of her nose and sighs. “Come on, inside, all of you. Tell me everything that happened. And Lord Nie! If you use this arm for the next few hours, I’m drugging your tea and I’ll have you tied up to make you stay still! Don’t think I won’t!”
“You dare treat your husband this way?!” Nie Mingjue roars.
“I dare when he comes back to me with a serious injury that might take days to heal!” Wen Qing shoots back, glaring up at her larger, taller husband. “And no, you’re not using your spiritual energy to heal anything! Your meridians are blocked, we need to clear it out!”
They all eventually walk off to the Tower, continuing to bicker, the disciples surrounding their Sect Leader and his wife, with Nie Mingjue’s injured arm hovering behind Wen Qing’s back.
Seeing this, Nie Huaisang barely stopped himself from giggling, tapping his fan against his lips. He’ll see his brother later, when he’s treated and resting.
As the other Sects Leaders and disciples arrive and are welcomed by their family and sect members, Yunmeng Jiang’s group is still nowhere to be found, at least, until sixth shidi decided to call out and directed Nie Huaisang in the right direction.
“Young Madame Nie! Over here!” The Yunmeng Jiang disciples finally land on solid ground, all in cheerful if not exhausted spirits, and all mostly all right.
Nie Huaisang releases a breath he is holding. Safe. They were all safe.
“Welcome back, all of you.” He greets once everyone has settled in and said their salutations. “I hope you had a good hunt today.” But there was still someone missing. Nie Huaisang looked around. “Where is Sect Leader Jiang?”
“I’m here.” A voice sounds out from behind the disciples, and Nie Huaisang’s breath catches in his throat.
Jiang Cheng is... he is fine. A little dirty and roughened up, but no startling injuries. Still as handsome as ever, Sandu still on its sheath, Zidian sealed on his finger. Nie Huaisang holds his fan a little tighter, suddenly remembering Wei Wuxian’s words.
Locals reserve the Yunmeng dialect when talking to people they really, really love.
“Niang zi, this xiang gong has returned from his trip successfully.” Jiang Cheng bows properly, the disciples following suit. The people who are the nearest to them stop whatever they were doing and stares at them. “I pray for his wife’s indulgence as this husband has returned later than expected.”
“Please, not at all! No need to bow, xiang gong. You’ve arrived just on time.” Nie Huaisang smiles. “I’m just happy you came back safely.”
Jiang Cheng’s lips tilt up in a smile only Nie Huaisang can see, “I thank niang zi for his understanding,” and whirls around to face the Yunmeng Jiang disciples.
“The rest of you, return to Carp Tower. Check each other for injuries and rest. I expect a report about this hunt tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, Sect Leader Jiang!” The Yunmeng Jiang disciples run off, and Jiang Cheng returns to his husband, digging through something in his pouch.
“Huaisang, here.” He presents a… round-shaped thing to Nie Huaisang.
It was… a rock. A plain, gray rock that was as ordinary as they come.
“I found this while I was following the trail of a monster.” Jiang Cheng shrugs, passing the stone over to Nie Huaisang. “I thought it might be something you’d like.”
Nie Huaisang looks at the stone in his hands and suspiciously up at Jiang Cheng, who revealed nothing with his expression. Was this a joke? A prank? Was Nie Huaisang missing something? “Uh… I’m… grateful…? for this gift, Wanyin-xiong, truly, I would never refuse a gift from my husband…” He says, hesitating, and Jiang Cheng smirks.
“Idiot.” His husband snorts in amusement, reaching forward and cupping Nie Huaisang’s hands with his own. He gently guides Nie Huaisang’s thumbs to a barely-seen fissure running through the stone. “Just don’t stare at it. You need to open it.”
With a little force, he helps Nie Huaisang break the rock in two, and Nie Huaisang gasps at what he sees inside.
Green. The rock is filled with green-colored glass, sparkling under their gazes. A movement of his wrist, and it catches the reflection of the sunlight’s setting rays, making the gems glow brightly, as if a fire was lit inside, burning merrily.
Emeralds. Jiang Cheng just gave him uncut emeralds.
Nie Huaisang looks at his husband, utterly at a loss for words. “A-Cheng…” His hands trembled, heart pounding so wildly he could hear it against the rush of blood in his ears.
He must be blushing so hard he looked sunburned.
“I think you can make these into a pair of earrings, or into a hairpin.” Jiang Cheng says, tapping the rock thoughtfully. “You can take it to a jeweler back in Yunmeng and let them decide what to do with it.”
“I…” Nie Huaisang struggled to form words. “A-Cheng, I don’t know what to say.” He truly didn’t. Jiang Cheng just stole his words, his breath, his everything all at once, and Nie Huaisang was powerless to stop it.
Jiang Cheng’s lips curled up, reaching forward to brush his thumb against Nie Huaisang’s cheek. “So don’t say anything, and just welcome me back into your arms, niang zi.”
So Nie Huaisang, as helpless as the moon always following after the sun, steps forward, and kisses his husband in front of the other sects in the cultivation world.
Scandalized gasps reach his ears, and Nie Huaisang just couldn’t give a fig.