Chapter Text
“Da-ge…” Nie Huaisang blinked. He knew with his mouth, open and gaping like a fish he looked ridiculous but that didn’t change what horrible words he’d just heard. He stood still his hand gripping his paintbrush that dangled from his ringlet. He flinched when he felt the wood becoming too flexible beneath his fingers. If he didn’t loosen it then he was going to snap his treasured paint brush.
“...you cannot be serious? I’m…” Nie Huaisang stumbled, trying to regain his mental footing. He couldn’t believe it. The two of them had discussed, be it seven years ago that he wouldn’t have to marry unless he chose his partner. When Nie Mingjue was made chief cultivator after the taking of the nightless city. He’d given him this freedom. The promise made that if anyone was to marry for an alliance it would be him. Now it was being snatched away because of the war that the Wen’s had caused.
Damn, Wen dogs. Nie Huasaig thought, hearing the words in his close friend, Jiang Cheng’s voice.
“You think I’d speak to you about it if I wasn’t?” Nie Mingjue growled. He’d been trying to talk to his brother about this for weeks. It’d become clear after the meeting with the elders that they’d need another strong alliance. They’d lost several of their supportive clans to the ravaging of the Wen’s.
“But this...you promised!” Nie Huaisang fussed, trying to keep the whine out of his tone. He’d failed the moment he’d seen his brother’s face twist in disappointment. Well, he knew that he wasn’t the only one. Nie Huaisang thought.
“You’ll do your duties and be grateful that you even get to meet them first!” Nie Mingjue yelled, making Nie Huaisang shrink back from the amount of anger in his voice. He bit his lip to keep it from quivering. It’d been a long time since that disappointment filled rage had been directed at him, and that hurt way too much than the promise of his freedom being taken away.
“Yes, your majesty.” Nie Huaisang said, standing up straight, looking his brother in the eyes then without bowing or being dismissed. He stormed out of the great hall to get away.
Before Nie Mingjue could stand and follow, as he clearly wished he could, Meng Yao stepped from behind him, a soft hand on his arm.
“Let me,” he said, voice careful and contrite. “This idea may be from the Elders, but I convinced you and destroyed your promise. Let me convince him as well.”
The anger that’d been coursing through his veins dissolved immediately. He didn't mean to get angry. He was just scared the deviation that was so common in his bloodline was happening to him. He could feel it every time that he’d lift baxia. Nie Mingjue didn’t want to break his promise but this was his brother’s best chance.
He looked down at the delicate, yet strong hand on his forearm. Then Nie Mingjue let out a sigh and gave his second in command a short nod.
“He is more clever than all your elders combined. If there’s a loophole, he will find it,” Meng Yao said with a wry smile, having been on the receiving end of more than a few pranks by the tiny Nie prince since his coming here at a young age. The memory had his smile warming as he bowed to Nie Mingjue and turned to follow Nie Huaisang. “I will make him see the logic he’s trying to ignore. Have faith.”
He could only hope his words eased some of the guilt. Meng Yao had always been good with his words, but Nie Mingjue was a man of the heart in all things. Sometimes words just weren’t enough.
At least with Nie Huaisang he did not have that problem. The young man was clever, just as clever, if not moreso, than Meng Yao himself and they’d often amused themselves talking the elders into circles. Now Meng Yao was on the side of those dry old men. Oh how the tables had turned.
“My Prince,” he said, not surprised when he found him sulking in his favorite section of the garden, where his horde of birds fluttered free. More than half of them were using the prince as a perch and as Meng Yao stepped in, the other half came his way, perching on his shoulders and hair. Far too used to it, he only sighed, especially when he was ignored. “ Huaisang .”
The birds had been trying to comfort him. They’d sensed his distressed mood the moment he’d shoved past his best friend, Nie Zong Hui to get to the garden. To his credit, Nie Zong Hui stayed, leaning against the arch giving him the space he needed. The comforting space was short lived with Meng Yao entering. His birds that wanted to be petted moved to the petite man.
Nie Huaisang wasn’t in the mood to talk. He knew that Meng Yao had a silver tongue that could rival his own. Nie Huaisang couldn’t help but feel hurt, angry,disappointed, and he was entitled to feel them. He turned so that he didn’t have Meng Yao in his line of sight. His lip plump and sticking out from biting it and pouting. He wanted to tell the man to go away but he didn’t. He merely folded his arms.
Meng Yao bit down a chuckle under a straight face, though he knew his amusement shone in his eyes and that Nie Huaisang would see it. He knelt at his side and wiggled his fingers over his shoulder for the excited birds to play against.
“I remember once, when I was fifteen and new to Qinghe, a certain troublemaking Nie had gotten himself at odds with his father’s council,” Meng Yao remarked, seeing the tiny, angry boy even now. “We sat just like this, surrounded by his birds, and plotted on how best to sneak a fly into Elder Yanbin’s soup.”
Ah, that’d been a good scheme. Nie Huaisang thought. Unconsciously, his lips started to tilt upwards as the memory of just how successful they were. It’d even happened again when the man tried to get Nie Mingjue to separate him from Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian before they’d saved the branch of Wen’s that’d lived in Yiling.
He groaned the moment he realized that Meng Yao had won this time. “Once you lose favor with Da-ge, I’m getting rid of you.” Nie Huaisang teased, looking over his shoulder. A jab that turned into a joke, because they both knew that Nie Mingjue cared deeply for Meng Yao. Though Nie Huaisang doubted he knew just how much.
Meng Yao chuckled. “If that day comes, I should hope so,” he said, only half teasing, and smiled at a dainty sparrow that lighted onto his finger. “I know you’re angry, Huaisang. You have a right to be. In fact I encourage you to be so, as long as you remember who the real culprits are behind the idea.”
“I know...it just hurts that he waited till now to tell me. I deserved to know before the last minute. “ Nie Huaisang sighed, relenting to his never ending forgiveness towards his brother. He knew that Nie Mingjue meant well and there had to be a deeper reason for why Nie Mingjue was insistent. Because despite all the traditions they had if Nie Mingjue didn’t feel that it was just he wouldn’t listen. So, Nie Huaisang turned around so that he could face Meng Yao.
If anyone was able to help him it was the man before him. He rolled his shoulders dislodging some of the birds. Nie Huaisang’s favorite pink and emerald green feathers wouldn’t have it. The pretty bird flew up to his head and perched on his delicate headpiece.
“If I must endure this. I don’t want to be paraded like a prized peacock like Jin Zixuan had been.” Nie Huaisang requested.
“That is why your suitors will be the ones on parade,” Meng Yao said by way of promise, nodding firmly. “You have my word, Huaisang. I’m doing everything I can to give you the chance to get to know whoever it will be. You’re a great judge of character and the moment you tell me something is wrong, I will cancel the match. No matter what.”
It was always a lurch in his gut hearing the Jin name, knowing he had once wanted to be a part of that brood. Perhaps if he hadn’t made it to Nie Mingjue in time, perhaps if he’d never known Huaisang. He could see the invisible shackles Jin Guangshan put on all his children, legitimate and illegitimate both, and couldn’t help but feel only disgust. Disgust with the man who’d broken his mother’s heart. Disgust at himself for once wanting such a beast’s approval.
And now Jin Guangshan was the one calling for the tournament, no doubt to insert one of his own into the list of hopefuls. Meng Yao certainly hadn’t gotten his brains from him and he was grateful for it. And if Huaisang was hurt in any way, Meng Yao would cause whatever diplomatic incident he had to save him.
“Just try,” Meng Yao asked, resting a hand on Huaisang’s arm. “And use that brain of yours. Find your loopholes, make them all look like idiots, and take all the happiness for yourself that you can. Be angry, be selfish, and remind everyone in the Imperial court just what you are made of. You are, after all, a Nie. You don’t do anything by halves.”
“No, we don’t.” Nie Huaisang thinly smiled, resting his hand on top of Meng Yao’s. The man was like a brother too him and he wondered if he would ever realize that he too could seize his own happiness. He just wondered if Nie Mingjue would ever let the man see it. Steering his thoughts back to his problem. He let out a shaky breath.
“If all else fails...maybe I can get Jiang Cheng to marry me.” Nie Huaisang teased, knowing how the other felt about the Jiang heir. Jiang Cheng wasn’t exactly the most friendly and he couldn’t be swayed by Meng Yao’s silver tongue. Even when Meng Yao was being sincere.
“I’m sure Sect Leader Jiang would at least consider it,” Meng Yao offered, though mostly for that bit of hope for Nie Huaisang to have. And it was highly amusing imagining the scowling man raging at an entire court of elders. “He cares for you. If it meant saving you from someone unsuitable, I know he would take matters into his own hands if you asked. After all, he doesn’t do things by halves either.”
“Tsk,” Nie Huaisang huffed, a playful smile on his face. He pulled his fan off his ringlet tapping the man on the knee. “You’re no fun, Ye-ge. We both know you’d rather not have Jiang Cheng here for the rest of your life.” He chuckled standing up. The only bird holding strong was his favorite.
“But onto more interesting topics. Which peacock do I have to play nice with first?” Nie Huaisang asked dramatically, making Nie Zong Hui chuckle out loud.
Meng Yao smiled thinly, but amusedly nonetheless, and stood as well, gently patting off the downy feathers left behind on his shoulders. “Actually, peacock is right on the nose. The tournament is going to be held in LanLing.”
“Oh you’ve got to-” Nie Huaisang groaned, smacking his own forehead with his fan.
“Huaisang.” Nie Zong Hui called to him, making Nie Huaisang turn and give the man a rather nasty glare that Nie Zong Hui just shrugged at.
“Whatever, go tell Da-ge, he’s getting what he wants.” Nie Huaisang huffed, leaving the garden to his rooms. He purposely bumped his shoulder against Nie Zong Hui’s as he went.
It hadn’t been the first time Mo Xuanyu had been summoned off the battlefield directly, given his father’s whims made little sense to anyone save for his father himself, but it was the first time he was invited to dinner after the fact. It had been an offhand command, but a command nonetheless, and when Mo Xuanyu had gone back to the rooms set aside for his use he’d found what had to be the most expensive looking robes he’d ever seen, let alone had to wear. He had the vague idea of something important happening, and that even if he had been able to come, he’d be on the separate side of the doors, sitting with his men and the army in the feast happening at the same time.
But that had not been the command, so here he was, stiff in an elaborate showpiece of an outfit and wishing he was back on a battlefield. It would have been less threatening than… this.
At least the food was delicious.
He’d had to endure himself being announced, forced to smile like his father actually cared to call him a son, before he was largely forgotten, even with the golden filigree on his sleeves shimmering each time he moved. He was aware of more and more people being announced, but it all ran together in the hazy hall, lit by the sunset and candles. It felt like a dream and for once a good one, so he tucked himself into a corner near the musicians with a bowl and watched the glittering mob of people come and go.
And it was working well, too, until he went for seconds. It was busier now at the buffet, so he stuck to the sweet fruits mostly set aside for the children, and even got a glimpse of his nephew darting under the table with a bowl of strawberry spoils in hand.
But that distraction had him bumping sleeves with a man in an even more impressive set of robes than he. Throwing on a grimacing smile, he apologized and ducked his head, bangs obscuring his face, and prayed the man would not expect him to act courtly or hold a conversation. That he would think Mo Xuanyu just a clumsy idiot and leave him be. Just two more mulberry smallcakes and he’d be gone to his corner…
Nie Huaisang was beyond disgusted. Thank the gods that Nie Mingjue hadn’t forbade him his fan. The look of utter disdain was permanent on his face since the moment he met Jin Zixun. There was no mistaking the man for being handsome because he was. However, that all went out the window the moment that he’d opened his mouth. The man was vile but at least he didn’t hide it behind pretty words.
Jin Zixun had looked him over like a piece of meat and while Wei Wuxian had made a pretty hilarious joke about humans being meat suits, Nie Huaisang didn't find it funny or attractive. Jin Zixun was a hard hell no . He’d given Nie Zong Hui a look that told him to help him get free of the man, and like the best friend he was, the man obeyed.
Nie Huaisang had fled into the crowd of courtiers in search of a moment to himself. He found it leaning against one of the pillars. He reached down letting his fingers run over the paint brush pendant that Nie Mingjue had given him for his birthday. Feeling a little bit grounded. He opened his eyes just in time to feel his stomach growl. He’d lost his appetite earlier as well so of course when he got a moment alone the hunger came. Nie Huaisang let out a sigh, resting his back against the pillar he noticed the dessert table was the one that was closest to him.
So, he took a deep breath then rounded the pillar to get what looked like lemon cakes on the table. Except he never made it because the moment he was free of the pillar Nie Huaisang walked straight into someone. Nie Huaisang was about to apologize but two things happened. The first was that the cultivator that bumped into him was taller than him by a few inches and that attempt to hide his eyes failed. So of course, Nie Huaisang was stunned by the ash colored eyes darting downwards to the floor. The second was that when the man let out a small croak it had Nie Huaisang following the man’s gaze.
His own eyes widened as he realized what the man was staring at. Apparently, the man had been holding a small golden plate that had two very saturated mulberry cakes on them. However, the plate was void of the sweet cakes. Where were they? They were top side, sticking to the front of Nie Huaisang’s robes. The ones he’d painstaking spent a month designing with A-Yue, his tailor. The cover for his outer robe was made of jade colored gossamer with hand stitched opalescent beads that took the form of tree limbs coming up from the hem and edge of his sleeves over a creamy beige robe that had an almost invisible golden stitched Nie beast motif tail print near the hems. Beneath was a stark white inner robe which was all held together by a white sash and a goldenNie beast head motif adorned belt.
Nie Huaisang’s mouth dropped open as he reached down only for the cakes to slide down his robes to the floor rolling underneath the table where another squeak from a much younger sounding person was lost to the loudness of the party. “You…” Nie Huaisang reached down touching the blackish red filling that’d been on top, that was no bleeding through the gossamer onto the beige silk. He looked up to see the man flushing a bit, and he stuck his hand up to do what he didn’t know but his body had the bright idea to try and smear it on the man's cheek.
Mo Xuanyu felt an eerie calm overtake him at the sight of blooming red. His brain had long been trained to recognize the color, even if his heart was flipping wildly in total panic. It was a very odd in between, knowing it wasn’t blood but still seeing blood, and it wasn’t until the man was reaching out with mulberry stained fingertips that he snapped out of it.
“My lord, I…” he stuttered, unable to do anything but stare and accept the slap that was undoubtedly coming.
Thankfully, a smaller man swept in seemingly out of nowhere and caught those fingers inches from his cheek.
“What are you doing ?” he hissed, and Mo Xuanyu snapped to attention before he realized his gaze was focused on the man who’s robes he’d just ruined, not him. That had Mo Xuanyu’s eyes drifting down in shame to the mess he’d made of the floor, then jolted when a very familiar, round face peeked up at him from under the tablecloth, obviously unseen by everyone else.
It was at that moment the beautiful eyed man’s eyes finally met his. It was like time had stopped, and all he could hear was the roar of his heart beat. His eyes took in the pristine white robes that looked as if they’d been torn around gold and prose pink threaded peonys on the shoulders of the outer robes. Beneath the flowers it looked like they had holes but it wasn’t holes. It was cut outs with fine gold gossamer showing off the prose pink robe beneath. The hems were trimmed in golden curling stems and thorns. All that stunning work was held together with a golden sash under a white simple belt. Instead of ringlets there were just two leather straps dangling free of tokens. And before he could do anything else, time sped up and the feel of Meng Yao’s cool but firm grip wrapped around his wrist stopping him from smearing the mulberry sauce on the man’s face.
“Nothing!” Nie Huaisang snapped defensively. His face flush from a mixture of whatever this man did to him and embarrassment. Because reality was back and they were in the dining hall of Koi Tower. This wasn’t the place to be behaving in such a manner.
Meng Yao gave him a very pointed look at that, but did not have the time to say anything more than brush off a chunk of mulberry still remaining before a silken handkerchief was being passed to him.
“Here, my lord,” Mo Xuanyu said, relieved when the silk was taken and the man’s hands finally cleaned. He quickly loosened his sash and pulled off his outer robe, uncaring of all the stares he was getting now, and held it out too, this time directly to the other. “Please wear this,” he insisted around a low bow. “And forgive this one’s clumsiness. I accept any punishment.”
Nie Huaisang was going to say something about that look when the man handed Meng Yao a handkerchief. Then like a child Meng Yao cleaned his hand off for him. As he took his hand back he noticed the man’s hands moving to his sash. The dusting on Nie Huaisang’s cheeks was now down to his neck.
“Nnnn-nnn…” Nie Huaisang stuttered, eyes widening as the soft silk was in his hands. Normally, he’d been thrilled because they were a work of art but not right now. The man was dressed now in the prose pink robe and his inner robe. In panic, his gaze flicked past his shoulder to see Nie Zong Hui giving him a look to not just stand there and refuse the man when he wasn’t dressed properly.
“Tt-thank you.” Nie Huaisang replied, quickly putting the robe on. He pointedly avoided the look Meng Yao was giving him.
“Young master,” Meng Yao chided, stopping him before he got it on fully. “Perhaps you should remove the other one first?” He gestured to the stain and raised an eyebrow at him.
“It’s little matter, my lord,” Mo Xuanyu was quick to say. “I deserve nothing less than my own robes being soiled.” Not that they were his robes, and that had his stomach clenching into a frozen ball. Gods, how he prayed his father was not watching at this moment. A foolish hope, but something to hold onto.
He had never been so thankful that his voice had broken to a rather low register, allowing him to hide the shake in it well. His smile was sadly another story and it trembled on his lips awkwardly. “But if you would like, I can clean yours as an apology?”
“Thank you, I think that is a great idea,” Meng Yao said, noting how tense the young man had gone as his offered robe neared the stain. There was a very real fear there, which seemed out of place for something so simple, and he nodded to Huaisang to do as asked. “Little master.”
“Right.” Nie Huaisang nodded, the nickname as a child spurring him into action. He moved to where the pillar would hide them better. Then he handed Meng Yao the man’s robes before he untied his belt and sash. His cover and outer robe easily slipped from his shoulders and carefully handed his robes over to the man.
He wasn’t blind either. Nie Huaisang could see the unease in the man’s voice as well as the look in his eyes. He didn’t like it. No one should be this afraid over robes. “The beaded threads are sensitive to the collar. So be as gentle as possible.’ Nie Huaisang advised. His tone was soft, hoping that it would help soothe the other man. He then put on the man’s outer robe. It was wider in the shoulders and was longer on the hem but it fit him in the other places that mattered.
“Don’t worry, my lord, I -” Mo Xuanyu stopped himself, realizing belatedly that stating he was adept at cleaning up bloodstains was probably not proper to say, nor encouraging. He bowed instead and reverently folded the robe. “I will clean them straight away.”
“We thank you,” Meng Yao said, taking him in again. They’d been later than he had wanted to the dinner, so he’d missed this particular man’s introduction. He wore the Jin robes and the vermillion dot between his brows, but his bearing was all wrong. He stood straight, but quiet, slinking into shadows rather than preening like the rest of the peacocks. Was this one of Jin Guangshan’s bastards? One of his brothers?
Of course, Meng Yao looked too much like his mother to compare that way, and if this man was indeed a Jin bastard he too had mercifully been given the looks of his other parent. But he was definitely an oddity in this room no matter who he was, a soldier rather than a courtier.
But what would a common soldier be doing here?
He peeked at Nie Huaisang, who still seemed to be in a state of awe and disbelief and had to sigh, fond and exasperated. “ Breathe , little master.”
Nie Huaisang took a shallow breath trying to get his brain to work. The man before him was a Jin...well in some capacity. He dressed like Jin but he didn’t behave like any of Madam Jin’s spawns. Jin Zixuan, he was sure only acted like a decent human because of Jiang Yanli. He pushed the thoughts away as he saw the man’s hands slightly shake as he folded Nie Huaisang’s robes.
“Yy-yes we do thank you.” Nie Huaisang parroted, though sheepishly when he couldn’t think of anything else. Though by the unimpressed look that Meng Yao gave him, Nie Huaisang thought he should try again. But then Nie Zong Hui was gesturing in the other direction. Nie Huaisang turned to see Nie Mingjue watching them along with Jin Guangshan.
Nie Huaisang paled a bit. The look on his older brother’s face was not a good one. So, he did the only thing he could think of. He looked back at the man and gave a small bow to him. “Thank you and I’m sorry.” Nie Huaisang apologized before all but making a hasty retreat leaving Meng Yao behind.
Mo Xuanyu froze in surprise at that, then went cold seeing the look on his father’s face. He immediately fell into his soldier side, resigned to incoming pain, and with eyes downcast, back straight, he stepped back once, twice, three times. “I will find a way to get them back to you,” he said to Meng Yao, bowing in a quick retreat, and willed himself not to shake apart in the time it took for him to murmur another apology and return to the dessert table, hugging the man’s robe in his arm a tad too tightly.
He knelt down as though to clean the mess, but instead lifted the tablecloth to peer under it. “A-Ling,” he said, gesturing over the little boy with his strawberry smeared lips. “Uncle has a very important mission for you.”
“A misss-sun?” Jin Ling replied, his honeyed eyes blinking. A smile spread across his face as he crawled over to him. “What’ss did you want?”
“Uncle noticed all your strawberries,” he started, knowing it was best to puff the boy up before asking favors so he was more inclined to do them. “And your great hiding place. I think your grandfather would be so proud of your hiding skills. I know I am.”
When he got another grin, he knew he had his chance. “You should go tell your grandfather all you’ve been up to and how good you are at hiding. Let him know I’ll be leaving too, okay? But don’t worry,” he added quickly. “I’ll be here tomorrow for your archery lesson. And if you go very fast, I’ll bring you a treat.”
“Hmmm….okay!” Jin Ling cheekily answered before giggling as he went to go do what was asked of him.
Mo Xuanyu didn’t wait to see who watched him go, just stood and quickly exited out the nearest door, disappearing into the dark.