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Jiang Cheng doesn’t quite know what to expect of his visit at Qinghe Nie and so he tries to keep his expectations low. It’s likely that it’s not even an official invite from Nie Mingjue—no matter what the letter said—and that it instead comes from Nie Huaisang who is simply bored and wants to see Jiang Cheng.
That—wouldn’t be fine at all, actually, because Jiang Cheng has other things to do than to cater to Nie Huaisang’s every whim, but he shouldn’t get angry before he even knows what’s up.
Maybe it was Nie Mingjue who extended the invitation, who wants to see him. Even if that should be the case Jiang Cheng doubts that it’s for anything more besides keeping some friendly relations going.
It not like Jiang Cheng can expect any help from the other Great Sects, he learned that the hard way already.
It still stings that Lan Xichen, Jin Guangyao and Nie Mingjue formed a brotherhood without even thinking about him, and Jiang Cheng is more than aware of the dire situation it leaves him and his Sect in.
If the other three want Yunmeng Jiang to be gone there is nothing that can stop them now.
Jiang Cheng and his people land in front of the great entrance to Qinghe, and Jiang Cheng remembers the last time he was there. That particular visit had ended with blood and betrayal and the war happened soon after, so he can’t say they are good memories.
Nie Huaisang is waiting for him when they touch down and something bitter twists in Jiang Cheng’s gut.
So Nie Mingjue thinks himself above even greeting Jiang Cheng. This visit will be an absolute waste of Jiang Cheng’s time but when Nie Huaisang waves excitedly at him, he still drags up a smile.
“Jiang-xiong,” Nie Huaisang yells out and then almost immediately slaps a hand over his mouth, his eyes huge. “Jiang-zongzhu, please forgive my misstep,” he demurely says and Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes.
“That’s fine, Huaisang,” he tells him and sheathes Sandu.
“My brother, Nie-zongzhu, is sorry that he can’t greet you personally but there was a landslide a few hours ago. His help is desperately needed.”
“Yeah, sure,” Jiang Cheng says with a small frown because he doesn’t know what to think of that.
It sounds like a good enough explanation, but Jiang Cheng isn’t sure how hands-on of a leader Nie Mingjue really is. He was very good at commanding during the war, and at delegating but he also fought his own battles, so Jiang Cheng is conflicted.
“I’m supposed to entertain you with tea and snacks until he comes back, so if you would please follow me,” Nie Huaisang says, and what else can Jiang Cheng do but to follow.
He and his people trail after Nie Huaisang, until they reach a banquet room, where the tables are already set.
Nie Huaisang does keep them entertained for most of the afternoon and while Jiang Cheng enjoys the company of his friend—and the endless gossip he seems to have—he can’t help but to think that this will be a pointless visit.
There are a million things he could have done back in Lotus Pier and now there will be a million more waiting for him when he comes back. Jiang Cheng can’t say that he’s looking forward to that, especially if this visit doesn’t even get him a trade agreement or two.
“Da-ge!” Nie Huaisang yells out and Jiang Cheng is startled out of his thoughts.
“Huaisang,” Nie Mingjue greets him with a nod and then comes to a stop in front of Jiang Cheng. “Jiang-zongzhu, please excuse my lateness. It’s an honour and a joy having you here,” he formally greets Jiang Cheng go scrambles to get up as fast as he can.
“Nie-zongzhu, there is nothing to excuse. Thank you for your hospitality.”
He hopes he’s doing everything alright; this is the first time another Sect has officially invited him since he became Sect Leader and he can’t afford to upset anyone, not right now.
Probably never, if he’s being honest. They can all count themselves lucky if Yunmeng Jiang doesn’t get swallowed whole by the other three.
“There was an issue with a landslide that needed my attention,” Nie Mingjue says as he waves him down to sit again and Jiang Cheng takes in his appearance.
Nie Mingjue does look like he just came straight from that landslide; there’s mud all over his robes and he looks positively dishevelled.
“Da-ge, you can’t greet our friend like that, go clean up,” Nie Huaisang says and whacks Nie Mingjue with the fan.
Or at least he tries to, because Nie Mingjue stops him mid-motion and then levels him with a look.
“I will freshen up, our guests will take a rest and you, Huaisang, will go to training for once.”
“Da-ge,” Nie Huaisang whines and Jiang Cheng thinks he’s not far off from stomping his foot.
“No arguments,” Nie Mingjue says, and his voice is hard. “Or we’ll cut down on your painting time.”
Jiang Cheng tries his best to appear small and unassuming but he can’t help but to wonder how Nie Huaisang stands it. Nie Mingjue is downright mean to him, and it’s clear that Nie Huaisang gets no joy at all out of sabre practice.
Jiang Cheng wonders what kind of cruel man would still force his brother to go.
“That’s so mean,” Nie Huaisang whines out and stomps away, leaving Nie Mingjue behind with the Jiang delegation.
“I apologize for the display,” Nie Mingjue says as he turns back around to Jiang Cheng. “Someone will lead you to your rooms, please take some time to rest or freshen up. We will meet again for dinner, if that’s alright with you.”
“Of course,” Jiang Cheng gives back, not that he really has another option.
They are led away to their guest rooms and Jiang Cheng takes the time until dinner to meditate. Soon enough he’s being summoned again but to his surprise he’s led into a small room, with tables for only two.
And Nie Mingjue is already waiting for him.
He’s still not in overly fancy robes, but he cleaned up nicely and it’s evident that he’s comfortable in the clothes he’s wearing right now.
“I hope you don’t mind,” Nie Mingjue says, clearly noticing Jiang Cheng’s gaze. “It felt pointless to put on other robes.”
Jiang Cheng briefly clenches his teeth, because this is probably another slight against him and his position, but he still sits down opposite of Nie Mingjue.
“Not at all,” he forces himself to say, and Nie Mingjue sighs.
“I don’t mean any disrespect,” he tells Jiang Cheng who is honestly just surprised that Nie Mingjue noticed.
“It—alright, I guess,” Jiang Cheng offers and Nie Mingjue gives him a small smile.
“Huaisang will join us later, he’s complaining about training and that he needs to soak in the bath now for a while,” Nie Mingjue informs him as he pours Jiang Cheng a tea.
“You were quite adamant that he trains,” Jiang Cheng dares to say and Nie Mingjue shrugs.
“He needs to know the basics. I don’t enforce a stricter routine because I know he doesn’t like it, but if push comes to shove—again—he needs to be able to defend himself. At the very least he needs to be able to safely fly away.”
That makes a disturbing amount of sense and Jiang Cheng guesses he would push Jin Ling to do the same, even if his nephew should show no inclination for the sword later in his life.
“I see,” Jiang Cheng lowly says, ashamed that he thought the worst of Nie Mingjue immediately.
“Listen, I’m not good with all the politics and fancy talks,” he tells Jiang Cheng who straightens up in response. “So I’ll just cut to the chase. I am aware that the brotherhood I am part of leaves you at a disadvantage.”
Jiang Cheng snorts at that, because that’s the understatement of the year, but he motiongs for Nie Mingjue to go on.
“It wasn’t—entirely voluntary on my part, if I’m being honest, and I regret where it leaves you.”
“It’s not like they held you down to swear with them,” Jiang Cheng bitterly mutters and Nie Mingjue winces.
“That’s true. But I don’t trust Jin Guangyao, not anymore, and Xichen convinced me that this is the best way to keep an eye on him. I should have thought about it a bit longer, because then I would have refused him, but I was blinded by that argument and by my wish to not disappoint Xichen. It was a mistake,” Nie Mingjue honestly admits and Jiang Cheng blinks at him.
“A mistake,” he repeats.
“A mistake I’m looking to rectify. I can’t get out of it now, but there are other options. I talked it over with Huaisang, and he would be willing to be your sworn brother if you’d like.” Jiang Cheng is about to say something when Nie Mingjue raises his hand at him. “I know that leaves you at a disadvantage still, because Huaisang is only my heir, so I had another thought. A courtship.”
“Between me and Huaisang?” Jiang Cheng asks, and he’s not entirely against it, but he can honestly never see himself fall in love with Nie Huaisang.
Well, maybe a friendship is better than nothing, Jiang Cheng thinks.
“Between you and me,” Nie Mingjue says and Jiang Cheng almost drops his cup, he’s so surprised.
“Excuse me, what?”
“It would be the most beneficial to you,” he explains. “You’d get me as your spouse and my brothers as your brothers. We would all be connected and you’re no longer isolated.”
“And you would be okay with that,” Jiang Cheng challenges him and Nie Mingjue very obviously looks him up and down.
“There are by far worse choices. Besides, I saw you during the war, and I took note of you back then. You’re a fierce fighter and so far you seem to be a good leader. We’ll have to see if we are compatible in a romantic sense but that’s what the courtship is for. Either way, it would be good for you.”
“And what do you get out of it?” Jiang Cheng demands to know, because this almost seems to good to be true.
“Peace of mind,” Nie Mingjue says with a shrug. “And maybe a husband who can kick ass,” he adds with a grin and Jiang Cheng is powerless against that.
“I misjudged you,” he admits as he puts his cup down. “And I apologize for that.”
“How so?” Nie Mingjue wants to know and he sounds curious more than angry.
“I thought Huaisang asked me here to come. Or that you wanted to play nice for an evening before sending me away again, still as unconnected as before.”
“No. Never,” Nie Mingjue promises and Jiang Cheng nods.
“I can see that.” He takes a deep breath before he goes on. “I accept your courtship.”
Now it’s Nie Mingjue’s time to blink in surprise at him.
“Well, that was easier than expected,” he finally says and Jiang Cheng shrugs, taking his time to look Nie Mingjue over.
“There are by far worse choices,” he echoes his earlier words. “And not many good options for me,” he then also admits, because Nie Mingjue needs to know that, too.
“I know, and I apologize for that. I will probably never stop apologizing for it.”
“You can if we marry,” Jiang Cheng tells him and then smiles at him. “If we make it that far.”
“Oh, I’m definitely willing,” Nie Mingjue says and raises his cup with a huge grin of his own and Jiang Cheng doesn’t hesitate to click his own glass against it.
This might not be what he imagined would happen during his visit, but he’s very far from complaining.
It seem like this could be good.