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"You know, it's usually me making a scene at these events," Nie Huaisang said conversationally as he patted Lan Xichen's back. Sect Leader Lan sobbed, loudly, into his shoulder.
It wasn't a discussion conference, just a fancy dinner hosted by Sect Leader Yao that, nevertheless, everyone felt obligated to attend or else the man would be insufferable at the next actual conference.
Nie Huaisang listened from the periphery of the conversation of a group of sect leaders, too highly ranked to be left out, but not respected enough to be included.
"-- I would be happy to host a tournament at Jinlintai, but perhaps in autumn rather than summer? Lanling's harvest season comes a bit earlier due to the rains. And on a personal note, my dear wife, Qin Su, and I hope to welcome our second child this summer."
The cultivators all gave polite congratulations and their conversation turned to harvest preparations.
But then, Nie Huaisang caught sight of Lan Xichen's face-- pale as death-- and his hands trembling at his sides. Huaisang edged closer to Er-ge, afraid the man looked ill.
It was too late.
Lan Xichen tore the ribbon from his forehead, knocking his guan askew, and held it out in a shaking fist to his sworn brother.
"A-Yao, does this mean nothing to you? Do I mean nothing to you?"
Gasps went up all around. "What--Sect Leader Lan! What is the meaning of this?" sputtered Sect Leader Yao.
Jin Guangyao too looked shocked, but he quickly composed his face, "Zewu-Jun," he said gently, "I'm not sure what you mean! You are my venerable sworn brother, but perhaps we might discuss your concerns in private?"
At that, Lan Xichen flung the torn ribbon to the ground at Jin Guangyao's feet, turned, and fled.
Gossip said that Lan Xichen must surely have flown his sword back to Gusu, but Nie Huaisang knew better.
After dark he slipped out of the gates of the Yao sect and headed to the tree line that lay to the south. He hadn't gone far when he saw Xichen perched, like an unwieldy bird on a tree branch.
"I haven't seen you hide in a tree since we were kids, Xichen-ge." Nie Huaisang commented as he stood on his saber and rose to Xichen's level. The branch was sturdy and wide, so Huaisang sat next to him.
Lan Xichen didn't respond, just sat there, bedraggled and tear stained.
Nie Huaisang sighed. He really didn't have time for this. Clearly a more direct approach was needed.
"I know you love him, Xichen-ge, but he's married, surely you must have expected this would happen. Not to mention, this isn't even their first child-- it's already happened!"
Xichen turned wrathful eyes at him, and for a moment Huaisang questioned if coming here alone was a good idea.
"He promised me that it would never happen again with her," Xichen spat. "Anyone else I could have tolerated for the sake of my A-Yao. A hundred concubines would have been better! But she will only ruin him."
Briefly, Nie Huaisang wondered if they were talking about someone other than Qin Su. Sweet, naive, pretty Qin Su.
Which was rich coming from him.
Assuming Qin Su did pose some risk to San-ge, it could only help to use her as a wedge between him and Er-ge. And if Huaisang could get Er-ge on his side-- even after the Lan Sect Leader's dramatic loss of face-- there would be one less layer of protection between Jin Guangyao and da-ge's vengeance.
Nie Huaisang dropped his voice to a gentle whisper and opened his arms up to Lan Xichen. "You know how willful our A-Yao can be. Da-ge said it all the time. Once he's made up his mind there can be no changing it."
Xichen said something unintelligible into Nie Huaisang's neck. He took it as agreement.
"It's hard to be the unmarried man in these relationships. What claim do we have above the legal wife? None. Although goodness knows we serve the same purpose."
Xichen raised his face in surprise. Nie Huaisang, only slightly disgusted, began wiping the snot and tears from the man's face.
"Don't look so shocked, Er-ge! You must have suspected I cut my sleeve as well?
"Yes," Huaisang sighed dramatically, "I've had my share of heartbreak when it comes to married men. You don't tolerate gossip so I won't mention names.
"But usually the wife, no matter how cold the marriage, contrives away to keep her husband out of his male lover's bed."
The anecdote actually came from the plot of one of his silly romance novels, not from personal experience, but Er-ge didn't need to know that.
"Perhaps... it is not gossip if it is true; if people would be better off knowing the truth," Lan Xichen said half to himself.
Huaisang wondered what was churning through that beautiful, messy mind. He had a feeling it was bad news for San-ge.
The Lan Sect Leader seemed to come to some internal conclusion because when he looked back at Nie Huaisang, the grief had been rolled back from his features, and only malice remained.
"There's something you should know about Jin Guangyao."