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What a shock, people would mutter when they thought Nie Huaisang wasn't listening. What a tragedy for the new young master. To be thrust into a position he had never planned on filling, to lose the protection of his brother in such a spectacular way - it must be so hard on such a peaceful, simple mind.
Let them think, but none of them understood. None of them knew. Nie Mingjue wasn't just a brother, he'd been Huaisang's hero.
He'd often wondered if Mingjue had known that the shadow of death was waiting for him - that there was something chasing his death beyond the press of the saber's curse, someone plotting his downfall. He had sent him first to the Lans, after all, a quiet and artful clan in order to help his cultivation in a way that seemed more aligned to his nature. Huaisang enjoyed the peace of being away, the company of other cultivators his age, and had carefully failed all his lessons so he could keep coming back and dodge the saber lessons waiting for him at home. Huaisang had pushed back, as he always did, dodging any sort of responsibility that would put him into the center of attention. He thought best when he was away, in the crowd, able to consider and move his pieces deliberately. He was a good actor. Not a single person, not even Jin Guangyao, knew his modivations.
Jin Guangyao. He had been there, for when his brother was riled the most. He was almost certain it wasn't plain irritation, but he was still gathering his evidence before he did anything rash. No one would believe the tearful accusations of a new young clan leader who barely knew how to fill his own role first. Despite the years of support and gifts, they were already soured in his mind; there would be no loyalty if his suspicions were correct.
They had never known. No one did, because Mingjue had protected Huaisang ever since they were little, and would allow no rumors that showed him weaker than he already looked. No one knew how many times Mingjue had heard Huaisang's wails when he was little, left in a room by himself, and Mingjue had crawled into bed with him to be that comforting presence, that protective older brother even though he had training with their father in the morning. How Mingjue had shared his favorite parts of his meals, because they were Huaisang's favorite too. No one knew how deeply Huaisang would give anything, would kill a hundred men if it meant he could bring his brother back, if only for one moment and make sure he apologized, that he knew that he never meant to make him so angry. He had been robbed of that chance, and he would never forget that.
He bowed his head, and hid his face behind his fan as the mourners walked past. Anyone would think he was a younger brother in grief, and that part was very much not an act. But he wouldn't let anyone close enough right now to see the glint of revenge in his eyes that he would never allow to go out. Be hidden and buried, yes, so he could play this out in the long game - but never, ever go out.