Work Text:
Spring, a year before the Mei Ling Massacre.
The moment Xia Dong hears from Xia Chun the news that was burning it’s way through the capital, that Imperial Great-grandmother herself had bestowed Mu Nihuang to Lin Shu in betrothal, she takes leave of the bureau and tears off to the Mu residence.
Things are chaotic there, with well-wishes and gifts, visitors and messengers everywhere. Servants weave in-between trying to keep order.
Xia Dong slips in via the servants’ entrance to Nihuang’s rooms where Nihuang is, incongruously, working at a military deployment plan.
“Dong jie! What...? Oh, of course you’ve heard the news. Please, come in!”
Xia Dong doesn’t mince words. “Nihuang, I hope I’m not overstepping my bounds, but there are things that can still be done, and… well, you spend so much time with Lin Shu and Jingyan, surely you know how they feel about each other?”
Xia Dong is newly married to NieFeng who, with Nihuang and a few others, make up Lin Shu and Jingyan’s most trusted inner circle of friends. Although Jingyan and Lin Shu are careful about their relationship in public, they are entirely honest and open to their dearest friends.
Nihuang smiles “Please sit Dong jie, and allow me to give you tea. And, to your question, yes, of course.”
Xia Dong sits, “… then, you chose to accept this rather than tell your father the truth?”
“Oh Dong jie, of course not. As a matter of fact father doesn’t know, but my hand was not forced.”
“In fact” Nihuang pours two cups of tea out carefully “I proposed this match to Lin Shu. Then he and I worked out an alliance plan and independently went to our fathers to advocate for this.”
Xia Dong remains silent, taken aback. But she hasn't been in the Xuanjing Bureau for years for nothing. She has seen unusual situations in her life and takes a very pragmatic view of the world.
“Nihuang, no question, this is a splendid match for your family. Together your families will control 170,000 soldiers. That’s more than the troops in the entire capital even if you add the Capital guards, the Imperial guards and XuanJing Bureau troops altogether!”
Nihuang places a cup out for Xia Dong. “And it’s not just the numbers that will make Northern Yan and Southern Chu think twice about attacking such an alliance. The Chiyan army will have access to foot-soldier-based, combat-trained infantry and grain from our rich agricultural lands. Uncle Lin will similarly send archers with horse-back warfare experience to give the Mu army a complement of long-range attack capabilities and – most importantly- we will start to develop water-battle strategies. Just imagine Dong jie, the tactical advantage of these!”
“So, you decided between you two that this was worth the price.”
Nihuang takes a sip of tea. “Xia Dong jie, you know I’ve been in love with Lin Shu since I was able to walk. And as for Lin Shu gege, he and Jingyan’s relationship transcends titles. Plus it’s been long understood that they both need to make politically expedient marriages.”
“Lin Shu dotes on you, Jingrui and Yujin. What did he say to this?”
“He thanked me for the offer, discussed it with Jingyan, and came to the conclusion I knew he would: That he trusts me, that the tactical advantage would be overwhelming, that our families would be rabidly happy, not to mention Great-granny would be ecstatic.”
Nihuang grinned “He told me he felt like an idiot for not having thought of it first and that he’s mightily glad I'll be obliged to be on his side the rest of my life.”
“But… what about YOUR well-being?”
Nihuang shakes her head with a laugh. “Dong jie, not everyone has the marriage freedom you do! Marrying for women in my position is done for the good of family or country.”
“This way I get to marry someone who is an utterly brilliant and kind friend, who I grew up with, who I would be proud to serve with in the army for the rest of my life. After marriage I will continue to see friends and family. Lin Shu gege is already complaining how Aunt Lin acts like I'm her favored child over her own son."
Smugly, "And given my family’s political weight, I have every right to be a tyrant and forbid Lin Shu gege from taking on any other wives. Lin Shu gege nearly died laughing when I told him, then bowed to me and called me his 'Little Ancestor'."
Firmly putting down her cup for emphasis, "We'll terrify Southern Yan and Northern Wei into peace without even a fight, then we'll spend the rest of our days hunting and admiring the plum blossoms of the Mu manor with Qing-er and teach Jingyan to finally appreciate tea! Dong jie, how is this worse that what most women, even noble, manage?"
They both know history is littered with examples of noble women, some little more than girls, marrying strangers for political reasons and living out isolated lives far from home, family and friends. Worse, unlucky ones led unhappy and dangerous lives in scheming courts. The current Liang imperial harem was fair drowning in such women.
With passion, "How is this not MY fairytale marriage?”
Xia Dong's face relaxes into a thoughtful smile.
“So congratulate me, and for goodness sakes don’t pull that long, anxious face you had in front of my parents!”
Nihuang nudges Xia Dong with her shoulder.
“And since you’re here, wouldn’t you like to help your husband’s boss’ future-wife with her dowry? I offered to personally work out how we can get those troops and supplies north before the summer thaw brings the chance of another invasion.”