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Jiang Cheng knows his fate is sealed as soon as his father announces the competition.
He sits at the front with the other disciples, ice flowing through his veins, hardly believing the words coming out of his father’s mouth.
“Jiang Cheng will participate by default, as he is the assumed Sect Heir. The first disciple will also participate, to ensure the presence of competition. Any disciple over the age of fifteen is welcome to participate if they wish. The competition will have five categories, and the overall winner shall be named Sect Heir. I will train them personally in politics and other sect matters to ensure their capability to take over when the time comes. Any questions?”
Jiang Fengmian wears his typical, placating smile as he scans the group of gathered disciples, as if he hasn’t just brought Jiang Cheng’s future crashing down around him and humiliated him in front of all his peers.
Jiang Cheng bites his tongue so hard that it begins to bleed, but it’s better than shedding the tears that threaten to well over in his eyes. He tries to maintain a straight face as much as he can, but his stomach is twisting violently and all he wishes is to run to the nearest bathroom and throw up.
He stares straight ahead, because he doesn’t even know what he’ll do if he looks at Wei Wuxian right now.
Wei Wuxian. His best friend, his brother. The first disciple. The one who must participate alongside him, supposedly to ensure competition, but everyone in Yunmeng Jiang knows it is because Jiang Fengmian favors him more than he favors his own son, and wishes to place him on the seat of authority. This announcement only confirms the theory.
Jiang Cheng chances a look at his mother, who is seated next to his father. Yu Ziyuan wears her usual expression of disdain coupled with disappointment that seems to only darken every time she lays eyes on Jiang Cheng. He sees no evidence of pity or remorse in her eyes. He looks away.
He can feel Wei Wuxian tugging slightly at his robe, muttering his name under his breath. Jiang Cheng ignores him. He can’t do this here.
Jiang Fengmian answers a few questions about logistics before dismissing the rest of the disciples, leaving only the Jiang family and Wei Wuxian in the room. Jiang Cheng meets his father’s eyes.
“Your mother and I have decided that this is the best course of action, to ensure that the next Sect Leader will be the one who embodies our motto the best, and who has developed the finest skills in the sect. It is only fair,” Jiang Fengmian explains, his tone infuriatingly gentle. “You understand, Jiang Cheng?”
Jiang Cheng grits his teeth. He doubts his father would’ve given a second thought to merit if it weren’t for Wei Wuxian. It’s not like he had ever complained of the family inheritance system that all the sects practiced before. Merit was simply a convenient excuse to put who he wanted on the Sect Leader seat.
“Yes, Father.”
Wei Wuxian decides to speak at that moment, and Jiang Cheng has to hide his wince.
“Uncle, where did this sudden decision come from? None of the sects have ever practiced this before. It does not seem fair. I will not participate in the competition, I have no desire to - OW!”
Jiang Cheng had jabbed a sharp elbow into Wei Wuxian’s side, hissing at him to shut up. At this point, after the entire sect had been notified of the competition and of Wei Wuxian’s mandatory involvement, any change to the plan that would allow Jiang Cheng the benefit would only result in further humiliation on Jiang Cheng’s part.
Jiang Cheng would rather lose his birthright than his pride.
“We understand your reasoning, Father,” Jiang Cheng interrupts, fighting to keep his voice even. He refuses to break down in front of his parents. His chest hurts. “May we be dismissed?”
His parents both eye him with a scrutinizing look for a moment, as if they’d expected pushback or even a tantrum, but he just stares back defiantly. Finally, Jiang Fengmian nods.
“Of course. We shall see you at dinner.”
Jiang Cheng bows respectfully, sticking out a hand onto Wei Wuxian’s head, forcing him to do the same. He swiftly turns around, not waiting for Wei Wuxian, who comes scurrying after him.
“Jiang Cheng!” he hears when he reaches the doorway, and it’s not the voice he expects. His mother is walking up behind him.
Wei Wuxian’s eyes dart between them, unsure, until Yu Ziyuan sends him a cold look that effectively works as a dismissal.
Wei Wuxian’s eyebrows crinkle in worry when he looks at Jiang Cheng.
“I’ll find you later,” Wei Wuxian promises quietly, before escaping through the doorway. Jiang Cheng watches the end of his red ribbon disappear, before turning to his mother.
“Yes, Mother?”
Yu Ziyuan settles him with a poisonous look.
“You couldn’t even fight for your birthright, Jiang Cheng? Do you even wish to be Sect Leader? Giving up so easily?” she demands, harsh.
Jiang Cheng grits his teeth.
“You and I both know that demanding the Sect Leader seat now would be embarrassing at best, Mother, and shameful at worst. Who am I to demand birthright when everyone knows I wouldn’t be able to earn it if I had to?” he answers, voice breaking slightly at the end. “You knew it too, when you agreed to the competition,” Jiang Cheng continues. “Otherwise you would have fought back before Father even announced it.”
Yu Ziyuan looks slightly like she’s been slapped in the face, but she quickly regains her composure.
“So you understand, now. You see why I pushed you so hard, why I always compared you to that brat? If you had done better-”
“I always understood why, Mother,” Jiang Cheng interrupts, his throat closing up. “And regardless of what you think, I always tried my best. It just seems that my best was never going to be good enough.”
He turns away without waiting for a response, but thankfully his mother doesn't call after him.
It seems she’s given up too.
Jiang Cheng speedwalks to his quarters, and is unsurprised to see Wei Wuxian waiting for him on his bed. Wei Wuxian springs to his feet as soon as Jiang Cheng enters, eyes wide.
“Jiang Cheng. What did Auntie say?”
Jiang Cheng sighs heavily, and sits on the bed where Wei Wuxian had been moments ago.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s all over.”
“It’s not over,” Wei Wuxian denies instantly. “I’ll pull out of the competition.”
“No.”
“I’ll throw all the games. Perform badly.”
“No, Wei Wuxian-”
“I’ll forfeit the seat to you. It’s rightfully yours.”
“No!” Jiang Cheng finally erupts, cutting through Wei Wuxian’s suggestions. “I may have lost my role as Sect Heir, and I may not be the best cultivator in Yunmeng, but I still have my pride, Wei Wuxian!”
“I-”
Jiang Cheng doesn’t wait for him to reply.
“No matter if you pull out, throw the games or forfeit, it will reflect badly on me. I can’t beat you in an honest competition, and everyone fucking knows it. God, even you know it!” he cries. “You didn’t even consider for a second that I might be able to win the competition. I don’t blame you, but it’s simply the truth. Can’t you see? It’s over.”
Wei Wuxian winces, having realized the slip in his behavior.
“I’m… I’m sorry, A-cheng. This isn’t fair.”
Jiang Cheng snorts mirthlessly, curling his fingers into his sheets, hangnails catching on thread.
“That’s the thing. It’s completely fair. I don’t even have the right to be upset. You would be a better Sect Leader, and everyone knows it.”
Wei Wuxian comes to sit next to him on the bed, pulling one of Jiang Cheng's hands into his.
“That doesn’t… that doesn’t mean you wouldn’t have been a good Sect Leader, Jiang Cheng. You are just as worthy of it as I am.”
Jiang Cheng just stares down at their hands, and doesn’t reply. There’s nothing to say.
There’s a knock at the door, and they both look up to see Jiang Yanli hovering in the doorway.
“Can I come in? What happened? I heard some of the disciples talking but I couldn’t understand…” she trails off, eyes flicking between the two boys.
“Come in, A-Jie,” Jiang Cheng says, sighing again. “Wei Wuxian is going to be named Sect Heir.”
Jiang Yanli’s eyes widen, and she approaches the bed. “What? What do you mean?”
“No, not… not right away,” Wei Wuxian amends, and Jiang Cheng is grateful that he doesn’t imply otherwise. No use delaying the inevitable. “Uncle has called for a competition between the disciples. Anyone who wants to join, but me and Jiang Cheng are required to participate. The winner of the competition will be named Sect Heir.”
“Wei Wuxian will win,” Jiang Cheng says bluntly, having laid back and now staring at the ceiling. “And he’ll be named Sect Heir. Just thought I’d get straight to the point.”
He feels his sister settle next to them on the bed, and her hand joins theirs.
“I don’t understand. How did Mother agree to this?”
Jiang Cheng shrugs.
“They were probably arguing about us again. I’m guessing Father suggested the competition, as a fairer way to select the next Sect Leader.” He presses his lips together, trying not to let his voice break. “She couldn’t argue, not when the only thing I have going for me is the blood running through my veins.”
“Oh, A-Cheng,” Jiang Yanli breathes, reaching out to run a hand over his hair. “I’m sorry. But surely, you still have a chance to win? Are you two not equally matched?” Jiang Yanli suggests, and Jiang Cheng feels a surge of affection for his sister.
“You are very generous with your belief in my skills, A-Jie,” Jiang Cheng says, closing his eyes. “Thank you. But I am no match for Wei Wuxian, and every single cultivator in this sect knows that.”
“Oh.”
“Mm.”
Silence stews between them for a long moment.
“A-Xian, could you give us a moment?” Jiang Yanli says, and for once, Wei Wuxian dips out of the room without a fuss.
“A-Cheng. Come here.” Jiang Yanli tugs him up, and pulls him into her arms. He goes without resistance, turning his face into her soft hair.
“It just feels like… they do not trust me. Or believe in me. Both of them were so ready to give up my seat without a second thought,” Jiang Cheng murmurs into his sister’s hair. He feels his throat closing up again. “It’s like… no matter how hard I tried to live up to my name, it was never good enough.”
Jiang Yanli rubs his back soothingly, and he bites his lip.
“I tried…so hard, A-Jie. And I know it’s not Wei Wuxian’s fault, but it came to him so easily. Father is always so proud of him, and even Mother knows how good he is, even if she won’t admit it,” Jiang Cheng continues, choking up.
“I tried to be as good as he is, but it was never enough. I could never make Father look at me the way he looks at Wei Wuxian.” The tears finally spill over, hot as they run down his face. “He resents me because I look and behave like Mother, but I didn’t even have the ability to develop my skills to her level. Maybe he would have recognized me, then.”
His face crumples.
“Why am I not enough, A-Jie? The way that I am?” he sobs, and Jiang Yanli hugs him tighter, rocking back and forth softly.
Jiang Cheng finally cries, soaking his sister’s robes as he mourns his honor. His parents will never look at him with pride or hope, and his brother and sister can only look on in pity. He can only imagine what the rest of the sect will say, not to mention the cultivation world at large. The first sect heir to be disgraced of his position by a disciple, not even a family member at that. How pathetic.
And he cannot even be angry about it.
Jiang Cheng sobs harder.
The day of the competition arrives, and it is mostly a blur. Three other disciples opt to join the competition, and Jiang Cheng is mildly grateful that it won’t simply be a standoff between him and Wei Wuxian. Jiang Cheng still does his best, determined not to seem any weaker than the sect already thinks he is.
They compete in five categories - archery, swordplay, poetry, history, and array creation. Wei Wuxian comes out on top in all five categories except swordplay, which Jiang Cheng manages to edge out on top in, and they tie in history. Jiang Cheng comes in second in the rest of the categories, and just like that, it’s over.
Jiang Fengmian names Wei Wuxian the champion, and happily declares him the Sect Heir.
Jiang Cheng watches quietly from the sidelines as his brother is cheered on, and congratulates Wei Wuxian quickly before fleeing back to his quarters.
It’s done.
Time empties out after that.
Jiang Cheng still keeps up his training, just the same as he did previously, but these days, Wei Wuxian is around a lot less.
Wei Wuxian is occupied with the personal training that Jiang Fengmian had promised, leaving Jiang Cheng to train with the other disciples, or by himself. He usually prefers to practice by himself these days.
His parents don’t check on him much, if at all.
There is no need for Jiang Cheng to seek approval from his parents anymore. They no longer expect him to be the best.
The day after the competition, he briefly wonders if his Father might pay more favorable attention to him now, or if his mother will be kinder.
He snorts to himself before he can even finish the thought. Certainly not. His mother only has more reason to view him with disdain, and it’s likely that any shred of attention or care that his father held for him has entirely disappeared at this point.
This seems to hold true. Jiang Fengmian doesn’t even spare Jiang Cheng a glance anymore, entirely absorbed in his pride for Wei Wuxian. Yu Ziyuan huffs in disappointment every time Jiang Cheng crosses her vision. He avoids her for the most part, not wanting to risk a lecture on how unskilled he is when there’s no point anymore.
He is surprised to learn that she has decided that Zidian will be passed on to Jiang Cheng. The weapon is a family heirloom, she says, and will stay within the Jiang bloodline. So he begins having lessons with Zidian on occasion, but the primary ownership will remain with his mother until she dies or decides to give up its responsibility completely.
While pondering his newly empty future, Jiang Cheng considers a variety of options. Becoming a wandering cultivator sounds sort of fun, and it seems like his skills might be appreciated more outside of Yunmeng.
He’s mildly afraid of being married off to someone from another sect to strengthen relations, but neither of his parents suggest it, so he’s assuming that he’s safe from that particular fate. (He wonders, briefly, if it is because they think his personality is so off-putting that a marriage alliance would be futile. He pushes the thought out quickly, only grateful that it’s not happening either way.)
But sitting on the private dock behind his quarters one evening, bare feet swishing in the water glistening under the moonlight, sweet lotus scent permeating the autumn air, he realizes that he cannot leave, whether by force or by choice.
Yunmeng Jiang is his home, and no matter how his parents or fellow sect members have treated him, he loves it here. He cannot imagine living anywhere else, or joining anyone else’s family.
As long as he has Jiang Yanli, Wei Wuxian, and the other sect disciples who he has come to regard as his friends, he can be content. Most of all, he wants to protect the sect. Even if he is not officially the Sect Heir, he can still pledge his life in service to Yunmeng Jiang.
He silently swaps the promise Wei Wuxian had made to him many months ago, after he had escaped the Wens and stumbled back into Yunmeng with a half-dead Wei Wuxian in his arms.
He is still one half of the Twin Prides of Yunmeng, still part of the illustrious Jiang family; he refuses to abandon his sect. If he cannot lead Yunmeng Jiang, then he will protect it.