Chapter Text
The imminent arrival of their cousin had already monopolized the conversation when Jiang Cheng walked into the breakfast room that morning. After the past six months during which the primary topic around every meal in Lotus Grove had been the untimely death of Jin Guangshan, Jiang Cheng welcomed the change.
Yu Sang, a distant relation, had sent word the day before that they could expect him shortly after breakfast. The visit had been long in the making; Yu Sang’s father had written to them months ago asking if Jiang Cheng mightn’t receive him as a guest. At the time, he’d been wrapped up in getting A-Jie and her family settled into Lotus Grove. He’d only just finally replied in the affirmative a week or so ago. Yu Sang, it seemed, had made good time. Jiang Cheng hoped it wasn’t some sign of things to come, and that his father hadn’t bundled him up and sent him off to Lotus Grove at the first opportunity.
“Not sure if the furniture will survive having another Yu traipsing through the estate,” Wei Wuxian said.
He stood and helped himself to another plateful, narrowly avoiding a crack to the knuckles when he scooped up the last dumpling before Jiang Cheng could grab it. He laughed at Jiang Cheng’s scowl, bit the dumpling in half and offered Jiang Cheng the other piece.
“Reprobate,” Jiang Cheng muttered. He ate the dumpling anyway. He’d slept poorly and woke late; his butler looked mortified over the slim remnants of the breakfast offerings, though allowed himself to be waved way when Jiang Cheng settled for a small plate.
“What do you mean, Da-jiu?” Jin Ling asked.
“Your Yu relations have volatile tempers,” Jin Zixuan said behind his newspaper.
“Is that where Jiujiu gets it from?”
Wei Wuxian guffawed, then abruptly half-aspirated whatever small bits of dumpling he hadn’t yet swallowed. Jiang Cheng considered letting him choke, but rolled his eyes and helpfully pounded him on the back until he laughed and waved him away. He dropped back into his seat at the table, leaning forward to grab the coffee and refill his cup. He almost knocked Jin Zixuan’s cane over, though fortunately its owner managed to catch it before it fell. Jin Zixuan grimaced at Wei Wuxian, who blithely ignored the look.
Until recently, it had been just the two of them in Lotus Grove. And while Wei Wuxian had always possessed the uncanny talent of filling up whatever space he occupied, regardless of the size, having their sister and her family made Lotus Grove warmer. Lotus Grove had felt like mausoleum after the deaths of his parents; having so many people now walking its halls made Jiang Cheng feel as though he’d inherited an actual home.
He ate breakfast quickly. No doubt the servants were eager to go about the rest of their day. Nothing excited a household so much as a visitor.
“How do we even know he’s our cousin?” Wei Wuxian asked a short while later, the lot of them hiding in the library to await report of Yu Sang’s car.
“We were sent a letter of introduction,” Jiang Yanli replied.
“Which could have been faked.”
“People don’t just randomly go around showing up at stranger’s houses calling themselves their cousins,” Jiang Cheng said. “You are just upset that you had to change your plans.”
“Lan Zhan and I were supposed to go riding,” Wei Wuxian pouted.
“You’ll have plenty of time to spend with Lord Lan in the future,” Jiang Yanli assured him kindly. “A-Ling are you ready to go and receive our guest?”
Jin Ling, all of fifteen years old and achingly desperate to be considered an adult, squared his shoulders and nodded. “Yes, A-Niang.”
“Wonderful. Can you please tell your uncles so they’ll follow your example and make their way to the door?”
Jin Ling turned a broad grin Jiang Cheng’s way. “Da-jiu, Jiujiu—”
“Yes, yes, I heard,” Jiang Cheng muttered, glaring at his nephew without any true heat.
Jin Ling laughed.
Lotus Pier was a grand old estate, yet one of the lesser-known established houses in the area. They employed a decent number of staff, and there were grounds enough for them to live comfortably, but when considered next to places such as Koi Tower or Cloud Recesses, it tended to be called ‘quaint’ despite its size and the prosperity of the family. His father had done his utmost to grow their fortunes during his time as their master. He’d doubled their landhold, and worked with Jiang Cheng’s mother to modernize some of the tenant practices. Unfortunately he’d died too soon to see his efforts to their full fruition.
Jin Zixuan rose slowly and trailed after them, leaning quite heavily on his cane. Even after a full year of its use, he still obviously resented it. Jiang Yanli fell back to walk alongside him, earning herself one of his rare smiles.
They stepped outside just in time to see the rented car turn into the gates and begun trundling up the main drive to their door.
“Remind me again how we’re related to this person,” Wei Wuxian asked out of the corner of his mouth.
“He’s Second Uncle Yu’s youngest son,” Jiang Yanli said.
Wei Wuxian frowned. “Didn’t he die?”
“If he did, it’s going to be a weird visit,” Jiang Cheng muttered.
The car came to a halt before them. The driver, looking oddly beleaguered, stepped out and around to open the back door. Jiang Cheng fully anticipated a proper young scion of the Yu branch of their family; cold, severe, temper always verging on the edge of violence and waiting the smallest provocation.
The young man who stepped out was. Not. That. He’d come draped in bright colours and loose cloth, perched on surprisingly high yet fashionable heels. Nothing that would not have been out of place in any of the great houses, though admittedly eye catching. If anything, he reminded Jiang Cheng of one of His Excellency’s collection of exotic birds.
“Hello there!” he called cheerfully.
He stepped down out of the car and nearly tripped when his ridiculous heels slipped on the gravel. The driver managed to catch him and he recovered himself with a broad grin, thanking the man with effusiveness that made Jiang Cheng want to squirm.
“Oh, I am so sorry! Thank you, thank you, thank you my friend. Oh, dear, my fan. Yes. If you wouldn’t mind—” The driver crouched down to retrieve a folded paper fan from where it had skidded underneath the car. “All my fault, I assure you. There’s a good chap, thank you again.”
Two of the footmen stepped forward to collect the trunks from Yu Sang’s car.
“Hello!” Yu Sang cried again, swinging back to Jiang Cheng and his family once his fan had been returned to his hand. “My dear relations, thank you for being so welcoming!” He crossed to them. “Yu Sang, second son of the Viscount of Pengshan.”
He took turns bowing to all of them, even Wei Wuxian. It made Jiang Cheng slightly more willing to forgive the interruption to their routines.
“You are all exactly as I imagined you,” he finally said once he reached the end of the line. Jin Ling smiled and puffed out his chest a bit, rising to his full height. It brought him almost to eye level with Yu Sang. “Well, I imagined this strapping young man slightly younger, I shall admit.” He looked about. “You have more children, do you not?”
“Yes, they’re currently with the nanny, but we will be pleased to present them later,” Jiang Yanli said.
“My people will take care of your valet if you’d like a tour of Lotus Grove,” Jiang Cheng said.
“Splendid. Do lead the way.”
Jiang Cheng waved Yu Sang into the house. The other man almost immediately quickened his step and looked around with wide eyes and the occasional, delighted coo.
“Lovely, lovely. My father often spoke of Auntie Yu’s good luck in her marriage and becoming the mistress of such a home and now I completely understand the sentiment.”
Behind Yu Sang’s back, Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian exchanged droll looks. If anyone ever had said such a thing about their mother’s marriage, it had to have been with a tone steeped in irony.
Yu Sang paused to study one of the paintings hanging upon the wall. “I thought I was acquainted with all the masters, yet here is a piece I have not seen before.”
Jiang Yanli smiled sidelong at Jin Zixuan and quickened her step to catch him. “I’m so pleased you have an eye for such things. Wei Wuxian painted it.”
“Cousin Wuxian, I am absolutely beside myself with delight! Come, come, tell me all about your method, won’t you? I’m certain I have not seen such talent outside the great collections on the continent.”
Wei Wuxian coughed out the unconvincing laugh he trotted out whenever someone sincerely complimented him—a holdover from when Jiang Cheng’s parents had lived and shot down any such attempts—and obligingly moved to Yu Sang’s side.
Since Jiang Yanli, Jin Zixuan, and their children had moved into Lotus Grove, dinner had become remarkably more lively. Not that it had been quiet, not with Wei Wuxian hanging about, but Jin Ling was an easy target to rile up and Wei Wuxian had never been able to resist an easy target. Jin Zixuan could be badgered into an argument, as long as the pain hadn’t overtaken him, and Jiang Yanli’s very presence made the table fuller.
An entirely new atmosphere floated into the room, perfuming the air after Yu Sang. His tails were imminently appropriate to dinner; well cut, meticulously tailored, everything required of a wellbred young gentleman out in public. He had, however, chosen to accessorize with frippish flamboyancy. Beside the fan—a new one? How many fans did a man need?—he’d selected jewelry for both his tie and boutonniere, styled his hair with an excess of care that made Jiang Cheng want to go and check the simple clip holding his own in place, and once again chosen to wear remarkably high shoes in which he still managed to glide across the room with effortless grace.
Jiang Cheng abruptly returned his attention to his wine.
Yu Sang glommed onto Jiang Yanli right away, “Cousin Yanli! What a beautiful outfit. The sleeves are a dream. Have I told you about the new dyes they have in town? Gorgeous, gorgeous hues. They would suit your complexion so well.
“I had no idea of you being here to see me,” he continued, nodding gratefully to the footman who passed a glass of wine into his hands. “I had heard about the death of your father-in-law, for which you and your husband have my very deepest condolences, but not your move to Lotus Grove.”
“Our circumstances changed after my father-in-law’s death, and my brothers were gracious enough to allow us to move back in,” Jiang Yanli said.
They’d lasted all of a month in Koi Tower under the new Marquess of Lanling, which Jiang Cheng considered both evidence of his sister’s incredible fortitude and the countless hours Jin Zixuan had spent trying to overcome his inclination towards pride. He didn’t know how he’d have felt if his parents disowned him and gave the entirety of title, estate, and fortune to a half-brother who’d only been legitimized a few years prior.
Yu Sang smiled ear-to-ear and then snapped open his fan to cool his face. “Truly, there exists no superior state than that of being a part of a loving family.”
“Well said, Cousin Sang,” Jiang Yanli agreed. They tipped their glasses towards one another.
Jiang Cheng trusted the staff downstairs to offer an excellent meal, guests or no, but particular attention seemed to have been paid to the second remove. They must have liked Yu Sang’s valet.
Conversation turned to diversion Yu Sang might enjoy while at Lotus Grove.
“I do love nothing more than to dance. Well, except for painting, though my skills are nothing over which I can safely boast. And reading. Save I am not a terribly accomplished reader. I do also enjoy riding, despite my poor seat.”
“And do you shoot, Cousin Sang?” Wei Wuxian asked.
“Very terribly, I’m afraid. I have it on authority the only people who should dare take me shooting are those who are unafraid of their own mortality,” Yu Sang chuckled.
Jiang Cheng shot Wei Wuxian a look before he could make an inappropriate joke. Wei Wuxian’s mouth snapped shut.
Unfortunately, Jin Ling took up the sword. “Perhaps you and I might go together before I’m forced to return to school.”
Wei Wuxian choked on a hard laugh which threatened to lodge in his gullet. Jiang Yanli turned a scolding expression towards her son, lips pursed and brow furrowed, undermined by Jin Zixuan's hastily hidden laugh. He ducked his head when Jiang Yanli shifted the disapproval his way.
Jiang Cheng hid his own indecorous grin behind his wine glass.
After dinner, once Jiang Yanli had shooed Jin Ling out and up to his room, Jiang Cheng, Wei Wuxian, Jin Zixuan and Yu Sang retreated to the study for brandy. This late in the day, Jin Zixuan leaned quite a bit heavier on his cane, and downed his first brandy with expediency enough that it hadn’t a chance to properly warm.
“Need another, Peacock?” Wei Wuxian asked.
Jin Zixuan grimaced and nodded. Yu Sang noted it all with mild interest, all the way through Jin Zixuan throwing back another brandy, accepted another refill, and finally noticed his scrutiny.
“Riding accident,” he finally explained, unprompted, voice hoarse from liquor and pain. “I didn’t realize my horse had been forging. We went down on a jump.”
Yu Sang winced sympathetically. “I hope you ran the farrier out of town.”
“Thank you, but he had nothing to do with it. I should have been paying better attention.” Jin Zixuan winced and grabbed his leg. “Ah, sorry. Spasms.” He levered himself up, waving Yu Sang off when he offered a hand. “I’m to bed. Good evening.”
They all bid him goodnight. With spirits somewhat diminished, they all remained downstairs only long enough to finish their drinks before retreating for the evening themselves.
Yu Sang swanned into the breakfast room the next morning, bright-eyed and entirely too awake considering how early it felt to Jiang Cheng. He pointedly turned the page of his newspaper, offering a brusque greeting only once Jiang Yanli kicked him under the table.
"Good morning, Cousin Sang. Did you sleep well?" Jiang Yanli asked.
"Good morning! Terribly well, thank you." Yu Sang browsed the breakfast offerings and quickly picked out a few small bites for his plate. "My window overlooks your grounds. Absolutely stunning, Cousin Yanli! I'm hoping someone will be willing to suffer my poor horsemanship and take me out for a ride this morning."
'Someone.' Right. Wei Wuxian, scoundrel, had not even risen from bed yet, probably up late tinkering with one thing or another. Zixuan hadn't been riding since the accident, and probably wouldn't until they managed to get a specialty saddle made for him to accommodate his leg. Jing Ling was too young to be trusted to properly entertain guests, and technically as a guest herself, it would reflect poorly on all of them should Jiang Yanli take him out.
Jiang Cheng turned another page of his paper.
"A-Cheng would be delighted," Jiang Yanli said.
"Oh, would you? That would be smashing." Yu Sang sat down across from him. "Is that the Daily Fan? My father calls it 'scurrilous' and I was never allowed to read it. Is it any good?"
"Depends on the article," Jiang Cheng said.
Jiang Yanli was too polite to kick him under the table for a second time, but she radiated disapproval. Jiang Cheng sighed and closed the paper. He handed it to their footman, who brought it around the table to Yu Sang.
He grinned, broad and artless. "Too kind."
Ugh. "If we're going riding, I'd better go let the stablehand know and get kitted out," Jiang Cheng said. "Would it suit you to meet me down there in an hour?"
"Perfectly, Cousin Wanyin. Thank you for indulging me."
Jiang Cheng liked riding, by and large. His father had taken him out frequently in his youth, teaching him how to handle a horse. Before Wei Wuxian had joined their household, it had been nearly a daily thing. Afterwards, of course, his time had been split between them. Wei Wuxian had been an accomplished rider, for a child, and his father seemed to enjoy more challenging rides when he didn't have to constantly check over his shoulder for Jiang Cheng's safety. But even when their jaunts had become scarcer, he'd kept it up. And once Jiang Yanli and her family had come to live in Lotus Grove, he'd offered to take Jin Ling out whenever he chose.
So venturing out shouldn't have felt like a chore. Not when atop his favourite mare, Qinglang.
Maybe it was the company.
True to his word, Yu Sang had a terrible seat. He bounced along in the saddle, constantly criticizing his poor skills as they passed through the grounds. Jiang Cheng tried to keep to a simple trot, afraid Yu Sang would topple himself right off the horse and into a rock if they went too quickly. Whenever he wasn't complaining about his non-existent skills—not the horse, though, which Jiang Cheng decided made the entire situation less unbearable—he took exquisite care to compliment the grounds and their keeping.
Somehow, Jiang Cheng hadn't realized it, they ended up cresting the hill to the south of the estate, the one overlooking the abandoned ruins of the Unclean Realm.
Yu Sang paused at the top of the hill. He studied the ruins; all that remained of the once fine house were four stone walls the fire hadn't consumed, mostly now covered in optimistic greenery. He remembered the night it happened, when the local magistrate had come to their door to tell them of the blaze that had so quickly gotten out of control. One or two servants had managed to escape, but there hadn't been time to get anyone out of the home; the heat had twisted the nails in the doors, trapping everyone else inside.
"What a terrible little place, Cousin Wanyin."
To his credit, his voice sounded choked. Jiang Cheng sympathized; it truly was a terrible sight.
Jiang Cheng nudged his horse up alongside Yu Sang's. "We used to have neighbours there, the Nie family."
"Nie? I've heard the name," Yu Sang said faintly. "Did you know them very well?"
"Hardly at all. They came up from trade and became quite wealthy, but I was mostly at school when they moved into the neighbourhood, and they were only here a short time before the fire. My father had some dealings with Baronet Nie before his death. Once they fell on hard times, he did his best for them. He leased some of their property to help them pay off debts. Most of the land between here and the house used to be theirs."
Yu Sang's hands tightened on his reins. "I see. Is that why they didn't rebuild after the fire?"
"They probably would have, if they hadn't all died," Jiang Cheng said.
"All?" Yu Sang repeated, his face a grave mask of borrowed grief.
"All except their younger son. He was away at school when it happened. I heard he was in a boating accident not long afterwards."
"Drowning is a terrible way to go," Yu Sang whispered. He coughed away his misgivings. "And what an eyesore on an otherwise beautiful countryside."
"A few years ago, Marquess Jin—Zixuan's late father, Jin Guangshan—petitioned the county to tear it all down with the intention on building on the site."
Yu Sang frowned. "What happened?"
"I blocked the proposal." Jiang Cheng shifted his horse around. "It's their resting place, now. Seems disrespectful to disturb it."
Yu Sang nodded slowly. "I wonder if your father would have agreed with Marquess Jin."
Probably. His father probably would have considered it a waste to let perfectly good land to fallow. But it wouldn't have been the first time he'd have been disappointed in Jiang Cheng, and, living as he did in Jiang Cheng's memories, wouldn't be the last. He tried and failed not to be bitter over it.
"Shall we?" Jiang Cheng asked, nudging Qinglang back towards Lotus Grove.
Yu Sang took a last, lingering glance at the place. "Let's."
They were more subdued on the way back. Yu Sang still managed to conjure up one or two observations, but the enthusiasm had bled out of his tone. Jiang Cheng didn't blame him, exactly, but there was something niggling at the back of his mind over it. A loose thread that evaded him when he tried to tug upon it. He frowned. Something about—
He had exactly one second of warning—a brief scream—when Yu Sang's horse tried too hastily to take a small jump and Yu Sang hit the ground.
Shit. If he broke their cousin, Jiang Yanli would kill him.
Jiang Cheng brought his horse to a stop and jumped down from the saddle. Yu Sang managed to push himself up to sitting before Jiang Cheng reached his side, but swooned a bit when he tried to stand.
"I think my ankle has taken a turn," he said, gesturing towards his right foot.
"May I?" Jiang Cheng asked.
He barely waited for Yu Sang's agreement before he knelt down to feel up the injured appendage. Yu Sang winced through it, and wailed when Jiang Cheng pressed against the inside of his ankle.
"I don't think it's broken," Jiang Cheng said. "We'll get you back to the house and call for Doctor Wen to come and attend you."
"Wen? Certainly you must jest, Cousin Wanyin!"
Jiang Cheng didn't really care for that particular timbre of disbelief. "She's the best doctor in the county, and a good friend of my brother's. She's the best chance you have at making sure there's no permanent damage."
He still seemed doubtful. "Well, I suppose..."
"Come on, then."
"What do you—ah!"
It wasn't as though he could ride any longer. Easier for Jiang Cheng to pick him up and carry him back the rest of the way. He'd had the remarkable good luck to fall not far from the house. Yu Sang stared at him as Jiang Cheng adjusted his grip to balance him in both arms and move back to the horses, patiently waiting nearby.
"You'll have to walk them," he said.
Yu Sang, muted by surprise and staring at Jiang Cheng with shock, obligingly took the leads.
They made it back in reasonably good time, all things considered. One of the stablehands spotted them before they made it all the way to the house and ran out to take the horses from them, with promises to check them over for any possible injuries.
("Funny Chuju threw him like that," the boy admitted to Jiang Cheng later on, once he'd gone to verify there'd been no equine injuries. "She's usually reliable with new riders. S'why I saddled her up for the young master.")
Once they'd gone, Yu Sang shifted around to wrap his arms around Jiang Cheng's shoulders. It made the rest of the walk somewhat easier. He didn't weigh much, and certainly lacked the muscle of a gentleman trained in any sort of martial skill. Despite that, he held on with surprising strength and made sure to follow Jiang Cheng's lead whenever he shifted his hold.
"It was good of you not to rebuild on the site," he said quietly just before they reached the front door.
Before Jiang Cheng could reply, Wei Wuxian came whipping out the door, at once demanding to know what had happened and offering his help getting Yu Sang back to his room, all interspersed with calls for Jiang Yanli to summon Doctor Wen.
"Sprained only, and a mild one at that. Keep it elevated and iced for a few days and you'll be fine," Wen Qing declared.
"I feel I shall not be fit to be seen. Whatever does one wear upon a twisted ankle? I’m sure none of my shoes will do.” Yu Sang's valet had scared up one of his many fans, this one decorated with a beautifully painted bamboo grove. Yu Sang waved it like a barrier between them, mournfully regarding his foot, propped up on a stool.
"Avoid shoes in general for a few days, and be careful not to overextend yourself," she said.
"I shall do my utmost. Thank you, Doctor Wen. You are a credit to your profession.”
Her tone warmed only a little. "You’re welcome."
With that, she left the room.
"I am determined not to be a nuisance," Yu Sang said once she'd gone. "The bedroom you’ve provided is imminently comfortable. Leave me here with some books from your library and I'll be content."
"Is there anything besides that we can get you?" Jiang Yanli asked, falling back on consummate hostessing skills.
"Perhaps some writing implements. I should catch up on my correspondence while I have the chance. How tiresome to write so many letters to so many people, Cousin. I promise it's the most demanding and least engaging part of being a shiftless young person." He turned towards Jin Ling and smiled. "Listen to reason, Xiao-Ling, and make sure that you never learn proper handwriting. All people will demand of you once you do is an endless parade of replies."
Jin Ling's eyes lit up in the way of all young men given permission to be naughty, but Jiang Yanli sent him from the room before he could commit to such a ridiculous course of action.
"I do hope he knows I wasn't serious," Yu Sang said.
"I can guarantee that no one here takes you seriously," Jiang Cheng muttered. Jiang Yanli stepped on his foot. "Kidding."
Yu Sang smiled blithely and settled back with a volume of poetry his valet obediently placed in his hands.
"Well?" Nie Huaisang said, once his 'cousins' left the room.
Lotus Grove had proved at once everything he’d expected and nothing at all as he’d anticipated. Prior reports painted its master as a cruel, overbearing sort of man. Nie Huaisang now wondered how much of the report had been spread by those who did not care to be contradicted by a man significantly younger than them.
Zonghui bowed. "The servants here have no complaints. Well, the two ladies maids aren't very forthcoming, but I suspected they wouldn't be. The kitchen staff are well looked after. A year ago the cook suffered some minor infection in her leg. Instead of dismissing her they brought in help until she recovered, and fully paid her wages the whole while."
"Did you uncover why are there two ladies maids when there's only one lady?" Nie Huaisang asked. And not only that, but one who likely brought her own maid along after leaving Koi Tower.
“As I understand it, they were previously employed by Yu Ziyuan, who made provisions for them to remain in the employ of Lotus Cove for a set time period after her death.”
“Seems oddly out of character for a woman we know to be absent of anything resembling human emotion,” Nie Huaisang murmured.
“People can be complicated.”
“Obviously. But not that complicated. Mostly they just hide who they are, don't they?” Nie Huaisang stood and crossed to look out the window, back in the direction of the Unclean Realm. “We have Qingheng-jun, paragon of morality. First among peers. The standard to which all righteous people compare themselves. Jin Guangyao, stalwart neighbour and consummate host, favourite of the neighbourhood. Su She, loyal friend. And…” Nie Huaisang paused. “We know all of them are false. Opportunistic scavengers who set themselves at the first sign of blood. If they are complicated, it is only in the untangling of their various motives for bringing harm to find out which one rings truest."
And soon the world would know it too.
Zonghui finished with his suit and turned his attention to Nie Huaisang’s shirts. “I hear you went to the Unclean Realm.”
Nie Huaisang dropped his volume of poetry. “I did, yes.” He leaned over and scooped the book up off the floor.
“And?”
“And what? It was a ruin. I can barely remember what it looked like standing,” Nie Huaisang lied.
Zonghui did not offer any immediate reply. After a few long moments, as his hands became shakier brushing out one of Nie Huaisang’s suits on the hanger, he finally offered, “I can remind you whenever you want.” Zonghui conjured up a smile, anemic and wistful. “My favourite memory of the Unclean Realm is looking out over the grounds in the morning, when the mist sat just above the heather. It always felt magical, somehow.”
Nie Huaisang’s eyelids flickered for only a moment before he set his shoulders back and shook his head. “We need to avoid distractions in order to see this through.”
Zonghui’s smile disappeared. “As you like.”
Nie Zonghui finished with his suit jacket and bowed, then left Nie Huaisang with his thoughts.
Lotus Grove had a pleasant routine about it. Breakfast was served to the gentleman while Jiang Yanli took hers in her room. Shortly afterwards, the children—excluding Jin Ling who, despite being barely out of short pants, was treated as a proper young man and allowed to escape the confines of the nursery—were welcomed down.
Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli had a small clutch of young masters and mistresses, ranging from three to thirteen. Nie Huaisang declined to learn their names, for the sanctity of his own sanity. Luncheon, when served, was attended by whomever in the household had failed to secure their own plans.
Jiang Cheng spent much of his time with his tenants, navigating their concerns. Jiang Yanli seemed much involved with local charities, often out and about in her role as patroness. Jin Zixuan followed her, apparently to offer what assistance she needed, but to all reports he spent his time longingly staring at whatever cars happened to be passing by.
Wei Wuxian disappeared. Despite his very advanced skills at uncovering secrets, he’d yet to discover this one. Even Zonghui reluctantly admitted he found Wei Wuxian impossible to follow anywhere. Nie Huaisang did not like it. Unknown variables lead to unexpected outcomes, which he could not afford.
He hoped he’d have a better chance of taking Wei Wuxian’s measure when, one night evening shortly after his arrival, the house received an invitation to visit Koi Tower.
“A ball,” Jiang Yanli announced. “The Marquess of Lanling has issued the invitation to all of us, including yourself, Cousin Sang.”
Nie Huaisang fluttered his hands and smiled ear-to-ear, even as his heart beat a vicious and angry tempo in his breast.
“How terribly generous. Oh, I do hope you are all inclined to accept. I love a ball!”
A quick glance towards Jian Cheng confirmed that he did not share the sentiment.
“Will I have to dance?” Jin Ling asked.
Across the room, where Jiang Cheng’s head remained firmly behind a newspaper, Nie Huaisang felt confident he heard the words ‘better you than me.’ Jiang Yanli looked his way with a slightly piqued moue, but Jiang Cheng did not look up.
“Yes,” Jiang Yanli informed him, tone forbading argument. “You can show off to your friends.”
“Pffft, they’re not my friends, just people I know,” Jin Ling protested, dropping his chin to his chest with a small, pleased smile tugging at his lips.
“I have always found that ‘people I know’ are even more important to impress than my friends,” Nie Huaisang said, fluttering his fan.
“You’re a fine dancer, A-Ling,” Jiang Yanli said.
“‘Fine,’” he scoffed. “‘Fine’ is going to end up with Jingyi mocking me and every lady on the floor comparing me to Sizhui. No, thank you.”
“I’ll practice with you,” Jiang Yanli said, setting aside her embroidery. She stood and offered Jin Ling her hands.
“Can’t very well dance without music,” Jiang Cheng said, again from behind the paper. Nie Huaisang began suspecting it was being held in place as somewhat of a shield.
“You could always hum something,” Nie Huaisang said sweetly.
Finally, Jiang Cheng lowered the paper, though only to glare at Nie Huaisang over the top of it.
“Here, Cousin Yanli, I can dance with Jin Ling if you’d delight us with some music,” Nie Huaisang offered, gesturing to the piano nearby.
Jiang Yanli laughed. “Very well. I cannot promise to play as well as Wei Wuxian, but should no one mind inferior music, I will try my best to entertain.”
“You are a wonderful player, Yanli,” Jin Zixuan promised her.
In his eagerness to compliment her, he leaned forward in his chair, and immediately placed too much pressure on his injured leg. He gasped a shifted to take the weight back off the offending apendage. Jiang Yanli started towards him, but he waved her back with a wince. Smile diminished, Jiang Yanli took her seat at the piano and Nie Huaisang stepped into her place with Jin Ling.
“Now, young master, I have often found that dancing it made significantly easier when paying attention to the music instead of the steps required.”
Jiang Cheng dropped his paper into his lap to glare at Nie Huaisang with an expression of frustrated bafflement. “Are you fu—” Jiang Yanli looked up sharply from the piano. “Serious?” he amended quickly.
“Why yes. Cousin Yanli, if you would grace us with your best foxtrot.”
Jiang Yanli’s smile returned and she obliged. Jin Ling immediately looked down at his feet.
“La, Cousin Ling, like this.”
Nie Huaisang kept him in the lead. Nominally. He rather bullied the poor boy into moving him, tugging him along while he manoeuvred them. Whenever Jin Ling looked down, he squeezed his hand until Jin Ling looked up again.
“Do you see what I mean?” he asked after Jin Ling had managed to keep his chin up for a full thirty seconds.
“I guess,” Jin Ling said. He started to look down again, but snapped his gaze back upwards.
They finished up. Jin Zixuan clapped wildly, while Jiang Cheng put his hands together exactly five times.
“Willing to concede, Cousin Wanyin?” Nie Huaisang asked with a smile.
“Not in the slightest,” Jiang Cheng said.
“I think he’s right.”
They all turned their attention towards the doorway, where Wei Wuxian slouched in such an insouciant manner as to seem veritably boneless. He straightened with a playful grin.
“May I cut in, A-Ling?”
Jin Ling stepped back and bowed in a very gentlemanly manner. Wei Wuxian all but leapt into his place and took Nie Huaisang’s hands.
“Again, Jiejie, but maybe a touch quicker.”
Jiang Yanli, despite professing against her competence, played without missing a beat as Wei Wuxian swept him around the room. Nie Huaisang found himself laughing, an unexpected yet genuine bubbling that slipped out of him, much to his own surprise. It kept him nearly breathless with the quick pace Wei Wuxian kept, steering them around the chair in which Jiang Cheng sat, much to his disgruntlement.
When the song finally ended, they stepped back from one another, bowed, and then clapped for Jiang Yanli. She laughed herself, pleased, and flushed with pleasure.
Nie Huaisang glanced towards Jiang Cheng, and found the other man staring back at him. Unaccountably flustered, Nie Huaisang retrieved his fan from his belt to cool his suddenly warm cheeks.
“I am much obliged, Cousin Wuxian. Thank you.”
Wei Wuxian grinned. “My pleasure! Jiang Cheng, do you want a turn? Cousin Sang is an excellent dancer.”
Jiang Cheng grumbled wordlessly and turned his attention back to his paper.
Trying and mostly failing not to be affronted, Nie Huaisang protested over his exhaustion, and quit the room.