They thought Wei Wuxian didn't like interacting with others?
That was all Jin Zixuan needed to hear to know he hadn't been coping well. It was hard to imagine Wei Wuxian being reserved and quiet. He was always outspoken, always in the way. Yes, he'd quieted down when he started demonic cultivation, but even then he was always accompanied by Jiang Wanyin or Hanguang-Jun.
At least it looked like it got better? He no longer needed to devote time to curing Wen Ning.
But what did Wei Wuxian do after he brought Wen Ning back?
As far as Jin Zixuan knew, no one had dared attack the Burial Mounds. The Wen Remnants seemed to have farming well in hand. Maybe Wei Wuxian was the one to go into the village on the off chance they were attacked, but they had Wen Ning now. Wen Ning was a lot less vulnerable.
So what did Wei Wuxian do? What happened to a man who spent his entire life reacting when there was nothing to react to?
Did he finally find peace or a new type of despair?
"Drink?" Wei Wuxian asked, "There's liquor up here?"
"Yeah, there is!" A Wen approached him with a jug.
"Here," Fourth Uncle opened it, "Fruit wine, made from the wild fruits on the mountain. Have a try."
"Fourth Uncle likes drinking. He knows how to brew," Wen Qing smiled, "And made this especially for you. He's been trying for many days."
Wei Wuxian's eyes widened, "Really? Then I have to try some!" He smelled it, "It's really rich!" Then he took a drink, "Good! Give me another bowl!" They obliged, "You made all these dishes?"
Wen Qing laughed, "It's A-Ning."
"Wen Ning," Wei Wuxian repeated, as the man came into the room with another bowl.
"Coal-gege!" A-Yuan declared, pointing at Wen Ning's dirty face, "Coal-gege."
The Wen Remnants laughed, and Wen Qing rose to clean her brother's face. It reminded Wei Wuxian of all the times Jiang Yanli did the same for him.
Wei Wuxian raised his bowl, "Everyone. Drink!"
They toasted him, and drank.
That really wasn't the best time to reintroduce Wei Wuxian to alcohol.
If there was a silver lining to living in the Burial Mounds, it was that Wei Wuxian couldn't afford to drink to excess like he had in Yunmeng.
Forced sobriety was still sobriety, but it removed another thing Wei Wuxian used to distract himself with. Without a goal to work towards, without something concrete to do, and without alcohol to keep him occupied, Wei Wuxian had nothing left but his thoughts.
They'd all seen how unkind those were.
They had to be worse with all the resentment around him. They hadn't seen him quite so upset that the voices of the dead started whispering to him again, but that was always a possibility. He was always one misstep away from falling off the edge and hurting himself.
Wen Qing watched him outdrink everyone around him, and still have the power to stumble around and drink more.
"Wen Qing," He complained, "There's no more wine."
"There are four more bottles," Wen Qing said, "We can save them for later. You can call it a day for now."
"How could this be?" Wei Wuxian wondered, "They say that a good name after death can't compare to some good wine when living. A full cup, please." He pouted at her.
Wen Qing obliged, "There's no next time. I really think you should quit drinking. You drink way too heavily."
"It's not like it's the Cloud Recesses here," Wei Wuxian scoffed, "Why should I quit drinking?" He sat down, and savored his last bowl. A somber air settled around him, "Wen Qing. The first time I met Lan Zhan was when I brought Emperor's Smile into Cloud Recesses." He laughed, "What a pity that you didn't see his face, his stony face."
"But," He continued drunkenly, "Emperor's Smile of Gusu is really delicious. I wonder if there's a chance to drink it again."
Wen Qing stopped trying to clean up, and looked at him worriedly.
"I'm good for nothing," Wei Wuxian muttered, "I promised my Shijie that I would help her hold the most splendorous wedding in the world. But now, I can't even attend the wedding." He sniffled, "I am completely useless. I am completely useless." He tightened his grip on the bowl, but it didn't break, "I am completely useless."
Completely useless.
As though everybody always had to be of use. As though life had any other meaning than what those living gave it.
Nie Huaisang hated being called useless, but he also knew his purpose in life wasn't to serve others. They called him useless because he wasn't doing what they wanted him to do. They said he was weak because his strengths weren't in the areas they wanted. It was impossible to be useless unless there was someone trying to use him.
A small part of him admitted that his uselessness was a test. If he acted so contrary to the expectations set before him, how far could he go before they discarded him?
How much could the Sect push to have him disinherited before Da-ge gave in?
Unconditional positive regard was so hard to be sure of, because it was so hard to remove all the potential conditions. There would always be that lingering doubt that if he stopped doing such and such, he would lose the love of those he loved.
Wei Wuxian now had that with the Wen Remnants. There was nothing he could do that would lose him their loyalty, their familiarity, their love.
Nie Huaisang wondered if Wei Wuxian saw that.
The next morning, Lan Wangji returned to Cloud Recesses, where he was made to kneel immediately, holding the discipline ruler in front of him.
The memory skipped, the sun rising and falling as the day passed. He remained kneeling, even as snow began to fall. He remained unmoving, his posture perfect, the ruler never falling from its position.
It was night when a disciple approached, "Master Lan said Hanguang-Jun can leave now."
Lan Wangji rose, leaving a space devoid of snow.
"Why?" Jiang Yanli demanded.
She didn't need to clarify herself. The question had been building for quite some time. Why was the Lan Sect so harsh to Hanguang-Jun? Why did they feel the need to punish him for following his heart? Yes, she knew A-Xian didn't have the best reputation, but what was holding Hanguang-Jun back going to do about it?
Lessons in love should be learnt the hard way. Otherwise they would just lead to a lifetime or regret. Honestly, if she were Lan Qiren, and she was so convinced of A-Xian's demonic nature, she'd let Hanguang-Jun figure it out himself. Let A-Xian drive him away, instead of trying to prevent it.
"A-Li," Her husband started, "Maybe this shouldn't be discussed in public."
"After all that's been seen, the Lan Sect can hardly lose face," Jiang Yanli replied, entirely focused on Zewu-Jun.
"We don't speak of it," Lan Qiren declared.
"It? Can't you at least say them?" Nie Huaisang wondered, "They are your brother and sister-in-law. The parents of your nephews, at the very least."
"Huaisang," Chifeng-Zun warned.
If Chifeng-Zun knew… "A-Yao," She turned to her brother-in-law, "Is my request unreasonable?"
Guangyao tilted his head, "I've only learned of the matter recently. I have not…given it much thought."
Not with everything else going on. There were far more recent pains to consider than whatever befell Hanguang-Jun and Zewu-Jun's parents over a decade ago.
"Our parents' mistakes aren't ours," A-Cheng said.
Jiang Yanli nodded. A-Cheng refrained from using Zidian against A-Xian. He still left him with a stab wound, but also took a broken arm. Her mother never would have allowed what she would have seen as weakness. Her father would have continued to protect A-Xian out of guilt, even if it endangered their Sect again. He'd have overlooked A-Xian's struggles until he broke.
A part of her knew that A-Xian would have broken at Lotus Pier. That the same thoughts of uselessness would have plagued him. While the Burial Mounds were a prison, the place protected him and gave him some purpose. Jiang Yanli wouldn't have been able to help him until she knew what was wrong.
Until now.
"We will not judge you for them," Jiang Yanli met Zewu-Jun's gaze. After seeing the mess of her parent's marriage, and being sworn brothers with the proof of the Jin's marriage problems, what worse could the Lan have done?
The conflict in them cleared, "It would do more harm than good to keep it secret now, wouldn't it?"
Not necessarily. They were still the Lan Sect. Most of Zewu-Jun's faults came from his virtues. He was a caring, compassionate man, but his devotion to his sworn brothers also led him to turn his back on those who needed that compassion. His devotion to his younger brother made A-Xian a threat in his mind, even if it was a different threat than the rest of the world believed.
Jiang Yanli nodded anyway. She needed to know.
***************************************
MianMian sent a horrified look towards Qin Su.
This was a secret that could definitely do more harm than good, and when Qin Su just sent a puzzled look back, MianMian scanned the room.
Maybe it was just her. The way she was brought up, she was acutely aware of what powerful men did to vulnerable women. Those who committed despicable acts needed to have a respectable reputation. Otherwise they'd never get away with their crimes. Men were so slow to see the truth, to see their friends, their masters, as the monsters they were.
Why would Madam Lan kill someone and never explain why she killed them?
Because she knew no one would believe her and the punishment would stay the same.
Why would she agree to marry Qingheng-Jun?
Maybe it was to save her own life. Maybe Qingheng-Jun didn't give her much choice. Or maybe it was something worse.
"Could it be that Zewu-Jun is not Qingheng-Jun's son?" Su Minshan asked.
Of course that slime would find the worst way to frame the story, even if it did make an awful amount of sense to MianMian.
"How dare you!" Chifeng-Zun shouted, but his anger didn't last at the look of horror on Nie Huaisang's face.
It made sense.
It made too much sense.
"What?" Su Minshan balked, "Wasn't that story the same? A Lan Sect man taking what was not willingly given?"
MianMian wasn't alive at the time. She didn't know enough. She glanced at Lan Qiren, hoping the teacher could say something. Anything. Say that Zewu-Jun wasn't a wedding baby. Say that there was no doubt about who his father was. Nobody here had a clear memory of what Qingheng-Jun looked like. Zewu-Jun and Hanguang-Jun could take after their mother.
"You're a disgusting, pathetic man," Jiang Wanyin growled, "How could you even think of that?"
"Doesn't it make sense?" Su Minshan sneered.
"Enough," Lianfeng-Zun ordered, rising, "Please leave, Su-zongzhu."
She'd almost forgotten those two were working together. Well, not anymore. She knew that Lianfeng-Zun would not stand for Zewu-Jun to be hurt. Su Minshan, the bitter traitor that he was, likely had his own plans regarding his former Sect.
Still, he left.
If only the damage hadn't already been done.
***************************************
"It doesn't change anything, Xiongzhang," Wangji said.
Lan Xichen closed his eyes. It shouldn't change things, but…he'd failed so many times. Watching these memories only reinforced how skewed his judgment was. He would have done nothing to save the Wen Remnants. He would have let the world turn against Wei Wuxian, probably contributed to bringing him down when they finally drove him over the edge.
If he was actually a bastard, then Wangji would be Sect Leader. Wangji could be Chief Cultivator. He was the one with the better judgment. He would never let politics interfere with what was right. And no one would dare threaten the beloved of the Chief Cultivator.
People were already talking. Things were already changing.
"Uncle?" Wangji pressed.
What could Uncle say that wouldn't be seen as defensive? Lan Xichen had never thought about their parents' situation this way, but now that it was out in the open, everyone would see their earlier secrecy as serving this purpose.
"If Zewu-Jun would allow me, there might be a test I can perform," Wen Qing offered.
Lan Xichen opened his eyes, "A test?"
The young woman who owed him nothing nodded, "Yes. I performed paternity tests for Wen Chao often enough, I believe I can modify one for this."
"Do it," Wangji commanded.
Lan Xichen just sat back and let it happen. He tried not to imagine the outcome. It wasn't like he would be turned away by the Lan Sect, but he'd seen how hard it was for A-Yao. Others may not treat him so kindly, whatever the circumstances surrounding his birth. Still, while he was sensitive to their opinions before, that was only because he had to be as Sect Leader.
Was it pathetic for some part of him to be relieved to no longer be Sect Leader?
"Perhaps a test first?" Nie Huaisang offered, "So there is no doubt."
Wen Qing passed over the completed talisman. Nie Huaisang activated it, and it lit up, sending a string of energy towards Da-ge.
A-Yao sighed, "We're looking for a shared father," He moved from his seat, "Let me."
So there would be no room for doubt.
When the talisman activated, it didn't just send the expected cord towards Jin Zixuan.
It also connected him to Qin Su.
It seemed he wasn't the only one who should be questioning their parentage.
***************************************
Her father left the room immediately as the crowd descended into chaos again.
Qin Su just stared at the connection. She continued staring even after it faded. It didn't make sense.
"My mother wouldn't cheat," She whispered.
Luo Qingyang reached over to squeeze her hand, "Maybe she didn't."
"That's not…" Qin Su hissed. She couldn't be Jin Guangshan's daughter. She had parents who loved her. Who loved each other. She'd never doubted that. She searched her memory for any sign. Was this why her parents didn't try for another child? Was this why she was an only child, when everyone said her mother should bear her father a son?
"I…" She tried to stand, but her legs were shaking, "My mother…"
Chifeng-Zun steadied her, "I will take you."
"Confronting her won't be a good idea," Luo Qingyang advised.
"What else can we do?" Chifeng-Zun asked, "Would Jin Guangshan tell the truth?"
Father already went to confront her. While he didn't go on nighthunts anymore, he was a capable cultivator. He would get there before her. Maybe it was a sign that her mother refused to come to Koi Tower.
Her thoughts clouded as Zewu-Jun confirmed that he was Hanguang-Jun's full brother. Not a half brother, not a bastard. He was truly Qingheng-Jun's son and heir.
She couldn't have cared less.
Hours may have passed, or minutes. Qin Su just stood there, gripping Chifeng-Zun's arm.
Finally, thought began to creep back in. If she wasn't her father's daughter, she couldn't be the next Qin Sect Leader. He'd still love her, but the elders and some of the disciples would never accept the leadership of a Jin bastard.
All that would be left for her was the original path, marriage.
"Who would want to marry me now?"
It was a silly thing to focus on, a selfish thing to focus on, but she just couldn't think about the conversation happening between her father and mother.
"Don't worry about that," Chifeng-Zun advised, all but forcing her to sit down, "I'll marry you."
Luo Qingyang scoffed, "You've known her for less than a day."
"Jin Guangshan won't ruin anyone else's life," The Nie Sect Leader growled.
Lianfeng-Zun had been…somewhat respected in the Nie Sect. At least by the Sect Leader and heir. While she'd only known Chifeng-Zun for a day, it had been one hell of a day. He had a temper, but he also was fiercely loyal to those he cared about. He was also trying harder to do the right thing, to live up to his reputation.
He was a good man, not like-
"It won't come to that," Someone else said, and she nearly jumped as Lianfeng-Zun knelt near her. He was holding the orb in his hand, "It appears we are done, Qin-guniang, if you would like to wait somewhere more private."
She stared at his face, looking for any similarities between them. They were both rather small, she supposed, with more delicate features, "Do you think it's true?"
Lianfeng-Zun grimaced, "There is very little I believe Jin Guangshan wouldn't do."
Qin Su felt tears come to her eyes. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed. Luo Qingyang pulled her close, but it was no comfort. She cried for all her mother had suffered through. She cried for the pain of keeping it a secret all those years. She cried because she could see now, how the kindness her mother had instilled in her was just in case the truth came out.
Her mother had raised her to be kind so Qin Su would be kind to herself.
She didn't see when her father returned, but she heard his demands. She would always be able to pick up her father's voice in a crowd.
He was demanding Jin Guangshan's head for the death of his wife.
Her mother.
That was all she could handle.
***************************************
"Get them out of here," Jin Zixuan whispered.
Jiang Cheng didn't bother arguing with him. They'd both moved to the entrance to Koi Tower to wait for Sect Leader Qin's return. He wasn't sure what his brother-in-law was thinking, but his expression had gone eerily still. Jiang Cheng didn't want his sister or his nephew around him like that, so he stayed.
He stayed until he saw the blood on Sect Leader Qin's robes, and the fury that could only come from despair on his face.
A-Jie clung to his back while he took to the sword, her baby swaddled between them to protect him from the wind. He glanced at the disciple flying with Wen Qing, then aimed them towards the Burial Mounds.
Whatever was about to go down in Koi Tower, they would have no part of.
As much as he would like to witness Jin Guangshan's downfall…
It was no longer about Wei Wuxian. It had never really been about Wei Wuxian. It had always been about Jin Guangshan taking what was not his through any means at his disposal. If this was what finally took him down, then it was only fitting.
There were a thousand things he wanted to say to Wei Wuxian. There was so much that needed to be said between them. Apologies, explanations, how much he cared about him even if he was being a self-sacrificial idiot.
But when he saw Wei Wuxian again, the words got stuck in his throat.
A-Jie was torn between running into Wei Wuxian's arms or shoving the baby into them. Tears streamed down her face as she similarly lost the ability to say anything.
Jiang Cheng made the decision for her, grabbing both as he pulled them into an embrace.
So many things needed to be said, but first-
"You're coming home."