#「ᵛ」— toughness of a serpent; softness of a dove

[goldencored]

@dreams-of-fate​ said,  ❝ oh, and now you’re blushing. ❞ (nmj @ yym)

“Who’s blushing?”

Of course she tries to deny it, despite how rosy her cheeks are, how she won’t quite meet his eyes, instead focusing on fussing over getting Jinhai ready for sleep.

“I think you’re mistaken, Nie-Zongzhu. Perhaps when you see the physician next, you should ask him to check your eyes, too.”

#she's definitely blushing dsfjkldsfjkdls #dreamsoffate #「ᵛ」— toughness of a serpent; softness of a dove #「ᵀ」— look like a flower; be the serpent beneath ( yu yanmei ) #「ᵀᴸ」— arc iii. cast off the past skin

[goldencored-arc]

⤷ Y u  Y a n m e i    ⤷ @jiangswanyin​

       ⤷  “ forgiveness, can you imagine? ”

       “A-Cheng. I couldn’t imagine it not happening eventually. Ever since the two of you were little, your worlds revolved around each other. Joined at the hip.”

       Whatever transpired between the two in the past should stay in the past. Both were young, desperate, at war. That doesn’t excuse actions made, but at least makes them a little more... understandable. She’s over the moon that they could work through their problems, that Wei Wuxian could come home.

       “I’m glad that he’s home. It’s where he belongs,” she gives a sigh, glancing over to Huifeng, then back to Jiang Cheng, “Whether he believes it or not.”

#jiangswanyin #「ᵀ」— look like a flower; be the serpent underneath ( yu yanmei ) #「ᵛ」— toughness of a serpent; softness of a dove #「ᵀᴸ」— arc iv. pretend to be venomous

[goldencored]

@dreams-of-fate​ said, ❛ Am I crazy, or did he just do his version of a nice thing? ❜ (Chuang Zhiqiang for Yanmei, probably about jc or daiyu)

Yanmei makes a valiant effort not to laugh, though in the end it’s entirely in vain. “You’re not crazy,” she assures, managing to at least hide her ever growing smile behind her cup. “A-Yu isn’t one to normally share food.” Or share anything, really. Out of the core cousins of the Yu Family that reside within the sect, he is the youngest, the only boy and the most spoiled.

“What you’re witnessing is something like a miracle. It’s likely not a sight you’ll ever see again, and if you ask him about it, he’ll deny it until he dies.” Because her cousin is bullheaded and ridiculous and would rather die than be caught doing something ‘nice’ or ‘soft’. 

#「ᵛ」— toughness of a serpent; softness of a dove #「ᵀᴸ」— arc iii. cast off the past skin #「ᵀ」— look like a flower; be the serpent beneath ( yu yanmei ) #dreamsoffate #you can count on yanmei to roast her cousins

[goldencored]

dump three.

#「ᵀ」— the snake will always bite back ( yu daiyu ) #「ᵛ」— every great story begins with a snake #「ᵀᴸ」— arc i. little glittering scales #「ᵀᴸ」— arc ii. never wound a snake; kill it #「ᵀᴸ」— arc iii. shed the past like a snake sheds skin #「ᵛ」— black jade; dark as the night sky #「ᵀᴸ」— arc i. moonless night #「ᵀ」— look like a flower; be the serpent beneath ( yu yanmei ) #「ᵛ」— toughness of a serpent; softness of a dove #「ᵀᴸ」— arc i. born into a viper pit #「ᵀᴸ」— arc ii. even snakes cannot trust snakes #「ᵀᴸ」— arc iii. cast off the past skin #「ᵀᴸ」— arc iv. pretend to be venomous #「ᵀ」— o wind; where have you been that you blow so sweet? ( shi qingxuan ) #「ᵛ」— a breeze will always blow in the direction it wishes to go #「ᵀᴸ」— arc i. gentle; like a breeze in spring #「ᵀᴸ」— arc ii. heavy winds stir the veil of fate #「ᵀᴸ」— arc iii. the wind shrieks; the wind grieves #「ᵀᴸ」— arc iv. a little breeze kindles #「ᵛ」— where the celestial breeze blows #「ᵀᴸ」— arc i. black swan among a sea of white #「ᵛ」— they sow the wind and shall reap the whirlwind #「ᵀᴸ」— arc i. if you cage the wind will it die? #「ᵀᴸ」— arc ii. the tempest; raging and roaring #「��」— ♡ ❛ the red string may tangle but will never break ❜ ( shuangxuan ) #「ᵀ」— be wary of the scorpion's sting ( xie wang ) #「ᵛ」— a gamble in the game of fate #「ᵀᴸ」— arc i. child in a gambler's den #「ᵀᴸ」— arc ii. into a pit of scorpions #「ᵀᴸ」— arc iii. like the scorpion surrounded by fire

[goldencored-arc]

⤷ Yu Yanmei meme / @gggno​ (daozi) / accepting

            " our horoscopes say we make great friends. "

       Admittedly, Yanmei was unsure of Daozi at first. After all of the pain and sorrow her dear cousin had been through, she was more than just a little protective of Jiang Cheng and his heart. Daozi wouldn’t have been her first pick for him as a friend or a possible love interest. Now, however, her walls are lowered, and she sees things in a different light.

       Now, she laughs, chin resting in the palm of her hand. “Is that so? Tell me what else it says. Nothing about love, though. Those things are hardly to be believed. If it were true, I would’ve surely been married again by now.”

#「ᵀ」— look like a flower; be the serpent underneath ( yu yanmei ) #「ᵛ」— toughness of a serpent; softness of a dove #「ᵀᴸ」— arc iii. shed your skin; begin anew #gggno

[goldencored-arc]

⤷ Yu Yanmei meme / @jiangswanyin​ / accepting

            “Count your blessings. If he liked you, you’d have to talk with him.”

“If he liked me, your aunt would already be drawing up a marriage proposal.” Which would be more than unfortunate. Wen Xu was much like the Nie Sect Leader— aloof and short tempered, knowing too little social skills and too much of war. Not exactly the makings of an ideal husband.  

 Her eyes follow Nie Mingjue, nose wrinkled ever so slightly in disapproval. “It’s a pity that all that handsomeness is wasted on him. He’s such a brute. It’s really no wonder why he remains unmarried.” She knows better than to gossip idly like this, especially with so many ears around, but there’s something about him that irks her, and she can’t quite put her finger on what nor why.

#「ᵀ」— look like a flower; be the serpent underneath ( yu yanmei ) #「ᵛ」— toughness of a serpent; softness of a dove #「ᵀᴸ」— arc iii. shed your skin; begin anew #jiangswanyin #icb this dsDSFJKLDS

[goldencored-arc]

⤷ Yu Yanmei @jiangswanyin​ ( ll ) / accepting

              ❛ what’s with that look ? ❜

Ah. She’s been caught.

Smiling, she shakes her head, eyes softening as she folds her hands in her lap. “Oh, nothing.”

What Lei Lian doesn’t know won’t hurt him— yet. 

As Jiang Cheng’s older cousin, and the only remaining family he has close to his age left, it’s her duty to make sure no more emotional harm befalls him. It’s her duty to watch over him, to help him, to make sure his heart is mended piece by piece.

To make sure Lei Lian doesn’t throw a wrench into that plan.

For now, he has her approval. He’s cheeky, he’s loyal, he makes Jiang Cheng smile. That of course, can all change, but for now, she’s determined him to be safe. Which in turn means he is safe from a viper’s bite.

“I was only thinking it’s good that A-Cheng has a friend, that’s all.”

#「ᵀ」— look like a flower; be the serpent underneath ( yu yanmei ) #「ᵛ」— toughness of a serpent; softness of a dove #「ᵀᴸ」— arc iv. pretend to be venomous #jiangswanyin

[goldencored-arc]

⤷ Yu Yanmei meme / @jiangswanyin​ / accepting

           “I made your favourite.”

While she’s certain she would be very well taken care of at home in Meishan, she finds herself glad that she’s in Lotus Pier instead. Her mother and sister would dote on her, surely, yet none of them would do so like Jiang Cheng. After all, none of them could cook. 

Sitting up slowly she offers her cousin a small smile, gently taking the bowl with both hands. The soup is nice and hot, the bowl warming her cold hands. Her fever has finally broke and now she finds herself a little chilled.

“This is why you’ve always been my favorite. I’ll have to put ‘excellent cook’ and ‘very doting’ down as traits on your matchmaking list.” she teases him gently. “Thank you, A-Cheng.”

#「ᵀ」— look like a flower; be the serpent underneath ( yu yanmei ) #「ᵛ」— toughness of a serpent; softness of a dove #「ᵀᴸ」— arc iii. shed your skin; begin anew #jiangswanyin

[goldencored-arc]

⤷Yu Yanmei meme / @jiangswanyin​ / accepting

          ❛ i feel like you’re the only one who truly cares. ❜  

The Yiling Patriarch is dead!

While the cultivation world rejoiced the death of their latest foe, the sky in Yunmeng was dark and grey. Rain poured from the sky, as if weeping for the loss of the smile that was once as bright as the sun. Yet no one she knew felt the loss more keenly than her poor cousin. First his parents, then a brother-in-law and after that, his beloved sister. Now Wei Wuxian.

As soon as she heard of what would occur at Nevernight, she left for Lotus Pier, blood boiling. How dare Jin Guangshan put on such a disrespectful display? Such a blatant display of power. It was almost a shame that Wen Ning hadn’t ripped in throat out in Koi Tower. Truthfully, she had half a mind to march to there with her sect’s disciples, to terrify Jin Guangshan with such an extreme power play, but she remembered herself.

Now, sitting here with Jiang Cheng, watching the sky weep for Jiang Yanli, for Wei Wuxian, she’d glad she didn’t. In her arms, A-Ling slept peacefully, blissfully unaware of a house cloaked in despair. 

“A-Cheng. Look around. Your disciples aren’t only mourning for A-Li. They loved him too, and still do, despite everything, despite every evil rumor from the Yaos and the Jins.” Giving a sad little smile, she reaches out, tucking a stray lock behind her cousin’s ear. “I’ve heard what the other sects are planing to do at Yiling. Go. I’ve got A-Ling. I would go my self but I fear what I might do if Jin Guangshan decides against being a coward and dares show his face.”

She can’t keep the venom from her tone, the stewing rage she’s felt for the Jin Sect’s leader now boiling over after so many years. “Don’t you dare let him have everything of Yunmeng Jiang’s once eldest senior brother. He deserves none of it.”

#「ᵀ」— look like a flower; be the serpent underneath ( yu yanmei ) #「ᵛ」— toughness of a serpent; softness of a dove #「ᵀᴸ」— arc iv. pretend to be venomous #yanmei vc: i hope that old bastard dies slow and painfully :) #jiangswanyin

[goldencored-arc]

⤷ Yu Yanmei meme / @jiangswanyin​ / accepting

          “you’ve liked many a stupider person.”  

Wen Xu is dead. His head hangs in the entrance of the Unclean Realm for all to see. Yu Yanmei is a widow now, and the sight of his head swaying is like a knife to the gut. She loved him once, before his father turned him into a cold blooded murderer, before he set fire to the Cloud Recesses and slaughtered children.

Bitter tears she’s wept over him during this secret meeting. Part of her feels guilty over it. She knows how horrible he became, knows his deeds during this war. Yet it still hurts. She still mourns the loss of what could have been.

But Jiang Cheng’s words make her smile, even laugh through her tears as she wipes them away. “I do have awful taste. Remember my crush on Jin Zixun? I was so upset when mother said it would be useless to marry him since Yanli was marrying Jin Zixuan.”

Sighing, she leans against her cousin, resting her head on his shoulder. Nothing feels real; not the war, not her husband’s death, not the destruction of Lotus Pier. “I’m swearing off men. I’ll never love again.”

#「ᵀ」— look like a flower; be the serpent underneath ( yu yanmei ) #「ᵛ」— toughness of a serpent; softness of a dove #「ᵀᴸ」— arc ii. even snakes cannot trust snakes

[goldencored-arc]

⤷ Yu Yanmei meme / @jiangswanyin​ / accepting

            “your skills in the art of matchmaking are positively occult.”

            Laughing softly, she can’t help how her heart swells with pride. Seeing Xinzhu, her dearest handmaiden happy, and with one of Yunmeng Jiang’s brilliant female disciples, no less, in turn makes her happy. Days by the calm waters of the river, surrounded by the sweet scent of flowers, pass by much easier than in Viper Cove.

            Perhaps it’s because there is so much to do to keep herself busy here; Jin Ling rules the entirety of Lotus Pier with a tiny iron fist at the tender age of one and a half, and there is always her dear cousin to look after too, making sure he doesn’t work himself to the bone. Perhaps it’s also because of the new little companion her sister gave her before she left for Yunmeng, a little dog she’s named Princess to snuggle with when the nightmares return.

              “It’s a shame that my skills won’t work on myself. Or you, apparently.” She flashes Jiang Cheng a teasing little smile. “Though I’ve heard miracles do happen.”

#「ᵀ」— look like a flower; be the serpent underneath ( yu yanmei ) #「ᵛ」— toughness of a serpent; softness of a dove #「ᵀᴸ」— arc iii. shed your skin; begin anew #jiangswanyin

[goldencored-arc]

⤷ Yu Yanmei meme / @jiangswanyin​ / accepting

            “i can’t be trusted. i have very poor taste in ribbons.”

            “I know this all too well, A-Cheng, but I still want your opinion. Do you think my future husband is good with ribbons? Of course not. Though so since you both have awful taste, you can surely help me find something he might like.”

                The wedding is close, almost too close for comfort, and Yanmei finds herself a bundle of nerves as she looks over last minute details. Her poor little cousin has no idea that he’s helping her find ribbons and other such things for her wedding night, but Yanli is busy and A-Cheng is her most favorite anyway.

                “Now come along. We must find something before I leave tomorrow.”

#「ᵀ」— look like a flower; be the serpent underneath ( yu yanmei ) #「ᵛ」— toughness of a serpent; softness of a dove #「ᵀᴸ」— arc i. born into a viper's pit #she's so excited to get married :((( #too bad it's to fucking wen xu lmao

[goldencored]

@dreams-of-fate​ said, “Ah, you said his name without swearing, does that mean things are going better?” (jc @ yanmei, meaning mingjue)

Pursing her lips she looks over to her cousin, giving him an unamused look. “Just because I’m not swearing does not mean things are going better. He’s so—” 

Pigheaded. Infuriating. Frustrating. Handsome. 

Yanmei would sooner die than admit the last one, though. “Stubborn. A-Cheng, why are you men always so stubborn?”

#dreamsoffate #「ᵛ」— toughness of a serpent; softness of a dove #「ᵀ」— look like a flower; be the serpent beneath ( yu yanmei ) #「ᵀᴸ」— arc iii. shed the past like a snake sheds skin

[goldencored]

@dreams-of-fate​ said, ❛ i’m gonna do my very best . ❜ ( yym & nmj )

“Oh? Good. Sit still, close your eyes and focus. No peeking to see if someone has come to seek your instruction, either.” She’s sent them all to Huaisang— the younger Nie will whine at her later for it, but she’ll find a way to placate him. 

Huaisang, at the moment, is still heir to the sect, and now he’s more than old enough to help pull his weight. Yanmei knows very will that Mingjue, despite his complaining, still shields Huaisang from that burden, in a way, but Yanmei will do no such thing. The less on Mingjue’s shoulders, the better Clarity will work.

“Let’s try it again.”

#dreamsoffate #「ᵀ」— look like a flower; be the serpent beneath ( yu yanmei ) #「ᵛ」— toughness of a serpent; softness of a dove #「ᵀᴸ」— arc iii. cast off the past skin