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#In another life Jiang Cheng stands behind his nephew and fears for his own continued sanity if WWX keeps teaching them new talismans
featherfur · 2 years
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yknow how Jin Ling is supposed to look just like Jiang Cheng, like to the point of being brothers? And Jiang Cheng is supposed to look just like his mother?
Jin Ling hearing from Wei Wuxian about Jiang Cheng's old wispy hair and deciding he wants to know what the fuss is about and (after much deliberation between the juniors) finally gets it just right. Jiang Cheng gives him a raised eyebrow when he gets onto the training field with him, but ignores it because teens are just weird and tells him to pull out his sword.
Then Wei Wuxian comes trotting up the pier in time to see Jiang Cheng in the pale blue his mother always favored and beside him is Jin Ling with his one whisp.
And for a moment it's not Jiang Cheng and Jin Ling.
For a moment it's Madam Yu standing protectively behind her son, a sword in one hand and the whip in the other. Fifteen year old Jiang Cheng is frowning, but when he hears Wei Wuxian's shout he lights up with a smile and turns to his mother. Madam Yu doens't look happy and her eyes narrow on Wei Wuxian even as she gives a stiff nod. If Wei Wuxian turned around then Yanli should be-
"Wei Wuxian, are you just going to stand there all day! Oi, you, stop that noise." Jiang Cheng's voice rings out and the image is gone. There's no grinning Jiang Cheng and instead Jin Ling's head is rolling back as he makes the loudest sigh in the world. Madam Yu isn't standing behind them like she's waiting to fight the world, instead Jiang Cheng's tugging on Jin Ling's pony tail and watching him flail with an angry shout.
"You taught him to be like this, before you came back he had manners." Jiang Cheng snaps and Wei Wuxian's still blinking at the afterimage of his first life. "Well? Get your ass up here and help me fix that. God, it's like you're only in my house for food, earn your keep."
“Who says I’m not?” Wei Wuxian grins and springs up, arm already up to sling around Jiang Cheng’s shoulders.
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f-f-friend · 4 years
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Why are you awake right now? ChengYao
12: “Why are you awake right now?” 
SEND ME A SHIP + NUMBER 
ALSO this ficlet has been posted to ao3 as well! 
Jiang Cheng cannot sleep. 
“Why are you awake?” Jin Ling asks, and he looks and sounds so much like his uncle. Jiang Cheng won’t tell him that, he doesn’t want to bring up that man, not in front of Jin Ling. 
“Why are you awake?” Jin Guangyao had asked him, so many years ago, when Lotus Pier had freshly emerged from the rubble and Jin Ling was still small. 
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Jiang Cheng was the only person that remembered the Jiang Clan of Yunmeng – the one from before. He was the only one left of that clan anyway, the only face left among the thousands of people that used to have lives and families there. 
He worked hard and did his best to rebuild: The buildings of the new Lotus Pier stood steady, he dared say even steadier than the old buildings. There were new walls too – being too open and vulnerable to the world had not led them anywhere good, the first time. There were new people, fresh-faced and eager to be in one of the most powerful Sects of the cultivation world. These were his people, but not the ones he used to know. Still, the Jiang Clan of Yunmeng stood. (He would not let it fall again.)
Jiang Cheng was the only person left who remembered his clan’s traditions, the one who taught everyone what it meant to be in the Jiang Clan clan; He was the only one left, the son left behind, inheriting the rubble of Lotus Pier and corpses of the Jiang Clan. Some days, it hurt worse than others. 
Like that day. 
Jiang Cheng had a new tradition, one he didn’t mean to create. 
It had been more than half a decade since the destruction of Lotus Pier, a few years since the death of his sister, a few years since the death of Wei Wuxian. Jiang Cheng remembered each day like it was still happening, like he was coming home to see the fresh corpses of his parents and his fellow disciples, like he was watching the life go out of Yanli’s eyes, like he was hearing Wei Wuxian’s screams as the Stygian Tiger Amulet tore him apart. 
Jin Ling, his tiny little nephew, the only family he had left, called these days scary jiujiu days and tried his best to avoid him. His subordinates called them don’t piss off the Clan Leader days. There are three days, three longest days of the year; They were what Jiang Cheng thought of as grief. 
Grief started at night, when the day’s work was done and he slipped off his outer robe and sat on the bed. It did not matter which day of grief it was, he mourned for them all. 
He imagined how Father would feel to see him now, how he would feel to see the new Lotus Pier. Possibly, it wouldn’t be to his taste. But some part of him, the childish part of him that didn’t burn down with his home, asked, won’t he be proud? 
He pulled the blanket around himself and remembered the warmth of that last hug, when Mother pulled him into her chest and hugged him so tight he felt like a toddler again, right before she sent him away, right before he fought his way back only to greet her cold corpse. He didn’t want her to let go of him then, she was so warm, and she loved him so much, and he loved her, and can’t we get through this together? The empty room answered his younger self’s desperate question. 
When Jiang Cheng was a child and he couldn’t sleep, he would go knock on his sister’s door. It could be midnight, or close to the crack of dawn, but she would always open it, and let him sleep in her bed. That night, he could not sleep, and there was no big sister to comfort him into sweet drowsiness, no warm bed to crawl into. 
He lay back on the bed, and found that if he closes his eyes, he could pretend that he was back in his childhood bedroom. The same birds chirped at the same wild hours, the same breeze blew past the windows, the same lonely boy lay in a big bed. With his eyes closed, he could imagine that there was another bed across the room, messier than his, empty until Wei Wuxian came sneaking in late at night, then noisy with the sounds of Wei Wuxian getting ready for bed until Jiang Cheng would sit up and snap, will you just go to sleep already? He opened his eyes to the same empty room; The only thing across the room was his table, laden with work for tomorrow. 
Grief continued like this: Jiang Cheng let the blanket drop, and pulled his outer robes back on. He walked out of the room, not bothering to shush his footfalls or look back carefully – there was no one to accidentally wake with the noise of him leaving. He walked past the old buildings that still stand from when he was a child, but he did not enter them. The people slumbering inside were not the same people as those he was longing for. 
Those people were all in one room, and that was where he was heading when he met Jin Guangyao. 
“Sect Leader Jiang,” he greeted. Oh, right. He was staying the night after bringing Jin Ling over. Jin Guangyao’s face always has the same smile on it – Jiang Cheng could not tell whether he was really happy to see him, or he was incapable of not smiling. “Why are you awake?�� 
Jiang Cheng was not used to being interrupted during grief. Normally, everyone else knew to avoid him during these times, for fear of stirring up his temper. But he had always known that Jin Guangyao was not like everyone else. 
For one, he was completely unaffected by Jiang Cheng’s bad temper. (Probably because he was used to angry people, having Chifeng-zun for a sworn brother.) Also, he was so patient with Jin Ling, never once being harsh to him despite their nephew’s bratty tendencies. 
“I just… couldn’t sleep,” he told him. There was no need to tell him he was heading for his family’s ancestral shrine, or go into the specifics of grief with someone who was not family– actually, someone who was not himself. 
Jin Guangyao stepped closer, and Jiang Cheng fought the sudden inexplicable urge to step back. 
“Really?” Jin Guangyao said. It was just a casual question, but Jiang Cheng felt like he was being scrutinised, with those big eyes solely focused on him. “I couldn’t sleep either. Should we take a walk?” 
Somehow, Jiang Cheng found himself agreeing. 
Jin Guangyao smiled wider, and led him away from the old buildings, talking about this and that. 
Grief was like a song that played all hours of his life, and got louder on these days, and grief suddenly changed its tune to incorporate the sound of Jin Guangyao’s voice as he discussed small matters with him like they had the utmost importance, and the sound of Jin Guangyao’s footsteps as they synchronised with Jiang Cheng’s own. They were walking in step, heading in the same direction but with no clear idea of where they are headed. 
But he looked again, and Jin Guangyao had led him to the shrine after all. 
“It is the anniversary of your parents’ passing, is it not?” He asked. Jiang Cheng nodded. Jin Guangyao did not look pitying, or awkward, just straightforward. “People say grief hits at unexpected times, but I find it is sometimes quite predictable.” 
Jiang Cheng did not know what to say, so he just looked at him. Jin Guangyao blinked once, twice. 
“I know that I’m not in a position to understand your grief,” he told him. “But from experience, mourning can be very lonely. I just wanted to keep you company for a while.” 
Jiang Cheng wondered when Jin Guangyao, ever-smiling and peaceful, would have experienced grief like he has, but he did not ask. 
“I will leave you to pay your respects, if this is where you were headed.” 
Jiang Cheng nodded again, and let his legs walk him to the room. He swallowed a strange urge to invite him in – he’s not family! 
“Thank you for walking with me, Sect Leader Jiang,” Jin Guangyao said. “Good night.” 
Jin Guangyao had walked quite a far distance before Jiang Cheng echoed quietly, “Good night.” 
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“Why are you awake?” Jin Ling asks him, when he finds him standing outside the shrine. “Are you going in?” 
Jiang Cheng is not going in. Hestands where he did that night, and looks at where Jin Guangyao had been standing, just a few steps from him, close enough to feel his warmth. That spot is cold now, perhaps always will be. 
It is not one of the three days of grief (two? now that Wei Wuxian has come back to life), but it is a day of grief. Jin Ling has been Sect Leader of the Jin Clan for just little under a year. A year ago, Jiang Cheng watched as Jin Guangyao’s neck was snapped before his eyes, and now he remembers that too like it is still happening. 
It is grief, but he doesn’t know why. 
It’s not like Jin Guangyao had been family to him.
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this-solaris-life · 4 years
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All That Glimmers in the Water
Writer’s Note: @ruensroad​ -  Here’s the little birdy idea we talked about last night. Sorry It wasn’t yesterday like I planned! :D I hope you enjoy it! 
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Nie Huaisang was glad to be brought back inside after a long day on the porch. He’d been placed on the desk on the dais just in front of another low table in the main chamber. It was larger than the one Senior Mo had been seated at with rather delicious looking food being placed. If he’d been human this meal would have been something he’d have enjoyed thoroughly.  His train of thought was lost as Senior Mo stepped out from his bedroom. 
The burgundy inner robe from earlier was gone. It had been replaced with a black gossamer robe with flames embroidering the sleeves on top of a maroon outer robe. The outer robes covered a high collared black silk inner robe that flowed at the hem. The black leather belt kept the layers closed. The ribbon that’d been in his hair is gone too. Those ink colored tresses were now up in an elegant bun with a hair pin the shape of a red plum blossom fig in his hair. The red eye shadow from yesterday was back haloing those ash colored eyes and the same color had been painted on his lips. 
“Go ahead and open the door. I will play while we wait for him to arrive.” Mo Xuanyu instructed as he made his way to the desk. His dark eyes sliding over to the little bird that was staring at him. A thin smile forming on his face at the thought. A bird staring at him? He almost let himself chuckle but kept it inside as he started to play. Wen Ning opened the doors, giving respectful nods to the two disciples guarding the doorway. 
If he’d had his human body no doubt would he have been standing there gaping like a fish. Senior Mo was beautiful and the way he played the guqin was elegant. His mind turning to the knowledge he had about the clan. He knew that Madam Mo had two children by Jin Guangshan. The first had died of a summer fever and the last hadn’t been seen since he was a toddler. Which was to be expected since Madam Mo had divorced the boy’s father.  What was his name? Oh! Xuanyu, Mo Xuanyu, I think it is. Could this beautiful man be him? Nie Huaisang thought to himself as his mind continued pondering on Madam Mo. She was known for being protective and formidable. Her sect had been known for their cultivation of songs and wondered if the man could sing too. If he did, he probably sounded heavenly. Nie Huaisang thought. His train of thought led him to wonder that if he did have that ability, why hadn’t he used it? Maybe they’ve done something to him too? But he’s that monster's husband?
“Not all prisons are made of walls, A-Sang.” the voice of his dear friend, Jiang Cheng whispered in his mind. He chirped, sadly missing his friend which of course had him thinking of his brother. Oh, how he wished to know about Nie Mingjue and the others. 
Mo Xuanyu looked over hearing the sad song his bird was singing. He frowned wondering if this song of meditation was agitating the little bird. He switched the song to one that was cheerful. 
“What song is that, husband? I didn’t think you knew any other song than your soft melancholy ones.” The deep timbered voice of Wen Xu said, interrupting the moment. Nei Huaisang chirped, turning to see that Wen Xu was leaning against the open door frame. A smug smile across his lips with his arms crossed. His dark eyes focused on Senior Mo then flicked over to him. 
Nie Huaisang flew to the bottom of his cage trying to be as small as possible. Although he wanted to reach out to Senior Mo and Wen Ning. He still couldn’t trust that they too wouldn’t hurt him. He looked upr seeing an expression of indifference spread across Senior Mo’s face that reminded him of Lan Wangji as he stood up going over to the dinner table. 
“But that would be ridiculous wouldn’t it? My husband,  Mo Xuanyu of Mo Sect, not knowing any songs?” He heard Wen Xu laugh. The shuffling stopped shortly making Nie Huaisang think that he’d gone to the table. He surprised himself by not chirping in surprise when he’d discovered that Senior Mo was in fact, Mo Xuanyu. The last time he’d been in his brother’s war room, Elder Bao had said that Madam Yo’s son was with his Aunt. Which meant that the woman was dead, too. Madam Mo’s sister was known for her prowess as cultivator. It must have been horrible to watch the woman die. The Wen’s are known for their cruelty. So he knew that whichever one that’d been able to defeat her had made Mo Xuanyu watch.  His thoughts lead him to a bout of curiosity. He moved just enough to see over the rim of the tray of the cage to watch them, keeping most of his small body still hidden.
“Song of Endless Happiness.” Mo Xuanyu answered, not looking at Wen Xu, making the latter smile. That smile made a shiver go through Nie Huaisang causing him to ruffle his feathers. He knew that look. It was the same look he’d seen on Sect Leader Su’s face when looking at Meng Yao when his brother brought him to sect conferences. A wave of protectiveness came over him.
“You should play it more.” Wen Xu replied, moving his hand over top of Mo Xuanyu’s. 
“It has no use here.” Mo Xuanyu stated, sliding his hand out from beneath Wen Xu’s into his lap making Nie Huaisang not being able to help himself but snort or atleast making some kind of mocking chirp that had both men looking in his direction. Wen Xu’s eyes narrowed at him and Nie Huaisang ducked down trying to hide himself. But it was no use. Wen Xu got up walking to the dias. His dark eyes focusing on Nie Huaisang’s making him still. 
“Do you like your gift, husband?” Wen Xu askes with a wicked grin, watching the fast beat of Nie Huaisang’s small chest. 
“No.” 
“Hmm….” Wen Xu humms making a display of holding his chin as if in thought, “What about nongbao or feiwu no wait. I have one better.” His expression turned smug, “How about A-Song? I think that’s a perfect name for a songbird. Since all this one will do is listen to pretty songs and sing for the rest of his days.” Wen Xu gleefully stated.
Nie Huaisang stilled. His heart sinking at the memory of his beloved nephew. The one that had been killed during the start of the war. It had devastated his family. His brother and Meng Yao had been inconsolable for days. He didn’t make a sound but he felt the sting of tears forming on his eyes. The fear he’d felt quickly changed to rage. He flew up to the perch to squawk at him but the coldness of Mo Xuanyu’s tone stopped him. Instead he ruffled his feathers spreading his wings at him as if in challenge. 
“No.” Mo Xuanyu replied, “I do not like it.” 
“Then I will leave it up to you, husband. I have another gift for you.” Wen Xu replied, turning on his heels to walk over to Mo Xuanyu. Nie Huaisang watched as Mo Xuanyu stilled as Wen Xu stepped up behind him. He reached down taking the hair pin out, tossing it on the table not caring that it landed with a clack on the table from its weight. The hair bun coming undone, silky black hair pouring over his shoulders and down his back like a waterfall. He catches a strand bringing it up to his face as he kneels down beside the other.
Wen Xu stretches out his hand in Mo Xuanyu’s  peripheral line of sight and a black velvet satchel appears with golden beads. He doesn’t wait for the latter to open it. He knows that Mo Xuanyu won’t. He hasn’t in the four months he’s had him. There are thawks of the beads clashing as he unties it then pulls out a delicate black jade hair comb with rubies gathered in the shape of a sun. Wen Xu let’s the satchel drop and dematerialize out of sight as he slips his fingers through Mo Xuanyu’s hair putting the comb in. 
“Perfect.” Wen Xu whispers low, making Nie Huaisang inwardly cringe and from the sharpness in Mo Xuanyu’s gaze that’s refusing to look at Wen Xu he just knows the latter feels the same. 
Probably worse. Nie Huaisang thinks. Disgusted and wishing he was in his human body, he would  fend the other off of Mo Xuanyu. The man clearly doesn’t want Wen Xu anywhere near him. Not that Wen Xu cares in the slightest. 
Wen Xu leans in close, his nose grazing the shell of Mo Xuanyu’s ear. The warmth of his breath on the sliver of the other’s exposed neck. “Your brother wishes to see you.” 
The only giveaway that the words have affected him is the almost inaudible sharp gasp that Mo Xuanyu let’s out. Wen Xu smirks as he reaches a hand up to lightly wrap his fingers around Mo Xuanyu’s delicate neck. “One glance meeting my eyes…. I’ll allow it.”
Mo Xuanyu’s heart was racing and he knew that the other could feel it with his thumb pressed on his throat. But he didn’t care. He had brother’s with Jin Guangshan. Meng Yao and Jin Zixuan had both tried to stop what happened in their own ways. He had no idea of what happened with his eldest brother and Meng Yao, he was with Nie Mingjue when Wen Xu and Wen Chao took Qinghe. He didn’t care what Wen Chao boasted. What those fools don't know about his brother will be the death of them, and he would rather die before telling them. So, that meant the brother risking his life is Jin Zixuan. But what for?
“He will have a safe passage here and back.” Mo Xuanyu stated firmly.
“Yes.” Wen Xu whispered back. His fingers trailing up his neck to grip his jaw turning Mo Xuanyu’s face to his. Ash colored eyes still averted but slowly they shifted to look into Wen Xu’s dark brown ones filled with a heady gaze. They stayed like that for a moment too long for Mo Xuanyu’s liking until those dark eyes drifted down to his lips. The Wen heir’s thumb moved to smudge the lipstick on his lips. 
 A shiver of disgust and actual fear rolled down Mo Xuanyu’s spine. He was about to push the other away when someone approached the open doors of the main chamber. The moment lost as Wen Xu turned to look at who’d arrived. Nie Huaisang could see from the perch that it was Wen Zhuliu. Wen Xu rolled his eyes but kept his hand on Mo Xuanyu’s face. 
“Wen Xu, Sect Leader Wen wants to see you, now. “ Wen Zhuliu stated after bowing respectfully. 
“You’ll have to eat the rest of dinner alone, husband.” Wen Xu ordered with a sigh before standing up. He sent a look at Wen Ning, who had to stand by helplessly along with the other servants watching the exchange, letting him know to make sure that Mo Xuanyu eats. Wen Ning nodded bowing to him as Wen Xu left. Wen Zhuliu bowed to Mo Xuanyu before following behind Wen Xu. 
Mo Xuanyu wanted nothing but to order Wen Ning to shut the doors and wipe the lipstick off his face with his bare hands but he couldn’t. The guards and the female disciple that had delivered the notice earlier was still there. The woman was loyal to Wen Xu. She would tell him if he didn’t eat. That wretch had done it before resulting in the horror that had unfolded afterwards. So, he brought the silk napkin to his lips carefully removing the lipstick. 
“Wen Ning, go prepare me a bath and take the bird with you. The fresh air would be good for it.” Mo Xuanyu ordered, tone soft before he started eating his dinner.
“Of course, Senior Mo.” Wen Ning replied, grabbing up Nie Huaisang’s cage and heading to the bathing room. Which was more like another garden with its flowers and trees.  There was even a stone table off to the side. It had a small covered pavilion that allowed one to hang one's robes on and  step off towards a pool that fed off a hot spring.
Wen Ning gave him a look as he hung the cage on a hook that would normally house a lantern. But he could see that other lanterns had been lit. 
“You’ll be out here for a bit, little one.” Wen Ning stated. Nie Huaisang chirped happily. Wen Ning chuckled, “What a clever bird.” Then he was off to grab the things necessary for his charge to bathe in peace. 
You have no idea. Nie Huaisang thought to himself watching the young man go. He’d seen so much tonight. He wished he could have helped though but he needed to help himself first. Wen Xu had been so smug earlier telling him that he’d keep him as a bird instead of killing him.  Could it mean that Da-ge and A-Yao weren’t dead? That would be a good way to torture Da-ge. Make him think that he was dead too. Nie Huaisang thought out loud but it only came out as chirps. He got so lost in his own thoughts that he hadn’t noticed he wasn’t alone until he heard a soft chuckle. 
“I hate to say this but A-Song might be a good name for you little one.” Mo Xuanyu laughed as he stepped out from the pavilion in only his silk inner robe. The hairpin and make up gone from his face. 
No! Nie Huaisang squawked, ruffling his feathers at Mo Xuanyu. 
“I’m guessing that’s a no then…” Mo Xuanyu chuckled. He reached up unbuttoning his collar before untying the silk sash. Nie Huaisang quickly flew down with his back to Mo Xuanyu. He could hear the flutter of silk as it landed on the ground followed by the sloshing of the water as the man entered the pool. Nie Huaisang finally dared to let himself look only to find that Mo Xuanyu had submerged himself under water. When he finally came up for air , it was only his head with his hands wiping the water and hair from his face. Then he swam over near Nie Huaisang. 
Nie Huaisang flew up to the perch to see why the other was coming this way and noticed that Wen Ning had left a hot cup of tea for Mo Xuanyu at the water’s edge. Mo Xuanyu stood up then and Nie Huaisang felt like all the breath had been punched out of his current body. The man looked celestial with the moonlight casting an ethereal glow about him. But what really made him chirp in utter surprise was the gold painted talismans on his body. They covered from the base of the neck down his shoulders to just above his forearms. The markings continued down his lean chest and the v of his hips. 
You’re beautiful. Nie Huaisang thought then chirped, scolding himself. He should have looked away again. The poor man was already being accosted by Wen Xu. What would he think of him when he turned human again? 
 “If not A-Song, then what about A- Sang? At least that is similar and you do sing.” Mo Xuanyu laughed, reaching for his tea cup,removing the lid. 
YES! YES! Nie Huaisang chirped in approval, looking down at Mo Xuanyu
“Well, then A-Sang it is.” Mo Xuanyu smiled warmly, making Nie Huaisang almost feel safe. That is until the shiny paint caught his attention. It wasn’t just any paint. Those talismans were not going to come off. The markings were  made with stygain paint. Which means that the only way for those to come off that beautiful flesh was if the painter died or they were removed by the painter. He flew to one of the bars holding himself there studying the talismans. 
Oh no. Nie Huaisang thought as he looked them over. They were talismans to bind Mo Xuanyu’s cultivation inside but also to keep him trapped within the palace. The one person who could help was trapped even more than he. 
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Part One // Part Two || Read it on AO3
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