Chapter Text
Yu Ziyuan left Lotus Pier early without seeing her husband or children. She had no desire to endure that servant’s presence or foolishness, or watch her family fawn over him as though he belonged. No, she would rather spend time with her sworn sister at Koi Tower. As a result, she didn’t come back until later that evening, before their final meal of the day.
Her husband wasn’t in the dining hall; neither was her son. Hmph. Jiang Cheng was probably off messing around with that boy. She wandered to her husband’s study and went inside without knocking. The pathetic man sat at his desk, head down, eyes focused on his papers. A tray with an empty bowl sat nearby.
Of course, he had dinner without her. Did he not expect her to come back? Ridiculous man.
“Where is everyone?” she demanded, stepping up to his desk.
He sighed. Gods, he was always sighing as though the weight of the world pulled him down.
“I believe Jiang Cheng is in his room.”
“With that menace, no doubt.”
The man sighed again. What was he, a leaking bag of air? She fought the urge to poke him with her hairpin.
“No, Wei Ying is no longer in Lotus Pier.”
She stared at him, but he kept his attention focused on the paper in his hand.
“What do you mean? Did you send him on a nighthunt? Why didn’t Jiang Cheng go with him? Or is your true son, your heir not good enough?”
Her husband held the paper out to her. “No. Wei Ying is no longer a member of the Jiang sect. You should be happy.”
Madame Yu’s whole reality came to a sudden halt. This couldn’t have happened. He would never let that boy go. Stunned, she gaped at the official dismissal from the clan. It took her a moment to realize it was even signed by the elders. However, her pleasure at the thought of that brat gone dissolved as she took in the articles of payment.
“No, no. This isn’t good enough.” She slammed a fist against his desk. “You think these pieces of paper are sufficient payment for having to put up with that… that creature? He brought ruin to our family. He stole your affection for your true son. He constantly demeaned your son’s existence by distracting your son from his training just so he could appear better than him.”
“Ziyuan, even the elders believe these talismans are worth far more than his presence here cost. The sales from these alone…”
She leaned over his desk, getting into his face. “You think we’re going to sell these? Sell his creations? Have you no shame? Why don’t you just hand him Lotus Pier and be done with it?”
“My lady, that makes no sense. I…”
His words cut through her. Of course, she made no sense. Only that boy makes sense.” She threw the paper at him. “You have humiliated this sect. You have humiliated our son. Are you happy? Are you proud?”
Zidian sparkled on her wrist as her anger rose. “And you did all this without consulting me!”
“You would have made the boy grovel until he bled,” her husband snapped, getting to his feet.
“Of course! He owes us everything! These bits of paper will never replace what he has taken from this family!”
“My lady! That’s unreasonable!”
She crossed her arms in front of her. “Unreasonable? I’ll show you what’s unreasonable. I’m done. I’m finished. You have no respect for my place in this sect, or the future of your son. We are leaving. I am taking him to Meishan, and you can face the ruin of your sect on your own.”
As she whirled around to leave, a thought hit her, making her turn back. “Unless that’s what you wanted all along. That’s it, isn’t it? We leave, and you bring that brat back here as your heir.”
With a disgusted laugh, she brought the palm of her hand to her forehead. “That’s the plan behind this farce, isn’t it?”
His face turned dark. Was it anger at such an accusation or shame at being caught? He certainly wasn’t denying it. Then again, he never denied anything – not the rumours, not the favouritism, nothing.
“Well, you won’t have your way.” She jabbed a finger at his chest. “We are not only staying, we will keep you from ruining this sect. You got rid of that creature, fine. He better not set foot anywhere in Yunmeng territory, ever. He is fair game, now. If I see him anywhere near my children or Lotus Pier I will make him wish he died with his parents. I will take out your infidelity and favouritism from his back, and it will be nothing less than either of you deserve.”
Jiang Cheng buried his head in his blankets until he couldn’t take it anymore. Nothing ever shut out his parents’ arguments. No, not nothing; his jiejie and Wei Wuxian did. But she was not here, and he was… gone.”
The word made the anger in him flair up again. He threw his blankets aside and stormed out of his room. Other disciples scattered out of his way as he marched onto the training grounds and took out his fury on the nearest dummy.
How could he just leave? Didn’t he owe them everything? Didn’t he swear to take care of him and Yanli? The arrogance of him to think he didn’t need their clan. How could he think being a rogue cultivator was better than being a Jiang disciple?
After the first dummy fell to pieces, he moved onto the next. The voices of his parents argument carried through the courtyard for anyone to hear. Jiang Cheng struck harder, imagining the mannequin as his traitorous ex-shixiong.
Of course, his father would let him go. His father bowed to every whim that defector had. Only his mother had any success at keeping him under any sort of control.
Panting, he paused to catch his breath. He didn’t even say goodbye. What was he going to tell his sister? She will be heartbroken.
“Ahhhhrgh!” he shouted before swinging his sword again. She always did favour him over everyone. Why did he get all the love and attention? Well, he would show him; he would show everyone. He would become one of the best, no, the best cultivator! He would cultivate to immortality and then find that scum traitor and make him pay.
A wicked smile crept on his lips as he imagined Wei Wuxian begging for his life before him, while being in awe of his power at the same time. Yes, he would humble the gutter trash before all the clans and expose him for the fake he truly was.
He would also take over Lotus Pier from his father and make it the best sect in the cultivation world. No, in cultivation history! And he wouldn’t use anything from that pathetic bastard to do it!
The other sects will be so amazed, they will unilaterally declare him Chief Cultivator. Then his father would crawl on his knees before him, begging his forgiveness for being wrong about him. He would sweat and cry, proclaiming him the best son that ever was, and himself the most unworthy father.
And will he forgive them? No. He will cast them out, dismissing them like they have dismissed him.
Jiang Cheng fell to his knees, barely aware the sun had set and he was alone. Tears poured down his cheeks as he wrapped his arms around his knees and curled up in a ball.
He needed his sister. Why wasn’t she here? Why wasn’t anyone there when he needed them?
“Get up,” his mother’s voice demanded behind him.
Tensing, he wiped his face and stood before her.
She scowled as she looked him up and down. “Don’t you dare cry over that brat. He’s gone, and good riddance.”
“Yes, Mother.” He gulped down the lump in his throat and adopted a look of superior determination. “Don’t worry, Mother. I will work hard to make you and our sect proud.”
Zidian sparkled on her wrist. “Of course, you will. If you think I’m going to let your father and that brat ruin everything, you’re thicker than I thought. He’s gone now, so you won’t have him pulling you or our disciples away from their training. No more lazing in the lake, stealing lotus seeds. No more playing with kites and pretending it’s training.
All of you have been weakened by the presence of that low trash. I will not allow such lack of discipline continue.”
“Yes, Mother.”
She began to pace. “Look at the mess you have made, wasting training dummies with your thrashing about. Clean this up, then go to bed. Your sister is coming home tomorrow, but I don’t want you going to her for sympathy. It’s bad enough she’ll probably cry over him too. I won’t have the two of you mourning together as though someone important has died.”
“Yes, Mother.”
He watched her stride away, back straight with pride. Yes. She was a force to emulate. He was his mother’s son and would do her proud. Together, they would make Lotus Pier a place to be revered and feared.
Yu Ziyuan left her son alone in the dark. She had more important things to do than pick up after him. That brat had a whole day on her. She had to catch him before he left their lands. He couldn’t have gone far. Even with a strong core for his age, he was just a boy. He wouldn’t be able to fly far without draining his spiritual power. Without funds, he would probably steer clear of the towns, away from the inns or the dogs.
A smile crept across her lips. Dogs. Yes. A couple of dogs would make him grovel.
She nodded at her maids as they bowed to greet her.
“Are we going hunting, Madame?” Jinzhu asked, trading a quick glance with her sister.
“Yes. I want you to find that boy. He can’t have gone far.”
“Wei Wuxian?” Yinzue asked, her voice and face blank.
“Of course. He’s left the clan without proper payment for his presence here. You are to find him and bring him to the dungeons. Do not let the sect leader know. He’ll only try to protect the brat from the punishment he is due as a traitor to the Yunmeng sect.”
Her loyal servants, her marital sisters, bowed again and left to prepare for their hunt. Ziyuan clenched her fists, satisfied with her course of action. They would find him; they were the best hunters in Meishan. The boy wouldn’t stand a chance. And, when they threw him in the dungeons, she would make him realize his true place and true worth once and for all.
Jiang Yanli stepped off the boat from Meishan, pausing to bow in thanks to the ones who brought her safely home.
The day was beautiful, warm with a sweet breeze filling the air with the perfume of the lotus flowers. She smiled at the merchants as she wandered toward the gates of Lotus Pier. It was always good to come home. A-Cheng and A-Xian were probably playing games in the water or shooting at kites. She couldn’t wait to give them their presents. They weren’t much, just ribbons for their hair, but she had lotuses embroidered on them – three to represent their bond as siblings.
It was important to encourage their bond. A-Cheng tended to forget sometimes, too caught up in his desire to be the cultivator his mother wanted him to be. A-Xian never forgot, but he doubted at times. It only made sense considering the loss of his family and years on the streets made him question the loyalty of those around him. The last few years had helped break down those walls, and he smiled more now. As his true personality unfolded, he brought joy and laughter to Lotus Pier, never letting anyone bring him down or dim his smile.
Well, not never, she admitted to herself. Sometimes, when he went too far and faced the wrath of her mother, he would hide until she brought him out of himself with gentle hugs and soup. He was such a kind soul, it didn’t take much to sooth his hurts.
She was glad he was so understanding. After all, most other children didn’t take the time to understand a-Cheng and get past his temper to be his friend. The poor boy hid so many emotions behind his anger. Hopefully, he would grow out of that. If not, at least a-Xian knew not to take a-Cheng's disposition personally. He would stay by their brother’s side and cajole him into a better mood.
The guards bowed to her as she passed through the gates, exchanging unreadable glances with each other. She sighed. Her parents must be fighting again. That means the boys would be at the training grounds, moving through sword forms until they dropped.
Well, she would cut up some fruit to bring them. After all, training under such a strong sun would require liquids to keep them healthy. Maybe she could make them some meat buns too. Hard working boys had such healthy appetites. Some sweet tea chilled by the cool waters would be appreciated too. Hopefully, Mother wouldn’t complain. She would make an extra tray just for her just in case.
Humming, she stopped by her room and dropped off her bag before going to the kitchen.
The shouting of her mother’s instructions floated in from the training grounds. Oh, her temper was fiery today. Something must have happened.
She made her way to the kitchens and greeted their family cook. The elderly woman and her staff bowed.
“Welcome back, Maiden Jiang,” the cook said nervously.
Yanli smiled at her, confused by the fretful demeanour of the servants. “Thank-you, Yanshu. I’m just here to cut up some fruit for the boys. It’s a hot day, and they will need to cool off after mother’s training session.”
“Y-yes, Maiden Jiang. Of course.” The women traded uneasy glances.
“I feel like I missed something,” Yanli said, drawing her eyebrows together. “Is everything all right?”
“Y-yes, Maiden Jiang; I mean, No.” Yanshu sighed and signaled to the others, who scurried out of the room, leaving them alone. With a gentle smile, the cook took her hand and patted her fingers. “Sit down, Dear.”
Yanli’s body tensed as fear unsettled her. “Yanshu?”
“I’m afraid there have been a few changes since you left,” she began, her elderly eyes clouding with sympathy.
“Changes?” Yanli managed through a tight throat. “What changes?” Had someone died? No. Lotus Pier would be in mourning if anyone important died.
“I’m afraid… oh dear. I’m afraid Young Master Wei has left Lotus Pier.”
She shook her head. “I don’t understand. Now that he’s head disciple he often leaves on nighthunts. He’ll be back.”
“No, Sweety. He won’t.”
She giggled, her unsettled emotions bubbling up. “Of course, he will. A-Xian would never leave Lotus Pier permanently. He- he would never leave us, a-Cheng and I. He loves us. He is our brother. Father would never let him. He belongs to Yunmeng Jiang.”
“I’m sorry, my child. He left early yesterday morning with a proper letter of dismissal from your father.”
Yanli backed away, tears spilling onto her cheeks. “No. I have to find Jiang Cheng. He’ll be so upset. This is a trick. This is one of his jokes. You’ll see. He’ll be back with a grin and a laugh. But I won’t let him play such a cruel hoax without punishment. No soup; no hugs until he apologies properly. This goes too far, a-Xian.”
She ran out of the room to find her brother. Shaking, she stopped to check her brother’s room. The space was empty of anything that reminded her of him. A cry slipped through her lips.
No. He wouldn’t do this without talking to her. He belonged to her, to them. He was the only sunshine that brightened Lotus Pier. He balanced out the arguments between her parents and soothed the anger in her littlest brother. Her a-Xian gave her someone to love without judgement; and he loved her back with devotion she longed for. She made him feel special when others saw her as plain and untalented.
Her knees almost gave way when she finally made it to the training grounds where a-Cheng stood cleaning his sword. She ran up to him and grabbed his arm.
“Please, a-Cheng, tell me it’s not true. He’ll be back, right? He will.”
He scowled, his jaw clenched. “No. He won’t. And, if he dares, the traitor will regret it.”
She swallowed hard, staring at him in disbelief. “You don’t mean that. He’s our brother.”
Her littlest brother grabbed her wrist, pulling her hand from his arm; the look in his eyes too severe for someone so young. “No. He’s not.”
Eyes wide, she slapped him. “Don’t say that!” She gasped, shocked at her own behaviour. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”
“Yes, you did,” he cried, his face flushed. “You’ve always loved him more than me.”
“No. No, I haven’t; you are my dearest.” She tried to touch him, to hold him, but he pushed her away.
“Right. Go away.”
“Yanli!”
She sniffed and turned toward her mother, her breath coming in gasps. “M-mother.”
“Go to your room and stay there until you come to your senses. After, you will kneel before the ancestors for betraying your betraying your brother for that brat.”
Yanli wanted to yell; she wanted to scream at them until they brought her a-Xian home and admitted he was family. Instead, she ran, vision blurry from tears, and threw herself onto her bed. If only she hadn’t come home. Then he would still be here; he would still be her brother.