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fandomweekly2022-04-06 04:16 pm
curiosity) wrote in fandomweekly2022-04-06 04:16 pm
Entry tags:
[#57] Politics and Persuasion, Part 1 (MDZS)
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Theme Prompt: #57 - Martyr
Title: Politics and Persuasion, Part 1
Fandom: MDZS
Rating/Warnings: G but there's hecka angst.
Bonus: Nope.
Word Count: 980
Summary: Sect Leader Jiang welcomes some illustrious guests. He's not happy about it.
Notes: This is a canon AU where Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli survive but live at Lotus Pier. The second siege never happens.
I meant to write a happy story. This is not that. Very sorry!
“So tell me,” Jiang Wanyin said, as tea was served to them all by young disciples. “What do I owe the honor of such a visit? It isn’t Yunmeng’s turn to host a conference. It isn’t time for the quarterly report on Jin Zixuan’s slow recovery from that nasty incident with all those poisoned arrows and the corpse. It isn’t time for the Jin to rake me over the coals for all the Jin Sect secrets I’m not teaching Jin Ling. My sister’s cooking is amazing, it’s true, but I doubt the renowned Venerated Triad came all the way to this unworthy Sect for her soup.”
The trio of Sect Leaders exchanged glances. Jiang Wanyin’s temper was famous but this was new. He’d never acted so brashly in front of the three of them before, not even here, in his own home. Something was wrong.
“We have come to discuss the matter of Wei Wuxian,” Lan Xichen offered, hoping to see the surly young man smile. “I am given to understand he has expressed regrets about what happened all those years ago. We thought it was time to take another look at the situation.”
“Oh I’m sure he’s full of regrets,” Jiang Wanyin agreed, pausing his reply to sip from the steaming cup of tea. “I’m sure my poor martyred former disciple has wept tears enough to fill all of Yunmeng’s lakes since the consequences of his idiotic actions came home to roost on top of his brilliant, cloud-filled head.”
Lan Wangji seethed at the uncaring tone, fingers bone-white around his own teacup. He’d known appealing to Jiang Wanyin was a waste of time. But he was willing to do anything for Wei Ying. However, the Sect Leader of Yunmeng Jiang ignored him, having attention only for the other Sect Leaders present.
Nie Mingjue wore a thoughtful frown, his arms crossed over his chest and Baxia laid across his knees like a watchful, rabid pet. Lan Xichen wore a faint smile, as always, as he sipped his own tea with practiced, graceful motions. Jin Guangyao’s smile was somewhat brittle around the edges, just a bit too sardonic.
He was caught between the Lan and the Jiang on the issue of Wei Wuxian. These three, the Venerated Triad, had come to Yunmeng at the combined urging of Lan Wangji and Nie Huaisang. To smooth things over between the estranged brothers. To broker peace between Wei Wuxian and the cultivation world.
“Sect Leader Jiang, do you mean to imply you are not in favor of reconciliation between the jianghu as a whole and your brother?” Lan Xichen asked carefully. “I had thought you would be in favor of bringing him and those poor refugees out of the Burial Mounds.”
Jiang Wanyin snorted derisively. “I can no more imply unwillingness now, Zewu Jun, before the combined pressure of the esteemed Venerated Triad, than I could fail to appear at the siege, under the weight of Jin Guangshan’s poisonous scrutiny and in fear for my own Sect’s decimated and ally-less state. Of course, whatever my wiser and more powerful peers say, I must hasten to agree. Otherwise, who knows what armies will find their way to my borders?”
The truth of that lay before them. Indeed, of the four remaining Great Sects, only Yunmeng Jiang was cut out of the alliance the other three shared. Only Yunmeng Jiang stood bereft and cold outside the warm fire of camaraderie the other three Sects had fostered between themselves. Only Sandu Shengshou’s fierce reputation kept the wolves at bay, beyond Yunmeng’s borders.
For a moment they all acknowledged it, silently. Lan Xichen had the grace to blush. Even Jin Guangyao seemed, for an instant, to recognize the great wrong that had been done to Yunmeng Jiang. Nie Mingjue studied the youngest of them with a new light in his eyes.
“So you agree,” Lan Wangji said, speaking for the first time. “Wei Ying can come home.”
Jiang Wanyin, with his angry scowl fading to resigned boredom, shrugged. “What do I care? I fail to understand why you all are even here. Surely the Venerated Triad need not trouble Yunmeng Jiang with their maneuvering? Why would I raise a hand to stop this power grab when I haven’t stopped any of the others?”
Lan Xichen looked startled. “Power grab? Sect Leader Jiang, surely you think better of us than that!”
“In fact, I do not.” Jiang Wanyin examined his teacup and set it down with a look of distaste. “Wei Wuxian is a genius. I am sure whichever of you lays claim to him will make good use of his brilliance now that enough time as passed you may overlook his famously ‘heretical’ crimes in pursuit of wealth and power.”
“We aren’t trying to lay claim to him,” Lan Xichen replied, puzzled. “We are trying to bring him home.”
Jiang Cheng frowned. “Again, what has that to do with me? The last time I checked, the Jiang hold no sway over Gusu.”
“Not our home. Wei Ying’s home.” Lan Wangji growled. “We are trying to bring him back to Yunmeng.”
Zidian sprang to life on Jiang Wanyin’s hand, purple sparks spitting and hissing into the air. “Is this his idea? Did he send all of you instead of asking me himself? That fucking coward.”
“He does not know,” Lan Wangji glared. “He is sick. Maiden Wen thinks he will die if he remains in the Burial Mounds.”
Jiang Wanyin sat back, leaning into the Lotus Throne. He looked at them all with a bitter smirk. It began to sink in, for his guests, that he was more than a little angry.
How long had this been brewing? The air felt static and thick, as if a storm were about to break overhead and smite them all with lightning.
And there was nothing they could do to stop it.
Theme Prompt: #57 - Martyr
Title: Politics and Persuasion, Part 1
Fandom: MDZS
Rating/Warnings: G but there's hecka angst.
Bonus: Nope.
Word Count: 980
Summary: Sect Leader Jiang welcomes some illustrious guests. He's not happy about it.
Notes: This is a canon AU where Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli survive but live at Lotus Pier. The second siege never happens.
“So tell me,” Jiang Wanyin said, as tea was served to them all by young disciples. “What do I owe the honor of such a visit? It isn’t Yunmeng’s turn to host a conference. It isn’t time for the quarterly report on Jin Zixuan’s slow recovery from that nasty incident with all those poisoned arrows and the corpse. It isn’t time for the Jin to rake me over the coals for all the Jin Sect secrets I’m not teaching Jin Ling. My sister’s cooking is amazing, it’s true, but I doubt the renowned Venerated Triad came all the way to this unworthy Sect for her soup.”
The trio of Sect Leaders exchanged glances. Jiang Wanyin’s temper was famous but this was new. He’d never acted so brashly in front of the three of them before, not even here, in his own home. Something was wrong.
“We have come to discuss the matter of Wei Wuxian,” Lan Xichen offered, hoping to see the surly young man smile. “I am given to understand he has expressed regrets about what happened all those years ago. We thought it was time to take another look at the situation.”
“Oh I’m sure he’s full of regrets,” Jiang Wanyin agreed, pausing his reply to sip from the steaming cup of tea. “I’m sure my poor martyred former disciple has wept tears enough to fill all of Yunmeng’s lakes since the consequences of his idiotic actions came home to roost on top of his brilliant, cloud-filled head.”
Lan Wangji seethed at the uncaring tone, fingers bone-white around his own teacup. He’d known appealing to Jiang Wanyin was a waste of time. But he was willing to do anything for Wei Ying. However, the Sect Leader of Yunmeng Jiang ignored him, having attention only for the other Sect Leaders present.
Nie Mingjue wore a thoughtful frown, his arms crossed over his chest and Baxia laid across his knees like a watchful, rabid pet. Lan Xichen wore a faint smile, as always, as he sipped his own tea with practiced, graceful motions. Jin Guangyao’s smile was somewhat brittle around the edges, just a bit too sardonic.
He was caught between the Lan and the Jiang on the issue of Wei Wuxian. These three, the Venerated Triad, had come to Yunmeng at the combined urging of Lan Wangji and Nie Huaisang. To smooth things over between the estranged brothers. To broker peace between Wei Wuxian and the cultivation world.
“Sect Leader Jiang, do you mean to imply you are not in favor of reconciliation between the jianghu as a whole and your brother?” Lan Xichen asked carefully. “I had thought you would be in favor of bringing him and those poor refugees out of the Burial Mounds.”
Jiang Wanyin snorted derisively. “I can no more imply unwillingness now, Zewu Jun, before the combined pressure of the esteemed Venerated Triad, than I could fail to appear at the siege, under the weight of Jin Guangshan’s poisonous scrutiny and in fear for my own Sect’s decimated and ally-less state. Of course, whatever my wiser and more powerful peers say, I must hasten to agree. Otherwise, who knows what armies will find their way to my borders?”
The truth of that lay before them. Indeed, of the four remaining Great Sects, only Yunmeng Jiang was cut out of the alliance the other three shared. Only Yunmeng Jiang stood bereft and cold outside the warm fire of camaraderie the other three Sects had fostered between themselves. Only Sandu Shengshou’s fierce reputation kept the wolves at bay, beyond Yunmeng’s borders.
For a moment they all acknowledged it, silently. Lan Xichen had the grace to blush. Even Jin Guangyao seemed, for an instant, to recognize the great wrong that had been done to Yunmeng Jiang. Nie Mingjue studied the youngest of them with a new light in his eyes.
“So you agree,” Lan Wangji said, speaking for the first time. “Wei Ying can come home.”
Jiang Wanyin, with his angry scowl fading to resigned boredom, shrugged. “What do I care? I fail to understand why you all are even here. Surely the Venerated Triad need not trouble Yunmeng Jiang with their maneuvering? Why would I raise a hand to stop this power grab when I haven’t stopped any of the others?”
Lan Xichen looked startled. “Power grab? Sect Leader Jiang, surely you think better of us than that!”
“In fact, I do not.” Jiang Wanyin examined his teacup and set it down with a look of distaste. “Wei Wuxian is a genius. I am sure whichever of you lays claim to him will make good use of his brilliance now that enough time as passed you may overlook his famously ‘heretical’ crimes in pursuit of wealth and power.”
“We aren’t trying to lay claim to him,” Lan Xichen replied, puzzled. “We are trying to bring him home.”
Jiang Cheng frowned. “Again, what has that to do with me? The last time I checked, the Jiang hold no sway over Gusu.”
“Not our home. Wei Ying’s home.” Lan Wangji growled. “We are trying to bring him back to Yunmeng.”
Zidian sprang to life on Jiang Wanyin’s hand, purple sparks spitting and hissing into the air. “Is this his idea? Did he send all of you instead of asking me himself? That fucking coward.”
“He does not know,” Lan Wangji glared. “He is sick. Maiden Wen thinks he will die if he remains in the Burial Mounds.”
Jiang Wanyin sat back, leaning into the Lotus Throne. He looked at them all with a bitter smirk. It began to sink in, for his guests, that he was more than a little angry.
How long had this been brewing? The air felt static and thick, as if a storm were about to break overhead and smite them all with lightning.
And there was nothing they could do to stop it.