Work Text:
The day he’d heard Wei Wuxian announce that he had - through convoluted methods and the use of a surrogate - actually managed to father children with his husband, was the day Jiang Cheng decided he probably didn’t really need a brother, right? He could just not deal with that. He’d managed just fine for those three years Wei Wuxian was in ‘confinement’ in Gusu, he could manage now.
At the very least, he was going to avoid Yiling even if he didn’t completely avoid Wei Wuxian. As head of the YunmengJiang and YilingWei sects, they couldn’t completely stay out of each other’s company (and he didn’t really want them to) but there would certainly be no confusing loud screaming infants present at any sect leader meetings they attended together. And avoiding the spawn of Wei Wuxian was the most important goal here.
Really, why did Wei Wuxian even need that many children? Two adopted sons - one a former Wen and one a bastard Jin, how had that even happened? - and now biological ones too? Twins even??! It sounded like far too much and very exhausting.
Not that Jiang Cheng resented the family his brother had built at all, or begrudged him that happiness. It was more just he didn’t feel that he could ever reasonably fit in their lives and he’d rather just let Wei Wuxian keep his happiness intact and keep their friendship and closeness separate.
A grumpy bachelor who had trouble expressing feelings was never going to be somebody’s favorite uncle. He was never going to spark the same excitement Wei Wuxian could from their shared nephews - making them light up whenever they saw him.
Definitely best to just avoid getting close to those kids. He didn’t need any more Wei related complicated feelings in his life. Or disappointment in himself. It was easier to just stay away.
~~
For the first few years that seemed to work just fine. Jiang Cheng staunchly avoided having to head to Yiling for any reason what-so-ever and certainly made no invitations for his brother to bring his children to Lotus Pier. Yanli visited both Yunmeng and Yiling plenty with both of her sons and told him plenty that “A-Xian’s children are all very sweet” but of course she thought that, and he didn’t want to hear further.
Eventually, it became unavoidable and he really did have to go to Yiling for business. All he could do was thank everything that by now, the children were probably off with nurses, no longer hanging off their father’s side. He’d probably never see them at all while he was there. The YilingWei Sect’s Phoenix Fire Tree was massive, after all.
He’d informed Wei Wuxian of the visit beforehand and that he was going strictly on business even - just so he knew, implicitly, this wouldn’t be an introduction.
They’d spoken several times on the subject and his brother had accepted, reluctantly, that Jiang Cheng didn’t want to meet them so he wasn’t going to push it. Their relationship was complicated enough on its own, no need to add any resentment over if he ended up not liking them or they disliked him to the mix, right?
He pushed all anxieties and thoughts about who else lived here aside in favor of wearing his most unapproachable and serious Sect Leader demeanor as he headed to Yiling. They could get through their business and he could leave again.
~~
Somehow, instead of meeting immediately, Wei Wuxian had been called away to deal with an “emergency situation that you probably don’t want to hear about anyway”.
So Jiang Cheng was left to sit at one of the various cozy little meeting rooms in the ridiculous tree his brother made his home in. He stared out a nearby window and sipped at the tea that had been left him by his host.
It was in this distraction he failed to see the intruder to the room until a small voice suddenly piped up near the doorway, “Purple!!!”
Nearly choking on his tea in surprise and having to put the cup down quickly, Jiang Cheng turned swiftly to see a small child poking her head into the room.
“What?” he asked, glaring that way.
“You’re puuuuurple.” the girl repeated, bouncing a little.
What?
Oh…
His robes.
Jiang Cheng crossed his arms over his chest, raising a brow at her.“Yes, they’re my sect colors.
Rather than being scared off by his harsh tone, the girl had the audacity to giggle at him!
Such a reaction drew his attention more fully, and he took the chance to look her over better.
She was chubby cheeked and her hair was fluffy, falling about her head in a massive poof that couldn’t be tamed - especially with all the leaves in it! She wore the black robes and mild orange accents of the YilingWei Sect. Well at least dark robes were good for a kid playing around in dirt and leaves and a tree, or so he guessed.
Bright gold eyes looked at him, wide and curious, even as he stared back at her with his most surly and standoffish expression possible. In fact, she even dared come closer to him, looking up with curiosity.
“Yunmeng?”
What was that? Had she just…?
Looking back, he raised a brow at the child once again. “What?” Yanli had trained him not to just be unresponsive to children, but that didn’t mean he knew exactly what to say to them.
“Yunmeng...Yunmeng...Yunmeng Jiang!!” the girl declared after a few moments, proudly remembering whatever it was she’d been trying to and tossing her arms up in victory.
“Yes, I’m from YunmengJiang Sect.” he agreed, softening just a little. “Who are you?”
His interest was now properly gained. Apart from being alone and having no one else to talk to, this child had just demonstrated important knowledge - namely being able to identify his sect by colors! Very important.
The girl toddled over closer to him, and reached up, scrambling onto the table with frightening confidence. Jiang Cheng reached out to push the tea set away from the edge and awkwardly try and support her till the child was stably perched on the edge near him. He thanked the heavens that the stupid tables in this place were so rooted to the floor nothing could bring them down, least of all an overeager tot.
Now perched higher and able to see him better, the girl smiled wide, her sun-warmed cheeks looking horrifyingly squishable all the while.
“I’m A-Yong.” the girl smiled brightly, holding out a hand to him.
Jiang Cheng frowned. “That’s not how you’re supposed to introduce yourself,” he chided.
Didn’t her parents teach her better? But then again...YilingWei sect was known to be made up of a lot of orphans and refugees so she might not even have...but that was no excuse! Her sect really should teach her!
“Oh?” the child asked, tilting her head to the side to look at him, “How then?”
Deciding to set a proper example, he looked at her, “I am Jiang Wanyin.”
Rather than attempt to introduce herself again A-Yong just grinned, “Nice to meet you!”
Well, what could he do about it if she didn’t introduce herself right? “Nice to meet you too, A-Yong…”
She puzzled over his name a little, repeating it a few times as if trying to remember something. That seemed to be how she remembered words. “Jiang Wanyin...Jiang Wanyin...Lotus Pier? Do you live at Lotus Pier?” those big gold eyes returned to him tracked his every movement even, rapt with attention.
She knew about Lotus Pier? Clever girl.
“I do. What do you know about Lotus Pier?” Jiang Cheng’s eyes narrowed, looking at those pudgy tanned cheeks.
He was a sect leader, dammit! A proud, respectable person with an intimidating image. He didn’t go around worrying about cute things...but she was also adorable and smart, and acted like an eager puppy.
They were also the only ones here…
After a short time, he realized he couldn’t resist, so he reached out and poked the child’s chubby cheek, squishing it.
She’d been thinking hard about what all she knew about the place, when he squished her cheek. Making a little pout, she pushed at his hand and puffed her face more. Still, she couldn’t be put off for long! Especially when she finally decided her answer!
“Lotus Pier, home of Yunmeng Jiang.” she said with a nod. “It’s on the water.” Obvious answers, but for child so young, it was pretty good.
“Uh huh. And where are we now?”
“In the Phoenix Fire Tree! Yiling Wei Sect!” she grinned brightly at that one.
Jiang Cheng nodded, “Very good.” At least she knew those things.
After staring at him for a few moments, she suddenly seemed to realize something and leaned in to tug his sleeve.
“Ah! Ah! You’re from Yunmeng Jiang. I gotta question!”
Furrowing his brows, Jiang Cheng looked at her. “What question?”
“Do you know about the Sect Leader? I heard...I heard…”
His eyes narrowed at that, leaning in. “What have you heard?” What was some child in Yiling hearing about him??
She looked around furtively, even though nobody was there and leaned in, putting her hand up by her mouth to whisper like it was a secret, still speaking in a very audible attempt at a whisper.
“I heard...the Yunmeng Jiang sect leader...has...has…”
“Has what?” he snapped, unsure at what point he became so invested in what a toddler from another sect thought of him. What, a bad temper? Any number of other horrible things?
Her eyes lit up brightly, “A - a -” she seemed to be delaying mostly because she forgot the word, and so instead flailed emphatically with one arm, “Swish swish! Purple lightning!”
OH!!!!
“Is that what you’ve heard then?” he said, sitting up properly and feeling very much like he had never felt this confident in his life. “It’s true, you know.”
“IT ISSSSSS?!?!” her fake whisper tone of questioning was dropped immediately in favor of a very loud and eager tone as she bounced up and down in her seat on the table edge.
“Yes - it is…” he considered a moment, “Would you like to see?”
“YESSSSSSS!!”
Jiang Cheng felt a smallsmile breaking on his features as he stood, touching the ring on his hand.
~~
Wei Wuxian was finally freed from the task of breaking up a fight between two of his sons and was now safely reassured they weren’t going to go cause trouble with their visiting - and reluctant to bond - uncle. He was just heading in to meet Jiang Cheng when he found the room he’d been left to wait in surprisingly empty.
Ok not completely surprising - his brother could have easily decided to leave again or gone wandering. He was already not that keen on being in Yiling before Wei Wuxian had kids but after? Forget it!
He had been about to start asking around if anyone had seen him leave - since Jiang Cheng couldn’t be assed to leave a note or something - when an shriek met his ears.
In panic, he’d dashed as fast as he could to the source of that sound, only to discover when he was closer that it had been a shriek of delight.
~~
At one of the Sect’s outdoor training grounds, Jiang Cheng stood attacking target dummies with Zidian in one hand - and holding the giggling and cheering A-Yong on his other arm. She was choosing his targets for him and was thoroughly pleased with the whole business.
“A-Yong, are you shrieking in people’s ears again?” Wei Wuxian asked in a fond sing-song from nearby.
They both looked over but A-Yong’s attention quickly returned to Jiang Cheng as she flailed eagerly at him.
“Look look! Sect Leader Jiang! Jiang Wanyin! He has it! He’s got the swish swish purple lightning!!”
Jiang Cheng smirked and bounced her on his arm with ease. “And what is the swish swish, A-Yong?”
“A whip!”
“And what’s it called?”
“ZIDIAN!!” A-Yong threw her arms up as she cheered its name.
Jiang Cheng could not help the smug smile over at his brother at this. He’d taught a kid something and she clearly thought he was far more interesting than Wei Wuxian. This was the first time he’d actually seen a child in the presence of both of them who didn’t immediately want to run and greet Wei Wuxian actually…
Wei Wuxian, for his part, just gave a mysterious smile and nodded, “Very good. You’re learning a lot aren’t you, A-Yong? Are you being good for Sect Leader Jiang?”
“Yes Daddy!”
Wait...what?
Suddenly, Jiang Cheng understood that smile.
“Jiang Cheng, meet Wei ShuiYong.” Wei Wuxian said calmly, gesturing between him and the little girl, though they’d already given introductions.
A-Yong’s proper name was Wei ShuiYong.
She’d known about Yunmeng Jiang sect and Lotus Pier because this was Wei Wuxian’s child, of course he’d tell his child about where he grew up and his former sect. She had known about Zidian because Wei Wuxian would have told her about it.
Somehow, in all his thoughts on the subject, Jiang Cheng had never actually considered that Wei Wuxian’s children weren’t all sons or that perhaps one of them might inherit his tendency towards latching onto grouchy people who didn’t know how to deal with their feelings.
Really, seeing her with her dad present - how had he missed the resemblance? He hadn’t known Wei Wuxian this young, and she clearly had gotten her eye color from her other father, but there were enough similar features he’d just missed it…
Right as he was processing all of this, the girl in his arms blinked and looked up at him, those gold eyes wide and seemed to be puzzling over something, her small face screwing up in puzzlement.
“Jiang Cheng? Jiang Wanyin...Jiang Cheng...Jiang Cheng…” processing what the name meant, remembering in that way she did, when suddenly she lit up and cheered.
“JIANG SHUSHU!!!!!!!”
Oh…
Oh.
In that instant, Jiang Cheng felt like he fully understood his father so much more, in a small way.
There was something very powerful in looking down at the child of someone both dear to him and complicated all at once, who was looking up at him like he’d hung the moon. Sitting in his arm and calling him ‘Jiang Shushu’...just like her father had called his…
Something in his chest absolutely melted, and it evaporated further when Wei ShuiYong threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight.
At least Wei Wuxian had the decency to not say a damn thing at this point and just let him hug his niece.
~~
It was probably selfish of him to not visit more after that point. In fact, he knew it was selfish. The truth was that Jiang Cheng didn’t want his niece’s initial view of him to fade.
He had been willing to start visiting Yiling more, and had met the rest of the family but the other three didn’t seem to find him as interesting. ShuiYong was the one who most actually took after Wei Wuxian and she seemed to think he was the most delightful person still, running to hug him whenever he came to visit and always happy to tag along after him the entire time it was there.
How could he not want to preserve that admiration for him? He was rarely seen so of course could still spark his niece’s interest in a way he likely couldn’t if he became just Jiang Cheng, just her dad’s little brother. It was selfish but he liked being looked up to and eagerly asked for like that, rather than just the less preferred of uncles.
So he stopped avoiding the place, let his niece tag along after him when he did, and answered all of her questions, but he never went out of his way to visit. He always made a point to send small presents for special occasions, or just pop by briefly on birthdays, but that was about all.
That was just how it was for the next several years.
~~
Baofu, Yanli’s second son, spent a great deal of time at Lotus Pier. Till such time as Jiang Cheng actually found someone suitable to marry and had heirs of his own, his sister’s younger son was the heir apparent for Jiang Sect. As such, he had general run of the place during his rather regular visits, which were far more frequent than his elder brother’s.
Due to that, Baofu was allowed to invite whatever friends he wished to visit Lotus Pier as well. With his quiet patient temper, the boy tended to make far more friends than Jiang Cheng had in his youth and so had plenty of other children his own age he could invite over to spend time, even ones from other sects.
It was not uncommon to see Baofu running about with his best friend, the current Young Master Nie, along with however many other playmates the two had gathered.
So it was no surprise for Jiang Cheng to be taking a break from his work and taking a long walk around Lotus Pier, and see his nephew and a gaggle of other young boys dash past him, talking nonsense as children often do. He paid little mind to them visiting if they weren’t actively causing trouble and didn’t seem to want his attention.
Instead, Jiang Cheng had just continued his solitary walk until he unexpectedly found himself tripping over an odd object on the ground.
Stopping to pick the item up, he found it was a paper kite with an arrow through it!
Waves of old memories came flooding back, tinged with bittersweet flavors, but deeply nostalgic just the same. He looked over the kite plainly, remembering familiar laughter and games from his childhood, when he was drawn out of his reverie by approaching footsteps.
Looking up, Jiang Cheng was struck by seeing something so very close to a vision stepped right out of his memories.
The ribbons and robes were the wrong colors, but the bouncing ponytail, bright smile and energetic gait were all familiar.
Carrying several shot kites in her arms, Wei ShuiYong was absently looking about for where the next was till she suddenly spotted it in his hands and dropped the whole pile in her excitement, rushing over to his side.
“Shushu!!!” she squealed, running up to hug him about his middle. “I didn’t get to see you when we got here! I heard you were busy!”
“I was.” he agreed, “Who’s kite was this?” He asked the question despite already suspecting the answer.
“Mine of course!”
ShuiYong stepped away from his side to quickly gather back up the other kites, talking excitedly as she did.
“I shot the farthest so they said I had to collect all the kites since I’d pass theirs on my way. But I think the boys just wanted to ditch me!” familiar pout that quickly fell into a familiar grin, “That’s okay though, I had a better idea of what I wanted to do - and then I got to see Shushu and that’s even better!!!”
He felt a soft smile tug at his face. It was so easy to make her happy with just his presence. “What was your other idea that seeing me is so much better than?” He could afford to dote on his niece a bit while she was here, after all.
“I was going to see if Jin-gege is visiting here too. Cause you know if he’s here...maybe sometimes...you know, Fairy might be here.” she looked furtively about while saying that.
Ah of course. It really was like father like daughter in that sense too, then? She was looking to see if Jin Ling had brought his little spiritual dog, Fairy, there. Probably to avoid the pup like Wei Wuxian did.
“Do you not like Fairy, A-Yong?” he asked her.
Looking about this way and that, before leaning in and putting her free hand up beside her mouth, speaking in that loud stage whisper fashion of hers, “Actually, can you keep a secret?”
Jiang Cheng raised a brow at her but nodded.
“I…I...I ACTUALLY REALLY REALLY LIKE DOGS!!!!” she couldn’t keep her volume down with her excitement. Jumping in place a bunch, she pouted, “I like dogs a whole lot and Dad’s scared of them so he doesnt let Jin-gege bring Fairy around ever and I love Fairy, whenever we go to Koi Tower I always steal Fairy to play and its lots of fun but I never get to do that and Papa’s bunnies back home are really nice of course but I do really like getting to play with puppies and I never get to and...and...Yeah!!”
She may be like her father in several ways, but ShuiYong’s intense tendency to feel just about everything and at the top of her lungs was clearly unique to her. As was her blatant love of animals he had just discovered.
In Jiang Cheng’s heart blossomed both the most warm feeling of familial joy, while also the most wicked of ideas.
“Jin Ling is not at Lotus Pier just now,” he started, and watched as she drooped at that, “but...he is not the only one here with dogs.”
ShuiYong looked up again, wide-eyed. “Really? Dad said he didn’t know of any here.”
“That’s because they’re kept away when he visits.” Jiang Cheng agreed, “But I can show you where they live.”
Her eyes widened so they were practically rivaling that one set of golden dinner plates at Koi Tower, “THERE ARE SECRET DOGS AT LOTUS PIER!?!?!?!?! I want to meet them! I want to see the secret dogs! Shushu we need to go see them!!!”
She tucked all of the kites under one arm and ran over to grab his arm, tugging emphatically, “Come on, come on! Let’s goooooo! You can’t tell me there are dogs and us not go see theeeeeeem!”
Jiang Cheng couldn’t hold in the laugh at that, and quickly took off walking, his longer legs easily keeping up with the child dashing full speed at his side.
He spent a good long while just taking ShuiYong about to meet the small pack of dogs he kept at his home, carefully kept away from running about when his dear brother might be visiting.
His niece delighted in meeting the pups and certainly didn’t seem to mind they were named soft things like “Jasmine” or “Princess” or “Love” at all. She called them all darlings and rolled around with the dogs and hugged and pet them and seemed to just squeal with delighted giggles if any of them pounced her or tried to lick her face.
~~
Jiang Cheng was able to stay at this for a while but eventually had to return to his work so with a stretch he stood.
“A-Yong, I need to return to work. If you wish to stay and play with the dogs, you may.”
He strode away and found his way back to his office and the boring paperwork there. Ah the life of a Sect Leader could just be so glamorous couldn’t it? Writing letters, dealing with accountants, listening to reports from the branch groups working under his sect. Overall, he’d much rather be off being impressive for his niece and getting to play with his dogs but responsibilities came first.
With a sigh, he reached to get another letter he had to read out only to spot his office door opening.
Blinking in surprise, he spotted ShuiYong entering. She’d cleaned up from playing with the dogs obviously, but that meant she must have left them very soon after he had.
“A-Yong, is something wrong?” he asked, brows knitting.
She shrugged, “Nope. Just wanted to come spend more time with Shushu.”
“Ah. I’m working right now.” Jiang Cheng admitted.
“That’s okay, I can help if you want!” she offered with a bright grin that wasn’t deterred at all by his incredulous look, “I can get you things or I can just hang out and keep you company. Whatever works!”
“It’s boring work.” he pointed out, a bit touched by the offer just the same.
“Of course, silly! You’re doing sect leader stuff. Dad does that stuff too but he and Papa do a lot of that together and they’re annoying about it.” she stuck out her tongue then grinned, going to pick up some letters and things.
Most of her help was just grabbing stuff from about Jiang Cheng’s office for him or going to call servants to get tea, and keeping him company ShuiYong mostly just meandered about looking at his office or asking him the occasional question. But it was nice.
“I should definitely come visit Lotus Pier more!” ShuiYong observed at one point as she was pouring a cup of tea for her uncle as he looked over a report. “You never come see us in Yiling, its no fun!”
“I have a lot to do.” Jiang Cheng said, taking the cup from her but feeling a pang of guilt, “Are you just going to try and come steal my dogs?”
She laughed, “Pff! No! Dogs are fun but I wanna see Shushu more! You’re my favorite uncle, silly!”
Jiang Cheng looked up suddenly, nearly dropping his tea as he raised a brow at her. “Am I?”
“Of course! You’re neat. You’re grumpy and you give me silly looks like that whenever I say normal stuff but you’re cool and you’re smart and you run stuff here and you like things I like, like dogs or calling stuff silly names. Plus you’re the youngest, like me!”
He held in his laugh and took a sip of the tea before he spoke again, “Well if someone can bring you, you can visit Lotus Pier whenever you like. You can help me walk the dogs.”
“Hooray!”
That...gave him a very wicked idea.
~~
For Wei ShuiYong’s birthday that year, rather than giving her a trinket or present, Jiang Cheng gave his niece a note and just said dismissively he’d left her present at Lotus Pier, that she could get it some other time.
ShuiYong had just laughed at that, not too worried, but when she opened the note and found just a very small paw print stamped on it, she had to cover her mouth with both hands to hide the squeal of delight, rushing over to hug Jiang Cheng around the middle.
“Thankyouthankyouthankyou!!!!!!!! Shushu is the best!!!”
Her twin, Jiayue, looked over with a distasteful yet bland expression, “That’s a lie. Best is Gugu.” Of course, what child wouldn’t be fond of Yanli?
“She can be second best! Best is Shushu!” ShuiYong declared firmly. “He’s my favorite so he’s the best!”
Wei Wuxian raised a brow at him, smirking. “Jiang Cheng are you stealing my daughter?”
“Yes,” he responded deadpan, “It my revenge on you for years to come, obviously.”
Wei Wuxian laughed and slapped his shoulder, “How’s it feel being someone’s favorite uncle?” he asked quietly.
Jiang Cheng didn’t deign to give him an answer, but looking over at his niece in a slapfight with her twin brother, in his honor, how could he not smile?
It felt pretty great being somebody’s favorite uncle alright.