Chapter Text
Throughout his young life, Nie Huaisang thought he knew what embarrassment was. In his experience, it meant being caught reading a pornographic book by Xichen-gege, handing in a blank exam paper or being forced by his father to take part in a competition where he would inevitably come last.
However, he discovered true embarrassment that day. So did all the other guests at Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli’s wedding. Yunmeng's climate was naturally humid due to the abundance of lakes and rivers, but the guests were sweating beneath their elegant robes for a different reason.
Even Nie Huaisang, who was not ashamed to admit his mischievous and gossip-hungry nature, threw up his hands in acknowledgement that he was also overwhelmed by the situation. The fact that the wedding was taking place at Lotus Pier served as a huge, silent reminder to everyone of the reason for their coughing and averting of gazes.
Wen RuoHan had invested a great deal of time and energy to ensure that everything went the opposite way to how it would have under normal circumstances. This explained why, despite the marriage having been discussed since the trial, two years had passed.
Perhaps this was mainly because Wen RuoHan's paranoia had needed time to allow Wei Wuxian to leave the Sun Palace's protective walls.
Nie Huaisang, who hadn’t seen Wei Wuxian since their days at the Cloud Recesses, witnessed his transformation from a pretty fifteen-year-old boy into a handsome eighteen-year-old.
The two years he had spent confined to his home, imposed by Wen RuoHan or not, had made him even more beautiful. Although this was partly due to his exceedingly luxurious and elaborate robes, which stood out even amidst the extravagant decorations all around them.
Wen RuoHan had generously funded the wedding himself. Lotus Pier was adorned with exquisitely decorated red lanterns, silk banners and floral arrangements — flowers; flowers were everywhere. The wedding itself was undoubtedly marvelous. The bride's gown alone, which made Jiang Yanli look like an imperial princess, would have bankrupted a minor sect. Unfortunately, the new Jin crest, sewn and painted everywhere, rather spoiled the overall effect. However, Nie Huaisang did appreciate the stroke of genius in the osmanthus: from the "queen of flowers" to the simple blossom that adorns peasant girls' hair.
He could only bow to Wen RuoHan’s mischief.
Well, at least osmanthus produces some excellent honey.
The crest stood out even more because the groom wasn't wearing it. In fact, the lotus flower of the Jiang clan had been embroidered onto Jin Zixuan’s robes. This was because, having legitimised Meng Yao — now Jin Guangyao — and placed him at the head of the Jin Sect, Wen RuoHan had arbitrarily decreed that Jiang Yanli would inherit the Jiang Sect alongside her adopted husband.
Following this announcement, Nie Huaisang feared that Wen RuoHan had gone too far and that the other sects would rise up to defend their own authority. However, surprisingly or not, nothing had happened. Jiang Fengmian had barely attempted to oppose this decision in order to protect his only son's inheritance.
To be honest, Nie Huaisang was convinced that Wen Ruohan had unwittingly rendered a great service to the Jiang Sect.
Jiang Wanyin would have been a terrible leader. Nie Huaisang could picture him distancing his family from the other clans and failing to maintain diplomatic relations. Ultimately, he would have isolated his own sect. He would probably have alienated his own people as well — they would have been too afraid to ask him for help with the night hunts. His good looks would not have offset his character flaws, so he would have struggled to find a wife and would never have had any direct heirs.
Overall, one could argue that the Jiang sect was saved by being left in Jiang-guniang's hands. Although she was weak and her husband didn't have a golden core, they were pleasant and balanced individuals. Moreover, judging by the way Zixuan’s gaze lingered on Jiang Yanli’s belly several times at the start of the ceremony, Nie Huaisang was willing to bet that she was already pregnant.
While he was lost in thought, the temple doors swung open once more.
The newlyweds had entered to perform the second bow to the gods, accompanied only by their fathers – or, in Zixuan's case, his half-brother, Jin Guangyao. Now, once again in front of everyone, they bowed to one another for the final time. They rose as husband and wife.
They appeared genuinely serene and in love. Nie Huaisang thought that, ultimately, it had been a relief for Jin Zixuan — now Jiang Zixuan — to leave behind the unrecognisable version of his childhood home. Despite the arrogance he had displayed in his youth, he now seemed like a young man with simple desires, content to live peacefully with a kind wife.
"Congratulations, A-Li! You look beautiful!"
Wei Wuxian’s vibrant voice startled more than one person. From the outset, his presence was the most embarrassing thing that everyone pretended not to notice. However, he didn’t seem to care at all; he simply stood there, smiling, as he watched the girl he was fond of getting married.
Jiang Yanli smiled radiantly at him. Even Zixuan, who had proven himself to be dignified and fair, nodded gratefully at him.
Lan Wangji stood beside Wei Wuxian, brazenly wrapping an arm around his waist. Their hair brushed their shoulders. They could have concealed its length with a low bun, but neither of them seemed to regard it as a problem.
The members of the Lan Sect, however, gathered not far away in a defensive formation. They stood huddled close together, as if for support, and wore expressions of utter devastation whenever their gaze fell upon Lan Wangji. Nie Huaisang wondered what they must have done on the day Lan Wangji returned to the Cloud Recesses with his hair cut short, if they were still reacting like this two years later.
What a shame not to have been there to witness it! Especially since Da-Ge, the traitor, had gone alone "to support Xichen in case the Wen dogs returned Wangji’s battered corpse."
Nie Huaisang loved his brother, but he sometimes wondered if he lived in his own bizarre and highly personal version of reality. Did he really not realise that Lan Wangji had stayed in the Nightless City of his own accord? Or that Xichen-Ge was already receiving all the support he needed from Jin Guangyao?
In any case, Nie Huaisang wasn’t one to dwell on things. The world was full of wonders to amuse oneself with!
For example, while Wei Wuxian was genuinely happy for Jiang Yanli, Wen RuoHan’s heir, standing beside his nephew, looked, strangely enough, a little sulky. In a mocking imitation of encouragement, Wen-zongzhu patted him on the shoulder. Wen Xu sulked even more.
The bride’s mother wore an impenetrable expression, while Jiang Fengmian did not hide his relief. However, it was Jiang Wanyin’s expression that made Nie Huaisang shudder: contorted with rage, it conveyed a dark sense of betrayal and resentment.
Nie Huaisang sincerely hoped that the boy wouldn’t do anything foolish. Although he loved gossip, scandal and public theatrics, he didn’t want to see rivers of blood flowing amid them.
The banquet, once again generously funded by Wen RuoHan, provided enough food to feed a whole town for a month. The tension that had hung in the air during the wedding ceremony began to dissipate thanks to the abundance of good food and wine.
Only when Wei Wuxian stood up did the nervousness begin to vibrate in the air once more. Nie Huaisang could practically read the shared thought above everyone’s heads: the moment had arrived. The charade staged by the Wens was about to end, and Wen RuoHan’s grandson would reveal his true, bloody intentions. The Sun’s vengeful fury would finally eradicate the Lotus. This would go down in history as the Blood Wedding. They would all die and...
"Congratulations, peacock!" exclaimed Wei Wuxian, raising his wine glass in a toast to the happy couple. "You’ve married the kindest and sweetest girl in the world. Make sure you treat her like a precious gem, do you hear?"
The collective sigh of relief that rose from the tables could have stirred a tree's branches.
Wei Wuxian was so blunt and spontaneous that Zixuan ended up rolling his eyes just as spontaneously. It was as if the terrible events of their past, caused by Jin Guangshan, had never happened. Yanli smiled affectionately.
Unlike his grandson, Wen RuoHan did not stand up to make his announcement. Nevertheless, his words were extremely significant. "As a wedding gift for the future lords of Lotus Pier, I hereby revoke the ban on the Jiang Sect using my grandson's inventions," he announced.
This left Nie Huaisang with a bitter taste in his mouth. Even more so than Yu-furen, whose lips twisted into an ugly, purple grimace as she watched her husband thank Wen RuoHan formally.
Nie Huaisang knew that his father was now fully aware of the immense damage their sect was suffering and would continue to suffer due to the impossibility of implementing Wei Wuxian’s inventions during night hunts. Not to mention the discontent among the people of Qinghe, who had been denied the daily life improvements that the non-hunting inventions would have brought.
Could Da-Ge marry a Wen girl? If so, perhaps the Nie family would receive a wedding gift from Wen RuoHan.
Nie Huaisang looked at the Wen Sect's table. Wen Qing stood out as the only woman seated amongst the heirs. She wasn’t married yet. She was beautiful and highly regarded by Wen RuoHan. More importantly, she was strong-willed. His brother tended to terrorize girls. But if he ever dared to raise his voice at her, she would brandish a sharp needle under his nose. Yes, Huaisang certainly saw potential in that union.
It was a bit odd, though, that the kid with the pointed canines — Xue Yang, if he wasn’t mistaken — had sat on her lap. Wasn’t he about eleven by now? He was far too old to behave like a spoilt child! Assuming he regarded Wen Qing as a mother figure, that is. Nie Huaisang wasn’t at all sure that glaring menacingly at anyone who dared to look at the girl was the behaviour of a son. When a brave man tried to approach her, Xue Yang bared his teeth and mimed slitting his throat. Wisely, the man backed off.
Then again, perhaps he would marry into the Wen Sect himself. As he entertained this thought, Nie Huaisang looked specifically at Wen Ning. He had fond memories of him from when they had studied together at the Cloud Recesses three years ago. He had never met anyone quite so kind and gentle. Wen Ning was always quiet and understanding; his calmness bordered on meekness.
Above all, he was the only person who understood Nie Huaisang's desire to live simply and mind his own business.
He was also very handsome.
Nie Huaisang considered himself a proud admirer of beauty — well, except when it came to Lan-er-gongzi. However stunning he was, he had intimidated him ever since they were children.
The clatter of shattering pottery interrupted his very serious musings.
Nie Huaisang turned his head, feeling an unpleasant knot form in his stomach. He groaned, his worst fears confirmed, when he saw Jiang Wanyin. The boy had just smashed an empty jar and was clearly drunk. His cheeks were flushed and he was staggering, leaning heavily against the table to stop himself falling to the floor.
"Jiang Cheng!" Yu Ziyuan’s voice rang out like the crack of a whip. He was staring at his son with icy, stern eyes. "Go and sober up somewhere else instead of making a fool of yourself," she ordered sharply.
The boy laughed, his voice choked with tears. "You don't care about anything, do you?" he retorted. "It's your daughter who's inheriting. The marriage you wanted has taken place: you're happy with that. What does it matter if the son you’ve always been dissatisfied with has lost everything?"
She raised her voice. "You don’t know what you’re talking about!"
This was probably the first time her son had ever ignored her. Instead, he turned to the Wen group. The hundreds of guests present held their breath as Jiang Wanyin addressed Wei Wuxian. "Are you happy?" he snarled. "Are you finally satisfied now that you’ve taken my sect away from me and turned me against my sister?"
Had the situation not been so dangerous, the way in which Wei Wuxian was immediately shielded by a veritable human wall would have been comical. Lan Wangji, Wen Xu, Wen Zhuliu, Wen Ning, Wen Qing and Xue Yang were standing before him. Nie Huaisang could hear Wei Wuxian's exasperated voice telling them all not to be ridiculous.
Wen RuoHan hadn’t moved. However, his blood-red eyes were those of a predator waiting to tear into its prey's throat.
It was rare to know the exact moment when a man’s fate was sealed. But in Jiang Wanyin’s case, there was no doubt. When Nie Huaisang heard the boy sneer at Wei Wuxian’s appearance, he knew Wen Ruohan would never let him get away with it.
"At least, now you can no longer disguise yourself as a nobleman. That hair suits the servant you have always been," Jiang Wanyin snapped, full of hatred.
From the moment the ceremony began, everyone had been staring at Wen RuoHan’s grandson and the Lan clan's heir with their inappropriately short hair. However, nobody was crazy enough to say anything out loud.
It was clear that Wen RuoHan would not forgive Jiang Wanyin’s umpteenth outburst against his grandson, it was not the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back; rather, it was a hammer blow that shattered the last remaining shards. It also became clear that Wei Wuxian would not intervene on behalf of his old shidi.
He squeezed his grandfather’s hand and whispered something to him. Wen Ruohan nodded grimly. Then, looking disapprovingly at Jiang Fengmian, he continued, "I suggest Jiang Zongzhu takes his son away to avoid ruining Jiang-guniang's marriage."
The man nodded solemnly, but Nie Huaisang thought he detected a hint of resentment. There must be a limit to how much humiliation a cowardly man can endure. He grabbed his son by the elbow and dragged him away. At the same time, he shot a stern glance at his wife, ordering her to remain seated. Yu-furen turned almost as purple as her robes and lipstick. It was pathologically fascinating that this woman would ostentatiously flaunt the colours of the Jiang sect while refusing the title of Jiang-furen. Nie Huaisang lived to gossip about such things.
Zixuan held Yanli's hand firmly.
The tension was so thick that you could cut it with a sword. When a young girl sneezed, she wore the horrified expression of someone who had committed a mortal sin.
The atmosphere gradually warmed up again after Wei Wuxian made the bride laugh by activating a talisman that showered her and her husband with flowers and colorful butterflies.
"The most beautiful flowers for the most beautiful girl," he said, smiling charmingly at her.
“Don’t be silly, A-Xian,” she rebuked him gently. There was a warm and grateful light in her eyes. She giggled again when she saw her husband cross his arms over his chest.
If Zixuan was annoyed that others were telling his wife what he wanted to say, then Lan Wangji was downright sulky. And not just figuratively. Nie Huaisang saw him fiddling with breadcrumbs like a grumpy child. Wei Wuxian threw his arms around Lan Wangji's neck, chirping that his Lan Zhan was, of course, the most handsome man in the world. Instead of feeling embarrassed, like a normal person would, Lan Wangji pulled him close with satisfaction. "Wei Ying is more handsome," he replied, kissing him on the cheek.
Suddenly, almost all the guests felt the need for a drink.
Nie Huaisang felt slightly embarrassed, too, but he was also fascinated by their bewildering lack of shame. Judging by the Wens' utter indifference — they mostly continued to eat without batting an eyelid — Wei Wuxian’s family must be used to it.
After that, Jiang Wanyin’s excesses and the absence of the bride’s father were almost easy to overlook.
It was only towards the end of the banquet that RuoHan stood up quietly, almost unnoticed. He did not want to make a scene. He was simply a man doing what he had to do.
Wei Wuxian confirmed Nie Huaisang's earlier suspicion that he had stopped defending his old Shidi. The boy wasn't restraining his grandfather; he was conversing with Lan Wangji, seemingly carefree, though his jaw was set firmly. He was angry. Or fed up. Perhaps both.
Wen RuoHan nodded at Lan Wangji; the boy shook Wei Wuxian’s hand, nodding gravely. Nie Huaisang found it fascinating that this possessive, protective man was entrusting his precious grandson to someone else.
It was madness. It was certainly the boldest act he had performed in his eighteen years of keeping a low profile. The greatest transgression he had previously allowed himself was hiding in a cupboard to avoid training. Driven by an irresistible temptation, Nie Huaisang rose to his feet, intending to follow Wen RuoHan. Da-Ge had never understood a thing; it was curiosity that fuelled his courage, not brandishing an unwieldy saber.
Fortunately, his father was too drunk at that point to pay him any attention. It may or may not have been Huaisang himself who repeatedly filled his cup with the strongest wine recommended by Wei Wuxian at the start of the banquet. Heartfelt thanks to Uncle Four and his private production!
Da-Ge shot him a suspicious glance, but Nie Huaisang merely smiled innocently and pretended he needed the toilet.
With no one to stop him, he easily followed the Chief Cultivator; not because he was a good spy, but because Wen RuoHan could not conceive of the idea of being followed. Nie Huaisang watched him enter the Jiang family's private quarters at will. Once inside, he confidently headed towards a particular room. The boy surmised that he had followed Jiang Fengmian’s spiritual trail.
Approaching the door with extreme caution, Nie Huaisang thanked Wen RuoHan inwardly for thoughtfully leaving it ajar. Pressed flat against the wall, he would have an excellent view of what was happening inside.
Yu Ziyuan, who had left the banquet shortly after Wen RuoHan — just after her daughter had gone to change her dress — was there with her husband and son. Although Jiang Wanyin appeared calmer, when he saw Wen RuoHan enter, he clenched his teeth and looked away abruptly.
"Wen-zongzhu," Jiang Fengmian greeted him, his calmness exaggerated. He made no attempt to hide his resentment at Wen RuoHan's intrusion into the family's private quarters.
Similarly, the other man made no pretence of returning the greeting. His piercing red eyes stared at the Jiang family with unnerving intensity. Nie Huaisang considered it a miracle that neither Yu Ziyuan nor his son had yet exploded under that hostile and contemptuous scrutiny.
Then Wen RuoHan spoke.
Nie Huaisang had imagined various scenarios, some rather dark and violent. But this... this went beyond his wildest imagination. He held his breath as the man addressed Jiang Fengmian without preamble, his voice as cold as steel.
"You shall punish the culprit with Zidian," he ordered.
That was all.
There was absolute silence for a few moments. Jiang Fengmian’s eyes widened, and his son stood there, mouth agape. Nie Huaisang was afraid that even swallowing might betray his presence. Unsurprisingly, she was the first to react. Having been sitting beside her son on the bed, she leapt to her feet and lunged furiously at Wen RuoHan.
"I did all this for Yanli’s sake, but I will never forgive you for killing my sworn sister and robbing Zixuan of his inheritance!" she proclaimed. Judging by the expression on his face, Wen RuoHan cared as much about her opinion as he would have cared about that of a cockroach. Unaware of this, she continued in the same haughty manner. "You are a tyrant! A despicable monster! A filthy Wen dog who thinks he has the right to play with other people’s lives!"
From his vantage point, Nie Huaisang reflected that she must have harboured hatred and resentment for years, like wine left to age. Obviously, morbidly wallowing in the thought of what her loved ones had suffered, she had been careful not to consider what had happened objectively.
"I will never allow you to whip my son!" she concluded, holding her head high. Nie Huaisang could not help but think that her pride and courage drowned in the muddy puddle that was her personality. It was all wasted, like casting pearls before swine.
Wen RuoHan looked at her with an inscrutable expression; deceptively calm, almost patient. “I never said that Jiang Fengmian should have flogged the boy,” he replied. He was staring her straight in the eye. “I ordered him to flog you.”
She was so taken aback that she was silenced.
Wen RuoHan seized this opportunity to continue without interruption. With his hands clasped behind his back, he adopted a somber yet controlled tone. "I can distinguish between a rotten root and a branch that has been nourished by poisoned sap since it was a sprout, withering from within, never having the chance to grow healthily," he said. "I have not forgotten how the boy has always treated my grandson, repaying Wei Ying’s selflessness and kindness with hostility and ingratitude. However, I pity him more than I am angry with him."
Jiang Wanyin's face turned red. Clearly, being pitied hurt him more than being denigrated. A warning glance from his father stopped him from speaking.
Wen RuoHan continued relentlessly. "If you want the Wen Sect to forgive the Jiang Sect for everything Wei Wuxian suffered because of you, you must strike your wife with ten lashes. If you had an ounce of honour, Jiang Fengmian, you would know that this is not an unjust punishment."
Once again: If Nie Huaisang thought he knew what tension was, he was mistaken. Any previous experience, even the day his father beat Wei Wuxian or the day Wen RuoHan announced that Jiang Yanli would become the new mistress of Lotus Pier, paled in comparison to the abyss of unpredictability that had opened up before Jiang Fengmian.
Nie Huaisang didn’t think the man would dare to do it. Jiang Wanyin didn’t think so either. Yu Ziyuan certainly didn't think so either.
Yet Jiang Fengmian surprised everyone by turning to his wife. They stood facing each other, both silent for once. Then, he spoke.
“Hand over Zidian,” he commanded.
Yu Ziyuan’s eyes bulged like a frog’s. Nie Huaisang felt a flicker of pity for her when she appeared normal and vulnerable, but she quickly erased that flash of empathy by reverting to an aggressive and venomous demeanor.
Despite his wife screaming bloody threats at him, blaming him for everything and forgiving him for nothing, he pushed her so hard that she fell to the floor. The woman’s reaction was one of utter astonishment. Nie Huaisang wondered how this could possibly be the first time Jiang Fengmian had laid a hand on her. Of course, hitting women was unseemly, but still… Jiang Fengmian must have had the heart of a saint or the soul of a eunuch to have endured his wife’s excesses until that moment without ever reacting.
"I knew you never loved me!" she screamed triumphantly. She seemed to take a perverse pleasure in finding confirmation of the accusations on which she had based their marriage.
Nie Huaisang frowned. It was common knowledge that Yu Ziyuan had used her family's influence to force Jiang Fengmian to marry her, even though he had refused outright. Why did she expect him to love her? He knew women could be irrational, but still... Nie Huaisang was beginning to suspect that Yu Ziyuan had serious mental flaws rather than just a horrible temperament.
"A-Die!"
Jiang Wanyin’s horrified exclamation rang out like a shrill scream.
"Don't interfere, A-Cheng," his mother hissed. "Your father has finally found the courage to be honest."
"Enough!" Jiang Fengmian snapped. His anger was fuelled by sheer exasperation. Stepping forward, he roughly grabbed her hand and wrenched the ring from her finger. He staggered when the spirit weapon did not reject his touch. Wen RuoHan smirked, implying that he had effortlessly seen through the man’s intentions. Jiang Fengmian must have calculated that he could back out by claiming that it was impossible to use Zidian — either to refuse the flogging itself, or to switch to a normal weapon.
Instead, Zidian had accepted being used by him. After his initial disarray, Jiang Fengmian pressed his lips together even more bitterly.
The first lash fell in the centre of her back, just below her shoulder blades. "Strike harder," Wen RuoHan ordered coldly. Jiang Fengmian did so. Two. Three. Four. By the fifth lash, blood was trickling from Yu Ziyuan's lips; she had bitten them to stop herself from screaming. Jiang Wanyin was deathly pale, but after his parents had ordered him to stay silent and still, he dared not intervene any further.
After the tenth lash, Jiang Fengmian lowered his arm. His expression was unreadable; his posture disturbingly limp.
Wen RuoHan held out his hand. "Give it to me."
"Don’t you dare!" Yu Ziyuan snarled. She had already stood up again, her knuckles white as she clenched her fingers around the fabric of her robe.
"Give me that hideous weapon," Wen RuoHan repeated. Instead of raising his voice, he lowered it to a menacing murmur. "You must be foolish indeed to have believed that whip—the whip that dared to tear my grandson’s flesh—could continue to exist in this world."
"NO!"
Despite his wife's full-blown roar, Jiang Fengmian handed Zidian, now a ring once more, to Wen RuoHan.
He held it in the palm of his hand for several long seconds. Nie Huaisang thought he was remembering every scar on Wei Wuxian’s back. Then, he clenched his fist, focusing his spiritual energy there. Yu Ziyuan struggled against her husband and son, who were holding her back from lunging at Wen RuoHan. Zidian also resisted alongside her; purple lightning flashed from the man's fist. Although his flesh must have been scorched by now, Wen RuoHan responded with an even more violent surge of Qi.
When he opened his fingers again, only fragments of the shattered ring remained on his wounded palm.
Yu Ziyuan was still screaming, but Wen RuoHan had stopped paying her any attention. However, he nodded at Jiang Fengmian. Nie Huaisang had managed to hide around the corner just before the Chief Cultivator left the room.
"I know you’re there."
... Or perhaps not. Nie Huaisang was certain that he hadn’t died of a heart attack, simply because his heart was too young. Yet he could feel it beating frantically, even above Yu Ziyuan’s continued screams.
Wen RuoHan had turned towards him, his hands clasped behind his back. "Nie-er-gongzi. The only Nie with a shred of sense," he said.
At that point, he was forced to peek out from his hiding place. Fortunately, the man did not seem interested in talking to him face-to-face. True to his reputation as a capricious subversive, he was happy to chat while Nie Huaisang remained close to the wall.
"I never had the chance to thank Wen-zongzhu for allowing Wei-xiong to give his amulet to my brother." Nie Huaisang bowed his head. Beyond the strategic expediency of those thanks, he was sincerely grateful. Da-Ge had not experienced a single Qi deviation since wearing the medallion invented by Wei Wuxian; whilst his temperament remained hot-blooded, it had stabilized considerably, making his outbursts rarer and less violent.
Wen RuoHan’s expression was intense. "The only intelligent Nie, and the only one capable of hatching a plot," he added calmly. He smirked at Nie Huaisang’s frozen expression. "Don’t pull that face, lad. I find it amusing to recognise the presence of a snake amongst a herd of dull-witted bulls. As long as you don’t plot against me or my family, you have my permission to have fun at anyone else’s expense."
Nie Huaisang thought it best not to contradict him. After all, although he didn’t consider himself to be the great manipulative mind that Wen RuoHan thought he was, he was still aware that he was less... direct than his brother. He was certainly less interested in glory. If he had to remain in the shadows to achieve his goals, so much the better.
Wen RuoHan watched him with a certain amusement. Nie Huaisang supposed that keeping the most powerful man in their world entertained was much better than angering him.
He bowed again. "I would never dare to harm Wen-zongzhu or his family," he said solemnly.
He thought, though did not say, that this would hold true as long as they did not harm his family first – well, his brother. If his father were to die, Huaisang would think, with little regard for filial piety, that he had brought it upon himself. However, this was an idle thought, given that, thanks to Wei Wuxian’s presence, the Wen Sect had never been less dangerous. They were arrogant and occasionally unpleasant, but never dangerous.
Nie Huaisang dared to look Wen RuoHan in the eye. "I consider Wei-xiong to be the finest person of all," he stated.
Over the past few years, Wen RuoHan must have endured endless sycophancy from all kinds of opportunists hoping to win his favour through his grandson. Nevertheless, he seemed to recognise the sincerity of his words. Just as he had done with Jiang Fengmian, he nodded in appreciation.
They returned to the banquet.
Wen RuoHan sat down beside his grandson once more. Wei Wuxian looked at him intently but said nothing. In response to an unspoken question, the man nodded and gently stroked his grandson's head. Wei Wuxian's posture immediately relaxed as he smiled.
Nie Huaisang took his place beside his brother. Mingjue had a deep furrow of disappointment between his eyebrows. "Don’t worry, Da-Ge. Wen-zongzhu didn’t demand anything that wasn’t legitimate to ask for," he assured him, truly believing it. Mingjue snorted in contempt, but apart from that, he didn't express or show his disapproval in any way. For Nie Huaisang, this was more than enough to allow him to relax and enjoy the banquet.
After all, it must have cost the Wen Sect at least a chestful of gold coins.