Untamed Hearts

Chapter 14

TW for very brief mention of rape in this chapter

"Zizhen, what is this?" Jingyi exclaimed. He's reading a journal that had been handed to both him and Sizhui. Sizhui himself was flipping through the book, holding back laughter and surprise at its content. The book appeared to be narrating the love story between his parents.

"It's a love story between Wei-qianbei and Hanguang-jun of course!" Zizhen exclaimed. "Sect leader Nie helped me to work on it and he's agreed to sponsor it once it gets published." Upon hearing his name mentioned, Nie Huiasang hid his face behind his fan.

"You're publishing it?" Sizhui and Jingyi sputtered in unison.

"Yes, of course!" Zizhen replied. " We want to help fix Wei Qianbei's reputation. There are still enemies lurking out there even if he's under the protection of Gusu Lan."

"I'm not sure how this will help," Jingyi muttered. Sizhui elbowed his friend lightly upon seeing Zizhen's face fall.

"A-Zhen, it's okay. We will help you with this and give you some ideas.

"There needs to be more humor." Jingyi's eyes lit up. "We don't need to make it entirely a tragic love story. We can add in some things!"

"Like make stuff up?" Sizhui tilted his head. "Wouldn't that be lying?"

"Oh, lighten up," Jingyi insisted. "People twisted the truth plenty of times in the past. The portraits of Wei Qianbei that they've sold on the streets look nothing like the real Wei Wuxian! San-di showed me family portraits of when he was with Sect leader Jiang and Young Madame Jin. He was very handsome."

"But don't we want to be honest if we want to fix his reputation?"

"Nobody said it had to be accurate." Zizhen shrugged. "It's a story after all. We can add in some fun details of our own."

"How did you get the details for what you've written so far?" Jingyi inquired.

"Sect leader Nie," Zizhen replied. "I did ask Hanguang-jun as well. I am surprised he was able to give me so many details"

"So this was the 'important sect politic affairs' you had to deal with last time?" Jingyi huffed in annoyance.

"It is important!" Zizhen insisted. "Helping Wei-qianbei is important! Now I just need to ask Sect leader Jiang."

"I don't think he'd like talking about the past," Sizhui said softly. "Unless you wish to ask about A-Niang's childhood."

"Not that, I have to ask permission to write about him in this book. Which reminds me, what should the title be?"

"'The tragic love story of Yiling Patriarch and Hanguang-jun'?" Jingyi suggested. Sizhui and Zizhen gave him an exasperated look.

"I wish san-di could have joined us. Maybe he could have thought of something." Zizhen sighed.

"He named his dog Fairy. Why would he be good with names?" Jingyi laughed. "Wei-Qianbei says he got his terrible naming skills from Sect leader Jiang."

"But A-Ling said that A-Niang was the one to give him his courtesy name 'Rulan' and he thinks it's sissy so he never uses it."

"Unless he's in trouble," Jingyi snickered.

"Are you ever going to stop teasing him?" Sizhui sighed.

"Of course not." Jingyi rolled his eyes. "Arguing and teasing are important parts of our friendship and brotherhood. Our san-mei is too fun to tease."