Backlash Part 1

Chapter 26: The Meeting Hall

Wen Qing had found her ability to remain calm and in control truly tested over the last two days. The news that both Sect Leader Jiang and his wife would be arriving soon had filled her with more anxiety than she expected it to, and she wasn't the only one. Wei Wuxian had had an increasingly difficult time sleeping the last two days. Even if he fell asleep on time, he was still woken by nightmares. He often didn't sleep for more than a few hours at a time. Wen Qing was certain it was not the move from the infirmary that had caused this change. There were times during the day when he seemed much more relaxed than he had in the entire previous week. He was not constantly on the lookout for who might be outside, or who was coming through the door. He had also seemed happier. It was not the bright smiles and easy joy of the him before the war, but it was certainly better than when he first returned. It just seemed anytime he wasn't distracted he would begin to sink into the abyss of his thoughts.

Jiang Yanli seemed more anxious as well. She had been apprehensive since Wei Wuxian's attempt, but had managed to be mostly calm and somewhat encouraging around Wei Wuxian. Over the last two days she had become much quieter, which was saying something since she was rather quiet to begin with. Wen Qing assumed Jiang Yanli was worried about the visit from her parents, but it also could have been related to Jiang Wanyin. He had been on a short fuse all week. Several times Wen Qing had caught a glimpse of him walking towards the Jingshi, only for him to storm away from it instead. He never even got as far as the courtyard. Wen Qing couldn't tell from his expression what his intentions were. Ironically she had somehow arrived at the conclusion that he was harder to read than Lan Wangji.

Lan Wangji's emotions were often expressed subtly, though certainly less so when Wei Wuxian was involved. Wen Qing supposed she probably should credit that more with why she was adapting so well to reading him. Since everything they discussed was always about Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji's emotions were always a bit more expressive than she recalled them being in the past. The only thing that had really taken any getting used to was how he and Wei Wuxian would seem to suddenly forget there was anyone around them. She didn't really mind it. She had long been used to ignoring it when Wei Wuxian did strange things when they lived in Burial Mounds. It was just the addition of the intimacy that she needed to adjust to, and she certainly felt like she had adapted to it better than most. Of course such behaviour was often connected to Lan Wangji supporting Wei Wuxian when he was struggling. She could hardly be upset or offended over Wei Wuxian getting the support he needed. Especially when it was what she wanted most for him.

Jiang Wanyin on the other hand just seemed to become angry no matter what else he was feeling. Mixed with the anger could be fear, guilt, sadness, pain, hurt, jealousy. However those secondary emotions never told her how he was going to behave. He could have any of them and still behave with anger or aggression. She did not want to see that sort of behaviour directed towards Wei Wuxian again. So every time she saw him come towards the Jingshi, then storm back away, her anxiety crept higher.

She had her own anxieties to deal with, without that additional stressor. She was worried about Wei Wuxian being sent back to Lotus Pier early. She was worried about someone insisting on discussing the resentful energy that they had all seemed to quietly decide to ignore for the moment. She didn't want to discuss it with Lan Xichen until after they told him about the future. They had agreed to wait until after this impending visit before having that discussion. Doing it beforehand would add an uncomfortable element. Wen Qing was concerned the talk of a war would put all the other topics to the back burner.

Suddenly there would be one more person with an opinion about who to tell. It was one thing when the other parties were far away, but if Lan Xichen knew when Sect Leader Jiang arrived it might feel more pressing to discuss it. Wen Qing did not think informing anyone and everyone was the right approach. The more people who knew the more people who could disclose that information. If too many people know suddenly things will change so much that their foreknowledge becomes useless. It would even be possible for it to get back to Wen Rouhan, and then they'd really have a situation on their hands. So no, she wanted people to continue to worry about everything else and wait to discuss the resentful energy and the war for later.