Pitched Normal

38

So perhaps it was just a little bit rude for XiChen to force the Jiangs up so early when he knew, undoubtedly by the way the other Jiang Disciples acted, it was not something they were used to. He found some sort of sick satisfaction in doing so, though, and it was not as though that was against the rules...entirely. After all, XiChen had not been wrong. Before the breakfast hour was the best time for him to speak about the betrothal. It was the only time that he would have a large portion of his day free. Whether he could have made extra time for a more convenient talk when it came to the Jiangs...well, XiChen was not obligated by the rules to do such things. In fact, it would be a gross violation of the rules, at least depending on how one worded them and looked at them. In all reality, the rules were not even strict rules, they were more guidelines to be handled seriously and with delicate care. He and Wangji had gotten quite good at these sorts of things after all, having lived in the Gusu sect for their entire life.

Still, watching as they trudged their way up the Cloud Recesses, and stood waiting for themselves to be granted entry, it was everything XiChen could have hoped for and more, and all still within the rules. Although perhaps he was siding a bit heavily on the guilty end of the spectrum for just how much he enjoyed forcing them to be slightly miserable. He would have to reflect on that later, but for now he would let himself enjoy the look of frustration and agitation on Madam Yu's face. He found himself disliking the woman immensely, and for good reason as the moment she had seen him she had made to step over the threshold, only to be stopped by both the wards and the guard. A sour look had immediately donned on her face and XiChen really could not help but curl his fingers into his palms at the disrespect.

This was not her domain. He could understand if they were at the Lotus Pier but they were not, and she had this...ugh, it made XiChen want to wait and make them stand out there for longer, the audacity of this woman. He would, if he had the ability to, but that was pushing the rules a little bit too far for his comfort. As much as he disliked the crude dismissal of propriety despite the fact that XiChen had stated more than once that he himself would have to allow them in, it would seem that the Jiangs really did not learn anything. He inahaled, and exhaled, trying to calm his emotions down slightly. It worked, for the most part. He opened his eyes and continued his descend down the mountain with grace, and far calmer than he had been a few moments ago.

He was used to this, after all, this was why his Uncle was often with him when it came to sect meetings, because he was seen as young and naive. He was nothing of the sort, but that was the incorrect view that most had of him. He was used to being dismissed, but this time...well they were not able to so idly dismiss him as they normally would. He was the one who had the power at this point in time, and it was a rather heady feeling, he had to admit. He continued to walk down the stairs, watching as the Jiang couple waited, Jiang Fiengman pulling his wife back and silencing her with a glare, an uncharacteristic sense of seriousness and demand. She seemed rather annoyed at it, but she stayed silent despite it.

When he did finally make it to the gateway, he did not look at the Jiangs immediately, instead turning to the guards and nodding gently, and they let the ward down, slowly, but steadily, Lan XiChen added his spiritual energy to theirs and the ward finally dropped, standing to the side as he allowed the Jiangs inside the Cloud Recesses, and turning to move back up the stairs, waiting as the ward once more went up before continuing with them moving hastily behind him. He inwardly smirked at that, but did not say anything regarding it. He wanted to move them to his pavilion as quickly as possible. His Uncle was waiting for them to enter after all, at XiChen's behest. Wangji would no doubt come in as well, but that would only be if XiChen had to miss the breakfast hour because of the complications he was certain were going to come.

There was more than one reason, that being the lack of convienance that the Jiang couple would have waking so early, that XiChen had chosen to make this meeting so early. The main being, there was almost nobody around. Everyone was awake, of course, it was dawn, but nobody was wandering around. They were preparing themselves for the day. As such, there was none to watch as XiChen walked the Jiangs through the Cloud Recesses, which was something that XiChen had been banking on. He did not want to answer more questions regarding what was going on considering it would soon be answered when XiChen made the announcement of his little brother's betrothal. Furthermore, it would lessen the rumors bound to circulate that morning as well. As much as gossip was against the rules, that did little to sway the guest disciples, something XiChen was more than well aware of.

He did not need further complications regarding this situation. He glanced back towards where the Jiangs were, entering the pavilion and tilting his head forwards to gesture them to follow him. There was going to be enough gossip around the Cloud Recesses when it came out the Wangji was betrothed to Wei WuXian, and assuming that he could not get the Jiangs to agree to this betrothal, that Wei WuXian had left his sect for the sake of this betrothal. XiChen would, of course, attempt to get the Jiangs to agree, as he did not want Wei WuXian to leave a sect, but at the same time, given his parents...he could not doubt that it may end up that way. He knew that Fiengman had figured that out, and it was likely why he had tried to silence Madam Yu before she did or said something that was stupid. After all, he had seen something like this before.

XiChen sat next to his uncle, gesturing for the two to sit as well. he was nothing if not polite, after all.