Backlash Part 1

Chapter 82: Evacuation Route

Jiang Yanli felt exhausted. She was used to worrying about Jiang Wanyin and Wei Wuxian. That hadn't changed and such worries could take their toll, but her current exhaustion was much more than that. Jiang Yanli had spent two weeks preparing for Wei Wuxian's arrival at Lotus Pier. She had tried to plan out how she could help make this visit as easy as possible for him. The top items on her list were, sadly, all related to her family.

Jiang Yanli was somewhat used to having to manage her mother. There was only so much anyone could do in terms of that, but Jiang Yanli was aware that she was a bit more skilled at this than the rest of her family. She had after all been practising this ever since she was little. Jiang Wanyin was not the first child Yu Ziyuan had pressured into trying to be perfect. Although Jiang Yanli and Jiang Wanyin had reacted to these things differently, Jiang Yanli couldn't change how much Jiang Wanyin desperately sought their mother's approval.

Jiang Yanli's first order of business had been to do her best to keep her mother away from Wei Wuxian. There was a chance her mother might stay away from him on her own, but Jiang Yanli didn't want to risk it. Fortunately her mother was nothing if not predictable. Jiang Yanli only had to ask her mother about visiting Jin Zixuan's mother. Then make some noise about trying to repair the betrothal. Her mother was rather obsessed with it, so even though Jiang Yanli didn't want to think about it anymore it was still something easy to distract her mother with. Yu Ziyuan had picked when to leave on her own, not wanting to disrupt the engagement while also being intolerant of Wei Wuxian. Being absent was the best course of action and Jiang Yanli considered it a blessing that she didn't have to try and suggest it herself.

Jiang Yanli was well aware that Wei Wuxian's visit was truly that. It was going to be a visit, and even though Wei Wuxian hadn't said anything, Jiang Yanli knew he would not stay for very long. It made her a bit sad. Jiang Yanli missed him a lot when she returned to Lotus Pier without him. Wei Wuxian had changed a lot in a short amount of time. More fearful, less outgoing, but he was still Wei Wuxian. Still playful, still affectionate, still so kind and concerned about others.

Jiang Yanli was sad about him not being around, but even before seeing Wei Wuxian in Lotus Pier again Jiang Yanli had known Cloud Recesses was better for him. Although Wei Wuxian wasn't technically adopted, Jiang Yanli still considered him her didi. She had always wanted to look after him and protect him the same way she looked after Jiang Wanyin. She had spent a lot of time with Jiang Wanyin in her first two weeks back from Cloud Recesses. He had calmed down significantly in the months he had been back without his siblings.

Jiang Yanli knew that Jiang Wanyin was feeling bad about the last conversation he had with Wei Wuxian. She had told him repeatedly that if he was sorry he would have to apologize. She wasn't sure if he had yet. He and Wei Wuxian had been interacting with each other almost like nothing had happened between them. Which kind of worried Jiang Yanli. Ignoring a problem didn't fix it. Jiang Yanli didn't like to say it, but there was a problem in the way the two of them interacted.

Jiang Wanyin had always had trouble expressing himself properly. Instead of saying he was worried he would start complaining or telling you why you shouldn't do the thing that was making him worried. Jiang Yanli had grown up with him being this way, so she hadn't thought much about it other than how it caused misunderstandings. It was kind of a problem though, because even though it was because he cared or was worried... The words themselves could be hurtful. Jiang Yanli didn't know how to fix it. She couldn't change Jiang Wanyin's behaviour, but the behaviour was hurtful to Wei Wuxian.

Jiang Yanli knew how to redirect the disciples when she noticed Wei Wuxian becoming overwhelmed. She was even getting better at redirecting her father during a few somewhat disappointing conversations. Jiang Yanli had been betrothed as a young child and her father never talked to her about considering her options or taking time to decide about her relationship. So why did he keep saying such things to Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji?