Backlash Part 1

Chapter 107: Indoctrination in Qishan - Late Night

Wen Qing was in the middle of a medical text discussing precision transference of spiritual energy. The text was discussing not only the technique but the theoretical and practical applications of said technique. Wen Qing had been drawn to it during her studies of the interactions between spiritual energy and resentful energy. Since she had to do something with her time between looking for useful information to pass on to Lan Xichen, especially now before the war actually started, she decided studying medical texts was a lovely choice. Especially if those medical texts could help inform her of methods for treating Wei Wuxian should his use of resentful energy pose any problems.

The current book presented an interesting idea for how to administer transfusions of spiritual energy while circumventing the resentment in Wei Wuxian's body. In theory if the energy became chaotic it could create interference in the normally straightforward process. This book wasn't talking about using this method to circumvent resentful energy, but Wen Qing felt the technique looked promising for such an application.

Wen Qing wondered if there might be a means to increase the spiritual conductivity of acupuncture needles to increase the efficacy of this treatment method. That or at least a means of making the needles more resilient to the demands of spiritual energy. The goal was to transfer the energy, not heat the needles or shatter them. In small quantities that of course would never be an issue, but she was researching this with Wei Wuxian in mind. In her head it was not a matter of if he would receive a life threatening injury but more of a when. When and how often, because she did not trust that moron to keep himself out of danger.

A sudden crashing sound pulled Wen Qing from her thoughts. She was worried for about half a second until she started to hear loud moaning sounds. Wen Qing grimaced as she closed her book and collected her study materials. As Wen Rouhan's 'treasured niece' (actually distant cousin) she was of course given quarters in the same area as the main family. It sounded like a wonderful honour, if you didn't know anything about said main family.

For example if you didn't know Wen Chao was a pig who kept a regular supply of aphrodisiacs on hand, presumably for the amusement of himself and whichever mistress or wife might be joining him. Wen Qing had the misfortune of having her quarters very close to his. Wen Chao either didn't know what silence and privacy talismans were, or he actively chose not to use them. Neither option would surprise Wen Qing. She had no objections to what consenting individuals did in their own private spaces. She just wished Wen Chao would be a bit more considerate regarding what he was making other people listen to.

Materials gathered Wen Qing left her quarters and walked with purpose to what was practically her office. Wen Qing wasn't certain who's office it was supposed to be. For all she knew it could have originally been intended to be Wen Rouhan's, or maybe one of his sons'. Since she had never seen any of the three sit behind a desk she supposed any offices intended for them were never used. If he absolutely had to engage in administrative decisions, Wen Rouhan did it from his throne. Wen Xu preferred to spend his time with Wen Rouhan's generals. Wen Chao preferred to spend his time with one or more of his harem.

His current favourite, Wang Lingjiao, was prone to jealous rages. Since Wen Qing had the misfortune of being able to name two wives and twelve other mistresses of Wen Chao's that were all here before Wang Lingjiao, Wen Qing really wondered what exactly that woman thought she was getting into. Wang Lingjiao also seemed to mistakenly believe that Wen Chao had stopped sleeping with anyone else while with her. While Wang Lingjiao certainly tried to plaster herself to Wen Chao's side, Wen Qing could definitively say that Wang Lingjiao was wasting her efforts.

Wen Chao was disgustingly vocal and Wen Qing found her quarters less and less usable. Wen Qing liked her privacy, especially in Qishan. In this sense she would prefer to use her quarters. This meant she knew entirely too much about Wen Chao's activities. Wen Chao might prefer Wang Lingjiao for now, but he had not stopped engaging with his other partners. Wen Qing didn't especially understand why those women put up with Wen Chao, or how none of the other mistresses or wives had not lost it and stabbed Wang Lingjiao to death.