Tired (Between a rock and a hard place 6)

Chapter 8

Jiang Yanli left Wei Wuxian's room only much later, when she finally managed to fully calm down and had quickly checked on the injuries on her brother's back. She had not found anything wrong with how they had been taken care of and she was glad at least for that small mercy, it would be terrible if they became infected. If this was the only way in which she could help, she would do it.

Wei Wuxian had promised her to deal with the rest himself, and despite the fact that Jiang Yanli felt a little like she had failed him, she knew this was the only way. If she wanted to be able to do anything at all about her family, she first needed to be strong herself. Not in the way where it would be thinning her very soul day by day until she would break down, but rather in a constructive one where she would not be afraid of asking for help whenever she needed it.

After all, Wei Wuxian had just agreed to share the burden of holding their family together. They could lean on each other and support themselves mutually, it would be different than until now. If Wei Wuxian did not want to leave Lotus Pier and the Yunmeng Jiang sect – and he had not said anything hinting to this possibility even when Jiang Yanli had told him specifically – this was the only other viable solution. Moreover, it was not like her family would let him go so easily, not when her father had made it clear to everyone that Wei Wuxian was to be Jiang Cheng's right-hand man in the future.

Still tired but with her mood lifted up slightly, Jiang Yanli headed for the sect hall where her family usually had dinners. Since she had left her bother a bowl of her special soup, she knew he would not show up. He did not have to push himself to get out of the bed this time, there was no reason for it. He would not be starving.

Jiang Yanli gave out a great sigh. She hoped that the atmosphere during the dinner would be bearable when Wei Wuxian would not be present. Her parents usually avoided direct confrontation when it was just the four of them. Then again, who could tell. Perhaps they would still argue about what had happened and try to blame her brother for being evicted from the Gusu Lan sect lectures. All taken into account, the situation would still most probably be tense either with unsaid words or with her mother's sharp ones.

Sighing again, she felt like all her energy was leaving her once again together with all the air from her lungs. This would be one awkward dinner for sure. All the more reason why she could not just skip it and go hide in her room. She needed to know what was going on even if she did not feel like she would be of any use in calming down the atmosphere today of all days.

As soon as she crossed the doorsill to the sect hall, her worries were immediately confirmed. Her other family members were already sitting around the table and looking grim. Jiang Yanli had to fight her desire to just turn on her heel and leave right away. This was becoming more and more tiresome by the second, and it was not as if she had any more energy to spare.

Her father was not losing any time and as soon as the food was served and the servants had left the sect hall, he immediately went to the point: "Here is the thing, I want you to tell me what are your ideas about what we could ask from Lan Qiren and the Gusu Lan sect regarding the situation with Lan Wangji."

In a stroke of a sudden genius, Jiang Yanli clapped her hands and cheered internally. She would have also yelled her hope and happiness aloud, if she was not afraid that in doing so, she would destroy her chances of success. For when asked in this way, the solution to everything seemed only too clear.

On one hand, her family wanted to for some unknown reason to blame Lan Wangji of a crime and take advantage of the Gusu Lan sect, Jiang Yanli knew her father and her mother well enough to understand that they were not going to do this to defend her brother's reputation or dignity. And on the other hand, there was Wei Wuxian who would have a much easier life literally anywhere else but in the Lotus Pier.

As for what concerned Jiang Yanli, what she wanted to propose was truly the perfect solution. Wei Wuxian would be far away from her family, while they would not have to completely sever ties, and things back in the Lotus Pier would calm down when he would be gone. Happiness and relief for everyone was what she had always wanted.

Before anyone else could intervene, she presented her suggestion in simple terms. She made it sound like the choice was up to her parents, fully aware that they would oppose anything which she thought would be good for Wei Wuxian. That was just how they were and there was no way around it, Jiang Yanli had learned to count with this fact and even to take advantage of it early in her life.

"So you have already decided? Is A-Xian getting married with Second Young Master Lan?"

Silence fell upon the room after she had asked her question and Jiang Yanli held her breath. It was now or never. Either her parents would come to a conclusion that they could resolve everything by asking the Gusu Lan sect for a marriage, or she would be out of ideas and go back to being exhausted of her own life. Both her and Wei Wuxian's futures were riding on this.

It was her mother who spoke first, exactly the words Jiang Yanli had longed to hear: "Yes, that is an excellent idea, A-Li, we should have Wei Wuxian marry off."

Jiang Yanli could barely hold back a cheer of pure happiness. This was the end of all her troubles, she would no longer had to act as a mediator between her family and Wei Wuxian. Things could go back to how they had been before she had gained another brother. She would no longer have to be responsible for the relationships between her family members. This solution was even better than the proposal Wei Wuxian had given her earlier this evening, now no one would have to shoulder anything at all.

Moreover, since it would be an official arrangement, Jiang Yanli would not lose her brother in the same way as she would have if Wei Wuxian decided to leave the Yunmeng Jiang sect. They could keep in touch and he would be able to come back for a visit from time to time. This was truly the best outcome for everyone, including herself.

Jiang Yanli relaxed and started eating her dinner. Now that the burden of responsibilities had been lifted once and for all from her shoulders, she felt her exhaustion slowly seeping out of her body. The warm meals were replacing it with energy. Her breakdowns, both of them, now seemed only like a faraway memory.

Her parents started immediately discussing the wedding arrangement and she was surprised they were so eager. But it was fine in the end, there was no reason to prolong the agony inside of her family. The sooner they would be able to send Wei Wuxian away, the better. She stopped listening to their scheming and bickering and concentrated on the meal.

Once she was sated and it still did not look like her parents were done with the discussion, she stood up and excused herself.

"Mother, Father, should I go tell A-Xian about this arrangement?" she asked, more because they surely expected her to than because she wanted to go. She was tired, in a good way this time, it was not the same empty and desperate exhaustion from before, she only wanted to get a good sleep.

Of course, they told her to retire to her room without disturbing Wei Wuxian's rest. And it was just as well. Of course, her brother would already be sleeping and healing from his injuries. She could wait until tomorrow to give him the good news. She was convinced he would be extremely happy with the solution of everything. He loved Lan Wangji after all.