Backlash Part 2

Chapter 222: An Exercise in Frustration

Wei Qing regretted not saying anything about her concerns regarding Jin Guangyao. At the time it had made sense. Disparaging Jin Guangyao had seemed like a dangerous prospect. He was a war hero. Jin Guangshan would defend his actions in Nightless City, because it was only through the honours Jin Guangyao earned in war that the LanlingJin Sect were able to claim honour and a larger share of the QishanWen sect's wealth.

More importantly, Jin Guangyao had saved Lan Xichen's life. Lan Xichen trusted him. Lan Xichen was already stressed and defensive because of the conflict between Jin Guangyao and Nie Mingjue. Wei Qing could not imagine her opinion doing anything other than damage her relationship with Lan Xichen. Wei Qing had learned a long time ago that in a choice between her and anyone else, the only people who would take her side was her family.

So, holding her peace and focusing on building positive relationships with allies had seemed like the better strategy. Certainly more useful than fanning the flames of animosity between herself and Jin Guangyao. Wei Qing had even believed that it was working in her favour.

She had been readily defended by Lan Xichen. Even Nie Mingjue had come to the defence of her family, and had often escorted her in Nightless City for her own safety. Jin Guangyao had been clearly frustrated, and his relationship with Lan Xichen had become strained due to Jin Guangyao repeatedly besmirching Wei Qing under the guise of his 'concerns'.

Wei Qing knew the sorts of things Jin Guangyao was capable of. She should have said something sooner. She knew that the LanlingJin sect had imprisoned civilians, including her own family, in her last life. Similarly she knew Jin Guangshan had hounded Wei Wuxian for the Yin Hufu tirelessly in their last life. Something that had already begun in this one.

Lan Xichen's support had gone a long way in reducing the traction of Jin Guangshan's 'concerns', more accurately his fear mongering. They had already planned ahead for this issue. So while Jiang Wanyin had wavered uncomfortably, Lan Xichen had noted that Wei Wuxian was working on developing a safe way to destroy the Yin Hufu with the help of Lan Wangji. Lan Xichen asserted that Wei Wuxian would have the full support of the GusuLan sect both in terms of destroying the Yin Hufu, and in keeping it safely contained until it could be destroyed.

The arguments died out and Jiang Wanyin spent the rest of the evening looking vaguely constipated. Wei Qing wasn't certain exactly what had bothered him. Maybe Jiang Wanyin disliked the GusuLan sect stepping in when Wei Wuxian was technically still a YunmengJiang disciple. Not that it seemed like Jiang Wanyin had had any idea how to deal with Jin Guangshan's veiled accusations.

Wei Qing thought as a whole that it had gone quite well. Especially once Lan Wangji was able to get Wei Wuxian to calm down enough to return to Cloud Recesses. They had been able to shut down talk of the Yin Hufu being 'too much for one boy,' since Wei Wuxian was not in fact alone. They had been able to prevent the LanlingJin sect from taking custody of the surviving Wens. Wei Qing's family had even been accepted into the GusuLan sect with the status of a branch family. Which was far beyond what Wei Qing had expected.

Everything had seemed to be going well, including the planning for Wei Wuxian's wedding. The date was set. Invitations had been sent out. Decorations and wedding robes were ordered. Gifts and letters had been exchanged between the GusuLan sect and YunmengJiang sect. Jiang Yanli had enthusiastically taken charge of the YunmengJiang side of the arrangement. There had even been plans for a formal adoption ceremony for A-Yuan and Nuan-er to take place the following month.

Then, with less than a month to go before the wedding, Wei Wuxian disappeared. In retrospect it made sense. Wei Wuxian was currently in an awkward position. He was a member of the YunmengJiang sect, but everyone knew Wei Wuxian had hardly spent any time in Lotus Pier since he studied in Cloud Recesses.