The Tainted Jade of Gusu

Chapter 1 : Who Shall Court The Task?

The birth of a new heir is usually a cause for celebration in a sect, and the Jins of Lanling were no exception.

It had been a year since the young master of LanlingJinShi, Jin Zixuan had taken the hands of  Jiang Yanli, the eldest daughter of the Jiang Sect of Yunmeng in marriage, and only a week ago, Jiang Yanli had given birth to a healthy son. Today was the completion of a week after he was born, an auspicious day when he would be brought out in front of people and given his courtesy name. 

Jiang Yanli looked from the window of her room at the entire Golden Carp Tower decking up in festive colours, and sighed to herself. This was perfect, except for one thing.

“ A-Li?” Yanli’s slight sadness did not escape her husband.

“ Why  do you look sad? Is there a problem? Is there a part of the arrangement that's not up-to your liking? " His voice was soft and warm. 

Yanli looked up at him. 

"This is perfect, " she said, " It's just that my little brother, A-Xian, isn't going to be there with us in the moment of joy."

Jin Zixuan made a face. It was no secret that he shared a rocky past with Wei Wuxian much before he had defected from the cultivation world and become the Yiling Laozu. But, despite everything, Wei Wuxian was Yanli's shi-di, and it was her wish that he participated in the festivities surrounding the birth of his nephew. Jin Zixuan decided to let go of past grudges and at the very least, try to invite Wei Wuxian to Golden Carp Tower for the six month celebration of the child.

He sat down beside Yanli with a smile. 

"We can invite him here, if that's what A-Li wants"

Yanli's face lit up instantaneously.

She loved her little martial brother, Wei Wuxian dearly. It had broken her heart when he had defected from the cultivation world, and the rest of the cultivation clans issued a sort of restraining order against him. He was unable to get out of his hideout in the Burial mounds to show up for her wedding, and Yanli was so sad about it, she undertook a journey to Yiling with her her brother, Jiang Cheng, just to make sure her A-Xian did not have to go without knowing how his Shijie looked in her wedding robes and phoenix crown. 

At her husband's proposal, Jiang Yanli turned around with a soft smile lighting up her features. People said she looked quite plain for a lady of her circumstance. They clearly had never seen her smile, Jin Zixuan thought to himself. To him, her smile seemed to light up the room. It lifted his spirits, and he found it unable not to smile back.

“Alright, alright,” Yanli chuckled softly, “You know right, someone will have to go to the Burial Mounds, or atleast to the town of Yiling to send an invitation, or how else will A-Xian know he is invited?”

Here, Jin Zixuan swallowed. He wanted to say “Don't worry, A-Li, I will go to the Burial Mounds in person and request him to attend our son’s six month anniversary.” But his mind was immediately overrun by the memories of the numerous times Wei Wuxian had disfigured his face over the course of several fights during the time both of them attended classes together at Cloud Recesses in Gusu, and all he managed to get out was a squeak. 

Yanli shook her head knowingly, trying her best not to giggle. 

“Don’t worry. I know you two always end up getting into fights. I would not ask you to be the one to go find A-Xian in the Burial Mounds.” 

“But A-Li… '' Jin Zixuan felt an unbelievable sense of relief. 

“A-Xian is still on speaking terms with Lan Er Gongzi. Why not get him to write the invitation letter  and then someone can carry it to the Burial Mounds on our behalf?”