Blood River

8. Love and Truth: Part Four

It was the late days of winter, new year had just passed, and the Jin family gathered for their meal peacefully in their dining hall.

Jin Huáiyu, the youngest being only 10 months old, was currenlty taking a nap, not present in the meal, while the remaining six members of the family held casual conversation as they all arrived at the hall, soon taking their sits.

"A'ying, how were lectures today?" Jin Gaungshan asked the last boy arriving as the younger sat, he was confused by this, as his father barely ever cared for his studies and concerned himself with his brothers' studies instead.

Yet, he still answered as he would his mother, "they're going fine a'die, nothing too hard" he spoke with a smile as the maid set a food platter in front of him, his father hummed nodding as he sipped on his tea.

"I heard you're in Han and Hao's class now?" He inquired again and the twins were now paying attention as well, where was this going?

"Ah.. yes, I was promoted this year." He spoke and the man again hummed.

"Good, you're quite talented and you're cultivation is getting stronger as well" he again spoke and now the brothers eyed each other, even Jin Su did, they were all confused as to why the man suddenly cared and asked each other silently through their looks.

It was no secret that Jin Guangshan only checked the progress of his two eldest sons, why? They were doms, Jin Han was the hier, but Hao would also carry the Jin surname despite having less pressure on him.

As for Jin Ying and Jin Su, the two were subs, they were to be married off the sect, so whether they became great cultivators or just dropped the sword, it wouldn't be of much damage to the Jin lineage as it would for the twins, hence why he always paid closer attention to the former two.

Despite this, Jin Ying kept excelling in everything, mastering the six arts* at his young age and no one could dismiss him developing a golden core at just five, for it was a great fit unheard of in generations. The boy had the Lín spirit in him, was inventive and creative on top of powerful, yet Gaungshan very openly didn't care, Jin Ying didn't seek his praise either, so it never came as an argument or topic at all.

Those reasons were especially why they were all bothered by the sudden interest. And almost as if noticing their discomfort, Gaungshan remained silent after the last comment and started eating. The others followed suit.

"A'ying... do you remember the young masters from the Nie sect?" Madam Jin suddenly asked softly after a few minutes of silence.

The twins attention quickly went from her to the boy who the question was directed to, the said boy simply shook his head no, his memory was bad, especually bad at remembering people, he had to meet then a few times to recognise the face and a few more to put a name to it.

So, Jin Hao, who sat next to him immidiatly set to help, "a'ying, do you not remember young master Nie and his younger brother?" He asked again, the boy shook his head again, Jing Ying was sure he'd heard the surname 'Nie' in class before, but was also sure he'd never met the young masters from any of the great sects.

"You don't remeber Nie Xi? You played with him the whole day back then.." Jin Han commented and The third master didn't respond, trying harder to recall this boy the more they threw it at him.

"You will meet them again on a'yu's one year, that's fine" madam Jin spoke up and the four looked at her, "don't force yourself to remember, it was years ago" she continued dismissively and the younger nodded, silently going back to eating his food.

Their meal was silent for a while again, before the sect leader stood, they all went to stand to, but he put a hand out to stop them, so they all sat back down staring at him.

"The Nie sect sent us a proposal - the Wens are getting out of hand, that Wen Rouhan has no one to keep him sane now that he killed his wi-"

"Guangshan."

Hearing Madam Jin's voice he shut up with a heavy sigh and began to walk through the path in the middle of the room.

"A'die, what proposal?" Jin Han inquired but the man remained silent, once he was near the door the servants opened them and he left. Madam Jin continued eating quietly, so did Jin Ying and Jin Su.

The twins looked at each other, "a'niang, what does this proposal have to do with a'ying?" Jin Hao asked and both the mentioned boy and his twin faced him, the older realising what he was hinting at.

The woman sighed, standing up, her aid stood with her, but she again stopped her children from standing.

"A'niang." Jin Han who sat next to her pushed and she faced him, her face looked conflicted, like she was mad at something and trying to hide it, yet as though she were sad aswell - Han was confused by all the emotions she potrayed.

A'niang.." he pushed again, standing up this time, Hao also stood up.

The younger began to walk up to her when she spoke, "your father wants to form an alliance.. Nie Zhenhai said he'd rather do that through a marriage proposal rather than a military pact..." her voice seemed to break as she spoke and the younger twin paused, so did the older who held her arm now.

"What did father say?" Jin Ying asked from where he still sat comfortably, eating his meal slowly like all of this wasn't happening. At this point even his younger sister understood and she watched him with worry in her eyes.

They all remembered how Jin Han reacted, the two twins and even the servants in the room who were trained not to engage with the family faced the third young master as though expecting a huge reaction from him, yet nothing came.

"A'ying..." madam jin's voice broke completely and she almost fell, both her aid and eldest son held her, multiple servants also reacted in response.

Jin Ying remained detached.

Something he did often, spacing out, detaching from his surroundings, his siblings knew he did this, sometimes involuntarily, but was this really the best time to disassociate?

"San'ge... you-" Jin Su started but the boy suddenly stood, they were all startled by this action halting in their actions and observing the young master.

He bowed.. not a single expression on his face.

"Excuse me, mother" he spoke, still not a single expression, not a single emotion filled his voice.

"Da'ge, Er'ge" he said again, his voice monotone.

He rose, smiled and nodded at his younger sister who stared at him baffled as he left, the servants by the doors opening them for him observing his leaving figure as well.

"A'niang what did father say!?" Jin Hao suddenly yelled, hating the way his brother looked, the woman now looked down, her aid supporting her fully.

"Madam, you should rest" the doctor suddenly said and the lady nodded before the two also walked away.

The three kids who stayed behind faced each other, not knowing what to do at all..

It was all so sudden and it made no sense either? Was this truly about the engagement or was there some underlying topic they couldn't understand?

What had just happened..?

.....

'*'

Six Arts: (六艺, Liù Yì) refer to six disciplines that were essential for a well-rounded education, especially for scholars and gentlemen during the Zhou Dynasty. These arts were considered vital for developing moral character, intellectual capabilities, and physical skills. The Six Arts are: Rites (礼, Lǐ), Music (乐, Yuè), Archery (射, Shè), Charioteering (御, Yù), Calligraphy (书, Shū), Mathematics (数, Shù).