To Love the Gentle Moon - Lan Xichen X Reader

A Night at Lotus Pier - Part 2

A/N : Thank you so much everyone for all the love you are showing by Voting and commenting on my work 🙏
It's a short chapter, but here's a bit of Madam Yu's POV for all.
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Madam Yu sat on the raised dais beside Jiang Fengmian, her expression unreadable as she surveyed the room. To her left, Wei Wuxian, Feng Yuemei, and Minghao were seated, their animated conversation filling the hall with a lively atmosphere. To her right, her children, Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli, sat quietly. Jiang Cheng wore his usual scowl, while Yanli maintained her serene demeanor.

Madam Yu's gaze flickered between the young cultivators, her thoughts a tumultuous mix of admiration and resentment. Yuemei, a strong cultivator from a minor sect, stirred conflicting emotions within her. She admired the young woman's strength and resilience, qualities she wished Yanli possessed. Yanli, born prematurely, had struggled to cultivate her golden core, leaving her unable to wield a sword effectively. The sword she carried was more for appearances, a symbol rather than a tool of defense.

And that was why Madam Yu had secured a marriage alliance with the Jin family, hoping Yanli could live a peaceful life, managing the sect from the shadows. If Jin Zixuan turned out like his father, Yanli's manipulative skills would serve her well, ensuring her place in the Jin household.

Her eyes narrowed as she observed Yuemei, recalling the news she had recently learned. Yuemei had defeated Jiang Cheng in a discussion conference, a fact Wei Wuxian had conveniently omitted. Instead, he had lied, claiming Jiang Cheng had lost to a senior disciple. This deceit had robbed her son of the opportunity to learn from his mistakes. Now, the knowledge of his loss to a young woman from a minor sect festered within her, a bitter reminder of Jiang Cheng's inadequacies. It was bad enough that he often fell short compared to Wei Wuxian, whose very existence was a constant thorn in her side.

Wei Wuxian's cheerful banter with Yuemei grated on her nerves. She watched as Jiang Cheng's scowl deepened, jealousy flashing in his eyes. She had hoped competition with Wei Wuxian would drive Jiang Cheng to excel, but it only fueled his resentment. Madam Yu clenched her jaw, frustrated by her son's lack of social grace. Without Wei Wuxian's diplomatic skills, Jiang Cheng would have stumbled into trouble long ago. This realization gnawed at her, amplifying her fears that Jiang Fengmian might one day entrust the sect to Wei Wuxian instead of Jiang Cheng.

She glanced at Jiang Fengmian, who seemed at ease, oblivious to the turmoil within her. He had always been lenient with Wei Wuxian, and while Madam Yu knew the rumors of Wei Wuxian being his illegitimate son were false, she had done nothing to dispel them. In fact, she had fostered them, hoping to tarnish the memory of Cangse Sanren, the woman who had captured her husband's heart. Allowing Wei Wuxian into Lotus Pier had been a calculated move to enhance their image, but it had backfired spectacularly.

As the conversation between Wei Wuxian and Yuemei continued, Madam Yu pondered her next move. Perhaps there was a way to distance the Jiang family from Wei Wuxian without inciting the cultivation world's ire. She couldn't force him out; he had to leave willingly. A thought crept into her mind: what if Jiang Cheng's jealousy could be used to sow discord between him and Wei Wuxian? But she quickly dismissed it. Jiang Cheng's impulsiveness could backfire, solidifying Wei Wuxian's position instead.

Her gaze returned to the young cultivators. Gusu would provide an opportunity. With Yanli staying behind, the dynamics between Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian would shift. If she played her cards right, she could create a situation where Wei Wuxian would feel compelled to leave of his own accord. Planning meticulously, she resolved to set her strategy in motion while they were away, ensuring her son's path to leadership was clear, even if it meant sacrificing Wei Wuxian in the process.

The lively chatter of the young cultivators brought her back to the present. "So, tell us about your journey," Jiang Yanli gently prompted, her soft voice cutting through the noise.