Backlash Part 2

Chapter 241: Lanling - Jiang Yanli

The negotiations took hours. The easiest part was agreeing that the reparations for the harm done to A-Xian and Nuan-er should be given to the GusuLan sect. While in theory the fact he had not yet married made this tricky, Jiang Yanli had no desire to squabble over the payment that was meant to go to A-Xian and his family anyway. She would have to discuss rescheduling the wedding with Lan Xichen. The date had passed, and the morning period for A-Cheng would make it impossible to host the kind of wedding her brother deserved. Not now at least, but it was also absurd to delay the wedding when they already had two children whose official adoption ceremonies had been planned to take place next spring. Early enough that Nuan-er could receive an inner clan ribbon on her sixth birthday, like her age-mates would.

Jiang Yanli took a deep breath and let it out slowly, holding herself upright against the wave of grief. A-Cheng wouldn't be there to see his niece's and nephew's adoption ceremony. He wouldn't have the chance to see A-Xian in his wedding robes, or Jiang Yanli in her own. Despite the rift between her brothers, Jiang Yanli had held out hope that they might be able to mend their relationship. Not like it used to be. She understood now that the bonds of their childhood had grown wrong. Twisted as they were by anger, fear, and unreachable expectations that they did their best to grow around. They managed to the best of their abilities, but were left with patterns of behavior that were toxic to themselves... and sometimes to others.

A-Cheng had trouble understanding that, and more trouble accepting change. Perhaps it was foolish of her, but Jiang Yanli really thought she'd see a future where the three of them could enjoy each other's company without fear of anger or hurt feelings. She thought she had seen the beginnings of change in A-Cheng. Now she'd never know. His time in this life was over. She hoped in his next life, they might be siblings again. Perhaps with different parents, who might be able to teach them how to love without hurting themselves or others in their efforts to do so.

"Yanli?"

A quiet voice startled Jiang Yanli from her musings. She spun around to find Qingyang standing behind her. A robe in Nie colors had replaced her discarded outer robe. It looked lovely against the pink layers of her dress.

"Ah, Nie-gongzi has extended an official invitation for me to join the QingheNie sect. I haven't accepted it yet, but he thought it might be safer to appear under the protection of a great sect... at least until things are resolved." Qingyang explained, adjusting the garment as though attempting to get it to fit properly. A needless gesture, if Jiang Yanli didn't know better she'd have thought the outer robe to have come from Qingyang's own wardrobe for how well it fit her.

"It's..." Jiang Yanli swallowed to attempt to relieve the tightness in her throat. Her eyes burned. A-Cheng wouldn't be able to attend her wedding. He and A-Xian used to insist they were going to plan the most beautiful wedding for her. The world became blurry as Jiang Yanli's eyes filled with tears.

"Yanli," a pained whisper was followed by a warm hand on her shoulder.

Jiang Yanli threw herself into Qingyang's arms and sobbed. She'd done her best to keep her composure in front of the other sects. She'd needed to present a strong front for the sake of her sect. At the very least she had known Jin Guangshan would be quick to take advantage of any weakness, and many of the other sect leaders were no better.

"Oh Yanli." Qingyang's voice was soft in her ears. "I'm here. Let's go back to your guest room."

Qingyang steered Jiang Yanli down quiet corridors and through empty courtyards. She kept one arm wrapped around Jiang Yanli's back, while using her other hand on Jiang Yanli's shoulder to help steer her. Jiang Yanli kept her face buried in Qingyang's shoulder as best as she could while walking.