this body yet survives
by Rose Thorne
Disclaimer: I don't own anything associated with The Untamed, and make no money writing fanfiction.
Chapter Ten
The Jiangs and Wei Ying stayed the next several nights in the jingshi, along with Xiongzhang. It was cluttered due to the extra beds brought in, but they were all able to sleep comfortably, for the most part.
The second night, a mountain thunderstorm moved in, and they discovered Wei Ying had gained another new phobia from his near-death when he woke with a shout during the storm, flinching at every flash of lightning. He wound up clinging to Jiang Wanyin, wrapped in blankets to block out the worst of it, Jiang Yanli on his other side, and Wangji played songs of calming, meant to instill tranquility, on the guqin, joined by Xiongzhang on the xiao.
Watching him flinch with every clap of thunder was a special sort of hell, knowing his zhiji suffered alone and silently during storms the whole time he had been at the Cloud Recesses, and he resolved to help Wei Ying develop a talisman that will help block the sound, at the very least.
They all went through the following day with bags under their eyes, and they stuck closer to Wei Ying, the Jiangs assuring him he could stay with them when it stormed.
"I can deal with it," he murmured.
Jiang Yanli tutted at him.
"A-Xian, you don't have to. We're here for you, whatever you need."
The sabotage of the Jiang quarters was extensive enough that they were ultimately moved to a different set, scattered lotus oil having soaked into the wood, flung onto their clothes, which came back from the laundry smelling even more strongly—which at least narrowed the pool of suspects, but required their clothing be washed again and with more supervision.
"The new robes we commissioned in Caiyi should be delivered any day," Jiang Wanyin said when Xiongzhang apologized. "Most of the ones we had…well, our brother is more important than the robes."
The new quarters, which they were able to move into after one more night, were more spacious than their old ones, with a courtyard outside, to which the roosters had been moved, and three beds so Wei Ying could stay with them when he felt the need. The kitchen was larger, which made Jiang Yanli happy, and it was fully stocked with replacements for the ruined items from the betrothal basket. Most importantly, a locking talisman that would only open for those whose qi was used to activate it—one of Wei Ying's inventions—was set on the cottage. Anyone who tried to break in would be easily recognized by their bright blue hair, a minor enough spell that didn't count as a curse. Only Wei Ying, Xiongzhang, and Shufu knew the counterspell.
Wei Ying's quarters were inspected by Shufu and several trusted elders after the extra damage to the Jiang quarters had been discovered. They discovered that the robes in his wardrobe had been cut up, something that had not been the case when Wangji had gathered items from it, meaning the culprit had been back and had done more damage. The same locking talisman was set on his quarters as well.
The worst part of it was the way Wei Ying's eyes dimmed at the news, his smile becoming more worn. Wangji wanted to buy him the finest robes to replace the shredded ones, a wardrobe full of clothing that would show his worth somehow.
"A-Xian's new robes will arrive with ours," Jiang Yanli assured him, as though reading his thoughts.
Jiang Wanyin went through Wei Ying's qiankun bags, setting aside anything that had lotuses on them to be dealt with later—they would let Wei Ying decide. Out of all of his clothing from Lotus Pier, only some of his underrobes and three outer robes were free of lotuses. The pile of discards was distressingly large. The clothing could perhaps be remade into robes to give to the street children in Caiyi, Wangji might recommend, something he was certain would make Wei Ying happy.
The guan and other sundries could be sold to purchase others, or the precious metals melted down into something new for him. The latter would be appropriate, a symbol of rebirth or hope, like rabbits.
When he proposed this solution to the Jiang siblings, they both agreed readily that was the best solution, and Jiang Wanyin insisted on handling its commission.
"He loves the meadow," Jiang Yanli said as they packed anything with precious metals or stones in a separate bag. "The rabbits calm him."
It was one of his favorite places, Wangji knew, and one he tried to ensure Wei Ying was able to visit daily, whether with him or his siblings.
He was also fond of watching Tang enjoy the pond outside the jingshi. In the mornings while the Jiangs and Wei Ying stayed in the jingshi, they often broke their fast on the porch, along with Xiongzhang. This was in part because the Jiangs were often still asleep so early, but also because Wangji loved to see the contented look that came over his betrothed when he watched the turtle sun itself on a rock or paddle around the pond.
They were all too aware that the tranquility was a false calm, fraught with the understanding that the culprit was still unknown and could choose to try to harm Wei Ying in other ways. Xiongzhang was angry in a way Wangji had rarely seen, and Shufu had difficulty reconciling that someone in the sect—likely one of his students—could behave in such an unrighteous manner.
The sect was brought together in an assembly, one Wei Ying and Jiang Yanli did not attend. Wangji and Jiang Wanyin both would have preferred to stay with them, but they needed to be present, as Wei Ying's betrothed and sworn brother respectively.
Shufu did not detail the ways in which Wei Ying and the Jiangs' quarters had been sabotaged, as knowledge of it could be used to trap the culprit, but discussed the number of rules broken and the fact that these actions went against core Lan principles. He ended by saying anyone who behaved in such a manner did not belong in the Cloud Recesses.
Wangji watched the faces of his fellows as Shufu spoke, noting the shock on most faces as the acts were discussed, and taking note of any reactions that seemed off. Afterward he wrote a list and gave it to Xiongzhang for investigation. Jiang Wanyin spent the assembly glaring menacingly into the crowd.
The following day the new robes arrived, and Wangji was happy to watch Wei Ying smile over the fabric, rich shades of green and Lan blues—carefully nowhere near the turquoise color the Jiangs favored with their purple.
The subtle stitching was often cloud-based, but the stitching of various robes also featured cranes for hope, healing, and peace; mountains for steadfastness and strength; bamboo for durability and survival; pine and the endless knot for longevity; ginkgo leaves for resilience; pearls for his genius, so long suppressed and undervalued; books and chimes to celebrate his endless pursuit of knowledge and love of art; butterflies for happiness and perhaps as a reference to Chuang Tzu, as though a reference to Wei Ying's transformation; plum blossoms for the promise of new beginnings, for survival of winter; orchids as a reference to Confucius, for noble character in the face of adversity. Spread among the robes and subtle despite the fineness of the stitching and the use of silver thread in places, they could not be accused of being ostentatious or flashy. It was clear his siblings had put a lot of thought into their order.
He was pleased when Wei Ying selected a pale blue robe adorned with orchids rendered in a darker blue and white on the collar and green and silver ginkgo leaves on the cuffs and hem. It was one of the first colorful robes he had selected himself since he had arrived at the Cloud Recesses.
The morning was peaceful. Jiang Yanli styled Wei Ying's hair and tied on his ribbon, affixing the gentian guan, letting the red ribbon cascade down his back. Jiang Wanyin engaged him in conversation about sword forms and adaptations. Wangji peeled oranges for them to eat, pressing slices into Wei Ying's hand to ensure he ate.
But Jiang-zongzhu arrived before lunch without warning.
Wangji knew it was against the rules to hold grudges, but he couldn't stop the one that festered in him every time he saw the man try to make Wei Ying's suffering about himself. His arrival led to Wei Ying falling silent, turned his eyes downcast.
The meeting with Jiang Fengmian was awkward, with the Jiang sect leader displaying disappointment Wangji felt he wasn't entitled to, while the Jiang siblings and Wei Ying valiantly and obviously tried not to feel guilty about not having informed him of their sworn brotherhood beforehand. Xiongzhang and Shufu sought to explain the decision had been made to give greater protection to Wei Ying without the chance for sabotage.
Jiang Fengmian's disappointed look transformed into the guilty one he should wear, knowing the greatest saboteur was his wife—fortunately banned from the Cloud Recesses. Despite this, he still addressed his former ward, seemingly trying to salvage his pride.
"A-Xian, since you are the sworn brother of my children, you could…"
He trailed off, and the pause was fraught, uncertainty clear on the Jiang siblings faces, Wei Ying's expression shuttering.
"You could call me Jiang-shushu again," he finished.
Wei Ying barely breathed, his eyes distant in a way that indicated he had dissociated, and it was, surprisingly, Jiang Yanli who spoke up.
"A-Xian is still recovering, A-Die. You should wait until he is more healed."
Jiang Fengmian flinched at the rebuke, at the coldness or her tone, so unlike the warmth it usually held, perhaps at the reminder he hadn't even inquired after Wei Ying's health. An awkward silence fell over the group. That was, fortunately, when the Nies arrived, also unexpected, Nie Huaisang barreling into the room with complete disregard for propriety and attaching himself to Wei Ying like a limpet.
"Wei-xiong, be my sworn brother, too! Dage comes with me, even, and he's the best big brother ever. Very protective."
The last bit was almost pointed, and Wangji was again reminded that Nie Huaisang was more than the indolent mask he often wore when Jiang Fengmian flinched minutely. Wei Ying, however, was in no state to appreciate it, his eyes unfocused as he blinked at the younger man. Wangji wished he could bundle him away to somewhere he felt safe.
Nie Huaisang tutted softly at Wei Ying's lack of response.
"Oh, Wei-xiong, you look so overwhelmed. We should go paint while Jiang-zongxhu and Dage meet with the Lans. That's sure to relax you."
The Nie heir pulled at both Wei Ying's sleeve and Wangji's.
"We should let Jiang-xiong and Jiang-guniang catch up with Jiang-zongzhu, anyway. I can chaperone you two! I bet you know the best places to paint."
Xiongzhang gave him a nearly imperceptible nod, and Wangji let Nie Huaisang pull him to his feet. Wei Ying was pliant, having already been dragged, letting them pull him from the building without resistance, his eyes still distant.
Jiang-zongzhu's voice, as the door closed, seemed to protest Wei Ying's departure, but he didn't react to the call of "A-Xian" from the sect leader.
For a moment, Wangji wondered how xiongzhang and shufu would handle the conversation, whether Jiang Fengmian would learn of the sabotage of Wei Ying's quarters and those of his children, whether their betrothal would be addressed. But he ultimately decided he didn't care; the Jiang sect leader had no power here, no rights.
"I have all the art supplies we'll need in a qiankun pouch," Nie Huaisang continued as though he hadn't just interrupted an awkward meeting and facilitated Wei Ying's escape. "Lan-xiong, just take us somewhere pretty where we can set up. I'll help Wei-xiong along."
Wangji chose the bunny meadow, knowing the creatures would help calm Wei Ying. True to his word, Nie Huaisang led him along, chattering about mundane and silly topics as though Wei Ying was able to participate in the conversation.
When they arrived, Nie Huaisang coaxed Wei Ying into sitting, while Wangji retrieved one of his favorite rabbits to place in his lap, moving one of Wei Ying's hands to its fur.
That was what brought life back to Wei Ying's, bringing the silver back to the grey.
"Ah, there you are," Nie Huaisang said with a smile tinged with sorrow. "Welcome back, Wei-xiong."
Wei Ying swallowed several times, his fingers twitching in the rabbit's fur, his other hand tracing the ginkgo stitching at his cuff as though seeking grounding in the texture, and his voice was raspy when he spoke.
"I thought… I thought he was going to ask me to call him A-Die," he whispered.
Wangji put a comforting hand on his shoulder, hoping to ground him further through touch, and was rewarded with a weak smile.
"I may not remember them well, but I had a mama and a baba. I can't…"
He trailed off, and Wangji could feel him tremble. He knew a lingering trauma of Wei Ying's involved the constant accusation by Yu Ziyuan that he was Jiang Fengmian's bastard. He had only just calmed from the attack against him with the lotuses and the shredding of his robes. Truly, he wasn't certain why Wei Ying had been brought to meet the Jiang sect leader—previous meetings hadn't ended well.
"If meeting with Jiang-zongzhu hurts you, maybe you shouldn't for a while," Nie Huaisang said hesitantly, voicing Wangji's thoughts almost exactly. "Your health is important, Wei-xiong."
Wei Ying drew in a quick breath, as though surprised that was an option, his brows furrowing as he considered it.
Nie Huaisang didn't let him think for long, quick to provide a distraction.
"I brought everything we need to paint fans. I'd love to have some of your art on a fan, Wei-xiong! You're so talented."
His thoughts interrupted, Wei Ying blinked almost uncomprehendingly at Nie Huaisang before he managed a smile.
"I'd like that, Nie-xiong—as long as you paint one for me, too."
"Deal!"
The qiankun pouch Nie Huaisang had with him was quickly emptied, the supplies set up, and Wangji, though he would have been happy only watching, let himself be cajoled into contributing his calligraphy skills to render the lines of requested poems to accompany the art.
Though it took a while to draw Wei Ying out of his shell, when they were successful time passed quickly and joyously. Their activities startled too-rare laughter from Wei Ying when Nie Huaisang eventually handed him a fan on which he had rendered a particularly fat rabbit munching on greens with rustic mountains in the background, with the accompanying poem in Wangji's tiny, neat calligraphy:
Here, beside a clear deep lake,
You live accompanied by clouds;
Or soft through the pine the moon arrives
To be your own pure-hearted friend.
You rest under thatch in the shadow of your flowers,
Your dewy herbs flourish in their bed of moss.
Let me leave the world. Let me alight, like you,
On your western mountain with phoenixes and cranes.
As Nie Huaisang insisted they eat the special treats he had brought from Qinghe, citing the fact that they'd missed lunch, Wangji wished for more happiness and laughter in Wei Ying's future.
I was tempted to reference Tu'er Shen in the end, but that's 18th century. The poem on the fan is "At Wang Changling's Retreat" by Chang Jian, and seemed apt. The moon and rabbits are related images because of the Jade Rabbit.
Translations:
Dage = elder brother (informal)
Guniang = young lady
Shufu = father's younger brother
Xiong = brother or close friend
Xiongzhang = elder brother (formal)
Zhiji = not quite soulmate, but one who understands you fully
Zongzhu = sect leader