Chapter 3: Girl Talk
Jin Hua took a sip of green tea to calm the nervous energy in her belly. They were alone. An awkward silence hovered between her and Jiang Yanli as she was at a loss on what to say.
Jin Hua's eyes looked around before she noticed something different about Koi Garden, "Hmm? There weren't Lotus flowers here the last time I checked. Weird, the soil and flowers must be imported from your Yunmeng because Lanling's natural habitat isn't suited to aquatic flowers."
Jiang Yanli smiled, "Is that so? Jixuan didn't mention that when he had it planted for me so that I don't feel homesick. I'm touched by his effort."
"Sect Heir seems to treat you very dearly. You're lucky in this aspect, our clan does not normally marry for love."
Jiang Yanli blinked in confusion, "what do you mean?"
Jin Hua hummed, "you see, there is one very important thing in the Jin Sect, much like your Jiang Sect's motto to achieve the impossible, we value power. With power, we believe we can change the world for the better. You'll learn more about our doctrines after the wedding. What outsiders don't notice is that this extends to our marriages. It has to benefit the clan. Mind you, it wasn't always like this before because a few centuries ago our clan wasn't as prosperous as it is today. Our vast wealth has become synonymous with power. It's expected of us to choose a partner who matches us in skill and status. Either we never marry or we must marry to increase our power whether we like our intended spouse or not," Jin Hua rolled her eyes at her own words, "that's why I said you're lucky. To be able to marry someone you love that will also benefit the clan has become but a happy fantasy for most of us."
As if having realized she might have spoken her mind too openly, Jin Hua flushed with embarrassment, "sorry."
Jiang Yanli rushed to reassure her, "ah, it's okay. Thank you for telling me. I wasn't aware of this," she hesitated before confiding, "actually, this explains some of Zixuan's behavior. I always thought he initially disliked me because I wasn't pretty or talented enough. Although we share the same status, he always felt so far above me and I've admired him since I was a child. But now, I think it's because he may have felt trapped. Our first engagement was arranged by our Mothers and I doubt he had any choice in the matter until our second engagement. I'm happy that we've come to truly care for one another."
Jin Hua smiled at that. There was something about Jiang Yanli that made her feel more secure in speaking, "it shows, truthfully it makes one envious. Don't mind those three young misses. Many have tried to climb up to power by catching Sect Heir's attention, thankfully he's never shown interest in taking concubines so you can rest assured."
"Do you have an arrangement yourself?" Jiang Yanli asked.
"No," Jin Hua admitted, "I haven't really given much thought to such matters. I'm only seventeen. My Father passed away during the war before he could arrange something for me and my Mother is fine with whatever I choose so long as the person isn't a servant or a waste," a spark of annoyance shone in her eyes, "in a couple years if I'm still unattached, the elders might arrange something for me."
"They'd force you?" Jiang Yanli felt slightly alarmed.
Jin Hua raised an eyebrow, "surprised?"
"But you're..."
"An inner core disciple, but still a woman. Remember what I said about power? Men pass on the family name, but woman bring in new connections. Technically, because I'm a cultivator, not marrying me off would be better because unlike those spoilt young misses from earlier, I'm an asset to our fighting force and under normal circumstances this would be true."
Jiang Yanli understood, afterall, her own marriage to Jin Jixuan will connect two clans together by blood, but it wasn't like Jin Hua was part of the main family, "then why are you different?"
"I'm a pacifist."
Jin Hua's lips moved into a half smile as she watched Jiang Yanli's eyes widen in surprise.
She explained further, "During the war, other than assisting the medics, I was quite useless. My cultivation is higher than most, but that didn't mean anything if I was unable to kill anyone."
"But that shouldn't decide your worth," Jiang Yanli said, distressed on Jin Hua's behalf, "you can still nighthunt! It's not like cultivators exist to fight each other. The war is over."
"True. But others won't see it like that. Spirits, corpses and the like are already dead so it doesn't bother me, but when the time came to end someone's life, I just couldn't. Even though they were Wen-dogs I kept thinking; this person is someone else's family or friend too. If I killed them, I'd just be causing more suffering. I trained hard to be a cultivator, not a killer. Though now that I think about it, it's probably not so much my pacifism but that I refused to kill Wen-dogs."
"You didn't want revenge for your Father's death?"
"What's revenge going to solve? It was war. Death was inevitable. I imagine, considering Wen Ruohan's tyranny, that the Wen clan members fighting that war didn't have much choice and were only following orders much like we were." Jin Hua said, sounding tired, as if she's been asked that question too many times.
Hearing this, Jiang Yanli felt that Jin Hua somewhat resembled her brother. If only that they both have been shamed for who they were and doing the right thing regardless of what was socially expected of them.
"I hope that the coming days will be more peaceful."
Jin Hua gave her a complicated expression. "That... Jiang Yanli, are you not aware of the current political situation?"
At that Jiang Yanli paused. Was she? Of course she was! She made it a point to be informed about matters that would affect her brothers' and future husband's livelihoods. But, her information came from Jiang Cheng and the many hearsay. Her brother may have withheld things to keep her from worrying.
"Yes, but... A-Xian isn't going to harm anyone without reason. He hasn't done anything wrong in the past year except sheltering those people. The sects have to have noticed this right? Soon they can see that despite his cultivation choice he isn't some demon out to take over the world!"
"That's the thing. He won't have to do anything. Trouble has a way finding you regardless. As long as he has something Sect Leader wants..." abruptly Jin Hua closed her mouth and looked around as if wary of someone listening in, she said too much.
Jiang Yanli's mind spun. Jin Hua had told her the Jin Sect valued power, her eyes narrowed in speculation, it couldn't be could it? She eyed Jin Hua and gave her a probing look.
Jin Hua raised her index finger over her mouth and nodded.
Jiang Yanli looked down at her now cold cup of tea, "my brother won't be left in peace, will he?"
"If things don't change soon, I doubt that the upcoming days would be peaceful for anyone."
"You seem to know a lot."
Jin Hua shrugged, "I'm just observant."
As if to prove just how observant, Jin Hua caught a spot of white moving from the corner of her eye and turned her head to see Lan Xichen walking along the border passage of Koi Garden with Jin Guangyao.
Jiang Yanli followed her gaze and saw the same. "I wonder what Zéwú-jūn is doing here?"
"He comes here at least once every two weeks to play, sometimes once a week and maybe Chìfēng-zūn will tag along. Aside from being sworn brothers, those two have become good friends," Jin Hua informed, "you can hear the Guqin play every time he visits. I believe he's been teaching Liǎnfāng-zūn how to play 'cleansing'."
"Isn't that a Lan Clan technique?"
Jin Hua nodded, "You're right. I've heard it's good for clearing the mind and supressing resentful energy."
Jiang Yanli looks contemplative, "this sort of thing would be good for A-Xian."
"No doubt. I have no idea how his cultivation path works, but it can't be easy can it?"
Jiang Yanli giggled.
"What's funny?" Jin Hua feels embarrassed.
"Nothing. It's just, you're the first person I've heard wonder if it's hard for him. A-Xian has been viewed as an untouchable for so long that people forget he's human too. I'm glad."
"Oh."
Just then Jin Hua saw someone approaching them. This person moved towards them with confident steps. She felt her senses become much too alive when those eyes like lightning appraised her before addressing his sister.
"A-Jie, everything has been set on paper. Now we just wait for the ceremony in two days and you can consider yourself married."