and sings the tune without the words

by Rose Thorne

Disclaimer: I don't own MDZS or The Untamed and make no money writing fanfiction.

Chapter 11

Xichen,

Jiang-zongzhu moves quickly. As soon as Wen Qing was finished with her testimony, he had Yu-furen and a group of seniors travel to Dafan. Her family had been informed, and had packed their belongings, the majority of which will be moved via cart and horse, accompanied by senior Jiang disciples, but A-Die and Lan-xiansheng also sent seniors to help, and the children, elderly, and several pregnant women were evacuated by sword so as to shield them from the perils of travel. Jin Guangshan offered senior disciples as well, but his offer was not accepted given the current situation.

A man was caught in the family area of Lotus Cove, having taken a woman named Sisi hostage as she was delivering the midday meal to us, but she wears a stiletto in her hair and it wound up in the man's chest. He was dressed in nondescript clothing, but an examination of the body revealed his affiliation with the Jin, so Jin Guangshan is on very thin ice, though he of course denied all knowledge.

The children saw the body, with the struggle having taken place just outside the area we're confined to, and the woman was shaken and bruised. I had drawn Baxia, but the man fell before I could act. A-Die is livid with the Jin, especially since A-Sang and I could have been in danger. Jin Guangshan even tried to say this was proof Jiang-zongzhu should turn over the two women and their children as he has demanded, claiming he failed to protect them. Then Jiang-zongzhu revealed the evidence that the assailant was Jin.

So now the discussion conference is even more fraught. Jin-zongzhu hasn't been ordered to leave Lotus Pier yet, but it seems like he could be if anything further occurs.

On the other hand, the evacuation of the children and elders of Dafan Wen went off without a hitch. Now there's a popo who stays in the family area with us during the day, who minds the younger children while the older ones are housed in a disciple pavilion. Now that he has his jiejie and the other Wen children around, Wen Ning has calmed down. Jiang Lian is thrilled to have new playmates, as well. Wen Qing has spent much of her time since her testimony resting, and she often has a gaggle of toddlers napping around her.

The idea that the Jiang "take in strays" sounds like someone who does not value a healthy populace, snakes that want to swallow elephants. I admire the Jiang sect in their willingness to look beyond bloodline at the mettle of a person rather than their circumstances. Meng Yao and his mother are two such examples, and no doubt they will do better under the protection of the Jiang clan. His mother's pupils are street children and former prostitutes learning to read so they may find better lives.

I'm only glad A-Die takes us back to the assigned Nie quarters each evening, and I wonder how Wangji is able to handle as well as he has. Sometimes the children are quite loud, but he simply sits beside Jiang Wuxian and seems unbothered. They'll just sit next to each other, Wangji reading and Jiang Wuxian talking with A-Sang or one of his siblings or engaged in painting or some other such activity—though your brother always makes sure he is between them and any egress. Sometimes Jiang Wuxian will join them, and Wangji watches or follows. I've even seen him roll a ball with a toddler. A-Sang has been vocal about how he was always snubbed in their childhood but now he plays with random babies. He forgets the biting phase, but that was more a game for Wangji than anyone else.

The different Wen faction representatives have stopped demanding Jiang Wuxian be punished, according to the servants, after Wen Qing's testimony revealed his depravity. Suddenly it has become more likely that he was hurting the boy and whatever curse that was placed on him killed him in the backlash. Of course, that could be a ploy to lower our guards.

Plus the body of one of the representatives who had been insistent that Jiang Wuxian be turned over to the Wen was found in the river, apparently from foul play. The man had been defending Wen Ruohan and denouncing Wen Qing as a liar, in addition to being quite rude to the other Wen factions, so it's not exactly surprising, but it's just a relief to no longer hear that some idiot is calling for a kid's blood.

There are hints that the conference may end soon, rumors that the representative was assassinated and that worse is occurring in Qishan. Hopefully it won't spill over—Qinghe is too close to Qishan for comfort.

Your brother is fine—happy, in fact, that Jiang-zongzhu has decided Jiang Wuxian will return to the Cloud Recesses with him to winter there for his own safety. I believe Jiang-zongzhu hopes by the time winter is over, Qishan will be too distracted by in-fighting to even think about the boy.

Truly, his attachment to Jiang Wuxian is close, and he is more engaged with people than he has ever been, and I suspect that's due to their relationship. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if their betrothal leads to a happy marriage—they already seem to move in tandem. It's odd, but very interesting to watch. A-Sang keeps sighing about yuanfen and love matches, even.

A-Die intends to accompany the Lan, I think to ensure they aren't attacked. Strength in numbers and all, so I will get to visit you after all.

Do not worry. I will help protect your brother and his betrothed until they are safely home.

Mingjue

Mingjue,

I very much appreciate the continued updates, though the news of the attempt to get into the Lotus Cove family area is concerning—even if it doesn't seem to have been targeting Jiang Wuxian. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the Wen factions would try for Wen Qing, so I'm glad your father and Shufu sent extra disciples to protect her family as they relocate to Yunmeng.

I hope Mo-guniang and Meng-ayi are holding up well, under the circumstances, and that Meng Yao stays safe. I'm certain he's quite worried about his mother, but he seemed to really care for his young half-brother, as well. You said in your previous letter that you'd had some good conversations with him, and I hope you've had more—he could use friends in other sects, especially given current events. I hope he writes at some point as well, if he's interested; perhaps I should write to him first so he is more comfortable.

Jiang-zongzhu's decision to evacuate the children and elderly via sword while the stronger members of the Dafan Wen community handle the more difficult part of the relocation is wise. Honestly, that Jin-zongzhu would offer his disciples for such a mission, after having just been linked to an attempt to get access to the family area by taking a hostage, is shockingly brazen in its arrogance. That sort of treatment of another major sect is reminiscent of Wen Ruohan, and a perceived power vacuum presumably left by Qishan Wen could lead to issues in the future.

While I was at Lotus Pier, I read a treatise in the Jiang library about how the loss of a large clan can lead to a fight among remaining large clans seeking to fill the void and become more powerful, based on the historical downfall of the Xue clan. I don't recall the title, but if you ask Jiang Wuxian about it, I'm sure he can send a servant to fetch it, as I'm sure you would enjoy reading it. Wei Changze, his birth father, wrote it—apparently he was a historian of sorts. Jiang Wuxian was thrilled when I showed it to him. I didn't have the opportunity to see if there were more documents by him, but the servants could look and bring them to you, I'm sure.

The death of the Wen representative makes it clear a sort of schism is occurring within the Wen sect and may mean rumors as to the fate of Wen Ruohan's sons are not so far-fetched. Hopefully, it will not spill over with the defection of Wen Qing, but I have no doubt our elders will have thought of that issue. But it seems more likely that her decision has saved her branch and will prevent her being seen as a threat by anyone who isn't an ardent Wen Ruohan supporter. I too hope any strife doesn't spill over into Qinghe, though at least your father has warning and can keep tabs on any of the smaller Nie-affiliated sects.

I am not surprised Wangji is handling the presence of others more easily—Jiang Wuxian's influence, again. The time in Lotus Pier has in some ways helped him grow accustomed to it so he is not so overwhelmed. I wonder if the quiet of the Cloud Recesses might have similar impacts on other children, if perhaps visits to more bustling places might better prepare them for the world.

I suspect Huaisang has the right of it. Fate brings together those that are a thousand miles apart, and it occurred in this case. Wangji seems to find more satisfaction in life since he became close to Jiang Wuxian. Wangji also believes finding Jiang Wuxian again is yuanfen—he's quite a bit more of a romantic than I expected. I think Shufu was worried, after Fuqin, but Wangji is his own person.

May your journey be safe and peaceful. I will be happy to see you, and for my brother and Jiang Wuxian to be safe in the Cloud Recesses soon. Hopefully there will be no more complications with the discussion conference.

Thank you for your protection,

Xichen

Nie Mingjue uses a chengyu: "A man's greed is like a snake that wants to swallow an elephant." Lan Xichen uses one: "Fate brings together those that are a thousand miles apart" and alludes to another: "With love, water is enough; without love, food doesn't satisfy." At the end of his letter, he uses another: "journey safe and peaceful," a quote from a Ming dynasty poet, Fan Yiyi.