[there's a massive crunch as the revolution completes, and they're suddenly in another set of memories.
Your uncle told you that the news was bad in a hundred little ways before either of you ever spoke. You could hear it from the little hesitation before he cleared his throat and announced himself at the flap of the tent; you could see it in the fine lines around his mouth, the slightly too-careful way he bowed his head to you in owed respect to the acting leader of the Lan Sect. Ridiculous. By the time you meet his eyes there has been more than enough warning to summon the cool dispassion that flows through your veins like water.
"My brother," you don't quite ask. You have been braced for the bad news for weeks. You think that the axe falling might almost be a relief until the bleeding sets in.
"There's been no news of Xichen yet," Lan Qiren replies. You go still, your very lack of reaction evidence of your surprise. What, then--? He only leaves you in suspense for a moment.
Lotus Pier. You knew that the Wens wouldn't stop at your sect, but between their leader's reputation and the Violet Spider, you had believed that of all places Lotus Pier was well-protected. Jiang Fengmian had assured you he understood the risks at the Xuanwu's cave. You'd trusted--
Wei Ying and the heir to the sect are missing. Your cool reserve freezes to ice in your veins with the horror of it. He is missing. Where is he?
Your brother has not returned. The search parties you dispatch to Yunmeng come back with nothing but fearful tales to soothe the panic you keep locked under your ribs. Jiang Cheng reappears alone at Qinghe. You walk out of the hastily-called Discussion Conference with words of rebellion still on your lips; you stare down from the wall of the Unclean Realm and let it sink in even further that your father was always right. You have the nominal power of the head of the Lan Sect, the one responsibility to your family you never asked for, and it will give you nothing, nothing, nothing back that you ever wanted.]
no subject
Your uncle told you that the news was bad in a hundred little ways before either of you ever spoke. You could hear it from the little hesitation before he cleared his throat and announced himself at the flap of the tent; you could see it in the fine lines around his mouth, the slightly too-careful way he bowed his head to you in owed respect to the acting leader of the Lan Sect. Ridiculous. By the time you meet his eyes there has been more than enough warning to summon the cool dispassion that flows through your veins like water.
"My brother," you don't quite ask. You have been braced for the bad news for weeks. You think that the axe falling might almost be a relief until the bleeding sets in.
"There's been no news of Xichen yet," Lan Qiren replies. You go still, your very lack of reaction evidence of your surprise. What, then--? He only leaves you in suspense for a moment.
Lotus Pier. You knew that the Wens wouldn't stop at your sect, but between their leader's reputation and the Violet Spider, you had believed that of all places Lotus Pier was well-protected. Jiang Fengmian had assured you he understood the risks at the Xuanwu's cave. You'd trusted--
Wei Ying and the heir to the sect are missing. Your cool reserve freezes to ice in your veins with the horror of it. He is missing. Where is he?
Your brother has not returned. The search parties you dispatch to Yunmeng come back with nothing but fearful tales to soothe the panic you keep locked under your ribs. Jiang Cheng reappears alone at Qinghe. You walk out of the hastily-called Discussion Conference with words of rebellion still on your lips; you stare down from the wall of the Unclean Realm and let it sink in even further that your father was always right. You have the nominal power of the head of the Lan Sect, the one responsibility to your family you never asked for, and it will give you nothing, nothing, nothing back that you ever wanted.]