Things had changed in the past months. Ever since he'd returned from his most recent excursion out with Wuxian and Wangji, which had ended in catching Xue Yang, things had shifted in Qinghe.
Huaisang didn't think he'd been any more of a leader than before. He hadn't done anything impressive in that clash with the Wen clan. Xue Yang had escaped, and Meng Yao had killed the Nie General, for which Mingjue had sent him away. It was the right call, and Huaisang agreed with it, though he had his own mixed feelings. Meng Yao had been a dear and trusted ally to both brothers, and a mentor to Huaisang. He'd learned much of his own nuance and decorum by watching Meng Yao, and he'd hated the general that Meng Yao had killed.
Still, it was a crime, and Mingjue's justice had been merciful. Huaisang had agreed with his brother's decision: Meng Yao must be cast out of the Nie Sect, but Huaisang had privately left open a line of alliance. If Meng Yao found himself in need, he could call upon it.
In the eyes of the Nie Sect, Mingjue had commanded that day and still held the regency, but somehow, in the past months, things had begun to shift. Not because of anything Huaisang had done, but because his birthday was quickly drawing near. Huaisang would soon be the Sect Leader in truth, and power structures were rearranging themselves in anticipation of it.
And yet Huaisang remained more fond of his pleasures than his responsibilities. He had the title, but Mingjue had always been there to aid and support him. Even without the general, the power structure of the Nie Sect was strong. Huaisang held sway over diplomacy, Mingjue commanded the military, Toutong guided the bureaucracy, and their cousin Zonghui managed intelligence and justice. With such a support network, Huaisang saw no reason why he couldn't still spend hours each day engaged in his art and pleasures.
With only a month to go before his ascension, Huaisang sat painting in his room, content in the pleasure of lines on paper to shape a work of beauty. Mingjue had scheduled him to have saber practice for the afternoon, but he'd simply ignored that. He didn't want to practice his sword, and he saw no need. He had an older brother to protect him and to command his military. Huaisang saw no reason to handle such things personally.
Heir Huaisang AU
Huaisang didn't think he'd been any more of a leader than before. He hadn't done anything impressive in that clash with the Wen clan. Xue Yang had escaped, and Meng Yao had killed the Nie General, for which Mingjue had sent him away. It was the right call, and Huaisang agreed with it, though he had his own mixed feelings. Meng Yao had been a dear and trusted ally to both brothers, and a mentor to Huaisang. He'd learned much of his own nuance and decorum by watching Meng Yao, and he'd hated the general that Meng Yao had killed.
Still, it was a crime, and Mingjue's justice had been merciful. Huaisang had agreed with his brother's decision: Meng Yao must be cast out of the Nie Sect, but Huaisang had privately left open a line of alliance. If Meng Yao found himself in need, he could call upon it.
In the eyes of the Nie Sect, Mingjue had commanded that day and still held the regency, but somehow, in the past months, things had begun to shift. Not because of anything Huaisang had done, but because his birthday was quickly drawing near. Huaisang would soon be the Sect Leader in truth, and power structures were rearranging themselves in anticipation of it.
And yet Huaisang remained more fond of his pleasures than his responsibilities. He had the title, but Mingjue had always been there to aid and support him. Even without the general, the power structure of the Nie Sect was strong. Huaisang held sway over diplomacy, Mingjue commanded the military, Toutong guided the bureaucracy, and their cousin Zonghui managed intelligence and justice. With such a support network, Huaisang saw no reason why he couldn't still spend hours each day engaged in his art and pleasures.
With only a month to go before his ascension, Huaisang sat painting in his room, content in the pleasure of lines on paper to shape a work of beauty. Mingjue had scheduled him to have saber practice for the afternoon, but he'd simply ignored that. He didn't want to practice his sword, and he saw no need. He had an older brother to protect him and to command his military. Huaisang saw no reason to handle such things personally.