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.
He was proud to be his brother's sword and shield; Mingjue was not the type of man to be jealous of what Huaisang had been given. Yet he definitely had his worries. His brother was much too lazy at times - much too in love with pleasantries. If something happened to him, what would Huaisang do? Would Baxia pass to him? Could he even lift the sword?
Exhaling in frustration, he lengthened his strides to his brother's rooms. He had missed their lesson and that couldn't be tolerated. Not now. Not so close to his ascension.
The door opened roughly and he stood, framed in the light of the hallway, scowling. Just the expression would be enough to scare men into a desperate run or bow, however he knew it wouldn't do much good on Huaisang. His brother was just too laid back!
"Huaisang!" he tried to rein in his temper, striding into the room, the doors closing behind him, "You missed your lesson. Why?"
For...painting? His blood pressure was going to be what killed him in the end - not an enemy.
"How is this more important? Will paper protect you?" he reached for the painting, though he didn't plan on ripping it. That would be cruel.
"You have greater duties, Huaisang, and it's time you accepted them."
Now that Meng Yao was free from under their watch - the one downside of sending him away. Mingjue didn't trust that man as far as he could throw him, but he seemed to be mostly alone in that judgment. Again, his blood pressure was suffering for it.
Huaisang lifted his head and blinked when his brother appeared in the doorway, looking like a thundercloud, but he wasn't concerned about it until his brother strode over and seized his painting. "Ah! Da ge!"
He didn't grab for it, too concerned that it might be damaged in the process. Setting down his brush quickly, he rose, worriedly watching the painting. "Careful, careful, the ink is still wet, da ge." Fluttering worriedly, he tried to retrieve his drawing so he could set it safely back on the table, fussing over it. "It doesn't need to protect me, I have you to protect me."
Once the painting was safe, he could get in his brother's face, glaring up at him. "Exactly what duties am I neglecting?"
All of the fussing over the painting irked him further and he set the canvas down on the table, shaking his head in disappointment. What was it going to take to get through to him? He steadied himself and laid his hands on Huaisang's shoulders.
"If something should happen to me, you need all of your strength to carry on. Nothing is guaranteed in this world and I have spoiled you too much."
Not that he exactly regretted it, but that was a topic for another day. Or never.
"Sword practice. You have to be able to wield one if you are ever cornered." he drew Baxia from his back, "If Baxia passes to you, can you lift it? These are the things I worry about."
"That's why I have guards and thick fortress walls and an overprotective older brother," Huaisang argued, sighing fondly as his brother put his hands on his shoulders. But instead of this resulting in a hug, Mingjue let go of him and drew his sword. Huaisang grumbled and turned away, going to the window and drawing his fan instead. He fluttered it lightly, gazing out across Qinghe.
He still hadn't taken over his parents' chambers. He saw no reason for it. He liked his own rooms just fine, and it would be too strange to sleep in his father's bed. He was not his father.
At least while he wasn't yet sect leader he still had an excuse. But those large rooms were terrifying, with large carven heads of the Nie Sect beast on the walls. Huaisang didn't know how he was supposed to sleep under their stern gaze, knowing that his ancestors looked on from the spirit realm--and judged him with disappointment, probably. "If Baxia passes to me, I will not lift it. You'll just have to go on training my guards and soldiers to ensure that I'll never need it. And also you'll just have to never die."
"All of the guards are mortal. I am mortal. If you don't continue on, the Nie sect perishes with you." Mingjue heard the sigh and he almost - almost - gave into it. Huaisang was nice to hold, but that sort of thing shouldn't be allowed anymore. They were too old for it and he really needed Huaisang to become stronger.
For his sake as well as for the sake of the Nie sect.
Setting Baxia against his back again, he followed his brother and peered over his shoulder.
"Everyone is relying on you and I know you can lead them well. I've never doubted that." he rested his hands on Huaisang's shoulders, lightly kneading, "But you are important to me too."
Important didn't cover it, but he wasn't someone who used flowery language.
"Yes, da ge, but anything strong enough to get through you and the guards will surely cut me down, saber or no." He made a soft sound of contentment as Mingjue started to knead at his shoulders, even though Mingjue was usually the one who bore all the tension for them both. "There are other ways to kill someone than with a blade. What use is it to be strong with a saber if I am not alert to poison in my drink? Or to the veiled threat within an artful comment?"
There are too many threats. It would be easy to become paranoid, especially when the Wen sect flaunts their power constantly and sends their spies everywhere. Wuxian and Wangji had killed the Dire Owl, but Huaisang did not doubt that there were others.
Turning toward Mingjue, Huaisang tucked his fan into his sleeve and gave his brother a pout. It was unfair, but he knew his brother was weak to it. "I didn't want to go to blade practice today, da ge. I feel weak and useless and I hate it."
"Not necessarily." he murmured into his ear, his thumbs working the muscles in Huaisang's neck, "You're quick. Strike a blow, leave your enemy wounded and run. There is no shame in using your strengths and your strengths are right..." he nudged his cheek against the side of his brother's head, "here."
Poison could be tested for - and would be on his watch - and veiled threats would never escape his Huaisang.
"Please, at least, carry a knife." he reached into his robe and pulled out an ornate, slender and quite beautiful dagger, "I had this made for you. I wanted to give it to you at practice."
But since he didn't show up...
The pout did make him soften and he tucked the weapon - in its sheathe - inside of Huaisang's robe, showing him where it would sit.
"You're not weak, you're not useless and one day you will see the truth."
Huaisang smiled at the nudge of Mingjue's cheek. His heart did a pleasant little flip. Whenever Mingjue was around, he felt safe and loved. Even when his brother was in a bad mood. Those moods so rarely touched Huaisang, sometimes because he ignored them and sometimes because Mingjue curbed them specifically to protect Huaisang.
Gasping at the sight of the dagger, Huaisang's eyes widened. He let Mingjue tuck it against his heart, but then he immediately drew it back out, admiring the beauty of sheath and blade. "Da ge."
It was perfect for him. Subtle, easily hidden, and beautifully artful. Huaisang tucked it away again and then threw his arms around his brother, hugging tight. "I love it, da ge. Thank you. It's perfect."
There was no one he loved more, frankly, and that was why he was so determined to see Huaisang safe no matter what circumstance befell them. He knew he was running a race he would lose, but he had to try. His brother deserved that much from him.
Of course if he could forget his plans and gut the Wens, that would also be very pleasing.
But he knew, after speaking with Lan Xichen, that peace was the better road to take. It meant less lives would be lost.
The dagger's hilt was decorated with the animal that suited Huaisang best: a bird. A bright songbird could evade a bird of prey with the right planning and protection.
"I just want you safe." he admitted quietly, catching Huaisang and returning the hug, "This ascension will put you in the spotlight and I will have to guard you far more than I already do."
"I know, da ge." Huaisang was glad to be held. Mingjue's warm, solid arms kept him safe. He could feel like a child again, with nothing to worry about. Mingjue would always protect him from the world.
"I wish you could be the sect leader," he murmured, even though he knew it was wicked to wish for such things. Ungrateful, disgraceful, troublesome. He'd been wishing as much since he was a child, and they'd both been punished for him saying it. Huaisang had quickly learned not to say it aloud, not even to Mingjue. "I'd rather you stayed regent forever. You're the one who's suited to command."
Clinging a little tighter, Huaisang took a shaky breath. "Promise me that things won't have to change? You'll still guide me and protect me, and you'll always, always rule by my side?"
"The gods have ordained it to be otherwise." Mingjue wasn't going to punish Huaisang - he knew the idea of leading a sect frightened him - but he did give him a stern look, "You will adjust to the role and I will be there for you."
Whether he was suited or not was beside the point. Huaisang was the true-born son and heir and Mingjue believed there was a deep reason for that. His brother had many good qualities that could - and would - in time support him in caring for their sect and beyond.
Just like he had many good qualities that would serve him as Huaisang's right hand man and defender.
The promise that was asked of him made him frown and then chuckle.
"One day you and I will get married and have children of our own. I will always protect you, but our lives will change."
Huaisang sulked at that, lifting his head and giving his brother a pout. "No, da ge. You're not allowed to get married and leave me. I forbid it." He was aware that he was being childish, but didn't want to act mature. He had so little childhood left before he became the sect leader. Before Mingjue's prophesy came true and he married and had other responsibilities in his life more important than spoiling his little brother.
"If you have to get married, you can just marry me," Huaisang insisted, intentionally playing up the childish pouting now. He knew that there was no chance his brother would take that as a serious suggestion, even though a part of Huaisang wished that he would. He'd spent half his life wishing he'd been born as a daughter of some other sect so that then he would have had a chance to be Mingjue's wife.
Ducking his head again, he buried his face against his brother's chest, nuzzling petulantly at him.
"You forbid it?" he huffed, amused, unsure when his brother was being playful and when he was being serious. Technically Huaisang did have the power to deny him a marriage, but to what end?
The answer came soon enough and he arched a brow, his heart skipping a beat strangely in his chest. Those words had been said to him before, but it had been awhile. Mingjue sighed and wrapped Huaisang in his arms, resting his cheek against the top of his head.
"You will never lose me. It's impossible. We have been together most of our lives." he moved a hand over Huaisang's hair and down his back absently, liking the shift from silken hair to soft fabric, "We will carry on the line with our wives and our children. You will get married one day too, Huaisang."
Huaisang grumbled, petulant as a child, but the touches relaxed him and made him smile with trust and contentment. "I don't want to get married. I don't want to grow up and be a Sect Leader. Even though there will be an enormous party all focused on me. I do like that part."
Lifting his head a little, Huaisang looked thoughtful. "I really should start focusing on the banquet planning. There's only a month left and I haven't even decided on the menu or the decor!"
It was just possible that there were other important priorities to consider--the politics, the security, the dangerous tensions involving the Wen Sect--but it was far more fun to focus on the party planning.
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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.
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Exhaling in frustration, he lengthened his strides to his brother's rooms. He had missed their lesson and that couldn't be tolerated. Not now. Not so close to his ascension.
The door opened roughly and he stood, framed in the light of the hallway, scowling. Just the expression would be enough to scare men into a desperate run or bow, however he knew it wouldn't do much good on Huaisang. His brother was just too laid back!
"Huaisang!" he tried to rein in his temper, striding into the room, the doors closing behind him, "You missed your lesson. Why?"
For...painting? His blood pressure was going to be what killed him in the end - not an enemy.
"How is this more important? Will paper protect you?" he reached for the painting, though he didn't plan on ripping it. That would be cruel.
"You have greater duties, Huaisang, and it's time you accepted them."
Now that Meng Yao was free from under their watch - the one downside of sending him away. Mingjue didn't trust that man as far as he could throw him, but he seemed to be mostly alone in that judgment. Again, his blood pressure was suffering for it.
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He didn't grab for it, too concerned that it might be damaged in the process. Setting down his brush quickly, he rose, worriedly watching the painting. "Careful, careful, the ink is still wet, da ge." Fluttering worriedly, he tried to retrieve his drawing so he could set it safely back on the table, fussing over it. "It doesn't need to protect me, I have you to protect me."
Once the painting was safe, he could get in his brother's face, glaring up at him. "Exactly what duties am I neglecting?"
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"If something should happen to me, you need all of your strength to carry on. Nothing is guaranteed in this world and I have spoiled you too much."
Not that he exactly regretted it, but that was a topic for another day. Or never.
"Sword practice. You have to be able to wield one if you are ever cornered." he drew Baxia from his back, "If Baxia passes to you, can you lift it? These are the things I worry about."
no subject
He still hadn't taken over his parents' chambers. He saw no reason for it. He liked his own rooms just fine, and it would be too strange to sleep in his father's bed. He was not his father.
At least while he wasn't yet sect leader he still had an excuse. But those large rooms were terrifying, with large carven heads of the Nie Sect beast on the walls. Huaisang didn't know how he was supposed to sleep under their stern gaze, knowing that his ancestors looked on from the spirit realm--and judged him with disappointment, probably. "If Baxia passes to me, I will not lift it. You'll just have to go on training my guards and soldiers to ensure that I'll never need it. And also you'll just have to never die."
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For his sake as well as for the sake of the Nie sect.
Setting Baxia against his back again, he followed his brother and peered over his shoulder.
"Everyone is relying on you and I know you can lead them well. I've never doubted that." he rested his hands on Huaisang's shoulders, lightly kneading, "But you are important to me too."
Important didn't cover it, but he wasn't someone who used flowery language.
no subject
There are too many threats. It would be easy to become paranoid, especially when the Wen sect flaunts their power constantly and sends their spies everywhere. Wuxian and Wangji had killed the Dire Owl, but Huaisang did not doubt that there were others.
Turning toward Mingjue, Huaisang tucked his fan into his sleeve and gave his brother a pout. It was unfair, but he knew his brother was weak to it. "I didn't want to go to blade practice today, da ge. I feel weak and useless and I hate it."
no subject
Poison could be tested for - and would be on his watch - and veiled threats would never escape his Huaisang.
"Please, at least, carry a knife." he reached into his robe and pulled out an ornate, slender and quite beautiful dagger, "I had this made for you. I wanted to give it to you at practice."
But since he didn't show up...
The pout did make him soften and he tucked the weapon - in its sheathe - inside of Huaisang's robe, showing him where it would sit.
"You're not weak, you're not useless and one day you will see the truth."
no subject
Gasping at the sight of the dagger, Huaisang's eyes widened. He let Mingjue tuck it against his heart, but then he immediately drew it back out, admiring the beauty of sheath and blade. "Da ge."
It was perfect for him. Subtle, easily hidden, and beautifully artful. Huaisang tucked it away again and then threw his arms around his brother, hugging tight. "I love it, da ge. Thank you. It's perfect."
no subject
Of course if he could forget his plans and gut the Wens, that would also be very pleasing.
But he knew, after speaking with Lan Xichen, that peace was the better road to take. It meant less lives would be lost.
The dagger's hilt was decorated with the animal that suited Huaisang best: a bird. A bright songbird could evade a bird of prey with the right planning and protection.
"I just want you safe." he admitted quietly, catching Huaisang and returning the hug, "This ascension will put you in the spotlight and I will have to guard you far more than I already do."
no subject
"I wish you could be the sect leader," he murmured, even though he knew it was wicked to wish for such things. Ungrateful, disgraceful, troublesome. He'd been wishing as much since he was a child, and they'd both been punished for him saying it. Huaisang had quickly learned not to say it aloud, not even to Mingjue. "I'd rather you stayed regent forever. You're the one who's suited to command."
Clinging a little tighter, Huaisang took a shaky breath. "Promise me that things won't have to change? You'll still guide me and protect me, and you'll always, always rule by my side?"
no subject
Whether he was suited or not was beside the point. Huaisang was the true-born son and heir and Mingjue believed there was a deep reason for that. His brother had many good qualities that could - and would - in time support him in caring for their sect and beyond.
Just like he had many good qualities that would serve him as Huaisang's right hand man and defender.
The promise that was asked of him made him frown and then chuckle.
"One day you and I will get married and have children of our own. I will always protect you, but our lives will change."
no subject
"If you have to get married, you can just marry me," Huaisang insisted, intentionally playing up the childish pouting now. He knew that there was no chance his brother would take that as a serious suggestion, even though a part of Huaisang wished that he would. He'd spent half his life wishing he'd been born as a daughter of some other sect so that then he would have had a chance to be Mingjue's wife.
Ducking his head again, he buried his face against his brother's chest, nuzzling petulantly at him.
no subject
The answer came soon enough and he arched a brow, his heart skipping a beat strangely in his chest. Those words had been said to him before, but it had been awhile. Mingjue sighed and wrapped Huaisang in his arms, resting his cheek against the top of his head.
"You will never lose me. It's impossible. We have been together most of our lives." he moved a hand over Huaisang's hair and down his back absently, liking the shift from silken hair to soft fabric, "We will carry on the line with our wives and our children. You will get married one day too, Huaisang."
no subject
Lifting his head a little, Huaisang looked thoughtful. "I really should start focusing on the banquet planning. There's only a month left and I haven't even decided on the menu or the decor!"
It was just possible that there were other important priorities to consider--the politics, the security, the dangerous tensions involving the Wen Sect--but it was far more fun to focus on the party planning.