inheritedpain | IC INBOX: PRISMATICA

[ He doesn't know what this is about, but he has a suspicion. The only thing in common between them is Jiang Cheng, so clearly this is about him somehow. And that meant he had to be a Perfect Representative of his Uncle.

He took even more care than usual with his robes and his hair, and then left Fairy with Jiang Cheng and went to her apartment.

He knocked briskly on the door, then clasped his free hand behind his back, the other clutching his sword at his side. When she opened the door, he swept his arms out, clasped his hands together, and bowed.

There. See? Fuck everyone else, he could be polite when he wanted to. ]

Lady Wen.

( despite taking to a more modern lifestyle, wen qing dons her robes for this — not the blindingly red wen sect ones, but ones more purple, in favor of yunmeng jiang. a sect that, thus far, has been far more kind to her than her birth sect ever was, and has been far more kind to her than she's deserved, considering what the wens did to lotus pier.

she gives him a low bow in return, nodding him inside. )

Thank you for coming, Young Master Jin.

( regardless of modern walls and fixtures, wen qing's dining room is very old china — a kneeling table with her fine dish ware set out, hot pots of soup and noodle dishes spread in the middle. she's a decent cook, all things considered, and she really brought out the works for this meeting in particular.

buttering him up? )

Please, sit.

( she takes her own seat, filling up his bowls, pouring him tea. someone who knows her better might mention a certain anxiety in her movements, ordinarily so strong and sure of herself. )

[ He follows her in, a little wary, though the set up is extremely nostalgic.

He sits, as primly and precisely as his little uncle taught him, and he watches her as she serves.

This is weird. This is weird, right? This is even more formal than Hanguang-Jun.

He waits until she is done, and then says: ]

Why am I here?

[ So much for being polite. ]

( she sets a bowl down on the table with a short, sharp clank, taking a breath at once before her gaze lifts up from the array and fixes on him, some mix between intense and pleading. her hands fall back and fold in her lap, thumbs briefly fighting with each other before she forces herself in confident, shoulder back, back straight. she's not going to be scared off by jin ling. )

I'll be blunt.

( she says, and it's another beat before she carries on, in the same cadence. same tension in the air, thick like fog. )

I want to ask your uncle to marry me.

( wen qing almost leaves it there and like that, but after another thought she carries on, eye contact maintained throughout the duration. )

I haven't asked him, yet. And I won't, without your blessing.

Of all things, you are what's most precious to him. I know your understanding would mean the world to him, if he chooses to say yes.

[ There was a beat where he just frowned at her, not processing, brows kind of furrowed. Then a flash of very real, intense anger in his chest, quickly followed by a wave of intense guilt. ]

I'm definitely not the most precious thing to him. Not here.

[ He corrected, a little bluntly. He wished he was. But he knew who held that position. ]

And I don't have any right to say what he can or can't do.

Why?

What's even the point of getting married here, anyway? For the Jiang name? Other than me, no one seems to care about yours at all.

All respect, Jin Ling, but your uncle adores you.

( it's fairly easy to see, even when he's trying to disguise it as anything else. the son of jiang yanli and jin zixuan — how could he do anything other than love him?

wen qing herself isn't terrible fond of jin ling as is, but she's willing to put forward the effort into trying. anyway, this isn't about her. the only thing she and jin ling have even remotely in common is their mutual love for jiang cheng — and that's who she asks for, who she's protecting and respecting in asking for jin ling's blessing. )

I don't care about names, either. ( if at all possible, her gaze gets even more serious as the next words fall out of her mouth, fruits plucked off a vine. ) The point is that I love him. I know you do too.

And I know we've tolerated each other so far, but it would mean the world to Jiang Cheng if we could come together on this. The choice is still yours, and I will respect your decision.

I know.

[ Of course he knew that. ]

But he's also known me for two months, and I've known him my whole life. I love him more than you possibly could. [ Is he seriously making this a competition???

He tsked and looked away. ]

But I also know that this isn't home. And me and him against the world isn't enough for him, here.

[ He looks back at her. ]

But. I will never forgive you, ever, if you offer him this and then leave. For any reason. Do you understand? If you break his heart, I-- [ He sucked in a breath, let it out hard. ]

I'll break both your legs personally!!

( she doesn't look intimidated, but she does appear deadly serious, eyes a little dark even in the warmth that blooms in her chest. )

And I would hand you the mallet.

( she has no intention of breaking jiang cheng's heart, ever.

or, well. again might suit better. )

You'll be expected to take part in the ceremony. ( and, ) After then, we will be considered family.

[ He makes a little bit of a face at the idea of the ceremony and having to do anything for it, but of course he will. He knows his filial duty, after all.

But the last bit makes him pause. Glance away. ]

By marriage.

I recognize that Jiang Cheng has more authority over my wellbeing and status as would generally be given an Uncle.

But you won't be given the same thing.

IC INBOX: PRISMATICA

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