As much as Yuan appreciates and adores his parents and sworn brother for always standing up for him, for always reassuring him that he hasn't done anything wrong, it's hard not to notice how often they have to get defensive around allies in order to do so. Could it really be that all those people are wrong? Is it such a good thing that his very presence causes so much conflict?
He takes a breath and tries to center himself, convince himself that his father wouldn't lie, doesn't lie, that there is no resentment brewing... he's not sure that makes it any better, but at this point there isn't anything he can do about it. If he'd never come here, never found his family, perhaps things would have been better for them - but leaving now would only break their hearts, and his.
"He just cares about..." his gaze flicks to Jin Ling where he's greeting the Nie clan, unable to say his name because he knows it'll break him. He drags his eyes away "he just cares about his family."
And Yuan isn't it. In some ways it stings, a little, but in others he completely understands - Jiang Cheng has no reason to view him as family, and every reason to want to protect Jin Ling.
~~~
"He's very much improved," Zizhen stresses "the lingering injuries... they're very minor, nothing to worry about, I promise."
He just wants to reassure his beloved, more than anything - he doesn't want to admit that he doesn't know for certain himself, since he hasn't been allowed to visit here, either. He's managed to glean some information during the planning for the tournament, and he's pretty sure that he's correct, but all his information is second hand and he doesn't know how much of it is accurate. He thinks that Ling's injuries will all go away entirely, that he'll be back to full health in time. He suspects, though, that there might be a possibility - however slight - that there is some permanent damage done.
"Of course I'll help you!" He says urgently. He's been in a position to support Jin Ling, at least briefly, the very least he can do is give Jingyi a chance to prove to Jin Ling that he's also always going to be there for him - and he is, of course, enough of a hopeless romantic that he'd move heaven and earth to get Jin Ling and Yuan a moment alone.
"Even if I have to sneak you into his rooms at night, you'll both have a chance, I swear it."
~~~
"Such flattery, Jin-zongzhu!" He says, pretending to be flustered by it, his own eyes glittering with delight. He really is getting very good at playing politics, isn't he? Better at it than his uncle, even.
"I would be delighted to join you for a drink later, I'm sure all the details of the tournament are well in hand, but it will be nice to confirm the finer points with you." He adds - just a gentle reminder to anybody who might be listening that he is getting a more honoured position for a reason, and so that nobody thinks they're talking about anything important later.
Ling really is blossoming into a powerful and confident young sect leader, and Huaisang is positively bursting with pride over it. He wonders if this is what being a parent feels like - though he would never dare to claim such influence or familiarity, of course. He rather likes it, actually, which is an instinct he never thought he'd develop.
He gives the young sect leader another encouraging smile and breezes over to the tables set out for them, gaze immediately searching for Cheng amongst the Jiang delegation.
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chiming
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Date: 2022-06-19 06:16 pm (UTC)From:As much as Yuan appreciates and adores his parents and sworn brother for always standing up for him, for always reassuring him that he hasn't done anything wrong, it's hard not to notice how often they have to get defensive around allies in order to do so. Could it really be that all those people are wrong? Is it such a good thing that his very presence causes so much conflict?
He takes a breath and tries to center himself, convince himself that his father wouldn't lie, doesn't lie, that there is no resentment brewing... he's not sure that makes it any better, but at this point there isn't anything he can do about it. If he'd never come here, never found his family, perhaps things would have been better for them - but leaving now would only break their hearts, and his.
"He just cares about..." his gaze flicks to Jin Ling where he's greeting the Nie clan, unable to say his name because he knows it'll break him. He drags his eyes away "he just cares about his family."
And Yuan isn't it. In some ways it stings, a little, but in others he completely understands - Jiang Cheng has no reason to view him as family, and every reason to want to protect Jin Ling.
~~~
"He's very much improved," Zizhen stresses "the lingering injuries... they're very minor, nothing to worry about, I promise."
He just wants to reassure his beloved, more than anything - he doesn't want to admit that he doesn't know for certain himself, since he hasn't been allowed to visit here, either. He's managed to glean some information during the planning for the tournament, and he's pretty sure that he's correct, but all his information is second hand and he doesn't know how much of it is accurate. He thinks that Ling's injuries will all go away entirely, that he'll be back to full health in time. He suspects, though, that there might be a possibility - however slight - that there is some permanent damage done.
"Of course I'll help you!" He says urgently. He's been in a position to support Jin Ling, at least briefly, the very least he can do is give Jingyi a chance to prove to Jin Ling that he's also always going to be there for him - and he is, of course, enough of a hopeless romantic that he'd move heaven and earth to get Jin Ling and Yuan a moment alone.
"Even if I have to sneak you into his rooms at night, you'll both have a chance, I swear it."
~~~
"Such flattery, Jin-zongzhu!" He says, pretending to be flustered by it, his own eyes glittering with delight. He really is getting very good at playing politics, isn't he? Better at it than his uncle, even.
"I would be delighted to join you for a drink later, I'm sure all the details of the tournament are well in hand, but it will be nice to confirm the finer points with you." He adds - just a gentle reminder to anybody who might be listening that he is getting a more honoured position for a reason, and so that nobody thinks they're talking about anything important later.
Ling really is blossoming into a powerful and confident young sect leader, and Huaisang is positively bursting with pride over it. He wonders if this is what being a parent feels like - though he would never dare to claim such influence or familiarity, of course. He rather likes it, actually, which is an instinct he never thought he'd develop.
He gives the young sect leader another encouraging smile and breezes over to the tables set out for them, gaze immediately searching for Cheng amongst the Jiang delegation.