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Nie Xingjuan respected Nie elder and the only matchmaker still active in the Qinghe Nie sect was almost at the end of her considerable wits. All these young ones running around with their sabers and no respect for their elders or their sect, nobody wanted to pair up all of them eagerly looking to participate in the war that was coming and none of them thinking of creating families. Sabers were all good and fine, but she felt that it would not be asking much of them to think about keeping the sect moving forward.
This would all be different if Nie Mingjue was not their sect leader. That man drove her to desperation, previous sect leaders knew how important it was for unions to go ahead and while family adjacent to the sect still sought her services and marriages were completed successfully, Nie Mingjue refused to even talk to her in order to arrange contracts for members of the main family as was his duty. Xingjuan felt that some emergency measures were needed and the first one should be walking through her door with all his celestial charts and hopefully some good news.
Nie Shoushan liked to imagine himself as gliding on the smooth stones in the inner halls as the stars in the heavens, but the truth was that his feet were just going very fast trying to get him to his appointment in time. He didn’t want to think of Nie Xingjuan’s face if the bell rang and he was not in front of her already and no sane man in Qinghe Nie wanted to be confronted with an angry matchmaker. Especially since he was sure that his predictions today were sure to stir her up something awful.
Nie Huaisang, Young Master of Qinghe Nie knew that there were many things his brother had no intention of ever telling him which really was driving Nie Huaisang into madness slowly. Firstly he already knew most of the things his brother wanted to keep secret from him, he wouldn’t be good at his job of unofficial spy master for Qinghe Nie if he didn’t, not to mention that various members of his sect saw to it that he was educated of all these issues. Secondly if his brother didn’t plan to have a family and leave someone else to lead the sect then he damn well needed to trust Huaisang with the secrets, unless he wanted him to be a sect leader with no knowledge of his own sect. It was laughable to even think about it and yet his Dage seemed to think that this was all okay.
And thus here Huaisang was outside the office of the Nie sect matchmaker, the fearsome Nie Xingjuan ready to “barge” into her discussion with the astrologer regarding his brother’s future marriage alliance. Something Nie Mingjue knew nothing about and would only find out once everything was into place as neatly arranged as possible.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Nie Xingjuan asked coldly, trying to stare Nie Huaisang into non-existence. “I was unaware we had invited you in this discussion, Young Master Nie. Unless you willingly showed yourself to my office because you wish to be matched,” her smile was full of teeth as she looked at him.
“My apologies for interrupting this very important meeting, Elder Xingjuan,” Nie Huaisang gave her a small bow, “I just thought that since the war preparations have begun and Dage is sure to veelected the General of this campaign, I should let you know that all matters of the sect aside from military have been passed to me. If there are any marriages or any betrothal contracts to be discussed I’ll be very wiling to start discussions,” his smile was nothing less than devious when he saw the matchmaker smile back.
“It seems to me Young Master that you have come to visit me at the best opportune moment and we already have the other most important person with us,” she gave a side look to Nie Shoushan and wondered why he seemed to be sweating a bit. Was this pre-arranged? Did Nie Huaisang orchestrate this meeting?
After offering Nie Huaisang a seat and pouring tea for all three of them, Ina Xingjuan arranged her robes and clapped her hands signifying she was ready to begin. She looked at Nie Huaisang first, “Is it my idea Young Master or did you really plan for this meeting to happen like this? I have long tried to get our Sect Leader to accept a match or even a betrothal discussion, but we have failed repeatedly in both instances. I’m afraid our chances our slim at this point and a lot of work needs to be done to see if we can find someone suitable enough.”
Nie Huaisang looked at her first and then the astrologer, “I suppose you both have knowledge of the special Nie main family issues and we must try to get this arrangement for my brother at all costs before the war starts?”
“I’m fully aware, Young Master Nie, as is Nie Shoushan. This is why we have worked on this for weeks already, trying to be ready for when the moment came. It is still difficult of course as Nie Mingjue will not even greet me good morning anymore. Especially since his assistant went off to that special mission of his and our Sect Leader resembles a bear most days,” Nie Xingjuan answered him. “Let us get into the issue then and see if our astrologer has any matches that we can try to negotiate,” she looked expectantly at Nie Shoushan.
The astrologer was quiet until that point, since he knew that he should let the temporary co-Sect Leader and the matchmaker to come into an agreement. He knew that if he was alone with Nie Xingjuan he might have omitted the fact that Nie Huaisang had passed information to him asking for a match and their zodiac details.
“Respected Elder, Nie-gongzi allow me to open the charts and we can see what we have today,” Nie Shoushan was already spreading his charts on the side of the table. “I have tried various zodiac compatibility matches with all available eligible matches from all three sects and some suggestions Nie-gongzi provided,” he looked sideways at Nie Huaisang. It went without saying that no matches would be considered from the Wen Sect, although Young Master Nie had mumbled something about the Dafan Wen, but Nie Shoushan had no further details on that.
Nie Xingjuan was already bent over the charts trying to see the names and details, her head came up so fast Nie Shoushan thought she might be possessed. “Young Master Nie had suggestions?” she asked.
*******
It was not a secret in the Nie Sect, quite possibly all of Qinghe that Nie Mingjue and Lan Xichen were in love with each other since they were about 8 years old. The elders knew, the disciples knew it, the vendors in the street knew it and surely both of them knew. They also knew that nothing could be done, as Nie Mingjue was Sect Leader before he reached the age of sixteen and Lan Xichen was soon to become one himself, not to mention the small issue with managing to attract a third into their marriage in order to balance the issue with the qi deviations. But only the Nie Elders knew about that part and after lengthy discussions with the matchmaker and Nie Huaisang they still had no idea how to approach the issue.
Turns out that finding a second husband was easy once everybody saw how Nie Mingjue treated Meng Yao and according to the very detailed report by Nie Huaisang; Zewu Jun also had the exact same response, but how to go about getting the first one to accept a proposal? Lan Xichen was Zewu Jun, the first Jade of Lan and nephew to Lan Qiren who would never let one of his nephews even think about marrying into another sect much less let them give up the leadership of the sect for it.
And so Huaisang plotted and prepared.
Everything that could be prepared before hand was ready, that included the birthday matching, the betrothal and wedding gifts, having a date ready by the astrologer. He even had a proposal written and ready to go, the gods knew that his brother would never be able to do this without some direction.
As for the plot? He had dispatched Meng Yao as soon as he had heard that Zewu Jun went missing after the burning of Cloud Recesses with the instructions to help in hiding him and bring him to Qinghe in order to start the planning for the war that was coming. That was before the ridiculous Indoctrination he had to attend as a “guest” of Wen Chao and what a tragedy that was, at least his carefully cultivated fragile state got him out of there unharmed and back to Qinghe as soon as possible. He knew that Lan Wangji was back in Cloud Recesses and Wei Wuxian accompanied by Jiang Wanyin had returned to Lotus Pier. Something needed to be done about that as well, he was sure that Wen Chao would not miss the opportunity to try and vent his spite on Yunmeng Jiang and of course Wei Wuxian. But Lan Qiren was due to arrive soon in order to start some talks with his brother and officially ask for their help to start a campaign against the Wen, Huaisang knew that the Jiang would probably head towards Lanling Jin and couldn’t blame them, they always had a better relationship.
Meng Yao’s latest missive held some interesting information regarding Lan Xichen and his views on Clan leadership and how he saw himself, but how to approach Master Lan with this? How to ask that he allow the main heir to the sect that was one step before becoming Sect Leader, Huaisang expected that to happen as soon as he appeared again, to basically give up being a part of his sect in order to marry into another.
Which led to the meeting he was now attending at last with the astrologer and the matchmaker, everything was ready and he had to play this gambit now or wait until the end of the war and who knew what that would bring, no he needed to act now and hope that all the pieces would fall into place like he wanted them too.
*******
Three days after Lan Qiren had arrived at the Unclean Realm in order to discuss the actions of the Wens and see if there was a way they could arrange talks with the rest of the sects and decide on an plan of action, Lan Xichen finally appears for the first time after he was seen fleeing from Cloud Recesses, with him is Meng Yao, adjutant to Sect Leader Nie and part time spy on behalf of Young Master Nie. Both look tired and worse for wear but thankfully without injuries.
Nie Mingjue is waiting for them at the gate in person and no small amount of excitement.
Nothing comes out of it because as soon as the men he loves come through the gate his sneak of a little brother appears right beside him, takes over the greetings and hurriedly leads Lan Xichen and Meng Yao into one of the inner courtyards. Specifically the inner courtyard that leads to the apartments set aside for the Lan Sect, where Lan Qiren is now staying.
“Do you have any idea what that was?” He asks Nie Zhonghui, who’s standing right beside him with his mouth slightly open. “No idea at zongzhu”, he answers.
“I’m afraid to even ask what he has planned, knowing Huaisang it could be anything. Tell me Zhonghui, did I make a mistake in letting Huaisang take charge of the daily tasks for the sect?” Nie Zhonghui is saved from having to answer by the appearance of a junior disciple who informs Nie Mingjue that his presence is required in the courtyard that the Lan sect is staying. Nie Mingjue turns to look at him again. “One can hope that it only be good news Sect Leader and that our newly returned guests did not bring more trouble with them,” Nie Zhonghui quips.
If only it was some sort of war trouble Nie Mingjue thinks to himself half a sichen later. He’ still not sure how he is still sitting upright and not fallen into a qi deviation. “Would you mind repeating that again Master Lan?”
And yet it’s Huaisang that answers him, “You heard it correctly the first time Dage. We have called you here to announce the betrothal agreement between our sect and Gusu Lan. Master Lan has graciously,” Nie Mingjue is looking at Lan Qiren and is wondering what sort of drug is having that calming effect, “agreed to the betrothal of Lan Xichen to you as first consort of Qinghe Nie” Huaisang finishes.
Nie Mingjue looks around him one more time and yes, he is still in his own home at the Unclean Realm his brother next to him, the boy he has loved for over a decade across the table from him, Lan Qiren next to him, the matchmaker, the astrologer and Meng Yao on the side. He turns to look at Huaisang again and growls, “explain it better Huaisang, because this cannot be true. Or better yet, Elder Nie Xingjuan please give me the details on how this came to pass.”
The Nie Elder rose from her seat and approached Nie Mingjue, “Sect Leader all the steps have been taken for this betrothal agreement, our Sect through Young Master Nie who is in charge of sect matters at the moment, proposed to Master Lan who is in charge of his Sect for the betrothal of his nephew Lan Xichen. All the six etiquettes of marriage have been adhered to, except of course the ceremony. We were very happy that the birthday matching was so auspicious between you and Young Master Lan and of course Young Master Meng. His matching was indeed the will of heaven, we have not seen such an auspicious Second Consort matching before,” she paused and looked at Meng Yao. “Young Master Meng of course is a member of our Sect and so arrangements were done by me and Young Master Nie. The gifts have been exchanged and some auspicious dates for the ceremony have been suggested by Nie Shoushan.”
Nie Mingjue glared at her and then turn to look at the Lans, “and you agreed with this?” he asked. He is not all surprised when Meng Yao rises from his seat bows to everyone and announces, “if respected Master Lan and Elders would give us a few minutes to discuss this, please?” Even less surprising is the fact that everyone is rising from their seat and leaving the room, until only him, Lan Xichen and Meng Yao and Nie Huaisang are left.
Meng Yao looks at Nie Huaisang and makes a motion his hand as if to say go ahead, Nie Huaisang takes a deep breath and starts talking, “I know that you think this is crazy and impossible to happen, but Dage, it’s possible. You love Lan Xichen and you love Meng Yao and they both love you. Oh stop looking at me so surprised all three of you, even Lan Qiren has seen this. Is it a difficult situation? Of course it is, the two of you are sect leaders and the third is the son of one. But I will be damned and prefer to roam the sects as a fierce corpse than not try and arrange a marriage with the people who love you Dage. Even better as it is two of them and we can do a proper ritual so you can avoid dying from qi deviation as quite a few of our elders have done.” Huaisang stops and takes a deep breath. “I know that this is sudden and that you believe it’s a crazy idea,” he continues, “but I assure you that it’s all been done according to custom, I am the one responsible for the Nie Sect at the moment Dage, Master Lan is responsible for Lan Xichen and since Meng Yao is part of the Nie Sect I also had his arrangement done. Now you might wonder why did Master Lan agree?”, he looks around and all three nodded. Huaisang turned to Lan Xichen, “Xichen-ge I’m sorry that I used some of the things I knew about you to convince your uncle. You are an unparalleled cultivator and would have made an amazing sect leader, but I know that deep down you wish that you didn’t have to. Your Sect needs some restructuring asap and you hate confrontation, Second Young Master Lan is going to kick your Elders off the mountain if the Sect does not progress how he wants it to. And if the match we have in mind for him happens he won’t need to speak a lot either,” Huaisang almost laughed at this, the three other men were looking at him. “Oh don’t worry, that’s for later, Second Young Master Lan is young after all.”
Nie Huaisang took a step forward and clapped his hands, “Now, everything is arranged and the best auspicious date is next month, I need to check the progress on the seamstresses for the wedding robes, please excuse me," with that he bowed and left the room almost running.
A bellow was heard behind him, “HUAISANG!”
*******
The wedding was indeed held the next month and Nie Huaisang was wiping his tears for hours, his Dage was finally married! Meng Yao kept looking around in disbelief and then at his two husbands with wide eyes. Lan Xichen’s smile should be used as a weapon in the war to blind their opponents. Lan Qiren was still in a calm state, nobody knew what was actually happening to him. Lan Wangji had appeared for his brother’s wedding with Wei Wuxian in tow, plus a large amount of Jiang cultivators and the current Sect heir Jiang Wanyin. Turns out he had stopped at Lotus Pier on the way to Qinghe and had given a helping hand with a small Wen issue they were having, reports coming out of Lotus Pier tell of the story of how an almost invisible thread had decapitated Wen Zhuliu.
Yes this war thing was off to a good start Nie Huaisang thought to himself. He couldn’t wait to see the face of Jin Guangshan when he realized that Nie Mingjue had two consorts that could accomplish everything and that of all people Lan Wangji was becoming Sect Leader Lan, let him try his conniving maneuvers with that.