un: qishan | audio (some time shortly after the cooking mishap)

[silverneedles]

Some among us, both living and not, have been reeling from complications induced by an unfortunate meal.

While there is little I can do to help Lord Arha and his men, I can offer medicinal teas, brewed with what herbs we have. Mazyar was polite enough to offer more herbs, and anything I brew will be free, as compared to his teas.

If you are not so indisposed, the soldiers accompanying us seem to benefit from conversation.

Comments

[silverneedles]

[ luckily his voice is one she does recognize ]

A-Yuan— Sizhui. Hands are needed to pass out tea.

-> to action

[paperbutterflies]

I will be there right away.

[ It is not a big enough camp for Sizhui to have to look for her long. He comes to cup his hands before her, looking definitely much better than back on the ship, but then he's looked that way for a while now. Even his fingers are mostly healed up after the attack, he's been cultivating diligently to let them mend quickly. ]

Lady Wen. If - if you'd like to, calling me A-Yuan is all right. Uncle Ning does so.

[silverneedles]

[ Wen Qing looks up from her herbs as he approaches, smiling at him and reaching out to interrupt his bow. ]

There is no need for such formality, a-Yuan.

[paperbutterflies]

[ Sizhui smiles brightly at her. ]

Yes, Lady Wen. It is just... I am very glad to see you, [ still, always, ] and I am used to expressing joy in certain ways.

[ The ways that won't make Hanguang-jun frown.

Yes, he's like that with the man who raised him, too. ]

Did Xie Lian daozhang make a lot of food?

[ Did a lot of people get... unwell? ]

[silverneedles]

[ Her answering smile is much less bright but vivid for Wen Qing, pleased to see her young nephew alive and well, and happy here. ]

No need for that, either. I am your aunt, after all.

[ For all that he was raised by the Lan's, he's still a Wen, and they aren't home, so acknowledging the connection isn't terrible. ]

It appears a number of people have unduly suffered from his cooking. Even among the army accompanying us.

[paperbutterflies]

[ Sizhui also addresses his dads as Hanguang-jun and Senior Wei, and is also aware it is likely safer for him to not change the address knowing at least Sect Leader Jiang's reactions to anyone and anything related to the Wen clan, but at the same time... he smiles slightly. ]

Which way would you prefer that I call you?

[ Since there are options.

Sizhui nods, and just tries to help as much as he can, helping keep the fire to make the tea alive and such. ]

[silverneedles]

[ The formality drives home the fact that she left him, and couldn't watch him grow, even if Hanguang-jun and the Lan's had guaranteed him a better life than anything they could have provided in the Burial Mounds. ]

What do you call Wen Ning?

[paperbutterflies]

This...

Normally, I call him Senior. Sometimes, in private, Uncle Ning.

[ Qianbei. Ning shushu. ]

[silverneedles]

[ Looks away from him, staring at the herbs she's been crushing for the tea. When she lifts her gaze to look at him again, she's smiling, although it's a little strained at the edges. ]

Something similar, then. Lady Wen, in public. In private, Aunt.

[paperbutterflies]

[ Sizhui cups his hands towards her, grateful and glad, then looks up brightly. ]

Yes, Aunt! I will like that.

I think here... only sect leader Jiang might take it with more difficulty.

[ Back home... everyone still hates the Wens. But here, most people don't know about that, and Xiao Xingchen daozhang will probably not be that affected. ]

[silverneedles]

Sect Leader Jiang? [ She pauses, considering this. Between various conversations, she's pieced together some of what happened. Jiang Cheng having issues hearing the name Wen makes sense, and she can't even blame him for that. ]

If he takes it poorly and is upset, tell him to talk to me. I'll yell at him for you.

[paperbutterflies]

I... understand why he would, and I don't think there would be a situation where that will come up if I will keep calling you lady Wen with others around. And even if it happens - I think it would be fair to try to explain to him for myself first.

[ Sizhui might not necessarily have a very great idea of what 'fear' is still. Not for himself, at any rate. ]

[silverneedles]

[ It's always a balancing act: letting kids answer for their actions or stepping in to defend. And although this is a-Yuan, she'd be inclined to let him explain for himself.

But it's also Jiang Cheng, and there is history. ]

Does he know the truth of your parentage?

[paperbutterflies]

[ Sizhui shakes his head. ]

I did not remember until not long before waking up on that ship. Hanguang-jun knows, and probably Zewu-jun. Senior Wei knows, and Uncle Ning. Anyone else, not really. Others my age know that I was adopted into the Lan clan, but only that.

[silverneedles]

[ For the best, that. Even if it pains her to admit. ]

You should keep it that way.

[paperbutterflies]

Yes, Aunt.

[ After a moment's consideration, he adds, ] I feel like if he does learn, it will hurt and upset him more than he will be able to hurt me.

[silverneedles]

In that case, he should hear it from someone else. Wei Wuxian or Hanguang-jun, or even myself. [ It is bound to make him upset, but at least if it comes from one of them, he already has good reason to be angry. ] Let one of us take that burden.