It was during the month before Jin Ling’s birth that the subject first came up and their plan began to take shape.

As the birth approached, Jiang Cheng had been spending more and more time at Jinlintai. He was aware some found his obvious concern excessive, but frankly he didn’t care. The doctors all said she and the baby were fine, and she looked radiant and happy. But his sister had never been physically strong and he couldn’t help being anxious about the coming ordeal. Even if he couldn’t actually do anything to help, he wanted to spend as much time as possible with her.

It was on the first day of one of his visits that the subject came up. The siblings had been having tea when Jin Zixuan came in. He touched Yanli’s face tenderly before sitting, and then the two of them shared a look heavy with meaning.

“A-Cheng, there’s something Zixuan and I have been meaning to talk to you about,” she said. “We think our baby’s one month celebration would be a good time to reintroduce A-Xian to society. If we manage it correctly, maybe it can be the first step to making it safe for him to go home to Lotus Pier.”

Jiang Cheng’s eyes darted towards Jin Zixuan. He managed to keep his voice steady and derisive as he replied. “Letting him go home? He’s cast out. There is no going home for him.”

Jiang Yanli gave him a frank look. She reached over and took her husband’s hand before speaking. “A-Cheng, Zixuan knows. I told him. He understands.”

Jiang Cheng flew out of Lotus Pier with a handful of Jiang disciples, including the one that had reported Wei Wuxian’s activities. On his orders, he was the only one in purple Jiang robes. They caught sight of Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning a day’s walk north of Yiling, on foot. Jiang Cheng and his disciples spiraled in to descend some way ahead of him.

Jiang Cheng stepped off Sandu and sheathed the sword in one fluid motion. Wei Wuxian had stopped when he noticed them.

“Wei Wuxian, just what the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Jiang Cheng called out angrily as he strode back down the road to meet him.

Things happened very fast then. Wen Ning rushed forward to block his path. Jiang Cheng parried and stepped around the fierce corpse. Barely breaking stride he continued towards Wei Wuxian.

“Don’t you have a brain? You’re going to ruin—“

“Wen Ning, stop!”

At Wei Wuxian’s words, Jiang Cheng paused to look back. Behind him, Wen Ning was poised to attack, arm raised and palm held out as if to strike. The Jiang disciples were all rushing towards them in alarm.

Jiang Cheng frowned and turned back. “What the hell is this? Your pet corpse is attacking me now?”

Wei Wuxian let out a breath then waved a hand dismissively. “He reacted because you came at me aggressively. Don’t worry, I have him under control.”

Wei Wuxian addressed the fierce corpse. “It’s fine, Wen Ning, stand down. Jiang Cheng and his guys don’t mean me harm, do you, Jiang Cheng?”

Jiang Cheng let out an exhale and signaled his disciples to stop and sheath their swords. They did, but still fingered their hilts uneasily. Wen Ning relaxed, apparently appeased.

This was exactly why what Wei Wuxian was doing was a bad idea. Wei Wuxian had reacted to stop Wen Ning’s attack immediately, because he knew Jiang Cheng wouldn’t actually mean him harm. But what if it had been anyone else?

Or what if Wei Wuxian’s control simply slipped? He frowned. It could be disastrous.

“What are you doing here, Jiang Cheng?” Wei Wuxian asked him.

“Stopping you from making a boneheaded move. You need to send him back, I’m just relieved you didn’t get far enough for anyone to notice.”