Closed PSL for Q

[raddishpeddler]

Wen Ning was extremely nervous as he approached Cloud Recesses. He had arranged to meet with the Sect Leader to discuss an important proposal that he had recently recieved from the Emperor himself. The proposal had caught him off guard and something he didn't think was imaginable. It was rare that the Emperor even showed interest in the cultivation world. It was something he couldnt take lightely as it would helpp bridge the two worlds together. Yet, if he was honest with himself Wen Ning simply wanted to hide. He never imagined that becoming a Sect Leader would bring in oppurtuntiies he didn't realize were possible. He needed sound advice and one that wasn't judging or demanding.

This visit would also allow time for him to see his friends and get a small break. Once he arrived, Wen Ning still had time before he was able to talk with the Sect Leader. He chose to seek out WuXian for the time being.

Comments

[raddishpeddler]

Wen Ning smiled upon seeing his friend and bent down to pick up A-Yuan. He was quiet surprised that the toddler recognized him. It had been some time since he had seen the pair, sect buisness keeping him busy from visiting.

"You've gotten so big and your running now," Wen Ning softly greeted the child. Then he looked to the mother. "I'm aware.... please forgive this one for not visiting. I am at least writing....I had to do a lot of rearranging to be able to come here now. How are things fairing?"

As he walked alongside WuXian, he shifted A-Yuan so he was sitting on top of his shoulders.

[dogfearing]

Not so much that Yuan remembered him, but Mama thought he was a good person and good people were okay to go to. He was still a toddler; smiling faces won toddlers' hearts very easily.

"Yep!" Yuan declared. He was well and truly running and he was getting big.

WuXian waved a hand dismissively. "It's fine. It's fine. You are a sect leader. You have things to take care of. I spend all my time with a toddler." Not quite the same level, but still important jobs.

Yuan giggled as he was put on Wen Ning's shoulders, looking down at them. "Hi Mama!"

"Hi A-Yuan. Aiya! You've gotten so tall!"

Yuan giggled again.

"Things are going well here. WangJi's been taking juniors out on night hunts so it hasn't been the most exciting. How are things with you? What brings you here?"

[raddishpeddler]

"A-Yuan is taller then all of us!" Wen Ning chimed in with a chuckle.

"Things are running smoothly. There's so much paper work and meetings involved when I'm not having to deal with things in person. I still delegate a lot of tasks, but there's still a lot that only I'm allowed to deal with.

I get a few visitors from time to time checking in. Nie Hausang is a regular once his brother visited and felt that things were 'safe'...

But the visit here? I recieved an proposal of sorts from the Emperor..." Wen Ning softly commented and felt his ears turn red and tried to avoid eye contact.

[dogfearing]

Yuan clapped happily at the enthusiasm of him being taller than them, intent to stay there and look around from a vantage he didn't normally have. Well... he did when WangJi would pick him up in the village. Not usually in the Cloud Recesses.

"That's good, things running smoothly. It's not good when the opposite happens. Of course the life of a sect leader is two things: training and paperwork."

Okay, maybe more than that, but it seemed this was common.

"That's good. I always thought that you and Nie HuaiSang got along together well."

That last comment certainly got his attention and WuXian looked over at him. "The Emperor? What sort of proposal was that?"

Generally the Emperor didn't meddle in the affairs of the cultivators. They were allowed to do as they wished within reason.

[raddishpeddler]

"Yes, it's never a dull moment really." There was a long pause before Wen Ning ansered the question. He used the time to focus on A-Yuan a bit to figure out how to explain everything. He allowed the child to continue to gaze about him as he was being mindful of where he walked.

Only instead everything came out in one breath. "Hebelievesmetobeapotentialmatchforoneofhisdaughtersandwantstomeetme."

His expression was of a combination of embarrasment and being terrified. He was just getting used to the possible idea of an arranged marriage with someone from Cloud Recess, but outside the cultivation world and someone so high up? The idea terrified him.

[dogfearing]

"Of course it isn't." WuXian looked at him, not approaching the topic again, but letting Wen Ning tell him when he was ready. He was used to his friend being quite timid about these things.

It took a moment as he spaced those words out correctly.

"Really? A royal princess? How exciting!" He smiled. "You are here to talk to Sect Leader Lan?"

[raddishpeddler]

Wen Ning gave a nod. "I'm only just getting used to things....I never imagined things could get this big or people were watching outside the cultivation world. I haven't told anyone else about this since this needed to be handled delicately. Nor did I want my family to get worked up over it.

I still can't help but feel that no matter what direction I'm being pulled in I believe it taking me away from what I truely want. Yet, I know that this is an oppurtunity to not waste and would benefit my people and the cultivation world."

Wen Ning frowned, wishing that things weren't so complex and were simple as they had been in the past.

[dogfearing]

WuXian crossed his arms as he listened to Wen Ning, leaning back slightly. "Yeah, I wasn't sure they'd even taken notice of anything we did. I mean, certain now-deceased cultivators were able to get away with anything they wanted unchecked."

Mentioning the Emperor would have likely had little effect in mitigating the actions of Wen Ruohan and his sons. Not like the Emperor could have done anything to stop them in the long run and most non-cultivators turned to their local cultivation sect before the Emperor when there was a problem.

He nodded his head. "Yeah, a daughter of Gusu Lan was already moving away from what you wanted. This is even more so, but if a princess is being offered as a wife, it's not an opportunity to refuse."

Heck, if he had been single, not realizing he loved Lan Zhan and a princess had been offered as a wife, he would have been a fool not to accept, even if he would have been kept for a week straight wondering why him. A sect leader at least made sense. They were essentially a local lord and had a high standing among others.

[raddishpeddler]

"Yes, this is something I can't refuse. It would be foolish not to as it would bring a lot of potential to our world and my sect. Worse case scenario they turn me down. But I also know that this is a big chance to prove myself to my sworn brothers and to the outside world. I don't want to mess this up...

--If I have to give up Wen Zhuilu then I will brace myself to do so. I somehow doubt they would find that acceptable if I was still with him.


I just know nothing....of what they do. Which is also why I came here. They barely trained me on the basics of how to lead a sect so I diffently don't know anything outside my sect on what to do."

Wen Ning gave a wary sigh and fidgeted with the collar of his robes. He didn't want to give up his partner. They had discussed this at length when he recieved the proposal. It always ended up in heated arguements and he refrained from mentioning it again until he got advice.

[dogfearing]

"Yeah, I know nothing of Imperial etiquette, but Master Lan and Sect Leader Lan are probably the best to know. If worse comes to worst, and you are with people, just copy what they do. I'm guessing you actually have to kowtow at least."

He drummed his finger on his chin.

"In regards to Wen Zhuliu, I figure you have two options. The first is to tell them immediately if they ask about relationships. Most likely, that will lead to the proposal being dropped right there."

He knew that at least.

"Or the second option: phrase it so what you are telling them is not a lie, like you have no relationships with women that could interfere. I know this sounds like lying, but hear me out. If all goes well, you'll actually be able to meet her. I'd say at some point before you are actually married, talk to her alone and tell her about your relationship with Wen Zhuliu. This way, you're not lying to her and she has the opportunity to back out if she wants to or make requests in response. Who knows what she'll say when she's allowed to state her own opinion."

[raddishpeddler]

"I think I would mess up badly just following. Everything is so strutcured by status. I might offend someone by accident or embarrass them. I'm already nervous enough and trying to keep myself collected is going to be a huge challenge."

Wen Ning gave a skeptical look at the other response in regards toward Wen Zhuilu. "I thought about that...but all I can think about is my sister. She would be furious if I ruined something like this for my own personal needs. I should be happy with what was given to me. She would send him away as well to enforce it. She was the one to hire him on as my bodyguard. She just wasn't expecting a relationship to develop from it.

I suppose in the long run it's best to see how this plays out...I just know he's not happy right now with how things are. I worry with how he will react."

He paused to shift A-Yuan a bit. He still didn't mind carrying the toddler on his shoulders. He knew he was having fun enjoying the view at a different perspective.

[dogfearing]

"Well, they can certainly teach you. I'd be a terrible teacher."

In this regard, he knew that already.

WuXian frowned, listening to what Wen Ning was saying. It was true. He wouldn't put it past Wen Qing to just send Wen Zhuliu away if something like that happened. It was a shame. If it had been one of the Gusu Lan disciples, there wouldn't have been so much of a fuss, but here they were.

"We should talk to Sect Leader Lan. He may have a better idea of where to go with this."

[raddishpeddler]

Wen Ning gave a nod. "I'll be sure to bring this up in the meeting even if it may be awkward. It'll also be out in the open as well....

Sect Leader Lan has so much patience in regards to dealing with all my problems....I thought I was becoming more independent. I feel bad for creating more problems.

I mean....Wen Qinq has an idea that someone is courting me, but she can't figure it out who. Granny and Uncle Four figured it out and are fine with the whole thing and invited him to dinner a few times. She's just going to have the hard time about it. I think more because she doesn't want to admit her little brother is becoming his own person."

[dogfearing]

"I know that it will be out in the open at that point, but Sect Leader Lan is hardly unaccustomed to such a concept." Considering his brother had a husband... and a son, but that part was unusual in the circumstances.

"I think you have been, but this is not a normal request. I think anyone would be flustered getting a request from the Emperor. I mean, I would be. Lan Zhan probably would be."

He thought about that for a moment. "I think it's more that she is trying to protect you. She cares about you and you are in a tough position now."

[raddishpeddler]

Wen Ning appeared more relieved to hear this. He honestly didn't know what was considered to be normal and what was unusual. He was glad to learn he wasn't being too needy.

"I suppose that could be. She can be rather over protective at times, but I'm well aware if it weren't for her I probably wouldn't be here today. I just hope she can eventually learn to accept my decisions and that they weren't poorly made ones as she worries about."

As they talked Wen Ning began to steer them back toward where he was to meet Sect Leader Lan. He figured that by the time they arrived the meeting would be over. As it were a disciple was on his way over to inform him this.

[dogfearing]

As far as he knew, requests from the Emperor were not at all common in WuXian's opinion. The cultivation sects seemed to be set aside to allow to rule themselves and take care of their parts of the world. Never since he had been with them had Yunmeng Jiang received anything from the Emperor and the Emperor and his family were so far out of their mind that they were never considered as a way to solve problems or handle disputes. Everything was internal with the chief cultivator kind of a defacto Emperor.

"I hope so as well, but it's probably just hard for her. She wants to make sure you are okay."

And they were walking in the direction of the meeting hall where Lan Xichen was. It made sense since he needed to talk to him. From his vantage point, Yuan waved at any disciples who happened to be close enough.

[raddishpeddler]

"Sorry, A-Yuan but your ride stops here," Wen Ning gently teased as he shifted to bring the toddler back down. "Did you get to see anything new?"

He then turned to WuXian. "I appreciate you taking the time to listen to me and offer advice. I'll let you know what the meeting results. Before I return to Qishan we should have a meal together. I'll have Wen Zhuilu join us as well." He bowed before them before he entered into the Sect Leade Lan's office.

[dogfearing]

"Wah!" Yuan said over dramatically as Wen Ning lifted him from his shoulders and put him down. Clearly he took after his Mama. "Yep! Lots of new things!"

WuXian smiled. "It's no problem. You've always been a good friend to me so I try to do the same as well. Yeah, we should I know Lan Zhan and A-Yuan would like that."

As Wen Ning headed into the meeting, Wen Ning would hear A-Yuan say suddenly, "Mama, up!" and WuXian remark, "A dangerous precedent has been set" before he picked up his son, putting him on his shoulders.

[raddishpeddler]

Perhaps a few years ago, that would have earned a quick apology from Wen Ning. Only instead, WuXian got to hear some cackling from him. Maybe this would get old later and A-Yuan will find something new to hold his attention. For now, Wen Ning is not sorry about teaching him that new habit.

Unintentially, A-Yuan's discovery helped lessen the anxiety Wen Ning was feeling and he felt more comfortable with the topic at hand.