The negotiations took hours. The easiest part was agreeing that the reparations for the harm done to A-Xian and Nuan-er should be given to the GusuLan sect. While in theory the fact he had not yet married made this tricky, Jiang Yanli had no desire to squabble over the payment that was meant to go to A-Xian and his family anyway. She would have to discuss rescheduling the wedding with Lan Xichen. The date had passed, and the morning period for A-Cheng would make it impossible to host the kind of wedding her brother deserved. Not now at least, but it was also absurd to delay the wedding when they already had two children whose official adoption ceremonies had been planned to take place next spring. Early enough that Nuan-er could receive an inner clan ribbon on her sixth birthday, like her age-mates would.

Jiang Yanli took a deep breath and let it out slowly, holding herself upright against the wave of grief. A-Cheng wouldn't be there to see his niece's and nephew's adoption ceremony. He wouldn't have the chance to see A-Xian in his wedding robes, or Jiang Yanli in her own. Despite the rift between her brothers, Jiang Yanli had held out hope that they might be able to mend their relationship. Not like it used to be. She understood now that the bonds of their childhood had grown wrong. Twisted as they were by anger, fear, and unreachable expectations that they did their best to grow around. They managed to the best of their abilities, but were left with patterns of behavior that were toxic to themselves... and sometimes to others.

A-Cheng had trouble understanding that, and more trouble accepting change. Perhaps it was foolish of her, but Jiang Yanli really thought she'd see a future where the three of them could enjoy each other's company without fear of anger or hurt feelings. She thought she had seen the beginnings of change in A-Cheng. Now she'd never know. His time in this life was over. She hoped in his next life, they might be siblings again. Perhaps with different parents, who might be able to teach them how to love without hurting themselves or others in their efforts to do so.

"Yanli?"

A quiet voice startled Jiang Yanli from her musings. She spun around to find Qingyang standing behind her. A robe in Nie colors had replaced her discarded outer robe. It looked lovely against the pink layers of her dress.

"Ah, Nie-gongzi has extended an official invitation for me to join the QingheNie sect. I haven't accepted it yet, but he thought it might be safer to appear under the protection of a great sect... at least until things are resolved." Qingyang explained, adjusting the garment as though attempting to get it to fit properly. A needless gesture, if Jiang Yanli didn't know better she'd have thought the outer robe to have come from Qingyang's own wardrobe for how well it fit her.

"It's..." Jiang Yanli swallowed to attempt to relieve the tightness in her throat. Her eyes burned. A-Cheng wouldn't be able to attend her wedding. He and A-Xian used to insist they were going to plan the most beautiful wedding for her. The world became blurry as Jiang Yanli's eyes filled with tears.

"Yanli," a pained whisper was followed by a warm hand on her shoulder.

Jiang Yanli threw herself into Qingyang's arms and sobbed. She'd done her best to keep her composure in front of the other sects. She'd needed to present a strong front for the sake of her sect. At the very least she had known Jin Guangshan would be quick to take advantage of any weakness, and many of the other sect leaders were no better.

"Oh Yanli." Qingyang's voice was soft in her ears. "I'm here. Let's go back to your guest room."

Qingyang steered Jiang Yanli down quiet corridors and through empty courtyards. She kept one arm wrapped around Jiang Yanli's back, while using her other hand on Jiang Yanli's shoulder to help steer her. Jiang Yanli kept her face buried in Qingyang's shoulder as best as she could while walking.

A door closed softly behind them, and then Qingyang was hugging her properly again. There was so much she still needed to do, but Jiang Yanli let herself have this. Just for a few minutes, she would cry and break, and let Qingyang hold her. When her tears slowed, Qingyang brought her warm water and a clean cloth to wash her face. Her make-up was almost certainly ruined, and would need to be reapplied before she was seen in public again.

"I didn't actually speak to Wei Wuxian." Qingyang said abruptly.

Jiang Yanli froze for a moment. Very deliberately, she folded the damp cloth and set it neatly aside. Jiang Yanli looked over to see that Qingyang was staring down at her hands, looking uncomfortable.

"I see." Jiang Yanli said quietly. "Xue Yang then?"

"I found him restrained in the small room. The mirror wasn't active anymore at that point and wasn't projecting the array, but it was still hung on the wall. I had already found the documents by then. There was a pretty detailed picture of the mirrors, so it wasn't hard to make the connection. Xue Yang was talkative. It wasn't especially difficult to get information out of him. He seemed eager to bring as many people down with him as possible. That doesn't mean he was entirely helpful either..." Qingyang was quiet for a moment, seeming to brace herself. "I didn't know about Jiang Wanyin's death until after. I had a lot of evidence, but I knew... without something more definitive the Jin would do everything in their power to make sure responsibility for Jiang Wanyin's death fell on Wei Wuxian. I didn't have anything to say for sure if Xue Yang killed him, or if Wei Wuxian did... maybe by accident. But if I didn't present it like it was certain then he would definitely be found guilty... I'm sorry. I wanted to talk to you about it first, but there was no time. So... so I lied. I'm sorry." Qingyang got up, then sank to the floor in a full kowtow.

"Qingyang!" Jiang Yanli yelped. When Qingyang didn't react, Jiang Yanli took a moment to calm herself. Qingyang had lied when presenting the evidence that impacted her ability to get justice for both of her brothers. She could understand why Qingyang wished to apologize for that. A sliver of guilt squirmed in Jiang Yanli's stomach. She set it aside, and took one more calming breath.

Jiang Yanli knelt on the ground before Qingyang, and covered one of Qingyangs hands with her own. "The only time I want to see you bow to me, is when we are being wed." Jiang Yanli said softly. Qingyang's head shot up so fast that she narrowly missed colliding with Jiang Yanli's chin.

"Yanli! I... You?" Qingyang's eyes were wide in bewilderment.

"Hm? Did A-Yang change her mind? Does she no longer wish to marry me?" Jiang Yanli asked, with a soft teasing smile curling at the corners of her lips.

"That's not... I... Hnnnnnnn..." Qingyang's attempts at word cut off in a whine. She blushed a vibrant red across her entire face.

Jiang Yanli could still see it even when she tried to bury her face in her hands. Jiang Yanli had never seen her so red before, or struggling so much for a response. She made note of the reaction for the future. Jiang Yanli carefully caught Qingyang's hands and pulled them away from her blushing face. She leaned forward and kissed her gently, just a quick press of lips.

"Thank you. For protecting my didi, and for telling me about what you did to do so." Jiang Yanli said softly. Qingyang's expression softened.

"Anything. For you, anything." Qingyang said softly. Jiang Yanli felt her smile widen a fraction, then felt it turn just a bit sad.

"It will be a long engagement. I hope you can be patient with me." Jiang Yanli said sadly. She felt Qingyang squeeze her hands.

"Of course. I'll be beside you through this, in whatever way I can. And then I'll be beside you as your wife, as long as you'll have me." Qingyang replied. Jiang Yanli felt her shoulders relax. That would be wonderful.

"In that case, do you think you could accompany me into Lanling? I asked to visit with A-Xian before they depart. They are staying at an inn in Lanling at the moment, but they want to return to leave for Cloud Recesses soon. He doesn't... They're not sure if he knows what happened to A-Cheng. I thought it best for the news to come from me." Jiang Yanli's voice wavered. Qingyang squeezed her hands again.

"Of course." Qingyang replied.

It had already been late in the day when Luo Qingyang found her, but by the time they departed Koi Tower in the company of the Lan contingent it was long past the time for the evening meal. Wei Qing had gone back as soon as the negotiations were over. Both to pass on the results of the impromptu trial, and to tend to her patients. The inn was a lovely, somewhat unremarkable building. It was not one of the inns near Koi Tower that were used to housing visiting dignitaries or sect leaders who did not wish to appear travel fatigued or rumpled upon their entrance to Koi Tower. The inn was by no means poor or run down, but its distance from Koi Tower meant it was likely used by well to do travellers who were in the city for other reasons.

The disciples guarding the door greeted them appropriately before allowing them to enter. Wei Qing likely already told them to expect them, and Lan Xichen's presence smoothed any concerns about the small retinue of YunmengJiang disciples escorting them. She left most of her disciples outside, which she noticed seemed to ease the guards, even though they hadn't said anything about it. Jiang Yanli asked Qingyang to wait for her downstairs while she went up to speak to A-Xian. She wanted Qingyang close, but this was also a conversation that needed some privacy.

There were more guards outside the room. Jiang Yanli was grateful that they were taking such care with A-Xian's safety. Jin Guangyao had not been found yet. Even if it was unlikely that he would go after A-Xian rather than flee, Jiang Yanli would feel better once he was in custody.

Jiang Yanli knocked on the door quietly. She didn't have to wait long. The door opened almost soundlessly leaving Jiang Yanli face to face with Wei Qing. She looked more tired than she had in Koi Tower, but Jiang Yanli supposed that she had been more cautious about how she presented herself there. They exchanged eye contact for a moment, before Wei Qing nodded her head and stepped back into the room.

"Shijie!" A-Xian's voice was a balm on Jiang Yanli's soul. It was bright and playful, even if it didn't really hide the obvious fatigue. Jiang Yanli had promised herself she would be calm. A-Xian was going to need her support. She knew that. At the same time. It had been months. They hadn't known where he was, or what condition he would be in. "Shijie?!" A-Xian sounded alarmed now. She hadn't meant to alarm him.

"A-Xian," her voice broke as she suddenly closed the gap between them and folded him into her arms. She was gentle, mindful that he was badly injured. She didn't want to hurt him, but she needed to feel him warm and alive.

"Shijie, who made you cry? I'll beat them up." He sounded so much like the little boy who was ready to defend her from anyone and everyone.

Jiang Yanli didn't know what to say. She was relieved to see him safe, if not perfectly healthy? A-Cheng was dead, and she was mourning the loss of their little brother? She needed a moment before she had to say it out loud.

"Shijie?" A-Xian was growing concerned. Jiang Yanli took a deep breath before she broke the hug.

"There's something important I need to talk to you about," Jiang Yanli began, only to fall silent as she struggled with where to begin.

"I'll take Nuan-er next door, so you two can talk." Wei Qing said as she stepped forward. She gathered the little girl in her arms before quietly making her exit.

Now only Lan Wangji accompanied them in the room, but he did not seem inclined to leave. There was a hard glint in his eyes as he sat at A-Xian's side, an arm wrapped around A-Xian's waist to provide physical support as much as emotional support. A-Xian was still recovering. He needed rest. Physical or emotional strain could set his healing back. But she couldn't put this conversation off. A-Xian needed to know, and she needed to be the one to tell him.

"Shijie... Did something happen?" A-Xian asked cautiously.

"Yes," Jiang Yanli answered honestly, then quickly continued. "A-Xian, could you tell me what you remember about yesterday?" She asked.

"Yesterday, Nuan-er and I attempted an escape." A-Xian said slowly. He was clearly worried. Jiang Yanli took his hands in her own.

"The Jin were hosting a crowd hunt on Baifeng mountain." Jiang Yanli added.

"Ah, that makes sense. Jin Guangyao had been absent more of late. He seemed to be busy with something, presumably preparing for the crowd hunt. It's one of the reasons I decided to attempt to escape. Nuan-er had been getting healthier. Jin Guangyao was not subtle about what methods for persuading me to behave might need to be employed." A-Xian trailed off a bit, his gaze going unfocused. Jiang Yanli squeezed his hands gently to draw his attention back. "Nuan-er's tiger has a qiankun pouch sewn into it. A small one. She keeps the talismans I make for her in there. She didn't have many, but I was able to repurpose a few. I knew her best chance to get out would be when they moved me. They use that mirror while I am still in my cell, and then Xue Yang walks out with my body." He shivered a bit at the memory.

"When he was in your body he used resentful energy to manipulate the fierce corpses in the hunting ground. He attacked the cultivators taking part in the hunt." Jiang Yanli added. A-Xian's eyes widened in surprise before his face fell.

"That makes sense. I never knew exactly what he was getting up to in my body, but I knew it wouldn't be anything good." A-Xian muttered quietly. "It took me a few tries to reverse the array. They always drug Xue Yang and chain him up before putting me in his body, so it's hard for me to judge the passage of time. I remember reversing it but then... The next thing I remember is waking up in this room, with Nuan-er and Lan Zhan."

"I see..." Jiang Yanli said quietly. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I came across Xue Yang while he was still in your body. At first I was relieved. I thought we had found you... but I quickly realized that something wasn't right. I called out for you, but there was no recognition at all when I said your name. After that, it was rather easy to tell that it wasn't really you. The way Xue Yang spoke, the facial expressions he made, the way he fought... It was your body, but none of the behaviors looked like you. Even if you were angry or mischievous... it wasn't the way you would portray those things. I didn't know about the mirrors at the time, so my guess was that you had been possessed. A-Cheng..." Jiang Yanli's voice cracked on his name, tears gathering in her eyes once more.

"Shijie?" A-Xian sounded lost. Not devastated, not yet, but there was the suspicion that something was wrong... Something he couldn't yet bring himself to consider a possibility.

"A-Cheng and Xue Yang had been engaged in a fight when I arrived. Before you returned to your body, Xue Yang... A-Cheng was careless. Xue Yang killed him." Jiang Yanli said as firmly as she could manage.

"What?" A-Xian stared at her blankly.

"I was the first one to reach him. It was foolish of me, in retrospect. If you hadn't returned to your body, Xue Yang probably would have killed me. When you returned to your body you used yourself as bait to lure the fierce corpses to focus on you. It allowed many cultivators to escape, including me. I was still in shock at the time. I wasn't thinking clearly. Even though part of me knew that A-Cheng was already gone, I still didn't quite... The healers confirmed what I already knew. A-Cheng died almost instantly." Jiang Yanli said quietly. She hadn't meant to keep rambling like that. Jiang Yanli stared at her hands, still holding A-Xian's. They were trembling slightly.

"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji whispered quietly. It prompted Jiang Yanli to raise her gaze to A-Xian's face. His eyes were wide and glassy. Tears streamed down his cheeks, even as he remained otherwise stunned.

"A-Xian," Jiang Yanli squeezed his hands, hoping to offer some reassurance amidst a conversation that was always going to be horrible.

"No..." A-Xian's voice was so quiet she wasn't certain he had even meant to say anything out loud. "He's not... He can't..." A-Xian crumbled forward, burying his face in their joined hands. "It's my fault. It's all my fault. He was supposed to be the sect leader. I was supposed to protect him. He wasn't supposed to die. If it hadn't been for me. If I'd disappeared as soon as the war was over. If I'd died..."

"A-Xian!" Jiang Yanli had never yelled before, but his name was ripped out of her with such force that she was surprised she hadn't bled.

His eyes were on her again. Shocked by her outburst, he gazed blankly at her. Jiang Yanli reached up and cupped his cheeks, holding his gaze with her own.

"A-Cheng's death is not your fault any more than it is mine. Xue Yang killed him. He is the one who decided to fight A-Cheng in the first place. He is A-Cheng's killer." Jiang Yanli said forcefully, though no longer shouting. "Jin Guangshan and Jin Guangyao, as Xue Yang's masters, who commanded him to commit violence and unleashed him... are also at fault. Xue Yang and Jin Guangshan will be executed in the morning. Jin Guangyao has fled, but he will be found and held to account for his crimes. These are the people at fault for A-Cheng's death, and no one else." Jiang Yanli said firmly.

"If I'd reversed the array sooner..." A-Xian started, and Jiang Yanli frowned at him.

"Were you not going as fast as you could in order to try and come to Nuan-er's aid? Is it also my fault for not getting to A-Cheng faster? Had I moved faster, maybe I could have used Zidian to expel Xue Yang from your body. Is A-Cheng dead because I was too slow?" Jiang Yanli inquired.

"Shijie, no!" A-Xian protested immediately.

"How is it different, A-Xian?" Jiang Yanli asked, brushing tears from his cheeks with her thumbs.

"It was my sword, my body. If I was faster, I definitely could have..."

"A-Xian," Jiang Yanli said with a sigh. "We both did our best. If we had been able to move faster, maybe things would have gone better, maybe they would have gone worse. If you had returned to your body sooner, in the middle of a fight, maybe you could have disengaged and stopped the fight... or maybe you would have died instead. If I was faster, maybe Zidian would have been able to expel Xue Yang, or maybe I would have died in A-Cheng's place."

"Shijie... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. You've lost everyone... Because of me," A-Xian sobbed.

"Silly boy," Jiang Yanli said softly as she folded him into her arms. "You are not responsible for everything A-Xian. Even if you knew what was going to happen, you are one person A-Xian. One person cannot save everyone, and it's not reasonable to expect that of yourself. You are not responsible. Not for A-Cheng, not for our parents, and not for Lotus Pier. The responsibility lies with those who sought to do us harm, not on you who has always tried his best to protect us all."

"How can you say that? Shouldn't you hate me? You've lost your entire family because of me." A-Xian whispered brokenly.

"A-Xian," Jiang Yanli scolded. He flinched at the sharpness in her tone, it felt like a knife in her heart. "A-Xian, look at me." She said more softly.

Slowly he complied, tears still sliding down his cheeks.

"I haven't lost my entire family. You have protected the one person I have always wanted you to protect most." She continued slowly. His expression shifted, confusion mixing with the sorrow. "You are still here A-Xian. You are my family too, and if there is anyone in this world I want you to protect above all others... it is yourself."

"Shijie..." A-Xian whispered, a tone that sounded like he was working himself up to protest.

"Jiejie," Jiang Yanli interjected before he could say more. "Or perhaps Da-jie, since you also have Wei Qing."

"Shijie."

"Da-jie." Jiang Yanli corrected immediately.

"I wasn't adopted. It wouldn't be appropriate." A-Xian muttered quietly.

"A-Xian, you have always been my little brother in my heart. I am sect leader now," She managed to keep her voice from stuttering over her new title. "If I want to call you didi, who has the right to stop me?" She tilted her chin up stubbornly. She remembered a tiny nine year old, too small for his age, with bright eyes calling her jiejie. She remembered the fury in her mother's voice when she heard it. She had screamed at them that they were not siblings, and she had dragged that little boy away with a tight grip on his arm.

"Da-jie..." A-Xian whispered. His eyes darted anxiously up to her's, then back down to his lap.

"Didi," She said with a gentle smile.

"Da-jie... Jiang Cheng..." His voice cracked. Jiang Yanli pulled him into a tight hug.

"I know A-Xian, Didi. We can mourn him together. We can be sad he is gone, and know that it isn't our fault. Not either of us. We've lost so many people but we're not alone, Didi. We have so many friends, so much more family. We will mourn, and we will be okay." Jiang Yanli said softly against A-Xian's hair.

A-Xian cried into her shoulder, and she held him. She was grateful. So very grateful that he didn't remember the details of Baifeng mountain. It wasn't A-Xian's fault. He had just returned to his body, and someone had been attacking him. Muscle memory and instincts that kept him alive on the battlefield took over. She doubted he had any idea who had attacked him until after A-Cheng was already dead. If he had recognized A-Cheng as the attacker she didn't doubt he would have held back, and she would probably be mourning A-Xian instead.

Jiang Yanli would never trade one brother for another. But, A-Cheng was gone because of a set of events that Xue Yang and the Jin set into motion. Jiang Yanli was not going to let them take two brothers from her. There was much and more she would do to protect her family. A small lie about when exactly A-Xian returned to his body, was hardly a hardship.