return from lanling

[shangba]

A full moon, unblinking.

You did not sleep, to see?

Comments

[emperorssmile]

I know he will.

I still haven’t heard from Jiang Cheng yet.

[shangba]

Men wake with difficulty, according to Yunmeng habit.

He would have drunk.

[emperorssmile]

Probably. And he’s in Lanling, so he could be busy with Jin Ling.

I didn’t expect an immediate response. I’ll probably hear from him tonight or sometime tomorrow.

[shangba]

It will come tonight, just before sundown.

When his tempers have chilled, and before he drinks away. As with Wei Ying.

[emperorssmile]

It sounds like you’ve got him figured out. In another life, you could have been friends.

[shangba]

I know the parts of him that are Wei Ying.

[emperorssmile]

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I never realized we were so much alike.

[shangba]

A common upbringing.

Only, Jiang Wanyin given to ire, Wei Ying to hubris.

[emperorssmile]

I don’t have half as much hubris as I used to and he’s got more ire than ever.

[It’s hard to be prideful after seeing his own downfall.]

[shangba]

So Wei Ying says.

[emperorssmile]

Okay, maybe two-thirds as much.

[shangba]

Shall cross paths with Wei Ying.

We have stopped briefly at a market. A red and silver cloth procured for Wei Ying.

[emperorssmile]

Good! I’m relying on my own core’s qi now, but I have enough to keep going for a little while longer.

[shangba]

Shall see Wei Ying shortly.

[emperorssmile]

Ah, I can’t wait!

Should we slow down? Stop and wait? Keep going?

[shangba]

A shichen longer. Until Master Chengxin's inn.

[emperorssmile]

Got it! It won’t be long until we get there, too.

Liang’s been sleeping for a while now. He’ll have plenty of energy when we meet up.

[shangba]

You have been content with the nursemaid?

[emperorssmile]

Sure! She’s riding with that guy with a wart on his nose. I can’t remember his name.

[shangba]

...Wei Ying. You cannot coax me to speak untowardly of Lan Danseng.

[emperorssmile]

I’m not! He’s been completely gentlemanly about it.

I don’t think she minds his company at all.

[shangba]

Your new proclivity for matchmaking?

[emperorssmile]

I can just tell these things.

[Except when it’s directed towards him.]

That and she asked me his name earlier and now I know it.

[shangba]

Wei Ying. Do not matchmake blindly.

[emperorssmile]

I won't, I'm not. I'm just answering a question she asked me. It's not any of my business what she uses it for.