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Jiang Cheng loves to learn. Everything in his world is a source of wonder. How do the lotuses grow in water? Don’t they need soil? How do the kites stay up in the air? How do the frogs in the lake turn into, y’know, frogs when they start out looking like slime? The elderly disciple in charge of his earliest training, Liu Cong, had had an infinite well of patience for his questions. After all, he was helping the boy who would one day lead the Yunmeng Jiang, and shouldn’t he have as much information as possible?
But Liu Cong retires, and his mother takes over his training, and Jiang Cheng learns to stop asking questions.
When it is finally time to journey to Gusu with his sister and brother and take part in the Cloud Recesses summer training, Jiang Cheng is determined to be the model pupil, not only because exemplary behavior is expected of a sect heir but because his brother’s insatiable curiosity has lately become a source of discord in the family, and if the rumors Jiang Cheng has picked up have any substance, they will have more than enough trouble in the coming months.
The classes at Cloud Recesses are rigorous, and Lan Qiren is a strict teacher. Jiang Cheng absorbs knowledge like a sponge, but even better? The Lan Rules of Conduct! Not that he will admit this to anyone, not even Nie Huaisang, who sees far too much and understands more than he lets on. But the Rules give Jiang Cheng space to breathe. They give him space to think, free for a moment from the anxieties that swim to the surface of his thoughts like water ghouls, nightmares that take the form of his Jiejie leaving him for that Jin peacock and Wei Ying leaving him for — at this point, it doesn’t matter why Wei Ying leaves. In his nightmares, Wei Ying always leaves. And Jiang Cheng knows that, despite his promise to stand by his side in Yunmeng, Wei Ying will leave. But if he leaves Yunmeng for Gusu? Jiang Cheng will not admit that he hopes Wei Ying somehow manages to do … whatever it is he’s trying to do to get Lan Wangji’s companionship, because then when Wei Ying leaves, Jiang Cheng will know where to find him, and he will maybe have an excuse to come back to Gusu to visit. Or something.
But that is a thought for another day. In this moment, in one of the many libraries, enveloped in a comfortable blanket of silence and sandalwood incense, Jiang Cheng has space. Grandmaster Lan spent the morning teaching them about protective arrays and recommended several scrolls and books for further study. Jiang Cheng dodges his brother’s attempts to entice him out to the rabbit pasture and makes a beeline for the library as soon as dinner is over, leaving a few precious hours of silent study open to him before the evening curfew.
He is familiar with protective arrays, of course. He knows the arrays that cover Lotus Pier as well as his own name. But a sect leader should always be on the lookout for ways to protect his home. Before Liu Cong retired, Jiang Cheng had pestered him about the arrays protecting against fire, but his teacher, and then his mother, had both pushed his concerns aside. Lotus Pier perched along the water. Should a fire break out, as they occasionally did in the kitchens, the many well-trained disciples that inhabited Lotus Pier could simply summon water to douse the flames. And that was the end of the discussion.
Still. Jiang Cheng has begun to worry about those rumors, even though Grandmaster Lan scoffed at them when Wei Ying broached the subject of a potential war, and it didn’t seem as though he was scoffing simply because Wei Ying spoke.
So. Protection arrays to guard against fire. Jiang Cheng selects a scroll, prepares his ink, brush, and paper, and begins to read.
He has several pages of notes written in his bold calligraphy when there’s a shuffling noise at the threshold of the library.
“I’m not visiting the rabbits, Wei Ying, I told you. I want to finish reading this before curfew—“
A dry, precise voice interrupts him. “It is nearly an hour past curfew, Master Jiang.”
Jiang Cheng scrambles to his feet before the words fully register, and he drops into a low bow.
“Grandmaster! I— please forgive me, sir! I did not mean—“
“Yes, yes, I can see that.”
Jiang Cheng risks a look, and yep. There is Lan Qiren, standing in the doorway with an armful of books, and — are those some of Huaisang’s…? Oh, shit. Jiang Cheng feels a blush rising in his cheeks, even though he has nothing to do with those filthy books.
Lan Qiren enters the library. “Wait here a moment while I deal with … these,” he says, a sneer of distaste curling his lips. He does not wait for Jiang Cheng’s response and sweeps past, around a corner to the locked rooms that Jiang Cheng had not bothered to investigate. Jiang Cheng remains crouched in his bow, hoping that his punishment will not be too severe. When Lan Qiren returns a short time later, Jiang Cheng could swear that the sneer twitches into something like a smile before Lan Qiren’s expression smooths over.
“There’s no need for that,” Lan Qiren says, gesturing for Jiang Cheng to rise. “Show me what it is that has tempted the Jiang Heir to flout one of the basic tenets of life in Cloud Recesses.” He holds out a hand for Jiang Cheng’s notes and scans the pages quickly.
Jiang Cheng bows in gratitude when Lan Qiren hands the pages back to him.
“You are engaged in deeper study of the arrays,” Lan Qiren says, stroking his beard contemplatively.
Jiang Cheng nods, momentarily distracted from his manners by the tiny stab of envy he feels watching Lan Qiren and taking in his calm, authoritative presence, something Jiang Cheng wishes he could cultivate, though as the son of the Violet Spider, he supposes he has about as much of a chance to cultivate such a manner as he does growing wings. Maybe it’s the beard. Should he try to grow a beard? Wei Ying would almost certainly —
“I asked a question, Master Jiang, and I am not accustomed to being kept waiting for an answer.”
“Sir! I apologize! I—“
“You are interested in arrays to protect against fire.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Even though Lotus Pier stands surrounded by water.”
“Yes?”
Lan Qiren hums thoughtfully. “Stand up straight, young man,” he says, gruff but not unkind.
“I, uh, yes, sir.” Jiang Cheng straightens and smooths his robes. Lan Qiren has begun to pace, still thoughtfully stroking his beard.
“You are a diligent student, Jiang Wanyin,” he says after a moment. “I cannot fault you for turning your curiosity to … useful … pursuits. Tell me, what have you learned in your extracurricular reading?”
Lan Qiren’s face is generally impassive as stone, unless he is dealing with Wei Ying, but an expression Jiang Cheng can’t quite parse settles there as he summarizes what he has learned.
“…which is why I would like to see these arrays applied to more than kitchens. Armories in particular seem to be neglected by this sort of protection, to say nothing of living quarters.” Jiang Cheng swallows hard as he finishes. “Far be it from me to criticize the practices of other clans, sir, but it seems that we put all our defenses into the boundaries, but a well-placed attack could render an entire boundary array ineffectual. Sir.”
Lan Qiren now has a frown etched deeply on his features, and Jiang Cheng bites the inside of his cheek to distract himself from the rising anxiety in his stomach.
“Your punishment for breaking curfew is to come here to the library,” Lan Qiren says without preamble, “directly after dinner. You will be supervised by Lan Xichen.” Lan Qiren pauses, stroking his beard reflectively. “You will write an essay in which you propose ways to implement these protective arrays, starting with Cloud Recesses and Lotus Pier. My nephew will assist you with your work, help you gather any supplies you may need. You will create an array that will protect a building such as a library and test it. When you have successfully created such an array, then you may consider your punishment at an end.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.” Jiang Cheng bows deeply and takes a breath. “Sir?”
“Yes, Wanyin?”
“Sir, may I consult with others?”
“Such as?”
“Well,” Jiang Cheng says, fiddling with the hem of his sleeves, “perhaps Nie Huaisang? I understand Qinghe is well fortified, and he may have some insight into protecting a structure such as that.”
Lan Qiren huffs, a sound that, coming from anyone else, might be considered laughter. “It would certainly be more edifying than his current reading.”
Jiang Cheng does not comment.
“You may consult your fellow disciples,” Lan Qiren says after a moment, “but keep in mind that the end of your punishment is contingent on a successful demonstration of an array.”
“Yes, sir, of course.”
Lan Qiren sighs. “I only mean for you to not get lost in the theoretical.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Very well. Clean up your mess and get back to your rooms. We will discuss your progress in a week’s time.”
Jiang Cheng bows again, deeply. “Thank you, sir. I won’t disappoint you.”
He bites his lip as the words leave. He hadn’t meant to let that out.
Lan Qiren grips Jiang Cheng’s elbows gently, and he urges the young man to stand. “You have yet to disappoint me, young Master Jiang,” he says as he indicates for Jiang Cheng to follow him to the door, “and I very much doubt you will start now.” He pauses at the threshold. “You are a credit to your clan and a credit to your teachers.” He brings an arm around Jiang Cheng’s shoulders, so quickly there and gone that Jiang Cheng is certain he is imagining it. “I am very proud to call you my student. Clean up.”
“I … um, yes, sir. I will.”
Lan Qiren regards him with a strange expression, something … fond. “Good night, Jiang Wanyin.” He turns and is gone in a swirl of robes before Jiang Cheng can process what the fuck just happened.