Of course, Nie Huaisang is on the training ground. These days, all he's ever allowed to do is study, practice, and sleep. And despite all of this time and effort, he still isn't improving. His saber doesn't feel any lighter and the air in Qinghe grows heavier by the day, suffocating him slowly. Each day gets harder than the next. Something's changing in Qinghe, he can feel it in his bones like an animal sensing an impending storm on the horizon but he's said nothing of it out loud to anyone, carrying on with the happy-go-lucky facade he's hidden himself behind for as long as he can remember.
He knows. Nie Mingjue doesn't know he knows but he knows.
The familiar sight of golden robes in the sky brightens his mood, his eyes lighting up in an instant. It gives away to a cry of alarm and dismay. A metallic thud is immediately heard a second later as Nie Huaisang drops his saber and scurries over.
"San-ge! San-ge! Are you all right?"
His voice is filled with concern as falls to his knees beside him, hands moving to check for a pulse, broken bones, or any kind of wound his hyper-anxious mind might dream up at the moment.
It must have been a bout of vertigo. Perhaps the stress of everything was getting to him more than he would like to admit.
His eyes fluttered open and his back that was already damaged from the beating throbbed all the more. He took a breath in and and let a slow ragged breath out. what if he just lay here for a bit. Why was it always a fall for him?
He gave a soft if forced smile.
“Huaisang. Have you been well? I’m afraid i dint bring any gifts for you today. I promise Ill bring double next time.” He said softly ignoring the heat running up his spine. He tried to focus his qi through it, nothing was broken but the wounds from his beating was seeping blood through his clothes. He took a breath and sat up.
“I’m fine, just I think I am a bit tired. I’ll have to play for your brother in the morning I’m afraid.” There was a red spot where he was laying down.
The more he examines him and the more injuries he finds, the more openly upset and distressed Nie Huaisang becomes. He doesn't know what happened, has no way of knowing, but it obviously wasn't anything good. He can't help himself; he finds himself stroking Jin Guangyao's hair a moment, a tender gesture to help soothe and reassure them both. His brother went out on a night hunt with some of the men earlier today at the urging of some troubled villagers in the area, leaving him to practice under the supervision of a senior disciple.
"San-ge, don't worry about that. You're hurt," he murmurs. "Da-ge's out helping some villagers right now, anyway. Just worry about yourself, okay?"
Another pet and a deep breath to steady nerves before he turns to one of the sentries.
"Hey! You there! Go tell the doctor we need help! And you, over there -" he waves a hand at another Nie disciple, one good deal more muscular than himself. "Help me get him to the infirmary. Don't worry about my brother, I'll take responsibility."
If Nie Mingjue's going to force him to become sect leader against his will, he's going to have to get used to the idea of him making his own decisions and that's that.
It was nice in a way. Having someone worry about him. In a way that was different from Er-ge. It felt like they could be equal. Or more so than many others. He was soothed against him and even relieved that da-ge was out. He seemed to be angry that he was even breathing. He just wanted to cry.
“It’s not too bad.” He started but was surprised as he was gently lifted by a large Nie disciple. And at Huaisang taking charge. He was proud of him. He allowed himself to relax and for the first time in a long time felt safe.
“Thank you Huaisang.” He muttered softly. He was feeling rather woozy, after all. He would let his friend look after him, and maybe just maybe not think for a little bit.
Nie Huaisang might be weak and ineffectual at a lot of things but he's passionate when it comes to the people and things he cares about. Jin Guangyao's never been anything but good to him, no matter what Nie Mingjue says. His brother doesn't know everything, especially when it comes to things he doesn't want to see.
"Just relax. I'll take care of you. We'll get you patched up and you can rest here tonight. Da-ge might not be back until tomorrow anyway."
Another gentle caress accompanied by the Nie disciple clearing his throat and awkwardly looking away. While it's not enough to force the softer emotions back into hiding underneath the surface of his mask, it is enough to keep him on track and remind him of what's most important right now - getting Jin Guangyao seen to and patched up.
"Come on, let's go," he says to the disciple, cutting through the Unclean Realm toward the guest quarters.
Once they're settled into a room and the physician arrives, Nie Huaisang steps aside to let the man work.
“Thank you, Huaisang and thank you Nie BaiYu. It is very kind of you take me.” He gives them both a soft smile and allows himself to be taken.
Once he is settled, he looked away.
“Please…I am ashamed of some of these injuries.” He looked down in shame. Once the physician stripped him down the full scope of the damage could be seen. There were marks from what could only be from an iron trap pot singed into his skin. Bruises that looked like a hand shape on his wrist, angry bruising on every part of his torso, some healing but many fresh.
The worst was on his back. The characters for bastard and whore carved in deeply. This was what was bleeding seeping angry red lines down his back. It was his punishment for losing face in such a public way.
He could only look down, too ashamed to meet his eyes.
He thought it would be better after the war was over. Why did he suffer the Wens only to come to the Jins? At least Wen Ruohan treated him like a person.
It's even more horrific than he could have guessed. He's an outsider and never had a head for memorizing the intricacies of any family tree but his own. He knew things were bad for Jin Guangyao at Lanling but hadn't realized this was what was going on.
Nie Huaisang decides in that moment there's no way he's allowing his friend return to Lanling after this. The oath that binds him to his brother, binds him to himself as well, as indirect as it might be. Jin Guangyao is family and he simply isn't going to stand for any member of his family being treated this way.
"Treat his injuries as if they were my own," he orders the physician without a second thought. "Give him the same quality of care. Leave my brother to me."
“Huaisang it isn’t all that bad. I’m sure it’ll heal just fine.” He stammered. He was never one to allow others to see his wounds. It felt too naked to vulnerable. But he was too tired to fight. He was so tired from running, from fighting, from trying to do his best for everyone.
Fat tears rolled down his face, he couldn’t look at anyone, and he bit down on his lip hard. How did his life end up here? He kept up his smile though.
He must be cursed. He trembled under the physicians touch. There were other things wrong with his body, things healing wrong. His ribs protruded in malnutrition. That it happened in a place like Jinlintai was almost unbelievable.
"San-ge," he begins gently, taking one of Jin Guangyao's hands in his own. "You're hurt and you need help. Even I can see that. Please. Let me take care of you."
His brother's temper might be worsening these days and the thought of actually confronting make his stomach churn a little with fear but he's serious. It's obvious that something needs to be done and if Jin Guangyao's sworn brothers won't do anything, then he will.
"I'm not letting anyone hurt you."
If anyone comes, he'll step in front of him if he has to.
"Just and let the doctor treat you. We can talk more about this after he's done."
And maybe that'll give him a little time to formulate a plan.
"O-okay." he said quieting down. He sat through it not meeting their eyes. He was grateful that Da-ge wasn't here to see it. He would probably say he got what he deserved. Er-ge already did so much for him and this was not something he wanted to involve him in.
When the physician was finished he thanked him by name. Watching as he left.
"I'm so sorry for troubling you. I hope you don't get in trouble with Da-ge. I know he's been hard."
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no subject
Date: 2022-09-10 10:33 pm (UTC)He knows. Nie Mingjue doesn't know he knows but he knows.
The familiar sight of golden robes in the sky brightens his mood, his eyes lighting up in an instant. It gives away to a cry of alarm and dismay. A metallic thud is immediately heard a second later as Nie Huaisang drops his saber and scurries over.
"San-ge! San-ge! Are you all right?"
His voice is filled with concern as falls to his knees beside him, hands moving to check for a pulse, broken bones, or any kind of wound his hyper-anxious mind might dream up at the moment.
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
no subject
Date: 2022-09-10 11:04 pm (UTC)His eyes fluttered open and his back that was already damaged from the beating throbbed all the more. He took a breath in and and let a slow ragged breath out. what if he just lay here for a bit. Why was it always a fall for him?
He gave a soft if forced smile.
“Huaisang. Have you been well? I’m afraid i dint bring any gifts for you today. I promise Ill bring double next time.” He said softly ignoring the heat running up his spine. He tried to focus his qi through it, nothing was broken but the wounds from his beating was seeping blood through his clothes. He took a breath and sat up.
“I’m fine, just I think I am a bit tired. I’ll have to play for your brother in the morning I’m afraid.” There was a red spot where he was laying down.
“Have you been working hard?”
no subject
Date: 2022-09-10 11:20 pm (UTC)"San-ge, don't worry about that. You're hurt," he murmurs. "Da-ge's out helping some villagers right now, anyway. Just worry about yourself, okay?"
Another pet and a deep breath to steady nerves before he turns to one of the sentries.
"Hey! You there! Go tell the doctor we need help! And you, over there -" he waves a hand at another Nie disciple, one good deal more muscular than himself. "Help me get him to the infirmary. Don't worry about my brother, I'll take responsibility."
If Nie Mingjue's going to force him to become sect leader against his will, he's going to have to get used to the idea of him making his own decisions and that's that.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-11 12:38 am (UTC)“It’s not too bad.” He started but was surprised as he was gently lifted by a large Nie disciple. And at Huaisang taking charge. He was proud of him. He allowed himself to relax and for the first time in a long time felt safe.
“Thank you Huaisang.” He muttered softly. He was feeling rather woozy, after all. He would let his friend look after him, and maybe just maybe not think for a little bit.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-11 01:00 am (UTC)"Just relax. I'll take care of you. We'll get you patched up and you can rest here tonight. Da-ge might not be back until tomorrow anyway."
Another gentle caress accompanied by the Nie disciple clearing his throat and awkwardly looking away. While it's not enough to force the softer emotions back into hiding underneath the surface of his mask, it is enough to keep him on track and remind him of what's most important right now - getting Jin Guangyao seen to and patched up.
"Come on, let's go," he says to the disciple, cutting through the Unclean Realm toward the guest quarters.
Once they're settled into a room and the physician arrives, Nie Huaisang steps aside to let the man work.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-11 02:52 am (UTC)Once he is settled, he looked away.
“Please…I am ashamed of some of these injuries.” He looked down in shame. Once the physician stripped him down the full scope of the damage could be seen. There were marks from what could only be from an iron trap pot singed into his skin. Bruises that looked like a hand shape on his wrist, angry bruising on every part of his torso, some healing but many fresh.
The worst was on his back. The characters for bastard and whore carved in deeply. This was what was bleeding seeping angry red lines down his back. It was his punishment for losing face in such a public way.
He could only look down, too ashamed to meet his eyes.
He thought it would be better after the war was over. Why did he suffer the Wens only to come to the Jins? At least Wen Ruohan treated him like a person.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-11 03:19 am (UTC)Nie Huaisang decides in that moment there's no way he's allowing his friend return to Lanling after this. The oath that binds him to his brother, binds him to himself as well, as indirect as it might be. Jin Guangyao is family and he simply isn't going to stand for any member of his family being treated this way.
"Treat his injuries as if they were my own," he orders the physician without a second thought. "Give him the same quality of care. Leave my brother to me."
no subject
Date: 2022-09-11 03:33 am (UTC)Fat tears rolled down his face, he couldn’t look at anyone, and he bit down on his lip hard. How did his life end up here? He kept up his smile though.
He must be cursed. He trembled under the physicians touch. There were other things wrong with his body, things healing wrong. His ribs protruded in malnutrition. That it happened in a place like Jinlintai was almost unbelievable.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-11 03:46 am (UTC)His brother's temper might be worsening these days and the thought of actually confronting make his stomach churn a little with fear but he's serious. It's obvious that something needs to be done and if Jin Guangyao's sworn brothers won't do anything, then he will.
"I'm not letting anyone hurt you."
If anyone comes, he'll step in front of him if he has to.
"Just and let the doctor treat you. We can talk more about this after he's done."
And maybe that'll give him a little time to formulate a plan.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-11 05:46 am (UTC)When the physician was finished he thanked him by name. Watching as he left.
"I'm so sorry for troubling you. I hope you don't get in trouble with Da-ge. I know he's been hard."