Miss Luo,
I know we haven’t interacted much, but please believe me when I say that I sincerely appreciate the friendship you offered to Zixuan during his formative years. I’m so very sorry your former sect let you down to such an extent that you felt leaving was your only option. I had hoped to get to know you better—Zixuan has only good things to say about you.
If there’s anything I can do for you, please let me know. There isn’t much Yunmeng Jiang can offer at the moment, but I still have connections to the merchants and traders who pass through our territories. I know many of them would appreciate a sensible and strong rogue cultivator to guard their way, especially if they have my recommendation.
Wishing to hear from you,
Jiang Yanli
Luo Qingyang,
Thank you for the reply! I’m glad to hear you are alright. I can’t say I have visited that part of Pingyang but your description of it made me feel like I was there myself. I’m sorry to hear about your grandmother’s passing away—would it be too presumptuous of me to offer to burn incense for her while you are on the road?
Little has changed here. Everyone is busy rebuilding and recruiting, and my mind is, naturally, preoccupied with the wedding plans. It’s rather overwhelming but it helps to take everyone’s mind out of the grim thoughts. A-Cheng is being very silly with his ideas of my dress but I try not to laugh at him too much. He needs something lighter to focus on, what with everything else going on and A-Xian being
Zixuan asked you to tell him if you need anything. I already told him you won’t but he insisted—I trust you know how stiff and awkward he gets when he’s trying to be genuinely nice.
Yours,
Jiang Yanli
Qingyang,
I told you those silk merchants would welcome you! You should’ve just believed me—I am the daughter of the Violet Spider, after all. Perhaps this will teach you to doubt my words.
Yanli
Qingyang,
Thank you so much for the painting, it’s beautiful! I’ve never seen the ocean, mostly because the war ruined all our plans. We’ve always belonged to the Yunmeng rivers and Meishan woods, but there’s something compelling about the ocean… Tell me, did the vast openness make you feel free or small? Those are the two most common descriptions I’ve heard.
Yanli
(PS. I showed Zixuan your painting, and he said it’s very good and asked if I wanted him to take me to the ocean after we’re wed. He’s such a sweetheart! Awkward and very often silly, but a sweetheart anyway.)
Qingyang,
You might want to head to Tangxi next. I have a feeling that something might happen where your clear and clever head would be appreciated.
The wedding was…well. You know the Jin. The wedding happened and I’m glad it did because now it’s over. I wish A-Xian were there, but at least he got to see me in my dress. Yes, A-Cheng made it happen (I would like to say ”I told you so,” but I won’t because I’m nice like that), and A-Xian was so sweet.
I worry about him. I know A-Xian respects you and likes you, and I also know you like him, too, don’t try to deny it! But it’s different when he’s my didi. I wish there was more I could do, but…
Ah. I’m sorry. You probably won’t want to read about me complaining. Tell me about the dashing young cultivator you met! What was her name?
Yanli
Qingyang,
Oh, you’re in Zizhou? If you have the chance, could you make time to stop in some of the villages near the Meishan border? They must sell the Meishan variety of candied ginger, and I could kill someone for some right now. Or perhaps not kill, but have stern words. After I puked my guts out, that is.
I’m sorry to hear things didn’t work out with Ping-er. She sounded like a delightful, sensible woman, but the heart wants what it wants. Which is how I ended up in here.
Don’t get pregnant, Mian Mian. It’s terrible.
Yanli
Qingyang,
Forget about not getting pregnant, this is amazing! I’ve already cleaned and decorated the baby’s room (you know the standards here, I’m sure), embroidered seven quilts and fifteen tiny robes (they are so tiny!). I’ve also made several tea blends despite my mother-in-law’s protestations. She thinks I should rest and preserve my strength for the birth but I tried that and it got so BORING.
They’re not letting me into the kitchens, and Zixuan says he can’t build me a personal kitchen before the baby is born but perhaps later. I’m going to hold him to that promise!
I can’t believe that I’m about to be a mother! Can you? What if I’m not good enough? (A-Cheng called me stupid for even saying it aloud and then spent the rest of his visit apologizing.) I know it’s silly but I still worry.
I wish you were here. I think I’d benefit from a sensible lady friend!
Yanli
(PS. I wish you were here, too. I love A-Li more than anything, but she’s exhausting to be around right now. Last night, she started to think about redesigning the private garden and then kept me up with her ideas until morning. Don’t laugh. This is serious. Oh, and this is Zixuan.)
Qingyang,
I am a mother now.
Isn’t that strange?
My dear friend,
I want to apologize for all the silliness I’ve subjected you to during these past months. Looking back, I can see now that the late pregnancy made me act very strangely, and considering I don’t even remember everything I rambled to you in my letters, I can only extend a comprehensive, all-encompassing apology.
There.
That said, it’s been exhausting. A-Ling took his time being born, and even though he’s been such a sweet and easy baby, it has taken me two weeks to gather enough strength to even feed myself. It’s very humbling to be at the mercy of others; while I never thought much about it when I was helping our soldiers during the war, I find it very educational to be on the receiving end of care for a change. It gives you perspective.
As you might’ve already guessed, the Jin are sparing no expenses when it comes to A-Ling’s 100-day celebration. I’m already feeling sorry for poor Guangyao who’s running himself ragged with helping out his father and planning the celebration. I wish there was something I could do, but I have been told firmly but politely to stay out of his way (not his words, I’m sure). I am allowed to have a say in the guest list, which is why I want to invite you! I haven’t told Zixuan but I know it would mean the world to him if you were here. If things work out, there’s even a chance that A-Xian will be here! Officially, the invitation is from Zixuan, but he’s doing it for me, with Guangyao’s help, of course. They’re thinking about how to get the invitation to A-Xian but I think the easiest way will be Second Young Master Lan. He’s always been close to A-Xian, and I’m sure he’d be willing to help.
There are so many things I want to tell you, but I’m going to hold on to them until I see you in person. (This is a lure to make you come. Is it working?)
I hope to see you soon in Jinlintai!
Yanli