#and there would be a brief time where Rusong is alive and Jin Ling is so anxious and acting out bc now BOTH his uncles have other kids!!

[poorlittleyaoyao]

oh my gosh and what if JIANG CHENG was the one who found A-Yuan in the tree so A-Yuan grew up in Lotus Pier as an adopted Jiang and alongside Jin Ling, so eventually we not only have Jin Ling processing that he doesn’t hate the two guys who killed his father, but also have A-Yuan processing that his childhood friend’s family annihilated his? and also now Jiang Cheng has TWO children.

[megalodont]

mdzewomen’s Women Appreciation Weeks: Post Canon AU

read it here or on ao3!

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Jin Ling had always been afraid of his grandmother. When he was younger he had confessed this to his jiujiu, and it was one of the only times he had ever seen the man laugh. Be glad you never had to meet your other grandmother, he had said, the laughter slipping away quickly but a half-smile remaining as his eyes grew distant. 

This had not been as comforting as jiujiu had seemed to think.

Jin Rusong grabbed Jin Ling’s arm, and that was somewhat comforting; at least he didn’t have to face her alone. Jin Ling took a deep breath and marched into Jin-furen’s rooms, his cousin at his back.

Jin-furen was reading over some paperwork in the early morning light. Jin Ling winced. Jin-furen was famous for her hatred of being interrupted when she was doing sect business. 

Jin Ling steeled himself. “Um, zumu?”

“Hush,” she commanded, writing something down in her flowing calligraphy. Jin Ling bit his lip and shared a chastened glance with Jin Rusong. After an interminable stretch of time in which Jin Ling grew more and more tense she finally turned her stern gaze on them. 

“Well?” She demanded. 

Jin Ling looked reflexively at Jin Rusong, but he was staring at his shoes with fluttering eyelashes. Jin Ling had to be the brave one. He hiked his chin. 

“Me and Rusong were in the Ancestral Hall today,” he reported, linking his hands behind his back and staring past her ear. “It’s Rusong’s birthday and we were bowing to his dad. And, um—well, Jin Chao came in and was calling Rusong an orphan even though his mother is alive, and I know Mama always says not to argue with my fists but he made Rusong cry, and I—we—um…” Jin Ling trailed off and risked a glance at her. Her eyebrows were raised but otherwise her expression had not changed. He swallowed. “And, um. We broke zufu’s memorial tablet.” 

Jin-furen’s eyes went wide and Jin Ling startled, bowing low. “I’m sorry!” He cried. “I know I shouldn't be fighting! I won’t act rashly like that again, I promise! I know it’s really disrespectful to zuf—to the previous Sect Leader Jin! I’m really sorry! Please don’t tell jiujiu!”

Jin-furen made a sound and Jin Ling screwed up his eyes. Fifteen years was a good amount of time on this earth, he reasoned. At least jiujiu would look after Fairy. 

Jin-furen let out a little hitching breath and Jin Ling felt like the lowest of the low. She’d lost her husband almost fifteen years ago, but it still had to hurt. He whipped his head up in alarm, praying he hadn’t made his zumu cry. 

Jin ling froze.

Her eyes were bright, certainly, but not with tears. Even behind her hand Jin Ling could see she was smiling, wider than he’d ever seen her smile before. Her eyes glittered, her thin shoulders shaking with repressed mirth. 

The sight only lasted for a brief moment before she got herself back under control, but a trace of amusement still lingered in the corners of her mouth when she spoke. 

“I see. Well, a-Ling, you and I might have to have a few little chats about the best way to deal with people who speak ill of those you care about.” Jin Ling ducked his head and nodded. “For now I suppose we’ll have to remove—” She broke off to compose herself once more. “Remove my husband’s tablet from the Ancestral Hall.” 

“Yes, zumu. Until another can be made to replace it.” 

“...yes. Well. Leave that to me, a-Ling.”

“Yes, zumu.”

“A-Song? Do you have anything to say?”

“Um,” Jin Rusong said, voice almost a whisper. “I’m sorry.”

“Why?”

“B-because, um, because it was my fault.”

“Was it?” She said sharply, sounding more like her old self.

“I—um—it wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t been there.”

“I rather think it would have. That boy is always stirring up trouble with your cousin. Never ever apologise for things that aren’t your fault, a-Song. Do you understand?“

“Y-yes, Jin-furen.” 

“Good. A-Ling, fighting in our sacred hall is completely inappropriate.” Jin Ling nodded miserably, waiting for the blow. “You are the heir to our great sect and I expect better behavior from you in the future.” Jin Ling waited. 

And waited. He blinked. 

Was that it?

“Oh, uh, yes, zumu! I promise!” He scrambled to say. 

“See that you do. Here.” Jin-furen produced two lollies from her elegant sleeves, wrapped in twists of gold paper. Jin Ling didn’t know where she got them, but she always had them on hand for her grandsons, the sticky-sweet taste sharply contrasting her often-sour expression.

Jin Ling and Jin Rusong exchanged a look of shock, awed by their good luck, and hurried to take the sweets from their grandmother. Assuming they were dismissed when she turned back to her work the boys ran to the door, bursting with the need to decompress after their near-death experience. 

“Oh, a-Song?” Called her calm voice as they reached the doorway. “Have you found your birthday present from me yet?”

The boys turned to stare at her. 

“Um, no, Jin-furen.”

“Hmm.” She marked something off on her paper and flicked a sideways look at them. Her face was a stern as ever, but Jin Ling thought he could recognise a glimmer of amusement in it now. “Check the stables.”