It took Huaisang about three months after the resolution of his revenge to realize that he needed a project.
At first, he reveled in the freedom. Without having to think every day about his goal and the practicalities of bringing it into being, he had plenty of time to paint and compose poetry, to attend theatrical performances and music, and to manage the affairs of his sect. He'd long since set up his sect under the management of bureaucrats and supervisors he trusted, and it needed very little intervention from him. Everything was peaceful, and he could spend whole days painting without a thought in his head.
He was surprised to find that he missed having thoughts in his head.
It took more time and a visit to Wei Wuxian in the Cloud Recesses, but Huaisang finally got his idea for a delightful new project. Jiang Cheng was infamous for being blacklisted from the matchmakers because of his difficult personality and extensive list of qualifications for any potential spouse. Huaisang's own bachelor state was another source of gossip, it was true, but that joke was low-hanging fruit. It was hard to stir up much gossip about how Sect Leader Nie might be a cut-sleeve when he did relatively little to hide it and his reputation was already in the mud.
So, plan in mind, Huaisang went to visit his friend, announcing intention to stay for a week.
"Jiang-xiong," he started, once the pleasantries and diplomacy had been done and they were sitting out by the edge of the lake under a pagoda roof, drinking and watching the sun set. "I could not help but hear some word of your... courtship difficulties."
Fake Courtship; for angrygrape
At first, he reveled in the freedom. Without having to think every day about his goal and the practicalities of bringing it into being, he had plenty of time to paint and compose poetry, to attend theatrical performances and music, and to manage the affairs of his sect. He'd long since set up his sect under the management of bureaucrats and supervisors he trusted, and it needed very little intervention from him. Everything was peaceful, and he could spend whole days painting without a thought in his head.
He was surprised to find that he missed having thoughts in his head.
It took more time and a visit to Wei Wuxian in the Cloud Recesses, but Huaisang finally got his idea for a delightful new project. Jiang Cheng was infamous for being blacklisted from the matchmakers because of his difficult personality and extensive list of qualifications for any potential spouse. Huaisang's own bachelor state was another source of gossip, it was true, but that joke was low-hanging fruit. It was hard to stir up much gossip about how Sect Leader Nie might be a cut-sleeve when he did relatively little to hide it and his reputation was already in the mud.
So, plan in mind, Huaisang went to visit his friend, announcing intention to stay for a week.
"Jiang-xiong," he started, once the pleasantries and diplomacy had been done and they were sitting out by the edge of the lake under a pagoda roof, drinking and watching the sun set. "I could not help but hear some word of your... courtship difficulties."